Carrying everyone's hopes and expectations, the month passed in the blink of an eye.
Then came March 1st.
"The moment you have all been waiting for—the day of the Automata Competition is finally here!" the MC, Luckhart Randol, declared.
Cheers erupted from the stadium, which was packed to capacity with spectators.
"I am certainly looking forward to this!" commented Stayhart Randol, his brief words betraying his own excitement for the day.
"Whether we laugh or cry, the 'King' will be decided today. Or perhaps it will be a 'Queen,'" Sion of the All-Creation Clan remarked, also sharing her anticipation for the event.
"Now then, allow me to explain the segments of the competition. They are listed in the pamphlets you have on hand, but..."
Luckhart proceeded to outline the segments as follows:
- Footrace: A 200-meter dash where all participants compete for the best time.
- Obstacle Race: A 1,000-meter dash through a course filled with various obstacles.
- Weightlifting: A test of endurance to see how much weight a participant can lift using a barbell imbued with gravity magic.
- Cooking: Participants prepare a specified dish to be judged by ten randomly selected spectators and a panel of experts.
- Sketching: A one-minute speed-sketching challenge based on a subject provided by a guest. The entire audience will participate in the evaluation.
- Talent Performance: A five-minute window for participants to showcase a special skill. Evaluation is conducted by the entire audience.
The regulations were as follows:
- Materials must be sourced from Onogoro Island, with the exception of the special participants: Jin, Marikka, and Lordtoss.
- The entries must be automata—specifically, they must possess a human-like appearance.
- There are no restrictions on physique; entries may range from infants to giants.
- All entries must be clothed, though the design is left to the creator's discretion.
"By the way, the guest providing the subject for the sketching segment is none other than Sion-sama!"
This announcement triggered another wave of applause from the stands.
The competition segments had been devised by Jin, Marikka, and Lordtoss. They had taken on the task specifically because their entries were exhibition-only and would not affect the overall rankings. Testa, the management magi-brain of Onogoro Island, had also provided technical assistance.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Now, allow us to introduce the participating automata!"
"I can't wait."
"Bib #1, Natalia! Her male-type automata, Nave!"
Upon his introduction, the automata bowed toward the audience. He was a slender figure about 175 centimeters tall, dressed in casual light clothing. With short blond hair and blue eyes, he bore a striking resemblance to Natalia, looking almost like her brother.
(Nave... was that "ship"? Arrow and Ruby are female-types and Veil is a male-type, so I guess she went with a male-type to balance things out?) Jin mused.
Arrow and Ruby were the "Bow and Arrow" sisters. Veil meant "Sail." And Nave meant "Ship." It was a naming scheme that perfectly suited a descendant of Marcia.
"Bib #2, Shu Nidou! His girl-type automata, Merry!"
Merry offered a graceful curtsy. She was a lovely girl-type, standing about 140 centimeters tall and wearing a navy-blue lady's maid uniform. Her fluffy, pale blond hair and green eyes were quite charming.
"I see. He designed her as a counterpart to Edgar," Jin thought. Looking at Merry, he realized that if she stood next to Edgar, they would look exactly like siblings.
"Bib #3, Eugene Foul! His female-type automata, Melanie!"
Wearing a tight skirt, Melanie offered a polite bow instead of a curtsy. Standing 160 centimeters tall, her well-proportioned figure was clad in a sharp navy-blue suit. With her chestnut hair styled in an updo and matching brown eyes, she gave the impression of a dignified, strict schoolmistress.
"Bib #4, Greena Kuzuma! Her girl-type automata, Shal!"
Shal placed her hands on her thighs and gave a deep, formal bow. She was 155 centimeters tall with red hair and brown eyes.
(...She looks like Lotte... no, like Beena.)
The automata's appearance was clearly modeled after Greena's ancestor, Beena. Dressed in a white blouse, a navy vest, and a pleated skirt, she looked like a quintessential schoolgirl.
"Bib #5, Sireen Eschenbach! Her boy-type automata, Allen!"
"He's quite the handsome boy."
Allen bowed with his right hand over his heart. The 160-centimeter-tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed boy-type automata was dressed in a blue blazer, a white dress shirt, and black trousers. Jin couldn't help but wonder if the automata's refined features reflected Sireen's personal preferences.
"Bib #6, Sidney Marek! His girl-type automata, Liddel!"
"Oh, how adorable." "Quite lovely."
Liddel performed a curtsy, lightly pinching her skirt. She was 150 centimeters tall with wavy, waist-length brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a lady's maid uniform that had been customized with extra frills and lace, giving it a delicate, charming feel despite the chic base.
"Bib #7, Werner Randol! His female-type automata, Leila!"
"This one is cute too."
Leila greeted the crowd with a deep bow, hands on her thighs. Her long, blue-green hair and golden eyes left a lasting impression. She wore a lady's maid uniform in a deep crimson.
"Bib #8, Florence Fahlheit! Her male-type automata, Clark!"
"He looks very dignified—or rather, quite dependable."
Clark bowed with his right hand across his chest. He stood 180 centimeters tall with a sturdy build, short-cropped red hair, and gray eyes. He was dressed as a butler.
"Bib #9, Elvis Alcott! His male-type automata, Cyrus!"
"He has a very distinguished look."
Cyrus also offered a bow with his hand over his chest. He was 175 centimeters tall with slicked-back white hair and gray eyes—a rare design modeled after an elderly butler. He was, naturally, dressed in a butler's uniform.
"Bib #10, Rubina Garrett! Her girl-type automata, Alice!"
Alice bowed with a curtsy. Standing 130 centimeters tall with dark brown hair falling over her shoulders and dark brown eyes, her appearance in her blue lady's maid uniform was striking.
"She's Reiko-chan in her own style," Jin noted.
Indeed, Alice was Rubina's homage to Reiko, born of deep respect for the original.
"Bib #11, Jin-sama! It is the one and only Reiko-chan!"
Reiko pinched the sides of her skirt and performed a perfect curtsy. She needed no further introduction; she was Jin's Reiko.
"Bib #12, Lordtoss-sama! His girl-type automata, Momoko!"
Dressed in a dark green lady's maid uniform, Momoko offered her own curtsy.
"This little one is a Reiko-chan homage as well." "Reiko-sama certainly is popular."
Jin assumed the name Momoko came from "peach." She had light blue hair that reached her waist and golden eyes. However, looking at the name, Jin suspected it might be a respect-inspired nod to Marikka's Hanako rather than Reiko herself, given that Lordtoss was more familiar with Hanako.
"Bib #13, Marikka-sama! Her girl-type automata, Hanako!"
It was Hanako, the automata Marikka had brought with her. Clad in a silver-gray lady's maid uniform, she performed her greeting with a curtsy. Her silver hair and light blue eyes were the hallmark colors of the All-Creation Clan.
"Let us give another round of applause for all our participants!"
Following Luckhart's lead, the stadium was once again filled with thunderous applause and cheers.