"Saki..."
Jin looked at her with a mix of gratitude and exasperation.
"My grandfather said all sorts of things to you, I'm sure. But in the end, he's someone who thinks from the perspective of the ruling class."
Saki laughed, remarking that the position of a Marquis was ingrained in his very marrow.
"That's exactly why he forgets. He forgets that first and foremost, Jin, you are a human being."
As if a switch had been flipped, Saki was particularly talkative tonight.
"Just because you have power doesn't mean that power forces you to do anything."
"I suppose so..."
"Kuhu. You don't look entirely convinced. Let me put it this way, Jin: the best use for your power would be 'world conquest.'"
"What...?"
Jin stared at her, shocked to hear such an outrageous phrase come from Saki's mouth.
"You have the strength to do it. If you did, the world would be peaceful, wouldn't it? No one would be able to try and force you to do anything ever again."
Jin searched Saki’s face, wondering how serious she was being.
"That's just how it is. If the King of Celuroa had even half of your power, he would undoubtedly use it for world conquest."
That was a sentiment Jin could actually agree with.
"So, I'll say it again. Power is a tool to be used; it is not something to be used by. Jin, don't let yourself be used by your power. Master it."
Having said her piece, Saki gave a great, exaggerated yawn.
"Now I'm getting sleepy. I'm going to bed. I'll leave the rest to Elsa."
"Huh?"
Without another word, Saki waved a hand and retired to her room in the laboratory.
"El... sa?"
Jin turned around at Saki's parting words and noticed that the sliding door leading to the veranda was slightly ajar.
He also noticed a pair of light blue eyes peeking through the gap.
"What are you doing?"
When he slid the door open, he found Elsa in her pajamas, crouching there.
"...I heard voices. When I came to check, Jin-nii and Saki-nee were deep in conversation."
Elsa answered without looking up.
"Ah... sorry. Did we wake you?"
"No, that's not it. But I didn't realize you were so troubled, Jin-nii... I'm a little... no, I'm very disappointed in myself."
Jin reached out and patted her head.
"Thank you. It makes me happy just to hear you say that."
He looked up at the moon hanging in the center of the sky. Elsa sat down beside him.
"...Jin-nii, you're bad at relying on people," she said softly. "The exact opposite of me, who has always relied on someone."
"That's not true. I go to ask No. 700672 about things I don't know..."
But Elsa shook her head.
"No. That is no different from looking things up in a reference book. I can't put it into words well, but it's different."
"Ah, I see..."
His origins. Because he was an orphan, he had sought a way of life where he didn't have to rely on others. He had sought the strength to live without depending on anyone.
"Just a little is fine. When you're troubled, please remember me. And rely on me... no, I want you to share your worries with me."
"Elsa..."
"Half, a tenth, or even a hundredth is fine. Let me... carry some of the burden."
Her light blue eyes stared straight into his black eyes.
"I will make things easier for you, Jin-nii, even if it's only by my own small portion."
"Thank you."
Jin pulled Elsa's shoulder close.
"I'm a fool. While saying I don't want to make my companions or Elsa unhappy, I'm the one causing you worry."
A strength that hadn't been there before resonated in Jin's voice.
"This isn't like me. I'll just do as I please, same as always!"
"Mmh, I think that's for the best. Our time together hasn't been that long, but I believe I know your personality. Even if you're told you can do as you like, you still have your own sense of moderation."
Elsa gave a small smile and added, "Though you do blow past common sense."
As the two of them looked up, a single, exceptionally bright star was shining in the sky.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next morning, Jin summoned Elsa and Saki to the command room. Reiko and Anne were also present.
"Kuhu. Jin, it looks like your worries have cleared up," Saki said with a smile. Jin gave a wry grin and moved the conversation forward.
"...Right. First, I'd like to discuss what kind of attitude I should take at the upcoming Celuroa Kingdom Founding Anniversary Ceremony."
"Mm-hmm, that is quite a difficult problem."
Jin nodded deeply.
"...Personally, I'm thinking of announcing our... engagement at that venue, since the leaders of various countries will be gathered there."
"Eh!"
Elsa's face turned beet red in an instant. Saki clapped her hands in delight.
"Hahaha, that's great, Jin! That's right, you have to make it clear! There will surely be nobles who'll want to marry their daughters off to the 'Lord of Kunlun,' after all."
