Chapter 85

Common Mobile Romance Games Only Keep You Further From Marriage…

(author: And with that uncoolness, here's my first post.)

(Hi, I haven’t disappeared. Thanks to me not uploading my files online and breaking my laptop, I’ve lost all my progress of the school projects I’ve been working on for two months, and with the deadline approaching, I’ve been really busy doing things again from the beginning to the point where I had to use my heavy-ass laptop on the bus, almost vomiting from motion sickness countless times. Anyways, I need to pass out now.)

Search term: “Sheriruth too strong”

The Qlippoth of the abyss "Sheriruth" displayed a magnificent rampage that didn’t bring shame to his introduction to the point that it wouldn’t be surprising if those words popped up in the suggestions after the broadcast. He didn’t need to display it, though…

Sheriruth appeared as a grotesque monster roughly 100 meters long──or rather, a kaiju? He was so big, sinister, and scary that it would be better to imagine him with the appearance of some kind of “evil god.”

His upper body, including the head, was fairly reptilian, looking like an orthodox dragon, but his lower half had countless tentacles wriggling creepily like an octopus, giving him an indescribable, blasphemous form.

As usual, his entire body was pitch black, but only his eyes were pure white, which made it even more frightening, as you couldn't tell what he was thinking. He had the kind of face that made you feel like communication was out of the question.

The Qlippoth of the abyss “Sheriruth,” who had suddenly resurrected from the Cage of Lucifugus in the depths of the earth, was not only dangerous-looking but also dangerously strong. So dangerous (yabai) that it makes one’s vocabulary become crap (yabai).

Right from his debut, he fully showed the power his looks suggested, barging into the battle between the Savers and the Ten Archangels of Sefirot, capturing everyone’s gaze.

Faced with such a monster... the Savers, of course, but also Chokmah and Gevurah, immediately discerned their priorities.

The archangels who had been hostile immediately made a calm decision, calling a temporary truce just for this occasion to deal with the monster. A development where enemies who dislike each other reluctantly form a joint struggle in the wake of the emergence of a third force is so good… Very traditional and satisfying. Malkuth, for example, blatantly looked delighted, which was heartwarming. Though she gave the conventional line, 『I’ve simply determined that the threat to us right now is that thing! Don’t get the wrong idea!』, no matter how you look at it, her movements were sharper than when she was fighting Tsubasa.

“Malkuth-chan might be a bit too honest for an island administrator, but when there’s an obvious enemy like the Qlippoth, she’s really dependable.”

Yeah. How do I put this, she gives off the vibe of a hostile magical girl right before she switches sides and becomes an ally.

They were now in a joint struggle against Sheriruth, but there was the problem of his huge size.

Binah-sama judged that if they fought here, starting with Heit, every nearby town would vanish without leaving any trace, so she immediately set the stage of the battle away from the island, provoking him into moving toward the sea of clouds and away from the island.

And that’s when it happened.

【...! ThAt fOrm... It’s fAmiliar! I sEe, yOu’re DAat's chiIIiild!!】

《!》

《What a scream...》

With a disgusting cry, Sheriruth took the bait.

Or rather, the moment Binah came into his field of vision, the previously unreadable expression showed rage, and without looking aside, he charged like an agitated wild boar. Uwah, what a terrifying face… That’s definitely gonna haunt me in my dreams.

《...It seems that I’m quiet disliked by him.》

《Hmm. Perhaps it’s because he’s not a fan of who sealed him away.》

《Then shouldn’t he be after you too?》

《Huh... you have a point.》

Oh, that’s right──wasn’t it the previous Binah and Gevurah who sealed Sheriruth here ages ago?

Watching Sheriruth relentlessly chase Binah, and Gevurah flying alongside them at the same speed while chatting, brought back the story Binah had once told me.

Every time an archangel reincarnates, their form and memories change completely, so naturally, them from back then should look totally different from the current them, but… Sheriruth was clearly aware of Binah.

Even while sealed, had he been watching the outside world? Or maybe beings on the level of archangels can recognize one another even after rebirth?

What’s do you think about that? Commentator Daat.

“Ahh… that’s, um… yeah…”

...Eh, what’s with that evasive response?

Why are you looking at Binah-sama with such an uneasy expression?

