After hearing about the backstory of the Marquis family, Jin was shown Reinhardt's workshop.

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As expected, there were no materials as rare as those on Horai Island, but there were materials such as light silver, mithril, and adamantite, and the workshop was quite well-stocked.

"Well, first, let's at least settle on the basic concept of an automata," Jin suggested.

At Jin's suggestion, the two men sat down at the table again.

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"Let's decide on the appearance of the doll, such as whether it should be male or female, its age, size, and so on.

Since the purpose was to support Saki, the appearance had to be something she would like. For that, he turned to Reinhardt.

"Well, I don't really know what Saki likes ....... He doesn't have a single story to tell. ......

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Then, as if remembering, he adds.

"...... she liked Erza, didn't she?"

"...... what?"

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".................."

A painful silence fell between the two of us, as I hesitated to ask him if he had such a hobby. Then.

"Ah, you are both here after all!　The dinner is almost ready!

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Berthe came out to look for the two missing guests.

As if saved by her cheerful voice, they sat down.

* * * *

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"......"

"............"

"...... Saki?"

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Saki was standing in front of them when they came to the cafeteria. But what did she look like?

Her shaggy auburn hair had been combed to a glossy shine, the ends of her messily cut hair had been neatly trimmed, and her purple-gray eyes, obscured by her bangs, were beautiful. Her round glasses are charming.

Her cheeks are now covered with a faint shade of blush, and her once unhealthy complexion is now brighter.

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And her dirty and disheveled clothes have been changed to a white one-piece dress.

"...... huh?"

Jin said.

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"It looks good on you, Saki."

This is Reinhardt.

"......It's like the expression 'make-up to disguise yourself'."

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Saki turned her head and dyed her cheeks in embarrassment.

Dinner was served at the table with Jin, Reinhard, Bertsch, and Saki.

As Reinhardt said, it was a consideration for Jin who is not good at formalities.

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Saki knew the table manners and ate more neatly than Jin.

During the meal, Saki was perhaps a little nervous, and they had a casual conversation, but after the meal, during the tea time, she relaxed and returned to her usual routine.

I haven't dressed like this in years. It's not at all suitable for me."

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"No, Saki, it suits you very well. Isn't that right, Mr. Reinhardt?

"Yes, you look great, no disrespect."

"...... you think so?　If Reinhardt says so, does that mean I'm a little more presentable?

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"Not a little. You're beautiful enough.

"Well, I don't know whether to be happy or sad about that. You don't need good looks to be a good student.

Saki is the one who is always boasting, saying things like, "Besides, you know, you're not that beautiful.

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"And those glasses on your face?　You are very charming.

"Thank you. Jin made them for me. They make the world look different.

"Oh, Saki, can I borrow those glasses for a second?"

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Jin seemed to have an idea. Saki immediately took off her glasses and handed them to Jin.

"Thank you. . .

Jin put Hardening on the frames of the glasses and Toughening on the crystal lenses.

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"That's good. The lenses are fragile, so I put some engineering magic on them to make them less prone to cracking.

"Ha, that's good. Saki is a bit more fidgety than I thought.

Saki, who had been told this by Reinhardt, just looked at him with a sullen face while putting her glasses back on, without saying anything back. Then she abruptly changed the subject.

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"Speaking of which, ......, how is your cousin doing?　Normally she would be present here.

By "Reinhardt's cousin," I mean Erza.

It is a secret only between Jin and Reinhardt that Erza was saved by Jin after her disappearance and is now in the village of Kaina in the Kingdom of Klein.

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"That's, that's ......."

Reinhardt is at a loss for words.

"What's wrong, Reinhardt?　What's wrong, Reinhard? I can't believe you look like that. Did something happen to your cousin?

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"...... let me tell you a story. ...... Elsa didn't like the marriage proposal, so she disappeared."

Not even Bertsche is aware of this, except for Jin and Reinhardt.

"Disappeared?　Erza?　You said ...... a marriage proposal?　Could it be related to the Marquis?

