June 21st.
Today was the day when outdoor demonstrations would take center stage.
"Hmm, it hasn't built up as much as I'd hoped..."
Jin wore a grim expression as he examined the magic tool he had activated the previous day.
"Even if I increase the output now, it looks like it'll take until nearly noon to accumulate the required amount."
Muttering to himself, Jin went to the expo's executive committee to request that his demonstration be rescheduled for the afternoon. His request was granted.
Then, at 9:00 AM, the second day of the Technology Expo officially commenced.
Most participants had left their indoor booths in the hands of assistants to head outside. Jin had also entrusted his booth to Regulus 50, one of the newly constructed Quinta units.
An arena had been constructed in front of the harbor, and the vast majority of the expo's visitors had gathered there.
"Kuhu, I’m looking forward to this."
Saki came running over as soon as she spotted Jin and Elsa, taking the seat next to him.
"With Jin here, I should be able to get a detailed commentary."
Ar stood behind Saki, while Edgar took his place behind Elsa.
As for Reiko, rather than standing behind Jin, she was nestled on his lap. With his hands idle, Jin occasionally toyed with her hair or stroked her head. Reiko looked absolutely delighted by the attention.
"Oh, it looks like things are finally starting."
A giant magi-screen had been installed in the arena as well, ensuring that the presenters' faces were clearly visible even from the furthest seats.
"And now, the second day of the 10th Technology Expo is officially open!"
As the announcement boomed through a loudspeaker magic tool, the demonstrations finally began.
The first presenter showcased a new model of carriage.
Though it was billed as a new model, it was mostly just a fresh design. It was little more than a convertible where the roof could be removed as needed; Jin wasn't particularly impressed.
The second presenter introduced a new type of golem. Three units, armed with a sword, a spear, and a mace respectively, performed a martial arts routine.
Their movements were reasonably fluid, and they possessed an air of dignity. Jin’s mental evaluation was "decent."
Then came the third presenter: Reinhard.
"Our third presenter is Reinhard Randol! His entry is the paddleboat Scarlet Trail and the golems that power it—Mac and Mick!"
The magi-screen displayed the Scarlet Trail floating in the harbor.
"This vessel utilizes a propulsion method entirely different from traditional designs: the paddlewheel. It is driven by 'twin golems' capable of perfectly symmetrical movements—that is its defining feature!"
Reinhard's explanation echoed through the arena. Impressed murmurs of "Oh" and "I see" rippled through the gallery.
"Now, let us show you what it can do. Mac, Mick, go!"
Reinhard boarded the Scarlet Trail himself, and the boat accelerated instantly, surging out of the harbor.
The onlookers stared in amazement at its speed.
"Oh, it's fast!"
"What an innovative approach."
"Hoh, it can even change direction like that."
The spectators were captivated as they watched the boat not only turn but also slowly pivot in place by varying the speed and direction of the left and right paddlewheels.
"Lastly, I must mention that the person who first conceived of this method was our honored guest, the Honorary Magi Craftman of the Kingdom of Egerea, Lord Jin Nidou."
Reinhard concluded his presentation by making sure the credit for the original idea went to Jin.
Since Jin’s name had already spread after his mini-golems the day before, whispers about him began to circulate throughout the arena.
"This Honorary Magi Craftman named Jin who appeared out of nowhere—just what kind of man is he?"
"No, he’s not a complete unknown. I heard he won the Golem Boat Race held in the Kingdom of Elias."
"I've heard that as well. Apparently, he's a favorite of both the King and the Prince of the Kingdom of Egerea."
However, the chatter ceased abruptly as the fourth demonstration began.
"O-Oh..."
"Wh-What on earth..."
When the presenter pulled back the cloth covering a massive, container-like object, a single golem stood up.
It wasn't just any golem. It was a giant, standing roughly six meters tall.
Granted, the Titan Jin had built was fifteen meters, and the ancient artifacts of the Shouro Empire reached twenty meters.
Compared to those, this one could be considered small, but compared to a standard golem, it was gargantuan and possessed an intimidating presence.
"The fourth presenter is Marcus Greenbalt! He is the grandson of the previous Magi Engineer Maestro!"
Marcus bowed with an exaggerated flourish upon being introduced and began his presentation.
"Ladies and gentlemen! This golem is called 'Golias.' It was constructed with the goal of creating the largest golem possible using current technology!"
At Marcus's command, Golias took one, then two steps.
Indeed, its movements were smoother than one might expect, far superior to models like the Gigas. It seemed Marcus had made a wise decision by limiting its size to six meters.
His claim that this was the limit of "current technology" didn't seem to be a mere boast.
"Hmm, I see. I definitely made the right choice sitting next to Jin."
Saki was nodding along, listening to Jin's whispered technical commentary, but Elsa had a different thought.
