Genjitsushugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki

Cast of Characters Arc 5: The Shining Dragon

It was around the time things were settling down after the birth of the twins, near the end of the year and after the New Years festivities were over.

So, there ya have it, Roroa declared, leaning over onto my desk. Got any good ideas?

I stared down a pile of paper in the governmental affairs office, like I did almost every day. Then I let out a sigh. I dunno what to tell you...

It seemed she wanted to make business off the countrys current Silvan boom, but most of the possible goods had already been made, and she wanted to come up with something new.

Because Roroas company was the biggest sponsor of the production, I wanted to help, but... a new way to profit off a tokusatsu program, huh...

Having a new weapon appear and selling that... is something we already did, isnt it? I asked.

We just got finished puttin out the Silvan Sword.

Well, we cant add a new weapon for a while, then.

In the childrens programs in the other world, there was about a one cour break between new weapons being introduced. No, I guess there were shows that put out inexpensive add-ons regularly. That was because if they overdid it, the childrens backers, the parents, would end up with empty wallets.

What about starting another tokusatsu program? I asked.

The special effects are made usin Ivan Juniros magic, right? We cant start another one without endin Silvan first. I mean, were tryin to ride the Silvan boom, so there aint much point in startin another program thats not Silvan, is there?

So we have to rework Silvan, then... I tried to ponder how to do that.

Hey, what were the tokusatsu programs back in your world like, Darlin? Roroa asked.

Well...

They started with something like the period dramas where good punished evil, and then eventually programs for children where Something Mask or Something Man fights an evil organization became the mainstream. I based Overman Silvan on those sorts of heroes.

I see, I see...

There were lots of developments from there, and we got metallic machine heroes, giant heroes who fight giant monsters, and sentai teams where multiple heroes fight together. With the metallic heroes and the sentai heroes, as the monsters got bigger, theyd take them on with an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth mentality where... Ah!

Hm? Is somethin wrong? Roroa cocked her head to the side, but I was thinking and didnt respond.

Yeah, I might have come up with something. A way to rework Silvan.

But was it possible to portray it with our current technology?

It might not be impossible, but it was going to require putting together a pretty good set to pull it off. That was going to cost a lot of money. This wasnt like monsters, where we could make them out of cardboard and play pretend. Did we have the room to make proper sets each week...?

No, hold on. Was there a need to make a set to begin with?

We had that thing that wasnt any use to our country and was just sitting in a warehouse somewhere.

If we used that... and just borrowed her power... Yeah, this might work.

Ive got it, I said. A way to rework the program.

Ya do?!

I smiled wryly as I nodded to a sparkly-eyed Roroa.

Yeah. This may seem sudden, but could you call Tomoe in here?

A-All right! Roroa took off out of the room.

She always came in like a storm and left like one, too. Though the bureaucrats who came in after her smiled wryly, they were long since used to it.

Everyone liked Roroa best the way she was.

Two weeks later, on the day of Overman Silvans broadcast...

Todays broadcast of Overman Silvan was different from the very beginning.

First of all, Silvan and the rest of the cast were appearing outdoors.

It had always been shot in a studio in the castle using a room with panels for the backdrop before, but this time they were in an open field with nothing around.

In addition, the broadcast time was usually evening, but this time, they were starting early, at three in the afternoon.

Despite that, because this had been advertised in advance, and because it was a day off, there was an audience gathered.

The format was different, too. The Silvan Exercises that were popular with children were normally done at the end of the program, but today Ivan was doing them before the program in his non-transformed state.

Good! Well done, everyone!

Ivan Juniro, AKA Silvan, and his sister Siena had been teaching the children to exercise in what was effectively an open-air classroom, but then an unsettlingly loud laughter echoed across the area.

Ah, ki, ki, ki! Silvan, you wont be smiling any longer! a voice called.

Wh-Whos there?!

When Ivan turned, there stood a monster, with a great cloud of smoke that made it look like he was carrying darkness on his back, wearing an ogre mask and a black cape. His alarming presence made some children burst into tears.

The monster thrust out his hand, and with a voice as deep as Ii**** Shouzou, he told Iwan, I am the head of the Black Group, the Great Evil Ogre Emperor Akki Taitei.

Akki Taitei?!

The Sparkling Dragon of Conquest

(Lyrics: Souma Kazuya; Music: Juna Doma)

Bathed in the light that has broken the night, its steel body shines.

Look up when youre in pain! The guardian of the world has risen!

Iron! (Bite!) Tail! (Whip!) Crushing evil!

Dragon! (Flame!) Spark! (Tornado!) Burning evil!

The sparkling dragon of conquest, Me-cha-dra!

Were you the one who wrote those lyrics, Darlin? Roroa asked.

Dont ask. Im tired, okay?

