Seki Town had public baths, allowing Jin and his companions to wash away the grime of travel and enjoy a deep, restful sleep.
They were finally set to depart for Miyako the next morning.
Jin felt that if he were to implement any reforms, Miyako would be the most logical place to start.
"Jin-dono, I’ve already sent word via carrier pigeon, but please take this with you just in case."
Crow, the town’s mayor, handed Jin a single document.
"It’s a letter of recommendation from me. Once you leave Seki Town, I don’t expect anyone will try to stop you, but since you’re traveling in such a rare 'automobile,' it’s best to be prepared."
"I understand. Thank you for your consideration."
The distance from Seki Town to Miyako was a little over a hundred kilometers. At a steady pace of twenty kilometers per hour, the journey would take approximately five hours.
"Well then, it was a short stay, but thank you for your hospitality."
"Safe travels."
The automobile carrying Jin and his group rolled out through the northern gate of Seki Town.
"Oh, it really is a hardened road."
The road, paved with bitumen, proved exceptionally easy to navigate.
"Edgar, you can increase our speed to thirty kilometers per hour."
With Jin’s command, they picked up the pace.
"Once we reach Miyako, I’d like to acquire some rubber so I can switch us over to rubber tires."
At thirty kilometers per hour, the slight vibrations from the wooden tires were becoming a bit noticeable. Even so, the seats were cushioned with Gula Schwamm, a shock-absorbing material that made a world of difference in comfort.
They reached the town of Ehmu in about fifty minutes and stopped for a brief rest.
Since the automobile was a marvel to the locals here as well, a crowd of onlookers quickly gathered. The town bailiff was among them and came over to greet Jin. When Jin mentioned their destination was Miyako, the bailiff looked a bit disappointed to see them leave so soon.
"The travelers from the Shouro Empire who visited us previously were very polite," the bailiff noted with a pleasant smile. "I felt that I would very much like to associate with people of such character."
Their next stop was Temae Town, followed by Narudo and Yashima. They encountered a new town roughly every forty-five to fifty minutes.
At each stop, the group took a ten to fifteen-minute break. However, because their arrival in Yashima coincided with lunchtime, they stayed for about forty minutes to sample the local specialty: katsudon.
This was a piece of information that even John Dini had failed to uncover during his time here.
To their surprise, the restaurant offered a choice between chopsticks and spoons. Jin naturally opted for chopsticks, while the rest of the group used spoons.
"This is delicious!"
"Onii-chan, it’s so good!"
"Jin, this is my first time eating this, but it’s quite impressive!"
Not only Jin, but Elsa, Hanna, and Saki all took an immediate liking to the dish. The broth perfectly suited their palates, and the use of marunegi onions and eggs was identical to the recipe Jin knew from home.
He had introduced fried foods and croquettes to his own repertoire, but he mentally kicked himself for overlooking rice bowls—they had been a complete blind spot.
The cutlet was made from pigu meat. Apparently, pigu were domesticated versions of the wild desert boa, and their meat was remarkably similar to pork.
The cutlet was perfectly fried. When the shop owner mentioned that this dish was another culinary legacy left behind by the Magus, Jin became even more intrigued by the man's origins.
"Ah, I’m stuffed!"
Hanna, who had enjoyed the meal immensely, had finished a full adult-sized portion and was contentedly rubbing her belly.
"Alright, I’ll make some for you myself sometime," Jin promised. Hanna nodded with a beaming smile.
Since they had just eaten, Jin slowed their pace slightly for a more leisurely drive. Even so, they arrived in Miyako by 2:00 PM.
"Huh, a moat?"
Miyako was encircled by a wide moat. Bridges spanned the water, and because this was the capital, each bridge was guarded by a checkpoint.
"Halt."
Jin brought the automobile to a stop and presented the Gatekeeper with his identification from the Shouro Empire and the letter from Crow.
The effect was instantaneous. The guard snapped a salute and moved to let them through.
"Magi Craft Meister Jin-sama and your party, please proceed."
"Thank you."
