Volume 5 - CH 1

Chapter 1: Let’s Make an Educational Program (Silvan’s Debut) 

10th day, 1st month, 1,547th year, Continental Calendar — Royal Capital Parnam 

It was a day when the festive mood of the New Year was beginning to settle down. 

The fountain plaza in Parnam where the Jewel Voice Broadcast could be watched was still packed with people. That new king was apparently going to be broadcasting yet another new program, so the people had gathered to see it. At this point, it was a familiar sight in pretty much any city where the Jewel Voice Broadcast could be watched. The people would gather every time a new program was planned like this; the merchants would come with their carts, and it would turn into a festival-like atmosphere. 

Dece, Juno, and their adventuring party were there in that festive fountain plaza. 

“Wow, it’s as crowded as ever,” Juno commented. “That’s the capital for you.” 

That was the opinion the baby-faced, slender, female thief let slip out as she was overwhelmed by all the people passing by. With the protection quest they had taken from the guild complete, the party had decided to come see the Jewel Voice Broadcast, since they were already in the area anyway. 

The brawny brawler Augus was dragging the affable young priest Febral around from stall to stall, so the only ones here were Juno, the hot-blooded and handsome swordsman Dece, and the quiet, shapely mage Julia. 

“These broadcast programs have already become one of the famous sights of this country, after all,” Dece told her. “The music programs are the best, you know. The loreleis are cute, and when I consider the possibility of not being able to hear their voices anymore, even though I’m an adventurer, I don’t feel like I want to go to other countries any— Ow!” 

Dece had been rambling on about the topic, but Julia pinched his upper arm with a smile. 

Seeing that her leader just didn’t understand the female heart, Juno shrugged her shoulders with dismay. She started thinking that maybe she should be considerate and disappear off somewhere for their sake... but then it happened. 

The broadcast seemed to have started, and the people were all looking towards the fountain, but what was displayed there was... some sort of roly-poly creature? All the people of the kingdom were taken aback by this, but Juno had the loudest reaction of all. 

“Huh?! What’s Mister Musashibo doing on there?!” 

Yes. What was there to hide? The one appearing on screen was not a snowman, or a kagami mochi, it was Little Musashibo. Little Musashibo turned to the screen and waved his arms around. 

“Hey, everyone. I’m Little Musashibo. Nice to meet you.” 

“““He talked?!””” 

Hearing Little Musashibo’s adorable, child-like voice, Juno, Dece, and Julia all cried out in surprise at the same time. Little Musashibo, who had never said a word no matter how much trouble they’d gotten into on a quest, was now onscreen and talking. You couldn’t blame them for their surprise. 

“That voice... it sounds like a child’s, or a woman’s. Was the person inside him female all along?!” Dece cried out in shock, but Juno immediately denied it. 

“Nah, I’ve seen his hand once before, and he was just a normal guy, you know?” 

“But that’s a girlish voice, isn’t it?” 

“It’s a kigurumi suit, so why can’t it just be a different person inside?” Julia suggested, in a relaxed tone. 

Dece and Juno gulped, seeing the logic behind the comment. ““...Y-Yeah, of course that’s it.”” 

They had forgotten because of how human its gestures were, but the person in question was a kigurumi suit. It was possible the suit had just been loaned out by the castle. 

With no idea of the confusion it was causing for Juno and the others, the Little Musashibo on the broadcast declared in a loud voice, “Okay, Together With Big Sis is starting now.”

At the same time — Parnam Castle’s Great Hall 

Right now, Little Musashibo was dancing to an easygoing melody right in front of our eyes. Liscia, who was standing beside me and watching this from a spot that wouldn’t appear on the broadcast, stood there with her mouth hanging open, a blank expression on her face. There was an awkward silence between us. 

“Um... Could you maybe say something?” I asked hesitantly. 

“I don’t even know where to start... No, I mean, what is that even supposed to be?” 

“Little Musashibo.” 

“Yeah. That, I know. That’s not what I meant. Why is it talking?” 

“Well, because there’s a person inside it, of course,” I said. “Pamille Carol is providing the voice.” 

“Pamille’s inside that thing?!” 

