Chapter 168 The Will to Face Reality
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”That’s a lie. It has to be a lie…”
(It is no lie. You know me well enough to realize I have no reason to deceive you, don’t you?)
I knew. I knew all too well. There was absolutely no reason for the being before me to weave lies into its words, yet I still refused to believe it. When Archangel introduced me to Chef, when Seisou-chou stood beside me watching my crafting, when I held hands with Baito-chou—that warmth, that bond… it was the real deal. Or was it possible they were fundamentally devoid of something like “love”?
That couldn’t be right. When we first met, Archangel was definitely crying. Chef’s suspicion about the distance between me and Archangel, Seisou-chou’s exasperation at her sister’s antics—none of those things would happen without a foundation of genuine affection.
(Heh… You really do love the eldest sister, don’t you?)
World Laws spoke with a voice dripping with mockery. My anger finally boiled over. “Shut your mouth. You’re just a machine running the world. Someone who looks down on humans as ‘insignificant’ has no right to talk about emotions!”
I glared at World Laws with eyes full of resentment, but it was like shouting into a void. Its smile only widened. (Look at you—a fool who thought he understood the essence of another’s heart. Those words are nothing more than the pathetic howling of a sore loser, aren’t they?)
My irritation flared. I actually considered using the one-time gift I’d received from Archangel to manifest the Fifth Element right here and now. Or perhaps I could use “Sky Rift”¹, targeting the conceptual link between World Laws and Baito-chou, and tear the whole thing apart.
(No matter how much you deny it, you cannot change the fact that what you perceived as ‘sisterly love’ was merely surveillance. You haven’t understood a single thing about us. You are a pitiable, foolish, weak creature—utterly blind to the truth.)
World Laws continued its sneering tirade, clearly relishing its victory. Seeing that cruel, twisted grin on Baito-chou’s face triggered a surge of pure, murderous intent. Don’t you dare use her face to look at me like that. I clenched my fists so hard that blood began to seep from my palms; my nails had punctured the skin. Simultaneously, the rational part of my brain began to spin at high velocity. I felt a sensation like a new bud sprouting within my skills.
”The only one who’s ‘pitiable and foolish’ here is you,” I replied. “For a supposedly omnipotent World Law, you’re doing a pretty garbage job of managing the Poster Girls, aren’t you?”
(Hmph. Do you honestly believe that?)
As World Laws’ laughter turned even more sadistic, I felt a sour taste in my mouth. I wanted to draw Sky Rift and strike it down instantly, but acting on a tantrum would only give it more ammunition to mock me. More importantly, it was still using Baito-chou’s physical body; if I snapped and attacked, I might actually kill her. The truth was, as World Laws said, I couldn’t truly know the sisters’ inner hearts. There was a definite gap between my “knowledge” from my past life and the impressions I’d gathered through our actual time together. They were full of surprises. Even so, I could still point out the flaws in its “management.”
”Then tell me—is Archangel fighting to seal those things for my sake because you told her to?” I asked. That must have hit a nerve. Even World Laws didn’t offer an immediate rebuttal. “And what about the request to craft statues for the Gods?”
(…That is a fundamental role of the Poster Girls,) World Laws said.
”But it wasn’t your order, was it?” I countered. “The ones who asked me to make those statues were likely the Gods themselves, not you. Since I don’t follow any specific faith, the Gods probably relied on the Poster Girls to deliver the Revelation because they were the only ones I’d listen to. You might have built the ‘System of Gods’ in this world, but you can’t chain their will—and you can’t chain the Poster Girls either. They have the right to exercise free will. There’s no way they would willingly participate in ‘sister-slaying’ just because it’s their ‘role’!”
World Laws went silent, its expression turning blank. I didn’t know if my logic was sound. I only knew these sisters through the broken translations of my gaming days and the fifteen short years I’d spent with them in this life. But even so… I believed their love was the real deal. World Laws watched me for a moment, its lip curling. It seemed determined to crush my hope entirely.
