"A favor... what exactly do you need?"
Led by Jikarato, Jin arrived at a storehouse within the mansion. Reiko followed close behind him.
"There is something I would like you to repair," Jikarato said, swinging open the heavy doors of the large storehouse.
"These are..."
Inside stood three Golem horses.
"I heard from my grandfather that the 'Magi Craft Meister' gifted these to us long ago," Jikarato explained.
"I recall... yes, the Clan Chief at the time was Maximus-san," Jin said.
"H-How do you know my great-grandfather's name...? No, I suppose if you really are the 'genuine' one, it’s only natural you would know."
"That is exactly what we have been telling you, is it not?" Reiko interjected, her patience finally wearing thin. "Back then, Father spoke frequently with Maximus-san and Famellar-san. He’s quite well-acquainted with Lucilius-san, too."
"W-With my father as well?" Jikarato looked stunned.
"He had many dealings with the Puppet Clan back in the day. Belialus-san, Arshel-san..."
As Reiko continued to reel off names, Jikarato’s shock only deepened. "With the elder, too!?"
"Reiko, that’s enough," Jin said, stopping her before the conversation could drag on forever. "So, I just need to fix these, right?"
"Y-Yes. That... would be correct," Jikarato replied, clearly on the verge of total belief.
A surge of nostalgia washed over Jin. He stared at the three stationary Golem horses, amazed they had remained in service for four full centuries. "I’ll have to check where they’re breaking down....Analyze. I see, I see."
Jin looked back at Reiko and gave her instructions. "Reiko, contact Laojun and have it send twelve sets of standard magical muscles."
"Understood."
According to Jin’s assessment, while the skeletons were still sturdy, the magical muscles had finally succumbed to the wear and tear of four hundred years.
"It just goes to show how much use they’ve seen," Jin remarked.
Suddenly, twelve sets of magical muscles appeared in the air beside him.
"What! Teleportation... magic!?" Jikarato gasped, eyes wide.
"It’s a bit different. It’s a matter transfer via transporter," Reiko explained, though it was unclear if Jikarato processed a single word of it.
Jin, with Hope acting as his assistant, set about briskly dismantling the Golem horses.
"They really are in bad shape."
Once the outer casings were removed, the internal magical muscles were revealed to be tattered, frayed to the point of breaking.
"It’ll be faster to just replace them all. Reiko, help me out."
"Yes, Father."
With Reiko and Hope assisting, Jin’s work proceeded with incredible speed. He swapped out each leg’s musculature in a mere thirty seconds.
That was two minutes per unit. Beyond the replacements, he tightened loose joints, corrected skeletal warping, and further reinforced the frames with Toughening. All in all, it took five minutes per horse.
He finished all three units in fifteen minutes flat.
"All done, Jikarato-san. Honestly, nothing makes a creator happier than seeing their work so well-loved."
Jin firmly believed that practical items found their true value in being used, rather than being preserved as static artworks.
"Um... Jikarato-san?"
Jikarato was frozen in place.
"Hello? I’ve finished the repairs."
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the storehouse.
"Oh! There’s no doubt about it—it’s Jin-sama!!"
An old man raised a joyous cry upon seeing Jin. Jin felt a flick of recognition at the man’s presence.
"Let me see... you're Endus of the Puppet Clan, aren't you?"
He was a monster tamer who had once commanded the Hekatonkheir and deployed them to the Lauren Continent during the war.
"Yes! I was half-doubting when I heard it from Sion-dono, but seeing you in the flesh, you are unmistakable! You look exactly like you did in your youth!"
"Elder!? So this person really is..." Jikarato, finally snapping out of his stupor, looked to Endus for confirmation.
"Of course he is! This is the Magi Craft Meister himself, Jin-sama!"
"I-Is it true!?"
"I’m the one saying it, so there’s no room for error."
"Y-Yes! J-Jin-sama, I most sincerely apologize for my rudeness!!" Jikarato bent double in a deep bow.
"Don't worry about it. It’s no trouble," Jin said, waving his hand dismissively.
"My humblest thanks for repairing the Golem horses," said Belialus, Sion’s husband and the current chief of the All-Creation Clan, bowing as well.
"Please, stop that. I was just providing some after-care for my own creations."
Even so, Jin was genuinely impressed that Golem horses from four centuries ago were still being used every day.
"It has been far too long, Jin-sama! You truly are as young as I remember!!"
Arshel, Belialus’s sister, had also joined them for the evening’s feast.
"I suppose there’s nothing the Magi Craft Meister can’t do!" added Lucilius.
Lucilius had retired to a life of leisure after passing the title of Clan Chief to his son, Jikarato. He was of the same generation as Sion and was exactly the same age.
After the pleasant dinner, Sion turned the conversation to business. "As we touched on earlier today, we need information on Golbart Marukitasu—the leader of the Magic Federation currently obstructing Jin."
"I see. It is certainly unnatural for a human to be capable of using Divieniunschiavo—or Debyeni An Skyabo as it is phonetically known," Lucilius said with a grave expression. He was the grandson of Maximus and Famellar, the couple who had led the clan in Jin’s time.
"...Is there no information regarding Golbart Marukitasu’s appearance?" Belialus asked.
"Only that he’s a man who first appeared about a hundred and fifty years ago," Reiko answered. "Ah, but... please wait a moment."
Reiko fell silent, her eyes distant as she focused on a thought. After a short pause, she spoke again.
"According to our records... he is a man of average height and build with white hair, sharp eyes, and a narrow face."
Reiko had used her internal manacam to consult Laojun, who had in turn likely verified the details with Elena. After all, Guillermo Marukitasu—whom Elena had personally fought—was reportedly the spitting image of Golbart.
"Hmm. Those aren't particularly distinctive features," Lucilius noted. It was hard to form a clear mental image from words alone.
"Shall I try sketching him?" Reiko suggested.
Jikarato immediately ordered a maid to bring paper and writing tools.
"Let’s see... like this, and like that..." Reiko began to draw, her hand moving with mechanical precision as she translated the image data she was receiving into lines on the page. "...He looks something like this."
"Hmm? This is..." Lucilius tilted his head as he studied the finished portrait. "I feel as though I’ve seen this face somewhere before..."
"Lucilius, please, try to remember!" Sion urged.
"Wait, wait, don’t rush me... I’ve got it. This man... he’s the son of Lardus."