"No, it's really okay."
Hanna gave a nonchalant reply to Jin, who was bowing his head so low in apology for missing her birthday that he was nearly performing a dogeza.
As he listened to her, it turned out that Kaina Village didn't traditionally have a custom of celebrating birthdays. Apparently, they only held a simple celebration once a person reached the age of fifteen.
"...But still, I'm sorry, Hanna."
Since he hadn't really had his own birthdays celebrated in his original world either, Jin understood that specific kind of loneliness better than most. That was exactly why he couldn't forgive his own carelessness.
"I'll come back as soon as I can."
"Okay, Onii-chan."
After explaining what he was doing and where in a way that was easy for Hanna to follow, Jin left Kaina Village, feeling a lingering sense of reluctance to depart.
＊ ＊ ＊
Elsa met Jin upon his return to the Celuroa Kingdom.
"Welcome back. I was just notified that the wine ingredients have arrived."
The timing was perfect. After finishing lunch, the two of them headed to the designated laboratory.
"Welcome, Jin-dono, Lady Elsa."
Greeting them was the Chief of the First Technology Bureau, Latant. He had a gentle appearance at first glance, but his gray eyes were sharp.
"They arrived just a moment ago. These are the herbs that were used in the wine."
Nearly ten varieties were laid out before Latant—precisely nine types of herbs, to be exact. Three of them emitted a distinct fragrance.
"This is mint. This one is janzy, and this is ramon peel."
When Jin leaned in to see what janzy was, it looked exactly like a gnarled piece of ginger. It likely was.
(Mint is just mint. Ramon peel... ah, so they use the peel of a fruit that's exactly like a lemon.)
"...This one is lavandra. That one is pelargo."
There were plants Jin didn't recognize, but Elsa seemed familiar with them.
Then there was the ninth one.
"...This is a plant called elix, apparently."
It seemed to be a plant Latant was seeing for the first time as well. Naturally, it was the first time for Jin and Elsa too.
"This one is suspicious," Jin noted.
The other herbs and medicinal plants were already known to them and were common varieties with no particular toxicity.
"Analyze."
Elsa focused her magic on the leaves of the elix plant.
"...It is likely this."
The leaves contained a large amount of the same substance detected in Former King Richard's brain and internal organs during her earlier diagnosis.
"Hmm, elix, is it? Are you certain?"
"Yes. In all likelihood."
Since the statement came from Elsa—who was personally diagnosing and treating the former king—Latant placed his trust in her assessment.
"In that case, it would be problematic if we don't place restrictions on this plant, wouldn't it?"
"I believe so. That said, the line between poison and medicine is thin; it would be best if the state managed its distribution."
"I see..."
Latant fell into thought at Elsa's suggestion. In the meantime, Jin also examined the elix with Analyze. He had Reiko and Edgar perform their own scans as well. By doing this, they would obtain comprehensive data on elix, which could prove useful in various ways in the future.
It was eventually decided that further investigation would be left to the Ministry's specialized staff, and Jin and Elsa were dismissed.
"I don't think there are any people in this country capable of investigating better than Father or Elsa-san, though," Reiko stated flatly once they returned to their room.
"Ah, thanks, Reiko. Well, I suppose this nation has its pride to maintain."
"But we've obtained information on the narcotic properties."
"That's true. Reiko, make sure to pass all the data about elix on to Laojun."
"Yes, I understand."
Thus, another piece of vital information was added to the archives of Hourai Island.
Jin and Elsa spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, but as dusk approached, a contact came from Laojun.
『My Lord, the situation in the Kingdom of Franz has shifted.』
"What happened? Is there news?"
『Yes. Regarding Orange, who was believed to have barricaded himself in the fortress...』
Laojun began his report.
＊ ＊ ＊
Intelligence that Orange was hiding at the remote Fort Crow had reached the Partisan Headquarters on the morning of the 6th.
Since the Headquarters was busy supporting the transition of the new king, they decided to leave the matter to the local branch. A messenger pigeon was dispatched, and the Partisan South-East Branch Manager took action.
"We shall drag out that traitorous retainer, Orange, from his hole in Fort Crow!"
The South-East Branch Manager was a somewhat radical man; he led thirty subordinates and headed for the fortress himself. While the afternoon sun was still high, they caught sight of their target.
"So that is Fort Crow. It's a small place."
The area of the fortress grounds was roughly a square fifty meters on each side, which was not particularly large as far as strongholds went.
"How shall we attack..."
The South-East Branch Manager was not a military man. He had zero experience in siege warfare.
"Shall we send out the golems first as a test...?"
The Partisans possessed dozens of combat golems and utility golems provided by their supporters. He had brought several of them along for the mission.
"Send two out first and see how it goes."
At the branch manager's command, two combat golems armed with hammers stepped forward and marched toward the fortress. The two units arrived at the outer wall and swung their hammers at the doors of the front gate.
A heavy metallic clang rang out. A second strike followed, then a third.
Still, the doors did not warp or dent. They were incredibly sturdy.
"Continue!"
A fourth strike, a fifth... on the tenth-something strike, something finally broke—the golem's hammer.
"Wh-What!?"
The doors were so hard that a steel hammer would shatter against them. The branch manager was not a soldier, but he was no fool either.
"Retreat them!"
He realized that attacking blindly would lead nowhere.
"Report to Headquarters. This does not seem to be a fortress that a single branch can handle."
He decided to send an emergency messenger pigeon. Since there was still time before dusk, he judged that the bird would likely reach Headquarters before the end of the day.
"Fall back one kilometer!"
Along with his thirty subordinates, he pulled back and settled in to watch the fortress from a distance.
＊ ＊ ＊
『That is the current situation,』 Laojun finished his explanation.
"Hmm. As expected of a fortress from the Great Magic War era, I suppose its defensive power is incomparable to anything built today."
『That is highly probable. I speculate that the material of the doors is an unknown alloy.』
"An unknown alloy..."
It was a plausible theory. It wouldn't be strange for such a material to have been developed during the era roughly seven hundred years after Adriana Barbora Tsetse's time. Following the Great Magic War, as the population dwindled, that knowledge must have been lost just like so many other technologies.
"I suppose we have no choice but to watch and wait until there's a major move..."
Exhaustion showing on his face, Jin let out a long sigh. He was not omniscient or omnipotent, nor was he so arrogant as to think he could settle the world's affairs entirely on his own.
"But what would be the best thing to do...?"
There was no one to give Jin the answer. Elsa also remained silent, lost in her own thoughts.
『My Lord, how about informing the various international delegates under the name of Maquina and leaving the judgment to them?』
It was a compromise, but to the weary Jin, it sounded like the best possible plan.
"You're right. Let's go with that."