Chapter 132 Lost Topic
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We had just finished breakfast and were about to start a meeting before we went out to explore, when the Acting Head of Family looked at me with a sharp gaze. Mother-in-law sat beside her with the same hard look.
”So, Tatara-dono, what have you not told us?” she asked.
”Huh?” I said, not sure what she meant.
I thought for a moment. If there was something I had not reported, it had to be this. “Ah, Ichika is going to have a child. I’m sorry. I could not use the magic for birth control.”
”Why did you not say that!?” the Acting Head of Family shouted.
Ichika’s belly would not show for a long time yet, but there was a life growing inside her. Ichika herself said so, and Ethelena used her power as a succubus to confirm it, so there was no doubt.
”Tatara-san, why did you make Ichika pregnant first?” Mother-in-law asked.
”I can only say it just happened. I did not think Ichika would have a child before Ethelena,” I answered.
To be honest, I never expected it.
The Acting Head of Family looked even more nervous. “D-Don’t tell me, Yohira… you have already… shared a bed with him?”
”It is sad to say this, but I am still pure, noja, Father,” Yohira said at once. “Tatara told me too, but we cannot join until I follow the rule in Torakuma territory.”
”I-I see…” he murmured with relief.
I felt a bit bad, because we had already held each other skin to skin. Yohira said she was still pure, but she did not say we had done nothing. It was a tricky way to say it, but better that than him losing his head in anger.
I glanced at Mother-in-law. She seemed to notice Yohira’s wording and nodded with a face that showed she understood. She had seen us right before the act once, so maybe she was not surprised.
”Ahem. That is important, but that is not what I meant,” the Acting Head said.
”Then… that I will die in a few months?” I guessed.
”Why did you not tell us that!?” both of them cried at once, leaning toward me. It was scary.
”It does not have a direct link to the Torakuma territory…” I tried.
”It has a huge link, fool! Our daughter’s future home is in danger of vanishing!” the Acting Head shouted and almost grabbed me. Mother-in-law did not stop her and even glared at me.
”What is the reason? What kind of illness?” she demanded.
”We don’t know the name yet,” I said.
”Did you test it?”
”No, but there is a way to avoid it.”
”Then how do you know?”
”It was like a divine oracle,” I said as they pressed me.
The Acting Head was still too shaken to calm down.
”So, what is the way to avoid it?” Mother-in-law asked.
”Sublimation of Existence. I got a promise that it will add ten years to my life each time I do it,” I explained.
The Acting Head sat back down to think.
”That is short,” she said at last.
”It seems my soul is too strong for my body. They said I would die, but I still don’t know what it will feel like,” I said.
Mother-in-law nodded slowly, as if the idea made sense. Was this something people heard often?
”How do you do this Sublimation of Existence?” she asked.
”I must clear the dungeon in this city. If I beat the boss on the 60th floor, I can raise it one level.”
”What is the deepest floor you have reached now?” the Acting Head asked.
”The 49th floor. After the 50th floor, the enemies become very strong. We are building our strength,” I said.
They both fell silent, thinking deeply. I had no idea what part worried them.
”So, we cannot take Yohira home,” the Acting Head said softly.
”If she leaves now, we are done. She is the strongest among us,” I said.
Dahlia was an exception, but in general Yohira was our strongest. After I finished Sublimation of Existence, I would grow stronger too, and maybe I would pass Dahlia in the end.
”What are you missing now?” Mother-in-law asked.
”I need more level. The others need better status,” I replied.
”And equipment? Do you have enough?” the Acting Head asked.
”In terms of performance, we could handle around the 80th floor,” I said.
”What do you mean?” they said at the same time.
I was proud of our equipment. The only question was whether the user could handle it.
I took out my Black Radiance and showed them. Its look had not changed much, but the armor was a mix of orichalcum and adamantite, so its defense was far higher. I also used the royal jewels of the four main elements to give it the power to absorb them. They stared at me in shock.
Yohira then showed Temari-bana and Hydrangea to share what upgrades she had. When Mother-in-law learned they had both elemental change and absorption, her eyes shone in a strange way.
”Tatara-san, can you make more of this equipment?” she asked.
