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Chapter 7
🕑 Added 2024-09-30 03:00:04 +0000 UTCGacha reports are the author’s privilege
That girl… Mea is fighting alone.
I need to hurry and help her—En thought as he tried to lift his wounded body. However, his nerves were numb, and he couldn’t move.
The same was true for the other two. Rikidou Chouta and Kazaoka Tsubasa were also struck by the lightning of that angelic holy beast, and now they were crawling beneath the rubble.
One of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot, he called himself Chokmah.
Indeed, his power was fitting to be called that of an angel from the Holy Beast World... it was overwhelming.
It was far stronger than any of the holy beasts they had fought so far, including the PSYence boss and Element Wyvern. Seeing the power of such a high-ranked holy beast firsthand, En and the others coughed up blood. His ribs might be broken.
But even so, his spirit hadn’t broken.
"I... I have to protect them... this town... everyone!"
Chokmah’s anger was understandable.
Some humans, like those in PSYence, inflicted one-sided harm on these holy beasts. So this could be seen as retaliation... En understood that.
After all, he too had been a man of vengeance. It would be hypocritical to tell others not to seek revenge after having fulfilled his own.
But even so, he could not condone Chokmah’s actions.
Involving innocent people, good people, was wrong.
Even if my body burns out, I will defeat him. With that resolve, he tried to summon the power he had used to defeat the PSYence boss—just then.
"That's the spirit. Get up, En."
“!?”
A voice echoed.
It was gentle, calm, and completely out of place in this situation.
He had only heard this voice once before, but the moment it entered his ears, En, lying face down, lifted his head. There, a black-haired girl sat crouching with her arms around her knees.
“Your potential shoudn’t end here.”
“You... you’re...!”
T.P. Eight, Olishua.
Her list of crimes included numerous violations of the Supernatural Ability Regulation Act, trespassing, theft, and other acts that had kept law enforcement busy in recent days.
Now that En thought about it, just when the Savers received the order to apprehend her, this situation arose.
En had always suspected there was some connection between her and the angelic holy beast Chokmah.
... But unaware of his suspicions, the girl spoke in the same carefree manner as when they first met.
“You have truly beautiful eyes... even in a time like this, they still carry a spark of hope. You really are the Akatsuki En I know.”
“What...?”
Still unable to move, En’s suspicion grew. Eight opened a notebook with her left hand and reached out her right. Her index finger gently poked En’s forehead.
The moment her soft fingertip touched him, an unbelievable change swept through En’s body.
“!? The pain...”
In an instant, the pain all over his body vanished.
“Healing Touch. This ability lets me heal whoever I touch with this finger.”
“... Did you steal that ability?”
“Fufu.”
The wounds she touched started to heal. The effect was dramatic.
It was a healing ability on par with the Savers’ own doctors, maybe even more versatile in its use.
Being saved by a stolen ability felt like aiding and abetting a crime, which didn’t sit well with him. But it wasn’t a time to worry about such things, nor was he in a position to.
As En, now free of paralysis and injuries, got to his feet, he checked the movement of his limbs and looked down at the girl. Though her height was enhanced by her top hat, she stood just under 160 centimeters tall.
En’s face was a mix of gratitude for being saved and suspicion. Eight simply smiled at him, amused. Up close, her face was strikingly beautiful, like a moonlit flower. Had the circumstances been different, she might have appeared even more captivating. But En was a stoic man by nature, and this wasn’t a time for admiring beauty.
The girl hid her eyes beneath the brim of her hat, then turned on her heels, floating the notebook in her left hand in midair, while from nowhere she produced a silver harp in her now-free hand.
"Every supernatural ability someone gains holds an infinite potential that only they can unlock."
She began speaking abruptly, and pale light emitted from the floating pages of the notebook.
Then, with the same fingers that had healed En, she started playing the harp.
“By combining my ‘Compounding’ ability with healing power and the immortal Silver Lyre... the completed healing harp produces a melody that will bring salvation, healing the bodies of all who hear it.”
“Wha...?”
The sound was indescribable, a strange melody.
En wasn’t particularly musically inclined, but he could tell that her harp was producing a unique tune unlike anything he had ever heard.
