When Jin saw the golem called Lorelei, he was impressed by both the materials used and the concept behind it.
"Huh, a golem made of magical beast leather? That’s a first for me."
When Jin said that, Reinhard’s eyes went wide.
"Incredible! To think you identified Lorelei's materials in a single glance!"
"It’s logical—using flexible materials to achieve fluid movement."
Reinhard took Jin’s hand.
"Exactly! You really get it. Now, as for your team, Miss Reiko... wait, she’s not entering, is she? She’s not a golem, after all."
A primary distinction between a golem and an Automata was that the latter was designed to resemble a human. The fact that she wore clothes was a testament to that.
Strictly speaking, the boundary between the two could be quite blurry. Generally, however, an Automata’s priority was human resemblance, whereas a golem’s priority was utility. Not that such generalizations really applied to Reiko.
Regardless, Jin gave a wry smile at Reinhard’s comment.
"Yeah. Actually, I haven't even started building it yet."
"What? Really?"
"I was only invited to join yesterday, and we just finished our registration yesterday afternoon."
Reinhard looked shocked.
"That's quite a predicament. The rest of the participants, myself included, finished our builds ages ago and are already in the final adjustment phase."
However, Jin smirked.
"Well, you'll just have to wait and see," he replied with absolute confidence.
"I see! Jin, you don't seem like just any ordinary guy. I'm looking forward to the day of the race!"
With that, Reinhard called out, "Lorelei, let’s go."
He straddled the back of the mermaid golem.
"Until then, Jin!"
He swam off into the distance. As Jin watched him go, he muttered to himself.
"I see. So as long as the golem provides the power, it doesn't necessarily have to be on board."
Then he smirked.
"Well, having a rival certainly gets me motivated."
Speaking to no one in particular, Jin looked at the position of the sun and realized it was nearly noon.
"All right, Reiko, let’s head back."
"Yes, Father."
They stepped out of the sea and returned to the Sea Roar Pavilion.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Well then, let's go get the materials."
After meeting up at the Sea Roar Pavilion and finishing lunch, Jin and Reiko headed out into town with Marcia.
"What materials are you going to use for the golem?" Marcia asked.
"Light silver would be ideal, but if we can't manage that, bronze will do," Jin replied.
"Hmm, light silver is out of the question for our budget. Sorry, but can you make do with bronze?"
"Yeah, of course," Jin nodded.
The group eventually arrived at an area lined with warehouses belonging to various material sellers.
"This is the place."
"Welcome."
Jin spoke to the shop clerk who greeted them.
"I'm looking for fifty kilograms of bronze ingots. And some magi-stones."
However...
"I'm terribly sorry. We have the bronze, but we're out of magi-stones."
"What?!" Marcia’s voice grew loud.
Without magi-stones, a golem was nothing but a useless hunk of junk. Even as a shipwright, she knew that much.
"W-well then, when is the next shipment scheduled?"
"The next one is scheduled for a week from now."
"That won't be in time for the race! Fine, we'll go to another shop."
As an indignant Marcia made to leave, the clerk spoke up.
"Ah, it'll probably be a waste of time no matter where you go."
"Why's that?" Marcia asked.
The clerk replied, "Someone came through and bought up every magi-stone in the vicinity last night."
"..."
Marcia turned pale. At this rate, the golem wouldn't be finished—which meant withdrawing from the competition.
It was Jin who tapped her on the shoulder.
"Jin?"
"Marcia, let's just buy the bronze and head back. As for the magi-stones, I have some."
Relieved by Jin's words, Marcia nodded.
"Then we'll just buy the bronze."
The clerk then said, "Thank you for your business. That will be thirty thousand Toll."
Marcia was aghast at those words as well.
"What?! That's twice the market rate!"
"Yes. We've been low on stock lately."
"Even so, double is..."
"Can't you do it for twenty thousand Toll?" she asked, hoping against hope.
"In that case, it would be just over thirty kilos."
Marcia slumped in disappointment, but Jin spoke up.
"Thirty kilos will be enough."
"Are you sure?!"
"Yeah. Leave it to me."
Seeing Jin’s confidence, Marcia felt a little more at ease.
"Fine then, give me thirty kilos of bronze."
She paid 18,000 Toll. The clerk lugged the lumps of bronze over and placed them in front of Jin and the others.
"Now, could you deliver it for us?" Marcia asked.
But the clerk refused.
"I'm busy at the moment. Carry it yourselves."
"What are you talking about! You don't have any other customers!"
Ignoring her, the clerk retreated into the back of the shop as if to say further talk was useless. Left behind, Marcia grumbled.
"Honestly! What a shop!"
But Jin said, "Marcia, it's a waste of time. Let's go."
Then, looking over at Reiko, he said, "Reiko, sorry, but I’m counting on you."
"Certainly, Big Brother."
Then, Reiko effortlessly picked up the thirty-kilogram ingot.
"Wha—wha..."
Marcia stood there with her mouth agape. The clerk, watching from the shadows, was equally stunned.
A young girl who looked no more than ten years old, standing 130 centimeters tall, was easily lifting a mass of metal that weighed nearly as much as she did.
"I told you, didn't I? Reiko is my assistant."
"Even so, I didn't think she was this strong!"
While they were still bickering, Reiko headed off with the ingot in tow.