On May 10, 3900, Jin received a report from Laojun.
“My Lord, House Kuzuma in Blue Land is recruiting short-term tutors for the young ladies.”
The information had come from the Quinta.
“Tutors? And just for the short term?”
“Yes, My Lord. It appears they intend to gauge the daughters’ natural talents. The reason it is short-term seems to be that the girls are still quite young, so their formal education is planned for a later date.”
“I see.”
Jin took a moment to consider the proposal.
The accelerated education he had been providing Freddie had recently reached a milestone, and he was currently allowing the boy to craft whatever he liked, however he liked.
Greena and Rubina were in a similar position, spending their time as they pleased.
As for Eris, she spent her days walking around Hourai Island as part of her rehabilitation, always accompanied by Laozi for support.
Jin recalled how Freddie had once suffered because he hadn't been able to find a good teacher.
With that in mind, Jin decided to approach Freddie, Greena, and Rubina.
“Short-term tutors... you say?”
“Yes. The period would be for a week or less. Rather than strict schooling, the goal is likely to identify the girls’ aptitudes.”
Upon hearing this, Freddie was the first to speak up.
“If there’s something I can do for them, I’d like to try.”
“Is that so?”
Greena was the next to respond.
“I’ll go too. I’m not sure which of us is the head house, but as a relative sharing the same bloodline, I’d like to do something for them.”
She was surprisingly enthusiastic, as if her previous claims that such things were a bother had been a lie. Whether her eagerness was sparked by Freddie’s participation was something even Jin didn't quite know.
Then, Rubina chimed in.
“If those two are going, then count me in as well.”
Though her surname was Garrett, Rubina also carried the blood of House Kuzuma.
And so, Jin decided to take the three of them to Blue Land aboard the Hurricane.
Hope served as the pilot, and Reiko, as always, accompanied them.
They used the transporter to teleport into the airspace above Blue Land and landed at the airfield outside the city.
While his previous trip had been an incognito visit, this one was an official appearance as the Magi Craft Meister.
Since King Ernest XVII of the Kingdom of Egerea was already aware of his identity, Jin decided that continuing to hide would be counterproductive.
As he had planned, they were able to enter Blue Land as the Magi Craft Meister and his entourage.
From there, they hurried straight to the mansion of the Marquis of Kuzuma.
Since Duke Blue already knew that “Shin” was actually Jin, he visited this time while openly identifying himself.
“Oh my, Shin-sama... no, Magi Craft Meister Jin-sama, welcome to our home.”
The Marquis's Wife, Anna, came to the entrance herself to greet them. As a former lady’s maid, she didn't seem particularly concerned with formal etiquette.
“Forgive my rudeness the other day. Once again, I am Jin Nidou. I have brought my disciples today to serve as tutors for the young ladies.”
“Oh, is that so? Thank you so very much for coming all this way....I am Anna. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I am Freddie.”
“I am Greena.”
“I am Rubina.”
Jin had cautioned them not to use their surnames, so all three introduced themselves by their given names only.
The steward, Question, guided them to the drawing room, where the group took a moment to settle in.
Anna arrived shortly after, taking Question’s place. The steward remained silent. In fact, he seemed to be looking at them with what might have been a gaze of newfound respect.
“Jin-sama, thank you again for all your help with my husband and my daughter the other day,” Anna said, offering her gratitude once more.
“Are the young ladies well?”
“Yes, all three of them are doing wonderfully. Especially the youngest, Pamela; perhaps because her health has improved so much, she’s become quite the little tomboy.”
“That is good to hear.”
At this point, Anna gave him a slightly searching look.
“I believe I have only mentioned the tutor recruitment to Her Grace Duke Blue so far. How did you find out about it?” she asked.
Jin felt a momentary pang of awkwardness.
“...Please just consider it a result of my personal information network,” Jin replied, brushing it off.
Indebted to Jin for his previous help, the Madam did not press the issue any further.
“Well then, it might be a bit hasty, but may I call the girls in?”
“Yes, please do.”
Anna stepped out of the drawing room for a moment and returned immediately with Irene, Mavis, and Pamela.
While the girls had met Jin before, it was their first meeting with Freddie and the others.
“I am Irene.”
“I am Mavis.”
“I am Pamela.”
Freddie and his companions then introduced themselves again.
Just then, Question arrived.
“Lunch is prepared,” he reported.
“Ah, perfect timing. Let’s talk while we eat,” the Marquis's Wife suggested.
Jin agreed. Since they hadn't decided who would teach whom, he hoped that pairings would naturally form during their casual conversation.
Jin had privately predicted that Rubina would take Pamela, Greena would take Mavis, and Freddie would take Irene.
Lunch consisted of Blue Land-style sandwiches, which allowed for a light, pleasant conversation.
By the time they were finished, the groups had been decided.
The final pairings were Irene and Rubina, Mavis and Greena, and Pamela and Freddie.
(Well, Irene and Rubina are the same age, so they’re more like friends than teacher and student.)
And for some reason, Pamela had taken a significant liking to Freddie.
(This works out well enough, I suppose.)
Naturally, Jin intended to provide backup for his three disciples as needed.
“Oh my, it seems you’ve all become friends already. Everyone, I leave my daughters in your capable hands.”
Anna seemed perfectly satisfied and told them to use the drawing room as their classroom.
Since it was a large room, it looked as though they would be able to start their studies, sketching, and crafting without interfering with one another.
Before they began, Jin decided to make a final confirmation.
“Madam, may I confirm that the purpose of this recruitment is primarily to find the young ladies’ natural aptitudes?”
“Yes, exactly! As expected of you, Jin-sama. That is precisely my intention. I do not wish for them to be buried in textbooks all day long.”
The Madam stated firmly that she did not want them to become overly academic and detached from reality.
“Finding the right balance for that can be quite the challenge,” Jin remarked.
“Yes, it truly is. However, for the sake of those children, I intend to do my absolute best,” the Madam replied.
Her face held the resolute determination fitting of a Marquis's Wife.