kscans

Chapter 98 - Beautiful Composition

"This is my lab!!"

Kawasaki puffed out her chest with a smug, proud expression. I had a vague sense of it when I saw the exterior, but... damn, this girl is something else.

(Space expansion is a technique anyone decent can use)

That's exactly why the practitioner's skill is directly reflected. For permanent wide-range expansion, it's normal to have multiple people work together. But Kawasaki's lab is different. Despite being as large as a small town, Kawasaki is the sole practitioner. An average magician would be completely drained just maintaining it for one minute.

(There's also the option of preparing something like an energy tank to shoulder the burden)

From what I can see, she hasn't made that kind of arrangement. But she does have preparations. She probably keeps it for emergencies when she can't manage without giving her absolute all.

"How is it, Satou-san?"

"Well... there are various things I'd like to say, but... first, I want to talk about that"

My gaze was fixed on the battered Devil Kaiser leaning against the wall.

"Nice"

That's not being repaired. It's being displayed. How do I know? Well, when a beat-up robot is sitting hunched over in a corner of a hangar, it creates atmosphere, right? I mean, it looks like they did minimal repairs for display purposes. You might think it's just mid-repair, but no. I have solid reasoning too. First, I completely obliterated that thing before. But the current Kaiser has a missing arm and exposed internal parts.

(Just that alone might suggest it's mid-repair, but it's thoroughly beaten up)

If they were rebuilding something that was completely destroyed from scratch, you wouldn't get this kind of damage and grime scattered about. It's clearly artificial weathering added later with visual appeal in mind. It's like deliberately applying weathered paint when building plastic models.

"Can you feel it? This atmosphere... it's irresistible!!"

See? I was right.

"Yeah. It'd work great at the beginning of a story, or even after all the battles are over. That single ray of light streaming in does excellent work"

"Right, right! I knew Satou-san would notice ♪"

The protagonist, chased by the flames of war, stumbles into this place and discovers the battered robot. Figuring they're going to die anyway, they take a desperate gamble and the story begins, good. Or it works as an ending where after surviving intense battles, they can finally rest, also good. Honestly, I love this scene too. Not bad, Kawasaki.

"Really, Satou-san is such an understanding gentleman"

Kawasaki nodded with deep feeling.

"You're completely different from those superficial idiots who come hitting on me!!"

Ah, so she is popular after all. Well yeah. From the outside, she'd just seem like a robot otaku completely absorbed in her hobby. If you don't know how dangerously she actually acts, she'd be within acceptable limits.

"I can see right through them. How they're just playing along to get on my good side. Pretending to like something they don't care about at all... grrrr!!"

She must have been really pissed off... I wonder if those guys who hit on her are okay? Well, she probably didn't kill them, but I bet they've been through some stuff.

"That said, I'm not all that admirable either. My knowledge is nowhere near yours"

"The depth of knowledge doesn't matter!!"

Whoa, that startled me. Getting close enough to kiss... this girl's sense of personal space is seriously broken.

"Knowing every behind-the-scenes detail not depicted in the story, that's wonderful. But are fans who don't care about the settings and just get excited watching robots fight flashily inferior to the former?"

No! Absolutely not! Kawasaki spread both arms wide and shouted.

"There are countless ways to enjoy things. What matters is purity! If you purely love something, there's no hierarchy in that!!"

...I don't know what it is. I mean, she's saying good things, right? But when a crazy person says it, something just doesn't sit right.

"On that point, Satou-san's purity is GOOD! Your 'love' is completely straightforward!! I could tell the moment Sugar King appeared! I understand, I understand completely. I'm the same way! Naming the mecha! Taking inspiration from your own name, I want to do that too! But... but I'm Kawasaki...! Kawasaki! It doesn't feel right! It just... doesn't fit..."

Kawasaki began crying, her voice breaking. This girl's emotional swings are way too intense... and apparently Sugar King was also a point in my favor...

"Well, that's why Satou-san is a good man!"

"...Thanks"

"Not at all, now let me continue the tour~"

After that, I ended up listening to what was essentially bragging disguised as a tour. Whether it was fun or not... yeah, it was genuinely enjoyable.

"Now, shall we head back to the surface..."

"Hold on"

"?"

"I feel bad just receiving things from you. Let me show you something good"

"Something good?"

"Yeah. Keep your eyes closed until I say it's okay to open them"

"Alright, understood"

Confirming she obediently closed her eyes, I transported Kawasaki to a certain location. After arriving there and performing another teleportation that included "it," I told Kawasaki to open her eyes.

"——"

Kawasaki was speechless. Of course she was. Before her was a bridge worthy of a sci-fi movie. The monitors showed endless pitch-black space.

"A while back, aliens attacked from outer space. When I beat the crap out of them, I acquired this battleship"

"..."

"It's not a robot, but battleships go hand in hand with robots, right? And space too"

I don't intend to let her examine this thing in detail right now. She's still under something like protective supervision. But maybe it could serve as inspiration... hm?

"What's wrong, Kawasaki? Don't you like it?"

"~~~!!"

She suddenly looked up,

"Waaah..."

Kawasaki began crying like a child. Even I was taken aback by this...

"Sa... Satou-san... you're too kind... why are you so... waaaaaah"

She seemed overwhelmed with emotion.

"Okay, okay. I get it, so"

I rubbed her back while comforting Kawasaki. In the end, it took over an hour for her to stop crying... I should have called Takahashi.

"How embarrassing"

"No, no, I'm glad you're happy"

"Really... such a truly wonderful thing... ah, my brain cells are being activated like never before..."

Is that so, is that so... I think I understand a little how the grandparents felt watching over me with kind eyes when I was a mischievous kid.

"You really are the most wonderful gentleman. I wouldn't mind becoming Satou-san's bride!"

"Ha ha ha"

Let's end this topic for now.