Volume 6 - Chapter 11 – Request (1/2)
06-11 Request
“Welcome, Jin-dono.”
Earl Kuzuma was in the entrance hall to greet Jin in person. Well, it’s possible that could’ve just been because Jin came with Reinhardt and Elsa.
“I wanted to have a proper talk with you.”
The Earl shook Jin’s hand while saying so.
“You don’t need to worry about Earl Guarana. The private army corps that committed the crime of assailing a commoner injustly have been discharged. The head of the corps has been imprisoned.”
The reason Jin had left Blue Land was the trouble with Earl Guarana’s private army corps. It seemed like Earl Kuzuma took measures regarding that.
Since they were a group that had caused various problems before, apparently it wasn’t difficult to find them at fault for the crime.
The Earl then faced towards Reinhardt,
“Reinhardt, did you have fun at Jin-dono’s base? I would’ve liked to go too if I hadn’t had official business to do.”
Earl Guruma said with an expression of complete envy. He then faced Beana,
“Beana, your younger brother and sister have been worried. Hurry up and get going.”
“Ah, uh, is that so! In that case, please excuse me. Jin, see you later!”
She said, and ran towards the courtyard.
“Well, step inside.”
Earl Kuzuma guided Jin and the others at first, but midway the guide changed to Sevanz, as the Earl went with Reinhardt and Elsa to a separate room.
“Please feel at home here.”
Jin and Reiko were given a room in the second floor. It was a very luxurious room. Since Earl Kuzuma knew that Reiko wasn’t a human, he didn’t prepare two rooms.
“You can see the courtyard from the window. The garden’s pretty beautiful.”
Jin said while looking out at the garden. Reiko was putting the luggage in order.
He relaxed like that when a lady attendant came to summon him. The Earl wanted to have a talk.
Because there was no reason to refuse, Jin and Reiko were led by the attendant to the parlour.
The parlour was in the center of the same second floor, and had a wide balcony.
Earl and the others were on the balcony sitting around a round table, sipping tea leisurely in the early spring’s sunshine.
“I’ve brought Jin-sama.”,
The attendant who showed Jin here said and left.
“Hey Jin, the sunlight’s warm over here.”
Reinhardt said and beckoned. Jin sat at the round table right between Reinhardt and Elsa. Or rather, was made to sit.
Reiko stood silently behind and to the side of Jin.
“Lewis… Oh, Lewis is Earl Kuzuma’s first name, Jin.”
Reinhardt said, and explained the name structure of nobles in Egelia Kingdom.
“It goes in the order of Peerage (title) – first name – pen name – family name. The Earl’s formal name is then Earl Lewis Wurtz Kuzuma.”
And finally, he went to the main subject.
“So, Lewis, won’t you tell that story you just told me to Jin too?”
Told to do so, Lewis, the Earl, said while looking at Jin,
“Our Egelia Kingdom’s king’s son, Prince Ernest is coming. He’s only the third Prince, but he loves Golems and Automata.”
He looked towards Reiko for a moment,
“In ten days a birthday party for Ernest-sama will be held, and we’ve decided to make it a ‘golem party’.”
“Golem party?”
Jin reflexively asked.
According to Earl Kuzuma’s explanation, because of the chronic labor shortage caused by the scarce population, in many nations it has become popular to employ golems, and Egelia Kingdom was no exception.
In addition, the third Prince Ernest loved golems, and apparently one third of his guards were golem soldiers.
Because of such a background, this year for the Prince’s birthday a golem party will be held, with excellent golems and Magi Craftsmen invited to attend from inside and outside the country, he said.
This was why many countries were exploring effective uses for golems.
“Reinhardt and his Schwarz Ritter also received a written invitation.”
Schwarz Ritter seemed to be quite famous. Reinhardt looked bitter and said,
“I’m happy that my Schwarz Ritter has been approved of, but unfortunately, he’s currently out of order.”
“What, he is? If you need materials, I’ll prepare as much as I can, so repair him.”
After hearing that Reinhardt looked towards Jin,
“That’s how it is. Doesn’t the party seem interesting?”,
He tried to pique Jin’s interest. Since Jin had been interested from the start since hearing the story,
“Uh huh, seems interesting. I’d like to see it.”,
He gave a simple reply. The Earl then responded with,
“I see, if you say so then it’s easy for me to ask.”
“Eh?”
In fact, Earl Kuzuma said, it was arranged for each of the the kingdom’s viscounts and higher-ranking nobles to have a golem with them.
“And so, I would be obliged if Jin-dono could manufacture a golem for me. I’ll get you any materials I can.”
Finally, Earl added that unfortunately it’s still impossible for Beana to produce a golem.
When he put it like that, Jin didn’t have the option to refuse.
It should be interesting to see if it’s possible to make a high-grade golem, not with the best materials of Hourai Island, but with normal materials.
“As thanks for your help, I’ll accept the task.”