Chapter 170 Deviating to a Side Road, Facing Reality
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Well, my magitech word processor went and picked up my stray thoughts. Now I’ve accidentally leaked a video record that shouldn’t even exist in the history books—the Former Emperor’s founding declaration. To explain this to the Mayor, I’m going to have to come clean about my past life.
I wouldn’t mind just telling her and Calmys, but I have no intention of letting the Merchant Guild Leader and his lot in on the secret of my reincarnation. Honestly, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. How do I even begin to explain that I have records concerning the deepest, darkest secrets of this world’s history?
”…Are you saying you’re prepared to explain yourself right here?” the Mayor asked.
”Do you have a reason to refuse?”
She was testing me, trying to see if there was a legitimate reason I couldn’t share the details. The Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou) and my mother-in-law, who both know the truth, looked ready to jump in depending on how I handled this.
”There are things about myself I’d rather not broadcast,” I said. “Besides, if I told you everything now, I’m pretty sure your stomach would pull a disappearing act from the stress.”
She grimaced at the mention of her health. I’d planned on telling her after the City Festival anyway, so it was really just a matter of sooner or later. But telling your patron you’re a reincarnated soul while she’s this busy? She’d probably just collapse.
”…How many people can you tell?” the Mayor asked.
”Just you and Knight Calmys.”
The Mayor made a sour face at my limited selection. She glanced at the unfamiliar soldiers standing behind her, her mind clearly racing.
”…My apologies, but this involves information regarding our nation’s Emperor,” one of the male soldiers cut in, stepping forward. “As a member of the Imperial Army, I must insist on being allowed to verify this as well.”
This was bad. If I refused, it would look incredibly suspicious. Was I really going to have to let the homeland in on my business?
”…I’m afraid I must decline,” the Mayor said, surprising me. “This is a private matter concerning Tatara Julon himself. As the representative of this city, I will review and censor the information first.”
I couldn’t believe she was actually turning down a regular soldier from the homeland. Can you even use “privacy” as a shield against the military? To be fair, this footage has immense historical value and involves the Imperial family; it’s exactly the kind of thing the state would want to seize. Even if they didn’t arrest me, they could easily draft me or take me into “protective custody” if they pushed the legal issue.
”Should I interpret that as an act of treason against the state?” the soldier asked.
”Not at all,” the Mayor replied, not giving an inch. “But he is not a criminal, and he has no obligation to disclose his entire private life to the country.”
I felt a surge of gratitude for her protection, but also a sharp spike of anxiety. Would this ruin her? But then, the soldier had a strange reaction. He looked around, looking surprised… did he just spot Chef and the Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou)?
”…Perhaps I was a bit too hasty,” the soldier said, his gaze shifting back to me. The emotion I felt from him wasn’t skepticism anymore—was it sympathy?
”So, you’ll talk if it’s just the City Representative and the Chief Knight?”
”Yes,” I promised. “I swear by the God of War, who presides over fairness and justice, to speak the truth without falsehood.”
The moment the oath left my lips, I felt a strange weight settle on my shoulders. Calmys-san looked at me—or rather, just above my shoulders—with a look of utter shock. The soldier nodded and turned back to the Mayor.
”Very well. Please, the three of you go and discuss the matter. I have my own duty to report to headquarters before the day is out.”
With that, the three of us took our leave. I gave Dahlia’s head a reassuring pat—she looked worried sick—and led the way to the players’ waiting room. It was the only private spot in the arena I could think of on short notice.
Once inside, the Mayor and Calmys-san didn’t say a word at first. They just let out one massive, synchronized sigh.
”…Alright, what’s the story?” the Mayor asked. “If it has to be just me and Calmys, it must be something you only want your inner circle to know.”
She cut straight to the chase. I appreciated how quickly she moved things along; she really did know me too well.
”The short version is: I’m a reincarnator¹. I have the memories of a life lived by another person.”
Calmys-san looked like she’d been slapped. The Mayor… well, she looked like she was torn between “that makes sense” and a dozen other emotions.
”I see. So because you’re a reincarnator, you have rare footage like the founding declaration—records that shouldn’t even exist.”
”I never imagined the magitech word processor would malfunction and play that back,” I admitted.
The evidence was better than any logic I could have provided. She chose to believe me because of the record she’d just seen. Calmys-san seemed to be coming around too.
”So that’s why you’ve always felt a bit… ‘off.’ I finally understand why you seem so mature for your age.”
”Well, my mind is still being pulled along by this physical body,” I muttered. My emotional control was still pretty shaky, which is exactly why I’d ended up hurting Ethelena and the others.
”Then all your magic devices—starting with the Alchemist’s Egg—you made those based on memories from your past life?” the Mayor asked.
”I use them as a starting point to understand the structure, but that’s about it.”
”…What was your world actually like?”
I paused, thinking about how to describe it. To be honest, I was someone looking at this world from the “outside,” but given the recording from earlier, they probably thought I was someone from that ancient era.
”The laws of physics are just… different. There’s no magic, and gods are a matter of faith, not proven fact. Everything runs on electricity. And unlike here, the only race is humans.”
The Mayor looked at Calmys, who just gave a slow, bewildered nod.
”You say there’s no magic, but then how did you make the Alchemist’s Egg?”
”The concepts existed. I figured if I had magic to work with, I could make them real. I just took the Levitation Stones I’d made and tweaked the variables until it worked.”
When I told her it was basically just an application of making synthetic diamonds, she looked exhausted. I was just using multi-layered magic circles to replicate High-Temperature High-Pressure synthesis, after all.
”Wait,” Calmys interrupted. “Does that mean you can make diamonds, Julon?”
”As long as I have a lump of carbon, sure. But there’s no real profit in it.” Not when I could make things way more valuable than a diamond.
”So, how many of your patents are based on your past life’s tech?” the Mayor asked.
”As far as actual patents go… just the Hoi-Hoi² bug traps, I think.”
”Of all the brilliant things you’ve made, you chose that?”
”Hey, they’re effective.”
Most of my magic-related stuff was built from the ground up using this world’s logic, anyway.
