Chapter 167 Cracks
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After we finished dinner, I invited Dahlia and the Baito-chou into the workshop. Standing before the workbench, I pulled out the magitech word processor¹. I began sketching and explaining the blueprints for the recording device I’d mentioned this morning—the one utilizing “Telepathy” and “Resonance.”
”This is the magic tool I talked about. It records audio, transmits it via Telepathy, and the recipient picks it up through Resonance to hear the message,” I explained.
”The principle itself is remarkably simple,” Dahlia said.
”There’s no need to overcomplicate it. It’s essentially an application of the gear I built for the arena staff—the camera and lighting crews—so they could coordinate during the event,” I replied.
It really was a basic piece of work. I had just taken a recorder and slapped it onto a magic tool I’d cobbled together in my spare time.
”I did think of a magic device that could use Telepathy to imprint text directly into a target’s brain for a split second,” I added.
”Oh? Something that convenient exists?” the Baito-chou asked.
”Well, since it hammers the data directly into the brain, it’s a hair’s breadth away from being a weapon that fries your gray matter if you mess up.”
”Umu, let’s definitely not do that one!” she exclaimed.
It was an idea I’d toyed with before—a device that puts a massive strain on the mind. I figured if I tried to shove the contents of one of my translated books—roughly 600 words across 100 pages, plus the entire translation process—into someone’s head ten times over, it might not kill them, but it’d certainly leave them catatonic. If I dumped all 103,000 ancient volumes from the Metropolitan Library in there… well, they’d be a vegetable for sure. Actually, I remember someone from a past work who probably could’ve endured even that.
(I wonder what happened to that mage who helped the former Emperor found the country. Back during the Kingdom era, right after the founding, she was the principal of the Royal Academy of Magic and later the director of the Magic Research Institute… I heard she vanished after giving birth to the former Emperor’s child, but the details are a total mystery.)
”Master, what about the development of that weapon?” Dahlia asked.
”I guess we could use monsters for testing, but since it requires both a transmitter and a receiver, you’d have to physically attach it to the target. Above all, the cost is just… look, it’d probably just end up as a torture device or an execution tool,” I said.
If I referred to the primary armament of the lead ship from the Seventh Fleet—the one traveling through space toward a “New World”—it could work as a weapon. But carving that kind of spell formula onto a simple projectile and designing a shape that could burrow into a body just to transmit data… the cost-to-performance ratio just wasn’t there.
The Baito-chou’s face turned pale as she heard the potential grisly end of that line of thought. I couldn’t blame her.
”For now, I’ll stick to making an intercom for audio. If we try to project the lines somewhere, the audience will see them,” I said.
”What if I were to… hide my presence?” she suggested.
”You’re the key diplomatic partner. It’s not exactly an option for you to be a no-show, is it?” I replied.
The Baito-chou let out a resigned sigh. (Is reciting lines really that hard for her?)
”Mother-in-law is participating on the big day too, right?” I asked.
Lately, I’ve been making her spend time practicing for the “Baito-chou” role with my unreasonable demands, but she’s also scheduled to be at the arena for the formal declaration of diplomacy. She hasn’t seemed involved in the scheduling at all, though. I wondered if she was going to be okay.
The Baito-chou looked like she was finding it incredibly difficult to speak, but she finally opened her mouth. “Would you believe me if I told you that she memorized the script I gave her… perfectly, after only an hour of reading?”
”…Yeah, if it’s Mother-in-law, she totally would,” I muttered.
She was likely a natural at memorization and had a deep appreciation for the performing arts. Being a dancer, she probably had a high level of intuition for the director’s vision. Honestly, I wouldn’t even be surprised if she’d memorized every single person’s lines. When I explained this, she gave a wry smile and a nod. She was a different breed of genius than Yohira, but a genius nonetheless.
”Kasumi says I can do it, but frankly, my brain just isn’t wired for oratory or arithmetic,” the Baito-chou said.
”I don’t see how memorizing lines translates to math or public speaking, though,” I said.
”Maybe she thinks of equations as scripts and speech as clear articulation?” she suggested.
(I still think that’s a bit of a nonsensical comparison. Is she really that stressed out?)
”Mind if I take a look at the script?” I asked.
”Hm? The script?” she replied.
I actually wanted to save the surprise for the day of, but my back was against the wall. It wasn’t exactly a “learning machine,” but if I treated it like a fun educational tool, I might be able to make it work. Well, it would mostly just be me dredging up some of the nerdy culture from my previous life.
While I was thinking that, the Baito-chou pulled out the script and handed it over. It was swollen and worn, clearly read and reread countless times, with sticky notes everywhere. It was obvious how much effort she was putting in, despite it being outside her comfort zone. I opened the script and started reading. I gave up in three minutes.
”What is with this pompous, poetic, and utterly roundabout phrasing…?” I groaned, massaging my forehead. Asking someone to memorize this much purple prose was just sadistic.
”Muu, isn’t this standard for such things?” she asked.
”Look, I’m no opera expert, but you’re not even getting a third of the message across. Or rather, only about a quarter of the words in here are actually necessary,” I said.
It wasn’t like some overly dramatic teenage romance. This was a declaration of national diplomacy; if they used simpler language, it would actually resonate with the people listening.
