- Chiaki -

"Urgh!" (C)

I feel sick.

Like I just went ten rounds too many in a rollercoaster.

Actually, this is pretty close to how traveling via Iori Travels is.

Especially, the first few times.

Since then, she got the hang of it to make it the slightest bit gentler.

Though it’s not like that could be considered a pleasant experience yet.

Neither was whatever happened here.

The last thing I remember was that I was with Iori in that strange dimension, before this weird pterodactylus napped me, and dumped me into an arena...

Oh right, then black tentacles ripped out of the ground and pulled me into something, after which there was some back and forth between Iori and a mysterious someone, and then I got shifted... well, somewhere else.

Yeah, that may be a starting point for my investigations.

Detective Chiaki is on the case!

Okay, I'm in some hall.

The ground...

"Tap, tap, tap"

...is hard.

So it seems to be a solid building.

One where I can walk around in without obvious restrictions, as it seems.

So this leads to the assumption that whoever brought me here doesn't care if I'm able to move freely.

This at least beats the uterus Iori dumped me in by far.

Also, it allows for some options.

I wonder if I could open a portal to Soraja and slip through it myself.

Something tells me it's not supposed to be used by me, but desperate measures, right?

However, I'm not in imminent danger, and there's also the consideration that I could be under surveillance.

In this case, I would risk that my abductor, who, given that Iori is involved and they're not totally annihilated yet, is presumably on par with her regarding their power level and therefore a huge pain in the ass, could follow me.

Of course, the best case would be to slip away and quickly close the figurative door behind me in the hope that they couldn't find the key on their side.

But to make this happen, it sounds like a smart move to first give them a false sense of security.

Also, I'll admit that I kinda want to see what happens next.

Suddenly, the ground shifts in the same manner that I'm used to from Iori.

As if its former structure, shape, and color just stop being a thing, it rises, wriggles around, and forms a humanoid shape.

Oh, and now it indicates that it's going to begin to speak.

"Mortal." (P2)

"Yes?" (C)

Despite its appearance as an amorphous chunk of flesh, it can talk and speak in an articulate manner.

This should mean that we can lead a civilized discussion.

Hopefully.

"Fascinating. You seem astonishingly settled in this situation. My past encounters with creatures of your kind were presuming a different reaction." (P2)

Interesting.

If I can talk to this being, I might be able to extract some information.

"I'm used to this from Iori." (C)

"Used to this. Truly magnificent. So I realize there's greater meaning in taking you other than to give your 'friend' a reason to be invested." (P2)

With this, we got our motive!

Detective Chiaki solved another case!

Now that this is closed, it's time for a lecture.

"You can't just kidnap someone! Keeping someone captive against their will is really poor manners!" (C)

"I don't plan on keeping you. Only holding onto you for the time being." (P2)

"That 'time', is it anywhere shorter than the next millennium?" (C)

"This very concept is already faulty to begin with. As if something as relative as time could be used as a conceptual form of metric." (P2)

Well, if this isn't someone beating around the question.

"Soooo... Would you mind telling me what is going on here? To say the least, I find it a bit rude how you sacked me. Not to forget that you controlled Iori's game station, which can already be considered a violation of her personal property, and then you 'napped us out of our dimension, which I'm sure is an outright crime." (C)

"You're incredibly special. Never before has someone tried to hold me accountable based on the terms of the mortal laws their species created. Most realize how pointless it is." (P2)

"And this makes you in the right? Listen, if even a fledging species such as ours can realize that you did something wrong, then perhaps you are in the wrong?" (C)

Hmm, they aren't answering outright.

I say 'they' as their voice is hard to pinpoint.

"Peculiar. I can't fully conceive how you manage to irritate me on this level." (P2)

"I get that a lot. So, coming back to my question. What exactly are you planning?" (C)

For a moment, the form shivers, then contorts in certainly unhealthy ways, before rocking back into an upright position and staring right at me.

