"...I met Marcia in winter. I had visited Port Rock thinking I wanted to go somewhere warm."
Having finished his story about Beena, Jin began to recount his experiences with Marcia.
Since the veteran golem Arrow was present, he focused on anecdotes that the golem was unlikely to have heard.
"She asked me to show her what a magi craftsman could do, so I carved a figurine of Marcia in a swimsuit. It seems the guild master took quite a shine to it."
When Jin mentioned that the one-piece swimsuit eventually became the official uniform for the Golem Boat Races, Natalia spoke up with a look of delight.
"Oh, come to think of it, I’ve heard about that!"
The tale went on.
"As it turned out, that Valentino fellow had betrayed the country. I have no idea what his sentence was, though."
Jin continued.
"...And then, through that project, I happened to meet Marcia’s father, Rodrigo. He was deeply repentant..."
The story of how Marcia had been lost at sea, and how Rodrigo had nearly met his end by jumping from the heights to save her, elicited a mix of tears and laughter from the audience.
It was likely a reaction to the father's profound love for his daughter, contrasted with the sheer impulsiveness of his actions.
Arrow was familiar with the events, but only from Marcia's side. It seemed this was the first time she had heard the story from Jin's perspective—or rather, from Rodrigo's perspective.
"...And so, in the end, I gave her Alco and Veil."
With the mention of those two units, Jin decided to wrap up his stories of the old days with Marcia.
In truth, it was the version of Jin who had traveled back four hundred years who had built them, but he had been briefed by Marikka earlier to ensure there were no contradictions in his account.
Next in the timeline was Elsa... but that would involve telling the story of their romance.
(This is like a public execution...)
Jin faltered, his words catching in his throat. Just then, a lifeline was thrown his way.
"It has grown late, so let us continue after dinner," Trihart and Susanne, the husband-and-wife stewards, suggested.
Before he knew it, twilight had settled outside, and the evening gloom was approaching.
Since the gathering was already being held in the dining hall, the meal was served immediately.
"Now then, Rubina, get down from Jin-sama's lap."
"Okay..."
At Amanda Garrett's prompting, Rubina reluctantly climbed down from Jin's lap.
The dinner menu consisted of white rice, miso soup with aburaage and okara, grilled fish, sweet tamagoyaki, and oshinko.
It was perfectly tailored to Jin's tastes.
"Wow, I love this miso soup!" Rubina exclaimed.
"I love it too," Edith Kuzuma added with a smile.
"I simply adore this sweet tamagoyaki..." Natalia seemed to have a sweet tooth.
"Fish is wonderful, isn't it? I love sashimi, but grilled fish is my next favorite," Shu Nido said.
"I have no dislikes when it comes to food," Ada Nido added gracefully.
"I could eat five bowls of this white rice," Alvin Eschenbach claimed.
"I love rice too," Stephanie Landol said modestly.
"As long as I can share a meal with my Ancestor, anything would taste delicious," Merlina Eschenbach said.
"I’m actually quite good at pickling oshinko myself," Amanda Garrett remarked.
"Now then, Jin-sama, if you please," Trihart said.
Jin spoke a single word.
"Thank you for the food."
With that, everyone joined in the chorus, and dinner began.
"Ah, this rice is cooked perfectly."
When Jin praised the glossy, fluffy texture of the rice, Marikka responded.
"Thank you. I was taught by the golem maids on Hourai Island."
"We have had them memorize everything regarding your preferences, Jin-sama."
"I-I see."
"...By the way."
As he sipped his post-meal hojicha, Jin spoke up.
"Yes? What is it, Ancestor?" Susanne tilted her head.
"...Could you stop calling me 'Ancestor'?"
"Does it not please you?"
"No, it’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just... I’m not used to it. It’s a bit embarrassing."
"Hmm... then, how about 'Jin-sama,' as some of the others have been calling you?"
"Yes, please go with that."
Trihart nodded.
"Understood. I will make sure everyone is thoroughly informed to call you that from now on."
"I'd appreciate it."
After dinner, they decided to continue the social gathering for a little longer.
"Chronologically, the very first people I met were Hanna and Martha-san."
Jin decided to talk about his memories with Hanna and the others. Since Sara had been created much later, there were many episodes she didn't know.
"...And so, Hanna was the one who found me after I appeared in Kaina Village due to a teleportation accident..."
"We dug a hot spring, made pumps, made a handcart..."
"Lishia, who had just become a tax collector, arrived and we transported wheat to Toka Village..."
"We were attacked by a mysterious... well, actually, it was a prototype golem from the Unifilar, and we fought it off..."
"Reiko finally tracked me down, and I was finally able to return to Hourai Island..."
"I caught the eye of a count named Earl Walter, so I went back to the island to avoid causing trouble for the village..."
The stories were endless. Before they knew it, it was already past nine in the evening. The younger ones, like Stephanie Landol and Rubina, were starting to look sleepy.
"...Alright, let’s stop here for today. I’ll tell you more tomorrow."
The adults looked like they wanted to hear more, but when Susanne said, "Jin-sama must be tired as well," they seemed to accept it.
"Jin-sama, please head to the bath."
"Oh, thank you."
And so, it was time for a soak.
"Ances—Jin-sama, let us scrub your back for you."
Shu Nido and Alvin Eschenbach had joined him.
"Jin-sama, please tell us more tomorrow."
"...Right."
Next would finally be the stories involving Reinhard and Elsa... but that meant talking about things more closely related to himself, starting with how they fell in love.
(...How should I even tell them that part?)
Jin found himself mulling over his dilemma as he soaked in the hot water.