Magi Craft Meister

Chapter 697

21-08 Welcome

“Welcome, Ambassador of the Shouro Empire, Sir Reinhardt Randall, Lady Elsa Randall. And Magic Craftsman Magi Craft Meister, Sir Jin Nidou, and his squire, Lady Reiko Nidou.”

The person who greeted Jin and his companions was Marquis Dominique de Firentsiano, who governs the Zaus Province in the southern part of the Elias Kingdom, including Potlock.

Reinhardt and Elsa performed the Shouro Empire-style greeting. Jin followed suit.

＊ ＊ ＊

After the lively ceremony, Jin and the others were guided to the guesthouse in the northwest part of Potlock. A steward moved their airship to the guesthouse courtyard.

“It’s been a while, Lord Reinhardt.”

Since the setting was no longer formal, Marquis Firentsiano greeted them amicably while offering them kuhé.

“I heard you’ve become a baron. Congratulations.”

Even though the marquis holds a much higher noble rank, he continued to be as humble as ever.

“And Lady Elsa, I hear you’ve become a baronetess as well. Congratulations.”

Then the marquis turned to Jin.

“Sir Jin, you are now renowned as the sole ‘Magic Craftsman Magi Craft Meister’ in the world. I also hear that Miss Reiko has been granted the title of squire.”

He then bowed slightly to all of them.

“To think that the people I once met have risen so high.”

He said this with a smile.

“Marquis, it may be presumptuous of me to say this, but since your rank is higher and we’re not complete strangers, would it be easier if you could be a bit more informal in private settings?”

Reinhardt said hesitantly. Jin thought the same and nodded emphatically in agreement.

“Is that so? If you insist… May I call you Reinhardt, Jin, and Elsa?”

All three nodded. As for Reiko, she had already been addressed as Miss Reiko earlier.

“Then, let me say it again. Welcome to the Elias Kingdom, and to Potlock.”

Using a much more familiar tone than before, the marquis expressed his welcome.

“That new ship ‘Bernstein’ that arrived yesterday was wonderful. I must admit, Potlock—no, the Elias Kingdom—doesn’t have ships like that yet.”

Since the Elias Kingdom is mostly surrounded by sea, they had confidence in shipbuilding, but now they had fallen behind.

“But from now on, our country’s comeback will begin.”

The marquis said with a smile. Indeed, since the Elias Kingdom has many excellent shipwrights, Reinhardt and his companions couldn’t afford to be complacent.

“More importantly,”

The marquis looked at Jin.

“Your ‘airship,’ Jin, it’s marvelous. It’s a wonder! You’ve realized the dream of humans flying in the sky.”

There was pure admiration in his voice.

“This morning, a message came by pigeon: our country wishes to treat you, Jin, as a ‘Magi Craft Meister’ and grant you the title of honorary knight.”

“That is…”

As a nation forming friendly ties with the Shouro Empire, and considering the neighboring Egelia Kingdom and Klein Kingdom, the Elias Kingdom seems to want to establish friendly relations with Jin.

At that moment, a maid came to inform them that dinner was ready. The group moved.

In the spacious dining room, luxurious dishes were lined up. Among them, Jin’s eyes were drawn to several dishes.

“Oh?”

Noticing his gaze, Marquis Firentsiano smiled.

“Since you taught me about Topopo chips, I’ve been researching cooking methods for Topopo.”

Displayed were fried Topopo, Topopo salad, and hashed Topopo.

“We can make various dishes with Topopo. Moreover, it can become a staple food. I thought we shouldn’t miss out on utilizing such a wonderful crop.”

Jin had heard about it roughly through reports from the Fifth Column Quinta, but he hadn’t expected the marquis to be so passionate about Topopo cuisine.

“This year’s Topopo harvest has tripled.”

Jin had introduced Topopo chips at the end of February, and the marquis said she had immediately given instructions to increase the cultivation area.

“I’m honored.”

Having a new staple crop is good news. Even so, Jin thought tripling it was a bold decision.

“It seems that other small countries are facing poor harvests this year.”

The marquis also seemed aware of that.

“If there’s demand, I think we can export it along with cooking methods.”

“In that case, by all means.”

Jin felt it wasn’t his place to take the lead, so he kept the conversation brief.

But with this, perhaps a fraction of the food shortage problem could be alleviated.

After that, light-hearted conversations flourished.

Especially stories about how the marquis was putting effort into Topopo cuisine.

“Thanks to that, they’re calling me ‘Marquis Topopo’ behind my back.”

But contrary to those words, the marquis’s face was cheerful.

(I feel like she’s filled out a bit…)

Jin thought so, but he didn’t say it out loud.

Towards the end of the conversation, Jin decided to ask.

“Marquis, do you remember Marcia?”

“Marcia? …Ah, the girl who teamed up with you and won, Jin? Yes, I remember. I heard she set up shop in the neighboring town and is doing well.”

This is Potlock City, Potlock Town. Jin recalled that Marcia had said she came from a family of shipwrights for generations in the neighboring town.

“It’s in the neighboring town of Portoa.”

Confirming with her butler, the marquis told Jin.

“She seems to be famous, so if you ask, you’ll find her quickly. They say it’s on a street facing the sea.”

“Thank you.”

Jin intended to visit her the next day.

＊ ＊ ＊

The rooms where Jin and his companions were staying were three connected rooms. The bedrooms were private, connected to a large room serving as a living room.

There, Jin, Elsa, and Reinhardt were relaxing.

“The Elias Kingdom is desperate.”

Reinhardt suddenly spoke.

“Eh?”

“They said they want to recognize Jin as a ‘Magic Craftsman Magi Craft Meister,’ right? They probably want the hot air balloon.”

“Ah, I see.”

Jin had given hot air balloons only to the countries that participated in the technology expo held in the Shouro Empire and recognized Jin as a ‘Magic Craftsman Magi Craft Meister.’

Because the Elias Kingdom didn’t participate, they missed out.

“Well, I don’t mind giving them one, but…”

“Brother Jin, you have to get proper compensation.”

Elsa chided Jin, who was being his usual self.

“Hot air balloons are technology that can change the world. It’s not good to think about it lightly.”

“Haha, Elsa beat me to it. …Jin, Elsa is right. You tend to agree too easily.”

“Yes. That’s one of Brother Jin’s good points, but kindness depends on the person.”

Reinhardt looked at Elsa, who said such things, with surprised eyes.

“Hey, Elsa, are you already bragging?”

Elsa blushed at those words, but Reinhardt became serious and spoke to Jin.

“Jin, anyway, how about handling it like this?”

“What do you mean? Do you have an idea?”

“Yes. …You’ve received an honorary knight title from the Klein Kingdom as well. In other words, you’re connected. So…”

Hearing that, Jin understood what Reinhardt was implying.

“Ah, I see. You mean to ask the Klein Kingdom to export… or rather, assist them?”

“Exactly. Of course, we need to properly discuss it with the Klein Kingdom.”

“I see…”

“So, could you leave such diplomatic matters to me?”

When it comes to such matters, Reinhardt is reliable. Jin readily agreed to leave it to him.