Yes, as a matter of fact, she was. We’d had no equipment for recording, so we couldn’t add the voice in post-processing, which meant the voice had to come from inside Little Musashibo. I was controlling his movements, so it wasn’t too heavy for Pamille, but she had still complained it was hot and stuffy inside there. 

“You have that kigurumi suit registered as an adventurer, don’t you?” Liscia demanded. “Is it okay having it appear on the Jewel Voice Broadcast? Wouldn’t it be bad if people found out it was connected to the royal family?” 

Ohhh, yeah, if Juno and the others were watching, that might turn into a bit of a headache. 

“Well, it’s a kigurumi suit, after all,” I said. “‘We saw this kigurumi in town and thought it was cute, so the castle asked for a copy, and now we’re using it as a character in our program.’ ...Wouldn’t a story like that work?” 

“Even if it does...” she muttered. “And wait, what is this program even supposed to be about?” 

“What, you ask? It’s an educational program.” 

“Educational?” 

“Oh, look, the main program’s about to begin,” I said, pointing.

The easygoing song ended, and the new scene to be broadcast was set on a stage. 

Up on the stage there was a backdrop of trees, grass, and stumps to show that it was a forest. In the middle of that sparse forest, Little Musashibo was drawing something on the ground with chalk. Looking closer, it was apparently numbers. 

“Um... 1+1 is 2, 2+2 is 4... Hrm, this arithmetic stuff is hard.” 

Little Musashibo twisted his head around in confusion. The gesture was very childish. 

An older girl with blue hair wearing a boyish outfit including a hat and overalls passed by. When the blue haired girl noticed Little Musashibo, she called out to him in a cheerful voice. 

“Hey, what’s wrong, Little Musashibo? Why the troubled look on your (expressionless) face?” 

Little Musashibo looked up, walking over to the girl with slow, easy footsteps. “Hello, Big Sister Juna.”  

At that point, the adult viewers noticed what was up. The big sister character was the famous Prima Lorelei, Juna Doma. 

Because Juna was mostly known for being so beautiful that even the girls wanted her, they hadn’t made the connection with her in this boyish outfit. Her tone of voice was more direct, in keeping with the outfit. While this version of Juna had lost the mature sexiness that made her seem older than she actually was, it brought out a cuteness that was more like what you’d expect of a girl her age. 

Little Musashibo turned to “Big Sister Juna” for help. “Big Sister Juna, arithmetic is hard and I don’t know what to do about it. I look at books, but there are just numbers and symbols, and it’s not interesting at all.” 

There were a large number of viewers who nodded in agreement. 

It had been nine days earlier that Souma had encouraged the people to learn to read, write, and do arithmetic, but those who lived a lifestyle where they didn’t need to do calculations had apparently thought, “Okay, reading and writing, maybe, but what good is learning to do calculations for anyone who isn’t a merchant?” 

However, Juna giggled and gave a playful wink to Little Musashibo who was voicing those viewers’ opinions for them. “Oh my, don’t you know that math can be fun?” 

“What? Really?” Little Musashibo asked doubtfully. 

“It’s true,” she said with great confidence. 

A fun, cheery melody began to play again from seemingly nowhere in particular. Juna began singing along with it. 

The song was “Fun Arithmetic.” It was from Minna no Uta, or Songs for Everyone, in the world Souma came from. This song, which was sung by Seiji Tanaka, presented addition; subtraction; the fact that when you have a group of ten it moves up to a new digit; and the fact that any number, no matter how large, disappears when multiplied by zero; all in a comical fashion. 

Juna and Little Musashibo sang this song, dancing happily in a circle together. 

When they finished, Little Musashibo excitedly clapped his hands. “I feel like arithmetic just got fun. If I study, will it be even more fun?” 

“Of course,” Juna assured him. “If you study hard, you’ll be able to do even more amazing things.” 

Then Juna sang a song for Little Musashibo about all the things he’d be able to do if he studied his arithmetic. It had a fun melody and playful lyrics, but if you were listening closely, it expressed a number of mathematical phenomena. It was exactly the sort of song that belonged on an educational program. 

The children who were watching the broadcast innocently imitated Juna and Little Musashibo, singing the lyrics to themselves and dancing. The adults, on the other hand, considered the meaning of the lyrics, nodding along with interest as they figured it out. 