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Saki seems to dislike her family a lot when she calls her grandfather "that one.

She also seems to know about her grandfather Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen's hobbies.

"......"

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Saki looks at the mute Reinhardt and knows that she has a point.

"......That girlish Marquis, Erza is old enough to be his grandson, you know?　How selfish can he be?

Then he stares at Reinhardt,

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"But, Reinhard, if I know you, I'm not saying you're hiding Erza, but I'm sure you know where she is and what she's doing right now.

I'm not saying that you are hiding Elsa, but I think you know where she is now. Jin, who had been silently listening to the exchange, was impressed by Saki's intuition.

Reinhardt remained silent, and Saki broke into a smile.

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"......Sorry, Reinhard. Even if that were true, there's no way I could say it out loud. ...... that cousin of mine is also a bit interested in alchemy, and I promised to teach her some things when I got back, you know.

"Yes, that's right, Jin-sama, could you sing a song for Reiko again?"

Bertsche suggested, trying to change the heavy atmosphere. Jin understood her intention well enough,

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"Reiko, sing something for us.

"Reiko, sing something for me," he ordered.

"Yes, father."

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Reiko started to sing.

In fact, Jin had been teaching Reiko various songs as a girlish art whenever he had time.

"What is the name of the flower that blooms in spring?　　No one will tell me, but I love the wild flowers that bloom gently ......"

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Bertsche, Saki and Reinhardt are listening to Reiko's song.

"If I pick a hand full of them, I'll give them to my beloved boyfriend, and if he doesn't come, I'll gently let them flow into the creek. ......"

The Showa-esque songs were often played by the director as background music, and Jin remembers them well. He taught Reiko some of them sung by idol-type singers.

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"Autumn leaves gently tap my shoulder and fall to the ground, he must be thinking about me now ......".

Reiko finished the song and bowed in curtsey.

Reinhardt was the first to clap. Reinhardt was the first to applaud, followed by Bertsche, and then Saki, who seemed to come to her senses.

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Beth and Dolly, the maid of honor, also gave Reiko a hearty round of applause.

"Reiko, you're so beautiful!　I admire you so much!"

Neon also gave her a hearty round of applause.

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"Thank you for ......, Neon."

Reiko thanked Neon with a happy or annoyed look on her face.

"Well, Jin, Reiko is still wonderful!　The word "perfect" is for her!

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Reinhardt also gave his unreserved compliments.

When the atmosphere was completely relaxed, Jin asked Reinhard about something that had been bothering him.

"Reinhard, Mr. Bertsche. When are you planning to hold the wedding?

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Berthe, who was sitting next to Reinhardt, turned bright red. Reinhardt looked puzzled.

"Well, it's a difficult question. The schedule is for early June, but I'm the hostess for the gin ......."

"I didn't know you cared about that. You know I'd be fine if you left me alone for a few days."

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If anything, he should have just gone back to the village of Kaina or the island of Horai.

Knowing this, Reinhardt looked even more troubled. But then a smile appeared on his face,

"Thank you, Jin. I will consider it positively.

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He replied, "I will consider it positively.

From then on, Reinhardt took the lead in talking about the trip and the old days.

When he talked about his abduction by the Unifiler, Bertsche's face clouded over and he looked as if he was about to cry.

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He told the story of his rescue, pretending that he had been rescued by a deus ex machina.

Saki listened attentively.

But what interested Saki the most was the story of the battle between Gigarth and Reiko.

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"I didn't know you were that strong, Reiko. That's amazing, indeed. I can see why Reinhardt is the best in the world.

"It's true. It's true. ...... But Reinhardt-sama, please don't do anything too dangerous, okay?　I wouldn't be able to live if something happened to Reinhardt-sama.

Saying this, Berthe clings to Reinhardt's arm.

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"Hmph, Miss Berthe is still very attached to Reinhardt. I'm glad to see that you two are getting along so well.

Saki says and smiles that forlorn smile again for a moment that Jin is wondering about.