Chapter 164 Before the Second Step
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The rhythmic swaying of my body eventually pulled me back to consciousness. I forced my heavy eyelids open. Just before I’d drifted off, I was certain I’d been in my workshop, yet now I felt the familiar, plush embrace of a soft futon.
”Tatara-kun, it’s time for breakfast. Wake up,” a voice called out.
”…Ethel?” I muttered.
I felt someone shaking me. My brain was still in a fog, so I blinked a few times to clear the blur from my vision. Once the world came into focus, I saw Ethelena standing over me, wearing an apron over her everyday clothes.
”…Sorry,” I said, rubbing my eyes. “Did I oversleep?”
”No, it’s fine,” Ethelena replied. “I just ended up waking up early since it’s been a while since I cooked in this kitchen.”
Yesterday, between the drama with Tatia and whatever else was going on, she hadn’t been able to get out of bed. It looked like she’d finally managed to pull herself together today. Come to think of it, I wondered how ‘Yohira’s other sister’ was holding up.
”Hey, Ethelena. What about breakfast prep? How did ‘Yohira’s other sister’ handle things?” I asked.
Ethelena didn’t answer immediately; she just gave me a strained, wry smile. A cold sweat broke out. Did she cause some kind of catastrophic disaster this early in the morning?
Driven by a sudden spike of anxiety, I hauled myself out of bed, grabbed a change of clothes, and bolted for the shower. I needed to blast the cobwebs out of my head and get the day started before things got any weirder.
* * *
After the shower jump-started my brain, I walked into the living room. Breakfast was ready, but the room itself looked like a literal war zone. The place was a wreck.
”…What on earth happened while I was asleep for things to look like this?” I asked, staring at the debris.
”Oh, good morning, Tatara-san,” Mother-in-law said.
(Good morning, Tatara-kun!) ‘Yohira’s other sister’ added.
I stood there, frozen. Ichika and Mitsuha-san, who I assumed had been helping with the meal, were slumped over the dining table. They didn’t just look tired-they looked like they’d been through a meat grinder.
”…Good morning-degozaru¹, Master,” Ichika said weakly.
”Good morning, Tatara-san,” Mitsuha-san added.
”Morning… What happened to you two?” I asked. “You look completely spent.”
Ethelena was supposed to be the third cook. Logically, the workload should have been split three ways. Yet, somehow, Mitsuha-san looked even more exhausted than yesterday when it was just the two of us.
”…Having Okusama² there actually made the cooking part much easier-degozaru,” Ichika explained.
”The problem,” Mitsuha-san interjected with a sigh, “was playing backup for ‘Yohira’s other sister’-sama.”
I felt a pit form in my stomach. I was almost too afraid to ask for details.
”I briefed Ichika-sama and Ethelena-sama on yesterday’s incidents, and we tried to come up with a plan,” Mitsuha-san said.
”Since you were sleeping in for once, Master, we decided to stick to simple tasks that even we could manage-degozaru,” Ichika added.
The two of them took long, weary sips of their tea. It was clear this was going to be a long story, so I pulled up a chair and prepared for the worst.
”Based on the training she received from Mother, we judged that her walking had improved enough to trust her with the plates,” Mitsuha-san explained, her eyes fixed in a thousand-yard stare.
I see. Just the tableware, not the actual food. It was a logical move; I should have suggested it yesterday. At worst, the only casualties would be the porcelain.
”In the time it took to set the table, she made twenty trips between here and the kitchen. She tripped over her own feet eighteen times and fell flat on her face sixteen times-degozaru,” Ichika said flatly.
I blinked. Wait, isn’t that actually an improvement? By my math, she usually trips nineteen out of twenty times and falls eighteen. If she’d made the thirty trips I expected, she’d have been a permanent fixture on the floor.
”That’s actually better than I thought she’d do,” I remarked.
”…Tatara-sama, exactly how many times did you expect her to bite it?” Mitsuha-san asked.
”I figured she’d have to make forty trips and fall at least thirty times.”
Mitsuha-san and Ichika both made faces as if they’d just sucked on a lemon. It seemed my accurate prediction had dealt them some unexpected psychic damage.
”But seriously, why does the room look like a battlefield?” I asked, gesturing to the mess.
”That would be the result of your Golems, Master. All ten of them tried to help and got unceremoniously blown away-degozaru,” Ichika replied.
”There were ten of them and they still couldn’t handle her?!”
I looked toward the bed. Ten units of Mid-Tatara and Mini-Tatara were sprawled out, completely conked out. If this were a game, they’d definitely have dizzy swirls for eyes.
”Okay, but setting plates shouldn’t have left you this drained,” I pointed out.
”Heh… I learned today that tea can actually become a non-Newtonian fluid,” Mitsuha-san muttered.
”Wait, what does that even mean?!”
Mitsuha-san just stared blankly into her teacup. How do you get viscosity out of tea that’s literally just hot water and leaves?
”It defies all logic-degozaru,” Ichika said. “She poured the water over the exact amount of leaves we told her to, and a Green Tea Slime³ was born.”
”Why is an Unidentified Mysterious Creature X manifesting in my kitchen?!” I cried out.
It’s not like she’s a legendary ‘bad cook’ heroine, so how did she manage that? I’ve actually fought those things in high-level events before.
”At least it didn’t move, right?” I asked.
”If it had started moving and making noises, we’d be in hell right now,” Mitsuha-san replied.
I remembered the Milk Slime variant from a previous event-the one that had cornered ‘Chef’ and left her covered in white liquid and tears. That was a memory I didn’t need resurfacing at the breakfast table.
”Something’s wrong. She shouldn’t have a talent for failure this potent… she hasn’t even touched Biological Alchemy yet,” I mused.
(She didn’t ‘create’ a lifeform, Tarashi-san⁴. That girl just doesn’t know the meaning of ‘holding back.’)
”Whoa!?”
A voice that didn’t belong to anyone at the table echoed in my head. I spun around to find ‘Chef’ standing there with her hands on her hips, looking utterly exasperated.
