"Well, I'm not entirely sure where to begin..."
Sion tilted her head slightly, her expression pensive. Once she had organized her thoughts, she spoke again.
"The Gondoa Continent where we live is far colder than these lands. Because of that, we cannot harvest many crops."
"Yeah, I figured as much."
"As for our population... I'm sorry, but I can't reveal that just yet. It is a secret of our race."
"Ah, I understand. Don't worry about it."
Jin suspected she might not even have an accurate count herself, but regardless, a race’s population was the kind of information strictly guarded in the event of war.
"Our numbers were decimated during the War against Humanity, so for a while, the ratio of farmland to people was actually in our favor. It seemed as though there were no problems at all."
It appeared the demon race had also suffered a massive population decline.
"However, over the last ten years or so, the temperature has been dropping. We can no longer harvest enough crops to sustain ourselves."
"Cold damage, then?"
"Cold damage?...Ah, I see. That is what you call it here. Yes, cold damage. Because of that, we have begun to suffer from a general food shortage."
Just like the old stories Jin had heard from Vivienne, it seemed the demon race was desperate for agricultural products. It was a surprisingly simple and relatable reason.
"The clan heads gathered to deliberate on our future path. Ultimately, they split into two factions."
"I can more or less guess the rest."
"I suppose so... One faction wants to establish trade with humanity to obtain food. The other wants to obtain food by threatening humanity."
"...I’m starting to see the picture."
Jin prompted her to continue.
"Lucas and I are, of course, part of the moderate faction. But the radical faction is different. While they aren't aiming for a full-scale war just yet, they are plotting to seize various regions and turn them into colonies."
Sion explained the situation with a deeply disappointed look.
"As preparation, the radicals have scattered across various nations to gather intelligence on humanity's current state. The five people you encountered, Jin-sama, were likely among them. I have heard the name Arshel before as well."
With this, Jin roughly understood the background of the demon race. Now, he reached the heart of the matter.
"So, when you say you want my help, what specifically are you expecting from me?"
"First and foremost is the provision of food. We believe we can provide materials from magical beasts in exchange, so we think a trade agreement can be established."
Jin thought that perhaps trade had been conducted in exactly that manner long ago.
"And what else? Since you said 'foremost,' there must be at least one other thing, right?"
"Yes. Please, stop the radical faction!"
"Excuse me?"
Was that really a request one made of a single individual? The same could be said for the trade proposal, honestly. Jin was more than a little surprised.
"B-But you are the Magi Craft Meister, are you not? The legends tell us that the Magi Craft Meister created magic tools beyond imagination and changed our lives!"
"What was that?"
No records remained of exactly what the legendary Adriana Barbora Tsetse had accomplished. Even Reiko didn't remember... or rather, she likely hadn't known from the start.
"When Mother created me, she was already quite advanced in years," Reiko replied, correctly interpreting the meaning behind the glance Jin threw her way.
Still, it was exactly the kind of thing the predecessor would do.
"...I see. Tell me more details later. Depending on what I hear, I'll do what I can. But there's one more thing I want to know."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Is there any lore explaining why the demon race ended up living in such a cold region to begin with?"
That question made Sion’s face twitch. Jin immediately regretted his words, wondering if he had overstepped, but Sion eventually answered in a voice an octave lower than before.
"...I have heard that we were driven out by humanity."
Unlike her bright tone until now, her voice was dark and strained.
"The legends say that over three thousand years ago, our ancestors were pursued by humanity and forced to move to the northern lands."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
Jin apologized immediately. Sion took a long, deep breath and managed to return to her usual demeanor.
"No, please don't let it trouble you. It is only a legend, after all... Though it is also true that this legend is why so many of our kind hate humans."
"...I understand. Thank you for telling me. You likely haven't recovered yet, so you should rest for a while. Shall I have someone bring more of that juice? Or would you prefer a meal?"
"Ah, if that's the case... um, I would like something to eat."
Sion’s cheeks flushed as if she were embarrassed to be asking for food. Jin gave her a firm nod.
"Got it. I'll have it prepared right away. Just wait a moment."
With that, Jin left the room, followed by Reiko. Sion and Lucas were left alone.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...My Lady, was that wise?"
"Yes, it's fine. That man named Jin is almost certainly the Magi Craft Meister."
"...A guy like him..."
