After confirming that no one else was disembarking from Konron 3, Sion spoke up.
"So Elsa and the twins didn't come this time?"
"Yeah. We have guests at home," Jin replied.
However, Sion gently tugged at him, leading him aside to a spot a short distance away.
"Hey... isn't Hilde-san the previous Emperor?" she asked, hitting the mark squarely.
"You know who she is?!" Jin asked in surprise.
"Yes. When I went to Avalon with my father and the others, I caught a brief glimpse of her."
"Ah, I see..."
Even though Sion had not attended the World Conference, she had indeed visited Avalon.
"So, am I right?"
"...Yeah, you are," Jin had no choice but to admit. "She's the Empress Emerita now, but since she came on an incognito visit, she dislikes stiff formalities. It would really help if you could treat her simply as an aristocratic acquaintance of mine."
"...Understood."
With that settled, Jin and Sion returned to Empress Emerita Hilde and Flora.
The two seemed to be in the middle of a lively conversation with Marikka.
"Ah, Jin-kun! Marikka-san is such a delightful person!"
"Y-You flatter me."
Empress Emerita Hilde appeared to have taken an absolute liking to Marikka.
The vehicle prepared for their arrival was a large carriage drawn by two golem horses. The golem horses had been provided by Jin, while the carriage had been prepared by Marikka.
"Well then, please step right this way."
"Thank you."
Sion boarded first, followed in order by Empress Emerita Hilde, Flora, Jin, Reiko, and Marikka.
As for the Five-Colored Golem Maids, all of them—led by Ruby 101—ran alongside the carriage.
"Oh my, this is such a comfortable ride. The carriage is marvelous, of course, but the road surface hardly has any bumps, either."
"Yes, it is called crushed stone paving."
The road from the airfield to the settlement was paved with crushed stone, making the journey smooth and comfortable with very little shaking.
"So this is the pavement that you want to introduce across the nations of the Lauren Continent, Jin-kun?" Empress Emerita Hilde remarked.
"Yes, that's right."
"I can see why. It looks like gravel that's just been laid down and compacted, but it's remarkably solid. A carriage hardly affects it at all."
The surface was durable enough that even the stomping hooves of golem horses would not easily gouge it.
Moreover, because it was water-permeable, puddles did not easily form.
If large vehicles weighing several tons were to travel back and forth in the future, it would likely be necessary to reinforce the road with asphalt or something similar, but Jin believed this paving would suffice for the time being.
"Over there is the clan territory of the All-Creation clan."
Farmlands spread out around the stone-walled settlement. Golems from the Agrii series could be seen diligently tending to the fields.
And beyond that—
"Is that... a greenhouse?"
It was a greenhouse built with a frame of light silver and transparent sections made of cubic zirconia.
"Yes. The winters here are harsh, so it is used for cultivating crops, especially vegetables."
"How splendid."
"Thank you very much."
The carriage soon passed through the stone wall and came to a stop in front of a particularly prominent building.
"This is the Guest House."
It was a brand-new building, constructed just this year. One could readily grasp the enthusiasm the Nord Federation was pouring into diplomacy simply by looking at it.
While the surrounding structures were all single-story, this one was partially two stories tall, giving it a slightly different ambiance.
"Its design was modeled after architecture from the Klein Kingdom and the Kingdom of Franz," Sion explained.
Indeed, now that she pointed it out, elements of those styles were visible throughout.
Overall, however, the design was unified in a Nord Federation style, so it did not feel out of place alongside the surrounding architecture.
Word had evidently been sent ahead regarding the visitors' arrival, as several servants were lined up before the gate, bowing respectfully.
Among them was Sion's servant, Lucas.
"Welcome, esteemed guests."
Seeing the dark skin of the servants—a stark contrast to Sion and her people—both Empress Emerita Hilde and Flora appeared slightly taken aback.
"...J-Jin-kun, these people look a little..."
Empress Emerita Hilde swallowed the rest of her sentence—different in appearance—but Jin understood what she meant.
"Yes, there are various historical circumstances, but in short, they are a race that coexists and prospers together with them."
"...I see."
Sensing the weight behind Jin's words, Empress Emerita Hilde chose not to pry any further.
In truth, Elsa's diagnosis had concluded that there was no genetic difference between the demon race and the servant race, and it was believed that once discrimination faded, the two peoples would eventually merge into one.
Just like Sion's older sister, Istalis, and her former servant and current husband, Netros.
Digressions aside.
Sion first guided the group inside the Guest House.
"Um, would you prefer a Western-style room or a tatami room?"
"My, you have a tatami room?" Empress Emerita Hilde asked, surprised.
"Yes, we do....The reputation of Five Constant Virtues and Jade Villa on Kunlun Island reached our ears as well, so we used them as a reference."
Jin, of course, was already aware of this. In fact, as the owner of Five Constant Virtues and Jade Villa, he had been consulted extensively during the building's design.
Jin had also provided the tatami mats himself. After all, he wanted the culture to take firm root far and wide.
Since rush itself was also cultivated in Mitsuho, they would easily be able to keep up even if demand grew.
Led into the tatami room, Empress Emerita Hilde lay down directly on the mats, thoroughly savoring the fragrant scent of the rush.
It was a spacious room of about twelve mats, and for the moment, she was alone with Flora.
"Ah, tatami really is wonderful, isn't it?"
"Yes, Lady Hilde....Though taking off one's shoes implies that the environment is considered safe, does it not?"
Flora seemed to interpret the custom through a martial lens, reasoning that while one could flee at any moment with shoes on, escaping would not be so simple once they were off.
"Yes, I suppose there is that aspect to it as well."
"However," Empress Emerita Hilde continued.
"When you truly want to relax, it seems best to avoid anything constricting, you know?"
Corsets, belts, gloves, and shoes. Even undergarments.
Loose-fitting attire was simply far better for the body's circulation.
"That... may well be true."
"And Jin-kun called it 'sprawling out like the character for big,'" Empress Emerita Hilde said, lying flat on her back across the tatami and stretching out her arms and legs.
"I don't really know what the character for 'big' looks like, but doing this brings such immense peace of mind....You might call it unladylike, though."
"...No, not at all."
"Certainly, proper etiquette is important. Especially in public. But during private moments, I think a little indulgence like this should be forgiven."
"...It is just as you say."
Empress Emerita Hilde's reasoning was sound, and in this setting, Flora could only nod in agreement.