Chapter 172 Radiance
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Genesic¹, the unit piloted by Chef, ignited its rear flight pack. Utilizing a localized process of spatial compression and release, the machine surged forward at a terrifying velocity.
To capitalize on the sheer momentum, Chef brought the unit into a focused flying knee strike, the integrated drill on the housing screaming as it spun to life. It was a high-output opening gambit, designed to overwhelm.
Across the arena, Dahlia’s Valkyria² stayed low to the ground, closing the gap with predatory grace. Her machine wasn’t built for heavy internal ordnance, forcing her to rely on tactical positioning.
The distance between the two machines vanished in a heartbeat. I could barely track the high-speed exchange as they collided. At the moment of impact, the Valkyria executed a flawless outside parry against the base of the drill, using the contact point as a fulcrum to pivot into a spinning heel kick. It looked like a direct hit to the temple, but Genesic twisted its chassis with uncanny speed, catching the impact on its reinforced flight unit.
The two machines skidded back, disengaging to face each other once more.
”And we are live! Coming to you from the Tatara Aarem Arena, it’s the match of the century! I’m your play-by-play host, Tatara Julon. Joining me today for expert analysis is the head of the Torakuma house, all the way from Hizuru—the esteemed Torakuma Kasumi-sama. Thank you for being here, Ma’am.”
”The pleasure is mine,” replied Kasumi.
I’d figured that by dragging my mother-in-law into the broadcast booth, I’d be in for a world of nagging, but she had actually taken to the role with surprising enthusiasm. Honestly, I couldn’t be more grateful.
”Now then, Kasumi-sama, let’s talk about that opening! Chef used her flight unit for a max-acceleration knee strike, but Dahlia’s Valkyria answered with an outside parry and a lightning-fast counter-kick. It was all over in a blink—what’s your take?”
”It was a masterclass in tactical probing,” said Kasumi. “Neither pilot wasted a single movement. Chef-san showed incredible resolve by committing to a maximum-output strike right out of the gate. That rotating pile-bunker on the knee is a simple weapon, but it possesses enough destructive power to end the match instantly if the opponent flinches.
Dahlia-san, however, compensated for her lack of specialized thrusters through sheer aerodynamic efficiency. She used the Valkyria’s sleek frame and flawless footwork to close the distance at speeds that shouldn’t be possible. By striking the base of the knee rather than the drill itself, she diverted the force of the blow while simultaneously transitioning into her own offensive.”
”That counter-kick was something else. It really felt like she had him for a second,” Julon added.
”Indeed, it was a magnificent display. Yet, Chef-san neutralized it with a simple, high-speed torso twist. To maintain that level of situational awareness and reaction time in the middle of such a chaotic engagement… it proves both pilots possess staggering cognitive speeds. This is going to be a match for the ages,” Kasumi noted.
”Thank you for that incredible insight!”
Wow, she’s good. Asking my mother-in-law to handle the color commentary was definitely the right call. She’s breaking down the action better than I ever could.
My own combat instincts are frankly too pathetic to parse what’s actually happening in real-time, so this is a huge help. Ignoring our chatter, Genesic drew its right arm back. I knew exactly what was coming next.
”Wait for it—Chef’s Genesic is winding up!”
”Tatara-sama, do you recognize that stance?”
”I do! That’s one of her signature internal weapons. She uses the right forearm as a localized barrel to launch a high-density mana projectile. Its name is—BROKEN MAGNUM!!³“
(Broken… Magnuuuuum!!)
As if perfectly synced with my announcement, Chef’s silent roar echoed through the link. Genesic unleashed a fist-sized orb of condensed mana from long range.
The original design actually fired the entire fist, but since we couldn’t figure out a recovery system, we settled on firing mana bolts instead. Still, don’t let the size fool you. If that Demonsteel-plated Valkyria takes a direct hit, it’s game over.
Dahlia, however, didn’t flinch. She chose to charge the Broken Magnum head-on.
”Unbelievable! Dahlia is rushing straight into the line of fire! Has she lost her mind!?” cried Julon.
”Hardly. She’s going to thread the needle. She intends to dodge at point-blank range to close the distance!” Kasumi corrected.
”Is that even possible!?”
”She certainly thinks so. Watch!”
Dahlia was clearly trying to pull off one of those legendary stunts you only see from ace pilots in the vids. Since I was intentionally playing up the ‘reckless’ angle for the broadcast, my mother-in-law was doing a great job of pivoting to the technical explanation.
