160 [160] The Fallen Gabriel
Chapter 160: The Fallen Gabriel
At 8 PM, within the confines of Hikigaya's residence, Hachiman found himself reclined upon his bed, his gaze drifting somewhat absentmindedly towards the ceiling.
He pondered, "Am I genuinely arrogant?" Perhaps, to some extent. With his intimate knowledge of the plot, possession of a "cheat code," and clear advantages over the characters from the original narrative, he undeniably held a significant upper hand.
Yet, wasn't this inclination a common trait among all those who found themselves transported into foreign worlds?
While Yukino's perspective held some merit, he couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't committed any grave wrongdoing.
He believed that anyone in his shoes would likely make similar choices.
After all, abruptly finding himself in an unfamiliar reality, armed with invaluable knowledge of the plot and something akin to a "cheat code," it seemed only natural to employ these advantages to ensure his own survival and well-being.
All he had achieved thus far was the product of judiciously leveraging these assets.
In the context of a chat flow novel that had once captivated readers, Hachiman might have deployed his plot-savvy knowledge to assume the role of a prophet and subtly manipulate the original protagonist.
In all fairness, he couldn't deny having a slight tendency to look down on others.
Aside from the girls he cherished, Hachiman regarded everyone else as mere NPCs, bound by the established framework of the original narrative.
Thanks to his plot knowledge advantage, he could effortlessly set specific events into motion.
However, the real world didn't adhere to the scripted cadence of an anime or novel, where the timeline could be molded at the author's will.
In reality, there were no convenient "three days later," "five days later," or "in the blink of an eye, one month passed" transitions.
Days slipped by one after the other, and within this continuous flow, the outcome remained uncertain.
Moreover, he wasn't the same old Hachiman, no matter how one looked at it. There would be differences in his code of conduct.
The tiny butterfly that he represented, fluttering its wings a few times, could bring unpredictable changes to the plot.
What's even more pivotal to understand is that this world isn't confined to a mere slice-of-life setting; it's a crossover world where plot collisions between multiple realms are entirely unpredictable.
Prominent figures like Gabriel and Vignette have already made their entrance, hailing from the realms of slice-of-life and comedy anime, but they are authentic angels and demons, respectively.
With angels and demons in the mix, who's to say we won't encounter creatures like monsters, dragons, aliens, curse spirits, or any other enigmatic entities in the future?
Even with the advantage of the cheat code, Hachiman has essentially transcended the realm of mere mortals. His Level 5 physique has bestowed upon him extraordinary physical attributes: strength, endurance, stamina, explosive power, and reaction time that far surpass the capabilities of ordinary humans.
Consider his defense, for instance; he's nearly impervious to blade injuries. Kitchen knives no longer send shivers down his spine, a truly commendable feat.
Now, circling back to the main point, when it comes to defense, he assesses that his Level 5 physique grants him the ability to endure even small firearms. It doesn't stop there; he's also attained significant proficiency in offense. With a Level 5 mastery in Kendo, he can effortlessly slice through steel when infusing his strikes with sword energy.
His unarmed combat/fighting module, now elevated to Level 5, combined with a Level 5 physique, have bestowed upon him remarkable combat prowess. It's no exaggeration to claim that he could go toe-to-toe with a tiger or a lion in a one-on-one duel.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these skills against supernatural beings remains untested. To err on the side of caution, proceeding carefully is advisable.
Turning our attention to Gabriel and Vignette, it might be wise to follow through with the original plan and make contact with them. As per the source material, there's no indication of ill will from them toward humans.
Especially Vignette, she embodies kindness, follows the law, and willingly extends a helping hand—a genuine angelic presence. Interacting with her should prove to be quite straightforward.
As for Gabriel, Hachiman's plan was relatively uncomplicated. He merely needed to await her moment of financial constraint in her in-game pursuits, and lending her some money would likely establish a friendly rapport.
With the plan solidified, Hachiman breathed a sigh of relief. At that precise instant, he heard Komachi's voice emanating from outside the room.
"Onii-chan, you can go take a bath now."
"Alright, understood," he replied.
With fresh clothes in hand, he made his way toward the bathroom.
"Ah, I've finally finished. Humans do lead tough lives," sighed Gabriel, the angel teetering on the edge of falling, as she massaged her somewhat sore shoulders.
Realizing the time, she muttered, "Oh, it's already that time. Time for a bath." Preparing to head to the bathroom, her low table's computer unexpectedly emitted a painful, anguished cry.
"Help... save me!"
"Eh?!" Gabriel exclaimed, her heart racing. She rushed to her computer, only to feel a sense of relief as she glanced at the screen.
"It's just a game."
On the computer screen, an action role-playing game had spontaneously launched. A warrior character lay defeated by a monster's relentless attacks, desperately calling for help.
"Help... somebody, please save me!"
Even though she was fully aware that it was just a game, the kind-hearted angel couldn't help but feel sympathy.
"An injured warrior left without healing is just too pitiful. Besides, playing this game might offer some insights into human nature."
"Yes, definitely not looking to play," she mumbled, half to herself, as she opened the character creation screen.
"For the character... hmm, I'll go with the priest class, the one capable of healing others."
With her character created, Gabriel skillfully guided her avatar to the fallen warrior and wielded her staff, casting a healing spell.
"Thank you, you're like an angel," expressed the healed warrior.
"Eh?! How did you know I'm an angel?" The girl was taken aback, wondering if her true identity had been exposed.
But before she could dwell on this revelation, another plea for assistance rang out.
"Someone, come and heal me."
"I'm on my way, right away," Gabriel replied, taking control of her character to rush to the next rescue.
However, no sooner had she healed one than a fresh cry for help echoed through the game.
The girl had little choice but to hasten to each new plea for assistance.
"Thanks for the healing, Miss Angel."
"They really think I'm an angel."
"So adorable."
"..."
With every successful healing, they expressed their gratitude, leaving the not-yet-fallen angel with a profound sense of satisfaction.
"They're so happy like this; this game is incredible."
"I want to assist even more people!"
Yet, when she moved her character to the side of an injured individual this time, she discovered she couldn't utilize her healing magic.
"Eh? Why can't I use magic?"
"Oh, it's because you're out of mana. What should I do now?"
Just as Gabriel grappled with this predicament, a shop menu unexpectedly appeared on the screen.
The shop menu displayed that, for a mere 1500 yen, she could acquire a staff that would replenish her mana.
Observing this, the girl hesitated, drawing her savings card.
"Though Heaven covers living expenses and pocket money... But..."
Evidently, she still harbored some doubts about in-game purchases.
However, just at that moment, a fresh wave of cries for help resounded from the game.
"Help, I've been critically hit."
"Medic, I need a medic."
"No, I don't want to die yet."
"Angel, please save me."
Amidst this clamor, Gabriel clenched her teeth, shut her eyes, and clicked on the purchase button.
"Ding! Your recharge is complete!"
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A/N:
Okay, everyone, my health is somewhat better now, but there's still some pain. So, I'll be posting four chapters today since I won't be posting tomorrow. This way, I can rest tomorrow without using any gadgets.
I hope we can get back in the top ten again, everyone.
And thanks everyone who was concerned to me.
