"Reiko, you did a great job."
Jin praised Reiko and stroked her head. Her expression was even more radiant than usual.
"...I can feel Father's hand."
"Edgar, Ar, you did well too."
Following Jin's lead, Saki and Elsa each took a moment to praise their own automata.
"Ar, thank you for your hard work."
"Edgar, you were wonderful."
Jin turned his attention to Jessie and Kurt. Jessie had scraped her elbows, knees, and palms. He moved to cast healing magic but then hesitated.
If he healed the wounds while sand and dirt were still trapped inside, the grit would remain embedded under her skin. Instead, Jin opted for 'Condense', a spell that gathered moisture from the atmosphere.
While it didn't create a vast amount of water, it was more than enough to wash out a wound. As Jessie made a face like she was about to cry from the stinging sensation, Jin spoke to her gently.
"Just a little longer. 'Cure.'"
He applied healing magic to the clean wounds, and Jessie's injuries vanished. The girl, who had been on the verge of tears, broke into a wide smile.
"Thank you, Jin Onii-chan!"
"Think nothing of it," Jin replied, patting her head before turning toward Kurt.
Since Kurt had been unconscious, Jin had left his care to Elsa.
Despite only being a beginner-level student in his eyes, Elsa had acquired significant knowledge of modern medicine. She performed a Shouro Empire-style 'Diagnose' and informed Jin that, aside from the external abrasions and a bone fracture, there were no other abnormalities.
It didn't look like he had suffered any head trauma. The fracture was a closed one as well; the bone hadn't broken the skin.
Jin used his own application of 'Analyze' to double-check, and it seemed her assessment was correct.
"'Heilung.'"
Elsa chanted the Shouro-style healing magic. It was a mid-level spell capable of mending bones. The abrasions faded away instantly. Then, she went a step further.
"'Genesung.'"
Elsa cast the supreme magic as a precaution to ensure no lasting damage remained in his internal organs or brain, and to prevent any potential infections.
"Uuuh..."
Thanks to her efforts, Kurt regained consciousness a few moments later.
"Huh?"
Kurt opened his eyes and looked around blankly. He eventually realized everyone was standing over him.
"What... what happened to me?"
"Kurt, you dummy! We were so worried!"
Seeing tears welling in the eyes of Hanna and Patty, Kurt's memory returned.
"Oh, right. I was trying to pick Wylies and fell off the cliff."
"Kurt, what was the first thing I told you? Don't go anywhere dangerous."
"Yeah... sorry, Jin-niichan."
Jin gave Kurt's head a firm, rough rub.
"It looks like you're actually reflecting on it. Don't let it happen a second time, okay?"
"I won't."
Jin peered into the boy's face. Seeing an expression of genuine remorse, he decided that was enough of a lecture.
The boy would likely get a much harsher scolding from his father, Dave, once they got home. Jessie would surely face the same from her father, Howard.
"Alright everyone, let's head back."
"Okay!"
Despite his announcement, Jin ended up at the very back of the group again alongside Saki.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...and that is the long and short of it. I was right there with them, and yet... I am so sorry!"
Jin went to Dave's house first and gave an honest account of the accident.
"Jin, there's no need to apologize. You and Reiko-chan—and Elsa-san too—you saved my son's life."
With those words, Dave forgave Jin and turned a stern gaze toward Kurt.
"Now, you foolish boy. I don't recall raising a son who can't recognize danger when it's right in front of him!"
"Sorry, Dad."
Dave delivered a single, sharp rap to Kurt's head. With that, the scolding was finished.
Jin and the others then took Jessie to Howard's house. There too, Jin received nothing but gratitude; not a single word of blame was cast his way.
By the time they finished, evening had arrived.
"Sigh... I'm exhausted."
Jin was feeling the weight of the difficulty involved in supervising children.
Dave and Howard both believed that the risks of going into the forest were a matter of personal responsibility, even for children, but Jin still felt a lingering unease.
If only he had more physical stamina. If only he had gone deeper into the forest with them.
Even though he knew that "what ifs" were a pointless exercise, he couldn't help his regret.
Elsa, seeing him in such a state, reached out. She gave the sleeve of his coat a small tug.
"Jin-nii, don't blame yourself so much. I should have paid more attention to them too. I'm just as responsible for failing to do that."
Hearing her words, the tension in Jin's face softened ever so slightly.
"Yeah. Thanks, Elsa. You're right... and if you hadn't been there, we wouldn't have been able to treat Kurt immediately. Thank you, truly."
Indeed, Reiko had not yet fully mastered all of Elsa's healing magic. Though, after watching her today, she had finished recording nearly all of it.
"No, it's fine. I only did what I could."
Elsa shook her head, gesturing that it was only natural.
Saki, who had been watching their exchange, spoke up quietly.
"Heh. Elsa, you've really grown up, haven't you? I'm almost ashamed of how little I could do."
Elsa reached out and took Saki's hand as well.
"That isn't true. Everyone should simply do what they are capable of. I did what I could. That's all."
"Phew... I really can't compete with her."
Saki finally managed to offer a small, genuine smile.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...and that's the situation."
After dinner, Jin took Reiko with him to Hourai Island to consult with Laojun.
"I want to create a map of the dangerous spots around Kaina Village and reinforce any areas that look like they might collapse."
"That is a sound plan. It would be wise to prioritize the deployment of the Land units to those specific locations."
"Yeah, I'll leave the details to you."
"Understood."
Following this, Laojun would further strengthen the 'Koushin' monitoring system. If a villager approached a hazardous area, a Land unit, or perhaps Gon or Gen, would be dispatched to intercept them.
As Jin began to implement these measures, he slowly started to regain his usual energy.
(Thank goodness...)
Inwardly, Reiko felt a wave of relief.
(Father really is at his most vibrant when he's building something.)
"My Lord, I have a report."
Once they had finished their primary meeting, Laojun spoke up again.
"Regarding the 'rice' from the Shouro Empire we have been trying to secure—as I previously reported, we have accumulated approximately one ton each of three different varieties in the warehouse. Furthermore, we have obtained seedlings and finished the first rice planting just today."
"What! That's fantastic news!"
Jin's mood did a complete about-face. The news was so perfectly timed that it almost seemed as if Laojun had been waiting for the exact moment he needed a distraction.
"We have also planted tea tree seedlings, so we expect a harvest in the near future."
"Oh, I'm looking forward to that."
"In addition, we have successfully produced stick agar from a seaweed variety similar to agarweed."
"Oh! That's the first I've heard of that."
Various types of seaweed could be collected from Tatsumi Bay. So far, they had managed to harvest kombu, wakame, nori, agarweed, and sargassum—the latter of which was used for making seaweed salt.
"We are now prepared for the mass production of both nori and kombu."
While Jin had been away on his travels, a significant amount of marine resources had been accumulated on Hourai Island.
"The seaweed from Tatsumi Bay is also exceptionally high in free ether content, allowing for indefinite preservation within the Ether Stocker."
"This is great. I know—next time, let's try making onigiri. Even with just salt and nori, they'll be delicious."
Knowing that he could finally recreate those nostalgic flavors, Jin's imagination began to run wild.
Watching him, Reiko and Laojun both felt a deep sense of peace.