Episode 74: The Romance of a Giant Bipedal Golem (5)
The new work, [Magic Armored Machine God Gigant & Knight], created both as the source material and as publicity for the project to bolster the Knights’ morale and prestige.
As one axis of a project begun by His Majesty the King’s direct command, it was drawn with utmost care.
“If the breastplate in front of the cockpit is too thin, it looks flimsy, and if it’s too thick, it looks dull and ugly, so it’s hard to decide.”
“Then how about making it jut out sharply?
If it’s neither thin nor thick, but protrudes forward in a point, I think it could give off an aggressive, intimidating impression.”
“The Gigant’s helmet absolutely must have a crest!
That’s what makes it splendid and increases its sense of intimidation.
Real knights do the same, don’t they?”
“Simply attaching a colored plume wouldn’t be very interesting.
How about giving them individuality by adding various types of horns?”
“What about wings, perhaps...?”
“I don’t think that will work. They won’t be able to move, and it will become too heavy.”
“Urgh, understood...”
“Instead, let’s make the pauldrons a little larger and add volume there.”
Centered around the opinions of Aria, the main artist, and decided through discussions with the assistant artists secured through the Publishing Guild.
Not only were the Gigants’ designs refined, splendid, and yet powerfully imposing.
“The protagonist’s machine will be a prototype.
In other words, I intend to set it up as the original model for all the other Gigants.
It will be an OOPArt made by an ancient magical empire, and the other Gigants will be copies of the protagonist’s machine.”
“Is there a particular reason you chose that setting?
Usually, wouldn’t a newly made machine be better?”
“The fact that it was made by an ancient magical empire can give it a sense of mystery.
We can also give it unique abilities that the copy machines couldn’t reproduce.
And we can include, all at once, the special quality that only the protagonist, who has the right aptitude, can control the prototype that no one else could handle.”
“Ah! I think I understand the feeling!
There certainly is something fantastical about ancient civilizations.
And the special abilities only the protagonist has are interesting too.”
The protagonist’s machine, which had been selected for the demonstration and would be manufactured in reality as well, was given special attention and a setting overflowing with the romance and cool factor of being a prototype.
After all, in this sort of genre, it was practically an ironclad rule that the protagonist’s machine had special abilities or was a prototype not just anyone could handle.
And most importantly, if we wanted to raise the Royal Knights’ prestige, emphasizing its specialness even in the setting would be advantageous.
For reference, there was also a planned development where the dormant ego of the Gigant would awaken in response to the protagonist’s will and become his partner.
“Let’s include an anti-war message here too.”
“Would that be all right? The Gigant is, at least for now, something the Knights will be using.
Wouldn’t we be criticized for going against the very purpose of the Knights’ existence?”
“No. Because the Knights will be using it, we need to be even more careful.
We can’t let people start seeing the Gigant as some all-purpose weapon and begin saying things like we should wage war with Gigants.
Especially since we’re planning to make the real thing.”
“Ah...”
And to ensure that no one harbored the wrong ideas or caused a major incident, I did not forget to include an anti-war message.
I knew that most mecha works, which served as the source model for the Gigant, tended to include anti-war messages as well.
‘I think I understand why they were made that way.’
Whether it was a Gigant or a robot, the moment people perceived them simply as powerful, badass weapons, they would inevitably become belligerent. That was probably what those works were guarding against.
His Majesty the King, the client for this work, surely would not want public opinion like that to spread and provoke neighboring countries, so it was content that had to be included.
‘Well, that doesn’t mean I plan to make the Gigant too weak or soft.’
Not the image of a coward avoiding war.
More like a deterrent that prevents war through overwhelming power.
In any case.
Perhaps because we had gone through such deliberation and discussion from many angles, putting as much of the romance and message of mecha into it as possible, the effort paid off.
The new work [Magic Armored Machine God Gigant & Knight] succeeded in drawing an enthusiastic response from people as soon as it was released.
—The steel giant Gigant descends upon the battlefield!
With splendid and dynamic action, it opens a new horizon for comics!—
—An expert analyzes the majesty a Gigant can display on the battlefield! The result: a god of the battlefield?—
—A message hidden within overwhelming military might.
