CHAPTER 3:
PEVERELL INHERITANCE LINK
Hiiro had to admit, she was worried that Harry would leave her or try to attack her after her confession. She hadn't wanted to, but she got an instinct, honed by hours of playing visual novels in general, and otome in particular, that if she hadn't brought it up, things would go badly. Now, her relationship values had presumably not gone down to nil or negative values.
He didn't seem as powerful as Güliedistodiez. Yes, he was a wizard and had spells, but she doubted he was that powerful. Experienced, yes, but really, in a fair or even unfair fight, she'd win pretty quickly.
But she was telling the truth to a degree. After spending so long without human company, and human company she could talk to at that, she needed him. It was odd, despite being a recluse in her past life, and yet, she was talking to him with relative ease.
He did remind her a little of Miss Wilkins, their English teacher. She'd been in the classroom at about the time her memories of her past life cut off, so maybe Miss Wilkins had been reincarnated along with Miss Oka? Wilkins had been a little bossy, but she meant well. She would have been about Harry's age, actually, back when he went through the Veil. She never said anything about Britain, only that her family was in danger of being attacked by terrorists, as well as a con artist who took the life of a friend.
So, really, she needed him. She needed an anchor to help keep her sane, after all she went through. And anyway, he was proof that people could be sent here and, in theory, leave this planet. And given how close it was to disaster…Nai wa, she forgot to mention that to him…or her Parallel Minds, for that matter.
She used Spatial Magic to get them out of the pit where she fought Araba, and to where the route to the surface was. But as they walked along, Hiiro now hoping the Fearbringer title would scare off anything intending to attack Harry, she said, Hey, Harry…there is a bit of a problem I should have brought up earlier.
He sighed in annoyance. "And what's that?'
…This planet is on the edge of destruction.
Harry looked at her sharply. "What?"
Look, remember how I said I got some information downloaded into my head after I levelled up the 'Taboo' Skill? I got that out of it. It's still pretty scrambled in my head, bluntly, I don't have access to the full details, but…basically, something happened to this world that left it dangerously short on energy. D set up a system that she administers, with Güliedistodiez as one of her underlings, that's supposed to heal this world gradually. Part of it is why I have Skills out of a role-playing game, but I'm still sorting out the exact reason. Only, D has a bad sense of humour to turn life in this world into something out of a video game.
"…And that bitch knew it, and punted me here anyway," Harry muttered angrily.
You know, if you are Güliedistodiez's son, it makes sense that I couldn't use Appraisal on you, Hiiro mused out loud. It's like D didn't connect you to this System anyway. Maybe she couldn't, or maybe she didn't because it'd be more fun. I mean, I only talked to her once, but I know she's sadistic as hell.
"And in other news, the ocean is wet," Harry snarked.
Hiiro nodded. Deciding to consult her Parallel Minds, she asked, So, what do you think of him?
He's got not so much issues as a subscription, Magic Mind 1 remarked. A bit too moral, but…look, I don't want to leave him behind if we can help it.
Yeah, Magic Mind 2 agreed. You're right, we need someone to keep us sane. I mean, you basically have us, a weaponised version of Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Like the Hundred-Faced Hassan from the Nasuverse! interjected Physical Mind. But seriously, he might also be able to stop us from getting into too much trouble with the people we find. Even if he can't speak the lingo, he can still help smooth things over.
Hiiro considered this, before shaking her head. They might still see him being accompanied by me as being…well, an omen? Isn't my current evolution meant to be an omen of death or something according to Wisdom? Nai wa, this is more complicated than I thought. And I've got to protect him to some degree. He might have magic and stuff, and faced off against this Voldemort guy, but against some of the stuff that's out there? He'll be eaten alive, probably quite literally.
"…You all right, Hiiro?" Harry asked, looking back at her.
For a given value of 'all right'. It's one of my Skills, Parallel Minds. Basically, I've got multiple minds. Not quite multiple personalities, but…well, during battle, it helps me multitask. My main personality acts to gather information, I have two minds to help with magic, and another to deal with physical abilities. Believe me, I wouldn't have been able to beat some of my foes without them.
Harry gave her a look, before he muttered, "Okay, well, here's hoping none of your personalities is a crazy killer. I'll sleep better at night hoping that's the case."