”Master, is it really that bad?” Dahlia asked.
”Okay, remember that speech from my previous life that I told the Golem about? Imagine if I’d loaded it down with this much flowery fluff. What then?”
”Then it would be a total failure,” Dahlia replied.
The beauty of that Captain’s speech was that he spoke simply, as one adult to another. As expected, Dahlia, who shared my sensibilities, got it. Even the Baito-chou was nodding along.
”…What is this ‘speech’ you’re referring to?” a voice asked.
I answered the question, only to realize the person asking was Mother-in-law, who hadn’t even been there a second ago. The Baito-chou looked just as startled as I was.
”When we were building the arena, I got a bit carried away and recreated a favorite scene from my previous life. It was a hit, and—wait,” I said.
”I thought it was odd that you couldn’t memorize lines of that length, but I see now. For my husband and Tatara-san, it must seem like there’s a lot of waste, doesn’t it?” she asked.
”Yeah, I mean… seriously, how many lines did they waste just on flowery praise for the Empire and Hizuru?” I replied.
It really killed the momentum. I wondered who even wrote this thing.
”It’s quite an interesting read, though. Almost like a dialogue-heavy novel,” Mother-in-law said.
”That might fly in a book, but this is a play meant to be performed on a stage,” I argued.
It was exactly like those “script-style” novels that were a niche trend in my old world. Even then, those endless, wordy monologues were pretty widely disliked. If I had to sit through this, I’d be fast asleep.
”Hmph. Then tell me, Tatara-dono, what kind of script would you write?” Mother-in-law asked.
”Eh? If it were up to me, it’d be exactly like I said before,” I replied.
The Merchant Guild Leader, Narikin-san, and the Head of Judiciary would reveal Aarem, followed by the Baito-chou’s aerial entry. The lines would be something simple like: “On this auspicious day when these two distinct cultures unite, let us pray that we support one another and continue to prosper together.” Done. I wouldn’t go on and on about “grand history” or “divine royal right.” I’d leave that kind of stuff to the bards.
”Fascinating. In that case, would you mind letting me hear this speech you mentioned?” she asked.
”I actually have a recording of it right here,” Dahlia said.
”Dahlia, just how many of those do you have…?” I asked.
”I have a copy too. I’m particularly fond of the edited version with the added music,” the Baito-chou added.
”Why are there even more versions now…?” I sighed.
That speech had a piece of music that fit it like a glove. I wondered if I could play the original through the magitech word processor’s thought-control.
”In case you were wondering, let’s see if we can watch the ‘real thing’ using this word processor,” I said.
(‘The real thing?’) they thought in unison.
As the three of them looked on in confusion, I connected the magitech word processor to the spatial projector and summoned that famous scene from my memories. Images began to flicker across the projector, and sound started pouring from the word processor. The video showed mass-produced machines—units with markings on their thighs—lined up in a row. The music swelled just as the Captain delivered her opening line.
”This music…” Mother-in-law whispered.
”It’s by a composer from my previous life. Glad to see it’s playing correctly,” I said.
”How captivating… right from the very start,” she added.
The Baito-chou was already hooked by the opening string arrangement. I totally got it. That was the same thing that pulled me in, and the vocal version of the song that came out later became my absolute favorite. The video rolled on, showing various people frantically finishing preparations for the final operation against the backdrop of the Captain’s speech. The Torakuma couple frowned at the sight of children heading into battle, but at the same time, they seemed to think that with those massive suits of armor, they might actually stand a chance.
”Wait, why are the people floating so naturally?” Mother-in-law asked.
”Because that battleship is sailing through a sea of stars. There’s no gravity pulling you to the ground out there. That’s why their boots have electromagnets in the soles so they can stand on the deck; they just toggle them on and off to move around,” I explained.
”Incredible… Master, I truly wish to learn more about the science of your previous life,” Dahlia said.
”It’s incredibly dense. I’m not sure I can explain it well, so please go easy on me,” I said.
Trying to explain Professor Newton’s gravity or Professor Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was a tall order. I wondered if I could even break it down enough to satisfy Dahlia.
While we were talking, the video hit its climax. The camera panned from a long-range shot toward a white-as-chalk space battleship, followed by the protagonist’s white unicorn. The music surged to its peak. Baito-chou was leaning in, her inner child on full display, while Mother-in-law was nodding along to the Captain’s simple but powerful words—an adult’s promise to protect the future. Finally, a mass-produced unit connected an attachment to the back of the unicorn. After the protagonist gave the signal to launch, the white unicorn shot out. Dahlia was practically vibrating with excitement at the mechanics of it.
The speech was over, and I was just about to kill the feed when a black Unit 2 flashed on the screen, closing in and neutralizing its allies. Dahlia and the Baito-chou pounced on me, stopping me from wrapping things up. They looked absolutely feral; it was honestly terrifying. Even Mother-in-law wouldn’t look away from the footage; I guess she wanted to see this “Otherworld” drama play out to the end.
The camera caught the gaze of a young Officer—one of the story’s many victims—looking upward. In her line of sight, a Unicorn-like entity rapidly approached, trailing a streak of light. Just as the ending theme began to swell, the two rivals shouted each other’s names, drew their sabers, and clashed. They broke away as the camera panned out, and the screen faded to black. (Man, that transition into the ending credits is always absolute perfection.)
