Chapter 216: Karma
Chapter 216: Karma
A little more than a week later, Prota was called back to Albert’s office.
“...I was going to speak normally, but I still can’t really process this,” the guildmaster said after a moment. “You’re… you’re really two separate entities in there, aren’t ya?”
Prota just nodded.
“Seriously, the things this job puts me through… fine. We’ll do it. What’s your plan?”
Before speaking, Prota looked around, clearly suspicious of her surroundings.
“It’s just me and you.”
That wasn’t enough. Closing her eyes, she tried sensing for souls, but true to Albert’s word, it was just him in the room. Even Bren wasn’t there, which was somewhat surprising.
With a nod, Anta took over, immediately leaning back in her chair.
“Alright. Here’s the plan,” she said. “We need to keep this short.”
“Understood. Go for it.”
With that, Anta explained her version of the plan. She didn’t quite explain why it was so important, but she talked about Olivia, how she was down there, and how she, along with numerous other prisoners, needed to be saved.
“They’re… well, it might be a mercy to just kill them,” Anta said quietly. “But we’ll get to that when we get there.”
However, explaining Olivia’s situation was impossible without explaining Danjo’s situation, and that was accepted somewhat calmly. Well, Albert was a good person. If the dwarf was being controlled beyond his power, there was nothing he could do about it.
“I see… that might’ve ended everything right there and then.”
Anta shook her head.
“There’s a few things you need to know.”
“And what’s that?”
“Breaker, for one. I think it’d be best if you took him on personally.”
“But I thought-”
“You don’t get it, do you? This plan isn’t one that needs changes. If something goes wrong, I can’t account for it. Just do your job properly, old man.”
Albert frowned. “Hey, hold on-”
“That leads me to my second point. Our enemy is not someone you can beat. He… leave him to me. Do not interfere.”
“You? Sorry, but-”
“Listen. You know how souls are a confidential piece of information? This is like that. This is beyond you. Do you understand? This is beyond just life and death. Have you heard of Quesator- I don’t know their name.”
“...I believe I’m aware of what you’re trying to say.”
“This is beyond them. Ok? Don’t get involved. For everyone’s sake.”
Albert hesitated. It was clear he wasn’t pleased that he was being ordered around by a little girl, but in the end, he seemed to accept it. Well, such a statement couldn’t be that much further from everything else she’d said. If he was going to trust the rest of her information, then he might as well trust her on this.
Right?
“Then, this is the plan.”
In the end, it all involved draining Doctor’s resources in order to draw out the man himself. Danjo would have to be ignored in order for the man to avoid using Olivia as a hostage. Thus, he couldn’t be involved in this. Then, Albert would need to join Prota and Destiny in clearing out the chimeras. This would force Doctor to send Breaker out, but knowing Breaker, Doctor would come out himself, especially if he had the information that Prota would be moving on her own toward the laboratory.
“...are Elfin and Bren here?” Anta said suddenly.
“N-no? I sent them out after you said you wanted a private talk.”
“Call them back in. I might as well explain the plan to them as well. However… no matter what happens, stay silent.”
“Stay- what?”
“Do not react. At all. You’re capable of that much, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes, but…”
“Tch. I should’ve just said nothing at all. That would’ve been better… it doesn’t matter.”
Soon, Elfin and Bren entered the room. They seemed surprised to see Anta, but they didn’t say anything. They stood next to Albert, patiently waiting.
“We’re going to be doing some reconnaissance,” Anta said simply.
The plan was quite different from what Anta had told Albert. She planned on analyzing the area around Doctor, since she wasn’t fully sure if she could invade his lab. Then, she formed her strategy like a backup rather than a plan of attack.
Everyone would be prepared to deal with the potential threats that could come their way. Albert would deal with Breaker. They would all deal with the chimeras. Destiny was to help with the cat chimera, if it ever came.
“Then… what will you be doing?”
“Scouting. I can make more accurate predictions if I’m in the vicinity,” Anta explained. “So I’ll be approaching Doctor’s lab to try and run a prophecy. This is absolutely important: do not let anyone find out about this. I’ll be powerless for about fifteen minutes while I’m using my magic. It is vital Doctor does not exit the lab at this time. Ok?”
“Wait, but if you’re powerless, then shouldn’t you-” Bren started, but was cut off as Anta raised her hand.
“No. You need to stay here. All of you. Understood?”
“...yes.”
Anta didn’t even spare Elfin a glance as she finished her plan. He would report the details. He always had. He’d been there when they’d tried to take John.
No.
When they had taken John.
She still didn’t know his motives. His reasons. But did it matter? Perhaps she’d be able to ask this time. Perhaps she wouldn’t. Maybe he wouldn’t report any of this, and maybe he’d escape with his life intact. If so, she had no plans of revealing his secret. It wasn’t her place to turn him in. Their goal, this time, wasn’t to make the world an amazing place.