In among them there was just one person, Juno, who was thinking about something entirely different. 

Did he just lend them his kigurumi suit? No... That can’t be it. Juno was closely scrutinizing Little Musashibo’s movements. The way he moves, it’s just like Mr. Little Musashibo. But the voice I heard was a cute girl’s voice. The hand I saw that time was a man’s hand. There’s a different person inside, but he’s moving the same... What does it mean? 

As she pondered deeply, something occurred to Juno. 

Now that I think about it, wasn’t there that one time I saw Mr. Little Musashibo delivering a letter to the guild? After the receptionist saw it, she told us there was a banquet being held at the castle. In other words, that letter was from the castle. This broadcast is put together by the castle, too, from what I hear. Maybe Mr. Little Musashibo is connected to the castle somehow? 

Juno stared hard in the direction of Parnam Castle which was where the broadcast was coming from. 

...I’m curious. I want to look into it, but... I can’t exactly go sneaking into the castle. If they caught me, I’m sure I’d be punished. Hmm, isn’t there any way I can look into it? 

While Juno was thinking about all of this, the program continued. When Little Musashibo and Juna’s short theater segment came to an end, the broadcast video moved to another place. 

This time it wasn’t a stage but what looked like a great hall. There were around ten three-to-five-year-old children there. Owing to their young age, they weren’t coordinated at all, and they would sit down, run around, lie down, and generally move about freely. These were the children of the castle’s workers who had been left at the daycare center. 

Souma had thought the audience for an educational program should be made up of children, so, with the permission of their parents (though, with the king asking them a favor, they could hardly decline...), he had arranged for them to appear. Also, in with the children there was a young girl who looked to be around sixteen years old. 

“Hey, isn’t that Princess Roroa?” one astute viewer pointed out. 

That girl was indeed Roroa, the former Princess of Amidonia. Roroa was wearing a boyish outfit like Juna’s, and said in a cheerful voice, “Look, everybooody. Your singin’ big sister is gonna come out and plaaaay. One, two, aaaand...!” 

“““Big Sister Juna!””” the children called. 

With Roroa giving them the signal, the children all called her name together. When they did... 

“Helloooo.” Juna appeared again, waving her hands. She stood next to Roroa and said, “Now, everyone, it’s time for a song.” 

Then she began to clap her hands. 

Meanwhile, back where we were recording in the castle, Liscia was crying out in surprise. 

“Roroa?! What is that girl doing?!” 

“When I told Roroa we would be making an educational program, she said, ‘Sounds fascinatin’! Darlin’, I wanna be on it, too!’” I said. “She forced me to do it. I had no other options, so I decided to let her be on the show as Juna’s assistant.” 

“Can you really go around deciding roles on a whim like that?” Liscia asked skeptically. 

“...I have a soft spot where crying children or the sponsors are concerned, you know. Besides, this program is being brought to you by The Silver Deer, which Sebastian is the public face of; but Roroa runs it behind the scenes, after all.” 

Right now, our country was providing funding for multiple businesses and for research on a variety of topics. We were heavily focused on foodstuffs, medicine, and the military because those were things that would have an effect on the lives of the people. Thanks to that, the national treasury was always on the verge of collapse. 

Eventually, as the population grew, the increase in taxes would make back our money on the investment, but we couldn’t count on it to happen right away. 

With that in mind, the finance minister, Colbert, kept a tight hold of the country’s purse strings, and he wasn’t about to allocate funds for some new program that had no record of success. That’s why I had asked Roroa’s company to fund it. Because of that, I was now left with no choice but to listen to Roroa, the investor, when she asked me for something. 

When Liscia heard the details, she sighed. “It’s always about money, huh. It’s a hard life.” 

The young man put a hand on his hip, then turned to the children and said, “Sorry for the wait, children! Now, move your bodies with me!” 

He was a young man who spoke passionate words with a passionate smile. 

Liscia watched the young man, her mouth agape, and whispered, “...Who is that?”

Earlier, in the middle of the 12th month, 1,546th year, Continental Calendar. 

On that especially cold day... 

