Thanks to Reinhard’s arrangements, dinner was an intimate affair shared by Reinhard, Elsa, and Jin.
The only others present were Reinhard’s and Elsa’s maids, who served the meal. Mine had retreated to her room after her bath; as expected, her anemia had left her feeling faint, and she was currently resting.
Since everyone at the table knew Reiko was an automata, she was spared the necessity of pretending to eat.
"It’s just us, so don't worry about formalities. Please, help yourselves," Reinhard said warmly. His casual demeanor allowed Jin to relax and enjoy the meal without the pressure of noble etiquette.
"I heard all about it from Elsa! You were fantastic! Man, I really wish I could have been there!"
After the initial toast, Reinhard began speaking at his usual breakneck pace. His energy remained as boundless as ever.
For some reason, Elsa had taken the seat to Jin’s left. Reiko sat on his right. This meant Elsa was directly across from Reinhard, while Jin and Reiko sat side-by-side next to her.
The wine being served was one of Reinhard’s personal favorites. Though Jin wasn't much of a connoisseur, even he could tell this vintage was exceptional.
It was served in a vessel of perfectly clear glass.
"Beautiful glass, isn’t it? It’s the pride of the Marchioness’s personal magi craftsmen. They went through quite a bit of trouble to achieve that level of clarity."
It was true; the glass was more transparent than anything Jin had seen in this world so far.
Between the pleasant atmosphere and the fine wine, Jin found himself drinking a bit faster than usual.
Wait, I don't feel drunk at all... Was I always this good with alcohol? Jin wondered.
The reason, though perhaps a minor detail, lay in Jin’s unique physiology. Since his body was largely sustained by mana, he was naturally resistant—effectively immune—to status ailments caused by internal factors.
This meant that while he was immune to illness, poisons, and sedatives, he remained vulnerable to external factors like motion sickness, mental interference like hypnosis, or physical threats like suffocation.
Back at the table, the conversation turned to their travels. Elsa spoke in her characteristically quiet, halting manner, Reinhard peppered her with questions, and Jin filled in the details. The meal proceeded harmoniously, punctuated by Reinhard’s frequent exclamations of surprise.
When the topic shifted to golems, Reinhard’s tone turned uncharacteristically serious.
"That reminds me, Marchioness Firenziano would like to hear your account tomorrow morning. Would that be a problem?"
"No, that’s fine with me," Jin replied.
Reinhard nodded, promising to relay the message before steering the conversation back to engineering.
"Elsa mentioned that you suggested adding something called a 'damper' to her boat. What exactly is that? I couldn't quite grasp the concept from her description."
"Hmm, let's see..." Jin pondered how to explain it. Since he was talking to a fellow engineer like Reinhard, he decided a technical explanation was safe. "Think about it this way: if you attach a weight to the end of an elastic rod, bend it, and then let go, what happens?"
"Well, the weight would oscillate back and forth."
Jin explained that this was called "vibration." He then described a damper as a device specifically designed to suppress that vibration quickly.
Reinhard’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding.
"I see! Using your analogy, it’s like grabbing the weight with your hand to stop it from swinging, right? So I just need to build a mechanism that performs that function!"
Reinhard’s intuition was truly remarkable.
They continued discussing braking systems until the meal drew to a close. For the final course, they were served Kuhe, a specialty drink of the southern Kingdom of Elias and Port Rock. As expected of the Marchioness’s villa, it was far superior to the version Jin had tasted in the city; it possessed a richer aroma and a much cleaner finish.
While sipping his Kuhe, Jin happened to glance at Elsa.
She held her cup with the effortless grace of a high-born lady, bringing it to her lips and returning it to the saucer without a sound. The fluidity of her movements was almost hypnotic.
Sensing his gaze, Elsa tilted her head slightly. "Jin-kun... is something wrong?"
Jin felt a heat rise to his face. "O-Oh, nothing. I just realized you really are a noble lady. Even the way you drink your Kuhe is so elegant."
When he spoke his honest thoughts, Elsa’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She reflexively covered her mouth with her hand.
"...It’s embarrassing," she whispered.