”…Master, who is this Angel-race girl who looks exactly like your ‘type’-degozaru?” Ichika asked, her eyes narrowing.
”She’s ‘Chef,’ the older sister of ‘Yohira’s other sister.’ She’s also a… hobby companion of mine.”
”Anyway, what are you doing here?” I asked ‘Chef.’
(Wow. You don’t even consider the possibility that I came to check on my little sister because I was worried?)
”If you were actually worried, you wouldn’t show your face,” I countered. “According to ‘Seisouchou,’ you guys can’t interfere from the World Laws side anyway, so you’d usually decide it’s a waste of time.”
(…I actually kind of like how well you’ve read us, Tatara-san.)
I ignored her teasing. I needed to know why ‘Yohira’s other sister’ was so different from the one I knew. If she couldn’t even brew tea without creating a monster, I needed a plan.
(I actually planned to come by tonight, but I had a feeling that would be impossible, so I came now instead,) ‘Chef’ said, looking me in the eye.
”…Is something happening?”
(I don’t know if it’ll be good or bad for you, Tatara-san, but you’d better be emotionally prepared for tonight.)
That sounded ominous. Was Ichika going to charge me in her Skebail Armor⁵ or something?
(It’s about the action figure we discussed,) ‘Chef’ continued.
”Sorry, we’re gonna run out of time. Can we talk after breakfast?” I asked.
(…Is it that long of a talk?)
”I’m planning to use a brand-new technological concept. If I start, we’ll be here for at least an hour,” I said.
(Challenge accepted.)
I knew it. If I started geeking out, she’d be all in. I had her hold off for now so I could address the immediate problem.
”My turn. How did she turn tea into a slime?” I asked.
(Like I said, she doesn’t know moderation. She used an ungodly amount of leaves until it became a concentrate. The essence was so dense it basically turned the water into a slime.)
”…Just from pouring water?”
’Chef’ nodded. I still didn’t get how tea could concentrate that quickly.
”Is her cooking talent as disastrous as ‘Seisouchou’s’?”
(If it were that bad, your house would be a crater by now.)
That wasn’t exactly a relief.
(If you’re going to let her cook, you have to stay glued to her side. Otherwise, forget it,) ‘Chef’ warned.
”If you knew that, you should’ve taught her yourself, Big Sis,” I grumbled.
(It’s impossible for us. Didn’t my middle sister explain why?)
’Chef’ looked completely resigned. They’d clearly tried and failed in the past.
”Well, look at you, actually acting like a big sister,” I said, reaching out to pat her head.
(Muu. Don’t pat my head.)
Despite her words, she leaned into it. When I stroked her hair, she got a blissed-out look on her face.
”…Master. Watching you flirt with a girl whose words I can’t even understand… it really hurts-degozaru,” Ichika said, her voice trembling slightly.
I reflexively pulled my hand back. I felt bad for ‘Chef,’ who now looked disappointed, but I couldn’t stand seeing Ichika upset.
”Ah, sorry about that,” I said.
”…I’m the one at fault for being so possessive. Please don’t apologize-degozaru,” Ichika replied, looking down.
Dammit. My apology just made her feel like a burden. While I was panicking, ‘Chef’ sighed, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me toward Ichika. She’s way stronger than she looks, and I was dragged along effortlessly. She placed my hand right on Ichika’s head.
(If she’s anxious, comfort her immediately. Honestly, you seduce all of us constantly, so why are you hesitating now?)
She scolded me. I did as I was told and started petting Ichika’s head. Her tail immediately began to wag.
”I’m sorry for making you feel uneasy,” I said softly.
”…If you’re truly sorry, then show me a bit more ‘sincerity’-degozaru,” Ichika whispered.
She looked up at me with such a cute expression that I couldn’t resist. I cupped her cheek and kissed her. It was just a soft press of the lips, but when I pulled away, her face was bright red and she was beaming with happiness. It felt a bit like I was just distracting her, but as long as she’s smiling, I’m happy.
(…Suddenly, I really want a cup of incredibly bitter tea,) ‘Chef’ remarked.
”…You look like you’re craving some bitterness. Want some?” Mitsuha-san asked ‘Chef.’
(Give it to me.)
I have a feeling the two of them were communicating perfectly despite the language barrier. I decided to just ignore it and move on.
”Well, based on what ‘Chef’ was saying, it’s clear we have to stick to her like glue and supervise her cooking until she can stand on her own two feet,” I said. “As for the tripping issue, Mother-in-law⁶ is teaching her how to walk properly. I expect it’ll take some time, but I’d like to believe we can fix it eventually.”
”You won’t even commit to a ‘definitely,’ will you-degozaru…?” Ichika asked.
”You saw how she set the table today. Do you honestly think I can give you a ‘definitely’?”
”Point taken-degozaru,” Ichika replied. “Impossible it is.”
I gave Ichika a wry smile as she shot back an immediate answer with a deadpan expression. Still, it was beyond me why a ‘Poster Girl’⁷ – an entity the World Laws⁸ should have crafted as a perfect specimen – would take such an incomplete form. Even the ‘Angel’ race, which the Goddess of Light herself failed to make perfect, was understandable by comparison. After all, even a god ranks below the World Laws.
The gods of this world are merely ‘Exalted’ beings – humans who clawed their way to a Divine Core and Authority. Even the Machine God, an inorganic object that attained Divinity, only did so because it was a primordial safeguard that protected the world from external threats, earning it the faith necessary to ascend.
Gods use their Authority to govern the mortal realm, growing stronger as they harvest faith. But no matter how much power they amass, they were originally human – or created by humans – making them inherently flawed. There’s no reason a race born from them could ever be truly perfect. Then again, if the laws of this world were themselves the handiwork of humans from another world, perhaps that’s why they can’t produce anything flawless either.
”Should I have her learn how to use her whole body, then? Not just her feet?” I asked.
”It’s a common practice among the nobility of my homeland,” Mitsuha-san noted. “Perhaps teaching her martial arts – or rather, the ‘Art of the Form’ – might be the key.”