When I tried to end the video there, Mother-in-law gave me a chilling glare. She seemed curious about the “Otherworld” song and wouldn’t let me stop. Look, in my past life, I used to love hitting up solo karaoke to blow off steam while watching MVs, and I still remember all the lyrics—except for that one English track in Episode 5—so I could have run through the whole set if I wanted to. But since I was genuinely scared of her, I sat there until the final staff credit rolled.
”That’s a series I was particularly obsessed with in my previous life,” I said. “And that speech was one of my favorite scenes. So, what did you think?”
’I want to do an endurance binge-watch of every single related entry,’ the Baito-chou replied.
”Give me a break,” I said.
Do these two geeks have any idea how many days it would take to sit through a series with decades of history? Most of these shows are nearly fifty episodes long.
”…So this is the ‘theater’ you’ve experienced, Tatara-san?” asked Mother-in-law.
”Well, it’s from my previous life,” I explained. “And to be specific, it’s made using a technique where drawings are played back at high speed to create the illusion of movement.”
”A moving picture scroll!?” Mother-in-law exclaimed.
”The original source material was a novel. It sold so well that they eventually turned it into a video like this. In my world, we never actually finished building giant weapons like those, so most of what you see is just pure imagination,” I said.
The fact that they didn’t exist in reality was exactly why so many people fell down the rabbit hole. Back then, society looked down on people who immersed themselves in worlds of delusion; there was always someone telling you to “grow up” or “face reality.” I hated people nitpicking my hobbies… though, to be fair, I get why geeks who can’t stop talking about their interests are avoided. We can be a bit much.
”Wait, Tatara-dono… does that mean the Aarem² was based on this?” asked the Baito-chou.
”No, that has nothing to do with it. As for the competition, well, there was a world where a game of making things fight—things I made based on spin-offs of these works—was popular, so I used that as a bit of a reference,” Tatara replied.
Unfortunately, I haven’t actually watched that specific spin-off, so I can’t project it. I was always too busy with work, and just when I retired and planned to binge everything, I died… (I was really looking forward to that high-school-themed one, too. Thinking about it is making me annoyed all over again.)
Still, this magic-style word processor is way more high-performance than I gave it credit for. I knew I could project images by tapping into my memories, but I didn’t think I could reproduce entire scenes this perfectly. I tried playing the “Special Ops Unit vs. Ace Pilot” scene in my head, and it was a flawless recreation. Seeing that 3-on-1 comeback executed so perfectly was incredibly satisfying.
”Master! One more time! Play that scene again!” Dahlia shouted.
”Tatara-dono! If there are other scenes you like, show us those too!!” the Baito-chou added.
”Both of you, pipe down!!” Mother-in-law barked.
She rapped both their heads with her knuckles. She sighed as the two of them clutched their skulls, then turned back to me.
”Tatara-san, is it possible to record these images into a mana crystal?” Mother-in-law asked.
”I’d really rather not. I’ve got some lingering ‘copyright’ hang-ups from my old world,” I replied.
Illegal uploads, bootlegging, and piracy? Absolute deal-breakers.
”I only tried this on a whim,” I explained. “I thought if the Baito-chou liked this kind of thing, maybe she’d naturally memorize her script if she saw it as a movie. But since it’s such a pain for me to memorize the script, I don’t think I can pull it off.”
”I see… For example, in that ‘picture scroll’ just now, are there other scenes that someone like her might enjoy?” Mother-in-law asked.
”I mean, if we’re talking about scenes with long, dramatic monologues, there are plenty,” I said.
The scene where a career Officer—living as a mere cog in the machine—explains the importance of the “heart” to a protagonist who hates fighting. Or the part where the protagonist travels through the desert with a hostile Captain, and they discuss the complexities of war, social systems, and human nature. Honestly, she’d probably love the scene where the girl calls that Captain “Father.”
As I was reminiscing, the word processor naturally visualized the scenes. The Baito-chou was completely entranced. She actually let out a scream when the Officer died in the line of duty after saluting the hero, and she nearly had a breakdown during the scene where the Captain’s life was on the line. (Yeah, buddy, I feel you.)
Once the highlights were over, Mother-in-law turned to the visibly exhausted Baito-chou.
”…My dear, those words the Officer directed at The Boy. Do you remember them?” Mother-in-law asked.
”Without a doubt,” the Baito-chou replied.
Answering her, she poked her index finger against my chest and recited the line. Her voice, her timing, her movements—they were all perfect. (Is she for real?)
”And the words that ship captain shared with The Boy?” Mother-in-law asked.
”Of course,” said the Baito-chou.
She started acting it out, using me as a stand-in for the protagonist. I’ve seen the movie a thousand times so I know the lines, but this girl is reciting them flawlessly after seeing them once. (What is she, some kind of genius?)
”…Tatara-san,” Mother-in-law said.
”Yes?” I replied.
”Could you visualize the actual theater script for us like this?” Mother-in-law asked.
”That’s asking way too much,” I said.
Trying to visualize that long-winded, over-written script is a special kind of torture. At the very least, they need to simplify the dialogue.
