When Reinhard emerged from Berche’s room, he found Jin standing in the hallway.
“Jin? Is something wrong?”
“Yeah, I was hoping we could talk for a bit.”
The two moved to Jin’s room to speak in private.
“So, what’s on your mind?” Reinhard asked, taking a seat.
“Well, first off, I wanted to apologize for Reiko being a bit inconsiderate earlier.”
At Jin’s signal, Reiko stepped forward.
“Thinking back on it, I realized her performance might have made Berche-san and Neon lose face...”
Jin reached out and patted Reiko on the head as he spoke.
In truth, when Reiko had made her regular report to Laojun, he had pointed out that such a blunt approach could easily disgrace the other party and cause offense if handled poorly.
“Reiko says she only did it to defend my honor, but I’ve cautioned her to be more mindful of other people’s feelings in the future.”
Reiko looked visibly dejected. Reinhard, however, simply laughed and waved it off.
“Is that all? Berche isn't bothered by it at all. If anything, it’s her own fault for asking Reiko-chan to show off in the first place.”
Reinhard explained that he had been praising Jin so much that she likely just wanted to see the extent of his skills for herself.
“She doesn't mind one bit. Besides, Neon even mentioned that she wants to be friends.”
Hearing that, Jin’s face finally relaxed.
“If that’s the case, then I’m glad... There’s one more thing, though. It’s about Elsa.”
Jin had been wondering how Reinhard planned to report the status of Elsa, who was currently residing in Kaina Village.
“Ah, about that.”
Reinhard offered an explanation from his official standpoint.
While he had received permission from the state for her to accompany him, Elsa’s presence had always been separate from his formal duties.
It was a somewhat calculated way to put it, but after Elsa had briefly disappeared in Ikasanat, her biological brother Fritz had explicitly stated that she was no longer Reinhard’s responsibility.
“Therefore, I have no obligation to report on her. I intend to keep quiet until I’m asked directly.”
“...But Elsa knew about Berche-san. Didn't she ask you where Elsa was?”
“Yes, she knows Elsa and I set out together, but she also knows Fritz went to retrieve her. She probably just assumed Elsa had returned with him and didn't think twice about her absence.”
Reinhard gave a somewhat lonely smile, noting it wasn't something he needed to bring up right now.
“It’s not like we’ll never see each other again. Once I finish my official reports and return to my family estate, I’ll explain everything properly.”
“I see... Reinhard, when that day comes, I’ll invite you and Berche-san to Kaina Village.”
Seeing the lingering melancholy on Reinhard’s face, Jin offered the invitation with a warm smile.
“I’d like that very much. I’m sure it would be a wonderful trip.”
Reinhard’s expression brightened as he returned the smile.
After Reinhard left, Jin turned to his daughter.
“Reiko, I’m sorry.”
Reiko was taken aback by the sudden apology.
“F-Father?!”
“I haven’t really let you act much like a girl, have I? That’s my fault.”
“That is not true! Father has always...”
Jin cut her off with a gentle embrace.
“No. Even though I call you my daughter, I realized I’ve been leaving all the rough work to you. I’ve been relying on you far too much for the dangerous things.”
“Father...”
Jin and Reiko stayed up late into the night, talking together.
May 13th. The day they were scheduled to reach Loizart, the capital of the Shouro Empire.
Jin was woken by Reiko’s voice just before 6:00 AM. Jin had requested to be up by 5:00, but Reiko had used her discretion to let him sleep a little longer since he had been up so late.
“Father, it is time. The weather is quite lovely today.”
“...Yeah, I’m up.”
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Jin got out of bed, washed up, and changed. He stepped outside the inn to find the sky clear and bright once again.
At the carriage parking area, Steward was standing watch.
“Good morning, My Lord.”
“Morning. Good work on the watch, Steward.”
Jin climbed into the carriage, followed closely by Reiko.
『Good morning, My Lord.』
Laojun’s voice greeted him from Hourai Island via the Linkage.
“Morning. Anything new in the village?”
『Nothing out of the ordinary. I have deployed a new set of Five-Colored Golem Maids to Kaina Village. Their serial numbers all end in 101.』
With Butler units B and C, the five maids, Barrow, and Belle—plus Mine working part-time—Jin’s castle now had more than enough staff to function.
“Good, that’s a relief. We’ll take things slow in the village. Drastic changes usually cause more harm than good.”
『Understood. Additionally, I have received word that Lishia-san is heading toward the village as a diplomatic envoy and ambassador from the Klein Kingdom.』
“Lishia is?”
Considering she had visited before as a tax collector and already knew Jin, she was a logical choice for the role.
『She will likely stay in the Town of Charles tonight.』
“Is she traveling by horse?”
『Yes. At her current pace, she should stay in Toka Village tomorrow and arrive in Kaina Village after noon the following day.』
It was rare for an envoy to ride so hard during peacetime, but Laojun’s calculations were rarely wrong.
The only real stretch she would have to rush through was between Toka Village and Kaina Village, as the only available lodgings there were simple rest huts.
