"Alright, Jin, I'm leaving the rest to you."
"Yeah, get going. Reiko, I'm counting on you."
"Yes, Father."
Beena set off, carrying the corn and the popcorn maker. Jin had instructed Reiko to help her with the load as far as where the steward, Claude, was waiting.
"Now then, I'd better go see Nana and Raldo."
Beena had already explained to the children that she would be away for a while and that Jin would be staying with them in her absence.
"Ah, Jin-niichan!"
Both children looked significantly better than when Jin had first met them—a clear sign that their scurvy was finally receding.
"Beena’s going to be a little late on business, but I'll have dinner ready soon. Have some of this in the meantime."
He held out a plate of sliced Persica fruit.
"Whoa, I love these!"
"They look so good!"
Nana and Raldo tucked in happily while Jin set about preparing dinner. It wasn't anything fancy; he simply baked some bread and heated up barley porridge and soup.
"Father, I have returned."
Reiko arrived just as the food was finishing.
"Good work."
"She departed safely by carriage."
"I see."
Once the porridge and soup were warm, Jin portioned them into small bowls and brought them to Nana and Raldo. Having looked after the younger children back at the orphanage, he was quite accustomed to the task.
"Here you go, dinner's ready."
"Thanks, Onii-chan."
He waited for the two of them to finish eating before clearing the dishes and returning to the kitchen. Reiko had already set aside a portion for him and kept it warm.
"Father, it has cooled to the perfect temperature."
In truth, Jin was a "cat's tongue"—extremely sensitive to heat. No matter how much hot food he ate, he could never build up a tolerance for it.
"Oh, thank you."
Outside, the world was blanketed in darkness. If she was only teaching them the recipe, she should have been back by now, Jin thought.
"Beena’s late."
"Father, will you be staying here tonight?"
"Well, Beena asked me to. Even if she hadn't, I couldn't exactly leave these two alone and go home."
Reiko nodded at his words. "In that case, I shall return home briefly to fetch your bedding, Father."
"Yeah, could you? Thanks."
"Of course. I will be back shortly."
Reiko vanished into the night in an instant.
"...I hope she’s alright."
＊ ＊ ＊
"Oh! This is delicious!"
"I am glad it is to your liking, Young Master."
Beena had been making batch after batch of popcorn at Count Guarana’s mansion. Although the corn was the cheap variety she had brought herself, the high-quality oil and salt provided by the estate made the flavor worlds apart from her usual results.
"Phew, I'm stuffed."
The selfish boy finally left the dining hall. That left the half-eaten popcorn, Beena, and the steward, Claude.
"Can I just clean up and head home now?" Beena asked.
"Certainly," Claude replied. "However, if possible, we would like to purchase that manufacturing device from you."
"Eh? But... I'll be in trouble tomorrow without it..."
Beena offered a soft refusal. Part of it was because the machine belonged to Jin, but as a commoner, she was also simply intimidated. Nobles could take things by force if they wanted to—and many did.
"Naturally, we will compensate you appropriately. Including the gratuity for your visit, how does ten gold coins sound?"
Ten gold coins—one hundred thousand Toll. It was a staggering sum.
"T-Ten gold coins?!"
"Indeed. What do you think?"
Her current daily sales, expenses included, were just under four thousand Toll. This was twenty-five times that—nearly a month’s worth of profit in a single transaction. If she pushed back any further, she feared things might take a turn for the worse.
"I understand. That will be fine."
Beena gave her consent. She resolved then and there to apologize to Jin when she got home and hand over the entire ten gold coins to him. But then, Claude spoke again.
"Furthermore, I have heard that you are a rather excellent magi craftman. How would you like to become our house's exclusive magi craftman?"
"Exclusive?"
He was offering her patronage. As a noble's personal craftsman, she could create whatever she liked without worrying about the cost of materials. She thought of her mentor, Gladia Hampton. He was backed by three nobles and lived a life of such luxury that provincial lords were beneath his notice.
Claude continued, "Should you become our exclusive craftsman, we will also pay off your debts in their entirety."
"How did you know about...?" Beena gasped.
"I took the liberty of investigating your circumstances," Claude answered coolly.
"............"
Beena looked down, lost in thought. Her debt totaled approximately 1.2 million Toll—the cost of her apprenticeship under Gladia Hampton combined with her parents' medical bills. She currently had no realistic prospect of paying it back.
"But..."
She looked up, recalling the past few days. She had met Jin and discovered a whole new perspective on magic tools. She had discovered the joy of bringing her own ideas to life. And she had discovered the satisfaction of making magic tools for common people, not just for the nobility.
"I'm sorry, but I must refuse."
The words left her mouth before she could second-guess herself. This was the one thing she would not compromise on.
"I see. That is a pity. If you change your mind, the offer stands."
Claude handed her a bag containing the ten gold coins.
"The bag is embroidered with our house crest. If you have business here again, simply show it to the gatekeeper."
"Th-Thank you."
Beena accepted it with trembling hands.
"Now, I would see you home... however, the city gates are already closed for the night. Please, stay as our guest. I will arrange for your transport as soon as the gates open tomorrow."
"Yes... thank you."
As Claude led Beena to a guest room, she failed to notice the subtle, twisted smirk that played across his lips.
＊ ＊ ＊
Back at the workshop, Jin was laying out the blankets Reiko had brought.
"Father, someone is approaching."
"Hmm? Is Beena back?" Jin asked casually.
"No. It is not Beena’s mana. There are four of them, and they are arriving by carriage."
Since being upgraded by Jin, Reiko’s magic detection capabilities had increased significantly. If she said so, there was no doubt.
The sound of a carriage rolling to a stop echoed outside, followed by a sharp knock at the door.