Magicraft Meister Part 1

The group is seated at a large table. The Marquis is of course seated at the top, Jin on his left and Reinhardt on his right. Berthe is next to Jin, and Erza is next to Reinhardt. Saki and Karen are seated below.

Reiko, Noir, Neon, Edgar and Lisa stand behind their masters. Meine is also behind Elsa, along with Edgar.

As soon as everyone was seated, the waiter brought tea. It was a fragrant green tea.

"Now, the letter you received on the fast horse didn't give me any details, but I assume that you are here today to visit me?

"Yes, Marquis. Yes, Marquis. Therefore, I have a gift for you from Elsa.

I wonder...

First of all, please take a look at this.

Jin looked at her and Elsa took off the coat Lisa was wearing.

"Hohoho ......."

The Marquis' eyes widen. Karen and the other waiters and servants present gasped.

"...... My name is Lisa. I created this automaton.

"My name is Lisa."

Lisa bows not with a curtsy but with a normal bow, as if she were an automaton.

Her gestures and appearance caught the attention of those who saw her for the first time.

"...... would like to take care of you. Do you like it?"

Elsa speaks in a lower voice than usual. It seems that she has not completely gotten over her dislike for the marquis.

"Oh, oh, I like it!　You said your name is Lissa. You want me to take her?

Yes, if you like her.

Yes, if you like her.　She's lovely.

I'll take good care of her, sir.

Lisa, be careful.

Yes, Mr. Creator.

Thus, Lisa became the automata of the Marquis' family.

The Marquis took her hand,

"Good day to you, Lissa."

He noticed that her hand was warm and asked Elsa about it.

"...... Yes, Lisa has a body temperature as warm as a human's."

"Well, is that so?"

Karen shouted in surprise. It is not common for automata to have a body temperature.

"Hmmm, Erza, you really have become a good magi engineer. ...... I guess it was worth it to study under Jin-dono.

After taking a sip of tea and clearing his throat, Jin decided to carry out another of his plans.

"Sir, I have something to report.

"Hmm?　...... got it. You guys stay outside the room until I call you.

Right away, sir. Thank you very much.

The waiters and servants went out of the parlor. Those remaining were Jin, Reinhard, Berthe, Elsa, Mine, Saki, Karen, and the Marquis.

"Is this all right?"

Yes, thank you. I'm going to go to ...... and make my report. I found out who poisoned you, sir.

"What?　The Imperial Guard Knights haven't found out yet.　Who is it?

It was a man named Marcus Grinwald.

He was the first to state his conclusion.

"Marcus ......?"

The Marquis's face grew grim.

"Yes. And Marcus was being manipulated by someone. These are the two things we know for sure now."

"......How do you know this?"

"First, I checked Markas's room at the residence of Viscount Georg Randall. There I found arsenic, a bottle of liquor that the Marquis liked to drink, and some documents that supported that he had poisoned it.

Jin explained and kept his mouth shut to see how the Marquis would react.

The Marquis meditated and seemed to be thinking about something. Saki took his place.

"Ji-jin, really?　I know Marcus's face at least, but he was the one who killed your grandfather?

"Jin-sama!　If that's true, then Viscount Georg Randall is the ringleader, isn't he?　This is unforgivable!"

Karen's statement was the conclusion that Jin and Erza most wanted to avoid. That is why Jin had investigated Markus.

"......Wait, Karen."

Just as Jin was about to elaborate, the Marquis stopped him. The Marquis closed his eyes and spoke, as if remembering.

"...... I know that the Viscount is a careerist. But if it is for the good of the country, he should use it well. That is how I see it and that is how I have treated him."

The Marquis is calm, perhaps because of his age.

"......The Viscount proposed an engagement when he found out that I wanted Elsa for my wife. The wine I brought him at that time was really delicious, so I told him so, and he began to deliver it to me regularly. ......"

The Marquis opens his eyes and speaks his conclusion.

"The messenger was Marcus Grinwald, of course".

"Is there any of that wine left?　I can check it out and see if it is still there.

The Marquis shook his head at Jin's comment.

