Despite the earlier trouble, the carriage made steady progress and reached their destination, Moft Village, around dusk.
While the slopes illuminated by the setting sun were currently the color of withered grass, Elsa explained that from spring through summer, they would be carpeted in lush pasture and a riot of colorful wildflowers.
"You’re quite well-informed," Jin said, impressed.
"Two summers ago, I traveled this same road on a trip to Port Rock," she replied.
The village was well-equipped to accommodate travelers passing along the highway. While the attendants and coachmen stayed at a local inn, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and the wet nurse were welcomed into the Village Chief’s house. They were introduced as a foreign noblewoman and her servant, accompanied by a friend.
"Jin-kun, we need to let the horses rest, so we won't be departing until the day after tomorrow."
After Elsa told him the plan, Jin headed toward the chief's house, resolved to finally install those dampers while they had the time.
Dinner that evening featured bread and various cheese dishes, the latter being a famous local specialty. The bread was exceptionally white, a clear sign of how much the Village Chief wanted to provide Elsa with a hospitable welcome.
The meal began with simple slices of cheese, followed by deep-fried cheese and a salad tossed with even more cheese. There were two varieties of bread: one topped with cheese and toasted, and another with cheese simply laid on top. To drink, they were served milk and brule juice.
"I like the toasted bread with cheese on top," Elsa said, handing her slice to a servant to be heated. Jin decided to try his with the cheese cold.
"This cheese is delicious."
Jin found himself wishing he could buy some to send back to Hourai Island.
"What is this 'brule'?" he asked after taking a sip of the deep purple juice and finding the flavor to his liking.
"It’s a fruit that grows on low shrubs in the mountains," the Village Chief explained. "It’s one of our local specialties."
Jin was impressed by the unique products found in mountain regions. He wondered if brule could be grown on Mount Hourai—or perhaps it was already growing wild there.
"Oh? Is it not to your taste?" the Village Chief asked when he noticed Jin looking distracted.
"N-No, it's very delicious," Jin hurriedly replied. The Village Chief smiled contentedly at the answer. Meanwhile, Reiko watched Jin with a steady, quiet gaze.
After dinner, as they were about to retire to their rooms, the chief approached them.
"I am terribly sorry, guests, but since we are still awaiting the spring rainy season, we are short on water. We cannot provide enough for a bath, so..."
"I understand," Elsa interrupted before he could finish. "Just provide enough water for us to wipe ourselves down."
"I see. Thank you for your understanding. I will have it brought to your rooms shortly."
Jin entered his room, reflecting on how high-altitude villages were frequently plagued by water shortages.
A short while later, a young girl about Elsa’s age arrived carrying a bucket of water. Jin took the opportunity to ask her a question.
"Excuse me, is the water supply here really that difficult?"
"You didn't know, sir?" the girl replied. "In this area, it hardly rains at all during the winter and summer. It only rains heavily in the spring and autumn."
She pointed to the water in the bucket.
"This water isn't for drinking. Every household stores drinking water in barrels, and we have a small amount of spring water, but it's not enough for laundry or cleaning. For those things, we have to use water from the large reservoir."
"So this water came from the reservoir?"
"Yes. We filter it through cloth to clean it first."
"I see. Thank you."
The girl bowed and took her leave.
"So the water situation really is poor," Jin muttered to himself. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Yes?"
Reiko opened the door to find Elsa standing there. She had changed out of her dress into elegant light-blue loungewear.
"Did you get your water?"
"Yeah. Just now, over there."
When Jin pointed to the bucket, Elsa gestured toward it as well.
"It's too cold to wipe your body with. You should turn it into hot water."
"Ah, right. Good point."
Jin reached into the water and spoke.
"Heat."
He pulled his hand out just as steam began to rise. "There, that should be about right."
Elsa, who had been watching the process, looked stunned. "What... was that just now?"
"Hmm? You mean Heat? It's Craft Magic. A spell to warm an object."
"There's a spell like that?"
"Yeah. Oh, wait... Elsa, were you planning to use magic to make hot water for me?"
At his words, Elsa's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Never mind. Good night."
She turned on her heel and hurried back to her own room.
"She was trying to be thoughtful. I hope I didn't offend her," Jin said.
"No, Father, you did nothing wrong," Reiko replied. "It was Elsa-san's fault for being vague."
Jin gave a wry smile. "Reiko, couldn't you try to be a bit more pleasant with her? She is the one hosting us, after all."
"Lord Reinhard invited us, not Elsa-san," Reiko said bluntly.
"But Elsa is Reinhard’s relative, and she's the only one here right now."
When Jin pressed the point, Reiko finally gave a reluctant nod. "I understand. Since it is your command, Father."
"Good. I'm glad you understand."
Jin had Reiko sit on the bed and sat down beside her.
"There, there."
"..."
He stroked her head. He had been worried about her since she became emotionally unstable the day before. Jin continued to pet her for a while, and it wasn't until he was finally ready for bed that he realized the water he had heated had gone cold.
The next morning, Jin expected another meal of bread and cheese, but while the bread remained, the cheese was served sparingly. In its place was brule jam and another variety of red jam.
"And this is?"
"Frape jam," the chief explained. "Frape is a small, bush-like plant that bears many red berries in the autumn."
Jin spread some on his bread. It was sweet and tart—delicious. Comparing the two, the frape jam had a sharper acidity than the brule, and Jin found he preferred it.
Elsa, on the other hand, seemed to have a sweet tooth; she was clearly partial to the brule jam. However, she still seemed to be dwelling on something, as she wouldn't meet Jin’s eyes. Reiko ate her meal in silence, maintaining a restrained, quiet presence.
After breakfast, Jin decided to head outside. He wanted to see the spring and the reservoir for himself.
However, something else caught his eye and immediately piqued his curiosity.
"Oh!"
It was a white object dancing high in the sky—a kite.