(I see you choose to cling to your delusions. However, it will never happen. These sisters were created for this purpose; they cannot escape their nature. You heard it from the second daughter herself, didn’t you? That these sisters are bound by a contract they cannot flee.)
”That’s…”
(It is a pact etched into them at the moment of their birth. They are trapped by it. Unless, of course… they were to lose their power or their very reason for being.)
That stopped me in my tracks. Lose their power. Did that obsessed stalker from the “Beyond the Deep Darkness” event know this? By stealing Archangel’s wings, was he actually preventing the sisters from being forced to kill one another? …Actually, scratch that. When I fought him, I saw a wedding dress in the event CG. He was definitely just a creep following his own desires.
(In that sense, I suppose I should thank you. You were the one who restored the eldest sister’s power, after all.)
The irony was sickening. I had poured my soul into helping Archangel get her wings back so she could go home, only to be told by World Laws that I’d effectively signed her death warrant.
(If you had just connected with the third daughter, I could have used you as my terminal. But you avoided it with that same pathetic, ‘incel’ energy you showed when you were too awkward to handle that Succubus. Quite unexpected.)
”I treated Chef with sincerity,” I said. “That was the result of being honest with both of them.”
(There’s a saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth—or in your case, not turning down a feast set before you. It’s a man’s shame to let such an opportunity go to waste.)
”Maybe it’s a shame to turn it down, but it’s better than being a hypocrite.”
(I find that hard to believe coming from a man who got someone else pregnant before his own wife. You’re hardly a paragon of sincerity.)
I went quiet. I couldn’t argue with that. I was definitely a mess.
(And then there’s your Companion. Splitting herself in two just to make you kill her? I honestly cannot fathom that logic.)
”Yeah… tell me about it. I’m her partner and even I wouldn’t have come up with that,” I admitted. I could die for Ethelena, sure—but finding joy in being killed by her hand? That was a level of crazy I couldn’t reach.
(Even these sisters, who would die for you, have a limiter when it comes to each other.)
”…I feel like Archangel would be the one to break that rule, though.”
(On the contrary, she is the one least able to. She is the one most tightly bound by the World Laws.)
Hearing that felt wrong. Having watched Archangel, she seemed like the type who would smash through any “rule” or “limiter” if it meant saving her sisters.
(Besides, her absolute top priority has already been overwritten by you.)
”I’m still not sure I understand that part…”
(A maiden’s heart is a labyrinth, boy. Even for the World Laws, some things remain complex.)
”…A ‘maiden’s heart’?”
(Don’t look so surprised. Even I have been in love before.)
”…Huh?”
I froze. Did the World Laws just say it had been in love? Seeing the look of genuine awkwardness on its face—or rather, Baito-chou’s face—my instincts told me not to push it.
”…So, even the World Laws falls in love, huh?”
(…It was a love that could never be, though.)
Seeing World Laws smile so self-deprecatively, I found myself reaching out with my clean hand and gently stroking its head. It probably wasn’t even comforting, but it felt like the right thing to do. World Laws didn’t pull away; it narrowed its eyes, looking almost nostalgic.
(…Stop treating me like a child.)
After about five minutes of petting, World Laws seemingly had enough and lightly brushed my hand aside. Its touch was surprisingly gentle.
”…Look, just because I know you’ve felt love doesn’t mean I’m okay with you disregarding Archangel’s feelings. My loathing for that hasn’t changed.”
(I have no intention of making you understand me. My emotions belong to me, and me alone.)
”If you’re going to say that, then the hearts of the ‘Poster Girls’ belong to them, too. That’s a bit too much of a double standard, don’t you think?”
(What are you talking about? Since ancient times, both gods and beautiful women have been entitled to their whims.)
”If you want to call yourself a ‘fine woman,’ try getting your own body before you start talking.”
