"…What is this?"
"…Maybe that was a bit of a blunder."
For his first attempt, Jin had crafted a trophy in the shape of the famous radio tower from the capital of Japan. Rather than a prestigious prize, it looked more like a cheap trinket sold at a souvenir shop.
"…Do it over," Elsa said flatly.
Jin remade it using Forming.
"…And this one?"
"A five-story pagoda."
Since it still looked like nothing more than a souvenir, he went back to the drawing board yet again.
"The first two were just jokes. I’m being serious this time."
It was only because he was using Craft Magic that he could afford to be so cavalier; if he had been using molds or traditional hand-production methods, the labor involved would have been staggering.
"Forming."
"Ah, this one is actually quite nice," Elsa remarked.
"You think so?"
At the bottom stood a horse, with a dog perched on its back, a cat on top of the dog, and a chicken crowning the pile. It was a motif based on a certain musical troupe from Earth, though the original featured a donkey instead of a horse.
"But it still doesn't feel quite right for this specific award..."
"Oh, what a shame. It's cute."
"Is it?"
Since Elsa seemed to like it, Jin gave the sculpture to her and reached for a fresh block of white gold.
"Forming."
"Oh, that's lovely."
"Is it?"
Jin had decided to return to the basics, envisioning a traditional championship cup. He shaped it like a deep flute-style champagne glass with handles on either side and a bird with its wings spread wide featured on the lid. The body was shallowly engraved with a laurel motif and the kanji for 'Victory.'
"You think this is the one?"
"Yes. I’ve never seen anything like it before."
Apparently, the custom of awarding a championship cup—a victory chalice—didn't exist in this world. It was another area where history had diverged from Earth's.
"I don't know, though..."
Jin felt a bit conflicted about using a design that wasn't original, but since he couldn't think of anything better, he decided to commit to it. He did, however, remove the 'Victory' characters. No one here would be able to read the kanji anyway, and it wasn't strictly a championship trophy.
"Since it’s the Magi Craft Meister Award... I’ll work an 'MM' into the design."
"That’s a good idea, Jin-nii. Surprisingly so."
"Thanks... I think?"
"Hehe."
Exchanging such idle chatter, they finished the trophy for the Magi Craft Meister Award. The base was crafted from a heavy, dark wood that resembled ebony.
"That’s done. I can hand it over tomorrow when I go to collect the rest of the materials."
All that remained were the medals, which allowed for less creative freedom. He finished them by shaping discs of a reasonable size and thickness, engraving the year, the 'MM' design, and the white lilies that Reiko mentioned the Predecessor had been fond of.
"What about the back?"
"Hmm, good question."
Leaving it blank felt unfinished, so he decided to add the laurel motif there as well.
"Jin-nii, that design is on the trophy too, but what exactly is it?"
"It’s a stylized version of a tree called the laurel," Jin explained.
He gave her a brief summary of how the tradition originated in Greek mythology. The sun god Apollo had loved a woman named Daphne, who transformed into a laurel tree to escape him. Apollo then made a crown from her branches to wear on his head, which eventually led to victors being crowned with laurel wreaths.
Jin didn't know much more of the story than that. He only remembered this much because he had once read a children's book of Greek myths to the younger kids back at the orphanage. Consequently, he was unaware of the details regarding Eros, the god of love, shooting Apollo with a golden arrow of love and Daphne with a lead arrow of rejection.
Regardless, Jin let out a sigh of relief, glad to have finished the commission.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Fuhahaha! This golem is magnificent!"
Count Dave Meida Guarana of the Kingdom of Egerea laughed boisterously. His nose was noticeably crooked. It had been broken during the chaos of the Golem Party held at the royal palace last year, and it had healed at an angle.
Nevertheless, Count Guarana was the Western District Governor of Blue Land. He managed territories rich in mines and was immensely wealthy. Many people flocked to him, hoping to get a share of his fortune.
"Is it not, My Lord?"
Jix, standing beside him, was one of those people. Wearing a thin, oily smile, Jix had first visited Count Kuzuma, but after a brief conversation, he had been shown the door. The Count had told him, 'I sense some hidden agenda in your words. I shall decline your offer,' and sent him on his way.
After that rejection, Jix had sought out Count Guarana and successfully secured employment.
Currently, a single golem stood before the two men, taking on ten of the House Guarana security detail at once.
"It’s fascinating to watch it learn its opponent's combat style and grow stronger by the second. You were right to come to me."
"Naturally. It was only right to present myself to the man who effectively rules Blue Land."
"Gufufu, you certainly know how to talk. By the way, are you aware that a golem competition is being held in the Celuroa Kingdom soon?"
"No, that is news to me."
"Every nation seems to be pushing the development of high-performance golems lately. I imagine that country is looking to reinforce its standing as well."
"I see... in the Celuroa Kingdom."
Jix fell into a contemplative silence.
Before them, the ten soldiers were being systematically neutralized. Their swords and spears were swatted away with ease as the golem rendered them helpless.
"Fuhahaha! Incredible! Let’s see it take on twenty men next! Double the challenge!"
"Certainly, if that is your wish."
By the end of that day, the golem had reached the point where it could instantaneously defeat thirty of the Count's private soldiers. Shortly thereafter, Jix and his machine vanished.
Count Guarana was incensed by the ingratitude, but the whereabouts of the man and his golem remained a total mystery.
＊ ＊ ＊
"An airship or a balloon, you say?"
Late that night, Laojun received a report from the Quinta unit assigned to Blue Land. A flying object, estimated to be seven to ten meters in length, had been spotted flying westward.
"A wind-cutting sound characteristic of wind magic... speed approximately sixty kilometers per hour..."
No further details could be gathered. Even surveillance from the Watcher only confirmed the existence of an airship-like object moving at that speed. Furthermore, the object had disappeared into a cloud bank, forcing the satellite to lose track of it. It had not been spotted since.
"West... Its destination is likely either the Celuroa Kingdom or the Shouro Empire."
Laojun sent out a notice to the Quinta units in those regions to be on high alert and decided to report the findings to Jin as soon as morning came.
And then...
"An airship, huh?"
Jin immediately showed interest.
"Yes, My Lord. It appears to be different from both a hot air balloon and a hydrogen balloon. Furthermore, a continuous wind-cutting sound unique to wind magic was reported."
"Then it might be the sound of a propulsion system."
Jin made the deduction based on the fact that the sound was continuous.
"Is there a possibility it was used for levitation?"
"Hmm... but a gas bag was visible, wasn't it? To both the Quinta and the Watcher."
"Yes, that is correct."
"If that’s the case, then assuming it was a propulsion system is the most logical conclusion. As for the rest..."
"My Lord?"
"No, I have a hunch about something, but I can't say for sure until I've verified it."