Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Viva la Nina / Story
The streets of Constellia are bustling with people on the first day of the Paradise Festival.
Trinket-selling vendors and temporary amusement rides fill the streets, offering a feast for the eyes.
Furthermore, vacant buildings in the city have been transformed into exhibition halls, accessible even without a ticket.
Babylonia Constructs and staff, migrants from all over the surface, visitors from Kowloong and Akdilek, and the awakened machines remaining in the city...
The diverse crowd forms a somewhat surprising yet harmonious scene as they all come here to enjoy this hard-earned festival.
Occasionally, you can glimpse a few familiar faces.
Liv, why don't we head to this "Cooking Lab" first? There seems to be a cooking challenge we can enter using the ingredients they provide.
I think my cooking skills have improved a bit recently. I'll let you have a taste of my cooking first—
L-Lucia! I think... that's a great idea. Why don't I give you a hand?
Or maybe we can visit it on the last day when we meet up with Lee and Commandant. We'll all help you then...
There's a card game tournament in half an hour... Well, guess I'll have to sigh up for it.
Cap! Look what I found! A Flash TR-1200 from Universal Toys that still works and looks great! Check it out, Cap!
Kamui? Finally... I've been trying to reach you, and Wanshi has been looking for you too—
Wanshi... Wanshi? Where did he go...?
I haven't seen him for half an hour.
...Come on, Kamui, Camu. Let's go to the broadcast center again.
Hey, Commandant! Stop daydreaming already.
Only three more booths to go before we're done with this area. Hurry!
Maybe a little too relaxed.
Karenina is holding the cog-flavored ice cream she bought from an awakened machine's stall as she urges you to keep up.
Meanwhile, you are holding two heavy bags stuffed with plushies and toys that Karenina won at a balloon shooting game.
I'll leave you here if you don't get moving!
You were the one who suggested we go for a walk.
Hurry up or we'll miss the time to collect all the stamps of this task.
Karenina waves the terminal in her hand, the flashing countdown and a screen full of digital stamps showcasing her fruitful afternoon.
Are you still upset about dropping your ice cream earlier?
I can let you have half of mine if you want it so bad.
It's not bad, actually. It smells like freshly cooled aerospace titanium... with a hint of carbon steel...
Tut-tut, you're so uncultured. Fine, I'll buy you more at the ice cream stall, you poor thing.
Hm...? What's wrong with my face? Aargh...
Touching the spot where you are pointing at, Karenina realizes that her face is smeared with half-melted ice cream.
W-why didn't you say something sooner?! How long has it been? Have I been walking around with ice cream on my face the whole time?!
Com—man—dant!
Karenina charges at you furiously, but you swiftly dodge out of the way just in time.
Missing you, Karenina watches as the force of her movement sends the ice cream flying off the cone and landing on the ground with a splat.
...
You owe me one.
At that moment, Karenina's alarm on her terminal rings, reminding her that she is almost out of time to collect the digital stamps.
Dammit! The optimal route is going to extend quite a bit if we have to pass by the ice cream stall...
Good idea! I'll leave it to you, then. I'll share the free ice cream voucher with you when I finish collecting the stamps!
Let's meet up at this spot afterward. Come here once you get the ice cream, okay?
Karenina sends you a set of coordinates before hurrying off toward the nearest shop.
Even though you know Karenina does not care about the prize, you have foreseen the outcome when the festival staff handed her an empty ticket to collect digital stamps.
By the time you finish cleaning the ice cream stains on the street in silence, the last pair of customers are leaving with their drinks at the nearby stall.
The pair seems to have noticed you as well. You consider going up to say hello before deciding not to disturb them, respecting your prior agreement.
Having exchanged glances with them, you shift your attention to the owner of the stall.
One second. Hmm... I'm running out of ice cream batter. Let me refill.
A new batch is going to take ten minutes. Is that okay?
Please pay first.
My apologies. I've seen too many dine-and-dash customers lately, so I'm just being cautious.
We lost 40 tons of fine tantalum ores in the last unpleasant exchange, while they lost 40 heads.
But people in this town are trustworthy. I like it a lot.
The Paradise Festival is such a great opportunity to make easy money. I haven't had a chance like this for a long time.
I spoke with the event organizer earlier. They were happy to let Akdilek invest in them.
We'll provide the ingredients and building materials needed for the stalls in exchange for 30% of the profit. It's a good deal for Akdilek.