(You’ve just got a ‘fine’ ego, is all.) I wasn’t done being pissed off, so I didn’t plan on stopping the ‘Crafting’ of her figure later. I’d have Baito-chou take it back to the ‘Poster Girls’ so they could all share it. I was going to be as thorough as possible with my harassment.
”Anyway, get out of Baito-chou already. You’ve finished your business of keeping us quiet, haven’t you?”
(I might be able to restrict her for a moment, but with how clumsy this girl is, I’m worried she’ll blurt out forbidden information again. It’s hard to leave; I’m actually considering staying for a while.)
”If you try that, I’ll mutate the ‘Sky Rift’ into a Conceptual Weapon² of ‘Severance’ and slash the spiritual thread connecting the two of you.”
(Don’t you dare go evolving your abilities in such an unpredictable way just because you’re angry?!)
Up until now, it was something I couldn’t have possibly done.
Yet, I had a mysterious certainty that I could pull it off by applying my ‘Crafting’ skill in response to that surge of rage.
I hadn’t checked my status, but I was sure a ‘Transmutation’ skill had been added to my repertoire.
At the very least, I could transmute the ‘Sky Rift’s’ world-rending power into a blade that cuts the formless—a blade to sever fate itself.
It was an ability that merely shifted the orientation of the concept of ‘cutting.’ It didn’t change the essence, but it was enough to spark a small revolution.
As a threat, I drew a ‘Sky Rift’ from my Inventory. I interfered with it using my ‘Crafting’ skill, forcing it to transmute. Shing. It still looked like a simple blade in a plain white wood scabbard, but its edge had shifted. It no longer cut the world; it cut the bonds between souls. I didn’t use ‘Appraisal,’ but I could feel it in the air… I think I’m starting to lose my mind a bit, too.
(Fine. I understand. I will leave this body immediately, so please put that nonsensical blade away.)
”So, you can tell I’m not bluffing?”
(I am the World Laws. I can understand the nature of what stands before me just by looking… though you are quite a difficult thing to comprehend.)
Frowning, the World Laws glared at the ‘Sky Rift’—now renamed ‘Severance’—then shook her head and faced me. All the mockery and impatience vanished from her face, replaced by a deadly serious expression that made me straighten my back.
(I will tell you this: If you truly love the eldest daughter, you must see the conquest of the deepest floor of this dungeon through to the end.)
”That’s what’s necessary to stop Archangel from being Absorbed, isn’t it?”
(Yes. I cannot say more because it touches on forbidden matters… but with your unique ability to warp existence, you can surely prevent the eldest’s Absorption.)
I might be running out of time, but if I can get the other sisters to cooperate, reaching the bottom floor shouldn’t be an issue. The swords I received from Chef and Purity Leader weighed on my mind, as did the surveillance the World Laws mentioned, but I decided to set those aside as problems I couldn’t solve this second.
(If you love this world… or even if you don’t, if you love the Succubi by your side and these sisters…)
Staring straight into my eyes, the will of the world showed me the path.
(Then you must face the End of this world. For that is the true destiny you were meant to fulfill here.)
After a graceful bow, the World Laws departed. Baito-chou began to collapse, and I caught her. I tried to look at her face to see if she was okay, but she just clutched my clothes, her body shaking.
(That’s… that’s not it… desu…)
”…I know,” I replied.
I whispered back to her weak mumble, letting her know I understood. At my words, Baito-chou gripped my shirt even tighter and looked up. Her eyes were brimming with tears, filled with a desperate conviction.
(It’s not true! We… all of us sisters love our Big Sister!!)
”I know.”
(I know we were given roles to play, and things we have to do! But!!)
”It’s okay. I understand.”
I stroked her head to soothe her, but the tears wouldn’t stop. I knelt down and pulled Baito-chou into a hug; she clung to me and continued to sob. While I was wondering how to calm her down, someone else wrapped their arms around both of us.
”Archangel?”
