The next morning.

"Jin, are you there?"

After breakfast, the chief came to Martha's house.

"Yes?"

"Oh, Jin, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yes, can I help you?"

The chief laughed,

The mayor laughed and said, "Nothing, it's nothing. Mr. Roland, the peddler staying with us, would like to have a word with you.

"Oh, really?

"I see." "Well, why don't you come over right away?"

So Jin went to the village headman's house.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Roland, a peddler. I am sorry to call on you at this time.

I am his son, Eric, and it is a pleasure to meet you.

Roland and Eric were waiting at the village headman's house and greeted Jin politely. They were merchants in this area.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you. My name is Jin Nido.

The three of them sat down around the table. The village head also sat down. Soon a young girl came in with a cup of tea.

"Here you go."

"Oh, thank you, Barbara."

In the corner of my mind, I think that Jin is the niece of the village head, but then I quickly turn my attention back to the person in front of me.

"So, what can I tell you?"

Jin begins. Roland answers.

No, it's not a big deal. I'm just curious about something that wasn't here when I visited this village ......2 months ago.

"Oh, the hot springs."

"Yes. And the pump, the tool to pump the water. Did you really design it?

"Yes, what do you mean?"

Jin looked doubtful,

"Oh, no, Mr. Jin, is it? Where did you learn to be a magecraftsman at such a young age?

"Magecraftsman?"

This is a new word to me. I had inherited the title of "Magecraft Meister," but I had never heard of a "Magecraftsman.

"Oh, you don't know?　That's surprising. Magecraftsman is a general term for people who use magic to make tools.

"Oh..."

Roland changes the subject when she replies with an indifferent tone.

"By the way, where did you say you were from?"

Roland jumped at this because it was something he wanted to be sure about.

"Yes, actually, I happened to find a and was sent there by it. So I don't know where I came from or where exactly I am going back to.

"Warp gate?　I think I've heard of it. ...... Eric, what do you think?

"I think I learned that there is an artifact called that. It's supposed to be able to travel between two different locations."

For the first time, Eric opened his mouth to say something other than hello.

"He was at the Cecilio School of Magic last year. He knows a little bit about magic.

His father, Roland, looked somewhat proud.

"Well, I guess it was an artifact, but anyway it went out of control and when I came to, I found him lying here by the village. Martha, who is taking care of me now, picked me up and I have been living in this village ever since.

I have misrepresented a part of the story, but I am not mistaken. And Eric,

"That's a disaster, isn't it? Many artifacts are incomprehensible to us, so I guess it happens."

Roland took over,

"So you are saying that you don't know where your home is?"

"That's right. You don't know if I say "Nihon," do you?

"Nihon," you say. That's right, I've never heard of this place. Is that where you live?

Yes, it's my hometown.

Roland crossed his arms and thought. In the meantime, Eric asked.

"So you are saying that the magic you use and the tools you make are from Jin-san's hometown?

"That is correct.

Jin nodded his head and Eric excitedly said, "That's wonderful!

"Excellent!　I'd love to learn how to make that pump!

Roland chided him.

"Now, now, don't get so excited. Mr. Jin, we will pay you for the information, and you will teach us the structure of the and how to make it.

Jin wonders what to do. There is nothing wrong with teaching. However, I think it would be better to benefit this village if possible.

I would like to know how much you would be willing to pay for the information.　Oh, I don't know the currency of this area, so I'd appreciate it if you could tell me about it as well.

"I see. Of course. How about 100,000 Tolls for the information? In the common currency of the Kingdom of the Groups, a copper coin is 1 Tol, a silver coin is 100 Tol, a gold coin is 10,000 Tol, and 10 kilograms of wheat is about 300 Tol. 10 kilograms of wheat is about 300 Tolls, Ten kilograms of wheat is about 300 talls and three silver coins.

Jin quickly calculates the numbers. Even though there are some fluctuations, it seems to be accurate to assume that one tol is about 10 yen on the basis of wheat. This means that the information fee is one million yen.

"One more question before I reply, do you have the idea of <> in this country?

"<>?　What is it?"

I could guess that there probably wasn't, since he asked me that,

"A patent is something that protects the rights of the person who first thought of it, and for a certain period of time, when you use the patent, you have to pay a <> to the person who patented it," he said.

Roland thought about this for a moment and then said, "I see,

"I see. That's a good system. It protects the interests of those who invent new things while making them widely available. This will increase the momentum to create something new.

As expected of a merchant, he is quick to understand. But..,

"But unfortunately, there is no such a system.

I see, that's unfortunate.

"Well, then, ......."

Roland looks disappointed,

"No, I will sell you the information on that condition. But there is one condition.

"What's that?

Roland is excited by the prospect of selling the information on the pump.

"I want you to put your name or something similar on the pump. Preferably something that can't be imitated.

"I see. Differentiation from similar products.

Roland swallowed quickly.

"Yes, that's right. Sooner or later, imitations and similar products will appear on the market, but we'll make sure that people know that the original is from Roland Corporation.

"Hmmm, the real original is Jin-san's, though."

"If you say that, in my country we won't be able to tell which one is the original anymore.

And so the contract is signed. Eric is in charge. Jin made one pump in front of me and handed it over as a sample.

Immediately that afternoon, Jin demonstrated the pump using the few remaining bronze pieces.

That day, I spent the whole afternoon at Jin's workshop,

"What the hell is that?

Eric's cry echoed throughout the afternoon.