Chapter 90

A Story From a Certain World Line

The Cram-Packed Developments Peculiar to an Anime’s Final Arc

(Decided to clean install Windows 11. Decided to not backup games because steam keeps your data. Forgot Minecraft isn’t on steam. Lost modded survival world that has been played on for over two years. Made a new world with a different modpack. Got addicted. Missed class twice. University sends a warning: one more and I’m dropped.)

With the appearance of Keter, the king of the Ten Archangel of Sefirot, the anime Fairy Savers ∞ entered its climax.

The story is split by the perspectives of the protagonist, Akatsuki En, Mea, as well as that of Earth, progressing in parallel, taking on more of a multi-POV style.

From Mea’s perspective, the group split into those pursuing Sheriruth, who had vanished into the sea of clouds, and those heading toward the World Tree Sefira.

If left unchecked, the Qlippoth of the abyss, the incarnation of calamity, possessed the power to destroy Fairy World on its own.

“The subjugation of such a monster is the mission of the Archangels,” declared Malkuth. There was no longer any hostility in her eyes toward the Savers, and, following after Chokmah and the others, she went to pursue Sheriruth.

──The one who followed after her was, surprisingly, someone from the human world, Rikidou Chouta.

“Hold it, Malkuth.Ya need a human who can use Fairy Burst to beat the Qlippoth of the abyss, right? Then I’m going too. Thanks to the fruit Binah-sama gave me, my body’s recovered.” (tl note: it’s been too long. I don’t know how to translate yankee anymore, not that I ever did)

Against Sheriruth’s barrier, which not even the attacks of the Ten Archangel of Sefirot could penetrate, the only effective strikes were the attacks from the humans.

Just as the Holy Dragon had once demonstrated, the power of human supernatural ability users could reach even the Qlippoth of the abyss, which could be said to be a superior being of the Abyss. With that fact in mind, it was judged that at least one member of the Savers should accompany in Sheriruth’s pursuit.

Contrary to his image, Chouta spoke reasonable words, and Malkuth looked at him with a suspicious gaze.

『…Weren’t you going to Sefira?』

“Well, yeah, if I could, I’d head for the World Tree to save Nee-chan… Eight... But if this world’s in danger, I can’t just leave that monster alone.”

“And besides… if she were here, I’m sure she’d tell me to prioritize that instead…” Chouta continued, scratching his head awkwardly. Toward his words, even his colleague Kazaoka Tsubasa looked surprised.

He looked impressed.

As if wanting to say something.

“What’s with that face?”

“Nothing… You actually thought it through.”

“Shut it.”

Of course he wanted to head to the World Tree right away, but when he considered how Eight herself would feel about the situation, he decided that he had to pursue Sheriruth.

To look at it from a different angle, that was also an expression of the trust he had in his comrades.

“…That’s how it is. I’m counting on ya, Tsubasa. I feel that guy En will come back soon anyway, but…I’m leaving that side to ya.”

With Eight abducted and their leader Akatsuki En missing, the Savers were, objectively speaking, in a hopeless situation.

The members left to carry out their original mission for coming to this world, to seek an audience with the Holy Dragon Ein Sof, were now just Mea and Tsubasa. Chesed, Binah-sama, and Kabbalah-chan, all natives of this world, were accompanying them, but among the genuine Savers burdened with this great mission, only Kazaoka Tsubasa was left.

Tsubasa found the current situation amusing, and looking at Chouta, who had an unusually serious expression, he gave a wry smile and asked,

“You sure about this? Leaving such a big responsibility to me… a guy who, not long ago, was just trying to die a fitting dog’s death in this world?”

Perhaps because he understood the hidden meaning behind those words, “I’m not worthy of such a role,” Chouta replied to his sarcastic words with a nonchalant attitude.

“Idiot. There ain’t anyone else I could leave this to.”

“…That so.”

Those words, spoken as if they obvious, were enough to make Tsubasa feel the weight of his comrade’s trust.

If they were meant to warn him “don’t ya go doing anything funny anymore,” then Chouta was a quite a schemer.

But precisely because Tsubasa knew Rikidou Chouta was the man who was the walking personification of the words “simple-minded fool,” he was able to accept the words at face value, without needless suspicion.

…And that was exactly why he felt glad.

“Got it then. Leave Mea-chan and Eight to me. …Well, I think those two will be fine without me, though. You just finish things up over there and head to the World Tree.”

“Yeah.”

