During this collection expedition, Jin had found fifteen yellow earth-attribute magi-crystals, including several small fragments. It was quite a haul.
In addition, he had secured ores for both mithril and adamantite. While he had been able to carry back all the magi-crystals, the ore was far too heavy. Therefore, after Jin and Rock returned to the village, Jin sent both Gon and Gen back to the valley to retrieve the excavated ore.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the two golems, the ore was piled high in the yard by the following day. Looking at the mountain of raw materials, Jin smirked to himself, thinking about how significantly this would broaden the range of things he could create.
"Onii-chan, what are you smirking at?"
Snapped back to reality by Hanna’s voice, Jin flashed an embarrassed smile to hide his excitement.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Really?...Um, Rock-san is calling for you."
"Rock-san is?"
Wondering what was up, Jin stepped out of the yard to find Rock standing there with something in his hand.
"Yo, Jin. I brought you some mountain deer jerky. It's not much, but consider it your share."
Rock explained that they had processed the mountain deer they caught on the way back from the expedition. Since raw meat spoiled quickly, the village turned this precious source of protein into jerky for long-term storage.
"Ah, thank you. I appreciate you coming all this way."
As Jin accepted the gift, Rock continued.
"Actually, I have a bit of a favor to ask today."
"What is it?"
"A few of us are planning to go mountain deer hunting tomorrow. I was wondering if you could lend us Gon or Gen to help carry the load and just in case of an emergency?"
It would certainly be easier to navigate the mountains with a golem to act as a porter. Jin nodded.
"That’s fine. Why don't you take Gen with you?"
"Oh, that'll be a huge help! I'll come by tomorrow morning, then."
With that, Rock headed home. Jin turned his gaze toward Gon and Gen.
"Hmm. In that case, I guess I'll just finish their Reinforce work quickly."
"Onii-chan, what are you doing?"
Hanna, who was still hanging around, overheard Jin's mutter and asked.
"Hm? I'm going to make Gon and Gen a little stronger."
"They'll get stronger? Can I get stronger too?"
"Haha, that might be a bit difficult. Besides, girls are more popular when they’re ladylike, you know?"
Jin offered the casual, noncommittal advice. Hearing that, Hanna murmured under her breath.
"Is that so? I wonder if Onii-chan likes ladylike girls better too..."
She whispered it softly, but the words didn't reach Jin’s ears as he was already heading toward his workshop.
"For now, I'll replace their fingertips and chest plates with adamantite."
Considering that Gen's hand had broken against the adamantite ore while digging during the last trip, the hands were a priority. He also wanted to provide better protection for the chest area, which housed the magi-crystal mana driver, ether converter, and control core. He decided to manufacture both components from pure adamantite.
"Smelting."
Using magic, he refined the ore into metal. The separated impurities contained traces of tin, chromium, and nickel, so he set those aside to be refined further at a later date.
Jin performed these complex processes alone, entirely unaware of just how extraordinary his efficiency was. Because there was no one in Kaina Village with the knowledge to point it out, his work proceeded in peaceful obscurity.
"Alright, that should make both of them plenty sturdy."
He also failed to realize that Gon and Gen were rapidly becoming golems that defied all common sense.
"Well then, Rock-san, Jeff-san, Jan-san, please be careful."
"Yeah, we're off!"
"You be careful too, dear."
"Gen, I'm counting on you to look after Rock-san and the others."
"UNDERSTOOD, MASTER."
The next morning, Rock and the other two hunters set out for the mountains. Some of the village children followed them partway out of curiosity. Mario was among them, of course, as was Hanna.
Left to his own devices, Jin set to work on a project he had been eager to start.
He was going to build golem horses.
Typically, golems were humanoid because the movement data stored in the control core was derived from human motion. To put it simply, most creators only understood how humans moved.
However, that limitation didn't apply to a Magi Craft Meister like Jin. Analytical data for four-legged gaits had already been inherited from his predecessor. It was another reminder of how much the current era had regressed compared to the past—likely a tragic side effect of constant warfare.
