This took place before Jin and his companions visited Mitsuho.
The individual known as John Dini—who was actually an automata based on one of Jin’s Body Doubles, Deus Ex Machina—had been traveling toward the southern reaches of Mitsuho under Jin’s orders.
Up until Seki Town, he simply retraced the path he had already traveled. He was accompanied that far by Daro, the vice-bailiff of Seki Town.
Maya was waiting for him when they arrived.
"John, I heard the news! You’ve become an Honorary Magi Smith. Having an acquaintance rise so high in the world makes me burst with pride, too."
"Maya-san, did you come all this way just for me?"
"Well, it is a happy occasion, after all."
In Seki Town, Daro, Maya, and the others held a farewell party for him, and John spent a very pleasant evening in their company.
The morning after his stay, it was time for John to part ways with Daro and Maya.
"John-san, I’m glad I got to know you. Please, take care of yourself out there."
"Master John, I hope we can meet again someday."
"Yes, Maya-san, thank you. Daro-san, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me."
With that, John Dini set out alone toward the south, mounted on his Golem horse.
After passing through Kanon and Iyo, he turned west onto the Tama Highway and eventually reached the town of Dogo on the shores of Lake Tama.
"Dogo, huh? I wonder if there are hot springs here," he mused.
As he entered the town, white steam rising from various spots caught his eye. It was indeed the haze of hot springs.
"It really is a hot spring town."
He went directly to see the Bailiff and presented his identification card, which earned him an immediate welcome. As a result, John Dini stayed in Dogo for about a week to perform maintenance on his tools.
He had worried his appearance might attract too much attention, but to his surprise, many of the locals had pale skin as well.
Laojun analyzed that people likely trickled in from the Shouro Empire side. It was a stroke of luck that he didn't cause a stir, especially since he had adapted his attire to the local Mitsuho style.
However, he soon discovered something else.
"There really isn't much to do here..."
The people here did not use magic tools. Furthermore, their ordinary tools were simple enough that the residents could repair them themselves.
Viewed through that lens, the standard of living in this town seemed slightly lower than that of Miyako. And yet, they didn't seem to be living in hardship. It was, perhaps, a life of moderation.
Laojun reflected that such a life was likely desirable in its own way. Being able to live one's daily life without being constantly rushed was a virtue. The mild climate was undoubtedly a contributing factor.
The buildings were mostly wooden with plank roofs. Since vast forests surrounded Lake Tama, timber resources were likely abundant.
"Oh? What is that...?"
Outside a hot spring bathhouse, two elderly men sat on a bench, facing each other in deep concentration. A small crowd of onlookers watched them.
"...Sho...gi...?"
It was shogi, without a doubt—the board, the pieces, everything was there. The pieces were pentagonal, and the set was complete: Pawn, Lance, Knight, Silver General, Gold General, Bishop, Rook, and King. Though the calligraphy on the pieces was somewhat crude, they were unmistakable.
Laojun, the brain of Hourai Island, recorded and analyzed these cultural details.
『The situation in the south where John Dini is located is quite different from the north where My Lord is staying.』
The lack of magic tools in the south was likely due to a lower concentration of free ether. This led to the deduction that they had continued their traditional way of life, untouched by the effects of the Great Magic War. Though the clothing and hairstyles differed, the society possessed a stability reminiscent of Earth's Edo period.
『If that is the case, what are the towns further south like?』
Laojun desired more information to serve as a reference for Jin’s future endeavors.
After leaving Dogo, John made a circuit of the settlements around Lake Tama before returning to the main highway at Iyo to resume his southward journey.
Markam, Kuhira, Sanuki.
(These names are remarkably similar to the place names in My Lord’s memories.)
Kushima, Oboke, Koboke.
(If memory serves, the names Oboke and Koboke originated from the Shikoku region.)
In Jin’s memories, he was someone who had once enjoyed discovering interesting place names while studying maps of Japan.
Kakawa, Nabuki, Tano, Shingu.
At this junction, John paused to consider his route. To the left lay a highway that followed the Tenryu River to the sea. Straight ahead was the main highway leading through Kochi to Tosa.
"I’ll go straight."
He decided he would reconsider his options once he reached the developed town of Kochi.
『Henro and Awa, is it? These are also similar.』
Laojun continued his deductions, matching the sounds to the characters for "pilgrim" and "Awa."
『Since there are so many place names related to Shikoku, was the person who named them originally from that region?』
This remained mere speculation. There was still a lack of definitive information.
As John Dini traveled south, the greenery grew lush, and the landscape transformed into a vast breadbasket. Though the season called for wheat and barley, he saw what appeared to be rice paddies scattered here and there.
"If My Lord saw this, he would likely find it nostalgic..."
The scenery shifted toward an idyllic, Japanese-style rural landscape. He received a warm welcome at every stop. From what he gathered, travelers with his skin color were often capable of using "magic" and brought many benefits to the local communities.
"Have you never encountered any bad people?"
The townsfolk were so guileless that John grew concerned. Upon arriving in Kochi, he voiced his doubts to the Bailiff who was hosting him.
"We have not," the man replied simply.
Laojun puzzled over how to interpret this. It could mean the region was truly peaceful, or perhaps they simply lacked the means to identify criminals. It was a lingering question, even if there was no immediate answer.
(It wouldn't be strange if such a gentle people existed.)
Recognizing that he shouldn't use Earthlings as the sole standard, John—and by extension, Laojun—updated his perception and did not pursue the matter further. The priority was always "that which is useful to Jin."
(Perhaps there is a secret police force similar to the Secret Mobile Unit (SP)... but that has nothing to do with me.)
Since he had no intention of committing any wrongdoing, he saw no reason to cross paths with such an organization.
Passing through Toyo, Yanase, and Mima, John finally arrived in Kochi.
"Now then, where to next?"
He took the time to listen to the locals and gather information. Ultimately, he decided to continue south to reach the coast.
He spent a night in Ono, Shodo, Rashiki, and Tsuyama. Then he passed through Bingo, Mimasa, and Kurasshi, finally reaching Tosa.
Tosa was a seaside town with a wide sandy beach. The view consisted entirely of the horizon stretching into the infinite distance. Its latitude was slightly closer to the equator than Port Rock Town's.
Research indicated that the concentration of free ether dropped significantly near the Tropic of Capricorn, meaning standard ether converters wouldn't produce sufficient mana. While the magi reactor inside John could handle slightly lower levels, he had no intention of traveling that far south.
(I believe I’ll stay in the Tosa area for a while to focus on gathering intelligence.)
Thus, John Dini decided to settle down in Tosa for a period of time.