I looked up to see Archangel looking down with an expression of pure compassion. She said nothing, simply holding us—or rather, holding the weeping Baito-chou. The way she pressed her cheek against her in silence was more maternal than sisterly. (Is she actually their mother and not their sister? …) Dammit, she glared at me. She totally read my thoughts. Safe in Archangel’s warmth, Baito-chou eventually calmed down and drifted off to sleep. Seriously, this is a mother-daughter dynamic if I’ve ever seen one.
”Thank you, Archangel. I don’t think I could have stopped the tears without you,” I said.
(No, no. If it were you, Tatara-san, it might have taken a bit longer, but I’m sure you would have found a way to comfort her.)
I spoke softly as Archangel stepped back from the sleeping girl. I lifted Baito-chou into a princess carry; the way she gripped my shirt made her look like a small child. Looking at Archangel as she watched over her sister with such tenderness, I asked the question I’d been dreading.
”Archangel, the World Laws was possessing Baito-chou until just a moment ago.”
(Yes, I am aware.)
She knew? Or rather, she could tell?
”She told me… that the sisters were created to monitor you. To kill you if it ever became necessary.”
I was just confirming the facts, but I hated the words as they left my mouth. To think these girls I’d spent so much time with were created for such a grim purpose.
(Yes. That is the truth,) Archangel replied. It felt like a knife in my chest. (Hehe, it’s alright, Tatara-san. Even if that is the reason for our birth, we have existed as sisters regardless. We’ve always known.)
Archangel gently stroked the sleeping Baito-chou’s hair. Reassured by that touch, the girl’s sleeping face seemed to grow peaceful.
(There is no need for you to trouble yourself over it. We have our own way of being.)
”Even so, I can’t stand the thought of you sisters killing each other.”
(I agree. I wouldn’t like that either.)
Archangel remained incredibly serene. Encouraged by her calm, I voiced the other thing weighing on me.
”Also, Chef told me you’re fighting something in the deepest depths of the Cavern of Eternal Night for my sake. And the World Laws said that eventually, you’ll lose and be ‘Absorbed’ by it.”
(I see… Well, it is true that I may eventually fall.)
”What exactly are you fighting?”
Purity Leader had mentioned a collective of the ’72 Sovereigns of the Abyss’ when she handed over Baito-chou, but I didn’t know the specifics. I understood that losing to fragments of the world’s end meant death, but I couldn’t grasp why she would be ‘Absorbed.’
(Let me see…)
She thought for a moment, then pulled a fist-sized, glassy object from her Inventory. It looked like a galaxy trapped in a sphere—a ‘Divine Core Fragment of the Goddess of the End³.’
(You likely aren’t aware of this, Tatara-san, but this world is governed by two Root Attributes⁴.)
”Root Attributes…?”
(Yes. Two attributes that lie at the very foundation of existence: Genesis and the End.)
Genesis, the beginning; and the End, the conclusion. These are the twin pillars of this world. The easiest examples are the ‘Goddess of Light’ and the ‘Goddess of Darkness’—sister deities whose natures are polar opposites.
(The ‘Goddess of Genesis’ creates the world, and the ‘Goddess of the End’ becomes the next creator after the world concludes. These two take turns fulfilling their roles, and thus the world continues its cycle. Every living thing in this world carries the attribute of one of these two goddesses at its core.)
”So, for example, I’m on the Goddess of Genesis side, and Ethelena is on the Goddess of the End side?”
Archangel nodded. When I first used a Divine Core Fragment for Crafting, the ‘Goddess of Genesis’ fragment felt natural to me—that must have been the Root Attribute at work. The fact that I’d instinctively felt they were close to ‘Light’ and ‘Darkness’ made the world feel strangely simple. Or perhaps because it’s the foundation, it’s naturally polarized and simple.
(The reason I would be ‘Absorbed’ if I lose to the ‘Fragments of the End’ is simple: My Root Attribute is the same as theirs. That is all.)
”…What?”
She said it so casually that my brain stalled. When the realization finally hit, my heart skipped a beat.