Setting those thoughts aside, Jin began constructing a pony. He decided that his first prototype would be a dedicated mount for Hanna.
Unlike an automata, a golem’s structure was relatively simple—at least by Jin’s standards.
"A modest performance should be fine for this one."
The exterior was made of bronze hardened with magic, making it immediately recognizable as an artificial construct. This much could be considered within the realm of "normal."
However, the fact that he used adamantite for the skeleton to maximize durability was already far from ordinary.
"I'll prioritize power and endurance over raw speed."
To achieve this, he used two magi-crystals each for the mana driver and the ether converter. The power output was already in the monster-class range.
"One magi-crystal should be enough for the control core."
Since it didn't need to perform complex autonomous actions, he used a smaller crystal for the brain.
"Alright, constructing the control system... Yeah, I've gotten quite used to this."
Jin simulated the horse's movements within his mind and converted them into movement control formulas. This entire process was only possible for a Magi Craft Meister; an ordinary magi craftsman would have found it impossible, but Jin, as usual, didn't realize his own brilliance.
"And finally, I'll add a saddle to make it easy to ride... It's finished!"
With the pony complete, he immediately built a second golem horse for himself using the same design. He made it slightly larger, about the size of a small horse, choosing the size specifically so it would be easy to mount and dismount.
"Onii-chan, what are you making... a horsie?"
Hanna returned just as the second horse was nearing completion.
"Hey Hanna, you're just in time. Look. I made this small horse specifically for you."
Hearing that, Hanna's hazel eyes went wide.
"Eh? Is it my horsie?"
In Kaina Village, only the Village Chief owned a horse, so her shock was understandable. Jin smiled gently.
"Yeah, that's right. Just wait a second."
He turned back to the golem horses.
"Wake."
The two golem horses stood up. Jin looked at his own mount.
"Let's see... I'll name you 'Koma.' Your name is Koma."
The name simply meant "steed." Jin’s naming sense remained functional at best. Next, he turned to Hanna.
"Hanna, why don't you give this one a name?"
"Me? Hmm... then, 'Mint'!"
It was a herb that grew in this world as well. Since the horse had a verdigris-colored exterior, the name actually suited it quite well. At the very least, it was more creative than Jin's choice.
"Okay. Naming: Mint. Your master is this girl."
Mint looked at Hanna and bowed its head in acknowledgment. It seemed to understand perfectly.
"Alright, Hanna, go ahead and try riding it."
"Eh? But I've never ridden a horse before!"
"Don't worry. This is much easier than a real horse."
Jin lifted Hanna up and placed her on Mint. Since it was a pony, Hanna would likely be able to climb on by herself once she got the hang of it.
"There you go. Put your feet in those stirrups. That's it. Now, hold these handles."
"Eh? What are these?"
Two handles protruded from the base of the golem horse's neck. No matter how you looked at them, they were motorcycle handlebars. Jin had simply applied the logic of motorcycle controls to his horse golem.
As Hanna straddled Mint with trepidation, Jin began to walk her through the basics.
"The right handle is the throttle; if you twist it toward you, the horse will start moving. When you want to stop, just let go of the throttle and squeeze the brake lever. And when you want to turn, just turn the handlebars left or right. The horse will turn exactly as much as you move the bars."
After explaining the controls, he mounted Koma.
"Now, try making it walk. It's okay, I'll be right here with you."
To ensure safety, he had a limiter engaged so the horse couldn't bolt. There was no danger of Mint running wild.
"O-okay."
Hanna tentatively twisted the throttle. True to its programming, Mint began to walk forward with a steady pace.
"Wow, it moved!"
With the rhythmic clip-clop of a horse's gait, Mint began to trot through the yard. Jin followed along on Koma.
"Good, you're a natural. Try twisting the throttle a little more."
"Okay!"
The walking Mint accelerated into a brisk trot. Under the current settings, this was its maximum speed.
"Wow, this is so much fun!"
Thanks to the stability provided by the saddle and stirrups, Hanna was riding Mint with ease. Seeing her enjoy herself, Jin finally let out a sigh of relief.