"To put it simply, I intend to play a game. The players are supposed to be me as well as your 'friend'. An ethereal concept to grasp if you ask me. Yet now I think I might involve you as well." (P2)

"Okay... Just to be sure, what kind of game are we talking about?" (C)

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"It's certainly fascinating. I found this remembrance of an artificial world in the depths of your 'friend' when she connected to me. As there should be a certain degree of familiarity, it should pose the ideal playing field for this game." (P2)

"Yeah, so how does this relate to the current situation?" (C)

"It's truly not complicated. Your 'friend' is taking one side. She already started, her influence reaching out from her position, and in time she may or may not consume the field. My role is to prevent this. If I can successfully break her advance, then it's her loss and my win, and the loser will have to relinquish the prize." (P2)

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! You said I'm what makes Iori invested, so I'm the prize." (C)

"This is right. Something that could make a being like her invested." (P2)

"Then how do you intend to involve me? Just saying, I make for a terrible damsel in distress." (C)

Not like I'm all that much of a fan of being considered the trophy to be claimed.

But to add to this, something tells me that whoever I'm dealing with here might be a bit problematic if they'd claim me.

"Fear not. This won't be your role. I discovered that your soul configuration is perfect to absorb energy of any kind. As if you were crafted for this particular purpose. Therefore, you are best used as an offensive figure, to realize my will." (P2)

Their will?

I fear they aren't too concerned about my willingness to support them.

Under the premise that they might have their ways to force me anyways, I should rather try to convince them otherwise.

"Ehm, I'm not exactly sure if using the 'prize' like this would be fair. Sounds to me like it makes for a faulty game." (C)

"You are certainly right. A piece on the field can't be the prize. Therefore, as the game hasn't quite started yet, I'd offer a slight adjustment of the rules." (P2)

I kinda fear to ask.

But I do so anyway.

"Right. And where does this lead us?" (C)

"I want you to claim the role as my champion to vanquish the demon king. If you succeed in breaking through the enemy ranks, to reach and defeat the enemy commander, then my side is going to win." (P2)

"Stop right there! Why would I take your side and not Iori's?" (C)

"Why do you claim to have a choice?" (P2)

"Because you're talking to me. I'm rather sure mind-controlling me would mess up either my role as your 'prize' or make my actions less realistic. In both ways, you'd be a poor gamemaster if you have to fall back to this to get people to play with you." (C)

"Truly captivating. I can't seem to shake off this feeling of irritation. How about this? If you agree, you can ask for anything you want." (P2)

Did I hear this right?

"Anything?!" (C)

"Anything." (P2)

"Like, if I ask for a planet you would give me one?" (C)

"Depends on whether or not the planet is protected by the accord. Yet if it lies within my power. However, even I have rules to abide by." (P2)

"But still. If it lies within your capabilities then you can and more importantly will make it happen, right?" (C)

"Yes." (P2)

"You mean it?! Then can I ask for my wish in advance?" (C)

"As long as you'll still fulfill your part." (P2)

Makes sense.

Would be weird if I could just bail out through this.

"And no bailing out of this? What would happen if I ask you to just let us go, of course, unharmed and with also otherwise intact mind and body, and to not bother us ever again?" (C)

"It would be granted." (P2)

Can I trust their word?

Would there be a reason for lying?

Can such beings even lie?

However, I should not assume mere incapabilities.

No, rather it makes sense if they'd screw me over.

Also, there's a clear flaw in their reasoning that bothers me greatly.

"Wait a moment. That means you would let me go if Iori wins, and you will let me go if you win? Then where's the point in all this?" (C)

"The point is the game. I want to see how it plays out." (P2)

Hmm, that was still rather ominous.

Can this truly be all there is to it?

In any case, being all too trusting is never a smart idea.

"How can I know that you're not just lying to me? If I do as you say, you'd still be able to do whatever you want, without my opinion mattering the slightest bit." (C)

"If you desire so, we could form a cosmic contract. Bound with our very being to keep our parts. As the contract is us and no distinction to be made." (P2)

A contract?

One that can even bind something like this?

Whoah, I'm several magnitudes over my head here.

Still, if this being would be bound to leave us alone because of it then this sounds like the absolute best solution

Might be harsh on Iori, but something tells me that this agreement is far more beneficial for the both of us than her having an all-out war with this cosmic entity.

Also, it sounds somewhat exciting.

