[Hajime POV]
After declaring my challenge to the twins, I left the Renaissance Fair and started returning to the Tarantula tribe.
While I could probably find an inn somewhere on the island, I honestly wasn't sure what the currency was here and wouldn't reveal my identity yet.
I would obviously have to reveal it before I leave, but for now, I needed to avoid giving the twins any room to back out of the deal.
Now, was taking over Kinkow important?
In the grand scheme of things, no. The island, despite its fantastical nature, was somewhat normal, all things considered.
It had things like fast food and television, but with excess violence and weirdness.
However, I did see some potential in this world compared to the show.
Though I easily defeated Mason, his strength was very strong for a human, surprisingly not much worse than Tsubaki's before we visited Tokyo, physically putting him around intermediate-stage low-class. It might not sound impressive, but there is potential there.
Vasco Strada is peak ultimate-class thanks to all his training, and his primary skillset is physical combat, but he's fought magical beings for decades. Now, though he's likely unable to fight for as long, having been relegated to a paper-pusher like all high-ranking individuals in DxD.
Though he's still a threat, he's rusty. Mason, however, has been fighting for most of his life on Kinkow. Unfortunately, most of the threats he faces are either so strong that he can't do anything to them, or they use magic, which he doesn't have.
His daughter Mikayla is arguably just as skilled as he is, despite being much younger. As for strength, it's hard to say since that wasn't a focus of the show. Her magic ability is also unknown, though she might have some if brought to DxD thanks to world logic.
While Pair of Kings is a comedic sitcom, DxD is an ecchi anime. Their two power systems function completely differently, though this version of Pair of Kings might differ.
This world is different either because I visited it or the differences are why I visited it in particular. Either way, the fact that it isn't the same means that I have room to work with.
Anyway, I've already prepared something for the fight later, a magic contract.
I bought several contract papers while I've been staying in Tokyo. Though somewhat costly, they are extremely useful, magically enforcing the deal however it can.
Since I don't know if their bloodline is related to the kingship, this contract could magically enforce the shift to me as king, even if magic normally wouldn't listen to the deal.
While the obvious caveat is that you can't magically force those stronger than you to follow the contract, it's much easier with those weaker than you, and magic in this world likely doesn't surpass mid-class.
Even if the world's magic tried to ignore the contract, I'm so much stronger than anyone here that it can't without facing backlash.
At best, it could simply mean the kings lose any 'protagonist aura' they and their friends might have, but at worst, it could mean the world's magic gets enslaved to me or something equally bad.
While making a contract with others here might be different, the kings are the protagonists of the world, so they would likely be protected to a degree, with the world shifting to help them.
Unfortunately, since this deal will be consensual on their part, it becomes even more enforceable. Magic can tell, so even though it's my contract, forcing them to agree to give up their kingdom would mean the world resisting would become easier.
Though the existence of 'living magic' or a 'world consciousness' is both vague and terrifying, it doesn't technically exist. It's more closely related to luck than fate. Brady and Boomer are protagonists, so 'fate' will slowly bend in their favor, but since my powers are tied to the concepts of luck and fate, I can nullify the effects by interacting with them.
In this case, though 'fate' would try to remove the effects of me taking the kingdom by adding loopholes that let them either take it back or never lose it to begin with, their agreeing to a legally binding contract with someone unaffected by the 'protagonist' makes it impossible.
For example, I recently heard that Sona found herself a queen piece. Though Issei is the main protagonist, Rias is a heroine, naturally increasing the luck of her and those around her.
As for Akeno, another heroine who's with me? She'll likely grow different from her canon self.
Though I nullify luck and fate to a degree, that only happens when it tries adding me to the equation, so fate can never plan on defeating me. I'm a variable that the calculator of fate will never put into the equation.
With me having changed Akeno and Tsubaki's fates, their growth could be better or worse than canon, though they'd likely still live. And with me here, it becomes trivial to make things better. Akeno, though hesitant to use her fallen nature, has still trained with it, increasing her familiarity with her abilities. She might be weaker since she hasn't gained devil magic, but she is still free to do whatever she wants.
