"The ship Reiko was running... Ah, you mean the paddleboat?"
It was a propulsion system Jin had hastily constructed in the port town of Port Rock. He had replaced oars with paddlewheels, allowing for a unique form of movement.
By making the left and right wheels independent and having golems power them, the vessel didn't even require a rudder.
"Yes, that paddleboat. I’d like to try building one my own way once I'm back. Would that be alright?"
Typical Reinhard, Jin thought, half in admiration and half in exasperation that his friend wanted to dive back into magi craft the moment he arrived home.
"Of course I don't mind. But are you sure? What about Berche-san?"
Reinhard laughed at the question.
"There's no need to worry about Bell. She fell in love with me knowing exactly what kind of man I am."
It was a simple bit of bragging about his relationship.
"Oh, is that so? Good for you," Jin muttered with a wry smile.
＊ ＊ ＊
The following day, the 22nd, Jin’s party departed Koju at nine in the morning, heading for Banne on the opposite shore.
As Reinhard had described, the vessels were wide, shallow-bottomed boats.
Three of these boats were linked in a chain, towed by a larger ship at the front which carried the carriages.
They traveled at a leisurely pace of roughly six to seven kilometers per hour, making it about a three-hour voyage.
On board were four people: Jin, Reinhard, Reiko, and Reinhard's butler, Claude. The maids Beth and Dolly had already been given permission by Reinhard to return to their hometown of Banne ahead of them.
"Banne is my family's seat, the regional city at the heart of the Count Randol territory," Reinhard explained to Jin as they watched the water.
"Jin, I believe you’re familiar with the tax system in the Klein Kingdom? I’ve never visited personally, but I know the gist of it from my work as a diplomat."
Reinhard paused for a moment before continuing his explanation.
"Our Shouro Empire is divided into several territories, each governed independently."
Decentralization, then, Jin thought.
"Essentially, taxes are paid to the local lord. Then, each lord pays a fixed tax to the crown. Naturally, there are also lands under direct imperial control—mostly the areas along the major highways."
Centralization and decentralization both had their advantages and disadvantages. It seemed to Jin that smaller countries tended toward centralization while larger ones leaned toward decentralization—at least in this world.
"Our territory is governed by my father, Wolfgang Randol von Morgan. Within it, my uncle Georg Randol von Amber—Elsa’s father—governs the town of Ekishi as a small sub-territory. That’s where Elsa’s family home is."
"Elsa’s... I see."
Many nobles in the Shouro Empire did not hold significant land. Most were granted a single town within the territory managed by their main house, ruling it as a small fief.
"For context, our neighbor to the west is the territory of Marchioness Theoderic. Mattheus’s family governs two towns in that marquessate, Sagina and Mahahama."
It was quite a complex web of titles. Jin committed the outline to memory, filing it away as useful knowledge for the future.
As they chatted and enjoyed the view from the lake, the boat drew closer to the opposite shore.
This region of the Shouro Empire consisted of gentle, rolling plains that rose gradually toward the north.
The May Breeze blowing across the lake was neither hot nor cold, and the boat glided smoothly over the rippling surface.
When they were more than halfway across, a boat approached from the direction of their destination. It was a shallow-bottomed boat one size larger than the one they were currently on.
"That’s..."
"Reinhard-sama!"
It was Reinhard’s fiancée, Berche.
"This boat will be much more comfortable, don't you think?"
Jin, Reinhard, and Reiko transferred to the boat Berche had arrived in. Since there was luggage to consider, Claude remained behind on the original vessel.
"Since it is exactly noon, I have brought preparations for a meal."
With that, Berche ordered her Automata, Neon, to begin serving lunch.
There was bread cut into bite-sized pieces and various fruit jams. The fruit juice in the canteens had been chilled with ice magic.
The seared dried meat still held its warmth, as if it had only just been prepared.
Then came the salt-grilled pink tromon, a specialty of Lake Tosmo.
Everything was seasoned to perfection, leaving both Jin and Reinhard quite satisfied.
While the others ate, Reiko found herself idle. Neon sidled up to her and bowed her head politely.
"Reiko-san, good day. Do you happen to remember me?"
"...You were Neon-san, were you not?"
"Yes, that is correct! I am so happy you remembered me, Reiko-san."
"............"
Just as she had said back in the town of Riale, Neon clearly wanted to be friends. she spoke incessantly, trying to draw Reiko into conversation, but Reiko brushed her off with polite, noncommittal responses.