”You’re an ‘End’ type, Archangel? Not Genesis?”
(Hehe, whatever made you think I was a Genesis type?)
She sent a playful thought my way—(I actually quite enjoy playing pranks, you know)—as my mind raced. The World Laws is likely a Genesis-side existence. If she weren’t designed to sustain the world after its creation, she wouldn’t be able to establish laws like the ‘Poster Girls’ or the gods. So why is Archangel, the one closest to her, an ‘End’ attribute? And it bothered me that she used Archangel as the blueprint for the other sisters.
(Could it be… that the sisters have ‘flaws’ because you tried to make Genesis-type beings using an End-type like Archangel as a model…?)
But then, why was Archangel made without flaws despite being an End-type? Was she even created by the World Laws in the first place? I looked at her, but she only gave me a quiet smile, clearly having no intention of explaining further. Whether she couldn’t tell me or simply wouldn’t, I didn’t know. Despite how long we’d been together, I realized I still didn’t understand Archangel at all.
(Tatara-san, my youngest sister seems to be quite alright now, so I shall take my leave.)
”Wait—”
I had so many questions, but I couldn’t get them organized before she announced her departure. Seeing me struggle for words, Archangel spoke one last time, her voice soft and lingering.
(…I like you, Tatara-san. I love you very much.)
Archangel folded her hands in front of her chest as she spoke. Her silhouette, looking as if she were offering a desperate prayer, stirred a sense of unease within me.
(Starting from the wings… everything that has happened has given me so many memories.)
She carried an aura of confession, like someone admitting to an unforgivable sin.
(None of those things would have existed if Tatara-san hadn’t been here. That is why-)
That is why… what?
(…That is why, Tatara-san, please stay just as you are. Don’t worry about someone like me; just keep laughing with the people by your side. I am not a being who was ever meant to exist within your daily life. I am not someone who can walk alongside you. I am nothing more than a midday fever dream you saw for a fleeting moment… Please, don’t waste any more of your life on me.)
While I stood there, paralyzed by her words, Archangel disappeared. I couldn’t tell if that was a final rejection or just a fragile show of bravado. To me, she looked like she was crying, but I might have been mistaken-perhaps it was just my own bias. As I thought, the subtle heartstrings of the opposite s*x are completely beyond me.
Lost in those thoughts, I scooped up the sleeping Baito-chou and carried her to the living room. Once we reached the sofa bed, her Aarem⁵-Barlem-showed some initiative and prepared the bed for me. It used Baito-chou’s wings for the task, and it seemed quite skilled at it. Having finished the setup with efficient movements, Barlem puffed out its chest and gestured for me to proceed. I thanked it and laid Baito-chou down. The little guy actually looked like he was blushing from the praise. He really is an expressive one.
Since it would be too difficult to change Baito-chou’s clothes while she was out cold, I tried to pull away, but her hand remained clamped onto my shirt. Even Barlem seemed at a loss, looking at me with an apologetic shrug. Apparently, I wasn’t going anywhere tonight. I could have just taken the shirt off, but I had a nagging feeling that the moment I stripped, someone would walk in and things would take a turn for the worse.
I absentmindedly stroked Baito-chou’s head while looking out the window. A pale blue moonlight began to bleed through the gap in the curtains. I offered a prayer toward that blue moon, hoping this kind girl would have nothing but peaceful dreams. I didn’t know if a divine blessing would even reach someone governed by the World Laws⁶, but I prayed regardless.
(…Huh? Tatara-kun?)
So much for that wish. Baito-chou had woken up. At this rate, the Blue Moon Goddess in charge of peaceful sleep would probably just take a running start and punch her back to bed. Honestly, I’m disappointed.
”Since you’re awake, do you think you could let go?” asked Tatara.
(Eh? Ah… I’m so sorry desu!)
Realizing she had a death-grip on my shirt, Baito-chou released her hold. Was it just my imagination, or did her face look a little lonely the moment she let go? She shifted and sat up, facing me with a grave expression.
