Chapter 169 The Glitchy Word Processor
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I returned to the workshop from the living room. Before starting my daily routine of forging a ‘Sky Rift,’ I pulled out a Mithril Ingot and activated my ‘Crafting’ skill.
The image I held in my mind was of World Laws, whom I’d been arguing with just a moment ago. As I had declared, I intended to make a lewd figure of her. My skill seemed to be in top form; in fact, I felt like I was crafting a masterpiece, perhaps the best work of my life. I’m certain it was a resonance triggered by the sheer spite simmering inside me.
What took shape in my palm was a woman with trailing, floor-length hair whose features were a dead ringer for Archangel. She was sculpted sitting with her legs tucked, desperately trying to shield her voluptuous, naked body while glaring back at me with tear-filled eyes.
(I assume this is the true form of World Laws, but since the only difference between her and Archangel is a slightly sharper slant to her eyes, looking at her makes me feel incredibly restless.)
That said, I couldn’t exactly make a figure of Archangel for a side-by-side comparison. If I did that, I’d be making an erotica figure of her, which was a line I couldn’t cross. Given my track record, it would undoubtedly end up looking like the cover of some “thin book”¹ I’d read in my past life. Specifically, an erotica Archangel would probably trigger memories of the very book that traumatized me in the first place.
Every time I remember that circle leader—the one who released a sugary-sweet “newlywed” story only to pivot to a gut-wrenching cuckolding sequel—I want to track them down and deck them. That was the first time in my life I’d actually vomited from the sheer shock of a manga.
I had no desire to dig up those old traumas. Refusing to even contemplate an Archangel figure, I let my irritation guide me as I used several more Mithril Ingots to create another figure of World Laws. This time, the sculpture depicted World Laws surrounded by several faceless men, her hands and both “mouths” being put to work. For a fleeting, sickening second, the face made it look like Archangel was the one being degraded. I felt a wave of nausea. (I’m a total moron. Dealing myself psychic damage with my own handiwork.)
I immediately tossed the second figure back into the forge to melt it down. I’d lost my drive for this, so I kept only the first “glaring” figure.
Next, I took a single Mithril Ingot and used ‘Crafting’ to shape it into a hairpin designed like a stylized raptor’s wing. On it, I etched a ‘Telepathy’ Spell Formula. Then, using multiple Mithril Ingots and a medium Mana Stone, I activated ‘Crafting’ once more. I flattened the Mithril into a tablet-like plate, engraved a ‘Correspondence’ Spell Formula onto the casing, and finished it with a thin coating of the Mana Stone. It was a recreation of a Magic Tablet I’d made once before. I slid the hairpin on to begin the test.
The formula in the hairpin was supposed to intercept my thoughts, causing the tablet to ‘respond’ and display them on the Mana Stone screen. It didn’t exactly go to plan. Characters appeared on the screen, but they weren’t words.
──(´・ω・｀)
My goal was to transcribe my thoughts into text, but all I got was a “shobon” emoticon. As if to mock my frustration, the device read my current mood and updated the display:
──( ˘•ω•˘).｡oஇ
If I gave this to Shift Lead now, she wouldn’t be able to communicate anything but raw vibes. It actually seemed like a better fit for Chef, who was even more stoic than Shift Lead—it suited her character better. But if it couldn’t facilitate precise communication, the whole project was pointless.
I took a moment to think it over and realized I’d been overcomplicating the logic. Using the same materials, I followed the process again, but this time I etched the same Spell Formula used in a Magical Word Processor. I rebuilt the thought-control formula to transcribe intent directly into text while allowing it to reflect enough emotion to use punctuation like exclamation points. When I tested it again, it worked perfectly. The magic tool was complete. I’d give it to Shift Lead first thing tomorrow morning; I’m sure she’d enjoy being able to actually talk with everyone.
With that out of the way, I finished my daily ‘Sky Rift’ and headed for the bath. As expected, Ethelena was waiting for me. As she washed my back, she caught me brooding. Sensing something was wrong, she pressed me for answers until I finally spilled everything.
”Hmph. So, setting aside Tatara’s ‘true role’ for a second, you’re saying this whole town blows up if we don’t reach the bottom of the dungeon?” Ethelena asked.
”I don’t remember any lore like that from my previous life. But it came straight from World Laws, the entity managing this reality… and I don’t have any evidence to prove her wrong,” I replied.
”A thirty percent chance is way too high to just ignore,” she noted.
Ethelena had lathered herself with soap and was now rubbing her body against mine as she washed me. It was an incredibly serious conversation, yet the atmosphere was… well, it was Ethelena. Trying to apply logic to her behavior was a fool’s errand; even World Laws had given up on understanding her.
”I’m not sure if we have just a few years or more than a decade of leeway,” I said.
”But we still have to dive, right? For the sake of our child,” Ethelena said.
”The idea of the city just… vanishing. It’s the kind of threat that would usually mobilize the homeland’s elite. I’ll have to evacuate the kids to Lady Torakuma’s territory if it comes to that, but I’d really rather just solve the problem if I can,” I explained.
Even if this role was forced on me, facing the literal end of the world felt like too much for any one person to shoulder. This was the kind of crisis where you’d expect God-slayers to be involved, not just some elite soldiers.
”Lacking confidence?” Ethelena asked.
”Obviously. Totally,” I said.
I gave her an honest answer. My enemy was one of the two fundamental attributes that composed the very fabric of existence. How was I supposed to feel confident about fighting that?
(The developer who made ‘Beyond the Deep Darkness’ had returned to their roots for the final game, but their earlier titles were famous for opaque internal calculations. Between the RNG and the bizarre defensive traits, you could never rely on stable damage numbers. I’d played the games, but I’d never mastered them.)
My biggest fear was fighting in a zone where the Divine Protection of the Machine God didn’t reach. Even if I kept using Sublimation of Existence to max out my bonus skills, it wouldn’t mean a thing if the underlying laws of physics changed. If that happened, even Yohira or Dahlia might be rendered helpless. How could anyone be confident about walking into a complete unknown?
