Chapter 7
Don't Own Fairy Tail or anything else Only The Oc
'thought'
"Speech"
"Powerful Creatures Speaking, like a dragon or a god"
"Text via book or newspaper... when those are around..."

A long chilly breath leaves my lips as I sit in a large chair of wool, book in hand, rubbing my temple with one hand.

That's going to take some getting used to.

On one hand, the nippy autumn air no longer bothers me, on the other, Summer next year is either going to be a total pain in the ass or far better than it was this year.

My breath is cold, in fact, it appears as if a few snowflakes leave my mouth as I exhale.

"Hey, uh... Andy?" - The Manga Fan

Oh? It's been a while since she's messaged me.

"Yeah? Do you need something, fan?" - Andy's Coffin.

"Ssssoooo uh, I have this... friend... and, well, I need some advice." - The Manga Fan

"What sort of advice?" - Andy's Coffin.

"Well, my friend is starting this literature club at school, and, well, I'm wondering if I should join it or not." - The Manga Fan

"Why wouldn't you? Surely it'd be fun to talk about your favorites with other people, right?" - Andy's Coffin.

"Well, I don't know if they really 'respect' manga as literature." - The Manga Fan

"That's stupid. Some of the greatest stories are told through Manga. It's literature, it's just a medium of it. Like, you wouldn't say a novel and a poem are the same thing, right? Or a nursery rhyme? BUT all three of these things are literature. Just different expressions of it." - Andy's Coffin.

"I'd personally say if you are going into it, don't act like it's the manga club or something. It's a literature club. That means you'll be doing activities involving all forms of literature, not just manga. But. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have your favorite expression of literature. That's fine. Just be aware that others in the club might have different tastes and might not appreciate it as much as you." - Andy's Coffin.

I nod once, finishing my statement.

I'm briefly silent.

"Oh my god this is Natsuki... isn't it?"

I rub my face again, letting out a long sigh.

"Oh Well."

I go back to reading my book.

Dragon Takeover.

I'm getting started on that finally.

What I got from the Rob is quite interesting...

Two items from Terraria... two items that are more 'character buffs' than the accessories they were in-game.

The first, an item purchasable from the Archmage, Permafrost's Concoction.

Supposedly, in that world, it's a potion that permanently alters and changes someone.

I'm probably not even human anymore more akin to a subspecies like an 'ice born' or... 'snow-kin'. Not that those are genuine races, I'm just using them as an example of what I am now... some sort of snow-attribute human.

In the game, Permafrost Concoction was an item you equip to your character. It increases your mana by a static fifty, lowers 'mana cost' by fifteen percent, grants regeneration at half health which improves at twenty five and ten percent health- plus insane additional regeneration if you have a 'fire' debuff- and blocks a lethal hit every three minutes, healing you immediately to thirty percent life- with the downside of being encased in ice for three seconds.

That... has changed somewhat.

Firstly, I can already tell I am quite resistant to the cold.

It was quite chilly before, but now... I am cold... but it doesn't bother me like it did before.

Magic comes laughably easy now, plus... I think I can chill the room, actually, so perhaps some increased affinity for ice-based magics.

Next, Mr. Rob told me that I have a slight regeneration factor that improves the more hurt I am- plus drastically improves when there's fire either close by or burning me- then he said that if I take mortal damage I reflexively surround myself in an icy cocoon that supercharges my healing even further.

The next item I got... was another self enhancement, this one being quite special...

The Apprentice Essence.

In the game, eighteen percent increased magic damage, five percent increased critical chance, fifty extra mana.

But now? In real life?

Around a flat fifty percent increase to the overall power of magic.

Plus I've got a lot more magic than I originally had. Almost three times with both buffs.

But I haven't even explained what the Apprentice Essence is... it's an item from Fargo's Soul Mod. An accessory you gain by combining a metric ASS LOAD of weapons. You condense all those weapons down into magic incarnate, vastly improving your damage.

But the thing is... the Apprentice Essence is merely a stepping stone.

It can be crafted further into something called 'The Arch Wizard's Soul' which has a bunch of other improved buffs.

Thirty percent damage, twenty percent casting speed, fifteen percent crit rate, and a bunch of accessories all rolled into one.