"Y-yeah. Beyond that, I'm wondering just how much I should cut loose."
"How much?"
"Yeah. We'll be going on the Konron 2, but the Celuroa Kingdom seems to be getting carried away. They're trying to threaten other countries with military force..."
The giant airships, the Eckart-style great ships, and the artifact they had apparently unearthed. There were likely other golems unique to that country as well.
"You're having the Quinta investigate, aren't you?"
"Yeah. But there's a place with extremely tight security and a special barrier. They haven't been able to check there yet."
Since it wasn't wartime, Jin hadn't wanted to force them to take unnecessary risks.
"However, through a different approach, we have grasped the gist of things. It is an institution researching specialized golems," Anne explained, taking over. "Even if we cannot observe the interior directly, we can grasp quite a lot by reconstructing the information leaked by people entering and leaving. They are developing four-meter-class golems there."
"Four meters? Isn't that a bit of an awkward size?" Saki asked.
Elsa shook her head. "Saki-nee, not necessarily. Considering the strength of the body and the power it can output, three to four meters might actually be the most efficient for a golem."
Jin supplemented Elsa's words. "It's as Elsa says. In the case of humans, the upper limit for height is about two meters due to the relationship between bone strength and the power muscles can output. However, with metal skeletons and magical muscle, it's not wrong to judge that the upper limit for a golem is around four meters."
With Jin's technology and Hourai Island's materials, he had been able to create the fifteen-meter Titan units.
"The Golias is too large, and its movement speed is sacrificed because of it."
"Hmm, I see."
"And so, the question is what I should do."
It wasn't just people from the Celuroa Kingdom who would be there. Jin felt that if he showed off things like the Condor or Pegasus 1, it would only make things more complicated.
"The Konron 2, the Secret Mobile Unit reorganized as SP for escort duty, and Reiko. What else should I do?...Is it arrogant of me to think like this?"
Jin himself was having trouble making a judgment. He, as an individual, was about to take an action akin to rebuking the conduct of a nation, like a parent scolding a child.
"Well, you could say it's looking down on them, I suppose," Saki said. "But it can't be helped, right? That's what scolding is."
If you were on the same level, it wouldn't be scolding; it would just be a fight, Saki added.
"I suppose you're right....In that case, I think it's best to be prepared so that I can respond no matter what that country tries to do."
"Kuhu. Personally, I'd like you to crush them thoroughly."
Saki was being surprisingly radical.
"By the way, what about Marcia and Rodrigo?" Elsa asked.
Jin explained what he knew. "It seems they've finished the outboard motors and delivered two of them to the Kingdom of Elias. They say they're rushing to build a small boat using them in time for the ceremony, but..."
If the boat could reach fifty kilometers per hour, they could make it from Port Rock Town to Dali in three days with a bit of effort.
According to Laojun's report, Marcia had prepared a trimaran equipped with an outboard motor. Marchioness Firenziano had reportedly received it with great joy.
"The Shouro Empire's large ships and the Kingdom of Elias's new ships, huh. They won't lose to Celuroa's vessels."
"Agreed."
While Jin was glad that people other than himself would be showing the Celuroa Kingdom what's what, he was also worried about whether they might come to harm.
"I should consider an appearance for Maquina as well."
"Please leave that to me," Laojun assured him.
Then, Laojun delivered a shocking report.
"By the way, My Lord, a person who appears to be the missing Arshel has been found."
"Arshel?"
"Yes. It seems the Crown Prince of the Celuroa Kingdom is protecting her. However, she appears to have lost her memory and cannot even remember her own name."
"Elsa, what do you think?"
"...Maybe it's the influence of the Agujha."
Jin had also considered that possibility.
"But isn't that driven into the back of the ear or the heart? Would that cause memory loss?"
"I think so too. But what if there was a mistake when it was driven into the back of the ear?"
Hundreds of people had been processed with the Agujha. It wouldn't be strange for there to be a mistake with one or two of them, Elsa argued.
"That... is possible."
Even so, they wouldn't reach a conclusion by debating it here.
"There will probably be a chance to meet her at the commemorative ceremony, or after it's over. We can confirm it then."
"Mmh."
Since her older brother Belialus was so worried, Jin felt he wanted to do as much as he could for her.