“Laojin, first let’s hear the reports.”
After leaving Hannah on Kunlun Island, this was the first thing Jin said when he returned to Hourai Island.
“Yes. First, on the topic of the war between Celuroa Kingdom and Egelia Kingdom, Celuroa Kingdom has the advantage. Now, their army thought to be three battalions strong has captured Ikasanaato.”
Jin recalled the route he took on his journey. Ikasanaato was a city near the border. It had a fort, high walls, and a moat around it.
“If they’re assaulting that place, then it seems they’re only relying on strength, huh.”
Even Jin who was unfamiliar with military matters could tell that much.
“On the topic of the war between Frantz Kingdom and Cline Kingdom, Storsk has been captured. Cline Kingdom’s national army appear to be reorganizing some 40 kilometers away, a day’s journey.”
Both attacking parties were superior. Perhaps that was just natural.
Now it was spring, and in this world where career soldiers were few because of the population shortage avoiding war during the busy farming season was an unwritten rule. That is to say doing so would lead to the nation’s decline.
“However, I’m sure Celuroa Kingdom is using many golems to do the agricultural work.”
That was Jin’s guess, but it was roughly to the point.
“What should I do…”
Jin was perplexed. Jin had the strength to treat the aggressor as evil and suppress them. But simultaneously Jin’s strength was likely to disturb the world’s balance. People are afraid of those with power.
As a result the world would shun him, fear him, ostracize him. That’s what Jin feared.
“I see. Well then, Laojin, what was the most important matter you called me here for?”
Putting the conclusion on hold, Jin next asked Laojin a question.
“There is work I would like to ask My Lord to do.”
“Alright, let’s hear it.”
Then first of all Laojin explained about the projects he had undertaken while Jin was gone.
1. Build a harbor for the aircraft carrier’s use.
2. Starting with Celuroa Kingdom, investigate whether or not the important people of the administration are affected by [Hypno] or [Seduce].
3. Advance investigation of submarine resources by utilizing the Mermaid units.
4. Manufacture weapons for the golems.
5. Further improve on the receiverless Warp Gate.
6. Develop an aircraft that can carry Titans.
7. For heavy work, manufacture heavy-duty golems using the Titans as the baseline.
8. Mass produce Magi Jammers and Paralyzers.
Jin felt admiration after hearing all that.
“As expected of you. All things needed to advance my goals, and things I forgot about. That’s a big help.”
“Your praise honors me. In which case, is it acceptable to proceed like this?”
“Yeah, please do.”
To tell you the truth, Laojin was relieved. That was because he had been worried whether or not his actions were presumptuous. He also feared that if he made a mistake Jin would take that as a a sign of rebelliousness.
However, Jin simply genuinely commended Laojin for his preparations.
“Then I got it. I just need to make a Control Core for the heavy-duty golems, right?”
“Yes, very perceptive of My Lord.”
Laojin was permitted to make copies of Control Cores of existing golems for mass production. However, the development of new golem types was outside his jurisdiction.
Jin made the foundational Control Cores, and so they abided by Jin’s rules. This was a measure taken so that Laojin couldn’t make subordinates which only obeyed him. It did cause the production efficiency to lower somewhat when just like now, a need for Jin to make the necessary parts arose.
Although once Jin made one Laojin could copy them as many times as he wished.
“Master, please use this.”
Ann came holding a large Magi Crystal. It was yellow, the earth-attribute.
“Let’s see, its size is the same as a Titan’s, but it’s for heavy-duty work therefore…”
Jin thought while looking at the prototype heavy-duty golem. Its skeleton was made out of 18/12 stainless steel, with muscles out of Magical Fibers. Jin formulated a Magi Sequence fitting for the materials used.
“Speed is unnecessary. In exchange it’s required to be able of precise movements and must be sturdy, so.”
About five minutes later it was completed.
“Alright, please give this a try.”
Jin handed the Control Core made out of an earth-attribute Magi Crystal to Laojin.