”Master, I want to see more! Show me more scenes of these weapons clashing!” Dahlia exclaimed.
”To be honest, it doesn’t get much better than that fight between the three Special Ops units and the Ace. That’s the peak,” I said.
That scene was legendary; rumors said they blew the entire initial production budget on those few minutes. If you want pure spectacle, there’s the part in Episode 3 with the massive fleet battle, but that’s a bit niche. Personally, I think the duel between the protagonist and her rival in the old movie—where the rival makes her big comeback—is more worth watching, even if the animation is a bit dated.
”Wait, the design of these weapons is different from the last ones,” observed the Baito-chou.
Crap. I’d accidentally started projecting the finale: the white protagonist machine and the crimson rival machine tearing each other apart, both their weapons exhausted. To my surprise, even though it was pulling from my memory, the animation quality wasn’t “old”—it looked like the “Stardust” quality or that “Winged” theatrical remake. (If it was going to be this high-def, I kind of wish it had kept the hand-drawn cel-shaded look for the Unicorn too.)
The direction was as monstrous as I remembered, and combined with the sheer visual overkill of the animation, it was impossible not to get sucked in. I’d heard they based the beam saber choreography on traditional samurai cinema, and it showed—there was zero wasted movement. You could almost feel the physics behind every strike.
”…The person who choreographed this was no amateur,” the Baito-chou muttered. “That footwork… sliding without ever lifting the heel. And using the ability to fly to bait a miss—it’s brilliant. If the light-blade hadn’t flickered out during that high-low clash, the Red one would have won. She must have run out of Mana³. On a long enough battlefield, the White one’s endurance gives it the edge, but here, the margin is razor-thin… and that kick to the face during the pass? Utterly ruthless.”
”I’m more impressed by the White one’s ‘Arcane Gun’ trap,” Dahlia added. “The sheer calculation required to fire remotely and hit a target like that… and then the Red one destroying the gun with a thrown axe? That was magnificent. If she’d been off by an inch, the White one would have been shot down, wouldn’t it?”
The Baito-chou was analyzing the fight with the precision of a master martial artist. She definitely has the soul of a fast-talking geek. Meanwhile, Dahlia was staring at the screen like a predator; she’s definitely going to try and pull off those maneuvers in the ‘Triteia’⁴ later. (God, that’s terrifying.)
The scene shifted to the finale: the protagonist trying to push back a massive meteorite to save the planet. Every pilot on the battlefield, friend and foe alike, joined in to help. Dahlia and the Baito-chou watched with bated breath as the protagonist let out a gut-wrenching cry and machines began to explode under the strain.
Then came the explosion of green light. The machines were gently repelled, and the meteorite was pushed away from the planet, bathed in that emerald glow. We saw the people watching from below, and finally, the sound of a baby’s cry signaled the start of the ending theme. It’s such a masterpiece… but Mother-in-law gave me another glare, so I had to stay for the entire credits.
”Master, what was that?” asked Dahlia.
”The finale where the original protagonist and her rival finally settle things. It’s about a two-hour movie,” I said.
”In that case—!” Dahlia started.
”Wait, wait. The goal here is just to help the Baito-chou learn her lines for the play, remember?” I said.
I was just going with the flow of the word processor, but we had a mission. The three of them looked a bit sheepish at my reminder, but I suppose it was worth it just to prove she can memorize things if she actually cares about the scene.
”I suppose it can’t be helped,” Mother-in-law said. “Tomorrow, as part of our walking exercises, the Baito-chou and I will accompany my husband.”
”Wait, what?” I blurted out.
”I understand now why my husband can’t memorize the lines,” Mother-in-law continued, ignoring my confusion. “Tatara-san… I want those images. But there are conditions.”
”Conditions…?” I asked.
I really didn’t want to hand them over, but what was she thinking?
”I want you to output and record a version where the characters and the weapons are replaced by us and the Aarem,” Mother-in-law said.
”That is literally the worst kind of fan fiction!” I yelled.
Taking a masterpiece, swapping out the cast for your own friends, and calling it “original” or an “homage” is just a disrespectful rip-off. (I feel like I’m throwing a massive karma-boomerang at this world.)
”The likeness rights of the actors and weapons are being ‘protected’ by the swap, so I’m sure it will be forgiven,” Mother-in-law teased.
”That’s not the problem here!” I replied.
Even if the mechs looked like Aarems and the heroes looked like us, plagiarizing the plot felt like a soul-crushing sin. But I had to admit her logic held some weight: the only way the Baito-chou would learn those lines was if she fell in love with the scenes.
”…I can’t give you the recording. That’s final,” I said.
”Is that so?” Mother-in-law asked.
”However, I’ll come along tomorrow and play the video on the spot. I’ll swap the characters for us so I don’t have to show you the original ‘holy’ version, but we are not leaving a permanent record. Those are my terms,” I said.
I don’t know who wrote their original script, but I wanted to show them that simple words can move hearts. I’d use these masterpieces to teach them that sometimes, “subtraction” is the best kind of direction. Honestly, I still felt a lingering sense of guilt, but…
”Is that acceptable?” I asked.