”If we have the materials, yes. But to make gear like Yohira’s, it may cost as much as a home mana reactor,” I said.
People in battle would want gear that could absorb elements more than anything, but the materials were rare for normal people. With cost of materials and work, I could not give them out for free. If I did, the City Mayor would send Calmys-san to punch me.
Mother-in-law hung her head. Even for family, I could not hand out gear without reason. I could make an excuse for the Acting Head, maybe.
”Yohira, I will add one more condition before you return home,” the Acting Head said at last. Yohira sat up straight.
”Once Tatara-dono completes Sublimation of Existence one time and extends his life, you must come home. If he gains ten more years, you will return to prepare for marriage. Understood?”
”Yes!” Yohira answered.
It seemed they changed their plan to help me live longer. I was thankful. But… was it really fine to let her marry me?
”Tatara-dono. Your life is important for the link between this country and ours. Know its value and take care of yourself. We are giving our daughter to you, so we need you to care for yourself,” the Acting Head said.
”I understand.”
I could not understand the struggle a father must feel when he sends his daughter to live with someone else. That fear was still far from me. Even so, I would take his trust seriously. Yohira was dear to me too, so this was only natural.
”Is there anything else you have not told us?” the Acting Head asked.
”Well… aside from my life, there is the part where if I make the wrong new invention, I might get kicked out of this world,” I said.
”How many dangerous problems are you hiding!?” she cried.
I did have an idea how to deal with it, but I did not know if I met all the conditions. The Archangel said I needed three more, but I did not know if I had reached them.
”When did you receive that divine oracle, Tatara-san?” Mother-in-law asked.
”When I made the Alchemist’s Egg. After that, it seems I slowly met the conditions to stay in this world without knowing it,” I said.
”…Do you know the clear rules for this exile?” she asked.
”Sadly, I do not,” I replied.
I did not know how big an item would cross the line. A new item on the level of the Egg would surely be too much, but maybe many small inventions could also pile up and end things. I could avoid it because I felt a warning before I made something, but one day I might lose to impulse and be out the moment I finished it.
”There is nothing we can do about this,” Mother-in-law said.
”Yes. I am sorry,” I said.
”No, with Tatara-san’s strange ideas, I can accept it,” she said.
”Strange ideas, huh…”
The City Mayor called me that sometimes, but was I really that odd? Maybe the fact I did not see it meant I was.
”It is worrying that two of your secrets are about life or death. Anything else?” the Acting Head asked.
”Well… I can now make monster-material equipment in different shapes,” I said.
To explain, I gave an example. Gear made from goblin parts was called Goblin Killer and was usually a double-edged western sword. But when I crafted it, I could change it into a katana. If needed, I could even make it into a spear or an axe.
I used some spare goblin parts to show them, and both the Acting Head and Mother-in-law stared at me in disbelief.
”With things like this, no wonder your soul is too much for your body,” the Acting Head said.
”Tatara-san is not human race. He must be race: Tatara or race: Crafter,” Mother-in-law added.
”Hey, that is rude,” I said.
I knew I caused trouble sometimes, but treating me like I was not human was too much.
”I think that is all. The rest is not a big deal,” I said.
”Tatara-dono, if you judge it yourself, it is usually wrong. Tell us everything,” the Acting Head said.
”No trust at all,” I sighed.
I thought for a moment. The only other change was about skills, but that felt small.
”Ta—?”
Cornremu came close and looked up at me with worry.
”You should worry about Ichika more than me. You are her personal helper,” I said.
”Ra!” it cried, and walked over to Ichika. Where did that kind heart come from?
When I turned back, the Acting Head and Mother-in-law were staring at Cornremu. Why?
”Um… is a golem that strange?” I asked.
”A golem!?” they both shouted.
What was with that reaction?
”That is a mithril golem I made. For some reason, it always looks like a silly version of me,” I explained.
”Say things like that clearly!” the Acting Head yelled.
She was very angry. Did I also need to talk about Aarem too?
”Tatara-san, why can the golem speak?” Mother-in-law asked.
”I do not know. The first one could talk and move by itself from the start,” I said.
