586 - - 18-06 At the Countess of Kuzma
Then we waited for about 10 minutes. I heard the sound of a carriage. The coat of arms was that of the Count of Kuzma.
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Two medium-sized carriages, each with two horses.
"Jin!"
The first carriage stopped, and a girl with red hair opened the door and jumped out.
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"Beena, it's been a long time!
"Yes, it's been six months, really? No, more than that."
Now Beena was dressed in a dress without any unnecessary ornaments and looked like a lady.
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"It's been a long time, Miss Elsa."
Beena picks up her skirt and performs an abbreviated curtsey.
"I've already left the Randalls, and I'm now Jin's sister. So don't call me 'sir'. I want you to talk to me the same way you always have."
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Bina rolled her eyes at these words.
"What? Was it true that you abandoned the house ......? I thought it was ......."
But her words were interrupted by another voice.
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"Bina, there's no point in talking here. Welcome to ...... Jin-dono, Miss Elsa. I was surprised when I got your letter yesterday.
To their surprise, Count Kuzma himself had come to greet Jin and his party.
Jin had sent a letter to Count Kuzma in advance, using Regulus 5, informing him of his intention to visit the Blue Lands.
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"Long time no see, Count."
Jin bowed 45 degrees in the Japanese style.
These two are Barrow and Behrle, my butler and chambermaid. And Erza's automata, Edgar. You know Reiko. And he said "
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Beat, you said. I was surprised when he brought me a letter yesterday. ......, Bina will get mad at me if I get too chatty. Come on in."
Jin, Elsa and Reiko are in the same carriage with the Count. Barrow, Behle, and Edgar got into the carriage behind them. They brought only their hand luggage with them.
Beat Regulus5 does not accompany them.
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"I'll leave you to it, Mr. Jin."
"Yes, thank you."
And the carriage starts to move, rumbling along the road to the Blue Lands ......, which I would say is quite a comfortable ride.
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"Beena got us this far by trial and error," said Count Kuzma.
Count Kuzma said. Jin was impressed. He had probably seen the carriage Jin had built in the Kingdom of Egelea, but other than that, he had developed the suspension and dampers all by himself.
Passing through the gate, we went deeper and deeper into the central street.
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By the time we arrived at Count Kuzma's residence near the center of the city, the short autumn day was almost over, partly because of the late hour.
"Once again, welcome. Magecraft Meister, Mister Gin. And Miss Elsa."
"Welcome, Master Gin, Miss Erza."
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In the entrance hall, Count Kuzma and Bina stood side by side to welcome Jin and Erza.
They then showed them to their rooms.
The four-room suite is a luxurious guest room. Separated from the living room, one room was reserved for Jin, one for Erza, and one for the squires, Barrow and Behré.
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"I hope it's okay if we come with you ......".
Squires usually have their own quarters. Barrow knew that much. After all, he had been forced to live a hard life in the Kingdom of Celluloa.
"I think it's a good idea. Mr. Luis, Count Kuzma thinks that you are ...... like ...... his guests."
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Elsa speculates.
To put it bluntly, Jin is a guest of honor. He is the only person in the world certified by the government as a
Therefore, Count Kuzma had decided that Barrow and Behrle would be in charge of Jin's personal belongings when he was in his room, and that everyone else would be his guests.
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"Besides, I don't think it's as good as the furniture and room Jin made.
Even if it was just a futon, nothing could compare to the Horaijima-made futon made of <
Aside from the design, the quality of the furniture and the magical tools used in daily life. <
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Still, this treatment was unexpected, since Barrow and Behle had endured a much worse life in the past.
About ten minutes after they had settled into their room, there was a knock at the door.
There was a knock at the door and Count Kuzma's lady-in-waiting arrived.
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She said, "I have come to inform you that the bathroom is ready for you.
Jin and Elsa took a change of underwear from their luggage. Barrow and Behle stayed in the room. Reiko and Edgar, of course, would go with them.
They follow the corridor and go down the stairs.
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The bathroom was in a semi-subterranean room.
"The young mistress advised the master to build it," she said.
In other words, Bina, who was pleased with the hot springs of the Kunlun Island, recommended the Count to build this bathhouse.
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By the way, Jin and the others thought it was funny that Bina was already called
Jin and Erza entered the men's and women's bathrooms, respectively.
Count Kuzma seems to know what he's doing, leaving Reiko and Edgar to take care of them when they bathe.