”The current priority is to expand ‘Baito-chou’s’ repertoire, even if it’s just by one task. It’s essential to keep her close as a makeshift secretary; we need to identify her aptitudes while letting her adjust to the workload, even if she struggles at first.”
Mother-in-law was likely probing to see if I was truly comfortable with this arrangement, but I used ‘Baito-chou’ as a shield to avert my eyes from the deeper question. I hadn’t fully reconciled my own feelings yet, but the Baito-chou needed her, and failing to declare diplomatic relations now would be a disastrous omen. I suppose I just have to learn to take the good with the bad… maybe this is what it actually feels like to become an adult.
”I understand. In that case, Tatara-san, please see to it that ‘Baito-chou-san’ has proper outdoor shoes, won’t you?”
”…Mother-in-law, you aren’t actually just secretly enjoying the idea of playing dress-up with ‘Baito-chou’, are you?”
”Oh, my…”
She laughed in response to my bluntness, not offering a single shred of denial.
With the City Festival rapidly approaching, changing the script now felt like an invitation to a total catastrophe. Regardless, I saw off the trio led by the Baito-chou as they went to tackle the challenge, then I called ‘Baito-chou’ over.
(Um, is something wrong?)
”Tomorrow, you’re going out with Mother-in-law on short notice. We need to get some outdoor shoes made for you.”
(That… feels like a waste…)
”No, you’re still not used to walking. I separated your indoor and training pairs because the soles wear down and you might trip. If we don’t have outdoor shoes ready, you’ll just lose your balance again.”
I had to be firm with her. She suffers from chronically low self-esteem, so the only way to get her to accept anything is to frame it as an absolute necessity. It feels like looking after a high-maintenance younger sister, but I can feel us growing closer by the day. She’s an honest, sweet girl at heart, so I suppose it’s only natural for me to feel protective of her.
I sat the hesitant ‘Baito-chou’ down and began crafting the shoes, grinding the soles just as I had before. It occurred to me that I hadn’t been color-coding these, making them easy to mix up at a glance, so I decided to dye this outdoor pair a deep red.
(They’re red.)
”So you can tell them apart visually. Don’t go swapping them with your house shoes or your practice pair, understand?”
(Yes, sir!)
I gave a wry smile at her enthusiastic salute and forced my mind back to the task at hand. “‘Baito-chou’, there’s something I need to ask you. Is that okay?”
(?)
As she tilted her head with a look of pure confusion, I produced two swords—the ones I had been holding for ‘Chef’ and the ‘Cleaning Chief’.
(Middle sister’s and youngest sister’s swords… why do you have them, Tatara-san?)
”I received one from ‘Chef’ as a reward. As for the one from the ‘Cleaning Chief’… well, look.”
I explained the situation as I drew the blade from its scabbard. Seeing the jagged, shattered ruin of the steel, ‘Baito-chou’s’ eyes went wide with shock.
(Why is middle sister’s sword shattered already?!)
Her reaction sent a chill through me. Why was she surprised that it was broken now? If we assumed the blade was destined to break eventually, she was implying it should have happened much later—or did she already know the timeline?
”Hey, ‘Baito-chou’… what exactly are these swords?”
(What are you saying, Tatara-san? These are—ah!?)
She suddenly froze, the words dying in her throat. What was going on? Were these really just the “charms” the ‘Cleaning Chief’ claimed they were? If so, what was the real story behind their creation? Why did ‘Chef’ look so mournful when she told me I could melt hers down, while the ‘Cleaning Chief’ seemed so nostalgic? Even if they don’t experience time the same way we do, this discrepancy was jarring.
”The ‘Cleaning Chief’ told me these were common charms shared by the sisters, but…”
My gut told me that ‘Archangel’ probably had one too. If the ‘Cleaning Chief’ said only three sisters had them, then ‘Archangel’ was either hiding hers, or—as I suspected—whatever she held was something else entirely. “They’re actually something else, aren’t they?”
(…I can’t say.)
It wasn’t a denial, which was an answer in itself. The ‘Cleaning Chief’ had lied to me, yet ‘Chef’ specifically wanted me to possess her blade. What were they? Maybe they weren’t charms for the ‘Poster Girls’ at all. Maybe they were meant for me. It was a leap in logic, but it felt right.
Everything lately—the ‘Poster Girls’ bolstering their strength for the ‘Cavern of Eternal Night’—couldn’t be a coincidence. And then there was ‘Baito-chou’s’ slip-up. They were acting like this was a Second Lap—like they’d already lived through the events of ‘Beyond the Deep Darkness’ once before. It would explain why ‘Archangel’ was weeping over her reclaimed wings when we first met.
But if they were learning from the past, who could possibly catch ‘Archangel’ off guard now? She wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice. Unless… unless someone she trusted more than anyone else betrayed her. Someone she never would have suspected. And I couldn’t imagine anyone who held her total trust except… no.
”…I understand. If you can’t talk about it, you don’t have to. But tell me one thing.”
I looked at the downcast ‘Baito-chou,’ my throat felt like sandpaper as I forced myself to swallow. “Can I… can I stay on your side? Am I still an ally to the ‘Poster Girls’?”
