Reinhardt led us to the most exclusive restaurant in the aristocratic district in the center of the port town of Potlock.

"Well, I've never been in a place like this before," said Marcia.

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Marcia said. The same goes for Jin. Once again, I realized that Reinhardt and the others were aristocrats.

However, Jin, who grew up in modern Japan, stops there. His attitude did not change because he only knew what nobility was.

Marcia, on the other hand, did not seem to have expected such an exclusive restaurant,

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"Well, do I have to behave in a certain way as the son of a count and the daughter of a viscount?

He was very reserved. But when asked, Reinhardt laughed and said, "I'm the same as before,

I want you to talk to me the same way you've always talked to me. And I have a private room here, so you don't have to worry about your manners.

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"I see!　That's a relief. I would have left otherwise.

He looks at Jin.

Jin is very calm. Have you ever been to a place like this before?

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"No, this is my first time.

When I was on Earth, I once went to a fancy restaurant with my boss to entertain a client. So I was not calm, but rather I was just sitting still because I did not know what to do.

"Well, it's a private room, so you'll just have to do what you've always done.

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With that said, the group enters the restaurant with Reinhardt in the lead. Jin, Reiko, Marcia, and finally Erza.

"Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt, isn't it? Please come this way."

It seems that the conversation had already taken place, and as soon as they enter, the waiter leads them to a private room.

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Please make yourself at home.

With these words, the man left.

There was a room with a luxurious table and chairs. And when he checked the number of guests, there were five chairs. And then..,

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"We've been expecting you, young lady."

"Thank you."

There were two women in maids' uniforms. They seemed to be the maids of honor for Reinhardt and Erza. When they signaled..,

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"Welcome, may I have your food right away?"

The waitresses came immediately.

"Yes. Yes, please."

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Reinhardt said, and several waitresses came in turn, and soon the table was filled with food.

We'll take care of the rest.

With these words, the two maidens escorted the waitresses out of the room and closed the door.

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"Well, let's have a toast first.

Reinhardt raised his glass. Everyone except Reiko followed suit.

The attendants poured sparkling wine into the glasses. And then,

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"Well then, I thank you for this acquaintance.

The glasses were clinked and a faint clink sounded as Reinhardt led the group.

After a glass of sparkling wine, Reinhardt said,

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"Yes, the wines of this country are quite good.

He put the empty glass on the table.

"Now, Miss Marcia and Mr. Jin. I would like to ask you a few questions. May I?

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Reinhardt spoke in a different, more serious tone than usual.

"What I'm most interested in, Mister Jin, is you. I know you are not a simpleton, like Miss Reiko, that golem, or the water wheel on the ship. If you don't mind, I wonder if you could tell me.

Jin took a sip of the slightly sweet wine,

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"I was an orphan. I never knew my parents. I learned everything from my master. I don't have a master anymore.

He began to talk. It was the same story he had told before, not a lie, but not the whole truth.

"I used to live on an isolated island, and there was an artifact, a warp gate," he said.

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A warp gate?　That's unusual!"

Reinhardt, who could no longer remain silent, shouted in surprise. His tone had returned to a rough one.

"I came to this continent through the warp gate and have been looking around. I've only been here recently, by the way, so I'm not familiar with the common knowledge of the world. ......Well, I hope you will forgive me for this much."

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I cut him off at random, as I knew that if I went into too much detail, I would get into trouble, but I was telling half-truths, and those listening were convinced.

"I see!　So you have a special way of thinking!　What was your master's name?"

For a moment Jin was not sure what to do, but he decided to tell the truth about this.

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"Her name is Adriana."

Reinhardt tilted his head when he heard this,

"Well, I've heard of her, but I don't think I've heard of her.

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Then Erza, who had been silent until then, said,

"Brother Rai, this is the same name of a legendary magecraftsman who existed long ago. As I recall, her name was Adriana Barbora Zetsi.

Jin was surprised to learn that the name of his predecessor, who had lived more than a thousand years ago, was still being passed down today.

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"Yes, that's right!　It is said that he was a magecraftsman who was so unique that he was considered a heretic at that time. I see, so your master was named after him."