”…Is there anything else? Outside of the patents?” Calmys asked.
”Sure. The plumbing in my house, the kitchen tools, the word processor—those are all things from my world built with this world’s tech. Oh, and the defense system for my house’s barrier? That’s a recreation of my world’s military technology.”
”Stop bringing dangerous things into our world!” they both shouted at once.
Yeah, maybe the military tech was a bit much… though a lot of civilian tech starts that way. I remember being shocked when I found out sanitary pads³ were originally military supplies.
”I have to ask,” the Mayor said. “Is the technology for the Arcane Armor from your world too?”
”No. We had similar ideas, but the research was never finished. Things like the artificial muscles only work because of the way magic functions here. I took the idea from my world, but the execution is all this world.”
The shape-memory alloy muscles were actually inspired by a robot from a light novel⁴. Science couldn’t quite get the defensive contraction right, but magic logic allowed the muscles to repair themselves. It felt like cheating, honestly.
”I see. So in the end, you’re just… you,” the Mayor replied. “You’re the one with the ability to develop these things.”
”I don’t know if I’d put it like that…”
Was this just another case of “Tatara-ing”? I really hate that expression. It makes it sound like I’ve been a freak since my last life.
”Just because you’re a reincarnator doesn’t mean you can just magically turn ideas into reality,” the Mayor said. “You of all people should know how much trial and error it takes to bridge the gap between a ‘flash of inspiration’ and a working product.”
I didn’t know what to say. Since I have the Crafting skill, I basically skip all the hard parts like complex machining and deep theory. I just… make it.
Seeing my silence, the Mayor looked at me with dawning horror. “…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
”I mean, the technical breakthroughs are one thing, but with metal—even Magic Metal—I can just change its properties by shifting my approach. You saw me mess with Mithril when I was only Skill Level 1, right?”
”Nobody thought you were applying that to R&D!” she yelled, clutching her hair.
I felt terrible. Truly.
”Julon, probably even War God-sama would look at what you do and call it ‘Tatara-ing,’” Calmys said.
If the laws of the world recognized it, I guess the gods did too. The Mayor sat down, rubbing her temples. I could tell the past life talk was giving her a literal headache. She looked like she could barely walk.
Well, I’d planned to do this eventually. Might as well do it now.
I pulled out some Mithril and Orichalcum, a pile of mana stones, and the wing membranes of a Giant Bat. First, I processed the mana stones into levitation stones. Then, I used the Mithril to forge the internal frame and the Orichalcum for the armrests and backrest support. I tanned the bat membranes and stretched them over the frame. Since it would have been too stiff on its own, I stuffed the inside with tiny beads to ensure it would mold perfectly to whoever sat in it.
I didn’t really use a blueprint, nor did I have a formal theory. I just ran a simulation with my recently boosted processing ability, and it came up green.
”What… exactly is this?” the Mayor asked.
”I suppose you could call it a Magitech Hoverchair. Since I made most of the chassis out of Mithril, it’s incredibly light. I also used Levitation Stones to crank up the terrain-handling—it’ll stay perfectly stable even if you’re crossing a literal wasteland.”
I leaned in closer to the controls. “And since I integrated Orichalcum, the user can control it through a direct neural link.”
Being able to use brainwave control meant that even if someone lost the use of all their limbs, they could still move freely. Personally, I was pretty proud of the feature.
The Mayor, however, just let out a dark, hollow chuckle.
”Heh… and how, exactly, can you manufacture a piece of auxiliary equipment with this level of performance in under ten minutes? You’ve been sitting on this design for a while, haven’t you?”
”No, I just thought of it and put it together on the spot,” I replied.
”Heh… Terrifying.”
The context was different, but it felt like a scene where a supervillain’s ego gets boosted behind an iron mask⁵.
Once Calmys-san helped the weakened Mayor into the chair, the device seemed to catch her intent. It rose until her eye level was exactly where it usually was.
She took it for a spin, checking for any lag between her mental image and the chair’s movement. After three minutes of testing, she let out a soul-weary sigh.
”Tatara. Draft the blueprints and an instruction manual. Submit them to me after the City Festival.”
”Understood,” I said.
Apparently, the “Mayor’s Ulcer Prevention Act” was still in full swing. Even if I just wanted to help, maybe jumping straight to inventing new high-tech Magic Devices was a bridge too far. I was basically a living embodiment of the “road to hell is paved with good intentions” proverb.
I followed behind the Mayor—who currently radiated the aura of a galactic tyrant with an astronomical power level—and by the time we reached the battlefield, the rehearsal was already underway.
”Hmph… ‘Hark! He who stands before thee is a demon from the Land of the Rising Sun! If thou hast seen the bladework of my people and yet—’ …Sorry, what was the rest?”
”Honestly! The line is: ‘If thou hast seen the bladework of my people and yet thou dost not tremble, then draw thy steel! Show me thy valor and might, and prove this land is worthy of our friendship!’ …desuwa,” Suono-san replied.
”Is it just me, or is that way too long?”
It seemed they were practicing the choreography and lines without the script, but the Provisional Leader had hit a wall immediately. Yeah, that’s definitely too long.
I glanced at the Mayor and her group. They looked like they were used to the theater and didn’t seem to think the monologue was excessive. Calmys-san, however, looked like she was on my side.
The Mayor and Calmys-san both have to give speeches for a living, so seeing their different reactions to the “script” was actually pretty funny.
”Is… is it really that hard to memorize?” the drama captain asked.
”Good grief, asking a complete amateur to memorize a monologue like that while performing complex movements is just cruel.”
The drama captain from Hakansas, who’d written the script, was currently getting chewed out by Suono-san. Personally, I thought they should just let the Provisional Leader focus on the action and have his “Mother-in-law” character handle the dialogue.
As I was thinking that, a regular soldier approached us. The Mayor and Calmys-san instinctively stepped in front of me, clearly intending to act as a buffer.
”Excuse me, I have a few things I’m curious about,” the soldier said.