Why the Gigant is not a weapon of war, but a tool of peace!—
“Damn it! I know a giant golem like this would have a hard time actually being active on a battlefield, so why does it look so cool?!”
“That is because you have realized the magnificence of the Gigant.
Behold! This enormous, refined steel giant!
Would it not be stranger not to fall for such magnificence?”
“Krrgh, I want to become a knight who pilots a Gigant too!
If I could ride a Gigant, I wouldn’t envy a Sword Master at all!”
“I don’t even need to ride a Gigant myself!
If I can just see a Gigant actually move and show its strength, that’s enough!
Author Wei! Please make the Gigant real this time too!”
People were overwhelmed by the instinctive awe inspired by the Gigant’s massive steel body, utterly different from existing golems.
And the heavy, destructive action scenes performed by the steel giant knight called a Gigant.
They did not seem like ordinary humans fighting, but rather like a recreation of battles from legends or the age of myth.
Of course, if there had been nothing but awe, it would not have been able to draw out such overwhelming enthusiasm.
Some might have felt alienated.
Some might have developed fear.
And some might have considered the Gigant’s practicality and usefulness, preventing them from becoming immersed.
The secret to removing that resistance in advance and allowing people to become immersed was, as expected, romance that stimulated something deep within their hearts.
Not just an enormous lump of steel, but the magnificence of armor decorated splendidly and stylishly.
The stories of pilot knights brimming with passion and romance, fighting to protect their homeland and bring peace.
And even the friendship between the protagonist and his self-aware machine!
All of it stimulated people’s sense of romance and drew them into the story.
To the point that the entire kingdom wished for the Gigant to exist in reality, and to actually move and display its overwhelming majesty.
And when that whirlpool of enthusiasm and hope reached its peak.
“Breaking news! Breaking news! They say the royal family has succeeded in creating a Gigant in reality!”
“What?! Is that true?!”
“Of course it’s true! If I got caught lying about something like this, I might really die, so why would I lie?
They even plan to demonstrate the completed Gigant in front of the people!
A knight belonging to the Royal Knights will personally pilot it!”
“Damn it! Arrange a carriage immediately!
We’re going to the capital!”
The royal family announced their successful production of the Gigant and their plans for a demonstration.
And as a result.
The capital ended up bursting with people.
***
The capital, already the most populous city in the Kingdom of Yustia.
After the royal family’s announcement, even more people gathered than during the Founding Festival, forming a literal sea of humanity.
“What?! You want me to pay fifty silver for one night?!
Even if this is the capital, does that price make any sense?!”
“If you don’t like it, leave. There are plenty of people besides you looking for rooms.”
Thanks to that, the cost of lodging in the capital temporarily increased severalfold.
So many people found it too burdensome or simply refused to pay, and ended up sleeping rough.
“...What should we do about this? Should we force them to lower their prices?”
“You think that’ll work? We’ll have no choice but to set up temporary tents near the capital...”
The officials reportedly agonized over how to solve the problem, then eventually declared defeat and set up a separate tent village on the outskirts near the capital.
In any case, after enduring even that hardship while waiting, the decisive day arrived.
Naturally, the demonstration site where the Gigant was to be unveiled was filled to capacity with people.
And even those who could not enter the demonstration site began to gather outside, surrounding it just in case, their numbers increasing by the moment.
“Whoa. It really looks like I’m seeing a sea made of people.”
“Pahaha! Isn’t that all because Author Wei’s work was so captivating?
Thanks to that, it seems there will be no shortage of cheers during my demonstration, so personally, I quite like it.”
“It feels strange for me to say this after drawing the people here, but with this many people, won’t you feel pressured during the demonstration, Sir Karoi?”
“It’s fine. If I were scared by that much, I would never have obtained the glorious position of the first Gigant pilot knight.”
The protagonist of today, who would face such fervent heat from the crowd.
The one chosen as the first Gigant pilot knight was none other than Sir Karoi, the first female Royal Guard knight, who had become a topic of conversation a few months ago.
In a short span of time, Sir Karoi had achieved two “firsts” that would change the kingdom’s history.
As if proving that she had not won those achievements in a game of Blue Marble, she was a knight with a body and muscles trained more solidly than most male knights.
I considered her a fairly good choice.
The symbolism wasn’t bad either.
