"...... Licia, great."

Elsa is impressed.

"An independent woman, that's the right word."

"Please don't say that, Elsa, it's embarrassing to be called like that."

"...... is not true. Licia is much better than me, she's working on her own.

Erza said that she had lived her whole life with the help of someone else.

"But you've done things that I can't do," she said.

She became a first-rate magecraftsman and a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz).

(And to support Mr. Jin, and to be next to him.)

"...... What?"

"No, it's nothing. ......<>, I guess everyone is just doing that."

Licia, looking better than before, smiles, still looking a little sad,

"Would you like to join me for lunch, if you don't mind?

She said, "I would like to have lunch with you.

"This is delicious.

"I've tried to make it various ways."

Jin and Elsa were having lunch with Licia.

The menu shows signs of ingenuity.

In particular,

"Could this be ......?"

Jin is pointing to porridge, but it is not porridge but <.

Yes, it was made of barley, and it was seasoned porridge, or rice porridge.

It is usually salted, or at best stewed with meat and vegetables, but they seem to be using a broth made from chicken bones.

"Yes, the broth is made from the bones of the kokarisks we keep in the village, and the kokarisk eggs are dropped in, then sprinkled with leeks and kryptona."

"I see. ...... It is very tasty."

Thank you very much."

Other dishes were made with local wild vegetables, which were cooked well and brought out the flavors of the ingredients.

"This stew of river fish and orangutans is also good.

The small fish from the river is boiled in a sweet and spicy sauce, and walnut-like nuts are added to it. Jin liked it because it tasted like tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce).

"I like this salad better," he said.

"That's because of the sauce."

Think of it as a dressing with citran fruit juice instead of vinegar. It seems that some spices are added to it.

It is similar to the yuzu dressing of today's earth.

Elsa seemed to like the sour taste.

"I think it's really amazing that you were able to accomplish so much on your own," she said.

"...... Jin-san."

Licia opened her mouth to look him up and down.

"You know,...... that,......?"

"Yes?"

From the look on Licia's face, Jin thought she was talking about something complicated.

"...... can you talk to me in a more informal way, too?"

"Oh ...... okay."

Licia's own language was polite, so Jin had somehow been using a half-hearted honorific.

"Okay, Licia."

* * * *

In Toka village, too, people drink tea made from the leaves of the <, or perhia.

Afterwards, while enjoying the taste, which was slightly different from the one in Kaina village, Jin decided to make a suggestion to Licia.

"Licia, can you take a day off tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?　Yes, it's not impossible.

Jin nodded.

"That's good to know. I'd like to invite you to the Kunlun Islands tomorrow.

"Oh, you want to invite me?　Why?

Licia had been informed that the World Congress was being held on the Kunlun Island, and was surprised by the sudden invitation.

"Why, ......?"

"Because I want to thank Licia-san for her hard work?"

Elsa offered a helping hand.

It would have been better if she had not used the question mark at the end of her sentence, Jin thought.

"Yes, yes. You know, we're neighbors, and it would be nice to get to know each other better."

"...... is that okay?"

"That's why it's okay."

"......I really wanted to go."

"I'm glad you did. Then, how about early tomorrow morning, around 6:00 a.m.?

Because of the time difference, Jin asked her if she would like to go a little earlier.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it.

Licia smiled and agreed.

"Well, I'll pick you up again tomorrow morning. We'll have breakfast together over there.

Jin and Erza then boarded the and left the village of Toka once more.

Incidentally, it is an aside that the timing of the gift of the <> was not quite right and it came at the last minute.

Of course, Licia was so happy that she jumped up and down.

The next morning at 6:00 a.m., the time was 6:00 a.m.

The next morning at 6:00 a.m., landed at Toka village exactly on time.

Most of the villagers were awake, but since it was yesterday, there was no commotion.

"Good morning, Mr. Jin."

"Good morning, Licia."

This time, Erza was not with them. She is in Kunlun preparing to entertain.

Please, come in.

"Thank you."

Instead, a steward will escort Licia aboard.

And soon they are on their way.

"...... is amazing!"

Licia is impressed by the view of the ground from her first ride on .

For Licia's sake, the flies a little low over the land.

After all, it has a <.

"I was scared I was going to fall, but once I got used to it, it was great!"

Licia's eyes are glued to the view from the floor window.

"Wow, mountains look like this when you look down from above!

And "Wow, that's what mountains look like from above!

"I can see the clouds below!　How high are you flying?

and so on,

"...... you're amazing!　He is able to create such an amazing vehicle!

They were talking excitedly.

Finally, we go out to the sea.

"Wow, the ocean is so blue!　It's so big!"

Jin took Licia to the observation deck on the upper floor.

"Wow!　The sky is such a color!

<

There are many theories about the origin of the word, but Jin heard from the director that , a pack of 50 cigarettes, used to be sold in a tin.

The label on the can was dark blue, so the color of the dark blue sky was called after the Peace can.

In other words, the color of the sky seen from a high place is much darker than that seen from the ground. It is so dark that it can be likened to the color of a can of peace.

This is because the air is thinner and less dusty, so there is less diffuse reflection of light and it appears darker.

In a vacuum universe, it would be pitch black.

Let me digress.

It took about 30 minutes for to fly to the Kunlun Island because of the reduced speed.

During this time, Licia experienced air travel with amazement.