Natsu Kanna - The Child Mechanical God Ep 2
Characters: Kanna, Makoto, Keito, Kanata
Release: 25/7/2024
Proofreading: leen
Translation: seo-julie
Season: Spring
Location: Seisoukan courtyard
Kanna: Sigh⦠Senpai, you don't know anything, do you?
This is the latest sleeping device I developed, and I call it āSleep Peacefully Anywhere-kunā.
Keito: What's with that name? It sounds something like that of an unsuccessful comedian's name.
Makoto: (Hasumi-senpai, your straight man¹ act is prompt and precise⦠I need to learn a thing or two from you.)
Kanna: The name doesn't matter. It's not like I'm the one naming it.Ā
Based on the latest ergonomics research, this bed is perfectly constructed so that anyone can get a good night's sleep instantly.
In addition, there is also a function that increases the effectiveness of recovering from fatigue by several dozen times. If you doubt it, would you like to give it a try?
It seems like both of you couldn't sleep, just like me. If you use āSleepy-kun (abbreviation)ā, then you'd be in a dream in no time.Ā
Makoto: Ah, I might be a little interested.
Hehe. I buy all those latest gadgets even when I'll probably use them only once and then throw them into the closet.
Kanna: As long as there are such curious customers, my job will not disappear.
Makoto: Job? If you're at Seisoukan, doesn't that mean you're an idol as well?
Kanna: For the time being, yes. But my main job is something else.
Kanna: Calling myself an inventor might sound shady, but thatās what I do.Ā
Makoto: Ah, I think I've heard of it somewhere. I see, you're that "Deus Ex Machina²", aren't you?
Keito: What is with that name? It sounds like a name made up by someone with chuunibyou.Ā
Makoto: (As expected! Your straight man act is so good, please let me call you master!)
Keito: Why are you looking at me with such sparkling eyes�
Kanna: I didn't come up with that nickname for myself. "Deus Ex Machina" is not a very promising name.Ā
Keito: A mechanical god� Are you actually an ingeniously crafted robot that looks like a human?
Makoto: Ahaha, he does give off that same vibe.
Kanna: ā¦People often said that.
Anyways. Everyone, why don't you try using this bed for a while?
As an apology for causing you both concern, I'll give you two a good night's sleep.
Makoto: Ah, as I said earlier, I'm interested~āŖ Do I just lie down here? And sleep peacefully until morning?
Keito: H-hey, wait, Yuuki, don't be so careless nowā
(W-what? I was suddenly pushed from behindā¦!?)
Makoto: W-whaa, please don't crash on me, Hasumi-senpai! This bed was probably made to fit only one person!?
Kanna: āGood night, seniors.
Please sleep in peace. This way, you'll forget all the troubles of reality.
(Ah, huh? I, was I sleeping? Was it all just a dream?)
(That was such a strange dream⦠But, yeah, it had to be a dream. It was so unrealistic.)
(I had a weird conversation with a weird kid under the moonlight. It's a dream, and no matter who you talk to, they'll all say, 'So what?' Such a trivial story.)
Ahaha. I must be having all these unrealistic dreams because I play these games all the time. Stop having weird delusions, I need to face realityā
Keito: Yuuki! Are you there?
Makoto: W-whoa, what a surprise!? H-Hasumi-senpai? Is there anything I can help you with?
Keito: Do you remember what happened last night?
Keito: I wonder if that was a dream after all⦠A dream is a dream, my memory is getting hazy and I can't remember much anymore.
Didn't we see a strange machine and child last night?Ā
Makoto: Um⦠No but, it was a dream, right? But, huh, did Hasumi-senpai have the same dream as well?
Location: Seisoukan courtyard
(Sigh~... Looks like by interfering with their cranial nerves, I was able to erase their memories, but it seems like there was something I forgot to subtly erase.)
(Not yet, it's not yet perfect.)
(If the results are lower than what the developer expected, if the product does not perform the desired functions, then it is an utter failureā¦)
(Commercialization would be difficult. There's still room for improvement.)
Kanna: Is there something troubling you?
Kanata: ? Yes, well, you know, I like taking ācold baths³ā. But this, āseasonā is a bit too cold and I'm afraid I might catch a ācoldāā
Kanna: I see. Well then, why don't you try this invention.
This is called, āKettle that Makes Everything Hot-kunā.
(Humans find things that are alike in only appearance to be ominous.)
(This uncanny feeling⦠Even so, I too want to overcome it.)
Kanna: No⦠Sorry, it malfunctions sometimes.
Kanna: (As of this moment, not yet.)
(But, I'm sure someday...)
¹ The original word used for this was ātsukkomiā. It's from what I think is a troupe(?) known as boke and tsukkomi. Boke and tsukkomi are loosely equivalent to the roles of "funny man" or "comic" (boke) and "straight man" (tsukkomi) in the comedy duos of western culture. Which is why I have opted to use straight man for the tl.
² Deus ex machina is a Latin calque from Greek į¼Ļį½ø μηĻανįæĻ θεĻĻ (apò mÄkhanĆŖs theós) āgod from the machineā. The term was coined from the conventions of ancient Greek theater, where actors who were playing gods were brought on stage using a machine.
³ The original word used was āmizuabiā which literally translates to ābathing in cold waterā.