"So, are Rai-nii and Berche-san really coming?"
"Yeah. I’ve invited them here for the day after tomorrow."
Jin told Elsa the news about Reinhard and the others.
"I’m looking forward to it."
As they spoke, Martha chimed in with a question for Jin.
"Well then, Jin, will Saki-san be staying at your castle?"
"Yes, that's the plan."
"Then I’ll stay as well," Elsa added.
"Sure, that's fine. In that case, Martha-san, why don't you have dinner at Nidou Castle tonight?"
Thinking that food always tasted better when shared, Jin invited both Martha and Hanna. Mine would also be coming along to help with the service.
"That sounds lovely. It might be nice for a change."
"Yay! I can’t wait!"
With both Martha and Hanna in agreement, the entire group made their way toward Nidou Castle. Sara and Butler A remained behind to look after the house.
"It hasn't been since the banquet that I've visited Jin's castle."
Martha seemed a bit giddy herself as she walked.
"Ah, Jin-sama, welcome back!"
Whether it was thanks to her keen eyesight or simply good timing, Belle stepped out from the entrance of Nidou Castle to greet them.
"I'm back. Has everything been alright while I was gone?"
"Yes! Both Barrow and I are doing very well. Oh, do we have a guest?"
Belle looked curiously at Saki. While she was familiar with Martha, Hanna, and Elsa, Saki was a new face.
"Yeah. This is Saki. She's my guest—an alchemist from the Shouro Empire."
"Oh, is that so?"
Saki looked at the girl and then turned to Jin. "Jin, is she from there as well?"
"Yeah. Belle and our apprentice butler, Barrow, are both from the Shouro Empire."
Belle smiled and picked up the explanation. "That's right. We had gone to find work in the Celuroa Kingdom, but the noble family we served fell from power, and we were let go..."
She sugarcoated the reality of their situation slightly as she spoke.
"I see. You must have gone through a lot of hardship."
"No, I'm very happy being allowed to work here now."
"Belle, you shouldn't keep everyone standing around talking....Jin-sama, welcome back."
Barrow stepped out from inside and lightly chided her.
"Ah, my apologies!"
Belle hurried to bow and began attending to the group. Saki watched the two of them with a warm, amused smile.
The party moved into the first-floor dining room to continue their conversation. Saki seemed quite taken with Martha’s personality and spent some time asking her various questions.
"It seems you’ve come from a very distant land, Saki-san. You have a bit of a different air about you than Jin."
"You can tell?"
"Oh, I certainly can. It’s the speech patterns, I suppose. Your accent is just a little different."
What Martha referred to as "patterns" was actually the accent. Within the Allied Kingdoms, there were almost no distinct dialects, but regional accents were inevitable.
In Jin's case, his accent leaned toward that of the Klein Kingdom, so he had been accepted without any sense of incongruity from the start. Furthermore, thanks to his long association with Reinhard and Elsa—and the linguistic knowledge bestowed upon him during his summoning—Jin was able to unconsciously adjust his speech and accent to match whoever he was talking to.
"Jin-nii, was Berche-san beautiful?" Elsa asked, her curiosity piqued by the topic of the wedding.
"Yeah, she was beautiful."
"Honi-hyan, tell me more! Every detail!" Hanna chimed in, equally eager.
As the conversation grew lively, the rhythmic sound of a bell echoed through the castle: Clang, clang.
"Hmm? What's that?"
Butler B emerged from the back to answer Jin’s question.
"It is the Bell of Time. We ring it at seven in the morning, noon, and five in the afternoon. It is currently a trial run, but the reception has been quite favorable."
"I see."
Jin suspected this was one of Laojun’s ideas, but he kept that to himself in front of Martha and the others. Still, he was ninety-nine percent sure. Laojun is doing some fine work, he thought.
"Everyone, it is now five o'clock. May I begin the preparations for the meal?"
Barrow spoke with steady, refined movements. Standing behind him, Mine nodded, clearly pleased with the results of her tutoring.
"Yes, please do."
"Certainly."
As Barrow headed toward the kitchen, even his back looked a bit more reliable than before.
The dinner menu was a blend of Klein Kingdom style—specifically Kaina Village—and Shouro Empire cuisine. Saki seemed to enjoy the balance of familiar comforts and new, exotic flavors.
After the meal, Jin had genuine green tea served, which was part of the stash he had received from Reinhard.
"Heh, this tea is delicious."
"I like this taste!"
"...Green tea?"
Martha, Hanna, and Elsa each reacted in their own way. Jin, meanwhile, was privately mourning the fact that he had already finished all the bean paste.
Martha and Mine headed back to their house before it got too dark, while Elsa stayed behind with Saki. As for Hanna:
"Since you have a guest, I’ll go home tonight so I don't get in the way. Honi-hyan, see you tomorrow!"
She spoke with surprising maturity before heading out with Martha.
"Hanna’s really growing up, isn't she?"
Jin felt a mix of pride and a lingering sense of loneliness.
"Well then, why don't you two go wash off your travel sweat in the bath?"
Jin usually preferred to bathe before a meal, but he had missed his chance today because they had been talking for so long.
Nidou Castle was equipped with guest baths. Unfortunately, there were no heat veins nearby, so it wasn't a natural hot spring. There was a family bath on the first floor and a large public-style bath in the basement. Elsa and Saki headed for the family bath.
"Ho, so instead of just pouring water over yourself, there's an actual tub to soak in! This is wonderful," Saki said with genuine admiration as she stepped into the bathroom after undressing.
"The hot spring in the village is even better, though," Elsa added.
"A hot spring? What’s that?"
"Hot water that bubbles up from the ground. We use it for the baths. It’s Kaina Village's specialty. Shall we go tomorrow morning?"
"Heh, I’ll look forward to that."
After washing up, Saki sank into the tub and stretched out her limbs. "Ah—soaking in hot water really is the best. It’s so relaxing."
"Saki-nee, are you still keeping such irregular hours?" Elsa asked, stretching out beside her.
Saki made an awkward face at the pointed question. "Kufufu, I have no excuse. However, since Jin made Ar for me the other day, things have been improving."
"That laugh hasn't changed at all."
"Kufu, everyone says that. Is it creepy?"
"No. I just think it's very like you, Saki-nee."
"Kufufu, Elsa, you really are a sweetheart." Saki smiled warmly and stroked Elsa's head. "That automaton... you said you made him together with Jin and Rai-nii, right?"
"Yeah. It was fun. And you made Edgar, wasn't it? You built him yourself?" Saki asked in return.
"Mm. Because Jin-nii was there for me."
Saki stared intently at Elsa for a moment. "Yeah, Elsa, you’ve definitely matured. Your air is different than it was before you left on your journey."
"Is it?"
"I imagine you experienced a great deal out there. Won't you tell me all about it?"
"Mm."
And so, the two of them continued their long talk, first in the bath and then in the guest room long after they had dried off, catching up on everything that had passed between them.