CHAPTER 6:

DEMON LORD ARIEL

Hiiro was shitting herself. Not quite literally, but she wouldn't be surprised if all the stuff she had eaten over the past little while would come out of her body and create a Mount Everest, no, an Olympus Mons of crap. She was in close proximity to the Demon Lord, presumably one of the strongest beings out there, and given the Skills and titles she had discerned through Wisdom, she could believe it.

Oh, and she was her grandmother, and had asked, rather nicely, for her to cease and desist in attacking Mother, or Hiiro would be gibbed.

Hiiro believed that too. One of the titles Ariel had was 'Origin Taratect'. And being gibbed was self-explanatory.

Too slowly, her Parallel Minds came back. WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?! Hiiro snapped at them.

Sorry, we were trying to make sure we didn't leave the loot behind, Magic Mind 2 responded. The Demon Lord said to stop attacking, not to bring back any goodies with us.

Magic Mind 1 chuckled. We pinched some of Mother's Skills and stats. We were doing that anyway, it's not like we could put it back.

I hope she understands that, Hiiro thought to herself. Out loud, or at least as out loud as she could be via Telepathy, she said, Okay, they're back, they've stopped attacking Mother!

"Hmm, you actually did it. Give me a moment." Ariel closed her eyes. For a moment, her face twisted into a paroxysm of rage, before she calmed herself. "Well, well, well…you've been a naughty little spider. Your mother has been weakened, thanks to your attacks, and you've taken what you stole with you. Still…I guess you were doing it to survive, so I'll let it slide as long as you don't do it to anyone I care about from now on. Thankfully, she's listening to me now, so she won't interfere with you anymore now. And unlike some, I keep my word. If she decides to come after you again, I'll deal with her."

"And how do we know that?" Harry asked suspiciously. "You're a Demon Lord. How can we trust anything you say?"

"Well, Demon Lord aside, I will admit, you have no reason to trust me, any more than I do to trust you. However, after Little Miss Spider here got my attention when she emerged from the Great Elroe Labyrinth, I wondered whether she was a reincarnation. Yuri couldn't Appraise either of you, but she felt, given your behaviour, that she is. Oh, by the way, what're your names?"

"…I'm Harry Potter, and this is Hiiro Wakaba," Harry said warily. "But how do you know about the reincarnations?"

"Simple. Yuri is one of them, or rather, she was reincarnated about twenty-five years ago. However, I have a reincarnation here from a certain Japanese classroom that was destroyed a little more recently," Ariel said. "Yes, I am aware of Earth and its countries, thanks to Yuri. No, I am not out to conquer or destroy it. Even if I wanted to, I'm not sure I can leave this world, thanks to the System. And in truth, I want to save this world…and the one imprisoned at its heart. Yuri's been acting as my conscience, trying to find a way that will have a minimum of bloodshed."

You're…acting rather friendly for a Demon Lord, Hiiro said tentatively.

"That's Yuri's influence. I'm older than her by centuries, even if I don't look like it, but in a way, she's been a big sister…even a mother to me," Ariel said. "My father was a bastard, to say the least, but I was lucky to have two great maternal figures. I was named for one. And Yuri helped me regain something I had lost."

"…How old are you, exactly?" Harry asked.

"Hey, don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her age?" Ariel responded with a wryly raised eyebrow.

"You're dressed like a weird fantasy-themed stripper, even though you look, what, thirteen? Fourteen?" Harry retorted. "I don't think you count as a lady."

Ariel actually chuckled. "Wow. Even though you're terrified of me, even though you think I'm your enemy…you've got a sharp tongue. Actually, I've heard about you, Harry Potter." She reached over, and brushed some hair away, revealing the scar. "…They thought you were dead. Murdered, even. And yet, here you are, still a teenager."

Harry's eyes widened. "…Who told you?"

"In good time, Harry. Still, you remind me of someone else. Those eyes…this presence…you're no relation to Gülie, are you?" Before he could reply, she shook her head. "…Even if you are…you have something he lacks."