”I see. In that case…” Ethelena said.
Whether she truly understood my inner turmoil or not, she seemed satisfied with the answer and moved around to face me. My eyes were immediately drawn to the rhythmic weight of her swaying chest. Between the sight and the intoxicating scent of her skin at such close range, my libido flared, and I felt a primal instinct to take her.
”I might not be able to give you confidence, but I can make you forget the anxiety,” Ethelena whispered.
As I looked up, our gazes locked, and I felt a surge of mana interference. It was a form of mental suggestion—she was trying to numb my fear. But honestly, once we were staring each other down like this, it was just basic instinct to crave her.
”Ah—wait, Tatara!” Ethelena cried.
Without breaking eye contact, I pressed myself against her entrance and gripped her waist. She gave a half-hearted protest, but she wasn’t actually refusing. I leaned into her Succubus nature—the way her body instinctively prepared itself when a partner showed desire—and slid inside her.
Ethelena’s expression blurred into a mask of pleasure, though she kept her eyes on mine as if to scold me. Taking advantage of the way she’d leaned back, I pulled her close and crushed my lips against hers. What started as a simple press of lips devolved into a messy, desperate exchange of tongues. The wet sounds of our mouths and the rhythmic friction of our bodies echoed throughout the steamed-up bathroom.
The sensation of her milking me brought me to the edge in record time. I’d spent so much yesterday that I was actually impressed my body had managed to reload so quickly. As I came, filling her, I reflexively held her tight against me so I wouldn’t slip out while my hips were still twitching. Ethelena clung to me just as hard, waiting for the tremors in her own body to subside.
”Tatara? That was… faster than usual, wasn’t it?” Ethelena asked.
”Yeah, I think so. I guess I really am pushing myself,” I admitted.
My “equipment,” which could usually handle several rounds in a row, seemed to be completely tapped out after just one. Then again, considering what we did yesterday, being able to go even once today was probably a miracle.
”Hmm… I don’t think my ‘Sex Sorcery’ really worked, either,” Ethelena mused.
”Yesterday’s ‘war’ probably took more out of me than I realized,” I said.
”I guess so. We did push ourselves into the triple digits by this morning, after all,” she joked.
(We went that many times?) No wonder a single day wasn’t enough to recover.
After the bath, Ethelena followed me to my room. She was dressed in her usual loungewear—a thick shirt and hot pants. Now, she was giving me a lap pillow while cleaning my ears. Back when we first started living together, she’d tried to do this as a way to thank me… but she’d punctured my eardrums so many times I had to practically live on Maiden’s healing potions.
She was an expert now, though. Using her Succubus night vision to peer deep into my ear, she cleared away the wax with surgical precision. The pressure was perfect; there was that unique, ticklish sensation that always made me drowsy after a few minutes.
”Hehe. Are you sleepy, Tatara?” Ethelena asked.
”Yeah. Exhausted,” I muttered.
I couldn’t tell if she was amused by my helplessness or just enjoying the moment, but she sounded incredibly cheerful. For some reason, she always seemed to love it when I ended up like this.
”Not yet, silly. I still have to do the other side. Come on, roll over,” Ethelena commanded.
”Mm-hm,” I grunted.
I did as I was told and flipped over. My face ended up buried right in her stomach. I was caught between the firm elasticity of her abdomen and the overwhelming softness of her chest pressing down from above. It felt like a significant weight was resting on my head, but I didn’t mind one bit.
”Honestly. I can’t clean your ears if you’re going to hide your face like that,” she said.
She sounded like she was laughing, but I didn’t have the energy to reply. Her scent, which usually acted as an aphrodisiac, felt more like a sedative now. My eyelids felt like lead.
”You really are a handful, Tatara,” Ethelena whispered.
She shifted my head from her lap onto a pillow, then laid down beside me and began to stroke my hair.
”Goodnight, Tatara. Sweet dreams,” she said.
With those words as my anchor, I drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep. It was the kind of night that made me finally understand why people in my old world were so obsessed with those “hypnosis” audio tracks.
Morning arrived, and I woke up to a peaceful start-a far cry from the usual chaos of Ichika straddling my morning wood or Ethelena trying to milk me dry by working over my other sensitive spots. I gave Ethelena’s head a gentle pat as she dozed off against my chest, her breathing steady and calm, before slipping out to grab a shower and start on breakfast. I caught myself debating: should it be onigiri today, or maybe toast? If I was going to have Shift Lead carry the trays, onigiri was the safer bet for stability. Then again, toast is lighter, and the delicate touch required to serve it would be a good step up for her.
I was still mulling it over when I walked into the living room, bumping right into Mitsuha-san.
”Good morning,” we said in perfect unison, breaking into a laugh. Honestly, our wavelengths have been scarily in sync lately. Well, she is going to be my sister-in-law soon, so I guess being on the same page is a good thing.
”What’s on the menu for today?” Mitsuha asked.
”I’m honestly torn between local style and Hinode Style². I want Shift Lead to get used to the lightness of bread, not just the heavy lifting of rice and onigiri.” As a maid, she really ought to be able to handle any dish I throw at her-though at this rate, she’s more of a waitress than a maid. Wait, a waitress… “…That’s it. If she’s a waitress, she needs the right gear.”
”Um, Tatara-san?” Mitsuha asked, looking on, confused, as I ignored her to pull out several Mithril Ingot³ and Mana Stone⁴. I got straight to crafting.
What I came up with was a service wagon-a cart, basically. If I gave it wheels, Shift Lead would probably trip and flip the whole thing, and wheels are a pain on uneven floors anyway. Instead, I went with a hovering model powered by a Levitation Stone⁵. I built it with a multi-tiered rack designed to hold standardized trays, making it easy to haul a ton of food at once. I even made the shelf heights adjustable for maximum versatility. With a stack of matching trays to go with it, I’d officially Shift Lead-proofed the breakfast service. She could even take it back to the mansion with her; it’s the kind of thing that stays useful forever.
