Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The War Hero Becomes the Fairy Matriarch (4)
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[At that very moment, in the Empire, Magic Artillery Weapons Museum.]
"What you're about to see is the decisive factor that allowed the Empire to secure roughly two-thirds of the continent's territory: the magic artillery weapons."
Under the guidance of a female docent wearing round glasses, a black suit, and a white coat— the museum's cultural guide—a group of Imperials gazed up at the massive golem on display at the museum's entrance, letting out gasps of awe.
"What you see before you is the first magic power armor, the magic golem 'Mark One.' This is the golem created through alchemy by the current Emperor, before he ascended to the throne, to protect himself from assassins."
The magic golem was over 3 meters tall and crudely shaped.
Its thick armor resembled an ogre clad in heavy plate, and inside the open helmet's face guard and breastplate was something like a cockpit big enough for a small girl to sit in.
"Magic power armor. The magic artillery weapons developed by Her Majesty the Empress followed two paths of evolution. One was to create massive golems, like those of the Ent tribe—kin to the elves—reaching up to 10 meters tall."
Beside the prototype.
A massive golem stood in the museum's center, identical to the prototype but looking like it had been molded from clay.
"Or to lighten it for easy wear by anyone, trusting in the individual combat prowess of Imperial knights rather than relying on piloting giant golems. In the process of seizing imperial power and eliminating internal enemies, Her Majesty created power armor she could wear daily. Right here."
Following the docent's lead, the Imperials moved to a display of full plate armor and let out more gasps of admiration.
"Similar to the full plate worn in the Grates Kingdom and other Alliance Kingdoms, but embedded with magic inside, making it several times tougher and lighter than theirs. This power armor dramatically enhances the wearer's physical abilities. The Alliance fools even called it a 'suit'."
When the docent tapped the large rectangular screen beside the armor, a stored video flickered to life, playing a scene.
KABOOOM!!
The power armor charged straight at the castle gate and slammed into it.
As enemy arrows rained down on the power armor that had become a living battering ram and shattered the gate, they bounced off the circular mana shield it emitted, scattering harmlessly on the ground.
"This is when the 'Shield Bash' tactic using mana shields began to be employed in earnest. Throughout the war, many Imperial engineers researched and improved the power armor. Sometimes to increase its durability. Other times to add more mana cores inside."
The power armors displayed beyond the glass walls all featured designs like heavily armored demons, undoubtedly to intimidate enemies on the battlefield.
The Evil Empire.
Amid a section filled with such intimidating power armors.
"Excuse me, everyone. Up to here has been open to all ages, but from now on, it's adults only."
The docent pointed to a section deeper inside the museum, draped in red cloth.
"We ask for your understanding, as there may be visually stimulating content unsuitable for non-adults. Of course, I know everyone here today is an adult."
The docent gestured to her own outfit.
"From the armor that earned us the title of Evil Empire from the Alliance, to the form of the current 7th-generation power armor I'm wearing now—all the evolutions are on display here."
Below her white coat, on the lapel of her suit, was a mana core device perfectly sized to fit in one's palm.
"More precisely, it was after the 3rd-generation power armor was deployed to the front lines that this form truly took shape."
"Because of the Red Devil."
One of the guests receiving the tour muttered in a voice trembling with rage.
The other guests subtly glanced at him, but he ground his teeth without a hint of regret.
His suit, resembling that of a middle-aged researcher, was adorned with several badges depicting deformed versions of the Empire's original power armor—shaped like demons.
"Because of the Red Devil... we ended up making stuff like 'bikini armor'...!"
Bikini armor.
At the word, some guests gave awkward smiles or blushed.
"Yes. So let's examine the history and reason behind the development of that bikini armor."
With the red curtain drawn aside, the interior they entered under the docent's guidance had a starkly different atmosphere from before.
White mannequins stood here and there.
One might think the outer areas had male mannequins and the inner ones female, but as generations passed, the ratio shifted toward more female forms.
"Please look at these destroyed power armors."
The docent snapped her fingers, and lights illuminated two power armors embedded in the wall.