”Performance kata?”
As someone with zero aptitude for actual combat, I had my doubts. Was a choreographed dance really going to help her with basic coordination?
”Master, martial arts is a constant struggle to read and seize the ‘Ma’⁹ – the distance between souls-degozaru,” Ichika explained. “Thanks to your skills, you’ve mastered a style of closing in and striking before the enemy can even think of dodging. But for those of us who study the way of the blade, we spend every waking moment in a dance of deception, playing with the space between us.”
Yeah, I really don’t get this world. I just use Appraisal¹⁰ to figure out the reach of my arms versus my weapon and swing until I hit something. But Ichika, Yohira, and the rest… they’re constantly refining that spatial awareness through sheer, grueling practice. Basically, they want ‘Yohira’s other sister’ to practice these forms to deepen her connection with her own body. I don’t know if it’ll work, but we might as well try everything we can.
”Alright, let’s go with Mitsuha-san’s suggestion,” I said. “It’s not like we’re short on teachers.”
”I wouldn’t recommend the Beast of an Instructor, though,” Mitsuha-san added.
”I wasn’t counting on him from the start.”
Now, between Part-time Leader and Mother-in-law… I wonder which one would be willing to do it? I consulted the two of them after breakfast. They were quick to agree, though they kept glancing around the room with pained expressions. Look, I’ll handle all the repairs after the meal, so just bear with the trashed living room for now.
”I didn’t realize Mother-in-law could double as a martial arts master,” I remarked.
”Oh, it’s hardly that. It’s just self-defense, really,” Kasumi replied. “I’ve just been at it for a very long time.”
”Since when does ‘self-defense’ involve body-slamming the Matchless of the High Seas?”
I mean, Yohira said she was holding back at home so she wouldn’t break him, but she still sent him flying. And on the day ‘Yohira’s other sister’ showed up, she apparently spent the whole afternoon tossing Part-time Leader into the mud in the middle of a downpour.
”Mother, in that case, I shall be the one to instruct her,” Ibara declared.
”Ibara… have you already forgotten about the time you ‘dismantled’ your opponent during a kata demonstration?” Kasumi asked.
”Oh, Mother! It’s simply horrid of you to bring up something from fifty years ago~desuwa!”
”What do you mean, ‘dismantled’?! In a performance?!”
I decided not to touch the ‘fifty years’ comment. Oni live a long time; it’s a thing.
”My goodness, Tatara. It was simply a case of my opponent being much slower than I anticipated~desuwa,” Ibara said.
”Are these performances really that terrifying?”
”Now, now, Tatara. It’s not actually that grisly, I promise,” Yohira said.
As I sat there vibrating with fear thanks to Ibara’s lack of remorse, Yohira stepped in to explain. I’d pictured it as just showing off fancy moves, but apparently, a true performance is done with the genuine intent to strike; you just coordinate your movements so perfectly that you miss by a hair’s breadth. It requires a perfect mental map of your limb length, your stride, and your own silhouette. I don’t know much about fighting, but it reminded me of how I have to adjust my swing when a hammer veers off-course during forging. I think I’m in the right ballpark, at least.
”I’ve explained it as best I can, but it seems it’s simply not in the cards for Tatara-kun,” Yohira noted.
”I can certainly see why Knight Calmys said you have zero talent for fighting people,” Tatia added.
”Man, the person who figured that out about me is scary-accurate…”
Watching Yohira and Tatia give me those pitying looks only hammered it home: I really am talentless in that department. I guess I’m stuck only being able to handle dungeon monsters that I can just overpower with brute force.
”It’s fine. We’ll just protect you whenever we’re in a dungeon, Tatara,” Ethelena said.
She smiled, but I could swear I saw a weird shadow pass over her eyes. When she says ‘protect,’ she doesn’t mean ‘act as a human shield,’ does she? I really hope not.
Anyway –
(…Hmm. I see…)
”Uh, Chef?”
(…Yes?)
I finally spoke up to Chef, who was sitting at the table – a rare sight – slowly savoring Ichika’s tamagoyaki.
”You’re really focused on the flavor there. But Ichika just made that to my specific taste; I don’t think it’s anything revolutionary.”
A pro like Chef could easily whip up something better, even if it wouldn’t hit my personal ‘sweet spot’ quite as perfectly.
(…I am savoring it specifically to identify that ‘sweet spot’.)
(Tatara-kun, are you being this dense on purpose?) ‘Yohira’s other sister’ asked telepathically.
”What do you mean, ‘dense’?”
”Angel-san, I don’t know if you can understand me, but with Tatara, this is just his natural state,” Ethelena said.
”He’s literally oblivious,” Yohira added. “He thinks it’s impossible for anyone to actually love him. Unless you hit him over the head with it, your affection will never register.”
”If you keep your feelings tucked away, you’ll never reach him,” Tatia agreed.
”And yet, he’s annoyingly quick to pick up on ‘negative’ vibes like loneliness or pain-degozaru,” Ichika noted.
”You’ll have to be brave and say it out loud, Chef-san,” Mitsuha-san added.
”When did you guys get so coordinated at ganging up on me?!”
One after another, they piled on. I get the first four, but why is Mitsuha-san in on this? Chef and ‘Yohira’s other sister’ both let out a long, synchronized sigh. Is it okay if I go cry in a corner now?
”But tell me, Tatara-dono, are they your fellow ‘hobbyists’?” Part-time Leader asked.
”Yeah, Chef and I share a lot of interests. Honestly, she might even get along with you on a few things.”
”Oh, definitely,” Dahlia chimed in. “When it comes to Aarem-related stuff, I’m sure they’ll speak the same language.”
”Oh?”
At Dahlia’s follow-up, Part-time Leader’s ears practically perked up. Despite her usual shyness, the mention of ‘Aarem’ made Chef’s eyes sparkle. Part-time Leader caught the look, grinned, and gave her a little ‘sneak peek’ of the Daiguren. Yeah, these two are going to be best friends.
”Save the toys for later. We are in the middle of a meal,” Kasumi said.
