Chapter 9

Saving characters doomed to die in the original story is the mission of an original protagonist

In the isekai arc of the anime Fairy Savers, five members join the battle:

The main character, Akatsuki En,

The goodwill ambassador, Akari Mitsui (Chesed),

Rikidou Chouta and Kazaoka Tsubasa,

And finally, the Savers' commander, Akihiro Mitsui.

Yes, Akihiro personally joins the journey to another world alongside his daughter, who had become the goodwill ambassador. He was once a warrior of the Savers himself, and though his prime had passed, he still retained the strength to fight.

...In fact, he’s strong enough to punch out lower-tier holy beasts. If he entered a martial arts tournament, he could probably win against most fighters weaker than Hanfu Lee.

The first time I saw him was when he infiltrated a meeting, and his appearance was intimidating, like a Yakuza boss.

His power was simple physical enhancement, but combined with his mastery of karate, his strength was undeniable.

—But this man dies near the climax. He’s killed in action during the isekai arc.

This event becomes a critical turning point in the story.

As morbid as it sounds, "death" in a story often serves as an important accent. For example, a protagonist might resolve to pursue baseball after the death of their twin brother, or a kind-hearted android’s death could awaken the strongest warrior. Conversely, it might drive a character into darkness or trigger a mental breakdown.

In the anime “Fairy Savers,” which is originally a battle manga, deaths are depicted too. Plenty of unnamed characters and even En’s father die, often shown in flashbacks.

Among all these, Akihiro Mitsui’s death was the most spectacular.

Even the episode’s title, "Akihiro Dies! The Awakening of the Evil God Keter," left a huge impact on me when I first saw it.

And the effects of Akihiro’s death? Instead of triggering a power-up for the allies, it brought disaster to the Savers.

Losing her father right in front of her, his daughter Akari went berserk, and the power of Chesed within her was absorbed by the final boss, "Keter," along with her body.

Keter, in its final form, then launched an attack on En and the others! What fate awaits them?!

Yup…

By the way, the final episode was titled Fairy Savers. It was a simple title that matched the series, and it managed to avoid spoilers. But back then, anime often spoiled the final outcome, even in the last episode, which made things nerve-wracking for me, as I hadn’t read the original manga.

Of course, it all ended in a happy ending.

In the finale, En rescues Akari’s body from Keter (obviously, she’s naked, but conveniently covered by En’s flames—it was quite an impactful scene). Together with En, Akari, and Chesed’s united power, they deliver the final blow to Keter.

Afterward, as the Savers return to Earth, Akihiro, in his slumber, watches them depart and reunites with his deceased wife, together journeying to the afterlife.

The future was entrusted to the young—a special ending played, and the story concluded. I was deeply moved and even shed tears as the 26-episode series ended. Back then, I was a more innocent kid. Now, I’m a jaded adult, but at that time, I had a touch of sweetness. Though as a TS original protagonist now, I’m much cuter!

...And that’s why Akihiro’s death held great significance for the story’s climax.

But did the protagonist and his allies need Akihiro to die? Absolutely not. He certainly didn’t die willingly or with satisfaction.

I am a cheat original protagonist. Therefore, my role in this world is clear.

That is, "saving characters doomed to die in the original story"—the ultimate mission of any original protagonist.

If a character could have survived, making that "what if" happen yourself is one of the greatest joys of fanfiction. This applies even in original protagonist fanfictions that follow the original work. If stories that focus on saving characters doomed to die in the original often emerge as a major trend in the world of fanfiction, continuing to thrive today.

While the characters targeted for salvation are often beautiful girls, I’m a capable, TS original protagonist. I can’t just save the women and leave good old men to die.

Even with En around, leaving Akari alone would be far too tragic… I don’t enjoy depressing or dark stories.

Fufufu… So, wait until we reach the other world. I’ll show you how a true original protagonist moves.

Lifting the brim of my silk hat instead of glasses, I grin confidently.

Up until now, I’ve focused on preparing. But in the isekai arc, I’ll be going all out. With Chesed gone, the situation will only worsen, and if I don’t intervene, En and the others might not survive.

As for the method of saving Akihiro… I plan to take his place among the five in the goodwill ambassador's guard squad.

En, Chouta, Tsubasa, Mea, and me. I’ll introduce this crazy team to the god of the fairy world. That alone will shatter Akihiro’s death flag and boost the team’s strength. The only reason they might refuse is because of how shady I look.

