"For now, you should give him this."
Jin handed a 500-milliliter container of Persica juice he had prepared to the apprentice healer, Sonya.
"Thank you very much."
Having seen him treat Graham Derby, Sonya seemed to trust Jin completely now, and she accepted the juice without hesitation.
She transferred it into a feeding cup and offered it to Graham.
Still lying in bed, Graham Derby drank the contents.
"...This is... delicious..."
He finished the entire cup in no time, so Sonya filled it with Persica juice three more times for him.
By the time he had finished all the juice Jin provided, Graham's complexion had significantly improved.
"I am grateful... I feel as though strength is returning to my body."
The resonance of his voice was remarkably different from when he had first woken up.
Sonya turned to Jin, her curiosity getting the better of her again.
"Jin-san! What in the world is this juice!?"
"Jin... you say?"
From the bed, Graham Derby reacted to the name.
"That's right. I am Jin Nidou. The Magi Craft Meister."
"What!?" Sonya gasped.
"Hmm, so you are the Third Generation."
In contrast to Sonya's shock, Graham Derby was relatively calm.
"A-A Magi Craft Meister..."
Sonya’s legs seemed to be trembling slightly.
Graham, however, remained composed.
"I see. So the Third Generation has finally appeared," he muttered quietly, closing his eyes. "...And so, what do you intend to do with me?"
"I—"
"No!"
Just as Jin was about to speak, Sonya cut in.
"I won't let you lay a hand on him! Not on my honor as a healer!"
She stood between Jin and Graham with her arms spread wide. Her face was pale, and her legs were shaking incessantly.
Jin held up a hand to stop Lordtoss, who was about to step forward.
"You're misunderstanding something," Jin said slowly with a wry smile.
"...Huh?"
"I, as the Magi Craft Meister, am not a member of the Security Guard. I have no intention of doing anything to Graham right this second."
He's still a patient, after all, Jin added to himself.
"Unless, of course, you intend to be hostile right here and now."
When Jin stated that clearly, Graham Derby let out a weak laugh.
"Heh... in this condition, there is no way I could be hostile toward you."
"Then that's fine. By the way, are you still steeped in the ideology of the Magic Federation?"
"What?...Hmm, now that you mention it... my head feels remarkably clear now."
"I thought it would."
Jin explained that Graham had been under the influence of Markitus's brainwashing Seduce. He detailed how the sudden breaking of that Seduce had disrupted the chemical balance in his brain, causing him to fall into a coma.
"...I thought as much."
Graham Derby took on a grave expression as the pieces clicked into place.
A period of silence followed.
"......Lord Markitus is no longer with us, is he?"
Jin nodded silently.
"I see... That is a shame. I quite enjoyed our debates."
He really does love to argue, Jin thought.
"...But that is a secondary matter....It seems I truly was on the verge of breaking this world."
He seemed to have some faint memories of his actions.
Sonya chimed in, concern in her voice.
"U-Um, Lord Derby, do you feel better now?"
"Hmm?...Who might you be?"
"Ah, well, I am Sonya, an apprentice healer here at the Roseka Clinic. I don't believe you know me, Lord Derby."
"Is that so?"
From the looks of it, Sonya held Graham in high regard, or perhaps even awe. Jin muttered quietly to himself.
"...What a waste."
She had identified Lise as an automata at a single glance. Jin felt that Sonya was likely better suited to be a magi craftsman than a healer. However, since she seemed to be pursuing healing by her own choice, Jin had no intention of interfering. He simply felt it was a pity.
"So, what do you plan to do now?" Jin asked Graham once again.
"Let's see. First, I shall recover..."
Graham paused and glanced at Jin.
"...In any case, I no longer have any connection to the Magic Federation. At the very least, that is my intention."
"I see."
"Once my body is able to move, I intend to turn myself in to Avalon."
Just as Jin had suspected, Graham Derby had been acting under brainwashing. Now that he had returned to his senses, he was no longer an enemy of Avalon.
Jin felt relieved. Graham's true nature seemed quite upright. Then again, he wouldn't have been appointed Chief Administrator of Avalon, even temporarily, if he weren't.
"...I think Marikka will be happy to hear that."
Graham Derby was visibly shaken by the name.
"Marikka... sensei!...I see. I have caused her worry, haven't I?"
Jin felt a sense of relief, seeing that Graham also respected and cared for Marikka as his teacher.
"Are you not going to capture me now, or hand me over to Avalon?"
"Ah, about that."
Jin scratched his head.
"I've come here as a private individual this time."
"A private individual?"
"The Magi Craft Meister is not a public official. I wasn't commissioned by Avalon. Since you've said you'll turn yourself in eventually, that's good enough for me."
"You are an interesting person, Jin-dono," Graham Derby said.
"Yeah. Personally, I just feel that as long as you don't disturb my peace, it's fine."
Jin intended to leave public matters to Deus Ex Machina III. He was even considering eventually moving to Hale. He added, however, that he wouldn't overlook any situation where his companions or friends were in danger.
"...Hmm. And what exactly is your peace, Jin-dono?"
"Ah, let's see... I guess it's living a quiet life, making the things I like."
"Heh, hahaha..."
Graham Derby laughed weakly.
"Despite possessing the power to rule the world, you have absolutely no interest in it."
"It's just a hassle."
"To dismiss becoming the ruler of the world as a 'hassle'..."
A look of exasperation crossed Graham Derby's face.
"...I cannot understand it."
"I can't understand people who want power, either."
"...Heh."
"Hahaha."
Graham Derby and Jin looked at each other and laughed. Watching them, Lordtoss and Sonya could only manage wry smiles.