Chapter 74

Handling the Final Boss of the Original Work is Extremely Difficult (sorry it's late. 5000 words is no joke. The fact that it's so damn h

Handling the Final Boss of the Original Work is Extremely Difficult

(sorry it's late. 5000 words is no joke. The fact that it's so damn hot doesn't help either.)

──Let me start with the result. The discussion has broken down.

Looking around me… The enraged members of the Savers and the angels are matching up all over the place, and in the sky above Heit, people that transcend human understanding were falling into a battle royal. The spectacle was far more flashy than any fireworks display, and if I were just a viewer watching from behind a screen, I’d probably be excited without worrying about it.

But this world was reality unfolding right before my eyes. And that made this situation not something to be excited about.

Seriously… Yare yare daze.

Standing at the center of this riot, Eight-chan couldn’t help but let out a sigh just like one of those protagonists who get dragged into trouble.

Behind me stood a girl who has been left in a stupor after learning the shocking truth, and next to her, a small bird was strenuously calling out to her.

And right in front of me stood a ten-winged archangel, a cold-hearted gaze harbored in the depths of his diamond-like eyes.

『...So the final obstacle standing in my way is you, huh...』

I don’t know how much emotion is packed into those words he murmured so emotively.

But from my perspective, this situation… "Confronting Keter, the final boss of Fairy Savers" was a development I had anticipated ever since I was thrown into this world.

"I knew. That the moment when you and I would clash would arrive."

『...I suppose so...』

I’m not a feminist, but to an original protagonist, all beautiful girls are equally precious.

But fighting to protect a single girl──there is no better situation when challenging the final boss.

No matter the era, the protagonist is someone who will rise for the sake of just one girl.

And so, imitating the large number of original protagonists I’ve read about, I decided to face him with all my might.

Opening the Phantom Thief Notebook in my left hand, I stored my cape in my Item Box while simultaneously spreading out my ten wings.

It was the unveiling of my Charon form, where white and black wings blended together in what looked like the strongest. Adjusting the angle so that the morning sun illuminated me from Keter’s side, making me appear divine, I struck a stylish pose with a sharp expression.

Watching me, Keter calmly raised his hand toward the empty space.

『...Come, King's Cross Scepter.』

A magic circle spread out in his hand, and in the next moment, a staff was dragged out from within.

The white staff, shaped like a cross, seemed to exude very divine power.

Its color and name were quite simple, but for that reason, it didn’t give an unadorned vulgar feeling but a magnificence befitting an archangel’s weapon.

Seeing that weapon made me smile without thinking.

──I don't know what that staff is… But it looks really cool…!

By the way, in the Fairy Savers anime, for various reasons, there was no scene where the original Keter fights seriously.

This white cross staff he just pulled out wasn’t in the original work. I was seeing it for the first time.

This wasn’t something I should be thinking in this serious situation, but… I realized I was getting excited about the fact that I’d be fighting him one-on-one.

"Now, let's do this!"

『...Yeah.』

As a substitute for a proper greeting, I fired an Eight-chan Beam from my right hand, and Keter, not wanting to be outdone, launched an extremely thick beam from his cross staff.

The two artillery fires collided head-on, equal in power, erupting into explosive flames as they canceled each other out.

──This was a matchup between fellow cheat characters, Keter and me.

…Yes. I’ll properly explain how it became like this.

This kind of "let's go back a little in time" rewinding format can be very easy for the author to write as it brings the most important scene of the episode to the beginning, making it so that the development can advance forward soundly.

However, it’s weakness is that if overused, it can jumble the timeline in the reader's mind and making it hard to read. Following the dosage and administration is important.

That being said, this time, I’ve deliberately omitted the detailed conversation.

The truth that Keter told us──it wasn’t a matter that felt good to talk about in detail, and more importantly… Keter’s phrasing was a bit roundabout, making it difficult for modern people to understand!

So, I’ll grasp the key points from his explanation and reminisce.

Fufun, you should be grateful to this considerate original protagonist!

First, about Mea-chan’s true identity──she was a sacrifice created by Keter, for Keter.

