Chapter 166 Let’s Smash a Hardened Heart Once (No Guarantee of Recovery Afterward)*
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Tatia event is in progress. The “Poster Girl” event is also in progress. You know, there’s a phrase that’s been stuck in my head for ages: “A fantasia squeezed out from the crack of an ass.” I wonder what the hell that’s even supposed to mean. () Oh, just as a heads-up, please view the first half with caution.
* * *
The Ethelenas swarmed me, all of them grabbing and tearing at my clothes simultaneously. It’s a situation you see often when the genders are reversed, but isn’t it actually quite rare for a man to be the one getting jumped? My mind had gone through a full circle, and I was now watching the situation with a strange, detached calmness.
Pinned to the floor, I looked up to see a sea of faces-Ethelena’s face, over and over-looking down at my body with eyes stained by lust. I’ve never had surgery, but I wondered if the anxiety of being under a surgeon’s blade felt something like this. At the very least, I was hit by a sense of dread dozens of times worse than the fear of looking up at a dentist holding a drill in one hand.
The Ethelenas’ faces, previously at a distance, drew closer until they blotted out my vision. My lips were sealed as an Ethelena’s tongue began its pillaging of my mouth. Meanwhile, another began to lick one of my exposed n**ipss with a wet, stimulating touch, while the other was toyed with-likely by someone’s fingers. My abs were licked along the lines of the muscle, and a tongue was thrust deep into my navel. My body bucked under the intense stimulation of multiple sensitive areas, but pinned down by four Ethelenas, there was no escaping it… and the sight of my futile resistance only seemed to whet Ethelena’s sadism.
To draw a greater reaction out of me, the torment became harsher and more violent, and my manhood grew hot and rigid. Likely the same Ethelena who had been stimulating my stomach, she pulled my manhood from my pants and began to work on it. My urethral opening, the glans, the frenulum, and the shaft were all handled with such gentle, meticulous care that my brain began to scream for release. I bucked my hips, seeking more friction, but Ethelena evaded every move, forcing me to focus entirely on the pleasure transmitted through her hands alone. Even then, I was driven to the very brink of climax, but the moment I was finally about to explode, Ethelena’s hands clamped down on several points of my p**is, forcibly stopping the e**culation.
”…Eh?”
A tiny sound leaked out. To have the release I craved suppressed left me with a frustrating sense of incompleteness that felt almost like physical pain. Finding my state amusing, the Ethelenas let out a chorus of giggles. The moment the sensation of climax subsided, the Ethelenas’ offensive began anew, hitting me with stimulation that felt like it was charring my brain. The torment was stronger than before, and the methods more varied. Having been forced to endure once, my body-which hadn’t actually found release-reached its limit almost instantly, but again, Ethelena stopped the e**culation. Thus, I was cast into a hell of repeated edging; as soon as the impulse died down, the torment would resume.
Whether they had grown bored of my groin or not, one Ethelena began sucking on my skin while another took my fingers and guided them inside her private parts. The Ethelena who had been locking lips with me pressed her own slit against my mouth, forcing me to lick her. I struggled to breathe, my lungs burning for oxygen, but the Mana flowing into me from Ethelena refused to let me die. It forced me to endure the agony of suffocation endlessly, never even allowing my consciousness to fade.
How many times was I edged? How long did this torment last? I was suddenly liberated from a hell that felt like an eternity. However, I still hadn’t been permitted to e**culate, and with my brain scrambled by a mixture of pleasure and frustration, I-Tatara-couldn’t form a single coherent thought. My mind was dominated by a primal, simple urge: I didn’t care how, I just wanted to e**culate. I just wanted to escape this agony.
Then, Ethelena gently grasped my manhood, which was harder than it had ever been in my life. The other Ethelenas threw their entire body weight onto my arms and pinned my shoulders, making escape impossible. I raised my head, my mind clouded with doubt.
”Ah… eh?”
There stood Ethelena in her young form. Taking the shape she’d previously claimed she couldn’t get excited in if I remained an adult, Ethelena prepared to take my manhood inside her.
”Ya… eh…”
I tried to tell her to stop, but my mouth wouldn’t even work properly. My manhood, which had been edged into a permanent state of arousal, showed no signs of wilting. The young Ethelena pressed the tip against her v**inal opening, gave me a lewd, depraved smile… and dropped her hips in one swift motion.
”Aaaggghhhhhh!?”
An impact tore through my marrow. An incomprehensible surge of stimulation, as if my brain were being put through a blender, hit me, and I screamed. The young Ethelena, having taken all of me, arched her back; her stomach visibly distended and changed shape from my manhood swelling inside her as if it were about to burst through.
I had to make her stop. No matter how much of a succubus she was, this wasn’t something a young, immature body should be forced to take. But, pinned down by the multiple Ethelenas, I couldn’t move a muscle. I could only watch as the young Ethelena moved her hips, forcing my manhood to grind and scrape against her v**inal walls. Because I had been forced into a narrow, prepubescent v**ina, the tightness was so extreme it was actually painful, but that pain only accelerated my climax.
I couldn’t pull out; I e**culated deep inside her. The semen, released with a force that rivaled or even surpassed my first time, filled the young Ethelena’s womb, further warping the shape of her belly. I finished an e**culation that felt like it was outputting liters-as one might expect from an eroge world-and felt a wave of relief, thinking that now the young Ethelena wouldn’t have to take any more. She slumped over on top of me, but then I felt a sickening sense of wrongness.
I couldn’t feel a heartbeat through our skin. Ethelena’s eyes were vacant and unmoving.
”…Ethel?”
The Ethelenas pinning me down let go. Moving my free body, I touched the young Ethelena. But like a puppet with its strings cut, she was limp and unresponsive.
The young Ethelena was dead. No, I had killed her.
I killed Ethelena.
”Waaaaahhhhhh! Noooo!”
I embraced the young Ethelena’s corpse. My vision swam, and I felt tears begin to spill.