”That looks incredibly handy,” Mitsuha remarked.
”It’ll be a lifesaver for big meals. Though, between the materials and the technical fee for the Levitation Stone, it’s a luxury item. Not exactly something I can mass-produce for the market.” I could probably make a few for the Imperial Family if they asked, but it’s a steep price tag for a gift. Then again, I already gave away Yakukiri⁶-a national treasure with a price tag no one can even calculate-so I guess that ship has sailed.
(I know you’re doing it for her sake, but aren’t you overdoing it just a little with the gear?)
”Even if you say that, the kid needs confidence. If a tool helps her do her job, it’s worth it…” I trailed off. I was getting used to that voice echoing in my head, but a new presence caught my eye. Chef was standing there, holding a lunch box wrapped in a cute cloth. Looks like she skipped the Cleaning Leader delivery service and brought it herself today.
”Morning, Chef,” I said.
”Good morning, Lady Chef,” Mitsuha added.
(Yes, good morning to you both,) Chef replied, offering a flawless, elegant bow.
”The request from Cleaning Leader was to help Shift Lead get her act together,” I explained. “She didn’t say I couldn’t build some tools to make it happen.”
(True… but now even I want one of those.)
”Want me to whip one up for you?” I asked.
(Please!)
She was clearly eyeing the cart with envy, and the second I offered, she jumped on it. It wasn’t much trouble, so I put one together for her on the spot. When I handed it over, she beamed at me-a smile so bright it was like a flower in full bloom. She’s been smiling a lot more lately, hasn’t she?
(Well, now I absolutely have to help with the cooking today!)
”What is it with you always wanting to cook at my place?” I asked.
(Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to find the way to Smooth Talker-san’s heart through his stomach.)
”The name’s Tatara. And you can give up on that dream.” Between Ethelena and Ichika, my heart and stomach were pretty much at capacity.
Chef puffed out her cheeks in a pout, so I reached out and poked her face, letting the air hiss out of her lips like a deflated balloon. She immediately started whacking me with the plushie of myself I’d made, whump-whump-whump.
”Hehe, you two really do get along, don’t you?” Mitsuha teased.
”I guess we’re just compatible,” I admitted. We’re both gear-heads and nerds at heart; it’s only natural. Chef’s face went bright red at that, and she finally stopped hitting me.
After that little comedy routine, Ichika and Ethelena joined us, and we all pitched in for breakfast. We eventually settled on onigiri as the main, with a side of bacon and sausages. Shift Lead was floored when she saw Chef there, and while she looked a bit overwhelmed being coached on tactical cart serving, she was a diligent student. Even Chef seemed surprised by how well it was going. Apparently, up until now, nothing she taught her sister ever seemed to stick. Maybe my presence changed the vibe, but Chef seemed genuinely thrilled to finally be able to guide her sister. The air between them felt lighter, warmer.
As we gathered around the table after morning practice, we did a quick schedule check.
”We’re heading out to explore,” Yohira announced. “I’d like to see Ethelena hit at least level 50.”
”We need to farm some status-up items anyway,” Tatia added. “Her Steal skill is coming along nicely, so we might wrap it up early.” Ethelena just nodded, her mouth too full of breakfast to chime in.
”Then I shall join the exploration as well-degozaru,” I-san added.
”That’s a big help… but are you sure, I-san?” Ethelena asked.
”Master is heading out with Shift Lead today-degozaru. I’ve judged that leaving lunch in Mitsuha-sama’s hands is perfectly safe-degozaru,” I-san replied.
”Exactly,” Ichika agreed. “With just Elder Sister, the Wild Beast Instructor, and Tatara’s childhood friend here, it’s fine.”
(And what will you be doing, Tatara-san?) Chef’s thought flashed into my mind.
”Me? I’m sticking with Shift Lead today. We’ve got some business with the Aarem and setting up diplomatic ties. There’s a bit of a performance we have to put on, and we need to iron out some kinks in the plan.”
Chef went silent for a moment, thinking. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she dropped a bombshell. (In that case, you’ll need a bento! I’ll whip one up right now, so you have to take me with you!)
”Wait, what!?” I shouted.
(Big Sis has officially lost it!) Shift Lead cried out. I get that she’s curious about the Aarem, but “take me with you” was a hell of a leap.
”Tatara-dono, what did she just say?” Shift Lead asked.
”She said she’s making lunch and she’s coming along for the ride.”
”Is she out of her mind?” Shift Lead asked. For someone who isn’t part of the Angel race, Chef’s logic was starting to look suspiciously similar to theirs.
(Hmph. Are you doubting my culinary skills?)
”I trust your cooking, Chef, but I can’t just bring an outsider to a diplomatic meeting…”
(But I own an Aarem too!)
”That has nothing to do with this.” There are fewer than ten people on the planet who own one; using that as a VIP pass for city business is insane. Besides, Chef’s Aarem is a total nightmare to reveal right now. It’s made of pure magic metal and sports a spatial-compression thruster that even I can’t legally operate yet. If the Lady Mayor found out, she’d beat me senseless with her slipper.
When I gave her a flat “no,” Chef froze… then she lunged at me, clinging for dear life. (No! I won’t have it! I want to see the Aarem in action!)
”Don’t start acting like a toddler now!” I shouted, trying to peel her off while Ichika burned a hole in the back of my head with a frigid glare.
”Master? Care to explain?” Ichika asked.
”I told her no and she turned into a barnacle! What am I supposed to do!?” Why does every morning have to turn into a damn minefield? I didn’t even do anything! If anyone starts calling me a lady-killer for “seducing” the poster girls, I’m going to lose it.