"You know him?" Harry asked.

"I've known him for a long time. He was…friends with the woman I considered a mother," Ariel said solemnly. "I haven't exactly got him on…oh, what's the term she used? Speed-dial? So if you want a father-son reunion, you'll have to wait until he notices you or something. We have our differences…but our relationship is enough for me to look after you and Hiiro here. As long as you don't mess with me, anyway. In other words, I don't intend to be your enemy unless you make me your enemy…"


Harry wasn't sure whether he wanted to believe Ariel. She was a self-admitted Demon Lord, and the progenitor of the Queen Taratect that had almost killed them. He was on the verge of simply leaving, if he could. He wasn't tied up, Ariel seemed uninclined to even restrain him, or even remotely hostile.

And that was the thing that had him hesitate. Voldemort's supposedly reasonable offers were blatantly false, a honeyed tongue that was as forked as a snake's. Ariel, on the other hand, seemed more casual, even honest, which made him even more wary, and yet, the only aggressive action she had taken was to threaten Hiiro's life. Once Hiiro's Parallel Minds were back with her, Ariel kept her word, even though she was doubtlessly powerful enough to destroy them both with ease.

And Ariel seemed to know more about the situation than they did. If she was telling the truth, they could get more info out of her about this world and the problems plaguing it. Not to mention she seemed to know something about him. That needed explaining.

Ariel then waved a hand, and a trio of armchairs formed from the ground. "I've been taught some magic from Earth," she explained as she sat down in one. "I actually feel a little more comfortable using it than what I've gained through Skills and the like. Especially considering where Skills come from, and where they go. We should be safe here for now, we've got wards and the like. Besides, I think I need a little sunshine. And so do you, Hiiro. I don't know how long it has been since you were born in the Great Elroe Labyrinth, but I'm guessing all those caverns and lava and monsters got old real quick."

I'm actually surprised you're being so nice to us, Hiiro said, her voice quavering a little as she sat on one of the other armchairs, Harry reluctantly following.

"I've made it my mission to scupper the plans of Potimas, the chief of the Elves on this world," Ariel said. "He was the one who turned me into a Demon in the first place, millennia ago. He's not unlike…oh, what was that warlock from Earth's name again? Oh, right, Voldemort, or rather, Tom Riddle. He was obsessed with immortality, and I was one of his many experiments into finding a way to achieve that. Potimas has a very unhealthy interest in controlling the reincarnations from Japan. Those he can't control, he will probably murder without mercy. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. I'm sure you'd be sceptical of the word of a Demon Lord."

"I'll listen. I can only promise that much," Harry said warily.

"That's fair," Ariel said, before turning her attention to Hiiro. "Now, Hiiro, I can't use Appraisal on you, as you're a Ruler. That means you are a Ruler of a Sin or Virtue, or maybe you have multiple Ruler titles. Just satisfy my curiosity, which one are you? Or ones?"

Umm…I have four: Ruler of Pride and Sloth, and Ruler of Perseverance and Wisdom.

"Wisdom? I've never heard of that one."

I think Administrator D created it for me. You…know who she is?

Ariel scowled. "By reputation, and only through Gülie. He seems…afraid of her, or at least shows his belly to her. Still, Gülie is as strong if not stronger than I am, so if he is actually submissive to her, it's for a reason. In that she would be stronger than he is, by a long shot. Okay, so, next question, Hiiro: do you have the Taboo Skill fully levelled up?"

I do, but…some of it's scrambled. I only know for sure that this world is dying, and that this System was put in place to heal it. I also felt a weird surge in hatred against humans when I gained that information.

