CHAPTER 5:
MA ATTACKS!
Lord John Keren, the ruler of Keren Country, looked to his head servant, Merazophis, later that night. "What do you make of the story Sophia told us?"
"Rather hard to believe, my lord. And yet…the boy spoke to her in a language she recognised, and then spoke to us via the Telepathy Skill," the blue-haired servant said. "If she is telling the truth, and the so-called Nightmare of the Labyrinth is a reincarnated human from another world, then that is something, at least. It means that this…Hiiro Wakaba can be reasoned with, that she is not a rampaging monster, that we can negotiate with her, even if it's using your daughter as an interpreter. Indeed, she has a sense of altruism if she went to the trouble of helping us, assuming it isn't a ploy."
"A possibility we still need to keep in mind, but she seemed to have a conniption out of jealousy towards Sophia's beauty in this life," John Keren said, an amused smile touching his lips briefly. "Still, the likelihood of this being the Divine Beast of the Goddess is unlikely if this story is true, though my wife seems set to announce it anyway, and that this young wizard, the one with the dragon eyes, is the herald of the Divine Beast. Of course, there are those adventurers that Hiiro Wakaba healed. That being said, this story is one the townsfolk would find…hard to believe. A human girl from another world reincarnated as some form of Taratect? It beggars belief. Oh, I am inclined to believe my daughter's story, but as you yourself said, it is hard to believe."
"So what now, my lord?"
"Well, if there is no other business on the morrow, I'd like to spend time with my daughter. If nothing else, I'm actually a little curious about this world she came from…"
So, you found another reincarnation? Ariel asked Yuri.
Yes. I managed to follow her to her home in Keren. I wasn't seen. She is Sophia Keren, the daughter of the local lord. Original name: Shouko Negishi. A Vampire Progenitor. All the strengths with no weaknesses. Can you tell our charge about that?
Got it. After a moment, Ariel's voice came back. Yeesh, sounds like this girl's life sucked, big-time. They called her 'Rihoko' back home, apparently meant 'Real Horror Girl'. Bit of a fright to look at, apparently. D's given her the good life this time around…which just means she's probably looking for something to fuck around with her with. I'll see if we can't keep an eye on her. Potimas can't risk moving openly against the Keren family, but he's an opportunistic bastard. But for now, the eensy-weensy spider and the boy wizard are what we're working on. And I think you'll have to intervene soon. The Queen Taratect is getting antsy, and I think she's on the verge of defying me. I mean, I have a temper, but yeesh, I'm almost tempted to let them duke it out. Wilful children, am I right?
I guess. Okay, I'll go back to those two…
It was the day after they had met Sophia Keren and her family. It was as he was packing up the camp and readying himself to continue the journey that it began to hit hard to Harry. It was something he had been trying to ignore the past few days, but he couldn't now. He sat down hard on a nearby log, and began to weep.
He was stranded on another world. An evil bitch of a goddess had kept him in stasis for a decade. Nothing he did in Magical Britain meant anything, thanks to James Potter and Harry's twin half-brother. He didn't even know whether his friends were still alive. He was on a hostile world thanks to the whims of the previously-mentioned evil bitch of a goddess. And his only real company and hope for survival was a traumatised Japanese schoolgirl about his age in the body of a monster spider, and whose morals had loosened somewhat due to her experiences.
True, she had gone through worse, but still…it only just hit him how bad his plight was. Was there any chance of him getting home? Finding out what happened to his friends? Taking any sort of revenge on the man he once thought was his father? That Snape was right, galling though that was?
Uhhh, Harry…are you all right? Hiiro asked.
"…No, no I'm not," Harry said quietly as the spider monster waddled over. "I'm stranded on another world, ten years into the future, so much of this world wants me dead, and…you're pretty much my only hope for survival. I mean, you went through more than I did, but…"
Yeah, I get that. The spider gently hugged him again. But I'm not going to say you didn't go through it. I know you're holding back quite a bit, Harry. I…I don't think I'd make a good counsellor. Japanese society's not exactly noted for helping those with mental health issues, and I'm just a high school girl who loved gaming and shutting herself off from the world. Classic hikikomori stuff right there. But…I'll try to listen, Harry.