"...... there's nothing left. I'm a drinker, so as soon as I get one, I drink it by myself.

Jin heard this statement and wondered if he also had cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcohol.

"You married Elsa off to your father, poisoned her, and then thought you could take over the Marquis' family?　This is even more unforgivable!

Karen was so excited that she looked as if she would run out of the room at any moment. The Marquis calms her down.

"Karen, don't get so emotional. Karen, don't get so emotional. You will not be able to make the right decision.

The Marquis, who had been a lieutenant general, remains calm.

"It is strange that it was the Viscount's idea. If he is going to poison me, he should at least do it after Erza's marriage. More importantly, it should be done after Erza has children.

The Marquis's insight was sharp. Even Karen, who had been so irritated, was convinced.

"Yes, I think your father may be right.

"Yes, he is right. This whole poisoning fiasco was Marcus' idea.

"What?"

How did you know?" the Marquis' eyes were asking eloquently. Jin wondered for a moment what he should do, but then decided to be honest.

"There is a kind of engineering magic called transinfo. Originally, it was used to give knowledge to golems and automata.

"Oh, that's interesting."

The Marquis seemed to be interested in this magic he had never heard of before.

"It requires a rare talent to use it, and it is not for everyone.

Not forgetting to nail him on the head.

"And I can use it. So I transcribed Marcus' memories and examined them. Human memory is so vast that it's impossible to have it all, but I was able to get the gist of what was going on.

"I see. Memories don't lie, do they?

Yes. The former Viscount Georg Randall was not involved in this matter.

After hearing Jin's explanation, the Marquis was silent for a while. Then he slowly opened his mouth.

"...... I must reflect on the fact that I too had a chance to be taken advantage of. So, how are Markus and Georg doing?

"Yes, we have Marcus, but he is unconscious at the moment."

Jin then described the condition of former Viscount Georg Randall.

"......, his brain is bleeding.　He had a hemorrhage in his brain and his personality had changed?"

Karen looked as if she understood.

"Yes.

"Yes. I have heard of such cases, although they are very rare, in people who have suffered serious head injuries.

After so many years in the military, the Marquis understood.

"The viscount's family was destroyed, the eldest son Moritz was left in the custody of Count Randall, the second son Fritz went straight into the army, and Elsa stayed with Reinhardt. Erza is now in the custody of Reinhardt.

Finally, Jin ends his talk by explaining the notice from the government.

"...... understand. So you've brought Lisa here to pacify me.

No, no, it's not like that.

Jin was flustered by the Marquis's tone, who seemed to know everything. Erza seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Haha, that's fine. It is a natural affection between father and son. But Erza, I hope you will be happy. I suggest you set up another house."

And by "another house" I mean not the Randall house.

"Well, if you wish, I could adopt you as my daughter, but perhaps you wouldn't want that?"

"......"

Elsa nodded silently. Then she opened her mouth.

"......I'm just a commoner, that's all. Just Elsa."

But the marquis shakes his head when he hears her say that.

"No, no, you are a first-rate ...... magi engineer and healer, and it would be a loss to the nation if you were to be reduced to a commoner. Perhaps His Majesty feels the same way.

Is that so?

Yes, I think so. ...... Well, I'll leave that to His Majesty. Is that all you've got to say?

The marquis looked at Jin sharply.

"No, there is one more thing. <

"The Demon Tribe?

Jin Jin, demon tribe?　What in the world is ......?

Demon tribe!　Oh my God!

Saki and Karen were in a panic, but the Marquis held them back. Reinhardt and the others were calmly listening to what he had to say.

Saki, Karen. Calm down. Jin-dono will explain everything."

They kept their mouths shut at the sound of his voice. Again the marquis urged Jin.

"Come on, Jin-dono, tell us."

"Yes, sir. Yes, sir. ......"

Jin began to speak.

He spoke of the that had ravaged the Kingdom of Klein. That it was a demon tribe who called themselves Lardus the Humorous who had set it off.

The two who appeared with Lardus, Bemiarouche and Dogmaloud.

And of Markosias, who was controlling Markas this time.

"......"

"............"

They all listen to Jin's story in silence.