Does the mechanical girl dream of the Messiah?

“This is good.”

"What is this... Is this a silver ornament?"

"It's platinum. Luna's eyesight needs to be improved."

"Hello?!"

Soon after, several handbags filled with small boxes were hung outside the exquisite packaging bag that originally contained the dress.

Then came snacks.

Yes, it is snacks for sure.

"what is this?"

"It looks like a local specialty. Lady Luna, would you like to try it?"

"Pancakes? No, I just had dinner not long ago--"

"Boss, please give me three pancakes, one with vanilla ice cream flavor, one with cherry flavor, and one with strawberry flavor."

"Okay, three pancakes, one with vanilla ice cream flavor, one with cherry flavor, and one with strawberry flavor. Please wait a moment."

"Is Ashlee planning to have one too?"

"The strawberry portion is for Ash. I don't think Luna and Ella are going to continue eating anything related to berries."

"You guys just made the decision for me?!"

Next is the shoe store.

The pancakes tasted really good. Made with high-gluten flour, milk and eggs, they were sweet and chewy, and with those delicious and beautiful ingredients, they were a great snack to eat while walking. Unfortunately, the group didn't have any particularly suitable drinks, so they could only use the pure water generated by the water-making technique to quench their thirst.

By the way, Lunicia's portion was vanilla ice cream flavor, and Ella's portion was cherry flavor.

"Is Ella buying a pair too?"

"It's a good idea though...but, Ashethelyn, I actually have shoes that match the dress."

"Really? Then we only have to consider Luna."

"What do you mean you only need to consider me? What are we doing now?"

"Are you planning to wear those boots and your evening gown to the party like this?"

“Ahh—”

After being dragged into the store like this, after a while, Lunicia had another large paper box in her hand.

This was not the end. Later, Lunicia and her crew replenished their adventure equipment and consumables. They bought Lunicia a new set of straps to restrain the giant sword on her back, and also bought her a new dagger.

The sun, which was originally high in the sky - theoretically hanging in the middle of the sky - now seems to have set far in the west. The bright day has disappeared, and the dusk here is also short enough. The orange-red sky cannot last long before being swallowed up by the seemingly endless darkness. Under the sky without the moon or stars, only man-made lights and fires can bring some brilliance to this world.

A few lights are just a drop in the bucket in a world without any light in the sky. When the number of lights increases from one or two to thousands, they will become a piece of light that can even illuminate the sky. This thing, sometimes called light pollution, is beneficial to people today, and it is not harmful. Under its influence, it is sometimes safer to be outdoors than indoors.

The closer you get to the city center, the harder it is to find true darkness, except in the alleys where few people go. Indoors, due to the obstruction of walls and curtains, as long as the light source is extinguished, it will fall into darkness. Even if some dangerous creatures sneak into the city, as long as they don't meet, how can they beat the darkness that kills them?

Lunicia did not have such an idea, but she still stared at the sky in a trance, seemingly forgetting the fact that she and Ella were carrying large and small bags together.

The moonless sky was so dark that not even a grey cloud could be seen - those rich, dark grey things seemed to be hidden by something, and seemed to be swallowed up by something even deeper. The light projected from the ground formed an extremely colorful glow at the zenith, and behind that extremely colorful curtain was a darkness deeper than ink that could not be penetrated by sight. Are those grey clouds still there, or is there nothing there now, and in the place beyond the reach of light is a scene that has never been seen before?

Lunisia didn't know any of these things.

She just missed the magnificent ceiling with reliefs in the church, and the sky where Marian could look up and see the red moon. They were different from the rosy glow in front of her, and more importantly, they did not have such a thick darkness that would make people frown just by looking at them.

"Mrs. Luna, what are you thinking about?"

Ella carried much more packages than Lunicia. She only gave those that she could not carry and were light in weight to Lunicia. She still carried most of them by herself, even though few of them were Ella's own things.

"Um……"

This question is also difficult to answer because Lunicia doesn’t know what she is thinking.

"I don't know. Why don't you think about what to eat tonight?"

"Tonight..."

