Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Mecha God Chronicle - Third Apocalypse (3)
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After that, the emperor's teasing of the nobles continued for quite some time.
"Heh heh, the water taste you're providing us is quite delightful, Duke. If I were a spirit user, I might have felt this way summoning Undine."
"..."
"Hm? What's with that look, Duke? You seem like someone forced into doing something unspeakable."
"...It's nothing, Your Majesty."
The Grinebalt Duke crumpled his face like a piece of scrap paper without realizing it as he listened to the emperor.
But he couldn't bring himself to retort to the emperor, so he had no choice but to calm his mind with superhuman patience.
Especially in a situation like this where Mecha God Chronicle episode 26 was being held hostage.
The silver lining, if there was one, was that the emperor seemed satisfied with just these petty pranks on the nobles.
Trading a bit of playing along with the emperor's jokes for seeing episode 26 a week early wasn't a bad deal at all.
After toying with the duke and the other nobles for a good while, the emperor, seemingly satisfied, wore a very pleased expression.
"Well, now that I know how serious you all are about Mecha God Chronicle episode 26, shall we end the jokes here?"
"...That's a relief to hear, Your Majesty."
For the nobles whose patience was wearing thin from the emperor's antics, this was truly welcome news.
"When my subjects show such devotion, how could the emperor of the empire just sit idly by? With that in mind, I'll specially reveal Mecha God Chronicle episode 26 to you all."
"...Is that true?!"
"...Ah, finally!"
Hearing those words, the nobles finally brightened up with joyful expressions.
The emperor had held episode 26 hostage with endless teasing and torment for a full hour...!
All the frustration and anguish the nobles had endured vanished in an instant.
Savoring their reactions, the emperor leisurely activated the artifact on the table.
Giiiing-
At the same time, a familiar sight appeared on the artifact's screen.
No need to say it—it was none other than Unit 0, which everyone in the room knew all too well.
But transformed into a transcendent form with a halo above its head and six pairs of wings on its back.
As Dr. Rachel had said, Unit 0 had awakened as a complete god possessing the power of creation for some unknown reason.
"Mwooooooo-!"
At Unit 0's gesture, the forms of heaven and earth began to change, a pillar of light enveloping the entire planet from its center, seeking to erase everything.
Rinoa, Dr. Rachel, and the others—mere humans—could neither stop nor restrain such a Unit 0, left powerless to simply watch the scene.
Right then...
"...Hm?"
"What is that?"
From high above in the sky, a Mecha God in a very familiar form suddenly appeared.
Without any warning or omen, it hurled the holy sword it held straight at Unit 0.
Thwuuuck-!
The holy sword, thrown at tremendous speed, struck Unit 0's heart directly.
And the next moment...
Kwachiiing-!
Simultaneously, the halo above its head and the wings on its back vanished without a trace.
All that remained was Unit 0, reverted from a complete god of creation back to an ordinary Mecha God.
Gazing quietly at it, 'someone' inside the Mecha God spoke in a very soft voice.
"This is as far as it goes, Kai. If you'd gone any further, you wouldn't have been able to return to being human."
That voice was one the nobles knew all too well.
"N-No way, that voice belongs to...!"
"I-It can't be. She lost to the Outer God and retired long ago...!"
"Chloe...! To think Chloe appears here...!"
Indeed.
The one who had stabbed the holy sword into Unit 0's heart and halted the creation ritual was Chloe.
Meanwhile, Chloe, piloting the Mecha God, looked at Kai slumbering inside Unit 0 with a deeply poignant expression.
It was the very embodiment of maternal love, longing and worrying for someone, captivating even the watching nobles for a moment.
"I'm sorry for hurting you. But... I had no choice. A world without you holds no meaning for me."
"So just sleep there for a little while. This time, I'll make you truly happy, no matter what."
"..."
"..."
At this moment, the nobles were holding their breath, utterly focused on the screen.
The Third Apocalypse and creation ritual mentioned by Rachel.
The mysterious holy sword that silenced the fully awakened god Unit 0 in one strike.
And now, Chloe—who they'd thought was just a background villain with no real role in Mecha God Chronicle—suddenly taking center stage.
All these elements combined, flooding the nobles' brains with massive dopamine rushes.
Right then.
"Well, that's it for now."
Click.
