"I have been waiting for you."
Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar left Earl Kuzuma’s estate on foot and met up with Regulus 5—going by the name Beat—on the outskirts of the noble district.
The plan was for Jin and Elsa to take a leisurely tour of Blue Land. Beat was to be their guide.
Beat was dressed as a wealthy merchant today. Portions of Blue Land served as residential areas for that affluent class, so he fit right in. He had dark blond hair and gray eyes; his unremarkable features were specifically designed to allow him to operate without drawing attention.
"We’re counting on you to show us around today," Jin said.
"As you wish."
The five of them set off at a relaxed pace. The people walking the streets were dressed in autumn attire, lending the city a quiet, refined atmosphere.
"The design sense is wonderful... Is that the current fashion?"
With a young woman’s eye for detail, Elsa took notice of a passerby’s outfit. The woman wore a dark navy blue dress paired with a slightly muted yellow cardigan. While the outfit itself was common enough, it was the stole wrapped around her neck that caught Elsa's attention. The fabric shimmered with the colors of the rainbow. Whether it was the result of a specific dye or weave, it was undeniably striking.
"That is the rainbow-dye that has been popular lately," Beat explained.
The colors shifted depending on the angle of the light. Rather than an iridescent beetle-wing effect, it had a bright, pearlescent glow similar to an opal.
"A pearl-like color, I suppose," Jin muttered. He noticed that Elsa’s gaze was still lingering on the passing woman. "Elsa, do you want a stole like that?"
"Eh?...No, it's fine."
Despite her denial, her eyes kept drifting toward the shops lining the street.
"Beat, is there a shop around here that sells those?"
"Yes, right this way."
Beat, ever prepared, guided them toward a clothing boutique.
"Welcome. May I help you find something?" a female shop clerk in her mid-twenties asked as they entered.
"We’re looking for a stole. One of those rainbow-dye ones, I think they're called?" Jin said.
"Certainly."
At Jin’s request, the clerk disappeared into the back and returned shortly with several stoles draped over her arms.
"These are the trend for this season. These over here are particularly popular with the younger ladies..."
She laid them out on a table: solid colors like the one they had seen earlier, patterned ones in pale hues, and subdued tones that revealed a rainbow shimmer only when the light hit them just right.
(Hmm, the fabric is silk. The pigment... the particles are large. It’s closer to a pigment than a traditional dye,) Jin thought as he secretly used Craft Magic to Analyze the material. Meanwhile, Elsa picked up one of the stoles and examined it.
"I think this one would suit you," Jin suggested.
Today, Elsa wasn't wearing her usual light green dress. In honor of the autumn season, she wore a maxi-length, long-sleeved dress in a purple so dark it was nearly black, topped with a beige hat. She wasn't wearing a cardigan.
The stole Jin had pointed out was a rainbow-dye with a pale light blue base. He had chosen it on a whim, thinking the color would complement the autumn sky.
"You think so? Then I’ll take this one," Elsa told the clerk as she draped it around her neck.
"Thank you very much. It looks lovely on you."
When Elsa said she would wear it out of the shop, the clerk nodded with a smile. Elsa hesitated briefly when Jin offered to pay, but she eventually gave in and accepted the gift.
The price was 3,500 Toll—roughly 35,000 yen. Jin wasn't sure if that was expensive or cheap for a stole, but considering the unique nature of the dye, it seemed reasonable enough.
"Thank you, Jin-nii."
As they were leaving, Jin spotted a stole made of what looked like wool. It was soft to the touch and a bright, warm brown.
"This looks nice too."
He bought that one as well for 1,200 Toll.
"Here, Reiko."
"Father? For me...?"
Jin cut off her protest before she could finish. "I know you don't feel the cold. But when we’re walking through town, it’s better if you look the part, don't you think?"
"...Thank you very much."
Elsa smiled at the golem girl. "Reiko-chan... Jin-nii is very kind, isn't he?"
"Yes..."
The bright brown stole was a perfect match for Reiko's black dress and white apron. Elsa was also in high spirits, clearly pleased with her new accessory.
