Beneath the Hurricane, carrying Jin D and the others, the northern lands stretched out wide.
"I've never been to this area before..."
They were over three hundred kilometers west of the Great Isthmus that connected the Lauren Continent and the Gondoa Continent.
Now past the middle of November, the grass had withered away, leaving only the deep green canopies of coniferous trees as far as the eye could see.
Before long, a crescent-shaped lake came into view.
"That is Lake Shirowa. Please land on its southern side."
The southern shore lay along the concave curve of the crescent. The Hurricane gently descended toward it.
As the ground drew nearer, it became clear that the terrain there had been leveled.
"Hmm... It's cleverly camouflaged so you wouldn't notice it from above."
Looking through Jin D's eyes, Jin realized this spot would have been impossible to spot from the Watcher in satellite orbit.
South of Lake Shirowa stood a verdant hill densely covered in conifers.
The Hurricane touched down near the edge of the woods.
"Please moor the ship here."
They secured the Hurricane to a bollard skillfully disguised as an ordinary rock.
Assuming no one around would tamper with the vessel, the entire party disembarked, including Hope.
Still, to prevent wild beasts from wandering in, they erected a barrier around it just in case.
"Now that we're on the ground, it's quite gravelly."
Jin figured that aircraft requiring a runway, like the Skylark or the Albatross, might manage a landing here, but taking off again would likely prove impossible.
"Please wait a moment."
Marukonen began tinkering with a magi-device in his hands, which appeared to be a communicator.
"...That should do it. Someone will be out to greet us shortly. Please wait just a bit longer."
"Understood."
The temperature hovered around five degrees Celsius—a chill that posed no problem whatsoever for Jin D and Sion D.
Marukonen took a deep, nostalgic breath of his homeland's crisp air, relishing it for the first time in years. Beside him, his automata, Ruhf, stood in silence.
About three minutes passed.
"Welcome back, Marukonen."
Their greeter had arrived just as promised: a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties, with bright chestnut hair, hazel eyes, and a lively presence.
"I'm back, Mira."
Marukonen glanced back at Jin D and the others to introduce her.
"This is Mira, one of my father's disciples."
"A pleasure to meet you, I am Mira....Hey, Connie, is this the current Magi Craft Meister?"
It seemed "Connie" was her nickname for Marukonen.
"Yes, exactly. He is the current Magi Craft Meister."
Jin D introduced himself in turn.
"I am Jin Nidou, the Third Generation Magi Craft Meister. And this is Reiko."
"I am Sion of the All-Creation. I happen to be an old acquaintance of your master."
Sion D offered her own introduction.
"Is that so...?"
Mira seemed quite intrigued by Sion D's claim of knowing her master.
"Come now, Mira. Lead the way."
"Ah, right! Um, please follow me."
Led by Mira, the group moved in single file: Sion D, Reiko, Jin D, Hope, Ruhf, and finally Marukonen bringing up the rear.
After walking for about two minutes, they reached a massive tree. Beneath a great boulder resting at its roots, an entrance was visible.
(They've gone to great lengths to hide this place...)
Observing through Jin D's senses, Jin couldn't help but feel that Marcosius was living in hiding.
(Well, we'll find out the details once we meet and talk.)
Slipping through the opening beneath the boulder, they found the passage brightly illuminated.
The hideaway had been built underground, with a staircase descending into the earth. About fifteen meters below ground level, the stairs gave way to a flat corridor.
Passing through a doorway at the end of the hall, the atmosphere shifted drastically.
Until that moment, it had felt like walking through a cavern, but—
"The interior is done in the Nord Federation style,"
—just as Sion D observed, the space now felt entirely like the inside of a proper residence.
"This way, please."
Since the Northern People also had the custom of keeping their shoes on indoors, the group proceeded without pause. The floor was covered in a short-pile rug... no, it felt more like natural pelt.
Both Jin D and Sion D were pleasantly surprised by how spacious the retreat actually was.
"Please wait here."
At the far end of the straight hallway, the group was asked to pause.
Before a door stood a young girl who looked to be in her mid-teens.
"Jesenia, how is Father?"
"He is awake and expecting all of you."
"Good....Father, it's Marukonen. I'm coming in."
Marukonen gently pushed the door open.
Inside, sitting upright on a bed, was an elderly man. Standing beside him was an automata with vivid crimson hair who looked about ten years old.
"Welcome."
The old man was Marcosius.
"Marcosius... it has been quite a while."
Sion D was the first to speak.
"It is Sion of the All-Creation. Do you still remember me?"
"Yes, I remember you well....We have both grown quite old, haven't we?"
Marcosius's hair had turned completely white.
"You were roughly forty years older than me, weren't you?"
"I turned five hundred and fifty-one this year."
"Then thirty-eight years older, to be exact."
There seemed to be no lingering bitterness between them.
Marcosius then turned his gaze toward Jin.
"So you are this era's Magi Craft Meister....For some reason, I sense a resemblance to your predecessor."
"Yes. I go by the name Jin Nidou."
"And... Lady Reiko, was it? You haven't changed in the slightest."
"You have grown quite old yourself, Marcosius-san."
Reiko, too, remembered him.
"Heh, such is the passage of time. But I am truly glad we could meet again like this."
Turning toward the crimson-haired automata, Marcosius gave an order.
"Loubel, bring chairs for our guests."
"Yes, Father."
The young automata named Loubel promptly arranged enough chairs for everyone, Hope included.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you."
Jin D and the others took their seats. Since chairs had been provided for all of them, Reiko, Hope, and even Ruhf sat down as well.
"Now then, Lady Reiko. First and foremost, I wish to offer my sincerest apologies to you, your former master, his madam, and their entire family."
"What do you mean?"
"You must remember what transpired in the Shouro Empire."
"I do."
"Looking back on it now... it was nothing more than the reckless folly of youth. No amount of regret can ever right those wrongs, but I wished to make my confession to you, as one bound to their memory."
"I see....Understood. If the opportunity arises, I shall convey your words at their resting place."
"Thank you."
In his own way, Marcosius seemed to genuinely regret the path he had once walked.