"Well, aren't you going to get into the kotatsu?

the old lady asked,

"Yes. I'm an automatic doll.

Reiko said.

"Oh, really?　You are indeed a Magecraft Meister, aren't you?

Perhaps knowing what Jin knew 400 years ago, he is not too surprised to learn that Reiko is an automata.

"Um, you know about me?"

Jin was tempted to hide his identity, as is his habit, but after thinking about it, he realized that there was no problem in announcing himself openly, since he was not on a secret mission this time.

"Yes, I am well aware of you. I went to see the in the Klein Kingdom last year.

The old lady said she had seen Jin at that time.

"Is that so?"

At that time, Jin D, not Jin, was giving a commentary to the invited guests.

Reiko was on Horai Island, not in Toka village, and had eliminated those who tried to interfere with the race, so it was not surprising that the old lady recognized Jin but did not know Reiko.

"I'll make you some tea.

There was a brazier in the corner of the room with an iron kettle making steam. And the kotatsu was a sunken kotatsu.

"If you like, you can have a tangerine, too.

"Well, I'll have one, please."

Erza took a tangerine in her hand.

This tangerine was bred in Horai Island from Citran. It can be easily peeled by hand.

It is said that this variety was introduced to all over Japan about 250 years ago.

Elsa loves citran fruits, and this tangerine was one of her favorites.

"They are sweet and delicious."

"That's good to hear. By the way, could you please fold something with this?

The old lady offered several sheets of chiyogami.

The first one was for Elsa, who had eaten a tangerine, and the second one was for Jin.

"Yes, that's fine.

Jin answered and began to fold something.

First he folded it in half as a triangle, then folded it in half again and creased it.

Once open, he folds the four corners of the triangle to the of the crease.

This will make a smaller square.

"It's a zabuton-fold, isn't it?"

the old lady says.

Jin turns it over and folds the four corners toward the center in the same way.

If he folds up to three of the four edges open like a bag, he has made a "yutsu-san".

"Well, it's a guy, isn't it?"

Yes. Now, one more.

Jin continues to fold chiyogami.

It looks like he is folding another Nutsun, but it is actually .......

"A hakama!　The one who can fold it is ...... no, you were a , weren't you?

Jin combines him with the hakama and finishes.

"Well, a yakko, so to speak, is a servant of a nobleman. Hakama are their pants.

Jin also explained everything he knew.

"As a Magecraft Meister, I have read the records of my predecessors and the Magus, so I know at least that much," he concludes.

He concludes.

"Ah, I think I heard about this a long time ago. I have heard it from ......<>."

Jin had not heard the name Akitsu for a long time.

(Akitsu is underground in the Great Sahara Desert, right? (Akitsu is underground in the Great Sahara Desert, right?)

Akitsu is an educational automata.

< is a means of education set up by Shuki Tsetsi.

(I guess those who have some kind of qualification can go to Akitsu and learn various things from him.)

Jin has repaired the body of Akitsu, but has not changed its role.

(I guess he has a little knowledge of the past, too.)

Jin felt happy to know that the same world he was in had been passed on to Ars, albeit in a small way.

"Oh, it's delicious.

"I'm glad it suits your taste.

The tea brewed by the old lady who owned the store was quite delicious.

It tasted like a stem tea, with little astringency and a lot of umami.

I am the owner of this store and my name is Yuki Akari. The boy who is looking after the store is my grandson, Yuki Tsumugi.

"Hello, my name is Jin Nido. This is my wife, Elsa Nido. <.

"Well, I see that you both share the same name as the second generation."

After some more small talk, Yuki Akari stood up and wrote a letter and handed it to Jin in an envelope.

"Here is a letter of introduction to a building materials shop that deals in asphalt. The location of the store is ......."

He politely told us the location of the store as well as the letter of introduction.

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

It was getting dark, so Jin and the others left the store.

"May I display the folded and < Hakama> in the store as the work of ?"

I thought about it, but in the end Jin approved.

"Thank you very much!　I will treasure it in my store!"

Jin felt embarrassed and apologetic.

In the end, Erza bought ten kinds of yuzenkigami, five each.

The two walk slowly toward the inn under the setting sky.

Reiko and Hope follow them.

"It was a little nostalgic."

Jin muttered on the way back to the inn.

"It's been a while, but it reminded me of the old days."

Erza silently leaned her shoulder against Jin.

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

Jin and the others returned to the inn, took a bath, and had dinner in the dining room.

"We got a lot out of this, didn't we?

"Hmm."

The menu, from Jin's point of view, is a mixture of Japanese and Western food.

A small steak of beef. Seasoned with salt and pepper.

Stewed river fish, probably carp-like fish (......).

Tempura of wild vegetables.

Fried prawns.

Miso soup with topopo (potato) and marunegi (onion).

Vegetable salad with soy sauce dressing.

And white rice.

Jin ate it all without a problem. Erza did the same.

"I like the seasoning, too."

"Yes. It's just... the combination...

"Well, I guess. But I think it's becoming a mitsuho standard, isn't it?　Or maybe it's for a wider range of customers."

Jin and Erza were having such a conversation over a cup of hojicha tea.