Ashlee said nothing, but the map had already been opened silently in her mind.

In the end, it was Ashatherin, who didn't need to eat at all, who chose a place to eat for the two of them.

She can't experience pleasant things like shopping and dining, but she seems to have a great interest in appreciating other people's experiences.

The restaurant Ashlee chose for the group was more formal than the one they had for lunch. For example, the one they had for lunch was only a place for a simple meal, while this one, regardless of its decoration and area, was more suitable for entertaining friends and relatives, or holding some banquets.

...The shooting technique and level of the menu photos are much better than that of the restaurant at noon. After all, the menu of the restaurant at noon was probably made by the owner himself, while this one probably had a special design and photography. It's always like this. Lunisia still thinks that just by looking at the pictures, ah, it's really worthy of Muirand cuisine.

The appearance is still pretty bad.

Lunicia was hesitant at first, but after showing Lunicia the deposit, Ashlee seemed to be completely relaxed. After all, as the saying goes, whoever treats has the final say, so of course she would be the one to choose where to have dinner - while ordering was left to Lunicia, who had no choice but to take over the job.

To put it bluntly, just let her choose whatever she likes to eat.

Chapter 24: First Night

"Actually, we have a special entree tonight. Would you like to try it?"

The waiter's suggestion sounded mysterious and very curious. For Lunisia and her group, it was worth a try. None of the three of them had any dietary restrictions, and they just had no idea what to choose for tonight's main dish. They had eaten Muirand-style braised beef for lunch, so what should they eat for dinner? This was a good option for them to look forward to.

Myrand's first dinner, which sounds more formal than Myrand's first lunch.

No matter what, in the end, it’s still Muirande food.

“The appetizer is…”

"Hey, are we still sharing appetizers or something?"

"Because this shop is more formal. What do you think, Luna-sama?"

"Well……"

In the end, Lunisia really didn't have any ideas. When she was in the Central Cathedral, the food was not so complicated. It was basically a combination of staple food, main course, soup, snacks and desserts provided by the Divine Court. There was nothing much to say about the staple food, main course, soup and desserts, but the snacks were the only one that covered a wider range. Sometimes, if Lunisia was in the mood, she would also suggest cooking by herself, just as a way to practice her cooking skills.

Finally I chose salad.

This salad looked less... um... visually impressive than the one I had at lunch. It was much more ordinary. Arugula, corn, carrots, boiled eggs, diced tomatoes, green beans, and no potatoes, not even mashed potatoes. Compared to the salad at lunch, how should I put it? It lacked some of the Muirand flavor?

Soup was not available at lunch, so the group was able to try some dishes that looked very characteristic of Muirand, such as the beet soup they ordered now, which was bright red, sprinkled with spice crumbs, and topped with a large spoonful of sour cream. With beets as the main ingredient, it had a unique color and flavor. By the way, although the group had some staple food, this big bowl of beet soup was accompanied by sliced ​​whole wheat bread.

There are two snacks in total. One is the more popular cabbage meat roll - cabbage on the outside, meat stuffing on the inside, a little oil on top for seasoning, and green spices for rich color. By the way, the stuffing inside is not just fresh pork and beef mince, but also includes bacon and ham to increase the taste and flavor.

The other dish, although unheard of for the three people from Lunicia, is not unfamiliar to the readers, after all, Francesco Stuart and Mr. Giulio de Howard had just eaten it not long ago. Yes, it is the kind of pork marinated with pepper, salt, spices, etc. Francesco himself is not very particular about these, and his cooking skills are not very good. The cut meat is quite thick and looks like compressed biscuits. The chefs in the restaurant are much more professional in comparison. Considering the acceptance of foreign tourists, they cut the white and pink raw marinated meat into thin and light-transmitting slices, and then use the plate to increase its beauty.

The staple food was relatively ordinary, something that both Lunicia and Ella Hepper had eaten before, a kind of purple multi-grain rice. There was nothing much to say about it, after all, it didn't have a high presence...

To be honest, the highlight of this meal is the mysterious main course that the waiter mentioned before.