Eventually, I reached the tribe's village, quickly going to sleep to rest for tomorrow.
-----
[Mason POV]
After gathering all the available guards, I returned to the castle, only to find the kings were goofing around.
"My kings, what are you doing?"
"Oh, check it out Mason. Boomer and I are honing ourselves for the fight."
"Dare I ask how?"
"We've been practicing our one-liners for when we take him down," Brady said confidently.
"My kings, this is serious, you know. Although it's just one kid, the kingdom's future is still at risk."
"Cool it, Mason, we know what we're doing. We'll just stand in the back and let you and the other guards handle it. Do you think we forgot how he played with you during our tournament? No way we're fighting him," Boomer said.
I sighed in relief hearing that. Though the kings were somewhat unreliable, at least they wouldn't make things worse than they already were.
They already bet the kingdom, so the last thing we need is for them to risk their lives to keep it.
I entered my room to grab all my equipment, but as I did, my eyes wandered, landing on a picture of myself and their parents.
Every time I see that picture, I only remember failing to protect them. It hasn't even been a year since it happened, but I still feel like a failure for it.
I won't fail them, not this time. I'll ensure the kings survive this, no matter what, even at the cost of my life.
-----
[Third Person POV]
As noon approached, Hajime made his way to the castle, while the kings and their guards were busy preparing.
Eventually reaching the courtyard before the castle, Hajime made himself known.
"I'm here for my challenge!" Hajime bellowed.
Immediately, several guards, headed by Mason, stepped out of the front gate.
"So you're here already?"
"Yes. Can I see the kings before we start? I came to make sure we have this bet's details written down so nobody can chicken out. I don't want your kings to think I might get out of giving them their weapons when they win," Hajime explained.
Though it sounded polite, Mason was getting a strange feeling from the child in front of him, but wasn't sure what the cause was.
Bringing Hajime into the castle's main room, Mason seated him on the couch before going to get the kings.
A few minutes later, the kings were coming down the stairs with Mason when they saw the kid from yesterday waiting.
Brady whispered to Mason, "So, Mason, why is the kid who wants our kingdom sitting in the castle?"
"He said he wanted to make sure neither side could back out of the bet. Though I should warn you, my kings, something feels off."
"You always say that. 'Don't bring that creature into the castle.' 'Don't prank people.' If we listened to everything you say, we wouldn't have any fun," Boomer said.
"Just be careful, my kings."
"Careful is my middle name," Brady said.
"I thought it was Delilah," Boomer retorted.
"And I thought we weren't going to bring that up, Vivian."
"My kings, you still have your guest," Mason reminded, causing the two to glare at each other before walking over.
"So, kid, we heard about why you're here."
"Yeah. I figured two handsome geniuses like yourselves wouldn't like it if I lost and just ignored our bet. After all, I'm the only one who can summon the weapons and spaceship right now, so if I choose not to give it up, you wouldn't really be able to stop me.
That's why I prepared this contract," Hajime said before pulling a piece of paper from his inventory.
"It says the rules of the bet and the reward each side promised the winner. You can look it over all you want and then sign it, so I can't avoid giving you the spaceship when you win."
The kings quickly read the contract and signed it after seeing no issues.
Hajime quickly left after that, preparing to return in an hour for the fight.
-----
An hour later, Hajime stood in the middle of the courtyard with dozens of guards filling the area.
Giving the kings the option to start the fight, everything began with Brady screaming, "Charge!" before cowering behind a rock with Boomer.
The fight quickly began with several guards rushing Hajime.
The first few guards were quickly taken down despite their numerical and seemingly physical superiority.
Hajime took this opportunity to increase his Jiraiya template, sticking to taijutsu and other shinobi-related abilities.
He threw in several shadow clones to distract and take down other guards, used the transformation jutsu to disguise some as guards and ruin their coordination and teamwork, and avoided any sword strikes with body flicker.
Though it was completely unnecessary to fight like this, with him easily defeating all of them either with physical might or his lightning magic, defeating them with mostly skill, there was little chance of being able to say he was cheating using magic.
