Shop 10: A Living Statue

We're here! A hobby shop!

Hmm. It's a little more elegant in here than I'd imagined...

But the important thing is, they've got the goods I want.

So, the kodomo gloves are coming off! I'm gonna search every nook and cranny of this store for what I want, and I'm not even gonna look at the price tags!

Oh man, they really do have a ton of great stuff here. I don't know what to look at first.

？！

Exactly! And this is still a general purpose variety store. Just imagine what we might find at a specialty shop!

Akihabara is turning out to be everything I dreamed of and then some!

Hmm...

(She's staring at those superhero figures really intently...)

I see you are quite taken with those.

Does this mean the modern world's models interest even a statue from the very Age of Gods like yourself?

They do. We may come from different time periods, but the act of creating three-dimensional art by hand remains unchanged.

I find both the method of these models' construction and their underlying concepts fascinating.

These dolls' bodies seem to pulse with energy almost as if they were flesh and blood. I can feel their determination to defeat their enemies.

They must have been made as offerings to Ares or Athena.

I...don't think that was the intent, no.

I am also tremendously impressed at how this maker was able to make so many identical copies.

Whoever this person is, they deserve the very highest praise.

Um, that praise is probably better directed at the industrial methods Edison helped pioneer than an individual maker... Though I guess it is true that a skilled modeler had to make the original in the first place.

Even in the modern world, there are people creating magnificent works of art. Even I, an ancient sculpture (read: human), can sense its sheer quality.

It's a very strange sensation, but not an unpleasant one.

Umu, that is the entire purpose of art!

Good things are good, regardless of the times or forms assumed! Indeed, I feel the same about today's pop music!

Okay, let's see what we've got here... Huh?

I just heard it, too. What's going on over there?

All right folks, today's your last chance to sign up for our model building contest!

Don't worry, latecomers are still welcome to join, and you're free to make any kind of model you like!

Plastic models, trash sculptures, dolls, marionettes... Any three-dimensional forms are okay as long as you're proud of them!

And what's more, today's judging will be conducted live and in person!

？！

Oho. Then we cannot pass up this chance.

We must collect enough points to become high-level wishmen as soon as possible, after all.

Now, how can we go about winning this event...?

So this store is holding a contest to see who can make the finest model? Then I'll do my best to win it.

I've only received rudimentary sculpting lessons from my beloved king, but he is still one of the greatest sculptors of all time.

Since I can't help with the shopping, I would like to contribute when my strengths are of use.

？！

Now, what should we use for a motif?

Well, it's gotta be something sugoi enough to win the contest. Maybe there's one kind of model in particular the judge has a fondness for. Hmm...

Let me help!

？！

I overheard your conversation, and I would like to offer you this item I purchased here earlier today.

Heh... It reminded me so much of my Trojan Horse that I couldn't help but be taken by it.

A plastic model robot! I mean, it's kakkoii and all, but how's it going to help us!?

I took a look at the other entries in this contest, and most of them were plastic model robots of this nature.

So I suspect that this sort of thing may be what most appeals to this particular judge.

I see. Well, if that is what an expert tactician like yourself thinks, then we would do well to heed your advice.

So this is a plastic model. I was actually wondering about these.

It is fascinating how their many modest parts combine to form one cohesive whole.

If such a model would help us in the contest, then I would like to try my hand at one. Would you mind if I

Not at all. Please, you're welcome to use it as you like.

Thank you. That said...I've never made a plastic model before, so I'd like to have some materials I'm more familiar with on hand, too.

Well, it looks like you can get some sample clay for free over in that arts and crafts corner.

Though they don't give you very much.

Perfect. I won't need much clay, so that sample amount should suffice.

All right, let's get to work.

Nani!? What's with the baggy new outfit!?

These are my work clothes. You need to be careful when sculpting with blades, after all.

Only thirty minutes to go until contest submissions close! Those of you who haven't submitted your entry yet may want to hurry up!

Uh-oh. Did you hear that? We've only got thirty minutes.

That should be enough. All right, everyone, please stand back a bit. I'm going to use my chisel.

Whoa, she used that huge chisel to take each part out of the runners simultaneously, and the edges are perfectly smooth!

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You can see it coming together right before your eyes!

There. ...Oh, I see... How's this?

Huh!? I thought she had finished it, but now she's cutting off more parts. Is that okay?

You're putting your own personal spin on it!?

Wait. That actually fits the source material great... How did you know to do that when you've never seen the series?

This is what the model wanted.

Majireally? Wow, you're like, a plastic model whisperer or something.

That should take care of the model. Now, for the clay.

She's molding the clay into a new shape... Oh! What an adorable little bird.

It's so lifelike I can almost hear it chirping.

This does bring back memories. I used to practice my sculpting skills by making birds all the time.

That's great and all, but we're almost out of time! Come on, let's hurry!

All right, it's time for the final entry!

Let's see what our judge thinks of the incredibly plainly named "Robot and Bird"... Huh?

Wh-what the!? This model, it's...

It's moving!?!?!?

The flourishes she made to the robot were perfect enough on their own, but she outfitted it with moving parts, too!? That's the most hardcore modeling I've ever seen!

And it's not just moving aimlessly...I think it's actually telling a story!

A battle-weary military robot meets a small bird in the woods, where they have a brief but heartfelt moment before going their separate ways.

Just look at the way the bird's posed on the robot's shoulder! You can practically feel the drama!

Ulp. I can almost see the credits rolling...and hear the touching musical score. It's making me tear up...

Y-you there! What kind of mechanism did you use for this!?

Mechanism? What else?

Love.

So deep... It's so simple, but so deep!

Right. Of course! You could never make something as masterful as this without real love!

... We have a winneeer!