"…Thanks, Hiiro…"
"So, we've found at least one of your classmates, and even if you got into an argument, it's proof that at least one of them is alive," Harry said as they walked along the roads.
Hiiro nodded. Still, last night, there were a bunch of goons planning to kidnap her I stumbled across. While you were cooking dinner, I had a quick recce of the town where the Kerens were. I dealt with them, as they didn't seem nice, and before you ask, yes, I killed them. But considering they were going to murder the Kerens and take Sophia away, I think that's justified.
Harry shrugged. "Okay, I get it. Did you hear anything more from them? About why?"
Got a few things. Their leader was an Elf, and he was using Telepathy to contact some stuck-up guy. Didn't catch it all, as I did get some of it with my Skills, but he left before I could do anything. I left the corpses for the Kerens to find. Hopefully, Lord Keren steps up security. Though for some weird reason, my Parallel Minds are really aggravated towards them. I dunno why. Maybe Elves are the bad guys in this world.
"…So you do care about her?"
…Look, I'm jealous, there's no getting around that, and she got pretty bitchy towards me. But by the same token, Sophia, back when she was Shouko, she got bullied pretty badly, Hiiro remarked. Honestly, I didn't give my memories of my time at school that much thought. I was a recluse, remember? But…Shouko didn't deserve the crap they heaped on her, calling her 'Rihoko'. Actually, I think she was even called a vampire back in middle school. Besides…once it comes out that the local lord sired a vampire daughter, she's not going to be in that great a position anymore. I got the impression this place is pretty religious while I was in town. And she can't fight back like I can. So I can do that much, at least in passing.
"But Hiiro, have you got any idea where we should go?"
Still working on that. At the very least, I want to gain enough levels to become an Arachne. And this Peverell Inheritance Link thing is helping immensely. Then, Hiiro flinched. Ugh, she's doing it again.
"Who?"
Mother, the Queen Taratect. She's demanding I return to the nest, or she'll come out and spank me. Ugh, that's it! No more Ms Nice Kumoko! Go forth, my minions! She wants to give my mind the bad touch? I'm going to do worse than that! On Harry's look, Hiiro elaborated, I've just sent my Parallel Minds to attack her mentally. Like that Legilimency thing you brought up, only this'll be more fun.
"…Is that going to be safe? For the Parallel Minds, and for you?"
…Look, it's going to be safer than her trying harder and harder to take me over, Hiiro said. I cannot take her on in a fair fight…so I won't fight fair…
Aw, shit.
Yuri frowned when she heard the exclamation from Ariel from their bond. She'd reported Potimas' attempted kidnapping to Ariel, and had taken the survivor back to Ariel for interrogation. Probably fruitless, but still…to hear Ariel suddenly swear like that was unusual. Not that she didn't swear, but swearing in what sounded like exasperation was actually fairly rare.
Ariel wasn't always a Demon Lord. Hell, that title only came to her a short while ago. But even before she became an infamously strong Demon, she had been a human child, experimented upon by Potimas, thanks to his obsession with immortality. Something that seemed familiar to the reincarnated woman, but she couldn't pin her finger on it.
What's wrong, Ariel? she asked, as she watched her quarry.
I think the Queen Taratect pushed our little spider friend too far. I just felt something strange up the link. I think somehow, the spider's begun a mental attack on the Queen Taratect…and it's working. It's a war of attrition, but whatever she's using is tenacious, and wearing her down. But I think this is going to drive her to take this battle to her offspring. I'm trying to order her otherwise, but she's not obeying me. Yuri, you'd better get ready to help them, or at least the boy. If you can, bring them both here with Spatial Magic.
Got it, Yuri said, taking wing, and flying over…
"Actually, one thing has been bothering me, Hiiro," Harry said as something occurred to him. "I haven't really used magic much since coming here, but, when we were fighting those bandits, the spells I used seemed overpowered. I mean, I haven't exactly used them against people before, but…"
I'm not sure what I can say, Harry. I mean, I haven't seen you using magic before then. But…if you think so, I do have a theory. Sorry, Miss Wilkins would correct me. It's more of a hypothesis. Well, a couple of them.
"What's that?"