It also quickly pushed his Jiraiya template up, using shinobi skills to fight against many weaker opponents, similar to how Madara took on so many shinobi with taijutsu alone.
Throwing in some toad summon-related jutsu, which he was unlocking, the guards all started to feel the hopelessness of fighting him.
Though he avoided lethal blows, the guards were familiar enough with fighting to know that their opponent was strong enough to kill them, easily telling them how much he was holding back.
As the number of defeated guards reached half, those who remained standing realized how outmatched they were. Despite that, they stayed to fight, knowing their kingdom's throne was on the line.
Almost all the guards were down after nearly half an hour of fighting. Only twenty were left, plus Mason, Mikayla, and the kings.
Using the headhunter jutsu on them, Hajime quickly lowered the number of remaining guards by half.
In less than a minute, only four remained.
Mason tried taking down Hajime with all his might, but like during the tournament, he was easily defeated. Blasted in the chest with a red concussive beam from Hajime's eyes, Mason slammed into the castle wall, leaving three.
Mikayla charged next, but her attacks hit a yellow barrier. When she tried pushing one of her strikes through, Hajime pushed the barrier, knocking her off balance. Transforming his hair into Jiraiya's long, white hair, Hajime used the Wild Lion's Mane technique to grab Mikayla and bind her in the air.
Seeing all their guards defeated, the two kings finally emerged from behind the rock.
They charged at Hajime, screaming at the top of their lungs, but were easily defeated.
"Do you yield?" Hajime asked.
"Never!" Boomer said. "Kinkow isn't just our kingdom, it was our parents', and we won't give it up to you."
Hajime transformed into the hound, growing bigger, darker, and monstrous. Growling right in Boomer's face, he easily caved in.
"Never mind, you can have it, just don't eat me!"
That left one king to surrender.
Looking at Brady, though scared, he was still putting on a brave front, knowing he was the only thing standing between the kingdom and the thing in front of them.
As Hajime deactivated the hound's form, he stared at Brady expectantly.
"Well? Will I need to convince you like I did your brother?"
"You'll never take Kinkow from us."
Seeing this, Hajime took a different approach and walked up to Brady with a smirk.
"How about this, I know you won't surrender for nothing, so how about I give you a good reason to surrender?"
"And what could you possibly say to make me surrender?"
"If you surrender, I'll help you avenge your father."
"That mummy that you fought? He was known as Kaita the bat rider. His existence is what keeps the dark side of the island from dying, and he's the man who killed your father. Surrender now, and I promise I'll kill him. Not just that, I'll make it impossible for him to return."
"How do I know you'll follow through? You could just be saying that to get me to give up."
"True, but he's a threat. I don't plan on leaving such a threat alive when I'm in charge. But if I'm not in charge, I don't have any reason to care about what he does to Kinkow."
Brady stood there. Waiting, thinking.
"I'll also heal everyone after this and let you stay on the island if you want. I'll even give you some money to live a high-class lifestyle still."
Eventually, his thinking came to a halt. Even though Hajime had no reason to follow through with that, Brady felt he wasn't lying.
Sighing at what he was about to do, he spoke. "Fine, I surrender. You win."
With that being said, a burst of magic spread across the island, something that Kinkow itself could feel.
Three streams of magic appeared and flowed into Hajime. Two of the kings were in front of him, while the last came from their long-lost brother.
Thinking of that, Hajime decided to give them some information.
"Since you've given me the kingdom, I'll give you some information you'll be grateful for.
On the island of Mindu, there is a king called Boz. He's your long-lost brother, so you're technically still kings, just not of Kinkow. Also, on Mindu, there is a plug that will sink the island, so make sure nobody removes it."
Hajime told them, shocking both Brady and Boomer.
"I'll let you take the rest of the day to get your stuff and loan you some guards, since technically you can be considered diplomats of Mindu.
Hajime released Mikayla and created some shadow clones to heal the guards he had fought before entering the castle.
__________
Author's Note:
Thanks for reading; I'll see you next time!