(Tatara-kun, there is something I need you to hear desu.)
”…Alright, I’m listening,” replied Tatara.
I matched her serious tone, and Baito-chou seemed to steel her resolve.
(It is true. We sisters were created for the sole purpose of shutting down our Eldest Sister should she ever go out of control desu.)
I’d heard the rumors before, but I didn’t want her to confirm them. Unlike before, when I had denied it out of pure emotion, hearing her explain the cold logic of her existence was painful.
”But that doesn’t matter, does it?” asked Tatara.
(Eh?)
”It doesn’t matter why you were born. That isn’t a reason to let your life be bound-even if that’s what the World Laws decided,” said Tatara.
Baito-chou froze at my words.
”The World Laws told me the same thing-that facing the ‘End’ is my true destiny. But I have higher priorities, like loving Edel and the others, or obsessing over my Crafting,” said Tatara.
Thinking about it, I might be the one most affected by this “fate-warping” constitution of mine. My growth with ‘Full Body Blow’ and ‘Tsubame Gaeshi’ is likely just the system adjusting me to fulfill my role, but I’ve just been using them for my Crafting anyway.
”You can’t choose your birth, but you can choose how you live. Even if you are bound by the World Laws… Baito-chou, you’re allowed to live for Archangel and your sisters,” said Tatara.
Baito-chou remained silent as she listened, but I could see the strength returning to her eyes.
”I’ll ask you straight: Are you Archangel’s enemy?” asked Tatara.
(No, I’m not desu!)
”Then, are you our enemy?” asked Tatara.
(I’m not that either desu!)
”Then… will you stand with me against destiny?” asked Tatara.
(Of course I will desu!!)
Her reply was powerful. In the end, Baito-chou might actually have the strongest heart of all the sisters. For some reason, Barlem was nodding with his arms crossed as if to say, “I raised her well,” though his arms are so short he couldn’t quite pull off the pose.
”Thank you, Baito-chou,” said Tatara.
(Ehehe… It’s only because you were here, Tatara-kun, that I found the courage to stand up and face this desu.)
”Me?” asked Tatara.
I was genuinely confused. I didn’t feel like I’d done anything special for her.
(You believed in me. Even though I was just pushed onto you by my Middle Sister, you actually thought about what was best for me desu.)
The fact that there’s a massive reward in it for me is the real motivator, but I could never tell her that.
(You introduced me to Master. You even gave me these wonderful shoes desu,) said Baito-chou.
Even though I felt I hadn’t done nearly enough, Baito-chou recounted every little thing with a happy smile.
(You’ve given me so much. The least I can do is find a little courage of my own desu!)
Baito-chou laughed. I ignored Barlem, who was hovering nearby looking like he wanted to ask, “What about me?” I really don’t know if these guys are Golems or not.
”I see. I guess we really did manage to change things for you,” said Tatara.
(You’ve changed everything! More than anything, I’m just… I’m happy right now desu!)
I couldn’t help but laugh at her forceful response. Seeing my reaction made Baito-chou look even more delighted.
(Oh! That’s right.)
She let out a small cry as if a memory had just sparked. She pulled an item from her Inventory and offered it to me. It was a sword with the same design as the ones from Chef and Cleaning Leader, though the jewel embedded in this one was a brilliant emerald.
(I want you to have this, Tatara-kun desu.)
”…Are you sure?” asked Tatara.
(Yes. If you’ve made it this far, you’re the one who should hold it. I’m forbidden from saying why, but… I want you to have it desu,) said Baito-chou.
I took the sword from her hand and drew it. I confirmed the blade was perfect and unchipped, then returned it to the scabbard.
”I accept it,” said Tatara.
(When the time is right, and the moment is dire, those swords will tell you exactly what their role is desu,) said Baito-chou.