Worst case scenario, I’ll use my mimicry ability to take Akihiro’s place. I’ll leave him behind. He could probably still keep up with the fight, though.

I’ve previously expressed a positive opinion on characters of the original work being replaced by new ones, and part of that is because I also plan to take over the position of one.

Tag-wise, I guess this would be considered "Akihiro Absent"… No, I’m not erasing his existence, so I hope the goddess-like person will forgive me.

I believe that if it leads to saving a character from the original work, then a passive absence could be acceptable. Like how Mea took over Akari-chan’s position. When you think about how she was the most tragic character in the isekai arc, you could say she was saved.

As for Chesed, he was so pitiful that I actually cried last night. Damn you, PSYence! If I had been in the first arc, I would’ve saved him with my cheat original protagonist power. Unfortunately, none of my current supernatural abilities could save him.

I was really fond of him. Last night, I played the harp while crying and dedicated a requiem (Chesed’s character song) to the night sky. It was incredibly sad... Even though a remnant of him remains in Mea-chan’s body, the fact that the original Chesed is effectively gone is just too cruel.

It was a little embarrassing to have a passing young girl see my tear-streaked face, but she was small enough that I managed to bluff my way out and send her back to her parents.

During the battle against Keter, I tried my best to quietly handle stray bullets to prevent any casualties, but I couldn’t prevent the chaos during evacuation. Well, some things are unavoidable.

…Anyway.

It was a stroke of luck that I was able to hand a letter to Tsubasa Kazouka during that time, saying, "Please accept T.P. Eight Olishua as the fifth warrior."

I’m glad I remembered his anonymous detective persona.

Tsubasa Kazaoka, one of the most versatile characters in the series, remains just as convenient in fanfiction. He’ll probably help smooth over my involvement with Akihiro as well.

Even if they reject me, I’ll still follow them.

Setting aside my original protagonist mindset, I’m curious to see what the Fairy World is like.

Fufu, I’d better start stocking up on clothes and supplies. There was a gorgeous spring there, so I should get a swimsuit ready. After all, a swimsuit event is essential for a TS original protagonist. You guys agree, don’t you?

Man, I can’t wait to visit another world... Wait a second, this world was an isekai for me too! I’ve really adapted. Heh... My heart seems to be undergoing the classic isekai protagonist phenomenon: "The mind is influenced by the body." Yare yare, once again, I’ve ended up doing something very original protagonist-like.

So, I decided to start packing while waiting for the others to finish their preparations.

First off, I need to swipe some kind of ability from someone that can act as a four-dimensional pocket to store everything.

What? It would take away the unique appeal of my Anywhere Harp? The harp’s biggest selling point is how cool it is. Its performance is top-notch, and it never rusts. A true SSR ability.

As an original protagonist, I try to maintain high awareness, but I believe coolness trumps everything.

...Eh? You’re asking if it’s okay for me to be tagging along with the Savers? Wasn’t I preaching earlier about staying in Mea-chan’s shadow? Well, hold on. I haven’t forgotten, but I think we’ve moved past that phase. When we first met, maybe it was necessary, but by now, having me and Mea (both original protagonists) together probably doesn’t feel like random strangers hanging out anymore, don’t you think?

In the recent meeting, I learned that Chesed’s heart still resides within Mea, so I decided to treat her not as an "unknown original protagonist" but as "Chesed’s successor." Acting alongside her, with Tsubasa now suspicious, I’ll pose as some sort of neutral observer from the sacred beasts’ side. That should allow me to keep my enigmatic older sister role intact while still being a proper original protagonist!

Fufu, a perfect move, if I do say so myself... As expected of me, T.P. Eight Olishua.

──This is what happened last night.

The damage to Akebono City from the recent battle was severe, but miraculously, the human casualties were kept to a minimum.

However, not everyone escaped unscathed.

Some children got separated from their parents while evacuating, and one small boy was still searching desperately for them, tears welling up in his eyes.

“Sniff... Dad... Mom...!”

Yet, despite his tears, he wasn’t throwing a tantrum. For a five-year-old, he was quite clever. Even in a situation that would cause most adults to panic, he did what he could, pushing forward with determination.

──Suddenly, he heard music coming from somewhere.

"...?"

It was a melody he had never heard before.

A gentle tune accompanied by someone singing.

What a beautiful voice, the boy thought innocently.

Drawn to the sound like a moth to a flame, he wandered toward it.

What he found was a pile of rubble in the ruined town.

