On May 3, at the height of spring, Jin was successfully reunited with Reinhardt.

Matheus, this is Jin. He is an honorary magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Egelea, but in reality he is a freelancer.

Reinhardt introduced him to his friend and escort Matheus.

"Jin, this is Captain Matheus Geist von Rialger. He is the captain of the 3rd company of the Kingsguard and my friend. He will soon become my brother-in-law.

Jin Nido.

Matheus.

They greeted each other and shook hands.

Reinhard had told me much about you during our travels. I hear that you are an excellent magi engineer.

"Ha-ha-ha, yes!　Jin is a magician beyond my level!　I can vouch for that!"

For some reason, Reinhardt, not Jin, answered proudly. For a moment Matheus's eyebrows furrowed at this, but his expression quickly returned to normal.

"I'm looking forward to it. So, we will be working together from now on, is that correct?"

Reinhardt answered this question as well.

"Yes, of course. Jin is my guest!　...... Jin, I'd like to get a ride in your carriage right away, okay?"

"Oh, yes, of course. We have a lot to talk about.

"Oh, yes, of course.　So, Matheus, let's go!

"............"

Matheus, slightly taken aback by Reinhardt's increased tension, gave instructions to his men. Fifteen men are now on their way to the homeland while guarding Reinhardt.

"Let's go!"

The carriage in which Reinhardt was riding started to move without its master. He knows Jin, so he doesn't mind. This had happened to him many times before.

But Matheus is not like that. The object of his protection, his friend, and his future son-in-law had joyfully climbed into the carriage of a man he had never met before, a man he knew nothing about (although he called himself the Honorary Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea).

The other passenger is a girl called Reiko. She seems to be an automaton, which makes her even more mysterious.

A golem, apparently made of iron, controls a carriage of an unfamiliar design. Compared to Reinhardt's black knight (Schwarzlitter), the golem was inferior in every respect.

However, the golem horse pulling the carriage is a golem horse. This is the only point where I honestly take off my helmet.

(It is ...... unfathomable that it moves so much like a horse itself.)

In short, Matheus was not sure about a foreign magical engineer named <>.

* * * *

"How is Erza?

"Yes. She is now teaching children in a place called Kaina Village.

"Oh. That's nice to hear. Well, I hope she's happy.

Reinhardt lowers his voice.

"...... Jin, Elsa's brother, Fritz, has gone ...... crazy...no, he's back to normal...you did something to him, didn't you?"

Jin's carriage is soundproofed, so there's no need to worry about eavesdropping, but I still end up whispering unconsciously.

"Ah. You know, the and . Before, Lukor used stun to excite and then stun, but now we know that it can be broken by the magic called <>."

Jin then explains that the Unifilers have become the Nostalgia and that the Nostalgia has started to support other countries.

We were so engrossed in our conversation that time passed before we knew it, and we had arrived at our destination for the day, the town of Ganes.

"It looks like we've arrived.

Reinhardt said as he looked out the window of the carriage.

"It didn't take long to get there," said Reinhardt, looking out the window of the carriage. We will stay here today and tomorrow we will go to Tuscosia, just before the border. We have a permit to cross the border, so I don't think we will have to wait long.

"Yes, I am looking forward to visiting the Shawlo Empire.

"Yes, I am looking forward to visiting the Shoro Kingdom. Well, let's get off.

The carriage pulled up in front of a simple barrier before Gunny's. Reinhard was the only one in the group who was not in the carriage.

Since Reinhardt was the most senior person in the group, he could not avoid showing his face as they passed through the gate.

Matheus looked at Reinhardt with a confirming glance as he got out of the carriage.

Then he glanced at Jin in the carriage for a moment.

?"

Jin noticed that look, but he didn't know why he was being looked at like that, so he decided to pretend not to notice for the moment.

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

The town of Ganes is not a fortified city. Only a simple wooden fence surrounds the boundary of the town.

However, the town is not only inside the fence, but there are buildings outside the fence as well, indicating that the town is still expanding.

It is certain, however, that the buildings outside the fence are of a lower class.

The fact that the town is reasonably prosperous in the frontier of Cerroa is a blessing of the mines located in the middle of Mount Carter to the south.

There are three precious mithril silver mines, one of which is connected to the ore road from Borolon.

"Hmmm. I can see why Borolon would be busy then, but why would this place be busy?"

After receiving Reinhardt's explanation, Jin answered the natural question: "That's because Bororon is a strategic point, and the Kingdom of Celuloa is very strict in policing it.

"That's because Bororon is a strategic point, and the Kingdom of Celuloa is very strict in policing it.

That gave Jin an idea of what was going on. Indeed, it would be difficult to develop a downtown in a city with many government officials and soldiers.

"Well, it's also a rather seedy town, you could say.

The carriages are parked outside the town in a parking lot, and now Jin and his friends are walking on foot through the town of Ganes.

Reinhardt, a tall man in good-looking clothes, was being swarmed by various touts.

"Nobleman, I have a nice place for you to stay. The food is excellent and there are nice girls!"

"I'll give you a discount on the magi crystals from the mine...can you buy them for me?

"If you want to have fun, come to !　You can drink as much alcohol as you want and the price is cheap!

Matheus turned them all away.

"......That's the way it's always going to be here. Reinhard, we've already found a place to stay. Let's hurry."

Matheus had sent his men ahead to find a decent place to stay.

"Ah. That's Mateus, you can count on him."

Matheus looked back at Jin,

"I'm sorry, but we don't have room for you. I didn't expect more people. You'll have to find your own room. I'm sorry."

He apologized politely, but only with words.

"Jin, you can go to my room at ......."

Reinhardt interrupted him,

"If you like, you can stay here with us guards," Matheus said.

Matheus said. But Jin refused.

"No, you can sleep in the carriage if you need to, don't worry about me.

"Yes, I will."

Matth?us answered shortly, and then had his men surround Reinhardt and his household and proceeded down the street. Reinhardt is complaining about something, but he doesn't care.

"Well then, Jin-dono, we will leave tomorrow morning at eight o'clock. Don't be late.

After saying these words, Matheus walks quickly down the street after Reinhardt without hearing Jin's reply.

(......What, do you think he hates me?)

Jin, who had no memory of offending Matheus, tilted his head.

Jin was also approached by touts, though not as many as Reinhardt.

"Come on, brother, go have fun.

"Hey, can you buy me a drink?

"How about tonight with me?"

They were more like prostitutes than touts, and many of them were prostitutes themselves.

"You're in my way. Please don't touch my father with your dirty hands."

Reiko removed all of them.

"...... finally quieted down."

It took half an hour for the touts and prostitutes to realize that Jin was not a sucker and leave.

"I've never been in a town like this before."

The town seems unsafe, partly because it's in the middle of nowhere. It would be better not to stay too long.

"There doesn't seem to be much to see.

"I think that's a good idea."

I think that would be a good idea.

"Hey, Matheus!"

Reinhardt is about to complain about Mateusz's attitude towards Jin,

"Reinhard, you'll be in your homeland soon. You know that, don't you?"

Matheus said before Reinhardt could speak.

"?　Yes, of course.

"Then don't do anything to make Bertsche cry."

"You didn't, did you?"

"I know you didn't go to the whorehouse. But that doesn't mean ......"

And that's where the words stop.

"But that doesn't mean what?"

Reinhardt asked, and Matth?us said in a mumbled whisper.

"......Sound ......"

"What?"

Reinhardt, who did not hear well, asked back. Matheus shouted in a loud, desperate voice.

"You don't have to run to the man!"