"Well, I suppose this wasn't necessarily the perfect outcome," Jin muttered, letting out a long sigh of relief in the command room of Hourai Island.
『Even so, My Lord, the crisis that threatened the world was averted through your efforts,』 Laojun praised him.
"I didn't really do anything that grand. To be honest, I'm still not quite processing it."
『Nevertheless, it is a fact. Only you, My Lord, could have achieved such a feat.』
"If you say so."
"Father, I have returned."
Reiko entered the room just then. She had returned ahead of the others via the Warp Gate installed on Pegasus 2. Currently under Hope's control, Pegasus 2 was flying at supersonic speeds toward Hourai Island and was expected to arrive shortly.
"Welcome back, Reiko. Good work."
Mini-Reiko stood up from Jin's lap and hopped onto Reiko's shoulder in a single bound.
"I'll go and change now."
With Mini-Reiko on her shoulder, Reiko disappeared into the back. She returned about a minute later, having swapped her hachigane and armaments for her usual outfit: an apron dress.
"Are you not tired, Father?"
It had been over six hours since the Markitus incident began, and Jin had been glued to the command room the entire time.
"Now that you mention it, I am pretty hungry."
"Soleil and Luna have finished preparing a meal. Please, head to the dining hall."
Jin stood up from his seat and stretched. "Yeah, I think I'll do that."
He headed for the dining hall, with Reiko following naturally at his side. Laojun watched them leave and began coordinating the aftermath.
『My Lord seems even more determined to stay out of the spotlight than before.』
The "Hale Migration Plan" he was considering was proof enough of that.
『We shall attribute the resolution of this incident to Deus Ex Machina III. Since we can simply declare that Squire Rei is an automaton, her appearance remaining the same as in the past should not pose a problem.』
Furthermore...
『I wonder if Lordtoss is handling things well?』
＊ ＊ ＊
Lordtoss, a member of the second-generation Jin Family and of the Puppet Clan, was currently in Avalon. He was accompanied by Marikka of the All-Creation Clan.
"It's been a long time, Tomax."
"M—Miss Marikka!"
Marikka had served as an instructor in Avalon about twenty years ago, and Tomax Bartman, the Top Administrator of Avalon, had been one of her students at the time.
"Whatever brings you here today?"
"Given the current state of affairs, there is only one matter of extreme urgency, is there not?"
"So it is about the Pandor Continent?"
"It is."
The current time was 5:00 PM. With an eleven-hour time difference, it was approximately 6:00 AM on the Pandor Continent. Incidentally, the International Date Line was drawn through the sea between the Lashier Continent and the Lauren Continent—the Great Eastern Ocean. Specifically, it ran through Kunlun Island.
"I heard a unit was sent, but they are up against Guillermo Marukitasu. They don't stand a chance," Marikka stated bluntly.
Tomax Bartman was visibly shaken. "What?! You mean—"
Marikka gave the agitated administrator a gentle smile. "Calm down, Tomax. You haven't changed a bit in thirty years. There is no need for alarm. Deus Ex Machina has intervened. In fact, the enemy's golem forces have already been neutralized."
"R—Really?! Wait... Deus Ex Machina? The Special Advisor?"
"He hasn't shown himself in decades... or has it been a century? But yes, it is that Deus Ex Machina."
"Is it really him?"
Marikka smiled again. "I came here because I expected you would react like that."
Marikka was one of the founders of Avalon and one of the few living witnesses who had known the city-state since its inception.
"Deus Ex Machina should be arriving before long. I shall introduce him to you then."
"E—Err, really?! H—How old is he now?"
At those words, Marikka realized what Tomax was implying. "Ah, I see. He is not the first generation, of course. He is the Third Generation."
She explained that the title was passed down through skill and capability rather than blood. "However, Squire Rei is an automaton, so her appearance is exactly as it was in the old days."
"I see..."
With Tomax finally regaining his composure, they began discussing the future.
"Perhaps we should offer support to the Mercana Principality, which suffered the most damage," Tomax suggested. "And we could use this as an opportunity to encourage them to join the World Conference."
"That's a wonderful idea, Tomax. Please, see to it."
"I'll bring it before the Assembly immediately and make the arrangements."
Tomax was no dictator; Avalon operated under a parliamentary system. Marikka nodded in approval, then turned to speak to Lordtoss, who was waiting at her side.
"Lordtoss, you have several acquaintances in the Mercana Principality, do you not?"
"Yes, Marikka-sama."
"Go with the support team from Avalon and assist in the negotiations."
"Understood."
＊ ＊ ＊
『Leaving things to Marikka was the right choice.』
Laojun concluded that it could simply monitor the situation in Avalon for now.
『The remaining question is what to do about My Lord's acquaintances... I wonder what he intends for them.』
The man in question was currently in the dining hall. Since it was the middle of the night on Hourai Island, the menu consisted of easily digestible food.
"This ojiya is excellent," Jin praised.
Luna looked humble. "You are too kind, Father."
"The pickles are delicious, too."
"Thank you very much," Soleil said with a bow.
"Father, please have some tea."
Reiko offered him some hojicha. Naturally, she had cooled it to the perfect temperature for Jin's sensitive tongue.
"Ah, that's better."
Jin finished his bowl of gruel and sipped his tea while nibbling on a pickle.
I wonder what Eira and Kachea will do now...
Just as Laojun had anticipated, Jin was currently wondering how he should handle his friends in the Mercana Principality.