And there, at the top, sat a woman calmly playing a harp.

"...Oh?"

“...!”

After finishing her song, the woman finally seemed to notice the presence of the young boy.

Taking her gaze away from the clear night sky lit by the full moon, she looked down at the boy.

“My apologies. I didn’t realize I had an audience. Good evening.”

“G-Good evening!”

Startled by her sudden greeting, the boy hurriedly returned it, prompting the woman to smile warmly and say, “Well done.”

Using a piece of a roof buried nearby as a foothold, she skillfully treated it like a sled, sliding down the pile of rubble with the hem of her long skirt fluttering above her knees.

Once she stood before the boy, she bent down to meet his gaze. Now that they were closer, the boy could clearly see her face, noticing that her emerald eyes were slightly red.

“Are you alone? Did you get lost?”

“…Yeah.”

“I see… In that case, we’re the same.”

“Eh?”

Confused by her words, the boy, who had been struggling to find his parents, tilted his head in curiosity. He asked the question that came to his mind.

“Even though you’re an adult, you’re lost?”

“Yep, actually, I’ve been lost all this time.”

“Really…”

The boy, who felt so lonely without his kind mother and father around, thought it must be incredibly sad to be lost for so long. He lowered his eyes in sympathy.

(So that’s why...)

The clever boy understood why the woman’s eyes were red.

“That’s why you were crying, isn’t it?”

“Eh?”

“Look, you were crying after all!”

This time, it was the woman’s turn to be surprised.

Had she not realized it herself? She rubbed her eyes with her fingers and widened her eyes at the tears she wiped away—before smiling.

“Fufu, I see… How embarrassing. You had me there.”

“Wha—wha, what is it!?”

With a teasing grin, the woman placed her hat on the boy’s head, playfully pressing it down while laughing in embarrassment. The boy, now annoyed, lifted the brim of the hat to complain, but when he looked up, he saw a trace of sadness in her expression.

…For some reason, he found it hard to voice his complaint.

Maybe it was because her shy gesture reminded him of his dad. It felt strange that even though the woman in front of him was clearly a lady, she somehow resembled his dad.

“Hey, you’re a girl, so why do you say ‘boku’?”

“…You ask some sharp questions, don’t you? But let me give you a little advice.”

“Huh?”

“A girl's secrets are best left secret.”

She retrieved her hat from his head and placed it back on her own.

“So, let’s keep the fact that you saw me crying a secret too, okay?”

“Oh… o-okay.”

She tapped his nose lightly with her finger, playfully reminding him. It was just like how his mom would scold him when he was being mischievous, so the boy nodded obediently. Just after thinking she was like his dad, now he thought she was like his mom too. It was a strange feeling.

“Good kid...” she said softly, then lifted the boy into her arms.

“Wha—!?”

“You must be tired from walking around. I’ll carry you, and we can look for your parents together.”

“…Thanks, onee-san.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Her arms were much slimmer and smoother than his mom’s, but they were surprisingly strong.

There wasn’t even a hint of a shake, and the boy felt so comfortable that he rested his head against her chest.

“Onee-san, you don’t sway at all.”

“Despite appearances, I’m pretty strong. Escorting a lady is my specialty.”

“Leydi?”

He was always told by his parents and teachers at kindergarten not to follow strangers.

But at that moment, the boy was exhausted, and there was something calming about the woman’s gentle demeanor.

Besides… someone with such a beautiful singing voice couldn’t possibly be a bad person, he thought.

“Mm…”

“Goodnight, young lady.”

In his heart, the boy wanted to correct her—I’m a boy—but he was often mistaken for a girl because of his long hair. Normally, he would get mad and protest, but for some reason, he didn’t feel like arguing with her.

Maybe it was because of the drowsiness, or maybe it was her nurturing presence.

The softness that embraced him and the rhythmic sound of her footsteps were like a soothing lullaby, and before he knew it, the boy had drifted off to sleep.

“…Mom…”

She flinched at the boy’s sleep-talking, but soon after, smiled gently.

“That might be nice too…”

Her quiet words, unheard by anyone, disappeared into the night sky illuminated by the full moon.

When the boy next woke up, he found himself in his mother’s arms. His parents were overjoyed that he was safe.

They apologized repeatedly for getting separated during the evacuation, but the boy held no grudge.

──He simply felt… exceptionally well-rested.

Eight: (The mother role...) That might be a good move for an original protagonist...

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