Volume 6 - Chapter 16 – The Branch Manager

06-16 The Branch Manager

The room of the branch manager was in the second floor.

“Manager, I’ve brought the guest.”

The young man from the registration desk knocked on the door and said, and the door opened from the inside.

“Please come in.”

The one who said it and opened the door was a female model Automata.

She was about 150 centimeters tall, petite, and could be said to look like a lady close to nearing adulthood. Her light brown hair reached to her shoulders. Her eyes were light brown, the seemingly most usual hue eyes were in this world. Her face was also built to look average.

Being invited by this Automata, Jin’s group of four entered the room.

The young man who offered guidance excused himself, and went back to his business at the registration counter.

“Welcome, Reinhardt-sama, Elsa-sama. And also, Jin-dono.”

The branch manager seemed to be a sociable old man.

“I am the head of the Blue Land branch of Egelia Kingdom’s Magi Craftsmen’s guild, Philip Teafo.”

It was a rather long title. Since he had a family name, that also implied he had an honorary position, so his competency could be understood.

His body was about as small as Jin’s, with short pure white hair and beard. He had no moustache.

His eyes were so thin you couldn’t tell whether they were open or closed. But, sometimes Jin could feel a sharp glint in the eye flash behind those eyelids.

“Hey, branch manager Philip, it’s been a while.”

“Good day.”

Reinhardt and Elsa seemed to be already acquainted with him.

“So you’re Jin-dono. I read Earl Kuzuma’s letter. So this means Reinhardt-sama, you will be his referee, right?”

“Uh-huh, that’s right.”

“I see. You seem to be a promising Magi Craftsman. Jin-dono, I’m looking forward to working with you.”

Just like that, without much of an examination Jin’s registration proceeded.

“Err, isn’t there an examination or something?”

Jin asked, thinking about something like the task in Port Rock.

“Haha, with Earl Kuzuma and Reinhardt-sama both recommending you, there can be no doubt about it. In addition, that Automata there must be Jin-dono’s work, right? It’s got a wonderful degree of perfection.”

Philip said while looking at the Automata waiting next to Jin.

“She’s Reiko. Rather than my work, she is my daughter.”

Jin said, and Philip responded,

“I see, you’ve got love towards your creations, don’t you. I like that. I think it’s wretched how many of the young Magi Craftsmen these days just run after profits. I wish to see more Magi Craftsmen like Jin-dono.”

His expression then suddenly changed to an embarrassed grin,

“Well, that’s just the complaints of an old man. Now, should I get to issuing the guild registration card?”

“Eh? It’s already over with?”

Jin questioned Philip, who replied,

“That’s exactly right. It’s already over…Donna.”

“Yes.”

When he called out for Donna, the Automata from earlier stepped forward. She had a metal plate in her left hand, and held out her right hand for Jin.

“Jin-dono, sorry for the bother, but please take her hand.”

“Huh?”

To the Jin confused by the suddenness,

“Jin-dono, this Donna can read people’s Magic Energy characteristics with her right hand. She can then record the information on the Mithril alloy plate in her left hand.”

After hearing the explanation, Jin speculated about the method in his mind. Reading the Magic Energy characteristics, this was simple.

Even the Warp Gates came with a function to detect Jin’s Magic Energy pattern.

But, recording the characteristics, this was something he heard for the first time. Not copy the pattern, record. That meant sampling the Magic Energy’s characteristics and quantifying it with numbers or otherwise converting it to a tangible form.

The speed of Jin’s thoughts had a limit.

Jin could only form guesses by the time Donna’s hand reached out to touch him.

Jin was very interested and put his right hand on top of hers.

In an instant.

Donna petrified, and just like that fell on her back.

“Do- Donna!?”

Philip was flustered. Jin also leaned over to inspect Donna’s condition.

“…Looks like the Magic Energy pathways are damaged.”

Jin gave his diagnosis, and Philip confirmed it,

“Hmm, that seems to be the case. But, why?”

The two pondered. Reinhardt also inspected the damage of the Magic Energy pathways, but couldn’t think of a cause.

“I think that an Overflow happened, probably.”

Reiko was the one who said so.

“An Overflow you say?”

Philip opened Donna’s chest with Craft Magic and looked for something.

“Well! It’s just like you said, Reiko was it? But in any case, an Overflow!? Doesn’t that mean Jin-dono has more Magic Energy than Donna’s Magic Energy pathways can handle!?”

“Yes, probably.”

Contrasting with Philip’s agitated raised voice, Reiko spoke indifferently.

“Because Father is the best in the world.”

Nevermind, Reiko was in fact speaking with pride.

“I see, the best in the world, what Reiko, no, Miss Reiko said may not be completely out of mark. Since when I made Donna’s Magi Device I used my own Magic Energy as a reference and intended it to withstand up to five times more.”

“Five times the branch manager’s! That’s amazing! Jin, you’re extraordinary!!”

“I can understand Jin’s work performance now.”

Reinhardt and Elsa were surprised and understanding after hearing that.

Just to be sure, here’s a comparison. If you wanted to measure a length 100 or 1000 meters, a 10-centimeter ruler wouldn’t be an appropriate measuring device at all.

Reinhardt also said something like that, but when Jin consciously held back his Magic Energy, the repaired Donna was able to make a registration card.

It was good that to make the registration card, only the Magic Energy pattern was needed and the quantity was irrelevant, Jin thought in his mind.

＊　　　＊　　　＊

The branch manager Philip said to Jin who was now openly affiliated with the Magic Craftsmen’s Guild,

“I look forward to working with you. Now, this is a bit hasty, but if anything has come to your mind I’d like you to tell me.”

From outside, it’s impossible to tell what’s going on in here, Philip explained and for Jin’s advice.

“Oh, that’s right. I’ve been thinking this for a while, there’s no ‘patent rights’ or anything like that in place, right?”

Jin then gave a quick explanation of the patent system. Well, Jin didn’t know the details himself either.

“I see, so you mean if someone invents a new thing, they’re given special rights to it for a period of time?”

Philip nodded his head admiringly. Reinhardt too,

“In that case, the desire to invent new things will increase!”,

He was somewhat excited. Furthermore,

“It also protects from the circulation of imitations and inferior goods, huh. That killing two birds with one stone!”

Philip said and clapped his hands together.

“We can’t systematically implement it right away, but after this country does it other countries’ Guilds will begin talks of promoting it, I think. Jin-dono, that was a great suggestion, you have my thanks.”

He said and bowed his head down. Jin was flustered,

“N-no, that was just a second-hand telling of what I heard from my teacher, that’s all.”,

He said, hiding his embarassment.

“Adriana, was it, your teacher? She must’ve been a truly magnificent person!”

Reinhardt praised. When she heard that, behind them Reiko had a happy look on her face, but only Jin noticed it.