Magi Craft Meister

Chapter 719

21-30: Side Story 38 — Rodrigo and Marcia

“So this is the Bernstein… the ship you sailed on, Father.”

“That’s right. Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

Fully recovered now, Marcia had come with Rodrigo to see the Bernstein.

They had received permission from the captain to step onto the deck—only the deck, but it was enough.

“I’ll go greet the captain.”

“Okay.”

Leaving Marcia on deck, Rodrigo headed to greet Captain Lugaria Gascal von Arcois.

“Oh, Rodrigo.”

“Captain, since I’ll be disembarking today, I wanted to give my final greetings.”

“That’s right. A little disappointing, but… it seems you made peace with your daughter. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Rodrigo firmly grasped the captain’s extended hand.

“I’ve written down the things I noticed during the voyage. And I also added what I learned from my daughter’s shipwreck.”

He handed over the revised memo “Notes – Updated Version.”

The captain flipped through the pages.

‘Standardization of Mooring Equipment’

‘Precautions for Bringing Diseases Onboard or Spreading Them’

These two sections immediately caught his eye.

“Hm. This perspective is fresh. I’ll report it at once. You have my thanks, Rodrigo.”

“I’m glad it can be useful.”

After another firm handshake, Rodrigo returned to the deck.

“Father, done already?”

“Yes. Shall we go, Marcia?”

“Mm.”

As they walked across the deck, someone called out to them.

“Rodrigo, I heard you’re leaving the ship?”

The lone woman aboard, Kleia, approached.

“Ah, Kleia. Yes—I plan to live here in Potorock and build ships with my daughter.”

“That’s your daughter?”

“Yes. I’m Marcia. Thank you for taking care of my father.”

“Likewise.”

At 169 cm, Marcia towered over the 145 cm Kleia as they exchanged a handshake.

“I’ll come visit again someday, Rodrigo.”

“Yes, and I’ll show you the ship we build.”

“Take care.”

“A safe trip home.”

Descending the gently-sloped gangplank, Marcia looked at her father’s profile.

“…Hmm? What is it?”

He noticed her gaze.

“Father… you’ve lost weight.”

“Now you notice?”

“…From now on… let’s take care of each other.”

“Hey now, that’s my line. Marcia… I’m counting on you from here on.”

“…Mm.”

Together they headed to the town hall.

There were no family registries or resident IDs here, but to work together in her workshop, Rodrigo needed to register as a shipwright.

In Potorock, the lord’s estate took responsibility for managing residents of neighboring towns as well.

＊ ＊ ＊

Returning to the workshop, the two stepped into the backyard.

There stood the newly expanded house Jin had built.

Originally, Marcia lived in a small shed behind the workshop. But since Rodrigo would now live with her, Jin himself had added to the structure.

“…This isn’t just ‘expanding’ the house anymore…”

Potorock was mild enough for a shed to suffice as living space. But Jin’s rebuilt home was a sturdy two-story stone house, the same as the surrounding residences.

It had a true bath—not just a shower—and the toilet was the Hourai Island type: heated seat, warm-water wash, warm-air drying, full deodorization, purification, sterilization, and decomposition.

The kitchen had also been completely renovated, with a direct connection to the workshop for convenient lunches.

“He really is… something else.”

Rodrigo had already told Marcia that Jin was the world’s one and only Magi Craft Meister, officially acknowledged by every nation.

“Yeah… I never imagined Jin had risen so far after we parted.”

At this point, neither Rodrigo nor Marcia knew that Jin had just been crowned Lord of Kunlun.

“He came as an ambassador this time, didn’t he? He said he’d come again soon to talk properly.”

“That’s right. I’m looking forward to it.”

Marcia then led her father to her drafting table.

“Father, this is the large—well, medium-sized—ship I designed.”

An eight-meter trimaran.

“Oh… this is excellent. Marcia, you’ve really been studying.”

“…That feels weird. So, anything you noticed?”

“Hm… This structure is only stable up to around this size.”

“Eh?”

“When we were designing the Bernstein, I actually proposed a twin hull.”

Rodrigo explained the design discussions from back then.

“I see… If Jin and Reinhardt said so too, then scaling up will be impossible.”

“Yes. Mostly due to hull strength.”

At that moment, Jeremy appeared.

“Oh—Manager. And um… what should I call you?”

Rodrigo’s participation had only been announced the previous evening, so Jeremy was still adjusting.

“Rodrigo is fine.”

“Then… I’ll call you Rodrigo-san.”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Jeremy, where’s Baccalus?”

Marcia noticed the absence of the other employee.

“Oh—Baccalus-san is out buying materials.”

“I see. And Arrow?”

“Lady Marcia, I’m here.”

Arrow approached from outside, likely from the dock down the street.

“Ah, Arrow. We’re going to build another trimaran. You’ll help, right?”

“Of course, Lady Marcia. My Creator granted me new functions—I can support you better than before.”

“Jin did? Oh… right, he said he made some upgrades.”

Soon Marcia would be astonished at Arrow’s new abilities—but that moment was still ahead.

“Father, the problem with this medium ship is the power system.”

Marcia had realized the limits of waterwheel propulsion.

The materials were also unsuited for a vessel of this size.

“Yes, naturally. For the Bernstein, Jin created a new propulsion device—

the Jet Thruster.”

“Huh… Do you think he’d make one for us too?”

“Well… he said he’d visit again soon. Let’s ask then. My gut tells me he’ll agree.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Both of them understood Jin well.

But neither guessed he was already planning something beyond that.

“Oh! Baccalus-san, welcome back!”

Jeremy’s voice echoed.

“Manager, I’m back. I’ve brought enough materials to build a new ship!”

The order from Marquis Firenziano had arrived recently.

A shallow-draft vessel to travel upriver along the Naudalia River into the Klein Kingdom.

Length: between 5 and 10 meters.

If the first ship performed well, a batch of five more would be ordered.

And since it was a national project, all materials were supplied by the government.

For Marcia’s workshop—having lost their previous trimaran—it was truly a timely blessing.

“All right—let’s get started!”

With Rodrigo now part of the team, the Marcia Workshop brimmed with renewed energy.