It was ten years ago.

Knowing human supernatural ability users were the only beings who could completely defeating the Abyss, Keter secretly carried a certain project forward.

That was called the "Mugenkou Project."

Since he harbored strong distrust toward humans, what he pursued was the means to eradicate the Abyss with his own hands without relying on humans.

Yes… he was searching for a way to obtain the power of "Fairy Burst" for himself.

To study the existences unique for holy beast, called supernatural ability users, he turned his attention to the ancient “Kabbalah Tribe,” who once built a great civilization in this world.

It was said that this tribe was the only "human tribe" that ever existed in the history of Fairy World. They had gone extinct long ago, and now, only their genetic information remained, preserved within the World Tree Sefirot, but… it seems Keter has made use of that.

I had heard the name "Kabbalah Tribe" before from Binah-sama.

She said that they also created the "Wisdom of Kabbalah." But I never knew that they were actually humans like us. So humanity existed in this world too, huh. Even though it looks like they’ve already gone extinct…

…And so, using the genetic information of the Kabbalah Tribe preserved in the World Tree as the basis, Keter created an artificial human that has been infused with his own power. His explanation made me imagine that it was something like cloning technology, but it was probably like that in general.

In any case, he succeeded in artificially creating an obedient and cooperative supernatural ability user.

As the prototype, he took a character from the name of the Mugenkou Project and named her "Dream (Mea)." (tl note: spelled as “夢/dream” but read as “Mea”)

In other words──Mea-chan wasn’t a modified human from PSYence, but an artificial human made by Keter.

And as for why such a being wasn’t in Fairy World, but instead in the human world… Keter admitted that was also his doing.

Although she was the first artificial ability user to be born, Keter called her a defective product, one whose power fell far below expectations.

『At the time of her birth, Mea was not enough to be the Mugenkou that would bring me to evolution. That girl had no emotions… and therefore, she couldn’t even draw out half the power I granted her. Naturally, she never reached Fairy Burst either』

“...”

What Keter sought from his handmade artificial ability user was  the power of Fairy Burst that could annihilate even the Qlippoth of the abyss. But the prototype whose output was far below what he sought, was established to be a fatally defective product.

Then, Keter understood.

The power of a supernatural ability user is closely related to the emotions they hold──their heart. Just the discovery of this fact may have been an accomplishment in Keter’s research.

And so, Keter thought once more.

How do the supernatural abilities operated by humans differ from their sacred arts? …What exactly is the "Fairy Burst" that the Holy Dragon Ein Sof seeks?

To obtain the necessary data once more, Keter decided to conduct a survey.

For this purpose, the one chosen as a reconnaissance terminal was Mea-chan, who possessed the same appearance as a human. She, whose body would yield only the result that she was human no matter how much she’s examined, was a defective flop considering her original purpose, but as a top-secret surveillance agent*, she was the most suitable one. (tl note: literally means “surveillance aircraft”)

Thus, he released her into the human world. Her role may have been somewhat similar to the ancestor carbuncles that Binah-sama spoke of.

However, once she was sent to the human world, an unexpected irregularity occurred to her.

Within Mea, a strong "emotion" was born, something that did not exist at the time of her birth.

The abduction and modification from encountering "PSYence."

The erasure of memories related to the project, which functioned as a defensive measure.

The repeated irregularities, the peaceful life she began in the Mitsui household after her reset, that caused the “emotions” that originally did not exist within her to sprout.

And Keter… with his sensibility as a transcendent, took delight in it.

──Seeing Mea, who had acquired emotions, he felt relief that the “Mugenkou Project” that had been at a standstill could now be executed.

『The power of Sefirot and the heart of a human… The current Mea who possesses those two has become the very Mugenkou that will lead me to the ‘True Fairy Burst.’ That is a domain you humans will never be able to reach, no matter what.』

"The True Fairy Burst…!?"

『The impurities, Chesed and Adyeshach, are gone. Thanks to you, Daat.』

“…Much thanks, I guess."

Not that I did it for you or anything… and not in the tsundere sense, seriously.

