"Jin-sama, Elsa-sama, you both look so happy."
The speaker was Jessica Norton, Captain of the Female Ritter Order.
"Thank you."
"Thank you... And what about you, Jessica-san?"
While Jin was content to offer a simple, sincere word of thanks, Elsa followed her gratitude with a pointed question.
"Pardon?"
For a moment, Jessica didn't seem to understand the implication.
"I mean, I was wondering if you had found a partner yourself, Jessica-san..."
"Oh, I've already given up on that."
She made the declaration quite nonchalantly.
"Jessica is so indifferent... wouldn't you agree, Gloria?"
"Y-Yes!"
Gloria Allstatt, who had the conversation tossed her way by Princess Lieschen, looked a little flustered.
"Gloria, how old are you now?"
Princess Lieschen asked the kind of question Jin found awkward to bring up as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I am twenty-four, but..."
"I see. And Jessica?"
"Twenty-eight."
"Hmm."
Lieschen fell into thought for a moment after hearing their answers.
(Hey, what's the marriageable age around here?)
(They say it's usually between fifteen and twenty.)
Jin and Elsa were having a private exchange in low whispers.
(That's generally for nobles, right? What do you think, Elsa?)
(...It depends on the person, but in my view, up to thirty is no problem at all.)
(I thought so. Back where I come from, there were plenty of people who had children after thirty.)
In many cases, the marriageable age was dictated by the short lifespans resulting from poor nutrition or hygiene issues.
"Anti-aging, huh..."
Jin's voice had accidentally grown a bit loud. Princess Lieschen overheard him.
"Jin, what is this 'anti-aging' you speak of?"
"Ah, you heard that? Well, I suppose you could call it a way to stay youthful and not let your age get the better of you."
"What? Does such a thing actually exist!?"
"J-Jin-dono, is that true!?"
"P-Please, would you be willing to tell us more!?"
Princess Lieschen, Jessica, and Gloria all pounced on the idea. Elsa's eyes were also sparkling with curiosity.
(Everywhere I go, people always want to stay young...)
Jin had only researched the topic because he wanted the Orphanage Director to stay healthy and youthful forever. However, he was strictly an amateur, and since the Orphanage Director hadn't been very happy about him worrying over such things, he had stopped his research shortly after starting.
"Let's see..."
Jin racked his brain, trying to recall the bits of knowledge he had gathered.
"First would be skin care, I suppose."
"Indeed, that is so. It is better to be without wrinkles or spots."
"The cause of those is... well, it's sun damage."
Jin substituted the term "sun damage" because he doubted they would understand "ultraviolet rays."
"If you get sunburned repeatedly, your skin darkens, right? If you leave it like that, your skin loses its luster and firmness over time."
"I-Is that so?"
Even though they were women, they were knights who spent much of their time outdoors, so they all suffered from some degree of sun damage.
"Sunscreen and proper skin care would make quite a difference."
"Sunscreen? Does such a thing exist, Jin-dono?"
Gloria leaned forward. Jin had thought her only obsession was swordsmanship, but it seemed she was interested in skin care after all.
"Well, just applying fine titanium oxide powder dissolved in moisturizing oil should make a big difference..."
"Titanium oxide?"
"Ah, perhaps you would know it as 64 light silver powder?"
Since titanium was called 64 light silver in this world, Jin corrected himself.
"Hmm, to think that 64 light silver powder had such an effect..."
"Then there's diet. It is ideal to eat meat, vegetables, and grains in a balanced way."
Jin wasn't particularly well-versed in dietary therapy, however.
"That will keep your body in good condition. Also, things like constipation are major enemies," Elsa added, supplementing his explanation.
When Jin gave it some thought, the people of the Ars world seemed to have quite robust bodies. He hadn't been able to verify whether that was due to the mana within their bodies or not. Setting aside diseases and injuries, it also seemed possible that their lifespans were a bit longer than those on Earth. He couldn't say for sure, as he hadn't taken any statistics.
"Hmm, how does one go about making this 'sunscreen'? Or is it sold somewhere?"
"Well..."
It could be made by using Craft Magic to oxidize 64 light silver into TiO2, turning it into a powder, and mixing it with appropriate oils and fragrances, but Elsa didn't know the specifics of how to create the compound. She stole a glance at Jin.
"..."
In truth, Jin didn't know the modern manufacturing process used on Earth either. However, he had the Craft Magic spells Oxidation and Deoxidization. He didn't use them often, but removing iron rust was done with Deoxidization, and oxidizing the surface of 64 light silver to color it was done with Oxidation. With these, it was entirely possible to create oxidized 64 light silver and pulverize it.
"Well, I've been making prototypes at my place recently. I was thinking of selling it if there's a market."
Jin had remembered just in time what Reinhard and the others had told him: it was better not to provide everything for free.
"I see. Then it shall be available for purchase soon?"
"Yeah. It will likely be handled through the Raglann Company."
When Jin said that, Lieschen nodded as if satisfied.
"I see, that would lead to stimulating the economy. It may be better than having it provided for free."
It seemed Lieschen was more concerned with the nation's economy than Jin was.
"I think I'll be able to send some samples eventually."
"I look forward to it."
It was somewhat of a spur-of-the-moment claim, but since the act of making it wasn't difficult, Jin made the promise right then and there. By doing so, his plans for the next day's interval were essentially decided.
"...Now then, to get back to the subject."
The conversation was originally supposed to be about the marriageable age.
"Jessica-san and Gloria-san are both still well within the appropriate age," Elsa said, taking over the lead.
"Ho ho, indeed. If all the female knights were to miss their chance at marriage, there might be no one left willing to become one."
Princess Lieschen laughed innocently.
"Don't you agree, Jessica? Gloria?"
"W-Well..."
"Um, I'm not sure how to answer that..."
The two of them looked troubled, having no idea how to respond.
"And I'd like to bring the conversation back even further."
Jin decided it was finally time to ask if they had someone special in mind.