”Very well,” the Mayor replied. “We shall speak on Tatara Julon’s behalf. Now, regarding the declaration of founding—”
”Actually, it’s not that. I wanted to know the release date for that ‘Aarem’ thing.”
”Do your damn job, man,” I muttered.
The soldier’s previous air of professional wariness vanished instantly, replaced by an unrestrained excitement for the Aarem. I get the feeling, but come on, stay professional.
”It was… after the declaration of diplomatic relations, right?” the Mayor asked.
”Yeah. We’re planning a pre-release at the arena stalls right after the announcement. After that, we’ll sell the cores through the Merchant Guild and allocate the frames to the local Crafters.”
Hearing me answer the Mayor’s question, the soldier started muttering to himself: “Better start saving up my allowance…”
I bet he’s the type who’s married to a wife who keeps a tight grip on the purse strings.
”And what’s the damage? How much?” he asked.
”The frame price is basically ‘market value’ based on materials and the Crafter’s labor fee. As for the core, I’ve already settled with the Guild Leader to keep it between 1,000 and 1,500.”
”Hmm, that’s reasonable… I expected it to be higher.”
”I want kids to be able to afford it. Well, it’s still a bit pricey for a kid’s toy, so it’s probably aimed more at the ‘Big Kids’—the adult hobbyists.”
”That’s a nasty way to put it… ‘Big Kids.’ I see your point, though.”
The soldier didn’t seem to realize his tone had completely shifted to casual, but he was weirdly easy to talk to. Actually, he had this strange… presence. An aura of dignity.
The Mayor and Calmys-san seemed way more flustered by him than I was, almost like they were frantic to keep us apart.
”What about the frame design?” he asked.
”The Guild Leader’s is my own design, but I’m basing others on existing armor.”
”Wait… you mean the stuff you made on commission?”
”The Judiciary Head’s set is, yeah. But for the Provisional Leader’s, I’m using the gear he brought from home as a reference.”
”In that case, that really is the ‘Daiguren’⁶ from Hinode. It’s a rare design, but it’s got a real sense of prestige. Good choice for a villainous role.”
This guy was actually impressive. Even the Merchant Guild Leader didn’t know about the Daiguren. To know that name in a country with no ties to Hinode… maybe he’s a veteran who’s been stationed all over the world.
But more than that, why did it feel so natural to talk to him? There was no discomfort at all.
”Um…”
”Yeah? What is it?” the soldier asked.
”Could I get your opinion on the play we’re doing for the diplomatic announcement?”
”Hmm…”
My gut told me I should ask this guy how to fix the lines for the struggling Leader. The Mayor looked panicked, but the soldier didn’t seem to mind. He crossed his arms and gave it some serious thought.
”Actually… I think shortening the Demon’s lines would actually make him feel more powerful.”
”Ah… like a ‘don’t talk so much, it makes you look weak’ kind of vibe?”
”What is that, a quote? It’s too perfect. I’m going to use that if I get the chance,” the soldier replied.
He was being completely serious. I agreed—if the guy couldn’t memorize the lines, cutting them back would let his physical presence do the talking.
”What would you do, Tatara Julon? If you know these kinds of plays, you must have some ideas that would fit.”
”I’d have him shoulder his katana and just beckon with an open hand. The audience can’t see small details from far away anyway, so just have him say one word: ‘Come.’”
”I like it,” the soldier said. “That definitely radiates the confidence of a master.”
”And if he was leading troops, I’d have him drive his sword into the ground and just stand there like a guardian deity.”
”And then he draws it, swings it up, and levels it at the enemy to signal the charge?”
”You get it!”
”Kid, I’ve been a ‘boy’ for over three hundred years. You think I wouldn’t get it?”
Yeah, I feel like I could be great friends with this guy.
”So, I heard you were the one who came up with the entry sequence?” the soldier asked.
”Just an application of things I’ve seen elsewhere. I only did the set design.”
”I see.”
”I just feel like there’s a certain ‘romance’ in seeing gear get fitted onto someone by auxiliary magic devices.”
”I totally get it! That whole mechanical clunkiness… the way the sparks fly… it really gets the heart racing, doesn’t it?”
”I knew you’d understand, Senior!”
I was hitting it off with this guy as much as I did with the Provisional Leader, and I’d only just met him. Truly, robots are the ultimate tool for bridging the gap between men.
”I’ll tell you, I’ve got plenty of concubines due to my circumstances… but very few of them understand this kind of ‘romance’,” the soldier said.
”The things we like are just fundamentally different, usually. In my circle, only that black-haired maid and the silver-haired angel girl really get it.”
”You should be grateful you have two. For me, the only people who even come close are a Magic Device nut and a Formula freak, and even then, only barely.”
Before I knew it, we were geeking out over our hobbies, the Mayor and Calmys-san completely forgotten in the middle. I felt like the Provisional Leader was glancing over at us, but he needed to focus on his training.
”If I asked you for an Aarem, would you make one for me?” the soldier asked.
”Sure. I’ll have to charge extra if you don’t provide materials, and you’ll need to buy a genuine core from the Guild, though.”
”…Could you do it in Magic Metal?”
”No problem,” I replied.
”Seriously? Man… I’m gonna have to talk to some people and get permission to take some out of the vault.”
We were sitting side-by-side on the simple chairs I’d made, deep in conversation. This guy was a natural charmer.
While we talked, the Chef approached and served us tea from a pot. I quickly fashioned a small table out of a Mithril Ingot, and the Chef gave me a happy smile.
Man, she really does hand those out like they’re on clearance. Not that I’m complaining; I like smiles.
”So… I read in a report that you were almost killed by the Angel race once, right?” the soldier asked.
”Wait, you have access to that kind of info?”
”I was briefed on all the essentials before coming to this city. Your case was a major diplomatic incident, after all. So, that girl just now looked like an Angel… you don’t feel any resentment?”
”None at all,” I replied.
”I’m still skeptical of the Angel race as a whole, and I have some choice words for Sieve, the one I actually fought. But if I can trust the person in front of me, their race doesn’t matter.”
