Chapter 381 (2/2)

The one to answer Jin’s question is Butler-B, who comes into the room.

“That is a ‘Time Bell’. It chimes at 7 AM, at Noon, and at 5 PM. We’re still testing it, but it seems to be quite popular.”

“I see.”

Jin had thought about asking if this was Laojun’s doing, but kept silent in front of Martha. That’s most certainly the case. That Laojun is doing a great job.

“Dear guests, it is 5 PM. Shall we begin preparing your meal?”

Barrow speaks with a determined tone of voice and demeanor. Mine nods at the fruits of his education.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Understood.”

His back facing the kitchen, he seems to have become more reliable than before.

Saki seems to enjoy the unusual flavor of the dinner, which is a combination of Kaina Village and Shouro Empire dishes.

After the dinner, Jin poured actual green tea for everyone. This is the green tea that he received from Reinhart earlier.

“Oh, this tea is delicious.”

“I like this taste!”

“… Green tea?”

Martha, Hanna, and Elsa all show their impressions of the tea. Jin regrets having eaten all of the biscuits.

Martha and Mine return home before dark, and Elsa stays together with Saki.

And as for Hannah…

“I don’t want to bother your guests, so I’ll be heading home now. See you tomorrow, big brother!”

After speaking in such a mature way, she returns home together with Martha.

“Even Hannah has grown up so much.”

Jin is impressed, and at the same time, a bit nostalgic.

“Well then, the bath will be ready if you two want to get in.”

Jin prefers taking a bath before a meal, but today he missed his chance for that since he had gotten caught up in conversation.

Nidou Castle also has a bath for visitors. But sadly, there are no natural hot springs here, so it’s not exactly like the ones one would find at a Japanese-styled bathhouse.

There’s a family-sized bath on the first floor, and a public-sized one in the basement.

Elsa and Saki go to the family-sized one.

“Oh, it’s not a shower, but sort of like a bathtub? This is nice!”

So says Saki, as she puts one foot into the water after undressing in the dressing room next to the bath.

“But the onsen back at the village is even better.”

Says Elsa, adding to Saki’s statement.

“Onsen? What’s an onsen?”

“It’s a huge bath that uses natural hot springs from underground. It’s Kaina Village’s specialty. Shall we go there tomorrow morning?”

“Ooh, yeah, let’s!”

Saki submerges for a second and then emerges, stretching her limbs.

“Aah, taking a dip like this feels nice. This is great!”

“Saki-nee, do you still live as unconventionally as ever?”

Elsa asks her question as she stretches out as well. Saki makes an ugly face in response to that sharp question.

“Ohoho, that’s embarrassing! But hey, I made Ehr the other day, so things are getting better.”

“Even the way you laugh is still the same.”

“Oho, everyone tells me that. Does it make you uncomfortable?”

“Well, I think it’s very ‘you’.”

“Ohoho, that’s so cute, Elsa!”

Saki smiles and strokes Elsa’s head. Elsa asks Saki another question.

“About that automata… you said you made him together with Jin-nii and Rein-nii, right?”

“Yeah. It was lots of fun. And you, Elsa? Edgar, was it? So, you made him?”

Saki replies to Elsa’s question with a question of her own.

“Yeah. I was able to do it because Jin-nii was there with me.”

Saki stares at Elsa.

“You sure have grown, Elsa. You seem different than how you were before your journey here.”

“Is that so?”

“Did you experience many things in your travels? Could you tell me about it in detail?”

“Sure.”

And so, Elsa and Saki cheerfully share stories for the rest of their bath and continue talking about them until they get back to the guest room.