“We’ve changed the way we produce grain in our territory. It’s greatly increased our food self-sufficiency rate,” the man told me. “Thanks to your transportation network, sire, my domain is more prosperous than ever.” 

“Oh, ho,” I said. “I see...” 

I was standing next to a burly, middle-aged man and smiling along as he rambled on endlessly. The man’s name was Moltov Juniro. He was the head of one of the ten most influential noble houses in the country, the House of Juniro. Today I had been invited to a banquet they were hosting. 

These days, I was being invited to a banquet held by some influential noble or other nearly every day. It seemed that in this country, in the middle and towards the end of the twelfth month, the nobles would invite guests they were close to and hold a banquet. There they would thank them for their interactions throughout the year, and express their hope to remain just as close in the next one. 

Well, basically, it was an end-of-year party. 

In addition, it seemed that the number and level of the guests they could attract was used as a barometer of the noble’s power and influence. That was why, at this time of year, the nobles invited as many people as they could, especially those of high stature. 

Now, if you asked who the person of highest stature in this country was, that would have to be me, the guy who was currently holding on to the throne. Naturally, even if they wanted to, no ordinary noble could invite the king without having any special ties to him. I wasn’t overly fond of these banquets myself, after all. Normally, even if I received an invitation, I turned it down because I was busy. 

So if I still had to attend someone’s banquet, that meant they were no ordinary noble. While they might not be on the level of Excel, there were still powerful nobles in this country. It was difficult to turn down invitations from those sorts of people. It’s a superior’s duty to socialize with those who serve under them. 

Because I’d turned down so many of them, Hakuya had told me, “Please, at least attend the year end banquets.” Because of that, for the past few days in a row, I had been forced to attend the powerful nobles’ banquets. 

While getting even more dressed up than usual for the banquet (It was a very noble-y outfit. Even my sleeves had frills.), I would groan, “Ugh, what a pain,” or, “I don’t wanna go,” or, “This is such a hassle,” and Liscia, who was helping me get changed, would reproach me for it. 

“This is your duty as king,” she would say. “As your fiancées, we’ll be there, too, so shape up, would you?” 

Like she’d said, Liscia and my other partners were in attendance, too. Even so, they didn’t have it as bad as I did. My fiancées, Juna excluded, were taking turns and each accompanying me one at a time. I, on the other hand, was being forced to attend every single time. 

“As you can see, my domain is in excellent shape...” Moltov was droning. 

“...” 

If you asked what I didn’t like about banquets, it was having to play along with my host’s “hospitality” which consisted of them going on at length about this or that. Even if the food looked luxurious, I didn’t have any time for eating or drinking. What was more, the nobles all tended to talk about the same things. 

First was boasting about how they managed their domain. That was no doubt largely because I had added the management of their domains into their performance evaluations. Most nobles tried to show there were no issues in their governance, and the more capable ones took the chance to express exactly how wonderful their managerial skills were. 

The evaluations were done by inspectors dispatched for that express purpose, and they would get proper input from the people living in the domain. That made trying to convince me at a banquet all but meaningless, but it was human nature to want to take every chance they could get. If they thought the king was keeping a close eye on them, and it led to an improvement in their people’s lives, that was a good thing. Still, I got sick of having to hear similar accounts at every banquet. 

“Sire, allow me to go get a drink for you,” Aisha, my partner for the day, offered in a small voice. The silver dress she’d also worn for the music program she’d helped me host in Amidonia looked good on her now. She must have sensed my exhaustion and was trying to be considerate. 

I had just been feeling a bit parched, so I asked her to please do so, and Aisha silently left. 

The moment Aisha departed, there was a sudden change in the talkative Moltov’s demeanor. 

“...By the way, sire.” 

His eyes were sharp, like a snake that had found its prey. 

In that instant, I realized I had just screwed up. I’d been through this pattern a number of times already. When the king’s partner left his side, they saw that as their moment of opportunity. 

“Would you mind if we talked somewhere else for a little while?” 

“...Aisha isn’t back yet, you realize,” I said. 

“It won’t take long. I’m sure the two of you will be able to meet back up in no time.” 

Having said that, Moltov took my hand and half-dragged me away from there. 

