Chapter 13

What do you mean, "world's corrective force!?"

A blue sky.

White clouds.

A golden sun.

When I look up at the sky, apart from the slightly different color of the sun, it's not much different from Earth, the world of humans. The air and gravity are the same as on Earth.

However, when I look around, the world is entirely different.
The terrain, consisting of ten islands, and the sea of clouds that covers them clearly show that this is not Earth. 

This is Fairy World, the celestial realm where holy beasts reside. 

The air is much clearer than in any city. The landscape, covered in nature with unfamiliar plants, is truly worthy of being called a sanctuary. 

It feels exactly like, ‘I’ve arrived in a fantasy world!’ 

My heart danced with excitement at finally arriving in Fairy World, and I expressed that feeling with a strum of my harp. 

But, you know... there are things I’m not so happy about. 

Here I am, sitting on a hill covered in grass. 

Leaning against a large tree, I can see the lush forests and the "sea of clouds," which is a characteristic of this world. In the distance, I can even see the central part of the ten islands, the World Tree "Sefirot." Even from here, it's massive. No surprise, it's the tree where the god Ein Sof lives. 

This hill, with its great view, is a good spot to detect enemy attacks if it comes to that, making it a fortunate landing spot after passing through the gate. 

However, the problem is... the only ones here are me and the protagonist of the original work, Akatsuki En. 

En-kun? He’s sleeping? On my lap, of course. Not for any shady reason—I'm just taking care of him since he passed out. 

...But how did it come to this? 

I mean, I get it.

Twenty percent of the blame is on me and Mea for not trying hard enough. The remaining eighty percent is that angel’s fault.

Let’s rewind a bit.

The reason En and I got separated from the others was because of an unexpected accident inside the gate.

While we were traveling through the air gate on Mea’s riding special move, "Lightning Garuda," holy beasts who had been tracking us suddenly attacked. That, at least, followed the plot of the anime.

That was around episode 17, right? En and the other five ride on the "Lightning Garuda," the power of Chesed that Akari released, and charge into the air gate.

But waiting for them there are the forces of the holy beast, the Element Wyverns.

En and his team are ambushed by the holy beasts while traveling through the hyperspace to Fairy World.

In an escape that resembles a car chase, they barely make it to the exit, but just before arriving, they are shot down by enemy fire, and En, Akari, and the other three are scattered.

In short, the moment they arrive in Fairy World, En’s team, tasked with protecting the envoys of goodwill, is forced to split up.

En barely manages to hold onto Akari’s hand, which he had been clutching throughout the hyperspace travel, so the early part of the otherworld arc unfolds from the perspective of En, Akari, and Chesed as a trio.

As they journey together, they deepen their bonds and learn the truth of the world of holy beasts... leading to an emotional story.

But in this world, there’s an original protagonist.

With the unpredictable factor of Chesed’s absence, there’s no need to faithfully recreate the original scenario that puts the Savers at a disadvantage.

Sure, if we stray too far from the original work, it might become hard to predict future events and things could get out of hand, but if I stick to it rigidly, then what’s the point of having an original protagonist?

I’ll take the good events from the original work, but I’ll destroy all the bad ones. As the mission of an original protagonist is to crash the depressing flags, creating a satisfying ‘What If’ for the readers.

As someone aiming to be the perfect cheat protagonist, that’s non-negotiable.

"Ugh… Mea, can’t you fly any faster?!"

"I’ll try!"

Riding the "Lightning Garuda," Mea was having a fierce dogfight with the Elemental Wyvern army that ambushed us inside the gate, just as in the original. While speeding through hyperspace at incredible speed, En and the others were beside her, unleashing fire and wind to keep the enemies at bay with long-range attacks. However, the holy beasts had the advantage in maneuverability in hyperspace, and soon the heat rays from their mouths began to strike Mea’s barrier.

Yard yare... I guess it’s my turn?

Up until now, I had been cheering them on by playing the harp, but it seems like my moment had finally come.

If things kept going like this, Mea’s Garuda would be shot down, and just like in the original, the team would scatter, or in the worst-case scenario, we’d all end up dead right here.

There’s no way I’m letting such a worthless bad end happen! Even if the haters allow it, Eight-chan won’t stand for it!

"Well then..."