I felt a little embarrassed. Id written those lyrics while busy with my duties through a combination of impulse, inertia, and a general impression of, This was what tokusatsu songs sounded like, right?

Thanks to Juna making a heroic theme for it, it had just barely shaped up into something reasonable.

The bits where Juna and the chorus took turns calling out the attack name worked well, too.

Though, when it came to the Spark Tornado, there was just a name right now, and I hadnt decided on what kind of attack it was yet...

Once it was sure Silvan was aboard, Mechadra raised its head quickly. Silvan was rapidly lifted about eighteen meters.

Though there was equipment to fix his feet in place, it was frightening seeing him on what looked like a screaming thrill ride. However, Silvan went on performing like it was nothing.

Akki Taitei! Silvan roared. Mechadra and I will crush your ambitions!

Come to think of it, Ivan had performed a dynamic entrance from a high place the first time Id met him, too, hadnt he? They say idiots and smoke... No, he was probably good at working in high places. I was sure of it.

Go, Mechadra! Silvan called.

In time with Silvans voice, I had Mechadra imitate a roar and charge at Death Rhino. The two wrestled in a test of strength.

Maybe it was because of the dragon bones used in Mechadras construction, but Mechadra was more powerful than Id expected. If I didnt hold back, Id send Death Rhino flying in no time.

Grrrrrr! Death Rhino cried.

(Clank, clank!) was Mechadras response.

Once the two had pushed back and forth for a while, I looked for an appropriate time to give Tomoe the signal.

When Tomoe raised her arms and waved them around, Death Rhino collapsed with a thud. Then Silvan immediately gave the order.

Mechadra! Iron Bite!

Mechadra bit Death Rhinos head lightly, pulling off his helmet. With the helmet removed, Death Rhino suddenly calmed down, and cowered where he was.

This was to portray that Death Rhino was a mere rhinosaurus being controlled by Akki Taitei, and removing the helmet had set him free.

When Silvan saw that Death Rhino had quieted down, he turned to Akki Taitei, who had returned to where he was standing before at some point, and declared, Did you see that, Akki Taitei?! This is my power, and Mechadras!

Curse you, Silvan! Akki Taitei yelled. Ill withdraw for now, but I swear Ill be back for your head!

Leaving those words behind, Akki Taitei disappeared into a puff of smoky darkness that suddenly arose.

Silvan tried to give chase, but when the smoke cleared, Akki Taitei was gone.

Silvan looked up to the heavens and announced, Akki Taitei easily manipulated that gentle rhinosaurus. What a terrifying enemy. However, for as long as Mechadra and I exist, we will always foil the Black Groups schemes!

Then Mechadra slowly rose up in front of where Silvan was looking...

...and that was how the broadcast ended.

The program normally closed out with the Silvan Energy Exercises, but we had done them first this time, so now there were none.

While everyone was preparing to leave, I talked to Roroa.

How was it, Roroa? Think this is fine as a rework?

Hmm, I cant say until I see how the people are reactin to it, but... Yeah, sure, why not? Toys of Mechadra and monsters like Death Rhinoll probably sell. I think I can do some good merchandisin. Thanks, Darlin.

Roroa embraced me with a broad smile. I was glad Id somehow managed to meet her expectations.

Then Juna came over. Hmm, she had her head cocked to the side. But, sire, wont shooting it like this every time be a lot of trouble?

Oh, yeah, thats right, Roroa said. If we dont have enemies other than rhinosauruses, its gonna be hard makin merchandise, too. What other opponents were you thinkin of?

I wracked my brains. As for other creatures Tomoes ability could handle, there are wyverns and sea dragons, I guess. The shoujou are too small. Also, we could try having them fight Genias golems. Naden and Rubys dragon forms would work, but... if I make Naden a villain, Liscias bound to get angry.

Youd be makin the future second secondary queen play a villain, after all, Roroa said. We could try makin the same creatures look like different ones with accessories and such, but ya cant overdo it.

True... Maybe its safest to have the giant robot battles only once every second month.

With us having confirmed that, the day came to an end.

Later on, that giant robot battle became a huge topic in the kingdom.

Like Roroa had predicted, Mechadra toys, and even monster toys, flew off the shelves.

However, because of that, there were an incredible number of requests to see more of Mechadras powerful body.

In the end, we had giant robot battles once a month, and most the money made on merchandise went into accessories to put on the monsters.

Its no good, Roroa sighed. We may not be takin a loss, but we aint makin enough of a profit, either.

This business is totally living paycheck-to-paycheck, yeah.

Do... we have to keep doin this forever? Roroa complained.

It might be best to just give in and make a Mechadra costume and set, you know?

Yes, the tokusatsu program had become a headache for Souma and Roroa once again.

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