"So, if I agree to sign this contract, you'd just be fine to leave us alone for the next millennia? Or ten?" (C)

"It's incomprehensible to me why you'd go as far as accepting a cosmic contract to define such an insignificantly short timespan. But yes, I'd grant your wish." (P2)

A wish.

Now we have the word that lies at the core of what is offered.

However, I'm far too educated to fall into this peculiar trap.

This means, I just need to figure out how to word this absolutely foolproof.

Damn, I wish I'd be a lawyer to figure out an appropriate wording without the backdoors I'm expecting.

"Okay. That sounds acceptable. But before I sign anything, I'd like to have some further safety concessions." (C)

"Concessions?" (P2)

"You know, an assurance that you won't use this to screw us over, no matter what. Not to forget, that both Iori and I, as well as any people, won't come to any permanent harm, neither physical nor psychological. Though, I'm rather sure that you're gonna tell me any moment that those two are just the same. But especially, I want the promise that I can define how I meant what I signed up to if I realize there's something wrong with my 'wish'. Not sure how familiar you are with this concept, but I know countless stories, yes, I know, hyperbole, that refer to people wishing for something and either they go horribly wrong or the one granting it planned right from the start to tweak it so the wisher won't have fun with what they want. So no, not falling for this! It wouldn't be much of a reward if I ended up totally screwed, right?" (C)

I'm very aware that this being very likely has several more eons of life experience over me.

But this doesn't mean I should just accept whatever it throws my way.

"SCRCHCHCHUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH"

"Aaaahh!" (C)

I think my eardrums just burst!

Fortunately, my powers seem to be able to heal this damage.

"This was absolutely unnecessary!" (C)

"Ah, I apologize. I didn't expect to be this amused. I keep forgetting how fragile your kind is when I copied this hull. An issue that should be remedied." (P2)

"Yeah, I'd prefer to return home in my own body. Speaking of which, if I agree to this, I want you to make sure that nobody is freaking out about my disappearance at home. And no, this doesn't mean you can erase my existence from their consciousness or anything like that, which would trouble me later on." (C)

"You are bartering with quite high stakes." (P2)

"Yeah, yeah. You'll still need to accommodate me if you want my support." (C)

"I see. You are a peculiar one. Some might say obnoxious." (P2)

"Hey!" (C)

"Good for you that this was one of the most memorable exchanges I had within the last eon. So I will agree to your conditions." (P2)

Suddenly, I find something that I would define as a dimensional rift.

Out of it dribbles some kind of golden sparks, as well as black-purple ink, and... water?

At least I hope it's just that.

Whatever might be the case, the being extends... something in there, and pulls out a golden shimmering piece of parchment that certainly isn't parchment.

"So, what now? Do I have to sign with blood?" (C)

"Personal mutilation won't be required. Just trace the pattern with your finger. The fabric will recognize your soul and react to your intentions. The contract will only be established under the means decided by both parties. No falsities or withholdings can be included, as interpretations will have to align." (P2)

Okay, sounds intuitive enough.

I reach out with my finger and the parchment writes symbols on it I do not know.

At the same time, my brain kinda loads down the terms of our agreement.

It's like clicking at the agreement text to using a video game, just that I can't skip over it, but am forced to see everything in fast forward.

I think I got a nosebleed.

Yet then it stops and the text glows once more in confirmation.

At the same time, I see how the point where Switchy held the whole thing glows as well.

Ehm, I guess I'm now under contract.

"And with this, the deal is set. Prepare yourself, as the next part may be disorienting for you." (P2)

"What next part? Could you for once deign to inform me beforehand?" (C)

"Of course, you will become a figure in my game, acting on my behalf as I please, doing the things I command as your player." (P2)

"Ahem, I'm not quite sure if I agreed to this. Who even said I'd just accept whatever you are about to pull next?" (C)

"But you did. Just now. Also, you won't bail out here. You are already far too much into this to stop at this point. Isn't this right?" (P2)

Damnit!

They've seen through me!

"Fine, but you better keep your part!" (C)

"As we agreed upon. After all, a game loses its meaning if nobody sticks to the rules of engagement." (P2)

Promptly, the whole world shifts again.