July 1st dawned.
Jin, who had "happened" to be back in Kaina Village, made an official appearance in his capacity as the leased territory lord to welcome Erik.
"Erik, I want you to help Kaina Village prosper. In exchange, we'll do everything we can to help the Raglann Company turn a profit."
"Thank you, Jin-san."
"...But if you ever make Barbara unhappy, I'll pluck it off, you hear?"
"Yes, sir... wait, pluck what off!?"
Mine stood a short distance away, listening to the exchange with a wry smile. Elsa was right beside her.
"Mine, what is Jin-nii talking about?"
Mine found herself at a loss for how to explain that particular threat.
Meanwhile, in the Shouro Empire.
At House Randol, Reinhard and Berche were finalizing their preparations to depart.
They were heading to Kalts Village, the territory granted to them by Reinhard's father, Count Wolfgang Randol.
Kalts was located between Ekishi and Banne, roughly a two-hour carriage ride away. The couple was traveling alone.
Following his father's instructions to arrange his own staff, Reinhard hadn't even brought a butler. Noir served as their coachman.
A single carriage carrying their luggage followed them, driven by Neon.
The Eschenbach Residence—Saki's home—lay along their route. Having been contacted by Jin via manacam, Reinhard made a quick detour to the estate.
"Hey there, Reinhard."
Jin and Saki were already waiting for them.
"Jin! Are you finished with your business already? And Saki, it’s been far too long!"
"It has, Reinhard. It’s thanks to Jin and Elsa, really. Now that Lisa has arrived, I’m finally free from my caregiving duties for my grandfather."
Saki’s manner of speech had reverted to its usual boyish style, but she seemed genuinely happy—likely because the Marquis’s condition had improved.
"I heard the news from Jin. You’re heading to Kalts Village?"
"Yeah. It’s a bit of a trial, honestly. My father told us we have to go on our own first and find our own aides once we arrive."
"Your father certainly doesn't believe in coddling," Saki said with a wry grin.
"Which brings me to this. Jin, once we've picked out a house over there, you should use it as your base of operations."
If they installed a Warp Gate in Reinhard's new home, they would be able to travel back and forth whenever they pleased. Jin gratefully accepted the offer.
"From what I’ve heard, there’s an old mansion still standing there. It used to be a villa for some noble. I’m planning to fix it up and live there."
"I see. I'll help you with the repairs."
"I'm curious to see it myself. Mind if I come along?" Saki asked.
And so, Jin, Reiko, Saki, and Ar set off for Kalts Village in the carriage Jin had brought back. Reinhard and Berche looked like they wanted to ride in Jin’s carriage as well.
They arrived at Kalts Village at 10:00 AM.
The village chief was there to meet them.
"Welcome, welcome. Would you be Lord Reinhard Randol? I am Boyd, the village chief of Kalts."
He was a middle-aged man of average build. His brown eyes were sharp and energetic, suggesting he was quite capable.
"Yes, I am Reinhard Randol. This is my wife, Berche."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lady."
After the introductions, Boyd looked toward Jin and the others.
"And who might these people be?"
"Ah, they are my friends. They came along to help me celebrate my new post."
Satisfied with the answer, Boyd led them toward the former noble's estate Reinhard had mentioned. Jin and Reinhard drove their carriages slowly, keeping pace with the chief's walking speed.
The estate sat on the outskirts of the small village, about a ten-minute walk away.
"Oh, look at this."
It was a two-story stone building. Though compact, it was built with a heavy, dignified air. Thick vines clung to the walls, giving the place a sense of antiquity.
"Thank you for the guide. There’s no great rush, so why don't we discuss village matters the day after tomorrow? For now, I’d just like to ask you to look after the horses."
They could handle the repairs and the move themselves, but caring for the animals was more than they could manage at the moment. Reinhard conveyed this to the chief.
"Understood. I shall take them into my care. Until the day after tomorrow, then."
Boyd led the four horses away. Even though the animals were well-behaved, the skill with which he handled all four at once suggested they were in good hands.
Reinhard took another look at the mansion. With a bit of work, it would be perfectly habitable.
"Well then, Bell, this will be our home from now on."
"Indeed. First, we must see to the cleaning."
Jin called out to them.
"Reinhard, I'll give you a hand."
"That would be a lifesaver."
The mansion was surrounded by towering trees; it was "peaceful" at best and "lonely" at worst. However, its seclusion was a distinct advantage when it came to avoiding prying eyes.
Jin used the Warp Gate built into his carriage to summon ten Smiths and ten Perido maids from Hourai Island.
"O-Oh?"
Even though Reinhard was familiar with them, seeing them summoned en masse was still a startling sight.
"Alright, Reinhard, give the Smiths your instructions for the repairs. Berche, please direct the Peridos regarding the housework."
The Smiths moved with mechanical precision, repairing damaged walls, silencing creaking floorboards, fixing broken stairs, and patching holes in the ceilings.
Following Berche's lead, the Peridos scrubbed and organized the kitchen, the drawing room, the living area, the guest rooms, the bedrooms, and the storage spaces.
Their efficiency was staggering. Within a single hour, the entire job was finished, and the mansion was transformed.
They left the vines mostly untouched, only clearing them away where they blocked the windows.
"Hmm, it really is quite nice."
"It’s built from red granite, which is rare for this region. It matches the vines perfectly."
Granite is composed of minerals like mica, quartz, feldspar, and hornblende; when the feldspar content is red, it is known as red granite.
The contrast with the green vines was striking. When the leaves turned in autumn, the matching hues would surely be just as beautiful.
In time, this estate would come to be known as the Rankenhaus.
With the cleaning finished, they moved their luggage in, though they hadn't brought much yet—mostly bedding, some clothes, and a few office supplies. Since it was only a two-hour trip, they could always go back for more or buy things locally. In fact, Ekishi was slightly closer than Banne, making it a viable option for supplies.
"Well, that should do for now."
Once the last of the luggage was inside, they took a breather. It was already midday.
"Why don't we head to Hourai Island?" Jin suggested. "There are a few things I'd like to discuss."
"Good idea. If we're going there, then..."
"That sounds wonderful."
With their agreement, they used the Warp Gate in Jin's carriage to travel to Hourai Island. The Smiths and Peridos returned with them.
"I’d love to have one of these installed in a room in the mansion eventually," Reinhard remarked. Jin was already considering digging out a basement specifically for that purpose.
Because of the roughly five-and-a-half-hour time difference, evening was already approaching on Hourai Island.
"Welcome back, My Lord. Welcome, everyone." Laojun greeted them.
"We'd like to eat. Is anything ready?"
"Yes. Mine and Elsa have been preparing a meal."
"Oh, they're here already?"
They headed to the dining hall. Despite the late hour on the island, the spread was perfectly suited for a light lunch.
There was freshly baked bread, Wylie jam, and citran marmalade. For drinks, they had milk, Persica juice, and citran juice. A fresh salad and lightly grilled bacon rounded out the meal.
"Thank you, Mine, Elsa."
"You're very welcome. We’ll join you for a bit as well."
The time difference between Kaina Village and Hourai Island was only two hours, so Mine and Elsa sat down to snack on bread and juice.
Once the meal was over, Jin spoke up.
"Now that we're all together, there's something I want to talk to you about."