Mother-in-law stepped in like a true mom, and the two of them immediately scurried back to their food. I decided it was best to drop the Aarem talk for now, too.
”By the way, Ethelena, you guys are heading out to explore today, right?”
”Yep, that’s the plan,” Ethelena said.
”I’m in as well,” Yohira added.
”Me too,” said Tatia.
”I’ll be staying behind at the house-degozaru,” Ichika said.
So everyone except Ichika is heading into the dungeon. I guess it’s time, then.
”Ethelena, it’s about time we did your Ascension¹¹,” I said.
”Eh? But Chi-chan hasn’t even gone yet!”
”I’m worried about her too, believe me, but out of everyone here, you’re the most fragile, Ethelena. You’re an evasion-build. Your max HP is low. If we don’t boost your stats now, a stray Demon Lord could end you instantly. I want you to stay alive, so let’s get you squared away before you head out.”
”…I get it,” Ethelena replied, her eyes slightly murky. “But you better watch me the whole time, okay?”
”Of course.”
”Ichika, you’re staying back?” I asked.
”Master said he’d be teaching the housework today-degozaru, so I’ll be helping out. Besides, someone needs to actually fix the house.”
”Yeah. Thanks. That’s a huge help.”
I looked around at the splintered walls. It wouldn’t be hard to fix, but I really didn’t want to leave ‘Yohira’s other sister’ unsupervised.
(Fine, fine. I’ll help you with the dishes,) Chef projected.
”Wait, Chef? What’s gotten into you?”
(I am a woman of the kitchen, after all. Consider it a thank-you for educating my sister. I won’t do any other cleaning, but I’m an expert at scrubbing plates.)
I was stunned.
(Besides, my heart can’t take watching the rest of the ceramic plates in this house be annihilated.)
”You’re a lifesaver,” I sighed.
Leaving the washing to the little sister would have been the death knell for our remaining dishes.
”Tatara-dono, could you please remember to translate for us?” Dahlia asked. “Several people here will start over-analyzing the silence if you don’t.”
”Ugh, sorry.”
I keep forgetting that no one else can hear the ‘Poster Girls.’
”Maybe I should build a Magic Device,” I muttered. “Something that turns their thoughts into subtitles.”
”Did I just hear someone mention a Magic Device?” Dahlia asked instantly.
”Don’t pop up like some kind of bond-forcing ghost the moment someone makes eye contact, Dahlia.”
”Was there ever such a ghost…?” Yohira asked, confused.
”Hmm, a ‘Bond-Forcing Spirit’…” Kasumi mused. “You shouldn’t speak of such things lightly, Tatara. The moment you name them, they appear and force a bond upon you.”
”They actually exist in this world?!”
”We don’t even tell the children their names-degozaru,” Ichika said. “The risk is too high.”
”He’s in the ‘He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’ category?!”
”Is he some kind of world-famous dark lord whose name we aren’t allowed to speak?” I mused. “Like the villain in those kids’ books? Seriously, was the dev team trying to pick a fight with that agency? Well, we’ve had those insanely overpowered locust-type insect-men before-the ones clearly modeled after tokusatsu heroes-so I guess it’s a bit late to worry about copyright now. His design practically screamed ‘I love Black Sun,’ and I knew for sure when he used that move where he stabs with a sword disguised as a staff. Even his rival was a silver-clad shadow of a man… though unlike the source material, they both survived and made it back home.”
”Putting the youkai aside for a moment,” I said, turning to the others, “what do you think about ‘Chef’ and ‘Yohira’s younger sister’?”
While they are quite charming, I doubt they can be properly rendered into text, so I’ll pass,
”Oh, I want them!” the younger sister chirped.
With Chef and Yohira’s younger sister giving opposite answers, I decided to handle the sister’s request later. I suspected Chef’s hesitation stemmed from the fact that I’m the only one who can understand her; she’s worried it’ll cause glitches when I try to convert her thoughts to text. I figured she’s just broadcasting her telepathy on a different frequency. If I can bridge that gap and get them to synchronize, we should be fine.
After a long, winding breakfast, I moved on to Ethelena’s Sublimation of Existence¹².
”Wha-!?” she cried out.
”Gah!” I shouted in response.
I did my best to ignore the crashes and the sounds of breaking porcelain coming from the kitchen-courtesy of the Golem and the younger sister-and focused entirely on Ethelena.
Level 50/50
HP: 200(300) + 10 + 20
Mana: 375(600) + 100 + 30
Skill Power: 145(300) + 10
Physical Attack: 80 (80) + 15 + 5
Physical Defense: 80 (80) + 1 + 5
Magic Attack: 250(250) + 15
Magic Defense: 199(250) + 1 + 20
Speed: 250(250) + 50 + 20
Luck: 100(100)
Checking her appraised stats one more time, I handed over the necessary items. I had plenty of Mana Boosters left since I hadn’t used them on Yohira, but I was running low on HP-up items. Everyone had been burning through them. Still, I made sure every stat hit the ceiling before she triggered the Sublimation.
”Tatara, the recommended skill is ‘Early Bloomer¹³,’ right?” Ethelena asked.
”That’s the one,” I replied. “It’ll make it easier to level up your skills alongside your base level.”
”Got it. Then that’s the one I’ll take.”
The moment she finished, a torrent of mana erupted from Ethelena. The surge subsided quickly, but the air around her felt different. Did she just trigger a Class Up?
”Ethelena, how do you feel?” I asked.
”…I’m okay,” she murmured. “My stats dropped significantly, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
I gave her a quick nod before using ‘Appraisal.’
Post-Sublimation of Existence
Level 1/60
HP: 60 (360) + 10 + 20
Mana: 120 (720) + 100 + 30
Skill Power: 60 (300) + 10
Physical Attack: 16 (96) + 15 + 5
Physical Defense: 16 (96) + 1 + 5
Magic Attack: 50 (300) + 15
Magic Defense: 50 (300) + 1 + 20
Speed: 50 (300) + 50 + 20
Luck: 20 (100)
Movement: 20 (99) + 10 + 1
Skill Slots:
’Acoustic Mapping II’
’Hawk Eye II’
’Stealth III’
’Detection III’
’Trap Disarm II’
’Early Bloomer I’
The nerf was as brutal as I expected. With these stats, she’d get wrecked by even a low-tier boss. Looks like we’ll be grinding the first forty-nine floors for a while.