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"Ah, I didn't expect to be able to bathe in a hot spring here."
According to my research, the spring is a salt spring. It is a warming hot spring that does not cool down easily.
Although it is not close to the city, it may be because the city is located near the sea in the Kingdom of Egerea.
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"Father, how is the water?"
Reiko asked, knowing that Jin liked a hot bath.
"Yes, to be honest, it's a little lukewarm, but I don't want to heat someone else's bath without permission.
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"I understand."
Jin soaked himself in the bath, taking it easy because it was a little lukewarm.
Barrow and Behrle went to the servants' baths in turn. It seems that he allows his servants to use the hot spring as well. The Count's personality is also evident in this.
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"Ah, it's so warming!
After getting out of the hot spring and relaxing, the maid of honor came to pick us up, saying that dinner was ready.
"Jin-dono, Miss Elsa, and Barrow and Behrle," she said.
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Count Kuzma seated Barrow and Behré together, albeit at the bottom of the table. It is typical of him, who does not care much about rank.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
However, Barrow and Behrle are nervous to be seated with a nobleman from another country, especially the Count.
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The butler saw this and quietly spoke to Count Kuzma.
"I see. I see. ...... Barrow, Behle, you don't feel at home here. I'm sorry. Then you'll have to find another place to relax.
One of the maids escorted them to another room where they disappeared.
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"I still can't get used to it. ......"
Count Kuzma smiles.
"I'm sorry, Count, for taking care of you.
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Jin also thanked him. But Count Kuzma waved his hand to stop him.
"No, no, don't worry about it, Jin-dono. It's just that I, the host, was not very thoughtful.
"Well, let's have a toast to our reunion."
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Bina announced in a cheerful voice, dispelling the slightly awkward atmosphere.
After the wine was poured into the glasses, the Count led the toast.
Then, I would like to express my gratitude for our meeting again. And to our mutual health and happiness. Cheers!
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Cheers!
The clear sound of glasses touching each other echoed as the four sipped their wine.
"......That's a nice wine."
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It was an aperitif, so it was a slightly dry white wine. Jin is not a wine expert, but he thought it was delicious.
"...... Olsen's 3450?"
"Correct, Miss Elsa. That's quite a feat."
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Elsa guessed the brand. Both Jin and Bina were surprised, but the Count praised her with open arms.
"As it happens. I've been drinking this brand for a long time.
It sounds a bit like Elsa is a drinker, but Olsen is one of the wine-growing regions of the Shoro Empire, and Reinhardt's favorite brand, so he drank it every chance he got during the trip.
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The reason why Jin, who traveled with Reinhardt, did not know about it was because he had drunk it all on the outward journey and could not drink it on the return trip.
This is the reason why our conversations over dinner are mainly about the trip.
As a side note, the table manners of the Kingdom of Egelea do not prohibit conversation during meals. Rather, it is normal to eat while chatting and laughing.
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Naturally, the main topics of conversation are about the trip after leaving the Kingdom of Egelea.
"Did Miss Elsa go through that? ......"
"She was kidnapped and rescued from the sea. ...... She's like a heroine in the story."
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Count Kuzma and Bina sound impressed and dismayed. It's no wonder, since there were so many events that would never have happened in their normal lives.
"Jin is pretty much the same way. I didn't think you were such a great person when I first met you. He was always criticizing my work.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I said what I was thinking out loud."
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"What?
The whole group bursts into cheerful laughter.
"Yes, yes, congratulations on your belated achievement as a "Magecraft Meister".
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The story of the technology exposition in the Shoro Kingdom turned into a story about Jin receiving the title of "Magecraft Meister".
"Thank you very much."
When Jin said this, Count Kuzuma said,
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"Jin-dono, or may I call you Jin? As a friend, please treat me as you would speak to Reinhardt."
Jin had no objections.
"There is only one Magecraft Meister in the world. I congratulate you on your honorary knighthood.
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He said in a casual tone of voice.
"Thank you, Count."
"Oh, and don't mention the Count. I have a name, Louis."
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"Okay, Luis. Is that okay?
"Yes, thank you."
<
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"You know that he is engaged to Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein, don't you?"
"Of course. I mean, we met in the Shoro Kingdom.
"Oh, I remember you were on your way there with such a plan.
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"You guys look like you're getting along great, you're a perfect match."
"That's great!"
And so the dinner party went on peacefully.