Yeah... This was definitely that pattern. 

I don’t like this... Moltov may think this is his big chance, but I feel like I’m on pins and needles here... 

While I was thinking that, as I had anticipated, there was a single young lady waiting for me when we arrived at our destination. She was somewhere around sixteen years old. She was clearly a lovely young lady of good upbringing. 

“Heheheh... Hahaha... Bwahahaha!”

In a woman’s voice, a three-stage laugh echoed through the hall. 

“Transform!”

When it did, a set of metallic armor, bracers, and a modified sallet helm with a full-face visor came flying from out of nowhere. Ivan stood still with his arms and legs spread wide as the pieces “automatically” put themselves on him. That cool transformation scene made the children cheer. 

Meanwhile, at that time, I was behind the stage using my Living Poltergeists ability to manipulate the metallic equipment. Yes, I controlled Ivan’s equipment with my ability to make it look like he was automatically being equipped with it. Because, at this range, I could do that even if they weren’t dolls. 

Liscia was watching me with the who-knows-how-many-th look of exasperation I had seen from her today. “That’s a horrible waste of your ability.” 

“Hey, a trick is a trick, even if it’s just a party trick,” I said. “Now, time to get going.” 

“Hey, wait, Souma?!” 

Once I had confirmed that Ivan’s gear was fully equipped, I moved next to the Jewel Voice Broadcast’s jewel, making sure I didn’t appear on the broadcast as I did. Meanwhile, in the hall, the flash of light subsided, and the hero dressed in metallic equipment appeared. Ivan struck the transformation complete pose, and shouted.

“Charge! Silvan!”

Once he had given his name, I spoke into the jewel so that only my voice would appear in the broadcast. “Allow me to explain. When Ivan Juniro the Exercise Guy receives energy from children, he transforms into the metallic hero Silvan.” I clenched my fist as I explained with gusto. 

It was a genre standard to have narration explain after the hero’s transformation. I wasn’t going to do the thing where they go back and look at the transformation process scene again, though. 

With my role finished, I went back to Liscia’s side. She looked horribly exhausted. 

“I don’t know, it’s starting to feel stupid to say anything...” 

“Tokusatsu is very much a ‘Don’t think, feel,’ sort of thing,” I explained. “If you don’t think about it too deeply, just go with the flow, there’s nothing more fun to watch.” 

“...I’ll do that.” 

Now then, turning the story back to the hall, the transformed Silvan was strong. 

Danbox had been toying with him earlier, but now he showered the monster with a flurry of punches and kicks, keeping it on the defensive the whole time. 

Strong. You’re strong, Silvan, everyone had to be thinking. The children were all worked up, too. 

“Da, dan... box...” Eventually, Danbox stumbled and took a knee. 

When Silvan unleashed a flying kick, lightning raced along the tip of his foot. That lightning-infused kick stabbed into Danbox. 

I know I keep saying this, but the lightning was a product of his ability. It was, in effect, just a flying kick, so it didn’t hurt Aisha, the person inside Danbox, at all. 

However, Danbox stumbled backwards a few steps. 

Leaving behind a cry of, “Da... Danboooooooox! That’s me!” it exploded scattering parts in all directions. 

Of course, all that really happened was that it hid while Ivan’s ability generated the explosion effect. 

With Danbox defeated, Miss Dran, the evil female commander who hadn’t had much to do while she was watching the two of them fight, stamped her feet in indignation as if she had just remembered what she was supposed to be doing. 

“Curse you, Silvan! I’ll let you off lightly this time! When I come back, you’d better be ready!” 

With those parting words, she turned and ran off the set to a spot where the viewers couldn’t see her. 

Once he had watched her go, Silvan took off just his full-face helmet and thrust his fist out in the direction Miss Dran had gone. “You and your evil organization who are plotting to take over the world, the Black Group! If you’re going to come, then come! I will crush your ambitions time and again!” 

Ivan declared his resolve and then turned back to the children. Then, with a smile that seemed a little suffocatingly passionate, he shouted, “Okay, everyone! Let’s train with Silvan Energy Exercises so we won’t lose to the bad guys! Stand a little ways away from each other so you don’t bump into your friends!” 