"Where shall we go next?"
"Let's see. Is there a shop that sells daily necessities?"
Jin was interested in such things, as common tools often reflected a society’s level of cultural and technological development.
"In that case, please follow me."
Beat led them to a fairly large general store. It appeared to carry both magic tools and ordinary household items.
"Oh, they have refrigerators."
The design had evolved from the early, strictly rectangular boxes into something with slightly rounded corners. The price had also dropped a bit to 80,000 Toll—about 800,000 yen.
"That magic tool was designed by Lady Beena, who is soon to become the wife of Earl Kuzuma," the clerk explained. "It’s our top-selling item right now."
The clerk continued his pitch. "And this lighter here, as well as the water heater and the kettle—all of these are Lady Beena’s designs."
It seemed Beena’s reputation was quite good among the populace. She had clearly been busy developing new magic tools since the Golem Party. Jin and the others eventually managed to extract themselves from the persistent clerk by explaining they were currently traveling and couldn't carry a refrigerator, then headed back outside.
"Mhm? What’s that?"
Elsa had noticed a construction site in a vacant lot. The interior had a familiar layout—a floor tiled with flat stones and a rectangular depression.
"That is a public bathhouse that utilizes the hot springs. It’s a project initiated by Beena, proposed by Earl Kuzuma, and overseen by Duke Blue."
Apparently, they were being built throughout the city, not just in private estates. Jin felt it was a wonderful initiative for public welfare.
"Well then, shall we find some lunch?"
"If I may suggest—"
Before Beat could finish, Elsa’s sharp eyes caught sight of a nearby stall. A savory, toasted aroma wafted through the air.
"...Popcorn, huh?"
The smell suggested they were using butter rather than vegetable oil. Feeling a wave of nostalgia, Jin headed toward the stall.
The customer base here inside the castle walls was different from the area where he and Beena had once set up shop, so the stall had a more premium feel. The popcorn maker was polished and clean, and the product was wrapped in kyougi—extremely thin sheets of wood—rather than Pau tree leaves.
The price had risen from the 5 Toll of the past to 20 Toll (about 200 yen). Given that butter was a luxury ingredient, the price hike was inevitable, and it was certainly affordable for the wealthy residents of the inner city.
"Yeah, the flavor really is better with butter."
"...Delicious."
Jin bought two—one for himself and one for Elsa—and they ate as they walked. The richness of the butter definitely gave it a superior flavor compared to vegetable oil.
"Why don't we just make a meal out of the street stalls?" Jin suggested.
Elsa nodded in agreement, so they bought a pair of items that resembled hot dogs from a skewer stand.
"Oh, this is actually quite good."
Instead of a sausage, the bread held a piece of meat similar to bacon. The flavors were well-balanced and quite tasty. Elsa seemed to enjoy it as well, finishing hers in record time.
"Father, please. And for you, Elsa-san."
Reiko stepped forward once they had finished and offered them cups of juice. She had moved ahead to buy them while they were eating.
"Oh, thanks, Reiko....Hmm, this is great too."
"Delicious."
It was a fruit juice, seemingly a blend of citran, apulul, and other fruits.
"Next is..."
"I want to try that."
Elsa pointed toward a stall selling boiled corn.
"All right, let's do it."
The group continued to enjoy their sightseeing in this manner.
"Now then, regarding the gifts..."
It was a little after two in the afternoon. Jin had intended to contact Laojun to have the items sent over, but Reiko spoke up first.
"Father, I have received a message from Laojun. He has already sent the items via transporter to your room at Earl Kuzuma’s estate."
"I see."
Jin was impressed by Laojun's foresight and efficiency. Two of the Secret Mobile Unit members, Lily and Rose, were supposed to be watching the room, so there would be no issues with the delivery.
With that, the wedding gifts for tomorrow were all set. The formal wear had likely been included in the shipment, so they were ready for the ceremony.
"In that case, let's enjoy the rest of our time in Blue Land."
"Un."
The sun was beginning to dip low in the sky by the time Jin and Elsa finally returned to the Kuzuma estate.