On June 20th, the 12th Technology Expo was underway in the Shouro Empire.
The event traditionally ran for four days, beginning on the summer solstice. Until the year 3459, it had been a biennial affair, but starting this year, it was held annually. The venue for this iteration was the town of Torom, a scenic location northwest of the capital, Loizart, overlooking the shores of Lake Tosmo.
Saki, an alchemist by trade, was exhibiting with great enthusiasm. Her primary attractions were magi-polyethylene (MPE) and expanded magi-polyethylene (EMPE).
"Step right up and have a look! It's the ideal material for cushioning!"
This was Saki's second time participating, and she seemed much more accustomed to the hustle and bustle.
"Oho, quite an intriguing material."
While the alchemists showed some curiosity, the magi-engineers were far more interested.
"It’s lightweight and durable—perfect for the seats of carriages, ships, or even hot air balloons," Saki explained.
She pointed to the samples Jin had prepared for her. One particular display featured a seat cushion with the material layered under leather, sliced cleanly in half by a water cutter to showcase its internal structure.
"I see, I see... Still, this sample itself is remarkable. The structure is clear, and the presentation is quite novel."
"Yes, I sought the cooperation of the Magi Craft Meister for this."
"Oho! That explains it then. If the Magi Craft Meister is paying attention to this material, it must be something special."
The name value of the Magi Craft Meister was immense. Word of mouth spread like wildfire, and soon Saki's booth was packed to capacity. Saki and Aaru did their best to keep up, but they were barely managing to answer the barrage of questions coming from every direction.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...Uuugh... I'm beat..."
The first half of day one had finally come to a close, and Saki was already slumped over in exhaustion.
"Now, now, Saki. What's all this? Want some Persica juice?"
Jin peeked into the break room and called out to her, offering a refreshing drink as a pick-me-up.
"Ah... Jin... I thought you weren't participating this year?" Saki asked, taking the Persica juice and taking a long drink.
She was well aware that Jin was currently involved in the Kingdom of Elias's Large Ship Development Project and couldn't officially appear at public events like this.
"Well, I'm not participating directly, but I couldn't help but worry about how you were doing."
On the other hand, Jin couldn't use his Doppel either; having two Jins in one place would cause far too much confusion.
"...So, worn out on the very first day, are you?"
"Yeah... Actually..."
Saki explained that the turnout was far beyond her expectations.
"I see. A happy problem to have, as they say."
"That may be so, but... I won't last another two and a half days at this rate."
"I suppose not. Alright, wait just a moment....Reiko, contact Laojun. Tell him to send two Smith golems over here."
"Yes, Father."
Thirty seconds later, Smith 151 and Smith 152 appeared in the break room.
"Saki, I’ll lend you these two for the rest of the expo. If we use Trans Info to give them the necessary knowledge, they'll be a huge help."
"Kufu! That’s more than just a help, Jin! Thank you!"
With the Persica juice in her system and reinforcements at her side, Saki seemed to find her second wind.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Is it easy to process?"
"What about its durability?"
"No matter how high the performance, we can't use it if it's too expensive. What's the price point?"
The afternoon brought another flood of visitors and questions, but with the two Smith golems present, Saki's burden was reduced to less than a third of what it had been that morning. The Smiths were exceptionally capable, distinguishing questions from five people at once and answering them in perfect order. They were so efficient that had Jin been watching, he might have compared them to legendary multitaskers of myth.
"Phew, that was a lifesaver. Thank you, Smith 151, Smith 152."
"Not at all. We are happy to be of service."
And so, Saki managed to navigate the first day successfully.
＊ ＊ ＊
Huge crowds continued to visit from the second day onward, but thanks to the Smiths, Saki was never overwhelmed. She was able to take her time providing thorough answers to more fundamental questions.
"How do you achieve the expansion?"
"I'm afraid I can't disclose that for the time being."
"What are the raw materials?"
"A special liquid. That, too, must remain confidential."
"And the manufacturing process for the magi-polyethylene...?"
"There is a dedicated plant for that. However, it’s quite large, so we couldn't bring it here."
Despite the secrecy surrounding the specifics, the reception remained enthusiastic.
"Lady Saki, this is an impressive showing."
"Ah, Lord Degauss."
The Magic Technology Minister, Degauss, also paid a visit to commend Saki on her presentation. However...
"Is Lord Toa not participating this year?" he asked.
Saki nodded with a hint of regret. "No. My father is flying all over the place right now, insisting there's something he absolutely must do."
"I see. That certainly sounds like him," Degauss said with a smile before taking his leave.
＊ ＊ ＊
The third day concluded without a hitch, and Saki let out a long sigh of relief in the break room. The fourth and final day was reserved for general reviews and awards, meaning Saki’s actual work was finished. Whether she won an award or not didn't particularly matter to her.
"Aaaah, it’s finally over!"
"Good work, Saki."
The newcomer was Goose.
"I brought you something. It’s Persica juice specially made on Hourai Island."
"Ah... thanks, Goose."
Slumped as she was, the cold juice helped Saki pull herself together.
"Did you just get here today, Goose?"
"No, I’ve been here since yesterday at noon. I saw your booth was swamped with people, so I figured I’d stay out of the way."
Goose laughed, adding that he already understood her research anyway.
"Then, when I tried to come by after the doors closed yesterday, they told me that no one except authorized personnel was allowed in."
"Is that so? I almost thought you were being cold-hearted."
Saki laughed along with him.
"Haha, sorry about that. Since today is technically the end of the exhibition, I told them I was here to help with the cleanup, and they let me through."
"So that's how it was. I suppose I can't blame you."
"So, what needs packing?"
"Smith 151 and Smith 152, the ones Jin lent me, have already taken care of everything."
"In that case, shall we go grab something delicious?"
"Kufu, sounds like a plan. It’s your treat, right, Goose?"
Saki stood up and took Goose's arm.
"Even though you're probably wealthier than I am... oh well. Consider it an early wrap-up party."
"I’ll take you up on that."
With that, the two of them walked out into the streets of Torom as dusk began to settle over the town.