”Please understand that this is not normal,” she said.
”Maybe, but at this point, things like this feel like ‘because it is me’,” I said.
”You sound too sure,” they said at the same time.
They even turned my name into a verb. If a golem speaking was the line, then we had passed it long ago.
”But why make a golem in the first place?” the Acting Head asked.
”Some time ago, angel race attacked and part of the town broke. I needed hands to help rebuild,” I said.
”…I see,” she said softly.
Hearing the reason made her look sad. A hundred people hurt or dead was a huge event for a peaceful town like this. I had not told them the details. The City Mayor was more suited to explain that.
”And when I took the Golem Crafting skill, I also made a new hobby called Aarem,” I said.
I took one Aarem out of my inventory. I made this one with mithril to test how high I could go. I used Gladiolus, the base of Dahlia’s arcane armor, as a model.
The Aarem, free from the stand that held it, walked smoothly and stopped before them. It bowed with grace.
”…Tatara-dono, what is this?” the Acting Head asked, eyes locked on it.
”I send a thought from this controller, and the Aarem receives it. It moves based on the owner’s will. I plan to take it to the merchant guild soon to sell it. This is the only new thing I have,” I said.
She did not look away from Gladiolus at all. Maybe I misread her interest? Or maybe I did not.
”Tatara-san, how does it move?” Mother-in-law asked.
”It uses a small mana condenser I made. It stores mana. One holds as much mana as one home in Whirlwind uses in a day,” I said.
Mother-in-law seemed impressed, but the Acting Head still watched Gladiolus. Was it…
”Do you want one?” I asked.
”Of course I do!!” she shouted.
”So loud…” I muttered.
She really wanted it. Well, I understood. It did look cool. But if I made one, I needed help.
”I can make it, but…”
”Is there a problem?” she asked.
What I needed to say was about showing Aarem at the city festival. Right now, in Whirlwind, there were three Aarem besides my Gladiolus: Narikin-san’s Fortress, the Head of Judiciary’s Lawful, and the merchant guild leader’s Genbu model armor.
I wanted those three owners to move them in front of people to spark interest. But I still was not sure if that alone would light a real fire in their hearts.
”I think it will draw many eyes because it is new. Both children and adults will look with bright eyes… but I do not know if it will stir real passion,” I said.
The Acting Head leaned forward. My plan must have caught her attention. Maybe it was risky to drag in a noble from another nation, but we were allies, right?
”The first three Aarem were made with this country’s style. They do not look very different from each other,” I said.
The Acting Head’s eyes began to shine as she understood.
”So I want a surprise guest at the show. Something with a very different style that hits people at first sight. For example—”
”An armor from our nation, perhaps?” she offered.
I smiled. “Yes. Its entrance would be dramatic. Before the eyes of armors in our land’s style, a strange and wild design would appear. One unit that fights three at once in a grand show. I would love it to move in a bold, showy way.”
”That is good! It would be fun if it strikes a pose like kabuki!” the Acting Head said.
She was fully into it now. Mother-in-law looked tired, yet her face also showed how much she loved this childlike side of her partner.
”So, um…” I began.
”Yes?” she asked.
”If I could see a real armor from your land as a sample… If possible, yours.”
The Acting Head shot up from her chair with a loud scrape and—
”I will be right back!”
”Dear, wait!” Mother-in-law called.
The Acting Head tried to sprint toward the teleportation gate in the yard, and of course Mother-in-law tried to stop her.
”We have Great Crimson! If we show it, we can play with a moving Great Crimson! Why should I hold back!?” the Acting Head cried.
”Calm down!” Mother-in-law said.
No good. The look in the Acting Head’s eyes was like a boy seeing a trumpet behind glass for the first time. You cannot stop a dream.
Great Crimson… I remembered that name. In the game, it was one of the strongest full-body armors for defense. The Torakuma family really was amazing to have such a thing.
”Oh, Mother-in-law,” I said.
”What? I am busy here!” she said.
”If you let me study Great Crimson, I will make something equal or better,” I said.
Before I finished, the Acting Head threw off Mother-in-law’s hold and reached the teleportation gate at a speed that could be called lightning, then vanished. That was very fast.