”Ethelena, Ethelena… no, no, no, don’t die! Don’t die, please! Ethelena! Etheeel!”
The only things coming out of my throat were her name and a desperate refusal of her death. My speech was a fractured mess, words just leaking out of me.
”I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… please, don’t die…”
I kept holding the unmoving Ethelena tight. As my manhood slipped out of her v**inal opening, the s**men I had discharged spilled out, staining the floor. It was a white blur mixed with red. I realized then that it wasn’t just a sign of her losing her virginity-it was because my manhood had literally torn through her. This mixture was the evidence that I had killed her. My sin.
”Ah… aah…”
Despair dyed my heart black. My vision went dark, and a chill rapidly took over my body. This agony was many times worse than the moment I realized my parents were dead.
Ah. There’s no point in living in this world anymore.
”It’s okay, Tatara.”
Ethelena placed a hand on my shoulder. Following the hand, I turned my gaze to see her looking at me with a smile.
”Look, see?”
She pointed, and the body of the young Ethelena I was clutching began to turn into particles and vanish.
”Wh-Ethelena!?”
Panicked, I tried to gather the particles, but they slipped through my fingers and melted into the air. Before long, the young Ethelena’s corpse was gone, leaving my hands empty.
”That was just a clone. A mass of Mana.”
”A… clone…?”
I looked at the Ethelena speaking so gently to me. Her expression was the same smile as before.
”You can hate me enough to want to kill me. I’ll let you kill me as many times as you want. If you want to have s*x so violent that it ends up killing me, I’ll make that happen for you. So, you see…”
Ethelena embraced me from the front. Without thinking, I clung to her warmth. I held her tight, so tight that she could never escape.
”Love me a lot, okay, Tatara?”
Those words became a curse, branded into my brain.
As a “palate cleanser,” I coupled with the multiple Ethelenas again. Loving each other face-to-face, we shared kiss after kiss while I moved my hips and e**culated exactly as I pleased.
I also tormented them while kissing another Ethelena.
I had multiple Ethelenas sandwich my manhood between their breasts while I came.
I even grabbed one clone by the hair and forcibly violated her from behind, though I swore to myself I’d never do that again.
Being suddenly turned into a child and then surrounded and raped… it was absolutely terrifying.
I connected with the real Ethelena and had the clones stimulate me in various places, forcing me to climax over and over.
Finally, I made all the clones vanish and moved my hips while holding the real Ethelena. She had her legs wrapped around my waist in a “daishuki hold.” I savored the feeling of her soft breasts being crushed against my chest as we kissed repeatedly. Seeing her with that melting expression and her tongue entwined with mine, I felt a surge of satisfaction and drove my hips in as deep as they would go. Reaching the very bottom of her, I e**culated.
As I filled Ethelena’s insides with my seed, we shared a deep, lingering kiss.
”That was so much naughty s*x! It felt great, didn’t it?”
”I felt like I wanted to die several times, though.”
Having moved the battlefield to the Married Couple Bath, we finished a few more rounds, washed our bodies, and soaked in the tub together. Even this felt like it had been a long time.
”Eh? Was having s*x with the little me no good?”
”Think about how someone feels when they think they’ve killed the person they love most, even if it was just a clone…”
At that time, I hadn’t been able to process reality. I hadn’t even thought to try and resuscitate her; I just held her. My mind had gone completely blank; I didn’t know what to do and couldn’t move. If I were to lose the Ethelenas in a dungeon, would I even be able to use the “Chef’s” bento?
”Muu. And yet you’re saying that, even though you’re planning to stop your ‘Sublimation of Existence’ and die, Tatara?”
”That’s…”
Ichika had told me the same thing-how painful it is to wake up in a world where I’m gone. I had become that distraught just losing a clone of Ethelena right in front of my eyes. The Ethelenas would have to taste that pain forever after I was gone. I was confronted once again with the sheer cruelty of my plan.
”…I’m sorry. But I still can’t quite bring myself to change my mind.”
”Then stop with that ‘Conceptual Weapon of Severance’ or whatever.”
Ethelena, who had been leaning her back against me, turned around to face me. she looked at me with a dead-serious gaze.
”Like I said before, if you die, Tatara, I’m following you. You can leave this house and the inheritance to I-san for all I care, but don’t you dare think about leaving me behind.”
”…Is it wrong of me to want you to keep living?”
”Yes. I won’t forgive that kind of selfishness.”
As if to make sure I couldn’t look away, Ethelena cupped my cheeks in her hands and stared straight into my eyes. The resolve radiating from her was incredibly powerful. I knew I wouldn’t be able to break her will.
”…Fine. I get it.”
”Then!”
”Live with me, and then die with me, Ethelena.”
”Okay!”
At my words, Ethelena broke into a radiant smile and hugged me tight. I wondered why there were so many people around me who looked so happy when told to “die with me.”
That aside, the sheer softness of her triggered a physical response from my manhood. I didn’t even know how many times I’d e**culated today-was this thing equipped with some kind of “Infinite Lust Circuit²” instead of an “Infinite Information Circuit”? (Wait, I hadn’t even had a chance to finish myself off yet…) Noticing my hardness returning, Ethelena gave a mischievous smirk.
”You’re quite the live wire, aren’t you, Tatara-kun?”
”Honestly, I wish I knew where this energy was coming from…”
I answered her teasing, but as I looked down to meet her gaze, I ended up burying my face in her lush, heavy breasts. That was the clincher. My manhood went into full combat readiness. This might be a bathhouse, but a different kind of “scrub-down” was about to turn into a “showdown.” (Honestly, my internal wordplay was getting as exhausted as I was.)
