A woman with a bright brown bob cut very short was running down the street toward Jin’s group, looking as though she were out for training.
She was dressed in a practical outfit for exercise.
She wore loose grey trousers that looked easy to move in, paired with a white T-shirt featuring raglan sleeves. She also wore short boots. One could tell from the sheen of the fabric that her clothes were of high quality, and the leather of her boots looked supple and expensive.
The woman appeared to be in her early twenties. She was tall and slender, yet toned rather than thin, giving off a firm, athletic impression.
As she drew closer, she slowed her pace.
"Excuse me, I’d like to ask you something," Jin called out.
The woman came to a halt. "What is it?"
"Do you happen to know where House Fahlheit is?"
"Hmm, House Fahlheit? Yes, I know it. Turn right at that corner; it’s the second house," she answered.
Jin bowed his head. "Thank you very much."
The woman waved her hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it. By the way, you appear to be an Honorary Magi Craftman of the Kingdom of Egerea."
She spoke as if confirming a fact, her gaze lingering on the half-coat Jin wore.
"Yes, that's right."
"I see. I don't know what business you have with House Fahlheit, but the head of the house, Niclas, and his daughter, Lishia, are both away. Only the mistress and the maids should be home."
Both Niclas and Lishia were still in Tetrada. Ah, right, Jin thought, though he didn't say it. His primary goal wasn't to see Lishia herself, but simply to return her sword.
"Is that so? That’s a shame."
The woman looked thoughtful for a moment as Jin spoke.
"By any chance, are you the magi craftman who repaired Lishia's sword?"
"Eh? Ah, yes, I believe so."
Jin didn't just "believe" it; the sword was right there in his group's possession.
"Oh, I thought as much! My name is Gloria Allstatt. I serve as the vice-captain of the Royal Female Ritter Corps."
"Ah, I’m... my name is Jin."
Jin used his real name. He was already known as an Honorary Magi Craftman, and he felt that a clumsy attempt to hide his identity would only lead to trouble later.
"Jin-dono, then. Since you’re a visitor from abroad, you don't need to be so stiff. Please, just call me Gloria."
"Thank you, Gloria-san. These girls are my sisters. This is Bargo, an acquaintance here in the city. And this is Reiko."
"I’m Bargo."
"I'm Hanna!"
"Elsa... n."
"I am Reiko."
Bargo greeted her politely, while Hanna offered a spirited introduction. Elsa pinched her skirt and performed a perfect curtsy. Gloria looked genuinely impressed by Elsa’s manners.
"Ho, Elsa-dono, that is a beautiful greeting. You move like a noble’s daughter."
Given that she was the daughter of a former viscount, it was only natural, but Elsa blushed slightly at the compliment. Reiko, following behind, gave only a slight nod.
"So, what brings Jin-dono to our country? Traveling between the Kingdom of Egerea and ours isn't easy with the Celuroa Kingdom in the middle. Especially with the war going on."
The battle against Unifilar had been on the 23rd, and the group had rebranded as Nostalgia on the 24th. Today was the 27th, so it seemed that detailed information had not yet reached the capital.
"Well, you could say I’m here to broaden my horizons."
Jin offered a vague, harmless answer. Gloria seemed to accept it for now.
"Hmm, fair enough. Whatever your business with House Fahlheit is, would you mind visiting me once you’re finished? My house is right there."
She pointed toward a relatively large house behind Jin’s group.
"I’m off duty today. I’ve just finished my usual morning training. So, once I’ve finished getting ready... let’s say, could you come by at eight o’clock?"
It was currently a little after seven-thirty. Jin’s face must have betrayed his thought that eight o'clock didn't leave her much time.
"Haha, a ritter cannot afford to dawdle over meals or dressing. Twenty minutes is more than enough. I’ll be waiting."
Without waiting for Jin’s reply, Gloria opened the door to her home and disappeared inside.
"Phew, she’s a bit of a forceful person. Bargo, do you know her?"
Jin let out a sigh and asked with a wry smile.
"Yes, by name. As she said, she is the vice-captain of the Royal Female Ritter Corps. She comes from a baronial house and is, of course, a ritter."
Since 'ritter' was a title as much as a status, it was quite common for a member of a baronial house to be one.
"Apparently, she’s quite powerful. She even serves as an instructor for the female ritters."
"Ah, that’s why she knows Lishia," Jin deduced. "Anyway, let’s get our errand out of the way first."
Jin started walking toward the house she had indicated, with Hanna and the others following close behind.
"Reiko, did you—or rather, did Laojun—already know that Lishia hadn't come home yet?" Jin asked as they walked.
Reiko nodded. "Yes. However, we suspected that if you handed that sword to Lishia-san directly, Father, she would wonder why you had a weapon she was supposed to have lost in Tetrada. After consulting with Laojun, we decided it was best to remain silent."
Jin realized she had a point. It would be very bad if the connection between Maquina and Jin was discovered.
