Chapter 17: Chapter 17: To end the mission
Leo, having rescued the redheaded Erza from the clutches of Dark Mages, brought her to a nearby cave. Here, they could hide from any further pursuers.
He pressed Erza for details, needing to understand the situation and identify their enemy. While familiar with the events of Fairy Tail, including Erza's harrowing ordeal at the Tower of Heaven, Leo wasn't prepared for the revelation that tumbled from her lips.
"The leader of the Dark Mages?" Leo gritted his teeth. "He's the isekai guy? And a goddamn pedophile on top of that?"
Another loser from his own world, reincarnated as the Lord of Dark Mages in the Tower of Heaven – probably deceased before his rebirth. This creep seemed to possess knowledge of the plot, having informed his minions of Erza's magical abilities, then strategically deploying his elite troops around her.
Leo could fathom the man's past. Regardless of his pre-reincarnation status, he likely yearned for a change. But, much like the One-Punch Man parasite, this individual had succumbed to his baser desires, discarding morality in favor of indulgence.
His initial targets in the tower were mature women, with some even succumbing to his brutality. Erza herself had witnessed the tragic fate of one such victim. As for the children, the Lord initially displayed kindness towards Erza and her companions. Yet, Leo saw through the facade. This man was simply biding his time, waiting for the girls to grow up, grooming them for his twisted purpose like making a harem with them.
Patience wasn't his strong suit, however. Soon, his predatory nature targeted the girls directly. Erza recounted the horrific acts the Lord of Dark Mages had committed: forcing the girls into skimpy clothing, washing his back in humiliating displays, all while enduring his sickening touches. The terror of those memories caused Erza to tremble, robbing her of speech. Leo, understanding her distress, didn't pry further. Nevertheless, the implications of her silence were chillingly clear.
"System, why the hell are all these parasites such low lives?" Leo wondered why all isekai people seemed to be a bunch of perverts.
[Most low lives are easy to manipulate by Outer Gods. Plus, they lack intelligence and the conscience to deal with the consequences of their actions.]
"Yeah, this might be true," Leo mused. His objective remained the same: kill the Lord of Dark Mages and let the story unfold as intended.
He looked at Erza, who was slowly munching on the fruits he had brought. Smiling, Leo ruffled the hair of the future waifu of Fairy Tail. "Do you like it?"
Erza blushed, a faint nod her only response. She was far from the Erza Scarlet he knew from the anime – the one with a dazzling physique and unmatched skill. This Erza was a gaunt figure with tattered clothes, her spirit tainted by the isekai pedophile.
"So, here is the plan," Leo began to explain his next course of action. He would send Erza toward the mainland Fiore, where she would join the Fairy Tail guild. As for him, he would deal with the tower's mages and so on.
"No!" Erza protested, jumping up. "I will come with you! My friends! They are in danger!"
Leo sighed. How was he going to explain that he was only doing this so that he wouldn't disrupt the storyline?
"Jellal, Millianna, and all the little girls! They are going to meet their end! I can't let this happen!" Tears formed in her eyes, but her gaze remained fierce. "I will tear those bastards apart!"
"Woah! Calm down!" Leo tried to soothe her, but the little red riding hood wasn't having any of it and started to struggle.
"No! Let me go!" She struggled, but Leo managed to hold her. He was shocked by the amount of strength she had for an eleven-year-old. She then looked at Leo, her eyes filled with tears. "Please help me! I won't be able to live knowing what happened to my friends!"
Leo held her gaze for a moment before a helpless smile played on his lips. He gently took one of her fingers and brought it towards his right, artificial eye. Erza froze, her eyes widening. Just like her, he too bore a missing eye.
"Look." Leo then picked his right eye out of its socket, showing a hollow inside his skull. "Just like you, I have also endured pain."
Erza froze, paralyzed by shock. Slowly, her frantic energy dissipated, replaced by a solemn slump of her shoulders. Leo watched, understanding the turmoil brewing within her. He replaced his artificial eye, the hollow cavity a stark reminder of his own struggles.
