"That works out well. I had plenty of things I wanted to ask you, too, Jin-kun."
Accepting her answer, Jin guided Sally to the dining hall of Nidou Castle.
"Hoh, quite an unusual menu... I had those round, compressed things yesterday as well, and they were delicious. What are these?"
The "round, compressed things" she referred to were likely onigiri, Jin realized.
"It's rice. In my hometown, when it's cooked like this, we call it 'gohan.' The word is also used as a general term for a meal."
"I see. So this food called 'rice' is so widespread and beloved that it became synonymous with the act of eating itself. It certainly is tasty."
This morning's menu consisted of white rice, pickled greens, grilled fish, and sweet tamagoyaki.
Inside, however, Jin was silently crying out for miso soup, as he always did.
Putting his internal yearning aside, Sally seemed to have taken quite a liking to the rice.
"I've eaten cooked barley before, but the texture of this is incomparably better. You really are a man of mystery, Jin-kun."
"Haha, perhaps so."
"And you're quite dexterous. What are those... wooden sticks?"
While Sally was using a spoon, Jin held a pair of chopsticks. Sally watched him with genuine fascination.
"These are called chopsticks. In my hometown, we use them for every meal."
"Hoh, so you can use them to grip, pierce, and even tear? They have many uses."
Chatting idly, the two finished their breakfast and moved to the meeting room on the third floor. Belle served them tea and then withdrew.
"Phew. To put it simply, your castle is incredible," Sally said as soon as they were alone, her eyes sweeping across the room.
"S-So, what was it you wanted to ask?"
"Right. First, there's no mistake that this is the Klein Kingdom, correct?"
"Eh? Yes, this is a part of the Klein Kingdom. Though I hold it as a leased territory."
Hearing this, Sally nodded deeply before continuing.
"And how are the immigration procedures handled?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, we crossed national borders, right? I was wondering how you manage that."
"..."
Jin was at a loss for words. He had never actually given it much thought. The only time he’d even briefly considered it was when he entered the Shouro Empire from the Celuroa Kingdom.
"...Well, never mind. It's not as if it's a blatant crime."
In this world, where a formal family registry system did not exist, immigration control was lax. Unless one was a noble, royalty, a prominent merchant, or a celebrity, there were practically no penalties for moving about. In fact, peddlers were known to cross borders on their own accord quite frequently.
I should probably try to sound out the various countries about this later, Jin thought.
"Next, about you. Those 'Warp Gates,' as you called them... just who are you to possess such artifacts?"
The question he had been expecting finally arrived. Jin gave the same explanation he had once provided to Reinhard and the others: he was an orphan, he had been taught everything by his Master, he lived on a solitary island, and there were artifacts located there.
"I see. I think I generally understand. Well, I suspect you're still hiding something, but I don't intend to pry that far....Now then, what was your business?"
"Yes. Doctor, if possible, would you be willing to settle down in this village?"
"...So that's how it is."
Sally nodded, looking as though she had halfway expected Jin's request.
"I suppose so. From what I've seen, it looks like there will be more babies born here soon."
"Eh?"
Jin reflexively blurted out a confused noise. Sally looked at him with a wry smile.
"Haha, you may possess artifacts, but you're quite dense in other areas. From my observation alone, at least four more children will be born by the end of the year."
"What...?"
"The living conditions in this village seem to have improved significantly since last year, haven't they? That's likely the biggest factor."
Since Jin had arrived, he had improved the village in various ways. If those efforts were resulting in a population boom, it was a source of great pride for him.
"So, will you stay?"
"Yes, I suppose I will. I've only just arrived, but it seems like a comfortable village. And besides..."
"And besides?"
"...The book on that shelf over there caught my eye."
Laojun had produced several books to serve as decorations to give the meeting room an air of dignity. On the spine of one was the title Old Book on Anatomy.
(Why is it the 'Old' book?)
It was likely Laojun's unique sense of humor, a trait clearly inherited from Jin.
"May I take a look?"
"Ah, yes, please go ahead."
Jin had no choice but to agree. Sally took the book from the shelf and flipped through the pages.
"My, this is incredible! Human skeletons, muscles, internal organs... they're all illustrated with diagrams!...Wait, there's a colophon. 'First edition, 2446; Reprinted, 3434.' What?!"
(Laojun, you went way too far with the details...)