What would it be? Beef, pork, lamb chops, roast chicken, or something else? It seems that no matter which one it is, it is difficult to call it a "surprise", but the "special entree" mentioned by the waiter is undoubtedly a surprise. It is good to have the taste buds touched by the superior taste, but if you want to talk about surprise, it is better to surprise people at first sight. It should be something that meets this definition.

What could it be? Even when the waiter brought the main course, Lunisia still didn't understand.

It was quite a scene. It was not something placed on a white porcelain plate, but a large iron pot from which one could hear the bubbling sound even without opening the lid. Traces of smoke and fire had left a distinctive charcoal black on the bottom. Before opening it, no one could see what was inside. There was only the sound of white smoke floating out, which made people salivate and could hardly resist.

"This is……?"

The result surprised Lunicia, because even if she saw it with her own eyes, she didn't know what it was.

Ella remained silent, seemingly confused, while Ashlee seemed to be thinking about something - it was obvious that she understood the true nature of this main dish.

“This is Southern-style iron pot stewed crucian carp.”

That's right, these fish with fins and tails, wide bodies and narrow heads, soaked in dark red sauce, bubbling and emitting heat and fragrance, aren't they the "carp" that readers are very familiar with? The ingredients come from the local area of ​​Myland, and the cooking method comes from the border of South Myland. This authentic Myland cuisine is probably unheard of not only for Lunisia, but also for many travelers from afar.

Hearing this, Ella Hepper's frown relaxed. She had no idea what "carp" was, but she did know what "fish" was. Although she knew where to get it, she had never eaten it before, and had never thought of trying it before, unless she really encountered a food shortage.

There were a total of three stewed crucian carps in the pot, which seemed to be prepared according to the number of diners.

The fact that she didn't recognize this main dish could not be blamed on Lunicia's ignorance, nor was it that the Glorious Divine Court could not afford fish. It was just that there was no need. Ordinary meat was enough to serve as Lunicia's main dish for daily protein supplementation. This was why Lunicia Agris, who was already 21 years old this year, still didn't know what a "fish" was.

The "world" itself has enhanced its ability to deal with pollution, as if nature itself has life, and this life has now enhanced its own immune ability. The soil can absorb pollutants as much as possible, and then crystallize or discharge them to reduce the impact of acid rain falling from the sky and pollutants discharged from factories on the environment. The self-purification ability of water bodies seems to have been enhanced as well, but the effect is minimal.

Under such circumstances, the aquatic ecosystem should have been like the plants on land, which could survive tenaciously although no one knew why. However, the actual situation was completely the opposite. The water ecology in the wild gradually deteriorated over time. In the end, except for the ocean, which was so large that it was impossible to fully control it, it was difficult to find the familiar aquatic creatures in most freshwater lakes and rivers.

The deterioration of the situation is a chain reaction: acid corrosion and pollution kill the animals and plants in the water, and the rotting corpses of animals and plants further pollute the water. Those with low self-purification ability and relative closedness soon become inaccessible cesspools. Only the larger rivers, lakes and reservoirs can barely maintain themselves. If the countries where they are located have spare capacity, they will take measures to protect them and purify them. If they are in countries with very limited technology and financial resources... they can only wish for the best.

This discrepancy is puzzling. Some theories hold that there are some significant differences between "underwater" and "on land." However, after so much time, no one has figured out what this difference is and why pollution has a far greater impact underwater than on land.

Needless to say, in a place like Mariai, there is probably no open-air water body that can be drunk directly in the entire country - it's not a question of whether you will get parasitic diseases if you drink it, but how long it will take to cause gastric perforation and internal organ decay. Needless to say, the mortality rate is very high if you drink it directly without treatment.

It seems that the situation is different in Muirand.

"Carp... In other words, can you buy fish in this country?"

Lunicia was still in a daze, but Ella knew much more about the outside world than she did, so she reacted quickly and asked the waiter beside her.

"That's right." Introducing the dishes they serve is a must-have skill for some store waiters. The other party continued with a businesslike smile, "There are several large reservoirs and man-made water bodies around Muirand, and they regularly provide fish for purchase to citizens in the city..."