The Valkyria surged forward, letting the mana bolt graze its outer armor as it breached the projectile’s path. Dahlia drove a momentum-heavy fist toward Genesic’s thinner abdominal plating, but Genesic’s left hand shot out like a viper, intercepting and crushing her fist in its palm.
”A hit! Only two exchanges in and she’s been caught dead-to-rights!”
”No, look closer. He caught the blow to trap her,” said Kasumi. “The mana bolt was likely a feint. The Genesic is made of Magic Metal—its output and durability are on a completely different level. In a direct struggle of raw power, the Valkyria is at a severe disadvantage.”
She was right. Normally, this would be checkmate.
Genesic is a mechanical nightmare—it channels mana from its core with near-perfect efficiency, responding to the pilot’s will with zero lag.
It’s a ridiculous machine that deals massive damage just by existing near you.
Getting caught by a monster like that should have been the end. But Dahlia isn’t ‘normal.’
”Dahlia is leaning into it! She’s locked her other limbs in—she’s forcing a four-point grapple!”
”That’s suicide!” exclaimed Kasumi.
My mother-in-law called it reckless, but she was missing one crucial detail.
”Wait! The Valkyria… it’s actually pushing back! It’s winning the power struggle against Genesic!”
”Is this… the Magic Device resonance of an Automaton Maiden!?” Kasumi gasped.
”Exactly! Dahlia is using her race trait to overclock her Aarem!⁴“
Even though the Aarem was built via Golem Crafting, it’s still fundamentally a Magic Device.
It only makes sense that Dahlia’s nature as an Automaton Maiden would allow her to interface with it on a deeper level.
More than that, as a Machina Saint⁵, her enhancement potential is off the charts.
She wasn’t just matching Chef’s Genesic—she was outmuscling it.
Though, once people see this, Automaton Maidens are probably going to be banned from official tournaments for life.
”The two units are locked in a stalemate! Genesic is trying to throw her off, but the Valkyria is sticking to him like glue!”
”This is pure piloting skill,” said Kasumi. “She’s redirecting his force, maintaining the grapple through sheer weight distribution.”
”Is that even possible with a machine?”
”I can do it with my own body. I’ve pinned my husband—who is much stronger than me—using that exact principle many times. But to do it with an Aarem… the level of finesse required is… I can’t even fathom it.”
Please stop oversharing about your marriage, Mother-in-law. I could see our Part-time Leader over on the sidelines wearing a deeply pained expression.
Suddenly, the wings on Genesic’s flight unit flared open, revealing the glowing Magic Circles within.
”Chef is losing her patience! She’s deploying the flight unit’s main thrusters at point-blank range!”
”She’s going to use raw thrust to blast her off her!”
”Can Dahlia stop this?”
”Dahlia-san’s Aarem lacks the counter-thrust to hold him. She’ll have to let go or be incinerated…” Kasumi explained.
As she spoke, the Spell Formula ignited. Space compressed and rebounded, forcing Genesic forward with the power of a falling star. Ignoring Valkyria’s attempt to pin him, the massive machine began to plow forward.
”The Valkyria is being overwhelmed! It’s being pushed back!”
”So, the gap in raw specs is too much after all…” Kasumi sighed.
”If she doesn’t break the hold, she’ll be shoved right out of the arena bounds! It’s a ring-out! Is this the end!?”
I was playing up the drama, but I knew Dahlia. If she said she was going to ‘educate’ Chef, she already had a plan to beat him senseless. When it comes to the sincerity of using Magic Devices, Dahlia doesn’t lose to anyone.
”Valkyria’s balance is gone!”
”She’s going to be dragged right under the treads…”
”Is this the final blow!?”
Valkyria hit the ground on its back, Genesic looming over it and accelerating to crush her. But then, I saw it—Valkyria’s feet tucked neatly into Genesic’s midsection. Using the opponent’s own massive forward momentum, the Valkyria rolled onto its curved back and kicked upward with everything it had.
”What!? That’s—!”
”Incredible! Chef’s Genesic has been launched into the air and slammed into the dirt!” I shouted.
”…A circle throw⁶, I see. It is one of the martial arts techniques from my homeland of Hizuru,” Kasumi said.
