It was only a little after 8 a.m., but Lorenz's store was open.

"It's big. ......"

It was much too big to be a peddler's store.

Jed Alamold opened the service entrance for the employees at the side of the front and went inside. Jin, Cachier, and Karlich Gawler waited out front.

(Well, the peddlers are probably half volunteers, and I guess they are caravaning because they are gathering information requested by the country, or rather by Paelova.)

While Jin was thinking about this, the door of the store opened and Lorenz came out. He was accompanied by Jed.

"Mr. Jin, Ms. Katya, welcome. Mr. Karlich Gawler, it's been a while.

Mr. Lorenz, good morning.

"Good morning."

Jin and Katya greeted each other and Karlich nodded.

"Well, Jin-san, I heard that you need some Magi Crystals.

"Yes, that's right."

"Ummm... ......."

Lorenz made a difficult face.

"The four we delivered yesterday are the last of our stock. We only have five more that are less than half that size."

"I see. ......"

As expected, Jin doesn't say, "We can make a bigger one by fusing magi crystals.

"Are Magi crystals that scarce?"

"Yes, they are. As you probably already know, they are not available on this continent at all.

There were plentiful deposits on the Laurentian continent, Jin thought.

"I placed an order with King's Landing right away, but it won't arrive yesterday or today.

"That's a problem. ......

"That's a problem.

At Lorenz's words, Jin and Jed Alamordo also looked at each other with a scowl. But then..,

"Oh, maybe..."

Then came the voice of Kalrich Gawler, who seemed to have had an idea.

"Kalrich, do you have an idea?"

"Yes. Yes, Eila Shearer. I'm sure she has a few of these for research.

"Oh, that's him. ......."

Jed Alamordo's face turned even more sullen at the mention of that name.

"I've bought a total of ten ...... in the past on request."

Kalrich remembered that only the treasurer could do that.

"...... we'll have to meet up at some point. All right, I'll go."

Seeing Jed's somewhat reluctant attitude, Jin sensed that something was up.

So he asked Kalrich secretly.

"Well, what kind of person is Eira Shearer?

"EIRA?　She is a woman in her mid-twenties and a mage with a passion for research. ......"

"I see."

As far as Jed was concerned, he did not understand why Jed was so reluctant to talk to him.

However.

"Um,...... Mr. Jin, do you think you might be...?

"Hmm?"

Ka-kea seemed to have an idea.

"Well, I may be wrong, but he's in his mid-twenties and single, so he's probably a man of high ...... stature."

"Oh, I see."

"...... and is very studious, which means he probably doesn't socialize much ......."

That's a good insight.

"I'm sure that ...... Jed must be more than he can ...... handle, that ...... oddball."

"Wow."

When KaChea said that, Jin also felt that way.

"...... Jin-dono, shall we go?"

"Ah, yes."

Jin and the others followed Jed Alamordo, who was obviously not very excited.

"......Dono Eira-dono wa paerova-sama no ka?"

I asked as we headed back the way we came, but Jed shook his head.

Jed shook his head. No. It is located next door in the research building. I'm sure that ...... Jin will be given a room there sooner or later."

We walked on, and the research building came into view. No, I had seen it and knew it as a building since it was next to the residence of the regional administrator. It was just that I knew what it was.

It is about two times smaller than the residence of the district superintendent, but large enough compared to other buildings in the town.

It is a two-story stone building. It is about the size of a small elementary school.

"I'm going to go and say no to Mr. Paelova, please wait for me."

It will only take about five minutes, since we're right next to each other," Jed Alamold said.

"Oh, in that case, can I bring my assistant golem with me?　It would be more efficient to have him with us to do the repairs.

"Okay," said Jed Alamold. I'll tell Mr. Paelove that too.

Thank you very much.

So Jin also went to the mansion.

Wait for me...

Jin was the first to return. Of course, he was accompanied by his assistant golem .

"So that's the assistant golem I've heard about. It is hard to believe that it was made from scrap wood. Jin-dono seems to be a very skilled engineer.

Karlich praised Jin.

Then Jed returned.

"Thanks for waiting. I have reported to Mr. Paelove. I've also gotten your approval for Jin's golem.

"Thank you, sir."

Jin thanked Jed.

"Let's go."

The group of five, including Hope, headed for the research building next to the mansion. The grounds are connected, so they are close together.

"Eira is on the first floor, right in front, I think."

All the rooms are quiet with the windows closed.

When the group entered through the front door, they found a series of doors facing the corridor. Each of them must have been a room assigned to a particular person.

"How many people live here?"

"How many people live here?　So far only Eira is a mage. There are also two woodworkers, three blacksmiths, and three office workers.

The ratio showed how valuable mages are.

"Here we are."

A handwritten nameplate with the name hung next to the door.

Jed knocks, but after waiting for no response, he knocks again and again, harder and harder.

"......, you're being too loud."

After about five minutes, the door finally opened and a red-haired woman with shaggy hair, probably waking up from sleep, came out. This was Eira Shearer, it seemed.

She had a grim expression on her face.

"Ah, Mr. Jed. What do you want?"

The red-haired woman's face relaxed a little when she saw Jed, the secretary.

I'm sorry to bother you this morning. I have an urgent need for some magi crystals from ....... Karlich said they might be at your place."

"Nn...... magic crystals?　Yes, I have about three of them. What do you use them for?"

"Well, ...... do I have to tell you?"

Well, since you're going to give us research materials, you should at least tell us what they're for.

"Sure. We need it to repair the ......<>."

Eira's eyes widened slightly at this answer.

"Repair the <>?　Is that even possible?　Who can repair it ......?"

After saying that much, his words were cut off mid-sentence.

He seems to have noticed Jin and the others behind Jed Alamold.

"Hey!　Do any of you have engineers who can do the repair?　If so, tell us!"

Overwhelmed by his words, Katya hid behind Jin.

Jin thought to himself, as if he were a stranger, that Cachair's guess was right. .......