"It's about time to start hunting... ♠" I thought with enthusiasm, stepping forward.

The moment everyone’s been waiting for—the beginning of the cheat original protagonist’s rampage.

Noticing my movement, Tsubasa gave me a suspicious glance.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Oh, I just thought I'd lend a hand."

Since I'll be adventuring with En and the others from now on, I need to show them my sincerity.

Besides... if I don't show off how awesome I am around here, the goddess-like person might start thinking, "That guy just acts mysterious but hasn't done anything..." and get mad at me.

I stored my harp in a pocket dimension and swapped it for my Phantom Thief Notebook.

I don't necessarily need to take out the notebook to use the stolen abilities, but having it out improves accuracy. I think it's because the action makes it easier for me to focus on "drawing out the power." In the world of "Fairy Savers," special abilities work similarly to creative activities—imagination is key.

Plus, fighting with a notebook in hand just looks ridiculously cool, right? Honestly, the benefits far outweigh the downside of having one hand occupied.

"Dark Barrier deployment... Synchronize with Dark Phoenix."

I wrapped myself in the same dark barrier I had used on Akihiro and the others, while summoning the Dark Phoenix and leaping onto its back. I was overusing the stolen ability "Curse of Darkness" that I had taken from a recluse girl. (tl note: curse here refers to spells that restrict one's movements)

I strengthened the barrier with dark power, blending in other various abilities to fill the space inside the barrier with Earth's atmosphere. This way, I should be able to move in this hyperspace as freely as I would under Earth's sky.

In short, I was using the stolen abilities to simulate the protection of Keter.

Knowing this was the point where I, the original protagonist, would intervene, I had been gathering usable abilities for this moment.

By the way, the original owner of this barrier was also a recluse. Is it just me, or do a lot of rare ability users tend to be shut-ins?

Though, in this case, it wasn't by choice—her overactive defense instincts caused her ability to go out of control, trapping her inside his own barrier, making it impossible for him to escape. A tragic shut-in, really... But, I’ll explain that in detail later. I’d rather not sidetrack too much and let this story stagnate, only for the goddess-like person’s fanfiction to be left unfinished.

I’ll save this kind of side story for a more relaxed time.

But now, it's time for the original protagonist to shine.

"Watch closely, Mea."

"?"

Of course, I wanted her to focus on piloting the "Lightning Garuda" carrying everyone, but I’ll show her one more time—the true power of a true cheat original protagonist!

...By the way, writing "TUEEE" as "TSUEEE" makes it look like you're saying "TS-ueee" which kind of sounds like someone recoiling from a TS. Just noticed, though it’s a completely irrelevant detail. (tl note: TUEEE is japanese slang for overpowered)

 





"Watch closely, Mea."

With those words, T.P. Eight Olishua jumped off the Lightning Garuda, a fearless smile on her face.

For a human to escape the protection of the holy beast and leap into this alternate dimension was suicide. Even before Mea could call out to stop her, Eight had already distanced herself from the barrier, cloaked in a dark aura.

But—nothing was happening to Eight's body.

She moved freely through the dimension where no human should be able to survive, dashing through the air and engaging the army of Element Wyverns alone.

Was this too a power from the stolen abilities? Or perhaps...

"Dark Sparkling!"

Before the others, who had grown increasingly suspicious, Eight unleashed a jet-black lightning bolt from her open notebook.

The lightning spread out upon release, chasing down the scattered Wyverns and precisely striking them down one by one. The ominous color aside, the power was reminiscent of the "Chokmah," one of the ten archangels who had once tormented the three Sabers.

"Eight-chan is incredible..." [Chouta]

"Aah..." [En]

Despite T.P. Eight Olishua’s notorious reputation as a phantom thief, her skills as a warrior were still unknown. However, seeing her power firsthand, Rikidou Chouta, an S-rank fighter from the arena, couldn’t help but express his genuine admiration. Next to him, En and even Mea, who was piloting the Lightning Garuda, were captivated by her movements.

She was taking on multiple Element Wyverns—creatures that would cause immense destruction if even one of them entered the town—all by herself and overwhelming them. Though they had fought wyverns once before, even before they had fully awakened, Mea, knowing their strength, couldn’t help but feel a chill at Eight’s power.