Behind his helmet, the soldier’s eyes narrowed. It wasn’t a look of suspicion, but rather one of someone trying to gauge my soul.
”…So you don’t discriminate based on race.”
”I judge individuals. As for the race… well, I have a bit of a grudge against the Angels because of one person, but I know there are good people among them too.”
”Heh. Like those maid sisters?” he asked.
”Yeah. And that sweets-lover who stays with the War God.”
”Ah… yeah, she’s definitely one of the trustworthy ones.”
He spoke like he’d actually met her. Maybe he was the one who guided the Former Emperor and the God-slayer when they met in that one story?
”If you’re that open-minded, do you think you could get along with, say, the Dragons?” the soldier asked.
”As long as they respect humans, I think we could be friends. If they come at me with that ‘I will rule you’ or ‘I shall bestow my love upon you’ condescension, then it’s a hard pass.”
”…You know, I think some friendships and even romances actually start from that kind of place.”
”Well, I know the Former Emperor has a Dragon-kin princess, so I can’t deny it happens… but I always figured that was more about avoiding a total war with the Dragon-kin,” I replied.
”Well… I can’t exactly deny that either.”
I felt a nagging sense of dissonance from the regular soldier as he vigorously scratched the back of his head. For some reason, he had the air of someone who had lived through it—or rather, someone who had made the final call.
No way… could he actually be His Majesty, the Former Emperor? No, he’s too light on his feet for that, and way too casual with a commoner.
”To be honest, if I were in his shoes and given the same choices, I think I would’ve done the same thing,” I said. “But… I don’t think I have the vessel to be like the Former Emperor.”
”And why is that?” he asked.
”I just don’t have that kind of caliber. To use your own power and will to charm a Dragon-kin—and a proud, noble princess at that? I couldn’t pull that off.”
A pair of sharp eyes shot me a look from beneath the brim of his helmet. He was likely trying to see behind my words, scouring for my true intent regarding the Former Emperor. Well, there wasn’t much to see. I meant exactly what I said.
”The Former Emperor lost his beloved Empress,” I continued. “Despite carrying a grief so heavy it would make anyone want to end their own life, he spent himself for the sake of this country. That devotion, that resolve—it’s the reason we’re all here today. I believe it was precisely because he possessed that resolve that he was able to win the heart of the Dragon-kin princess—the kind who chooses only one knight in a lifetime to ride upon her back.”
”You’re remarkably well-informed, aren’t you?” the soldier asked.
”Reading and studying are just a couple of hobbies of mine. I’ve gone through almost the entire collection at the city library, and I’ve already finished the founding chronicles and the memoirs of everyone involved.”
Hearing my words, the regular soldier covered his face with both hands and looked down. It hit me then—maybe he was one of those people who gets a fair amount of mention in those books.
”Um, are you alright?”
”It’s just a bit of a localized ego-bruise,” he replied. “Give me a moment.”
”Ah… so you are one of the people featured in those books.”
”Something like that.”
As expected, I hit the nail on the head. It probably doesn’t feel great to have someone poke at that, so I decided to drop the subject.
About ten minutes later, the soldier made his comeback. In the meantime, I’d been watching the Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou)s practice and brainstorming ways to improve. No matter how I looked at it, though, I’d already reached the conclusion that the script needed a total rewrite.
”Hmm. Tatara, is there no way to just… make them learn their lines?”
”Wait, you mean me?” I asked.
”Yeah. You know… with a Magic Device or something?”
”I did consider it once, but—”
”Oh?”
”The risk of turning someone into a total vegetable is a bit high.”
”O-oh…”
Thud. I totally creeped him out.
”No, see… it would be a Magic Device that hammers the lines directly into the brain. If the data density is too high, the subject’s mind just… pops. To learn a play, you’d have to jam an entire script-book into their head at once. If it goes wrong, the neural circuits fry, and they’re brain-dead.”
”Yeah, I get it,” he said. “Just… settle down. Honestly, that explanation makes the device sound even scarier.”
Crap. I creeped him out even more. I caught a glimpse of ‘Chef’ looking slightly intrigued by the explanation, which was weird. I thought ‘Chef’ was into robots, not Magic Devices.
Maybe I should tell him about that one Hero King’s music-bot later… No, bad idea. That guy is an inter-dimensional menace. If I actually built that, I’d be exiled for sure. Or worse, ‘Archangel’ would come to execute me on orders from the World Laws.
”Well, even if it worked, it’d basically just be a torture or execution device.”
”Getting executed by that sounds pretty brutal,” the soldier replied.
”You’d probably end up bleeding out of every single orifice in your face.”
”Yeah, my country would definitely ban that. People would talk.”
Even the soldier was calling for a ban. Guess it was time to scrap the blueprints and seal it away.
”Tatara, did I just hear something absolutely terrifying?”
”I accidentally drew up some blueprints while I was helping the Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou) last night,” I replied to the City Mayor. “But based on this conversation, I think I’m just going to burn them and seal the whole thing.”
”Send those blueprints to me after the City Festival,” she said. “I’ll forward them to the homeland and have the Imperial Family seal them personally.”
”Um, am I going to be arrested or something?”
”Don’t worry about that,” the soldier said. “I’ll make sure you don’t get hauled off to the Imperial Capital only to be kidnapped by the freaks at the Royal Research Institute to build ‘this and that.’ I promise.”
The regular soldier made that promise with a dead-serious face. His confidence was staggering. I wondered if he was actually some high-ranking military official.
Maybe he was checking in on us while disguised as a grunt… Nah, that’s too much of a delusion. It’s not like this is some Abarenbo Shogun⁷ period drama.
”Still, how am I going to get the Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou) to remember these lines…”
”Why not do what you did earlier?” the soldier asked. “Work the scenes they actually like into the play.”
It was a solid suggestion, but wait—how long had this guy been watching us? At the very least, the City Mayor didn’t show up until the Founding Declaration, so I assumed he hadn’t been around either.
”The thing is, ripping off that play just… doesn’t sit right with me.”
”I don’t know your circumstances, Tatara, but those aren’t your original works, are they?”
”No, they aren’t,” I replied.