Since her selection as a Royal Guard knight was one of the causes that had led people to cast doubtful eyes on the Royal Knights’ ability.
By taking this opportunity to show her skill and lend her authority, they could cut off any further room for attack.
And when I chatted with her briefly during the preparation time, she had exactly the kind of mentality and showmanship suited to an event like this.
“Ohhh! The pilot knight is boarding the Gigant!
It looks like it’s finally starting!”
“To rise halfway up with magic, then jump into the cockpit.
That’s exactly like the protagonist Hugo’s first boarding scene in the comic!”
“Krrr—! As expected of a royal knight.
To reproduce the original work so faithfully!”
You could tell just by watching her board the Gigant with an exaggerated movement and a bright smile.
Even though there was no need to go that far, she was recreating a scene from the comic and drawing cheers from the crowd.
‘Well, there’s nothing bad about livening up the atmosphere of the event.’
And when she entered the cockpit and poured mana into the core.
Vwoooom—!
The mana circuits engraved throughout the Gigant’s frame lit up, and it slowly began to move.
Thooom—!
With a footstep that rang out with a heavy sound, not only filling the demonstration site but even reaching the people outside.
The Gigant, modeled after the protagonist Hugo’s machine, “Savior,” from the original work.
Stood tall upon the earth of reality and looked down at the audience who had come to see it.
“...”
“...”
“...”
Under that steel gaze, the demonstration site and the surrounding area fell into silence, as if it had been a lie that moments before it had been noisy with people shouting in excitement.
They were overwhelmed.
The difference between seeing it in a comic and seeing the pressure emitted by an actual Gigant was like heaven and earth.
The spectators, who had thought they were already accustomed to the Gigant, had to reflect on their own arrogance.
What they were feeling now was the true spirit of a Gigant in reality, not merely something seen in drawings.
Even though, due to various practical circumstances, it had been made a little smaller than the original.
People were filled with such overwhelming awe that they did not even notice the difference.
The worry, “If this goes on, won’t everyone get scared and run away, ruining the demonstration?” naturally crossed my mind.
Fortunately, however.
That overwhelming silence did not last long.
“W-Wooaaaah! What is this?! Is this really a Gigant in reality? It’s way cooler than when we only saw it in pictures!!”
“Huff, huff. I thought I was going to faint just now!
I know it’s a Gigant made of steel, but I felt like our eyes met, I swear.
With this kind of impact, just appearing on the battlefield would make enemies busy running away in fear, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, it has to be at least this impressive to make it worth coming all the way from the borderlands to the capital!
If it wasn’t, I would’ve been disappointed instead!”
Soon, one by one, the silence began to turn into cheers.
Because that was a Gigant.
Not a monster, and not a real giant.
But a reliable ally piloted by a knight of the Royal Knights, guardians of the kingdom.
If such an incredible existence was on our side, what reason was there to fear it?
Rather, that fear was something the kingdom’s enemies should feel, and the people realized that this was all the more reason to be happy and relieved.
“Whew, looks like we got through it somehow.”
After confirming that reaction, I let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it seemed we had avoided the demonstration collapsing into a panic stampede the moment it began.
Seeing that they held such awe, it seemed the goal of raising the Knights’ prestige could also be achieved without much difficulty.
Of course, that was assuming the demonstration that followed ended successfully.
“Come to think of it, how are they doing the demonstration?”
They couldn’t just leave the Gigant standing there blankly and end the demonstration, so they had to show something.
But since the Knights said they would handle that part, I didn’t know the details either.
‘It should be starting soon. Did something go wrong?’
Just as that worry arose and I was about to check.
Graaaaaaar—!
Along with a heavy roar that could be compared to the Gigant’s own presence, my question was answered.
“Uwaaagh! What is that?! Why is something like that coming out here?”
“A drake? A drake appeared just now?
No, am I seeing this right?”
“Is this an accident?
Shouldn’t we be running away right now?”
“You idiot! Why would a drake appear in the middle of the capital?
Obviously, it’s been brought out as the Gigant’s opponent!”
From the opposite side of the Gigant, a drake, a massive dragon-type monster, appeared and began facing off against the Gigant.
“These insane knight bastards...!”
No matter what, what kind of lunatics capture a live drake just to make it fight the Gigant?!