Chapter 73

The truth of the amnesiac heroine is now revealed…!

(to prepare for our class's volleyball game, I practiced for several days, and yet I was still the worst player there)

Most characters with amnesia have an important setting to hold in the story.

In the first place, at the point it time when they have no memory, it’s like a declaration that “this character has a major secret!” meta-wise. Not picking up the foreshadowing until the end means wasting a carefully prepared plot device, which would be a waste. It would also leave readers with a sense of dissatisfaction after finishing the story, wondering, "In the end, what was this guy all about?"

So, I had assumed that Mea-chan’s secret would be revealed at some point.

There was the thing with Adyeshach, but you could say that the amnesia foreshadowing was still there.

But... she was Keter’s daughter, huh. That was unexpected. Even this Eight-chan’s eyes couldn’t see through it.

If I remember correctly, Mea-chan’s appearance after awakening to Chesed Power and gained silver hair and heterochromatic eyes resembled the white-haired Keter. Maybe her angelic appearance wasn’t just because she Chesed’s power dwelled within her, but because the angelic power she originally possessed was awakened by the influence of the Chesed factor.

Besides just her appearance, now that I mention it, her tottering way of speaking is kind of similar to Keter’s, so her true identity was surprisingly easy to accept.

But unlike me, En’s group, who couldn’t meta-read, couldn’t foresee that, and they were astonished by this revelation. (tl note: meta-read is “making guesses using elements outside the source material”)

"Mea is... your daughter...?"

"That can’t be..."

Mea, the girl without any memory that was rescued from PSYence’s research laboratory.

She carried within her Archangel of Mercy Chesed’s factor and the Qlippoth of the abyss, Adyeshach, and her true identity was the daughter of Keter, the King of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot.

Yeah... no matter how you look at it, there’s way too much put into her setting. She’s carrying way too much burden in that small body, and I couldn’t help but send her a look of pity.

Mea-chan shook her head, looking up at Keter with trembling eyes.

She couldn’t believe it.

But she couldn’t deny it, either.

I sensed a sentiment from her eyes that she had vaguely suspected it all along.

In front of her, Keter spoke in an indifferent tone.

『You haven’t heard from Binah, then. Your reason for existence.』

“Mea’s, reason for existence…?”

...Hm, huh? From the way he said that, that meant Binah-sama knew.

Judging from the reactions of the other archangels when they first met her, it seemed like Chokmah and Hod didn’t know at the time,  but now, when Keter spoke those words, Binah-sama’s face looked as if she had swallowed a bitter bug. It was as if aa hidden secret got exposed on purpose… it was the kind of reaction.

If it’s true, then Mea-chan is the daughter of the King of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot—that is to say, a princess.

Doesn’t... this make PSYence’s crimes an even bigger deal?

"...Was the reason the holy beasts started rampaging in our town because they were searching for their princess?"

"Are you serious!? That means, we’re the nuisance who tore their family apart, aren’t we…!?"

Great Detective Tsubasa came to the same conclusion as mine. Hearing that, Chouta, with his straightforward heart, looked visibly guilty, realizing that the Savers had gotten in the way of a parent and child’s reunion. You’re such a good guy.

Incidentally, I was put off by PSYence’s other offenses that has been piling up more and more.

Kidnapping the princess of the holy beasts and sending her off to a research lab… What kind of shitty, depressing doujin-like development is this? No wholesome protagonist would approve of this!

...No wonder humanity is getting attacked.

If all those sporadic holy beast attacks up until now were actually targeting Mea-chan, then this is getting increasingly troublesome.

At this rate, in the "Fairy Savers ∞" fanfiction community, human world anti-hate will end up trending...!

“You are… Mea’s, true… father…?”

『That’s right.』

Yes... In the fanfiction community, cute young girls are always justice.

Most original protagonists are lolicons, so of course, they side with young girls. Conversely, the harsher the plot of the original story is on young girls, the more likely it is that anti-hate fanfictions will increase.

I’m quite familiar with creative works where the original protagonist opposes the hostile forces in the process of rescuing a hapless young girl.

And that’s bad.

Even if "Fairy Savers ∞" isn't an anime I watched in my past life, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a reboot of my beloved "Fairy Savers."

No matter the form, it’s unacceptable to create an anti within this work.

But what do I do about this development...!? Supposing that really is the truth, any further sound arguments from the human side would be useless.

Well, there are things to point out, like, "If you were looking for your daughter, then all the more reason to stop attacking indiscriminately! She could have been dragged into it!" but still...!