As Genesic ate dirt, my mother-in-law identified the move. I see her practicing in the garden all the time, so it’s no surprise Dahlia learned it. (I haven’t actually checked if they do jujutsu during morning practice, though).
”The impact was massive! Genesic is stunned! Valkyria is taking to the air—she’s coming down with a vertical spinning heel drop!”
”She’s like a human buzzsaw!”
”Call it the—FLYING CIRCULAR!!”
Combining the acceleration of gravity with the centrifugal force of the spin, the blow was meant to be a finisher. But Chef was fast. She flared her acceleration Spell Formula for a split second, rolling out of the way. Valkyria’s heel slammed into the arena floor where her head had been a moment ago, shattering the stone. If that had connected, it would have been a disaster.
Without a second’s pause, Genesic surged forward again, left hand extended as its Spell Formula activated.
”Genesic is countering! He’s deploying the Protect Shade⁷ formula for a shield charge!”
”Tatara-sama, explain!”
”That’s a defensive barrier that projects a high-density mana field. It’s not just a wall; it carries immense physical mass!” Julon shouted.
”So by spreading it wide, he’s creating an undodgeable wall of force!”
Even the veteran Dahlia⁸ even had no way to escape a barrier that blanketed the entire field, and he was forced to take the Shield Charge⁹ head-on.
The impact, which easily eclipsed the speed of sound, dealt massive damage. The “Valkyria” was sent tumbling across the dirt, its armor plating shattering upon impact.
”That’s incredible damage!” Mother-in-law shouted.
”The frontal armor is decimated and cracks have formed across the entire chassis,” the commentator added. “It’s hard to imagine it staying in the fight after that.”
Normally, that would be a safe bet, but I knew Dahlia would not throw in the towel. A quick glance at her face revealed a simmering rage. Her head was likely filled with fury over the destruction of her Aarem—and probably an equally intense resentment toward Chef’s “assets.”
I caught the slight movement of her lips and read them: (Big breasts must die. No mercy…). That particular catchphrase was supposed to be Ichika’s shtick, wasn’t it?
As the Valkyria stood up clumsily, struggling against its internal damage, Genesic initiated another Shield Charge. With nowhere left to run, Dahlia had the Valkyria raise its right arm in a defensive guard.
”Valkyria is taking an interception stance against a second Shield Charge! Does she have a countermeasure!?” Mother-in-law yelled.
”We know Dahlia’s Aarem doesn’t carry internal firearms,” the specialist replied. “He shouldn’t have any weapons capable of piercing that shield—”
Before the commentator could finish, the Protect Shade¹⁰ made contact with the Valkyria again. But in the next heartbeat, the barrier shattered into a million pieces. (Wait, what did he just do?)
”Unbelievable! Genesic’s Defense Spell Formula¹¹ was crushed!?” Mother-in-law screamed.
”…I see. So that’s how it is,” Kasumi-sama said.
”Expert Kasumi-sama, what exactly did we just witness!?”
With its barrier neutralized, Genesic’s momentum carried it right into the Valkyria’s path. Dahlia swung a counter-punch, using the opponent’s own velocity to fuel the blow.
The fist slammed into Genesic’s face; while the blade antenna held, the face guard was completely crumpled. However, the Valkyria’s arm couldn’t withstand the recoil of such a massive impact, and its right arm was obliterated.
”Dahlia-senshu analyzed the Defense Spell Formula in real-time,” Kasumi-sama explained calmly. “By outputting an anti-phase Mana wave, he forced the Mana Barrier to collapse.”
(Give me a break. Dahlia, what kind of insane, logic-defying stunt is that?)
”Analyzing a formula and countering it with an anti-phase wave is easier said than done,” the announcer stammered. “It’s a Herculean task, and the Valkyria doesn’t even have those functions pre-installed!”
”Which is exactly why we call Dahlia-senshu’s skill divine,” Kasumi-sama replied. “He didn’t use an onboard system. He used the machine’s own limbs as a medium to analyze and interfere with the opponent’s Magic Formula… it is truly monstrous.”
I didn’t think “monstrous” even began to cover it. What was that guy even thinking?
At this point, Genesic had sustained minor damage, while the Valkyria was moderately crippled. Without Demonsteel¹² on hand, repairing that arm was going to be a nightmare. After a tense moment of staring each other down, the two machines closed the distance again as if by a shared signal, entering a frantic close-quarters brawl.