”I see. You respect the material too much to mess with it? It’s a conflict of interest because you love it? I get it. One of my consorts is the same way. You can’t force someone like that to bend their will.”
It just hit me—this “regular soldier” had enough rank to keep multiple consorts. How had I not been executed for being this rude to him yet?
”I’d love to change them to lines they’d actually enjoy, but…”
”It’s a professional script, so it’s hard to meddle,” he said. “That’s just the nature of being a creator.”
Why did this guy understand me so well? Is it just because he’s lived for an incredibly long time?
”In that case, why not just show Tatara’s plays to them over and over?” the soldier suggested. “Use them to force a change in their mindset.”
”Are we sure that’s not just brainwashing?”
The suggestion was dangerously tempting, but I held back out of pity. However, the soldier just shook his head.
”To be blunt, their current delivery is the result of not seeing enough theater. They’re messing up because they don’t know how the greats do it. When you’re dealing with long monologues, you either pick an actor who can handle them or you write the lines to be memorable. On paper, anyone can say a long speech. On stage? If it doesn’t click in the audience’s head immediately, they’ll get bored.”
”Honestly, just listening from the sidelines, even I was getting bored.”
I was the one shocked to hear him give such a brutally honest, low rating to Hakansasu’s play captain. Damn, tell us how you really feel.
”For example, that pre-sortie speech you showed earlier. That clicked instantly, didn’t it?”
”Well, yeah…”
”That’s because the core of it doesn’t rely on overly complex language.”
So that’s how he analyzed it.
”The voice, the calm tone, and the way the speaker paused to let the words sink in—that’s what made it stick. Sure, there were technical terms mixed in, but those would be clear to anyone actually following the story. You can’t expect everything to make sense when you just cut out one famous scene, but that scene grabbed our hearts and made us interested. That’s what matters.”
”So, instead of letting them drone on forever, the right move is to cut the lines into something punchy and understandable.”
The soldier turned his gaze back toward the Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou)s.
”Praising each other’s countries is all well and good, but that’s not the point of this play. You have movement. You’re showing off military might through the Aarem. The strength of the country is clear without saying a word. Yes, being an Empire with a vast history is important, but the people in the audience don’t know the first thing about the Imperial Kingdom. You don’t even have formal diplomatic relations yet.”
”Right now, this place is only filled with the Kingdom’s subjects. So, forget the history lesson. Just show them strength and celebrate the fact that a new alliance is being formed. That’s enough.”
”If I do that, how do I show the difference between them and the Imperial Kingdom?” I asked.
”One Aarem is more than enough for that, isn’t it?”
As he continued to gut and trim the script, he shot down my doubts by saying the Aarem I built was all the proof we needed.
”Think about it. A palm-sized Golem that can be transferred to others, reacts directly to the user’s thoughts, and moves exactly as commanded? That technology is unparalleled. You’re selling them for the price of a child’s allowance—well, a pricey allowance, but it’s nothing compared to military hardware. There isn’t a country on this continent that could boast of having better tech than us. And this is in a distant island nation? Even the top-tier high nobility would kill for that tech.”
The soldier’s gaze shifted to me as he appraised the Aarem. For a moment, his eyes looked like those of a true statesman, and I felt a surge of tension.
”The fact that that country doesn’t have anything like the Aarem is proof enough. No subject is going to think their country is inferior at this point. Besides, it’s already been made clear that the daughter of one of those great nobles is going to marry into an ‘extra-ordinary’⁸ household.”
Wait. I feel like the subtext of ‘ordinary household’ just shifted.
”Wait, you mean Yohira is actually coming to live with me—?”
”The upper echelons of the Kingdom are already fully aware,” he replied. “There was a bit of a row, but… given your track record, everyone was forced to accept it. They eventually just shut up.”
”My track record?”
”You hold the most individual patents in the Kingdom. You essentially created a Philosopher’s Stone—even if you call it something else. And you were the key player in establishing diplomatic relations with another country. No one is allowed to complain. Especially not when you’re establishing relations with two countries at once.”
I have a really bad feeling about this. “Two countries”? No way…
”Um, what do you mean by ‘two countries’?”
”I thought he’d already been to see you,” the soldier said. “Was I wrong?”
”I’m scared to ask, but… who?”
”The King of the ‘Country of Eternal Night,’ the land of vampires. I believe he’s called the ‘Undead King’—though most have forgotten his name.”
The guy himself had mentioned it before, but hearing it from an actual soldier made it hit home. Seriously… that guy used me as the catalyst to tie the knot with the Kingdom? My head hurts.
”The condition for establishing diplomatic relations was: ‘Let Tatara Julon kill me.’”
I don’t think anyone can blame me for clutching my head. Knowing that the alliance is actually moving forward based on that is the biggest headache of all.
”Don’t worry. The higher-ups haven’t officially agreed to that condition,” the soldier said.
”Are we sure that’s okay?”
”Yeah… The Former Emperor and the Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou) of the Torakuma family beat him until he stopped asking.”
”So one of our highest-tier powerhouses had to go on an away mission? This is hell.”
”Look, don’t sweat it. Protecting the citizens is the country’s job, after all.”
I only have gratitude for the Imperial family members who carry out the words of the Declaration of National Founding to the letter. Why does that guy like me so much? I’ve done nothing but cause trouble for everyone.
”Actually, the higher-ups were discussing whether they should summon you to the capital and give you an official position,” the regular soldier said.
”Power struggles aren’t for me. I’m much better suited to quietly running the shop with Ethelena and the others while doing some exploring on the side.”
”I have my doubts about the ‘quietly’ part. But it’s true that the leadership unanimously rejected the idea of dragging you into the capital’s politics. Though there is talk of granting you a life peerage⁹ and legally permitting you to take concubines.”
That’s a bit much. It would certainly help if the state recognized my current harem situation, but honestly, the idea of being granted a title and becoming a noble is terrifying. My own nature might rot, and people will definitely start flocking to me just for the status.