Was the reason he used such cynical, servile words because he felt embarrassed by being trusted so much?

Even as he became aware of those emotions, Tsubasa decided to respect Chouta’s judgment.

And the fact that he also trusted the man named Rikidou Chouta goes without saying.

“Be careful, Chouta. You too, Malkuth.”

『To whom do you think you are speaking? I am the king’s final sword, Malkuth of the “Kingdom.” Needless worries are unnecessary. You should be more concerned about yourself than about us.』

“…Yeah.”

『Binah, Hod, you two keep a close watch on that child. Chesed can’t be relied upon right now.』

『How mean…』

『Very well. I, Hod, shall a close watch on her.』

『If you’re worried about Mea, you could just say so…』

Within Fairy World, where each of their feelings crossed paths──thus, they took action.

Chouta and Malkuth chased after Sheriruth, while Tsubasa, Mea, Binah, Chesed, and Kabbalah-chan each carried their own emotions in their hearts as they flew toward the World Tree “Sefira.”

Ironically enough, because the guards of the hard-liners like Chokmah against the Savers had loosened due to Sheriruth’s resurrection, the execution by Mea’s group of an elite few went smoothly.

However, the World Tree Sefira was so big that one could say the great tree itself had become an island.

It gave them the premonition that great hardship would descend on them upon them in reaching the Holy Dragon Ein Sof.

And at the same time──on Earth, the human world, an unsettling shadow was wriggling.

At the rift in space-time where Tiferet, one of the Ten Archangels of Sefirot, Archangel of “Beauty,” had gone to monitor… the main body of the Qlippoth of the abyss “Kaitzul” that had been sealed there began to move.

It was an event that occurred at the exact same moment as Sheriruth’s resurrection.

Kaitzul, who had been continuously operating behind the scenes since before the story even began, starting with the matter with Chesed, had, just like Sheriruth, resurrected.

Set free from its seal, the monster repelled Tiferet with his overwhelming might, crossed over the space between dimensions, wrenched open the gate, and descended upon Earth, the human world.

To Japan, where En’s group, the main force of the Savers were absent.

The human world too fell into an unprecedented crisis.

And meanwhile, the trial given to Akatsuki En, the leader of the Savers’ task force, was reaching its finale.

Fairy Burst.

The power of supernatural abilities bestowed upon humanity by the Holy Dragon Ein Sof──the state only a supernatural ability user who had drawn out that potential to the utmost limits could reach, the state Akatsuki En should have reached

And yet, even with his power, he had not attained a complete awakening.

The one who thrust that fact at him was the Primordial Archangel Daat, the origin of supernatural abilities brought forth by the Holy Dragon. She, who until now had called herself “T.P. Eight Olishua,” as if to reveal the truth with her own form, demonstrated the power that had reached “beyond” Fairy Burst.

Though she herself was a genuine archangel classified among the holy beasts [Fairies], she activated Fairy Burst, the pinnacle of human supernatural ability users. And with precision far higher than that of En and the others.

…Perhaps the phenomenon known as “Fairy Burst” itself was never anything more than a regression phenomenon, human supernatural ability users drawing closer to Daat, the origin of all supernatural abilities.

The appearance of Eight, who had unleashed her true power, convinced not only Akatsuki En, a character within the story, but even for the viewers who saw her like that to think of such things.

With a burning, fiery halo radiating above her head, the girl danced, flapping her twelve black-and-white wings.

She innocently flew through the high blue sky, sometimes elegantly, other times wildly. The girl who controlled light and darkness at will was now using that extraordinary power with complete mastery.

What she held in her hands were a sword of darkness and a sword of light. Both of them were in forms different from before the activation of Fairy Burst.

Shortly and repeatedly swinging two swords──having the conflicting natures of darkness and light──she engaged En in close combat, leading him around by the nose with her speed and power.

It was nothing short of overwhelming violence.

And yet… it was a violence that felt gentle.

Of course, there was no doubt that her attacks were fierce.

Eight’s offense was always severe, remaining on the offensive that doesn’t even allow one to blink from start to finish. The words she had spoken herself, that “she would fight with all her strength” were surely not a lie.

Even so, the reason En could not help but sense an unconcealable kindness was because every time she struck him down with her skill, a look of heartbreak would appear in her eyes.

Although she seemed to have been maintaining a poker face, her emotions were seeping out. That gaze seemed to reveal the nature of the girl called “T.P. Eight Olishua.”

──Yeah… you really are kind.

