Aside from Rita's culture shock at the facilities in the village of Kaina, Jin headed toward instead of Nido Castle.
Of course, Hannah was with him.
Of course, Hannah was with him, since Jin's private residence was across the street from Martha's house.
"I'm home, Grandma!"
Hanna went home to tell her grandmother Martha that she was home. Hitoshi, Elsa, Reiko and Edgar go to Hitoshi's house.
The first floor is a workshop, and Jin takes a look around first.
"Ah, it's been a while since I've been here ......, but there's no dust.
Reiko guessed at that.
"Father, I think Martha and the others have probably been cleaning up.
"Oh, I see. I should thank them.
Then Martha and Meane came in.
"Jin, welcome back. Erza, welcome back.
"Welcome back, Gin-sama. Erza, welcome home.
Jin and Erza greeted the couple back and told them that they were now officially engaged.
"Well, Jin, Erza, congratulations."
"Erza, congratulations! Jin-sama, please take good care of my daughter.
They both congratulated me. Then Hannah, who had just washed her hands, came in with something.
"Happy New Year, Erza!
Hannah said and held out something in her hand.
It was a query branch with buds on it.
I really wanted to send you a branch that had already flowered, but even the most popular query hasn't flowered yet.
Nevertheless, the light-red buds were swelling up as if they were about to burst into bloom.
"Thank you, Hannah. Query is my favorite flower.
"Thank you, Hannah. Even in bud, they are very beautiful.
Jin and Erza thanked Hanna and took the branch.
Erza immediately tries to put the branch in a vase, but realizes that she doesn't have a vase. But this is Jin's workshop. He has plenty of materials.
She takes a silver ingot in her hand,
"<>".
and creates a vase with engineering magic.
Hannah watches with a smile.
The group decides to have tea at 3 o'clock, even though it is a little early. The place is the dining room of Martha's house.
"Here it is," she said.
"It smells so good!"
Hannah is so happy. They are her favorite pancakes. They are covered with a generous amount of willey's jam.
Hitomi drizzled maple syrup on hers. Elsa does the same. And Martha and Meine put some brulee jam on top.
"Delicious!"
The pancakes, made with a small amount of baking soda, are now very popular in the Kingdom of Klein, and the baking soda produced in the village of Kaina is also selling well.
If too much baking soda is used, it can cause bitterness, so it is difficult to adjust the amount of baking soda, but Meane had already learned how to adjust the amount.
"Mother, it's delicious!"
"Yes, it's delicious.
"I'm glad."
Not only Hannah, but also Jin and Erza were enjoying the food. Martha didn't say anything, but she and Meane looked at each other and nodded.
It was a heartwarming afternoon.
Jin then decided to go to the village chief's house to hear what had happened while he was gone. Erza stayed behind to have a chat with Meane.
"Oh, I'll go with you then.
Hannah said she wanted to stay with Jin as long as possible. Jin smiled and agreed.
"You know, while you were gone, another baby was born!
"Everyone says it was easy this year because there was little snow.
"I saw cress sprouts on the Ermee River the other day! Spring will be here soon!
Listening to these stories, Jin and Hannah headed for the village chief's house.
"Oh, Jin, welcome home!
"Jin-dono, welcome home!"
Giebeck and Sally, now a married couple, greeted us.
"Nothing unusual, but on March 1st, Rock and Molly had a baby. It's a girl and her name is Jenny.
"Oh, that's great news!"
There has been a baby boom in Kaina village recently, probably due to the better living conditions.
The population has to have at least two children per couple to sustain itself, but that problem has been solved.
But the neighboring villages seem to be a little tougher.
"The next village is Toka, isn't it? What's going on?
Licia is the lord of this village. Jin was a little concerned, since he was no stranger to the village.
"No, I heard that some of the young men left the village for the capital.
"Oh, I see."
Jin wondered if it was the same now as in the past, on Earth or here in Ars, for young people to yearn for the city, and then he noticed that he smelled awfully old and smiled.
Hannah seemed to have seen the change in Jin's expression.
"You have an interesting face, Onii-chan," Hannah said with a laugh.
Hannah said with a smile, and Jin noticed it too. He patted Hannah's head as if to deceive her.
That night, too, they were treated to dinner at Martha's house.
Sarah, the golem maid, assisted her, and the food was skillfully laid out on the table.
Sarah has been working in the community field instead of Martha, who has recently been suffering from a slight back injury.
"Why didn't you just tell me ......?"
Elsa says anxiously.
"That's okay, I'm almost better now and I was planning to start working in the fields again tomorrow.
Martha laughs, but Elsa does not listen.
"Then let me take a look at you.
"Oh, really? I'm sorry.
Since it is before dinner, the patient is asked to lie down on the bed and is examined.
"<>"
Elsa examines the patient, focusing on the lower back.
"......The spine is a little deformed. <><>"
Elsa is on the verge of osteoporosis and has a slight compression fracture in her spine, so we are trying to heal the fracture and improve her calcium metabolism.
Sally is of course a skilled healer, but Elsa's medical knowledge, if not her experience, is better.
(I wish Dr. Saly would join our family, too. ......)
(I wish Dr. Saly would be a family member. ) Jin was thinking about this as he watched Elsa treating Martha.
(I wish Dr. Saly would be a family member. .......) Jin was thinking about this as he watched Erza treating Martha.
(I'll discuss this with Elsa, Reiko and the old man.)
I decided to leave it aside for the time being.
"Oh, thank you, Elsa. I feel much better.
After the treatment, Martha got up with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, Elsa, for fixing my grandmother!
"You're welcome."
Hannah thanked her as well, and Elsa replied with a slight smile.
Then it was time for dinner.
"So ......, the wheat crop looks good this year," she said.
"We've expanded the field a bit. We're all excited to start growing rice and buckwheat this year.
"You know, Mr. Locke and the others were talking about expanding the bokujo!
Jin was a little amused, but happy to hear these various stories.
This village of Kaina is Jin's second home. It is his village.