After foreseeing that wild water bodies could not last for too long, countries and regions with the foundation and capabilities began to study how to solve this problem. These facilities located in Muirande are used for such a purpose. They use constantly operating water purification equipment to create an artificial water area, simulating real rivers and lakes to the greatest extent possible. This not only ensures water supply, but also allows for the breeding of fish, killing two birds with one stone.

Ella's situation was an exception. For her, who came from the north, the heavily polluted water bodies in the south were novelties: the gray clouds in the sky still existed, but the acid rain in the north could not withstand the cold wind, let alone pollute the water bodies under the thick ice. But no one knew what was under the hard and thick ice. Some people believed that as long as they broke the ice, they could catch fish for food, but no one knew what was caught in the end, and they didn't even know whether the surface was fishing underwater or vice versa.

By the way, the reservoir in Muirand not only has cheap fish such as crucian carp, but also provides residents with these fast-breeding species, and the price is not cheap. As for those precious species, it is difficult to buy them even with money, and everyone must know their final destination.

……

"Don't you really need to take a break?"

Facing Rose's concerned look, Colette just smiled and shook her head.

"Please help me put on the necklace."

Whether the silver necklace inlaid with sparkling diamonds was valuable or not was another matter, but at least its style matched Colette very well.

He handed it to Colette and put it into her silk-gloved hand, and the latter inevitably hesitated.

After getting up and washing, the two of them immediately began patrolling the city. At noon, they returned home, cleaned up, and went to a restaurant in the city for a light meal. In the afternoon, they were completely immersed in composing music and writing manuscripts, with almost no rest. They had to attend a banquet in the evening, and Rose was very worried about whether Miss Caroline in front of her could handle it.

"It's ok."

As if she had seen through Rose's thoughts, Colette answered the question that had not been asked.

"Anyway, there's no difference between being at a banquet and taking a break. The performance is tomorrow night, and with tonight included, there's almost a whole day left to adjust."

"Um, okay."

The worry could not be completely eliminated, but it turned into helplessness. Rose wagged her tail and obediently tied the necklace around the neck of her companion.

Whether it was the neck or the shoulders, the arms or the wrists, the parts not covered by the dress were all smooth and flawless. It seemed that Rose was very concerned about Colette's upcoming banquet and performance, so her performance last night could be said to be very restrained - otherwise, there would inevitably be some marks on Colette's collarbone and neck. Whether it would cause any problems was another matter, but at least it was a bit out of line, and she might have to find some extra accessories to cover it up.

Today's dinner was held on time at the Howard's mansion as expected. The participants had different identities. Members of the four major families would naturally be present. In addition, business celebrities, stars in the Grand Council, and some other nobles and parliamentarians who wanted to make themselves known or had something to discuss would naturally not miss this opportunity. Of course, the premise was that they could receive an invitation.

The four big families can no longer be considered the "emperors" of Muirand. They do still have a considerable degree of ruling power over the country. Even so, the Great Council has sufficient power to restrain them, so that the members of the Stoker, Stuart, Howard and Byron families cannot do whatever they want. This kind of thing sounds very aggrieved. After all, their family coat of arms is painted on the national flag, but they cannot have the same lofty status as the national flag. In fact, they don't seem to think this matter is very important.

Well, this concession is also limited. At least if someone dares to trespass into the territories of the four major families without permission, if they are lucky, they will be brought to court for illegal trespassing. If they are unlucky, they will be chopped in half in the name of self-defense as a warning to others.

Those who were able to attend tonight either received an invitation from the Howard family or obtained an invitation by some means - this kind of thing is generally not investigated, and those who are present are guests. The food and beverage are free and there are no restrictions. The host will not be responsible for the words and deeds of the guests. The only person who can be responsible for this is themselves.

What should we do if someone really has bad intentions?

This is a good question, but it doesn't make much sense because such a thing will never happen.

After finishing her dressing and dressing, Colette took her companion's arm and walked slowly into the magnificent main hall of the mansion.

