The season was now completely winter, and snow could be seen falling on the mountain from Kaina Village.
It is a plateau, but the precipitation from the taller mountains that surrounded the village was little, he understood that the rain and snow that fell from the surrounding mountain was damp.
「The snow won’t fall if it piles up like that」
Because Jin more or less grew up in the city, he especially yearned to make a snow hut, but it was impossible in this village.
「Come to think of it, Roland-san hasn’t show lately…」
Though the merchant Roland promised to come once every month and a half, the time to come had long pa.s.sed, but he did not show up.
It’s hard to believe that an honest in nature merchant would break a promise.
One day, a person that was not Roland visited Kaina Village.
「Jin-oniichan, Obaa-chan is calling for you!」
Jin who was making a stove using 《Magic Stone》 in the workshop stopped his hands, and went to the house.
「Jin-san, it’s been a while」
There stood the Tax Collector, it was Lithia Fahlheit.
「Lithia-san, it’s been a while. You seem to be well」
When Jin greeted her, Lithia,
「S-Sorry!」
she said bowing her head. Not understanding what was going on, Jin,
「Wa-, Lithia-san, please raise your head for now. I don’t understand what you’re talking about」
Then Lithia raised her head with a remorseful look on her face,
「For the matter regarding the Golems, I was unable to keep it hushed…」
「Eh?」
「One of the soldiers who was stationed at Toka Village seems to have talked about it upon returning to the capital…」
This was bad for Jin. At the time he was transporting the wheat, the Golem that Jin reconstructed was seen by the villagers and soldiers of Toka Village.
Lithia could not stop one mouth, and that person’s mouth was not closed. The rumours quickly circulated to the capital.
According to Lithia’s story,
The rumour was that a Golem appeared near Toka Village, and the rumours that the person who used that Golem was there reached the king. The king decided to order the prime minister to verify the authenticity of it.
The prime minister careful investigated the rumour, determining that the person who used the Golem was Jin who lived in Kaina Village.
And also that Jin was the developer of the pump that was spreading around the capital in addition to creating the stove that is popular with the commoners.
The king seemed to feel that Jin was a threat when he heard that, ordering the lord that governed the area that included Kaina Village and Toka Village, Earl Walter to bring Jin to him.
「Now aiming for this village, 50 troops of the Earl are heading here, so please quickly run away!」
Lithia concluded.
「Jin…」
To Martha who had a worried look,
「It’s okay. It doesn’t mean it’s a particularly bad thing」
「Jin-san, saying such a thing in this situation…」
「Wouldn’t running away seem rather suspicious?」
Jin said to rea.s.sure them, but he was secretly a little anxious. Lithia gave up on convincing him,
「Jin-san, being a 《Magic Craftsman》 who can control and create a Golem is precious, but it is regarded as a danger if they are not affiliated with the country. So please be careful」
「Thank you Lithia-san. I’ll be careful」
Although with that said, he did not know what to be careful of.
For now, he decided to go back to the workshop to consult with Reiko.
「In the worst case, we may need to run away」
「If that’s the case, it’s probably better if we do not use the 《Warp Gate》. We better make the one here unusable」
「Un, regrettably」
Immediately, they covered the bas.e.m.e.nt where the 《Warp Gate》 is, to the extent they could not return even if they know the entrance.
「You are Jin right?」
An oppressive voice sounded from the entrance of the workshop. He could see a troop of soldiers covered in armour standing. It was faster than he thought.
「Ee, I am Jin, so?」
When Jin answered, the man who seemed to be the commander,
「Fu-n, we’re here to take you b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I will show no mercy if you resist」
He said thrusting out a spear. Jin gently held it down,
「What are you talking about so suddenly?」
Saying that, the man who seemed to be the commander,
「b.a.s.t.a.r.d, do you intend to defy the lord that governs this area, me Earl Walter?」
「No, therefore, why exactly am I being taken?」
To this point, Jin finally understood why Lithia said it was too late to escape.
「Fu-n, the king’s orders. Obediently obey」
This country seemed to be different from what he thought from what he determined when he talked to Lithia about the tax rates. The man in front of him was the type of man to misuse the authority he is given.
「I’m not a person particularly from this country. So I don’t have the obligation to obey do I?」
Gradually Jin’s anger rose. Jin wasn’t particular a n.o.ble character, rather he could be said to be short tempered. He may be sweet to relatives and friends, but he would not forgive those who harm those relatives and friends.
「Onii-chan!」
Hanna tries to run over, but her small body is intercepted by a soldier. No, she was pushed away, falling onto her back.
「Kyaa!」
「Hanna!」
A spear was thrust out before Jin to obstruct him, however.
「Out of my way」
Jin grabbed the spear and used 《Forming》. The spear quickly deformed into a ‘U’.
「Na! The spear!」
「b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You dare disobey!?」
A further 3 spears were thrust out. The one to stop them was the Golem Gon. It came rushing back from its patrol of the village when it felt its 《Master》 Jin in danger.
「Na! This golem! You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, so you were the culprit after all!」
「Culprit?」
Holding Hanna in his arms, Jin asked back with a puzzled face.
「Don’t pretend you don’t know! Golems have been making attacks all over the kingdom right now, you’re the cause of it you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!」
「Haa?」
It was a bad thing, as the appearance of Gon and Gen had not changed much from the time they attacked Jin and the others. Although the colour was changed, the design was mostly the same.
「You still plan on pretending? I’ve seen it once before, there should be those among the soldiers who have too. Though the colour is different, its the same form of Golem that has been attacking people and materials all over the place」
「What?」
Jin recognised that the situation here had become the worst possible. Someone, or something, was using Golems to attack all over Cline Kingdom. The Golem before Gon also seem to be one of them.
「Ground, I should have investigated it a little more that time…」
Although it may be too late, if he examined the core of the Golem, he might have an idea of who the culprit is.
「It’s no use making anymore excuses!」
The soldiers surrounded Jin. Towards Hanna who was held in Jin’s arms,
「Hanna, I have not done anything bad. However, it seems I can’t stay here anymore now」
「Onii-chan…」
「Until Spring, was the promise, I’m sorry I couldn’t keep it. Someday, I’ll come back to see you. Until then, take care」
Once he finished saying that, he secretly slipped a ruby(?) into the pocket of Hanna’s skirt.
And then a single word,
「Reiko!」
「Yes, Father」
Hearing Jin’s voice, the loyal and unmatched 《Automata》 Reiko blew away the 10 soldiers that surrounded Jin in the blink of an eye.
「Na! b.a.s.t.a.r.d, so you’re disobeying!?」
Towards the fl.u.s.tered Earl Walter, Jin,
「Listen, I have not done things like attacking with my Golems. However, I will take my leave here as I do not intend to be charged with a crime I did not commit」
Saying that he handed Hanna over to Martha calling over the Golem Horse 『Koma』, and mounted it. Reiko had got on ahead of Jin.
「Also another word of warning. Dare to even touch a single finger of the people of Kaina Village. I’ll crush Cline Kingdom」
And then twisting the handle,
「Martha-san, I’m indebted to you, take care!」
After saying that, Earl Walter and the soldiers were taken aback and glanced back, when he then began to run towards the mountain to the north. Gon and Gen also followed after.
「W-What are you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds doing! Chase! Chase him!」
However the feet of the Golem was quick and they grew smaller into the distance. Even so, the soldiers chased after them. Earl Walter also chased with an ordinary horse.
「Onii-chan…」
「Jin…」
「Jin-san…」
Hanna, Martha, and Lithia remained, each praying for Jin’s safety.