？！

I mean, that WAS super impressive, but I still wanna know how you got them to move like that.

King Pygmalion once gave me life by sculpting me with incredible love.

The fact is, love can breathe life into anything, even inorganic matter.

All I needed to make those models were the techniques King Pygmalion taught me...

...and this chisel imbued with the power of the gods.

I-I see. That, um, seems like a really incredible ability.

Not at all. It ultimately comes down to the same power of love everyone possesses. As long as you have love in your heart, any of you could do the same thing.

Majiriously?

I wonder if that means the Ma-chan figure I've been making in secret is gonna start moving on his own then.

Oh yes. Dolls, statues, and other inanimate objects can come to possess life as long as you truly love them.

That's what happened to me, after all.

(Oh...duh. She's just taking her situation and applying it to everything, Berserker-style.)

That said...what I've done here is just a fascimile.

I suspect it's very close to what you call "familiars."

I can't give life to anything sizable...

And nothing I bring to life can speak or think for itself.

Small creatures like this bird are the best I can do.

...I see. Which gets back to why you are doing this, does it not?

Yes. My skills are no match for my king's, so this is all I can do with them.

The only one capable of giving life to all the many dolls walking around Akihabara...

...dolls that seem to think and act on their own as well as experience emotion...is King Pygmalion.

I'm certain that only his boundless love and god-recognized talent could have accomplished something like this.

At least, that is what I think.

So that's why you guessed he's the King of Figures.

Hmm. Makes sense to me.

Okay then, let's keep buying ALL the things so we can meet with the King of Figures as imasugu as possible!

Oh, by the way, how come the model and clay bird you made aren't moving anymore?

Because I made them in a hurry. Sadly, it seems their lives were fleeting.

Hmm. Now what should I do with them? If I had a workshop here, I would leave them there.

Actually, would it be all right if I added the plastic model to my collection?

It looks even better like this than it does on the box.

Yes, of course. These materials belonged to you, anyway.

That just leaves the bird...

Well, if you don't mind, may I have it?

Are you sure? It really is just an ordinary bird. I don't believe it has any artistic value.

It's not ordinary at all. I think it's really cute.

As for value, well, I feel like it is a physical representation of everything that happened today.

It'll be a memento of how we met.

I see... Thank you. I disagree with your appraisal of its value, but I'm glad you're willing to give it a good home.

There.

(...I wonder if Voyager will like it too? I'll have to show it to him sometime.)

At any rate, we now have a great deal more points than we did before. Well done, Galatea!

Now, let us keep this up until we are all high-level wishmen!

Ooh, they've got takoyaki here! Let's grab some takoyaki, Paisen!

For real? Didn't we just finish those crepes, like, five minutes ago?

That doesn't count. Everyone knows there's always room for dessert, even if you just had some!

I don't think it works that way... But, fine, whatevs.

Man, this place is great! It's even livelier here than it is at Kiyomizudera on festival day!

And these anime songs they're blasting on the loudspeakers aren't half bad, either!

Plus, it's been a real fun change of pace walking around while we pig out with our new gal pals!

Ah. Are you sure you want to eat that in one bite?

My serpentine infrared-sensing pit organs are telling me those are really, really hot.

Huh? (Said while popping a takoyaki into her mouth)

Gaaah, you're right! It's scalding! (Sucking in air to cool her mouth)

Here, have some water.

(Glug, glug!) Phew, thanks.

I was NOT expecting these to be so hot! And here I thought I was used to heat from all the piping hot rice I used to have in Yamataikoku! Man, the future's amazing!

Takoyaki are good civilization, but eating them in one bite is bad civilization that must be destroyed.

Whoa, you cut 'em all in half! Even the octopus inside!

Here, let me thank you by giving you a bite. Say "ahhh."

...Ahhh.

But you know, there's some real nice civilization about chowing down on takoyaki when it's burning hot, too. It's a tough call.

Yes, it is. It can be very difficult to tell good civilization apart bad. I am still not sure where I come down on Akihabara... (Sucking in air to cool her mouth)

Takoyaki's delish and all, but it's always, like, a real pain to check your teeth for seaweed flakes after.

Say, how come Murasaki isn't here? Didn't you invite her?

Kaorucchi? 'Course I did.

I even told her it'd be the perfect place to show off her new Spirit Origin with the sailor uniform.

But...

I-I couldn't possibly!

I, um, I didn't intend for this outfit to be cosplay, but I know that's how others may perceive it!

And in Akihabara, with the exception of special events...

Cosplay is prohibited!

While I can understand that you may not be aware of that, since many people today are under the mistaken impression that Akihabara is still a cosplay-friendly town, that is neither here nor there, and speaking as one of Master's Servants, I believe it behooves us to conduct ourselves with elegance and dignity at all times, not to mention that I have no place partaking in such an event, so please, go enjoy yourselves and don't worry about

...Or something like that.

Huh. So then, like, what about my outfit? Does that count as cosplay?

Hey, I tried, but when Kaorucchi gets in one of her serious moods, hang it up. Show's over.

Although...who knows? Maybe she found her way here in the end?

Behind her assured smile, Nagiko knew for certain that no one who loved stories as much as Kaorucchi could possibly stay away from a place like this.

Hm?

Oh gosh, oh gosh! I can't believe we ended up in the same crowd... And just when my Taizan Commentary Fest happened to slip out for the first time in a while, too!

Everything okay?

Nah. It just occurred to me it might be harder to buy certain kinds of books when you're with friends, is all.

Anyway, as long as everyone's having fun, that's all that matters! So let's just make the most of this trip, yeah!?

Whoa, there's a gorilla on that curry restaurant sign! Is that their cook or something?

You know, for someone who's, like, known for their writing and stuff, it seems like you care way more about food...