326 - - 11-28 The Emperor
After crossing a bridge over a wide moat, the view from the window changed dramatically.
"Oh, this is interesting.
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Jin exclaimed.
As expected, canals crisscrossed through Reuthert and were used for transportation and traffic.
Some houses were built over the canals, which was quite interesting. Reiko heard Hitoshi's mutterings and kept sending information about the scenery to the old man, thinking it would be useful information.
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Although Jin had never actually seen the town, he had the impression that it was like a combination of Edo town and Venice, Italy divided by two.
However, the number of waterways decreases as one gets closer to the center of the city, and they lead to the inner moat surrounding the Imperial Castle that stands in the center of the city.
Of course, there are several sluice gates along the way to prevent easy access to the castle.
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"The inner moat is about 10 meters long. ......"
It reminds me of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
There was only one moatless section in front of the castle, not a bridge, and the group went toward it.
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The group went toward the front of the castle, where they stopped in front of a line of knights of the Kingsguard. There they disembarked from their carriages for the first time.
The inside of the moat must be the complete palace.
All the carriages are parked in the large parking lot in front of the castle, and the horses are left in the stables with a person in charge of them. Except for Jin's golem horses.
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The golem horses were received with admiration.
"Jin-dono, you will ride in this carriage. You too, Miss Leco."
Three uncovered carriages had arrived.
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Reinhardt was in the first carriage and Jin was in the second carriage. Jin checked his baggage.
The three carriages were moving forward on the beautiful cobblestone pavement.
The sturdy gate leads to the palace.
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"Oh ......"
I couldn't scream because of the location, but I couldn't help but let out my voice.
There was the Shoro Imperial Palace with a history of 300 years.
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The Shoro Imperial Palace.
It is a three-story castle made of granite. Its width is more conspicuous than its height.
There is no spire, and the image of the castle is a kind of a bulky Western-style building.
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Jin and his friends entered the castle, which was guarded by knights and soldiers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Reinhardt went with Matthäus to return the order, and Jin was kept in the reception room.
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Jin is accompanied by two ...... male butlers and a female chambermaid.
"Here you are."
Jin smelled the aroma of the tea served to him and thought, "Oh my. It was a nostalgic aroma.
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He took a sip.
"...... hojicha?"
It tasted quite similar to hojicha. Then, I asked the two people by my side.
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"Is this tea a specialty of the Shoro Kingdom?
The butler answered.
Yes, it is a specialty of the southern part of the Shoro Kingdom.
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Do you know how it is made?
When I asked him again, his response was,
"...... I am not sure if I am allowed to tell you that or not.
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I guessed that was Jin's response. If it is a specialty, there must be some kind of secret recipe. He could not tell it to a foreigner so easily.
I understand. This is just me talking to myself. Pick the young leaves, steam them and dry them. Then I heat it again until it smells fragrant.
When I said this, the butler's color changed.
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"How did you know that?
"...... I knew it. No, it looks a lot like the tea in my hometown.
Jin answered, and the butler regained his composure.
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"I see. I heard that you are an excellent magi engineer, but I didn't realize that you knew about tea as well.
The director of the clinic was a tea lover, so I was told about his knowledge of tea, but he did not mention it.
"Could it be that some teas are made by heating the leaves immediately after plucking them?"
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Jin asks if there is green tea instead.
Tea leaves are naturally oxidized and fermented by the enzymes they contain. To put it in a rough way, black tea is left to ferment, while green tea is heated immediately after plucking to stop the enzymes from working.
"Oh, that's not even true! That's a method of making
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Jin was happy to hear that there is green tea after all.
The tea grown in Horai Island was a
However, the tea here tasted just like the tea in Kaina.
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"Can I have another cup of tea?
Jin drank the tea, and the lady quickly poured him another cup.
"Ah, it's so good!"
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As Jin drank the tea, the lady-in-waiting looked pleased.
"Her family is a tea farmer. I'm glad to hear you say it's delicious.
When the butler said this, the maid of honor blushed. She is a very quiet lady-in-waiting. Perhaps she is forbidden to speak.
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"Are they grown in warm regions?
"You know very well, that's right. You are right. This area of Reuthert is the northern limit of cultivation.
Jin decided to ask him if there might be rice in this area.
