Chapter 384 (1/2)

Magi Craft Meister 378

Visiting Classes

Since the glasses were completed, they leave the workshop and head towards mayor Gibbeck’s house.

The reason for that is that today is the “group study” day. It’s too bad that Elsa is not around, being that she is one of the teachers.

“Jin, what is this ‘group study’?”

Jin has a simple answer to Saki’s question.

“Ah, you see, there are no schools in this village. Because of that, children come here for their basic studies. Reading, writing, mathematics, and stuff like that.”

“Ooh, that’s very interesting! So Elsa and Mine are the teachers?

“Yes, that’s right.”

After that, seemingly deeply interested in the group study session, Saki says that she wants to go check it out. Since there’s no harm doing that, and Saki is so eager to see the class, they decide to visit the group study class.

“Patty, what’s 23 plus 8?”

“Umm… 31!”

“Correct. And 57 plus 6? Umm… Mario?”

“Uhh… 63!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Today is math day. All the kids are adding two-digit numbers and 1-digit numbers without any problem.

“Very well. Then we will be starting to do some subtractions. Open your textbooks at page 21.”

The textbooks are written by a high-speed copying golem. Thin wood shavings are used as paper. This paper substitute is called “Kyougi”.

They are reinforced with engineering magic so that they can be used as proper paper.

Jin wanted to create actual paper for the books, but pulp alone does not do well when mixed with water. For this reason, Jin is still looking for some tree similar to the ‘sunset hibiscus’ so that he can make Japanese-styled paper.

The reason for that is that he doesn’t really know the proper way to make paper. The only time he’s ever made paper, it was from recycling milk cartons, and even then he had to mix it with a bit of laundry starch.

“I want something that is water-soluble, but that after drying it becomes water-resistant…”

It was hard to find such a thing here. If he were to find that kind of material, it would create a huge source of industry for Kaina Village.

“…Jin? Hey, Jin!”

Saki’s voice brings Jin back to reality.

“Ah, wha… what?”

“Don’t ‘what?’ me! The class is already over, and everyone went home for lunch. Shouldn’t we head back as well?”

Then, after finishing tidying up the materials, Elsa and Mine show up.

“Shall we go back, Jin-nii?”

“Let’s head back, big brother!”

And so, together with Hanna, Saki, Elsa, Mine, and Reiko, Jin heads back to Martha’s house.

“Welcome back, everyone. The food is already on the table.”

Sara, the golem, stands by after having finished her preparations.

It’s a standard Kaina Village lunch. A specialty bread and smoked beef, with a siding of vegetable salad.

Jin had started to eat fruit and vegetables just to get a better vitamin intake, but nowadays he’s eating them because he enjoys them.

“Mmm, this bread really is delicious. It’s not really purely white, but maybe it looks white now because there’s almost no crust in it?”

“Ah, that’s because it has flour on it.”

“I did the sieving today!”

“Ah, so you did that, Hanna?”

They continue to enjoy their lunch while chatting cheerfully.

After finishing their lunch, Saki asks Hanna to show her how she sieves the flour.

“Umm, you put the flour in here and then you shake it.”

Hanna makes her demonstration using whole wheat flour.

“Oh! I see! Thanks, Hanna!”

Saki seems to have hit on a good idea. After gently brushing Hanna’s head and thanking her, Saki turns to Jin and Elsa.

“Jin, Elsa, I want your opinion on something.”

The three of them go back to Jin’s workshop.

“After looking at that sieve, I had an idea.”

Saki begins her explanation.

“I understand that sieves are used to separate big things from small things.”

Saki looks straight at Jin as she speaks. Agreeing with her reasoning, Jin nods.