”So you went with a full exploration build,” I noted.
”Yeah,” Ethelena said. “I can’t really compete with Torakuma and the others in a straight fight anyway, so I figured I’d max these out first.”
”It was your call to make,” I told her. “I respect that. Honestly, I think it’s a smart move.”
Ichika has the skills for scouting, but she sits out most of the time. Since Ethelena has always leaned in this direction, it’s faster to just let her specialize. Besides, with ‘Surprise Attack,’ ‘Ambush,’ and ‘Elingium,’ her damage output should be fine. Ethelena gave me a happy smile, though something about her expression seemed a little different than usual.
After seeing Ethelena and the others off, I checked the kitchen. Watching Chef wash dishes at a speed that made my own efforts look like a joke, I was reminded of just how incredible she is. Next to her, Mitsuha was hovering over the younger sister, teaching her the ropes.
”The dish soap Master Tatara made is quite effective,” Mitsuha explained. “Just a tiny dab like this, then a gentle scrub… See? Just like that. No need for force. Be gentle… it’s more like a caress than a scrub.”
”L-l-l-l-like this!?” the girl stammered.
”Oh, my… you’re a natural,” Mitsuha said with a warm smile.
Mitsuha demonstrated the technique, then took the girl’s hand to guide her. It was the perfect execution of that old military maxim: Show them, tell them, let them try. I could never do that. I don’t know if it’s an innate talent or something learned, but I’m no teacher. Maybe she takes after her mother-that woman’s a pro at education, too.
Master Tatara, are you just going to stand there staring at your sister’s training?
”I just don’t feel like there’s an opening for me to join in,” I replied.
Mitsuha showered the girl with praise every time she finished a plate without breaking it, bringing out more and more smiles. Who could compete with that? She was a natural-born encourager.
Watching this makes me a little jealous,
”Really?” I asked.
I spent nearly a thousand years trying to teach her, and it never worked, Chef said with a faint, lonely laugh.
Without thinking, I patted her on the head to comfort her, and she leaned into my touch.
…Are you trying to seduce a woman in her moment of weakness?
”I’ll knock you into next week,” I joked. “I’m just trying to comfort someone who’s being honest about their feelings.”
She casually wrapped a wing around my shoulder. I wasn’t even sure how to react to that.
”Maybe Mitsuha is able to teach her because she’s under my influence as a Singularity¹⁴?” I suggested.
In that case, perhaps even I could teach her now,
”Maybe the influence will change you too, Chef,” I said.
If it’s you doing the changing, I’d welcome it,
I had no idea what she was getting at. Regardless, we finished the dishes while keeping an eye on the little sister.
Since I couldn’t risk ruining everyone else’s clothes, I decided to just observe the laundry today.
”This is about as big as my whole face!” the younger sister exclaimed, holding up one of Ethelena’s bras.
”Stop that!” I barked.
I had to shake my head to clear out the stray thoughts. Chef’s cold gaze was stabbing into my back, making the whole situation feel incredibly awkward.
”After this, you’ve got walking drills and form practice with Mother-in-law, right?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
”Yes! I’ll do my best!” the girl chirped.
”Sorry we’re just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks,” I said.
”Not at all! I’m just happy that you and everyone else are putting so much thought into helping me!”
We finished hanging the laundry after that. She really is a good kid; when I patted her head, she let out a happy little squeal that made me break into a grin.
I left the girl with Mother-in-law and headed to the workshop. I didn’t like not being able to watch her around the clock, but I couldn’t ignore my deal with Chef. I wasn’t about to pass up a chance for one of her homemade bento. I set the magitech word processor on the workbench and pulled up the blueprints. I call this thing a word processor, but it basically functions like a laptop; it just doesn’t have a calculator function yet. I fired up the projector and began the walkthrough.
”Alright, what I’ve got in mind this time is an action figure that’s a total flex-just pure material overkill,” I explained.
”A ‘material flex’?” Chef repeated.
I used the blueprints to explain the internal layout. “In a way, it’s simple. We use a skeletal frame-the same Movable Frame structure I used for Aarem-and then layer a skin over it.”
I showed her the cross-sections. It was inspired by the plastic models from my old world, though obviously, that tech doesn’t exist here. The whole concept of an ‘action figure’ didn’t exist until I made one to get the Archangel’s attention.
I see. So it can strike almost any pose a human can, Chef noted. But what did you mean by ‘material overkill’?
”Exactly what it sounds like,” I said. “We’re using forged mithril for the internal frame and sublimated mithril for the outer shell.”
…Are you in your right mind? Chef asked.
She wasn’t doubting my intent; she was doubting my sanity. I guess if you’ve been watching someone make figures out of scrap metal and they suddenly announce they’re using legendary forged materials, you’d think they’ve lost it, too.
”Think of it as a tech demo,” I continued. “If I wanted to go cheap, I’d just use Shape Memory Alloy.”
That’s also a new technology you invented, Master Tatara,
”Yeah, but the base is steel, so it’s dirt cheap.”
For context, the Mayor and the Merchant Guild have a technical fee of about 300,000 credits per kilo for Shape Memory Alloy. Sublimated mithril-which has zero reproducibility and hasn’t even been officially appraised yet-is something the Mayor mentioned was worth at least 10 million per 100 grams. Even a life-sized figure in my old world would top out in the low millions; a 1/4 scale figure costing tens of millions just because of the materials was beyond absurd.
”The key to this figure is that Movable Frame I mentioned, paired with a ‘skin’ made of sublimated mithril,” I said.
Yes. I’m still questioning your sanity, but I follow you,
”The result is that by using mana, you can manipulate it into literally any pose a human body is capable of.”