”Well then, a reward for Tatara-kun-the gold-medal winner for stamina,” Ethelena said as she lowered her hips. She must have been weaving some “Sex Sorcery³” into the mix; the pleasure surging through my manhood directly to my brain felt like it would snap my sanity. I lifted those massive breasts and stimulated both n**ipss at once with my tongue. Maybe it’s a Succubus trait, but Ethelena’s skin tasted sweet-so sweet it made me feel like I was drowning, like I was being utterly dominated. Of course, any coherent thought was instantly incinerated by the next wave of heat.
”You really do have a breast fetish, don’t you, Tatara-kun?” she whispered in a tender voice, stroking my hair, but her hips were anything but gentle. She used her entire v**inal canal to wring my manhood out, showing no mercy in her quest to make me blow. I should have been used to her by now, but I couldn’t offer a shred of resistance before I e**culated.
Still not satisfied, I made Ethelena stand and brace her hands against the wall, forcing her hips back. I gripped that slender waist and slid my unyielding manhood back inside her. The sound of our bodies colliding echoed through the bathroom with every powerful thrust. Ethelena let out gasps of genuine pleasure; just as her knees started to buckle, I pinned her against the wall and came again. My hips shook, and with every tremor, I felt her internals pulse and writhe around me. I turned her around to kiss her, and she clung to me, pulling me in until there wasn’t a millimeter of space left between us.
Even after we left the bath, I brought Ethelena into my room and the “battle” raged on until dawn. My room ended up a total disaster zone-much like the workshop, it was going to need a serious deep-cleaning. With those thoughts drifting through my head, I realized I’d overslept for the second day in a row. Beside me, Ethelena was dead to the world, completely spent. I only knew I’d overslept because someone was actually there to wake me up.
”Master, aren’t you being a bit too vigorous-degozaru?” Ichika asked.
”Yeah… sorry,” I replied.
Ichika looked at me with a mix of exasperation and, likely due to Ethelena’s lingering pheromones, a touch of her own arousal. I could only offer a weak apology. I don’t even want to think about how many rounds we went, including the room. I’m pretty sure I set a personal record, but if I try to calculate it, I’ll just feel like a moron.
”Breakfast is ready-degozaru. Once you wake the Madam, you both need to go wash up-degozaru,” Ichika said.
”Understood,” I said.
I couldn’t argue. I just did as I was told. Since stepping back into a bath with Ethelena was a guaranteed way to get horny again, we took separate showers. I went last-a tactical move to make sure Ethelena didn’t try to “recharge” off me. At breakfast, the “Baito-chou” was practically radiating confidence, wearing a total smug face. Meanwhile, her dedicated Golem was slumped over in the corner, looking like it had been through a centrifuge.
”You didn’t trip today?” I asked.
(Hmph! See? I can do it if I try!) she thought.
She responded with total pride, but I figured she just tripped less often. Otherwise, that Golem wouldn’t look like a heap of scrap.
”So, how’d she actually do?” I asked.
”She did eighteen round trips. Tripped eighteen times and took thirteen full face-plants,” Mitsuha-san reported.
That’s two fewer round trips than yesterday, and the fall count is way down. Is that the “Dedicated Golem” effect? Seeing even this much progress made me genuinely happy.
”She’s still overthinking the act of walking. She keeps snagging her feet on the furniture,” Mitsuha-san added.
”So the ‘trips’ include those snags… I guess I really do have to rely on my Mother-in-law,” I said.
”Please leave it to me,” said Mother-in-law.
Mother-in-law gave the “Baito-chou” a maternal pat on the head. She’s really taken a liking to her. The girl looked embarrassed but happy-she never made faces like that back in the game.
”Master, will you be staying home today-degozaru?” Ichika asked.
”Yeah… I’ve got to clean the workshop and my room,” I replied.
Seriously, if I don’t clean those two “battlefields,” things are going to get biohazardous. The smell alone-the heavy scent of all that semen-is overwhelming. It should only take an hour or so. After that, I’ll keep an eye on the “Baito-chou” without getting in her way. I felt terrible leaving the request I’d accepted entirely to my Mother-in-law. The only consolation was that she seemed to be having fun.
”I’m planning to go on an exploration,” Ethelena announced.
”I shall go as well. Tatia, you’re coming, right?” Ibara-san asked.
”Yes. The City Festival is right around the corner, so I want to push my limits,” Tatia replied.
So the three of them are hitting a dungeon. Ethelena probably wants to grind back up to at least Level 50.
”I will also join the exploration today-degozaru,” Ichika said.
”You too, Ichika?” I asked.
”With me there, we can dive to the 60th floor-degozaru. I want the Madam to prepare for the next Sublimation of Existence⁴-degozaru,” Ichika said.
That was a huge relief. If they can hit the 60th floor, they’ll likely run into “Muumin” and can farm some status-boosting items.
”Alright. Just… all four of you, please be careful,” I said.
They all nodded. I was still anxious, but part of being a partner is knowing when to let them go.
”As for me, I have Aarem⁵ theater rehearsals starting this morning,” said Baito-chou.
”I’ll handle the transport, Master. Don’t worry,” Dahlia added.
The “Baito-chou” and Dahlia were up next. They’re in the final crunch, too; the girl had some serious dark circles under her eyes.
”Dear, is it really that different from memorizing a speech to rouse the troops?” Mother-in-law asked.
”It’s easy for you to say! Delivering lines while coordinating complex movements is a whole different beast…” Baito-chou replied.
The girl pouted at Mother-in-law’s teasing. I get it-giving a solo speech is one thing, but a scripted play with specific blocking is a nightmare. Then again, Mother-in-law is the goddess Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, so of course she thinks it’s a breeze.
”Ugh… Tatara-san, isn’t there some Magic Device or Conceptual Weapon that boosts memory?” Baito-chou asked.
”No such luck,” I said.
I’m not some magic cat with a 4D pocket or a genius kid inventor. What kind of logic or “Wish” would you even need to forge a Conceptual Weapon like that?
”I mean, I could use ‘Telepathy’ and ‘Resonance’ to make a device that feeds you recorded lines… but then you’d just be doing a live-action dub while everyone focuses on the Aarem puppets,” I said.