In the game, you make it similarly to the Apprentice Essence, buuuuut I have been told by Mr Rob, here it'll slowly mature over time. After all, it's a part of my being now... you can't just tear that shit out, slap a bunch of weapons on it, then re-insert that into my soul.

Of course, Mr Rob claimed that next time he's not going to allow 'items' like this. But he was fair. Items in the game does not necessarily mean items in real life.

Except for that elixir. That one was pretty much an item from the get-go.

"DAMN! I should have gotten the Occultist's essence as well! I wonder how that'd work with dynamic maker magic and celestial spirit magic?"

"Oh well... Another time, then."

After those physical body increases... I got two Fairy Tail items.

The first. An EXPANSIVE tome on Archive magic- one that is enchanted to be self-cleaning and self-repairing as it needed to be a 'Magical Item' as per the reward. The next?

Another enchanted book, this one on enchanting clothes and fabric.

It was either that... or a pair of like times one thousand Gale Force Reading Glasses. I eventually decided on the book as I could theoretically combine that with Cloth Make.

All in all... Just a bunch of reading is needed.

Pov: Elsewhere

A red haired girl walks through a large office building, being led by a white haired maid.

A large regal looking door opens. "Lord Lucifer... Rias Gremory is here with a proposition."

A man with short red hair looks up from stacks upon stacks of paper, a frown of cold indifference on his face. "Ah. I see. I'm quite busy. No. I will not be annulling your engagement. Goodbye."

"That... isn't what I was here about." Rias begins, a frown tugging at her lips.

The man slowly blinks and looks up, eyes seeming to scan the girl. A sole hum leaves his lips. "Oh? Have you finally grown up and stopped whining like an impudent child?"

"Yes." Rias glares slightly. "I have."

"Five minutes." Her elder brother raises a hand. "I will give you five minutes. Merely because you are family and have stopped disgracing the Gremory name. What is it that you want?"

"I have been researching magic recently and I have created a magic item that allows the user to read faster than normal without any loss of information." Rias begins.

"Oh? And?" The satan notes.

"From my calculations, the enchantment should allow for accelerated reading of up to- and potentially beyond- sixty four times greater than normal... although I myself haven't managed to create a pair that works at thrice the ordinary rate... and, judging by how you, nor any clan head uses something like this... I am making a guess that I am the first to ever think of or develop a magic item like this."

"And what is it that you want to do with that information?" The man questions.

"I am willing to give this item, and the creation method, to you in exchange for a pair created by Satan Beelzebub. I am aware of my limits and I know anything he would create would be far superior to my own."

"So, you wish to have an item made by Ajuka? Not bad... a better wish than asking to simply annul your arranged marriage... something that I would have done but wouldn't have stopped the further attempts of father to marry you off." The man observes. "Perhaps you are maturing."

He holds out a hand. "Show me."

With a flash, a red pair of glasses appears in Rias hands, they gently float over to the red haired lucifer. A pair she herself personally created.

He looks at the paper in front of him, then puts them on, text seems to glow and visibly fly towards the glasses.

After a few seconds he looks up. "Grayfia... how long was that?"

"Ten point eight seconds."

"Seemed longer." He notes under his breath, eyes eventually straying to Rias. "For once, Rias... I am impressed. Very well. Leave your notes and I will have Ajuka create a pair of glasses up to his standards for you in exchange. It shouldn't take more than a day? Two at most? I'll send a peerage member with them."

Rias bows her head, summoning her extensive notes from her spatial magic, offering them to the man's queen. "Thank you, Lord Lucifer."

With that, she leaves.

*SPARK* *SPARK*

*CHZZZZZ*

I frown at a flat screen floating beside me.

"Come on... I know I'm doing it right!" I grumble under my breath.

A large crackling screen of static appears in front of me as I quietly tweak and prod the magic composing it.

Archive magic is...

Interesting...

The main aspect of it is that you sort of create your spells.

Like, I'm not talking about your average 'oh, I've got fire magic, so I made a fireball to shoot at someone.' I'm talking like... brick by brick. Piece by piece. Not even Maker Magic compares to the sheer tedium of this magic.