In all ages, taking cruel actions out of love for one’s daughter have always been easy to sympathize with. Logic and emotions are separate matters. Right now, I’m also having a better opinion of the final boss after witnessing this new side of him, or perhaps I should say I’m kind of moved.

It’s such a nice thing to see a normally cold-hearted character showing emotion… it really makes you become fraught with emotion. I love that scene where Vegeta throws himself upon Perfect Cell, and situations where a delinquent is kind to a stray cat are still popular. This kind of cunning gap is connected to villain characters’ popularity.

As I watched Keter’s back with those heartwarming feelings, he noticed my gaze and spoke in a vexed tone.

『The attack on the human world is for a different reason. Mea is certainly a daughter I created, but... I do not possess the emotions you imagine.』

“Eh…?”

She tried to accept it even while in confusion at meeting her real father, but Keter looked down at her with cold eyes and said over his shoulder*. (tl note: saying without waiting for a reaction)

Hmm, this is… a tsundere—is something I can’t say. From the looks of it, he’s not just hiding his embarrassment.

The emotions we imagined──by that, do you mean familial love? If there’s none of that, does that mean...

『The Mugenkou is nothing more than one of the possibilities I once envisioned. It is a seed I sowed in the human world on my path in order to reach the seat of “God”... I never imagined it would grow to this extent and return to me...』 (tl note: Mugenkou is spelled using “dreams/illusions” and “light”)

…Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about.

I guess that’s expected from someone who’s continued being mysterious character for a hundred million years.

Even with Eight-chan’s intellect, I had no clue what Keter’s explanation, which wasn't even an explanation, was supposed to mean.

However, when I saw his gaze when he looked down at Mea-chan and his atmosphere, I immediately sensed something threatening.

Rather than a joyful attitude at the moving reunion with his daughter—his reaction seemed more like someone about to violently pluck off a ripened fruit.

And in the next moment, exactly like that—he casually reached out his right hand as if to grab Mea-chan’s delicate neck.

"What are you planning to do to Mea?"

──I stopped his arm.

At the moment when Keter was about to carry out an act of violence, an act that no one, including Mea-chan, could react to, without any emotion, I’m the only one who gallantly moved and grabbed his arm from the side with one hand.

Thanks to that, Keter's fingertips stopped just short, and Mea-chan's neck remained safe.

Seriously… I have to constantly be on my guard with him.

“Hey.”

Wow, I let out such a menacing tone... I'm terrifying.

Well, I can’t help it. Keter was clearly serious just now.

Keter had seriously—tried to kill Mea-chan.

It’s normal for that kind of thing to make anyone angry, original protagonist or not.

I'm not a lolicon, but despite how I look, I do like kids, and I consider Mea-chan a friend.

"E-eight…?"

"Mea, it’s okay. Leave this to me."

Mea-chan is an intelligent girl. She clearly understood that her neck was on the verge of being grabbed. Trepidation is clearly written all over her face, and in her eyes, reflecting her father (Keter), lies the color of despair.

Hey… cut that out. Don’t show that gloomy development in front of me.

Or I won’t be able to enjoy being an original protagonist!

“Just now, what did you try to do? Keter.”

『...』

I very strongly tightened my grip on Keter’s right arm, which I had seized, and glared at his face.

Because of the difference in our physiques, I had to look up at him, but right now, my mood was enough to surpass even an Asura. If I didn’t keep making fun of my own emotions in my head like this, I wouldn’t be able to stay calm… That’s how angry I was.

Even as he faced me, Keter did not break his indifferent attitude and responded.

『…I am only taking back what I have given... Don’t get in my way, Daat.』

"What you have given?"

What…? As your father, I gave you life, so I’m taking it back? What kind of toxic parent are you…? Terrifying.

I mean… I wouldn’t say Keter being a proper father is a misinterpretation, but it’s hard to imagine either, you know?

The reason I was able to move faster than anyone else, leaving out En and the others, was partly because of the preconception I had from my image of him from the anime, “Was Keter really that kind of heartwarming guy?” How sad.

If I didn’t have knowledge of the original work, I probably wouldn’t have been able to stop his violence either. And then, I would have let Mea-chan die without any resistance. With her neck in his grasp.

Seriously, what the hell…? Was Mea-chan a character who died in Fairy Savers ∞? Could it be that she’s in Akihiro’s position from the previous work…? That seems to be the case.

If so, I have to be careful.