”Tatara, do you realize you just suggested something absolutely insane like it was nothing?” Ibara-san deadpanned.
Dahlia and Baito-chou’s eyes lit up-for very different reasons-but I ignored them.
”That invention would be a game-changer in a war,” Mother-in-law noted. “Most soldiers can’t use ‘Telepathy’.”
”If I link it with my Cipher’s aerial feed, you could see the entire battlefield in real-time and relay orders directly to the front lines. If the enemy doesn’t have the same tech, we’d basically be playing with a cheat code,” I said.
Mother-in-law’s expression darkened. Right. I shouldn’t have brought up “war” around her. If I can build this, it means the Empire could potentially use these tactics too. She probably wants a way for the Torakuma family-and Hizuru-to have the same edge. But that requires getting tech from the Empire. If she negotiates as a diplomat, maybe… but if they don’t know I’m the one making the stuff, the deal will probably fall through.
”Is that like how we tracked Chi-chan?” Ibara-san asked.
”Exactly. Instead of sharing the Golem’s direct vision, you focus on a bird’s-eye view. With a dedicated Intel Officer, you could guide your troops to corner the enemy with perfect strategy,” I replied.
”Does this have something to do with your… circumstances, Tatara?” Mother-in-law asked.
”A bit, yeah. In my previous life, we used highly specialized tools to wage war this way. I’m just applying the concept,” I replied.
Even if the tactics work, building the actual weapons is another story. Some magic in this world hits like a nuke, so a single person can change the tide. I have no desire to build actual nuclear weapons-it’s a moral line I won’t cross. If I have to, I’ll stick to cluster bombs or thermobarics… though “Kokuyo’s” artillery is basically a thermobaric weapon already.
”But it’s all dependent on being able to build high-performance bird-golems like Cipher⁶, so it’s not exactly a mass-market technology,” I said.
”Certainly, one hardly ever sees Golems with such high performance,” Mitsuha-san said.
Hearing its name, Cipher hopped onto my shoulder. I didn’t shoo it away; it was careful not to let its talons poke through my clothes. It’s a sweet bird-feels more like a big, loyal dog with wings.
”How did you forge that Golem, anyway?” Baito-chou asked.
”Just my usual skills. Forged Mithril for the frame, Sublimated Mithril for the wings, and an ‘Alchemist’s Soul’ for the core. That’s the secret sauce, I guess,” I replied.
”I see. So it’s just more of your signature ‘Tatara-ing,’” Mitsuha-san said.
I guess she’s really adopted that term.
”Can’t we adapt it?” Baito-chou asked.
”We could combine the Aarem transport devices with the arena’s broadcast tech. But they aren’t autonomous like Golems. You’d have to manually operate them, and unless you’re as precise as Dahlia, the footage would give you major motion sickness,” I said.
”I like Master’s Magic Devices, but I hate the idea of turning Aarem into weapons,” Dahlia said.
She hated the idea of staining something meant for entertainment with blood. Her innate kindness was showing-which was funny, considering she and her mother once wiped out fifty thugs without breaking a sweat. I haven’t forgotten that.
”In any case, Tatara’s technology can only be made by Tatara at this point, right?” Ibara-san asked.
”I’ve never taught others, so I don’t know, but it seems like other people basically can’t make my inventions,” I said.
”That is simply proof that your craft is beyond the reach of the common man. It’s a testament to your genius. Be proud of it,” Mother-in-law said.
Ibara-san used to be nothing but cold toward me. That changed once she finally praised my work and acknowledged my skills; since then, she’s actually been quite kind.
”We’ve drifted into some pretty heavy topics this morning, so let’s wrap this up,” Mother-in-law said. “Besides, we haven’t even looked at today’s schedule yet.”
”Yeah, we took a massive detour from the technical talk…” I replied.
At her prompting, we ended the talk of war and shifted to our plans. It was mostly business as usual: the rest of the party, Ichika included, was heading out for an exploration.
I have a strict rule in this house: no one sets foot in the workshop to clean but me. I made that crystal clear to Mitsuha-san when we discussed the housework. The equipment in there is calibrated specifically for me; if someone else messed it up or broke it by accident, I’m the only one who could fix it. Since I don’t even know what might trigger a failure, I told them point-blank that they had to stay out unless I was with them. Of course, since everyone usually ignores that rule to come wake me up when I pass out at the bench, it’s basically a rule in name only.
I started by using a Special Ability⁷ detergent to scrub the floor, washing away the mess left over from when Ethelena and I had used the room for our “session.” I aired the place out and did a full inspection of the workbench we’d used as our playground. I don’t get a chance to do a deep clean often, so I went all out, reaching into every nook and cranny. The air felt crisper immediately. Finally, I booted up the precision tools for a diagnostic check. The forge is always spotless since I clean it after every use, but I tend to let the rest of the workshop get cluttered-it’s more relaxing that way. (I’ll probably have to change that once we have a child. I wouldn’t want them wandering in and getting hurt, so I should probably start being more organized. Right now, only my reference books and notes are actually in order.)
Next, I headed to my own room to start cleaning, but when I walked in-
(Good morning, Tarashi-sama⁸. It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?)
”The name is Tatara,” I said. “And good morning, ‘Cleaning Chief’… Why exactly are you in here?”
It was actually her-the Cleaning Chief. Coming right on the heels of the Chef’s visit yesterday, I was floored. Though, seeing my room sparkling like it was brand new, I could pretty much guess her objective.
(There are several reasons, but I decided that purging this testosterone-filled hellscape of your beastly musk was the first priority,) she said.
”I told you, it’s Tatara. I get the ‘musk’ comment, but calling my room a ‘hellscape’ is a bit much, don’t you think?”
(Considering I’m speaking to a monkey who was nearly seduced by my younger sister yesterday, I’d say my choice of words is quite generous,) the Cleaning Chief countered.