"Do not underestimate him. Unlike us, humans are poor at reinforcing their bodies with magical energy, but in exchange, they have advanced their magi-engineering to incredible heights."
"If it is technology, then ours is—!"
"Yes, quite so. But our technology is merely an inheritance from our ancestors. The Magi Craft Meister is different. He can create new things—things that never existed before. That is exactly what we need to help us now."
"...I understand."
"Did you see that automata called Reiko? Black hair, just like the legends. She was just like that man, Jin."
"Yes, indeed..."
"Right. Then we shall wait. For now, we must focus on healing our bodies."
"Yes."
＊ ＊ ＊
Needless to say, Laojun overheard every word of the conversation between master and servant.
Jin was currently speaking with Laojun in his private quarters on the fifth floor of Nidou Castle.
"What do you think, Laojun?"
『The content of their conversation is almost certainly true. It does not seem to contradict any of the information we have accumulated thus far.』
"Hmm. So that includes the part about being driven out over three thousand years ago?"
『Yes, likely. There is no strategic merit in lying about that particular point. I suspect it refers to the same event Vivienne-san mentioned, regarding humanity also heading north a very long time ago.』
"Hmm... so the question is whether the part about being 'driven out' is the truth."
『Indeed. Even if it wasn't at the level of active persecution, it's possible they simply had a falling out and found it difficult to stay.』
"Yeah, and over the course of millennia, that turned into the expression 'driven out.'"
『It is merely a possibility, but a likely one.』
"In that case, it might support my hypothesis... that the demon race and humanity share the same origin."
『A hypothesis, My Lord?』
It was a theory Jin had developed after hearing Elsa’s diagnostic results, which showed that both Sion and Lucas were biologically no different from humans.
"Yeah. That the 'demon' in 'demon race' doesn't refer to a devil or something evil, but rather, much like 'magic,' it refers to a 'power that surpasses human knowledge.'"
『So, not a race of devils, but rather a race that uses magic.』
"That's it."
『If that is the case, why did such a gap between them and humanity arise?』
"Well, we can look into that gradually from here on out."
『Indeed... By the way, My Lord, we discovered two Hekatonkheirs in the mountains approximately fifty kilometers north of Kaina Village and have annihilated them.』
"Hekatonkheirs? The ones Reiko defeated in the northern mountains before?"
『Yes. They were moving south, so there was a significant risk of them reaching Kaina Village. Furthermore, there was the danger that the local mountain deer and forest bears would be devoured.』
"Why were they in a place like that...?"
『There is a possibility they were pursuing Sion and Lucas.』
Laojun stated that the possibility of them being the pair's servants was small; rather, it was highly likely they were sent to capture or kill them.
"What's the basis for that?"
『If they were servants, the pair would not have been so exhausted and stranded. For a Hekatonkheir, the snow in that area would not be a struggle at all.』
Even with five meters of snow, a Hekatonkheir over thirty meters tall could walk through it with ease.
『The radical and moderate factions are in conflict, and furthermore, there appear to be demons who can manipulate magical beasts.』
"'Arshel the Puppet,' huh..."
Jin wondered if perhaps the Hekatonkheir Reiko had defeated previously had also been a creature sent by the demon race.
"Guarding the north is going to become even more vital."
『Yes. For the time being, I shall have the Air Force maintain a vigilant watch.』
"Yeah, I'm counting on you."
＊ ＊ ＊
Jin ate lunch in the first-floor dining room. It consisted of rice balls wrapped in nori and seasoned with salt.
The miso brought from Koup was currently being analyzed by Perido and the others. Since it was a fermented food, he assumed it would be next year at the earliest before it could be mass-produced.
Or so he thought, until a bowl of wakame miso soup was placed before him.
"What's this?"
"It's the miso soup I was just taught to make this morning," Belle replied.
"Mm, the dashi is made from dried sardines. It's good."
Jin was pleased; for having just learned the recipe, the soup was quite delicious. In fact, he felt the flavor of the miso was even better than what he had eaten at House Techles.
However, Jin tilted his head in confusion, remembering that they had only brought back a handful of miso from their trip.
Later, he would learn that this miso—specifically called binpei—was produced in small quantities in the southern part of the Shouro Empire. In other words, the Quinta units stationed in the Shouro Empire had obtained it for the castle.