"Whoa, it’s so wide. This is the ocean..."
They had all traveled together to the shores of Kunlun Island.
Hanna had been raised in Kaina Village, deep in the mountains. Standing before the sea for the first time in her life, she could only stare in a daze.
Jin placed a hand on Hanna’s shoulder and walked with her toward the water's edge.
The spring sea washed up gently. Shells lay scattered across the sandy beach.
"Wow, they're so pretty. Are these shells?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Hanna frolicked about, picking up small, beautiful pink shells that looked like cherry blossom petals.
"Hanna-chan, there are more over here."
Elsa joined her, and the two began collecting shells together.
"If it were a bit warmer, we could go swimming."
Kunlun Island was situated roughly on the Tropic of Cancer. Unlike the tropical Port Rock, the water was still a little chilly.
"Then, Onii-chan, let’s go swimming when summer comes!"
Hanna’s enthusiastic reply made Jin’s expression soften.
"Yeah, let’s do that."
Memories of swimming in the Erme River the previous year came back to him, and Jin decided he would have to make a new swimsuit for Hanna.
After all, the children of Kaina Village wore clothes that were essentially just undergarments for swimming—and even then, they usually only wore the bottoms. Once they reached Barbara’s age, they would wrap cloth around their chests as well.
"Port Rock was fun, wasn't it?"
Before he knew it, Elsa was standing beside him. He looked over and saw Hanna and Mine building a mountain out of sand.
"Yeah. Come to think of it, that was when I met you and Reinhard."
"N. It brings back memories."
It had only been two and a half months since then, but it felt like a lifetime ago, likely because their days had been so packed with activity.
"Father, the sunlight is strong by the seaside, so please take this."
Reiko spoke up suddenly, offering him a straw hat. She had them for Elsa, Hanna, and Mine as well.
"Oh, thanks, Reiko. Where did these come from?"
Jin didn't recall making any straw hats.
"It seems Mine-san made them."
"Eh? Mine did?"
When he looked toward her, Mine looked down, appearing slightly embarrassed.
"Thank you, Mine."
Jin offered his thanks and put the hat on. It had the pleasant, earthy scent of straw.
Inhaling the sea breeze, Jin gazed out at the ocean. The waves were calm. He turned to Reiko, who was standing right behind him.
"Reiko, do you think we could discreetly send a Hydro over here?"
Reiko nodded.
"Yes, I will arrange it immediately."
She contacted Laojun via manacam.
"One will be here shortly," she reported.
True to her word, Hydro 2 arrived in about five minutes. Marine 2 was at the helm.
"Master, did you call for me?"
Since it was a sandy beach, Marine 2 brought Hydro 2 right up onto the shore.
"Yeah, good work. That was fast."
"Yes, I was patrolling this vicinity."
While Jin talked with Marine 2, Hanna was buzzing with curiosity about the craft.
"Onii-chan, is this a boat you made? I want to ride it!"
Jin smiled and nodded.
"Of course. That's why I called it here. Elsa, you come too. Mine, I'm sorry, but it only seats four. Could you wait here?"
Mine smiled.
"Yes, of course. I shall wait for you here."
And so, Jin, Elsa, and Hanna boarded Hydro 2. Reiko looked like she was about to sit on Jin’s lap as she usually did, but instead, she sat beside Hanna.
The craft had two-person benches in the front and back. Marine 2 and Jin took the front, while Elsa, Hanna, and Reiko sat in the back. Since the three of them were small, they managed to fit comfortably.
"Alright, let's go."
Marine 2 threw the Hydro 2’s Magi-Water Jet into full reverse. The force was enough to move the craft even while it was grounded on the sand, and the hull slid out into the sea amidst a spray of water.
Hydro 2 quickly turned around and accelerated out into the open sea. Everyone held their straw hats in their hands so they wouldn't blow away.
"Whoa, so fast!"
"...Amazing."
Setting aside Hanna, who was riding a boat for the first time, Elsa—who had participated in the Golem Boat Race in Port Rock—understood exactly how extraordinary this craft was.
"It’s not just double. It’s three times faster."
