"Oh my, little lady, aren't you getting into the kotatsu?"
When the elderly woman asked, Reiko replied:
"No, thank you. I am an automata."
"Oh, is that so? As expected of the Magi Craft Meister."
Perhaps she knew about the Jin from four hundred years ago, as she seemed hardly surprised upon learning that Reiko was an automata.
"Um, do you know who I am?"
Out of sheer habit, Jin had instinctively tried to conceal his identity. But when he gave it more thought, he realized that he wasn't traveling incognito this time, so there was no harm in introducing himself openly.
"Yes, I know of you very well....I went to see the air race held in the Klein Kingdom the other year, you see."
The elderly woman explained that she had caught sight of Jin back then.
"I see."
Back then, it hadn't been Jin himself, but rather Jin D who had provided commentary for the invited guests.
Reiko had remained on Hourai Island rather than in Toka Village to deal with those attempting to disrupt the race. Thus, it was only natural that the elderly woman recognized Jin but did not know of Reiko.
"I'll brew some tea right away."
In the corner of the room sat a brazier, where an iron kettle was letting off steam. The kotatsu in the room was a sunken kotatsu.
"Please, have a mikan if you'd like."
"Then I will take one."
Elsa took a single mikan into her hand.
This mikan was a variety selectively bred from citran on Hourai Island, with a peel that came off easily by hand.
It seemed to have been distributed to various regions around 250 years ago.
Since Elsa loved citran-family fruits, she was very fond of this mikan as well.
"It is sweet and delicious."
"I am glad to hear that....By the way, would you mind folding something with this?"
Saying so, the elderly woman offered several sheets of chiyogami.
The first part of her words was directed at Elsa, who was enjoying the mikan, while the latter request was meant for Jin.
"Sure, I'd be glad to."
Jin agreed and set to work folding.
First, he folded the sheet into a triangle, then folded it in half once more to create a crease.
Opening it back up, he folded all four corners toward the center point of the crease.
This created a square that was one size smaller.
"That is a cushion fold, isn't it?" the elderly woman murmured softly.
Jin flipped it over and folded all four corners toward the center in the exact same manner.
By opening three of the four edges into pockets, the yakko-san was complete.
"My, it's a yakko-san."
"Yes. Now, for one more."
Jin went on to fold another sheet of chiyogami.
It looked as though he was making another yakko-san, but in truth...
"A hakama?! To think someone can still fold that... No, you are the Magi Craft Meister, after all."
Jin combined the yakko-san with the hakama, finishing the piece.
"Well, you see, a 'yakko' is essentially a servant attending to nobility. The hakama serves as the trousers," Jin explained to the best of his knowledge. "As the Magi Craft Meister, I've read the records left by my predecessor and the Magus, so I know at least this much," he concluded.
"Ah, I feel as though I heard that long ago... from Lady Akitsu."
It had been a while since Jin last heard the name Akitsu.
(Akitsu was located underground in the Sahara, wasn't she? And John Dini was assigned to accompany her, if I recall.)
The assistant automata, Akitsu.
She was an educational fixture established by the Magus, Shuuki Tsetse.
(I suppose those who earn a certain qualification can meet Akitsu and receive various teachings from her.)
Jin had repaired Akitsu's body, but he hadn't altered her role.
(She must be passing down a little bit of ancient knowledge as well.)
Jin felt a warm sense of happiness knowing that things from his former world had been carried over to Planet Ars, even if only in small amounts.
"Ah, delicious."
"I am glad it suits your taste."
The tea brewed by the elderly shop owner was exceptionally good.
Being kukicha, it had little bitterness and was rich in savory umami flavor.
"Pardon my late introduction. I am the owner of this shop, Akari Yuuki. The child minding the storefront is my granddaughter, Tsumugi Yuuki."
"Allow me to introduce ourselves properly. I am Jin Nidou, and this is my wife, Elsa Nidou. I go by this name as the Magi Craft Meister."
"My, both of you carry the same name as the Second Generation."
After exchanging a bit more small talk, Akari Yuuki stood up, wrote a letter, placed it in an envelope, and handed it to Jin.
"This is an introduction letter to a building materials merchant that deals in asphalt. As for the location of the shop..."
Along with the letter of introduction, she kindly provided clear directions to the shop.
With dusk setting in, Jin and his companions left the shop.
"Would it be alright if we displayed the yakko-san and hakama you folded as 'works crafted by the Magi Craft Meister' in our shop?"
Jin thought, Uhhh..., but in the end, he gave his approval.
"Thank you very much! We will treasure it as an heirloom of our shop!"
Being praised to such a degree left Jin feeling both flattered and slightly embarrassed.
In the end, Elsa purchased ten varieties of Yuzen mokushi, taking five sheets of each.
Under the darkening sky, the two walked slowly back toward the inn.
Reiko and Hope followed close behind them.
"It had a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere."
On their way back to the inn, Jin murmured softly.
"It's been a long time since I remembered the old days."
Elsa leaned silently against his shoulder in response.
After returning to the inn and bathing, Jin and the others sat down for dinner in the dining hall.
"We gained quite a lot today."
"Mm."
To Jin's eyes, the menu was a blend of Japanese and Western cuisine.
A small Cowbull (beef) steak seasoned with salt and pepper.
Simmered river fish—likely something resembling carp.
Wild vegetable tempura.
Fried shrimp.
Miso soup with Devil's Potato and marunegi.
The vegetable salad was tossed in a soy-sauce-based dressing.
And white rice.
Jin ate it all without issue, and Elsa did the same.
"The seasoning is quite good, too."
"Mm. Though the combination is..."
"Well, yeah. But isn't this becoming standard for Mitsuho in its own way? Or perhaps it's tailored for a broad range of guests."
Sipping their hojicha, Jin and Elsa enjoyed their quiet conversation.