Reinhard, having discovered the refrigerator was Jin’s handiwork, pressed him for answers.
"Jin, when exactly did you build this? You told me you’d never been to this city before. That means you must have made it somewhere else, but..."
Realizing that weaving a web of lies would eventually leave him with no way out, Jin decided to tell the truth.
"Well, it was in Blue Land, actually."
"Blue Land! We’re scheduled to pass through there later! So you really have been to Blue Land, Jin!"
Jin clarified that he had never actually entered the town. He explained that he only knew the area beyond the city walls.
"I see. But if that’s the case, how did you get there in the first place?"
Knowing he couldn't get a half-baked lie past Reinhard—who had already used logic to solve the incident in Port Rock—Jin relented.
"...There was a Warp Gate exit on the outskirts of Blue Land."
"Oho! Does that mean if we go to Blue Land, we might be able to reach your home?"
It’s come to this, Jin thought. He had known this day would arrive sooner or later.
"I’ve heard that Warp Gates have barriers that filter who can pass through. Can they be adjusted?"
Reinhard’s questions came rapid-fire and sharp. Jin could only pray that the development of Kunlun was proceeding smoothly.
"I won't know for certain until I try, but I imagine it’ll work out as long as you're with me."
For now, he left it at that.
Reinhard seemed satisfied with the answer for the moment and suggested they move on, leading the way outside.
The group boarded the carriage and turned onto the main street. The central thoroughfare was paved with cobblestones, which kept the dust to a minimum.
"This street dates back to before the Great Magic War. It’s lasted this long because Hardening and Reinforce were applied to the stones."
Cobblestones that remained pristine even under the weight of carriages with iron-shod wheels—they were clearly bolstered by magic.
As they reached the end of the central street, a structure came into view.
"That is the oldest church in the country."
Though Reinhard had mentioned that religion wasn't particularly prominent, it was the sort of thing that never truly vanished. The church was built entirely of stone, reminding Jin of the World Heritage sites he had once seen on TV.
"The interior is open to the public."
Reinhard signaled the carriage to stop and beckoned Jin forward. The place seemed to function more as a tourist attraction than a house of worship.
"There’s something in particular I want you to see."
After offering a small donation at the entrance, they passed through the gates—an arched entryway roughly five meters wide and ten meters high.
Inside, the floors were polished to a mirror-like sheen, and the walls were decorated with intricate sculptures and murals. Skylights made of colored glass were set into the ceiling at various intervals.
"Wow, this is incredible."
"My first time, too. It’s... intriguing."
Jin and Elsa both voiced their quiet admiration.
"Isn't it? Even that colored glass—our current technology can't reproduce it."
Reinhard pointed toward a stained-glass window shaped like a flower.
"Is that because of the Great Magic War?"
"Exactly. War is a wretched thing, isn't it?"
Jin found himself in complete agreement. In this world, the Great Magic War hadn't just caused culture and civilization to stagnate; it had forced them backward.
After walking down a long corridor, the group reached the inner chamber—the chapel.
"Look, up there."
Reinhard pointed to one of the paintings on the ceiling.
Jin’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Painted there was a large circle, with a smaller circle revolving around it. And around that smaller circle, an even smaller one revolved.
It was a diagram of a star, a planet, and a moon.
"Do you understand what this represents?"
Jin spoke slowly, his voice hushed.
"...The sun, this world, and... the moon, I assume."
Hearing the answer, Reinhard was equally stunned.
"Jin! This is your first visit here, isn't it? Despite that, how can you possibly know the conclusion that generations of scholars have only just recently reached?!"
Reinhard’s outburst drew curious looks from the other tourists. Noticing the attention, Elsa intervened.
"Rai-nii, you’re being too loud. We should continue this conversation elsewhere."
Reinhard conceded, and they decided to leave the chapel.
As it was nearly noon, they stopped at a nearby restaurant. Fortunately, they were able to secure a private room.
"Now then, Jin, let’s have that answer!"
To the breathless Reinhard, Jin replied with a question of his own.
"Before I answer, tell me one thing. Is the idea I just mentioned considered... heretical?"
This was a vital point. Jin remembered names like Copernicus and Galileo from Earth—men who had faced persecution for advocating the heliocentric model over the geocentric one.
"Hm? No, not at all."
Reinhard’s response was unexpected. He explained that anyone who spent time on a ship quickly realized the world was round. Furthermore, the model provided a logical explanation for the changing of the seasons.
Indeed, the horizon in this world appeared noticeably curved. Jin suspected it was a smaller planet than Earth.
"Well, I suppose there are some who still claim the world is flat."
There were even theories suggesting the curvature was merely an optical illusion.
"Though most people just say it doesn't affect their lives one way or the other," Reinhard concluded.
"So, Jin, what about you?"
Relieved that he wasn't facing a trial for heresy, Jin relaxed his shoulders. At worst, he had been prepared to flee the city with Reiko.
"Ah, my teacher taught me that."
It was a delicate phrasing, but not a lie. He had learned it from his teachers at school, after all.
"I never heard who my teacher learned it from, though."
As Jin had hoped, Reinhard and Elsa misunderstood his meaning.
"Hmm, your teacher must have been a truly remarkable person."
"Really. Even in the Shouro Empire, that theory has only gained traction in the last ten years or so."
Apparently, the theory itself was ancient, but it wasn't until recently that a scholar realized how many natural phenomena the diagram explained. It was quite an achievement for this world.
"Pardon the interruption, I’ve brought your meals."
The arrival of the food brought the conversation to a temporary halt. They were served sautéed chicken breast, herb-grilled fish, and steaks, accompanied by a light fruit wine.
Jin didn't recognize the specific varieties of the meat or fruit, but everything was delicious.
For dessert, they were served citran. Elsa clearly adored the fruit; taking advantage of the private room, she even finished Reinhard’s portion.
"Ah—Elsa, do you want mine as well?"
"Is it okay?"
When Elsa looked up with a delighted expression, Jin nodded.
"You can have Reiko’s, too."
He had ordered a small portion for Reiko just to avoid looking suspicious. In the end, Elsa looked thoroughly satisfied after consuming everyone’s citran by herself.
"Now then, Jin, to be honest, I have to make my final rounds as a diplomat before we leave," Reinhard said after they finished eating.
"What would you like to do? Will you head back to the marchioness’s estate, or keep touring the city with Elsa?"
Jin blinked, surprised by the suggestion. He asked if Elsa didn't need to accompany him on his official visits.
"No, Elsa is traveling unofficially, so it isn't necessary."
"In that case, I'll leave the choice to her," Jin said.
Elsa’s answer was immediate.
"I want to keep exploring with Jin-kun."