Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Viva la Nina / Story
The city's central exhibition hall, which was taken by Iris Warbler, was built based on structures from different regions. Most of the data inside was removed following Cervantes' departure.
After confirming there was no valuable information left in the exhibition hall, Babylonia opened it to the Constellia residents as a museum showcasing human and mechanoid art.
During the Paradise Festival, the main hall in the center has been temporarily transformed into a grand stage capable of accommodating thousands.
There are human and mechanoid performances on the stage every day of the Paradise Festival. Anyone who has signed up in advance has a chance to showcase their talents.
But the event everyone looks forward to the most is undoubtedly the grand finale of the festival, the "Joint Show" that closes out the celebration.
The Paradise Festival lasts half a month, the longest duration WGAA could secure without affecting production on the surface.
This arrangement is meant to allow as many people to participate as possible, but it also gives Karenina a final opportunity to polish her performance.
Recording studio, WGAA Constellia Branch. 10:30 AM.
Your smile here is too superficial. It needs to be more impactful.
Why don't you make a heart with your hands here? It's going to catch everyone's eye.
Won't it be too weird?! I know we've seen that a lot in many performances, but... What do you think, Commandant? Will it look unnatural?
See? It will look great! And if we're trying to emphasize the contrast, why don't you make the heart gesture with a disdainful expression...
Uh... Will people really like it?
Ahem! Someone has raised an objection. I think we should respect the opinion of our "producer," right?
Sigh... That's so boring. Fine, we'll redesign this part of the performance...
Constellia Temporary Cafeteria. 11:55 PM.
You've all worked hard! I've prepared some Kowloong noodles for you. Please enjoy them while they're hot.
Thank god. I'm starving... mentally speaking.
I've also brought some special batteries for you, Kiske. The vendor said it's "maple syrup bread" flavored, but I'm not exactly sure how that tastes...
Thank you so much! Are these from Oscar's? Their trickle charging is the best. It always leaves me wanting more.
Oh, these are sliced pig intestines and duck blood puddings. They're very popular rice noodle toppings in some Kowloong regions.
What...?! Are you saying that this is—
What's wrong? Do you not like it?
I've never had these before! Can I have another bowl, Hanying? I need to analyze its flavor more closely!
Photography studio, WGAA Constellia Branch. 4:20 PM.
Hey, do we really need to take these many photos? Shouldn't two or three be enough for the promotional materials?
Of course they are necessary! We need a set for internal use, another one for public advertising, and one for posters. We might even make a photo album if the photos are well-received.
A photo album?! We never discussed that!
A photo album?! Can Thunder Sparks publish one too? I'll make sure every mechanoid we know buys a copy!
Can't you aim higher, Kiske?
If we can make it happen, the final proceeds will be split 70-30 between WGAA and you. Based on past experience, we should be able to make this much...
For real?! This is enough to renovate every workshop the Engineering Force has on the surface!
Are you really asking me to decide?!
Recording studio, WGAA Constellia Branch. 2:40 PM.
Stumbling through various minor incidents, this makeshift team of artists finally makes it to the last day of the Paradise Festival.
Staring at her performance on the tape, Karenina clenches her hands slightly as her left foot fidgets nonstop.
Hanying and Kiske are both busy today, and Ayla just got dragged away by an overwhelmed Sica to handle the piled-up work at WGAA.
Fortunately, all arrangements for the performance have been completed. It is now your job as the "producer" to confirm the final effects.
What do you think? Anything else that needs adjusting?
Having watched the tape, you nod at Karenina and give her a thumbs up.
But Karenina does not appear convinced by what you said.
Is there really no problem? I feel like I can still improve my dance moves during the chorus...
Is that so... Fine. You're the "producer."
We've done everything we can. I suppose I can relax for a bit...
N-nothing—!
Startled by your sudden approach, Karenina immediately jumps away, the Inver-Device on her head flashing red.
What I mean is...
What I mean is, Commandant, have you had fun these days?