If you really are the son of this Güliedistodiez, who is an Administrator…who's to say D removing part of that seal didn't do something? And there's that finger Araba gifted you. It boosted my stats a little when I ate it, maybe it enhanced yours? Though now that I come to think about it, you don't seem that bothered that you killed those bandits.
No, he wasn't, did he? He frowned as he considered that. True, it wasn't the first time he had killed someone: he had pretty much killed Quirrell when he was eleven years old, and that living memory of Voldemort lurking in the Diary when he was twelve. He'd vowed to kill Sirius at the age of thirteen. He tried to torture Bellatrix scant hours before James Potter cast him through the Veil.
"…They were bandits," Harry said finally. "You saw what they did. They had no compunction about murdering those people, and they looked about to rape Lady Keren, or worse. I mean, when you looked around Lord Keren's town, did he seem like a good guy?"
Actually, yeah. Their town was small but looked prosperous, and in a good way. The people seemed happy. And…
Suddenly, Harry sensed something. A slight tremor beneath his feet. He turned, just in time to see a pillar of dark purple energy dissipate. "…What was that?"
Huh? What was what, Harry?
"…I just saw a beam of energy go up into the sky, and felt a slight tremor. Hiiro, I have a bad feeling about this."
"Of course you've got a bad feeling about this, Han Solo! The Queen Taratect is on her way, and she is pissed!"
The female, somewhat musical (despite the words) and certainly familiar voice came from above, and Harry whirled to see…
…A Phoenix?
Magnificent red and gold plumage covered the massive, almost dragon-sized bird. It was somewhat different to Fawkes, less predatory-looking and more elegantly beautiful. Emerald eyes were looking at them.
Harry blinked as he realised something. Wait, did that voice mention Han Solo? As in Star Wars? Huh?
What?! Hiiro yelped. Mother is coming?! Nai wa! Hey, wait, who are you? Why are you speaking English?
"We don't have time to play 20 Questions, spider-girl! Let's just say I work for your grandmother! And she's trying to get your mother to calm the actual hell down! Call me Yuri! Now, come with me if you want to live!"
…Really? You're quoting Terminator 2? Hiiro said flatly.
"Yes I did, and I meant it, so if I were…OH SHIT!" The Phoenix, Yuri, disappeared in a flash of flame, before reappearing in a human-like form next to them. Harry had no time to see her features properly, catching a glimpse of rich red hair and emerald eyes wide in a panic, before she grabbed Harry and Hiiro.
And then, they were somewhere else, some distance away from where they had been. "I didn't have enough time or concentration to do a jump to where Ariel is," Yuri said. "But I think I got us out of the blast…"
And then, everything went white and purple. Once more, Harry didn't have enough time to do more than see Yuri in action, this time by hastily throwing up a shield of magic. The ground shook like a bucking bronco, and Harry stumbled, before falling. His head hit a rock, and everything went black…
Hiiro blinked away the afterimages (well, as best as she could when, as a spider, she didn't have eyelids), only to see Harry on the ground. She hurried over, carefully checking him. While Appraisal couldn't do much, Wisdom helped her discern that he had a concussion. Without hesitation, she began using healing magic on him.
As she did so, she considered her options. She could use Spatial Magic to head back to the Great Elroe Labyrinth for now, but she didn't want to bring Harry into a dangerous part inadvertently. She wasn't sure if Lord Keren could or would help, and if the Queen Taratect was after Hiiro, then the monster would cause immense collateral damage…assuming that bitch she called Mother in this life hadn't already.
Which left one option, loath as she was to use it.
Hey, Yuri, or whoever the hell you are, if you really are our ally, then get us the hell away from here, NOW! Hey, are you even listening?! she snapped, only to look at the woman.
Yuri was staring at Harry in shock, his hat not covering his face as much as it was. "…Harry?" she whispered, apparently in recognition.
But now was not the time for a trip down memory lane. HEY! Hiiro screamed. Didn't you hear me? We need to leave, now!
This seemed to get through to Yuri, who nodded. "Right." She grabbed hold of Harry and Hiiro, and then, once more, the landscape changed…
He had a splitting headache, that was the first thing he discerned. The next thing he discerned were the voices. He recognised one of them as Yuri's…though he didn't know why she sounded so familiar. "…Need time to think, Ariel."