”Tatara-san,” Mitsuha began, “you’re already taking Shift Lead. If you just brought Chef along as one of our attendants, wouldn’t that solve the problem?”
”I don’t know, that’s pushing it…”
”Master, it should be fine,” Dahlia replied.
”Dahlia? You too?”
”Given my own lackluster performance as a maid, I believe the group would be relieved to see a maid who actually knows what she’s doing added to the retinue,” Dahlia said.
”Doesn’t it hurt to say that about yourself?”
”A little,” Dahlia admitted.
I went quiet, weighing the options. If Chef really did provide the food… “Chef.”
(Please! I’ll even give you my maidenhood if that’s what it takes!)
”Stop saying things that are going to get me murdered! Your sister is right here!” I yelled. “Anyway… you can really have it ready in time?”
Chef nodded vigorously. If she was this fired up, I might as well put her to work. “Alright. I need lunch for me, Dahlia, the Torakuma couple, you, and Shift Lead… let’s say fifteen people total. Can you do it?”
Chef’s eyes lit up. She sprinted to the kitchen, and the second I told her she could raid the pantry, the cooking began at a terrifying speed. Since we were short on time, she skipped the slow-cooks and deep-frying, focusing on the grill and the stove. She had fish searing on the grill while potatoes, macaroni, and eggs boiled away. She sliced onions and prepped Sunny lettuce, tucking the grilled fish into sliced rolls and drizzling them with a custom dressing of olive oil, wine vinegar, and spices.
While she mass-produced the fish sandwiches, she hauled the hot ingredients out of the water, peeling and mashing the potatoes and eggs with lightning speed. She pulled a jar of mayo from her inventory, tossed in some salt, pepper, and julienned ham, and whipped up a massive batch of potato salad. She plated them into nested bento boxes-more like massive lacquered trunks at this point-using lettuce leaves as natural bowls. Finally, she wrapped cherry tomatoes in bacon, skewered them, and seared them in a pan until they were perfectly charred.
(If I had an hour, I could’ve made fried chicken and croquettes! You really should have told me sooner!)
”The stowaway is getting awfully mouthy,” I muttered.
(She’s complaining, but look at her. She’s totally in the zone…) Chef thought.
”Master,” Dahlia said, “we still can’t hear her, you know.”
I thought about how tedious this back-and-forth was becoming in response to Dahlia’s protests. Instead of arguing, I recalled the magic tool I’d finished last night. I pulled it from my Inventory and handed it over to the Baitou-chou. As expected, she just stared at it, a visible question mark practically hovering over her head.
(Tatara-kun, what exactly is this?)
”It’s the tool I mentioned before. It translates your thoughts into text,” I explained.
(Wait, what?)
She looked at me with a dazed expression. The magic tool in her hands flickered, its screen glowing before displaying a string of text.
──( ﾟдﾟ) STUNNED
”Seriously, magic tool? I spent all night calibrating you, and that’s the best you can do?” I muttered. It was a little surreal seeing the device mirror the exact same face she was making.
While I was processing that, the Baitou-chou’s eyes began to sparkle as she watched the emoticons cycle on the screen.
──(☆▽☆) OOH!
The emotional accuracy was spot on, but if it couldn’t actually communicate words, it was a total bust.
(Tatara-kun, this is incredible!)
──(≧▽≦) HYPE!
”I can tell you’re excited, but it’s a failure if it can’t verbalize your thoughts,” I said.
(Oh… I see…)
──BUMMER ( ́・ω・)
”…Okay, the emotional delivery is actually pretty impressive,” I admitted.
Dahlia was standing next to her, eyes shining just as brightly. I realized then that she really didn’t care what the tool actually did, as long as it was magitech. Since the device was essentially useless for now, I decided to tuck it back away.
By then, the Chef had finished packing the meals. It seemed Ichika had mentioned kimpira gobo⁷ was a favorite of mine, so they’d made sure to include plenty of it, along with tamagoyaki and scrambled eggs. Even with the time crunch, they’d managed to fill a five-tier heavy bento box. It was honestly impressive.
I began walking with the Torakuma couple, while Dahlia and the Poster Girls sisters followed with their respective attendants. I’d been worried about jumping into the morning’s events so suddenly, but the Baitou-chou had reassured me.
”Actually, Tatara-dono, most of the group was hoping you’d show up,” the Baitou-chou said.
I couldn’t tell if he was just being polite or if he was serious, but seeing Dahlia nod along made me think it might be true. We eventually reached the arena and headed straight for the battlefield. On the way, the Baitou-chou greeted a staff member he knew. The man did a double-take at the two unfamiliar, Angel-like maids following behind us.
The battlefield looked much more polished than the last time I’d seen it. The whole place felt like a proper venue now. I noticed more lights had been added to the ceiling, making it much easier to see. With my eyes now naturally analyzing structures, I could see the circuits were properly integrated into the control system I’d built, allowing for full remote operation.
”Morning, Baitou-chou… wait, huh?”
I turned toward the familiar voice to find the Merchant Guild Leader in work clothes, accompanied by the Head of Judiciary and Narikin-san.
”Good morning, gentlemen,” I said.
”Morning, you three,” the Baitou-chou added. “I’ve asked Tatara-dono to join us today to give me some pointers on my lines.”
The Merchant Guild Leader looked skeptical. I was a total amateur when it came to acting, and I was really just there to help the Baitou-chou find a way around his mental block, but explaining that felt like too much effort.
”He’s having trouble memorizing the script, so we’re looking for a new approach,” I explained.
”Ah, yeah… he’s always struggled with that,” the Merchant Guild Leader admitted. “Any idea why?”
”Well, after testing things out in the workshop… to be honest, the lines are just too damn long,” I said.
”Well… yeah. I guess you’ve got a point there,” the Merchant Guild Leader replied. I couldn’t help but notice he agreed pretty quickly, even though his own lines in the script were just as long.