Mother-in-law stared at the empty gate in shock, then turned to glare at me. I thought I saw tears at the corner of her eyes, but maybe it was just my imagination.
”Tatara-san, how could you… That was cruel!” she said.
”Please do not make it sound like I forced something on her,” I said.
It sounded like she thought I pushed her into a bad relationship or something.
”And what did you mean by making something equal or better than Great Crimson? Black Radiance was strong, yes, but it was still below Great Crimson in defense,” she said.
In the game, Great Crimson had at least 100 physical defense. My current armor was a bit below that. But Great Crimson was weak in magic defense, so my armor won in total ability. And—
”Mother-in-law, my workshop has reached a new level. Do not compare it to the old one,” I said.
”A new level…?” she asked.
Her face changed. It was not just doubt—more like “what did you do now?” But that was not the point.
”During exploration, we beat a rare spirit lord. I used its core, the royal jewel, for upgrades. With magic metal forged in this workshop, do you know how far it can go?” I asked.
Mother-in-law swallowed hard. As a craftsperson, she could not ignore this. I only needed one more push.
”And since I will make it, it means Great Crimson’s defense with Black Radiance’s functions. Arcane Armor Great Crimson will be complete!” I declared.
”A-Arcane Armor Great Crimson…!” she gasped.
Her heart danced at the thought of new equipment. I could tell I had her.
”Do you not want to know how strong Great Crimson would be as Arcane Armor?” I teased.
”N-No… I…!”
”Do you not want to see how strong the Acting Head will be with Arcane Armor and concept arms?” I added.
”S-Such temptation…!!”
”Come now, Mother-in-law. Your mouth says no, but your body is honest,” I said.
”W-What… no…”
She was already walking toward the forge. Her body moved on its own to see the work.
”We will use mithril first. Orichalcum will be for the joints to control the artificial muscles,” I said.
”I see. Leave the spell formula for matching her to me. I know her well enough to adjust it,” she said.
”I trust you. Also, could you check the workshop spell formula too…?”
”Fine. Ten minutes,” she said.
”It looks as if Tatara is pulling my mother into a scam,” Yohira said softly.
How rude. This was not a scam.
Mother-in-law entered the forge and began checking the spell formula of each tool. I heard her impressed sounds as she made changes.
”…Tatara-san, your spell formula work has improved.”
”Is that so? I did feel things were going well lately,” I said.
”You optimized most of it. Even with my changes, the mana flow only rose by five percent,” Mother-in-law said.
”That sounds amazing to me…”
A five percent drop in energy loss was big, yet she talked as if it was small.
I let mana run and lit the forge. When the fire rose, a wave of heat and strange pressure filled the room.
”…I feel like I could make Sky Break now,” I said.
”Would you like to try, Tatara-san?” Mother-in-law asked.
I nodded and began smithing. Since it was our style, I took five kilos of mithril ingots. I stacked them and placed them in the furnace. I heated them red, hammered them, and returned them to the fire again and again. Mana flowed through the metal far better than before. Magic metal now felt as easy to work as normal iron. It was not special to me, but it was still a good sign.
I stretched the mithril, cooled and split it, then forge welded it. I fixed it, hammered it, and began folding in a cross pattern. The layers grew and made the metal tough.
I shaped the core, struck the steel, dropped the point, and shaped the blade again. When the bar was ready, I spread the clay for the temper line and placed it in the fire.
When the clay burned in a clean pattern, I quenched it. A sharp cry rang as the blade cooled too fast, then fell silent. I broke the clay. A silver-white blade shone beneath.
I polished the blade, sharpened it, cut the tang, carved my mark and the date, then placed it in a plain sheath. I held it up and used Appraisal.
Longsword: Sky Break Silver
Special Ability: World Cut – Uses: 2
There was no attack or range shown, only the special ability World Cut with two uses. Master’s Sky Break shattered after one use, so this was a step forward, right?
Still, if even mithril only lasted twice, was it a failure after all?
”Mother-in-law, I have a request,” I said.
”Yes, what is it?”
”Could you take this to Master for me?” I asked.