"These are the power armors worn by the Empire's proud twin masters, Sirs Geminians. As you can see, the brother's is thoroughly wrecked."
The demonic armor, inheriting previous designs, was covered in cracks, slashes, and breaks everywhere.
Just from the damage, one could infer how its wearer had been attacked, and it was so gruesome it made viewers shudder.
"But look at the sister's. What do you think?"
The power armor the docent pointed to was draped over a mannequin that boldly revealed its white body.
Without a single scratch, as if it were a replica made for preservation—yet with the breastplate and lower body missing, only the helmet and arms intact—the mannequin wore it.
"They weren't actually worn like this, of course. As shown in this data footage, even female-type armor maintained a heavy plate form like previous generations. So why did it end up like this?"
"Because of the Red Devil."
A woman in a hat, gripping one arm, answered while clutching it.
"The year that monster... became an adult."
"Yes, that's right."
The docent pointed to the side, where power armors seemingly made for women began showing increasingly higher exposure.
"Grand Swordmaster Hans Wilhelm. No man or male-worn power armor that faced him ever returned alive. Only those worn by beauties were recovered like this."
The reason was simple.
"Because of Hans Wilhelm."
Male power armor saw its wearer killed and the armor taken as Alliance spoils for counterattacks.
"Due to his sexual preferences, not a single male power armor returned, while female ones were recovered in decent numbers."
"Why...?"
"Because they couldn't send them back stripped naked."
Ha.
Female power armor allowed the wearer—though perhaps losing something precious as a woman—to escape with their life and the armor back to the Empire.
"Because of that one dawn bird, the Empire's power armor development direction completely changed?"
"That's correct."
Huh.
"Just like this."
The docent tapped the mana core device on her chest, and her suit and white coat were suddenly engulfed in mana flames as if burning away.
"And in modern times, the form of power armor developed up to the armistice is like this."
With a shara-lang rustle, the docent was instantly clad in a flowing gothic dress.
"The pinnacle of mana tech, based on the conversion and bonding of mana particles. The reason its form emphasizes women's allure among normal clothing is..."
"Because Hans Wilhelm would shatter armor with his sword, but if they wore something like a battle dress, he'd avoid spilling blood as much as possible."
"Yes. Coincidentally."
The docent let out a deep sigh.
"The developmental history of the Empire's magic artillery weapons—power armor—was shaped by the tastes of one supreme pervert. To maximize survival rates. To minimize losses."
"So where's the next generation's sample?"
"That's..."
The docent pointed to the empty section for 8th-generation power armor.
"Unknown. What design the post-armistice magic suits will take. Whether they'll revert to full plate evoking ancient demons, or go even further. One thing's certain: the magic suits in the Empire now are little more than 'costumes' for beauties."
The docent pointed to a power armor in one corner of the empty section, similar in form to the prototype.
"Now that the armistice has come, to produce heavy plate power armor again, we need to recover those scattered across the continent."
"Scattered across the continent..."
"Yes. Those taken by the Alliance Kingdoms—what they call 'spoils of war.' We must take them back."
"Whew, talk about lucky."
Inside the Arsin Barony's armory sat an Imperial power armor.
A near-latest model, like a battle dress fit for a Princess Knight.
Hmm...
It wasn't the sort of design to wear to a ballroom.
But.
Aside from the breastplate protecting the chest and the gauntlets on the arms, sheer white silk extended downward, hugging the body's silhouette.
And from my memory, even the steel skirt for lower body protection was missing.
"If I just remove the mana core connections and steel guards, it'd make a fine evening dress."
Size?
Perfect.
Imperial power armor was compatible for general use by anyone, unless it was custom gear.
"With just the metal parts gone, the rest is basically a dress, so even if someone recognizes it, no big deal."
If high society's ballrooms were battlefields, wearing armor suited to that battlefield was only natural.
The important part was dressing Diela Arsin in this white sheer evening dress—
Thud thud thud!
"Ugh, seriously."
Someone outside began pounding on the door.
Peering through mana sense, the ones beyond the wall were none other than...
"...The Baroness?"
The Baroness herself had come, hammering on the armory door with her fist.