At noon, Hourai Island Time, Milowina arrived from the Moon Base.
"Welcome, Milowina-san."
Jin, Elsa, and all the members of the Jin Family currently on Hourai Island were there to greet her.
"It has been a while, Jin-kun."
Milowina looked even healthier than she had during their last meeting.
"Tomorrow is finally the wedding....But are you certain someone like me is appropriate for the role?"
"Yes, I truly want you to do it, Milowina-san."
The role Jin wanted Milowina to fulfill was that of his official guardian.
While Elsa had Mine, Jin was both an orphan and an etranger. Therefore, he had wished to ask Milowina to stand as his guardian.
Drawing inspiration from Reinhard's wedding, he had planned a ceremony with his own unique flair—one that bore a slight resemblance to a Shinto wedding from modern Japan. Elsa had been in full agreement with the idea.
When he explained the concept to the rest of the Family, their reactions were overwhelmingly positive, so Jin had decided to proceed with his original style for the ceremony.
Part of the reason for their acceptance was likely that the basic structure of a Japanese Shinto wedding didn't differ greatly from the local "reporting to the ancestors" tradition. More than that, however, they seemed to sympathize with the wishes of Jin, who had arrived in this world entirely alone.
Jin intended to report his marriage to his predecessor, Adriana Barbora Tsetse, the Magus Shuuki, and Shuuki's wife, Adriana. He also meant to offer his respects to the eight million gods of his homeland, Japan, on that far-distant Earth.
"Aha, Jin's own original wedding style, is it? How fascinating," Goose said. Though the order of service had already been explained, he clearly wanted to witness it for himself.
Vivienne seemed to be of the same mind.
"A wedding for a Magi Craft Meister... this will surely be the stuff of legends!"
"..."
Jin and Elsa were both a little overwhelmed by her intense enthusiasm.
Then, at 2:00 PM Hourai Island Time, Reinhard and his wife arrived from the Shouro Empire. Berche’s pregnancy was now quite advanced, her belly noticeably large.
"Welcome, Reinhard, Berche....Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, Jin-sama. I've had a midwife examine me, and she assured me that I'm still doing quite well."
In the Ars world, the profession of "doctor" did not exist; injuries and illnesses were treated by healers. Matters regarding childbirth, however, were handled by specialists known as midwives.
"Thank you for your concern, Jin," Reinhard added. "With Elsa here, and the ability to fly to Kaina Village at a moment's notice, this is in many ways the safest place in the world for her to be."
"I suppose that’s true, but still..."
Having heard that a first birth could be difficult, Jin couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of worry.
At 3:00 PM, Lishia arrived.
"I apologize for the delay."
"Welcome, Lishia."
"Thank you for coming all this way."
Jin and Elsa greeted her and led her to the large dining hall where everyone else was waiting. There, they introduced her to Milowina for the first time.
"I believe I’ve mentioned her before, but this is Milowina-san, royalty of the Leonard Kingdom."
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Milowina. I suppose I am technically the last of my line."
"O-Oh, I am Lishia."
"Jin-kun, you certainly have many lovely young ladies among your acquaintances."
Lishia blushed at the remark, Jin scratched the side of his head sheepishly, and Elsa gave him a brief, pointed glare.
At 4:00 PM, Count Kuzuma and his wife arrived.
"Welcome, Louis, Beena."
"Jin, it's finally almost time!" Beena called out, her face slightly flushed with excitement.
"Yeah. You beat me to the punch, Beena, but it's finally here."
"Ufufu, I suppose I did....Elsa, you must be looking forward to it, aren't you?"
"...Mm."
Beena addressed Elsa as she came forward to greet them. As Elsa looked at her friend, her gaze suddenly sharpened.
"...Beena, are you pregnant?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"...Eh?"
Not only Jin and Count Kuzuma, but Beena herself froze in shock.
"...Am I not?" Elsa asked.
"Eeeeeeeh...!!"
Apparently, she hadn't realized it herself.
"N-Now that you mention it, I was thinking things were a bit late this month... but is it really true?"
"Mm, no mistake. Congratulations."
Elsa, having performed a quick diagnosis by placing her hand on Beena's stomach, spoke with a warm smile.
"Beena, thank you!"
"Oh, darling..."
Count Kuzuma took Beena’s hands in his, overcome with joy.
"Well now, this is even more reason to celebrate!"
The Count's close friend, Reinhard, was also genuinely delighted. The entire gathered Jin Family joined in to offer their blessings.
The evening that followed took on the atmosphere of a pre-wedding festival, passing by in a warm, jovial mood.
"Jin, congratulations." Reinhard toasted Jin with a glass of wine.
"Thanks."
"When I first met you, Jin, I never imagined a day like this would come."
"I didn't either."
"In a way, the fact that Jin actually chose just one person feels a bit surreal," Beena added.
"Kufu, that's true. After all, Jin is kind to everyone... to women, specifically."
"Hey now," Jin interjected, feigning offense at Saki’s teasing.
"...Wait, where did Elsa go?"
"Hmm? You're right, she's not here....Lishia is gone as well."
"She mentioned earlier that she was going to the hot spring."
Elsa was soaking in the hot spring alone.
"...Tomorrow, finally."
She found herself reflecting on everything that had led them to this point.
Their meeting in Port Rock. The Golem Boat Race. Her misunderstanding in Flathead Village when she thought Jin might be a doll fetishist. Flying kites in Moft Village.
A small smile touched her lips. Her memories continued to drift.
Being attacked by bandits at the foot of Hanbarf Pass. Receiving Non. Being targeted by Valentino's misplaced grudge. Being invited to Kunlun Island with Beena...
"During the Golem Party..."
She remembered how the Protect Ring Jin had given her had saved her life. Then there was the mine in Yada Village, and the Gigas incident at the Keuwan Ruins...
Just as her thoughts reached that point, she noticed someone entering.
"Oh, it was you, Elsa-san."
"Lishia-san..."
It was Lishia who had walked in.
"If you don't mind, I'll join you."
After rinsing herself off, Lishia slowly lowered herself into the water.
"Haa... what a wonderful bath."
"Mm."
Through the large bathroom window, the two women could look out at the world outside. Currently, a magnificent starry sky was on display.
"Elsa-san, congratulations."
"...Thank you."
"I must admit, I'm just a little bit envious."
"..."
Perhaps she was slightly lightheaded from the drink, as Lishia’s eyes seemed somewhat distant and dreamy.
"Please, make sure to support Jin-san."
"Lishia-san, you..."
Lishia cut Elsa off before she could finish.
"Fufu, it's not my place to say such things, is it? After all, Elsa-san, you are the one person Jin-san cannot do without."
Lishia then closed her eyes, leaning back.
"Lishia-san... thank you."
Elsa also closed her eyes and stretched her limbs out in the warm water.
For a long time after that, the two shared a quiet, deep conversation.
It was said that when Saki and the others eventually went to check on them because they were taking so long, they found both Elsa and Lishia nearly faint from the heat.