She spoke with a quiet certainty. It made me wonder… if Cleaning Leader’s sword was shattered, maybe it’s because I already wielded it in some other world-line.
(Tatara-kun. I believe that ahead of you, there is a very painful future you’ll have to face desu.)
She was likely talking about some “vision” of the future. Whatever it was, it was enough to make her take a stand. If I go by her words before the World Laws tried to take her, I might be the one who ends up betrayed. Though, knowing me, I’d probably just laugh while I breathed my last.
(Even so, I am on your side. I don’t know about my sisters, but… I would gladly give my life for yours desu,) said Baito-chou.
”Baito-chou, you don’t have to-“
(It’s a promise. A real one. You know what that means for us, don’t you desu?)
I did. For a Poster Girl, a verbal promise is as binding as a contract. They literally cannot break their word. If she was serious, she was willing to betray the entire world for my sake.
”…Then promise me this much,” said Tatara.
(Eh?)
”Don’t go being a martyr. And let me be the one to protect you, too,” said Tatara.
(…Honestly, you really are a piece of work, Tatara-kun desu,) said Baito-chou.
She looked at me as if I were something precious and baffling. I held out my right hand, pinky extended. She looked at it for a second, then hooked her own pinky around mine.
”Pinky swear, hope to die, swallow a thousand needles if I tell a lie. Sworn.”
I recited the old rhyme-I couldn’t remember if it even existed in this world of Whirlwind-and then we let go.
—
Summary:
The protagonist engages in a high-stakes philosophical debate with the World Laws, which is possessing Baito-chou’s body. The World Laws reveals a shocking truth: the Poster Girls sisters are bound by a birth contract that forces them into the role of ‘sister-slayers’ to maintain world balance. In a moment of unexpected vulnerability, the World Laws admits to having experienced unrequited love, creating a brief, quiet connection between the two enemies.
The situation escalates into a tense confrontation between Tatara and the World Laws (still possessing Baito-chou), during which Tatara’s ‘Crafting’ skill evolves into a reality-warping weapon called ‘Severance.’ Afterward, the World Laws departs, and Archangel appears to comfort a devastated Baito-chou, revealing the truth about her ‘End’ root attribute and the cyclical nature of the world. Archangel also acknowledges her own looming fate of absorption, ending with a confession of love to Tatara.
In the aftermath, Tatara comforts Baito-chou. She reveals her true purpose as a failsafe against their Eldest Sister, but Tatara rejects her fatalistic outlook and urges her to define her own life beyond the ‘World Laws.’ Their resolve is sealed with a solemn pinky swear, and Baito-chou gifts Tatara a mysterious emerald sword, part of a set tied to his destiny, leaving them together in uncertain silence as the weight of everything that has occurred settles between them.
—
Trivia:
- The mention of Archangel fighting to ‘seal’ something for the protagonist suggests her role is more protective than previously known.
- The revelation that losing power (like the stolen wings) might be the only way to escape the birth contract suggests the antagonist from the game may have had complex motivations.
- The World Laws being bound by its own nature as much as the sisters are implies it is not a true omnipotent master, but another cog in a larger machine.
- The protagonist’s ‘new skill bud’ hints at an upcoming power-up triggered by his intense emotional conflict.
- The mutation of Sky Rift into Severance suggests that Tatara’s power is not just physical crafting but conceptual manipulation.
- Archangel’s ability to read Tatara’s thoughts confirms her high spiritual level or deep bond with him.
- The mention of the ‘Goddess of Genesis’ and ‘Goddess of the End’ sets up the ultimate cosmic conflict and Tatara’s destined role.
- The ‘flaws’ in the younger sisters hint that their creation was an imperfect attempt by World Laws to copy Archangel’s existence.
- The Emerald Sword: The third of a set (Chef, Cleaning Leader, Baito-chou). The mention of the second sword being shattered in a ‘different world-line’ suggests time-loop or multi-verse elements.