It was to save it. And if it was left in a somewhat rough state, that was fine. The world would be left to its own means. For Prota to play god…
Well, that wasn’t quite her thing.
So as long as Elfin stayed out of their way, whether or not he was caught didn’t matter.
“Great. The plan goes into effect next week. Understood?”
There was a collective nod, and with that, Anta stood up.
One week.
~~~
That night, Prota laid awake in her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
“How does it feel?”
She nearly jumped as Anta spoke. Her mind had been so busy with thoughts that none of them had been coming through clearly, resulting in her mind being effectively empty.
“...what do you mean?”
“You’re in John’s position now, aren’t you? How does it feel?”
Prota still didn’t get it. What was it supposed to feel like? To what was Anta referring to? Was it supposed to be the feeling of power? Or control? Maybe the sensation of near omnipotence, knowing future and past events, or knowing things not meant to be known.
As it turned out, Anta didn’t mean any of that.
“Running around. Saving everyone.”
Prota’s eyes shot open in realization.
“You know… for a guy who said he didn’t care much for [Characters], he did an awful lot for us, didn’t he?” Anta said quietly. “And that guy said he was selfish.”
For a brief moment, there was silence.
“I never really got him. He always claimed to be about himself first, someone who couldn’t care less about whether [Characters] lived or died, because it was all fake. And, to an extent, I believe him. He really does see this world as fake.”
What a depressing thing to say. Prota frowned slightly, confused as to where Anta was going with this.
“But… think about it. He picked us up and took us in immediately. He was worried about us. Nursed us back to health. Despite his flaws, he tried to make sure we were ok. That we were… normal, I guess.”
Prota nodded. She already knew all of this, though. So what was the point?
“But did he ever take care of himself in the same way?”
“...no.”
“Right.” Anta laughed, but she didn’t sound all that amused. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think his personality is anything special. He is lazy. He is an ass. And I don’t think he’s trying to atone for anything or something stupid like that. He’s just… I just think he cares for [Characters] a lot more than he thinks he does.”
“Cares… for [Characters]?”
That statement was so absurd that Prota had a hard time believing it, even with how seriously Anta was speaking.
John. The man who saw everything and everyone as disposable, the man who could bring everyone back with a single death, the person who could fix mistakes with the snap of his fingers.
He cared for [Characters]?
Her eyes began to shine. Maybe he was a far more honorable person than she’d initially thought?
“Oh, please, it’s not like that. He doesn’t see us as real,” Anta said. “But he cares for us. As [Characters]. Think about it. Even though he knew his old world was fake… doesn’t he still long for it?”
“Nn… right.”
“It’s actually incredible how the two of us ended up together- scratch that. It was intentional,” Anta laughed, this time a little more lighthearted. “But still. You, who kept throwing your life away for John. John, who kept throwing his life away for you. Isn’t it a little fascinating? Just a little bit?”
Prota remained silent. Was that really true? Had she been throwing her life away for John?
“Oh, come on. Don’t play innocent with me now,” Anta grumbled. “Think about everything we’ve done. If you had just been a little more selfish, everyone could’ve been saved a lot of headache. Then again, the same goes for that idiot.”
Prota was no longer tired. She sat up, throwing open the window to her room. Immediately, the cool fall air blew in, brushing her hair back. The pale white moonlight shone softly on her face, shining in her eyes.
“In the end, though, it looks like John chose himself. Or… did he?”
“...what?”
“Did he choose himself? In the end, that dummy decided to [Reset] when he could’ve easily killed us. So… did he choose himself? I wonder.”
Anta popped out in soul form, hands clasped behind her back as she gave Prota a strange smile.
“Back then… you always came to John’s rescue. And he always came to your rescue. So don’t you think it’s about time we started saving ourselves?”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“But losing John-”
“It’s not about losing John. It’s good to have someone to rely on. But if we’re nothing without him, then what’s the point? Prota, I don’t want to trouble you, but what if it comes to John or yourself?”
“I-”
“This isn’t a trick question. I don’t care what you say. If you choose John, that’s more than fine. But I just want you to understand that the two of you are equally fake. Your existence is no more or less than his. So don’t go thinking that it’s your duty to go and save him. Just as it isn’t his duty to go and save you.”
Anta perched on the windowsill, watching the moon alongside Prota.
“If it’s what you choose… let it be because that is what you want. Nothing more. Nothing less. Alright?”
Prota nodded. Her heart still felt conflicted. Her mind was still a mess. There was a goal before her, and yet her eyes were cast further. Toward bigger things. Greater things. She tried to ignore it, but her confrontation with John was something she dreaded.
“We’ll get to it when we get to it,” Anta said quietly. “So for now, let’s do what we can.”
