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"Well, I'd love to go on, but it's getting late, and I've got to finish.

Count Kuzma says regretfully. The time is past 10:00 p.m. "I'm sorry," Count Kuzma says.

"I'm sorry, but I won't be able to spend much time with you two tomorrow because I have to prepare for the ceremony. I'm sorry."

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"No, the day after tomorrow is the wedding, right?　Don't worry about it.

"Thank you. ...... but I'm surprised you could visit us at such a good time."

"Well, you're lucky."

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But it is surprising to see you at such an opportune time." "Well, it's lucky for me," he replies.

I think you will be with us until breakfast tomorrow," the Count said.

Jin and Elsa left the dining room to go back to their rooms.

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The lady-in-waiting offered to show them the way, but since they already knew the route, they decided not to do so.

Reiko walked first, and Edgar walked last.

On the way, Erza noticed that Jin was slowing down.

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"Brother Jin, what's wrong?"

"I think he drank too much ......."

Jin, looking a little pale, answered.

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"Father, are you all right?"

Reiko stopped and turned around, looking worried.

"Oh, yes. It seems that the ...... complemented body has been activated, making you more susceptible to intoxication."

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An unexpected disadvantage is revealed. It seems that the resistance to poison has also been lost.

"<>"

Elsa's healing magic. It is the same magic that Jin cast one day when he got carsick. It can heal bad heart as well as injuries, so Jin, who was feeling bad, gets better by this.

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"...... I feel a little better. Thank you, Elsa.

"You're welcome."

The two smile at each other. Reiko looks at them with a mixed expression, happy and sad at the same time.

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When she returned to her room, Barrow and Behle greeted her.

"Welcome home, Jin-sama, Erza-sama."

It seemed that they had been waiting for Jin and the others without sleeping.

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"Oh, you've been waiting for us. Thank you. You can rest now."

Jin said, and the two bowed and walked away.

"Good night, sir."

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"Good night."

Jin leaned back on the sofa in the living room and took a deep breath.

"Good night."

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A glass of water was held out to him.

"Here you go, Jin-bro."

"Oh, thank you, Elsa."

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Thirsty Jin gulped down the water. The water was delicious and moderately cold.

"Ah, it's delicious. Thank you."

"Mmm."

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Elsa puts away the glass and sits down in the chair across from Jin.

"Bina, you look beautiful. And the way you're acting."

Elsa looks deeply moved, staring off into the distance a little as she speaks.

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"Yes, really. It's thanks to the Count. I'm sure he trained you well in manners and such.

Jin's face looks as if he is saying, "I wouldn't do that if I were you.

"You don't like formalities, do you, Jin?"

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"Yeah, in my country we didn't have nobles and commoners. We had to observe certain rules of etiquette, but there was no hierarchy of status.

"......, I'm a little curious."

"Well, I guess I'm dead over there, so there's no way for me to visit."

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"......Yeah."

Erza stood up, walked around the table, and sat down on the sofa where Jin was sitting, side by side with her.

"Elsa?"

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"......I'm going to stay with you, Jin. ...... let me stay?"

With that, Erza, who had just sat down, jumped to her feet and ran into her room. Edgar followed her.

Jin did not notice that Elsa's face was red.

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"Elsa?"

Still sober, Jin stared blankly at the darkness outside the window, trying to guess the meaning of her words, but Reiko's voice brought him back to himself.

"...... father."

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"What's wrong, Reiko?"

This time Reiko sits down next to Jin.

"......"

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Reiko leaned against Jin without saying a word. Jin felt Reiko's warmth and stared into the darkness of the night in silence.

Autumn nights make you miss people. Such words flashed through Jin's mind.

"I'd better go to bed."

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Jin also decided to go to his bedroom.

The sky had finally cleared up, and some stars were beginning to twinkle.

The next morning, after having breakfast with Count Kuzma and Beena, Jin and the others returned to their room with Elsa, telling the Count that they were sorry they could not be with him today because they had to prepare for tomorrow, and that they hoped he did not mind.

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"Barrow, Behle, as I told you yesterday, you are free to do whatever you want today. Is there anything you want to do?"

This trip was half a vacation for the two of them.

"Yes, actually I've become friends with Miss Beena's brother and sister, and they are going to show me around the Blue Lands today.

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They had been helping each other to clean the garden, but now that they were in good health, Nana was apprenticed as a maid of honor and Lardo as an apprentice butler.

They met at dinner last night and became friends as they talked.

"Well, have a safe trip.

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"Yes, thank you."

Then there was a knock at the door. Behle opened the door and found Nana and Lardo standing there.

"Hello, Jin!　Hello!

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"Hello, long time no see. You look good!

"Yes, I'm fine!　Thank you for taking care of me!

Jin is happy to see them again, now taller and healthier than ever.

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"I hear you two have become good friends?"

"Yes!

Nana answers cheerfully. Barrow is 15, Behle is 14. Nana and Lardo are 12. It was inevitable that they would become friends in the Count's mansion, which was full of adults, since they were relatively close in age.

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"So, you're going to show them around, right?"

"Yes!"

Jin smiled and took out four gold coins from his pocket.

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"I'll give you one each. Nana and Lardo as a reward for showing the two of us around. For Barrow and Behle, some pocket money."

"So much for ......."

"Are you sure?"

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He hands the gold coins to Nana and Lardo, who are hesitant to take them.

"Thank you, Jin-sama!"

Barrow and Behrle, who knew firsthand how out of character Jin was, accepted the gold coins without hesitation.

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"Now what should we do?

After Barrow and his friends left, Jin sat down on the sofa and thought.

"Brother Jin, what about the gift for the celebration?

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The wedding gift Jin had made for tomorrow was still on Horai Island. It is not loaded on the airship because it will become luggage.

"Yes, that will be fine in the evening.

Erza suggested to Jin.

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"If you want to ......, why don't you come with me to look around the Blue Lands?"