After finishing his instructions to his subordinates, Jin spoke. "Ideally, I would have liked to consult with Reinhard as well."
For the past day or two, it seemed Reinhard had been with his father, Count Wolfgang Randol, to report on the territory's management for the first half of the year.
"I should have asked him sooner," Elsa remarked. However, Jin had been so preoccupied with finalizing the monorail specifications, and the proposal for the Guest House hadn't even been conceived yet, so it couldn't be helped.
"I'll consult him once he's free," Jin said.
"Mm, I think that’s best."
All that remained was the model crafting.
This was the true essence of Jin's craft. It had been his hobby and specialty long before he became the Magi Craft Meister. However, there was one major hurdle.
"...Motorizing it is out of the question."
"Motorizing" referred to making models, like plastic kits, move using a motor. It set them apart from display models meant only for decoration. In the late Showa era, right up until just before the bubble economy, plastic models were primarily motorized. However, by the era Jin had grown up in, such models had already begun to decline.
Nevertheless, Jin preferred models that moved with a motor, even if the fine details of their sculpting were somewhat inferior. If it were just for Jin’s own enjoyment on Hourai Island, he could simply use a Golem Engine or a force generator. But for something to be presented in a public setting, he couldn't do that.
"Well, I suppose 'movable by hand' will have to do."
A certain amount of compromise was inevitable. This wasn't meant to be a toy, after all.
"As for the size... I suppose about the size of one tatami mat will be enough."
In Jin's memory, the size of one tatami mat—90 centimeters by 180 centimeters, or 3 shaku by 6 shaku—was a standard size for a sheet of plywood. Thus, he prepared a board measuring 90 by 180 centimeters. It wasn't plywood, nor was it a single solid plank; it was composite wood created using the Joint technique.
"Father, would a single plank not be better?" asked Reiko, who was assisting him. "We have enough timber in stock to create a board about one meter wide."
Plants grew well on the subtropical Hourai Island. The northern part of the island was covered in coniferous forests, while the northeast was home to broadleaf forests, containing many giant trees.
"Ah, I'm not worried about the wood grain this time. Composite wood is better because it doesn't warp as easily."
Single planks were often used for tabletops or dresser panels to appreciate the beauty of their grain. On the downside, they could warp due to changes in humidity. Plywood and composite wood were far more stable.
"I understand, Father."
"Now that the board is ready, next is the layout."
The simplest would be a straight track. The rail would extend in a straight line, and the model vehicle would simply go back and forth. A continuous loop was also simple. Essentially, it was a continuous circle, though it didn't have to be a perfect circle; an oval would work, or even a figure-eight if he used a multi-level crossing.
However, since these classifications usually involved considerations for running an electric current through the rails, they weren't particularly relevant to Jin right now.
"Since it's for a demonstration, I'll put both a straight track and a loop on it."
Since there were no styrofoam-like materials available, he used wood. Using a lightweight wood similar to balsa, Jin began constructing the elevated tracks. The straight track would provide a shuttle service, representing the line connecting the royal capital to the harbor. The loop would represent a circular line, a route that traveled through various towns.
Thinking that just a board would be too plain, he used sawdust hardened with glue to represent the ground and painted thin strips of wood to mimic cobblestones. As he got into it, Jin began building structures out of thin wooden sheets as well, turning it into a diorama.
Elsa, who had come to check on him after finishing her work with the gyuuhi, let her eyes go wide at the sight of the diorama, which she was seeing for the first time.
"...It’s fascinating."
More than that, she found herself captivated by the joyful look on Jin's face.
(Jin-nii looks so happy. More than I’ve ever seen him.)
Jin was always serious when crafting things, but he usually carried an aura of enjoyment. Now, however, even his expression had softened. Seeing this unfamiliar expression—one that was both serious and joyful—Elsa realized she still didn't fully understand everything about Jin.
But it was almost time for dinner.
"Father, it is nearly time for dinner."
Elsa had found it difficult to interrupt because Jin looked so happy, but Reiko spoke up in her stead.
"Ah, is it that time already? Alright, I'll do a little more after dinner."
Jin washed his hands, rinsed his mouth, and headed to the dining room. Elsa followed behind him.
"Jin-nii, you looked like you were having so much fun," Elsa told Jin as they drank tea after dinner.
"D-did I?"
"Mm. It made me realize how much you truly love making things like that."
"Maybe so." Jin couldn't deny it. "Making something without any practical utility... how should I put it? It's because it's purely a hobby. It's not a duty, so there's no sense of responsibility involved..."
"I can't explain it well, but it's fun," Jin concluded.
"...I think I understand, in a way."
Even with the same task, the mindset of the person doing it changed depending on whether it was work or a hobby. Some people even said one should never turn their hobby into their job.
Putting an end to the discussion, Jin resumed his model prototyping. This time Elsa intended to help, but Jin proceeded silently and absorbed in his own world. Elsa felt a little lonely, but seeing the joyful look on Jin's face, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
An hour passed.
"It's done."
The diorama-style demonstration monorail model was complete.
"It’s amazing," Elsa offered her unreserved praise.
It no longer looked like a mere demonstration model for a monorail; the monorail looked like a natural part of the diorama.
"I got a bit carried away since I haven't made a model in a while." As Jin scratched his head a bit sheepishly, Elsa looked at him with a smile.
"I’ve discovered Jin-nii's childish side."
"Yeah, this is quite tasty."
Tasting the prototype mitsumame with gyuuhi as a late-night snack, Jin gave it a score of eighty. "It's lacking a bit of softness... I wonder what else it needs?"
"It’s difficult."
As Jin and Elsa tilted their heads in thought, Perido Leader arrived with another prototype of the gyuuhi.
"Master, please try this one as well."
"Let's see... Yeah, this one is tastier."
"Really?...Ah, you're right."
"I tried mixing in some mizuame."
"Mizuame, huh..."
The attempt to make mizuame from barley malt and glutinous rice had been a success, so she had apparently used that. Perido Leader's intuition was already on par with that of a first-rate confectioner or chef.
"I will continue to experiment with different mixing ratios."
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."
"Yes, please leave it to me."
With this, it looked like they would be able to serve delicious mitsumame as well. Jin felt a surge of happiness. Before they knew it, it was already past ten o'clock.
"Time to brush our teeth and head to bed."
"Mm."
Saying it had been a fulfilling day, Jin stretched contentedly. In the sky, the Moon... Uni was shining brightly.