Next, the group was guided to the second floor of the mansion.
Climbing up the stairs from the entrance hall they arrived at the second floorâs hall. On the east side there was Jinâs room and his teacherâs (dummy) room. The library and storeroom were there too.
On the west, there were the guest rooms and the toilet. In addition, the golem maidsâ waiting room was there.
âIs this Jinâs room?â
The Japanese-style room was approximately eight tatami mats in size, and tatami mats had been laid on the floor.
âOh, take off your shoes.â
Jin advised, first took his own shoes off and then plopped himself down on the tatami floor.
âHuh, so itâs a floor that lets you do that sort of thing. May I?â
Still wearing the pants, Beana also took her shoes off and laid on the tatami floor.
âAh, itâs got a somewhat good scent.â
Since the face of the tatami mat had been woven from pseudo soft rush, it had the scent of soft rush.
âReally?â
Elsa took her shoes off too, and in the same manner plopped herself down on the floor. Jin was sandwiched with her and Beana on the other side.
âIt feels pleasantly cool. But not too chilly.â
âI see, itâs very nice when you take your shoes off!â
Reinhardt had taken even his socks off, and was enjoying the feeling of the tatami mats while barefoot.
âBut how do you sleep? No matter how I look at it, it will be cold during the night as is.â
When Beana asked the obvious question, Jin got up and opened the closet door.
âWhen itâs time to sleep I lay out this futon.â,
Jin explained, and Beana got up and came over to him, and with his permission tried touching the futon.
âEh, whatâs this? Itâs so soft and fluffy! Itâs not stuffed with feathers, right?â
âLet me see.â
Reinhardt also tried touching the futon, and,
âHm, what is this? It feels like itâs been woven from fine thread. It also resembles felt a bit, but the softness and flexibility are completely different.â
Finally, Elsa touched the futon.
âSoft and fluffy. I want to lie down on it.â,
She said, so Jin took the futon out and laid it on the floor.
âGo ahead.â
The first one to throw herself down on it was Elsa.
âAmazing. It feels more comfortable than feathers. The body sinks too much into down-filled matresses but this is different.â
âM-me too!â
Not to be outdone, Beana also threw herself down on the futon.
âAh, itâs true, this is amazing! It canât compare with a straw mattress!â
After saying that, she noticed the difference between her and Elsa and held her tongue.
âHmm, what on earth could the material be? I mean the cloth of this futon. Itâs not linen or wool. It even feels better to the touch than silk.â
Reinhardt tilted his head in puzzlement as he felt the cover of the futon and looked at its luster.
âItâs silk woven by a Ground Spider.â
Jin told him the answer as it seemed if he didnât, Reinhardt would be troubled by it forever.
âWhat! Ground Spider you say!? Isnât that a devil beast thatâs been said to have gone extinct!â
People may say so, however Ground Spidersâ food is Magic Energy, not meat. They donât attack people either unless attacked first.
But because of their appearance they became targets for extermination, and nowadays they only barely survive deep underground in some remote regions.
But at the same time, several of them live in the caves beneath Hourai Island, since the predecessor knew of their silkâs usefulness, and gave them shelter. And so, after Jinâs inheritance their raising was also under investigation.
Under Topazâs leadership, experiments to see if it is possible to use an Ether Converter to bestow Magic Energy into the mine tunnels after the ore has been extracted were underway.
âUgh, a devil beastâs silkâŠâ
Beana seemed a little drawn back after hearing that, and got up from the futon. Elsa still seemed to just idle around peacefully.
âThe pants Jin-kun gave are made from a devil beastâs leather. Even normal silk is from the the thread woven by a bug. So to dislike a devil beastâs silk is weird.â
âTha- Thatâs right! This feels so good to the touch too!â,
Beana said to Elsa, and laid down a second time on the futon.
âIn that case, is the stuffing of the futon same too?â
Reinhardt seemed to understand that the material for the stuffing was the same.
âUh-huh. Itâs devil silk wadding.â
Wadding made out of Ground Spiderâs silk, or rather made out of a devil beastâs silk, and so it was devil silk wadding.
âI see, devil silk wadding, huh?â
Reinhardt said, and his face suddenly became serious.
âJin, Iâll give you some advice as a friend. Your techniques, and the materials of this, Kunlun Island was it? It would be better for you to not show them off in the outside world too much.â,
He said. The current Reinhardt had the face of a diplomat.
âRai-nii, what do you mean?â
Elsa seemed to be bothered by what he said, and she stopped idling on the futon and got up next to Jin and asked.
Reinhardt thought about what words to use to explain it to Elsa.
âJinâs techniques are different. Theyâre outstanding. And all the materials heâs got are extremely precious and expensive. If it became known, itâs possible the economy could be thrown into chaos.â
He stopped the words there and looked at Elsa. After seeing her nod her head he continued.
âAny country would assemble everything together to corral Jin. Then they would plunder the materials here.â
âThatâs terrible.â
Reinhardt nodded at Elsaâs fretful reply.
âYes, thatâs right. And so, Jin, you need to understand the standards of the world.â
âThatâs certainly true.â
Jin replied to Reinhardt, and nodded.
He knew that his own sensibility differed.
He knew his technical standards were high.
He also suspected that the resources saved on Hourai Island could threaten this worldâs economy.
Even so, he was grateful that Reinhardt didnât mince his words.
âThanks, Reinhardt. Iâll be careful about the materials. Iâd like you to teach me about the standard level of things from now on.â
When Jin said so, Reinhardt returned to his usual mood and laughed,
âI naturally will! And Iâd also like you to teach me your techniques!â
Again his face became serious.
âTo be frank, as a diplomat I should be saying, âI want you to join our countryâ, but, well.â
He said, then again laughed,
âBut I still want get on with Jin as a friend. So Iâll say this, âDrop in for a visit at Shouro Empire'â
âDidnât I already agree to that?â,
Jin said, to which Reinhardt replied,
âIs that so, thatâs good then. To tell you the truth, I was worried that youâd settle down in this house, and say youâre not going to travel any more.â
Jin said thatâs not the case, and added that heâs got no intention to break the promise heâd made.
After hearing that, Reinhardt returned to his normal mood, and Elsa too had a relieved look on her face.
âEveryone, as it will soon be noon, the meal preparations are underway. Please follow me.â
Peridot came and said so, and everyone moved to the first-floor dining room.
However, Beana seemed reluctant to part from the futon, and kept looking back and back as they left.