Even for a single citizen, a rank above a knight has too much influence. Still, since I’m welcoming a foreign princess, the country probably feels the need to give me a certain level of social standing. Normally, since I’m taking in a daughter of the Torakuma family—nobles who practically represent this country—the proper thing to do would be to marry her into the Imperial family or a branch house.
”What am I even supposed to do about noble duties?” I asked.
”Well, if it comes to that, the higher-ups will send someone to take care of the details.”
As I sat there with my head in my hands, the regular soldier rubbed my back. It was the kind of touch that reminded me of my father. Thanks to that, I felt a little more at ease.
”Phew… For now, I’ll just set that terrifying future aside.”
”Yeah, do that. It’s obvious that if you’re given too much power, you’ll just crush yourself trying to fulfill the role. At most, the higher-ups will use you as a bridge to Hizuru.”
Hearing him say it so bluntly made me feel better. Once I calmed down, I looked over at the group practicing—specifically the Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou)—and realized the play was heading for a disaster.
”Tatara, I really think we should show the captain a few plays and have him fix the dialogue,” the soldier suggested.
”I agree, but what exactly should I show him?”
I tried picking out lines in my head, but nothing seemed to fit. Should I just have him marathon some anime at this point?
===
Tatia event in progress. ‘Poster Girls’ event in progress.
===
”You called, so I came. I’ve properly vouched for Tatara-kun!”
(Note: In the games Tatara played, the Former Emperor was never voiced. Bonus ‘If’ Era.)
”…Hey.”
In the darkness, a man called out to a shadow working on a massive metallic sculpture. As the shadow touched the metal, the materials fused and shifted into shape. Interrupted, the worker let out a displeased groan and turned around.
”What is it, Kalan? I’m busy.”
”Ha. As if there’s anything more important than a direct summons from the King,” Kalan replied.
His voice sat somewhere between sarcasm and irony. The elderly engineer gave a cynical laugh.
”My role ended years ago when I handed everything off to the next generation. Is there really a need to rely on me now?”
”Those disciples can’t catch up to you no matter how much time passes. They say they still have so much to learn.”
”Hmph. How many of them are lining up like baby birds? It’s time they left the nest.”
”Listen to the continent’s greatest Crafter talk,” Kalan said.
Kalan watched his old friend with narrowed eyes, as if looking at something brilliant. They had run side-by-side since they were young, right through to the founding of the nation. For his contributions to the country’s development, he had been offered positions like Chief of Engineering. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say this man was the father of every technology that originated here.
Standing before his friend—the ‘Divine Smith’ Tatara Julon—Kalan felt the approach of their final parting.
”So, neglecting your disciples, what are you making now?”
”This? It’s a Guardian Dragon.”
Kalan looked at the massive structure again. It was a giant frame made of silver metal—likely Mithril. Now that he mentioned it, it did look like the skeleton of a dragon. Tatara was currently working on the head, judging by the massive Mana Stone meant to serve as an eye.
”A Guardian Dragon…”
”When we founded this country, there was a dragon that had protected the old lands for a long time, remember?” Tatara asked.
Kalan remembered immediately. Decades ago, there was a silver Ancient Dragon that possessed terrifying strength and a massive physique. He also remembered how this Crafter had essentially charmed that dragon into joining them. Kalan had nearly died during the encounter, but in the end, the dragon chose to be killed by Tatara because it simply didn’t want to kill him.
Man or woman, different race or not, the man before him was a natural charmer. Even without romantic feelings involved, Kalan’s own wife and concubines liked the man so much it had caused Kalan no end of grief. He still wasn’t sure if his frustration was directed at Tatara or his own wives.
”The dragon I killed back then… I’ve kept its Dragon Orb all this time.”
”Now that you mention it, you did treasure that thing. You never used it for any of your projects.”
Kalan realized he had let Tatara keep the orb without ever requisitioning it. He’d assumed Tatara would make equipment out of it immediately, not keep it tucked away for decades. He had forgotten about it entirely until this moment.
”The country has grown large and strong over the last few decades. I figured that by now, even Vierge might acknowledge us.”
”That dragon had a name?” Kalan asked.
”She told me herself.”
”Who else but you could even ask?”
Names were deeply significant to the Dragon-kin; they were shared only with family. In other words, despite being human, Tatara had been recognized as family by an Ancient Dragon. One of Kalan’s concubines was a Dragon-kin princess. When he’d told her this story, she had snorted in disbelief—until she actually met the man. Her only comment afterward was, “What is with that bewitching man?”
There were many in the Kingdom’s army who weren’t just drawn to Kalan as their King, but to Tatara as a friend. Kalan considered it a miracle the country hadn’t split in two from factional infighting.
”I figured that with the country as it is now, I could be proud to show it to her. If she accepts us, she’ll protect this land long after I’m gone.”
”Accept us, huh?”
Kalan thought that was impossible. The Ancient Dragon might have accepted Tatara, but he couldn’t imagine her accepting a country where Tatara no longer existed. If she found out he was gone, she’d likely just burn the whole place down.
”That’s why I’m building this body. It’s the final work of my life.”
”Don’t say such lonely things,” Kalan replied, his voice trembling despite himself.
Kalan knew. He knew, but it was always painful to say goodbye to someone close.
”Hmph. Don’t go crying over one man disappearing. It’s not like we’re lovers.”
”Knock it off, you idiot.”
Kalan’s tears receded at the remark. He suddenly remembered catching one of his concubines, who had some rather niche hobbies, writing a scandalous story¹⁰ about the two of them. Even his late Queen had once said that if Tatara were a woman, the position of Queen would have been settled from the start. Everyone recognized how close they were.
Ignoring his friend’s distress, Tatara ran a hand over his work. Kalan watched the gesture and remembered how much his own children had loved being petted by Tatara. This man had been stealing the hearts of his kids, boys and girls alike, since they were small.
”What’s with the sudden bloodlust?” Tatara asked.
”It’s nothing, you lady-killer.”
”The name is Tatara. Why does everyone keep making that mistake?”
Because you’re a natural-born charmer, Kalan shouted internally.
People called him ‘Mitarashi’ because he charmed everyone he met. It was a strange coincidence that his favorite snack shared the same name.