”But he can memorize things instantly if they’re short, or if he actually likes the dialogue,” I noted.
”Really?”
”Yeah. Yesterday, he was reciting the exact commands I gave to my Golems⁸ from memory,” I told him.
To be precise, he was reciting the source material for those commands. The Merchant Guild Leader looked conflicted. It made sense—if the Baitou-chou didn’t like the script Captain Hachansas had written, he wasn’t going to remember a word of it.
”Is he really that quick?”
”See for yourself,” I said.
I pulled out the magitech word processor and hooked it up to the projector. I ignored the way Dahlia and the Baitou-chou’s eyes lit up as I started the video—the famous speech by a certain “Unicorn” captain. I made sure to include the music.
A majestic, resonant baritone filled the air alongside a soaring orchestral score. The Baitou-chou and Dahlia immediately scrambled to the front row and sat in formal seiza⁹. I watched them with a sigh, but when I looked over at Narikin-san and the Head of Judiciary, they were leaning forward with manic intensity. Their eyes were literally bloodshot. It was a little scary.
I’d swapped out the original “Unicorn” mechs and characters for different designs to avoid any direct issues, but I’d based the new armor and aesthetic so heavily on the originals that I couldn’t really call it my own work. Dahlia and the Baitou-chou kept glancing at me as if they knew exactly what I was doing. (This is bad… they’re already thinking about the merchandise potential…)
”This… this music…” the Merchant Guild Leader stammered.
”Trade secret,” I said, cutting him off.
I couldn’t exactly explain the concept of Earth’s entertainment industry to him. Meanwhile, the Hachansas Captain and a woman who seemed to be a new troupe member were staring at the screen with terrifying focus, likely trying to memorize the audio by ear.
By the time the scene ended—and I had to let the entire credits roll just to keep the music playing under the silent pressure of my Mother-in-law—I turned back to the crowd.
”Tatara-dono! The next one! Show us the next one!” the Baitou-chou demanded.
”No. We aren’t here for a movie night,” I replied. Was he seriously asking for all of Episode 7? I could probably do it, but that wasn’t the goal today.
”Merchant Guild Leader,” I said.
”Don’t you worry! I’ll get the molds for those Aarem units started immediately. We can sell them as a separate line. I can have the distribution channels ready by the end of the day!”
”No! That is not what I meant! Why are you so fast at monetizing everything?!”
He had that same fire in his eyes as when he first saw an Aarem. He was dead serious. Even Mother-in-law looked like she’d smelled a business opportunity. Behind them, the Chef was projecting a silent, overwhelming aura of “I need that robot.” I felt like they were going to try and dig the memories right out of my brain.
”The reason I showed you that was… Baitou-chou?”
”Umu!”
”Can you recite the lines?”
”Is that all you need?” the Baitou-chou asked.
He proceeded to recite the captain’s grand speech word for word, perfectly capturing the gravity and authority of the original performance. Captain Hachansas looked like he’d been physically struck.
I turned back to the Merchant Guild Leader. “See? He’s great at memorizing lines—as long as he actually enjoys them.”
”Is it just because he’s seen it a dozen times?” the Leader asked.
”I don’t know about the others, but he’s only seen that specific video twice,” I said.
Technically, that was the first time he’d seen that edit, but it was the second time he’d heard the dialogue. The Merchant Guild Leader went quiet, contemplating.
”…I can’t quite believe it unless I see him do it with something else,” the Leader said.
(Liar. You just want to see another video…)
I tried to think of something else he’d like. I thought about the “Sieg Zeon” speech from the first Mobile Warrior, but that same voice actor had played a much grittier role in that one series about the “Scums of the Earth.” Those next-episode previews were legendary.
The word processor reacted to my thoughts and started the feed. I quickly swapped the robot designs for humanoid magic tanks that fit this world’s tech level.
It was a parody of an old OVA commercial. The voice I hadn’t heard in years was just as incredible as I remembered. It was only two minutes long, but it was so dense with hype that the entire room let out a collective, heavy sigh of satisfaction when it ended. Even the Foreign Affairs Chief had appeared out of nowhere to watch.
”…Phew. So, Tatara-han,” the Merchant Guild Leader whispered.
”Yeah?”
”When is the premiere? I’m buying out the front row.”
”It’s not happening. Ever,” I replied.
”DON’T SCREW WITH US!”
The entire room of men erupted in a synchronized, heartfelt boo. I mean, I get it—the story is great, the action is top-tier, and the characters are iconic—but I can’t exactly distribute works from another world.
Dahlia was being suspiciously quiet. I figured she was planning to ask for a private screening later. The Baitou-chou seemed to realize it too, his stoic face barely hiding the fact that he was planning to tag along.
”The point is,” I said, “that was a long monologue, and the Baitou-chou likely just memorized it in one go.”
”Umu. I have it,” he said. He immediately launched into a perfect imitation of the narrator, matching the gritty tone and every single syllable. Captain Hachansas looked like his soul was leaving his body.
”Um… may I speak?”
I looked over at the woman from the troupe. “Ah, yes?”
”Thank you. My name is Suono. I’m a singer for the Hachansas troupe,” she said.
”I’m Tatara Julon, creator of the Aarem,” I replied.
”Right. So the problem is he can’t remember the Captain’s script, but he can remember these. That’s what we’re dealing with, yes?” Suono asked.
”Pretty much,” I said.
Suono-san took the script and scanned it with a sharp, professional eye. “…I see. If you ask me, the problem is the wording is too flowery, and the lack of rhythm is a mess.”
She was brutally direct. The Captain, standing right next to her, looked like he’d been run over by a carriage.
”Tatara-san, do you know of any other speeches? Perhaps something regarding the founding of a nation?”
”The founding of a nation…”
My mind jumped to the scene in the game where the Nahazhuto Empire was founded. They say there’s no accurate record of it here because of the lack of technology back then, but I have the game cutscenes burned into my brain. But if I show them that, I have no idea how this world will handle it.
