"Here you go! Please, help yourselves."
A large platter had been placed in the center of the round table. On it sat...
"...University Potatoes?"
Indeed, they were sweet potatoes, deep-fried and glazed in syrup—a dish that looked exactly like Daigaku-imo.
"Hm? University Potatoes?" Saki asked, having overheard Jin’s mumble.
"Oh, ah. That’s just what we call them back where I’m from."
"Kufufu, how curious. 'University' Potatoes? I’d love to hear the story behind that name eventually, but for now, let's eat."
Saki began moving the potatoes onto her own small plate. Meanwhile, an attending maid made the rounds, pouring tea for everyone.
"Jin, we just call these 'That' around here. Berche has always been good at making them. I've had her prepare them for me quite often over the years."
"...Yes, they're delicious. They’re filled with Lady Berche’s affection, since she clearly wants Reinhard to enjoy something tasty."
"Oh, you’re making me blush," Berche said, looking bashful at Saki’s comment. Saki, meanwhile, was already working on her third piece.
"I think these would be wonderful with maple syrup as well," Jin remarked between bites.
In addition to simple syrup, one could use honey or maple syrup. Jin’s suggestion was met with nods of approval from everyone at the table.
"I see! Maple syrup! That does sound like it would be a perfect match!"
"I still have some itopo that have only been fried, so I’ll try drizzling some on those in a moment."
It seemed these sweet potato look-alikes were called itopo.
Incidentally, while Reiko was currently staying with Ar on Jin’s orders and wasn't present, a member of the Secret Mobile Unit—the SP who guarded Jin from the shadows—was there. One of the golems, Canna, reported the discovery to Laojun.
It went without saying that, following Laojun's subsequent orders, itopo would be located and sent back to Hourai Island.
"Ooh! This is excellent as well!"
"The sweetness of the itopo and the maple syrup creates a truly exquisite flavor."
"Jin-sama, thank you for the wonderful suggestion."
Reinhard beamed, Saki savored the taste, and Berche offered her thanks to Jin.
The tea party concluded in a warm, peaceful atmosphere.
＊ ＊ ＊
When the three of them finished their tea and returned to the detached workshop, they were met with a surprising sight.
"...Oh?"
Ar was slowly dancing, her hand held by Reiko.
"Reiko?"
At Jin’s call, Reiko stopped the dance and turned around.
"Welcome back, Father. Ar is doing quite well now."
Reiko explained that since Ar was now able to handle clay without any problems, she had begun acclimating her to more complex movements.
True to her word, several lumps of clay shaped into spheres, cubes, and even plates had been placed on the table.
"She's progressed this quickly?" Reinhard asked, his voice full of wonder.
"Yes. It seems that once she grasped the fundamental knack for it, the rest came easily."
"I see. The sub-control core has already begun cataloging the data, then."
Jin observed the progress with great interest. He was particularly attentive since he planned to add a sense of touch to Reiko and the others in the near future.
"Alright, Ar. Try picking this up."
Jin used Craft Magic to create a sphere and placed it on the table. It appeared to be made of iron and looked quite heavy.
"Yes, Creator-sama."
Ar replied and reached for the sphere, lifting it with perfect grace.
"Oh! Well done, Ar!...Now, put it back exactly as it was."
The iron ball was returned to the table. It didn't make even the slightest clink.
"Reinhard, why don't you try?"
Jin looked at Reinhard, who seemed like he wanted to ask something, and gave him a mischievous grin.
"Hm? This?"
Reinhard reached out for the sphere and... promptly crushed it flat in his hand.
"Whoa!"
Contrary to its solid appearance, the ball had been a thin, hollow shell. Having been deceived by its looks, Reinhard had applied far too much force, causing it to collapse.
"Hahaha, how was that? By touching and gripping it, Ar was able to use the resulting sensation to apply exactly the right amount of pressure," Jin said happily. Saki let out a joyful laugh of her own.
"Kufufufu! Jin, I am truly looking forward to seeing just how much this sense of touch will advance Automata technology!"