Yet, for some reason, it calmed his mind—soothing his very soul.
And it didn’t just affect their minds—it acted on the bodies of those who heard it as well.
“This melody…” [Tsubasa]
“What the heck? The numbness in my body is gone…!” [Chouta]
Suddenly, Tsubasa and Chouta stood up, looking bewildered as their injuries healed.
It was the same as when her finger had touched En’s forehead earlier.
The sound of the harp she played turned into a healing power, restoring the bodies of the two who had been down. The phantom thief girl turned around with a mischievous expression, as if to say, "I told you so."
“See? Supernatual abilities change based on the heart of the one who uses them. The same goes for your flames, I’m sure.”
“…You’re…?”
The girl explained that the healing touch, which healed a person upon physical contact, and the current ability, which healed those who listened to her music, were originally the same ability.
To En, it felt like she was speaking to the very essence of what a "supernatural ability" truly was.
En himself had experienced this.
His ability, “Flames,” allows him to freely control crimson flames, which he could release or wrap around his body. (tl note: his ability can also mean flames of intense emotion, (e.g. love, jealousy, anger))
At first, that was all there was to it, though the ability had a variety of applications. But through the battles with PSYence, he had gradually become able to do more with it.
And when he stood before the boss of the organization that killed his father—when he reached the extreme limits of his emotions, knowing he couldn’t afford to lose—En’s power had temporarily risen to the next stage.
As if reading his thoughts, Eight spoke again.
“A wielder with a righteous heart will eventually ascend to the next stage. That is the wish of the Holy Dragon, Ein Sof…”
“!? What are you talking about…!?”
“Oops, did I say too much?”
“Forget it,” the girl said, holding her silk hat against the night breeze.
If the situation were different, En would’ve questioned her more. Not that he expected to get a straight answer, as he was sure she’d only dodge the questions.
Resigned, En shifted his focus back to his companions, who had now stood up.
“Is this some sort of healing ability…? Thanks!” [Chouta]
“No need to thank me. After all, I’m someone who should’ve been on the run from you lot… a bad girl who steals abilities from innocent citizens.”
“…! You’re the phantom thief?” [Tsubasa]
“If so, what will you do? Will you try to arrest me now?”
“…Haa.” [Tsubasa]
Rikidou Chouta, grateful for being saved, thanked her honestly, while Kazaoka Tsubasa quickly realized her identity. Tsubasa, unsure of how to deal with Eight’s elusive attitude, turned to En for guidance, but En silently shook his head.
There was no time or energy to arrest her now. The priority was Chokmah, the holy beast.
But still, En wanted to make sure—at least for now—whether she was an ally or an enemy. There was always the suspicion that she might be in league with the holy beast, though there was no solid proof.
As the group’s leader, En asked her. In response, she brought the floating notebook back into her hands and replied.
“Indeed, let’s make a deal.” [Eight]
In the next instant, she flipped the page, and suddenly, from out of nowhere, three giant black birds appeared. Each one perched beside En and his two companions.
“What the heck are these birds!?” [Chouta]
“Is this the ability to materialize shadows…? Is this another stolen ability?” [Tsubasa]
“Who knows?” [Eight]
The birds had no eyes or noses and looked more like objects made of pure darkness.
But they were tangible, and each was large enough for a grown man to ride on its back.
“You could call them the Dark Phoenixes. I’ve prepared a way for you to fly, so I hope you’ll help the innocent angel. And if you’d be so kind, overlook me as well.”
It was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Earlier, the three of them had faced Chokmah together and were completely outmatched. The difference in power was part of it, but the main issue was that their opponent could freely fly around, giving them no tactical advantage, and most of their attacks didn’t land.
Even if it was a stolen ability, her offering them a means of flight was an extremely welcome gift.
“…You’re on our side then?”
“Yeah. Chokmah is out of control right now… and it’s not my intention to let him continue like this.”
“Alright, we’ll take your offer.”
“Thanks for your business.”
Time was of the essence. While they stood there, Mea was still facing that angel alone.
Without hesitation, En climbed onto the back of a phoenix. Seeing this, Tsubasa followed suit.