By the way, we got our soda machines second-hand at a low price from the Babylonia Engineering Force. Renting them out alone has covered the cost.
If Karenina knew Akdilek was profiting at the expense of the Engineering Force, she would probably grab her hammer and teach them what a good deal really means.
I wanted to ask if you were looking for a free consultation or a paid one, but I'll make it a free gift hat comes with the ice cream just for you, Commandant. What's your question?
Are you trying to hire singers and dancers? What's your maximum budget?
That's very generous! Money isn't an issue, then.
Unfortunately, we don't have anyone that meets your needs right now.
Price always comes first, even for deals you can't make.
Although there's no one suitable in Akdilek, we can help you look for one for a small service fee, and we'll guarantee to deliver them to you within a week.
You know Sophia is not really going to kidnap some random post-apocalyptic dancer for you, and you know Akdilek is capable of finding the person you need...
But a week is too long. The Paradise Festival will be over then.
As you consider asking Ayla for someone from WGAA, a new customer approaches the stall.
Excuse me. Do you sell milk tea here?
A young woman dressed in Kowloong attire walks up. She is Hanying, one of the Kowloong visitors from a few days ago.
Yes, but you'll have to wait for a bit.
Hello, [player name]. You are a commandant from Babylonia, right?
Indeed, but the journey here was relatively smooth. Pulao wanted me to see more of the world while...
Hanying glances around her at all the humans and awakened machines walking around here in the newly renovated district.
This place... is called Constellia, right? It's quite different from Kowloong or the Nighter, but it's beautiful in its own way as well.
To see humans and mechanoids walking together... What a rare but wonderful sight.
I found a dance studio run by mechanoids that has something called... a "dance machine"? I tried it out, and it was pretty fun.
Mechanoid dances were quite an eye-opener since all the dances I'm familiar with are based on human movements. I wish my colleague were here. She seems to be an expert on this...
Your right fist hits your open left palm as you come to an epiphany. Seeing your expression, Sophia quickly reacts as well.
Are you a skilled dancer, Hanying?
I've dabbled during my time on the Nighter. I still perform on stage occasionally.
That's simply not true. I'm a mere amateur in the vast and profound field of dance.
Is that true? Give me a moment to get a pen and paper. Do you mind writing down your contact information? Akdilek would love to contact you in the future should any business opportunity arise—
Huh? Wait... I wasn't expecting this. Um... Where should I write it?
Oh, I don't have anything important to do.
Hanying looks at you while writing on a blank postcard Sophia handed her.
Whew, that was close... but I did it!
With a pleasing ping, the final stamp appears on Karenina's terminal. She scrolls through her collection, admiring the fruits of her effort.
But Karenina's excitement only lasts for a few seconds before it fades away. Without more activities, the "Complete" mark on her screen seems somewhat hollow.
Uh...
What was I working so hard for again? The prize... is an ice-cream voucher? Who cares about that?
I haven't really checked out the stores on the way. Well, I guess I can visit them again after I meet up with the commandant later.
Karenina begins to look up at her surroundings after she calms down.
She is standing inside an antique shop opened by mechanoids during the Paradise Festival. Many of the wares on the shelves are relics from the Golden Age.
They are obviously not literal relics. Most of them are simply old household appliances, toys, magazines, cassette tapes, and quirky goods.
They are rarely anything of value. Even the well-preserved appliances are practically useless due to incompatible power delivery protocols, making them no different from trash.
Whoa... Is that a Hyakudai plastic model kit? It has to be a hundred years old, right? And is that... a foldable terminal?
But for someone who grew up in a unique "junkyard" like Karenina, everything here is deeply nostalgic.
How did the mechanoids here get these rare items? Wait, they even have Golden Age vinyls? A whole pile of them?!
Karenina finds an aisle of old records underneath a plastic sign scribbled with "Music".
This is Hallows Eve's "The Walls of Jericho"... and this is Metalic's "Ride the Thunder"...
And Her Majesty's "Crazy Cold Rocks"! Grandpa used to love this band.
I wish I could listen to them... What a shame.
All these records, either worn or broken into halves, are no longer playable, recognizable only by their nearly paint-stripped covers.
As Karenina debates whether or not to buy all the broken records, she reaches the end of the aisle.
What in the world...
An old record player sits at the very back of the shelf, its turntable cracked and its tonearm broken, no longer operable.