”They’re moving in! It’s a clash of styles: Genesic relies on the sheer weight of its strikes, while Valkyria counters with an overwhelming flurry of blows! Even with only one arm, Dahlia-senshu is parrying effectively,” Kasumi-sama noted. “For every one strike she takes, she’s returning three.”
”She’s trying to let the damage accumulate against that high toughness, right?”
”That’s exactly the strategy.”
Dahlia was using her Machina Saint¹³ traits to bridge the performance gap, utilizing her overwhelming pilot intuition to chip away at Genesic’s energy reserves.
While the Genesic was powerful under Chef’s control, Chef’s raw combat instincts weren’t actually the highest among the Poster Girls. She was more suited to a supportive role; she wasn’t quite at the level of an Automaton Maiden, a race born for the front lines.
However, that advantage only lasted for the opening minutes. Slowly, Dahlia’s counters began to miss. At one point, her fist was nearly caught. Chef was starting to learn. That was the true terror of the Poster Girls… (If even Archangel eventually loses to someone with this trait, what kind of monsters are they?)
”Valkyria’s attacks aren’t landing anymore!” Mother-in-law noticed. “She’s adapted in such a short time… What incredible adaptability Chef-senshu has,”
Even Mother-in-law seemed stunned, her voice cracking with disbelief. Then, it happened. Chef caught one of Dahlia’s kicks in her right hand. She funneled the Mana from her Broken Magnum directly into the Valkyria’s leg, and the limb erupted.
”A massive hit! Dahlia-senshu’s Valkyria has taken critical damage!!”
”With the right arm and left leg gone, is this the end of the line?”
”Normally, yes,” Mother-in-law replied, “but look at his eyes! Dahlia-senshu’s eyes haven’t died yet!”
The spirit required to keep fighting with a machine this broken was incredible. Aarem matches aren’t usually this destructive, but this was Dahlia versus Chef. If this were a video game, you’d be looking at the Final Boss fighting the Secret Super-Boss.
While I was analyzing it, Genesic grabbed the Valkyria by the head and hoisted it into the air. Chef applied pressure, intending to crush the head. The cracks in the Valkyria’s head began to spiderweb.
”Genesic is trying to destroy Valkyria’s head!”
”She’s likely invoking Article 1 of the Aarem International Treaty: ‘Destruction of the head constitutes an immediate loss.’”
”Eh, what’s that? I’ve never heard of it.”
Apparently, an international treaty was made without me knowing. Plus, it’s a rule that sounds somewhat familiar? I looked around and noticed the other players nodding in agreement. Apparently, I was the only one out of the loop. It was actually a little terrifying.
Just as the Valkyria’s head was about to be reduced to scrap, Dahlia pressed his remaining left arm against Genesic’s chest. In the next instant—
”What happened!? Valkyria’s left arm just detonated!?”
”How reckless,” Kasumi-sama whispered. “She funneled every last drop of Mana in her core into her left arm and forced a Mana Overload¹⁴ directly into his opponent.”
”So she sacrificed her last limb to trigger a point-blank explosion? That’s insane!”
The direct injection of raw Mana followed by the sudden detonation shattered Genesic’s chest plating. The shockwave shattered the face guard, revealing a face modeled after Chef herself.
As Genesic slumped over, the Valkyria tried to force itself upright on its one remaining leg. Seeing Genesic fail to move, the referee made the call.
”Chef-senshu’s Genesic is down due to total energy loss! It can’t stand… The match is over!!”
”It came down to a razor-thin margin,” Kasumi-sama analyzed. “If that final overload hadn’t done the job, Dahlia-senshu would have been defenseless. If he had miscalculated his Mana by even a fraction, his Aarem would have shut down first.”
”A victory by the skin of his teeth!”
The winner had arguably taken more damage than the loser, but the first-ever Aarem battle concluded with Dahlia’s victory. Now, it was time for my job.
”Dahlia, Chef. Hand over your Aarem so I can fix them.”
”Understood, master. I’ll leave it to you.”
(Ah, counting on you, Tatara-san!)
The two of them hurried over to deliver their machines. I could handle the Demonsteel for Dahlia, but Chef’s Magic Metal¹⁵… wait, I still had that huge stash left over from a previous reward.
Dahlia’s Valkyria was a wreck, but seeing a robot beat to hell after a legendary fight is every guy’s dream. Chef’s Genesic, however, gave me a weird vibe since it looked so much like her. It reminded me of a cover from an adult doujinshi in my past life… (If I go down that train of thought, I’m never coming back.)
