The follow-through of Reiko’s hand left only a single scratch across the Private Guard Captain’s face. The captain himself immediately foamed at the mouth and collapsed, losing consciousness.
"I have finished," Reiko said, turning back to Jin and brushing the dust from her skirt.
"Reiko, you didn't kill any of them, did you?"
"No. I did not wish to make you a murderer, Father."
As an automata, any responsibility for Reiko’s actions fell squarely on Jin. Having served under the previous Magi Craft Meister, Adriana Barbora Tsetse, Reiko understood this well; she had exercised a degree of restraint that went against her instincts.
"That's good, but... we've really stepped in it now," Jin muttered.
As if in response to his words, a voice rang out. "My, quite a spectacular performance."
"!?"
Jin turned to see Count Kuzuma standing there with Sebance in attendance.
"I hurried over after hearing that Count Guarana had dispatched his private guards, but it seems I arrived after the conclusion."
Eleven men lay sprawled on the ground.
"Goodness. The strength of this young lady, Reiko... she might even exceed the Kingdom's First Ritter." The Count cast a brief glance at Reiko. "However, this is a problem."
"Eh?" Beena asked, looking confused.
"You rejected Count Guarana's invitation and then committed an unjustifiable assault on his retainers."
"Wh—That’s...!"
As Beena started to object, the Count held up a hand to silence her.
"Yes, I know. What I just said is simply how they will likely choose to frame the situation."
In other words, Count Guarana would use his influence to fabricate the incident in that light.
"Beena has nothing to do with the fact that Count Guarana's guards were beaten," Jin said, dropping his polite tone.
"Indeed, that is true, but there are no witnesses."
"There is one, isn't there? A prestigious witness like Count Kuzuma."
After saying that with conviction, Jin turned to Beena.
"Beena, it was a lot of fun getting to know you. Nana and Raldo should be fine now, and you’ve gotten the hang of the tricks to making magic tools. Most importantly, you have someone like Count Kuzuma who understands you."
"Wh-What? Wait, Jin, what are you talking about?" Beena faltered, her mind racing to keep up.
"You'll be fine without me now, won't you?"
He pulled a magi-crystal from his pocket. It was green—a wind-attribute stone.
"Take this as a parting gift. Put it to good use."
He pressed it into her hand, almost forcefully. Then, Jin turned back to the Count.
"Count, I’m disappearing from this country. Please look after Beena... Beena, goodbye."
With those words, he broke into a run before Beena could stop him.
"W-Wait, Jin! I haven't even given you a proper thank you yet...!"
Jin ran off with her words fading at his back. Reiko followed after him, but since she was overwhelmingly faster, she ended up picking Jin up and carrying him mid-stride.
"Pardon me, Father."
"Eh? Hey, Reiko!"
"This is faster."
Jin failed to look cool right until the very end.
＊ ＊ ＊
"..." "..."
For a while after Jin vanished, Beena and Count Kuzuma remained in silence. It was the Count who finally spoke.
"Beena, just who exactly was he... that Jin?"
When asked, Beena could only reply, "I don't know... Only that he was a slightly unusual magi craftman living on a solitary island..."
"Hmm, I see."
Just then, the men Reiko had incapacitated began to groan. It seemed some were about to regain consciousness.
"Beena, get in my carriage and stay hidden."
"Eh? Y-Yes!"
Count Kuzuma turned toward the private guards and shouted in a booming voice.
"What do you think you're doing, you lot!"
"Making such a pathetic display of yourselves in a place like this. Get back to your employer at once!"
Bellowed at by the Count, the private guards who had come to shoved their still-unconscious comrades into the carriage and departed without a word.
"Beena, it's safe now."
At the Count's word, Beena stepped out of the carriage.
"Hmm. However, given the circumstances, it wouldn't be wise for you to continue living here."
"Eh? What?"
The Count smiled warmly.
"It is a pity, but it would be best for you to vacate this house and workshop and move to my estate."
"H-Huh?"
Beena still wasn't processing it. Seeing this, the Count explained further.
"What I mean is, if you stay here, Count Guarana will just attempt something like today again. That is why I am telling you to come to my estate."
"U-Um, me? At your estate, Count?"
"Indeed. But do not worry. I am not asking you to do anything in particular. I am merely saying you should move your home and workshop onto my grounds."
"..."
Faced with a pace of events she couldn't keep up with, Beena stood speechless.
"Now, since it's decided, pack your things quickly. Sebance, return to the estate for a moment and bring back a carriage to transport her belongings."
"As you wish."
Sebance replied and galloped away on his horse. The Count turned back to her.
"What's the matter, Beena? Hurry and pack. Or shall I help you?"
The offer from the nobleman made Beena jump in panic.
"N-N-Not at all! I’ll get ready right away!"
She turned and rushed into the house.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Well, it ended up like this after all."
Jin muttered to himself while relaxing at his home on Hourai Island.
"Yes, but wasn't the timing quite fortunate?" Reiko said while pouring tea.
"I guess. I ended up stopping my help for Beena without having to make excuses, so I suppose it couldn't be helped. But now that I think about it, I never did get to see inside the walls of Blue Land."
"That is true."
"I still don't know much about this world..."
"Then, what would you like to do next?"
"Hmm, let's see. Since it’s the season for it, I’d like to go somewhere warm."
"In that case, there is a Warp Gate that leads to the southern coast."
"The southern sea... that sounds good. Is there anything interesting there?"
"There are many islands, and the shipping trade is well-developed."
"Shipping! That means there are ships!"
"Yes."
"Alright, let's go there next. I want to see what ships are like in this world."
"Understood."
And so, in yet another land, the adventure of Jin and Reiko would begin.