The emperor raised his hand and stopped the artifact broadcasting episode 26 dead in its tracks.
At the same time, the nobles—who had been gripping their fists, staring at the screen—froze in place.
"...Wh-What? Your Majesty, what in the world...!"
"Haha, Your Majesty, it seems you've made a mistake. Please resume episode 26 at once. Surely it wasn't intentional, right?"
The nobles suppressed their urge to curse with superhuman patience and spoke thus.
But.
"I said, that's it."
"...Pardon?"
"I told you before. The reason I can preview five episodes of Mecha God Chronicle ahead is because the imperial family supports its production, and I serve as a sort of inspector."
The emperor tapped the artifact with his finger as he spoke.
"In reverse, it means previews wouldn't be allowed if I weren't in that role. Even if I'm the emperor ruling this empire."
"...!"
"Right now, the empire's subjects are dying to know what happens in episode 26. As the emperor, I can't grant you all this exclusive privilege. It would be far too unfair, wouldn't it?"
Indeed, the emperor's words were irrefutably logical; there was no room for argument.
"Th-Then why show us that footage earlier-"
"That was just a teaser because you all looked so desperate. I can't show any more. Be satisfied with that."
The emperor spoke in a very firm tone.
Of course, the nobles couldn't just give up on episode 26 so easily.
If they hadn't seen anything from the start, maybe—but they'd already glimpsed that much.
How could they back down now...!
In the end, the nobles had only one choice at this moment.
"Your Majesty, what if we offer compensation?"
"...Compensation?"
"Yes. If we pay you for viewing episode 26, wouldn't that solve everything?"
Intrigued by the nobles' desperate plea, the emperor wore an amused expression.
"Ho, that's an interesting idea. Compensation, eh? So, what do you plan to offer me?"
"If Your Majesty permits, we'll pay an extra ten percent tax from our territories this month-"
"No need."
The emperor's expectations deflated as he replied.
"Collecting an extra ten percent from you won't enrich the empire. And buying episode 26 with mere money? That's downright insolent."
"I'll gift Your Majesty the rare Balepor Mountain 19-year wine I've been saving-"
"I don't particularly like that liquor."
"Our family's heirloom giant diamond-"
"I have plenty of jewels already."
"..."
Faced with the emperor's repeated refusals, the nobles felt like their breath was caught in their throats.
This won't do, that won't do.
Then what the hell did he want?
'Did His Majesty never intend to show us all of episode 26 from the beginning?'
Dangling hope only to snatch it away.
Realizing this was the emperor's ultimate trolling—not fan service—the nobles fell into despair.
'Is this truly the end?'
But right then.
"...In that case, may I make an offer you can't refuse, Your Majesty?"
"Ho?"
Even after watching the other nobles get shot down by the emperor, one stepped forward boldly.
He was none other than the Grinebalt Duke.
And seeing this, the emperor chuckled.
"An offer I can't refuse... Well, unlike the others, you might actually tempt me, Duke. Go ahead, speak. I'll listen gladly."
The emperor's true goal from the start had been to toy with everyone here and plunge them into despair.
So no matter what the duke offered, he was confident he'd brush it off.
But.
"A 1/6 scale figure of Eli and Hamel kissing, handmade by the Eli and Hamel's Disappearance production team."
"...What?"
"Raguna and Serika gave it to me as their sponsor when I backed the production of Eli and Hamel's Disappearance. Naturally, it's one-of-a-kind in the world."
"..."
For a moment, the emperor looked utterly caught off guard.
He hadn't expected the duke to offer such a priceless item for this deal.
However, the duke wasn't finished.
"On top of that, I'll give you the 1/144 scale Unit 0 plamo Raguna made as a prototype for Mecha God Chronicle. In exchange, I'd like to join you as an inspector who previews Mecha God Chronicle from now on. What do you say?"
"...Ugh, urgh!"
Stagger.
The emperor could no longer maintain his composure and stumbled.
Even the pinnacle of the empire, the emperor himself, couldn't obtain figures and plamos handmade by the animation team.
With the duke offering them, the emperor had only one response.
"...Fine, you win. I accept the deal."
"A wise decision, Your Majesty."
Hearing the emperor's surrender, the Grinebalt Duke smiled contentedly.
It was the smile of a victor.