That was the fear gnawing at me. What if I was the traitor? What if I was manipulated by the Demon Lord in the depths—the one who stole ‘Archangel’s’ wings in the first place—to harm her? I had ‘Yakukiri’ at my side, a blade ‘Chef’ said could repel the interference of gods, but it was still a young Conceptual Weapon. It hadn’t reached its full potential. If a brainwashing spell powerful enough to bypass ‘Yakukiri’ hit me, I could become her greatest enemy.
I couldn’t live with that. Even if the World Laws turned against her, I wanted to be the one person standing by her side.
(Tatara-kun, you’ve always been… you will always be our ally!!)
’Baito-chou’ screamed the words, tears streaming down her face. (Tatara-kun has always cherished us! Even now, you’re helping me with work I can’t do! You made these shoes for me even though you’re busy! You asked the female Master and the Golems to look after me! There is no way… there is no way my beloved Tatara-kun would ever betray us!!)
She stumbled toward me, clutching my shirt with desperate strength. (That’s right, Tatara-kun didn’t betray us… if anything, the one who betrayed us was—)
Suddenly, all the strength vanished from her body. When she looked up again, her face was a mask of cold indifference. The air in the room turned frigid. I had felt this presence once before.
”…You couldn’t even bother to manifest your own body, ‘World Laws’?”
(It was an emergency, after all.)
The entity governing the World Laws had descended, using ‘Baito-chou’ as its vessel.
”I won’t ask what she was about to say. If you’re intervening, it’s obviously something I’m not supposed to know yet.”
(Your intuition is as sharp as ever, Tatara Julon.)
”…Well, fine. But just so you know, I’m going to build a shrine to you later when you’re not looking.”
(Please, don’t.)
I’m a man of my word; a promise is a promise.
”So, first ‘Archangel’, and now her?”
(These girls are becoming far too attached to you. They were on the verge of carelessly revealing the distortions in causality.)
”Really? Then what about the ‘Cleaning Chief’? She was happy enough to tell me my fate.”
(In the first place, I was the one who tried to tell you, and you were the one who rejected it, weren’t you? That girl was merely acting as my mouthpiece.)
The ‘World Laws’ replied, still using ‘Baito-chou’s’ hand to grip my shirt.
”I need to confirm something. How badly is this world ‘shifted’ right now?”
The entity fell silent. I wondered if I’d finally asked something forbidden.
(…Currently, several key destinies have been distorted or erased entirely. In some sectors, the primary path of fate is being compromised. If this continues, the destiny of the world itself may be at risk.)
I can’t believe it actually answered me. I feel like a fool for having that dramatic “is it forbidden?” thought just now.
”In a worst-case scenario, what are the odds of this city being wiped out?”
(Considering the burden is becoming too heavy for the original protagonists to bear, I would place the current probability at roughly thirty percent.)
”Wait, isn’t that incredibly high!?”
If my mission in the ‘Cavern of Eternal Night’ was factored in, maybe I could accept it—but thirty percent odds of ‘Whirlwind’ being destroyed by outside forces? That was unacceptable. I’m doing all of this for the children.
(It is the result of your presence exerting a subtle influence on the primary path. At worst, there is a chance that every calamity you are aware of will strike the city simultaneously.)
”That isn’t just a situation, it’s a total apocalypse.”
It meant every final boss from every heroine’s route I’d ever imagined would team up and descend at once. If Yohira was on the field, she could probably delete two of them instantly, and I could handle the ancient weapons… maybe it wouldn’t be that bad?
(And here is the greatest problem…)
”…Don’t leave me hanging. You’re making me nervous.”
The ‘World Laws’ hesitated, then gave a slow nod. (There is a very high probability that, in tandem with that disaster, the horrors from the deepest part of the depths will finally gush out to the surface.)
”Are you serious? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
There was no doubt about it—we had to be heading for the deepest part of the basement. I felt a surge of despair at the thought of a being capable of vaporizing “Whirlwind”⁵ on its own joining a lineup of final bosses. Then again, that realization brought up a troubling point.
”The Chef mentioned it before,” Julon said. “Isn’t the Archangel already down there at the very back, fighting that thing and keeping it sealed?”
(That is strictly based on the premise that she is even capable of repelling it—a seal performed only after weakening the target. But the enemy learns as it battles the eldest daughter. While she likely intends to make the seal last until the end of your natural life, she won’t be able to. In the end, she will be defeated and absorbed.)
”…What?” Julon replied.
I could almost wrap my head around the Archangel losing. I didn’t want to accept it, but I could understand it. But what the hell did “absorbed” even mean?
”Wait a second,” Julon said. “Why would the Archangel end up being absorbed by the enemy?”
(…That is something you should hear from her directly, once she finds the resolve to speak to you about it.)
”Then why is she taking such a massive risk!?” Julon demanded.
(…For your sake. Why else would she?)
I couldn’t accept it; I couldn’t understand it. Why would she go so far for a man who did nothing more than find a way for her to go home? Even for an act of self-sacrifice, this devotion was too much. What did I say to her back then? How did I manage to chain the Archangel like this?
(Do not forget, Tatara Julon. That eldest daughter loves you and will not hesitate to devote herself to you. Whether her body is shattered or defiled… she will push forward with whatever she has decided is for your sake.)
