Good morning, Miss.
Good morning.
Hurry up, turn the page!
Ah, no, not yet!
Don't fight.
There.
Thanks to you,
it seems the commotion over the leaked videos has settled down.
The higher-ups are also relieved that you protected our national secret.
I'm glad to hear that.
The higher-ups have been rather pleased with the work you've done so far.
Really?!
Yes, you have been driving matters forward just as we hoped you would.
We hope you'll keep up the good work.
I will!
11. Plot Silent, Plot Deep
Goodbye, Sir!
Take care on your way home!
Sir!
I've almost finished translating volume 18 of Light Novel Diary!
Huh? Already?
I also tried writing my own.
Here.
I-Is this... an original light novel?
Incredible.
It actually looks like one.
Really?!
After translating so many, I had the urge to try writing one myself!
Light novels are fun to both read and write, aren't they?
Huh?
There's so few again?
Every time I place a big order, the total ends up a whole digit short.
It's no good if they don't do their job right.
We'll just have to make do with what we have.
Ah! I saw this in Akihabara!
I hope more things like this can make it to our world.
What's the matter?
Well, Matoba-san actually complimented me.
A government hotshot like him, praising a simple hikikomori like me...
It seemed kinda funny.
It's because you've been working hard, Master.
No, it's thanks to the help you've all given me.
Thanks to all of you,
so many of the things I love have come here and been accepted by Eldant.
I couldn't have done this all by myself.
Thank you.
It wasn't...
You've made a guy like me feel important.
I have to do my best in return.
Yes!
Elbia?
Did you pull another all-nighter?
Amazing...
This is Character Designer-class work!
Elbia, has your art style changed?
You drew things like landscapes before,
and your brushwork was completely different.
Really?
Lately, this is all I've been drawing, though.
And so, it's quite common to see
an ordinary man conveniently surrounded by lots of beautiful women for some reason.
Harem Works Light Novels
Hurry up and pass it on!
Higantou Vol. 10!
I haven't finished it yet!
Everyone's waiting for it!
Higantou Vol. 10
9 years old
That's right! That's right!
Here, now! We're in class! What are you doing?!
Pass it on already!
No! I said no!
That was troublesome, wasn't it, Master?
We're definitely lacking in the number of copies
of manga, light novels, and games we have.
Neither I nor the Japanese government ever thought they'd become this popular.
Come on!
You promised you'd weed the fields today, didn't you?!
I can't feel motivated to do it until I finish Cooking Mama 10!
You said the same thing the day before yesterday!
It wasn't my turn to have it yet!
At any rate, I'm not doing anything until I've read it!
Don't spew such nonsense!
What's so great about manga, anyway?!
Get your butt to work!
Which one was our student again?
Minori-san, can't you ask them to increase
the number of copies they import?
I don't know if it'll help.
What's he doing?
Translating a light novel.
But...
That's not normal, is it?
He's so absorbed in it, he looks like he's possessed.
Edward!
Huh?
Oh, Sir.
Are you all right, Edward?
I have to translate this as quickly as I can.
Everyone else is waiting for it.
Matoba-san!
No matter how you look at it, the current quantity is insufficient!
Can't you do anything to bring a larger quantity in?
I see.
So you're saying the citizens are
starving for more because there's not enough to meet demand?
Yes, that's right!
Isn't that splendid?
Huh?
They've displayed interest in the culture we brought here,
grown attached to it,
and now, they're so starved for more, it's negatively influencing their daily lives.
That's precisely the flow of events we've been aiming for.
Wh-What are you saying, Matoba-san?!
That makes it sound like we're...
You're an invader from another world!
Huh?
No way...
You mean I...
Yes.
You are an invader.
The vanguard of our invasion by culture instead of by military force,
Kanou Shinichi, is you.
You couldn't deploy the SDF on such a large scale,
and an economic invasion wouldn't work
between countries with different economic systems.
