âHmm, doesnât look like sheâs in Blue Land eitherâŠâ
Jin was still in Hourai Island looking for Elsa.
âWhat will I say to MineâŠâ
It was now 8 oâclock on Hourai Island. The time difference between here and Kunlun Island was one hour. As it was 7 oâclock on the other island, it was about time for Mine to find Elsa not coming back strange.
âWell, I guess I have to tell the truthâŠâ
Jin had an image of the old Mine burnt in his mind, so he couldnât imagine any other result than getting yelled at.
Despite that Jin warped to Kunlun Island and met with Mine.
âJin-sama, it seems that Elsa is late, has something happened?â
Seeing Mineâs concerned expression, Jin got cold feet. But he braced himself and,
âElsa has⊠gone missing.â
Jin told her the truth.
âEh? Gone missing? Elsa has? What happened?â
Thankfully, Mine accepted the truth without flying into a rage and grabbing Jin. Of course, she looked worried.
âAs a matter of factâŠâ
Jin explained his conjecture of what went on earlier. After hearing the basics, Mine muttered a few words.
âThat kid⊠She surely was curiously peeking into the Warp Gates, wasnât she?âŠâ
The guess was rather on point but it did not change the current situation.
âAnyway, since Iâm searching for her with all I can, donât worry⊠Thatâs probably too much to ask, however, Iâd like you to at least not worry too much.â
Jin said. His remark had a somewhat confusing feel to it but that was unavoidable.
âMh-hm, Jin-sama is the person who saved her and me. As youâre once more searching for Elsa, I trust in you.â
Being told so Jin could feel the pressure, but without showing that on his face he nodded in a big way,
âLeave it to me.â
He said and left behind Kunlun Island.
âMaster, why do you think Elsa-san was able to warp?â
Ann came and asked him. More precisely, she wanted to confirm something to find out the cause.
âHmm, maybe the authentication didnât work well, or perhapsâŠâ
âShe was wearing something with Masterâs Magic Energy in it, donât you think so?â
After hearing that Jin sharply clapped his hands together.
âThatâs right, that has to be it! I wonder why I didnât think of that sooner?â
He couldnât think of any other reason than panicking after Elsaâs disappearance.
While reflecting, Jin gave instructions to Laojin.
âLaojin, like when you looked for Elsa earlier, look for myâŠâ
His instructions tapered off.
âMy Lord, whatâs wrong?â
Laojin seemed puzzled and asked. Jin looked like he had understood something and said,
âRight, thatâs probably it! Elsa was wearing the brooch I gave her to as a present! Isnât that right, Reiko?â
Jin basically wasnât very mindful of peopleâs attire. That included his own.
âLetâs see, thatâs indeed the case. If I recall correctly I think that she had the brooch on her chest.â
Reiko hadnât paid much attention to it either. Like father, like daughter, you could say.
Well, in Reikoâs case she was probably just barely concerned with anyone except for Jin.
âLaojin, that appears to be the most probable one. The same brooch Elsa had last time she was searched for. Please look for it.â
âAs you wish.â
Laojin used the Magi Radar and began searching for Elsa.
The search locations were the places where Warp Gates had been established.
Port Rock, Blue Land, the ruins of the eighth subdivision, and thenâŠ
âMy Lord, there is a reaction from Kaina Village.â
Some 30 minutes after Laojin began the search, he reported of a discovery.
âSo it was Kaina Village!â
Jin was relieved for the time being as she wasnât anywhere dangerous.
âSurely she carelessly went outside and the barrier kept her from coming back, huh.â
The specialty of this sort of barrier was that it was easy to get out from the inside, but you couldnât get in from the outside. It mainly had something to do with the flow of Magic Energy used to cast spells, but letâs not go into details right now.
âEven so, Kaina Village, huhâŠâ
Jin sighed and had a faraway look in his eyes.
âIâm certain I left Kaina Village on December last year, and now is April so itâs been about four months since thenâŠâ
He couldnât tell whether four months was long or short. A lot of things had happened during that time. No, too many things.
Now that he had received the title of Egelia Kingdomâs Honorary Magi Craftsman, he could probably return to Kaina Village at a momentâs notice without any harm.