Interlude: March 3, the end of this month

This month's performance was much worse than expected, probably because I took too many materials.

The situation of the main text also surprised me - the current part of the Muirand chapter has already been written for 100,000 words. It seems that there is actually a lot to explain in this part.

Myurand is actually the first big city that appears in this book, and it is also the first big city that Lunisia and her group can fully explore. Before this, Shuichequ, Nosavi and Twek were more like being pushed by the situation and followed a linear process, so that they could not even take a full look at the city they were in. At least for now, they know nothing about the main storyline of Myurand, so they can enjoy the fun that this map can bring them without any shackles.

The creative ideas of "Does the Mechanical Girl Dream of the Messiah?" and "The Black Fan Chronicle" are slightly different. The nature of the unit drama in the latter is more clear and strong. The unit itself can be unrelated to the theme and the main line, while the unit of the former is often inextricably linked to the main line... Of course, a unit drama is still a unit drama, but the protagonist of the unit drama is not necessarily the protagonist of the book. If the protagonist here is not Lunicia... then who will it be?

Lunicia has many good elements, a kind nature, and a simple and friendly environment in which she grew up. In the end, she is the holy warrior she is now. She may have some shortcomings, which can be unpleasant or increase her cuteness. These are not her biggest problems. I believe you all understand that her biggest challenge is that she knows nothing about the world. Because she doesn't know, she thinks that the world is as simple and friendly as she is, and that fighting can be based purely on kindness and self-defense. If she knows the true face of the world, how should she face the world? This is the proposition left to her by the unit drama, but the unit drama is not centered on her. She is one of the answerers, and the questioner is someone else, and she is not the only one answering the question.

Ella Heper is a character that I am very happy to write, although the points that make me happy about her have not been presented to you yet. On the contrary, she sometimes seems to be more like an old woman... There is nothing I can do about it. After all, among the three protagonists, one is naive and the other has amnesia. Only Ms. Ella is left who has relatively more life experience. Now she has to bear the cost of living... There is nothing I can do about it. Ella's battle is harder to write than Lunicia, and Asheselin's battle is harder to write than Ella's. Lunicia doesn't have many things to consider, such as sword skills, divine arts, and the professional abilities of the paladin. In comparison, Ella is much more complicated. The diversity of the professional abilities of the spell swordsman, the powerful spellcasting ability of the expansion mage, and the flexible and changeable dual sword skills are all very troublesome. Asheselin is too maneuverable, and the level she can play needs to be limited to a range. Therefore, Myulande has not needed to fight so far, and there will be no battles for a while to come. This is really great, and it allows me to think carefully about how to construct the battle mode of Ella and Ashes.

Some interesting changes are happening to Ashlee. She will not always be a mechanical puppet with only superficial memories and knowledge, living on instinct. I believe you have seen the opportunity for this change. It is those things that can trigger her memory... How will things develop? What is the opportunity for the "Dome Gate" to lead to here? This kind of thing will only be revealed later.

The stage of Mylande is more difficult to construct than expected. As the largest city in the southeast of the continent, a legendary magic city with one city as one country, it not only represents one of the only remaining hopes of this world, but also represents the epitome of the world's magic civilization. It is used as an example to conceive the proper posture of magic modernization, as well as the mechanical technology that exists in all aspects of contemporary human life, and what roles those extraordinary strong people play in society and civilization, and how the society of this world works. These aspects of technology and social tone need to be considered, but I can selectively explain them, some in other parts or simply in the next volume, but some must be put in this volume.

For example, the political system of Muirand, the attitudes, tactics, and abilities of the four major families, how Muirand society views what is happening now, and the daily lives of the people of Muirand... These things must be discussed in Muirand, and can only be discussed in Muirand. This magical city built on the top of the mountain seems to have caused me a lot of trouble.

Fortunately, as a bridgehead of civilization, the quality of the residents here is actually very high. After the collapse of the Nasalan Magic Network, the residents here seem to have figured something out. This is why they can abandon some unnecessary disputes and put more experience on how to deal with the current situation.