Wait… what!?
This was the pinnacle of action figure tech. An internal skeleton for joint support, with ‘Artificial Muscle’ made of sublimated mithril to hold the pose. Since the Artificial Muscle is a Shape Memory Alloy, it locks the form, but by pulsing mana through it, you can shift it into any position you want. It was a hybrid of the tech I used to buff the Golem leader and the tech I used for Chef’s Aarem.
”And… yeah, that’s basically it,” I said. “If I really wanted to, I could even replicate the facial muscles to change the expression.”
No! That is definitely not something you should be doing with a toy!
”What are you talking about? I’m the one making it,” I countered.
That explains a lot, but it’s not an excuse!
It was rare to see Chef get this flustered, but I could tell she wanted it.
”If you hate the idea that much, we can just make a standard figure,” I teased.
I never said I hated it,
See? At the end of the day, she wanted it. That’s just the nature of a geek.
”In that case, we’ll model it after you, right Chef?” I asked.
Chef went silent.
After confirming who to use as a model, Chef looked down, lost in thought.
”Um… I’m incredibly sorry, but could you please make one more with a different motif?” Chef asked.
”No, I don’t mind, but-” I started.
I had plenty of Mithril left over, and since I was using a Divine Core Fragment of the Genesis Goddess¹⁵ for the sublimation process, materials weren’t an issue. However, a second one? Perhaps I should model it after Archangel.
”How about a week’s worth of bento boxes as a reward?” Chef suggested.
”That’s way too much,” I replied.
”On the contrary! For a top-tier action figure utilizing brand-new technology, I’d say it’s a bargain,” Chef countered.
A week’s worth of resurrection-grade items for two figures was an insane overpayment. In the original game, those bento boxes were ultra-rare drops you could only get with a fraction of a percent chance after recruiting Chef as a companion.
”If that’s not enough, I can move in and cook for you for a month,” Chef added.
”That is beyond excessive!” I shouted.
Three meals a day with high-tier buffs? Where was she trying to lead me? With that kind of support, I could challenge the lowest depths of the world; as long as I didn’t stumble into a stray Demon Lord, I’d be invincible.
”One meal is plenty. That was our contract,” I said.
”I won’t stand for that. This figure is worth far more than a single lunch. I cannot allow a violation of the laws of equivalent exchange¹⁶,” Chef insisted.
”Look, when I made Aarem, you already overpaid me…” I began.
”That was a fair trade!” Chef interrupted.
I shook my head. From my perspective—as the man who had been handed a twenty-kilogram pile of Magic Metal—it wasn’t equivalent at all. The Adamantite alone was worth tens of billions at current market rates.
”We’re just going to keep going in circles at this rate,” I muttered.
”Yes, and I have no intention of backing down. Your skills aren’t cheap, Master Tatara,” Chef said firmly.
”Even though I’m still a novice?” I asked.
”Novice or not, this is the work of a Divine Smith¹⁷ recognized by the world itself,” Chef replied.
Hearing the title ‘Divine Smith’ come from her lips gave me pause. Now wasn’t the time to grill her on the details, so I let it slide.
”Even if the people or the crown never truly grasp your genius, the world itself understands. Joke or not, you said you could create a Universal Conduit¹⁸, didn’t you?” Chef asked.
”I guess the word got out,” I said. “Well, I do have a concept for an artificial lifeform using an application of Golem tech.”
The theory was there: use a Divine Core, a Soul Core, or an Alchemist’s Egg as a nucleus, construct an Orichalcum skeleton with Mithril-based artificial muscle, and pump liquefied Mana Stone ‘blood’ through the system. If I actually tried to build it, I’d likely burn through the one-time ‘Exile Evasion’ I’d received from Archangel. Besides, without a soul to inhabit it, I’d just be building a very expensive doll.
”Achieving such a thing… throughout history, only the gods have managed that,” Chef whispered.
”I guess that’s what it means to be a Divine Smith,” I mused.
”You’re an outlier even among them,” Chef said.
”That’s a bit harsh,” I replied. I looked at Chef, who was wearing a complex, unreadable smile. I didn’t even have the energy to sigh anymore. I scratched the back of my head, trying to reset my focus. “Fine, I give up on the reward debate. Who am I making these figures of?”
Chef answered without hesitation. “One of me, and one of you, please.”
”Are you for real?” I asked.
I’d expected her to ask for her beloved sister, but she’d nominated herself and me instead.
”I’m perfectly serious. A matching set of ourselves,” Chef said.
There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in her eyes. She was dead serious. After a long moment of eye contact, I finally sighed and gave in.
”Fine. One of me, one of you. Any special requests?” I asked.
”Please make our Arcane Armor¹⁹ fully removable,” Chef requested.
”The difficulty just spiked!” I groaned.
A movable frame²⁰ with artificial muscle specifications, plus a perfectly scaled, detachable set of Arcane Armor… It was doable, but the time and material costs were going to be steep.
”I’ll need at least three hours to get it all done,” I said.
”Only three hours?” Chef asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
I took her shock as a green light and headed for the forge. I began by refining a one-kilogram Mithril ingot into a skeletal frame. Slag and impurities hissed away, leaving me with about eight-hundred grams of workable material. It was more than enough.
”You usually only use one ingot, don’t you?” Chef asked.
”Well, action figures are better when they’ve got some heft. I’m going with a 1/4 scale,” I explained.
Back on Earth, I’d always been a ‘bigger is better’ hobbyist. 1/144 and 1/100 scales were fine, but nothing beat the weight of a 1/60 in your hand. I’d once lusted after those massive, room-filling statues, but they’d always been out of my price range. Now, with my skills still maturing, the larger scale actually made it easier to fit in the necessary mechanical detail.
”I don’t have the right pigments on hand, so don’t expect a custom paint job on the Mithril base,” I warned.
”I have plenty in my inventory! Please, spare no expense on the coloring,” Chef said, pulling out a stash of rare, high-grade pigments. These were precious materials, but clearly, ‘Poster Girls’ lived in a different economy.