The next voice was that of a girl, maybe in her early teens, but speaking with a casual authority. "That's fine, Yuri. I'll handle the introductions. You only come out when you're good and ready."
Then, there was the sound of a door, though strangely distorted. As Harry groaned in pain, he heard booted footsteps coming over. And then, Hiiro's voice, stammering. H-Hey! Stop! D-Don't come anywhere near him!
"He's not the one who has to worry. You, on the other hand, do. I guess you could say I'm your grandma. And if you don't stop attacking the Queen Taratect in…hmm, let's say a minute, I will spank you so hard, they'll be picking up bits of you in Analeit and Alleius. Whatever you're doing has driven her into a berserker state, and she won't listen to me at the moment. Maybe stopping whatever you're doing will help."
AH! Okay, okay! I'm doing it! Nai wa…though…how come you speak English?
"Yuri taught me that language. It's handy for when you don't want to be overheard by eavesdroppers. You're lucky you can speak it too. Otherwise, we'd have a failure to communicate," the other voice, now right next to Harry, said. He chose that moment to open his eyes, and beheld…
…A teenaged girl?
If it weren't for the crimson eyes and slightly pointed ears, as well as fangs in her mouth, he would have figured she was human…if somewhat inappropriately dressed for her age, which appeared to be maybe thirteen or fourteen at most. Her slender, lithe body wore basically hot-pants and a boob-tube of leather, long gloves and boots, and a strange set of tassels that hung from a fur collar. Her short bob of dark hair had a streak of white at her fringe, and there was a strange coronet on her head that gave her the appearance of having golden horns.
But he could feel the power coming off her in waves. She may not have been as powerful as D, but this girl made Voldemort pale by comparison. Despite the friendly look on her face, he knew that if she wanted to kill him, he'd be dead.
"Hey there," she said casually. "I'm the Demon Lord Ariel. And my friend just saved your lives. You're welcome…"
CHAPTER 5 ANNOTATIONS:
So, Harry and Hiiro have survived an attack from the Queen Taratect…but who is Yuri? And now, Harry and Hiiro are in the clutches of Ariel…which may not be a bad thing…
On a tangentially-related note…who here wants to see me doing a The Rising of the Shield Hero crossover? Because I have a couple of ideas, including a Potterverse crossover…and a Devil May Cry one.
Review-answering time! GiantPsychoGecko: No. The Emu War took place a few decades after the Rabbit-Proof Fence was originally constructed. Similar fencing was constructed to prevent emus from wreaking havoc, though.
Have a Little Feith: Cane toads, rabbits, and feral pets are only part of the problem. As to the mice, AFAIK, it's stopped, or at least become less newsworthy. Apparently that wasn't even the worst such occurrence, according to Wikipedia: the worst mouse plague occurred right here in Queensland, specifically in the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region, back in 1996.
Jostanos: A good question to those unfamiliar with Administrators/deities in that world, but the answer is no. Harry is part-Administrator, which is basically a fancy way of saying he is a demigod. It doesn't necessarily mean he is powerful: a key character later undergoes apotheosis in the novels, and they lose access to their Skills and stats, and have to regain them. Harry's the same: his Skills are internalised, and because he is detached from the System, he has to learn how to use new abilities with hard work, though Araba's gift gives him the potential to learn new things.
There's also another reason I didn't write that out, which was a reason why I didn't have Harry be reincarnated in another world alongside Kumoko's class: I hate writing out statistics and Skills. While I don't mind them in the context of the video games or light novels inspired by them, writing a character should not be a matter of stats and numbers and abilities. I think the rot set in when Akira Toriyama began writing about power levels in Dragonball Z. And then you get stuff like The Gamer, people being inspired by video games and tabletop RPGs to basically use character sheets for stories, particularly light novels, and honestly, I think it takes some of the organic nature of cultivating a character away. Instead, it often becomes a case of, as a deranged Kirito from Sword Art Online Abridged says, "My numbers are BIGGER than yours!"
Character creation should be analogue and organic, not digital, and if you fail to give a character the right ability in time, well, that's nothing a hefty and skilful use of bullshit can't cover. And you should make your character as strong as he needs to be, to either win through struggle, or to lose but survive. That's not numbers, but narrativium, to use the Discworld concept.
No numbered annotations this time.