'Watch closely, Mea.'

Her words from when she leapt into battle flashed through Mea’s mind.

Just as she had said, Eight’s fighting style was as flashy as if she were putting on a magic show for the crowd. Every move she made imprinted itself into Mea’s mind through her eyes.

Watching Eight's wide array of techniques, Mea finally understood her true intention.

"Is Eight… teaching Mea how to use the power of angels…?"

Mea could tell.

Now that the angelic essence of Chesed had awakened in her, even though not fully, Mea realized that many of the techniques Eight used were ones she herself could likely replicate. While there was a difference between darkness and light, she figured that she could perform at least something like the lightning techniques.

Seeing Eight ride the pitch-black phoenix, every movement she made now appeared to be a lesson directed at Mea.

"I’ll keep going."

Even when her black lightning had paralyzed and slowed her enemies, Eight didn’t let up on her attacks. She casually raised her left hand and summoned three Dark Phoenixes ahead, launching them like bullets.

"Compounding・Explosive Flame…"

At the moment she softly chanted, the fired phoenixes ignited into crimson flames, their burning forms fitting their namesake. They crashed into the wyverns, one after another, setting their bodies ablaze.

For the Wyverns, fighting on their home turf in this alternate dimension should have been a significant advantage. Yet here they were, on the defensive against a single opponent. Their confusion was evident, and their growls seemed to express fear of the being before them.

"Grrr…!"

"You can’t win. I won’t take your lives, so return… to where you belong."

At her calm words, the Wyverns, their pride and scales shattered, shrank back completely.

It was as if they instinctively understood the difference in "rank" between them and her.

Superior and inferior.

High and low.

Mea, who inherited the knowledge of the angel Chesed, understood the nature of the power dynamic they were witnessing.

"Could she actually be, an angel?" [Mea]

The aura of "rank" was something different from what Mea possessed. It belonged to a true angel.

En and Tsubasa shared similar suspicions, but Mea's sense of it was more intuitive, a deeper understanding born from another perspective.

However, at the same time, Chesed’s essence within her denied that Eight was an angel.

There are ten archangels of Sefirot:

Keter, the Angel of the Crown.

Chokmah, the Angel of Wisdom.

Binah, the Angel of Understanding.

Chesed, the Angel of Mercy.

Gevurah, the Angel of Severity.

Tiferet, the Angel of Beauty.

Netzach, the Angel of Victory.

Hod, the Angel of Glory.

Yesod, the Angel of Foundation.

Malkuth, the Angel of the Kingdom. (tl note: all spellings of the names are taken from wikipedia)

Chesed, the fourth angel, had met all the other archangels, and as Mea had inherited Chesed’s memories, she knew what the angels looked like.

And none of the beings she had sensed from T.P. Eight Olishua matched any of those angels.

Even if Eight were in disguise, the archangels would be able to recognize each other instinctively.

Since Chesed's heart didn’t sense anything from Eight, she wasn’t one of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot.

...Or so Mea thought, but she wasn’t confident. Her thoughts were tangled.

"Mea, focus on getting through here for now."

"…Yeah."

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. Solving one mystery only seemed to give rise to another. Nothing made sense.

Following En’s instructions, Mea shook her head and focused on the path ahead.

Whoever Eight was, she was an ally since they had come together. And as an ally, there was no doubt she was incredibly reliable.

Thanks to Eight’s fierce battle, Mea could fully concentrate on piloting the Spirit Bird of Light (Lightning Garuda). With a burst of speed, they widened the gap between themselves and their pursuers.

"Alright, we’re good! Take that, you flying lizards!"

Rikidou Chouta’s crude shout echoed.

From beyond the subspace, a dazzling light shone through—the exit was near.

They were about to safely reach Fairy World. Everyone felt a sense of relief—until it happened.

“...!? Mea, dodge!”

“Huh?”

A violent torrent of light suddenly came from the side.

This was far more powerful than the wyverns' heat rays.

En was the first to notice, and he quickly stepped in front of Mea, releasing his ability, “Flame,” from both hands.

His flames collided directly with the beam of light, but after only a few seconds of resistance, they were overpowered, and the shockwave of light slammed into Mea and the others.