However, he wanted to avoid inconveniencing the village by all means.
âAnyhow, I donât have any option other than going there tomorrow morning, do I?â
But, she was worried about Elsa too. No matter how good the people of Kaina Village were she was probably feeling lonely.
Then Jin got in touch with Gon, Gen, and the SP dedicated to Hannah.
âIris speaking.â
Iris of the SP spoke as the representative. Jin briefly told her of Elsaâs disappearance and asked if she had by any chance happened to see Elsa around there. Her reply was,
âYes, a young lady thought to be her did indeed come here.â
âA lady named Elsa of around 16 or 17 years of age is satying in the village headman Mr. Gheebeckâs house. She has platinum blonde hair.â
She was unmistakably Elsa.
âShe seems to have received a warm welcome from the village headmanâs niece Barbara. Hannah-chan is also with her.â
Hearing that, Jin felt relieved.
âGot it. Iâll go meet her tomorrow. Until then, take care that nothing happens to Elsa and of course Hannah.â
âYes. I shall have Gon guard the houseâs surroundings.â
And then the call was over.
Now it was past nine PM on Hourai Island. The time difference between here and Kaina Village was a little over two hours so there it was seven PM. It was already total darkness. It was time for the households to go to sleep.
Even if he went there at this time it would be useless. Or rather it would probably cause trouble and maybe even an uproar.
Jin calmed his inner conflict by thinking such thoughts. Then he spoke to Reiko.
âReiko, thereâs no doubt Elsa warped to Kaina Village.â
âKaina Village, is it?â
âYeah. Tomorrow, letâs see, at 8 AM local time should be fine. I was thinking of going to meet her.â
Jin said with a determined look on his face.
âFather, youâre returning to Kaina Village, right?â
Reiko asked as if to confirm.
âYeah. At the very least I have to show everyone Iâm safe, and the rest Iâll decide afterwards.â
Right now Jin wasnât even afraid of taking a whole country on. But he wanted to avoid strife. More so because of Kaina Village.
âI was thinking of going there as Egelia Kingdomâs Honorary Magi Craftsman.â
Just in case heâd be assertive.
âYes, Iâll bring Peach Blossom and the Magi Cannon with me.â
âUm, you wonât need either.â
He thought those things wonât be needed in Kaina village, and he wished they wouldnât become needed.
Jin fell asleep half-anxious and half-expectant of tomorrowâs reunion.
âSo Elsa-san was in a Warp Gate malfunction?â
This was Kaina Village headmanâs, Gheebeckâs house. It was evening.
After a slightly early dinner, Barbara and Elsa were chatting. Although it mostly composed of Barbara talking about various things and Elsa responding.
âMm. Although malfunction may not be exactly what happened.â
âThat right? But, a Warp Gate, huh. Are those things common?â
âEh? What do you mean?â
Barbara explained to Elsa who looked puzzled.
âLast year too, a person who was warped by a malfunctioning Warp Gate came.â
Hearing that Elsa was a little bit startled.
âA-and, that person is?â
âTheyâre no longer here. It was a misunderstanding but the feudal lord of this area, Earl Walter distrusted them groundlessly and they ended up leaving the village. Although the misunderstanding has been cleared already, theyâve not returned so we canât tell them that.â
âAnd then thatâŠâ
Elsa wanted to say something, but at that moment Gheebeck came. By him was a small girl.
âOh my, Hannah-chan, what are you doing here this late?â
It was nearly five PM. It was no wonder Barbara asked that.
âYou see, I was wondering about Elsa onee-chan.â
âMe?â
Elsa was slightly surprised and looked at Hannah.
âYeah. I thought, isnât it lonely after appearing here by herself?â
Hearing that, Elsa smiled.
âThank you. âŠHannah-chan, right?â
âMh-hm, ah, thatâs right, I never told onee-chan my name, sorry.â
Hannah said and quickly bowed her head. Elsa giggled and smiled as she saw that.
âItâs okay. I was saved thanks to Hannah-chan, after all.â
The two had a conversation like that, then Barbara brought them another chair and,
âHannah-chan, sit here. I already asked Elsa about many things. Hannah-chan, you also want to talk with her, right?â