As for Chouta, he had already mounted his assigned phoenix long ago. “If I can beat that guy up, I’ll take anything!” He was the kind of idiot who acts before thinking, which, in times like these, made him strong.
“I’ve given you command over these birds. They’re very obedient, so they’ll follow your orders properly.” [Eight]
“Alright? To Mea-chan’s location! Whoa, this thing’s fast!”
Chouta’s phoenix soared into the sky, quickly ascending into the night.
Watching him with a mix of exasperation and admiration, Tsubasa sighed.
“…I’ve got a lot of questions for you, but clearly now isn’t the time to bother with you. I’ll trust you for now, Phantom Thief.”
“I appreciate it, Kazaoka Tsubasa.”
“Heh.”
As the dark phoenix carrying Tsubasa took flight, he wore a slightly unsettled expression, disturbed by how naturally she knew his name.
En, the last one remaining, believed the phantom thief's words that she was on their side, and for the first time, sincerely expressed his gratitude.
"...Thank you for your cooperation, Phantom Thief."
"Eight."
"Huh?"
"E-I-T-O."
"...?"
What the girl returned was a playful demand.
"I'd like you to call me that."
"..."
Without saying a word, En flew off.
"...Not very friendly, huh."
Feeling a little dejected, I muttered to herself. By the way, I’m T.P. Eight Olishua, the Dark User Under the Moonlight.
I had hoped my favorite character would call me by name, so I tried asking. But as expected, En-kun is very cautious. And rightly so—after all, I look pretty suspicious. Actually, if he'd warmed up to me too easily, even the original fans would have been confused. While stories that alter the characters’ personalities can be fun, I personally prefer characters to stay true to the original.
Still, there's something special about hearing your name from your favorite character. What's that? Am I too obsessed with multiple characters, like a wandering idol fan? Well, in my case, all the characters from the original are my favorites. I’m quite the exemplary fan, aren’t I?
Alone in the ruins, I plucked the strings of my harp, turning my lonely feelings into music. I never had any musical talent in my previous life, but after practicing during breaks, I’ve gotten somewhat better.
By the way, the song I just played was based on the ending theme of the anime Fairy Savers. Since it was a rough reproduction by ear, it sounded a little off, but I'll tweak it and do better next time.
As for compounding Healing Touch into the harp melody earlier, that was just an improvisation born out of laziness. I didn't feel like running over to heal the other two one by one.
Also, I wanted to use the performance to hint to En-kun and the others that there’s another level to "supernatural abilities." In the original story, it was something that Chesed, who made a contract with Akari-chan, had taught.
Now then, sorry for the abrupt topic shift, but it’s time for a gacha update. It’s trendy to include gacha reports in story intros or outros. Authors, you see, are creatures who seek sympathy.
The gacha I usually pull is, of course, the ability gacha. Unlike in mobile games, where the system can be ridiculously unfair, I can selectively steal powers after sizing them up. However, there’s still the chance that the ability I steal turns out to be useless for me, or—on the rare occasion—far more powerful than expected.
This time, it was the latter. Let me explain the SSR power Compounding.
I stole this ability from Hanfu Lee, the fighter in the stadium, and it turned out to be much more versatile than I initially thought. I realized this right before sending out my calling card, when I started questioning whether I even needed this ability.
Thanks to Lee's ability, I could concoct powerful potions without side effects, which is certainly impressive. But for healing, my Healing Touch is already more than enough. Plus, doping for physical enhancement is a definite no-go in a story like mine. Even though it had its uses, I judged that my notebook's limited page space should be reserved for other, more interesting abilities from characters in this world beyond the originals.
Seeing Chokmah's strength reaffirmed that decision. In battles of that level, there’s no room to steal abilities I won't use.
But before giving up on it, I started thinking about the potential range of Compounding. Given its potential for mischief, I wondered if there was another way to use it. Could it be that even the original owner of the ability hadn’t realized all its applications?
For example, could I choose "abilities" themselves as targets for compounding? I added this wishful thinking interpretation to my notebook, even though it was highly convenient for me. Still, the synergy with the thief's notebook, which stores stolen abilities, was too good to ignore. Even if it failed, sacrificing a page seemed worth the gamble.
