242. Kaito Asking Help in the Chat Group and Aika Suggest to Flipped the Table.

After returning, Kaito and Ravel immediately sat down at the dining table in the apartment, with Sakuya and Est sitting next to them, as they were informed to have a serious meeting with the chat group. Using the memory transfer command from the group chat, Sakuya and Est immediately understood the current situation, and, like Ravel, she suggested asking for everyone's opinions, as this matter might no longer be doable on their own.

The next challenge may require them to go all out against all people in the dark side of Academy City, including the tricky Kihara Clan and Accelerator himself.

======

[Owner]: "@Everyone, I am sorry for the mention. I need your opinion on what we should do in our current situation."

[God Tongue]: "Hmm? Owner ping to everyone?"

Seeing Kaito, their leader, ping everyone in the chat group, every member quickly logged in, curious why Kaito was calling all of them. The silent chat group quickly flooded with messages, since it's rare to see their leader do this.

...

[Gender Equality Hero]: "Ping from boss? Did you need help, boss?!"

[Mage of Exodus]: "This is quite rare. What happen? Did Aleister threaten you?"

[Slime King]: "I can help. Since you have helped me to get demon lord seed, naturally, I am always ready to help you back!"

Unlike when Rimuru first joined, at the moment, he has become the demon lord from the chat group point system instead of being sacrificed from 10.000 soul like in the plot. This made his strength jump straight to the middle rank among the chat group, and Rimuru could improve his strength even further if he wanted to.

However, Rimuru doesn't plan to become an awakened demon lord yet, at least until he reaches the plot where the Falnus Empire attempted to attack Tempest, to ensure that Diabolos was born, and to befriend Sakaguchi Hinata, since Izawa Shizue never died in the first place.

...

[Railgun Girl]: "What happened, Kaito? I am still at the Judgement office now. These people wanted me to retake the Esper test later!"

[Uchiha Prodigy]: "If you need help, Owner, my wife and I are ready to come."

[Caped Baldy]: "Hmm? Did those magic gods descend? Then I will do my best to help you asap!"

[Necromancer]: "Let me help too."

[Alien Princess]: "Do you need my props too? I will send some useful ones right now!"

[Elementary Grade Magical Girl]: "I am going to skip my class with Fate if Kaito nii-san also needs help from us!"

[Witch of the Void]: "Although I want to say students should stay in the class, since it's related to our leader, then it can't be helped."

...

Pretty much everyone is reacting enthusiastically, as if Kaito always wanted to help everyone; every chat group member also wants to help him. Unfortunately, for now, Kaito just wants to ask their opinion, not directly to reorganize the chat group members to invade Misaka's world!

...

[Owner]: "No, no, I just want to ask for an opinion. Aleister's manipulation currently traps me, and I need your idea of what I should do."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Then, what are you waiting for?! Just upload the memory here so we can understand your situation."

[Baroque Works Leader]: "True. That would be much more efficient than you were trying to explain here, Kaito."

[Owner]: "Ah, good idea! Wait a second."

*DING*

=====

[Owner uploaded memory "The deal with Shokohou Misaki" to the chat group]

=====

[Mage of Exodus download the memory "The deal with Shokohou Misaki" from the chat group]

[Baroque Works Leader download the memory "The deal with Shokohou Misaki" from the chat group]

[Alien Princess download the memory "The deal with Shokohou Misaki" from the chat group]

[Railgun Girl download the memory "The deal with Shokohou Misaki" from the chat group]

...

=====

After everyone downloaded the memory and read within a few minutes, Aika was the first to react, followed by the other members who had also done the same. Like Kaito, they do admire Aleister's ability to manipulate others, and no doubt he deserved his title as the mastermind behind the To Aru Majutsu/Kagaku no Railgun universe.

...

[Mage of Exodus]: "Very good, Aleister. Compared to Kayaba or even Manaka, I admit you are the strongest manipulator I have ever witnessed. He really figures out you, Darling."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Also compared to Touma, your luck is always outrageous as usual. Why did the situation become like this?!"

Aika was also genuinely impressed and speechless with Kaito's luck. He was supposed to have an easy time in that world, but somehow it developed into a plot where every top Esper was hunting him down!

...

[Owner]: "I don't know... things just escalated quickly."

[Gender Equality Hero]: "Very Scary! I mean, I have watched the memory about Misaka-san's world story, but it still shocks me how manipulative Aleister is."