Hey, don't be rude! Hiiro snapped. It's not a mental illness, it's a Skill! Besides, I'm more concerned about some other Skills than my Parallel Minds. I told you about the one that affected me, made me see humans as little more than sources of experience. That's Pride. I've got a Skill called Demon Lord, and there's also Abyss Magic. That's scary shit right there. It can annihilate the soul. I'm not really sure I want to use it unless I have to. Hell, the one spell I used before, it scared the crap out of me. But I needed all this to survive down there.
As Hiiro looked at her Skills list, she noticed one that wasn't there before. Peverell Inheritance Link (Cadmus). She checked it out.
PEVERELL INHERITANCE LINK (Cadmus):
The result of proximity to a descendent of one of the Three Brothers. Specifically, the descendent of Cadmus Peverell, the (temporary) owner of the Resurrection Stone. This descendant also had proximity to other Deathly Hallows. This thus amplifies experience gain and Skill acquirement.
Hiiro frowned. That seemed a trifle convenient. Hey, Harry? she began. I need to ask you something…
After Hiiro explained what she just stumbled across, Harry frowned. "I've never heard of the Peverells before," he said. "But D…she said something about my being descended from Cadmus through my mother, and how I was like someone called Antioch."
Must be this Cadmus Peverell guy, one of the Three Brothers, Hiiro muttered.
"She said a lot of weird stuff. Something about me wanting to help someone called 'Mahou Shoujo Kumoko-chan'. I don't really know any Japanese."
Hiiro growled. Oh, she meant me. That's basically Japanese for 'Magical Girl Spidergirl'. I was making jokes about that earlier, but…ugh. I think she's trying to have fun watching me keep you alive and close to me to ensure I get the bonuses. And no doubt something nasty will come along that will prevent that.
"Joy," Harry muttered, before he noticed something. "Hiiro, is it me, or is there more light?"
Hmm? Oh, yes, you're right. I think we're nearly at the exit. Look, if there's trouble, I'll use Spatial Magic to get us both out of the way.
Soon enough, they emerged…to find that the cave mouth was surrounded by a castle wall. A fortress, designed to prevent monsters from wandering out, Harry realised. Archers and other soldiers stood at the ready, ready to fire. As he and Hiiro looked around, he said, "I think we have a problem. They haven't started firing yet, probably because I'm here, but…"
I don't think that state of affairs will last long. Hiiro looked around, before nodding. Okay, well, I'm not sure I can hold back too much without causing a hell of a mess anyway. Spatial Magic it is. Hold on!
Suddenly, they blinked away, and they were now quite a way away from the fortress, which was set into a canyon. And just to discourage them from following us, Hiiro muttered, before firing off a spell at the ground between them and the fortress. A massive explosion rocked the ground, and a dust cloud filled the air. …Uhh, whoops? Nai wa, I was holding back, but…
"Never mind, let's get the hell out of here," Harry said.
Yep. Exit, stage left!
"Do you see anything?" Harry asked, wishing he had a broomstick. Hiiro was perched on a magical platform in mid-air.
Yeah. There's a town in the distance. We could go there for food, but…well, it wouldn't end well for me, as I'm a spider monster, and for you, well, you don't speak the local lingo, Hiiro said, descending back to him with a few hops on those platforms.
Harry frowned. "…And that fortress might start sending soldiers with our descriptions."
Yeah, I guess so, but…wait, what's that?
Harry looked at the object on the side of the road. "…Is that a backpack?"
…Yeah. And it has to be from our world. Isn't that the Nike logo?
Harry looked at Hiiro. "D?"
D. Nai wa…check it, but be careful.
Harry nodded, before heading over and carefully checking it. An envelope was on top, which, after using what few detection spells he knew, checked it, before opening it. At the top was a strange symbol, like a triangle with a circle in the middle, said circle being bisected.
Hey there, my playthings!
Now, by this point, it's no fun if you die off too easily, so I thought I'd take the liberty of sending you some supplies. Said supplies were paid for thanks to the Potter Family Vault. I took the money from there ages ago, Harry, and your usurpers have been wondering where it's gone. Kumoko-chan will have to still do some hunting, but I have a few meals in the backpack for you, Harry, and some survival supplies. The Dursleys helped you prepare for survival, didn't they?
Oh, and I left a little surprise for you. A bit of light reading to keep you from getting bored in-between brushes with death. Let's just say I'm in one of the tales, LOL. ;)
Yours sincerely,
D
Harry frowned, before fishing around in the backpack. The backpack seemed to have a lot of space, and included a tent, a number of pre-packaged meals, an Akubra hat(1), and…a book? He fished it out, and frowned at the title. "…The Tales of Beedle the Bard?" he read out.