“I think the reason Binah-chan’s being targeted… is my fault.”

Why?

【DAat’s… chIld…? YoU birthEd a chIld… othEr thAn mE!!】

“...See? That’s what he’s saying.”

Hmm… I can tell he’s saying something, but I’ve got no idea what it actually means.

Adyeshach and that Abyss swarm we fought before also seemed like they were shouting something, but their wavelengths were so peculiar I couldn’t understand a thing.

If I seriously tried to listen, I felt like my SAN score would get shaved down hard, and it was kind of scary, so I’ve been trying not to pay it much attention, but… Daat, you understand them? Grandma really is amazing.

“Fufun, aren’t I?.”

So? What did Sheriruth-kun just say?

“‘You birthed a child… other than me.’”

Uwah…

“H-he’s the one saying it, so I can’t help it, okay!? I don’t even know how I’m supposed to react to that!”

Y-yeah, for real.

But sorry. I can’t say anything other than “uwah…” That guy’s emotions are like something straight out of a stereotypical dating sim. Are those tentacles actually a metaphor for feelings like that…? Run, Binah-sama, run for your life.

Still… could it be that the Qlippoth of the abyss are all thinking like that? When Daat went to “teach them love,” was it that kind of…

“It wasn’t, okay!? Those kids just misunderstood in a twisted way!”

R-right… yeah, that makes sense. That’s good. I almost ended thinking in a puberty-brained way there. I nearly had an outrageous misunderstanding toward Daat-obaa-chan.

Good grief… maybe it was an actual scream that echoed in this world, but I really wish they wouldn’t broadcast stuff like that in anime kids watch. Hardcore anime fans are the kind of creatures who will pile up research into every indecipherable language within the story until they finally arrive at truth, so it’d be a serious inconvenience if they took in a dangerous statement and end up causing Daat unneeded reputational damage.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m the only one who can understand the Qlippoth’s voice. ...I’m the only one…”

I see… that’s good, then. Binah-sama, who got mistaken for Daat’s child by Sheriruth-kun, was just mixed up by him, but it was lucky it was all in a language no one but Daat could understand.

…Though, it could also be said that it’s because she’s the only one who can understand their words that the relationship between the Abyss and Fairy World got so twisted in the first place.

But Sheriruth, the Qlippoth of the abyss whose character is obviously something from his words and action, saw Binah-sama and seemed to think that she was Daat’s descendant, and he exploded with tremendous anger and went on a rampage.

Sure, in the sense that they’re beings beings who inherited Daat’s power, aside from Keter, all of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot could be said to be her children.

Still, by taking advantage of the enemy’s lack of composure, Binah-sama and the others somehow managed to lead him up into the sea of clouds, away from the island.

Both angels and Savers, everyone had the common understanding to move while prioritizing preventing damage to the surroundings.

Each of Sheriruth’s attacks simply had range and power on a completely different level, and even though he didn’t have the kind of toxicity that Adyeshach had, he could seriously sink the island.

That evil god-like giant kaiju, Sheriruth, would attack and entangle its target with countless tentacles when approached, and if you take a distance, he’d just shoot beams from their tips or from his mouth, completely controlling the battle even though it’s many-to-one.

Even when facing powerhouses such as Chokmah and Binah-sama, he overwhelmed them as though they were nothing special.

Just his huge build and offensive power alone were insane, but what made him even more troublesome was his defensive ability.

His whole body was constantly shrouded in something like a dark barrier, and even Chokmah’s lightning was ineffective against that defense, and even against archangels and power of Fairy Burst combined, he still had the upper hand.

Adyeshach already had strength that seemed like it mistook the world to emerge in, but Sheriruth was beyond that. I shivered at just how they managed to seal a monster like that until now.

“Adyeshach was still in a growth phase, but Sheriruth was sealed at his heyday... The previous Binah-chan and Gevurah-kun probably thought he would be too much to handle if he reincarnated and grew even stronger and chose to seal him away instead.”

……I see. Truly, what a deeply terrifying being.

The calamity called the Abyss never dies no matter how many times it’s defeated, and after some time, it becomes stronger and is born again.

Thinking that such things are still in the World of the abyss really makes you realize that this beautiful Fairy World also exists on a precarious balance.