”Caught red-handed…”
I didn’t think she would have found out about that. Then again, this was her. Of course she knew.
”So, can I ask why you’re really here?” I asked.
(One reason was to check on my cute little sister. That girl… she’s practicing her footwork with such a happy look on her face, she doesn’t even realize I’m watching from the shadows.)
”Yeah, she’s doing a lot of trial and error just to figure out how to walk right,” I said. “It’ll be a while before we see real results, but I think she’ll stop tripping soon enough.”
(That is wonderful news. To see her smiling more and overcoming her weaknesses… it’s truly marvelous.)
”Well, she’s still breaking plates, though,” I added.
(Change doesn’t happen overnight. Whether it’s at a crawl or a walk, the important thing is that she’s moving forward.)
For all her sharp words, she really does care about her sister. They were siblings, through and through.
(Secondly, I have this for you.)
”A bento? The Chef is nothing if not diligent,” I said.
(It is a contract. We who exist within the World Laws⁹ are bound quite strictly by such things.)
She said it so casually, but it was a terrifying thought. If beings tied to the World Laws were that restricted by rules… did that mean the person who stole the Archangel’s wings used that very nature to find a loophole in her consciousness? A Barrier imbued with Special Ability laws becomes more powerful the more you narrow its focus. Yesterday, the Chef said my Yakusetsu blade could even turn back the power of a Demon Lord, but if I’m not careful, I might actually lose to a Barrier of that type.
(In other words, if you ever enter a marriage or a slave contract, you won’t be able to resist!) she added with a smug look.
”Did you really need to share that right now?”
I couldn’t help but shoot back a retort-why was she so confident about this?
(Furthermore, even a verbal promise can establish a contract.)
”Isn’t that a bit extreme?” I asked.
(We are constantly under the surveillance of the World Laws. It’s no different for humans being watched by the gods.)
”When you put it that way, I guess it makes sense…?”
I felt like I was being talked in circles with some kind of “super-logic.” But if a verbal promise counted as a contract… was that why the Poster Girls couldn’t talk to anyone else? (Wait, if I’d said something like “Marry me” back when I saved the Archangel as a kid, would that have been a binding contract? If I didn’t have my memories from my previous life, that would have been a close call. I wonder what I actually said to her back then to turn down her gratitude?)
”Anything else?” I asked.
(A repair request… though, it’s effectively a request for a full reconstruction.)
I looked at what she held out to me and immediately knit my brows. “Fixing a shattered sword… Yeah, in this state, it’s definitely a reconstruction job.”
(Circumstances have changed. I need this sword restored to its original form… or better yet, reborn as something even more powerful.)
The blade was shattered into dozens of fragments. The only intact parts were the hilt, the guard, and maybe two inches of steel extending from it. The hilt was black, the pommel and guard were gold, and there was a crimson jewel at the base. I’d seen this design before. I reached into my Inventory and pulled out a sword-the one the Chef had given me as a reward.
(So… you received that one from my sister,) she said.
”You can tell?”
(Yes. I recognize the jewel at the base of the guard.)
So these two were “sister swords.” Why would those two, who didn’t even use swords, have these?
(There are reasons. My youngest sister also has a sword with this design. Think of them as protective charms shared by the three sisters-excluding our eldest, the Archangel.)
From the sound of it, the Archangel probably gave them to her sisters. So why was one of them shattered, and why was it being handed to me?
(The request is as I said: repair that sword. You should be able to identify the materials by examining the one my sister gave you.)
”…I’m going to need Archangel Feathers, and I’m fresh out,” I noted.
(If it’s you, Master Lady-killer, you could just summon the Archangel and ask her while you’re feeling up her chest or her backside. You’d get plenty.)
”Are you trying to get me killed?”
Even the Archangel would fight back and try to murder me if I s*xually harassed her like that. My odds were much better if I just ask her normally and keep the details vague.
”Besides, these materials are incredibly rare,” I continued. “Dragon Bone Crystals? That’s a low-drop item from an Evil Dragon.”
I shuddered as I looked over the materials revealed by Appraisal. Normally, when a dragon dies and fossilizes in a land saturated with Mana, it absorbs that high-density energy and crystallizes. I remember from my past-life lore that Evil Dragons can sometimes have their bones or scales crystallize while they’re still alive because of the Mana density in their bodies. In this Whirlwind dungeon, Evil Dragons don’t even show up until the 91st floor or deeper. It’s not something I can just go out and grab. The rest of the list was a “who’s who” of end-game drops: Demon Lord’s Horn, Sky Shards… it made me wonder if they were trying to build a cage for a Demon Lord or something.
(However, repairing it… or rather, creating it… will be for your sake,) the Cleaning Chief said.
”…For my sake?”
When the Chef gave me her sword, she said I was free to do whatever I wanted with it. But the Cleaning Chief was certain this was for me. (The Chef probably wanted me to have it too, but what was with the difference in their approach?)
”…Is the reason why something I’m allowed to know?” I asked.
(Hehe. I can’t tell you.)
She just laughed. She was telling me, without words, that I wasn’t permitted to know yet. I wondered when this sword had actually shattered… for all I knew, it might have broken in the future. If that was the case, the reason it broke was just as important. This wasn’t a sword made by human hands; it was a creation of the World Laws. While it didn’t have an “Indestructible” tag, its durability was effectively infinite. It shouldn’t be possible for a human to break it unless they used something like my own sword-testing techniques.
”…Fine. I can’t get the materials right away, so the repair is going to take some time. You okay with that?”
(Yes, that is fine… I will wait for as long as it takes.)
With that, the Cleaning Chief departed. For some reason, her final expression made it look as if she were hearing my voice for the first time in an eternity.
When I headed down to the living room, I saw the ‘Head of Part-timers’ performing her kata-something I’d missed yesterday. Mother-in-law would demonstrate a form, and the girl would mimic her. She would stop her, touch her to correct her posture, and make her redo it. She was focusing heavily on the legs, emphasizing the distance of the steps… probably because it ties back into her daily walking.
