"Big brooother!"
Perhaps having caught the sound of Jin stepping out into the hallway, Hanna emerged from her room as well. Jin noticed she was wearing yet another different dress.
This one was sleeveless, held up by thin shoulder straps. The neckline was cut quite wide, but since Hanna was still a child with no figure to speak of, it didn't look the least bit provocative.
The skirt flared out softly, and with every step she took, a crisp rustling sound followed—likely from a pannier worn underneath.
"Jin, how goes it? Art thou halfway finished, perhaps?" Princess Lieschen asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Jin smiled at the princess and gave a succinct reply. "I’m all finished."
Clearly not expecting that answer, the princess's eyes went wide. "What didst thou say?!"
Though she didn't know much about what a magi craftman was, she had made her own estimations of how long such work would take. Jin had completely subverted her expectations—in the best way possible.
"Princess, it is true. Jin-sama is a wonderful person. He has completely repaired me as well," Tia added, stepping forward.
"T-Tia! Thou... thou art able to walk?!"
"Yes. Thanks to Jin-sama's kindness, I have been restored. My body is back to the way it was—no, it is even better than before. Now I can serve by your side forever, Princess."
"Is that so? Truly...!"
The princess lunged at Tia, who caught her firmly. Given that Tia’s legs had likely been failing her for years, this was probably the first time she had been able to do such a thing.
"See, just like this." As Tia spoke, she lifted the princess into her arms. It was a genuine princess carry.
"I am glad... so very glad..."
Seeing the princess even happier than she had been when Tia first woke up yesterday, Jin, Elsa, and Hanna all wore warm smiles.
"In truth, I wished to introduce thee to my father, the King..."
After they were treated to lunch, Jin and the others informed the princess that they wished to take their leave. Though she hesitated for a moment, the princess eventually nodded. She likely realized that forcing them to stay would not lead to a good result.
Just then, a voice called out. "Pardon the intrusion."
Jessica Norton, Captain of the Royal Female Ritter Corps, and Gloria Allstatt, the vice-captain, arrived together.
"Oh, Jin-dono is here as well." Jessica looked relieved to see them. "The analysis results for yesterday's golems have come in, so I came to report to the Princess. Since you all cooperated with us, you have the right to hear them as well."
The group moved to the reception room. Jessica’s eyes widened as she watched the now perfectly functioning automata working briskly around the room.
"Oh, their movements are unrecognizable from yesterday. Jin-dono, was this your doing?"
"Indeed. Jin has repaired every single automata here," the princess boasted.
"Ooh, I knew it! He truly is a first-rate magi craftman! To think he is as knowledgeable about automata as he is about swords... Ah, now that I think about it, he did have that magnificent automata by his side. As expected of the Kingdom of Egerea's Honorary Magi Craftman!"
The overly enthusiastic remarks came, of course, from Gloria. She was already wearing the short sword Jin had made for her at her waist.
Tia appeared, gracefully serving tea to the guests.
"P-Princess, wh-what is this?!" Seeing Tia, who had barely been able to move yesterday, moving normally today, Jessica’s eyes went wide as well.
"Hehe, art thou surprised? Jin repaired Tia today as well!" The princess took a sip of tea and spoke with immense pride. "More importantly, let us hear this report of thine."
"Y-Yes..." Wiping the sweat from her brow and straightening her posture, Jessica began her report. Her demeanor finally reflected the dignity expected of a captain of the Royal Female Ritter Corps.
According to her, the two captured golems had been secretly brought in by Unifilar, hidden in a wagon. Their objective was to wake up around noon on the 27th and throw Alban into chaos.
Hearing this, Jin imagined the situation. At the time they were brought in, Unifilar was still aggressively pursuing world conquest, and Jules and the others probably hadn't been able to reach this particular cell to stop them yet.
"The three suspicious individuals were indeed Unifilar operatives. However, regarding the 'Hypno' you previously mentioned... there were no signs of them being controlled in such a manner."
This was because many rank-and-file members, who were not executives, were willing to cooperate in the cause even without brainwashing. Jin had heard this from Jules and the others via Laojun.
