A place to retire—or so the former Empress, now the Empress Emerita, had called it.
"I intend to assist the Emperor for about five years... until he reaches the age of twenty," she began her explanation. "But I plan to gradually withdraw from my duties during that time. His Majesty has already given his consent."
"I see," Jin replied.
He understood her reasoning. Given her age and immense experience, if she were to vanish from the political world overnight, the nation would inevitably descend into chaos.
"That aside, my honest wish is to spend the remainder of my days in leisure."
"...I understand perfectly."
Jin felt a deep sense of respect for this noblewoman. Forbidden from ever having children of her own, she had devoted her entire life to the service of her country.
"And so, I was hoping to consult with you regarding a retirement home."
"Of course," Jin replied immediately.
"Thank you. I knew I could count on you."
After their audience with the Empress Emerita and the New Emperor concluded, Jin and Elsa returned to their mansion in Loizart to relax.
"Papa, are you tired?"
"Mama, are you okay?"
Yuu and Mio looked up at them with concerned faces, sensing the fatigue in their parents.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Yes, we're quite alright."
To wash away the day's exhaustion, Jin and Elsa decided to take a bath, bringing the twins along with them.
"Phew..."
While the bath in the mansion wasn't a natural hot spring, they had used magi-devices and other means to simulate one. The "other means" allowed them to choose between a "baking soda spring" using the specialty soda from Kaina Village, or a "carbonated spring" generated by a magi-device.
Today, they had opted for the carbonated spring.
Carbonated springs are waters containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide. In nature, some emerge at high temperatures because they remain under pressure until they surface, while others surface as low-temperature cold springs.
The magi-device in the Loizart mansion worked by dissolving carbon dioxide directly into hot water. Jin had considered using the neutralization reaction between citric acid and baking soda—a common method in modern Japan—to generate the gas, but he had settled on the current system because it was easier to manage and had lower running costs.
Carbonated springs promoted better blood circulation and were excellent for recovering from fatigue. That was precisely why Jin had selected this water quality for the evening.
"Feels goo-od!"
"The water's so nice."
Yuu and Mio seemed to have inherited Jin's love for bathing, enjoying the spring from the bottom of their hearts. Elsa loved it as well; she soaked in the water until her fair skin turned a flushed cherry-blossom pink.
Reiko joined them as well, keeping a vigilant eye on the twins to ensure they didn't get dizzy from the heat or accidentally slip in the tub. Since carbonated springs were also supposedly good for scalp health, the entire family took their time thoroughly washing their hair.
"...Phew, that hits the spot."
"Yummy!"
After stepping out of the bath, they enjoyed glasses of chilled citran juice. The cold liquid sliding down their throats felt wonderful against their warm bodies.
Since the Golem Maids were handling the dinner preparations, Jin and Elsa spent the time reading books to Yuu and Mio to make up for the time they had spent away at the Royal Palace. These were picture books of fairy tales Jin had adapted for the world of Ars based on his memories of Earth.
Jin and Elsa took turns reading the stories aloud. Although Yuu and Mio were already capable of reading on their own, they were acting a bit spoiled today and insisted on being read to.
An hour later, dinner was served. The menu featured rice, hamburger steaks, vegetable salad, vegetable and mushroom soup, and fried shrimp—all of the twins' favorites.
"Ita-dakimas-hu!"
"Ita-dakimas-chu!"
Jin and Elsa watched with gentle smiles as the twins, whose pronunciation still occasionally faltered, happily dug in. Then, they began their own meal at a leisurely pace.
Once Yuu and Mio were tucked into bed, Jin and Elsa sat together to talk.
"What are your thoughts on the education system and the retirement home?" Elsa asked.
"Well, for education, I'm thinking of proposing a structure of primary, secondary, and higher education, lasting three years each."
Primary education would cover fundamental knowledge: reading, writing, arithmetic, general common sense, and basic etiquette.
Secondary education would be split into a Basic Course and a Specialized Course. The latter would offer training tailored to a student's future goals, whether they intended to become merchants, craftsmen, or soldiers.
Higher education would provide even more advanced, specialized training—enough to turn a student into a first-rate professional in their chosen field.
"Mm, I think that sounds good. We have to start somewhere and see how it goes."
"Yeah, exactly."
When it came to educating an entire citizenry, they were still in the early stages and would have to rely on trial and error.
"And what about the retirement home?"
"I think somewhere by the water would be best. A lake or the sea. Probably a lake."
"Why a lake?"
"Well, bodies of water don't heat up or cool down as quickly as land, right?" Jin explained.
Because of that thermal stability, areas near water were ideal for staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
"Besides, I feel like being near the water helps calm the mind."
Whether it was because humans couldn't live without water or because they had evolved from sea-dwelling creatures, Jin believed that water possessed a natural power to soothe and settle the human heart.
"In that case, an island might be nice too."
After all, Jin had his primary base on Hourai Island, and Kunlun Island was currently booming as a popular resort.
"True, but traveling would be a hassle if something happened..."
The Empress Emerita didn't possess teleportation technology like Jin did. If the distance was too great, traveling back and forth would be a major undertaking.
"Mm, that's true."
"I was thinking the opposite shore of Lake Tosmo might be a good spot."
He meant the shore opposite Loizart.
"Or perhaps Lake Wasu."
"Ah, that could be lovely."
Lake Wasu was a brackish lake in the southern part of the Shouro Empire, partially connected to the sea. It was roughly 150 kilometers from Loizart—a distance an airship could cover in about two hours.
"The climate would be mild since it's near the coast."
Jin decided to suggest the shores of Lake Tosmo and Lake Wasu as his top recommendations. In terms of weather, Lake Tosmo was similar to the Loizart she was already accustomed to, while Lake Wasu would likely be warmer and more serene.
"In that case, I'd like to gift her a dedicated vehicle as well."
"I think that's a wonderful idea."
Jin envisioned a small, aircraft-like airship for her personal use.
"And a dedicated manaphone."
"Oh, she definitely needs one of those."
Jin enjoyed these moments—the stages before a formal plan, where ideas were still vague and full of possibility. Elsa seemed to feel the same way, and the two remained deep in conversation until Reiko eventually intervened and told them it was time for bed.