In that moment, Jin noticed something. "Huh? What happened to your ring?"
The ring was no longer on her left ring finger. Elsa stiffened, looking down at her hand.
"I’m sorry. Mine told me that... the ring finger on the left hand is a special finger."
Reinhard interjected with a chuckle.
"Hahaha! Elsa, you really have become quite the charmer. Jin, you should know that a ring on that particular finger is strictly reserved for engagement or marriage, especially among the nobility."
It seemed that custom was one of the few things this world shared with Earth.
Jin panicked. "I-I see. I didn't realize. Elsa, I'm sorry."
He bowed his head in apology, but Elsa quickly shook hers.
"It wasn't Jin-kun’s fault. I was the one who accepted it and put it on that finger."
"Even so..." Jin paused, then asked if she still had the ring. Elsa reached into her collar and pulled out a chain, showing the ring hanging around her neck. "Could you show me your hand for a second?"
Elsa offered her right hand.
"Sorry, just a moment," Jin said as he took her hand in his.
"Ah..."
Elsa’s face burned, but Jin was already focused. He held the ring against her middle finger and focused his mana.
"Forming."
He activated his Craft Magic. The ring’s inner diameter expanded smoothly until it was the perfect size for her right middle finger.
"There, that should do it."
Jin slipped the ring onto her finger and released her hand. Elsa stared at the silver band, her expression a confusing mix of disappointment and quiet joy.
"Thank... you," she managed.
Reinhard watched his cousin with an amused, curious glint in his eyes. "You really have changed, Elsa. You’ve become much more feminine."
Elsa turned her face away with a huff. "...I don't know what you're talking about."
"See? That’s exactly it. In the old days, you would have just swung a punch at me."
"......Rai-nii, you’re being mean."
Elsa’s eyes began to mist over. Realizing he had pushed his luck, Reinhard stopped teasing her and turned back to Jin.
"Anyway, Jin, my duties in this country are nearly finished. Our departure date is fast approaching. If you want to see the sights here in Borgia, I’m afraid you only have tomorrow and the day after."
Given the meeting with Marchioness Firenziano tomorrow morning, that left them with only a day and a half. Reinhard apologized for the tight schedule, but Jin assured him he was just happy to have been invited.
"I'm glad to hear that. As an apology, I’ll show you around the city myself tomorrow afternoon. Elsa, you’ll join us, won't you?"
"I’m looking forward to it," Jin said. Having a local guide in an unfamiliar city was always a plus.
Even Elsa’s mood seemed to brighten at the suggestion, and she gave a small, obedient nod.
The conversation turned to the geography and politics of the Kingdom of Elias. Of the four provinces, the northern Nord Province contained the capital and was under direct royal control. The southern Zaus Province was ruled by Marchioness Firenziano, and the western Toves Province by Marquis Godfar.
The eastern Isd Province was the domain of Marquis Carlos de Hudson.
"Marquis Hudson...?"
"Yes, Valentino’s father. By all accounts, he’s a mediocre man. He rules his territory adequately enough, neither excelling nor failing."
Jin wondered how such a man could produce a son like Valentino—or perhaps it was that very mediocrity that allowed his son’s behavior to spiral. Because of Valentino’s crimes, the Hudson family was facing a demotion to the rank of Baron at best, or total dissolution at worst.
As a diplomat, Reinhard was a font of information regarding international affairs. Seizing the opportunity, Jin asked about a topic that had been on his mind.
"Tell me, what is the religious situation like in these parts?"
"Religion? There isn't much of one. Most of the priesthood and church structures were wiped out during the Great Magic War. Nowadays, different regions just worship their own local idols in a small, informal way."
Jin noticed that Reinhard had used the word "idols" rather than "gods."
"Are you an atheist, Reinhard?"
"Haha! Well, it’s more that the Shouro Empire is a secular nation. We acknowledge that there are likely beings beyond human understanding that could be called 'gods,' but we don't believe in a convenient deity that grants every prayer or wish."
"A realist through and through, I see."
As the night deepened, the group finally broke up and retired to their respective rooms.