I started the repairs right there on the spot. My Golems swarmed the field to fix the terrain while the pilots started their script readings. Dahlia, no longer needed for transport, sat down to have tea with Chef. It looked like they’d become fast friends after trying to kill each other.
”Tatara, can you actually fix those?”
”Of course. I was chosen as the next Chief Crafter for a reason,” I replied to the regular soldier.
As the creator, I couldn’t even let the thought of failure cross my mind. People trusted my skills, and I wasn’t about to let them down. I had to respond to that expectation.
”I don’t think the title is what matters here…”
”If they believe in me, I want to deliver. That’s all.”
”Good grief. Don’t go taking too much on yourself,” the regular soldier said while patting my head.
Why was this guy so good at that? He must be used to dealing with kids. Since the Golems had recovered the pieces, Genesic was fixed easily with my Crafting skill.
The Valkyria, however, required a total rebuild. I remade the chassis from the ground up, optimizing it for Dahlia’s specific style based on the battle I just witnessed. I finished both in about thirty minutes.
”There. All done.”
”You didn’t ‘fix’ them, you remade them from scratch! How the hell did you do that in thirty minutes!? Still, I’ve been wondering something,” the soldier added.
”What’s that?”
”That ‘Valkyria’… was that Mana Overload at the end a hidden feature?”
”No, that was just an application of the basic systems,” I said.
”Really?”
Aarem run on Mana. The core circulates it through circuits to move the limbs. Those same circuits power the Magic Devices. Dahlia used her Machina Saint ability to bridge the circuit into the opponent, pumping her core’s Mana into theirs until it redlined and exploded. That was the whole story.
If I really wanted to, I could probably make it happen, but I have no intention of building a Spell Formula¹⁶ that relies on that function. A finishing move should be exactly that-a finishing move.
I’ve always felt that only those who have put in the work should be able to use them. It’s a high-output attack; if you can’t pull it off without a support system, you’re doing it wrong. Work on your technique, man. Seriously, work on it.
When I finished my explanation, Regular soldier-san had a look on his face I couldn’t quite place-somewhere between a wry smile and total disbelief.
”Still,” said Regular soldier. “It’s impressive that you can actually hold your own against pure Magic Metal¹⁷ using nothing but Demonsteel¹⁸.”
”Not really. Like I mentioned during the stream, that only worked because she’s an Automaton Maiden¹⁹,” I replied. “In terms of raw performance, there’s just no way to win. We only scraped by this time with a surprise attack and some dirty tricks. It won’t work a second time.”
”…I see,” Regular soldier said.
Even with Aarem²⁰‘s performance being boosted two or three times over by her traits, it still came down to that. The base stats are just too far apart. (No matter how you look at it, Dahlia and ‘Chef’ are definitely getting banned from official tournaments for this.)
”Still, that Aarem of ‘Chef’s’ has one hell of a Special Ability,” Regular soldier remarked.
”I honestly thought the whole ‘Beautiful Girl Aarem’ concept was at least ten years off, but this is just what happened when I followed the client’s request,” I said.
”I don’t know, I think they would have shown up sooner than ten years,” Regular soldier replied.
I told him my thoughts regarding ‘Genesic,’ whose true face had been visible before the face guard was fixed, but Regular soldier-san predicted they would have appeared much faster. When I stared at him in confusion, he gave me a firm nod and explained.
”This world is full of actual, living gods, right?” asked Regular soldier.
”Yeah, though I’m not exactly the worshipping type,” I replied.
”…You seem plenty loved by them for someone who doesn’t believe, but let’s drop that for now,” Regular soldier said. “The point is, precisely because they are real, some of the more devout people are going to model their Aarem after them. Especially the ones in the War God’s sect.”
That actually made sense. Since Calmys-san had given this arena her seal of approval, the God of War was likely paying very close attention. A being recognized and empowered by the God of War himself had made a request, so he was bound to be more invested than usual.
If his ‘children’ were gathering here, his protective instincts were probably through the roof. It was a total lapse in judgment on my part-of course someone would build an Aarem in the likeness of the God of War sooner rather than later.
”…Honestly, even if it is just an Aarem, I don’t really want to see the God of War getting trashed in an arena,” I admitted.
”Is there a reason for that?” Regular soldier asked.
