"Happy birthday, Elsa."

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"Happy birthday, Elsa."

"Happy birthday."

"...... Thank you, everyone."

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On March 15, the Jin family gathered on Horai Island to celebrate Elsa's birthday.

She had told Jin that she didn't need to be celebrated because Hanna didn't celebrate her birthday, but Reinhardt, who didn't know that, was making preparations.

（He told Jin that he didn't have to congratulate Hannah, but Reinhardt didn't know that.)

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Erza became the main character of the day, saying this only in front of Jin.

"Are you all right, Ms. Bertsch?"

Erza asked looking at Reinhard's wife who was smiling at her.

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"Yes, thank you. The morning sickness is not so bad.

"Drinking Persica juice seems to help a lot.

Persica juice from Horai Island is rich in free magic element (ether). I wonder if it has any positive effects.

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"Kuhu, I guess we still have a lot to find out about free magic element (ether)..."

Saki, who was unusually dressed in a dress, smiled and said, "I guess we still have a lot of research to do on free magic element (ether). I admire her for not forgetting about her research even at a time like this.

Since the party is only for the informal circle, the atmosphere is rather rude, or rather, free.

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The dining room of the research institute on Horai Island is decorated with dishes prepared by Perid and other golem maids.

There is no hierarchy of status, everyone is celebrating as .

"......They're a great group of people, aren't they?"

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Marcia, who is still not used to this kind of atmosphere, muttered with a wry smile.

"As for that, I'm thinking of improving the Kunlun Island and making it a more comfortable place to use than here.

Jin opened his mouth as he sipped his wine.

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"I go by , you know. We need to show the outside world that the Kunlun Island is our base.

"Oh, that's right. Since we've been recognized as by all the countries, that place is officially Jin's territory.

Reinhardt is drinking some ...... that he got from <.

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"But this sake goes well with fish."

Reinhardt is drinking sake at an unusually fast pace as he eats a mignonette of a fish that looks like a flounder.

"Don't drink too much, my dear."

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Bertsche, who had a baby in her belly, looked a little disappointed because alcohol was strictly forbidden.

"But Mitsuho, huh? I've never been there, so I'm curious.

Toa said. Stearina, who had joined the family a little over a month before, looked at her husband with a sideways glance.

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"Why don't you two go there for your honeymoon?　I'm sure Toa-san will get permission if you ask His Majesty for it.

Jin thought that if Toa was a top-notch alchemist, he would be allowed to go to such a country under the name of a research trip.

Incidentally, all the members of Jin's family knew about this custom from Jin.

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Yes, that's a good idea. Will you ask him to do it?

"Yes, that would be nice.

Not only Toa but also Stearina was interested.

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"Oh, well, I'll come with you ...... sorry, it's nothing."

The narrator, Vivienne, was about to say that she would like to accompany Stearina and the others, but held her tongue when she realized that she would be interrupting the newlyweds.

"Oh, well, I'd like to go too, if I can find the time."

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Hitoshi offers a helping hand.

"Oh, you'll let me join you then?"

"I'd like that, wouldn't you?"

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But Vivien stared at Jin's face, then shifted her gaze a little to the side,

"......I guess I'll pass. The star of tonight's show is making a subtle face, isn't he?"

"Yes."

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"I... I... I... I... I don't..."

Erza blushes at the mischievous look on his face.

"Oh, you're blushing. You're so cute."

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Erza's face turns even redder at those words.

"Vee, don't do that."

"...... I know."

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Vivienne would have said something if not for Stearina's rebuke.

"But Kunlun Island, or ...... our ship, is still out of reach."

Rodrigo muttered in a serious tone.

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"You're right, Dad. We have to work harder and harder."

Marcia and Rodrigo, as the Jin family, had chosen to develop the advanced technology on their own, instead of learning it from others.

That's one way to look at it, Jin thinks.

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"But Marcia's ship was stable, wasn't it?　It seems to have returned to Potrock safely and without incident."

"Well, you know. The sea was a little rough, so we moved along the shore, but sometimes it's calmer offshore, depending on the waves."

Waves, like swells, are the up and down movement of seawater, so the shallower the water, the higher the waves tend to be.

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When these are wind waves (waves on the sea surface caused by strong winds), it is sometimes safer to be near the shore because the wind tends to weaken near the shore by land.

Marcia told us that the first step to safety is to know what we are looking for.

Elsa asked Marcia a few words.

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"Wasn't there a race this year?"

Of course, she was referring to the Golem boat race.

"Yes, it is usually held in the middle of February, but this year, you know, there was the commemoration ceremony of the Kingdom of Selroa, right?　That's why it's been pushed back to March.

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"So you won't be there this year?"

"No. Yes. I've been busy at the workshop. There will be five boats built in our workshop!　<
"Wow, that's great!"

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Jin was also impressed.

"Right?　I think I could win if I entered with Cygnus, but then I'd be denying myself my own workshop. ......"

Indeed, how will customers feel if the new model loses to the old one?

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The biggest difference is the arrow, but there is no way the public can understand that.

"That's true. I guess it would be different if we had a race with different restrictions.

"That's what I meant. The Golem boat races have become even more popular since then. ......"

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"Well, that's a good thing."

Marcia said that more and more people are coming to watch the games on the open sea, and this year there will probably be a lot of big boats available.

"Tourism is also an industry, so it must be a good thing."

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Reinhardt interrupted. He, too, had created a ship and a mermaid golem <> as Jin's rival in last year's race.

"<
<> By "swimsuits" I mean the one-piece swimsuits made by Jin. Until then, the mainstream was the loose-fitting, short-sleeved, short-pants type.

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"Well, it's normal in Horai Island and Kaina Village," said Reinhard.

Reinhard said. He would rather have them become more popular.

His loving wife was staring at him next to him, but he didn't seem to notice.

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"Come to think of it, Elsa liked it from the very beginning, didn't she?"

Marcia says, thinking back to that time.

"Well, I thought it was easy to move around, or at least easy to swim in.

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"Well, that's for sure. ......"

Marcia laughs as she recalls those days.

Looking a little out of the circle is Erza's real mother, Meene.

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(I can't believe she was so happy ......)

(What parent wouldn't be happy to see their child smiling so happily?

（I'm so glad that I met Master Jin.)

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Stars were twinkling in the sky of Horai Island.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

By the way, this year's presents are

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Reinhard: mithril silver dagger (again)

Berche: a new outfit (a little more mature design)

Saki: new shoes (matched with the outfit)

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Toa: new hat (for going out)

Stearina: perfume

Vivienne: scarf

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Marcia: a bouquet of flowers

Rodrigo: handkerchief

Meane: nail clippers

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And from Jin, a brooch, a necklace, and earrings.

All of them are decorated with aquamarine stones, which can be used as a target of the magi radar. At the same time, they can also be used as markers for the transfer device.

By wearing multiple systems of such equipment, he thought that he could be more secure.

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