Chapter 363 (1/2)

12-08 Make-up

After hearing the situation with the Marquis, Jin was shown around Reinhart’s workshop.

As expected, there are no rare materials like in Hourai Island, but he is well supplied on materials such as aluminum, mithril, adamantite, and so on.

“Ok, first of all, how about we discuss the basic plans for the Automata?”

At Jin’s suggestion, the two of them returned to the table.

“Let’s decide its appearance. Whether it will be a male or female model, its apparent age, and size.”

Because it’s intended to be Saki’s own automata, it was essential to make it so that it looked like something Saki would like. That’s what Reinhart is counting on.

“Hmm, what Saki would like… I’m not that sure, really. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that girl speak about such things…“

Then, he added something he had just remembered.

“She’s really fond of Elsa.”

“…Huh?”“…”

Reluctant to make comments like ‘Oh? She has that kind of preference?’ and so on, a sore silence came between the two.

“Oh, I knew it! You two were here! Well, dinner preparations are almost over!”

Belche had come looking for the two of them.

Seemingly saved by that cheerful voice, the two left their seats.

＊　　　＊　　　＊

“…”

“……”

“… Saki?”

As they arrived at the dining room, they found Saki standing there. But she looked different.

The charcoal-colored hair, once unkempt and ruffled, is now lustrous and tidily combed. Her once messy hair ends are now cleanly cut. And the beauty of her purple-gray eyes, which used to be partially covered by her bangs, could now be seen clearly. Her round glasses look charming, too.

Her cheeks are now slightly covered with rouge, and her once unhealthy complexion is now bright and cheerful.

And instead of her usual dirty clothes, she was wearing a white dress.

“… Huh?”

That was Jin’s reaction.

“It really suits you, Saki.”

And that was Reinhart.

“… She wouldn’t let me go unless I put on this costume and makeup.”

Having muttered that, Saki hurriedly looked away in embarrassment, and her cheeks turned red.

Jin, Reinhart, Belche, and Saki sat at the round table where dinner was served.

At Reinhart’s request, it was all arranged so that Jin didn’t have to worry about being poor at formalities.

Saki knew her table manners properly and had her meal in a more polite fashion than Jin.

During the meal, Saki was somewhat tense. After the meal, and some harmless conversation over a cup of tea, she was able to relax and return to her usual mood.

“Ohoho! How long has it been since I last looked like this? This style really doesn’t suit me at all!”

“No, Saki-san, it really suits you very well. Doesn’t she, Reinhart-sama?”

“Yes. It’s not just compliment, you do look good on it.”“… Do you think? If you say so, Reinhart… is this appearance a bit more pleasant to see?”

“Not just a bit. You’re beautiful enough.”

“Ohoho! Should I be happy or sad about that? What a delicate situation! Appearance is not important at all for studying, though.”

Saki was feigning indifference with such comments, though.

“Besides, those on your face, those ‘eyeglasses’, were they? They’re very charming!”

“Thank you. Jin made them for me. They have changed the way I see the world.”

“That’s right! Could you lend me the eyeglasses for a moment, Saki?”

Jin said that as if it just had struck his mind, and Saki handed him the eyeglasses.

“Thank you. ‘Hardening’. ‘Toughen’.”

Jin used Hardening on the frame, and then used Toughen on the crystal lenses.

“This should do it. The lenses are rather fragile, so I used Engineering Magic on them in order to make them harder.”

“Haha, that’s good. Saki can be quite careless sometimes.”

Saki put her eyeglasses back on without even answering Reinhart’s remark, though she did give him a sulky look. She then suddenly changed the topic.

“Speaking of which… what is your cousin up to? Normally, it wouldn’t be weird to find her sitting here with us.”

The cousin that Saki was referring to was Elsa.

The fact that Elsa had disappeared, was saved by Jin, and was now staying in Kaina Village in the Klein Kingdom, was a secret that only Jin and Reinhart knew.

Translations by AsianHobbyist Website“Uh, that, um…“

Reinhart was too hesitant to say.