July 10, 3458.
This day was destined to be a historic milestone for the people of Ars. It marked the inaugural session of the monumental World Conference.
At 9:00 AM Kunlun Island time, the participants gathered in the large conference room of the Jade Pavilion. They were seated at tables arranged in a circle, with two representatives from each nation sitting side by side. Jin sat with Elsa at his side.
The only exception was Deus Ex Machina, who sat alone, as had been previously announced.
"Before we begin, I would like to offer one explanation. We are utilizing a format known as a 'Round Table Conference.' It is a method intended to ensure that no hierarchy or precedence is established among the participants."
At this explanation, murmurs of "Oh" and "I see" rippled through the room. Since there were no negative reactions, Jin proceeded with the formal declaration.
"Then, in the name of the Lord of Kunlun, Jin Nidou, I hereby declare the first World Conference officially open."
Following Jin’s words, a round of applause erupted from all the participants.
"I have asked Deus Ex Machina to serve as the moderator for this session, though I hope that in future meetings, you will select a moderator from among the representatives."
As Jin finished his brief addition, Maquina spoke.
"I shall humbly serve as moderator to facilitate these proceedings. I have appointed Anne, the Lord of Kunlun's personal automata, to serve as the secretary."
Both Maquina and Anne stood and offered a polite bow.
Upon seeing her blue hair, several attendees realized that Anne was an artifact-class automata, a relic from the era of the Great Magic War. Among them was Princess Lieschen, seated in the observer’s gallery. The sight of Anne made her heart ache as she remembered her own nurse automata, Tia.
"Now then, Jin-dono, could you please state the agenda for today once more for the record?" Maquina asked.
"Certainly. Please refer to the materials in front of you."
These were documents Jin had prepared in advance, consisting of copies transcribed onto wood-paper by golems.
"First, regarding continental transportation, I will present a report and future prospects concerning the project commissioned to me as a Magi Craft Meister by His Majesty the King of the Celuroa Kingdom."
"That sounds most intriguing," someone remarked. "Please continue."
"Yes. Furthermore, I have several proposals for magic tools and new systems designed to improve general standards of living."
Maquina nodded.
"Understood. Other matters may arise during the course of our discussions. Does anyone else have a topic they wish to bring before the floor? If so, please raise your hand."
No hands went up.
"It seems we are settled for now. Very well, let us begin with the first theme. Jin-dono, if you would."
"Yes."
At Jin’s command, Butler 41 and 42 brought forward a scale model of the monorail. The model was constructed on a board approximately the size of a single tatami mat.
"This is called a monorail. Since it utilizes a single rail—or track—it is called a 'mono' rail, as the prefix signifies the number one."
"Incredible!"
"So this is it...!"
"I don't fully grasp the mechanics, but it's remarkable!"
"This project was commissioned by His Majesty King Cesar of the Celuroa Kingdom," Jin continued, "with the primary goal of improving land transportation."
Jin paused and looked toward King Cesar.
"That is correct," the King affirmed. "I placed the request with Jin-dono recently."
"At that time, I requested that this system not be limited to the Celuroa Kingdom, but that the transportation network eventually be expanded across the world. His Majesty graciously gave his consent."
Jin looked around at the gathered heads of state.
"In this form of transportation, 'standards' are paramount. If the specifications differ even slightly between regions, compatibility is lost, resulting in extreme inefficiency."
"I see."
"That makes sense, in a way."
Sensing that the response was favorable, Jin pressed on.
"This monorail requires a dedicated track—a specialized path. In that regard, it does have disadvantages, such as the high cost and the scale of construction required."
"Indeed," King Cesar nodded.
"Boarding, disembarking, and loading cargo may also be slightly more complex because the stations are elevated."
"A valid point."
Jin then transitioned to the advantages.
"However, the benefits are numerous. First, it does not interfere with general traffic."
Jin explained that because it operated on a dedicated track, there was no need for railroad crossings where it would intersect with ordinary roads.
"It is also largely unaffected by uneven terrain."
On a standard road, one would have to use the Harden spell to level the ground or build embankments to compensate for dips and hills. An elevated track, however, could be built perfectly straight regardless of what lay beneath it.
"I see. That makes it ideal for high-speed transport."
"For the same reason, it is possible to plot the shortest distance between two points."
"That is true."
In this world, roads often wound and meandered based on the local landscape.
"Additionally, the view is quite pleasant," Jin added. "Being elevated, the scenery from the windows should be excellent. But for me, the most important reason is the prevention of accidents involving pedestrians."
He explained that because a monorail could potentially cause more severe damage than a carriage if it hit someone, he wanted to eliminate that risk entirely.
"With a monorail, we can predict what kind of accidents might occur and exactly where they might happen. If such a vehicle were to run on general roads, those predictions would become impossible."
"I see. Your logic is sound, Jin-dono."
King Cesar and the other attendees nodded in agreement.
"If an accident were to occur, it would be limited to that track, then?" the Empress of the Shouro Empire pointed out. "The risk would be... falling off the rail, for instance?"
"Exactly. And once we identify that risk, we can focus our engineering on ensuring the vehicle cannot easily fall."
"Indeed," said Chancellor Galueri of the Kingdom of Egerea. "It wouldn't be surprising to hit someone on a road no matter where you are. Carriage accidents happen every year, after all."
"Quite so," added Marchioness Firenziano of the Kingdom of Elias.
"Yes. While there may be other risks to consider, most of them will fall under the categories we’ve discussed."
Jin pointed to the model again.
"Initially, I believe it would be effective for urban transportation. If we build the track in a loop and have the cars run continuously..."
"Ah, then there would be no need for the cars to turn around or travel back and forth. That would simplify operations immensely," King Cesar noted with a deep nod.
"Yes. Furthermore, the construction of these tracks would be a perfect task for the Shouro Empire's large-scale Goliath golems and the Celuroa Kingdom's Lyon golems."
"Oh, certainly!"
The idea of using golems for peaceful, constructive purposes resonated deeply with the group.
"What I personally consider vital," Jin said, "is that this system will likely have a minimal negative impact on traditional transportation, such as horse-drawn carriages."
"Mmm. So long-distance transit would be handled by the monorail, while short-distance transport remains the domain of carriages. A division of labor, as it were."
The first to vocalize this understanding was Prince Arthur of the Klein Kingdom.
"Precisely," agreed Chancellor Ardalc de Hegle of the Kingdom of Franz. "If this project were to cause widespread unemployment, it could lead to an economic setback."
"There is also the perspective that the construction of the monorail system will create new jobs, thereby revitalizing the economy," Jin added.
However, this point received less vocal support. The concept seemed difficult for them to grasp. Jin realized that the idea of 'public works' didn't yet exist in their societies, so he chose not to push the explanation further for the moment.
Prince Arthur, however, seemed to have been struck by something and remained lost in thought for a short while.
Jin moved on to the final cautionary points.
"We must also be aware that wherever a station is built, the surrounding land will likely develop. This means there is a high potential for conflict over vested interests."
"Mmm, I see. We must be cautious, then."
"Even selecting the station locations sounds like it will be a challenge."
The reactions continued to be positive and engaged. The entire morning session was consumed by this single, transformative topic.