Magicraft Meister Part 1

"Well, I don't know where to start. ......"

Zion tilted his head and looked thoughtful for a moment. Eventually, he seems to have reached a conclusion and opens his mouth again.

The continent of Gondor where we live is much colder than ours. That's why we don't get much crops.

"Yes, of course.

I'm sorry ...... about the population, but I can't reveal it yet. It's a secret of the tribe.

"Yeah, that's understandable. Don't worry about it."

There may be some things he does not know exactly, but information such as the population of his own race is one of the things that should be kept strictly confidential in case of war.

"Since the population plummeted during the war against mankind, the amount of land under cultivation increased in relation to the population, and for a while there was no problem at all.

The Demon Tribe also seems to have been affected by the drastic decline in population.

"For the past 10 years, the temperature has been dropping, and we have not been able to harvest crops satisfactorily.

Cold damage?

Cold damage?　......Oh, I see, that's what you call it here. Yes, there was cold damage. That's why there was a general shortage of food.

Jin thought that the demon tribe wanted produce, just like the old story Vivian had told him.

The reason was simple and easy to understand.

"The heads of the clans have gathered to discuss the matter. What should we do now? In the end, there were two opinions.

I can imagine what you mean.

I guess. One faction wants to trade with the humans for food. The other is a faction that tries to get food by threatening mankind.

"...... is becoming clearer and clearer."

Jin urged on.

"I and Lucas here are of course moderates. But the radicals are different. They are not planning an all-out war, but they are planning to overrun the countryside and turn it into a colony.

Zion explained with a disappointed look on his face.

"The extremists have scattered to various countries to gather information on the current human race in preparation for the war. The five people that Jin-sama met are probably such people. I have also heard the name of Archelle.

Now we have a rough idea of the background of the demon tribe. Now comes the crux of the matter.

"So, when you say you want to help us, what exactly do you expect from us?

"Yes, the first thing is to provide food. I think we can provide materials for magical beasts, etc., so that trade can be established.

Jin thought that this might have been how trade was conducted in the past.

"And what else?　So, if you are the best, there is at least one more thing?

"Yes. Please, stop the extremists!

What?

Is that something you'd ask a single individual to do? No, it's the same for trade. Jin was a little surprised.

"But, but you are a Magecraft Meister, aren't you?　It is said that the Magecraft Meister created unthinkable magical tools and changed our lives!"

"What?"

There is no trace of what the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, did.

Even Reiko does not remember ......, or perhaps she never knew.

"When you made me, your mother was already old..."

Reiko answered, correctly understanding the meaning of Jin's glance at Reiko.

But it was something that the previous generation would have done.

"...... I understand. Tell me more details after this. I'll do what I can depending on the outcome. But tell me one more thing."

Yes, what is it?

"Is there any legend about how the demon tribe came to live in such a cold region?"

The question made Zion's face twitch. Jin regretted his words, wondering if he had asked a bad question.

"I heard that you were driven away by the ...... human race."

Zion answered in a lower voice than before.

"There is a legend that our ancestors were driven away by mankind more than 3,000 years ago and moved to the north.

Unlike his previous cheerful voice, his voice was dark and throaty.

"......I'm sorry. I think I heard something bad."

Jin immediately apologized. Zion sighs deeply and returns to his normal mood.

"No, please don't worry about it. No, don't worry about it, it's just a legend. ...... but it is also true that we demons are the cause of the hatred of humans."

"...... Okay. Thank you for sharing. Your body may not be back to normal yet. Can I have him bring you that juice again?　Or would you like to eat?"

"Oh, in that case, ......, I'll get you something to eat."

Zion's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the thought of being asked to eat. Jin nodded his head.

"Okay. I'll have something ready for you right now. Wait for me."

With that Jin left the room. Reiko followed him. Zion and Lucas are left behind.

* * * * * *

"...... Miss, are you sure?"

"Yes, it's okay. This Jin guy is definitely a magecraft master."

"...... that guy is ......"

"Don't underestimate him. Unlike us, humans have developed magical technology instead of poor techniques to strengthen our bodies with magic.

We have better technology!

Yes, that's true. But that's just the legacy of our ancestors. But the Magecraft Meister is different. They can create new things, things that have never existed before. That's what will help us now."

"...... Got it."

"Have you seen that automaton called Leco?　Did you see that Leco automaton? She's just like that Jin guy.

Yes, indeed. ......

Yes. Then we'll just have to wait. For now, we have to heal our bodies.

Yes.

* * * *

Needless to say, the old man was listening to the conversation between the master and the servant.

Jin was talking with the old man in his room on the fifth floor of Nido Castle.

"What do you think, Mr. Lao?"

<

"Hmm, and the last story about being hunted over 3,000 years ago?"

<

"Well, I wonder if it is true that they were chased."

<

"Yes, and over the years, that is why the expression 'chased away' was used."

<

"That might support my hypothesis ...... that demons and humans have the same origin."

<>

I came up with this theory when I heard the result of Erza's examination that both Zion and Lucas are no different from human beings.

"Ah. The <> of the <> doesn't mean demons or evil, but means <> just like <>."

<

That's what it means.

<

"Oh, we'll have to look into that later."

<<

"Hecaton Cale"?　Is that the one that Reiko defeated in the northern mountains before?"

<

"What brings you to such a place ......"

The possibility that they were their followers is small, and it is more likely that they were there to capture or kill them.

"What makes you think so?"

<

Even if there is 5 meters of snow, a Hecaton Cairn can easily walk in a snowfall of more than 30 meters.

<

"<> or ......"

Jin wondered if the Hecaton Cale that Reiko had defeated might have been a demon sent by the demon tribe.

"It seems that security in the north will become even more important.

* * * *

Jin had his lunch at the cafeteria on the first floor. He ate his lunch at the cafeteria on the first floor.

The miso brought from Kupu is being analyzed by Perid and his team. Since it is a fermented food, it will probably be mass-produced next year at the earliest.

Then came a bowl of miso soup with wakame seaweed.

"What's this?"

"This is the miso soup I just learned to make this morning.

Bere answered.

"Yes, it's a soup stock made from niboshi (dried sardines). It's delicious.

Jin was pleased to see that the miso soup was quite tasty for something he had just learned.

In fact, I think the miso flavor is better than the one I had at the Tecres' house.

On the other hand, Jin tilted his head, thinking that he had only received a handful of miso.

Later, I learned that this miso, or bimpei, was made in small quantities in the southern part of the Shoro Empire.

In other words, it was obtained by the fifth column (quinta) dispatched to the Shoro Empire.