Moments later, a cheerful tune started to play in the hall, and Juna and Roroa came in at just the right moment to split the children up. Then Juna began singing along with the music.

If you want to grow up strong, do your Silvan Energy Exercises. ? 

“Now, let’s start by exercising our upper bodies,” Silvan called. “Everyone imitate a shoujou!”

Eek, eek, eek, ook. Eek, eek, eek, ook. 

We are shoujous. Eek, eek, eek, ook. 

When Ivan moved in time with the music, the children imitated him. 

This exercise routine involved imitating the various animals of this world while Juna sang comical lyrics. Their lyrics were aimed at children, but the exercises themselves were based on the radio calisthenics that most Japanese people would be familiar with (the shoujou imitation was a lateral bending exercise), so they should be a logical workout. 

“You do a lot of ridiculous stuff... But this takes the cake,” Liscia suddenly muttered as she watched the exercises. “This is an educational program, right? What’s the meaning behind the short drama earlier and this exercise?” 

Not long ago, I bet she would have asked, “Is there some meaning in it?” instead. But now, Liscia had asked, “What is the meaning?” It was a only a few words’ difference, but there was a subtle difference of nuance. 

In the first, there was an assumption that there was probably no meaning to it. In the latter, there was a confidence that there must be some meaning and that she wanted to know what it was. I could feel her trust in that subtle change, and that made me a little happier. 

“Of course there’s a meaning,” I said. “If we draw in their attention with the short drama, more people will watch. The exercises are good for the children’s health and development. I’m actively trying to spread them. But, more than anything, what I want to spread is the word ‘hero.’” 

“The word ‘hero’?” 

That was just when, out in the hall, the interlude part of Silvan’s Energy Exercises began. 

Ivan turned to the kids and spoke to them. “You’re all doing great! Now then, there’s something I wanted to tell you. To become a truly strong person, you need more than just power. If you forget to be kind, too, then you’re just a brute!” 

Then he turned towards the Jewel Voice Broadcast jewel, which is to say towards the viewers, and spoke. 

“The truth is, I’d like to be friends with the Black Group, too. If we could talk things over, we might not need to resort to our fists. That’s why, no matter who you’re up against, never give up on trying to understand them. What do you do if they’re still unreasonable and violent, you ask? That’s right! To make sure you can protect those close to you, do your Silvan Energy Exercises!” 

The interlude ended at the perfect time, and Ivan began exercising along with the song again. 

When she heard Ivan’s words, after closing her eyes for a moment, Liscia said, “‘Being strong isn’t enough. Don’t forget to be kind, too. Never give up on understanding one another’... This is what you wanted to get across.” 

She whispered the words again, as if reflecting upon them. 

I nodded silently. “When you’re little, the words adults say to you have a strange way of sticking with you, right? Especially if they’re coming from a hero, those words will remain in some corner of your heart even when you grow up. As a bonus, when we say these things to the children, we can count on their caretakers hearing them, too.” 

Then I dropped the lighthearted, joking attitude and adopted a more serious tone. 

“There’s a lull right now, but eventually every country will have to face the Demon Lord’s Domain. These words are something I’m laying down now to prevent that from turning into an utter quagmire that won’t end until one side or the other is exterminated. Between Tomoe’s ability and the information we’ve exchanged with the Empire, we’ve learned that we can’t lump everyone in the Demon Lord’s Domain together. If possible, before there’s any fighting, I’d like to hold talks with those that seem amenable to them, like the kobolds who spared the mystic wolves.” 

“Right...” 

“I feel like, when that time comes, the number of adults in this country who are strong, kind, and willing to not give up on understanding the other side will decide this country’s fate,” I said. “If most of them can only think, ‘Exterminate the demons,’ we’re headed straight for total war. The more people there are who think, ‘There must be demons who can understand us,’ the more of other paths we’ll be able to see.” 

When I said that, Liscia laughed a little, then poked me in the shoulder. “I’m satisfied with the explanation, but... isn’t this all a bit idealistic for you?” 

“It’s a kids’ show, okay? I want the kids to have ideals. Wouldn’t you? I mean, when kids are strangely realistic about things, that’s just unbearable to see.” 