Up until recently, I thought she was an original protagonist, so I wasn’t especially worried, but if she was actually meant to be the kind of heroine who gets separated from the protagonist through death, then I have to protect her. Saving characters of the original work is the mission of overpowered protagonists.

『Huh…? King (Keter)… Just now, why did you…』

『King, this is different from what you said. Didn’t we come here to retrieve the Mugenkou?』

Unexpectedly, we were not the only ones shaken by Keter's actions.

The Ten Archangels of Sefirot were just as astonished that he had tried to kill Mea-chan without any warning. Malkuth was flustered by the king’s unforeseen action, while Hod questioned him in a displeased voice from beneath his mask.

『Don't get in the way, Second Son. I can't fire at the king like this.』

『Stop this tomfoolery, Eldest Daughter. Are you planning to betray the king?』

『If the king betrays me, then I'll fire at him… and after that, I'll die too.』

『...As always, you’re someone with such heavy love.』

Binah-sama casually said some ridiculously heavy words and had the bow she carried at the ready to fire an arrow of light to pierce Keter’s back. Standing before her, however, was Chokmah, intercepting her line of fire.

Similarly, Gevurah put his body forward to obstruct the three Savers who were about to jump out at the same time. Even Gevurah himself cast a sidelong glace at the king with a puzzled expression. He caught Chouta’s fist, one that was likely meant for Keter, with his hand.

Their chaotic reactions… So, Keter didn’t properly explain to the other archangels, did he? That means this was an action arbitrarily decided by the king.

“You tried to kill Mea… your own daughter? Why…?”

Akatsuki En, a man who had originally joined the Savers for the sake of vengeance, couldn’t comprehend Keter’s actions, which is too different from the image of a father he had.

I feel the same way.

But Keter isn’t the kind of man who would do something like this without reason.

Seeing the reactions around me, I calmed down slightly, temporarily keeping control of my intimidation and questioned his true intentions.

"You’re not saying enough. I’ll ask again… Just now, what were you trying to do to my friend?"

『...Friend, huh…』

Rather than just not saying enough, Keter never had many lines even in Fairy Savers.

Because he was the final boss, he didn’t have many appearances, and while he wasn’t Eight-chan, he often muttered poetic and meaningful lines. That also made for great speculation elements, but standing face-to-face to him in reality, I really wished he would talk a little more properly.

So hurry up and explain. Hurry up!

I probably won’t be satisfied, but… not asking anything won’t do,  so tell me, King.

『…I suppose so… You are that kind of woman. That's why you're stopping me…』

…Huh? If you try to kill Mea-chan, of course I’d choose to stop you. What are you even saying?

Whether she’s an original character or a character of the original work, she’s a friend of the Savers now. I personally like her, and as I said earlier, I consider her a friend. Don't underestimate the relationship we share after bathing together.

I don’t know what you, as her father, know about her, but there’s no way I’m going to stay silent and let her be killed just for your convenience.

“…Eight…"

There, there. Don’t be scared… No, that’s really treating her too much like a child.

But right now, Mea-chan is so shaken by the series of shocking events that she looks like she’s about to faint. Her pupils are dilated, and her complexion is terrible.

This is… If I don’t take care of her properly, this is going to leave an aftertaste.

"Chesed, take care of Mea."

『...Understood.』

I stroked the anxious-looking Mea’s head with my left hand while my right hand was still gripping Keter’s arm and looked him in the eyes once again. I ended up glaring at him, but given who I was dealing with this time… there was a limit to how much I could show my composure

Then, silence fell, and then a few seconds.

Keter alternately looked at Mea and me, then, with slightly sorrowful eyes, he opened his mouth.

"…Very well. I had intended to not say anything as a mercy, but if this is the request of a Primordial Archangel, then it can’t be helped."

Good. Explain.

Even I couldn’t afford to be composed this time, my wariness uncovered, but even while receiving my gaze, Keter remained unperturbed and began speaking in an undaunted manner.

『Mugenkou Mea is an existence I created in order to obtain the power of Fairy Burst. Based on the genes of the ‘Kabbalahs,’ the only humans that once flourished in this world, I poured into her the Sefira’s power and created* her──a sacrifice.』(tl note: created here can mean “Creation of God”)

And with his mouth, surging waves of revelations poured forth.

It was a development that made me realize the story had reached its climax.

──And after his explanation more or less ended, before long, a Super Smash Savers brawl began in this place shortly thereafter… I think it was probably inevitable.

(author: T.P. Eight Olishua, the theory that it’s possible to do something original protagonist-ish when the situation doesn't make it possible to feel good being one… I think it’s true.)

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