"That’s it!"
The one-minute mark passed, and the Three-Round Sketching Contest came to an end.
"Now then, let us see what everyone has drawn. Let’s take a look."
"Oh my."
"Oho, this is..."
All thirteen automata had drawn portraits of their respective masters.
"I see..."
The "thing they liked best" for these automata was their own masters.
The judges performed a tentative scoring, but the audience members were unanimous: everyone received a perfect 100 points.
"It seems we can't create a gap in the rankings here."
"I agree."
"Everyone is so kind."
Since their devotion to their masters was equal, the third prompt also ended in a stalemate. Or rather, the result was a thirteen-way tie for first place.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Now, ready or not, it’s time for the final event: the Talent Performance!"
"Each participant will have five minutes to make their own unique appeal."
"I’m looking forward to this. It’s a chance for their personalities to shine."
A fifteen-minute interval followed to allow for preparations. The participants used the time to perform quick maintenance on their automata or set up props. The spectators used the break for various needs, though since it hadn't been long since lunch, most stayed in their seats.
Once fifteen minutes had elapsed, the moderator spoke again.
"Now, the final event: the Talent Performance! First up is Bib #1, Natalia’s Nave!"
The performance area had been cleared during the break, leaving a pristine, flat surface. Nave was still dressed in his rough, light clothing as he stood in the center.
"Now... begin!"
Nave bowed toward the audience and the judges’ booth with elegant, fluid grace. He stood at attention for a moment, perfectly still—until he suddenly burst into motion.
"Is that... Kenpo!?" Sion cried out.
The word "Kenpo" hadn’t originally existed on Planet Ars, but the concept had been imported following the establishment of diplomatic relations with Mitsuho. Before that, such arts had been referred to generally as "martial arts" or "unarmed combat styles." Sion, of course, was familiar with the term thanks to her long association with Jin.
Straight punches, hand-knife strikes, backfists, front kicks, back kicks, and roundhouse kicks—Nave unleashed a series of techniques in a seamless, flowing sequence.
"Oh... he’s quite good," Jin murmured. He found himself curious about where Nave had learned such movements.
"Father, he likely derived them from the security golems on Onogoro Island," Reiko speculated. She and Jin had been having a final briefing until a moment ago.
"That’s a likely possibility."
When Nave’s performance concluded, thunderous applause erupted from the stands.
"Bib #1, that was magnificent!"
"Truly a sight to behold."
"Next up is Bib #2, Shu’s Merry!"
"Oh, it looks like she’s changed."
When Merry entered the performance area, she was no longer wearing her navy-blue lady's maid uniform. Instead, she wore a T-shirt and a pair of half-pants that allowed for easy movement.
"Now... start!"
As the clock began, Merry started humming a melody—a tune very familiar to Jin.
(Is this... no way?)
Merry began to perform a series of exercises in time with her humming.
(I knew it... it’s Radio Calisthenics!)
Merry was performing Radio Calisthenics No. 1.
"This is... if I recall, it was called 'Radio Calisthenics'?" Sion asked.
"Yes," Jin replied. "I heard that Jin-sama taught it to the members of the Family a long time ago. It’s meant as a warm-up routine."
Merry continued her exercises, humming the melody throughout. The routine lasted about three minutes, and she spent the remaining two minutes performing an original gymnastic routine.
"That’s quite adorable!"
"Yes, it suits an automata of her build."
The audience gave her a warm reception, and the performance seemed well-regarded.
"Moving right along, we have Bib #3, Eugene’s Melanie!"
Melanie had also changed her clothes, likely to alter the impression she gave. She had traded her navy-blue suit—which had a professional, teacher-like air—for a chic, one-piece dress. The hem was long enough to trail behind her.
"Now... start!"
"Petals scattering in the wind... flower-rafts coloring the water's surface..."
Melanie began to sing. It appeared to be an original song. As she sang, she began to dance with graceful, fluid movements, looking very much like a modern pop idol.
(Oh, she's actually pretty good.)
Even to Jin, who had grown up seeing various idols in modern Japan, she looked the part. The song lasted about two and a half minutes. Then, Melanie suddenly cast off her outer layer.
"Oh!?"
The long dress transformed instantly into a miniskirt. Melanie immediately transitioned into a different song.
"The blue ocean, the white clouds... the whispering wind carries dreams..."
It was an up-tempo track, and her choreography changed to match the rhythmic beat.
"I see, so that’s why she needed the costume change."
"She has a wonderful sense for singing..."
Melanie finished her song at the exactly five-minute mark and gave a deep, respectful bow toward the stands. The crowd responded with deafening cheers and applause.
"The excitement is really building! Next is Bib #4, Greena’s Shal!"
"Oh, how beautiful."
Shal entered the performance area wearing a vibrant, deep-red long dress.
"Now... begin!"
The moment she started, an up-tempo melody flowed from Shal’s mouth, and a dance began to accompany it.
(That looks a lot like Flamenco...)
Jin didn't know much about Flamenco other than the fact that it was a Spanish dance. It was actually a traditional art form from the Andalusia region of southern Spain, where the singing was just as important as the dancing. To Jin, that was exactly what it felt like, but Sion saw it differently.
"Oh, look at that..."
"It looks like an arrangement based on the songs and dances passed down through the servant race," Sion remarked, seeing through the style.
(The servant race, huh? I wonder if they're preserving the culture of the indigenous people?)
Jin wondered if Vivienne or Goose had unearthed these cultural elements during their research.
Shal was also met with a massive round of applause. The final event was proving to be a spectacular success.