Reiko, who had been keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings, suddenly stamps her foot. In the aftermath, a stone on the ground shatters.

"What's wrong, Reiko?"

"No, there was a small sandworm in the ground, so I just got rid of it just in case..."

"I see."

According to Reiko, the sandworm was less than two meters long, so it was probably not dangerous to her life, but it was still dangerous if it bit her, so she drove it away by vibrating it.

Sandworms attack enemies on the ground by sensing vibrations in the ground, but at the same time, they flee from unlikely enemies by observing the vibrations.

The vibration that Reiko caused must have been something like that.

"That's great, Reiko-sama!"

Hanako praises Reiko.

From then on, Goh and the others enjoyed the Harikari Desert without any danger approaching.

"<> is also a specialty of this area, right?"

"Yes, it is. It needs a dry climate to grow."

Tsukiyogusa is a grass, but it is a member of the moss family.

It stores sunlight during the day and releases it when it gets dark.

This property does not disappear even when dried, so it is useful as a pigment for luminous paints.

(Saki used to be crazy about it, too.)

Jin recalls with nostalgia his first visit to Mitsuho with his friends.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The scheduled time passed without any trouble, except for the removal of a small sandworm.

"Come on, let's go back. You have one hour to see the town.

"Yes, sir."

Yes, sir.

The car carrying Jin and his group went back the way they came.

They arrived at the town of Barlaku.

I don't remember coming here.

We had been to the town of Ismar, the gateway to Mitsho, many times.

And it was the same for tourists.

But, you know what?

I think that Istanbul, on the contrary, is too touristy, and that there is a certain segment of tourists who prefer the simplicity (?) of this town. It seems that there are a certain number of visitors who prefer this town, and it is not as desolate as it seems.

And instead of few tourists, many academics seem to visit the town.

Such information was given to me at the first cafeteria I entered.

"I picked it at random, but it's pretty good.

"Yes.

"It's delicious. ......"

"It's delicious, isn't it?"

The food was home-cooked in the Shoro Kingdom with some Mitsuho-style flavor.

Mitsuho-style means that it is close to Japanese style, so it is suitable for Jin's palate as well.

And since it is basically the home cooking of the Shoro Empire, Erza, Daikie, and Cocona seemed to like it.

Marikka is a person who does not have many likes and dislikes, and so is Goh who was brought up by Marikka.

Rubina has few food dislikes, but she is picky about seasoning. ...... Rubina eats at this restaurant with great relish, so it could be said that it is a hidden gem.

It may be a natural result that the restaurant was recommended by the old man based on his preliminary research in the <>.

"Probably because soy sauce, mirin (sweet cooking rice wine), and bonito flakes are used in the soup. ......

"Hmm, I'm sure it is."

Jin and Erza guessed.

* * * * * *

After the meal, we look around the store.

After the meal, we look around the shop. They also sell jewelry.

"Oh, I knew it!

Goh and Rubina are looking for <.

Sandworm leather is used as muscle material for beginner to intermediate level golems and automata.

Here in the town of Barlak, where it is produced, it was sold at a price 30% cheaper than that of Loisart.

Goh wanted to practice making a golem for the day when he would be able to fix <, and he wanted to get his hands on some materials.

"All right, I'll buy it for you then.

"Thank you, Master Jin!

Since the purchase was related to magical engineering, Daikki and Cocona decided to leave it to Jin.

"Jin-sama, I want this one: ......"

Rubina points at the Magi Crystals that can be found in the Harihari Desert.

"Okay, good."

This is the guy who told me the other day that if I wanted something, he would buy it for me.

"Thank you!

Marikka bought a cushion made of sandworm leather as a souvenir of her visit.

It is an idea product that changes its firmness when you put magic power into it.

Although it was a material shop, it also seemed to be a souvenir store.

Elsa also bought a piece of <>, a gemstone from the Harihari Desert, as a souvenir, and Daikie bought an accessory made of <> for Cocona, and when we left the store, it was just about time for our appointment.

"Well then, let's go back to , and this time we'll go to Wasu Lake.

"Yes!

Rubina replied cheerfully.

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

It is a little farther from the town of Barlak to Lake Wass than from Loisart.

However, it is only a margin of error before the speed of the <. .......

That is, it takes about one hour of air travel.

That's a good break for Goh and Rubina.

Daikie and Cocona look a little tired. .......

On board, Jin served Persica juice from Horai Island.

It is full of nutrients and is expected to relieve fatigue.

"Oh, it's delicious, isn't it?

"Would you like another glass?"

"Yes, I'll have another.

"Oh, can I have one too?"

Oh, drink up.

Oh, keep on drinking.

While enjoying the occasional view to Lake Wass, <> arrived at the town of Dawat on the east shore of Lake Wass at the scheduled time of 2:00 p.m. The airfield here has a fee, but the manager is not in charge.

The airfield here has a caretaker, although a fee is charged, so Hope did not have to stay at the airfield and everyone disembarked from the ship.

"I miss ......."

"Elsa's uncle was the lord of this region, wasn't he?"

"Hmm, he is no longer the lord of this area.

The view of Lake Wass from the shore is still the same, Elsa said.

And looking at the other side, there is a row of vineyards.

"Hey, these vineyards aren't terraced, are they?"

Jin muttered, suddenly feeling a sense of discomfort.

Elsa answers his question.

"Yes. The grapes here are grown on hedges. The reason is that this way we can limit the number of grapes that can grow. ......

"Hmm."

On Earth, more wine grapes are grown in hedges than in trellises worldwide.

It is said that the reason for this is because it is possible to limit the amount of grapes harvested per vine and thus increase the concentration of sweetness and acidity in each grape.

However, it is said to be difficult to maintain and manage.

For grapes intended for fresh eating, the << shelf-planting> method is commonly used.

"Do you know the lord of this place, Daikie?"

"No, only by name. No, I don't know him.

"I see. ......"

I believe he's Count Auenmüller now.

He is a lord of the Erlich region and a prosperous family because of its wine industry, explained Dike.