Like the other relics in this place, its existence is just a memento of a past long gone.
Yet, it is somehow different from everything else here.
...
Karenina slowly reaches out for the broken record player, gently wiping away the dust on its surface.
What's this song you're listening to, Grandpa?
This song? Hah! It's called Canon. Catchy name, no? My name is said to be derived from it.
This tune was very popular in school when I was young... I didn't understand what was so great about it then, not until I was much older...
Kalon gently patted the old record player on the table. It was one of his few cherished treasures from the past.
His life had been nothing but hardships and madness, but he had managed to keep a few things by his side. Only when he listened to music did he display a calmness he seldom found.
Grandpa, how can this small needle make music just by scratching the disc? Is it some kind of advanced technology?
Haha! Far from it. This is an antique from the 19th century! The mechanism behind it is quite simple, Karen. We'll do a small experiment tomorrow if you're curious about it.
Did you build the record player yourself too? Like the radio you made me last time?
Well... Hahah, I didn't build this one, Karen. This... was a gift someone gave me.
It was a long time ago. You might not guess it looking at me now, but back then... Ah, forget it.
Why? Tell me! I want to know!
Please, Karen... be kind to your grandpa. There are so many things I can't recall anymore...
Kalon's cloudy eyes reflected the seemingly perpetually spinning turntable. At that time, Karenina was still too young to understand the emotions hidden in his gaze.
Only when she accidentally stumbled upon Kalon's diary from his youth did she understand what the record player meant to him.
It was a birthday gift from a young woman, who also gifted him the record that inspired his name to express her feelings.
But Kalon was already on a path he set for himself. After completing his studies, he joined the Science Council to work on a secret project, cutting off contact with the outside world.
That was his lifelong dream—he would dedicate his life to science to benefit humanity.
And he had to give up many "unnecessary" things for it, always remaining by himself.
Perhaps Kalon really did forget the woman's face and her name, but Karenina now finally understands what was hidden behind his gaze.
It was a "regret" buried deep inside his heart, minor yet unforgettable.
Why?! Isn't the record player important to you, Grandpa?
It's okay. Nothing is more important than a full meal for you, Karen.
My hearing isn't what it used to be anyway. We'll use less electricity now that we've sold the player.
See? I removed the motor in advance. Maybe I can build you something in the future.
Kalon rubbed the small motor in his hand. It was the only thing left from the record player he sold.
But...! That was something you kept with you for your whole life! How could you trade it for a few slices of bread...?!
Yes, I kept it for my whole life, but the food here can get us through this month. Grandpa will think of something else later...
But it was the only thing you enjoyed! Why... why can't we even keep that...?
Don't cry, Karen. Grandpa... doesn't need it anymore.
My only regret is I couldn't save it as a wedding gift to you as I planned.
A record player in times like these... Hah! The guy from the pawnshop didn't even know what it was. He thought he could dismantle it to build an alarm clock...
I still remember the birthday card that came with it. It said that it was Universal Toys' third generation...
Universal Toys' third generation...
Universal Toys' third generation "vintage" record player, model RTL730. It was a home entertainment product that Universal Toys marketed to the youth.
It was said that 13.46% of the units sold in the launch year were gifts between couples. Despite being a huge success, only fewer than 30000 units were on the market due to the production line shutdown.
A strange voice suddenly interrupts Karenina's thoughts. Turning around and looking down, she finds a small mechanoid standing near her, unnoticed until now.
Kiske? What are you doing here?
We finished band rehearsal earlier, so we're now free to do what we want.
Karenina, you've been staring at the record player for a while. Are you interested in it?
A little bit. I won't see another one after I'm back on Babylonia.
I've been searching and failing to find one since I could be deployed on the surface. I didn't expect to find the exact model here.
Speaking of which, that was also when I started collecting all those music-related items.
We found these records and this player in an abandoned shopping mall when we were traveling with Cervantes.
We were planning to process the broken records into usable parts, given how hard it was to repair them.
It's an outdated way to store data, after all. Digital music is way more convenient than a pile of vinyl discs.
But Cervantes said they were worth preserving. He said that someone would find them useful one day.
Is that so...? Anyway, have you ever tried fixing the record player?
The RTL730 used a proprietary design from Universal Toys. Its turntable and tonearm could be replaced with other models from the same company.
But the motor inside was a commemorative version produced that year specifically for the player. There's no perfect replacement.
Of course you know it so well. You're in a band, after all.