She stared at the blade for a long moment, looking at me and the sword again and again, then sighed and took it.
”…Amatsu will lose her mind over this,” she said.
”I believe Master will surpass it,” I said.
She let out a small laugh, half shocked, half amused.
”Tatara-dono, I am back!!” the Acting Head shouted.
She rushed into the forge with a face that said she could not hold back any longer.
What she pulled from her inventory was, in one word, art.
Iron and steel were folded and forged with care. The black of the metal and the red cords shone in contrast. The sleeves, skirt plates, and side guards… It was like the Japanese armor I remembered from my past life.
”So this is the famed Great Crimson,” I breathed.
I could only stare. In total ability, the Reinforce I got from Sister Kareha was likely higher. But this armor had presence and dignity that felt greater. I used Appraisal.
Full Armor: Great Crimson
HP +50
Physical Defense +110
Magic Defense +18
Speed –15
So, high HP and Physical Defense. But its Magic Defense seemed low compared to the old game, and the Speed loss was heavy. As a tank, it would be hard to use.
I memorized its structure and began building a design in my head that would lower Physical Defense a bit in exchange for raising Magic Defense and reducing the Speed loss. I could carve anti-gravity spell formula behind the plates too.
For practice, I used demonsteel to make an Aarem. By the rules, I used three kilos and copied the Great Crimson design. The result was a black, heavy-looking miniature Great Crimson that still looked beautiful.
Next was the controller. In Japan style, a seat-like stand would fit, but it would not shine next to the others. A hanger type might be better.
”…Trouble?” the Acting Head asked.
”No, I am choosing between a hanger or a standing armor stand,” I said.
”The one that clanks and moves!” she said at once.
So the hanger type it was. Still, I wanted it to be able to sit like true Japanese armor, so I chose a base that could change form.
I built rails on the back, and a belt under the feet. An arm on the rail would rise, and the belt would move to lift it from sitting to standing. The arms would hold under the armpits, with sub-arms behind the shoulders to adjust the posture.
I sat the Great Crimson Aarem down and locked the arms. I tested a lift. It worked well.
The rail sparked as it raised the armor, the arms released one by one, and the face lifted with glowing eyes. It worked even better than I hoped.
”Acting Head, how is this?” I asked.
”Good. How much?” she said.
The first thing she asked was the price. Same as the Head of Judiciary.
”Well… I, uh… I have not thought of a price yet,” I said.
”Hm. Then should I pay about one million from our funds?” she asked.
”No, that is too much,” I said.
That was far too high for a toy. My goal was a price a child could afford. Still, I should charge the demonsteel craft fee.
”Since it is demonsteel, it is a bit high… thirty-five thousand,” I said.
”Since it is a copy of Great Crimson, one hundred thousand,” she countered.
”Do not raise the price yourself,” I said.
If someone paid that much for a toy right away, I would be scared. We did not have the grounds to charge that yet. I would ask her to wait until tomorrow. I would take her to the merchant guild leader and set a fair price.
”Tomorrow, we will meet the person who oversees trade in this city and set a price there. I will take payment after that, understood?”
”But I heard this nation has a culture called ‘chip’?”
”Not in this city, unfortunately.”
Danger. No matter what I said, this person was determined to hand me a million. Do not casually buy expensive toys.
Mother-in-law, the only one who could stop her, was deeply focused on studying Great Crimson and its controller. Useless right now.
”…Tatara, should we skip exploration today?” Ethelena asked.
”No, we are going.”
She was frightened some months ago, thinking she only had a short time left. I understood she wanted to be considerate to the Acting Head, but we would stick to the plan.
”Anyway, we will accept the payment only after the price is set properly tomorrow.”
”Very well. We have permission from His Majesty to stay until this city festival, so there is no problem.”
”Why did you get direct permission from the Emperor…?”
Did the Immortal King also receive formal permission to stay? I could not rule it out, which was terrifying.
After that exchange, we waited for the idiots coming for training, then headed out for exploration. I felt a strange fatigue, but it did not affect my condition.
”Sorry my father caused trouble,” Yohira said.
