Upon returning to Hourai Island, Jin was overcome by a sudden wave of fatigue.
"...For some reason, my body just feels completely sluggish..."
He had Lise, the medical and healing automaton, examine him, but her diagnosis was unequivocal:
"No abnormalities can be detected anywhere."
Deeply concerned by this development, Reiko consulted Laojun.
"Laojun, what could be happening to Father?"
"Reiko-san, the fact that Lise found no abnormalities indicates that this is not a physical ailment."
"...Which means?"
"It is likely something mental or spiritual."
"Mental...?"
"Indeed. The current My Lord is a 'Duplicate' whose physical form was shaped by his lingering attachments to this era acting upon 'magiatoms' and 'magi-elementals' when he was meant to return to four hundred years ago."
Laojun had contemplated the nature of Jin's current existence from various angles.
"...Most likely, it is a matter of 'will.' Vague and intangible, yet undeniably real. It possesses no physical force of its own, yet it can certainly exert influence over this world."
Laojun explained that a faint will—the sheer desire to remain—had acted upon the magiatoms and magi-elementals to construct Jin's Duplicate.
"Then, what happens if that 'will' weakens?"
Laojun continued:
"It could be said that the current My Lord is reaching a state of contentment, where his lingering regrets are fading away."
On top of that, Laojun surmised that the emotional shock of Marikka's passing was dampening his will even further.
"Then what should we do?"
Believing that if Laojun understood this much, it must also know a way to keep Jin here, Reiko pressed it for an answer.
"This is merely speculation, but if he were to reunite with the members of the former 'Jin Family,' perhaps..."
"You mean he might find a reason to remain in this world—in the 'present'?"
"Precisely. However, on the off chance that reuniting with them leaves him completely fulfilled..."
Laojun feared that it might only hasten his disappearance.
"So taking such a gamble is ill-advised."
"Indeed."
"Then what are we supposed to do?!"
"I wish I knew the answer to that myself, Reiko-san."
"I know, Laojun..."
Their conversation continued to go around in circles.
"...I still can't believe Marikka is gone."
"Truly. And she was younger than me, too."
In the clan territory of the All-Creation Clan, Sion and her mother, Rolona, were speaking somberly.
"Back then, I thought we would be together forever."
Back when she first met Jin. Back when Sion was still a young, inexperienced girl.
Even then, she had burned with conviction, fully prepared to sacrifice herself for the sake of the clan.
"I suppose growing old means leaving so many things behind."
"Sion, that's hardly something you should be saying in front of your mother."
Rolona offered a wry smile.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"Father."
"Ah, Reiko."
Reiko carried a tray of tea into the room where Jin was relaxing in the House on Hourai Island.
"Oh, thank you. I was just getting thirsty."
Jin took the cup of buckwheat tea from Reiko and took a sip.
"You cooled it down to the perfect drinking temperature. As expected of you, Reiko."
"Not at all."
Reiko quietly studied Jin's condition.
(His movements are about 0.1 percent slower than usual. He truly is unwell.)
She worried for Jin from the bottom of her heart.
"Father."
"Hm? What is it, Reiko?"
"...Would it be all right if I told you a brief story about the past?"
"Oh, sure. Go ahead."
Unable to divine Reiko's true intent, Jin simply nodded.
"About three hundred years ago, there was a Creator who passed away, leaving behind a creation."
"..."
"The Creator gave only a single order to that creation: 'Serve my descendants.'"
"..."
"Because the Creator did not understand how cruel that order was, deep sorrow remained in the creation's heart."
"..."
"Even within such darkness, however, there was a single ray of light. It was the quasi-prophetic truth that they would meet once more three hundred years later."
Jin could not tear his attention away from Reiko's words.
"Because that destined truth existed, we were able to endure and go on living."
"...!"
"Father... please, I don't want you to leave me behind."
It was likely the most selfish request Reiko had ever made throughout the long span of fourteen hundred years since her creation.
".........!"
And it was also the very first time the automaton known as Reiko had ever displayed such an overwhelming surge of emotion.
Large, glistening tears welled up in her eyes.
In that moment, Jin understood.
Right here and now, the automaton Reiko—created by Adriana Barbora Tsetse and finished by his own hands—had transcended the intentions of her makers.
There was only one thing left for him to say.
"Reiko... my beloved child."
"Father..."
Jin pulled Reiko into an embrace, and she wept against his chest.
It felt as though time itself had ground to a halt around them.
"You're right... I can't just leave you all behind."
"Yes, Father."
Jin and Reiko sat side by side on the veranda of the House, gazing up at Uni in the sky.
"Sion-san, Rolona-san, Eira-san, Kachea-san, and even Groma-san must surely be looking forward to the day they can see you again, Father."
"I suppose they are."
Jin nodded at Reiko's words.
"Besides, there are still so many unseen and undiscovered things left in this world."
To travel around and see them all would surely require an eternity.
"Even so, I can't just stay standing still forever."
"No, Father."
As Jin answered, the lingering fatigue had, wonderfully and completely, vanished from his body.