"Hmm…you're linked to me, even at one remove," Ariel said. "You probably felt my thoughts to some degree. I hate humans, or rather, humanity in general. It doesn't mean I will go out of my way to kill them, I used to be human myself, but humans are partly responsible for what happened. It's a very long story, and I'm not sure we have enough time for now to tell it all. The upshot was, the civilisations here eons ago were more advanced than your Earth, but they started using a power source called MA Energy. You ever heard of a video game called Final Fantasy VII?"

Both Harry and Hiiro nodded. Harry remembered Dudley playing the game briefly before he got bored. "So, basically, the Lifestream? They used the planet's own lifeforce?" Harry asked.

"More or less. Potimas was in fact the one who developed and advocated the use of MA Energy. He was human then, before he turned himself into an Elf. I won't bore you with the details for now, but the upshot is, the planet was nearly drained dry. Sariel, a woman I considered to be a mother I never had, sacrificed herself to become the core of the System, meant to heal this world. However, while it has helped stave off the collapse of this world, it may not do so forever. I don't know how long it will be before the collapse begins in earnest, but it may not be long. Not that the humans were solely responsible, mind. A large part of the world's stockpile of MA Energy was stolen by many of the dragons when they left this world. Gülie was the only one of note who stayed behind, aside from the dragonkind who were the ancestors of the ones you've encountered. Admittedly, he had a bit of a thing for Sariel. Now, while I'm sure you don't believe the whole story, I know of a few people, including Gülie, who'd be willing to confirm it if they were here."

Oddly, Harry got the feeling she was telling the truth. She certainly filled in the gaps of what Hiiro had learned. Ariel's manner was frank and candid. There was no saccharine sweetness like there was with Umbridge, or the cold venom of Voldemort, or the evasiveness of Dumbledore.

Then, suddenly, Ariel facepalmed. "Ugh, I forgot. Harry, I know something that will help you trust me, that I am your friend." She leaned forward, and said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

And with those words, Harry froze. How the hell could Ariel know those words? "…Mischief managed," he replied, almost automatically. "Sirius…you have Sirius with you."

"Sirius Black? No," Ariel said. "Not for want of trying, given what I was told by the one who knew you, but…" Her eyes widened, and after a long pause, she said, in a too-calm tone, "Hold on a moment."

She went over to a part of the landscape nearby, and waited. Something seemed to twist out of mid-air, revealing itself to be an Elf holding a screaming bundle. Almost immediately, Ariel snatched the bundle away, and then swept the Elf's legs from underneath him, and with blinding speed, did an axe-kick on the falling Elf's spine. There was a sickening crack, and the Elf began screaming in pain on the ground.

"You son of a bitch…I should have killed you once I got what I wanted out of you by Legilimency. But no, I wanted to play with you some more. Playtime's over." Ariel held out a hand, dark energy purling around it, before she halted, and then looked shrewdly at Hiiro. "Hey, Hiiro…you finish him off."

Sorry, what? Hiiro asked.

"You need the experience points. This was the Elf you let get away from the Kerens after you killed his comrades. He was there to kidnap Sophia Keren, and if anyone got in the way, including her parents, they would die. Yuri brought him back here for interrogation. He was about to take this little one back to Potimas, where she would be interrogated and probably killed."

"How do we know that?" Harry demanded.

It's true, Harry! Ariel is telling the truth!

Harry started when he heard the very familiar voice, albeit older and adult, coming from the bundle in Ariel's arm. He stood, and came over to Ariel. Cradled tenderly was a baby with dark skin, eyes and hair…and pointy ears.

Harry stared at the baby. Hiiro, who had used her thread to tie up the Elf, asked, Miss Wilkins, is that you?

"…That's not her name…" Harry said quietly. "How did we rescue Sirius at the end of our Third Year?"

We used the Time-Turner I had, and we rescued Buckbeak into the bargain. And you used your Patronus to save our past selves from the Dementors.

"…Hermione?" Harry whispered. He took Hermione from Ariel's arm, and gently hugged the infant reincarnation of one of his best friends to him, not really paying attention to Hiiro was killing off the Elf. "…I thought you'd died, Hermione. What Dolohov did to you…"

I know, I know. I thought you'd died too, Harry! Hermione replied. Can you tell me something you would only know, though?