I got to work, using my Crafting skill to shape the Mithril. I cast a quick Appraisal²¹ on myself, memorizing my own skeletal structure before projecting it into a blueprint for the movable frame. At 1/4 scale, the figure stood nearly twenty inches tall—a size that proved to be a lifesaver given the microscopic detail required for the joints.
I tweaked the anatomical accuracy to keep it looking like a model rather than a medical specimen. I reinforced the abdomen, knowing that while the ‘skin’ would cover it, an empty torso would be too fragile. I simplified the joints to ensure they wouldn’t interfere with the artificial muscle’s range of motion.
”Now, what to do about the eyes?” I muttered.
Drawing them on would look cheap. To reach the level of quality I wanted, I needed physical lenses. I dug through my inventory for ores I’d scavenged, using Appraisal to find the perfect stones. I found a pair of topazes, ground them into tiny spheres, and coated them in a thin layer of Mithril to separate the pupils from the whites.
With the internal frame complete, I used the Divine Core Fragment to sublimate another three-hundred grams of Mithril. This was the tedious part: reproducing the tension of real muscle while ensuring the ‘skin’ looked natural. I had the pigments, but I didn’t want to rely on paint to hide shoddy craftsmanship. I focused.
I wove the surface skin from ultra-fine fibers, separate from the internal muscle structure. The skin itself acted as a secondary tension layer, preventing the artificial muscles from bulging unnaturally during poses.
As I reached the midsection, I froze. I debated whether to include… well, the ‘manhood.’ I decided it was unnecessary and opted for a smooth, doll-like finish.
”Master Tatara, why is it blank down there?” Chef asked.
”Gah!” I jumped.
Chef had been looming over me, watching the process. She suddenly gripped my shoulder with the strength of a hydraulic press. When I turned around, her eyes were cold and focused.
”I mean, it’s a figure, so obviously…” I stammered.
”Reproduce it faithfully. And make it mana-reactive, if you please,” Chef demanded.
”What is wrong with you?!” I yelled.
There was no way I was making an adult-rated action figure. If Archangel ever saw this, I’d be a dead man.
”Since you’re making mine next, we could even include a ‘combination’ feature,” Chef added, her voice devoid of shame.
”Are you even sane?!” My brain was short-circuiting. Where was this coming from? I looked toward the door, praying for Archangel to burst in and talk some sense into her.
”If you don’t comply, I’ll give you a very public kiss the next time Big Sis is watching,” Chef threatened.
”Do you actually want me dead?!” I gasped.
”We could see Big Sis stab us both while she cries. It would be quite poetic,” Chef said.
I looked into her eyes. She wasn’t bluffing. She was absolutely, terrifyingly serious.
”Now… if you don’t want to break her heart… you know what to do,” Chef whispered.
”If I get caught, I’m telling her you forced me! Hide that thing for your life!” I relented.
I didn’t want to see a crying Archangel go on a stabbing spree, so I begrudgingly got to work. Since I was—unfortunately—familiar with the anatomy, the construction was perfect. I died a little inside with every adjustment.
I finished the body and used sublimated Mithril for the hair, rooting the strands individually. Because the metal was so ductile, the hair length could be adjusted on the fly, allowing for infinite styling. Finally, I fashioned some basic clothes and dressed the figure.
Then came the Kokuyo²² armor. This was easy by comparison. I shaped the Mithril to the figure’s measurements, adding functional gimmicks like opening missile hatches on the shoulders and articulated thrusters. As a bonus, I carved tiny individual missiles to load into the bays. I couldn’t quite get the holographic visor to work with metal, so I fashioned a clear piece from polished quartz and tinted it with status-effect pigments. Finally, I built a miniature hanger-style display stand.
”Even for me… this is a bit much,” I admitted, looking at the finished product.
”Master Tatara, even ignoring the materials, the technical value of this is astronomical,” Chef said.
According to her, even without the ‘Divine Smith’ branding, the sheer level of engineering surpassed anything currently known to the world. I felt a cold sweat break out—if the City Mayor saw this, she’d probably foam at the mouth.
Now for the hard part. I had to make Chef’s figure. I hoped—desperately—that she wouldn’t be this unhinged when it came to her own likeness.
”Okay, your turn… Can we call it a day?” I asked hopefully.
”I suspect you’re hoping for an eternal delay, so no,” Chef replied instantly.
She was too sharp. I sighed and turned toward her.
”I need to understand your skeletal structure. Can I cast Appraisal?” I asked.
”Of course,” Chef said, spreading her arms wide in an inviting gesture.
I didn’t need to touch her, so I maintained a professional distance and activated the skill. Her internal structure was hauntingly beautiful—mostly human, save for the complex modifications around the shoulder blades for her wings. The challenge of recreating it made my pulse quicken; the craftsman in me was starting to win over the terrified teenager.
I shaped the frame as I had for my own, but the wings were a nightmare. Human organs were easy, but alien appendages required precision. I asked for permission to touch her back, manually tracing the joints to understand what the skill couldn’t quite convey. I carved emeralds for her eyes, matching the depth and color of my own figure’s topaz.
Now for the exterior.
”Hey…” I started.
”Yes?” Chef asked.
”Can I just… give her a leotard or something? Built-in?” I asked.
If I made it like a standard clothed figure, I could maintain my sanity. I still remembered the specs for the figure I’d made for Archangel; it would be simple.
”Absolutely not. Your figure is anatomically complete under those clothes. It’s only fair that mine is as well,” Chef stated.
”Have you been possessed by a demon? Where is this coming from?” I asked. I was genuinely concerned now. Was there a hidden ‘Yandere’ stat I’d missed?
”What’s so strange about it?” Chef asked, tilting her head.
”Everything! Your entire thought process!” I barked. Even Ethelena wasn’t this… well, actually, she was, but this was coming from the ‘reliable’ Chef. It was a betrayal of expectations.
As I struggled to find a way to talk her down, a look of realization dawned on Chef’s face.
