"Automata are generally perceived as more of a 'hobbyist interest,' aren't they?" Tobias said, his tone tinged with regret.
"I suppose that’s true," Jin replied.
If a human-like appearance wasn't a requirement, then a golem was more than sufficient for most tasks. Given equal performance, it was only natural that golems—which were far less costly to produce—remained in much higher demand.
"So, what was it you wanted to consult with me about?"
As Jin steered the conversation back to the topic, Tobias looked intently at Reiko.
"Simply by looking at Lady Reiko, who has been appointed as an Honorary Squire, it is clear that you possess a profound affection for automata, Jin-dono. If you could impart even a fraction of your secrets for crafting them—a tenth, or even a hundredth would be enough—we would be eternally grateful for your guidance." He bowed his head deeply.
"Jin-dono, I ask this of you as well," Cesar added. "Naturally, I have considered a proper reward. Could you find it in yourself to assist them?"
Feeling the genuine passion in Tobias’s words and demeanor, Jin decided to accept the request, albeit with conditions.
"Well... I can't stay for long, so if you're truly alright with just the basic pointers..."
"Of course! We know how busy you are, Jin-dono. Even just for today would be more than enough!"
With the matter pressed that far, Jin found he couldn't refuse.
"Very well. Then let’s settle on just today."
"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!"
And so, Jin found himself acting as a guest lecturer for Tobias and his colleagues.
＊ ＊ ＊
Word of Jin’s lecture spread quickly. Researchers from other laboratories flocked to the room, and by the time he began, fifty-one people had gathered to listen.
This was Jin’s first time speaking before such a large group. Since his time was limited, he spent some time debating how to structure his talk before deciding to treat it like a professional corporate presentation.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Jin Nidou."
Taking the stage, Jin began his address, feeling a slight edge of nerves. Most of the audience already knew his face, and despite his youth, not a single person showed any sign of looking down on him.
"Today, I’d like to talk about the secrets of crafting automata."
A low, appreciative rumble of excitement rippled through the crowd.
"Let me clarify something first. When I create an automaton, my goal isn't just to make it 'human-like.' My goal is to make it 'identical to a human.' And beyond that, I aim for it to 'surpass humans.'"
The audience members nodded in unison, their eyes drifting toward Reiko, who stood beside Jin as his assistant.
"Now then, let’s go over a few tips for achieving that."
At his words, the researchers leaned forward as one.
"First and foremost is the appearance. I don't think I need to explain the basics there. However, I will offer one piece of advice: perfect symmetry is too flawless. It actually undermines the sense of humanity. Human faces are rarely as symmetrical as you might think."
Jin explained that if a face is too perfectly balanced, it feels unnatural.
"Next is movement. There is a certain ambiguity to human movement. Golems—even advanced-level golems—lack this. Even if they possess it, it is negligible. That, too, is far removed from being human-like."
About a third of the audience tilted their heads, looking puzzled.
"It might be a difficult concept to grasp, so I’ll show you an example. Reiko, if you please."
"Yes, Father."
Reiko stepped to the front of the stage.
"First, a 'human' walk," Jin announced.
Reiko walked across the stage from right to left. Her gait was indistinguishable from that of a living human being.
"Next, a 'golem' walk."
This time, Reiko walked from left to right. While the movements were graceful, they felt mechanical and strangely cold.
"How was that? To put it simply, human movement possesses the 'ambiguity' I mentioned earlier. To put it another way, it consists of 'redundancy' and 'fluctuation'."
He paused to gauge the room; everyone seemed to be hanging on his every word. It appeared his explanation was landing.
"By 'redundancy,' I mean that when you raise your hand horizontally, for instance, you might momentarily overshoot the mark and then settle back into position. You 'go too far.' It doesn't happen every time, but it’s something you never see in a standard golem."
Many in the crowd nodded along, and Jin felt he was making progress.
"'Fluctuation' is a similar concept. In short, it refers to the reproducibility of a repetitive motion. If you repeat the same action ten times, a golem will be identical all ten times. A human, however, will inevitably show slight variations."
A collective "Hoh" of realization swept through the audience.
"Incorporating this 'ambiguity' is essential to creating the illusion of 'human-likeness'." Jin scanned the room. "Are there any questions so far?"
He had found his rhythm.
"May I ask one thing?" a young female engineer said, raising her hand.
"Yes, go ahead."
"Um... could you tell us the method for creating that 'ambiguity'?"
Jin thought for a moment before answering.
"Well, there are many ways to go about it. I believe that discovering your own 'system' is one of the greatest joys of being an engineer, wouldn't you say?"
The woman blushed slightly and looked down. "I... I see. You're absolutely right."
"That said, I do plan to explain some of those technical approaches next."
At this, the entire audience—not just the woman—seemed to prick up their ears.
"If you aim to create something identical to a human, you must first know humans."
Jin began his explanation, drawing on his memories of the Predecessor, her father Magus Shuuki Tsetse, and his wife, Adriana Tiara.
"You must understand the structure of the human body and build an automaton that mirrors it. Specifically, that means matching the number of joints and their range of motion."
He explained that an automaton shouldn't have joints that humans lack, nor should those joints bend in ways humans can't. The crowd listened with rapt attention.
"To learn more about human anatomy, you might even consider consulting a healer. When you're trying to create something superior, combining technologies from different fields can lead to unexpected breakthroughs."
Jin then moved on to provide a hint that addressed the woman's earlier question.
"Now then, let’s consider the 'movement' of something like a golem. Think about the most rudimentary model, the Stone Golem. Recall how you program its basic 'walking' motion."
Most of the researchers had that level of experience, and they remained focused on him.
"I'll explain using the most basic magi-formula section. In the formula that governs swinging a leg forward, the angle of the swing is set as a variable."
Those who had crafted golems before gave slight nods of acknowledgment.
"This variable determines the stride length. But what if that variable wasn't constant?"
The audience reached the conclusion instantly: the stride length would change.
"Even if it isn't constant, as long as the fluctuation is small—say, a value of 30 that varies between 29 and 31—the automaton should be able to correct itself with the next step."
The sharper minds in the room had their epiphany right then.
"Yes, incorporating these small fluctuations is the first step toward 'ambiguity.' However, if the fluctuation is always the same... well, a fluctuation with perfect regularity ceases to be a fluctuation."
Jin thought back to the days when personal computers were called microcomputers and ran on BASIC. Back then, there was a function called 'random.' It generated pseudo-random numbers, and programmers used techniques like using the current time as an input to make them feel more like true randomness.
Using that as a conceptual base, Jin began to suggest ways to engineer true ambiguity.
"This is just one example. Trying out your own methods is the true path to creating something original."
＊ ＊ ＊
Jin continued his lecture until the very end of the day. As he prepared to conclude, he shared one final thought.
"Automata are by no means mere hobbyist curiosities. In human society, they are not meant to replace us, but to build a life alongside us. That is what I believe an automaton truly is. Thank you for your attention."
He gave a polite bow.
The venue erupted in thunderous, deafening applause.
"Jin-dono, you have my deepest thanks."
Cesar, the King of Celuroa Kingdom, stepped up to greet Jin as he left the stage, offering a firm handshake of gratitude.