06-17 Beauty and the Beast

The day after Jin registered in the Guild, the meeting of the n.o.bles, golems, and Magi Craftsmen going to the golem party took place in Duke Blue’s mansion.

“Administrator of the Eastern District of Blue Land, Kuzuma.”

“Administrator of the Western District of Blue Land, Guarana.”

The two Earls first introduced themselves, then the golems and the Magi Craftsmen who built them.

“Earl Kuzuma’s golem, ‘Lotte’. Magi Craftsman, Jin.”

When their names were said, Lotte and Jin took a step forwards and bowed.

“Earl Guarana’s golem, ‘Owl’. Magi Craftsman, Bootes.’

His golem Owl’s whole body was gold-colored. It had a glamorous feminine body shape with a larger build than Lotte.

(Urgh, how bad taste does he…)

She was of the same golden color, but the helper golem Soleil Jin had made for Reiko in Hourai Island was a more matte golden compared to Owl in its gilded splendor. Lotte was matte bronze.

(It’s so new money.)

Jin came into such a conclusion in his mind. The Magi Craftsman called Bootes who built it had golden decorative sewings here and there on his clothes, making his tastes apparent.

Speaking of, Earl Guarana looked like nothing but a fat middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes.

Next,

“Shouro Empire’s diplomat, Reinhardt Randol’s golem Schwarz Ritter. Magi Craftsman is the same Reinhardt Randol.”

Even though he was partic.i.p.ating as a guest, Reinhardt’s Schwarz Ritter was introduced.

“Oh my, everyone, what wonderful craftsmans.h.i.+p.”

Blue Land’s feudal lord Duke Blue commented. He was King Egelia’s older cousin.

He looked to be around 50 years old. He had blond hair with some white mixed in, blue eyes, and a tough physique. He had grown a short moustache, and he looked rather majestic.

“Well then, I’ll show you my golem too. ‘Tauros’!”

In response to his words, an over two meters tall, st.u.r.dily armored-looking golem appeared. At a glance its fighting strength could be judged to be high. On its back it was also carrying a gigantic sword.

“This is my ‘Tauros’. The Magi Craftsman is Jade Nepheloi.”

The introduced Jade Nepheloi was a lanky man in the prime of his life. Nevertheless, his gray eyes were sharp, and he was looking at Jin and Lotte as if searching for something.

“Starting with the guest Reinhardt-dono’s Schwarz Ritter, displaying these in front of Egelia King won’t be disgraceful, one upon other they’re all excellent.”

Duke Blue was in high spirits.

“Since today is for introductions, from now on, shall we not use this occasion to have the partic.i.p.ants mingle with each other?”

Just as he stated, afterwards the partic.i.p.ants held a tea party to interacted with each other. Light meals and herbal tea was brought out.

“h.e.l.lo, you’re Earl Kuzuma’s Magi Craftsman, right?”

Jade Nepheloi came over to Jin and said.

“Eh, I suppose. However, I only accepted a commission, i’m not his employee or anything.”

Jade was surprised by Jin’s reply,

“Does that mean you’re a freelancer? How curious. That a Magi Craftsman who made a golem like that would be a freelancer. I suppose a lot of skilled craftsmen are still hidden in the world.”

“You understand the greatness of that golem?”

Reinhardt, who had turned up next to them, asked Jade.

“Oh, h.e.l.lo there Reinhardt-dono. Your Schwarz Ritter is a magnificent creation. Particularly the movements are fluid and natural.”

“Not at all, your Tauros too is for sure magnificent. It’s certainly strong, isn’t that true?”

Reinhardt took a stab at piquing his interest.

“Haha, I wonder. But I can say that the one they call the strongest knight in Duke’s employ, Robert-dono, gave his a.s.sistance for the movement system.”

Generally, as a model for practically all golems’ movement systems, a veteran of that profession was asked to a.s.sist.

“Blue Land’s strongest knight as the model, huh. That sure seems strong.”

“No no, word has come to me of Schwarz Ritter’s strength. They say that in the previous mock battle, it singlehandedly crushed 20 opponents.”

“No, that was just because of the limitations of the mock battle’s rules…”

Jade and Reinhardt were deeply involved in their conversation, so Jin took advantage of the situation and quietly left the scene.