“Gahhhh!” [En]

“What the hell is this!?” [Chouta]

Thanks to Mea’s barrier, they narrowly avoided being incinerated, but she couldn’t completely nullify the attack’s force. The Lightning Garuda that was carrying the four of them lost control and was violently pushed back.

Before them appeared the figure responsible for the blast—a golden-haired angel descended gracefully, spreading her eight wings.

“Chokmah... no, it's different!” [En]

“Tiferet…!?” [Mea]

“What!?” [En]

The angel Tiferet, the 6th of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot, stood before them. Mea, stunned, stared in disbelief at this angel of beauty, who then raised her right hand and swung her scepter down.

Her beautiful eyes were now filled with unbridled rage, delivering a merciless judgment.

The light of that judgment engulfed the four of them, erasing their existence.

...If not for me, that is.

Well, I managed to protect them from fatal damage, though I couldn’t fully defend against the attack.

And so, we ended up separated, just as it happened in the original story.

Each of us was shot down to the ground, scattered far apart.

If I hadn’t hurried back with a teleportation spell and shielded them, En and the others would have vanished into the far reaches of the subspace before ever reaching Fairy World. Wow, I really saved the day! Go me! Yay, Eight-san is so cool—sigh…

What the heck... what the heck...!

The thrill of my triumph vanished! Curse you, Ten Archangels of Sefirot!

This wasn’t the outcome I wanted at all; two things happened that didn’t occur in the original work.

One was that it wasn’t just the Element Wyverns attacking us in subspace—one of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot came to personally kill us.

The second was that this angel turned out to be none other than Tiferet.

Tiferet, the 6th of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot.

She’s one of the few female angels among the Ten Archangels and is famous for raising the animation quality by several levels whenever she appears. I’m a big fan.

With her divine beauty and maternal grace, she was the epitome of a gentle soul, a symbol of angelic virtue. She had even fought alongside Chesed as one of the pacifists, meaning she was supposed to be on our side.

...And yet, here she was, trying to kill Mea and the others. It was terrifying. I was so scared I might’ve… well, I won’t say what, but you get the idea.

Looking back, it’s a miracle we survived. I’m honestly proud of myself for stepping in without freezing up when things went haywire.

But despite my best efforts, even my cheat barrier, created by combining stolen abilities, couldn’t fully withstand her archangel beam. We were blown away, separated, and scattered across the land.

If I hadn’t grabbed En’s arm, I’d probably have crash-landed somewhere all alone.

"The world's corrective force"—a phrase often used in self-insert fanfics about reincarnated original protagonist. No matter how the original protagonist acts out of line, for some reason, everything always ends up following the original story. It's that dull inevitability. Right now, I feel like I'm experiencing exactly that.

Somehow, things never go as planned. When I try to act wildly in line with the original, something different happens. But when I try to deviate from the original, this happens. It’s like all my efforts were for nothing.

I was just getting into the groove of enjoying my TUEEE self, but feeling down, I started playing with En’s hair, which was resting on my lap. That’s when I noticed a small creature had quietly perched itself on my right shoulder.

Oh wow, a Carbuncle! With that gleaming ruby on its forehead, you’re unmistakable! A legendary creature—definitely gives off that otherworldly holy beast vibe.

“Well... I guess this is pretty typical for me. Don’t you think?”

“Kyuu?”

“Don’t tilt your head in confusion. Here, let me give you a little rub.”

“Kyu kyuu!”

The adorable, squirrel-like creature lets me pet it without resistance. Ah, it’s so fluffy! This soft fur is exactly what my tired soul needed. 

Alright, let’s pull ourselves together, me. Since everyone fell just like in the original story, I can at least predict what’s coming next. 

Given that we landed here, the other three must have crash-landed somewhere else in this world. 

And… this is an opportunity. Yes, an original protagonist opportunity! 

Why, you ask? Because right now, it’s just me and the protagonist, En. This is it—the classic setup where the original protagonist gets dragged into the protagonist’s troubles. A true original protagonist moment!  

Since I got separated from the other protagonist character, Mea, I can fully enjoy being the original protagonist without any interference while it’s just the two of us. 

Hehehe, wake up soon, En-kun. What kind of cool original protagonist moves should I pull once he wakes up? I waited excitedly, eager to see what would happen next.

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