That night, Paerova Sondvik was in exceptionally high spirits.
The automobile that had been gathering dust in storage was finally functional again.
"No, Jin-dono, you are truly more than first-rate!"
Having finished off about three bottles of wine, he laughed, his face flushed red.
"The truth is, I have many more magi-devices that are currently unusable. I would like to ask you to handle their repairs as well, Jin-dono."
"I would be happy to."
Jin meant every word.
By performing repairs, he could discern the quality of the materials used, which in turn provided information about the current technological standards and the skills of local creators.
If he played his cards right, he might even be able to secure some magi-crystals.
Beyond those practical concerns, it was simply in Jin's nature to fix things that were still salvageable. He looked forward to seeing what kind of magi-devices were available and whether he might find something useful for his own purposes.
＊ ＊ ＊
"As I thought, Jin Nidou is quite useful."
"Indeed."
After Jin had retired to his room, Paerova and Jed consulted with one another.
"Should we take this opportunity to entrust him with 'that one's' education as well?"
"I wonder about that. Being a skilled craftsman doesn't necessarily mean one is a good teacher."
Jed made a sour face.
"...True. 'That one' certainly lacks a sense of cooperation," Paerova said, recalling the face of the magi currently under his management.
"I believe it would be best to observe him for another day or two."
"You're right. Tomorrow, let's have him repair the golems."
＊ ＊ ＊
"...This is..."
The next day, Jin was led to a storehouse.
Specifically, it was a storehouse for broken golems.
About fifteen golems were lined up inside, some lying flat on the floor, others leaning against the walls.
"Examine them and see what you can do. If you can get even one or two moving, I would be delighted. Good luck."
Jed Alamold, who had guided him there, saw Jin's grimace and patted him on the shoulder encouragingly.
Jin's grimace wasn't because the request was too demanding or impossible.
He simply felt a pang of pity seeing golems that had been ground down to nothing and then abandoned without a shred of maintenance.
"...Still, looking at it another way, this might be a chance."
Thinking that he might be able to obtain some second-hand magi-crystals, Jin began his inspection.
"Ugh, they really just used them until they stopped moving and then tossed them aside, didn't they?"
Jin first tried to categorize them by their state of disrepair, but the units were too heavy to move alone.
"I really need an assistant..."
Jin thought of his beloved daughter, Reiko, who was no longer at his side.
"I can't miss what I don't have. I'll just have to do some temporary maintenance on the one in the best condition and use it as an assistant."
Out of the fifteen golems, Jin selected the one with the least amount of damage and began emergency repairs.
"First, I'll tighten up these loose joints. 'Forming'."
Jin worked with practiced efficiency.
"Connecting the severed magi-nerve lines. 'Fusion'."
The golem in the best condition could move with just those two fixes, but Jin went one step further.
"'Toughening'."
Jin applied a light Toughening spell. This would also slightly increase the unit's muscular strength.
"I should tweak the control core as well... 'Erase', 'Write In'... and that should do it. 'Start'."
〔Yes, Master. Please provide your orders.〕
The golem stood up.
"Good. First off, I want you to line up those golems on the floor. I'll tell you which one goes where."
〔Understood.〕
"...Put that one on the far right. That one is third... Ah, put that one in sixth place."
Jin had it rearrange the units in order of their condition. Out of the fifteen, nine were in such bad shape that they couldn't be repaired without replacement materials.
The faults in those nine included multiple severed magi-nerve lines, damaged control cores, broken ether converters, and ruptured magical muscles.
"I'll either have to have the materials ordered, or cannibalize a few to make one functional unit."
Jin judged that the remaining five could be given emergency repairs with what he had on hand.
Using the first golem as his assistant, Jin proceeded with the work. He took Kachea's advice to heart and worked at a slow, leisurely pace.
As a result, by the time lunch arrived, he had only managed to repair three units, including his new assistant.
＊ ＊ ＊
At lunch, not only Jed Alamold but also the Regional Administrator himself, Paerova Sondvik, made an appearance.
"How goes it, Jin-dono? Do they look fixable?" Paerova asked with great interest.
"Well, even for you, Jin-dono, please tell us clearly if something is impossible," Jed added, showing a degree of concern.
"Let's see... looking them over briefly, there are nine units that don't seem fixable without new materials. Conversely, six units can be given emergency repairs."
"O-Oh?"
Paerova had apparently not expected such a high success rate; he stopped eating and leaned forward.
"You're saying six of them will be functional again!?"
"Yes. This might be a case of asking for forgiveness rather than permission, but I've actually already given one unit emergency repairs and am using it as an assistant."
"Wh... What!?"
Paerova was so shocked he dropped his spoon.
"I apologize. I simply couldn't manage to move the other golems on my own."
Jin explained the logistics and apologized once more.
"N-No, I have no intention of reprimanding you for that." Paerova waved off the apology. "...You mean one is already operational!? That is wonderful!!"
"Ah, no, it's not just one. I've finished three."
"Beg pardon?"
It took several seconds for Paerova to process Jin's words.
"You fixed three?"
"Yes."
"By 'fixed', you mean they are now functional?"
"Yes."
"..."
"H-Hmm, th-this is beyond my expectations. May I go see them after we finish?"
"Of course."
Paerova Sondvik finished the rest of his lunch in high spirits. With hardly any rest afterward, he hurried Jin along and, accompanied by Jed Alamold, rushed toward the golem storehouse.