She clearly wasn’t used to it; her steps were either too shallow or too deep. With a look of intense concentration, she checked her foot placement over and over, stared straight ahead, and stepped. Step, re-evaluate, step again. Mother-in-law was strict, but she made sure to praise her when she got it right, building her confidence. She’s really mastered the carrot-and-stick approach.
And since the Head of Part-timers is the type who takes that praise to heart and tries even harder to perfect those areas, the training was incredibly effective. I could see why Mother-in-law was so impressed with her. She works hard for every inch of progress, and when she’s praised, she thinks for herself to polish the move even further. Her pace isn’t fast, but a dedicated soul who keeps pushing forward like that is a dream student for any teacher.
”Whoops!”
She nearly tumbled on her next step, and I instinctively caught her. (I shouldn’t have interfered during her training.)
”Ah, Tatara-kun thank you. But…”
”Phew. Tatara-san. You mustn’t step in even if she falls,” Mother-in-law said. “Learning how to take a hit and fall safely is part of the training.”
I got scolded, just as I expected. I might be getting a little overprotective… I’m just getting in the way of her hard work. I backed off a bit and watched her move again, my mind turning toward the design of her performance shoes.
I’d looked at her legs before; the total length was different, but the length from the hip to the knee was the same. I’d been planning to shave down the soles of the shoes to balance the length of her legs. If she’s going to wear them for a performance, ankle flexibility is going to be key. I’ll need to adjust the sole thickness but give it a slight curve to make sliding steps easier. I also need to ensure the grip works when she steps down, or she’ll just end up slipping. In my previous life, I had a friend who did Taiko drumming as a hobby; he had these grip-sole socks with rubber on the bottom. Maybe I can use those as a reference for the soles. I already have her measurements, so I’ll leave the sole-matching for later and just finish the main body of the shoes now.
”…So, care to explain how you managed to finish a whole pair of shoes before our break even started?” Mother-in-law asked.
”Well, you know… let’s just say I’ve got a gift.”
”That is both the most and least convincing thing you’ve ever said…” she replied.
(Um, as I thought, this is really embarrassing…)
While crafting the training shoes, I’d planned to have Part-time Chief wear them for the final adjustments. I waited for a break in the practice, but they used every bit of the allotted time. You really do have bottomless stamina, Part-time Chief; it was only your concentration that eventually snapped.
I had Part-time Chief sit on my lap while I fitted the newly finished shoes and adjusted the soles. Every time I shaved a bit off the bottom, I had them stand up and try a few light, sliding steps before I’d adjust again. I made sure not to shave off too much, carefully gauging the optimal balance. After thirty minutes of fine-tuning, they were finally complete.
(This is incredible! The sliding steps and the way my lunges stop feel completely different!!)
”I’ve adjusted them for a perfect fit, so use those for practice starting tomorrow. Stick to the usual ones for your walking drills, though,” I said.
(Yes, sir!)
I felt a wave of warmth watching Part-time Chief frolic about, and even as I gave a quick warning, I received a high-spirited reply. The words probably didn’t translate, but Mother-in-law-who seemed to guess the gist of the conversation from my tone and my smile-was laughing along with us.
After a lunch that I’d left entirely to Mitsuha-san, Part-time Chief and Mother-in-law moved on to walking training. I joined in, watching Part-time Chief’s slow gait and offering my own observations every now and then. I wondered if I could correct a walking form using a wheeled walking aid like the ones I’d seen in my previous life. It might be worth a shot; maybe I’ll show the design to Mother-in-law and see what she thinks.
After another three-hour marathon of walking drills, Mother-in-law offered some encouragement and pointers to Part-time Chief, while I brought up a few things I’d noticed from a distance. Seeing how seriously Part-time Chief took our advice made me feel good, and I resolved to tackle tomorrow with just as much focus.
”──So, that was pretty much my whole day,” I said.
”Master, when you focus on work, you become completely useless at housework-degozaru, which is why you’re so worth supporting-degozaru, isn’t it?” Ichika said.
Since I’d left dinner to Mitsuha-san again, Ichika gave me a bit of a hard time. I know I need to help out around the house, but when I get in the zone with this stuff, I just can’t pull myself away… I really need to work on that.
”Tatara, you weren’t really like that back when it was just the two of us, were you?” I asked.
”I’ve got more on my plate now. Back then, I didn’t have many formal commissions, and I wasn’t doing any research that I could really lose myself in.”
I think the fact that I’d been doing significant research since my parents were alive was a factor; I’d already finished my goal of building a basic Arcane Armor¹⁰ back during my primary studies, so after that, there wasn’t much to get obsessed with. Well, you could also say I just didn’t have the cash or the materials for it.
”But still, Tatara-san, your input was a lifesaver. When you’re as close to the situation as I am, objective viewing is quite difficult,” Mother-in-law said.
”I’m not sure I really pulled my weight, honestly,” I replied.
I’d made the shoes and pointed out a few things about the walking form, but that was about the extent of it. I didn’t feel like I could give advice nearly as well as Mother-in-law, who was an actual master of the martial arts.
”Hmm. I may not be directly involved, but Tatara-dono possesses the unique insight of a creator. You offer perspectives that Kasumi simply doesn’t have. I’m certain your observations will spark even more realizations,” Part-time Leader said.
”I hope so… Oh, do you want seconds?” I asked.
”I’ll take some,” Part-time Leader replied.
Part-time Leader gave me some words of comfort for my moping, but I was more concerned with the empty soup bowl. After getting a nod, I headed to the kitchen to ladle out more miso soup. Today’s soup featured turnip and spinach. The turnip had soaked up the rich, salty depth of the red miso, while the spinach left a clean, crisp aftertaste.