”It’s fine. Besides, seeing that guy’s face when he spotted them was worth it.”
The jerk who arrived full of energy to train turned pale when he saw the Acting Head and Mother-in-law. It was hilarious.
Hinagiku was hiding and silent, but during training today, that idiot would likely figure out her relationship with him. That would be… interesting.
Also, I had to work on the Arcane Armor based on Great Crimson at night. I offered it as a condition—and a bribe—so I must deliver. Besides, I always planned to make armor as a gift when the Acting Head officially inherited the family title. This was the perfect timing.
”It sounds like things were lively at Tatara-dono’s home today?” Tatia said.
”Yohira’s parents visited. We talked about my condition and… well, you can imagine.”
”If the life of their child’s spouse is at stake, that reaction is natural.”
Her reply had a hint of reproach. I could not blame her. I intended to keep it from the party too. Their response was expected.
”We won’t push deeper today. We will focus on leveling with Tatara-dono at the center. Ethelena will gather status-up items for us. If possible, we will raise everyone’s base strength. Correct?” Tatia confirmed.
”We did not finalize details, but that is the plan. If a Muumin appears, please handle it, Ethelena.”
”Leave it to me!” she said, full of spirit. I smiled. My wife really was reliable.
”Tatara, when we reach level 50, we will stop for a while,” Yohira said.
”The thing we discussed before, right? Understood. Are you sure?”
”It will benefit us all in the end. No issue.”
Saving experience without leveling felt wasteful, but if everyone agreed, I had no objection. Their faces showed acceptance.
”Right—Tatara,” Ethelena said.
”Yeah?”
She looked like she remembered something.
”I’m about to complete my skill set. Can you check something with me?”
”Sure.”
”Thanks. I’ll have about seven empty slots. What should I take?”
”…What?”
Seven? Seven slots?
My brain froze.
”How do you suddenly free that many?”
”Well… Sniping Technique, Mobility Boost, Agility Boost, Stealth Step, Concealment, Ambush, and Sneak Attack all grew a lot after that fight with the person who kept aiming at your butt.”
”Do not describe it that way.”
Of course I wanted to cover my rear.
Still… her assassin build was nearly complete. Actually—there was more to add.
”Take Hide and Hawk Eye next.”
”Hmm? Hawk Eye?” Tatia repeated.
”Yeah. You had it from the start, right? It lets you see far. But for close-range fighters, it’s almost useless. It gets better if you learn magic, since you can extend spell range.”
”I see. Then I won’t use it right away,” Tatia said with a nod.
She looked at me, as if remembering something.
”Actually, I am close to completing a few skills as well.”
”Seriously?”
Tatia too? Good, but first—focus on Ethelena.
”Ethelena, get Hide and Hawk Eye next.”
”Okay, but we learned in class that Hawk Eye doesn’t extend Arcane Gun range, remember?”
Right—academy special class. True, unlike bows, mana guns were not boosted by Hawk Eye. But for Ethelena, there was another benefit.
”Mana Gun range does not increase, but magic range does. Your binding magic range will increase.”
”Oh! You’re right!”
Her binding magic played a huge role in that bird-thing fight. More range would make it even stronger. It was simple, but extremely versatile.
”Also, it widens your scouting field.”
Seeing farther helped detect enemies sooner. True, invisible enemies still required other senses—but she could take Listen or similar later.
”Anyway, decide after you complete them.”
And with that, our exploration began.
Notes:
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Calmys – War God’s knight, Mayor’s guard chief, whip-master hiding as a swordswoman; sharp tongue, big-sister vibe to Tatara, grants him and Ethelena church protection.
• Cornremu – TataraGolem; wears red scarf (*”Ta-!” greetings*).
• Amatsu – A master blacksmith and a female. Demonstrate forging skill to Tatara. The duel arises from Tatara’s request for guidance. Senior craftsman guiding Tatara. No kin known. Golden right eye and calm mastery define her.
• Kareha – A human paladin and nun appearing in ch.71. She requests new weapons from Tatara after past battles damaged hers. The order sends her under church duty. Works with Tatara and Dahlia as ally. Close to Ranka. Strong, polite, and fearless.
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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