Jin took a moment to reflect on the King’s plea as a father. Looking at the monarch’s somber expression, he could tell that the man truly regretted his actions.
"I understand," Jin said. "I'll do it."
"Oh, you have my deepest thanks!"
Upon hearing Jin’s acceptance, Alois III’s face transformed, now radiating genuine joy.
It was half-past two in the afternoon. Jin decided to borrow the workshop where he had previously crafted golems and swords.
Present to observe were Lieschen and the Captain of the Royal Female Ritter Order, Jessica Norton.
"Tell me, Jin, what is it you are making?" Lieschen asked, peering in with great interest.
Facing a heap of bronze, Jin looked back briefly.
"Just watch. Elsa, you watch closely too."
Then, he activated his Craft Magic.
"Forming. Forming. Forming."
"Oh..."
"Jin-nii’s craftsmanship is as flawless as ever," Elsa remarked.
"Mm, just as I expected from Jin," Lieschen added.
With their varied impressions serving as background music, Jin proceeded with the work.
"Hmm? That shape looks familiar," Lieschen noted.
There were several cylindrical parts, a lever-like handle, a piston, and valves.
"...Is it a pump?"
Elsa was the first to realize. Indeed, Jin was crafting a pump.
"But those have already spread throughout the towns, have they not?" Jessica asked.
"U-Umu, but if Jin is going out of his way to make one, surely there is something different about it?"
Jin smiled at Lieschen’s intuition.
"Exactly. This is a force pump."
The models the Raglann Company had popularized were suction pumps. This, however, was a force pump.
"Hmm? What is the difference?"
"Seeing is believing. I'll show you."
After checking the device with Analyze, Jin had Reiko carry the pump as they headed outside the workshop toward the bathhouse.
The water was still cold, but Jin didn't mind as he submerged the intake.
"Now, the characteristic of this pump is..."
As he spoke, Jin had Reiko hold the pump’s body steady while he worked the handle.
After a few strokes, water filled the interior and began to flow from the outlet. Seeing this, Jin pointed the nozzle upward and pumped the handle with even greater vigor.
"Oh!?"
The water erupted with force, shooting all the way up to the ceiling.
"...And that's how it works."
"J-Jin-dono! Is that truly just a pump? You aren't using water magic, are you?" Jessica asked urgently.
"No, of course not. It's exactly as you see. If we build a larger one and have a golem operate it, we can shoot water ten or twenty meters away."
Elsa had realized the principle halfway through and remained silent, but Lieschen’s eyes widened as she grasped the utility of the invention.
"J-Jin! You will... give this to us? And we may craft more of them?"
Jin nodded.
"Yes. Please make good use of it."
Princess Lieschen nodded repeatedly, her eyes welling with tears.
"Umu, umu... Thank you, Jin..."
A tool that could throw water a great distance without using magic meant it could be used for firefighting.
Jin had been concerned about the Celuroa Kingdom developing airships that utilized hydrogen, so he had been considering various firefighting tools and magic tools. This was one of them.
He had no objection to the Klein Kingdom taking the lead in popularizing firefighting equipment based on the force pump.
"Father!"
Lieschen ran down the corridor and burst into the King’s study, breathlessly reporting what Jin had created.
"...What!"
Realizing its utility, Alois III immediately decided to change the diplomatic gift for the Celuroa Kingdom to this "spouting" pump.
"Jessica, take Lieschen and hurry to the Minister of Magic. Stop the modification of Tia at once."
He quickly scribbled an order and held it out. Jessica took it and gave a sharp salute.
"Yes, Sire!"
Having watched over the Princess since she was a small child, Jessica had been internally distraught by the previous decision. Now, that weight was being lifted.
Lieschen broke into a light jog toward the Technology Wing, her face overflowing with joy.
They passed the second prince, Arthur, who looked on with a puzzled expression. He stopped Jessica to ask for an explanation as she followed behind. She explained briefly and then hurried after the Princess.
Watching their retreating figures, Prince Arthur muttered to himself.
"Hmph, so they made it in time. Well, that is for the best."
＊ ＊ ＊
"...Hrrrgh, I cannot figure out how to take this apart..."
In the deepest research lab of the Technology Wing, Tia lay stripped bare upon a workbench.
Minister of Magic Clarot Bados Keris was groaning over her.
The surface of Tia’s body was covered in Hourai-made magical skin that Jin had applied during her repairs. Its structure was so dense that ordinary magic could not process it.
"Lord Clarot, must we really dismantle her?" the Undersecretary, Harvey Sotos Flagroad, asked hesitantly. "I heard this Automata belonged to Her Highness Princess Lieschen."
"Fool. That is exactly why we must replace the control core—to ensure no royal information is leaked."
"I see, but..."
Replacing a control core meant they would have to teach her basic functions from scratch. Harvey worried they wouldn't finish in time for the anniversary ceremony.
When Harvey voiced this, Clarot gave a derisive snort.
"Hmph, is that all you're worried about? This Automata is as valuable as an artifact. Even if she doesn't move, she is more than sufficient as a gift."
"A gift? You mean a tribute?"
"Y-Yes. She has more than enough value as a gift."
"In that case, could we not simply use Erase on the control core and leave the replacement to the recipients?" an assistant nearby suggested.
The Minister rejected the idea immediately.
"That is the problem. I tried for three hours yesterday, but she would not accept Erase magic at all."
That was only natural. Jin had implemented countermeasures against Master-Slave Rewrite Magic. Even for a top-tier magi craftman, it was impossible to erase or rewrite the core from the outside.
"It can't be helped. I shall have to cut through an inconspicuous area..."
Just as Clarot was about to start, the door was flung open.
"Tia!"
Princess Lieschen came rushing in, followed by Jessica Norton.
"Tia! 'Awaken'!"
Since the control core had not been erased yet, the Rank 1 Master-Slave authority still belonged to Lieschen.
"Yes, Princess."
Responding to the keyword, Tia woke up.
"Tia! Father has rescinded the order! You shall remain my Automata from this day forth!"
"Yes, Princess. I am very happy."
"Tia!"
Lieschen and Tia embraced.
Minister Clarot stared at them sullenly, but surprisingly, the other researchers in the room looked relieved.
Jessica held up the document from Alois III.
"A pity, Lord Clarot. This is the order from His Majesty. Tia is to be returned to the Princess as she was."
And so, Tia was returned to Princess Lieschen.
As a reward for his help, Jin was presented with a golden container and an adamantite container—both containing a mysterious liquid found recently in the Former Leonard Kingdom.
"The gold is worth six million Toll, and the adamantite is worth one hundred million. For the Klein Kingdom, they are being quite generous," Elsa remarked.
It was a reward provided with considerable difficulty from a strained budget. It showed just how great Alois III’s gratitude was as a father.
Seeing that side of the man, Jin felt that the visit had been well worth it.