"Listen, Erza," he began gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I understand your fierce loyalty to your friends. But rushing headlong into danger won't solve anything. It would dishonor their sacrifice, the very thing that pushed you towards freedom."
Erza remained silent, head bowed, her fists clenching uncomfortably. Was she truly supposed to abandon her friends and become a "pathetic loser" as her mind taunted her?
"That's why we need a plan," Leo continued, a sly smile creeping across his face. "I'll handle things subtly…" He reached out and playfully ruffled her hair. "While you, my brave warrior, will be the one who saves them."
The mention of saving her friends sparked a radiant smile on Erza's face, chasing away the despair.
[Wait, host! Please reconsider!]
This time, the system erupted in protest.
[You'll be altering the entire timeline if you do this!]
Leo rolled his eyes, a sigh escaping his lips. "Alright, system," he said, turning to Erza. "Get yourself prepped for battle. I have some spare clothes and weapons." As Erza scurried to follow his instructions, Leo stepped outside the cave, a serious glint in his eyes. "Alright, system, talk. Tell me again why the storyline is so critical."
[The storyline acts as a wall against the Outer Gods. It shields them from directly interfering with this world.]
"Hold on," Leo interrupted. "What happens after the story ends, or if the author dies mid-way? What about unfinished works?" He thought of countless mangas left hanging, like Hunter x Hunter or Highschool of the Dead. What about them? Does that mean Outer Gods could easily penetrate the boundaries and wreak havoc in the world?
[That's… I hadn't considered that far.]
"And what about Erza, do you think she would be same after what happened with her?"
[…]
Leo raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"As expected," he muttered. "And what about plot deviations? If things go completely off course, does that grant the Outer Gods free access?"
[Not necessarily. Every world has inherent barriers that prevent outside intervention. However, the story plays a crucial role. It provides the world with a sense of hope, a belief that 'everything will be okay' in the end.]
Leo tapped his foot impatiently, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Hmm, alright, system," he finally addressed the AI, "tell me again, what's the ultimate endgame of the Fairy Tail manga? I'm pretty sure it involves Acnologia as the final boss, right?"
[Affirmative.]
A sly grin spread across Leo's face.
"Then why sweat the small stuff? I'll stick with Erza until she's mentally stable enough to handle the story on her own, then we bounce. If things veer off course later, we can always come back and deal with Acnologia ourselves."
Heck, if push came to shove, he could probably obliterate the dragon with a single punch. Besides, the system itself mentioned his ability to recruit people in the future. He would come with other worldly friends and deal with the dragon.
[But host-]
"Besides," he continued, waving a dismissive hand, "it's not like the Outer Gods will stop isekai-ing some other loser here, right?"
[That is… correct. My analysis is still ongoing, but the possibility is high.]
"Exactly," Leo pressed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Then let's negotiate with this world. We can convince it that I'm here to help in the future." His grin morphed into a predatory smirk. "And of course, we wouldn't want to compromise on rewards, would we? We both need those points for upgrades."
[O-of course. Initiating negotiations with the world entity…]
The digital screen flickered before fading away completely.
Moments later, Erza emerged from the cave, clad in a makeshift outfit fashioned from Leo's spare clothes. Belted around her waist were daggers for throwing, and a short ninja sword hung at her side for close combat. Leo had equipped her for the coming confrontation.
"I'm ready, Mr. Leo," Erza declared, her voice firm, her eyes burning with a steely glint. Leo couldn't help but hope she wouldn't become some kind of bloodthirsty anti-hero.
"Let's do this, then," Leo replied with a confident smirk.
Erza met his gaze with a determined nod, "Un!"
And with that, they ventured out of the cave, a united front against the darkness that festered within the Tower of Heaven. Their mission: to eradicate the Dark Mages and ensure the safety of Erza's friends.
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