But Chesed and Adyeshach being mixed in probably made her inconvenient as a sacrifice. It must be because they’re gone now that he had come to meet her.

Currently, Mea-chan had lost the ability to fight due to my theft of the Chesed Power, but Keter said that within her body lies a power that even En and the others are no match for.

Indeed, Mea had been personally granted power by the strongest archangel, Keter, and that fact alone showed that Mea-chan possessed extraordinary potential.

When all of that power were to be completely unleashed through Fairy Burst, even the "Qlippoth of the abyss," the natural enemy of angels, could be destroyed.

In other words, the holy beasts would gain a way to consign the Abyss into oblivion* without needing to rely on the power of humans. (tl note: means “to prevent someone/something from going out into the world”)

『And once I consume the complete you, I will become a new ‘god’…』

Upon hearing this, I finally put my "knowledge of the original work" to use.

Based on my knowledge from the anime Fairy Savers, I was able to grasp the full picture of the "Mugenkou Project" that Keter was trying to achieve.

He didn’t try to kill Mea-chan earlier.

He literally tried to eat her.

Of course, not in a lewd way, okay? It was related to a special ability that only the King of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot possessed.

Now then… in order to explain that, we need to understand the contents of the original Fairy Savers. This might take a while.

I believe the last time I talked about it, it was up until episode 22 of the anime, right?

I had planned to talk about from episode 23 onward after arriving at the World Tree, but Keter, who I thought would appear there, appeared much earlier than expected, so my plans changed.

Alright… In order to give a detailed explanation about Keter’s abilities, I’ll explain the summary up to the final episode in one go!

In episode 22, the awakened true heroine (most important), Akari-chan, and En executed a combination attack, splendidly defeating Malkuth.

And so, we move on to episode 23. The subtitle is “World Tree Sefirot.” As the name suggests, this is episode the Savers’ storm the final dungeon, the World Tree. Their goal in this journey is to meet the Holy Dragon, Ein Sof.

After defeating Malkuth, En and the others finally storm the World Tree.

With the guidance of Chesed, they head toward the lowest layer of the World Tree, where the Holy Dragon slumbers.

However, what they see there is a massive outbreak of the Abyss within the depths of the World Tree, alongside the Angel of Glory “Hod” who is exorcising them.

Although Hod is impressed by En and the others’ nobility when he sees them assisting to exterminate the Abyss, as a guardian of Fairy World who acts under the king’s command, he solemnly declares,

『The reason the world of you humans has never been exposed to the threat of the Abyss is because the Holy Dragon has been holding them back here.』

And after declaring, 『I, Hod, cannot allow humans that trample upon the Holy Dragon’s will,』 he points his spear at En and the others to test the convictions of the Savers──the heroes who came to protect the human world.

Faced with this trial, En urges his companions to move ahead while he challenges Hod by himself.

And so, he slams his blue flames against the orange knight’s armor──.

Episode 24: The Ten Great Angels of Sefirot

En’s blue flames reached Hod’s heart.

Hod, who originally held a neutral ideology and reluctantly approved of Keter’s plan, says that while he cannot trust all of humanity, he wants to believe in En’s group. 『...I wish, to see a future where I fight alongside you...』Leaving behind him who muttered those words, En flutters his wings of flame and heads toward his comrades.

Meanwhile, Tsubasa and Chouta confront the final gatekeeper standing in the way in front of the Holy Dragon’s shrine, the Angel of Severity, Gevurah. A heroic battle unfolds between them.

While the two of them attract Gevurah, Akari and Akihiro finally reach the god of Fairy World, Holy Dragon Ein Sof.

However, Keter, the King of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot, is lying in wait there.

And at last, we reach the problem episode. Episode 25, "Akihiro Dies! Evil God Keter Awakens."

Keter, the King of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot lies in wait in front of Ein Sof, a dragon so massive it could be mistaken for the earth.

Chesed, Akari, and Akihiro engage in dialogue with him, the “King.”

Thinking of the holy beasts and humans they’ve encountered up thus far, the three say, “We can coexist. If we do, we can overcome the threat of the Abyss.”