“I think the nuclear weapons in the world you were in are pretty similar, though…”

Well, yeah.

But still, we should never forget that behind someone enjoying peace, there’s always someone else protecting that peace. It a cruel story, but there are also those like Keter who continue to suffer because they can’t forget.

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Well, that aside.

Now that I’ve been observing this like an anime, a few suspicious points about the whole situation stood out.

For example, immediately after Charon-sama appeared, the seal on Sheriruth was broken. And when that seal was broken, we heard her voice say, “──The time has come.”

It was like an arrangement where Charon-sama broke Sheriruth’s seal. Like she was the final boss.

Supposing Charon-sama really were the final boss of Fairy Savers ∞, frankly speaking, isn’t that a bit too sudden? Sure, from my perspective, I’ve had various connections and even received help from her, but from the protagonist Akatsuki En’s point of view, she’s someone he has no ties with.

I mean, sudden final bosses do pop up fairly frequently in creative writing, but personally, I prefer when there’s a bit more of a relationship with the protagonist.

…It really wasn’t Charon-sama, right? The one who broke the seal.

“Yeah, I don’t think Charon-nee-san had anything to do with Sheriruth’s revival. But… she’s always been the kind of person who mutters meaningful things like that and doesn’t explain things enough, so everyone ends up misunderstanding her.”

Hey, hey, is she one of those misunderstood type original protagonist? As expected of you, Charon-sama.

Actually, with the whole mastermind-like series of moves, I bet En and the viewers are totally misunderstanding things. Even I would’ve definitely suspected her if I hadn’t known the situation.

“Looking at the seal at the time… I guess that it was already unstable for some reason, and the moment Sheriruth sensed my power overflowing from you, he couldn’t contain himself and sprang awake──something like that. That child’s tenacity must’ve shattered the Cage of Lucifugus.”

…Hmm? So it wasn’t Charon’s fault that he woke up, but ours?

Uwah… what a cruel truth. But this Sheriruth kid, doesn’t he Daat way too much?

Daat-obaa-chan, seriously…  whether it be him or Adyeshach, what exactly were you teaching them in the World of the abyss?

“...There was a lot going on, okay? As for Adyeshach, I think he was probably infused with weird ideas by Kaitzul. He was always the most innocent and childlike of the Qlippoth… so when I disappeared from that world, maybe he got lonely and went berserk. It’s all my fault…”

Ahh, yeah. I don’t feel like blaming you or anything, alright? I have no intention of giving a SEKKYOU to myself.

“…Thank you.”

Still, I’ve come to understand that the beings called the ‘Qlippoth of the abyss’ have a much deeper connection to us than I thought. Enemies with ties to a past life are just so good... My evil eye is throbbing. (tl note: evil eye often actually has nothing to do with the eyes. It’s usually goes something like, “I can’t contain the power in my right hand!”)

When I think of it that way, I feel sorry since that Adyeshach is seriously a pretty pitiful guy.

He was yelling all sorts of things at Daat, but since I couldn’t understand him, he died without being able to convey anything. Knowing that truth, I don’t regret defeating him, but I do have… all sorts of feelings about it.

“…He was grateful to you, you know. It wasn’t me but your words that saved him. Even if you weren’t aware of it, in that moment, you gave him what he wanted to hear the most. Let me thank you on his behalf, Eight.”

『Let’s be born again someday, somewhere. In a faraway world, not this one… and when that time comes, I’ll celebrate your existence.』 ── If I remember correctly, I called out that to him with those words using Telepathy.

Even thought I had no idea what was going on, I somehow managed to achieve perfect communication. As expected of Eight-chan.

Even so, what I thought at the time was not a lie, and when I remember how Adyeshach seemed happy in some way as he disappeared, I can accept Daat’s support with gratitude.

──Maybe the ones who truly wanted to be reborn were them all along.

As I watched the TV screen while thinking of sentimental things, the situation took a major turn not long after.

Sheriruth, undaunted by Binah and the others’ attacks, smiled sneeringly as he watched her flustered state and opened his mouth to fire a massive beam that looked like it could tear the sky apart.

The blow, overwhelmingly more powerful than any attack we’d seen so far, wasn’t aimed at them.

It was aimed toward the Isle of Understanding, Elohim.