And my hunch was right.
The answer was yes—I could target abilities I had stolen within a certain time frame, blend them, and combine them into new abilities. In this sense, it feels more like "Synthesis" than compounding. The ability I used earlier was the result of this discovery.
By compounding the abilities Healing Touch (the ability to heal those I touch with my fingers) and Anywhere Harp (the ability to summon a harp from a different dimension, one that doesn't rust), I created a full-party healing technique with the Healing Harp.
Similarly, by compounding Curse of Darkness (the ability to manifest darkness into physical forms, stolen from a reclusive young girl) and Telekinesis (the ability to move objects with one's mind, stolen from an annoying brat who was using it to flip skirts), I created a rideable shadow beast, much like Chesed's shadow creatures.
Thanks to this newfound use of Compounding, my overpowered abilities became even more versatile, and the possibilities seemed endless.
Honestly, I was shocked by how powerful the SSR ability turned out to be. I had initially thought it was just SR-level, but it turned out to be almost game-breaking. No wonder I wanted to share my gacha results.
I was so excited that I even went back to tell Lee, the original owner, "Your ability is incredible!" He ended up crying. He said something like, "I didn’t know I had something to be proud of!" and got really emotional.
It was awkward having a grown man cry on me, and I almost let out a girly scream, but I managed to calm him down, saying something like, "Hey, you're the runner-up in the stadium. What are you talking about?" He cried even harder after that. Maybe he was emotionally unstable... Well, I guess a lot of people have their struggles.
Back to the main topic.
The shadowy phoenix-like ride I gave to the three of them—"Dark Phoenix"—was something I could only create thanks to my "Compounding" ability. I based its design on none other than the erased-from-existence key character, Chesed. It's a miniaturized, pseudo-recreation of him.
I'm sorry... I really miss Chesed...
Still, I didn’t come here without a plan.
The bold choice to write a world without Chesed is something I’d really like to have a word with the goddess-like person about. But, since that's how things are in this world, I can't change it. What’s important is what happens from now on, and as the original protagonist of this story, I live for the future.
"Hope has been trampled... Will it be them who seize the possibility, or..."
I mutter something cool to pass the time and sound mysterious.
Though I originally planned to debut in this battle, the enigmatic phantom thief persona of Eight-chan continues! And it will continue!
The reason is that, after calming my mind with a bit of music, I started to feel some doubts. Seeing the three join up with Mea and almost manage to defeat Chokmah convinced me of something.
--Now is not the time for me to shine.
By healing the three and sending them back into the fray, the situation aligned with the original plot.
I've minimized the deviation from the original work and subtly nudged things back on track from the sidelines. I think it's perfectly fine for an original protagonist like me to play this role.
An original protagonist who saves the world from behind the scenes, unnoticed—how cool is that? Fuh, victory is mine! Time to check the rankings!
If I were a male protagonist, people might find me a bit annoying, but as a cute gender-swapped protagonist, it's more than acceptable. In other words, the TS original protagonist is the ultimate evolution of the original protagonist. My special move is the "unintentional situation."
As a cheat original protagonist, I do feel like showing off a bit more. But I can hold back. For now, I’ll keep watching the situation.
It’s dangerous to recklessly overpower everything without fully understanding what the goddess-like person is plotting. Besides, I think I've already made enough of a presence, and I’m someone who carefully tests the waters before crossing any bridges.
That said, this "mysterious older sister character who shows up at key moments, making people wonder if she's an enemy or ally" role is actually pretty useful.
As someone who wants to add a subtle spice to the original story, I don’t want to give up my current position. Honestly, it’s ridiculously fun.
…Alright then, while Mea goes on as the typical cheat original protagonist, I'll continue being her counterpart.
Conveniently, since she wields Chesed's powers and uses light-based techniques, it's a perfect match for me, who had already stolen some dark attribute abilities.
Original protagonists tend to have dark attributes. At least, that’s the impression I get.
And so, after watching the four of them work together to push Chokmah back through the gate, I bowed silently and left.
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