Perhaps because I was dwelling on those thoughts, the space-projection projector¹⁰ reacted. (This is bad…) I thought to myself, but I couldn’t stop the device from reading my mind as the image flickered to life.
At the center of the projection stood a refined young man with deep navy hair-Founding King¹¹ Kalan Nahazhuto. He appeared to be the same age as he was in the textbook portraits, but this was a vivid, living record, far removed from the static paintings of three centuries ago.
”As I stand here before you, I know your hearts are filled with many conflicting thoughts,” he began quietly. I found myself naturally drawn to his voice; it was deep, yet possessed a vibrant freshness that came with youth. “Is it hope? Envy? Or perhaps resentment? I cannot truly know. To those who lived peacefully within the thousand-year Kingdom of Aqueldo¹²-the land I crushed with my own hands-we are nothing more than invaders.”
The Founding King closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment, likely mourning those who had fought and fallen alongside him. In the game, the protagonist’s wet nurse was killed while protecting the main heroine, and the King’s decision to seize this country was triggered by the murder of his father-who was also a Demon Lord¹³. To be fair, that whole mess started because the Aqueldo Kingdom, which was supposed to be an ally, decided they wanted his father’s treasures and territory. They used the “Demon Lord” label as an excuse to have a warrior with the “Hero” title assassinate him.
”You may direct your hatred toward me. You may turn your anger upon my head. We are usurpers; call us evil if you wish,” the Founding King continued steadily. His words were calm, but the silence felt like the breath before a storm. I felt as if I could hear the collective gulp of everyone in the room.
”However, I make this vow, even while bearing your resentment and your rage!” he shouted, his voice shattering the silence with a sudden, fiery intensity. It was a rallying cry, meant to crush the anxiety of those listening and to shake off his own fear of whether he was truly fit to rule. “I hereby declare the founding of our nation! Our country… the Nahazhuto Kingdom shall be a sanctuary for all races!”
That was the turning point. Because he was a Kin of the Night¹⁴, he had been persecuted throughout his childhood. He knew firsthand that he likely would have died had his father not protected him. That trauma originally made him hate everyone who wasn’t a Kin of the Night; he intended to trample the world and settle the score for his humiliation.
But things didn’t turn out that way. The source of his softened hatred was his parents-his Kin of the Night father and his human mother. He carried the proof in his very blood that love could flourish even between opposing races. The other factor was the heroine who became his Queen. She accepted the protagonist’s rage, and despite the pain he caused, she never stopped reaching for a mutual understanding. Her devotion eventually allowed love to take root in the King’s heart. Because of her, he committed to building a nation where no race would ever be oppressed.
”I am Kin of the Night, a being loathed by many. But I will not view you as my enemy simply because you direct that hostility toward me!” Even if history later slandered him as the Usurper King, he refused to stop moving forward, and he vowed never to be the first to draw his sword. He believed in exhausting every dialogue first. (Of course, if you actually became his enemy, he was absolutely ruthless, but that’s a separate issue.)
”Listen well, Kin of the Night! In my kingdom, I will not permit the preying upon of humans. If a substitute exists, you shall strive to use it!” It was a necessary restriction to keep incompatible races living together. Those who could not follow this law were branded as enemies and cast out. Those whose intelligence was too low to grasp the law were classified as monsters and subjugated. In the game’s monologues, the King agonized over this, but for the sake of the nation, he choked down his guilt and established the law anyway.
”And to those who dwell in this land: My kingdom will not permit the persecution of any Kin of the Night who can be reasoned with!” This was a natural prerequisite, of course, but he declared it specifically to ensure the Kin of the Night didn’t feel they were the only ones being restricted.
”I will never forget the nation we destroyed. I will never forget the lives we sacrificed. I will carry it all… every life, every wish!!”
The people watched the King in silence, weighing his resolve. A King must constantly prove his caliber if he wants his people to truly claim the country as their own. The Founding King continued his declaration, showing his readiness to walk that endless path. “I hereby declare the founding of our new nation… the Nahazhuto Kingdom! To those who cannot accept me, you are free to leave. I swear that your property will not be seized!”
(I remember another story where a country tried to pull a fast one during a transition like this. It was the protagonist’s side, too. They ended up being treated like pariahs by the rest of the world and had one foot in the grave.)
”To the gracious souls who accept me, and to those who take shelter under our protection: I vow that you will never regret this choice. We, the state, are the shield that guards the people and the sword that strikes for them. I will give everything I am to protect your peace and your happiness!” The Founding King was pleading now, his voice strained with the desperate hope that they would believe him. That heat began to spread through the crowd-slowly, but surely.
”But… I must ask one thing of you. We will do our utmost, but our strength alone is not enough.” He had learned through his journey with his companions that a single man has limits. To move a mountain like a “nation,” even a band of elite warriors isn’t enough. The King knew that in his bones. “I need your strength. I need each of you to strive for your own happiness. So please, lend me your power. Pray for your own joy.”
He was telling them that every single citizen was a stakeholder in the country’s future. “We will drive off the invaders. We will prepare for the famines… but the only thing that can truly make this country better is the power within each of you.” In a world where kings usually claim divine right, he was basically admitting the limits of the throne. It was a massive gamble. “The Royal Family is not the state. The people are the state! We shall fight to protect the land, but the nation only grows strong when every one of you strives to be strong in your own way.”
In a world where you only need a crown to call yourself a kingdom, he was shouting that a country is nothing without its people. “So I beg of you: lend me your talents. I am not asking you to fight; I am asking you to show us what you can do. Farming, crafting, calculation, art… we seek every spark of power you possess. We are only soldiers; we cannot build a world alone. Please, give us your strength.”
With those words, the Founding King bowed his head. The crowd erupted in a roar of shock, but then, something changed. The laborers and farmers-those usually bled dry by the nobility-actually felt a shift in their souls. And then, a voice rose from the crowd. A single, trembling voice offering to help. Then another. Then a chorus.