”I’m not a believer, but he did help save my fiancée. I guess I just don’t want to see someone I’m indebted to looking like they’re getting hurt,” I said.
The moment those words left my mouth, I felt a sudden weight against my chest-like someone, or something, had just lunged into a full-body hug. (This kind of thing has been happening a lot today. Even Calmys-san has this intense look on her face.)
”So, Tatara’s got a lover, huh?” Regular soldier remarked.
”Yeah. She’s half-Succubus, half-Demon Clan. Apparently, her parents were members of the War God’s sect,” I replied.
”…Wait, I remember a couple of nobles who were targeted by some fools a few years back,” Regular soldier said.
”You know about that? That incident was actually why I took her under my wing,” I said.
(This guy is incredible. That incident was a big deal in ‘Whirlwind,’ but from the capital’s perspective, it was just some backwater city news. The fact that he remembers it is something else.)
”I used to feel guilty about it-like I’d forced her to fall for me because I saved her life. But we finally worked through it and got officially engaged recently,” I said.
”…I see. You’d better take good care of her,” Regular soldier said.
”I will… though we had a fight the other day that almost ended things,” I replied.
”You’re young. It happens,” Regular soldier said. “From now on, just make sure you show her even more love than you did before the fight.”
He was being surprisingly supportive. It actually made me feel a lot better.
”As a matter of fact, my own wife is half-Succubus and half-Demon Clan,” Regular soldier admitted.
”Wait, really!?” I asked.
”Yeah. The nights are… incredible, obviously. But that Demon blood makes her a beast in a fight. Our marital spats are literally life-threatening,” Regular soldier said.
”Ah… my girl’s Demon blood isn’t that strong, but the nights are so intense I’ve genuinely thought I was going to die a few times,” I replied.
It was getting a bit crude, but this kind of talk really builds a bond between men. I could feel us getting closer as we traded war stories. (I hope this is okay.)
”-So, I managed to get this ‘Eternal Oath’²¹ accessory during an exploration. It shares our life force, so if one of us goes down, we both do,” I explained.
”That’s basically a Cursed Equipment! And you’re telling me you two almost broke up while being life-linked like that? What is wrong with you people?” Regular soldier asked.
I didn’t really want to get into the messy details of my own life, so I just brushed it off with a strained smile. I was glad Regular soldier-san didn’t pry any further.
By the way, even though she wasn’t part of the conversation, Suono-san had drifted over and set up an Acoustic Mapping²² field, clearly eavesdropping on our talk. I made sure to keep the ‘nighttime’ talk vague so I didn’t give her too much of a show.
Still, hearing about the struggles of a noble allowed to have multiple concubines was eye-opening. Knowing he’d lost his beloved wife and felt forced to take a second one… that just hurts. The fact that they never had a child together clearly made the loneliness worse.
(Still… why does Regular soldier-san’s story sound exactly like His Majesty the Former Emperor’s? It’s great perspective for me, but I can’t help feeling like I’m being incredibly disrespectful here.)
”That reminds me, I just thought of something. Mind if I share?” Regular soldier asked.
”Eh? What kind of idea?” I asked.
”A way for the Torakuma family’s Part-time Leader to get out of memorizing her lines,” Regular soldier replied.
”Wait, really!?”
Despite the distance, Part-time Leader reacted instantly. (Does she have hawk ears or something?)
”It’s just a thought. Instead of making everyone memorize lines, we have someone do live commentary-just like you did earlier, Tatara. They take the whole narrative burden,” Regular soldier explained.
It was a bold move, but he was right. It would definitely save Part-time Leader from her own memory.
”And the guy for the job… is you, Tatara,” Regular soldier said.
”Wha-?”
I followed the logic, but I never expected to be the one drafted. A weird noise escaped my throat. (Me? Doing the commentary?)
”You might have your doubts, but I think everyone else will be on board,” Regular soldier said.
”But why me?” I asked.
”First of all, as the creator, you have the most technical knowledge of the Aarem. You can actually explain what’s happening,” Regular soldier replied.
He had a point. I probably do know them best. But if it was just about explaining things, my Mother-in-law could probably handle it… though her being from Hizuru might cause some friction.
”Secondly, you’ve proven you can ad-lib. You did that commentary earlier without a script, didn’t you?” Regular soldier asked.
I didn’t think that rambling was worth that much praise. Besides, doing it solo is a lot harder than having a partner.
