On May 13th, Jin and Elsa visited Kalts Village, accompanied by Yuu, Mio, Reiko, and Anne.
As expected, they were visiting Reinhard's territory.
"Hey, Jin, Elsa! It’s been a while! Yuu and Mio look like they’re doing great, too!"
"You seem to be doing well yourself, Reinhard."
"Rai-nii, it has been a long time."
After renewing their friendship, Berche greeted them at the entrance of the Rankenhaus, Reinhard's mansion.
"Jin-sama, Elsa-san, it has been quite some time, hasn't it?"
"Hello, Berche."
"Berche-san, where is Yuri-chan?"
"Juliana is currently taking a nap."
With that, the group walked quietly down the hallway toward the drawing room. Since Yuu and Mio were looking a bit sleepy, Reiko and Anne took them to the room where Juliana was sleeping.
"I visited Port Rock Town and Blue Land recently," Jin said, catching them up on his recent news.
"Marcia has renovated her workshop and was working on a new type of ship."
"What!"
Reinhard jumped at the mention of a new vessel.
"Beena’s son, Reginald, has grown quite a bit, too."
"Oh, is that so?"
Juliana was born in 3458, making her one year older than Yuu, Mio, and Reginald—the eldest of the current group of children. However, since her birthday was August 20th, she was currently the same age as Reginald.
"Haha, we've all become parents now," Reinhard laughed.
"I hear Mattheus is expecting one soon, too."
"Eh?"
"Wait, you didn't know? Mattheus's wife is the second daughter of Viscount Jurgens Hekerat von Paddock, who lives right across from your mansion, Jin."
"O-oh, was that it?"
Jin looked at Elsa, who was sitting beside him.
"Mm, yes. Her name is Siara-san."
Hearing that Siara Geist, formerly Siara Hekerat, was Mattheus's wife, Jin finally remembered.
He had met her once when Reinhard received his title. He had also heard the news of her pregnancy after that.
"Jin, you really are out of touch with these things," Reinhard said with a slightly exasperated look.
Jin lowered his gaze. "...I can't deny it."
"Jin-sama is simply someone who has no connection to high society," Berche interjected, offering a smooth recovery.
"Mm. Such trivial matters... J—Husband doesn't need to worry about them."
Expressions of surprise appeared on Reinhard's and Berche's faces.
(Elsa seems to have taken another step toward becoming a proper Madam.)
(Yes, it seems so.)
Reinhard and Berche exchanged these words in voices too soft for Jin and Elsa to hear, sharing a private smile.
* * *
"That's right, Jin, there was something I wanted to consult you about."
Seeing that the mood had settled, Reinhard broached a new subject.
"What is it?"
"Do you think a hot spring might be found here in Kalts Village too?"
Jin thought about it for a moment.
"A hot spring... It's possible."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. It's close to Lake Tosmo, so there's no doubt there's an underground water vein. And because the temperature rises the deeper you go underground, I'm sure we'll find something if we dig deep enough."
"I see..."
"I think finding a cold spring instead of a hot spring would be even easier."
"A cold spring?"
Reinhard asked back, unfamiliar with the term.
"Yeah, you can just think of a cold spring as a hot spring with a lower temperature."
Jin didn't know the exact technical definition either.
"I see, a cold spring."
"In that case, you'd have to heat it up to use it for a bath, though."
"This is educational....So, what do you think about this village?"
"I can't say for sure until I investigate."
In the case of Kaina Village, there was a mountain that looked like a volcano nearby, allowing them to hit a natural hot spring, but here it was all plains.
Jin added the supplementary explanation that they probably wouldn't get a hot spring without using a pump.
"That can't be helped. I can make a pump myself. But as for finding the hot spring..."
"Yeah, leave it to me. Also, if things go well, I think you'll be able to find them too, Reinhard."
"T-that would be wonderful!"
Grand Search was a spell for finding mineral veins. Jin had used an application of it to find the hot spring in Kaina Village.
If Reinhard could understand what a thermal vein felt like, he should be able to find them as well.
"Well then, shall we look for it right away?"
Jin stood up, and Reinhard followed suit.
"Elsa, I'll leave the children in your hands if they wake up. I'm going out for just a bit."
"Mm, have a safe trip."
Elsa nodded and cheerfully sent Jin off.
"Have a safe trip, Dear."
Berche did the same.
* * *
Jin followed Reinhard's guidance to a slightly open area.
"It would be convenient if a hot spring came out here."
"I see."
It seemed like a good spot to build such a facility.
"Okay, let's look....'Grand Search'!...Hmm..."
He didn't find it on the first try, so Jin changed locations several times and tried Grand Search again.
And on the fourth or fifth attempt...
"...There it is! It's a hot spring! Not a cold one!!"
"Is that true, Jin?"
"Yeah. Reinhard, try using Grand Search in this direction, aiming for a depth of about 200 meters."
Following Jin's instructions, Reinhard attempted the earth-attribute magic.
"This way? Alright....'Grand Search'!"
It didn't work perfectly the first time, so Reinhard cast the spell once more.
"Grand Search!...Oh? Is this... it? This is it! Jin, I found it!"
Reinhard also seemed to have grasped the sensation of a thermal vein.
"You did it! Now you can find hot springs too, Reinhard!"
"Yes, thank you, Jin!"
"Now then, let's start digging."
"Right."
Jin and Reinhard collaborated to dig a hole toward the thermal vein.
Reinhard opened the shaft with Dig, and Jin solidified the walls of the hole with Dissolute.
Dissolute was Jin's original magi-craft magic that melted and solidified substances without the use of heat.
In this way, by that evening, a hot spring had been struck.