Understanding that Reiko and Laojun had kept the information to themselves out of consideration for him, Jin felt a bit sheepish about his own lack of foresight. At the same time, he was happy to see that Reiko and Laojun weren't just blindly following him, but were using their own initiative to serve his best interests.
Still, I probably would have listened if they'd told me beforehand, he thought, though he lacked the confidence to say it out loud.
At the second house past the corner, they found the name 'Fahlheit' smallly engraved on the gate.
"This is the place."
Having confirmed the residence, Jin handed the sword to Bargo. "Tell them you were asked to deliver this by a man named Maquina."
Bargo used the door knocker. A moment later, the door opened.
"Yes, how can I help you?"
An elderly woman who appeared to be a maid peered out.
"Pardon me, this is the Fahlheit residence, correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"I understand Lady Lishia is currently away, but I have something to deliver that was entrusted to me by a man named Maquina. Could you please give this to her when she returns?"
Bargo held out the sword wrapped in cloth. The maid accepted it without question.
"Thank you, that’s all."
Bargo turned and left immediately. She thought she heard the maid calling out to ask for her name, but she didn't stop.
"Well, that’s the main errand finished."
However, it was still a while before eight o’clock.
"Father, are we really going to that woman's house?" Reiko asked.
"I suppose so. I don't know what she wants to talk about, but ignoring the vice-captain of the Royal Female Ritter Corps from a baronial family seems like it would just lead to trouble later."
"True. Many nobles are like that," Elsa agreed, so Reiko didn't voice any further objections.
"So, what do you two want to do? Hanna, Elsa, you don't have to come with me."
But Elsa and Hanna both spoke up at once.
"I said it before. We came together, so we stay together."
"I want to be with Onii-chan!"
Both girls declared their intent to stay by Jin’s side.
"Alright, let's stick together then. Also, Bargo, thanks for your help today. It might get complicated if you’re seen too much and someone figures out who you are, so you should head back now."
If he needed her, he could always reach her via her internal manacam.
"Understood. I shall take my leave. Please call for me if you have any further needs."
Bargo bowed and walked away.
"Well, shall we take a quick walk around to kill time before we go?"
The group decided to take a stroll through the lower noble district.
To Jin, the area felt like a planned housing development. Each house sat on a small plot with a modest garden in front. Every home had its own personality: some gardens were just lawn, some were overflowing with flowers, others had fruit trees, and some were just bare dirt.
To Jin's surprise, several of the houses even had pumps installed.
Hanna, meanwhile, was in a state of constant excitement as she took in the unfamiliar sights.
"Wow, it’s so pretty! Oh, that flower looks like a query tree! Oh, is that a pump over there?"
Seeing her so happy made Jin glad he had brought her along.
Most of the houses were stone, mainly granite, though a few incorporated wooden elements. By the time they circled back to the central intersection, the sundial showed it was nearly eight o’clock.
"Looks like perfect timing. Let's head to Gloria-san's house."
A five-minute walk from the intersection brought them to Gloria’s gate. An elderly man who looked like a butler was already standing outside.
"Are you Jin-sama and his companions?"
When Jin confirmed they were, the butler bowed deeply.
"We have been expecting you. The young lady is waiting. Please, come this way."
He opened the front door and led them inside.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The interior of the house was meticulously tidy.
"Right this way."
The butler escorted them to a drawing room at the back of the ground floor.
"Welcome, Jin-dono and your sisters."
Gloria was waiting for them, now fully dressed. Her blouse was modestly decorated with lace, but the fabric was stretched tight over her generous bust. As part of her informal ritter attire, a dagger hung from a cord that bit diagonally into the valley between her breasts. Her silk riding breeches were a tasteful shade of purplish-grey with a soft luster. Her bright brown hair was neatly styled, accented by a simple gold clip.
However, what truly caught Jin’s eye was the wall behind her, which was decorated with dozens of swords.
"Thank you for the invitation," Jin said, acting as the group’s representative.
Gloria waved his formality away. "As I said before, you’re a traveler from abroad. You can be more relaxed with me. My own speech is hardly formal, as you can tell."
She had a blunt, masculine way of speaking, likely due to her profession. The butler frowned slightly at her tone but remained silent.
She invited them to sit and signaled the butler to prepare tea and refreshments.
"Please, have some tea and relax."
The tea served was the same variety as the one from Kaina Village, brewed from the same type of tea leaves. The familiar taste put Jin, Elsa, and Hanna at ease. Reiko, however, did not touch hers.
"Hmm? What's the matter? Does the young lady... Reiko-san, was it? Is she not going to drink?"
Having prepared for this, Jin answered honestly.
"Reiko is an automata, so she does not require food or drink."
Gloria’s eyes went wide.
"W-What? An automata?...She’s magnificent! I suppose I should expect nothing less from an Honorary Magi Craftman!"
Gloria was visibly shocked and began to heap praise on Reiko’s craftsmanship. Jin, however, found himself more preoccupied with the impressive collection on the wall behind her.