The following day, after finishing breakfast, Jin began preparing for his journey.
"Let’s see... spare underwear, shirts, pants, and a jacket."
Since any dirt could be removed with the Cleanup spell, he decided to bring only two changes of clothes.
"...What else do I need?"
Jin found himself at a loss; this was his first proper journey in this world. He couldn't even rely on Reiko for advice on this matter.
"For now, if I go by the logic of a trip back on Earth..."
Money, medicine, a handkerchief, tissues, a guidebook, a camera.
"Well, I don’t have a guidebook or a camera."
As he muttered this, Jin made a mental note to try crafting a camera at some point.
"Then there’s the handkerchief with Reinhard’s family crest."
This was the item he had received for identification purposes. He couldn't afford to forget it.
"Finally, a bag to put it all in."
He crafted what he lacked and finished the rest of his preparations.
"Father, what should we do about a Warp Gate?"
With a Warp Gate, they could return to Hourai Island at any moment should an emergency arise.
"Hmm, that’s a good question. What should we do?"
Jin hesitated, as some of the components were quite bulky.
"I know. How about I only take the magi-devices and improvise the housing and frame on-site?"
As long as he had the magi-devices for teleportation, he could manage the base and external structure using whatever materials were available.
"I see, that sounds like an excellent idea. Shall we take two units?"
"Yeah. With two, we can still make it back even if something happens to one of them."
With that decided, he prepared the magi-devices that served as the heart of the Warp Gate. They consisted of dark-element black magi-crystals and magi-plates engraved with the control systems. These components had to be precisely synchronized with the master-side mana waveform on Hourai, meaning they were parts that could only be manufactured here on the island.
"Alright, this should do it."
Without the housing parts, two units weighed only about two kilograms. It wasn't a problem at all.
"Is there anything else I'm forgetting?"
Well, even if there was, he could always buy it or, in the worst case, simply create it.
"Father, perhaps you should carry a water flask just in case?"
"A flask, huh? Good idea. It would be nice to have something insulated for heat and cold, with a magi-formula engraved inside to purify the water."
Once the idea took hold, he acted immediately. Using light silver, he created a double-walled structure and evacuated the air from between the layers—in essence, a vacuum flask. He then engraved a purification magi-formula into the bottom to ensure he wouldn't get an upset stomach from drinking raw water.
"There. Just in case, Reiko, I made one for you too."
"I have no need for sustenance, but I shall carry it as a spare for you, Father."
She bowed as she accepted the flask.
"And... what else..."
"Father, since you have been invited, perhaps a gift of some kind would be appropriate?"
"A gift, huh..."
After thinking for a moment, Jin took a milky-white magi-crystal into his hand.
"Forming....Magi-formula. Write In."
He crafted a ring. it was a simplified version of a Guard Ring.
"I’ll call it a Protect Ring."
Jin wasn't entirely sure whether "Guard" or "Protect" sounded more powerful, but since the first one he’d made was a "Guard," he settled on this name for the variant.
"I'll make a few of these and give them out if the opportunity arises."
"That is a wise decision. And regarding the Guard Ring, it reminded me—how would you feel about me carrying a weapon, such as a sword?"
Reinhard and his companions already knew Reiko was an automata, so they wouldn't think it strange for her to be equipped to protect Jin.
"Furthermore, with a sword, it is easier for me to hold back my strength than with my bare hands."
"That makes sense."
Hearing that, Jin immediately brought out a piece of adamantite.
"Forming. Hardening. Surface Treatment."
In moments, he had crafted a blade. It was a slender, curved Japanese-style katana. At about fifty centimeters long, it seemed perfectly sized for Reiko. Using magic, he added a hamon—a tempered edge pattern—just for the aesthetic.
"Father, this is surely..."
"Ah, I suppose that knowledge was transcribed into you as well. That's right, this isn't just a sword; it's a katana. It’ll be lighter than a clunky western blade, too."
As he spoke, he fashioned a sheath out of light silver. He treated the oxide film to be a soft pink, ensuring the color wouldn't look out of place when carried by Reiko. The fittings, such as the crossguard, were finished in silver.
"I don’t know the formal way to construct a proper Japanese sword, but this should suffice."
The hilt was made from a Sham Dragon fang. He wrapped it with cord made from ground spider silk to provide a secure grip.
"Alright, it's finished. As for the name... since it's pink, let's call it Touka."
He handed the completed Touka to Reiko.
"Thank you. With this, I shall protect you, Father."
With that, his preparations were mostly complete. Finally, he decided to give final instructions to Soleil and Luna, who would be looking after the island in his absence.
"Okay, then. If anything happens—"
Jin cut himself off mid-sentence.
"Wait a second!"
He turned and hurried back to the workshop. Reiko followed, wondering what was the matter. Soleil and Luna remained on standby as instructed.
"Father, what is it?"
Reiko asked quizzically as Jin began working on something new in the workshop.
"I'm making Manacams."
Despite having developed them himself, Jin had forgotten all about them until just now.
"Alright, I’ve made two sets for now. One for you and me, and another for you to talk with Soleil or Luna. We can stay in touch if anything happens."
At the moment, they weren't quite as convenient as mobile phones since you couldn't select a specific recipient, making them more like transceivers. However, they were about the size of a modern phone, so they weren't bulky.
"Now I really think I've covered everything."
Relieved, Jin gave his instructions to Soleil and Luna once more.
"...Do you understand?"
"Yes, understood."
"If anything happens, send word through the Manacam."
"Understood, Father."
And so, Jin and Reiko used the Warp Gate to travel to Port Rock.
They arrived just before noon local time. Jin headed straight for the familiar Sea Roar Pavilion.
"Oh, it's been a while! Have you been away somewhere?" the landlady asked, coming out to greet them. "I saw the race the other day. I heard from Marcia that you were the one who built that golem."
According to her, Marcia had been incredibly busy since the race, running around to set up her own shop as a shipwright.
"I see, so she's not in town right now?"
"She's been paying off her debts and buying tools. Since yesterday, she’s been in another town to purchase materials," the landlady explained. "So, staying with us today? Just for the night?"
"Yes, only for one night."
"Then 300 will be fine, same as before. As for a room... 'Bonito' happens to be vacant."
He was able to secure the same room he had stayed in previously. It seemed the number of tourists had dropped slightly now that the competition was over.
"Well then, I guess I just have to wait for my ride to arrive tomorrow," Jin murmured, sitting down on the familiar bed.