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"Well, do you have any grains that are indigenous to the Shoro Kingdom?"
First, the introduction.
"Yes, there are.
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"Well, not wheat, not beans, but something suitable for growing in wetlands, with ears that droop down when they are harvested. ......
Again the butler's eyes peeled back.
"Where did you get that from? You must be talking about the <
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Jin was even happier to know that there was something that looked like rice. I'll definitely get some seedlings! He decided.
"Oh, that must be it. You can cook with it at ......."
Just as Jin was about to ask that question, the door opened. A young knight came in.
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"Master Jin, come here. The emperor is here to see you."
Jin was walking down the hallway with Reiko.
He had said nothing about taking Reiko with him. And if he had said he would leave her behind, Reiko would not have agreed to it.
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"His Majesty the Emperor is very fond of meeting the best and the brightest. But once you enter the room, keep your eyes lowered until His Majesty says it's okay. Be careful not to look up without permission.
He explained that there were no other rules of etiquette, and that it was fine to behave in one's own way as long as it was not disrespectful.
We were then shown to the office. It had two sturdy wooden doors with a soldier standing on either side.
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"This is Mr. Jin.
The soldier pulled three times on a cord attached to the side of the door. It seemed to be a kind of doorbell.
Then the door was opened from the inside.
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Please come in.
Jin and Reiko walk in, urged on by the knight who accompanies them.
"Welcome, Jin."
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Reinhardt was there. At the far end of the room was a large, massive desk, and seated behind it was the Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom.
"His Majesty wishes to speak with you in person," he said. Now, please go to the back.
Jin bowed deeply as a gesture of respect to the best of his ability, and then stepped forward.
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One step, two steps, seven steps and he was in front of the emperor. His eyes remained fixed on his feet. He did not look up.
"I am Jin Nido, Magecraftsman of the Exotic. I am an honorary Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, and I have recently become an honorary member of the Guild of Magical Engineers of our country.
Reinhardt's voice echoes as he introduces Jin.
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"Welcome, Jin Nido. Jin Nido. Please look up.
Jin Ni-Do looks up and sees the Emperor for the first time.
He was surprised.
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"Welcome to the Shoro Kingdom. I am Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, Emperor of the Shawlo Kingdom.
The Emperor of the Shoro Empire is a woman.
"You are surprised, aren't you? Everyone who sees me for the first time is surprised. It's all right. I am the sister of the previous emperor. And I'm the interim emperor until Ernst comes of age and takes over the throne.
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Jin was surprised to hear her confide in him.
"You are surprised again, aren't you? Everyone in my country knows about it. But since we don't inform the outside world, I'm sure that many people in other countries don't know about it.
He smiles at me. Jin was fascinated by her face.
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It was not a romantic feeling, however.
The Empress in front of him was about 40 years old, with dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and a small figure.
She looks like...,
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(Director of ......)
He looked just like the director of Nido Orphanage, who is Jin's foster parent.
Of course, his facial features were different from those of Jin's, and the Director had gray hair. However, his gentle manner of speaking, his kind eyes, and most of all, the atmosphere he wore.
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Not knowing that Jin had such feelings for her, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo continued.
Reinhard told me about you. Reinhard told me that you are a great magi engineer. In the town of Hatata you created a pump to draw water from a deep well, and in Amberg a vacuum cleaner. And it doesn't stop there. A microscope? Even a microscope. ......"
"I am ashamed of myself."
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When Jin was so modest, the emperor said, "No one would think so.
"Reinhardt told me that you have heard of a science. If you would be so kind as to share some of it with us, I would be very grateful.
Then the Empress cut him off.
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"I have been a bit hasty, haven't I? Please take your time and look around our country, ...... Jin-dono."
She then pointed at Reinhardt.
"Reinhardt will be removed from his regular duties for the rest of the year. I have also decided to have him serve as a guest for Jin-dono.
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Reinhard bowed his head in silence. He was probably taking into account his vacation after serving as a diplomat and his wedding to Bertsche.
"Please look around our country as much as you like. See as much of our country as you like, the good and the bad. I hope you will like our country as much as I do."
The Empress looked Jin in the eye,
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"Even a small piece of your knowledge is enough. Please help this country and its people.
She bowed her head, however slightly.