It was as if she felt guilty that the only way she could guide him was through such a hurtful way. ──And when En received such a look, he only felt one emotion.

“…Not yet…!”

“……”

“It’s not over yet… I haven’t lost yet…!”

“…!”

He thought──I don’t want her to be disappointed in me.

More than wanting to defeat her and escape this world, what he felt was that he didn’t want to her to look at him with such eyes.

Therefore, he rose up.

Even when cut up by the sword of darkness, even when burned by the sword of light, Akatsuki En continued to contend without faltering.

No matter how many times he was knocked down, he ardently rose again. No matter how much in tatters he was, his fighting spirit in facing her never wavered.

Seeing his ghastly figure, Eight’s green eyes trembled faintly.

Watching him stand every time he got wounded, watching him get wounded every time he stood, was what she felt pity, or perhaps was it sorrow?

Repositioning his sword of flames, En spread his wings of blue flames for the nth time and ascended once more, drew near toward Eight once again, and was blown away once again.

“…You’re…”

Watching him as he naively* continued to contend even in the face of overwhelming power, Eight began to say something──but stopped. (tl note: original means “unintelligent, honest, and single-minded, and lacking the ability to adapt to changing circumstances”)

Because before she could say the words, En returned once more, his sword slashing at her.

His speed was increasing. His power as well.

Even though the change was insignificant for Eight, who had already activated Fairy Burst, she seemed to feel something that overawed her.

Catching his flashing strike with the sword of darkness in her right hand, Eight stared intently at him as he jumped into close range.

Then En spun the words.

“…I… I’ve hated myself.”

It was less like speaking to her and more like a soliloquy.

He uttered the words in a small voice.

“I felt like I was going on with my life within anger and hatred, pretending to be alone, refusing to look at anything… It took me years to realize what was truly precious to me... And I can’t forgive myself for that.”

The past self who had continued fighting only for the sake of avenging his father.

What gave him the chance to change that self were the times spent with his companions, and the days fighting with the Savers.

As he recalled his encounters with many people, starting with Mitsui Akari and Mea, En pressed forward with his sword of flames.

Eight’s arms, which had been casually stopping his blows, shook slightly.

“...No, actually, I already knew. I just didn’t want to lose anything... What I had been carrying in my heart all this time wasn’t anger. I was just afraid of losing what were important to me...”

Perhaps thinking she couldn’t deflect it with one arm alone, Eight clashed not only with the sword of darkness in her right hand, but also with the sword of light she held in her left, but──it did not move.

Their powers had begun to rival each other. Locked in a hand guard fight, the pressure was steadily rising.

It was then that Eight’s eyes changed.

Those eyes, which had been exuding pity, were now fixed at En’s determined appearance.

It was as if... she no longer saw Akatsuki En as a lost lamb she ought to guide, but had acknowledged him as a full-fledged “warrior.”

Facing the increasing might of the sword of flames, she gave a small nod.

To her, En said,

“I’m... afraid. Probably, surely... I’ve always been... a coward. I’m terrified of my world changing… of anything around me changing.”

That was the emotion he had always been aware of in the innermost depths of his heart, but for the first time he had managed to put into words.

Receiving to those unmanly, pathetic words──Eight’s response was not rebuke.

“So that’s... the darkness in your heart, huh.”

She said in response as if satisfied.

En affirmed it.

“...Yeah, that’s right. But… I will overcome it. I have to overcome it. I’ll overcome your trial too, save everything with my power, and return together with Mea and everyone... return to an unchanged everyday life, without losing a single person!”

The phrase “ darkness in one’s heart” was perfectly fitting.

The weakness within every human heart──for Akatsuki En’s, it was the fear of the “change” that threatened their daily lives.

It was an emotion En himself was finally able to understand after being defeated by the immense darkness in that ruined world and experiencing “death,” and being beaten down by her like now.

──But because of that, it felt like what was before his eyes had cleared by just a little.

By understanding his true feelings, he could also see the meaning of why he continued to fight like this.

The firm conviction he had recognized was drawing out his inner power.

Yet even with his sword strikes growing even sharper, they still did not reach Eight’s skin.

Against En’s sword, which he had been using to push through with all his strength, Eight struck back with power even greater than his and knocked him away.

“I understand that feeling too.”

What she gave in return was a feeling of empathy.

Not surface-level words spoken for the sake of comfort. Spoken with eyes that seemed to yearn for her own past, those words felt like they were filled with genuine feelings based on experience.