- Archangel’s ‘Confession’: Her dialogue implies she knows something about the nature of Tatara’s existence that he doesn’t, framing herself as a ‘daydream.’
- Barlem’s Intelligence: The entity shows increasing emotional depth and pride, hinting at a higher level of sentience than a simple golem.
- Blue Moon Goddess: Mentioned as a pun/joke by Tatara, but the context of the World Laws suggests even minor deities or systems might be physical actors in this world
—
Character Insight:
The dynamic between the protagonist and the World Laws shifts from pure antagonistic hatred to a strange, temporary truce. The protagonist’s act of petting the World Laws’ head—and the entity’s acceptance of it—signals that even a ‘system’ possesses remnants of human-like loneliness. However, the protagonist’s closing line reaffirms that empathy for the World Laws doesn’t equal forgiveness for its cruelty toward the sisters.
Tatara moves from a state of reactive anger to one of protective resolve, specifically toward Archangel. The ‘mother-daughter’ dynamic between Archangel and Baito-chou is highlighted, shifting the reader’s perspective on the sisters’ origins. Archangel’s confession of love at the end changes the stakes from a simple dungeon crawl to a high-stakes rescue mission.
Baito-chou’s loyalty shifts from systemic obedience to personal devotion to Tatara. Her vow to ‘betray the world’ for him marks a turning point where she prioritizes individual bond over her programmed purpose. Tatara’s role as a ‘Fate-Warp’ is solidified as he actively encourages his companions to break their predetermined roles.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘Birth Contract’ is introduced as a deterministic law governing the Poster Girls, overriding their personal feelings. We also learn about the ‘System of Gods,’ which acts somewhat independently of the World Laws, as the Gods can issue their own requests (Revelations) to humans through the Poster Girls.
The ‘Root Attribute’ system is introduced, categorizing all beings under either ‘Genesis’ (creation) or ‘End’ (conclusion). This duality explains why Archangel is vulnerable to the Sovereigns of the Abyss—they share the same root, allowing for absorption rather than just destruction.
The ‘Poster Girls’ are confirmed to be functional countermeasures against an ‘Eldest Sister’ who might go berserk. This introduces a looming threat and a factional hierarchy within the sisters. The ‘World Laws’ are presented as a restrictive force that attempts to dictate the fate of individuals, which Tatara’s presence inherently disrupts.
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TL Notes:
The choice to keep the ‘Maiden’s heart’ trope is a deliberate localization to maintain the irony of a literal cosmic law using shoujo-manga terminology. The idiom ‘gift horse in the mouth’ was substituted for the literal ‘feast’ proverb to better convey the cultural sentiment of opportunity and waste in US English.
The term ‘Severance’ (En-giri) is a pun in Japanese relating to cutting physical ties and social/spiritual bonds. The translation preserves this by using conceptual weapon terminology.
The term ‘Baito-chou’ was localized as a title/name in the narrative while keeping its quirky meaning. The pinky swear rhyme was adapted to the traditional US ‘hope to die’ version to maintain the gravity of the ‘verbal contract’ trope common in Japanese media.
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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.
• 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.
• Ethelena – A Succubus and the protagonist’s primary partner. Capable of ‘Sex Sorcery’ and possesses a sweet-tasting skin. Currently Level-downed and seeking to grind back to level 50. A Succubus with the ability to create clones/masses of Mana. She oscillates between an adult form and a younger, ‘immature’ form. She is obsessively devoted to Tatara, using extreme methods to bind him to her. A female companion who engaged in ‘play’ with Tatara in the workshop. A noble-leaning character from Whirlwind who appreciates the household’s unique cuisine.
• Tatara – 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.
• Edel – Maid appearing after the Genbu armor’s creation scene during the evening at Tatara’s residence. She checks dinner plans while observing Kareha and the mayor’s argument caused by Tatara’s dangerous inventions and Calmys’s weapon request. She serves under Tatara, handling household duties. No known direct relationships beyond that. Known for her polite, level-headed composure.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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