“Well then, let’s get going.”
“Mhm.”
With Edgar at the controls, Jin and Elsa set off for the demon territory in Konron 3 to pay their respects.
Reiko naturally accompanied them. They loaded the ship with plenty of commemorative koban as wedding gifts, alongside several crates of goods intended for trade.
“Safe travels, My Lord,” Laojun said, seeing them off as they departed for the north.
Cruising at five hundred kilometers per hour, they could reach their destination in just an hour. Due to a three-hour time difference, they arrived at 8:00 AM local time despite departing at 10:00 AM.
Their first stop was the All-Creation clan.
“Jin!”
Sion was the first to rush toward the landing Konron 3.
“Hey, Sion. It’s been a while.”
“It really has! By the way...”
“J-Jin-dono! Is this an ‘airship’?!”
“I-It can actually fly through the sky?!”
Bardius and Ladeous, who had run up panting behind Sion, stared wide-eyed at the Konron 3. It was their first time seeing it; their previous encounters with Jin in the demon territory had always involved the four-legged Capricorn 1.
Members of the All-Creation clan flocked to the vessel. Before long, nearly everyone had gathered. Jin realized this was the perfect opportunity.
“Everyone, it’s been too long,” he called out, turning the gathering into a formal address. “I’m here to report that... well, Elsa and I have recently married.”
A wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.
“Jin, Elsa, congratulations!” Sion was the first to offer her blessings.
“Congratulations!” Istalis followed.
“Congratulations. You have my best wishes,” Bardius said, with Ladeous nodding in agreement.
“C-Congratulations!...Aw,” Marikka chirped, though she tripped over her own words.
One by one, the members of the All-Creation clan offered their heartfelt well-wishes to the couple.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Once again, congratulations on your marriage.”
The celebration moved to the settlement, where Jin and Elsa were formally received at the Clan Chief’s house. When Jin mentioned that they intended to visit the other clans as well, Bardius replied.
“I’ve already contacted them. I expect their representatives will arrive shortly.”
“We received those manaphones the other day,” Ladeous explained. “Now all the clans can communicate with one another.”
He noted that the Gospel clan had distributed the devices to everyone.
“That is a significant improvement,” Jin noted. Since the clans were small, a single manaphone per group was enough to handle all their communication needs.
“Most of them should be here by this evening.”
“I see.”
Jin had hoped to finish his rounds today and return, but he resigned himself to the fact that they would likely have to stay the night.
“Jin-sama, if you have the time, would you care to inspect the farm?” suggested Rolona, the head of agriculture.
Jin agreed instantly. “I’d like that. Let’s take a look.”
Accompanied by Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar, Jin stepped outside.
“Thanks to the frost-prevention barriers and the greenhouses, we had a bountiful harvest this past winter,” Rolona said.
“That’s good to hear.”
“And starting this year, we’ve increased our legume crops.”
Many legumes have a symbiotic relationship with root nodule bacteria on their roots, which allows them to fix nitrogen and naturally fertilize the soil.
“We’ll harvest the tops and leave the roots, then plant leafy greens in their place.”
Since nitrogen is vital for foliage growth, it was a sound strategy. Rolona was clearly making full use of her agricultural knowledge.
“It will soon be time for the greenhouses to shine again.”
They approached the greenhouses, which were paneled with cubic zirconia. Currently, the walls were open, leaving only the roofs to shelter fruit-bearing vegetables like tometru that were sensitive to rain. When the weather turned cold, the walls would be sealed to provide a warm environment.
“Our food situation has stabilized. We are now fully self-sufficient.”
“Then the next step is improving the quality.”
“Precisely.”
Since Jin was still purchasing cubic zirconia, the clan could use that income to buy goods from the Allied Kingdoms, including various seeds and seedlings. It seemed their food concerns would be a thing of the past within a few years.
Now for formal diplomatic relations, I suppose... Jin thought. He wasn't quite sure how to handle that part yet. Maybe there's no need to rush.
As long as the demons could live in peace, they seemed satisfied with their current lives.
I suppose it starts with solving the mystery of ether distribution.
If he could figure out why free ether was abundant in the Northern Hemisphere but sparse in the Southern Hemisphere, he might find a way to let the demon race move further south.
(He had heard that no humans lived on the Southern Continent, after all.)
But that was a goal for the future. Jin hoped his honeymoon might yield some clues to the mystery of the free ether distribution.
＊ ＊ ＊
True to their nature, representatives from every clan arrived that evening, ignoring the vast distances. It seemed those capable of Teleportation Magic had offered their assistance.
“Jin-sama, congratulations!”
“Elsa-sama, congratulations.”
Jin and Elsa received blessings and gifts from the gathered representatives. Most of the presents were handmade mascots—a traditional custom of the demon race.
Jin, who had a soft spot for such dolls, was genuinely touched. He even began planning a dedicated display shelf for them in his room back on Hourai Island.
The celebration soon turned into a lively banquet.
“We no longer have to worry about our next meal,” one guest noted.
“And illnesses have become far less common,” added another.
Hearing the stability of their daily lives brought Jin a sense of relief. The festivities continued late into the night. The next day, Jin and Elsa returned to Hourai Island—tired and a bit short on sleep, but ready to make their final preparations for the honeymoon.