"Brother Jin, I've been meaning to ask you..."

Erza asked Jin as he pondered how to replace Reiko.

"Why don't you make an automata with the same performance as Reiko?

Reiko shuddered at the question.

"Reiko, please don't misunderstand me. I just want to know the reason. It's not like I'm denying you or anything.

Jin beckoned Reiko to him and patted her head.

"So you won't make it. It's easy. For me, Reiko is just fine on her own."

Jin took Reiko in his arms and sat her on his lap.

"It was Reiko who brought me into this world. Or, more precisely, her predecessor. Reiko had been searching for me for a thousand years according to her predecessor's will. And it was Reiko who helped me find myself after I went missing when the Warp Gate went haywire. I am the man I am today thanks to Reiko.

Jin continues patting Reiko's head. Reiko's eyes narrow and she looks very happy.

She is too much for me. That's why I won't make the same automata. I don't want to."

"...... understands perfectly. Jin, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Reiko, too.

Erza bowed deeply.

"I remember when we first started our journey, Jin and Reiko seemed to be getting along so well.

"Ah, that time ......."

It was the time when he was mistakenly accused of being a puppet lover.

"Well, anyway, that's why I've decided to have only one Reiko."

"I understand. I'm sorry for asking such a trivial question.

Jin stopped Elsa from apologizing again. Reiko too,

"......Erza-san, don't worry about it anymore."

Reiko also said, "Don't worry about it.

"So, what should we really do?

Hitoshi again pondered.

"I don't want to just make something and then put it to sleep when I don't use it any more. ......

Unable to see Jin worrying like this, Reiko made a suggestion.

"......If your father promises not to leave Horai Island even once, I will come."

"Oh, I see. I would be very grateful if you would do that.

After all, Reiko was eager to do something useful for Jin.

"Okay, then I'll upgrade you with the latest materials and technology."

"Yes, please."

Jin laid Reiko down on the workbench. Elsa assists him as his assistant. Edgar observed.

"First, the skeleton.

The magi-adamantite is replaced by hyperadamantite. It is a dream material with about 10 times the specific gravity but 20 times the strength. This is presumably due to the increased bonding strength resulting from the narrowing of the interatomic distance caused by the compression. It was thought that the reason why this material does not work as simply calculated is the function of free magic element (ether).

This means that the same weight can be made twice as strong by using this element.

"Is the magical muscle the same as before?"

"No, it will be replaced with one impregnated with free magic element (ether)."

Impregnated?

Yes. The free magic element (ether) content will be dramatically improved by preservation treatment in the free magic element (ether) box, right?　That's it."

The usability remains the same, but the maximum amount of power that can be extracted is more than doubled, he says.

"It will consume more free magical element (ether), but I heard that the concentration of free magical element (ether) is high in the northern lands, so I thought it would be effective."

"I agree."

"Then, we can add an in case of emergency."

It is more efficient than the previously installed mana tank. This is because aethenol, which contains free magic element (ether) as a liquid, has higher available magic density than gaseous magic element (mana).

"We should be able to use gravity magic as standard."

We will build in various kinds of magic tools for activating magic so that it can be activated without chanting.

"We also need to increase the capacity of the ether converter and mana driver.

And each auxiliary function was also renewed.

（Brother Jin's work is very careful. (Jin's work is very careful. You can see how much he cares about Reiko).

Erza, who was only an assistant in name but had no role here, watched Jin's work closely.

(Is there anything I can do to help?　(Is there anything I can do? ...... Yes!)

Erza had an idea and quietly left Jin's side as he continued his hard work.

The magical skin was also impregnated with free ether, and Reiko's upgrade was completed. Her weight has been adjusted well, and she looks the same as before.

Finally, Jin noticed that Elsa was missing.

"Elsa?"

Then he saw Erza, who had just returned from outside the workshop. Edgar was with her.

"Oh, Brother Jin, have you finished the remodeling?"

"Yes, just now. What is that you are holding in your hand?

Edgar was holding something that looked like a folded cloth.

"This?　This is Leco's new clothes. I made it from the threads of a ground spider impregnated with free magic element (ether).

"Oh, thank you. That's nice. I'm wearing a lot of clothes now."

"Hmm."

Elsa presented a drawers, a chemise, a dress, an apron, and a ribbon.

The colors and designs are the same as the ones Reiko has been wearing. This is because he decided that he should not change something that Reiko liked for his own taste.

To be sure, Jin checks the measurements. The error was only a few millimeters, so he made a slight adjustment and it was done.

"It is indeed very well done. The free-magic element (ether) impregnation treatment changed the workability a little, didn't it?"

"Yes. But you'll get used to it if you do it for a while.

"Ha, you're on your own now. Okay, I'll get you a new pair of shoes.

"Oh. I forgot my shoes and socks.

Erza's cheeks flushed a little with shame, saying she had only been concerned about her clothes.

"That's okay. I'm always careless."

Laughing, Jin took out a piece of sea dragon leather impregnated with free ether.

"Then make him some socks, will you?"

"Yes."

Jin made shoes and Erza made socks. Soon they were finished.

Put them on Reiko before the operation, and all is done.

"Activate."

Reiko wakes up in response to the key word.

"How are you, how are you?"

Reiko jumps down from the workbench and moves slowly to check herself,

"Yes, I'm doing very well. Thank you very much."

She bowed.

"Well, that's good to hear. Elsa made the clothes for me. I helped a little myself.

"...... I see. Thank you, Elsa.

"Yeah."

After explaining the new features we've added and confirming that they work without any problems, Reiko is all set.

"Let's do the rest tomorrow, shall we?"

After a late dinner, Jin and Elsa went back to their rooms.

Reiko and Edgar follow their host.

"Reiko, huh?"

Erza lies down on the futon and thinks about Jin and Reiko.

"...... really care about them."

Of course, it's not just Reiko that Jin cares about.

If you pay attention to him, you can see that he eats as little as possible so as not to leave any leftovers, and that he tries not to waste as much as possible when he makes various components from materials.

Not wasting things and taking good care of Reiko. Similar yet different, different yet similar.

It may be the spirit of Jin who was born and raised in Japan, or it may be a sense of taking good care of things.

"I'm a little envious of you, Reiko.

With these thoughts in her mind, Erza looks out the window. Countless stars twinkled in the dark night sky.