[Alien Princess]: "I don't really understand, but all I can understand is that Kaito is now hunted by a lot of bad people who want a bounty on his head, right?"

[Slime King]: "True. And that makes it scary."

[Baroque Works Leader]: "He figures you out already in a single meeting and a day of observation. @Owner."

[SAO Administrator]: "Hands down. He's definitely smarter than I and more cunning than I have ever been."

[Owner]: "Well... Shouldn't be a surprise. It is a guy who lives for a century, creating a whole city of science and daring enough to scheme against the omnipotent magic god."

[Alien Princess]: "Then, why do you not just come back, Kaito? As for Academy City technology, matters just give her points and let Misaka take all of them slowly! Let's go back to our lab together!"

[Railgun Girl]: "Indeed. I feel like I have caused too much trouble for you guys."

Realizing how ridiculous Kaito's situation has become, Misaka couldn't help but feel guilty.

...

[Owner Favorite Girl]: "It's not your fault, Misaka-san. It's clear Aleister wants to test us!"

[Scarlet Devil Headmaid]: "Indeed. I bet master won't blame you either."

[Owner]: "That's right, and vice versa, I don't want Misaka to get into trouble because of the action that I have caused. Who knows what that man in the jar is gonna do to her if we just decide to bail out?"

Knowing Aleister is capable of it in the original, Kaito really doesn't dare to bet if Aleister is willing to let them off. The fact that he owns Imagine Breaker alone and could serve as backup definitely put his eyes on him, and doubt Aleister would let it go.

Honestly, Kaito wouldn't mind helping him if he's strong enough, but the problem is that they were fighting against the Magic Gods... a being that is probably 2 tier above Kaito's current strength. If he's strong enough, would he just beat those magic gods directly? That would make Aleister willing to work for them for the rest of his life.

In the end, the most pressing trouble came from the lack of strength, reminding Kaito that he couldn't just stay like this even with Aika's warning.

...

[Mage of Exodus]: "You are likely correct. He really got you on all sides, Kaito."

[Owner]: "Care to explain?"

[Mage of Exodus]: "You might not realize it, Kaito, but Aleister really pays attention to you. For example, Shokohou Misaki was clearly chosen to work with you to test your favoritism against blonde-haired girls, and he won the bet."

[Owner]: "Wow... I didn't even think that far."

[Railgun Girl]: "Hmph! You can only blame yourself for being like blonde-haired girls!"

[Owner]: "I mean... yeah, it can't be helped."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Pffft... then, He also tested your bottom line, and he probably also guessed about your ability to see the future of the world. The fact that you didn't question whose Dolly for Shokohou Misaki was a fatal mistake."

[Owner]: "Damn it. He really dared to play with his partner."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Maybe in your mind that Aleister was restricted by the deal, but think about it... what Aleister does loses in the cooperation? Technology? That could be something that was given away without hesitation for a man who aims to kill those Demon Gods, and you all know that better."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Your promise about the possibility of visiting another world? That's probably not as interesting as defeating a demon god in his mind."

[Witch of the Void]: "I agree. This is the same guy who would rather stay in the jar for centuries just for revenge against those beings. Never underestimate the obsession of immortal people."

[Root Princess]: "Indeed. If not because of the system contract, Aleister might have already stopped cooperating with you."

[Baroque Works Leader]: "I can totally see that. You were lucky, Owner, to get him into the contract. At least he didn't dare to break it directly and only played around it."

[Owner]: "You guys really enlighten me. I am so sorry for being dumb again."

[Owner Favorite Girls]: "I am sorry for not being able to help much either."

[Scarlet Devil Headmaid]: "Me too."

[Mage of Exodus]: "I don't blame you guys, I admit this guy is a really great manipulator behind the screen and really damn smart. Even I don't doubt that I would be calculated by him if I don't know the part of the future provided by the memory."

...

Kaito, Ravel, and Sakuya nodded at each other at the same time, agreeing with what Aika said in the chat group. Now, Aika has explained what's actually been done, and three of them realize how badly they got played by Aleister in a matter of days.

...

[God Tongue]: "To make our Aika really that excited, your city chairman is truly something else, @Railgun Girl."

[Railgun Girl]: "...Um. But more importantly, I didn't expect you gonna attract a lot of trouble, Kaito. I think I owe you and Ravel an apology."

[Root Princess]: "Pfft... Your date got ruined all over again, huh? 3 times."

[Owner Favorite Girl]: "It can't be helped..."

