Chapter Text
Fate is a funny thing.
In another time in another place, an ancient spirit would come to a foreign land searching for a soul capable of protecting a world from catastrophe. In this time and place the spirit would fail to find such a soul and would, as a result, choose a troubled soul desperate for a second chance.
But that is not here and now, for in this time and this place the spirit found something strange. A soul that didn’t belong to this world. This strange foreign soul had come to this world on a whim. It was not planned or conspired, nor was it willed by any higher power, it just happened to be passing through at the time the spirit searched. The odds that this soul would come to this place at precisely the same time as the spirit are inconceivably slim. A miraculous coincidence. This strange vagrant soul intrigued the spirit. It was almost human but fundamentally different and, though it was marred by countless scars, it was brimming with power and full of boundless potential for yet more strength. It was the soul of a self-proclaimed evil god that would burn the entire world to the ground… just to see those closest to them smile.
In that once-in-a-lifetime moment, the legendary spear found its perfect wielder.
Fate really is a funny thing. Isn’t it?
“All of the demons drafted for the Ninth army have gotten their stat improvement skills to 3rd tier and are ready for power-leveling”
“Perfect! So how long do you think it’ll be until they’re ready for action?”
“If all goes as planned they should be sufficiently leveled in about 10 months, a year at the latest”
“Excellent work as always White. Now you can take a vacation… That’s an order by the way”
“...HUH!?! But I still need to-”
“No but’s! You’ve been working yourself to the bone for months now! When was the last time you had a break?”
“Last month I spent some time writing those books about the system for Vampy and Oni-kun. That’s way easier than what I’m usually doing. That counts as a break.”
“It does not and you know it. Come on White, you're a nervous wreck from all the stress you're putting yourself through.”
“You can’t prove that! I’m always a nervous wreck. Stress has nothing to do with it.”
That statement elicits little more than a raised eyebrow from the Demon Lord. True as it may be, it doesn't change the fact that the burden is clearly getting to her.
“Okay fine I’m stressed, but I have to be if I want to get all this work done! Saving the world isn’t easy, you know! If I don’t do all this then who else is going to?”
“Me! Or Gullie, or Mera, or Wrath, Felmina, Balto, Sophia-’
Ariel quickly pivots after White visibly winces at that suggestion and, honestly, she can't blame her. As much as they both like the young vampire, neither are very comfortable trusting her with anything that doesn't involve hacking something to pieces.
“Ok not Sophia but my point still stands! There are plenty of other people who can take over the workload while you take some much needed time off.”
“But what about hacking the system? What about keeping up my spy network? There’s a ton of stuff that only I can do-” “That stuff will just have wait-” “but-”
“NO! BUTS!”
After that little outburst the Demon Lords tone softens and she gives her friend a concerned look.
“Look White. What you're doing for me is great and I can’t even begin to describe how much I appreciate it, but you need to take care of yourself too. I know I can’t stop you from carrying the world on your shoulders but I atleast want to help you carry it, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.”
“...”
*sigh*” If I really can’t convince you to take a break for yourself, can I at least convince you to take a break for me? I really am worried about you”
There’s a moment of silence as the Demon Lord looks at her friend pleadingly, waiting for her response.
“AAAGH! This isn’t fair! How am I supposed to say no when you phrase it like that!?”
The Demon Lord smirks, “Why do you think I phrased it like that?”
“This is emotional manipulation! I’m being coerced! I demand a mediator!”
The two share a laugh at that. The tension in the room evaporating in an instant.
“Alright fine, I’ll take a few days off. I need to catch up on my manga anyways.”
I was a fool
That was what I thought as I looked at the truly daunting selection of manga the store had available after arrogantly believing I would read ALL of it. Seriously! Everyone says the manga industry is trash nowadays, so why is there so much good stuff I need to see? How is anybody supposed to keep up with all this? How was I supposed to know that between this and saving a planet this would be the harder task?
*thump*
Hmm? I turn to the sound and see a book on the floor. That’s not that weird, I mean books fall off the shelves all the time, but what is weird is the book itself. It’s bound in leather and looks suuuper old, it looks more like something I’d find in the library at Balto’s house than something you’d find in a manga shop. After dusting it off a bit I see the title, ‘Record of the Four Holy Weapons’. Leafing through it a bit it seems a bit classical for my tastes but I figured a break from the trashy isekai I usually read would probably do me some good(Don’t judge me, I lived through the hardest isekai ever made, I deserve a bit of wish fulfillment) so I picked it up, plus I got it cheap since the store owner couldn’t find it in the computer.
After buying it I brought it back to my(D’s) apartment, changed into my PJ's, started reading and, Honestly? It was pretty bland. 3/10 would not buy again. The main characters were really bare bones and the book just describes them all to you. Seriously, who does that? There was the Princess, who was just totally unlikeable; The Bow Hero, who had a strong sense of justice(Oh, like Oni-kun); The Sword Hero, who the book just described as “powerful”(really? That is not a personality trait and you know it); The Shield Hero, who defended anyone in need(And before you say it, as a master of the shield myself, I can attest to their usefulness); And the Spear hero… What? Were you expecting me to describe the spear hero to you? Well I would IF THE CHAPTER ABOUT HIM WASN'T BLANK! Seriously? You charged me ¥300 for a book you didn’t even finish? This is an absolute outrage! 0/10! I demand a refund!
I was mid-rant when the pages of the book suddenly started flipping on their own and the book started glowing. I, of course, Immediately take ten steps back and prepare a ball of black magic to chuck at the thing when the conjuration holding it together suddenly waivers and falls apart. What the heck? Did this random book seriously just cancel out my god(lol) tier magic? Knowing when I’m beat I try to teleport away only for that to fail too! Are you kidding me!? That’s like the easiest thing I can do! I try to book it for the door but before I make it the light from the book gets brighter and the walls start getting foggy and falling away. OK SERIOUSLY! I’M FREAKING OUT NOW! WHAT IS GOING ON!?!
When the light fades I see that I’m in a large, dimly lit stone room with three randos surrounded by a bunch of creepy dudes in cloaks. I also register a strange weight in my hand and look down to see a really fancy looking spear with a red gem embedded in its head. Quickly, I look at the three randos; A young adult man with spiky black hair holding a shield, a teenage boy with curly blonde hair holding a bow, and another teenage boy with long, straight black hair holding a sword. Each of their weapons have the same elaborate designs as the spear in my hands and a gemstone in the center. Right as I’m starting to realize what’s going on one of the cloaked weirdos steps forward and, as if to confirm my fears, says “Oh, heroes! Please save our world!”
No way.