Seeing the wave of support, the King looked absolutely stunned. Eventually, as the reality sank in, he took a breath and spoke once more. “Thank you. As the King of this country, I, Kalan Nahazhuto, pledge to spend my lifeblood to ensure your happiness.”
The people responded with warm applause. It was deeply moving to realize that this was how the current era actually began.
”-Hey, Tatara. Why on earth do you have something so precious?”
The video ended, and the projector returned to a blank screen. I heard a voice from behind us. I turned around to see the City Mayor-her face was twitching-with Calmys-san behind her. And for some reason, there was a soldier there in official Nahazhuto armor.
Well, I guess if you play a recording of history that isn’t supposed to exist, people are going to have questions.
—
Summary:
Tatara attempts to process his anger toward the World Laws by crafting spiteful figures, but accidentally triggers his own trauma regarding a specific manga trope. After pivoting to a more productive project, he successfully creates a communication device for his non-verbal companions. The chapter concludes with an intimate moment with Ethelena, who uses her magic to soothe his existential anxiety regarding a 30% chance of the city’s destruction.
The chapter begins with a domestic morning at Tatara’s home, where he creates a levitating service wagon to assist the Shift Lead. The arrival of Chef leads to a playful but chaotic morning as she begs to join the diplomatic mission to see the Aarem in action. The chapter concludes with a frantic cooking sequence where Chef prepares a large-scale lunch for the group’s upcoming journey.
Tatara introduces a new magitech thought-to-text tool, though it currently only outputs emoticons. To help the Baitou-chou with his script-memorization issues, Tatara displays mecha anime clips from his past life, revealing the Leader’s hidden talent for perfect mimicry of content he enjoys. This leads to a commercial interest from the Guild and a critique of the current play’s script by a new character, Suono.
Tatara inadvertently activates a magi-tech projector that displays a historical recording of King Kalan Nahazhuto’s founding speech. The King’s emotional address reveals his origins as a mixed-race ‘Kin of the Night’ and his radical vision for a nation where all races coexist. The chapter concludes with the recording ending as the City Mayor and Calmys discover Tatara watching this supposedly non-existent historical record.
—
Trivia:
- The resemblance between World Laws and Archangel suggests a common origin or a deeper connection in the world’s hierarchy.
- The ‘30% chance’ of the city blowing up acts as a ticking clock for the next major arc.
- The mention of the ‘Machine God’s Protection’ failing in certain areas hints at the mechanics of the endgame dungeon.
- Tatara’s evacuation plan for his children suggests a coming split in the cast or a refugee subplot.
- The mention of ‘Yakukiri’ as a national treasure suggests Tatara’s gifts have high political stakes.
- Chef’s possession of a high-spec Aarem with spatial-compression thrusters hints at advanced technology hidden from common knowledge.
- Mitsuha and Tatara’s ‘wavelengths’ being in sync might foreshadow a deeper romantic or familial development.
- Ethelena’s Steal skill reaching level 50 suggests she will soon be able to acquire rare items from high-level targets.
- Dahlia’s quiet interest in the anime clips suggests she might push for ‘under the table’ magitech development for entertainment purposes.
- The ‘bloodshot eyes’ of the men watching the mecha clips indicate that otaku-like obsession is a universal trait, potentially a massive untapped market.
- Tatara’s hesitation to show the founding of the Nahazhuto Empire suggests his ‘game knowledge’ might contain truths that contradict the world’s recorded history.
- The mention of the ‘Hero’ killing the King’s father suggests a subversion of typical fantasy tropes where the Hero is the villain of the backstory.
- The King’s ‘bet’ on the power of the people over royal divinity hints at a more democratic or modern foundation for the Nahazhuto Kingdom.
- The presence of a modern soldier in official armor watching the video suggests the current state still holds the King’s ideals, or perhaps hints at current political tensions
—
Character Insight:
Tatara and Ethelena’s relationship is shown to be deeply symbiotic; she provides the physical and emotional grounding he needs to handle the stress of being a ‘hero.’ Ethelena’s ‘Sex Sorcery’ serves a dual purpose: pleasure and psychological stabilization.
Tatara continues to act as the pillar of the household, balancing crafting with the demands of his harem. Chef’s dynamic with her sister (Shift Lead) shows significant improvement through Tatara’s influence, while Ichika remains the primary source of ‘chilly’ domestic tension regarding his popularity with women.
The dynamic between Tatara and the Baitou-chou shifts as Tatara discovers the best way to utilize the Leader’s strengths (mimicry and passion). Suono’s introduction as a direct, no-nonsense singer creates a foil for the more sensitive theater Captain.
King Kalan’s vulnerability during the speech highlights his growth from a vengeful youth to a responsible leader. Tatara’s reaction shows his deep appreciation for the lore, while the Mayor’s twitching expression signals a shift in her perception of Tatara’s status or resources.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter introduces the concept of ‘Sublimation of Existence’ as a method for increasing power, as well as the ‘Machine God’ as a faction or deity providing systemic protection. It also touches on the ‘World Laws’ as a sentient manager of reality.
The world utilizes ‘Levitation Stones’ for anti-gravity tech and ‘Mana Stones’ for high-tier crafting. ‘Aarem’ appear to be rare, highly coveted vehicles or devices that are central to diplomatic relations and city development.
The Nahazhuto Empire lacks accurate historical records of its founding due to a lack of recording technology at the time. Magic tanks and Aarem (golem-like robots) represent the cutting edge of military-adjacent magitech.
The concept of ‘Kin of the Night’ is introduced as a persecuted race that originally preyed on humans. The Nahazhuto Kingdom was founded on the ashes of the Aqueldo Kingdom, established through a revolutionary social contract that prioritizes the ‘happiness’ of the individual citizen.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘thin book’ is a common Japanese euphemism for doujinshi, and ‘circle leader’ refers to the creator of such works. ‘NTR’ (Netorare) is a specific genre of infidelity-themed adult media that the protagonist finds particularly distressing.