But. And this is a big but. It allows FAR more versatility in how your spells function.

When you are using this magic, you are more or less creating 'macros' for use in the future. Like for instance, you want a shield spell, so you make the screens tangible then vastly improve their durability. You want a screen that lets you see through it like night vision? Sure. That's probably possible. You want a minimap? Absolutely.

Archive magic is literally just all the convenience of a computer that you can call upon whenever you want. The only issue is that you need to 'code' it.

The fuzz lessens, so I'm doing something right.

Allllmost.

Just a little more-

*Ping*
*Ping*
*Ping*

What looks like a windows home screen appears in front of me, there are only three little icons on it so far.

The first? Emails. Next? Shop. Then the messenger app.

I quickly go deeper into the system, pinning the 'files' at the bottom, quickly opening it and taking a peek over my magic notes.

"I see... it all got transferred over." I hum.

I got an email from that. Probably an achievement which means YIPPEE! More stuff!

I wonder if I can mug Mr. Rob for any more cool goodies.

Achievement Unlocked:
Learn Archive Magic:
Wonderful! Archive Magic! Now you can have your chat groups and store on the go! Just be aware that any item you buy will be delivered to your address and not your person.
Possible Rewards:
Option 1: System Upgrade: Calls and Face Time
Option 2: Online Gaming
Option 3: Chat Connection Selection. X1
Option 4: A REALLY nice Sofa... like... a magically nice sofa.

A low 'huh' leaves my lips.

Should I get started on dragon takeover or... get calls.

Is it sad that the sofa is also sort of tempting me?

I'm not getting option two because I have very little impulse control and if I do grab it my total efficiency will drop by at least fifty percent as I continue to procrastinate more and more.

'What's one more round of COD? What's thirty more minutes of this game? I've got tiiime- oh. It's three AM.'

"Fuck it. Contacts." I decide. "Give me Grimmel from How to Train Your Dragon three, but like... an early younger Grimmel... before he has extincted the Nightfuries."

I blink as I realize something. "Ah. Piss. I just realized that I don't have anything to trade him... that's sort of annoying."

If I could figure out metal make... I could begin to produce weapons out of my magical metals.

Or... cloth... enchanted cloth.

"Fire resistance." I decide. "Strengthening."

They use norse myth, right? Perhaps it's about time a legendary item makes its appearance.

I wonder how Grimmel would like a proverbial Gleipnir

I look over a strip of flat cloth that looks more like a ribbon than a rope.

"Alright..." I whisper as I slowly look over it.

Small runes have been stitched along the edges of it, just barely not touching in the middle.

This took a month of work. Luckily I was already experimenting with sewing, so I didn't have to learn how to stitch from the ground up. But learning the runic language- even to this level- was quite difficult.

I've basically learned a form of Dark Écriture but... more complex I'd say?

I could probably figure out Dark Ecriture given enough time, at least.

The complexities involved in this runic inscription magic is that... well... I need to make things pretty.

There's certain 'styles' that exist which result in something far more powerful.

Fire resistance runes are stronger when in the shape of fire. Wind runes might expect a spiral.

The more complex I can make the design while also being related to the effect I desire, the more powerful the effect... plus, of course, magic used in creation and the colors of the item in question. Reds, oranges, and yellows for fire, blues and whites for ice, etcetera.

This thirty foot grey ribbon I've made has two lines of runes on it... allowing symmetry- which boosted the power of my enchantments- those runes are two 'durability' runes.

"Wool Make: Dude." I call out as I snap my fingers, a large figure quickly knitting itself into existence behind me.

Its large oven-mit like hands reach out as I hold up the ribbon. "Hold this."

I stand up, walking across the room where I grab a sword I had lain nearby.

The humanoid figure holds out its arms, the ribbon between its hands.

I slash downwards as hard as I can.

The ribbon bends... but isn't cut. I struggle for a few more seconds before letting out a hum, looking over the place the sharpened edge of the steel sword had touched.

"Interesting..." I hum, "Nothing. Not even a frayed edge."

I'm unsure if fire will still burn it, but a simple steel sword no longer causes issues.

That should be enough to interest a certain dragon hunter... after all, there's dragons which do not use fire.

