With only fragments of information to work with, their deductions were equally piecemeal.
"…It seems we cannot be of much help," Belialus said regretfully. He followed this with a proposal. "Instead, how about having someone proficient in Divieniunschiavo accompany Jin-sama for a time?"
"Oh, that might be a good idea."
The primary strengths of Golbart Marukitasu—or Guillermo Marukitasu—were the Magi Emulator and Divieniunschiavo. If those two could be neutralized, he would be much easier to deal with.
"Is there anyone suitable?" Sion asked Jikarato, the Clan Chief of the Puppet Clan.
"I have just the person."
"And that is…?"
"My daughter, Mira."
"Mira, huh… She is certainly excellent," murmured her fiancé, Lordtoss.
"She can use not only Divieniunschiavo but also a bit of gravity magic, so I believe she will be of use," Jikarato said, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Jin, I'll vouch for her too. Could you take Mira along with Ro? I think it would be a good experience for her as well," Sion added.
With Sion’s recommendation added to the mix, Jin nodded. "I understand. I’ll gladly accept your offer."
"Oh, Jin-dono, I am the one who should be grateful," Jikarato said, bowing his head.
Apparently, having accompanied the Magi Craft Meister was viewed as a prestigious status symbol.
"Jin-sama, I look forward to working with you," Mira said, approaching Jin and bowing.
"The pleasure is mine," Jin replied.
"Lordtoss-sama, I am so happy that we can be of use to Jin-sama together."
"Yeah, you're right. Ryu, let's do our best."
Lordtoss seemed to call Mira "Ryu," Jin noted. Afterward, Jin spoke further with Lordtoss and Mira.
"Mira, have you ever been to the Lauren Continent?"
"Yes, once.…More importantly, Jin-sama, please address me without honorifics, just as you do with Lordtoss-sama."
"…Mira, then? Is this okay?"
"Yes."
"…Still, you’re very composed, Mira."
Jin recalled the first time he had seen her. Even though she was meeting Lordtoss for the first time in three years, she had greeted him with perfect composure. Since they were engaged, Jin had idly wondered if there might have been a bit more of a reaction.
"Jin-sama, Ryu is just that kind of girl. She is always cool and collected—a truly intellectual lady."
"Oh, Lordtoss-sama, you praise me too much."
"It's the truth."
"…Thank you."
Seeing Mira look down with her cheeks slightly flushed, Jin felt a sense of admiration, realizing that Lordtoss truly did care for his fiancée.
The meeting for the evening concluded. Jin announced that he intended to head for the Lauren Continent in two or three days.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day, having no pressing matters, Jin decided to tour the Puppet Clan territory. With Reiko and Hope as his companions, he walked through the settlement.
"It's hardly a settlement anymore; it's a sizable village."
Since the Northern People lived longer than humans, their population grew at a much slower rate. The primary reason was that a single generation lasted about a hundred years—roughly five times longer than a human’s. Even so, four hundred years meant four generations; it wouldn't be strange if the population had doubled.
"Father, there is a pump over there."
"Master, Golem horses are being used here as well."
Reiko and Hope pointed out items Jin had likely created whenever they spotted them.
"They seem to be in fairly good repair."
Whether they had a skilled maintenance worker or simply weren't overworking the machines, he couldn't say.
"Oh, look, a shop."
The Nord Federation was not supposed to have a commercial system like the countries of the Lauren Continent… or so he had thought.
"It's like a general store."
Items ranging from daily necessities to food, clothing, and farming tools were lined up in front of the establishment.
"It was implemented recently on an experimental basis."
A woman’s voice called out from behind him.
"Ah, Mira."
When he turned, Mira and Lordtoss were standing there.
"Jin-sama, if you intended to tour the clan territory, you should have called for us," Mira said.
"No, I thought it would be wrong to intrude, since you and Lordtoss haven't seen each other in a while," Jin replied.
"Th-that kind of consideration is appreciated, but, um…" Even the composed Mira blushed slightly and looked down.
In the end, he had Lordtoss and Mira guide him through the village.
"…Indeed, as you suspected, Jin-sama, the concept of 'commerce' did not exist among the clans of the Nord Federation."
If you asked how they obtained various goods, it was essentially through distribution handled by the Clan Chief. It was no exaggeration to say that the Clan Chief existed specifically for that purpose. Other than that, they relied on bartering between individuals. It was a social structure unique to the Northern People and their small population.
However, due to the gradual increase in population and the burgeoning interactions with the countries of the Lauren Continent, that system was beginning to change.
"The seeds of that change were planted four hundred years ago," Lordtoss said. "During the food crisis, when Great-grandmother Sion went to negotiate with the humans, Jin-sama acted as the contact and exchanged food for furs and dragon leather. It seems that from that time, Great-grandmother began to think that things couldn't stay the way they were."
Jin was able to hear of Sion's past achievements in an unexpected place.
"Is that so? Sion doesn't talk about herself much."
Jin imagined she might stay silent because it would end up sounding like boasting.
"It seems they have also begun to earn foreign currency."
Lordtoss, who had studied at Avalon, was well-versed in the human nations.
"I want to build the Nord Federation by adopting the best of others' systems while treating their failures as cautionary lessons."
"I see. As expected of a future clan chief."
"Eh? R-really?…To have Jin-sama say that to me…"
Lordtoss grew bashful at the unexpected praise from Jin.