"You look well, Erik."
"I have you to thank for that, Father."
The setting was Erik’s shop in Kaina Village.
Roland, Erik’s father, was visiting for the first time in quite a while. He hadn't come solely for a family visit—though that was likely part of it. His primary objective was to restock his inventory and collect the shop's sales.
As the senior managing director of the Raglann Company, Roland rarely went out on field rounds himself anymore, but Kaina Village was a special case.
"Is Jin-san around?"
"Yes. He's at his workshop, not the castle."
It was Barbara who spoke as she offered them tea. She helped out in the shop, but in the eyes of the villagers, the two were already seen as a young married couple.
"Ah, thank you."
With a word of thanks, Roland sipped the tea—brewed from the tea plant known as Peruhya in the Shouro Empire.
"The rubber balls have been a huge hit. Since no one else can make them, our company essentially has a monopoly."
Roland laughed, noting that they sold out as soon as they arrived in stock.
"Are you able to stay for a while, Father?"
Erik took a seat across from Roland. Barbara set a cup of tea down for him as well.
"Yes, I think I can stay for two or three nights. Especially since Jin-san is here."
＊ ＊ ＊
Meanwhile, Jin was busy manufacturing rubber products in the workshop in front of the Martha residence.
He had heard from Koushin, the Kaina Village monitoring mechanism, that Roland was on his way. That news had made him realize he’d completely forgotten to prepare the next batch of rubber balls.
He was making one hundred baseballs, one hundred temari balls, and one hundred dodgeballs. Working at a steady, relaxed pace, he finished the task in about an hour.
"Next... the pen nibs."
He spent another hour crafting three hundred phosphor bronze pen nibs, one hundred pen shafts, and one hundred integrated pens.
Beside him, Reiko was occupied with a task of her own.
"Father, how is this?"
Reiko held out a component for a magi-stone sand stove. Since Elsa was currently away visiting her family, Reiko had stepped in to assist him.
"Yeah, that’s perfect."
About thirty finished components were already lined up around Reiko.
"With this many, I’m sure Roland-san will be satisfied."
"Onii-chan, dinner’s ready!"
Just then, Hanna arrived to call for him. Before he knew it, the world outside had turned twilight. In February, the days were still quite short.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next morning, Roland visited Jin immediately after breakfast.
"Jin-san, it has been a while."
"Roland-san, you’re looking well."
"Thanks to you. Today, I’m here for..."
Roland jumped straight into business. Jin was used to his efficient style and simply pointed toward the boxes piled near the workshop entrance.
"Oh, wonderful! The balls, the pen nibs, and the stoves. I’ll take the lot!"
As per their usual arrangement, payment was split: half in Toll, and the other half in supplies like salt, sugar, and pepper.
Normally, their business would conclude there, but it seemed Roland had more on his mind today.
"Actually, Jin-san, there is something I’d like to ask of you..."
Roland’s request stemmed from something he’d seen the day before. To enter Kaina Village, he had naturally crossed the Erme River. During the crossing, he’d noticed several villagers wading into the water to collect magi-stone sand for the stoves.
"Collecting magi-stone sand in the water... It must be freezing in this winter weather... W-Wait, what is that?"
He’d been struck by the gear the villagers wore on their legs and hands.
They were wearing footwear that covered them up to their chests and gloves that reached their elbows. Both appeared to be made of a waterproof material. To Roland’s experienced eyes, they looked like they were made of rubber.
After recounting the story, he asked point-blank:
"...Did you make those, Jin-san?"
There was no reason to hide it, so Jin nodded.
"Yes, that’s right. They’re chest waders and long gloves."
The chest waders were based on the gear used by mountain stream fishers back in Jin's world. The long gloves were designed to cover the arms past the elbows. Jin had crafted them from natural rubber specifically for the villagers.
"I knew it! In that case, I'd like you to make some rubber boots!"
Leather boots were common enough, but they absorbed water unless they were meticulously treated with oil, making maintenance a nightmare after a rainy day. If stored while damp, they quickly grew mold.
Roland, realizing that natural rubber would likely require nothing more than a quick wipe to clean, showed his keen business foresight.
"I see. Sure, I can do that. What sizes do you need?"
Roland placed an order for three pairs each of the standard adult male sizes—26, 27, and 28 centimeters—and two pairs each of the female sizes—22, 23, and 24 centimeters.
"I’m certain these will sell!" he added enthusiastically.
"Let’s see... would tomorrow evening be all right?"
If Jin really focused, he could have them done by noon, but he had promised to go play with Hanna that day, so he gave himself a buffer.
"Yes, absolutely! I look forward to it!"
Roland headed back in high spirits.
"Onii-chan, are you ready yet?"
Hanna arrived to fetch Jin, her fishing rod propped against her shoulder. They were going fishing in a deep pool in the upper reaches of the Erme River today.
During the winter, fish staying in deep pools were sluggish and rarely bit, but finding a way to catch them regardless was part of the fun.
"Father, the lunch and tea are ready."
"Alright, let's go."
Jin, Hanna, and Reiko set off at a leisurely pace toward the upper Erme River.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Still, this village really is a wonderful place... I’d like to retire to a place like this when my time comes."
Musing over such idle thoughts, Roland took a slow walk through Kaina Village.
"Hm? What’s that?"
He passed a group of children holding kites. The wind blowing along the banks of the Erme River was perfect for them. They were the Flexible Kites Jin had previously introduced in Moft Village; they were so stable they practically never fell.
Roland followed the children to watch, and the sight only served to increase the list of production requests he intended to bring to Jin.
"Yes, I’m certainly glad I came."
That night, Roland sat across from Erik at the shop, sharing a drink.
"...This wine is excellent."
It was wine Jin had personally imported from the Kingdom of Elias. He sold it at Nidou for nearly the cost price.
"Jin-san was appointed the Lord of Kunlun recently, after all. This village is only going to become easier to live in."
"Hmm. And yet, the lifestyle here hasn't changed much."
"Yeah. He said that changing things recklessly isn't necessarily a good thing. I agree."
"True. There is value in old things, and there is tradition in a long-standing way of life. I hear nobles can't do a single thing for themselves without servants."
"Ahaha, that’s true. But the people here are different. They try to do everything themselves."
"That must be why Jin-san is so fond of this village."
The conversation between father and son flowed harmoniously.
"...So, how are things going with you and Barbara-san?"
"Pfft!"
Erik nearly choked on his drink at the sudden change in subject.
"Hey now, it's not as if there’s nothing going on, is there?"
"...Yeah. I'm thinking of taking her to Alban once spring comes."
"Does that mean... you intend to introduce her to your grandfather, the chairman?"
"Yeah."
"...I see. If you’ve thought it through that far, then I won't say anything more. You can discuss the rest with your grandfather."
Roland spoke a bit brusquely and downed his wine in a single gulp.
By the time the spring breeze began to blow, perhaps the 'Erik Company' would finally be born in Kaina Village.