The wool man slowly frays then evaporates into motes of light.

I open my archive window.

"Greetings." I type. "I am the Arch Wizard Graves and I have a proposition for you."

I doubt he'll reply- oh Rias is sending me a message.

"Hey, Andy?" - Rias Gremory.

"You there?" - Rias Gremory.

"I am." - Andrew Graves.

"My parents are moving up my engagement to next month. Can you summon me and my peerage? we're leaving." - Rias Gremory.

"Ah. Alright, send over the fliers. Did you make sure to destroy all of your other fliers so you don't get called back?" - Andrew Graves.

"I did. They're connected to our magic so it was pretty simple to make them not work. I made a new set to take with us. Here." - Rias Gremory.

She sends me a trade request and places three pieces of paper in the trade window.

I accept, looking at three summoning papers.

A long sigh leaves my lips as I lift the first, looking over it.

"This one looks almost identical to the last, so it's probably Rias." I note as I hold out my hand.

The page glows brightly, then with a flash, a crimson haired woman appears.

"Ah... back here again." She smiles.

I look over the next two, a frown tugging at my lips.

I use the next, a pale, busty girl with long silky blonde hair and red eyes appears she seems to blink owlishly.

With a final flash, a small girl appears, she has snow white hair, yellow eyes, and a pair of cat ears on her head, a long tail behind her.

She seems to look around, sniffing the air, eventually locking eyes with me and tilting her head slightly.

"Hm... and here I thought we'd be meeting a blue ghost." Rias smiles.

"I've... kind of gotten over my fear of new people. I've been going out regularly. Taking a few missions... and, well, I can't not talk to the person who put out the request." I explain blandly. "Doesn't mean I like people... or talk unless I'm directly addressed."

I nod my head slightly to the two girls. "Hello you two. My name is Andrew. Rias has spoken about you."

"Sup." Koneko mutely greets.

"Hello!" The Dhampir beams.

"..."

"So. Where are you staying?" I question.

"About that..." The red haired woman smiles.

She leans forwards, loosening her shirt slightly, showing off some of her cleavage.

My eyes flick back up to her face as she gives me a cat like smirk. "I'm sure we could reach... an understanding."

She pulls out a pair of glasses from in between her bust. "I'll let you use my Satan Quality times five hundred Gale Force Reading Glasses!"

"Deal." I state immediately causing her to smirk victoriously.

"So... aren't you going to show us around?"

I gesture around. "living room."

"At the end of the hallway is the bathroom and my bedroom."

I point past them. "Front door."

"Is... that really it?" Rias blinks.

"Yep." I nod once.

"Huh..." She mutters.

"Oh. Should probably mention, I do actually have plumbing, and Lunchables appear in the fridge every twenty four hours, replacing the last ones."

Koneko blinks and turns, quickly making her way to the fridge.

She opens it.

"Can I have this?" She asks, lifting one of the packaged snacks.

"Sure." I shrug. "I've sort of moved past eating those."

"It's kind of dusty in here." Valerie observes, running her finger along a nearby countertop.

"I've been meaning to grab a maid. Maybe I should get on that."

"Grab... a maid? You can afford one?" Rias looks me over, cocking her head to the side. I probably look like some sort of dirty scavenger boy. like a chimney sweep.

"Rias... in this world, there are things known as Celestial Spirits. Magical beings who are keyed to a specific constellation, are immortal, and are capable of being summoned into this world from the Celestial Spirit world through an assorted number of colored keys called Gate Keys. Now, from what I've read at the guild hall, there are three commonly known shades of key. Copper. Silver. And Gold."

"Copper spirits typically house noncombatants, ranging from small dog to musician but there are notable exceptions, Silver holds the stronger spirits, ones that typically have the power to do battle, and then Gold is the Zodiac... of course I Refuse to believe that the likes of Draco the Dragon is a simple silver spirit, so there's likely a level beyond gold."

"Okay..." Rias mutters. "What does this have to do with cleaning?"

"I have a reasonably good idea where Virgo the Maiden is. I just didn't know if I was prepared to beat the snot out of her scumbag owner... and her as she technically is forced to defend him."

"Okay?"

"Virgo is a maid." I explain bluntly.