However, Keter stubbornly refuses.

I have no intention of walking alongside humans… I alone was entrusted with this world’s peace. 

He coldly says over his shoulder that he is there to fulfill that duty.

Then, Keter denounces mankind,

Humans, despite receiving power from the Holy Dragon, the god of Fairy World, foolishly used that power as if it was their own without even properly investigating its significance, and even used it for evil. That is your true nature.

Then, Keter asks,

『…You… Who do you think sustains your world?』

The commander of the Savers, Akihiro Mitsui, responded.

“It is not one person. Our world is sustained because of the will of each and every individual who lives in it.”

No matter how powerful a single being may be, their world is not sustained because of one person, he says… he regrettably says.

──At that moment, Keter suddenly changes, as if something in the answer ran a nail through his foot.

His cold-hearted demeanor until then completely changes into rage, and with that force, he kills Akihiro.

As a result, Akari-chan's power rampages.

Seeing her father grow cold in her arms after protecting her, she falls into Burst State.

And as if responding to the rampaging Akari-chan, the liquid-like Abyss floods from the depths of the World Tree up to the shrine.

They swell in size, even swallowing Keter... and from there, the story piles on more roller coaster-like developments.

──Keter "absorbs" Akari-chan, who fell into Burst state, and all the Abyss who rushed into the scene.

This was revealed as one of Keter’s abilities, "King’s Deprivation."

If my Phantom Thief Notebook was the ability to "steal the supernatural abilities of others and control them as my own," then his power was to "consume the existence of others and use them as nourishment for his own evolution."

As if saying “what’s yours is mine,” it was an ability overflowing with a sense of Gianism. (tl note: Doraemon reference, line by Takeshi Goda, nicknamed “Gian”)

His lifespan being overwhelmingly longer than that of other archangels appeared to be a result of evolving himself with that ability. A knowledgeable friend of mine who was well-informed with the setting of Fairy Savers told me that.

And so, having consumed both Akari-chan and all the Abyss at the scene, Keter evolved into the worst evil god.

And then──the final episode. The subtitle is Fairy Savers.

At the same time En reaches the shrine, Akari, still rampaging, is completely absorbed along with the Abyss.

The shrine crumbles under the aftermath of the evil god’s birth.

Holding onto Akihiro, En escapes with his comrades, but Keter had already completely absorbed even the World Tree Sefira, transforming into a grotesque form larger than a mountain. His repulsive appearance is truly that of an evil god.

Seeing that scene... the commander of the Savers, Akihiro Mitsui, who had been acting as a foster father to En, leaves his final words before passing away.

It was that scene that made me bawl in the living room. My sister was crying too.

Entrusted with the peace of both worlds by Akihiro, En’s group place him in a safe location before challenging the evil god Keter.

Meanwhile, Keter opens a massive gate in the skies of Fairy World, sending all the Abyss from around the world to Earth at once.

Having absorbed not just Akari-chan but a large quantity of the Abyss, he had already lost his reason. With even the Abyss being under his control and him continuing to rampage, he may no longer be Keter… Seeing his completely changed appearance, the Ten Archangels of Sefirot make their decision, to stand up and stop the king’s rampage.

──And then, the final battle begins.

The final enemy is the evil god Keter.

Fearing that not only the human world but also the Fairy World is in danger, Hod and the angels with strength remaining all agree to a truce with the Savers and fight back with them. Netzach -sama and Malkuth-sama-chan also cooperated, making it an all-star lineup.

──However, the difference in power was simply too vast. Before the overwhelming might of the evil god Keter, En was ultimately knocked down.

Will I die without being able to protect the woman I love and accomplish nothing? …En thinks as his life flashes before his eyes.

As his consciousness fades and he’s about to give up, thinking, “so this is how far I go,”──the voices of the holy beasts on the ground and the people of Earth watching the fight from beyond the Gate gather around him, and a miracle occurs!

It’s the activation of something beyond Fairy Burst──the “True Fairy Burst.”

It does not come from his heart alone.

The “feelings” of many humans and holy beasts gather around the vessel that is Akatsuki En, evoking a rainbow-colored flame that transcends the limits.