"Maybe."

Jin was not stupid enough to say it, even though he was the one who had said it. Reiko, beside him, had raised her level of sensitivity to the two of them by knowing her mother's name, but she was not so sure.

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"I see. Since I've been asking you so many questions, I'd like to ask you next, Miss Marcia. The shape of that ship, was that you?"

Reinhardt spoke again in a rather firm tone,

"Yes, that's right. ......."

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Marcia is still a little nervous. Reinhardt smiles and changes his tone back to rough.

"I told you to use the same tone of voice as before. That's what this private room is for.

Reinhardt then urges her to go on.

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"Well, I'll take your word for it. That ship, Jin called it a catamaran, was prototyped by my father and completed by me.

"So your father was a shipwright too?"

Marcia nodded,

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"I don't know, he wasn't much of a workaholic. He played a lot of games, had women and disappeared. But I liked that catamaran that your father built just for fun."

Saying this, he drank the wine from his glass in one gulp. The lady of the house immediately poured more.

"At first it was supposed to be a little thicker, but I thought it would be faster if it was thinner, so I made it thinner.

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"I see. I see. I see. The thinner the boat is, the faster it will be, but it will be less stable. But it is less stable. But the catamaran is more stable.

With these words, Reinhardt also drank some wine and had a maid pour it for him. Then he turned to Jin again,

"So, Jin, you are not familiar with this continent, are you?"

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Jin nodded his head in agreement.

"Well, before we talk about my country, let me briefly explain the current situation on the continent.

Reinhardt takes a sip of wine and says.

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About 300 years ago, a magical war took place. The kingdom of Dinar was the center of the human side at that time, but as you know, it later split into smaller states and became the small group of countries we know today.

Actually, I didn't know that, but I have to admit that I agree with Jin.

"The Kingdom of Selroa is located in the area where the capital of the Kingdom of Dinar used to be. It is the most cultured of the small group of countries. This is because it has inherited the legacy of the former Kingdom of Dinar.

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Jin listened attentively to this interesting story.

"There are rumors that the Kingdom of Cerroa is making some strange moves at the moment, but that's not really something to talk about here.

But I've already heard about it.

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"On the other hand, the Shoro Kingdom, to which I belong, was founded by Dinar I of the Dinar Kingdom and his brother in the western part of the kingdom. So it is not exactly the former Kingdom of Dinar."

"I see."

Jin, who could not remain silent for long, began to give a moderate amount of conversation.

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"On the other hand, the Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Elias where we are now, and the Kingdom of Leonard at the eastern end of the continent are the former Kingdom of Dinar.

"Hmm."

So why did Dinar I's brother establish the Kingdom of Shoro to prevent an invasion from further west?

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Invasion?

"Invasion?" "Yes. There is a large desert to the west of the Shoro Kingdom, and beyond that desert are foreign peoples.

Aliens?

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"Yes. It is said that after the magic war, their advanced soldiers attacked us only once. They must have seen us as an easy target since we were exhausted from the war.

That's an understandable reason.

"But at that time, the Shoro Empire had an ancient relic (artifact) that had been handed down from before the Great Magic War.

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An artifact?　What is it?"

Reinhardt laughed and said,

"I can't tell you that here. Jin, unless you come as a guest to our Shoro kingdom.

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Then Reinhard said,

"Come, let's eat."

With these words, he ordered the two maidservants to serve the guests.

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From then on, they had a casual conversation while eating.

There is no doubt that Jin was interested in the artifact in the Shoro Kingdom.

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

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That night. The dock managed by the tournament committee. This is where the ships and the golem that will participate in the finals are stored.

Incidentally, the golem has been temporarily put out of action in order to prevent the magi stones or magi crystals from being depleted.

A suspicious figure arrives.

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The suspicious figure was fumbling with the lock of the dock.

What are you doing?

"What are you ...... doing?

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The next morning, a man tied up in a coil was rolled in front of the dock.

The man was a member of the port guard. We are going to question him about what he did on his off-duty night, but he is a little confused and is saying that it was a little girl who tied him up.