"…At the end of our First Year, you told me something. That books and cleverness were less important than friendship and bravery. I'm glad you're alive, Hermione…even if it's as a reincarnation. But how did you end up in Japan?"

"It's part of a long story, but one I should contribute to myself. I'm sure my story is even more unbelievable than Hermione's."

The voice seemingly came from nowhere, and like the Elf taking Hermione earlier, a red-haired woman with emerald eyes appeared in a flicker of space that hurt the eyes. And now, Harry stared at the impossibility before him, the woman who was dressed in feather-lined golden and crimson robes, magnificent and regal…and yet, so utterly familiar to him. He couldn't believe it, and yet, it made a perverse sense.

"Hello, Harry," his mother said. "…It's been a long time, for both of us…"

CHAPTER 6 ANNOTATIONS:

Holy shit! Not just one reincarnation with Ariel, but two! Double reincarnation combo platter!

This was something I planned for in early stages. Even when this story didn't have Harry on ice for ten years, Lily was always going to make an appearance in the world of So I'm a Spider, So What?, as one of D's early experiments into reincarnations with the n% I=W Skill, the one that lets them retain their memories of their past life. Her race upon reincarnating was something that I struggled with. Even as far back as writing her initial appearance in this story, I had this notion that she was a dragon of some sort. But then, I was struck by inspiration: she's basically a Phoenix with shapeshifting abilities.

What purpose does she serve in the story? Firstly, she helps Ariel learn English so that the initial communications problem between Ariel and Hiiro doesn't exist. Secondly, she acts as Ariel's conscience, just as Harry acts as Hiiro's. Lily is trying to find a solution to the MA Energy problem that doesn't involve genocide.

Lily's influence is why Ariel is somewhat friendly. While a lot of her more genial tendencies in canon are partly due to the influence of Hiiro's Parallel Mind, she seems surprisingly friendly in the light novels when confronting Kumoko for the first time. And I said the light novels, as opposed to the anime, where she gibs Kumoko within seconds of seeing her. In the light novels, she tries to negotiate, asking Kumoko to stop attacking, adding 'please' to the end of it, but she takes Kumoko's gestures as a refusal, whereas Kumoko was actually trying to plead for her life. She jokingly calls herself Kumoko's grandma, something I cribbed for this story, so she clearly has an impish sense of humour even before the Parallel Mind infects her.

As for Hermione, well, we will discuss the particulars of why and how she ended up in Japan, and then in this world, but the clues have been there from the beginning. Miss Wilkins is a reference to the pseudonym she put her Obliviated parents under in Book 7. Her dark-skinned appearance in her reincarnation is my little nod to the controversy around her being portrayed by black actresses in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. While Emma Watson will forever remain the definitive Hermione in my eyes, Hermione's ethnicity in the books is never actually specified, just her hair and eye colour. Honestly, that way of casting her is less of an issue to me than the actual faults that that stage play has. It's like with the casting of Jodie Whittaker as a female Doctor: my issues are more with how she is characterised, to say nothing of the quality and overly preachy stories, than with casting a woman as a potentially genderfluid alien. And let's face it, Chris Chibnall really dropped the ball, IMO.

But I won't go on about it. I'm just waiting for Russel T Davies to return and hopefully get Doctor Who back up to par, with a female or male Doctor. People rag on him, but he was the best showrunner for the new series.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even if the twists may be controversial. Then again, this won't be as bad as Season 8 of Game of Thrones, or the denouement of Attack on Titan. :P

Review-answering time! I'm glad to see the possibility of my doing a Rising of the Shield Hero story has aroused considerable interest. Doing such a crossover was always on the cards, but I wanted to at least read the first few light novels first. That being said, as always there's no guarantee that there'll be a story written, but I do want to write one later on.

No numbered annotations this time.