“...nn.”
~~~
“How fascinating.”
Doctor crumpled up the paper and tossed it to the side. He was strangely calm, unlike the last time his plans had been put astray.
“So, she plans all that, does she? But something is off.”
Breaker sighed. “Like what, sir? This is a perfect opportunity. Even if they are aware of your chimeras’ weaknesses, they can’t possibly deal with all of them at once.”
“And you are confident in dealing with your old friend?”
“Of course. That’s the only reason I’m here.”
“Good. But you lack a strategic mind, Breaker. You fail to see that this is a trap.”
Breaker didn’t say anything. He just waited. Doctor would explain himself in a moment, anyway.
“Think. If that girl is a prophet… she must also know that we have a spy. Would she not?”
“...yes.”
“Then why would she reveal the information to us so easily?”
“Sir, she herself stated that the details are something she is not aware of-”
“Oh, please. That girl is like me. Not a piece on the chessboard. A player. She must be sitting behind everyone, controlling them like puppets. Like me. Why do you think she let your underling go? Because she couldn’t finish him? No, she has more than enough power to do so. It was intentional. They want to bait us out. They need an advantage, to play on their own field. Oh, what a fascinating opponent to be up against… Yes, yes, very good. A challenge is needed once in a while.”
“But, sir. If you know it’s a trap, then why even risk-”
“Risk?” Doctor stood up from his chair, his tone far less playful than before. “Breaker, are you insinuating that I, I, would take such a risk? Do you think that I could lose, even though our opponent has a trap set?”
“I just-”
“I cannot lose, Breaker. It is impossible. Do not concern yourself with things that matter not.”
“...yes, sir.”
With that, Breaker left the room silently. Doctor sat back down, lacing his fingers behind his head.
“How curious… Prota Char. That name does ring a bell… well, no matter. It matters not who she is. I will deal with her all the same. To be so bold as to know who I am, yet challenge me nonetheless… and to lay such obvious bait as well. I look forward to what you will try, little girl.”
He pressed a button under his desk, and a servant immediately came running in.
“Sir? What is it?” he said, panting.
“One week. In exactly one week, release them.”
The man opened his mouth as if to refute the request, paused, seemingly thinking the better of it, then nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
He scurried off, not wanting to be in Doctor’s presence any longer than he needed to be.
“Then, I’ll throw you a bone,” Doctor said with a small smile. “I’ll play into your prophecy. I’ll even fall for your bait. Let’s see what you can accomplish, little protagonist.”
~~~
A week later, Prota was ready. She was starting to severely miss her Charm of Healing, but then again, a mistake against Doctor would probably mean death, not injury. She wouldn’t be getting second chances.
“Prota,” Anta said quietly. “Couple of things we need to finalize.”
“Nn.”
“And, before we go… your mind’s gonna need to be really open.”
“...huh?”
Anta sighed. “[DEM] is basically just the power of imagination. That being said, I can’t guarantee that your powers will be the same as when you used [Infinity].”
“But Soul Steal-”
“Might not activate. I’m going to be honest, I also don’t know if it’s good enough. I’ll tell you this much: using [DEM] will not make you stronger.”
“...stronger?”
“When you took John’s [Infinity], you also took its effects: multiplying your strength. Soul Steal isn’t a [DEM] ability, it’s just your innate power. By taking John’s power, you just made it your own. Or did you forget what Soul Steal does?”
Prota’s eyes widened. That was right. It’d been a while since the effect had come into use, but Soul Steal had the effect of copying the target’s powers as well. Then, if she had copied [Infinity]...
“When we use [DEM] now, it might make you strong enough to take mana from the air. But it also might not. It might give you a new power entirely. So you’re going to have to adapt, and you’re going to have to adapt fast.”
Prota nodded. She wasn’t sure that there was anything to say in response to a statement like that, after all.
“But you’re good at that, aren’t you? Thinking fast. We’ll get it done.”
At that, Prota let a little smile slip. Right. She was worried for nothing. What kind of fool would call out her enemy if she was afraid to fight?
“Alright. Let’s go.”
The first stop was to Destiny, where they would explain the strategy against Thirteen a little better. Prota was amazed that Anta knew its name, but the soul wouldn’t reveal how she knew. Regardless, it could be said that the entirety of their plan relied on the hero, so his role would be quite important.
“That thing can slip into the shadows,” Anta explained. “So thin you can’t see it. Kit can sense mana, right?”
“That’s…”
Destiny went quiet, but from the way his eyes shifted, he seemed to be talking with the Mystic.
“She can, to a degree.”
“Good. Use her as a radar. You’ll need God Slaying Sword for this one.”
“Wha- seriously? Now? I just got the hang of using it-”
“Why do you think we asked you to learn it?”
Destiny’s eyes widened. “Ah… that’s right.”
