#725 Entering the Builder’s World

It’s me.

I hear that is pretty popular lately.

You know, that.

The god figurines that were mass-produced using our farm’s technology.

No, I’m not talking about “figurines that are so wonderful they’re like gods.” They’re literally figurines of the gods.

We were able to create them with the help of Sensei, the Lifeless King, the Royal Honeybee, and pooling the technical prowess of elves and dwarves. 

The first set included the underworld god Hades, the sea god Poseidon, the war god Velesares, and the crafting god Hephaestus, among others. They were reasonably priced, so they sold pretty well, or so I hear.

There’s even talk of utilizing this momentum to move on to the next phase, which prompted Belena to attend meetings on certain days.

Many moons have passed with such happenings...

And then, one day...

 *    *    *

It turns out that the figurines are taking an unexpected turn.

“That’s business as usual, isn’t it?”

Whatever comes out of our farm always makes an unexpected turn.

Aaaaaaaaaalways.

“So? What happened this time? Did the figurines start moving on their own or something?”

“Yes! Something like that...!”

Haha, nooo way.

Stop proving my wild guesses right every time like that. 

I didn’t even think I’d hit the bulls-eye when I said it.

“I also never imagined this would happen...!”

The person who’s come to explain this, sweating bullets, is the demon merchant Mr. Shax.

He’s the head of a big trading company and is the driving force behind selling these deity figurines.

He’s always sniffing out what’s going on at our place and trying to turn it into a business.

“The mass-produced mini-figures that we released... They started moving their limbs and responding to magical control, making them remotely operable! They can even wield weapons and battle now...!”

Seriously, what in the world is going on?

Wielding weapons? That doesn’t sound peaceful at all. We’re talking about palm-sized dolls, right?

How come they’re moving and can be remotely controlled?

“The story starts from the very beginning... We decided to sell the deity figurines with randomized contents, so you can’t check what’s inside.”

Huh?

So you wouldn’t know what’s inside unless you bought and opened it?

Didn’t I tell you guys that gacha is a sinful culture?!

“Yes, thanks to that, many customers own multiple of the same figurine and seem to have trouble handling the duplicates. Some have taken it upon themselves to modify them and create their original deity figurines...!”

Hmm. I see.

It seems there are some creative customers who make effective use of the duplicates.

“As time went on, modifying the figurines became a huge trend, which also boosted sales. The most manufactured Hades figurines had a high duplication rate and were often used as materials for modification.”

“Why did you make more Hades figurines?”

“Being the chief god that we demons worship, we thought he would be the most popular...!”

I see. 

However, with a high duplication rate, you’ll end up making the people dislike him instead.

How could you do this to your ancestral deity?

“The modifications gave birth to various technologies, enabling joint mobility. As if that wasn’t enough, remote control via magic was also introduced.”

“You mentioned that earlier, yeah.”

“By incorporating magic stones that respond to mana, such technology was made possible. While magic stones are typically expensive, incredibly small ones that are useless for practical purposes are cheap. As the figurines we put out are inherently small, these inexpensive versions are enough to make them function, triggering a surge in demand that had never been seen before... and thus our sales are booming...!”

So you’re saying they’re selling like hotcakes.

Ultimately, it turns out you guys are making a bigger fortune out of this.

“But we are anxious. Toying with and modifying something that resembles a god, even making them fight each other, is blasphemy...! I’m afraid we might incur divine wrath someday...! I’ve been so scared lately that I can’t sleep at night...!”

Magic stones, huh...

I feel like I’ve heard of them somewhere... Did I use them at some point?

Ah, right. When I tried pottery a long time ago.

I tried to automate the potter’s wheel by embedding a magic stone, but it was too powerful to be used, I think.

Wasn’t it...Belena who recommended that?

“Hey, Belena, do you remember that time—”

I glance at Belena, who happens to be by my side, to confirm my memory.

Yet she blatantly looks away.

Why?

“Well, anyway... Why would they want to make the figurines fight?”

This has been coming up in the conversation a few times...

“Don’t you want to see the figure that you’ve put so much time and effort into making fight?”

“I do.”

That’s the noblest path of a boy’s hobby manga.

Battles that inevitably happen in boys’ and girls’ hobbies.

It all begins with casual matches among friends, but as the story unfolds, it progresses toward a grand tournament featuring representatives from around the world. Before they know it, the fate of the world is on the line.

Moreover, there are criminal organizations lurking in the shadows or resurrections of legendary demons, which intensify the gravity of the situation. Nevertheless, they always play the game fair and square.

Why?

Because they are duelists!

“Now, the idols are referred to as God Figures, and the battles between them are called God Fights. These God Fights are happening all over the capital, and there are even plans to hold a tournament soon...!”

“It already escalated that quickly...?!”

It’s like that phase where a story has been serialized to a certain point, marking the beginning of a long arc.

“What should we do, Lord Saint?! At this rate, Pandemonium could be punished as the root cause of this disrespectful boom...! Please, we require your wisdom...!”

“...”

Heh, heh, heh...!

“...Interesting!”

“Huh?!”

There’s no way I can ignore such an exciting event...! 

Customizing a figure and shaping it into a unique form of my liking?

That sounds exactly like a plastic model!!!

When I was a wee boy, I, too, was totally obsessed with them in my world, and I made countless models.

I even bought all kinds of paints...!

Of course, a single color wouldn’t cut it, so I had to buy a whole range of shades.

There were colors just for a tiny specific area, and I’d end up buying them even if they cost hundreds of yen each after negotiating with my wallet.

In retrospect, the included stickers would’ve been enough.

Then, after using the paint just once and leaving it for a while, I’d buy another plastic model, thinking, “Now’s the time to use the leftover paint!” only to find it had dried up and hardened. 

And I only got to use it once; a shame...

...Damn, my memories are flooding back like a tidal wave...!

Just thinking about it is making me want to make another plastic modeeeeel!

I want to paint and modify oneeeee!

If this God Figure thing can bring back my childhood memories...!

I definitely want to invest myself in it!

I still want to make plastic models, even as an adult!

Target age eight years old? 

I don’t care!!!

“I’m entering that tournament!”

“Whaaaaaaaat?!”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Shax’s face showed both shock and despair.

“W-Wait a minute, Lord Saint! We expected you to stand on the side of remonstrating this lunacy! If you go along with it, it will only incur divine wrath upon us...!”

“It’s fine! The gods are broad-minded!”

They’re bound to forgive and laugh off most things.

“But, Lord Saint...?” Belena says timidly, “Don’t you need your own God Figure to enter the God Fight?”

“That's why I’m going to make one now!”

“YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE ONE?!”

Hm? What’s wrong? 

Why the violent reactions, Belena and Mr. Shax?

“Think about it, Lord Saint...! If you make your own God Figure...!”

“What kind of terrifying creation would it be? Perhaps a figure that fears no divine being...?!”

It’s not as extra as you make it seem; just a painstaking creation by an enthusiast and nothing more.

I don’t know what would happen if the Hand of Supremacy activates itself, though... 

...It wouldn’t, right?