In another corner of the hall, Toa Eschenbach approached his son-in-law, Goose Minakata, to share a drink.
"I’m glad to see you’ve been achieving such great results, Goose-kun."
"You flatter me, sir."
Toa’s face was flushed a deep red; he was clearly well on his way to being drunk.
"But listen... don’t get so caught up in your research that you neglect my daughter. Don’t be like I was."
"Haha, I’ll be careful."
Goose scratched his head, and Toa nodded, looking satisfied. It seemed the older man still harbored regrets about how often his own work had kept him away from home in the past.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo was engaged in a rare conversation with Giebeck, the Kaina Village Chief.
"This is a wonderful village you have here."
"Haha, thank you very much."
"It’s lively and prosperous. To be honest, it might even be a more comfortable place to live than a city—perhaps even more than the royal capital."
Giebeck was delighted to hear those words, sensing that Rodrigo truly meant them from the bottom of his heart.
"Well now, thank you. It means a lot to hear that from one of Jin's acquaintances."
Giebeck was one of the few people who still addressed Jin informally by his name alone, just as he always had. Of course, most of the men in Kaina Village and the older women still called him "Jin" as well.
Marcia was enjoying a lively conversation with Barbara and the other young women of Kaina Village. Marcia also thought the village was a lovely place, though she couldn't help but feel it was a shame there was no demand for ships here since it didn't face the sea.
Just then, one of the village girls spoke up.
"So, Marcia-san, you build ships! I’d love for you to build a boat that can run on the Erme River sometime."
Marcia replied with a look of slight surprise. "I could, but wouldn't it be easier just to ask Jin?"
"Hmm, maybe so, but... I just thought it would be nice to ask you."
"Haha, what's that supposed to mean? Well, I suppose it's fine."
"Yay, thank you!"
Marcia found the request intriguing. What kind of vessel would be best suited for a river with such a fast current? Her blood as a shipwright began to stir at the challenge.
Elsa's biological mother, Mine, was chatting with Luu, Rita, and Sonia—the girls Jin had rescued from Lario Village long ago. They had all married men from the village and built happy homes, and some had even been blessed with children. Mine had once taught them reading, writing, housework, and etiquette, and they still looked up to her as their teacher.
"You all still call me 'Sensei' after all this time."
"Yes, of course! You will always, always be our Sensei!!"
"Thank you, everyone."
Surrounded by the smiles of her former students, Mine felt a profound sense of happiness.
"..."
As the banquet continued late into the night, the young Yuu and Mio began to nod off, their heads drooping.
"It looks like Yuu and Mio are getting sleepy," Elsa said, watching the twins.
"Yeah, looks like it." Jin gently stroked their heads.
"...Fumyu."
"...Unyu."
"Yeah, we'd better put them to bed now," Jin said.
"Dear, I will take them," Elsa said as she stood up, cradling both children in her arms.
"Will you be alright?"
"Mm, leave it to me."
Still worried, Jin turned to Reiko. "Reiko, please look after Elsa and the children."
"Yes, Father."
Out of respect for Elsa’s wishes, Reiko let her carry the two children, but she remained ready to provide support within a tenth of a second should Elsa stumble. However, the mother reached the bedroom in Jin Castle without incident, where she gently laid the twins down on the prepared futons.
"Reiko-chan, tell my husband that I’m going to stay here with these two."
"Yes, Elsa-sama."
Reiko returned to the Great Hall alone and reported back to Jin.
"I see. That’s a relief."
As the guest of honor, Jin couldn’t very well leave the party just yet.
Inside Uni, the satellite of Planet Ars, lay a small world capable of housing a significant number of people. When the Origin Clan arrived at Ars from their home planet, Hale, in their Heavenly Ships, they had used it as a temporary residence until their migration preparations were complete. Afterward, it was placed in satellite orbit as an emergency shelter, eventually becoming the moon known as Uni.
Its current mistress was Milowina, a descendant who had once descended to Ars before returning to the stars. Because she had spent so long in the sterile, low-gravity environment of Uni, she lacked physical strength, though she was gradually acclimating.
"Today was Jin-kun's birthday, wasn't it?"
Though she had grown more accustomed to life on Ars, she couldn't join the banquet at Jin Castle, so she had remained on Uni. Additionally, she had been feeling slightly unwell for the past few days.
"At the very least, I shall send him a message of celebration."
Milowina gave an order to Jack, the magi-brain that managed the facility.
"Jack, please relay a message to Jin-kun: 'Happy birthday, from Milowina.'"
《I have acknowledged your command.》
Jack immediately connected a communication line to Hourai Island to carry out its mistress's order.
Hourai Island, the solitary island floating in the vast ocean, served as the base for the Magi Craft Meister, Jin. Laojun, the magi-brain overseeing the island, received a transmission from outer space.
《This is Jack of Uni. Laojun, please respond.》
『This is Laojun. Jack, what is the matter?』
《Today is April 1st. As it is Master Jin Nidou's birthday, I have been instructed by Lady Milowina to deliver a message of celebration.》
Jack then relayed Milowina's words to Laojun. Laojun offered thanks on Jin's behalf.
『Thank you for your kind words. I will be sure to relay them to him.』
《Please do so.》
The communication ended.
Laojun delivered Milowina's words to Jin shortly thereafter through Reiko. The night of April 1, 3464, passed quietly into the darkness.