The term ‘Smooth Talker’ (Tarashi) was localized to reflect the teasing nature of the girls toward Tatara. ‘Hinode style’ is used to represent a Japanese-inspired cultural setting within the fantasy world.
References to ‘Unicorn’ and ‘Scums of the Earth’ (Votoms) are localized to reflect the author’s clear mecha-genre parodies. The term ‘Baito-chou’ is localized as ‘Baitou-chou’ to maintain the literal yet slightly absurd title.
The King’s speech uses a high-register formal style to convey his royal status, while the narrator uses a modern, gamer-influenced tone. The term ‘Kin of the Night’ (Yoru no Zoku) is localized to maintain a fantasy species feel.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• World Laws – An entity embodying the world’s governing logic, currently wearing Baito‑chō’s face to speak with the protagonist. It possesses others as vessels, uses the Poster Girls to contact Tatara and avert causality collapse, and views mortal emotions with detached arrogance.
• Archangel – An ethereal being with wings who feels a deep sense of guilt and indebtedness toward Tatara. She views herself as a fleeting existence. The eldest of the four ‘Poster Girls’ sisters. A cheerful, perfect maid who recently had her wings restored. The eldest of the sisters, often viewed as a mother figure. She possesses the ‘End’ root attribute and is fighting a perpetual battle in the Cavern of Eternal Night.
• Chef – Third ‘Poster Girl’ sister, a master cook and introvert, also the older sibling of the ‘Shift Lead’. She wears a crisp white chef’s coat, hair in a neat bun, and glasses. An otaku/gear‑head, she communicates via telepathy and owns a Magic‑Metal Aarem.
• Ethelena – Succubus and Tatara’s partner, she sports long hair and a voluptuous form, wielding Sex Sorcery. Supportive, affectionate, and fiercely protective of their future. She shares his bed, sleeps beside him, and trains her ‘Steal’ skill near level 50. Capable of Mana clones, she shifts between mature and youthful forms, obsessively devoted to Tatara, binding him with extreme measures, and is admired by a noble‑leaning Whirlwind companion for her household’s cuisine.
• Tatara – Tarashi, a reincarnated Earth salaryman turned magitech engineer in grease‑stained workshop garb, wields the Yakukiri Conceptual Weapon and Severance blade. An otaku with a memory‑projecting word‑processor, he crafts high‑level items—Mithril wagons, national treasures—and lives with multiple women, protecting companions and the Poster Girls while over‑engineering devices and analyzing time loops.
• Dahlia – Chrome‑finished automaton maid, low domestic skill but fiercely loyal, serves Tatara as energetic partner. She obsessively studies magic tools, analyzes mecha footage for Triteia combat, and seeks private screenings, manipulating those around her while preferring direct combat over frivolous Aarem toys.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Ichika – Fox‑girl kunoichi of noble lineage and loyal household attendant, with slender tail, pointed ears, amber eyes and ninja garb, speaks in archaic cadence. Exasperated by Tatara’s neglect, she chides him yet remains fiercely devoted, hiding a secret pregnancy. Jealous of other women, she steers household dynamics with stoic grace.
• Mitsuha – Second daughter of the Torakuma family and Tatara’s future sister-in-law, she is quiet, awkward, and gently nurturing, with long flowing hair that drapes across the floor like Tomie Kawakami, half-hiding her face, and a single dark horn above her brow. She wears loose violet robes, handles all household chores under Tatara’s guidance, prepares meals like karaage and miso soup, cares for Cornremu, and watches the Baito-chō’s walking practice—her harmonious, quiet presence anchoring the home as its primary caretaker and chef.
• Tatia – An adventurer in the group preparing for the City Festival through dungeon exploration.
• I-san – A warrior-type character who speaks in a traditional style. Loyal to Tatara and protective of the group.
• Sunny – Cheerful, artistic young girl under Rachel’s care. Bonds with Mother-in-law through drawing; admired by Tatia as symbol of the town’s hopeful future.
• 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.
• Suono – A singer and member of the Hachansas theater troupe. Practical and blunt regarding script quality.
• Kalan Nahazhuto – Kalan Nahazhuto, also known as Kalan, is the founding king of the Nahazhuto Kingdom. He has deep navy hair and a handsome, refined appearance. A Kin of the Night, born of a human mother and a Demon Lord father, he is Protea’s father and once served as the founding emperor who overthrew the previous kingdom, remaining hidden during a crucial meeting.
• Kalan – Kalan Nahazhuto, also known as Kalan, is the founding king of the Nahazhuto Kingdom. He has deep navy hair and a handsome, refined appearance. A Kin of the Night, born of a human mother and a Demon Lord father, he is Protea’s father and once served as the founding emperor who overthrew the previous kingdom, remaining hidden during a crucial meeting.
• City Mayor – A female official in charge of the city, shocked by the revelation of the historical footage.
• Calmys – A lithe swordswoman in the Mayor’s guard, secretly a whip‑master and War God’s knight, with a sharp tongue and big‑sister aura toward Tatara; she shields him and Ethelena by granting church protection, and was present when the projector recording ended.
• Baito-chou – The fourth and youngest ‘Poster Girl’ sister, Baito-chou, is a clumsy, emotional girl prone to crying and tripping, yet trained in martial arts; her body is currently a vessel for the World Laws, tasked as a countermeasure against her beloved eldest sister. She wears wings and special shoes gifted by Tatara Julon, a martial-arts-obsessed geek who memorizes dramatic lines and analyzes choreography, and is married to her mother-in-law. Despite her low self-esteem and struggle to recite an overly poetic diplomatic script, she deeply loves her eldest sister and was briefly possessed by the World Laws before becoming their permanent vessel.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply