Magicraft Meister Part 1

"Phew, I feel refreshed."

That night at the encampment in the village of Ugong, the female knights were allowed to take a bath by courtesy of the village.

Although the bathtub was small enough to accommodate only about two people, the female knights were in a good mood as they were able to wash off the sweat of the past few days. In addition, they had reached their first destination, so their mouths naturally lightened up.

"Hey, isn't Fritz-sama wonderful?

"Yes, he's very strong!"

"I heard he's still single."

"Yes, yes, I know. Should I go for him?"

The two young men are having such a conversation. Gloria and her second-in-command, who are older than the two, are silently cleaning the dirt off their bodies.

"Gloria, deputy commander!　When you are finished, will you go back to your country, Mr. Fritz?

The question came from them.

"Hmm?　When we are done, or rather, if we follow the road to Egelea, he will enter the kingdom of Egelea. You haven't told me what happens after that."

"I see. ......"

"I'm sorry."

The deputy remained silent as he sank into the bathtub, listening to their voices. Gloria was concerned about her attitude and called out to her.

"Shea, what are you thinking about?"

Shea" was short for Cynthia, the name of her second-in-command. Gloria called her Shea in normal times.

"No, sub-captain, it's nothing. ......."

"Nothing is nothing, is it?　Shea is usually quiet, but it's rare that she doesn't say a word in a place like this."

"......, you've been paying close attention."

"Well, yes. I've been an instructor before.

Gloria was once an instructor for new female knights, so her concern for her subordinates is quite impressive. It is no exaggeration to say that this is why she has been entrusted with the position of vice-captain of the women's knight corps.

"Really, I'll be fine."

"Really, I'm fine.　You don't seem to be in bad shape.

Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry for making you worry."

Cynthia got out of the bathtub and walked to the changing room.

The night was clear and the sky was full of twinkling stars. There was no wind and it was not too cold even though it was January.

"It's easy to be a night watchman, isn't it?

Gloria muttered to no one in particular.

They take turns standing night watch. Even though they are in the village, it is a necessary measure since they are encamped.

Gloria, her second-in-command Cynthia, and the male knights are supposed to take turns on the night watch, although Gloria's two younger subordinates are exempt.

"Hello, Gloria."

It was Fritz. It was his turn to be the night watchman.

"Oh, Fritz, you're all clear here."

"I'm all clear here, too."

The conversation was cut short. Gloria suddenly remembered what they had talked about during the day.

"Mister Fritz, this may be a little forward of me, but may I see your sword?"

"Hmm?　I don't mind, but it's not much. Besides, I'm holding a shortsword.

Yes, that's fine.

Okay, then. ...... here."

Fritz unsheathed the shortsword at his waist and presented the sheath to Gloria.

Gloria takes it and quietly sheathes it.

Gloria held it up to the moonlight rising from the folds of the tree and looked at the sword.

"...... I see that you have made quite a feat of swordsmanship. The Shoro Empire makes swords of excellent quality.

Gloria sheathed the sword and handed it back to Fritz.

"Thank you for showing me something good."

"Ha, it's very kind of you to say so. This sword is my official equipment.

I envy you. I see that the Shoro Empire has good quality iron ore. ......

A good sword is made of good steel and good steel comes from good iron ore. Gloria was well versed in such things.

"I don't know much about that sort of thing. But I have a cousin who does."

Cousin?

"Yes. His name is Reinhard Randall, a brilliant magical engineer who recently became a baron.

"Reinhardt-sama ......, I have heard rumors about him. <

"That's right. I am proud of my cousin."

"Where is your brother, Mister Fritz?"

Gloria asked as they walked slowly under the moonlight.

"I have one brother and one sister. Neither one of them looks like me, they're both very good. Ha-ha-ha."

"I see. I'm an only child, so I'm a little jealous. Are you both in the military?"

"No. No. My brother is weak. My sister is the ...... best, a Magi Engineer and a court-appointed healer."

"Hou, court-appointed healer (Reichsartz)......."

Gloria remembered. The other day, the court-appointed healer (Reichsartz) of the Shoro Kingdom had cured the king's illness.

And not many women could have been appointed as the Reichsartz's healer.

"...... is your sister with Lady Elsa, by any chance?"

"Oh, yes, that's right. Do you know her?

"Of course I know her, she healed our king the other day!"

Fritz scratched his head.

"Of course I did. I am in awe. That sister of yours is now a rising star."

"But wait a minute. But wait a minute... wasn't Erza the younger sister of Jin-dono?"

Gloria had been working as an instructor for the apprentice knights at the time of her previous visit and did not see Jin and the other knights, so she did not know the details.

"Yes, there are some complicated circumstances.

But Fritz, who was honest at heart, told Gloria everything while making his rounds of the night watch.

"Well, that's the situation..."

"Yes. Now the head of the Randall family is Elsa. I'm lucky that I can make it as a soldier, but he's definitely the one supporting my parents. I can't thank him enough."

As we were talking, the light of a magic lamp approached us from the darkness. It was one of the male knights.

"Gloria, it's time for you to take over.

"Oh, is it that time already?"

Gloria looked up at the sky. The moon was already well up.

"Good day, Mr. Fritz, after you."

"Good night, have a good rest."

Gloria left Fritz and went to her and her second-in-command's tent. She wrapped herself in a blanket.

（When I first met Erza and Jin, I thought they didn't look much alike for brother and sister, but I guess that's the story behind it. Mister Fritz, too, has many circumstances (......).

While I was thinking about such things, I fell asleep.

* * * *

On January 7, Jin was in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias. He was accompanied by Reinhardt and Elsa. And the Marquis of Firenziano.

They had flown in on Jin's airship.

The Marquis was impressed by the speed with which they flew over a distance of 110 kilometers in two hours.

"It's fast. This is revolutionary. The only drawback is the volume of traffic.

The Marquis had a good grasp of its usefulness and weaknesses.

Since the king had been informed in advance, he was granted an audience with the king immediately.

It was not a fancy room like the throne room, but a small hall that was a combination of an office and a reception room.

There, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, King of the Kingdom of Elias, was waiting for Jin and the others.

The king is 59 years old. Gray hair, gray eyes. He is of medium height and build, and is still in high spirits.

He is accompanied by his vizier, the Marquis of Godfar. He is also the lord of Tves in the western part of the Kingdom of Elias.

"Welcome, Sir Jinn Nidor, Magecraft Meister, and his valet, Sir Jinn Nidor. And his valet, Reiko Nido."

Jin and Reiko bowed to the king.

"And long time no see, Sir Reinhard Randall. And welcome, Elsa Randall."

Reinhard bowed deeply and Elsa bowed in curtsey.

"Please don't be too formal. Please sit down first."

At the king's words, everyone sat down and the meeting began.