Everything is going as planned.

Well, I hear there's some interesting people joining us this time.

"Yes. I hear that the Black Knight, the Taurus, and Ceres will be joining us.

"Hmm, Stealina and her golem who refused to cooperate with us. That's one thing.

If this operation succeeds, we will be able to strengthen it at once.

Not if. Let them do it.

Ha!

* * * *

Count Kuzma, Count Galana, and Reinhardt, including Duke Breu, left the Blue Lands as planned.

On the first day, they stayed in Verbena. It was late afternoon when they left, so they had only traveled about 20 kilometers.

Count Galana did not cause any problems, so it was a peaceful night.

The next day was rainy.

We headed for the provincial town of Strial. By this time the roads were dirt, gouged in places, muddy from the rain, and slow going.

"Can't you go any faster?

Count Galana's carriage was leading the day's tour, and he was the only one who complained about the slow progress.

"We could get there in plenty of light if we weren't in such a hurry."

Reinhard muttered with a wry smile. This time, Jin was riding in Reinhardt's carriage with Reiko.

Incidentally, Erza's carriage was accompanied by Beena.

It seems that they hit it off because they both hated Count Galana. Not only Reinhardt, but also Count Kuzma was cooperating to keep them out of Count Galana's sight.

In the afternoon, after the rain had stopped, we arrived in Strial while the sun was still high in the sky, just as Reinhard had said. It is not as busy as the town of Breuland, but it seems to be a busy town.

Of the group, the Duke of Breuland stayed at the Lords' House, which also served as a guest house, while Count Kuzma and Reinhardt's party stayed at a Strial nobleman's house, and Count Galana stayed at one of Strial's finest inns.

"Welcome, Count Kuzma, Reinhardt. And Miss Elsa.

The man who greeted us with these words was Viscount Grieri, a nobleman living in Strial. He looks like a young man with light brown hair.

He has a sturdy physique and looks even dependable alongside the lanky Reinhardt.

"Are you Jin, the Magecraftsman?　And who are you?"

The last words were addressed to Bina. Bina panicked,

"Ah, my name is Beena, a magecraftsman in the service of Count Kuzma.

"Oh, so you're a magecraftsman too. Well, well. Well, there's no need to stand around talking, so please come inside.

He left Jin and Bina in charge of the butler, and told Count Kuzma and Reinhardt,

"Please make yourselves at home.

He himself took the role of the guide.

"Well, you look like an ordinary aristocrat," said Jin.

Jin said.

"I don't know what normal is.

Bina said.

They were shown into one of the large rooms.

"By the way, do you think the two of us will be using this room?

I looked around and saw a large bed in a room about 10 tatami mats in size.

"Apparently so. Well, I guess that's how they treat the less famous magecraftsmen.

Jin said as he said that,

"Reiko."

and called out to the automata he had created.

"Yes, father."

"Kya!"

Bina was surprised to see Reiko appear right next to Jin.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I didn't want to cause any trouble, so I had Reiko activate her stealth.

. This is a higher level magic function that was created as a result of Jin's analysis of the function of the amulet used by the bandit we encountered the other day.

It can make not only the presence but also the appearance disappear. The principle is the application of light magic, which refracts and bends light around the body to show objects behind it.

Naturally, the light does not reach the eyes of those who are inside, resulting in darkness, but this was handled by Jin's knowledge that wavelengths other than visible light cannot be refracted or bent.

In other words, Reiko sees things in the infrared region.

"...... You never know until you are suddenly stabbed in the back."

Bina comments on the noise. It's certainly good for covert maneuvering.

Jin thinks about forming a ninja unit when he gets free.

"Don't peek!"

After the meal, Bina said she was going to change into her nightgown, so Jin went out of the room. Incidentally, Jin and Bina had a simple meal in separate rooms.

All they wanted to do now was to go to bed, and they were about to get into their nightclothes.

Then Elsa walked by. She must have come to Jin and the others' room.

"Jin-kun, what are you doing?

A natural question.

"Yes, because Beena is getting dressed right now.

To which I replied,

"What?　Are you two in the same room?

I replied, a little impatiently.

Jin, that's enough. ...... is that you, Elsa?"

The door opened and Beena looked up, surprised to see Erza there.

"...... Beena, come with me."

"Uh, um, a little bit."

Elsa looked a little angry and dragged Beena to their room.

"Miss, are you sure you want to sleep in your own bed with her?"

"Yes. My bed is bigger."

Elsa's bed is a double, or rather a king-size bed. The small Elsa could easily sleep three people.

Meane, the nanny, is reluctant. Even though they are friends of the same s*x, the idea of common people sleeping together seems to have some kind of a hold on her.

Elsa looks at her reluctant face and comes up with a compromise.

"...... got it. Sleep with me, Meena. And Bina can sleep in Meena's bed.

"Oh, Miss!　Will you let me sleep with you?"

Meena's scowl turns into a happy glow when she hears this.

"Yes..."

"Okay, Miss Beena, is it? You can sleep on the bed here.

"Ha-ha-ha..."

Unable to keep up with the momentum of Erza and Meane, Beena was forced to sleep there.

On the other hand, this is Jin.

Beena, you're late.

Father, I'll wake you up when Beena comes back, so please go to bed.

"Well, I'll do that. I'm sleepy.

Jin lies down on the edge of the bed. Reiko stands quietly at his feet as if to protect him, looking around for any sign of his presence.

But Bina does not return, and there is no sign of anyone else.

The night goes on like that.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Despite this hiccup, the group, including the Marquis Brown, Lord of Strial, arrived at the capital city of Asunto via the town of Lurs in the morning, two days before the Golem Garden Party, as scheduled.