The coach arrived at the village where we stayed that afternoon while the sun was still high in the sky. It was called Flathead Village.

I thought we were going to stay here for the night or go a little further.

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There were several adjacent villages and hamlets around Potlock, and we had seen several villages and hamlets on the way here. So there must be more villages ahead.

This is a far cry from the area around the village of Kayna. I remember that it took us two days to get to Toka village carrying wheat. Even here it looks more like a town than a village.

"The Kingdom of Elias did not suffer much damage during the Magic War. That's why this size is normal.

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I see. So there was no sudden decline in population?

No. The population of this country has also decreased by half. Due to the battles in the center of the continent and the Aether Stampede.

Then why ...... was there so little damage to buildings and facilities?

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"Yes."

The carriage stopped in the square.

The butler opens the door to the guest room. Hitoshi and Reiko jumped out. Elsa also jumped down, skillfully holding her skirt as before.

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When they all get off, Jin says to Elsa,

"Hey, why do you call it a flat head?"

Elsa pointed to a mountain to the west of the village.

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"Look at that one."

"I see, it's a flat head."

The top of the mountain was flattened as if its top had been carved off.

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"So, that's Flathead Mountain, and this village became Flathead Village.

"That seems to be the case."

Four followers and two servants approached us. They had left their wagons with us.

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I was told that one of the three men was a guard, another was a steward, and the last was a servant. The only woman among the servants was Elsa's nanny.

The names of the servants were not introduced.

"Well, well, Viscount Randall's daughter, you're here early.

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I turned around at the voice and saw an elderly man standing there, flanked by younger men.

The village headman. He took care of us on our way here."

Erza overhears this to Jin. It was a round-trip trip, so it was only natural.

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"Thanks for your help."

The village head bowed as Erza said this and motioned to the men on either side of him. I went toward Erza with one of the men.

"This way, Miss Elsa, please."

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Elsa and the nanny headed toward them.

"Please come this way if you are with me.

Each man stood up to lead the way. Jin tried to follow his companions,

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Jin and Reiko are with me.

Erza beckoned to him.

"Erza-sama, who is this?"

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the village head asks Erza. Erza answered,

"Jin-kun and Reiko are guests of Count Randall's family.

The chief rolled his eyes when he heard this,

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"Oh, really!　That's wonderful!　Jin-dono, Reiko-miss, please come this way."

So Jin, Reiko, Erza, the nanny, and the village chief went to a big house in the center of the village. This seemed to be the village chief's house.

"Welcome, welcome!

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Several servants greeted them. Erza seemed to be accustomed to the house since she had stayed there before, and she smiled and nodded.

Jin was puzzled by the unfamiliar welcome.

"Come on, come on, please make yourself at home in this room.

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Jin and Reiko were shown to a room that was a duplex, each room about eight tatami mats in size. There were two beds in the back room. The room in the front had a rather luxurious table set.

"I guess this is a rather wealthy village.

Compared to the chief's house in Kayna Village, Jin's house is much larger. The population alone is probably larger here, so they must be well-off.

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"It's close to the port town.

Jin noticed that Reiko was acting strangely.

"Reiko, what's wrong?　Is there something wrong with her?

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"...... father."

Reiko called out Jin's name with a desperate look in her eyes.

"What's wrong?　What's wrong?"

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"...... please don't throw me away."

What?

I'll try harder and harder!

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"What, what, what's wrong?"

I couldn't help your father!

"Wait a minute, what on earth are you talking about?"

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Reiko's unusually incoherent dialogue leaves Jin puzzled.

"I didn't notice that your father was suffering, and I fell behind that man!

"You mean the carsickness?　That was the first time, it's understandable. Elsa must have known because she's seen other people get carsick."

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"But, but ......!"

Hitoshi gently hugged Reiko who was still talking.

"Reiko, you're my daughter.　I would never abandon my daughter. And since she's your daughter, you don't have to rush around trying to be useful.

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"But ......

I'm just relieved to have you by my side."

Jin pats Reiko's head while saying that.

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"I was born to be useful to ...... your father, and if I can't be useful to ...... you, there's no point in my ...... existence. ......"

"That's why I'm already grateful that you're by my side."

I hugged Reiko and patted her back, and she began to calm down.

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"Are you sure ...... I'm ...... helping you?"

"Yes, of course. I'm so proud of you, aren't I?

"Thank you very much ......."

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Reiko hugged Jin's body gently.

（Reiko is getting more and more emotional.)

Jin stroked Reiko's back thinking so.

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"Jin, are you there?"

Then Erza opened the door. She saw them hugging each other,

"......I'm sorry."

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With these words, she quickly closed the door. The sound of footsteps walking away from the room faded away.

"Was that Elsa?　Didn't she want something?"

It was Jin, who didn't understand.

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He was not sure what was going on.

Some time later, Jin went out into the garden of the village headman's house.

"Ah, this is a nice view," he said.

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The tropical evening was warm and there was a flowering tree in the garden with white flowers, the name of which he did not know.

The sky was dusk, and the sun was setting behind the Flathead Mountains. Just then, I heard a sound behind me.

?"

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Jin turns around at the sound. It was Elsa. She was wearing a loose-fitting gown, perhaps a loungewear.

"......I'm sorry about before."

She bows her head.

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"Hmm, just now?"

She has no reason to apologize. But.

"Well, I've heard that some people do that with dolls."

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Jin has a bad feeling about this.

"...... that kind of thing?"

"The hobby of playing with dolls instead of the opposite s*x."

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"...... wait a minute."

"Reiko is cute, and I can understand why you would feel that way. ......

Even a naive person could understand what Elsa was saying.

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I knew I misunderstood. And in the worst possible way.

"Don't worry. I don't care if Jin-kun has that kind of hobby.

Jin shouted in his mind, "You really do care.

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