”Well, fine. As long as this thing is in the sky, just remember I’m still watching over you all.”
”If you’re that worried, then just hurry up and be reborn,” Kalan said with a laugh.
Tatara gave a wry smile. “Just because I was reincarnated once doesn’t mean I can do it again.”
”You could. If it’s you, you’ll manage.”
As a reincarnated person, Tatara possessed knowledge that had been vital to the country’s development. Kalan had been saved by that knowledge in countless ways. More than that, Tatara’s soul allowed him to build relationships without prejudice. It was what Kalan valued most.
”Fine, fine. If I’m reborn with my memories, I’ll help you out again.”
”Hmph, I don’t need it. Just live for yourself next time. Though I’m sure you’ll just end up causing trouble with some nonsensical project again.”
”Nonsensical…?”
Kalan wanted to tell his friend not to worry. This man had shaken the foundations of the country more than once. But Tatara, looking slightly hurt by the word ‘nonsensical,’ didn’t quite catch the sentiment.
”So, once this dragon is finished, what will you call it?”
”Let’s see… Right.”
Tatara turned back to the Mithril dragon. He nodded once and looked at Kalan.
”Whirlwind. A wind that wanders the distant world, staying in one place only on a whim. That’s why I’m giving it this name.”
”Whirlwind, huh?”
Kalan looked at the dragon again. It was likely the final work of his best friend. He offered a small prayer to the guardian.
I beg you. Lead the soul of my one and only friend to a world where he can be free.
—
Summary:
After a magitech word processor accidentally broadcasts a lost historical recording, Julon is forced to address the fallout with the city leadership. An Imperial soldier attempts to seize the information, citing national security, but the Mayor defiantly blocks him to protect Julon’s privacy. In a private meeting, Julon finally reveals his status as a reincarnator from a non-magical world to the Mayor and Calmys. He explains that while he uses concepts from his previous life, his inventions are realized through the unique logic of their world. The conversation highlights the gap between his perceived effort and the reality of his ‘Crafting’ skill, which allows him to bypass technical hurdles effortlessly. To aid the exhausted Mayor, he ends by instantly crafting a high-tech specialized chair using rare materials.
Tatara invents a high-tech hoverchair for the Mayor, causing her significant stress over the administrative implications of such advanced technology. During a play rehearsal, Tatara meets a mysterious soldier who turns out to be a kindred spirit in his love for mechanical ‘romance’ and robots. Despite the soldier’s intimidating presence, the two quickly bond over the upcoming release of the Aarem device. Their conversation shifts to deeper topics, including Tatara’s lack of racial prejudice despite his traumatic past with the Angel race. The soldier reveals he is over 300 years old, hinting at a hidden identity or powerful lineage. The interaction concludes with a shared understanding of diplomatic marriages and personal values.
Tatara converses with a soldier who is strongly implied to be the Former Emperor in disguise. Their discussion covers the Emperor’s tragic past and his resolve that led to a union with a Dragon-kin princess. Tatara reveals a dangerous invention designed to implant memories, which the soldier and Mayor quickly order to be sealed. The soldier provides professional critique on the theatrical production, advising Tatara to prioritize impact over historical accuracy. He further reveals that Tatara’s achievements have made him an indispensable figure in international diplomacy. The chapter concludes with the startling news of formal relations being established with the Undead King’s vampire nation.
The story opens with the protagonist grappling with the pressure of a potential life peerage and the legal recognition of his harem, which stems from his upcoming marriage to a foreign princess. A regular soldier comforts him, noting that his humility is exactly why the leadership trusts him to act as a bridge to other nations. The narrative then shifts into a ‘What If’ scenario set in the far future, where Tatara is the legendary ‘Divine Smith’ nearing the end of his life. He converses with his lifelong friend, King Kalan, about his final masterpiece: a metallic vessel for the soul of an Ancient Dragon he once killed. Tatara reveals he was recognized as family by the dragon, underscoring his innate ability to charm all living beings regardless of race or status. As Kalan struggles with the impending loss of his friend, Tatara names the dragon ‘Whirlwind,’ symbolizing a soul that stays in one place only by choice.
—
Trivia:
- The soldier’s sudden change in attitude after seeing ‘Chef’ and ‘Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou)’ suggests these characters hold significant influence or status unknown to Julon.
- Calmys seeing a ‘strange weight’ or vision above Julon’s shoulders after his oath hints at the tangible presence of gods or divine intervention following verbal contracts.
- Julon’s admission that his mind is ‘pulled along’ by his younger body suggests his emotional outbursts are a biological side effect of his current age, complicating his adult psyche.
- The soldier’s knowledge of ‘Daiguren’ and specific characters like the sweets-loving Angel suggests he is a high-level figure or recurring character from the author’s previous works.
- The mention of the soldier’s ‘concubines’ and ‘circumstances’ strongly hints he is a person of royal or imperial status traveling incognito.
- Tatara’s ‘processing ability’ being the source of his inventions highlights a system-based power that is still growing.
- The Mayor’s ‘galactic tyrant’ aura is a humorous nod to the power gap between administrative burden and heroic capability.
- The soldier’s admission of having multiple consorts confirms his high status, likely royalty.
- The term ‘extra-ordinary’ (逸般) hints that Tatara is no longer viewed as a normal citizen by the state.
- The Royal Research Institute ‘freaks’ are set up as potential future antagonists or complications.
- The Undead King’s obsession with being killed by Tatara suggests a deep, perhaps suicidal, historical connection.
- The mention of ‘Whirlwind’ staying in one place on a whim mirrors Tatara’s own desire to stay in his shop rather than move to the capital.
- Kalan’s internal monologue about the country not splitting in two suggests Tatara’s influence was the true glue of the kingdom, not just Kalan’s rule.
- The Dragon Orb being ‘stored for decades’ hints that Tatara was waiting for the country to be strong enough to handle such a guardian before he passed on
—
Character Insight:
The Mayor’s relationship with Julon shifts from a mere administrative or economic partnership to one of deep personal protection and trust; she risks a ‘treason’ charge to guard his secret, showing she views him as a person rather than just a source of technology.