“...I suppose you’re right.” 

“Besides, it’s an adult’s job to look at reality so that the children can continue to talk about ideals.” 

It was the job of a king, too. While searching for a brighter future, I had to prepare for the possibility that a dark future might come, too. In order to remain kind, strength was an absolute necessity. I needed to raise the strength of the nation, expand our arsenal, and set things up so that we could endure a total war if it came to that. To create a nation that was like a great tree with its roots firmly in the ground, one that wouldn’t shake even when the storm came. 

While I was thinking about that, it looked like the exercises had finished. Ivan said, “Well done!” and patted a nearby kid on the head. The host, Juna, took over from there. 

“How did you like the program we just brought to you, Singing With Big Sis? This time, we are shooting inside the castle, but we’re thinking about doing live broadcasts from theaters around the country in future, too. When we do, we’ll be looking for children to sing and exercise with us, so all you mommies and daddies out there, bring your kids to come play with us! Now, until next time, everyone together now...” 

When Juna gave the signal, the children, Roroa, Ivan, and Little Musashibo, who’d subtly snuck back in for the ending, all faced the camera and waved. 

“““Bye, bye!””” 

With everyone’s voices, this world’s first educational broadcast came to a close.

“It’s so hot... Just let me die...” Pamille moaned. 

“Good work out there, Pamille,” Juna told her. 

Pamille, who had been inside Little Musashibo, was now groggy from the heat. The kigurumi suit must have been pretty hot inside. Juna was there fanning her. 

Next to Pamille was Carla, holding her knees and sobbing in the fetal position. 

“Having to be broadcast in that getup... I’m so embarrassed I could die.” 

It seemed that having that super skimpy Miss Dran outfit broadcast had left her in a state of shock. 

...Yeah, I could kind of sympathize. Serina could be such a complete and total sadist. 

“Whose fault was this?” she burst out. “Yours, master?” 

“You’re turning on me?! That costume was Serina’s decision, okay?!” 

“Ahahaha...” she laughed in a strange voice. “Well, you know, they say a superior is responsible for decisions their subordinates make, don’t theeeey?” 

Carla had eyes like some sort of yandere character. I was worried I might get taken out with a squish, or a crunch, or a stab, stab! (I was scared to even describe what I was imagining, so I tried using onomatopoeia instead.) 

“Calm down, Carla!” I shouted. “If you kill me, you’ll die, too!” 

“I’m so embarrassed I could just die... I’ll take you with me...” 

Oh, crap, I thought. That look in her eyes, she’s kind of serious. 

“Aisha, help!” I yelled. 

“Madam Carla! We’re in the castle, in the castle!” Aisha shouted. 

“Don’t stop me, Madam Aisha!” Carla screamed. “If I don’t kill him, I can’t die myself!” 

While Aisha was holding her in a pinion, I made a hasty retreat. 

Why was I catching all the flak for Serina’s sadistic tendencies? Well, it was just Carla venting her hopeless embarrassment as anger, no doubt. 

...Probably.

Now, to get straight to the point, Together With Big Sis was a hit. 

Especially with the adults. 

I know I’d made it with children as the target audience, but for some reason their parents, guardians, and even adults with no children at all were even more passionate about it. 

For the women, it was Little Musashibo’s adorableness, and the slightly-too-passionate-but-still-hot Ivan’s appeal. 

For the men, it was the coolness of the first tokusatsu hero they’d ever seen, paired with the sexy villainess played by Carla. 

Well, even in Japan, there were sometimes mothers who got even more hooked on a program than their children because they were watching it for the hot actors. It was probably something like that. 

That being the case, in the Kingdom of Friedonia, on days when Together With Big Sis was on, rather than children begging their parents to go see it, you would often see parents begging their children. 

W-Well, either way, kids were seeing the program, so it was all good, but I got a cold look from Liscia when she found out the situation. 

“‘It’s an adult’s job to look at reality,’ he says.” 

“W-Well, hey, what’s wrong with adults having dreams?” I stammered. 

Liscia stared at me silently. 

“...No, seriously, how did it turn out like this anyway?” I muttered. 

I felt like the bizarreness level of Friedonia had gone up just a little.