The World Laws continued, speaking with an air of merely stating facts, devoid of any visible emotion.
(If you want to stop that eldest daughter, all you have to do is pin her down and violate her. It would be simple, wouldn’t it? You would just be releasing the true feelings you’ve kept suppressed.)
”I’ll fucking kill you!” Julon spat.
I couldn’t do it since that body belonged to Manager Baito, but if this thing had a body of its own, I would have punched it. Seeing my rage, the World Laws gave a sadistic laugh.
(Why are you so angry? If it were that eldest daughter, she would happily accept it and bear your child.)
If the World Laws was the one saying it, then perhaps it was the truth. Even so, I couldn’t forgive the way it spoke—as if it were dragging the Archangel through the dirt.
(Though, I suppose you wouldn’t be able to live with the fact that doing so would make you my prisoner.)
I wanted to smash that smile. It was the polar opposite of Baito’s usual expression, sparking a revulsion so intense that my anger felt like it was hitting escape velocity.
”…The Poster Girls⁶ were supposed to have restrictions,” Julon said. “They shouldn’t be capable of things like that.”
(The third daughter already stripped for you and tried to start a relationship. Do you really think those shackles are still functioning?)
”Then tell me this,” Julon said. “Why didn’t they work on me?”
I was fishing for an answer to a discrepancy I’d felt for a long time. Why were the Poster Girls—entities fundamentally barred from anything erotic—able to expose their skin and offer themselves to me?
(The second daughter told you already, didn’t she? You are the ultimate Singularity⁷.)
”She did,” Julon replied. “So what?”
(It doesn’t simply mean that you exist here and now. It means that throughout the past, the present, and the future, there is no other being who causes as much distortion as you.)
My mind struggled to keep up with the logic.
(Is it any wonder that the girls existing under the shadow of such a massive influence would be transformed?)
The World Laws kept that fixed, sadistic grin—like a cat toying with its prey—as it spoke the next words.
(You are the one who distorted those girls, Tatara Julon. You are the cause.)
My heart began to race as it said the one thing I never wanted to hear, the one thing I refused to face.
(Their very nature is warped, they are imprisoned by love… and they are breaking at an accelerating pace.)
The World Laws looked down at its feet, its gaze falling upon the red shoes I had crafted.
(This child is a tragedy, too. She’s been distorted from her original purpose and is losing her reason for being.)
The World Laws looked up again and locked eyes with me. A chill of pure dread ran down my spine.
(Let me tell you a fact you don’t know—something that wasn’t in the records you read in your own world.)
I was trapped by its words. I knew I was falling into a pit I could never escape, yet I couldn’t choose to stop listening. I knew exactly what it was doing. The words it was about to speak were designed to murder my spirit. They were intended to leave a permanent crack in my soul.
(These beings you call the Poster Girls… the younger sisters were created for the sole purpose of killing the eldest daughter.)
To me, those words felt like a total rejection of the bond they shared as sisters.
—
Summary:
Tatara develops a recording device based on telepathy for the upcoming diplomatic event. He discovers the Baito-chou’s struggle with a bloated, overly poetic script and introduces them to a ‘real’ speech from Earth media (Gundam Unicorn).
So, Tatara uses his magic word processor to showcase mecha anime from his previous life, captivating Dahlia and the Baito-chou. The demonstration reveals that the Baito-chou has a genius-level ability to memorize lines when he is emotionally invested in the drama. Mother-in-law proposes using these ‘Otherworld’ stories for their own theater production, leading to a conflict over Tatara’s ‘otaku integrity’ regarding copyright and fan fiction.
Then, he prepares Baito-chou for a public outing, crafting special red outdoor shoes. This domestic moment shifts into a tense interrogation when Tatara discovers discrepancies in the sisters’ swords, confirming they are in a ‘Second Lap’ timeline. The World Laws entity intervenes, revealing that Tatara’s presence has escalated the world’s destruction probability to 30%.
But then, he confronts the World Laws, which has possessed Manager Baito’s body. He learns the devastating truth about the Archangel’s inevitable defeat and his own role as a ‘Singularity’ that has corrupted the Poster Girls. The encounter ends with the bombshell revelation that the sisters were designed to kill the eldest daughter.
—
Trivia:
- The mention of a brain-frying weapon foreshadows potential dark applications of magitech.
- The mysterious mage who vanished after bearing the Emperor’s child suggests a hidden royal lineage or future plot thread.
- The ‘past work’ character reference hints at a larger shared universe or previous series connection.
- Dahlia’s obsession with boosters and fuel-links suggests her future focus on high-mobility magitech upgrades.
- The Baito-chou’s tactical analysis of the mecha battles suggests he possesses a high-level martial arts background that transcends mere physical skill.
- Dahlia’s intense focus on the aerial combat maneuvers hints at future upgrades or new tactics for her ‘Triteia’ unit.
- The magic word processor’s ability to ‘upscale’ animation quality based on Tatara’s memory suggests its power is tied to the user’s mental clarity and emotional state.
- Tatara’s refusal to leave a permanent record of the ‘pirated’ footage shows his lingering attachment to the moral codes of his previous world.
- The color red for the shoes may symbolize a ‘red thread’ or a target mark, as the World Laws mentions her being too attached.