Karenina's sudden question leaves you briefly stunned. When you come back to your senses, the memories of the past few days begin to unfold.
That's good to hear.
Seemingly reassured, Karenina rests her hand on her chest, and her Inver-Device lowers.
There's nothing to do now but wait. Ayla told me I should conserve my energy before the performance.
Karenina needs to calm down now and wait in patience so she can be at her best.
...
Why don't we head out for some fresh air, then? Let's see if there is anything new on the last day—
Right then, you hear a crowd suddenly clamoring outside.
You look toward where the noise comes from and see a young couple surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
The young man kneels on one knee before his partner, who looks surprised and flushed.
Ivy, will you marry me?
Gino...
I'm sorry I can't give you the grand wedding you deserve. The least I can do is to tell you how I feel in front of everyone in this city on this festive day.
I don't know if there will be another chance after today. I don't want to have any regrets.
He takes out a silver-colored ring made from aluminum and reaches out to his beloved.
I... Do you know how long I've waited to hear that...?
I do! Of course I do...!
They embrace each other as the crowd around them offers their blessings. Some mechanoids even start to play the "Wedding March" with their speakers.
Karenina cannot stop thinking about what just transpired when she steps out of the WGAA branch.
He... he actually p-proposed here...
There were so many people watching... Didn't they feel embarrassed...?!
Hmph. I didn't say it was bad.
A lifetime... It sounds long, but there are indeed things worth remembering your whole life.
Karenina looks up, shielding her eyes with her hand from the glaring sunlight.
It's already the last day...
Have I really done everything I can...?
Lost in thought, Karenina notices a few life-sized standees with her likeness by a sign that guides tourists to the central exhibition hall.
The posters are out already, huh? They still look too over the top...
I-I wasn't fishing for compliments!
W-what are you planning?
And why are there so many people here? This is a much bigger crowd than the one on the first day.
The crowd from earlier has yet to disperse. Observing the people on the streets, Karenina realizes for the first time just how many people have gathered in the city.
Are they all here... for the show?
A mother and her daughter walk by at that moment. The mother dresses like a doctor from a conservation area, and the girl looks to be around seven or eight.
The girl has an old but well-maintained camera hanging around her neck. Leading the girl by her hand, her mother frequently stops and kneels down when the girl takes photos.
Mom, is today the last day of the festival...?
Yeah, but I heard there's going to be a big show tonight. It'll be a lot of fun.
Your father has work to do this time, so make sure you're taking a lot of pretty pictures for him, okay?
Alright! I will!
...
Mom! Look! Is that the lady on the poster...?
The girl suddenly notices Karenina standing nearby and the posters by the sign.
Oh? You're right...
Miss! Miss! Can I take a photo for you?
The girl is already standing before Karenina by the time she comes to her senses.
Huh? For me...?
H-hi... Can I have your autograph?
M-my autograph? Hold on... I...
The girl's approach seems to have triggered something. More and more people begin to gather around Karenina.
Oh dear! Aren't you—
Excuse me! I'm hoping to ask you—
Wait! Please... give me some space—
Argh...
Excuse me! Move! Move, please—!
Karenina throws you a pleading look. You immediately step forward, shielding her from the surging crowd.
Who are you? What's your relationship with this lady?
You cast a reassuring glance at Karenina, signaling her to leave first and let you handle the tourists.
Karenina nods back, squeezing her way out of the suffocating crowd and quietly slipping away down the street...
Until she disappears from everyone's sight.
Great Hall, Church of Machina.
Before a subterminal of the Gray Tower stands a mechanoid in an old-fashioned top hat. He interfaces with the tower, exchanging information with the constant flow of data inside it.
After the Gray Tower verifies the authentication code in his memory shell, he logs into his Gray Tower account for the first time in a very long period.
This is a backdoor he set up during the inception of this massive data terminal. Only Arcana, who is Sagemachina's agent, and mechanoids with Arcana's status are allowed access.
It bypasses all firewalls and encryption set by the Gray Tower, granting most security clearance to the user so they can freely access or extract information stored within the Gray Tower.
