"The direct descendants," Marikka said.
"The direct line... Is there a specific standard for that?" Jin asked, curious.
"The servants," came the brief reply.
"Servants... You mean the golems and automata?"
"Exactly," Susanne answered this time. "To be eligible for the direct line, one must have inherited a servant created four hundred years ago—that is, from the era of the Ancestor."
"I see. Then that means..."
Jin swallowed the rest of his sentence. Familiar names swirled through his mind. Though he didn't say it aloud, he felt a surge of anticipation for these "reunions."
The Golem automobile emerged from the grove.
"Oh!"
Before them stood a stark white building, strikingly reminiscent of the laboratory on Hourai Island. A group of people was already gathered in front of it.
"There they are," Trihart said, bringing the vehicle to a halt. "Everyone! I have brought the Ancestor!"
A cheer went up. Since the group was small, it wasn't a roar, but the excitement was palpable.
"Come now, Ancestor, please step out."
"Y-Yeah."
"Jin-sama, let me introduct... introduce them." Marikka seemed to know them well.
Jin didn't recognize any of the humans, but he was intimately familiar with the servants standing beside them. One, in particular, was exceptionally large and rugged.
"Schwarzritter! Is that you?"
"Jin-sama, it has been a long time."
Next to the Black Knight was a boy who was notably small in comparison.
"Edgar...!"
"It's been a long time, Jin-sama."
Then, there was one with an androgynous appearance.
"Aaru. You look well."
"As do you, Jin-sama. You haven't changed a bit."
There were also two female golems and one male golem.
"Arrow!"
"Jin-sama, it is an honor to see you again."
"And you two over there—are you Arco and Veil?"
"Jin-sama, we meet again."
"It has been a long time, Jin-sama."
To be honest, while Jin's duplicate had heard about Arco and Veil, this was his first time actually meeting them. Yet, strangely, it didn't feel like a first meeting at all.
There was also a golden-haired automaton with an elegant air.
"Neon, is that you?"
"Yes. It has been a long time, Jin-sama."
And a maid golem with a design he knew by heart.
"Sara!"
"Yes, Master."
Finally, a brilliant Blue Topaz Golem caught his eye.
"Selene... right?"
"Yes, Jin-sama."
These appeared to be the ones designated as the hereditary servants. Jin surmised that any not present here were likely serving their masters elsewhere in the world.
Come to think of it, many of these were created by other members of the Jin Family, he realized. It made sense; most of the units he had built personally were stationed on Hourai Island. Furthermore, the Butlers who had worked at the mansion in Loizart, the capital of the Shouro Empire, had returned to Hourai Island after Jin’s passing.
"Wow! He really, truly is the Ancestor! This is so weird!"
The youngest-looking girl among the descendants spoke up with child-like wonder.
"If Schwarzritter says so, then there's no mistake! Oh—Ancestor, I'm Stephanie Randol!"
"So you're from Reinhard's direct line."
"Yes!"
It seemed her branch of the family had diverged from Trihart's about three generations ago.
"I am honored to meet you. Strange things truly do happen in this world. I am Natalia."
A slender woman in her early twenties offered a polite greeting.
"Marcia's descendant?"
"Yes, exactly!"
Since she was accompanied by Arrow, Arco, and Veil, there was no doubt about her lineage. She’s quite slender for one of Marcia's descendants, Jin thought—a thought that would certainly be flagged as harassment if he ever voiced it.
Next was a man in his thirties.
"It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I am Alvin Eschenbach. I am humbled to meet you, Ancestor."
"Saki's descendant?"
He was accompanied by Aaru. With his reddish-brown hair and violet eyes, he was a ringer for Saki. His slender build matched hers, too.
Then, an energetic girl in her mid-teens stepped forward.
"I'm Edith Kuzuma! Nice to meet ya, Ancestor!"
"From Beena's and... the Reinhard family's line?"
The one serving her was Neon.
"Yep, that's right!"
It seemed she was a descendant of both Beena and Reinhard. Now that he looked closely, her facial features favored Berche, but her red hair was Beena's through and through, while her gray eyes were unmistakably Reinhard's.
Next, a black-haired boy in his late teens spoke.
"I've wanted to meet you, Ancestor."
"And you are... Elsa's and my descendant?"
Jin guessed this because Edgar was standing by his side.
"Yes! My name is Shu Nido!"
Then, a woman of mature years accompanied by Sara spoke.
"I am Ada Nido."
"Hanna's... descendant? And mine as well?"
"Yes. I look forward to getting to know you."
She certainly shared Hanna's signature dark blonde hair and brown eyes.
Finally, there was a woman with the Blue Topaz Golem, Selene.
"I am Merlina Eschenbach."
"A descendant of Toa and Stearena, I assume?"
"Yes, Ancestor."
"Everyone has inherited the traits of their ancestors so clearly. I can see why the servants have stayed with you."
"We are honored."
"I am so happy to hear you say that, Ancestor."
"Ancestor, please tell us stories about the old days!"
At that point, Trihart, acting as the steward, intervened.
"Ancestor, that concludes the tour for today. Let's move inside for a social gathering. Please, make yourself at home."
With that, he invited them all into the laboratory.