"Ah... and you'd... grab a golden celestial spirit for... housework?" Rias questions.

"Yes." I Nod once. "Also, I'm a completionist and I sort of want them all."

"Aaaah I fully understand that." Rias nods slowly. "I might assist you in this endeavor... it sounds fun!"

Rias takes a seat across from me, seeming to look over me.

"You feel different."

"I drank a potion the Rob gave me... plus something called the 'Apprentice Essence' which makes me better at magic." I wave off.

"Oh! Right! The Random Omnipotent Being! Hello!" She beams. "Do you have anything for me to do?"

There's no response.

"Sorry Rias. My next 'objective' won't come for another good two and a half months."

"Whaaat! That sucks! Come oooon!"

"I do get 'Achievements' though." I point out. "Which grant rewards. So far I've gotten one for learning spatial magic, another for creating a spell with otherworldly materials, another for learning archive magic, I assume I'll also get one for developing an entirely new magic, finish learning my dragon takeover-"

"DRAGON TAKEOVER?!"

"-and for making a celestial spirit contract."

The girl seems to ponder for a long moment, a smile crossing her lips. "Andyyyy~ Have you ever considered becoming a devil? That'd probably be an achievement, riiiight? Changing your race?"

"I've thought about it on occasion... but I'm satisfied with what I have for now." I admit. "Also... I'm not too keen on following your orders."

She crosses her arms over her chest, letting out a small 'hmph.' "I never force my peerage to do what they don't want to."

"She's telling the truth." Valerie smiles.

"Still... that's sort of a big change." I sigh. "Ask me again in a couple of years maybe."

"Oh. And while it's on my mind... maybe don't go around telling everyone that you're a devil... same with your contracts. Maybe don't hand out 'devil' fliers and go for more... 'magician fliers'.

"Oh, of course." Rias nods slowly. "You said that demonic creatures have been given a bad name due to a... suicidal immortal wizard?"

"It wouldn't be so bad if his sentient creations didn't have superiority complexes and weren't naturally evil." I sigh. "Also. Did you bring bedding or do I need to magic up a bunch of large cloth rectangles?"

"Ah..." Rias blinks. "Crud... I knew I was forgetting something..."

I let out a sputtering cough as Rias tiredly walks from the bedroom.

I have pretty much given it to them, and have been sleeping in the living room.

Not much of a change, honestly, I've long since cast aside my old bed for a large conjured one of wool.

What surprises me though is the fact that Rias wears nothing at all.

She wipes one of her eyes, hair lightly frazzled, walking into the living room where she takes a seat beside me, my bed sort of being used as a couch.

"Good morning." She weakly groans.

"G-Good morning." I reply.

There's a small smile on her lips as she looks over my flustered face. "What is it? Do you have a fever or something."

"Where are your clothes?" I squeak out.

"it's more comfortable to sleep without clothes." She hums, twisting in place and rolling her shoulders, her lips briefly tug downwards. "I think the first thing I want to buy... is a new bed."

"Sorry if what I conjured wasn't comfortable enough." I whisper as I finally manage to tear my gaze away from her. Her figure is probably burned into my mind though.

"Oh... no. It was fine. I'm just used to sleeping on magical beds." The girl smiles.

"Those are P-probably pretty expensive." I admit.

"Yes, but I find that they are quiiiite worth it." She smirks.

A slightly serious expression appears on her face. "Andrew."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Thank you." She whispers.

"H-Huh?" I blink.

"It really means a lot to me that you helped me out... that you helped me and my peerage out." She begins. "You didn't have to... and you didn't have to let us stay here... I know you asked for help the first time, but... there was really nothing I could offer for you to agree to bring us here... I know you agreed to do so, but you could have just as easily gone back on your word, and I could have done nothing at all to prevent that."

She leans forwards, lips capturing my own, causing my body to shake slightly in sheer shock as I lock up completely.

She gives me an impish smirk. "That was my first kiss, you know~ now you'll have to take responsibility!"

"..."

"Andy?"

"..."

"You there?"

"..."

"Oh boy I seem to have broken you... oops?"

Awwww. how cute! Rias seems to have a crush on our resident shut in... lucky bastard.