"Hmmm, that's a nice laboratory."

Jin was impressed and spoke in praise.

"Oh, thank you, sir."

Marikka thanked him while chewing.

"Jichu, this institute was built by me, based on the one in Horai Island. ...... but the actual site supervision was done by Testa, Helente, and Direk."

"...... I see."

So it is very similar to the research institute on Horai Island.

"The inside has been slightly changed. Jin-sama's study is not here, and the old man is in the basement. ......

"Well, of course..."

There is no point in copying so much.

There are several workshops inside, and only technicians I've approved are allowed to use them.

"I see."

Marikka is now one of the best in the world. Any technician who can meet his standards is sure to be top-notch.

"And all of them?"

<.

"No, I'm afraid not.

Not all of them, he said. It seems that even the direct descendants who inherited the squire did not inherit the skill of engineering magic.

"Besides, there are children with good skills even if they don't have a squire.

"I guess so."

Jin and the others head for the cafeteria. The location of the cafeteria was the same as the laboratory on Horai Island.

There was a maid golem there who brewed green tea for everyone.

"Oh, this tea is delicious.

"Thank you very much."

Jin praised the tea, and the maid golem thanked him.

"This tea is from this island, and I hand-rubbed it myself.

Green tea is made by plucking the sprouts of the chanoki tree, but if they are left as they are, they begin to ferment and eventually turn into black tea.

So, as soon as they are picked, they are steamed to stop the fermentation process.

The leaves, which still have a lot of water in them, are rubbed dry with hot air.

The leaves are then dried further ......, which is the very rough process of making green tea.

"I see, it is a deeply steamed tea.

"Yes, it is."

The taste varies depending on the steeping method. Shallow steamed tea has a good aroma but is astringent and has a light taste.

On the other hand, deeply steamed tea tends to have a slightly weaker aroma but is richer and less astringent.

Jin prefers deep steamed tea.

"Well, Jin-sama, that's enough tea talk for now. ......"

Marikka called out to him with a sense of humility.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Well then, let's get started.

There was not enough time to talk about the old days if we were just rambling.

Jin thought that he would ask for their wishes and tell them an episode related to their ancestors.

"Marikka, you decide."

Instead of Jin deciding, Marikka waved her hand.

"Yes. Then let's start with the timeline of when Jin-sama met her: ......"

"Wait!"

Marikka was about to nominate someone when an intruder appeared.

She looked at the entrance of the ...... cafeteria where the voice came from and saw a girl of about ten years old standing there.

"I'm the next !"

"......"

Trichardt and Suzanne held their heads together.

"......Rubina......, that girl is a total ......."

Maricka let out a sigh.

The child, whose name was Rubina, had red hair and steeple eyes just like Beena's, probably because of Beena's blood.

"Rubina, as always. ......"

Edith Kuzma, who is also of Beena's blood, sounded exasperated.

"She's a bit intuitive and a bit restless," she said.

Trihardt also sounded apologetic.

"Well, well, it's good that she's so energetic.

At this point, Jin had no choice but to say so.

"You're a good boy. We're in the middle of a discussion. We're trying to talk to our ancestors about the old days."

Suzanne, the caretaker, gave him a wry smile and said admonishingly, "Oh, really?

"Oh, really?　...... I thought this was a gathering to nominate the next ."

"You're jumping to a conclusion. Besides, since the second generation is still alive and well, there's no need to decide on the third generation.

"Shut up!"

Rubina complained with a laugh at Edith's words.

It seems that the two are close in age and have the same ancestors, so they seem to get along reasonably well.

"If you're here, I don't blame you. Here, sit down there."

"Okay."

At Suzanne's request, Rubina sat down in the vacant seat ...... across from Jin.

"Well then, since we're here, Rubina, why don't you ask me a question?"

Jin secretly thought that Marikka knew how to handle this girl, putting the one who seemed to make the most noise first.

"Oh, is that okay?　...... then."

Rubina looked at Jin with a sparkle in her eyes,

"Are you really my ancestor?

Rubina looked at Jin with a twinkle in her eye and asked, "Are you really my ancestor?

"......"

A silence fell on the floor.

The silence was broken by Reiko.

"Rubina, it is you, isn't it? I assure you. Your father is your father.

"...... Well, you ...... must be Reiko ...... by the looks of you. But you know, there's also the possibility that you're a fake made to look just like Reiko.

Then how can I convince you that I am the real Reiko?

"Well... If you fight against the golem I made and win...

That's fine. I'll crush your opponent, whoever he is, whoever he is.

Jin sensed that Reiko was angry. And then..,

"Reiko, be moderate."

he lightly nailed her.

Reiko nodded silently.

"...... really in moderation, huh?"

Rubina told Reiko to go to the front, whether she knew what was going on in Jin's mind or not.

"......Good grief, it can't be helped. Ancestors, everyone, could you please come outside again?

Trihart said apologetically and got up from his seat.

Jin and the others followed suit.