With a polite nod, Jin started the engine again. The bridge was about seven meters wide—plenty of room for the vehicle. Once they crossed to the other side, they were officially in the capital of Mitsuho: Miyako.
"You must be Jin-sama and his party."
As soon as they entered the town, a welcoming delegation met them. Over a dozen people dressed in formal attire stood waiting, holding a banner that read: Welcome, Jin Nidou-sama. Jin felt a flush of embarrassment.
"We have been expecting you. I am Chief Hiro Mutu. We welcome you to our capital with all our hearts, Jin-sama."
Faced with such a polite greeting, Jin hurriedly hopped out of the automobile.
"I am Jin Nidou. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
"The honor is all ours."
Jin exchanged a firm handshake with Chief Hiro Mutu.
"Do you already know who I am?"
"Of course. We have heard much of you from John Dini-sama, who is a great benefactor to our people."
"Ah..."
Jin recalled his work repairing Akitsu, the educational automata who was effectively the secret architect of this nation. That achievement had been credited to John Dini, who had subsequently been granted the title of Honorary Magi Smith.
John Dini had always referred to Jin as his master, claiming that compared to Jin, he was like a child—no, an infant.
Because the legendary master had finally arrived, Chief Hiro and all eighteen members of the Councilors had turned out to receive him. While some of them might have been surprised by how young Jin looked, they didn't let it show in the slightest as they surrounded the group to express their hospitality.
"We shouldn't keep you standing here in the street. Please, follow us to the Guest House."
At Hiro’s signal, several rickshaws appeared.
"Please, ride in these."
Jin had seen rickshaws on television in Japanese tourist spots like Asakusa or Hida Takayama, but this was his first time seeing the real thing. However, since he had been briefed on them by John Dini, he consulted briefly with his companions before taking Hanna’s hand and helping her into one. Elsa and Saki boarded another.
Reiko and Aaru took their places walking alongside the rickshaws carrying their respective masters. Seeing this, Hiro tilted his head in confusion.
"Are those two ladies not going to ride?"
Reiko was the one to answer.
"No. We are automata."
Upon hearing this, Hiro and the Councilors were absolutely floored.
"Wh-wh-what did you say?!"
Reiko and Aaru looked exactly like humans—no, there was no way to see them as anything but human. They had certainly been briefed on the party’s composition via carrier pigeon, but seeing them with their own eyes was another matter entirely.
"I see... Then it’s true. Jin-sama really is the world’s greatest magi smith—the Magi Craft Meister!"
Reiko simply offered a silent, knowing smile in response.
With that revelation behind them, the procession set off toward the Guest House: the humans (Jin, Hanna, Elsa, and Saki) in rickshaws, the automata (Reiko and Aaru) on foot, and Edgar driving the automobile. Chief Hiro and the Councilors accompanied them in their own rickshaws.
They arrived at the Guest House in about five minutes.
"Oh, those are roof tiles."
The building was roofed with materials that looked strikingly similar to traditional Japanese tiles.
"It looks just like a Japanese garden..."
A landscape garden that looked exactly as John Dini had described it welcomed them.
Stepping off the rickshaws, the group was led into a grand hall that served as an entrance lobby. Edgar joined them shortly after parking the automobile in the designated area on the grounds.
Jin didn't think anyone would try to sabotage the car, but for peace of mind, he summoned Elm from the newly reorganized Hourai Island Secret Mobile Unit (SP) to stand guard.
(I really should have put more thought into the vehicle's security...) Jin mused.
"Now then, Jin Nidou-sama, allow me to welcome you once more."
Hiro Mutu spoke on behalf of the assembled Councilors.
"John Dini-sama informed us that you do not care for flashy welcomes, so please accept our apologies for keeping things so modest."
(This is considered 'modest'...?)
Jin thought back to the way the citizens had been waving, calling out, and bowing to them the entire way there in the rickshaws.
"After all, John Dini-sama is our savior, and you are his teacher, Jin-sama."
Jin felt a bit socially drained, realizing he should probably be grateful it wasn't any more extravagant than this.