“So she’ll arrive on the 15th... I’d head back if I could, but things are still up in the air here.”
Jin had no way of knowing what awaited him at the capital, so he couldn't commit to a return date just yet.
After finishing the morning reports, Jin headed off to take care of his top priority: a bath.
The towns they had stayed in recently lacked proper bathing facilities, likely due to water scarcity. Jin, who loved his baths, had reached the limit of his patience with mere sponge baths.
Since they were reaching the capital today, he suspected he might not have another chance to sneak away for a while.
“Phew... Nothing beats a real soak.”
Though he couldn't linger for as long as he wanted, Jin stretched his limbs out in the hot water and relaxed. Reiko sat beside him.
“Father, we finally reach the capital today.”
“Yeah, the capital of the Shouro Empire. I’m looking forward to it. There are big lakes nearby, right?”
“Yes. Reinhard-san calls them Lake Tosmo and Lake Shuju. Because of them, the capital region is famously lush and water-rich compared to the rest of the country.”
Reiko was often better informed than Jin, as she spent her time listening to the group’s conversations and processing data from Laojun.
Knowing he couldn't be away for long, Jin finished washing up and left the bath.
“Alright, let’s get going,” he said, before returning to Riale.
“Reinhard-sama, the morning air is so refreshing, isn’t it?”
When Jin stepped out of his carriage, he happened upon Reinhard and Berche enjoying a morning stroll, walking arm-in-arm.
“Morning, Reinhard, Berche-san.”
The couple stopped to return the greeting.
“Good morning, Jin.”
“Good morning to you, Jin-sama.”
Jin half-expected Reinhard to ask about the carriage again for Berche’s sake, but he didn't. After their brief greeting, the two continued their walk, looking quite comfortable in each other’s company.
“...They really are close.”
Perhaps sensing something in his tone, Reiko gently tugged on Jin’s sleeve.
“...Father, I am here for you.”
“Reiko?”
“...No matter what happens, I will always be by your side.”
Jin felt a surge of warmth at her concern and silently stroked her head. Reiko narrowed her eyes happily, leaning into his touch.
With a final pat on her shoulder, Jin headed back to the inn. Reinhard and the others returned about fifteen minutes later, and after a quick breakfast, the party prepared to depart.
“Jin, I’ll be traveling in my own carriage today. I’d like you to follow at the very rear of the procession.”
Reinhard spoke with a professional air. Since this was his official return to the country, he had to maintain appearances. Berche, who wasn't part of the official delegation, would be heading back separately.
“Understood. I’ll follow your lead.”
“Sorry about that. Normally I’d want to point out the sights along the way.”
“Jin-dono, I’ve assigned two of my men to you,” Mattheus added. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.”
Mattheus was also back in his role as a captain of the guards today, ensuring Reinhard’s safety.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“All right, prepare to move out!”
Thirty minutes later, the party left Riale. They passed through the towns of Hald and Nia, stopping for a late lunch in Hore. There, everyone took a final moment to straighten their clothes and check their equipment.
The next stop was the capital.
One thing that deeply impressed Jin was that the highway from Riale onward was paved. It was likely treated with Hardening magic, which allowed the carriages to travel thirty percent faster.
Jin realized this was probably why Reinhard hadn't suggested Berche ride in his carriage; the road was smooth enough that the standard carriages were perfectly comfortable.
After Nia, the houses along the road became a continuous line. Easy access to water was clearly a major draw for the population.
Once they cleared Hore, the density increased even more. The houses transitioned from single-story dwellings to two-story buildings, with three-story structures appearing more and more frequently.
Most were stone, but there were even three-story wooden buildings, showcasing the high level of local engineering.
Jin wasn't an architect, but he found the evolving landscape fascinating.
Soon, a massive moat came into view. Instead of traditional castle walls, the capital of Loizart was protected by a vast network of canals.
It reminded him of the town of Jiron, but these moats were over three times wider and looked significantly deeper. Ships moved along the waterways, clearly serving as a major transport and logistics artery.
Long stone bridges spanned the moats, integrated with the main highway. Jin noticed that parts of the bridge flooring were made of wood—likely designed to be burned away to stall an invading army.
“The moat has to be at least sixty meters wide. And those bridge piers are over ten meters high. It really does feel like a water capital.”
That was Jin’s first impression of the city.
The bridges were nearly ten meters wide themselves, allowing carriages to pass each other without slowing down.
“There are four major bridges like this, one for each cardinal direction,” Reiko added, relaying the specifics from Laojun.
Mattheus led the way at the front of the column. After a brief check, the soldiers guarding the capital split to either side to let the procession through.
Finally, it was Jin’s turn at the rear.
His strange carriage, driven by a golem and pulled by a golem horse, was a bizarre sight. He expected to be stopped, but word must have been sent ahead, as he was allowed through without a single question. It was a testament to the trust Mattheus and his men commanded.
With that, Jin steered his carriage into Loizart, the Imperial Capital of the Shouro Empire.