Sheriruth, lead to the sea of clouds away from the island, clearly recognized what they were trying to protect based on that fact. With that, he was now trying to blow up Binah’s island, the one she was protecting.

“...!”

Binah-sama’s expression twisted in anguish at the wickedness.

His unexpected move made not only the everyone within the story but even us viewers stop breathing.

And in that situation, the only one who was able to move was Archangel of Glory Hod, who was in the closest position to Sheriruth’s line of fire.

Interrupting Sheriruth’s beam, Hod raised his great shield, deploying a barrier at maximum power.

As an archangel and a protector knight who protects the Fairy World, he did not move one step from that spot. Because he knew if he moved even a single step, the island in the beam’s line of fire, or at the very least the town of Heit, would be annihilated without leaving a trace.

The Archangel of Glory roared, and the archangels, holy beasts, and humans all cried out his name.

And then.

《The future of both worlds... I leave it to you, Binah.》

《Ah...》

As his full-face mask* shattered along with his armor, with a fleeting image of Mea passing through his mind, Hod burst open. (tl note: something like Kamen Rider.)

By using his own body as a shield, he had protected Binah’s island from Sheriruth’s deadly bullet to the end.

As he feebly fell into the cloud sea, Chesed-kun flew in from the direction of the island and retrieved him, but it was clear to anyone looking at him that he would not survive.

…Yes, that's how it looks to us too.

Hod would not survive.

“Awawawawawawawawawawawawawawa…”

“Calm down! C-c-calm down, Eight! I-it’s going to be okay! I’m sure Hod-kun and everyone else will be okay!”

Seeing the casualty right before my eyes ruffled me to my core.

In particular, Hod had survived all the way through the previous Fairy Savers, so maybe I had let my guard down, that it was impossible for him to exit the story here.

Since I was going through it with the filter of it being an anime from different world called Fairy Savers ∞, I had been able to perceive it to some extent, but now it felt like someone had just dumped cold water over my head.

This is... It may be something necessary, after all.

The existence that brings miracles──the power of an original protagonist.

Good grief, as I shook my head and tried to get off my ass, both of my shoulders were grabbed──by Daat.

“Don’t go, Eight.”

She told me in a clear voice. Just from the voice, I could tell she was wearing a serious expression.

She wrapped both arms around my neck and leaned into my back in a posture like an Asunaro* hug and whispered, (tl note: hug from behind)

“It’s odd to say this myself, but... you’re overprotective.”

Overprotective? About what?

“Even if you don’t try so hard, they’re going to be fine. Even if you don’t carry out any more tuning... the story they’re creating is already heading toward a happy ending.”

…Hmm.

Thanks to her body warmth, I regained a bit of composure and turned my gaze back to the TV, where the continuation of the anime played.

Over there were the two saviors who had “awakened” the power of supernatural abilities.

It was Rikidou Chouta, clad in an armor of ice, and Kazaoka Tsubasa, clad in a storm vortex. Influenced by the chivalry of Hod, who put his life on the line to protect the island, the two were awakened by the passion that stirred within their hearts.

Toward a new state of mind that surpassed Fairy Burst.

Eh? What the heck… Terrifying.

"It’s all... thanks to you guiding them."

Seeing their reliable evolution, Daat spoke happily… yet with a hint of loneliness.

"Hod will be fine too... I’m sure Mea-chan will save him. So it’s okay. It’s enough, Eight. Our role is already──"

As she said this, hugging me from behind, it felt as if she were sad that I might disappear from this place.

──I understood what she was trying to say.

I didn't hear it directly, but now that had become an original protagonist that had reached the limit, I could somehow or other grasp both her and Charon-sama’s ulterior motives. Because of that, naturally, I could see what I ought to do as T.P. Eight Orishure…

Exactly because I’m like that, I asked her one question.

"Daat... Between watching a story someone else created, or making your own story──which do you prefer?"

"Eh...?"

Casting a sidelong glace at Daat’s expression like she was hit by a surprise attack, an emotion like I had just successfully pulled off a prank welled up within me.

It wasn’t a particularly meaningful question or anything.

I asked it deliberately to break the increasingly serious mood──it was, for me, a question more casual than asking what was for dinner tonight.

(author: This year, I’d like to finish about three stories or so. (´･ω･｀))

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