After arriving at Hourai Island, Reinhard sat across from Jin in the laboratory reception room.
The first thing he did was present the luggage he had brought with him.
"What’s all this?" Jin asked.
"Go on, open it and see."
At Reinhard’s urging, Jin began laying the contents out on the table.
"These are..."
The bundle contained two books detailing records of the Great Magic War, a single doll, and another package that appeared to be Reinhard’s personal effects.
"I took charge of these back then, but I think it’s better for you to have these records, Jin. And as for this doll, we really should return it to Elsa."
The doll was Non. Elsa had left it behind when she ran away from home; Jin had caught it just as Elsa’s brother, Fritz, had swatted it off the table, and Reinhard had been keeping it safe ever since.
"I'll give it to her later," Jin said. "She’s bound to be happy."
"Yeah. Thanks for the trouble. Also, once I’ve decoded these records, I’ll let you know what’s in them."
"I’d appreciate that."
Jin summoned his humanoid terminal, Laozi, handed him the records, and ordered him to begin the decoding process.
"As you wish, My Lord," Laozi replied before withdrawing. The work would likely be finished by the following day.
"Now then," Jin continued, "I’ve been deploying my subordinate automata to various countries recently. According to their reports, the Kingdom of Franz has declared war on the Klein Kingdom."
Reinhard’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
"Hmm. On one hand, I feel like it was only a matter of time. On the other... I have to wonder, why now?"
"I wanted to get your take on it. Besides, I felt like your life would be in danger if you stayed in the Celuroa Kingdom any longer."
Jin spoke his mind plainly.
"Yes, and I'm grateful for that. My two guards were killed, and the Schwarzritter was destroyed."
Reinhard looked a bit downcast as he spoke.
"I’m sorry about the Schwarzritter," Jin said. He could sympathize with the loss.
"Yeah. But the most frustrating part is that the Celuroa Kingdom seized the wreckage."
"They did what?"
According to Reinhard, Celuroa Kingdom soldiers had whisked away the remains of the broken Schwarzritter before anyone realized it. Not so much as a scrap was left at Stearena’s villa. No matter how much Reinhard protested, they refused to return it.
"That’s just wrong..." Jin muttered, growing increasingly annoyed on his friend's behalf. But then, a thought struck him. "Wait... the Schwarzritter?"
Jin searched his memory.
"I heard you’d been kidnapped... and then, uh, to track your magic pattern, I told Cosmos and Sage of the Secret Mobile Unit (SP) to..."
He finally remembered.
"Ah—sorry, Reinhard."
"Eh?"
"The Schwarzritter... it's actually here."
Jin proceeded to explain that he had instructed his team to load the Schwarzritter into the Falcon while they were searching for Reinhard.
"And after we brought it back to the laboratory, it’s just been sitting there. I’m so sorry!"
Jin bowed his head so low it nearly hit the table.
"Oh! No, please, look up! I—I see, so you were the one who recovered it? That’s a huge relief!"
"To make it up to you, feel free to repair it here! You can use whatever materials you need from my stock!"
Reinhard was ecstatic at the offer.
"Really? Truly? That’s incredible!"
Discussion of international affairs was immediately forgotten. The two headed straight for the workshop. Being cut from the same cloth, neither had any complaints about the sudden shift in priorities.
Before politics, before nations—there was magi craft.
The disassembled pieces of the Schwarzritter were laid out on a workbench in the workshop where Reinhard was led.
"Schwarzritter..."
Seeing the tragic state of his creation again made Reinhard’s face cloud over. However, he soon found his resolve.
"This time, I’m going to turn you into a golem that won't lose to anyone," he whispered. Then, he glanced back at Jin. "...Excluding Reiko-chan and her sisters, of course."
＊ ＊ ＊
"I think I’ll try building a golem with a skeletal structure this time," Reinhard remarked. He had observed Jin’s golems several times now and was beginning to grasp the concept.
In response, Jin spoke up. "Reinhard, I have a favor to ask of you too."
"What is it?"
"That underwater golem you showed me before—I think you called it 'Lorelei'? I’d like you to teach me about its construction. Would that be okay?"
"Is that all? Of course! I’m going to be using your golems as a reference for my own work, after all."
Reinhard agreed readily and began explaining Lorelei’s structure and its key technology. Since he planned to pick Jin’s brain later anyway, he was exceptionally generous with the information.
"...And that’s the gist of it."
"I see. So that’s the trick to moving the tail fin."
Jin was pleased to have learned the secret.
"Are you planning to build an underwater golem as well, Jin?" Reinhard asked.
Jin nodded. "Yeah. Hourai Island is, well, an island. I figured it would be useful for coastal defense and undersea development."
"That makes sense. Now, it’s my turn to ask for a bit of help."
"Sure, what’s on your mind?"
"It’s about the muscle placement. I noticed before that you attach them at an angle in certain spots, Jin. What’s the reason for that?"
"Oh, that. It mimics the way human muscles are arranged. By attaching them at a slight angle, you give the arms and legs the ability to twist."
Reinhard’s eyes lit up.
"So that’s it! That’s the secret behind that natural movement!"
Human limbs don't just bend and extend; they twist and rotate, and everyday movements are a complex combination of those actions. Because Jin’s golems and automata followed this design, they were capable of much more lifelike motion.
"Alright, now that I know that..."
Just as Reinhard was about to throw himself into the work...
"Father, Reinhard-san, it is already late. Please save the rest for tomorrow."
Reiko had arrived to give them a firm reminder.
"Ah—is it already that late? Reinhard, let’s call it a night."
Jin obeyed her without protest, and Reinhard followed suit, albeit a little reluctantly.
The two left the laboratory for the Mansion, where they washed away their sweat in the hot springs before finally heading to bed.
＊ ＊ ＊
"The Celuroa Kingdom currently has the upper hand."
"As it should be."
"The Klein Kingdom is putting up a decent fight, but they are being steadily pushed back by the Kingdom of Franz."
"Hmph. A predictable turn of events."
"And how shall we proceed from here?"
"Proceed as planned."
"Understood. Shall I deploy the golem units when the time is right?"
"Yes. And that new weapon as well."
"You mean... that? You intend to use it in actual combat?"
"Indeed. Those foolish nations will be shocked to their core."
"It is as you say."
"Hehehe. Finally, the time has come for us to claim supremacy over the continent."