After resolving various matters and concluding his aid to the Shouro Empire, Jin returned to Hourai Island and was taking it easy.
Daiki and Cocona had asked him to stay longer, but an underlying weariness had settled over him.
Now, sprawled across the tatami in the living room of the House, he let his mind drift aimlessly.
(...My role four hundred years ago... as the Magi Craft Meister, was probably to spread magi-craft across the world once more in the wake of the Ether Stampede.)
Observing the modern human sphere on Ars had given him plenty to think about.
(And my role now... might be to restore the magical heritage that the Magic Federation tore down.)
The Ether Stampede and the Magic Federation.
Though entirely different in nature, their impact on the world bore an eerie resemblance.
(After all, both led to a massive decline in magi-craft.)
Jin stretched out on the floor, conscious of how much fatigue had accumulated lately.
(Is it really about time for me to retire to Hehl...?)
Yet, far too many lingering attachments bound him to Ars.
(First and foremost, Daiki and Cocona.)
Since the couple had no children, the future succession of Count Nido's house remained unresolved. It was, in fact, quite a significant problem.
Refocusing his thoughts on that dilemma seemed to chase away a bit of his lethargy.
"Come to think of it... maybe I should gift them an automaton—a lady's maid or a butler—to look after them?"
"I believe that is a wonderful idea."
Having spoken aloud without realizing it, Reiko, who stood quietly at his side, voiced her immediate support.
"You think so? All right, let's go with that, then."
Reinvigorated, Jin left all traces of fatigue behind and headed straight for the workshop.
"Using a Golem Maid as the base should work nicely."
He crafted the frame from 64 light silver to keep it light and sturdy. Naturally, he used an Adriana-style design.
"Reiko, get the adamantite ready for the coating, please."
"Yes, Father."
Reiko gladly took up her duties as his assistant.
"Her regular physical output can stay on the lower side."
He dialed her baseline strength down to roughly three times that of a human, configuring it to release its limiter during emergencies.
"I'll build in a manacam so she can alert Laojun if anything ever happens."
That way, they would immediately know what action was needed to eliminate any danger.
"In case of malfunctions, I'll store four super-small golems inside her for maintenance, just like Milli-Smiths."
Five-millimeter repair golems. That would drastically reduce the chance of any prolonged breakdowns.
"Let's prioritize defense over offensive capability. I'll make sure the control core is heavily protected."
He decided to encase it in a honeycomb structure made of adamantite. On top of that, he installed a powerful barrier.
"It'd also be good to give her a transporter capable of self-teleportation up to ten kilometers."
This would allow her to evacuate safely from insurmountable threats or natural disasters.
"Might as well set that transporter to carry up to three people along with her."
That way, Daiki, Cocona, and even one of their relatives could escape together in an emergency.
Watching Jin work briskly while occasionally muttering to himself, Reiko smiled warmly.
(Father truly is in his element whenever he's crafting.)
Fetching the necessary materials and handing them over, Reiko was in remarkably high spirits.
"All right, that does it."
For her appearance, he gave her green hair, just like Mac's secretary automaton.
"Well then, time to go deliver her."
As Jin prepared to board the Hurricane and head back to the Shouro Empire, Laojun intervened.
"My Lord, it is already night and you must be exhausted. It would be far wiser to rest for the evening."
It was 7:30 PM, Hourai Island Time.
While daylight still lingered in Loizart, Laojun was concerned about the toll it would take on Jin.
"Ah, is it really that late already? Come to think of it, I am starving."
Jin readily accepted the advice.
"Father, dinner is served," Reiko announced without missing a beat, bringing a smile to Jin's face.
"Oh, thank you, Reiko."
That evening, dinner was held in the laboratory's dining hall.
"Mmm, delicious."
Tonight's spread featured bamboo shoot rice, a suimono of mushrooms resembling shimeji, grilled fish, simmered bamboo shoots with kombu, sweet tamagoyaki, umeboshi, and oshinko. The tea was brown rice tea.
The bamboo transplanted to Hourai Island, which closely resembled moso bamboo, yielded shoots nearly year-round, allowing them to enjoy bamboo shoot rice whenever the craving struck.
Jin went back for three helpings.
Having worried about his health, Reiko breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of his hearty appetite.
An hour after finishing the meal, Jin let the tension melt away in the hot spring.
"Ah, nothing beats a good soak."
Crafting what he loved, eating delicious food, and unwinding in a soothing hot spring.
"I really am blessed..."
Watching Reiko attentively wait on him nearby, Jin murmured with deep contentment.
The next day, accounting for the time difference, Jin flew the Hurricane back to Loizart.
"My goodness, Jin-sama! Whatever brings you back today...?"
Seeing Jin return so soon after leaving, Daiki and Cocona looked thoroughly bewildered.
Jin explained the reason for his sudden visit.
"Well, you took such good care of me the other day and shared so much valuable information, so I thought I'd give you this girl as a token of my gratitude."
With that, Jin gestured the green-haired automaton forward.
"O-Oh, my...!"
"She doesn't have a name yet. Would you two like to give her one?"
"Are you certain that's all right?"
"Of course."
At his reassurance, Daiki and Cocona exchanged glances and conferred in hushed whispers.
Before long, they turned back.
"Then... we shall name her Mirai."
"Understood. I am Mirai. Daiki-sama, Cocona-sama, it is an honor to serve you."
Mirai bowed politely.
And with that, another of Jin's lingering concerns was neatly resolved.
"Still, 'Mirai,' huh...?"
Aboard the Hurricane on his swift return trip to Hourai Island, Jin found himself lost in thought.
He figured the name was meant to signify "future."
After all, quite a few Japanese words had woven their way into the Ars language ever since the days of Shuuki Tsetse.
"The future... I wonder what mine looks like."
Jin muttered to himself, watching the clouds drift past the Hurricane's window.
"'The future turns to the present in the blink of an eye, then slips into the past before you know it'... was that how it went?"
Whether he had read it in an old book or heard someone say it long ago, he couldn't quite remember.
Jin let his thoughts wander once again.