The cruising speed of the boat Elsa had used back then was estimated at about twenty kilometers per hour. Currently, Hydro 2 was doing nearly sixty kilometers per hour.
"Incredible!"
Hanna squealed with delight. Elsa, who had been worried she might need to heal Hanna if she got motion sickness, relaxed.
At that moment, Jin gave a signal that only Reiko would understand. Realizing his intent, Reiko secretly cast 'Heal <Verheilen>' on Jin. In truth, Jin was the one starting to feel a bit seasick.
Kicking up spray and cutting through the waves, Hydro 2 made a full circuit around Kunlun Island.
"Ah, that was fun! Onii-chan, thank you!"
By the time they returned to the beach where Mine was waiting, it was time for a snack.
Perido 100, a maid golem stationed on Kunlun Island, had been thoughtful enough to bring refreshments.
"Oh, that’s very considerate."
When Jin praised her, Perido 100 bluntly revealed the truth.
"No, these were instructions from Laojun."
They spread a cloth on the sand and sat down together. There was peeled citran and citran juice.
"Wow, this is delicious!"
Hanna seemed to take an immediate liking to the citran.
"Hanna-chan, have some of mine too."
Seeing Elsa share her favorite fruit with Hanna made Jin feel a sense of warmth.
"Let’s come back to swim next time."
"Yeah!"
Straddling a Golem horse and trotting along, Hanna was in high spirits. Mine was riding double on Elsa’s horse.
"Elsa, you were sharing your citran with Hanna-chan, weren’t you? That was very kind of you."
"N. Because Hanna-chan is cute."
"Fufu, so Elsa can act like a big sister too."
Mine watched them with the gentle eyes of a mother.
Because they had taken several detours on the way back, it was past three o'clock by the time they reached the Mansion.
"This is perfect timing. Let’s have some tea."
Mine began the preparations. Ruby 100 had already boiled the water, so it was ready in no time.
"Here you go, Hanna-chan."
The tea brewed this time was Te-e, a specialty of the Kingdom of Egerea. Sugar had been added to Hanna’s cup.
Hanna took a sip.
"It’s sweet! So good!"
She gave a bright smile. Seeing that, Elsa’s face naturally broke into a smile as well, and Mine beamed.
"Here, have some of this too."
The snack served with the tea was dried brule, one of Jin’s favorites.
"Ah, this is delicious too!"
Jin, Elsa, and Mine—everyone was eager to see Hanna’s smile.
Afterward, they visited the Mansion’s hot spring. The three of them bathed together.
"Yay, there’s a hot spring here too!"
Hanna was the first to rush into the bathing area. Having grown up using the baths in Kaina Village, she properly splashed herself with water before entering the tub.
Elsa and Mine followed her in.
"The salt air made me feel all sticky, so the hot water feels wonderful," Mine said as she stretched her limbs in the tub.
"I’m a little tired from riding the horse."
At that, Hanna moved behind Mine.
"Auntie, I’ll rub your shoulders."
"Oh, it's alright, I'm fine," Mine declined, but Hanna was insistent.
"It’s okay. I massage Grandma’s shoulders every day."
She began to massage Mine’s shoulders with surprising strength. Though it was actually her lower back and hips that were tired from the ride, Mine wasn't about to say that out loud.
"Ah, that feels good. You’re very good at this, Hanna-chan."
She let Hanna do as she pleased.
"Right! How’s this? Is this the right spot?"
"Yes, that spot feels wonderful."
Hanna’s grip was quite firm, a result of her helping with chores every day.
"Thank you, Hanna-chan. I should give you something in return. What would you like?"
After the massage, Mine turned to her. Hanna gave a little start, then looked a bit bashful.
"Um, well. Auntie, um..."
She seemed to find it difficult to speak. Mine smiled gently.
"What is it? Go ahead and tell me."
At Mine’s encouragement, Hanna tentatively voiced her wish.
"Just once... I want you to give me a hug."
Mine had heard that Hanna’s parents were no longer alive.
"Yes, of course. Come here, Hanna-chan."
She reached out and pulled Hanna into a warm embrace. Hanna buried her face in Mine’s chest and whispered in a voice so tiny it was almost inaudible.
"...Mommy."