Then there was a mountain of rice balls and a huge platter of fried chicken, served with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and potato salad. It was a classic picnic menu, but man, this combination is just unbeatable. After handing the bowl back to Part-time Leader, I popped a piece of chicken into my mouth. The meat was cut into perfect bite-sized pieces with a thin, delicate breading. After a light, satisfying crunch, the meat gave way easily, and succulent juices flooded my tongue.
It looks like the magic-circuit non-oil fryer I’d built to practice my Royal Gem manipulation managed to sear the outside with the same intensity as deep-frying, locking all that juice inside. I’d originally built it just to save on oil, but it seems Ichika and Mitsuha-san have mastered it better than I have. I wasn’t sure whether to feel proud or pathetic about that, but the chicken was delicious either way, so I decided not to overthink it.
”The seasoning is a bit different from tempura, so it was tricky, but it seems to have fried up well,” Mitsuha-san said.
”This fried food is amazing. It’s totally different from what’s popular back in Whirlwind; it feels really fresh,” Lady Ethelena said.
”Huhu, thank you, Lady Ethelena,” Mitsuha-san said.
Mitsuha-san let out a relieved sigh at Lady Ethelena’s high praise. Seeing Mitsuha-san looking so happy with the compliment… yeah, it was a good sight.
”Say, Tatara, this ‘mayonnaise’ you used in the potato salad…” Ibara-san said.
”Yeah, that’s the right name,” I replied.
”Didn’t you say before that this stuff takes forever to make?” Ibara-san asked.
”It takes a bit of time, yeah. But I taught the recipe to Mitsuha-san, so as long as she has a normal cooking window, it’s totally doable,” I said.
The last time I made it, it was a total spur-of-the-moment thing. In a proper kitchen with prep time, it’s a bit of a hassle, but nothing she can’t handle. Though, I’d still prefer not to be whipping it up first thing in the morning.
”I love this creamy texture. That sweet-and-sour tang works so well with the fried food, not just the veggies,” Ibara-san said.
”Just watch out-it’s high in calories. Eat too much and you’ll get fat,” I said.
”Ogres have a high metabolism, and I move around plenty. It’s fine,” Ibara-san replied.
It seems Ibara-san is a fan of the mayonnaise. When I told her to watch her weight, she just brushed me off. Well, she spends every day tangling with That Old Bastard, so she’s probably getting plenty of exercise. Probably.
”By the way, Tatara-dono, I wanted to ask your advice on something,” Part-time Leader said.
”Sure, what’s up?” I asked.
In the middle of the chatter, Part-time Leader approached me with a somewhat serious… or rather, a slightly “off” vibe. Seeing the look on Part-time Leader’s face, Mother-in-law’s eyes narrowed… actually, it was a look of pure disgust.
”I can’t seem to remember my lines for the play. Could you whip up some kind of Magic Device to help me out?” Part-time Leader asked.
”You. We are having a little chat later,” Mother-in-law said.
Mother-in-law completely shut down Part-time Leader’s desperate plea. Yeah… maybe I’ll start working on something for him.
—
Summary:
Tatara is subjected to an intense, multi-stage s*xual and psychological assault by multiple Ethelena clones. The ordeal peaks when Ethelena takes a child form and fakes her own death during the act, plunging Tatara into total despair. Upon revealing it was a clone, Ethelena successfully manipulates Tatara’s guilt to force him into a mutual suicide pact if he ever dies.
After an intense night of intimacy with Ethelena, Tatara wakes up to the domestic reality of his household’s various projects. The group discusses progress on the Baito-chou’s physical coordination and plans an exploration to the 60th floor for level-grinding and status items. Tatara inadvertently reveals his knowledge of modern warfare tactics when discussing magic devices, prompting a serious discussion on military strategy and ethics.
Tatara conducts a deep clean of his workshop after a private encounter with Ethelena, reinforcing the sanctuary’s strict rules. He is visited by the Cleaning Chief, who reveals the binding nature of the World Laws and presents a shattered ‘sister sword’ for reconstruction. The scene concludes with Tatara assisting the Head of Part-timers in her martial arts training by designing specialized performance footwear.
Tatara spends the day meticulously adjusting training shoes for a young trainee, followed by a communal dinner where the group bonds over modern-world inspired cooking. The chapter highlights the domestic life of the group and Tatara’s tendency to lose himself in his research. It ends with a comedic request for a magic device to help with memorizing play lines.
—
Trivia:
- The use of the ‘Chef’s’ bento as a hypothetical revival tool suggests Tatara’s reliance on gaming mechanics even in trauma.
- Ethelena’s ability to manipulate her Mana into lethal ‘clones’ highlights her growth in power and instability.
- The ‘curse’ mentioned by the narrator signifies the shift from a healthy relationship to a trauma-bonded dependency.
- The mention of ‘Aarem’ and ‘Aarem theater’ suggests a sophisticated cultural or entertainment technology that Tatara sees as a potential military asset.
- Mother-in-law’s reaction to the war talk indicates she is actively thinking about the geopolitical stability of Hizuru and the power balance with the Empire.
- Dahlia’s aversion to militarizing toys highlights a core character conflict regarding the loss of innocence in technology.
- Tatara’s previous life knowledge is becoming increasingly difficult to hide as his inventions cross the line into modern tactical warfare concepts.
- The Cleaning Chief’s expression suggests Tatara may have a deeper history with these entities than he currently remembers.
- The shattered sword might have been broken in the ‘future,’ hinting at time-loop or causality-manipulation mechanics.
- The requirement for ‘Archangel Feathers’ sets up a high-stakes, potentially comedic encounter with the eldest sister.
- The ‘World Laws’ bind entities even through verbal promises, a critical mechanic for future negotiations.
- The mention of Arcane Armor being a ‘primary school goal’ suggests Tatara’s prodigy-level talent from a young age.
- The ‘Royal Gem’ manipulation being practiced via a kitchen appliance hints at a sophisticated power system where high-level magic is integrated into mundane life.