The scene where he resurrects from the depths of despair, accompanied by a super cool background music, sent my excitement bursting beyond its peak. Even my sister, who was watching with me, got so hyped that she punched the stuffed dog… Poor stuffed toy.

Having awakened to his true final form, En uses the overflowing power that is similar to the sun within him, driving a flash of light into Keter, who had transformed into a grotesque evil god.

And from the wound he carved into Keter’s body, he gouges out Akari-chan (stark naked), successfully rescuing her in magnificent fashion.

With the loss of Akari-chan, Keter can no longer maintain his body as an evil god.

The two nod to each other, and as if it’s their final finish, the two delivered a blow of flames and light, bringing the battle to an end ──and they all live happily ever after. (tl note: En’s and Akari’s names mean “flames” and “light”)

…Above is the climax of the anime Fairy Savers.

Of course, there are plenty more details and highlights, but if I start talking too much about my favorite’s moments, I’ll never stop, so I’ll stop here.

…Well, anyway, considering all this, even though it’s a reboot, I can pretty much guess what Keter’s so-called “Mugenkou Project” is about.

Yeah. Let's imagine what has happened so far from Keter's perspective and sort the status quo.

Keter wants to destroy the Abyss!

To do that, he needs strong humans!

The holy dragon mentioned that the power called “Fairy Burst” is the key!

But Fairy Burst can only be activated by humans!

So, he’ll use data from a human tribe that once existed in this world a long time ago called the Kabbalah Tribe, to create a supernatural ability user in Fairy World!

He did it! An artificial supernatural ability user! Her name is Mea!

Ah, it’s no good. She’s a failure! She has no emotions, so she can’t activate Fairy Burst!

What a waste, so let’s send her to the human world as a surveillance agent!

She got captured by an evil organization!

The moment an unexpected situation occurred, a defense feature activated, and Mea lost her memories! Now, there's no need to worry about information leaks!

She was saved by heroes of justice called the Savers… and ended up living in the home of kind humans for a while! Thank you!

It feels like she has emotions now… How did that happen…?

But because of the impurities that PSYence put into her are getting in the way, she still can’t activate Fairy Burst!

A beautiful girl phantom thief named Eight removed those impurities! As expected of her!

Now, Mea can activate Fairy Burst too!

She’s grown nicely, so it’s about time for the harvest! What’s yours is mine──it feels like that.

Smack!──A dry sound echoed.

The moment I summarized what I had extracted from Keter’s explanation up to that point, I delivered a punch straight to his face, and I think that was the most original protagonist thing I’ve ever done.

…No, that was an impulsive action, so I didn’t really think that far, you know?

But… it was such a disgusting story, and I hated it. I don’t want that kind of thing.

Knowing that a child like Mea... my friend, was being taken advantage of like that…

Even if I hadn’t hit him, En or Chouta would’ve done the exact same thing and hit him hard, starting a war.

It was a place for discussions, so everyone had been enduring it, but they all had terrifying expressions, their fists clenched.

…Well, to put it bluntly, the so-called “Mugenkou Project” was, to put it simply, the cultivation of supernatural ability users.

Mea, Keter’s homemade supernatural ability user whom he discarded as a failure, had developed far beyond his expectations, so he had come to take her from us. And after activating “King’s Deprivation,” just like he had done to Akari-chan in the original work, he tried to absorb Mea-chan.

What the hell…? That’s… It’s like──

Aren’t you just like a banished villain!?

“It’s too late now, Keter.”

I pointed out without thinking.

If I had to attach a title to Mea-chan’s story, it’d be something like "A Life Created as a Sacrifice but Discarded as a Failure～I Got Stronger in Another World, but When They Came to Take Me Back, It Was Already Too Late." Yeah… that’s cruel.

That won’t do… that won’t do at all, Keter. In exile stories, it’s common knowledge that when the ones who exiled someone shamelessly come to take things, they are given the cold shoulder and ultimately destroyed.

It’s a genre that is very popular in the web novel community since it serves as a promised "happy ending flag," and allows the readers to relax and look forward to the “serves you right.”