Wait... You're in a band?!
I'm Kiske, the lead singer and guitarist of Thunder Sparks. I thought you knew that already.
You learned about it 837 Earth hours ago when you rescued me from the sewers...
Stop the irrelevant flashback! Dammit! How did I forget that there are professionals everywhere?
She has almost forgotten the unforgettable first impressions these mechanoids gave her after having lived among them for a while.
There is no shortage of mechanoid artists in Constellia.
...You haven't forgotten how I painstakingly fished you out of the abandoned sewers and replaced your broken sensors with Engineering Force's stock even when I wasn't allowed, have you, Kiske?
I'll never forget the part where you dragged me down into the sewers with you, and I had to spend three whole days inside a cleaning pod afterward!
Uh... Didn't you say the flashback was irrelevant—
Ahem!
Karenina, you're my third most respected person in the world! I shall fulfill any request from you unconditionally as required by Operation Protocol Article 337!
Good, that's the spirit. Don't worry, you'll be aptly paid. Uhm... do you want a free ice-cream voucher?
Anyway, I'm preparing for something very important. I don't know if I'll ever get a second shot at this, so it has to be perfect.
Is it something that can only be done during the Paradise Festival?
Yeah. The Paradise Festival is a celebration only possible because of many people's efforts. It is as wonderful as it is rare in an age ravaged by the Punishing Virus.
Opportunities are fleeting. This time, I want to do my best to not have any "regrets."
At least, not when I'm with—
Prompted by an uncanny instinct, Karenina turns around and spots the familiar figure.
What took you so long? Did you find anything, Commandant?
Seeing your expression, Karenina seems to share a knowing smile.
Obviously!
Babylonia has intended to establish branches of its different forces her ever since it took over Constellia, the largest city inside the Clean Zone.
The goal is to turn Constellia into the second major stronghold for humanity outside Babylonia.
To achieve maximum efficiency, the first branches established in Constellia belong to WGAA and the Engineering Force, who lead the rebuilding efforts in the city.
While most of the WGAA members on the surface are busy organizing the Paradise Festival, a rare group of individuals gather together in this place.
I didn't know there's such a large recording studio here with all the latest equipment... Does WGAA always have this much funding...?
Staring at all the expensive equipment here, Karenina realizes her secret base pales in comparison.
This place started quite shabby as well, but I spent my own money to renovate it later. After all, artifact appraisal and preservation require a very controlled environment, so the investment was necessary.
As for the equipment... I acquired them during the renovation. This studio is meant to be available to the public in the future, so I figured I should just get the best equipment possible.
The awakened machines also helped a lot. Most of the materials were prepared by them.
This is the best environment to help Karenina achieve her wish, isn't it?
It is. There's no better hardware than what we have here.
I said I didn't want to bother WGAA anymore—
But here we are.
Don't worry about it. WGAA is just here to provide the venue, while I can observe the visual effects of your new coating.
Ayla, an artist from WGAA; Kiske, the lead singer and guitarist from Thunder Sparks; and Hanying, a dancer from Kowloong.
So, I'll be coaching Karenina on her dance moves while Kiske and Ayla will work on improving the music arrangement and stage effects. Meanwhile, the commandant will oversee the whole operation. Does that sound right?
Don't worry about it. We're almost done rehearsing our new song. All that's left to do is to keep Kelly away from the gas-booze.
I'm more than happy to help. That said, this is my first time choreographing a dance for this style of music, so please be patient with me.
I still have some work to do for WGAA...
But forget it! Helping Karenina sounds more fun.
Sica and Leonie can take over. I'm sure they won't mind.
Now, let's review the recording of Karenina's rehearsal together and see what we can come up with.
Oh, okay... Eh, w-wait a minute—
Seeing Ayla inserting the disc with the recording of her performance into the video player, Karenina suddenly becomes flustered.
Hold on! I'm not ready—Can you watch it without me? I really don't want to see it again!
That won't do. We have to watch the whole thing together, every single frame of it! It's important to recognize what your weaknesses are and which areas you can improve.
It's also important to overcome your shame. We'll keep this video on a loop until you no longer feel embarrassed watching it.
Ayla turns Karenina's head toward the terminal's monitor.
Spare me...
Thus, your makeshift team of artists begins this journey with a somewhat inexplicable dynamic—
And you sprint toward the final day of the Paradise Festival, aiming to present the perfect conclusion.
