True Magician

Chapter 108

Emiya's residence.

A tense silence hung in the living room as the demons waited for my response. Griselda and Gabriel were doing the same, though for different reasons. Rea-chan would accept whatever decision I made, Morgan looked interested, and Tia didn't care as long as I was with her.

Honestly, their business shouldn't concern me. It's like the situation with the past world, where I basically didn't care about it. Here, however, my priorities are myself, my Servants, and Issei, on whom our existence depends. Not even the deaths of millions of creatures could motivate me to action.

- "Okay, I understand the situation, but not one detail."

- "What is your gain, isn't it?" Sona asked.

- "Uh-huh. As much as I don't like you, Sona, my interests are above yours," I began, shrugging my shoulders and interrupting her attempt to speak, "And before you start, your clan has nothing to offer me. I already have the power over the demons, in fact, and it's just a matter of doing the bare minimum. I don't need the money for the same reason. Yourself, or even both of you? I have no wealth in women."

Serafall pouted and gave me a resentful look, and Sona thought deeply. And so did the first one. I could hear the gears in their heads as they searched for an acceptable offer. And I have to say, I don't think they're going to find one.

Sona's prize for the Ranking Game doesn't stretch to their cause. Dealing with someone or organizing something? Quite, but not that. The demons simply don't have what I want. At least not within their capabilities. As for something on a grand scale... well, Alaia's the one to mention.

Now that I think about it, my situation is becoming more and more incomprehensible. Considering Zelretch's words about constants and variables, the plot might not be saved if the inhabitants of this world change it. However, Aika clearly said that only checkpoints should be passed.

With my presence there have been enough changes that make the story unoriginal. I would even say more than enough. Take Tia, for example. She doesn't shine in the original, and I doubt Ophis and Great Red had exactly the non-relationship with her that they have here. Rea-chan is still part of the plot, though there's no such thing in the original.

The changes I've already personally made are especially questionable. The same Rizevim, for example. When I changed it... no, not like that. When I re-created it, nothing much happened. In fact, I now own his soul because of the effects of 3rd magic, as Death explained. And since I'm a variable that shouldn't exist in this world, what about him? Well, nah. However, Aika basically told me nothing about it.

Besides, recalling her words, their wording was extremely vague. Destruction of the world? Understandable, but in what way exactly? Will it be simply erased from existence, or will there be some cataclysm? And if the latter was true, would I be able to deal with it, given the power I had?

Alaya is gone now, and I don't know where she is. There's no way to track her, no matter how hard you try. She's basically the world itself, which means that no matter what you do, she's out of reach until she wants otherwise.

The funny thing is, I can't tell for sure if Alaya lied to me. And since she did, should I even follow the plot? And is she Alaya on principle? Yes, Archer indirectly confirmed it, but only indirectly based on his feelings. Just questions and no answers.

- "Are you all right, husband?" Morgan asked in her usual tone with a wry smile on her face, interrupting my musings, but I could see the undercurrent of concern, "It should be those two in that state, but not you."

- "Let's just say that something is bothering me, and it has nothing to do with them." I shook my head and looked at the demons, "So, what have you decided?"