“Thank you very much, My Lord. And now please name the series of heavy-duty golems.”
“Hmm, oh yes. Let’s see, let’s call them the ‘Daidara’.”
Apparently he got the name from Daidarabotchi. It was indeed a Jin-like name.
“Daidara is it, understood. For now, the plan is to make 50.”
The name aside, with this project Hourai Island would be improved even further.
Jin checked the details of the other projects and then warped to Kunlun Island where Hannah was waiting.
During that time Reiko watched Jin do all that without saying a thing, but she got the feeling that Jin had returned back to normal. She felt thankful to Elsa, Hannah, and Kaina Village from the bottom of her heart.
＊ ＊ ＊
“That’s wrong. See, you peel it like this.”
“…Like this?”
“Yeah, well, something like that. And then, you chop them up to small pieces like this.”
“Will this do, Hannah-chan?”
After warping to Kunlun Island, Jin saw the three cooking something under the blue skies.
“Ah, welcome back onii-chan.”
“Jin-nii, it’s done very soon so wait a bit.”
“Jin-sama, Hannah’s teaching us how to make Kaina Village-style zousui.”
In short, it was barley cooked in boiling water with added vegetables, dried meat, and flavored with dried fruit. Sometimes starch was added for thickness.
It was good eating for breakfasts and midday meals.
Extensive variations could be made by varying the selection of the ingredients, using dashi, or devising different flavoring.
Jin liked zousui with something called Pasha in it, it was dried fruit of a plant called Bitis that closely resembled the Crimson glory vine.
Because Bitis with somewhat larger fruit than usual grew natively on Kunlun Island, the fruit had been harvested and dried. Apparently they had been used.
In addition, on Hourai Island’s mountainous area there also grew Frapes and Bluelues once seen in Moft Village, so they were harvested and under cultivation.
If those dried Bluelues were also put in it might taste good, Jin thought while fondly watching the three cook.
“Onii-chan, it’s done~”
Hannah who had been sampling the food yelled, and Mine turned off the stove. Elsa lined up the tableware on the table.
Today Jin could simply seat himself at the table and wait for the food to be brought to him.
“Ah, what a nostalgic odor.”
The piping hot zousui was brought. Everyone sat down and after saying ‘itadakimasu’ which had already become a habit they began eating.
Apparently Mine and Elsa had also quickly grown accustomed to this habit.
“Mhm, it’s delicious.”
“Tee-hee, I’ve lo~ong since memorized what onii-chan likes!”
Hannah who had guided them in the cooking declared proudly.
“Yes, the flavor is good, isn’t it?”
Apparently Mine also was pleased with the Kaina Village-style flavoring. And on top of that she seemed to also like Hannah.
“Hannah-chan’s a good girl. You work hard, and you’re cheerful and cute.”
“Tee-hee, is that so.”
Hannah seemed to enjoy being praised. Elsa also smiled while looking at Hannah.
The after meal tea was Kaina Village’s tea.
“What a lovely green, isn’t it.”
Mine voiced her impression of the green tea she had never seen before. Elsa had already had personal experience with it in Kaina Village.
“Mh-hm, its taste is also good. Inside the fresh bitterness there’s a faint sweetness to it, and the aftertaste is also refreshing.”
She also seemed pleased with the taste.
“Hannah-chan, won’t you teach me about other things later?”
“Yeah!”
It appeared that Hannah also got attached to Mine. That was a big relief for Jin.
The cleaning up was also done together by the three, and their harmonious work resembled not only that of a parent and child but of sisters too.
(Oh that’s right, Hannah has also lost both her parents.)
Hannah getting emotionally attached to Mine was perhaps only natural, with her still being of the age when she misses her mother. It was good that he brought her along, Jin thought.
“Alright Hannah, once the tidying up is done let’s all go see the ocean.”
Jin said and went to the kitchen to help with the cleaning.
Reiko was looking at Jin do all this with a relieved look on her face. Then she contacted Laojin to have golem horses sent to Kunlun Island.