You ever heard of this book before? Hiiro asked.
"…No. I've no idea. Though D doesn't do anything without a reason, even if that reason is to poke us with a stick and watch us jump. Well, we'd better get moving, just in case…"
Unbeknownst to them, in the skies not far from there, something flew. Something very large, very powerful, and very lethal. Which was currently holding a mental conversation.
Are you sure about this?
Look, I just want to know what's going on before I come see this for myself. One of my…well, grandchildren, I suppose, resisting its mother's orders? And, if the mental link is any indication, it has emerged from the Great Elroe Labyrinth. And given the explosion you saw in the distance…well, just take care, okay?
A sardonic smile touched the lips of the flying one, even as they came in to land. How sweet, the oh-so-scary Demon Lord, concerned for little old me.
A sardonic chuckle echoed down the line. Watch it. I brook little familiarity, blah blah blah, I'm sure that's what Balto would want me to say if I was actually sitting on my throne. Adventuring with you is more fun, really. Plus, it helps me gather intel on that long-eared bastard. Besides, I'm actually enjoying doing a little babysitting.
Okay. I'm landing now. I'll let you know if I find anything, Ariel.
The shape swooped into a forest not far from the fortress around the Great Elroe Labyrinth. What emerged from the forest closer to the fortress was much smaller, and more human looking, albeit draped in a hooded cloak. Clearly a woman, but little else could be discerned. And wouldn't you know it, but she was confronted by some of Ohts' bullyboys upon emerging. "Identify yourself!"
The woman scoffed. "Don't point that thing at me, dog of the Renxandt Empire. You're not my type, so don't whip out your pointy thing at me."
"You dare…?!" the soldier started.
The woman waved a hand. "Stupefy." A jet of red light sent the man sprawling. As the other soldiers turned on her, she said, "He's stunned. I will only respond with lethal force if you force me to. Well?"
"Stand down, you guys. I know this one, and she's out of your league," one man with a moustache, and out of uniform, said.
"Basgath…" the woman said. "It's been a while. But I'm afraid this isn't a social visit."
"I'm sure it isn't. You came here because of the explosion?"
The woman nodded, indicating the nearby crater. "Pretty conspicuous, if you ask me. The boss also has suspicions she knows what caused it. Did a Taratect variant leave?"
"…You are well-informed, aren't you? And yes. It's an Ede Saine. I saw it myself briefly, actually. They call it the Nightmare of the Labyrinth."
"Which you abandoned that expedition and left them to die!" one guard sneered.
The woman merely snapped off another Stupefy, sending the man sprawling. "It's rude to interrupt. This Ede Saine, it's what caused that?"
"Yes, but the curious thing was…it was accompanied by a human, a teenager with dark hair, green eyes and tanned skin. One soldier tried Appraisal, but got nothing. They used Spatial Magic to exit the fortress, and then the Nightmare, oddly enough, used magic to create this. Either they missed, or maybe they wanted to create a smokescreen."
The woman nodded, taking in the crater, though she frowned at the description. It gave her a sense of déjà vu. "And overpowered their spell. It'd be hard to miss your fortress, so it might have been a smokescreen. Thanks, Basgath."
"Don't thank me. I'm intending to retire, after that business with the Nightmare. That…really shook me. But…if your boss has taken an interest in it…stop it from hurting anyone else. Assuming that boy hasn't somehow tamed it, anyway."
"We'll keep an eye out for it."
"…Thank you, Lady Yuri."
The woman turned away, those present briefly glimpsing a tress of red hair falling out from beneath the hood of the cloak. "Don't thank me yet. I need to discern the full truth of the matter. Goodbye."
She went into the forest, and some of the bolder and more belligerent soldiers followed her, intending to attack her. But to no avail. A winged shape burst out of the forest, and flew off. Those in the know breathed a sigh of relief. After all, they had survived an encounter with Lady Yuri, chief bodyguard and enforcer of the Demon Lord Ariel…
CHAPTER 3 ANNOTATIONS:
So, Harry and Hiiro have emerged from the Great Elroe Labyrinth, and bypassed the fortress with no casualties, unlike canon. But D has seen fit to meddle with a very suspicious gift. And who is Lady Yuri, this enforcer of Ariel?
1. Just for those of you who don't live in Australia, an Akubra hat is a wide-brimmed hat made from rabbits (and given how feral rabbits are a pest here in Australia, well…).