"Okay, Jin, take care of the rest."

Go on, then. Reiko, take care of him.

"Yes, Father."

Bina took the corn and the popcorn machine and left. Jin ordered Reiko to take the bags to Claude's place.

"Well, let's go to Nana and Lardo's."

He told them in advance that Bina was going out and that Jin would stay with them while he was gone.

"Ah, Jin-chan!"

Both of them look better than when I first saw them. It's a sign that their scurvy has healed.

Bina has to run an errand and will be late, but we'll have dinner in a little while. Until then, eat this.

With these words, he presented her with a plate of Persica berries.

"Wow, I love these!

They look so good!"

Nana and Lardo eat them with delight. Meanwhile, Jin prepares dinner. Meanwhile Jin prepares dinner, but all he has to do is bake some bread and heat up some porridge and soup.

Father, I'm back.

Then Reiko comes back.

"Thank you."

"You went in the carriage, sir."

"I see."

In the meantime, the barley porridge and soup had heated up, so Jin divided them into small portions and brought them to Nana and Lardo. He has been taking care of small children since his days at the orphanage, so he is used to it.

"Here you go, dinner is ready.

"Thank you, sweetie."

I wait for them to finish eating, put away the dishes, and return to the kitchen. Reiko was warming Jin's share.

"Father, it's just the right amount of cold.

Actually, Jin has a cat's tongue. He never got used to eating hot food.

"Oh, thank you."

It is already dark outside. If only I could teach him how to make popcorn, Jin thought, I should be home by now.

"You're late, Beena."

"Father, are you staying here tonight?"

"Well, Beena asked me to stay, and even if I don't, I can't leave without them.

Reiko said, "Well, I'm going to stay here tonight,

"Well, I'll go back and get your father's bedding."

"Yes, will you do that?"

"Yes, I'll go then."

Reiko disappeared in a flash in the pitch dark.

"...... You don't think something has happened to her, do you?"

* * * *

"Oh!　This is delicious!

"I'm so glad you could make it, my dear."

Beena continued to make popcorn at Count Galana's house. The corn was cheap, but the oil and salt were of the highest quality, so the taste was something else.

"Well, I'm satisfied.

With these words, the selfish boy left the diner. All that was left was the leftover popcorn, Beena, and the family orderly, Claude.

"So I can just clean up and go home?

Beena asked Claude,

"Yes. "Yes, but we would like to buy the machine from you if possible.

"Yes, but I'm afraid I'll be in trouble tomorrow without it. ......"

Bina turns him down softly. Of course, there was the reason that it belonged to Jin, but as a commoner, Beena was a bit intimidated.

A nobleman could and would forcefully take it away from her.

"Of course, we will pay you a reasonable price. How about 10 gold coins for your visit?

Ten gold coins, or 100,000 dollars. That's about one million yen.

Ten gold coins?

Yes. How about it?

The daily sales including expenses are just under 4,000 Talls. Twenty-five times that, or about a month's worth. Any more insistence could lead to the worst possible outcome.

"Okay. "Okay, that's fine.

Bina agreed.

She decided to apologize and give all ten gold coins to Jin when she returned home.

Then, Claude's further words followed.

"So, I heard that you are an excellent magecraftsman. How would you like to be our family's exclusive Magi Craftsman?

"Exclusive?"

In other words, they would become our patrons. A patron of the nobility would be able to make whatever he wanted without worrying about the production cost. Bina thought of her mentor, Gladia Hampton. He was backed by three aristocrats and lived a life where the local aristocracy was not a problem.

Claude added,

"If you become our exclusive partner, we will pay off all your debts.

"What? How do you know ......?"

Bina was surprised when Claude mentioned the debt.

"I'm sorry, I had to look it up.

Claude replied nonchalantly.

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

Bina looks down and thinks.

Her current debt is about 1.2 million dollars. She has to pay for Gladia Hampton's training and her parents' doctor's fees. So far, there is no way to repay the debt.

"But..."

Bina looked up and thought about the past few days.

She had gotten to know Jin and learned a new perspective on magic tools. She had learned the joy of giving shape to her thoughts. She learned the joy of making magic tools for the common people, not for the nobles.

"I am sorry, but I must decline.

These were the words that came out of Bina's mouth. This was non-negotiable.

"I see, I'm sorry. If you change your mind, please let me know.

Claude then held out a bag containing ten gold coins.

The bag contains the coat of arms of our family. If you have any business with our family, please show it to the gatekeeper.

"Oh, thank you."

Bina nervously receives the bag.

"Well then, let me take you to ......, but the gates are already closed at this hour, so please stay the night. Please stay the night. We'll send you back tomorrow as soon as the gates open.

"Yes, yes, please."

Claude led Bina to the guest room. Bina did not see the slight strain in his mouth.

* * * * * *

Jin made a bed on the blanket that Reiko had brought. At that moment.

"Father, someone is approaching here.

"What?　"Is Bina back?

Jin asked comfortably,

"No. It's not Bina's magic. There are four of us. They are coming in a horse-drawn carriage.

Reiko's ability to detect magic has improved since Jin improved it. Since Reiko says so, she must be right.

I heard the sound of a carriage stopping in front of the house, followed by a knock at the door.