Tatara finds an unexpected peer in the mysterious Soldier. While the Mayor and Calmys try to protect Tatara from the soldier’s ‘pressure,’ Tatara bypasses the social hierarchy entirely by geeking out over tech. This shows Tatara’s social density acting as a bridge rather than a barrier.
The dynamic between Tatara and the ‘Soldier’ shifts from casual banter to a mentor-student relationship regarding leadership and theater. Tatara’s fear of his own dangerous inventions shows a developing sense of responsibility, while the Soldier’s protective stance over Tatara highlights his value to the Kingdom.
The bond between Tatara and Kalan is revealed to be the bedrock of the kingdom. While Kalan is the public face of power, Tatara is the emotional core who ‘charms’ everyone from enemy princesses to ancient dragons. Their banter about ‘lady-killing’ and ‘rotten stories’ hides a deep mutual respect and the sorrow of two comrades facing the finality of old age.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Introduction of the ‘God of War’ as a deity governing fairness and oaths whose influence can be physically sensed. Confirmation that ‘Mithril’ and ‘Orichalcum’ can be manipulated easily by those with high enough ‘Crafting’ skills regardless of traditional smithing logic.
Introduction of the ‘Country of Eternal Night’ (vampire nation) and the existence of ‘World Laws’ enforced by ‘Archangels’ who act as cosmic regulators.
Introduces the concept of ‘Life Peerage’ in this setting. Establishes the ‘Dragon-kin’ naming traditions, where sharing a name is an act of total familial trust. Reveals that the protagonist is a ‘reincarnator’ with modern-world knowledge.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘Tatara-ing’ is a localized neologism for ‘Tatara-tteru’, reflecting how the characters have turned Julon’s name into a verb for breaking the common sense of their world.
The pun ‘Ippan’ (一般 vs 逸般) was localized as ‘extra-ordinary’ to preserve the nuance of being outside the norm while sounding similar.
The ‘Tarashi’ (Seducer) vs. ‘Tatara’ pun was localized using the ‘lady-killer’ and ‘Mitarashi’ connection to maintain the character’s reputation as a natural charmer.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Mayor – The female City Mayor, perpetually stressed by Tatara’s boundary-breaking inventions and prone to stomach ulcers, oversees the City Festival and maintains a protective, direct relationship with him. She is the city’s political leader, fiercely autonomous, and defends her citizens’ privacy against Imperial military pressure. She also shields Julon, and was shocked by the revelation of historical footage—her authority and concern for her people define her role.
• Calmys – A lithe, sharp-tongued female knight and high-ranking official in the Mayor’s guard, secretly a whip-wielding War God’s knight, she shares Tatara’s pragmatic view of diplomacy and acts as a protective big-sister figure to him and Ethelena, granting them church protection; closely associated with Julon, she was visibly shocked by his true origins and was present when the projector recording ended.
• Part-time Leader – Also referred to as Baito-chou. An actor/performer struggling to memorize lines but possesses an incredible memory for things he enjoys.
• Tatara – Tarashi, a reincarnated Earth salaryman and the legendary Divine Smith Tatara Julon, is the continent’s greatest crafter and prolific inventor who helped found the kingdom, holding the most patents in the Imperial Kingdom and creating the Aarem and a Philosopher’s Stone variant. Dressed in grease-stained workshop garb, he wields the Yakukiri Conceptual Weapon and Severance blade, crafts national treasures like Mithril wagons, and nonchalantly over-engineers devices while analyzing time loops. Armed with a memory-projecting word-processor, he values individual character over racial prejudice, protects his companions and the Poster Girls, and lives with multiple women—all while remaining unassuming despite his godlike genius.
• Julon – An Alchemist and reincarnator from another world. He possesses the ‘Crafting’ skill which allows him to bypass traditional technical limitations. Currently under the patronage of the City Mayor.
• Chef – Third ‘Poster Girl’ sister, master cook and introvert, older sibling of the Shift Lead. She wears a crisp white chef’s coat, neat bun, glasses, and an otaku‑gear‑head vibe. Telepathic, she owns a Magic‑Metal Aarem and serves tea to the group, always flashing friendly smiles.
• Dahlia – Chrome‑finished automaton maid, low domestic skill but fiercely loyal, serves Tatara as an energetic partner. She obsessively studies magic tools, analyzes mecha footage for Triteia combat, seeks private screenings, manipulates those around her, prefers direct combat over frivolous Aarem toys. Companion of Julon, watches anxiously, receives a reassuring pat before a secret meeting.
• 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.
• Suono – A woman singer in the Hachansas theater troupe, practical and blunt about script quality, who during rehearsals demands proper, high‑class speech and adherence to the full, lengthy script.
• 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.
• 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.
• City Mayor – The female City Mayor, perpetually stressed by Tatara’s boundary-breaking inventions and prone to stomach ulcers, oversees the City Festival and maintains a protective, direct relationship with him. She is the city’s political leader, fiercely autonomous, and defends her citizens’ privacy against Imperial military pressure. She also shields Julon, and was shocked by the revelation of historical footage—her authority and concern for her people define her role.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Tatia – An adventurer in the group preparing for the City Festival through dungeon exploration.
• Kalan – Kalan Nahazhuto, also known as Kalan, is the weary yet authoritative founding king of the Nahazhuto Kingdom, with deep navy hair and a refined, handsome appearance. A Kin of the Night, born of a human mother and a Demon Lord father, he is Protea’s father and once overthrew the old regime. He shares a deep, brotherly bond with the smith Tatara, having survived the era of national founding alongside him, and remained hidden during a crucial meeting—his quiet presence still shaping the realm from the shadows.
• Soldier – A man appearing as a regular soldier but heavily implied to be the Former Emperor. He has a sharp gaze, multiple consorts, and deep knowledge of theater and national history. A regular soldier with an aura of great dignity and over 300 years of experience. He is a ‘Big Kid’ at heart, obsessed with mechanical romance and Aarem.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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