"Marcus... If I recall, he was a magi engineer who used to work for my father. But I never knew he possessed that level of skill."
Elsa spoke while completely overlooking the fact that she herself had become a top-tier magi engineer in less than two months.
Then again, that was only natural. Unless one had an exceptional mentor and the aid of Trans Info, such rapid advancement was impossible in the field of magi craft.
"Besides... he wasn't nearly this arrogant back then."
The face was unmistakably the same, but Elsa felt his current behavior was entirely out of character.
"Now then, Golias, begin!"
The golem was at least a semi-autonomous type. Upon receiving Marcus's command, Golias suddenly accelerated its movements.
"Hmm?"
Golias moved about, the ground shaking beneath its weight. A golem nearly four times the height of a human was moving with human-like agility. In other words, it was moving four times faster.
To be more technical: because the angular velocity of each joint matched that of a human while its scale was four times larger, its linear movement speed was quadrupled.
It was a startling sight to behold, and for those unaccustomed to it, it felt quite surreal.
The visual image of its size simply didn't match its actions. It was common sense that the larger something was, the slower it moved.
Though there were exceptions, massive animals were generally sluggish, and the same usually applied to magical beasts.
"Ji-Jin, that’s incredible! Don't you think so?"
"Hmm, it's decent, I suppose."
Saki was momentarily taken aback by Jin's dismissive answer, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Y-You call that 'decent'!?...Phew, right, of course. I forgot you’re the type of person who flips common sense on its head without a second thought."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Kuhu, of course it is."
Saki gave him a bright smile. Reiko, still perched on Jin's lap, also smiled with an expression that said such an opinion was only to be expected from her father.
"Hmm, it's a bit underwhelming..."
It was a soft voice, but since the crowd had just fallen silent, the words carried.
"Lord Ernest, what are you saying?"
Princess Lieschen, sitting beside him, tried to hush him, but it was too late.
"Oh? Did I just hear... the Prince of the Kingdom of Egerea say something? Pray tell, what exactly did you find 'underwhelming'?"
The guests were seated at the very front for the best view, so Prince Ernest’s comment had reached Marcus Greenbalt's ears quite clearly.
"No, it's nothing."
"It couldn't be 'nothing.' You said 'underwhelming' quite clearly. Please, enlighten me for the sake of my future studies."
Marcus’s tone was cloyingly persistent. The spectators in the arena had also turned their attention toward them. Prince Ernest shook his head, realizing he had no way out.
"...I just thought it was slightly inferior to the giant golems of Deus Ex Machina."
"Deus Ex Machina? Ah, you mean that fishy fellow who allegedly appeared during the Unifilar incident."
"Deus Ex Machina is not fishy!"
Deus Ex Machina was a savior of the kingdom. Prince Ernest could not remain silent when his benefactor was being slandered.
"My apologies. However, he hasn't shown his face since that incident, and his identity remains unknown. If you don't call such a person 'fishy,' what would you call them?"
"..."
Unable to provide a counterargument, Prince Ernest fell silent.
"Well, as long as you recognize my golem, 'Golias,' that's all that matters. It is certainly superior to the golem of such a fishy character, after all."
Prince Ernest bristled once again. He completely ignored Princess Lieschen, who was desperately tugging at his sleeve beside him.
"...That's not true."
"Pardon? What was that?"
"I said, that's not true."
"And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Marcus continued with his insolently polite attitude. But then, a third voice cut in.
"That's enough, Marcus."
The speaker was a man in his late forties with a distinctly military bearing. He had a sturdy, powerful build, platinum blond hair, and light blue eyes. He placed a firm hand on Marcus’s shoulder to restrain him.
Jin recognized those features immediately.
"...Father."
Elsa, sitting next to him, whispered the word.
"Your father?"
Indeed, the hair and eye color were identical to Elsa's—or rather, Elsa had inherited those striking features from him.
"...So that's Elsa's father."
He had a rugged face and a muscular frame, radiating the aura of a career soldier.
"Prince Ernest, and all of you in attendance, pray forgive us. I apologize on behalf of Marcus."
Offering a formal apology and a bow, Elsa's father, Georg Randol von Amber, practically dragged the grumbling Marcus off the stage.
Reiko watched the two of them with a sharp, piercing gaze—focusing particularly on Marcus—until they were completely out of sight.
Meanwhile, the giant golem, Golias, was left standing right where it was.
"N-Now then, for the final presenter of the morning session..."
The announcer's voice rang out through the buzzing venue, and the fifth presentation began. It was another new carriage, this one a lightweight model decorated with flamboyant ornaments.
However, the impact of the giant golem still standing in the arena was too great. For a carriage that lacked even a suspension system and relied purely on its outward appearance, the audience's reaction was lukewarm at best.