That's why we opted for a cultural invasion.
If the illiterate commoners learn Japanese before the official language of Eldant,
then Japanese is all they'll read,
and their values will begin to shift in our direction.
Then, if our Japanese government starts limiting our exports,
they'll be forced to comply with our wishes.
That is the ideal cultural invasion we have been aiming for all along.
That's why!
That's why you all...
Correct.
We've been using otaku culture to invade Eldant,
as a very effective weapon for invasion.
A weapon for invasion?!
What if this manipulation changes their values and culture?!
If you bring things they've never had before and force it on them...
Matoba-san.
Don't tell me that terrorist act was all...
No, of course not.
Though, we did allow it happen.
What?!
Now, don't be so angry.
Thanks to that incident, any criticism toward otaku culture was swept away,
and your school's been sailing smoothly ever since.
Aren't you ashamed to call yourself a human being?!
There's not much I can say to that, you know.
These are orders from the top.
This is why I hate government officials!
Oh, come, now.
Still, despite figuring all of that out,
you still haven't noticed the essential piece of the puzzle.
You're aware that this is all a national secret, correct?
In other words, anyone who decides to interfere with this project's progress
is likely to be disposed of to protect national security.
Why else do you think we dragged a harmless, useless person like yourself
into such a closely guarded national project?
Because I...
Because you had intimate knowledge of otaku culture?
Because we selected you for your potential as a missionary?
Of course not.
Cultural invasion using 2D culture was
nothing more than an experiment to the higher-ups.
Because they couldn't come up with a more effective method.
But...
But... But...
The reason I selected you, you see,
is because you fit the bill.
The bill?
That is...
Someone who wouldn't be missed if they disappeared from our world.
Someone who could be disposed of along with all the evidence if the need arose.
That bill.
Outbreak Company
Edward
Favorite Light Novel: Hitsugime no Choika Favorite Character: Akaru Akira
Outbreak Company
Zaharl
Favorite Anime: Dokidoki Curey Cure Favorite Character: Cure Cosetta
I'll give you a rough rundown, okay?
As far as our world is concerned,
this world is literally an untrodden land of untold treasures.
As of yet, nobody holds any claim to the rights
on their biological resources, rare metals, and so on, so they're ours for the taking.
But you can't mobilize the SDF.
Exactly.
If other countries were to find out about this, they wouldn't stay quiet.
Plus, this world contains "magic," a mysterious power we've been unable to analyze.
There would be too much risk in waging war against them.
So that's why you invaded using culture, huh?
And I'm the one who ended up as an accomplice to our government's plans.
Eldant was a nation without any recreational culture,
and bringing otaku culture into it would be
like dropping a biological weapon that rapidly spreads its infection.
It would cause an explosive expansion of its victims.
It would be an outbreak.
Minori-san,
what would happen if I said I wanted to quit?
At the very least, I don't think
you should bring that up in front of Director Matoba.
You now understand what you are,
and what you've already done.
Manga and novels have often shown
what the government does to people who learn too much, haven't they?
You're right.
But still...
What's wrong, Shinichi?
You look down.
Huh?
Oh, no, I'm not at all.
Really?
Well, like I was saying,
my people have clearly grown livelier with the introduction of otaku culture.
The establishment of your school has also gained a lot of support,
and approval of our rule has risen, as well.
It's all thanks to otaku culture.
My, otaku culture certainly is a wonderful thing.
It's cultivating insight and broadening our horizons.
At some point, I hope to present all of my people with the opportunity to learn it.
Even in politics and law, the ideas from otaku culture—
No!
Shinichi?
Why?
What's wrong?
Why would you say that?
Shinichi, weren't you an evangelist of otaku culture?
That...
Shinichi?
No!
I can't...
This has turned unpleasant.
The higher-ups won't stand for a delay in the project now that it's come this far.
Yes.
Some are even beginning to suggest that we replace him if he doesn't prove useful.
Please wait!