As En opened his eyes wide in surprise, she continued.

“When you’re spending happy, fun times... You catch yourself thinking on a whim, don’t you? ‘If only time would just stop like this... if only there nothing would change...’”

“...But the reality is, it doesn’t work that way.”

“Yeah... no matter what, time keeps moving forward. It’s heartless... Once something is lost, it never comes back. Happy memories, much less lives... yes... that’s... how it should be...”

Things changing in an unchanging fact.

As long as one is living in this world, it is a law that can never be overturned. Time’s flow never goes backward, and lost life never returns.

That’s just how it is.

Yet perhaps because she recalled an existence that law did not apply to... the words she said became slurred.

“Eight, you...!?”

Seeing Eight suddenly sink into silence, En wore a puzzled expression but then immediately realized it.

Illuminated by the iridescent halo──a single tear was rolling down her cheek.

“You’re crying?”

“Eh...”

As if only noticing after being told, Eight’s eyes opened wide, and she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

When she saw the droplet wetting her finger, she froze for just an instant, but then immediately turned back as if nothing had happened and declared in her usual, unchanging behavior,

“I’m not crying, though? Maybe you were imagining things.”

“............”

“Yeah... just your imagination. I am T.P. Eight Olishua... Now that I was born with this life, I will never look back at the past.”

Her expression as she said this was sorrowful yet calm, and it looked as though she were yearning for a faraway homeland.

Come to think of it, this might be the first time──she had shown her true self before him.

Perhaps embarrassed at having revealed that appearance of herself to En, Eight, who had a faint blush of her cheeks, asked him a question.

“...En, have you ever thought about it? About what it would be like if the time you lost could come back?”

That was surely something everyone has thought about.

Of course, En as well.

The number of times he wished for time to turn back couldn’t be counted even with both hands.

“Of course I have... But I’ve never had any intention of using that as an excuse to run away from the reality before me. No matter how frightening the changing world may be, I’ll fight. That’s how I live. I am the Savers’… Akatsuki En”

“I see... You’re strong, aren’t you. ...But you’re also a very sad man.”

Even after flaunting overwhelming power, Eight’s words that evaluated him as “strong” were not meant as sarcasm.

Her eyes trembling faintly, she received his determination with eyes that expressed respect.

And then──she released the swords from both her hands.

“I’m done.”

“!?”

She said it like a child, abandoning the fight.

The fighting spirit she had until a moment ago was already gone from her expression.

As En stared at her in surprise, Eight said with an exasperated smile,

“Fufu... if you have such a strong conviction, then my trial is no longer necessary. You’ve been ready for awakening for a long time now. All that’s left is to follow your heart.

If you do that, you’ll surely be able to find it. Your own, True Fairy Burst.”

“There’s no way…”

“You can.”

En hadn’t been able to get a solid hit against Eight. As if to speak over him,  who was about to say that someone like him hadn’t shown any potential yet, she decisively declared.

“You’ve already properly faced the darkness in your heart. Now all that’s left is to overcome fear and charge ahead. But the one who should give you that final push isn’t me. …No matter what, I can’t be the one to support you.*” (tl note: emotional/spiritual support)

“What are you saying...?”

“If you feel uneasy, then you just need to remember. That’s right... all you needed for your awakening was that. As you are now, you understand, don’t you? How the human Akatsuki En has lived up to now.”

“...! So that’s how it is...!”

“That’s how it is.”

Now that he had become aware of the darkness in his heart, what he needed in order to overcome it.

Hearing the hint Eight gave him, En understood right away.

What surfaced in his mind was the symbol of what was “unchanging” to him.

No matter how much time passes, no matter what changes comes to the world, this was a certain feeling that never changes.

That was precisely the existence that had given strength to the man called Akatsuki En till just now.

“I have everyone with me. And, more than anyone...”

The moment the face of that beloved girl, who had always been within him in times of pain, sorrow, and joy, crossed his mind, an iridescent brilliance faintly emerged in the blue flames that covered him.

──But that quickly vanished.

The reason it remained a sign was because his consciousness was now about to go dark.

Eight reassured En, who got startled as he looked down at his limbs fading away.

“The you in the real world is about to wake up. Right here, are only thought fragments gathered into Sefira’s Domain... In a sense, it’s like we’re in a dream. It’s too bad, but we’re out of time.”

“Eight, I...”

“Let’s continue this someday. Next time, with our real bodies.”