”Thirdly, you’re the one responsible for setting up diplomatic relations with Hizuru,” Regular soldier added.
To be honest, I don’t feel like I did much there, but since the higher-ups have officially labeled me as the guy, I’m stuck with it. Still, I didn’t see how that connected.
”…You’re not convinced why the diplomat should be doing this, are you?” Regular soldier asked.
”Sorry,” I replied.
”You know, for a guy with a stone face, you’re surprisingly easy to read,” Regular soldier said.
(Am I really that obvious?)
”Maybe you’re just honest at heart. Anyway, let’s put that aside. The reason it has to be you, the guy who established those relations, is because of your deep knowledge of Hizuru,” Regular soldier explained.
”…I see,” I replied.
Commentary and analysis require a deep well of knowledge. If you can’t explain the why behind an action, the audience just gets left behind. Regular soldier-san wanted me to use everything I’d learned from interacting with Yohira and the others to educate the crowd. (Man, the bar for this is getting way too high.)
”Actually, that sounds really difficult… and there’s one thing I just can’t get around,” I said.
”Is that so?” Regular soldier asked.
”If it’s about diplomatic relations, I’d want an official letter from Hizuru. I can’t exactly speak for another country’s heart on my own,” I replied.
I’d really want a letter from the Emperor himself through Part-time Leader or my Mother-in-law. Without that, I’d just be making things up. But asking for that now seemed like a lost cause.
”…Tatara-san, you seem to be having a very interesting conversation,” Mother-in-law said, appearing out of nowhere.
(How do she and Part-time Leader always manage to corner people like this?)
”Uh, well…” I started.
”It’s alright. You want a congratulatory telegram from the Emperor by the day of the event, right?” Mother-in-law asked.
”How did you know that?” I asked.
(Sometimes I wonder if she’s not an Oni, but a Satori or a Nurarihyon… she’s definitely an Oni because of the horns, but still.)
”Besides, this seems a lot better than making that person memorize theatrical lines,” Mother-in-law added.
”…You just think this is going to be fun, don’t you?” I asked.
”Oh my, tee-hee,” she giggled.
She was laughing it off, but she’s definitely looking forward to watching me struggle. I know it.
”Well, I think it’s settled then,” Regular soldier said. “Besides, you’re the one who created these Aarem. You should be properly involved.”
”…Yes, sir,” I replied.
(For some reason, that felt like a direct Royal Command.)
With that, Part-time Leader (Baitou-chou) was released from her long lines and looked absolutely refreshed. On the other hand, the Captain of the Hacansas was slumped over because his lines were cut entirely. I actually felt a little bad for him.
”Captain, to be blunt, your lines were trash. This is just a fair evaluation,” Suono said.
”Why would you say something so cruel!?” Captain cried.
He was basically being kicked while he was down by Suono-san and looked like he was about to burst into tears.
”Captain, you really need to go see some actual plays or something,” Suono added.
”I would, but I’m broke…!” Captain sobbed.
”The same old vicious cycle. Why don’t you just fold the theater troupe?” Suono asked.
”Stop it! I’m actually going to cry!” Captain wailed.
(Is it because they’re close, or is she just that blunt? I feel a vibe between them that’s pretty close to me and The Idiot. Maybe they’re childhood friends?)
As I was watching those two, a hand suddenly dropped onto my shoulder. I turned around to see the Head of the Judiciary and Part-time Leader both wearing incredibly wide smiles. (Wait, what do they want?)
”Now then, Future Chief Crafter. We have a few things we’d like to ask you,” said Head of the Judiciary.
The grip on my shoulder tightened, as if to make sure I couldn’t escape. I felt a genuine sense of dread.
”You mentioned Dahlia-dono, right? We’d like to have a little chat about that exoskeleton-style Hanger of hers…”
(I think I might actually die today.)
—
Summary:
Dahlia and Chef engage in a high-stakes Aarem match at the Tatara Arena, featuring technical commentary from Kasumi. Dahlia successfully counters a heavy momentum-based assault using traditional Hizuru wrestling techniques. Genesic initiates a ‘Protect Shade’ barrier charge to lock down the Valkyria’s mobile options.
Dahlia secures a narrow victory against Chef through a desperate self-destructive Mana Overload. Tatara rebuilds both destroyed units in record time while the pilots reconcile over tea. A regular soldier questions the mechanics of the final blow as the group moves toward the next stage of their journey.
