In Avalon, after Jin and his companions finished their special lecture.
"That was fascinating."
"Yeah. More than just fascinating—it was really informative."
"So those children are Jin-san's disciples."
It was Eira, Groma, and Kachea.
Naturally, they had attended the lecture as well.
"We can't let ourselves fall behind either."
"Not in the slightest."
"Let's do our best!"
With ambition burning in their chests, they headed back to their research lab.
"...To think that guy became an apprentice to a Magi Craft Meister."
"I know, right? Was it about five years ago that he left? Back then, he was such a half-baked guy who couldn't do anything right."
A few of Freddie's former school acquaintances had also come, and they were astonished by his unrecognizable growth.
(...Mmm, he's turned into quite a fine man, hasn't he?)
It seemed there was even a woman among them who harbored a slightly off-topic impression.
"She's only ten years old? Precocious geniuses really do exist, huh."
"If she keeps growing like that, it's almost terrifying to imagine... I wonder how she'll turn out."
Rubina, too, had become the talk of the crowd.
"Greena, was it? She's new, right? I've never even heard her name before."
"Yeah, definitely. Calling her the Magi Craft Meister's hidden protégé... seems like a bit of a stretch given her age, though."
"In that case, maybe she was Marikka-sama's live-in apprentice and recently changed masters?"
"Ah, that sounds the most likely."
And so, Greena was on everyone's lips as well.
Aware of the rumors or not, Jin and his party walked slowly along the sparsely populated street back toward their lodgings.
For safety, their accommodation was kept secret, and personal visits were strictly forbidden.
Conversely, Jin and the others had also received notice asking them to refrain from personal visits for the next couple of days. This was done to prevent chaos.
Currently, Jin and Marikka were relaxing leisurely in the lounge.
The three younger members seemed to be completely worn out in their own rooms.
Sipping the tea Reiko had brewed for him, Jin spoke to Marikka.
"Looks like you're tired too, Marikka."
"Yes, a little....After all, I am an old granny turning 493 this year, you know?"
"Right... That's true, isn't it. Somehow, in my mind, you're still just as you were back then."
When Jin said that, Marikka smiled delightfully.
"Fufu, if you mean 'back then,' that would be around when I was fifty."
When Jin and Marikka first met, she had still been small. In appearance, she had looked around ten years old in human terms.
"A great deal of time has passed since then, hasn't it?"
"It really has..."
As if reminiscing about the past, Jin cast his gaze out the window.
Out there, Star Celane was sinking, painting the sky with the colors of sunset.
Tomax Bartman, the Chief Administrator of Avalon, had a slightly tired expression, but he was in high spirits.
"Today was a great success, wasn't it?"
"Yes, Tomax-sama. It proceeded smoothly without any trouble. May I begin the report?"
"Mm, please do."
Manon, his secretary automaton, began her report.
"First, regarding trouble, there were no major incidents. There were three minor occurrences, all involving friction between guests."
"Mm."
"Those were swiftly settled by the security personnel."
"Then that is fine."
"Additionally, though not an altercation, four attendees felt unwell during the lecture. The medical team rushed over immediately and cast Healing, allowing them to remain in the hall and continue listening. This was per the attendees' own wishes."
"I see."
Hearing mostly positive feedback throughout the report, Tomax Bartman nodded in satisfaction.
"With this, I suppose we can say that the world thrown into disarray by the Magic Federation has taken another step forward. A very large step, at that."
"Today's lecture may very well herald the beginning of a new era."
Gradin Haronad von Istear, Director of the Technology Department in the Ministry of Magi Technology for the Shouro Empire, muttered to himself as he drafted a report in his room.
"As I thought, Jin-dono's technology is indispensable to the future world. Those who are called his disciples show great promise as well. Coming here was truly worthwhile."
Ernest XVII, the Third Prince of the Kingdom of Egerea and Honorary CEO of the Royal Factory, was giving serious thought to what steps he should take from now on for the sake of his country's development.
At this event, it was the engineers dispatched from each country who were the most impressed, developing a heightened sense of urgency as they realized just how far behind their own nations' technologies were.
One could say it had served as an inspiration in the best possible way.
"...I'm exhausted, but I learned so much."
"Yes, and you were magnificent, Freddie."
"You think so?...Thanks."
Freddie had dropped by Greena's room, and the two were relaxing together over tea.
Incidentally, Rubina was in the middle of an evening nap rather than an afternoon one.
"Even when I saw my old classmates, I didn't feel a thing. I was surprised at myself for being completely free of any inferiority complex."
"Fufu, after being trained that much under Jin-sama, it's only natural, isn't it?"
"I suppose so."
Freddie remarked that while he wouldn't say he had forgotten all those negative feelings—like wanting to show them all up one day, or the resentment of being looked down upon—it felt as though he had left everything behind in a distant world.
"Since I was raised entirely on Onogoro Island, getting the chance to go outside like this was really lovely."
"Ah, that's right, isn't it."
Greena, on the other hand, seemed to find the outside world—swirling with various motives—to be quite fascinating and novel.
"Still, that sort of background makes you sound, how should I put it... like a sheltered young lady, you know?"
"Am I an Ojou-sama?"
"In my perception, pretty much."
"I-Is that so..."
Greena's cheeks flushed slightly. Having said it out loud, Freddie felt a bit embarrassed as well.
Just then, a knock resonated. Greena sprang to her feet and opened the door.
"Dinner has been prepared."
A maid golem had come to announce that it was time for the evening meal.
"S-Shall we go?"
"Yes."
Freddie and Greena naturally linked arms and made their way toward the dining hall.