”I see… I know why you won’t do it. Or rather, why you *can’t*,” Chef said.
”I have a terrible feeling about this. Please stop talking,” I begged. I wanted to go home. I wanted Archangel to come save me. I wasn’t ‘unable’ to do it; I was ‘unwilling’ for the sake of my soul.
”It’s because you’ve never seen me naked, isn’t it?” Chef concluded.
”No! That is not the issue!” I screamed.
It was too late. Before I could stop her, Chef began unfastening her maid uniform.
—
Summary:
Tatara wakes up to a chaotic morning after ‘Yohira’s other sister’ attempts to help with breakfast prep, resulting in destroyed golems and sentient tea. The Angel-race sister ‘Chef’ arrives to tease Tatara and discuss action figure development, warning him of a mysterious event tonight.
Tatara and his companions discuss the training of ‘Yohira’s other sister’ through martial arts performance (kata) to fix her clumsiness. The group teases Tatara for being romantically dense, specifically regarding Chef’s feelings. The chapter concludes with preparations for Ethelena’s ‘Ascension’ and a humorous exchange about a spirit that forces bonds on people.
Tatara oversees Ethelena’s ‘Sublimation of Existence,’ a process that resets her level but boosts her stat potential for future growth. Domestic life continues with Mitsuha training Yohira’s sister, while Chef shows signs of jealousy and deeper affection for Tatara.
Tatara agrees to create highly detailed, 1/4 scale action figures of himself and Chef. Chef reveals a surprisingly aggressive and obsessive side, forcing Tatara to include ‘adult’ anatomical details through blackmail. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as Chef begins to undress to provide Tatara with a ‘reference’ for her own figure.
—
Trivia:
- Tatara’s golems are weak enough to be destroyed by a clumsy girl’s walking accidents.
- Chef is communicating telepathically (parentheses) because her spoken language isn’t understood by the others.
- The ‘Green Tea Slime’ is a recurring high-level monster trope in this world’s logic.
- Tatara is aware of the ‘World Laws’ side limitations via Seisouchou.
- Ichika’s possessiveness is triggered specifically because she can’t understand what Chef is ‘saying’ to Tatara.
- Tatara is the only one who can hear the telepathic voices of the ‘Poster Girls’.
- Ibara is an Ogre and over 50 years old.
- The ‘World Laws’ are higher in hierarchy than the gods of this world.
- Ethelena is an evasion-build character with high lethality risk due to low HP.
- The ‘Bond-Forcing Spirit’ is a local folklore equivalent to a specific Japanese pop-culture meme.
- Sublimation resets the character to Level 1, making them temporarily very weak.
- Tatara is a ‘Singularity,’ which exerts a passive influence on those around him, possibly aiding in Mitsuha’s teaching ability.
- Chef has been trying to teach Yohira’s sister for nearly a thousand years with no success.
- The value of Sublimated Mithril is estimated at over 100 million credits per kilogram.
- The action figure tech is a combination of skeletal frames and artificial muscles powered by Mana.
- The bento boxes Chef offers are rare resurrection items from the game world.
- Tatara is using a Divine Core Fragment, a godly material, for a mere hobby project.
- Chef is usually the ‘reliable’ one, making her sudden descent into blackmail more jarring.
- Tatara’s figure is 50cm tall (1/4 scale), which is quite large for an action figure.
- The term ‘Divine Smith’ is a recognized title in the world’s laws, not just a compliment
—
Character Insight:
Tatara shows a balance of being a degenerate-aware ‘hobbyist’ and a genuinely soft-hearted leader who prioritizes his companions’ emotional stability over his own awkwardness. Ichika’s vulnerability highlights her deep dependence on Tatara’s validation.
Tatara’s extreme lack of self-worth prevents him from recognizing romantic interest as anything other than a ‘curse’ or misunderstanding. Ethelena’s protective nature is taking on a darker, more obsessive tone (‘murky eyes’).
Ethelena shows maturity by choosing a scouting build over direct combat, acknowledging her strengths. Chef is becoming more emotionally vulnerable, admitting her past failures and expressing a willingness to be ‘changed’ by Tatara’s influence.
Chef demonstrates a sharp departure from her professional persona, exhibiting ‘yandere’ tendencies and a lack of shame to ensure her desires are met. Tatara remains a victim of the chaotic women around him, his artisan pride constantly at odds with his desire for a quiet life.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The Green Tea Slime and Milk Slime are classic ‘parody’ monsters found in R-18G or ‘kusoge’ (crap game) tropes often referenced in Japanese light novels to mock absurd difficulty curves or fanservice events.
The ‘Bond-Forcing Spirit’ is a meta-reference to the Super Sentai character ‘Avataro Sentai Donbrothers’ who forces bonds on others.
The ‘Black Sun’ and ‘Shadow Moon’ references are nods to the classic tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Black.
The author leans into the ‘hobbyist otaku’ trope, using specific scale references (1/144, 1/100, 1/60) familiar to Gundam and plastic model fans.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Mitsuha – Second daughter of the Torakuma family (Yohira’s sister). She is quiet, awkward, surprisingly deadpan, and possesses a gentle, nurturing side (shown with Cornremu). Hair so long it trailed across the floor like Tomie Kawakami (Junji Ito), face half-hidden by hair, single dark horn (above brow), loose violet robes.
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Seisouchou – The Middle Big Sister of the Angel race, known as the Purifier. She is a Poster Girl and Head Maid-General. She wears wings and a halo. She loves cleaning.
• Ibara – Eldest daughter of the Torakuma family (Yohira’s sister). She is sharp, formal, and possesses a predatory confidence and dry humor. Relative of the Narrator’s ex-companion (Yohira) and a new house guest/guard. Short black hair (neatly at the shoulder), crimson horn (from forehead), eyes of molten gold, red and black kimono like Shuten-dōji (Fate).
• Calmys – War God’s knight, Mayor’s guard chief, whip-master hiding as a swordswoman; sharp tongue, big-sister vibe to Tatara, grants him and Ethelena church protection.
• Dahlia – The automaton.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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