＊ ＊ ＊
After that, the group brought Ar back to the main house. Berche was waiting for them there, accompanied by a maid.
The maid was carrying a set of clothes.
"Reinhard-sama, you mustn't leave an Automata unclothed indefinitely."
Berche gestured toward the clothes held by the maid.
"If I may be so bold, these are garments I had prepared for my own maids. They are brand new, so please accept them as a gift to celebrate Ar's completion."
"Oh, thank you....Wait, Bell, does Ar look like a woman to you?"
"Eh?"
Jin and Reinhard exchanged a glance. Saki laughed and spoke up.
"Lady Berche, Ar is meant to be androgynous. Which is to say, she is both and neither. Of course, an Automata's gender is usually determined by their outward appearance anyway."
"...Is that so? It seems I’ve jumped to conclusions. How embarrassing."
Jin stepped in to reassure her.
"No, Lady Berche. We want Ar to be able to act as either a butler or a maid depending on the circumstances. In that sense, your impression isn't wrong at all."
"Oh, thank you, Jin-sama."
After a group consultation, a decision was reached.
In the end, they settled on a combination of a woman’s blouse and a butler’s suit.
Berche provided the blouse, while Reinhard’s butler, Claude, offered a brand-new butler’s suit.
Since neither garment fit perfectly—the blouse was too loose in the chest for Ar and also too short, while Claude’s suit was much too large—Jin and Reinhard used their Craft Magic to tailor the clothes to her exact measurements.
"Oh, she actually looks quite sharp in that."
She now had the aura of a dashing beauty in men's clothing.
"Alright, Ar. If you spend a few days helping out here at Reinhard’s house, you’ll learn the customs and etiquette of the Shouro Empire in no time."
Ar nodded at Jin’s words.
"Understood, Creator-sama. I will do my absolute best for the sake of my Master."
Saki gazed at Ar with a satisfied smile.
"Kufufu, I’m truly looking forward to this. Reinhard, Jin... I really can’t thank you both enough."
"Don't worry about it, Saki."
"Exactly. We built her because we wanted to, and we learned a lot in the process."
The two friends smiled back at her.
＊ ＊ ＊
Over the next few days, Ar assisted the maids and the butler at Reinhard’s family estate, quickly mastering all her duties. Given that her core logic was based on the Golem Maids of Hourai Island, this was to be expected.
During this time, Saki remained at the estate as well, spending busy but fulfilling days engaged in daily discussions and prototyping sessions with Jin and Reinhard.
Then, May 28th arrived.
After breakfast, as they gathered in the workshop for what had become their routine morning discussion, Saki spoke up.
"Reinhard, Jin. Ar is now fully capable—no, she's more than capable. I think it’s about time I headed home."
Before Reinhard could respond to Saki, Jin added his own piece.
"Yeah, you're right. I think I’ll go stay at Saki’s place for a while as well."
Reinhard was thrown into a sudden panic.
"W-Wait a minute, both of you! What’s going on? Did I do something wrong? Was I a poor host?"
"..."
"..."
After a moment of silence, Jin was the one to answer.
"No, Reinhard... have you forgotten? You're about to have your wedding ceremony with Berche."
Saki nodded. "That's right, Reinhard. Kufufu, you really shouldn't keep a lady waiting."
"..."
"So, yeah. I’ll be staying over at Saki’s for the next week or ten days," Jin explained.
"Kufufu. Reinhard, don't worry about me. I've come to understand Jin quite well over the last few days."
"You two... are doing this for my sake? Actually..."
Reinhard finally confessed that his wedding to Berche was scheduled for three days from now.
"But can you really get everything ready in just three days?" Jin asked, his voice tinged with a bit of parental concern.
"Oh, that's not a problem. I hadn't mentioned it to you yet, but the plan was always to hold the ceremony on June 1st."
"Oh, well then! There was nothing to worry about after all."
Hearing that, Jin let out a relieved laugh.