- Ibara’s casual mention of ‘That Old Bastard’ implies an ongoing conflict or training rivalry that remains off-screen for now
—
Character Insight:
The dynamic shifts from Tatara attempting to protect Ethelena through his own sacrifice to Ethelena seizing total control. She uses his empathy as a weapon, effectively ‘breaking’ his will to die alone.
The relationship between Tatara and Ethelena remains highly physical and magically charged, while his role as a provider/inventor for the whole group creates a dynamic where his ‘casual’ ideas have massive strategic weight. Mother-in-law’s maternal treatment of Baito-chou shows a burgeoning bond, shifting the latter’s character from a ‘game NPC’ to a more emotionally expressive person.
The dynamic between Tatara and the Cleaning Chief shifts from playful teasing to somber mystery regarding the sword’s origin. Tatara’s protective nature toward the Head of Part-timers is criticized by Mother-in-law as ‘overprotective,’ highlighting his struggle to balance being a supportive companion and a strict teacher.
Tatara’s relationship with Ichika and Mitsuha is shown as interdependent, where they cover his domestic failings while he provides technical expertise. The dynamic with the ‘Mother-in-law’ and ‘Part-time Leader’ suggests a mentorship structure blended with a workplace family vibe.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Introduction of the concept that Succubus clones are indistinguishable from the original even in death until they dissipate into Mana. The ‘Married Couple Bath’ is established as a consistent post-combat/ordeal setting.
Introduction of the ‘Sublimation of Existence,’ a high-level progression mechanic. The world features deep dungeon diving (up to 60 floors and beyond) where specific entities like ‘Muumin’ drop status-up items, a clear callback to RPG mechanics managed by an Alchemist’s oversight.
Introduction of the ‘sister swords’ as charms for the World Law entities. The ‘Whirlwind’ dungeon floor mechanics (91+) and high-tier materials like Dragon Bone Crystals provide a sense of the endgame power scaling.
The existence of ‘Arcane Armor’ and the ‘Whirlwind’ region suggests a high-fantasy setting with distinct technological advancements. The introduction of ‘mayonnaise’ as a novel concept follows the isekai/modern-influence trope common in the genre.
—
TL Notes:
The author includes a foreword warning about the sensitive content and references an obscure phrase ‘Fantasia squirted from the ass,’ indicating a darker, more experimental tone for this chapter.
The term ‘Tatara-ing’ is a meta-fictional localization to describe a character’s signature habit of over-engineering, similar to ‘MacGyvering’ but for fantasy smithing/alchemy.
The nickname ‘Tarashi’ is localized as ‘Master Lady-killer’ to preserve the pun on ‘Tatara’ and the character’s reputation for enchanting women.
The use of ‘-degozaru’ for Ichika was retained as a speech tic to maintain her specific character archetype. ‘Lady Ethelena’ was used to translate the ‘-sama’ suffix when used in a noble/respectful context as per the royal title instruction.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Tatia – An adventurer in the group preparing for the City Festival through dungeon exploration.
• Ethelena – A Succubus and the protagonist’s primary partner. Capable of ‘Sex Sorcery’ and possesses a sweet-tasting skin. Currently Level-downed and seeking to grind back to level 50. A Succubus with the ability to create clones/masses of Mana. She oscillates between an adult form and a younger, ‘immature’ form. She is obsessively devoted to Tatara, using extreme methods to bind him to her. A female companion who engaged in ‘play’ with Tatara in the workshop. A noble-leaning character from Whirlwind who appreciates the household’s unique cuisine.
• Tatara – A creator and researcher who specializes in Arcane Armor and magic devices. He is the master of the household and focuses intensely on his craft to the point of neglecting chores. The protagonist who possesses the ‘Chef’ skill and the ‘Severance’ Conceptual Weapon. He is currently undergoing a traumatic psychological and physical ordeal orchestrated by Ethelena. The protagonist, a blacksmith and reincarnated soul with memories of a ‘past life.’ Also teased with the nickname ‘Tarashi’ (Lady-killer). The protagonist. An inventor/alchemist with memories of a previous life involving modern technology. Possesses high stamina and a tendency to ‘Tatara-ing’ (over-engineer) magical devices.
• Ichika – A fox-girl kunoichi and loyal household attendant, she exudes quiet duty with archaic speech patterns, often exasperated by Tatara’s neglect of domestic life. Her fox features—slender tail, pointed ears, and amber eyes—blend with ninja attire, hinting at hidden prowess. Though fiercely devoted, she chides him with sharp, old-fashioned cadence, her loyalty unwavering despite his recklessness. She becomes pregnant immediately, a secret burden she bears with stoic grace, her identity tied to both her lineage and her unspoken bond with him.
• Baito-chou – The ‘Head of Part-timers.’ The youngest sister. She has physical difficulty walking and is training in martial arts. Diligent and prone to tripping.
• Mitsuha – Second daughter of the Torakuma family, quiet and awkward with a deadpan, gentle nurturing side (shown caring for Cornremu). Her hair flows long across the floor like Tomie Kawakami, half‑hiding her face, a single dark horn above the brow, and she wears loose violet robes. She watches the Baito‑chō’s walking practice, handles housework under Tatara’s guidance, cooks meals such as karaage and miso soup, and serves as the household’s primary caretaker and chef.
• Ibara – Eldest Torakuma daughter, sharp and formal with predatory confidence and dry humor; short black shoulder‑hair, crimson forehead horn, molten‑gold eyes, red‑black Shuten‑dōji kimono. Relative of narrator’s ex‑companion Yohira, now a new house‑guest/guard. She retorts to the protagonist’s wild tech ideas, once hostile but softened by his skill, an ogre‑like figure with a huge appetite for training and mayo.
• Dahlia – Chrome‑finished automaton, built as a skilled fighter and driver, refuses to use Aarem toys as weapons, preferring direct combat and keeping distance from frivolous entertainment tools.
• Cipher – Tatara’s familiar, sent to guard Tatia.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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