"Unifilar, hm? A troublesome lot indeed..." The princess grimaced. Jin suppressed the urge to tell her that Unifilar was now functionally harmless.
"Thank you for the report. By the way, I intend to escort Jin and his companions to the city gate now. Wilt thou come as well?"
"Yes, if it is the Princess's command."
"Eh, Jin-dono, are you leaving already?" Jessica agreed immediately, while Gloria let out a small mutter of disappointment.
"I'll come visit again sometime," Jin said as he stood up. Elsa and Hanna followed suit. Reiko was holding the bag that should have been almost empty, but for some reason, it looked stuffed full.
The group headed for the southern city gate in the princess's carriage. Riding inside were Princess Lieschen, Tia, Jin, Elsa, Hanna, and Reiko. Jessica and Gloria rode on horseback, guarding the front and rear of the vehicle.
Hanna was still wearing the dress the princess had given her. She had received several others as well; in fact, the luggage Reiko was carrying was filled with the gifted clothes.
"That is right, I must give thee this. It is what thou didst ask for yesterday." The princess presented Jin and the others with an entry permit.
The silver-colored permit served as proof that the holder was a person recognized by the royalty. Portraits of Jin, Elsa, and Hanna had been engraved on it—though he wasn't sure when they had been sketched—ensuring that others could not use it.
"With this, thou mayest pass through the city gates at any time."
While ordinary citizens could only pass during the hours the gates were open—from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM—this silver permit allowed passage at any time, except during emergencies like war.
"Thank you very much." Jin accepted it gratefully. Since the portraits didn't show hair color, it would likely be fine even if they visited with different hair colors later.
"And this... this is a token of my gratitude." The princess handed Jin a heavy bag. "Fifty gold coins. I know not if this is appropriate, but it is the best I can do. Please, accept it."
Fifty gold coins was roughly 500,000 Toll. Jin immediately shook his head.
"Your Highness, this is far too much."
"Hm? I-is that so? But for me..."
"No. That money, in the end, comes from the taxes of the people. It is not right to use it wastefully," Jin advised her gently. He realized that a small fraction of those coins might even have come from the wheat he and his group had delivered the previous year.
"Muu... then how much wilt thou accept?"
Asked in return, Jin was a bit at a loss for words. "L-Let's see... perhaps about two gold coins?"
When he gave that modest answer, the princess took five gold coins out of the bag and pressed them into Jin's hand.
"What thou hast done for me is worth more than fifty gold coins. Please understand that. And listen, I understand thy feelings, but do not be too humble. To do so would be to lower the value of what thou hast achieved." She squeezed Jin's hand tight. "I have enjoyed getting to know thee. If thou art willing, wouldst thou be my friend?"
Jin and Elsa understood the princess's loneliness well. As for Hanna, she already adored the kind princess.
"Yes, gladly."
"It is an honor."
"Princess, you'll be my friend? Yay!"
There was no reason to refuse.
"Umu, I thank thee. Then, from now on, I wish for thee to call me Lies."
"Yes, Lies-sama."
"Lies-sama... if that is okay?"
"Lies-oneechan!"
"Ooh, that will do. Ah, today is a good day."
While they were talking, the carriage passed through the city gate and came to a stop. Jessica and Gloria galloped their horses toward the nearby forest to ensure no suspicious individuals were lurking nearby.
Jin had said the city gate would be enough, but the princess, seemingly reluctant to say goodbye, had insisted on accompanying them outside. She looked out the carriage window.
"Is thy carriage waiting nearby?"
To the princess's question, Jin could only give a vague "Well, something like that" in response.
"Very well. I do not intend to pry....Farewell, then. Please come to see me again someday."
Lieschen shook hands with each of them in turn. Then, the door was opened.
Before the footstool could even be placed, Hanna, who had been sitting closest to the door, was the first to hop down. She jumped down energetically, the sound of her pannier swishing as she landed.
In that instant, a figure lunged from the shadows, snatched Hanna, and pressed a dagger to her throat.