Chapter 411 (2/2)

A Hot Flying Ball could carry 200 kilograms at most, but the Marquess seemed not to know such detail.

“What is the cost per unit …. No, I guess that’s a different problem.”

The Marquess told Jin that he already asked what he wanted, so he would like to enjoy the ride a little more. Jin made a large turn above Lake Tosmo.

“….”

The Marquess, who was silent for a while, asked yet another question.

“… Are you on good terms with Saki?”

“Huh?!”

“Didn’t you hear from her? I’m her grandfather. Isn’t it normal to worry about my cute granddaughter?”

“I-I guess.”

The Marquess stroked his hairless head while letting out a self-torturing laugh.

“… Apparently, I won’t live for too long either. I only wish for my granddaughter’s happiness. … So, what do you think of Saki?”

“Um, Miss Saki … I think she’s an excellent alchemist.”

As he heard that answer, the Marquess gestured with his hand while interrupted Jin.

“No, no, that’s not it. What I’m asking is what you think of her as a woman.”

“As a woman …?”

To be honest, Jin had never desired a woman since he came to this world.

“Well, she’s a good friend of mine …..”

The Marquess sighed at Jin for answering hesitantly.

“I see. As I thought …. She’s incomplete as a woman …, she doesn’t have any sex appeal. But she can’t be called a man either. As for me, I’d like to see my grandchildren’s faces while I’m still alive.”

Jin was concerned about what the Marquess had repeatedly mentioned and decided to ask him directly.

“Um, your Excellency. Are you ill?”

“Hmm? Yes, that’s right. I’ve lost nearly 80 kilograms in the past year. Even a Healer couldn’t heal my illness. I guess this is destiny.”

The Marquess gently smiled. Jin noticed the jaundiced sclera of the Marquess’ eyes and the redness of his palms.

“Are there any visible swollen blood vessels on your abdomen by any chance?”

Jin’s question was a shot in the dark, but the Marquess’ complexion changed after hearing it.

“What? How do you know that?! I’ve never told anyone!”

In fact, Jin read about such illness once in a manga featuring a black doctor. The symptom was nicknamed Medusa’s Head.

“It might be cirrhosis ….”

It was a liver disease that could be caused by viruses, alcohol, or drugs. The reason why Jin could diagnose it as a liver disease was due to the symptom of jaundice.

“Do you know something about this disease?!”

The Marquess got a little excited but was still maintaining his calmness. He asked Jin about the disease in more detail.

“Yes, I dare say. Pardon me, would you mind if I perform a medical examination using Magic?”

“Huh? Can you do that as well? I don’t mind if you can, please be my guest.”

“Pardon me. … Reiko, please.”

Jin gave Reiko, who was operating the Magi Propulsion Device at the rear of the boarding basket, some instructions.

“Yes. ‘Diagnose’ …. As expected, there’s an abnormality in the liver.”

The Marquess saw Reiko anew with gleaming eyes.

“Um, what is that child? She isn’t human, is she? Is she an Automata?”

“Oh, yes.”

“She’s cute. Children are wonderful.”

The Marquess gazed at Reiko with gentle eyes.

(Sure, he seems to like children, but this is ….)

Jin was wondering if the Marquess’ disposition was conveyed in a distorted manner.

“When Saki was little, she was very fond of me …. It seems that I was too strict with her, and she completely hates me now.”

The Marquess muttered such remark. Looking at his extremely lonely appearance, Jin could not help but ask.

“Your Excellency, do you know Elsa Randol?”

Upon hearing Elsa’s name, the Marquess seemed to stiffen his cheeks for a moment but returned calm right after.

“… Elsa? Yes, I know her. She’s pretty cute. I wanted her to be my wife, but I’m running out of time.”

(So the rumor about him wanting to marry Elsa is true ….)

Jin’s impression of the Marquess’ reputation has gone down a little — no, a lot.

“W-why a young girl?”

With the flow of the conversation, Jin decided to ask his reasons.

“Hmm? … Well, there are various reasons. More importantly, what about my body?”

The Marquess completely dodged the question and asked Jin to tell him about the result of the diagnosis.

“… I don’t know the cause, but an organ in your body called the liver is damaged.”