Jin hadn't looked through all the books himself, so this was the first time he found himself exasperated by the thoroughness of Laojun's work.
"I see. Your Master must have possessed academic texts from before the Great Magic War. And you've rewritten them like this... truly wonderful!"
"A-Ah, thank you."
Sally was overjoyed when Jin told her she was free to browse the books in the castle's library whenever she liked.
"Is that so! I'm glad to hear it. In that case, I'll be imposing on the village chief's house for a while."
According to Sally, it would be more convenient to be in the center of the village. Jin had considered letting her live in Nidou Castle or even building a house for her. After all, since he already planned to build a house for Erik to open his shop, he figured he might as well build hers at the same time.
"In that case, please let me know if you need anything. Oh, right—how about a golem assistant?"
"Ah, thank you. Right, you were a magi craftsman as well. I'd love to borrow one."
"Understood."
The morning discussion ended there. Sally borrowed the book and hurried off toward Giebeck's house.
Jin immediately warped to Hourai Island and asked Laojun about the progress of the Nurse Golems.
"Yes, My Lord. I have created three units as prototypes."
Three golems appeared before Jin. They wore white coats and nurse caps. Their overall appearance was slender, which Laojun explained was to avoid intimidating patients. However, something else caught Jin's attention.
"...Why do they look like Elsa?"
Indeed, all three units bore a striking resemblance to Elsa Randol.
"Yes. Since Elsa-san is the most skilled healer on Hourai Island, I did so out of respect for her."
"..."
"In Port Rock, My Lord created 'Arrow,' a golem who looked exactly like Marcia-san. And for Earl Kuzuma's request, you created 'Lotte,' who looked exactly like Beena-san. So this time..."
"A-All right, I get it."
The important part was the technical specifications. According to Laojun, the base was the same as the Golem Maids, but for hygiene, their surfaces were made of silver cladding. Cladding involved bonding two or more types of metal to enhance functionality; in this case, antibacterial silver was bonded to the surface. Since it was thicker than plating, it wouldn't wear down or peel.
"It's properly matte-finished, I see."
Silver has the highest reflectivity among metals. Simply put, it would be blindingly shiny. Thus, a matte finish had been applied, with some parts given an ibushi treatment—a sulfide film that turned the metal black.
"The difference between the three units is their tactile sensors. Alpha is Ar-type, Beta is Noir-type, and Gamma is Hourai Island-type."
He understood the Ar-type, but he needed clarification on the others.
"The Noir-type uses magical beast leather only on the palms and soles of the feet to increase the sensing capability of those specific areas. The Hourai Island-type involves alloying the silver cladding with mithril to generate mana potential."
"I see. In that case, let's lend Gamma to Sally-sensei for testing."
And so, Jin returned to Kaina Village with the Nurse Golem prototype, Gamma. Since it was closer to the chief's house, he exited through the workshop basement rather than the castle.
"Shall your name be 'Gamma'?"
"Yes, Master."
"Good. For the time being, I'm counting on you to be Sally-sensei's assistant."
As they walked, they arrived at Giebeck's house.
"Oh, Jin-kun, you brought her right away. Good, good. I am Sally Mileshann. I'll be in your care."
"Yes, Sally-sensei. I am called Gamma. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Hoh, hoh, your golems really are wonderful. Well then, let's head over to Linus's house. Since we haven't heard anything, I'm sure both mother and child are fine, but I want to be certain."
Elsa and Mine were likely still staying there to help.
It was only a short walk to the Linus residence. When he knocked on the door, Elsa appeared.
"Ah, Jin-nii... and the Doctor."
"Hello, you were Elsa, right? Are Sera-san and the baby doing well?"
At Sally's words, Elsa smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Doctor. Sera-san is eating normally, and the baby is nursing right now."
"I see, I see....May we come in?"
"Yes, please."
"Right, Gamma, come here."
"Yes, Doctor."
"...Ah."
Elsa's eyes went wide the moment she saw Gamma.
"Jin-nii..."
In the next second, she was glaring at him.
"N-No, the design was Laojun's! When we decided to make a Nurse Golem, they suggested making it look like Elsa, since you're the best healer on Hourai Island."
"..."
Elsa's expression was a complicated mix of emotions. Then, she spoke a single sentence.
"...I think I finally understand how Marcia-san and Beena feel now."