“Jin! It’s been a long time!”
Jin and his party were welcomed into Marchioness Firenziano’s villa, where he finally reunited with Reinhard.
“Elsa, you’ve had a rough time too. It sounds like you went through quite an ordeal, but I’m just glad you’re safe.”
Reinhard reached out to pat her head as if to say there, there, but Elsa gently pushed his hand away.
“Rai-nii, stop it. I’m not a child anymore.”
“What’s this? You used to love it when I did that... Hmm?”
As she moved his hand aside, Reinhard noticed the ring on her finger.
“Ho, a ring? It seems the tomboy is finally starting to care about her appearance.”
Elsa hurriedly hid her left hand, her face flushing a faint pink.
“I-It’s not like that.”
“It’s a magic tool... Jin-kun gave it to me. It saved my life.”
Reinhard’s eyes lit up the moment he heard that.
“Is that so? Won’t you let me see it for a moment?”
“No.”
“Don’t be like that! Come on, just for a second!”
Reinhard pressed her persistently, but Elsa remained cold.
“When I say no, I mean no. Knowing you, Rai-nii, you’ll definitely end up breaking it.”
She was blunt, but Reinhard refused to back down.
“I won’t do anything like that. I promise.”
Unable to watch the petty squabbling any longer, Jin interjected.
“Ah—look, I have another ring identical to the one I gave Elsa. I’ll give you this one as thanks for looking after us, Reinhard.”
“Oh, really?! My thanks!”
Reinhard practically snatched the ring from Jin’s hand the moment it was offered.
“...I can hardly believe he’s a diplomat. Rai-nii is a total engineering nut,” Elsa muttered with a heavy sigh.
“Hmm, hmm... the base is an all-attribute magi-crystal. And you’ve engraved a magi-formula directly into it?”
Reinhard immediately began his analysis.
“This is incredibly fine work. A barrier... for magic, and over here is a barrier... against physical attacks? I can more or less read the logic, but that’s as far as I can go. I couldn't possibly replicate this.”
Even so, the fact that he could even decipher a magi-formula that Reiko had found illegible was an impressive feat in itself.
Reinhard thanked Jin formally once more, declaring that he had received a truly magnificent gift.
“Now then, you should start by taking a bath to wash away the fatigue of your journey.”
After that somewhat unconventional reunion, Reinhard made his suggestion. Jin, who was a fan of baths, happily accepted.
Reinhard ordered a nearby maid to guide Jin to his guest room and then lead him to the baths.
“This way, please.”
Following the Firenziano estate’s maid, Jin and Reiko followed close behind.
They were shown to their room, where they dropped off their luggage and took out a change of clothes before heading to the bathroom.
“Please undress here.”
The changing room was as spacious as a public bathhouse, though the level of luxury was beyond comparison.
When the maid offered to help him undress, Jin declined, saying he would manage on his own. The maid bowed and stepped back.
However, when Jin stepped into the actual bathroom, he was met by another maid wearing swimsuit-like bathing attire.
“Whoa!”
Jin was startled by the maid greeting him with a sudden ninety-degree bow and nearly slipped on the wet floor. Reiko caught him instantly.
“Guest, please allow me to wash your back.”
As the maid approached Jin, Reiko moved to block her.
“That won’t be necessary. I will be the one to look after my Father.”
However, the maid persisted.
“I have also been instructed to attend to the young lady. Please, leave it to me.”
Reiko stood her ground. “I am an Automata. I have no intention of receiving care from a human. Furthermore, looking after my Father is my exclusive privilege.”
With that, Reiko used her superior strength to more or less force the maid out of the bathroom. Jin could only watch with a wry smile.
“Now it is just Father and I.”
With those words, Reiko began to pour warm water over Jin’s back.
The bathtub was a magnificent marble construction, large enough to rival a public bath.
“Ahhh... A bath after all this time really hits the spot.”
Jin stretched his limbs as he spoke. Reiko did not enter the water; instead, she sat in a formal seiza position in the washing area, as was her habit.
Seeing this, Jin spoke up.
“Reiko, you get in too. It feels great.”
“No, it is unnecessary for me.”
“Don’t say that. Since we’re in the bathroom together, you should soak in the water with me. It would make me happy.”
Reacting to the word “happy,” Reiko prefaced her response with, “If that is my Father’s wish,” then poured water over herself. “Excuse me,” she said softly as she slipped into the tub.
Jin drew Reiko close and patted her head.
“Thank you for always being so devoted to me. I’m grateful.”
Reiko looked at Jin with a look of pure surprise.
“Father need not feel gratitude. You only need give me your commands.”
“Dummy. I told you before, didn’t I? You’re my daughter.”
“……”
Later, a rumor—whether true or not—spread among the servants of the Firenziano estate that Jin was a collector with a peculiar obsession for young girl dolls.
＊ ＊ ＊
“I shall be the one to attend to you, Milady.”
Meanwhile, Elsa was in a separate bathroom. Her wet nurse, Mine, was busily looking after her.
Though she was likely still suffering the effects of her anemia, her dedication to Elsa was admirable.
Elsa, who usually undressed herself, simply left everything to Mine this time.
“Milady’s skin is as beautiful as ever.”
As she praised her while removing the dress, Mine noticed the ring on Elsa’s left ring finger. She belatedly remembered Elsa mentioning earlier that day that Jin had given her the ring.
“Milady, that ring...”
“Hmm? Jin-kun gave it to me.”
“W-W-W-Why on that finger?!”
Mine’s face, already pale from her condition, turned even whiter. Elsa simply looked at her.
“Because it was the perfect size for this finger.”
Mine slumped, letting out a long, weary sigh.
“Listen closely, Milady. The ring finger of the left hand is the finger of affection. A ring worn there is either an engagement ring or a wedding ring.”
“I-Is that... so?”
Elsa was uncharacteristically flustered. She had simply noticed her mother and many other adult women wore rings on that finger and felt it made her look more grown-up.
Mine told her they would have a very long talk while they soaked, and the two entered the bath.
＊ ＊ ＊
In an unknown country, in an unknown location.
An unidentified man was speaking with an unidentified partner.
“...Two units of the Prototype Golem Model 11 have been destroyed.”
“Hmph. And the means?”
“Yes, well...”
“What is it?”
“...It happened so instantaneously that the sensors could not detect the method.”
“What?...I see. It seems that country possesses someone—or something—quite capable.”
“You have my deepest apologies.”
“It matters not. We are still in the stage of building prototypes and testing their capabilities. A minor loss is unavoidable.”
“Understood.”
“However, once we identify the methods of their destruction and implement countermeasures, we shall complete a golem that is nearly invincible. Is that not the plan?”
“Yes, exactly as you say.”
“Good. Continue as you have been. By the way, what became of that man?”
“Pardon? Ah, the one who was handling the Elradrite smuggling? It seems his crimes were discovered, and he is now a wanted man. A useless fellow.”
“Hmph. In that case, we might as well use him until there’s nothing left.”
“Meaning...”
“Yes. Give him a Prototype Model 20.”
“That... that unit?”
“It doesn’t matter. We would have had to test it eventually anyway.”
“I understand.”
With that, the conversation ceased, and silence returned.