06-15 Benefit Society (Guild)

The next day, work installing dampers on the old carriage models began.

The method was pasting viscoelastic material on the crosspieces that supported the wheels.

The viscoelastic material in question was of course the leather of a Grand Mud Frog.

Sticking it to the top and bottom of the crosspiece would suppress vibration.

To see how effective it exactly was they did a test ride.

“Oh wow, this is great! Jin, when we go back to my country I’ll definitely repay this!”

Looking at the rejoicing Reinhardt, Jin was also happy. Because now the carriage sickness should be much reduced.

Carrying on with their business, the two noticed that it was lunchtime only when Reiko said that it was already noon.

They went to the dining room where Earl Kuzuma was already waiting. Apparently his official business was over quickly.

“Oh, you two are here. I’ve got something to talk about.”

He said, and beckoned them to sit down.

＊ ＊ ＊

During the teatime after the lunch, Earl Kuzuma began his talk.

“The topic is none other than that golem party.”

He said and faced Jin.

“It’s been decided that from Blue Land the Duke Blue, me, and finally Earl Guarana will go.”

When she heard that, Elsa’s expression became a little crooked. Apparently she hated him very much.

“In addition, the departure will be in three days. The trip to the capital Asunto will take three or four days, so we’ll likely arrive two days before the golem party.”

“Got it.”

After hearing Jin’s reply, the Earl continued.

“In addition, the day after tomorrow, on the afternoon Jin and I will go meet with the Duke. Of course, the golem Lotte will also come along.”

In other words, he wants to show the Duke the manufacturer and the golem that’s going to be taken to the golem party beforehand.

“Also, if possible, I’d like to have Jin register at the Magi Craftsmen’s Guild.”

In Port Rock Jin had worked as a freelance Magi Craftsman, but as expected, it seems this time proper identification is wanted.

“I’ll be the guarantor, and the referee will be…”

“I’ll do it.”

Reinhardt volunteered. With the Earl as the guarantor, and with Reinhardt coming from the Earl’s mansion to make a recommendation, he should be able to register without any problems.

There were no real demerits for Jin. And so he immediately agreed.

“That’s good. In that case, I’ll write a letter addressed to the Guild later.”

The very same day, by the afternoon all the old model carriages had dampers installed. The two spent the rest of their time adding the same system to Earl Kuzuma’s carriage.

＊ ＊ ＊

“This is the letter addressed to the Guild.”

The next day, after breakfast, the Earl pa.s.sed a scroll sealed with wax to Jin, who immediately prepared to leave for the Guild.

In truth, Jin had an interest in the Guild.

He only made a Marcia figurine in Port Rock, and didn’t quite get to understand what sort of an organization it was, and was particularly interested whether this country’s Guild was somehow different.

The referee Reinhardt was accompanying him. Elsa had said,

“I’ll go too. It’s boring to be left alone.”,

And also ended up coming along.

Four people: Jin, Reiko, Reinhardt, and Elsa were headed to the Guild.

Elsa’s nanny Mine had also wanted to go, but Reinhardt and Earl Kuzuma both told her to treat them like children, and she reluctantly obeyed and stopped talking.

The roofless light carriage the four had got on departed from Earl Kuzuma’s mansion. The direction was the Blue Land branch of the Guild located near the walls.

“Ooh, this certainly shakes only a little!”

“Truly. Like this, it’s comfortable to ride in.”

Reinhardt and Elsa both voiced their impressions. Unlike during the test ride on the mansion’s premises, they now ascertained the effectiveness of the dampers on a real road surface with mud and stone paving.

“The next is durability, but the leather of a Grand Mud Frog shows promise.”

“Right. Well, it’s not that expensive a material anyways, so as long you’ve got spares it should be practical enough.”

While chatting about things like that, they soon were close to the walls.

“There’s the Blue Land branch of the Magi Craftsmen’s Guild.”

Jin remembered what Reinhardt had told him yesterday.

The organization called the Guild was similar to a agricultural or a fishery cooperative, for example.

They offered accommodations for people in the occupation, sometimes protected their rights, and other times punished the people who would harm their occupations’ workers’ honor.

In addition, there were Guilds for other people than Magi Craftsmen. For example, architects and builders, merchants, handymen, et cetera had their own Guilds.

This one, the Magi Craftsmen’s Guild, was a two-storey building constructed out of stone that looked like Ooya stone.

“We’ve arrived.”

The taciturn coachman said, and stopped the carriage in front of the Guild. The four got off the carriage, and the coachman moved the carriage to a certain place, that is, the carriage parking lot.

“Huh, there’s even a parking lot.”

Jin was impressed. Using a carriage alone was proof of social status or a.s.sets. This meant that people like that often visited.

Reinhardt opened the door, and the group set foot in the Guild.

“Hmmm…”

Inside, every important point used white wall plating, giving off a bright atmosphere. From Jin’s experience he would compare this place to a bank or a post office.

Immediately after the entrance was a desk like an information desk, and a young woman was sitting behind it.

Farther behind it were a few service counters, each with their area of responsibility marked on them.

There were counters for ‘Information’, ‘Requests’, ‘Consultation’, ‘Financing’, ‘Registration’, ‘Punishments’, et cetera, and the one Jin and the others moved towards was ‘Registration’.

“Welcome. Are you here to register?”

Behind the counter was a young man that appeared to be a bit younger than Jin.

“That’s right. Here’s a letter from Earl Kuzuma. First, take this to the branch manager.”

Reinhardt urged, and Jin handed over the sealed scroll to the young man in charge. After confirming the seal on the scroll, the man said,

“At once.”

With a short response he went to the back.

While waiting, Jin gazed at the other counters. Reinhardt gave an explanation.

‘Information’. By the counter there was only one person, but inside at least five people had been crammed in. Jin thought that his guess that information is very valued in this world was right.

‘Requests’. Apparently Magi Craftsmen who didn’t have patrons could find work there.

‘Consultation’. In case of difficult requests, various kinds of advice could be had from there. Of course, they charged an appropriate fee.

‘Financing’. If lacking funds, you could borrow money in proportion to your achievements from there. In addition, members who achieved prominent merits could get a cash reward from the guild.

‘Materials’. They helped with arrangements for production materials, and could refer people to suppliers.

‘Registration’. The counter in front of which Jin was currently standing. It was the counter for new Guild registrations.

‘Punishments’. It handled procedures regarding people who considerably hurt the Guild’s honor, but Jin didn’t really want to hear about the details.

The young man from just now returned,

“Please come to the second floor, I’m told the branch manager wants to have a talk with you.”,

He said, and Jin’s group followed the young man’s instructions and headed to the second floor.