Tatara discusses the technical limits of Aarem combat with the regular soldier while revealing his fiancée’s lineage. The conversation shifts toward relationship advice and shared experiences with high-combat-stat wives. The group decides to pivot the theater production toward a live commentary format, placing the burden of narration entirely on Tatara
—
Trivia:
- The spatial compression flight unit on the Genesic suggests highly advanced spatial magic integration.
- Dahlia’s ‘Machina Saint’ status implies she possesses a direct neural or soul-link to magic devices.
- The mention of Kasumi’s husband being physically inferior to her in training suggests her combat prowess is top-tier even without machinery.
- The mention of Ichika suggests a larger cast with distinct catchphrases.
- The ‘Aarem International Treaty’ rule about head destruction is a reference to classic mecha tropes (like G-Gundam).
- Tatara’s past life reference to ‘ero doujin’ implies he is a reincarnated individual with modern Japanese memories.
- The mention of ‘Whirlwind’ being a localized name for a major incident
- The comparison of the regular soldier’s life to the Former Emperor
- The fact that Suono-san is listening specifically for ‘nighttime’ details
- The exact name of the accessory ‘Eternal Oath’ and its curse-like natur
—
Character Insight:
Kasumi exhibits a professional and analytical persona, momentarily broken by personal anecdotes, while Dahlia demonstrates extreme combat adaptability.
Chef demonstrates frightening adaptability, signaling that she will become exponentially stronger as she experiences more battles. Dahlia proves his combat intuition can override machine limitations.
Tatara moves from technical detachment to emotional openness regarding his fiancée, while the regular soldier shows a surprisingly paternal and supportive side despite his high status.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Chef – Petite, large‑chested older sister of the Shift Lead, she wears a crisp white chef’s coat, neat bun, glasses and otaku accessories, always smiling and telepathic, serving tea with a Magic‑Metal Aarem. As a Genesic unit pilot, she fights with high‑output aggression, wielding the Broken Magnum in arena matches.
• 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, manipulates those around her, prefers direct combat over frivolous Aarem toys, and is companion of Julon, who watches anxiously and receives a reassuring pat before a secret meeting. Also a Machina Saint and Automaton Maiden who pilots Valkyria, interfaces deeply with magic devices, and demonstrates expert martial arts and overclocking.
• Torakuma – The Torakuma family name, a noble house originating from Hizuru. The lineage is known for its mastery of traditional martial arts.
• Kasumi – The head of the Torakuma house from Hizuru and mother-in-law to the narrator. She serves as a sharp, technical combat analyst with a background in traditional martial arts.
• 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 Imperial Kingdom, holding its most patents 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 draws analogies from his past-life knowledge of stories and games to navigate this world, values individual character over racial prejudice, protects his companions and the Poster Girls, lives with multiple women, and remains unassuming despite his godlike genius.
• Julon – Lean, cloaked alchemist‑reincarnate narrator with the Crafting skill that bypasses limits, chronic stomach pain from stress, sharp eyes in alchemical robes. He serves the City Mayor, then hosts at Tatara Aarem Arena, giving enthusiastic play‑by‑play commentary for high‑stakes combat matches.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ichika – Fox‑girl kunoichi of noble lineage and loyal household attendant, with slender tail, pointed ears, amber eyes and ninja garb, speaks in archaic cadence. Exasperated by Tatara’s neglect, she chides him yet remains fiercely devoted, hiding a secret pregnancy. Jealous of other women, she steers household dynamics with stoic grace.
• 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.
• Calmys – Lithe and sharp-tongued, she is a high-ranking Mayor’s guard official and secretly a whip-wielding War God’s knight, recognized by the God of War for her prowess. Her intense facial expression betrays deep emotion when confronting Tatara’s revelations, yet she remains a protective, big-sister figure to Tatara and Ethelena, granting them church sanctuary. Pragmatic and diplomatic, she is closely tied to Julon—shocked by his true origins—and moves instantly to her sword hilt at any threat, her presence a blend of grace, steel, and quiet authority.
• Suono – Striking lead singer of the Hachansas troupe, she has sharp features and a commanding stage presence. Known for blunt, practical critiques, she demands polished diction and full scripts, shaping the group’s disciplined dynamics. Using acoustic mapping, she eavesdrops on talks and bluntly tells the troupe captain his talent and finances are insufficient, urging him to disband.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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