“Ugh... my head.”
Jin sat in his room, clutching his head in his hands.
He felt a wave of nausea. He’d clearly had too much to drink last night—a realization that came far too late to be of any help.
(If Elsa were here, she would have healed me in an instant...)
The thought flickered through his mind, only to be promptly drowned out by the throbbing in his temples.
“Let’s see... ‘Schmerzmittel.’”
He was in such a state that he couldn't even focus enough to cast proper healing magic until he'd dulled the pain.
“And then... I can’t use ‘Detox’ on myself, can I? Nothing for it, then. ‘Cure.’ ‘Cure.’ ‘Cure.’”
After casting the beginner-level healing spell—a versatile magic used for both internal and surgical purposes—three times in rapid succession, Jin finally felt himself beginning to stabilize.
“...I think I’ll pass on breakfast. I wonder how Kachea and Eira are doing?”
He had a hazy memory of the three of them stumbling back together last night, so they were likely still in their rooms.
Jin initially considered checking on Kachea himself, but then he thought better of it. Instead, he summoned the golem Hope and ordered it to check on them for him.
(It would be a shame if she were in an embarrassing state... she is a girl, after all.)
While waiting, Jin splashed his face with some of the water he’d kept in the room.
Hope returned almost immediately.
“Jin-sama, Kachea-sama was not in her room.”
“I see. What about Eira?”
Jin sent Hope toward Eira’s room next.
“Jin-sama, Eira-sama is not in her room either.”
“I-is that so?”
It was currently eight in the morning.
Eira, who seemed completely immune to hangovers, had practically dragged Kachea out of bed and was currently forcing her to eat breakfast in the dining hall.
“Ugh... I can’t eat another bite...”
“Hey, don’t leave anything. If you really can’t finish, I’ll eat it for you, but you need to get at least a little bit in your stomach.”
“Uuugh... fine...”
“Since I’ve already decided today’s a holiday... I suppose I should think about my own situation.”
Jin retreated to the bedroom and lay down. He’d left Hope to handle any visitors, mostly because he knew he had a habit of muttering his thoughts aloud when he was alone.
(If crossing over to the Lauren Continent is too difficult, what about the Gondoa Continent?)
Jin visualized the map of Ars in his mind.
(Considering I could cross by island-hopping, there’s a real possibility there.)
If four hundred years had truly passed, Sion and Marikka would be well over four hundred and fifty years old—the equivalent of ninety or more in human years. Sion would likely be over a hundred.
(Still, they might be alive.)
Given the knowledge shared by the Jin Family and the improvements in hygiene and living standards he’d introduced, it was possible their lifespans had been extended.
(And No. 700672, Neige, and Rouge are almost certainly still alive.)
There seemed to be more potential in that direction than in trying to cross into the Jagus Principality, which was currently at odds with the Mercana Principality.
(Even so, the distance after crossing is immense, and it’ll be nearly impossible once winter hits.)
There was a high chance he’d be traveling through completely uninhabited wilderness. It was difficult to determine the best course of action.
(Developing an airplane really is a necessity, then...)
He had already concluded that the sea was far too dangerous.
(But both airplanes and airships seem out of reach for now. A hot air balloon wouldn't have the range...)
Jin rolled around on his bed, wrestling with the problem.
(Wait! If Laojun or Reiko are in hibernation, couldn't I wake them up with some kind of signal?)
In that case, the keyword or password would be the deciding factor.
“The question is, who put them into hibernation? I can’t imagine I was the one who did it... maybe one of my descendants?”
If that were the case, he didn’t have the slightest clue what the password might be.
“Ugh...”
He knew that rushing things wouldn't yield results, but he couldn't help the growing sense of impatience.
As he was lost in these circular thoughts, Hope spoke up, informing him that Eira and Kachea were calling for him.
He hurriedly straightened himself up and went out to find the two of them waiting.
“Oh, Jin, you’re up. You look like you’re feeling better.”
“I’m sorry if I was a bother last night.”
“Don’t sweat it. Today’s a day off, right? Do you have any plans?”
When Jin told them he didn't have anything specific in mind, Eira gave him a sharp grin.
“Good. We were thinking of heading into town—want to tag along?”
“To do what?”
“Shopping and whatever else, obviously.”
“Sure, I’ll come with you.”
“Alright!”
Jin would soon come to regret that easy agreement.
“...How did it come to this?”
Jin was currently reduced to a mere spectator, watching Eira and Kachea browse through rack after rack of clothes.
Actually, he wasn't even just a spectator; he was being called upon to judge whether every outfit they tried on suited them. He couldn't even step out of the store for a breather.
(He had known from novels, anime, and manga that women’s shopping trips were notoriously long, but it was one thing to know it and another to live it.)
His lack of firsthand experience had left him woefully unprepared for the reality of the situation.
“Jin-san, how does this look? Does it suit me?”
“Jin, what do you think of this one?”
Surprisingly—though perhaps it was rude to think so—even Eira was clearly enjoying herself. Her tastes, however, were entirely different from Kachea’s.
As for Kachea, she seemed completely dazzled by the sheer variety of clothing available, which was a world apart from the meager selection in her home village.
(...Elsa never took this long to pick out her clothes...)
As he drifted off into his thoughts, the two finally seemed to reach a stopping point.
“Alright, Jin, on to the next one!”
“You’re going to more stores!?”
“Well, yeah!”
Jin was now feeling a profound sense of regret.
“...I’m beat.”
“J-Jin-san, thank you for today.”
“Thanks, Jin.”
Jin was currently eating dinner, and the two women were picking up the tab.
“Did it help take your mind off things a bit?”
“...Eh?”
“You were pretty mopey last night, after all.”
Jin suddenly realized that Eira had been looking out for him in her own way.
“Oh... thanks. Sorry about that.”
“Haha, don't worry about it,” Eira laughed. “Besides, thanks to you, my days have been a lot more interesting lately.”
“It’s true,” Kachea added. “I never imagined I could have a job like this back when I was in the village.”
Hearing that from the both of them, Jin couldn't just stay silent.
“I feel the same way. In this world... in this country where I didn't know left from right, it’s thanks to you two that I found a place where I belong.”
“Then we’re even.”
“We’re a team, after all!”
Jin felt a warm sense of gratitude for their kindness, and at the same time, he began to feel that he would have to tell them the truth about himself one day.