It also comes with a small additional feature—a chat room that allows mechanoids connected to the Church of Machina network to communicate with each other across distances at any time.
This is how he has been able to stay in touch with his compatriots from the Church during his decades of wandering.
Upon reaching the old site of Constellia, his teacher's legacy, he also installed a subterminal in the city that is capable of sharing computing power with the Gray Tower.
It was his insurance policy to ensure the safety of the awakened machines in Constellia in case of emergencies.
He once entrusted the clearance of the subterminal to Dulcinea, but now—
A sonic boom breaking the sound barrier erupts in the open space outside the Church, signaling the landing of "Power", Sagemachina's ride.
Shortly after, a young girl with gray hair pushes open the gate and runs over to Cervantes with a smile upon seeing him standing before the Gray Tower.
Cervantes, I'm back! I got what you sent me!
Welcome back, Sage. The Empress was talking about it with me just now. Is she not back with you?
She said she had to continue her "business trip." Nanami was planning to sneak—to lend her a hand but then decided to come back first.
"Neo Universal Toys"... How curious. Has she made any money at all...? All her messages to us were texts like "I'm bankrupt again!"
Nanami is rooting for her! She's the only one who understands how valuable Nanami's collection of all-gen Flash consoles is! Besides, didn't she just organize a major event in the company's name?
...And it's in Constellia. After avoiding her for so many years, she finally got her way. All I did was ask her to take Dulcinea away and hand over the key of the subterminal to you.
During a casual chat, Dulcinea mentioned to Cervantes that she wanted to see the world beyond Constellia and travel to different places like Cervantes once did.
Though surprised by Dulcinea's idea, Cervantes ultimately encouraged her to follow her heart.
So he asked the Empress to take Dulcinea away when passing through Constellia in one of her many travels and hand the temporary clearance for the Gray Tower's subterminal to Nanami.
But the Empress has clearly taken this opportunity to secretly start a business venture in Constellia called the Paradise Festival.
She was always talking about building a theme park in that city... I guess her wish has finally come true, then. I'm just not sure how things will turn out...
Don't worry. Isn't Hanying there as well? I did ask her to watch over our friends in the city.
Hanying is a prudent person. I do trust her...
In a way, it is inevitable that Cervantes and the Empress are adversaries.
Whenever the usually humble and polite Cervantes was heard arguing loudly with someone in the Church, it was always with the Empress.
Perhaps "artists" and "capitalists" are natural enemies. Cervantes only asked for her help this time because he had no other choice.
"Paradise Festival"... It might sound odd coming from me, but why is she so fixated on it?
Is this momentary "happiness" a "necessary" pursuit for mechanoids and humans right now? If so, what's the meaning of it?
Hmm... Cervantes, you're overthinking this! Your parts are going to age faster if you keep being sour all day!
I seem to hear that a lot... Sage, would you mind enlightening me?
Cervantes looks troubled. He has been trying to recenter himself since he returned from Constellia, but old habits die hard.
I'm not thinking too hard about it! Just because something's not necessary doesn't mean we can't have it!
I might be doing something important right now... something "meaningful," as you would say, but I also don't see a problem with spending some time playing video games every day.
No one can stand being serious all the time, be it mechanoids or humans!
That's why we need a stage like this for people to do things they've been wanting to do but couldn't.
Some opportunities are lost forever if we miss them, and that would leave regrets behind, wouldn't it?
A moment of joy can be cherished for a lifetime. My parents often took me to the amusement park when I was young! I haven't forgotten about those memories.
Yeah... No matter what the Empress thinks, I also want to create memories like this for everyone in the Church.
I see...
Anyway, I'll go notify everyone now. Cervantes, can you set up the communication channel?
No problem.
Watching the spirited girl leave the hall, Cervantes focuses his attention back to the Gray Tower.
A prominent message is pinned by the Empress in the chat room, with a countdown reminding everyone how long it is until the grand finale of the Paradise Festival.