We're only here because of the work Kanou Shinichi has done!
You could even call it his talent.
You can't just replace him!
Koganuma-kun.
That's for the bigwigs to decide.
I hope you don't misunderstand me.
This is my own personal opinion:
Despite how it seems, I've taken a shine to him, as well.
So I'd prefer if he continued to work hard for us.
You can hear me in there, can't you, Kanou-kun?
You don't have much time.
Unlike your parents, we can't afford to let a hikikomori do what he wants.
You just need to continue helping otaku culture flourish here.
That's all.
Myucel?
Ah, M-Master!
Would you like supper?
Sorry, I don't have much appetite.
You can do it!! Go!
Shinichi-sama
I'm sorry.
I made you worry, didn't I?
I-It's okay.
Thank you. I'll have some.
Oh, yes!
Thank you for the meal.
You're welcome.
Myucel...
Yes?
U-Um,
I...
I'm an invader.
Huh?
I...
It might have been best if I hadn't come to this country!
It might be wrong for me to be here with you!
Um...
I-I don't quite understand.
My apologies.
I'm dumb and uneducated...
That's not...
But you're a kind person, Master.
That much I do know.
But what if that was all just an act so I could invade?!
Master, no matter what you do, you'll still be you.
Myucel...
Besides, because you came here,
I've learned to read and write.
I was able to enjoy manga and anime.
I was able to speak with our Empress, play soccer, act in a movie...
and I never would've seen everyone brought together if you hadn't brought manga to us.
All of that was thanks to you.
So, Master...
Shinichi-sama...
Please don't ever say something sad like you shouldn't be here with us.
I ask you, please...
please stay here with us.
Myucel, I think I've been waiting to hear that from someone.
No, not just anyone.
From you, Myucel.
Thank you.
I'm glad.
All right! I'll try and do what I can.
Both for me, and more importantly, for this country, as well.
Yes.
But before that...
I need to finish all these.
Just when I thought you'd finally come out of your room,
you suddenly request an audience with the Empress.
What are you planning?
I did a lot of reflecting and came up with a brilliant idea.
One to help further increase the spread of otaku culture.
Are you saying that you understand our policy now?
Yes.
Shinichi, what is this urgent matter you speak of?
Yes, our company, AmuTec, the source of otaku culture,
would like to present a proposal to the Holy Eldant Empire.
A proposal?
Thanks to our recent activities,
otaku culture has taken firm root in Eldant, as well.
As such...
Mhmm?
I believe it's time we made our own here!
Our own manga, light novels, and anime!
Huh?
By "make," you mean create manga and anime here in Eldant?
Yes.
If we create it here ourselves,
we won't need to rely on the Japanese government,
and we can mass produce and distribute as much as we'd like.
If we do that—
Hold on.
Kanou-kun, that—
What is it?
Would that trouble the Japanese government in any way?
Would there be anything disadvantageous if this nation
became self-sufficient for its manga and anime?
This... This exceeds your authority!
It's not my authority to decide.
That authority belongs to Eldant!
I'm merely making the proposal.
This is one of Elbia's illustrations,
and a light novel written by Edward.
Both works are already of marketable quality.
If more creators come forth with such talents,
there will be absolutely no need to rely on the Japanese government anymore.
But, Shinichi, are you sure you're all right with that?
Interesting!
What a truly interesting proposal, Shinichi!
You truly are a wonderful evangelist!
Myucel, I'm so glad I met you!
It was only for a short while, but I had fun!
Master, no!
Next Episode: Shoot the Invaders!
Please don't talk as though this is goodbye!
I'm sorry!
I don't like it either, but I can't fight it!
Not the temptation of our last episode!
But I want all of our viewers to enjoy even more of this work!
I know. I feel the same.
So let's give this last episode our best!
Let's make them all want to see more!
That's the one and only way for us to meet again!
I just need to do my best?
All right! I'll have faith, and give it my all!