- Baito-chou almost names a traitor before being silenced, suggesting the ‘Second Lap’ wasn’t caused by an enemy, but an ally.
- Tatara’s fear of brainwashing suggests he suspects his own future actions were the cause of ‘Archangel’ losing her wings.
- The ‘Red Shoes’ motif: Symbolizes Julon’s unintended influence warping the original nature of the world’s inhabitants.
- Escape Velocity: The protagonist’s rage is described in physical/cosmic terms, mirroring his status as a Singularity.
- Omitted Records: The World Laws references meta-knowledge from Julon’s original world, suggesting the ‘story’ he knows is incomplete or a lie
—
Character Insight:
The dynamic shifts from professional workshop collaboration to a moment of shared wonder. The Baito-chou finds common ground with Tatara through shared ‘nerdy’ excitement, while Mother-in-law displays her terrifyingly efficient genius, creating a dynamic of mutual respect.
The dynamic shifts from Tatara being a reluctant guide to Mother-in-law becoming the director of a new project. The Baito-chou’s status as a ‘genius actor’ is revealed through his perfect mimicry of the Captain and Officer, bridge-building between his martial prowess and the arts.
Tatara’s relationship with Baito-chou shifts from mere mentor to a protective ‘big brother’ figure, while his relationship with the World Laws is antagonistic and casual, highlighting his unique status as an anomaly who doesn’t fear god-like entities.
The dynamic between Julon and the Archangel is revealed to be one of extreme, potentially coerced devotion. The World Laws attempts to break Julon’s spirit by framing his very existence as a corrupting force that has ruined the sisters’ lives and bonds.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Magitech concepts of Telepathy and Resonance are clarified as communication protocols. The existence of a former ‘Kingdom era’ and the history of the Royal Academy of Magic provide historical depth to the current world.
The concept of ‘Recording Mana Crystals’ is introduced as a method of storing visual information. We also see how modern Earth media can be misinterpreted as ‘ancient picture scrolls’ or ‘imaginary theater’ by the denizens of the Isekai world.
The ‘Second Lap’ concept confirms this is a regression narrative where characters (Poster Girls) retain some trauma or memory from a previous timeline. ‘Yakukiri’ is revealed as a Conceptual Weapon capable of anti-divine interference.
Introduction of the ‘Singularity’ concept—Julon is a temporal and causal anomaly that distorts everything around him. The ‘Poster Girls’ are revealed to be a artificial system with a dark, built-in fratricidal purpose.
—
TL Notes:
The author references the ‘Koihime Musou’ series and ‘Dynasty Warriors: ORIGINS’ in the foreword, setting a meta-context for the protagonist’s inspirations. The ‘Seventh Fleet’ and ‘White Unicorn’ references are localized to maintain the impact of the anime homage without breaking the fantasy immersion.
The mecha descriptions are carefully localized to evoke the ‘Real Robot’ genre feel without infringing on specific trademarked names like ‘Gundam’ or ‘Sazabi.’ The term ‘niji sousaku’ was adapted to ‘fan fiction’ to better resonate with US English readers while maintaining the protagonist’s sense of shame.
The term ‘Baito-chou’ is a humorous title-name common in Web Novels. The use of ‘Mother-in-law’ (Gibo) is localized to preserve the awkward social distance Tatara feels.
The term ‘Baito-chou’ was translated to ‘Manager Baito’ to adhere to job title constraints, while ‘Archangel’ and ‘Chef’ are treated as proper titles/codenames.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Baito-chou – Baito‑chou, the youngest sister and part‑time manager, walks with difficulty yet trains in martial arts; diligent but prone to tripping. A vessel of the World Laws, low‑self‑esteem poster girl attached to Tatara Julon, martial‑arts enthusiast who memorizes dramatic lines and analyses choreography, fast‑talking geek. Husband of her mother‑in‑law, she struggles to memorize an overly poetic diplomatic script.
• Dahlia – Chrome‑finished automaton, built as a skilled fighter and driver, serves Tatara as her energetic assistant and partner. She analyzes mecha footage for Triteia combat, uses it as tactical data, and is deeply interested in magitech and science, preferring direct combat over frivolous Aarem toys.
• Mother-in-law – A maternal figure of authority who enjoys teasing Tatara and ‘Baito-chou’. She is involved in diplomatic and festival preparations. A stern authority figure in the household. She uses physical discipline (fist-drops) and commands high respect. She is interested in using Tatara’s memories for script-writing. Wife of the Part-time Leader. A dancer with genius-level memorization skills and a deep understanding of artistic intent.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Tatara – Reincarnated Earth salaryman‑turned‑magitech engineer, wearing workshop garb, wields the Yakukiri Conceptual Weapon and the Severance blade. He’s an otaku with mecha‑anime knowledge, uses a magic word‑processor to project memories, and protects the Poster Girls while analyzing time loops. Nicknamed ‘Tarashi,’ he over‑engineers devices and neglects chores.
• World Laws – An entity representing the rules of the world, currently inhabiting the body of Manager Baito. Cold, manipulative, and sadistic. The personification of the world’s governing logic. It uses the ‘Poster Girls’ as vessels to communicate directly with Tatara to prevent causality collapse.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply