Jin began crafting the sensor systems for the sapphire golem.
"Eira, Kachea, I think a different color for the eyes might be better. What do you two think?" Jin asked, wanting the designers' input.
"Yeah, that sounds good," Eira agreed.
"I think so, too," Kachea added. "Since her body is blue, perhaps a more understated color would be best." She explained that using a flashy color like ruby might make the design look too gaudy.
"Hmm... In that case, how about something colorless? Transparent?"
"Yes, I think that would be lovely," Kachea said.
With that decided, Jin chose to use transparent corundum for the eyes.
As for the ears (hearing), nose (smell), and mouth (taste), these functions would be imbued directly into the main sapphire body for this model. However, it was undeniable that their performance would be naturally lower.
"But this will compensate for that," Jin explained to the girls as he worked. He pulled out a blue, water-attribute magi-crystal. "I'll use Fusion to integrate this as a sensor."
Since the colors were nearly identical, the materials would be almost indistinguishable once merged.
"I see, that's certainly logical," Eira said, impressed.
"So that's the secret!" Kachea added as she scribbled notes.
"Unfortunately, I can't add a tactile sense due to her structure. We'll just have to compensate with ultra-high-speed feedback."
"Let's see... does that mean the hands compare the force applied with the amount the object deforms to determine how much pressure to use?"
"Exactly."
True to her status in the Go-lab, Eira had already mastered the relevant theories.
Finally, it was time to install the control core.
"A great deal of know-how has gone into this control core. I'll send the data to Avalon eventually."
"Oh, I'll be looking forward to that!" Eira exclaimed.
Ending the discussion there, Jin began setting the control core. Using a combination of Forming and Fusion, he installed the core into the chest—right where the heart would be.
He had colored the control core blue as well, making it invisible from the outside.
The only transparent parts of the golem were her eyes. Even then, because the blue from the back of her head showed through, they simply looked like a slightly lighter shade of blue. The golem was blue from head to toe.
"There, that should do it."
After finishing his pre-startup checks and confirming there were no abnormalities, Jin turned back to Eira and Kachea.
"I'm going to do a test run."
"I'm so excited!"
"Yes, I can't wait."
With a short declaration, Jin woke up the sapphire golem.
"Start."
<Yes, Master.>
The sapphire golem sat up.
"Oh, she's beautiful."
"So elegant," Eira and Kachea whispered, their eyes wide with wonder.
"How are you feeling?" Jin asked.
The sapphire golem moved her limbs slightly to check her status.
<Yes, Master. There are no problems.>
"Good. Then let's test her out."
Jin was about to start by checking her gait when Kachea spoke up.
"Jin-san, aren't you going to give her a name?"
"Oh, right, a name... Well, Kachea, Eira—why don't you two give her one?"
"Eh? Us?"
"Hmm... let's see..."
Kachea was momentarily taken aback, but Eira immediately began mulling over ideas. However, it was Kachea who spoke first.
"How about Kaela?"
"Kaela... That is a word from the Magi Language meaning 'blue,' is it not?" Reiko noted. To be precise, it wasn't the standard Magi Language but an ancient dialect used by the Progenitors. It was apparently pronounced as either Kaela or Caerula.
On Ars, such words have been passed down to the present day with their forms and usages altered over time. It was the research of Goose and Vivienne that had extracted these ancient languages and clarified their etymology.
"Oh, I like that."
"It's frustrating, but I couldn't think of anything better. Kaela it is!" Eira agreed.
Since both Jin and Eira liked the sound of it, the sapphire golem's name was officially decided as Kaela.
<I am Kaela. It is a pleasure to meet you.>
Kaela performed a polite curtsy. This particular movement incorporated know-how from the likes of Stearena's crystal golem, Selene.
"All right, let's try walking a bit."
<Yes.>
Kaela walked slowly around the laboratory.
"Hmm, maybe I should at least give her some shoes."
The clacking of her feet against the floor was a bit too loud for Jin's liking.
(I think Stearena applied a cushioned resin to the soles of hers.)
However, resin would eventually wear down. That was fine for a golem kept by the creator, but it wasn't ideal for a formal gift.
"Why not just lean into her role as a lady's maid?" Kachea suggested.
"Hmm, that's an option."
Taking Kachea's advice, they decided to give her a minimal lady's maid outfit. She was equipped with a white brim headpiece, gloves, and shoes. The rest of her sapphire body remained bare.
(It looks a bit mismatched to me...) Jin thought.
"Wow, it really suits her!" Kachea exclaimed.
"Yeah, she looks great," Eira added.
(Wait, really!?) Jin wondered, surprised by their reaction.
The three decided to take her outside to see what others thought. To ensure they gathered unbiased impressions, Jin left Reiko and Hope behind to watch over the workshop.
The reactions were swift and varied.
"O-Oh!?"
"This is incredible!"
"So beautiful..."
"Is this a project by Eira, Kachea... and their guest?"
While some didn't recognize Jin, about sixty percent of the people they encountered felt that her appearance "didn't feel out of place."
"Well, her walking is perfect, but I'm still not sure about the outfit," Jin murmured.
Sixty percent was a decent number, but it was still a bit lukewarm.
"Should we just put a full lady's maid uniform on her?"
While that would hide her beautiful sapphire body, Jin felt that the material didn't need to be flaunted, and he personally preferred her to be dressed.
"I suppose that would be fine," Eira said.
"Yes, she is a gift, after all," Kachea added.
Since they didn't want the King to think the gift was crude or inappropriate, they officially decided to dress Kaela in a full lady's maid uniform.