However, this time Earl Guarana’s employed Magi Craftsman Bootes approached Jin.

“Hmph, you’re Earl Kuzuma’s Magi Craftsman, Jin, was it?”

Jin resigned himself to having to deal with him.

“Eh, I suppose. However, I only accepted a commission, i’m not his employee or anything.”

He gave the same reply as he did some time ago.

“Pshaw, as I thought. Making a plain golem like that meant the Magi Craftsman being plain too.”

Bootes said with arrogance.

“How about you work under Earl Guarana’s employ from now on? Then I’ll teach you lots of things.”

As a result he proposed something like that. Jin entertained him with a halfhearted reply,

“I’ll think about it after this golem party is done with.”

Maybe he took the answer as a yes, since with these words,

“Haha, that’s right, because it’s very lucrative once you’re Earl Guarana’s employee, no one would turn that down.”,

He departed.

While watching Bootes’ retreating figure, Jin thought that there sure are many kinds of Magi Craftsmen.

“Oh, Jin, this is where you were.”

Reinhardt who found Jin called out. Jade from earlier was with him.

But, before Jin could say anything,

“Oh, h.e.l.lo there Reinhardt-dono. Today you didn’t come with Miss Elsa, I see.”,

Another person said so. Of course, it was Earl Guarana.

“Earl Guarana, since today was the introduction of the golems, Elsa didn’t come.”

Reinhardt dealt with him smiling to the end.

“Hahaha, that’s right, isn’t it. But wasn’t Miss Elsa your cousin? She has a good talent in magic and good looks, I’d like to take her as my second wife.”

As Elsa was from a viscount’s house, you could say that even though it would be the second one, marrying into an Earl’s house would be marrying up. Yet it was a little better than the concubine offer from last time.

“No no, she’s still a child that’s ignorant of the ways of the world, and that’s why I took her along on my journey, so I think that kind of talk should be for when she’s a bit more learned.”

“What are you saying, that kind of innocence is also irresistibly charming. When you go back, please give her my regards.”

Even he seemed to think taking the offer further would be out of place during this event where drinks weren’t served.

“Did you hear that, Jin?”

Reinhardt asked Jin.

“Yeah. It’s no wonder Elsa dislikes him.”

Elsa who doesn’t really understand the world yet, and the greasy fat middle-aged Earl. It’s just like in the beautiful, no, like in ‘Beauty and the Beast’. But this beast won’t turn into a prince after earning the love of the beauty.

“As if Elsa would marry a guy like that.”

Reinhardt muttered, showing a rare look of disgust on his face.

＊ ＊ ＊

“Aah, both Jin and Reinhardt-sama are at the Duke’s house.”

The one who was left behind, Beana, was grumbling in the workshop in front of Earl Kuzuma’s mansion’s courtyard by herself. Elsa, who was taking a walk in the garden heard it and said,

“It was inevitable. I’m rather relieved that I don’t have to see Earl Guarana.”

“Eh? Elsa-sama, you’re familiar with Earl Guarana?”

Beana was surprised and asked Elsa.

“Elsa.”

“Huh?”

“Elsa is fine. I also call you Beana.”,

She replied.

“O-Okay. Then, El…sa, you’re famili…know Earl Guarana?”

One of the words turned incomprehensible, but Elsa seemed to understand and replied properly,

“Yep. Last time we met, he asked me to become his concubine.”

“Concubine you say…”

Beana thought back to her own circ.u.mstances.

Using her ill brother and sister to threaten her, he nearly raped her.

Then Earl Kuzuma who came on Jin’s request saved her from the dangerous situation…

“As for me, I was nearly forced by the Earl to…”

Beana said, and,

“Forced? That man uses violence against women?”

Since it didn’t seem like she understood the implication,

“Umm… What I mean by ‘forced’ is that…”

Beana struggled to figure out how to explain it, when,

“Miss, so you were in a place like this.”

The nanny Mine came along and said so. Then,

“The wind is cold today, please go inside.”

She took Elsa away partly against her will.

While looking at Elsa from behind,

“…Looks like Elsa will have her own hards.h.i.+ps.”,

She murmured, left behind by herself.