Adjacent to the port was a small rented dock that doubled as Marcia’s workshop. Her catamaran was currently housed there as well.
"See? This is my workshop."
"Alright. Reiko, set them down over there."
"Yes."
Reiko lowered the bronze ingots onto the floor of the dock.
"Now then, first I need to smelt this stuff."
Marcia overheard Jin’s murmur. "Huh? Jin, did you just say 'smelt'?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"No, no, no! These are ingots we literally just bought!"
Jin gave a wry smile. "I know, but these are full of impurities. Arsenic, bismuth, lead—that sort of thing."
"What? Seriously? Did that material seller know and rip us off anyway?"
"Unfortunately, that seems to be the case."
Marcia’s face flushed with indignation. "Dammit! That material seller! I’m going to go give him a piece of my mind!"
Jin caught her arm. "Forget it. It’s a waste of time."
Marcia’s anger wouldn't simmer down. It was Reiko who spoke to her.
"Marcia-san, rather than focusing on that, please watch. You are about to witness Fa... Big Brother's marvelous skill."
"Huh?"
Prompted by Reiko, Marcia turned her gaze toward Jin.
"Smelting."
The ingots seemed to flash for a split second. A moment later, the impurities they had contained were rolling across the ground in a separate, blackened lump.
"Wha—?"
"That should do it."
"W-What did you just do?" Marcia stared, unable to believe her eyes.
"What? I just separated the impurities," Jin said matter-of-factly.
"You say 'just,' but how can you do something like that so easily!?" Marcia was nearly vibrating with excitement.
"How? I mean, I am a magi craftman."
"I don't know why you're making it sound like a question... Hah. Well, fine. What's next?"
Marcia was starting to realize that if she got surprised every single time Jin did something, she'd never have any energy left.
"Shaping the golem... Forming. Forming. Forming."
Jin applied the Craft Magic, Forming, in rapid succession, building the golem’s body. Having already constructed several back on Hourai Island, he was well-practiced.
"W-W-Wawa..."
"That does it. Next is the ether converter, mana driver, and the control core."
Jin pulled three magi-crystals from his pocket. Marcia’s jaw looked ready to hit the floor.
Magi-crystals were worth at least ten times more than magi-stones.
"Why does stuff like that just come out of your pocket so casually!?"
Reiko patted Marcia on the back. "It is because he is Big Brother."
Marcia slumped in momentary defeat before quickly rallying. "Well, I guess it’s not a bad thing. If anything, I should be thanking fate for bringing me together with Jin!"
Marcia was surprisingly resilient. While she recovered, Jin proceeded with the fine adjustments, working alongside Reiko.
"Alright, that’s mostly finished. All that’s left is..."
Marcia, who had been watching the construction process with rapt attention, spoke up. "...Hey Jin, is this golem a female model?"
"Hmm? Yeah. And... Finish."
"..."
Marcia was left speechless as she looked at the golem’s design.
"There, done....Hmm? Marcia, what’s up?" Jin asked, seeing her standing there with her mouth agape.
Marcia snapped back to reality. "Hey Jin, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, this golem..."
"Yeah, it’s modeled after you."
"I knew it!"
Indeed, the golem Jin had created was not just a female model; it was a spitting image of Marcia. Its surface retained the metallic luster typical of a golem, but the resemblance was uncanny.
"Isn't it kind of cool to have a golem that’s the twin of the pilot?"
"You’ve gotta be kidding me..."
Looking at the body lines—which were almost entirely faithful to her own—Marcia was dumbfounded. She wondered how Jin even knew her exact measurements.
In truth, it was thanks to Reiko’s assistance. Reiko’s eyes were equipped with X-ray vision. Having memorized Marcia’s physique perfectly, Reiko had handled the finer adjustments.
"Now then... Marcia, come here for a second." Jin, crouching over the golem, beckoned her over.
"Hmm?"
As Marcia knelt down beside him, Jin explained, "I’m going to transfer your knowledge of ships into this golem, so just think about things related to sailing."
"Hah?"
Marcia’s sources of shock were never-ending. Usually, a golem had to be taught knowledge over a long period after being woken up.
"Ready? Here I go... Trans Info, Level 3."
Lately, Jin had found it easier to adjust the level of Trans Info based on his needs.
"Whoa!?"
Marcia jumped as the magical energy of the Trans Info pulsed through her mind. Jin didn't stop there.
"Master-Slave. First rank is Marcia, second is me, third is Reiko."
He established the hierarchy of command.
"Alright, that’s everything....Hmm? Marcia, what’s the matter?"
Jin asked as he saw Marcia looking completely drained.
"It's nothing..." she muttered, half-appalled. "So, is this thing ready to move?"
"Yeah. I'll wake it up now. Wake up."
The golem sat up.
"Marcia, please give her a name."
"Eh? Me?" Marcia looked flustered, but after tilting her head in thought for a moment, she made a choice. "In that case, let’s go with Arrow."
"Yes. I am Arrow."
"Whoa! It—she spoke!"
Marcia had lost count of how many times she’d been stunned today.
She gazed intently at the finished golem, Arrow. Finally, she voiced a realization. "I guess there really wasn't enough bronze after all."
"Eh?"
"I mean, every golem that rows a boat is bulky and muscular without exception. Is that why you made Arrow a female model?"
Normally, golems designed to pull oars or paddles were built with massive upper bodies. However, Arrow shared Marcia’s lithe frame. Her arms were quite slender compared to any standard worker model.
For a task requiring raw power, a female model seemed like a disadvantage.
But Jin just laughed. "Well, she won't be using her arms. Besides, a golem’s strength isn't determined by its size."
Jin cast a quick glance at Reiko as he spoke.
"Hmm? Anyway, I’ve certainly realized that you aren't just some ordinary magi craftman, Jin."
"Haha, glad to hear it."
As he spoke, Jin turned his attention to the remaining bronze and began using Forming again in rapid succession.
Before long, components resembling water wheels, ring-shaped parts, and various zig-zagging pieces were quickly taking shape.