Chief Administrator Tomax Bartman and Deus Ex Machina III were touring the interior of Avalon.
"This area marks the beginning of the residential district, I take it?" Maquina III asked, noting the neatly manicured rows of roadside trees.
"That is correct. While the student and staff residential districts are separate, there is no difference in the quality of the housing."
"The nature park is also quite lovely."
"Yes. It is a place for citizens to rest their bodies and minds on their days off, so specialized golems manage it day and night."
The park featured trimmed shrubs, elegantly branched trees of various heights, and artificial ponds and small streams. Originally designed to mimic a natural forest, four hundred years of time had allowed a literal natural world to take root.
Just then, a notification arrived on the manacam Tomax carried.
"The party from Nostalgia is expected to arrive shortly."
"Understood," Tomax replied briefly before looking toward Maquina. "As you heard, I must head to the airport at once."
"I shall accompany you."
As Maquina spoke, a Golem automobile—the primary means of transportation within Avalon—arrived to pick them up.
"Good work. We are in a hurry. Take us to the airport via the underground passage."
"Acknowledged."
The underground passages were a network of tunnels running roughly fifty meters beneath the surface of Avalon. Connecting important locations in near-straight lines, they were regulated by the Control Brain, allowing for high-speed travel. While the speed limit on the surface was restricted to thirty kilometers per hour, one hundred kilometers per hour was permitted underground.
An elevator section beside the park opened, and the Golem automobile carrying Tomax, Maquina III, and Squire Rei descended into the depths.
Using the high-speed transit of the underground passage, the group reached the airport in just five minutes. They arrived exactly as the Nostalgia airship was making its landing.
It was a standard-class airship with a total length of forty meters. As the cabin door opened, a beautiful girl with fluttering golden hair and red eyes was the first to descend. It was Elena.
She was followed by Arietta Eoreal, a woman with a dark blonde bob and blue eyes who now served as one of the organization's senior executives. Finally, a third figure appeared: Wattes Schretzer, a military affairs staff officer with a bald head and grey eyes.
These three had come to Avalon as the official representatives of Nostalgia.
"Welcome, Elena-dono," Tomax said, stepping forward to greet them.
"Thank you for having us," Elena replied, pinching her skirt to perform an elegant curtsy.
The sight drew a collective sigh of admiration from the Avalon executives gathered for the reception. Elena introduced the gentle-looking Arietta and the stern, middle-aged Wattes before stepping forward with purpose.
"You are Lord Deus Ex Machina III, I assume? It is an honor to meet you," she said, extending her hand to Maquina.
By initiating a handshake, she was demonstrating that Nostalgia and Maquina stood on equal ground. A stir of whispers broke out among the watching Avalon officials.
"I understand that the Third Generation Magi Craft Meister, Jin Nidou-sama, will be arriving tomorrow."
Elena's comment took Tomax and his staff by surprise.
"Your information is quite fast..."
"Yes, well," Elena said, offering a mischievous, impish smile as she left the details vague.
"It is already late in the afternoon," Tomax offered, feeling slightly flustered. "I suggest you rest for today. Once Jin-dono's party arrives tomorrow, I would like to hold a joint discussion."
Neither Maquina III nor Elena had any objections to the plan.
"...So that is Elena-dono, the one they call the Golden Princess..."
Six eyes watched the Nostalgia party from a distance. They belonged to Eira Shiata, Kachea, and Groma Tray. As students studying in Avalon—and as people who had once been rescued by Maquina—they were deeply interested in the arrivals.
"After all, Nostalgia and Maquina-dono were the ones who drove back those soldiers of Markitus that attacked us," Groma said with his usual earnestness. Kachea nodded silently in agreement.
"Elena's an automata, right? That's incredible," Eira remarked, her takeaway being slightly different from the others.
"And Deus Ex Machina III's airship... it's amazing," Groma added, sounding truly impressed. "If we keep studying here, will we eventually be able to build something like that?"
Eira shared the sentiment. "Yeah. I'd love to make one."
"I-I'm curious about this Jin Nidou person, the Third Generation Magi Craft Meister who's supposed to arrive tomorrow," Kachea said.
Eira and the others seemed to feel the same way.
"Yeah, you're right... I mean, I doubt it, but it couldn't be that Jin, could it?" Groma asked with a wry smile.
"Who knows? Honestly, I wouldn't be all that surprised if it was," Kachea replied with a laugh.
Eira nodded. "True. I'm with her on that."
Groma blinked. "Wait, is it just me? Am I the only one who doubts that the 'Third Generation Magi Craft Meister' is our Jin?"
"Well, I've seen a glimpse of just how amazing he is," Eira said.
"M-Me too," Kachea added.
Hearing that, Groma gave a soft laugh. "...I suppose I can understand that. Regardless, I want to have that golem rematch no matter what."
Groma had not forgotten the promise he had once made to Jin.
"Oh, look! Elena-san and the others are passing by."
As the three students watched from the roadside, Elena and the rest of the Nostalgia representatives passed by in a Golem automobile. Elena waved with a smile, Arietta gave a small, bashful wave, and Wattes sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed.
"Wow, she really is beautiful," Groma Tray muttered, his face flushing slightly as he looked at Elena.
"Oho? What's this, Groma? Have you fallen for Elena-san?" Eira teased.
"It's not like that. I was just wondering what kind of person could have created such a masterpiece of an automata."
"Well, I can't say I blame you. But if you're into that, isn't Maquina III's squire, Rei, also an automata?"
Groma nodded at Eira's comment. "Yeah, that's what I heard. But since Rei-san is always in that light armor, it's hard to tell what she actually looks like."
"That's a fair point."
The three students from the Mercana Principality were evidently doing quite well.