“...Aah, once the problems of the world are taken care of. I can’t let it end like this.”

“Great. It’s a promise, okay?”

He had already heard from her that this world was not the same as the real one.

But if real body waking up automatically led to leaving this place... then that meant he could have escaped naturally with the passage of time.

...If that were the case, then En had been completely tricked.

Realizing this possibility, En shot a sullen gaze at Eight, but she only raised a finger before her face and gave him a mischievous smile.

Judging from that reaction, it was exactly as he suspected.

What she said about him being unable to escape unless he defeated her... had been nothing more than an act to get him serious.

Yet En was grateful for what she had done for him, going that far.

“Eight... thank you.”

With those final words, Akatsuki En’s figure vanished from Sefira’s domain.

Left alone, Eight watched his faded traces and murmured in a subdued voice.

“...That’s my line. Thank you, En.”

──With those final words, the episode shifted into its close with a fitting ending theme.

The ending used were illustrations depicting En and the others in their childhood changing in time with the music, a so-called “special ED*.” (tl note: an ED that is different from different from usual and is usually only seen in one episode)

And then there was the C-part after the ending.

In the real world, letting out a small groan, Akatsuki En’s body woke up, just as Eight had said.

The first thing he felt against his back was the unexpectedly soft feel of sheets.

Realizing he was lying on a clean bed, En’s eyes opened wide in surprise, and he jumped to his feet to grasp his situation.

──And then, he saw it.

The ceiling he felt like he hadn’t seen in a long time, though familiar.

The room’s scent he was used to.

And visible through the window──the all-too-familiar view.

Seeing this sight, he became flustered at the unbelievable situation and said, “Impossible... it can’t be...!” and flung the door open and rushed out the room.

But the next sight that entered his field of vision made him at a loss for words.

“Ah...”

There, just like him, with eyes wide in astonishment at seeing him, was a person──the figure of the one girl who had always been close to his heart.

“Akari...? Is that... you?”

“En...! Thank goodness... you’re awake!”

Yes──the place where he had awoken was the doctor’s office in the Savers’ headquarters, so familiar to him.

He was no longer in Fairy World but on Earth.

...Had he been sent here by that Primordial Archangel, Charon, or was it Daat... T.P. Eight Olishua’s arrangement?

Their intentions were unclear.

But now, in this moment, reunited at last with the one he loved, there was only one action he could take.

“Kyah!? E-En...?”

Awkward in expressing his emotions, he simply put those feelings into action.

He tightly embraced slender body. He wanted to make certain that she and he were truly here, together.

Since losing his father at a very young age, En had never cried in front of her.

But just in this moment, his arms trembled like those of a frightened child.

At first, Akari was astonished and taken aback by him expressing emotion, but… Instantly sensing the feelings within him, she smiled gently without saying anything and wrapped her arms around his back in return, softly patting him as she gave a tight hug.

“...Akari... I missed you so much...”

“I missed you too, En... welcome home.”

This unexpected turn of events left them with so many things they wanted to say, so many things they wanted to ask.

But for this moment... for just this moment, the two simply rejoiced in confirming each other’s safety.

──With that embrace, the C-part came to an end, and the story will continue in the next episode.

To leave a lingering memory of that development, the next episode preview was simple, with just subtitles on a darkened background.

【Episode 48: Infinity Burst】──

One of the viewers sitting in front of the screen, the flat chest otaku who had recently debuted as a VTuber, was left speechless for a while before exerting himself to say one thing from his rebooted thoughts in a small voice.

“...So damn peak.”

The density of information this episode was so high, both animation-wise and content-wise, and he was so overwhelmed with all the things he wanted to talk about in his next stream that his vocabulary couldn’t keep up. But there was only one thing he could say for certain.

With those words in mind, he suddenly rose up, clenched both fists tight, arched his back in an exaggerated bend*, looked up at the ceiling, and shouted with every ounce of his being: (tl note: literally translates to “shrimp bend.” Means arching one’s body backwards like a shrimp)

Eight-chan is so cute, yaaay!!──

He had plenty he wanted to say, but the very first emotion to hit him was simply that.

After watching, with his stirred up libido letting the pen flow, he completed his greatest fanart, which could never, by any means, be shown to good boys and girls… But that was just an inconsequential digression.

(Author: Next time will also be A Certain World Line Episode.

I*, a samurai who loves simple next episode previews that leave a lingering memory of a special ED.) (tl note: samurai pronoun)

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