Eventually, the meal came to an end. Neon began to tidy up, and Reiko decided to lend a hand.
"Thank you, Reiko-san," Neon chirped.
Berche nodded to Jin and Reinhard with a bright expression.
"I hope the meal was to your liking," she said with a smile.
By then, Banne had grown close. A wide moat stretched far inland from the shore.
It seemed this city was the type to use water as a defense against invaders rather than stone walls.
After traveling through the moat for about twenty minutes, the boat docked at the harbor.
"Reinhard-sama, your father and all of your brothers have gathered today," Berche said as the boat pulled up to the pier.
"Ah, is that so? It really has been a long time since I’ve seen them."
As soon as the boat was moored, Reinhard disembarked and offered his hand to Berche.
She took it with a smile and stepped onto the dock beside him.
Watching this, Reiko disembarked ahead of Jin and offered her hand to him. Jin tilted his head, feeling as though something about the gesture was slightly off, but he let Reiko pull him up anyway.
A carriage from House Randol was already waiting at the harbor. Jin and Reiko boarded a large carriage along with Reinhard and Berche.
Since Berche's boat had been faster, the ship carrying their luggage and carriages hadn't arrived yet. House Randol would take responsibility for delivering the belongings and Jin’s carriage later.
After a fifteen-minute drive along a paved cobblestone road, the lord's Mansion came into view.
It was a sturdy, three-story stone building. It was perhaps a third the size of the Imperial Palace in Loizart.
While the spires on either side made it look distinct, other parts of the architecture were quite similar to the palace.
"Ah, I’ve missed this place!"
Watching Reinhard rejoice at being home, Berche smiled warmly.
＊ ＊ ＊
That night, the house was filled with excitement. They were celebrating Reinhard’s homecoming, the successful completion of his diplomatic mission, and a welcome party for their guest, Jin.
Jin had been feeling overwhelmed by the constant attention from the maids and butlers since arriving, but he endured it because Reinhard had promised it would be for "tonight only."
"Reinhard, you did well in your duties as a diplomat."
The man leading the toast was his father, Wolfgang Randol. He had grey hair and eyes—colors very similar to Reinhard’s—though his sturdy build was quite different.
"I have heard of the exploits of your Schwarzritter in the Celuroa Kingdom, and of Lorelei in the Kingdom of Elias," said the eldest son, Leonhardt Randol. He was the spitting image of his father.
"Jin-dono, I have heard much of you as well. I know you aren't one for formalities, but please, indulge us for this one evening."
The one who spoke next was the second son, Willhardt Randol. With platinum blonde hair and blue eyes, he seemed to take after his mother.
The third son, Erhardt Randol, remained silent but gave Reinhard a proud, dependable pat on the shoulder. He had his mother's blonde hair and his father's grey eyes.
Reinhard sat with Berche by his side, answering each of them in turn.
From his seat directly across from Reinhard, Jin could see the whole scene clearly.
"...A family, huh. It’s nice."
Having grown up in an orphanage, Jin didn't have a clear concept of a traditional family. For him, family was the Orphanage Director—who acted as mother and sometimes father—and the other children.
"Jin-san, would you mind if I called you that?"
"Ah, yes, please."
A tall beauty had approached him. She had a striking, hourglass figure—Reinhard’s mother.
"I am Isolde Randol von Tafel. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Y-Yes, likewise. It’s an honor."
Jin looked at her soft, welcoming aura and her proportions. I bet Reinhard's ideal woman is based on his mother, he thought.
"I understand you looked after my son during your travels. Allow me to thank you once more."
"No, I... I was the one who received a great deal of help from him."
"Ufufufu. You know, whenever that boy speaks of you, Jin-san, he looks as happy as if he were talking about himself. He has never had a friend like that. Please, continue to look after him."
"Yes, of course. If anything, I should be the one saying that."
"Oh my, how wonderful."
Isolde spoke a few more words with Jin before bowing politely and returning to her husband, Wolfgang.
After that, Leonhardt, Willhardt, and Erhardt each came over to greet Jin. Finally, the father, Wolfgang, approached.
"Jin-dono, I have heard many things from my son. I have only one thing to say: please continue to be a good friend to him."
"Yes, of course."
From his boisterous yet considerate manner, Jin felt a genuine liking for Reinhard’s father. In fact, he liked the whole family.
At the same time, the thought of Elsa crossed his mind.
If Reinhard’s mother is his ideal... does that mean he has a mother complex after all?