“You’ll do fine. That thing is incredibly cat-like. It won’t be easy to hit. So instead of trying to hit it directly… try to ‘cut.’ If you know what I mean.”
“What- what the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Anta shrugged. “It’s your ability, mister. I’ve never used it. But you did.”
She walked up to the half-elf, poking him in the chest without breaking eye contact.
“Prota was able to see your full potential in her past life. And your potential was insane. You are truly deserving of the title of hero. I don’t say that lightly. So believe in yourself. And if you don’t believe in yourself… at least trust Prota, who believes in you.”
“I… wait, what about you?”
“Me?” Anta grinned.
“Yeah! Don’t… you don’t believe?”
Anta just turned away, waving dismissively. “I don’t trust anything until it happens. Personally, I’d want to take care of everything with my own hands. But Prota’s stupid body can’t handle that right now. So we’ll be leaving things in your hands. Got it? To begin with, this was your battle to fight.”
“My… right. Were we even that close at this point?”
“This fight wasn’t supposed to happen for another six months or so,” Anta said. “Take that as you will. But you weren’t this strong at this stage, either. So just do your best. You’ll do fine.”
“...right.” Destiny’s eyes narrowed, his resolve seemingly steeled. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Prota. Naive fool,” Anta scoffed. “I’ll be seeing you around.”
There was a faint shimmer as Prota took over the body to preserve Anta’s strength, her hair turning blue once more. She bowed quickly to Destiny, then quickly headed off to the guild, where Albert, Bren and Elfin were waiting.
Anta took over one more time. She quickly went over the plan one more time, detailing the chimeras’ strengths and weaknesses, explaining that Destiny would deal with one of them. Albert would deal with Breaker, who would surely come out, but he was free to help with the chimeras if he so wished.
“That’s all,” Anta said, turning to leave. “Oh. Elfin. Come with me. I have one more task with you.”
Confused, the elf followed Anta out as she headed down the road and into the forest. Neither spoke. Anta didn’t look back, so she couldn’t see Elfin’s expression, but there was a high chance he was about to stab her.
“Alright. This is far enough.”
She turned around and immediately dodged, avoiding Elfin’s sword just in time.
“So you knew,” Elfin said, a bead of sweat dripping down his cheek.
“Of course. I’m a prophet.”
“You’re a soul.”
“And?”
For a moment, there was silence.
“Look. I’m not here to deal with you,” Anta said with a shrug. “So put your sword down.”
“...fine. I don’t think I’d be able to kill you anyway.”
“And you came with me anyway?” Anta laughed. “You’ve got some nerve.”
“I couldn’t… never mind.”
“What, let down your friends? After you betrayed them?”
“I didn’t betray them! They- they forgot what was done to us, what-”
“That’s your reason?” Anta just waved him away. “I don’t care. The reason I called you out was to let you know that I have no plans of exposing you. You can go back and do whatever you want. I just wanted to warn you.”
“...warn me?”
“Breaker doesn’t die. Neither does Albert. They reconcile. Probably. So it’s best if you pretend you didn’t do anything, either.”
Prota remained silent. She hadn’t anticipated this, either. What was going on? Anta hadn’t told her she was going to do this. Then what was the point?
“Why… why are you telling me this?”
Anta shrugged. “Rebellion.”
“Rebellion?”
“Don’t worry about it too much. Just keep yourself alive. Alright? If you want to keep serving Doctor, that’s up to you. But from what I’ve heard about Breaker, neither of you really liked that guy to begin with. And neither of you know what he’s actually up to.”
“Actually… up to?”
“You don’t think he’s just experimenting, do you? Never mind. Just know that we’ll be the ones who win. So you can either bet against us… or bet on us.”
With that, Anta left, and when she was out of sight, Prota took over once more.
“...why?”
“I don’t actually care about Elfin. But don’t you think it’s a bit of a spit in the face toward the [Author]? We’ve already fucked up so much of their [Plot]. Let’s break a little more, shall we?”
Prota nodded. Right. There was no harm in doing so, right?
Soon, they made their way to the crack in the wall. Doctor’s lab. How many deaths? How much pain?
They’d be avoiding all that today.
“Prota. I’m a little tired…” Anta muttered. “Do you…”
“Just wait,” Prota muttered.
They watched as a figure emerged from the darkness, a slow clap ringing out every few seconds.
“Doctor,” Prota said simply.
“You. Then, I suppose there’s no need for introductions. We both know what’s going on. Shall we get straight to the action?”
Prota’s eyes began to glow as her magic began to activate. Words said by John, so long ago, echoed in her mind. She wasn’t one to say something like this very often, but to this man…
Her mouth opened. Doctor waited eagerly, his expression one of vested interest.
“Hm? What does the little chickling have to say-”
“You should take your own life.”