Kachea was nineteen, the same age as Helga.
She had semi-short blonde hair and blue-green eyes, and she wore a pair of round glasses.
So they have glasses in this world too, was Jin’s first impression.
Hearing her slightly timid manner of speaking, Jin couldn't help but be reminded of Elsa.
“Um, I was told… that you needed someone for the bookkeeping?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I’ll be counting on you.”
“Y-Yes. My name is Ka… Kachea. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Jin. Nice to meet you too.”
“Um, should I call you Jin-san? Or would ‘Store Manager’ or ‘Master’ be better?”
He might be the owner of the workshop, but Jin really didn't want to be called “Master.”
“Jin-san is fine,” he replied.
“Y-Yes. Well then, Jin-san. E-Err, do you have a ledger?”
“I don’t.”
“T-Then, paper and a pen? Ink…?”
“Don’t have those either.”
Kachea let out a heavy sigh.
“I see. No wonder Mina-san was… worried. I’ll go buy some at my aunt’s shop. I’ll have her put it on credit, so don’t worry.”
Her expression sharpened slightly, and even her tone shifted. After saying her piece, Kachea hurried out of the Jin Workshop.
“…She’s an interesting girl.”
“Kachea is usually quiet and shy, but when she’s serious about her work, she gives it everything she’s got.”
“Whoa!?”
Jin jumped at the voice suddenly coming from behind him.
“A ‘whoa’? How rude.”
“Well, you just started talking right behind me.”
“I’ve been here for a while, you know? Ever since Kachea went out to go shopping.”
“Really?”
In truth, Helga had crept up on purpose to surprise him, but she kept that to herself.
“Anyway, I’ve brought you some work.”
She really was the Village Chief's daughter.
“Oh, really? What is it?”
“The bath boiler at the Bartran house is acting up.”
“A bath boiler, huh? Alright.”
Most bath boilers in this village used firewood. That meant they were heated by open flames, which produced smoke and left behind a layer of soot.
Jin moved to head out and investigate, but then paused.
“Oops, I should probably wait until Kachea gets back.”
“True.”
Jin and Helga spent about ten minutes in idle conversation.
“Sorry for the… delay.”
Kachea returned, her arms full of supplies.
“Ah, Helga-chan.”
“Kachea, working hard already, I see.”
“Y-Yeah, thank… you.”
“Listen, a request just came in to repair the boiler at the Bartran house.”
Kachea’s face tightened with professional focus at the news.
“A repair request?…Jin-san.”
“Yeah. I’m going to head over and take a look.”
“Understood. I will accompany you.”
“Wait, what about the shop?”
“I’ll mind the store for you. Just make sure you come back as quickly as possible, okay?” Helga offered.
Jin had been debating whether he should lock up, so her offer was a welcome one.
“Got it. Thanks.”
“We’re off, Helga-chan.”
“Um, do you know where the house is?”
“Y-Yes, I… do.”
Kachea led Jin to the Bartran household without a moment's hesitation.
“H-Hello.”
Since she knew the family, Kachea was the one to offer the greeting.
“Oh, what a surprise. If it isn't Kachea-chan. What brings you by today?”
A woman who appeared to be the Landlady came to the door.
“Um, well… about the… bath repair…”
“Eh? Oh, Helga-chan mentioned that! So this must be Jin-san. You’re a lifesaver. Please, take a look quickly.”
“Yes, I understand. Where is the boiler?”
“This way.”
Jin was led around to the back of the house.
“It’s this one.”
“Ah, I see…”
It was quite old, but it featured a heating unit powered by a magi-crystal. This was a high-end model that didn't require firewood. The Village Chief’s house used a similar version.
“How is it? Can it be fixed?”
“Let me check.”
Jin crouched down and used Analyze.
“Hmm… The magi-crystal parts are fine. It looks like the heat conduction in the heating element has just degraded.”
Jin continued his inspection.
“Jin-san, how does it look?” Kachea asked softly.
“Yeah, I can fix it without any problems.”
“Thank goodness.”
The Landlady let out a sigh of relief.
“My husband loves his baths, you see. He gets in a terrible mood if he can't soak for even one day. We had to go borrow the neighbor's bath for the last two nights. This is a huge help.”
“Then I'll get started—”
Jin was about to begin when Kachea stopped him.
(Wait a moment, Jin-san. How long will the repair take?) she whispered.
(Eh? With Craft Magic, even if I take my time, about five minutes.)
(Please take fifteen minutes. Can you do that?)
(Sure, that's not a problem.)
Kachea turned back to the Landlady.
“Um, regarding the estimate for the repair fee… it will be five thousand Toll. Is that acceptable?”
“Oh, of course! We bought this second-hand from Lorenz for nineteen thousand nine hundred Toll, after all.”
“Understood. Jin-san, please proceed with the repairs.”
“Okay.”
Jin set to work.
He adjusted the heating element, repaired the conduction components, optimized the overall efficiency, and even performed Deoxidization on the rusted metal parts. He finished the job in sixteen minutes.
“It’s all fixed. If you have any more trouble, please feel free to visit the Jin Workshop.”
And so, Jin’s first on-site repair job since opening for business was successfully completed.