The next morning, immediately after breakfast, Jin set to work refining the golem Lotte. Count Kuzuma was present to witness the process, as were the other participants who had begun their own final adjustments and operational checks.
Yesterday, Jin had copied the movement patterns of Rianna—the unit leader of the Royal Secret Maids Unit 2—into a magi-crystal. Now, he prepared to transfer that data into Lotte’s control core. To him, it felt like an OS update on a PC—or perhaps more accurately, a patch.
"Is that all there is to it?" the count asked, watching curiously.
"Yes. Count, please wake her up."
Count Kuzuma spoke the keyword: "Wake up."
As Lotte sat up, Jin addressed her. "Lotte, how are your systems?"
"I am functional, Father. There are no problems."
Satisfied, Jin led Lotte to a more open area. He turned back to the members of the Royal Secret Maids who were shadowing them.
"Alright then... Rianna-san, if you wouldn't mind, could you try a light attack on Lotte?"
"Eh?" Rianna blinked in confusion. Jin explained that Lotte should now be capable of the same martial arts she used. "I see. Well then, here I come."
Rianna drew a dagger from beneath her skirt. Unlike Lyla, she managed the movement without shredding her own clothing. She lunged suddenly, slashing at Lotte.
Lotte parried the strike with her left hand, stepped forward, and aimed a right fist at Rianna’s solar plexus. Rianna evaded the counter with a graceful backflip.
"Right, that’s enough. Lotte, stop."
This wasn't meant to be a full combat drill; Jin just needed to confirm the movements. He signaled for the two of them to stand down.
"Hmph, truly incredible! Lotte is impressive, but Rianna, you are magnificent as well," Count Kuzuma praised, having watched the split-second exchange with wide eyes.
"You flatter me," Rianna said with a polite bow before retreating to her position.
"The unit leader really is on another level, isn't she?"
"If it were me, that punch probably would have landed."
"Ugh, how does she move like that without cutting her skirt..."
The other watching maids whispered their admiration. One of them, however, seemed to have a rather specific preoccupation.
"Jin, you’re amazing! That’s a rare technique! I’d love to try it myself sometime," Reinhard said, his voice brimming with excitement. Jin suspected that with a little practice, Reinhard could likely master the process.
"However," Reinhard continued, lowering his voice to a whisper. "It isn't wise to do that in front of others. Consider this: what do you think would happen if people realized you could decompile the knowledge of a minister or a general just like that?"
Jin stiffened as the implication sank in. In reality, he couldn't decompile data if the subject resisted, but he couldn't expect the world to be so understanding.
"If you don't want to be exploited by those in power—or framed for a crime you didn't commit—be careful."
Jin gave a sincere nod, grateful for Reinhard’s warning.
Just before noon, the Golem Party finally commenced.
"Have a pleasant afternoon."
Seen off by the Royal Secret Maids, the group departed the Guest House. They were led toward the Inner Palace of the Royal Castle by an escort of ritters.
True to Count Kuzuma's earlier explanation, the guests entered the hall in a strict hierarchy, beginning with the cabinet ministers. After the castle-dwelling nobles, the invited guests—Reinhard and Elsa—made their entrance. Local and distant nobles followed, and finally, it was the turn of the magi craftmen like Jin and Beena.
Scanning the crowd, Jin saw mostly unfamiliar faces, with the exception of Bauthes, the magi craftman who had constructed Earl Guarana’s golem, Owl.
Suddenly, Beena gasped. "Ah! Master!"
"Master?"
"Yes! Jin, look—the person who just went in. That’s Master Gladia Hampton. I studied under him for two years."
"I see."
The man in question was middle-aged and reasonably tall, though his considerable width was his most striking feature.
"I really wanted to go say hello," Beena murmured.
"Don't worry, it's almost our turn," Jin assured her.
A staff member signaled for Jin and Beena to proceed. Looking around, they realized they were literally the last ones in line.
"...Whoa."
The hall was massive, appearing even larger than a school gymnasium. The entire assembly of participants was already gathered.
"His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Egerea, Harold Luan Autocrace-Egerea! His Highness the Third Prince, Ernest Lilm Andrew!"
The final arrivals were the King and the Third Prince themselves. Far at the front of the hall sat the silhouettes of the royal pair. On either side of them, nobles stood in rank, dressed in opulent garments adorned with gold and silver thread or shimmering jewels. Beside each noble stood a figure draped in cloth—their respective golems.
"And now, to celebrate the birthday of His Highness the Third Prince, Ernest Lilm Andrew, we shall begin the Golem Party in the presence of His Majesty the King, Harold Luan Autocrace-Egerea!"
A woman acting as the moderator made the opening declaration in a clear, ringing voice. The gathered nobles burst into simultaneous applause, and Jin’s group followed suit. When the clapping subsided, the King raised his left hand, and a profound silence fell over the room.
"You have my thanks for gathering here today to celebrate my son," the King said. He spoke with the effortless authority of a sovereign, offering his gratitude without bowing.
It seemed that long-winded speeches from those in power were a universal constant. Jin found himself vaguely reminded of the principal's address during school ceremonies.
"...That is all from me."
Just as Jin thought it was over, the guest of honor spoke.
"Thank you all for coming. I am truly grateful that you brought so many golems here, knowing how much I love them."
Prince Ernest was smaller than Jin, appearing to be about the age of a junior high student. Jin recalled hearing that the boy was thirteen.
"...I am told that my father will provide a reward for those who have brought the most impressive golems. I look forward to seeing them. Now, please, show me your creations!"
Finally, the long-winded greetings concluded, and the unveiling began.
"We shall now begin the introduction of our guests and the unveiling of their golems," the moderator announced. "Chancellor Galueri."
An elderly man with white hair stepped forward, placed a hand over his heart, and bowed deeply.
"The golem Celes. Her creator is Stearena-dono, a magi craftman of the Celuroa Kingdom."
Chancellor Galueri pulled away the cloth from the golem standing beside him.
"Ohh!" "Exquisite!" "Magnificent!"
The hall buzzed with sudden fervor. Standing before them was a translucent golem crafted entirely from crystal. She was a female-type with a lithe, flowing silhouette that suggested a woman in her late teens or early twenties. She wore nothing—indeed, clothing would have only marred her crystalline beauty. A purple magi-device was visible within her chest, and her eyes were a burning, brilliant crimson.
"It is an honor to meet you, Prince Ernest. I am called Celes."
Her voice was like the tinkling of silver bells, and her gestures were hauntingly fluid. Her demonstration was a dance—a sequence of soft, human-like movements that captivated every onlooker. The eyes of the nobles, and even the King and Prince, were pinned to her.
"Hmm. No visible joints... that means she must be using Forming to move," Jin noted. While others were entranced by her beauty, his interest was purely structural. "The mana efficiency must be terrible. But she really is beautiful. It's more a work of art than a machine."
He didn't withhold his praise for the design. As someone who struggled with the aesthetic side of magi craft, Jin was genuinely envious of that level of artistic sense.
The magi craftman who had created Celes appeared to be a woman in her late twenties or early thirties. She was an intellectual beauty with copper hair cascading down her back and sharp, reddish-brown eyes. She watched her creation with a quiet, focused intensity.
When the demonstration ended, the hall erupted in thunderous applause.
"Well, that’s it then. Every golem after this is going to look dull by comparison."
"Truly. The Chancellor has the King's reward in the bag."
The nobles whispered among themselves, already convinced they had seen the winner.