"An automobile... right?"
"Indeed. So you recognize it after all, Jin-dono?"
Paerova Sondvik’s expression was a mix of shock and budding expectation.
"Yes. It's a vehicle powered by a Golem Engine, isn't it?"
"Th-That is correct."
For the time being, Jin had decided to put his usefulness on full display.
"Does it still run?"
At a glance, the vehicle looked quite old, with rust visible on several components.
"No, unfortunately, it does not. If you are able, would you be willing to fix it?"
Jin answered without hesitation. "I'll give it a try. However, I may require some materials."
"Of course. If you could list what you need, I will place a bulk order immediately."
"Understood."
The sky was clear with no sign of rain, so Jin decided to perform his inspection right there in the courtyard.
"Hmm, the tires are rubber, and they're tubeless. The rubber has degraded... but it should still be drivable."
First, he checked the suspension. The natural rubber tires had definitely seen better days.
"The suspension system uses... leaf springs. They're a bit rusty. 'Deoxidization.'"
The steel parts were oxidized, but since the damage was minor, he removed the rust on the spot.
"The body is... oh, it's 64 light silver. No warping, so this part is fine as is."
Jin crawled under the vehicle to continue his check. Since it was dark underneath, he cast a 'Light' to see his work. The courtyard was covered in grass, and the automobile had high ground clearance, allowing him to slide under it with ease.
"...I'm seeing a few familiar structures here and there."
It utilized a ladder-shaped frame—a ladder frame, or chassis.
"Unlike a monocoque, these are nice and easy to maintain... though the interior gets much dirtier."
Jin continued his inspection, muttering to himself. The steering was functional, though it seemed a bit low on oil.
"Alright, that's the suspension and chassis sorted....And hup!"
Jin scrambled out from under the vehicle, only to knock his head against a pair of legs.
"Eh...?"
"Huh? Kyaaaaaa!"
The owner of the legs tumbled onto her backside on the grass.
"Ka-Kachea?"
"Ji-Jin-san? Wh-What are you doing...?"
Fortunately, she was wearing a long skirt, so nothing untoward was visible.
"Why are you here, Kachea?"
"I finished my lessons for the day, so I was looking around the estate. I saw something interesting in the courtyard and came out to investigate, but then Jin-san..."
"I see. This is called an automobile. It's a vehicle that moves using a mechanism similar to a Golem."
"Like... a carriage that moves without horses?"
"Essentially, yes. It's not quite a carriage since there's no horse, but that’s the idea. I've been asked to repair it."
"And... does it look like it will move?"
"Now I just have to check the most important part: the engine."
He had already finished inspecting the underside.
"It’s getting a bit dark. Let's put a 'Light' here too."
"It's so... bright now. Magic really is convenient..."
Having seen him use it several times at the workshop in Taji Village, Kachea was no longer shocked by a simple Light spell.
However, those watching from a distance felt differently.
"Wh-Wh-What was that magic!?"
"Your Excellency, your voice is too loud."
Paerova, who had been observing Jin’s work from afar, was hushed by his confidant, Jed Alamold.
"U-Umu, my apologies. But..."
"Yes, I understand. I traveled with him for three days by carriage, and even then, I could tell he is a magi of unfathomable depth."
"I had heard the reports, but to think it was to this extent..."
They continued to observe Jin's progress.
"Are Jin and that girl on good terms?"
"Hard to say. She was an employee at his workshop and was entrusted with the accounting, I believe."
"Hmm."
Paerova Sondvik pondered for a moment.
"If we believe his story—that his memory is fuzzy and he was sent here from another continent—then he should have no family or ties here, correct?"
"That seems to be the case, Your Excellency."
"In that case, that girl is one of his few connections. Even if we cannot use her directly, she should at least serve as leverage."
"Indeed."
"Then allow her to meet with Jin freely. The closer they become, the easier he will be to utilize later."
"Understood."
"The engine is fine. It’s actually quite well-made."
Jin wiped the sweat from his forehead and closed the hood.
"So... will it move?"
Jin nodded. "Yeah. The line connecting the accelerator pedal to the engine was snapped, so I reconnected it. There was enough slack that it was a simple fix."
Jin was actually a bit disappointed that the failure had been so basic.
(Compared to the precision of the engine, the body is a bit flimsy. There’s no differential, either... maybe the engine was a separate custom order.)
While he was lost in thought, Kachea spoke up.
"Jin-san, the sun is... setting. I think it’s nearly time for dinner."
"Ah, you're right. I should report that I've finished the initial repairs."
Just then, Paerova Sondvik and Jed Alamold approached.
"Jin-dono, how does it look?"
"Ah, Your Excellency. I’ve completed the basic repairs. The tires have deteriorated, but they should hold up for a short while."
Jin had already applied 'Toughening' to them just in case.
"Oh! Is that so? Could you... try driving it, just for a moment?"
"Certainly. Here I go."
Since it was just a test drive, Jin climbed into the automobile alone.
"Wake up."
When he pulled the lever that served as the keyword, the Golem Engine hummed to life, and a small Light flickered on the console panel.
"Moving out."
Jin slowly depressed the accelerator. Since the torque characteristics of a Golem Engine were similar to an electric motor, it required neither a clutch nor a transmission.
"Oh, it's moving!"
"It actually runs."
Jin drove it slowly at about ten kilometers per hour. Since it was getting quite dark, he turned on the headlights to test them as well. He checked the brakes during the loop and confirmed there were no issues.
After completing a full circuit of the courtyard, he came to a stop in front of Paerova and the others.
"That's all."
Jin stepped out of the automobile and gave a polite bow.
"Splendid work."
Paerova Sondvik welcomed him back with a small, appreciative round of applause.