──However, I didn’t want that development for him.

When I heard his story, I got so disgusted that I resorted to violence without thinking, but... I don’t want him to be ruined. I’m not the anti-hate type of original protagonist, nor am I the “serves you right” type of reincarnated protagonist. I just don’t think that’s right.

Hmm… what is this feeling? It had nothing to do with the original work or the final boss, but for some reason, I felt a strange sense of pity toward him.

"And besides… if you go about it that way, you won’t be saved, will you…"

『...』

Keter may be the villain, but from the perspective of an original protagonist, it’s true that he’s the biggest target for salvation.

Final boss salvation type fanfictions have a kind of "true ending" feel that even the original work couldn’t achieve, and it’s nice… You can laugh at my opportunism if you want. But that’s exactly what an original protagonist and their cheat abilities are for.

Only when we twist the bad events of the original work through heavy work, can original protagonists (we) be original protagonists (us).

"If you keep going like that, it’ll only bring you suffering… That’s why I’ll deny you, even if I have to strike you Because that’s why I’m here."

『...The same, huh…』

Of course, I can’t allow a development where Mea-chan is sacrificed, but I also don't like the fact that that it will be the trigger for Keter to turn into a small fry and fall into ruin. After all, the higher the status of the cheat original protagonist, the higher the status of the final boss.

As I stared at Keter with those thoughts in mind, he took a deep breath and muttered,

『...Right now, I am one who grants salvation. I do not seek it.』

Rubbing the cheek where I had struck him with an expressionless face, what exactly is he thinking?

I would’ve been happier if it hurt a little, but… that would just make him look like a small fry, so handling the final boss is difficult. Oh well, it’s fine! I’m about to attack him even harder now anyway!

『If you wish to protect your dreams, take up your sword. If you wish to protect the world, cut off illusions. I am Keter, the one who rules over dreams and illusions──the guardian of this world.』

Oh, that was great line… I'll make a note of it in my head.

But no matter how cool his phrasing was, the contents of his lines were the worst.

He was basically telling us that in order to protect the world from the Abyss, we should sacrifice Mea-chan, right? Don't joke around.

But… to my delight, not a single person here agreed with him.

"I refuse."

"Come here the day before yesterday." (tl note: impossible request that means “don't come again”)

"I don’t know about your Mugenkou or whatever, but Mea is our comrade, you bastard!"

『Idiot! Idiot!』

Akatsuki En, the leader, decisively refused, and Tsubasa, Chouta, and Binah-sama followed suit. Chouta and Binah-sama even went as far as raising their middle fingers and taunting him like kids. Chouta, sure, but Binah-sama too!? I was astonished internally, but thinking about it, she had half her wings burned to charcoal remains, so she probably accumulated the most resentment toward the king.

…Yeah, let's do it! Who needs a king like this!

However, they also didn’t show any troubled behavior at Keter’s words. They’re so manly and great. Once again, I’m reminded that the Savers are my heroes.

Look! Mea-chan’s crying so much… Chesed-kun, I’m seriously counting on you. This truth is just too much for her.

"Can someone who can't even save themselves or their own child really save the world?"

『…You’ve got some nerve saying that…』

"Of course I can say it. Because I… No, never mind."

That was close, I was about to say, “Because I’m an original protagonist!” Momentum is scary.

That’s right. Exactly because I’m an original protagonist, I took this chance to say something conceited. Since the final boss and an original protagonist are squaring off against each other, I want to look cool.

──Such was the trouble that occurred at the start of the war.

(Author: The feeling that because it's a fanfiction, I don't want to lower the status of the final boss of the original work

This was the hardest chapter to write yet, since it’s a big reveal scene. But hey, the original protagonist’s reveal is still coming up!

This was the most difficult episode so far because it was the answer checking episode. But the original protagonist’s answer checking still remains!

I kept rereading to check for contradictions, which delayed the post! The character count has also increased!

It might be a good idea to collect the flow of the original Fairy Savers, which has been apportioned in small amounts in the story so far, into a single page.)

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