Volume 9 - Chapter 35 – Deus Ex Machina (2/2)
* * *
Jin was fainting with agony at Hourai Island’s headquarters.
“Uooaaaaaaah, suuuuper embarasssiiiing!!”
This was because after finishing reading the script bearing with the the tone that was excessively like that became too much.
“Master, please calm down. You were cool.”
Ann consoled him.
“Before the Great Magic War, that sort of style of speech and display was a regular performance.”
When nobles had small fights between fellow countrymen and such, that kind of exaggerated talk was commonplace, Ann said.
“…It really was exaggerated, wasn’t it.”
Ann’s consolation didn’t seem to be of much use.
“My Lord, please give your instructions on how to continue.”
Then as a request came from Laojin, Jin switched gears.
“As plans over here too went more or less as planned, it should be fine to carry on with the plans for the aftermath too.”
“Understood.”
“Then I’ll be going to Kaina Village, so if there’s anything please give me a call.”
* * *
After doing something as out-of-character for him as stopping a war, Jin couldn’t relax in any way and in a great hurry warped to Hourai Island to seek comfort.
“Ah, onii-chan! What did you do? It’s almost lunchtime, you know?”
Hannah shouted as soon as she saw Jin. She was a little upset as he had been late in coming back.
“Sorry, sorry, there was just a little something back at my home that I had to take care of.”
“Geez. You scared me, I thought you might have disappeared again!”
“Sorry. I’ll be in contact properly from now on.”
Jin apologized while patting Hannah’s head. While doing that he felt his hear that was on the edge calming down.
“You know, today I went to the forest to gather firewood. This morning uncle Rock and the others brought in a lot of mountain deer, so we’re going to make smoked meat.”
Jin remembered that Rock had said something about that when he had seen the icehouse.
“Oh, I see. Shall we go help?”
“Yeah!”
Hannah who was back in a good mood pulled Jin by the hand to the plaza where they were smoking meat.
* * *
Meanwhile, Reiko had returned to Hourai Island with Titan Mk.2. Because she had gone through the Warp Gate she was the first one back.
“Welcome back, Reiko-san.”
“Laojin, where’s Father?”
Reiko asked as she couldn’t see Jin who was usually here.
“My Lord has… gone to Kaina Village a step ahead of you.”
Laojin told Reiko the truth with some concern, thinking it would make Reiko’s mood worsen.
“Is that so. He went to see Hannah-chan, didn’t he?”
Reiko smiled and said so, contrary to his expectations.
“Father appears to treasure Hannah-chan the most, doesn’t he?”
Feeling just a little marveled, Laojin decided to daringly ask Reiko.
“Reiko-san, you seem to hold Hannah-chan in special regard too, am I correct? Of course, when leaving My Lord out of the argument.”
Then Reiko surprisingly laughed.
“He he, so you noticed. Yes, after Father Hannah-chan is the most important to me.”
“May I ask why?”
“Of course. It’s because Hannah-chan resembles Mother well.”
“By mother you mean the predecessor, isn’t that right?”
“Yes. My Mother, Adrianna Balbora Ceci. Of course, I don’t mean that their Magic Energy patterns are alike or anything like that. On the contrary, Hannah can’t use magic.”
“In that case, it’s the appearance?”
“That’s correct. When Mother was young, no, when she was a child, I’m certain she looked just like Hannah.”