[Owner]: "I want to blame my bad luck, but there's also clearly Aleister's manipulation behind the screen."

[Owner Favorite Girl]: "This world isn't a good place to continue our date, Kaito."

[Owner]: "True. But it's just being postponed. We can continue when I decide to come back to the High School DxD world after this world. Now, the matter of our situation is more important."

[Owner Favorite Girl]: "It can't be helped... but I also prefer we have a proper date in our world."

[Owner]: "That's a deal then, Ravel-sama."

[Owner]: "Now, back to serious business... Do you guys have any suggestion what I should do?"

....

For Kaito, his date with Ravel can be done anytime, and this matter really took priority. If he handles it badly, it would affect Misaka's living matter in the future, and Kaito doesn't want it to happen.

However, for 'smart' people in the chat group, Kaito's problem in fact... wasn't a big deal at all. In their opinion, Kaito just got blindsided and forgot that it's not only Aleister who can play around with the rules.

...

[Mage of Exodus]: "I? No, the moment you talk it here, it becomes 'we'. No way, I would let Aleister get away trying to play with my darling."

[Root Princess]: "Indeed. We need to teach that guy not to mess with our lover."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Very rare occasion, I agree with you, Manaka."

[Owner]: "???"

[Railgun Girl]: "???"

[God Tongue]: "???"

[Queen of Sekirei]: "???"

[Owner]: "Uh... Can anyone explain to me what you two are talking about?"

...

Looking at the chat between 'smart people' in the chat group, Kaito just can't understand what's going on. Kaito tried to ask Sakuya, and Ravel could understand, but they also shook their head at the same time. This made him realize that, compared to smart people in the chat group, his IQ was probably just average.

...

[Mage of Exodus]: "You don't get it, don't you, Darling? Since he played around with the contract first, why can't we do the same? Let us come to Misaka's world together to give him a lesson."

[Owner]: "Wait, you guys want to come here?!"

[Root Princess]: "Indeed. No one gets away after playing with our lover."

[Railgun Girl]: "Are you guys really okay to come here? I don't mind though..."

[Owner]: "Uh, can you tell me what your idea is?"

[Root Princess]: "Kaito-kun, the idea of Aika is very straightforward and yet also very effective, just flip the table."

[Owner]: "Flip the table."

[Mage of Exodus]: "We just need to threaten him that you will ruin his main plan, forcing him to stop playing with us. For that, we may need Saitama-sensei, but as long as  it's working, then Aleister will naturally stop his idea to keep testing you out, Darling."

...

Aleister deserved her praise, but Aika genuinely hates Aleister for attempting to manipulate Kaito and playing with his emotions. Knowing how low the moral limit of Aleister is from memory (this is the guy who let all the scientists do human experiments in his city), Aleister will definitely do something to evoke Kaito's emotions, furthermore, which are already very fragile, thanks to his experience from Black Bullet World. Everyone in the chat group agrees to work together to ensure Kaito's emotions are in check.

In fact, although Kaito seems to be busy every day, his work is much easier these days. Most of his free time was spent playing around with his little sisters.

If Aleister attempted to, let's say, harm Ravel and Sakuya, Aika doesn't dare to imagine the consequences of triggering Kaito's anger and what kind of grave mistake Kaito could make next. Kaito himself didn't realize it, but Aika can tell Kaito tends to make insane decisions in a desperate situation that can ruin himself and others around him. 

Take an example from his two recent ordeals.

In the Gilgamesh fight, Kaito somehow has a stupid idea to use his 'bad luck' curse to empower himself, and in the event against Tendo Kikunojo, he did something so terrifying by trapping the old man in loneliness for a billion years, which is something that no one should ever experience.

The chat group system, in fact, even warned Aika about their leader's situation privately. Hence, it's one of the major reasons why the system is willing to cooperate with Aika in the first place to work on Kaito's condition.

...

[Root Princess]: "Well said, Aika."

[Owner]: "Wait, isn't it a bit too radical?!"

[Baroque Works Leader]: "It's indeed a very effective plan. If Aleister knows there's someone who could threaten his plan, he will definitely be compromised. Our nature that we are visitors from another world gives us a huge advantage that if we want to ruin his plan, he won't necessary has a way to fight back."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Exactly. Very well explained, Mr. Crocodile."

[Caped Baldy]: "Is it time for me to play? I wanted to fight those angels being too."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Um! We may need your help soon, Saitama-sensei, and anyone in the top 10 is also welcome!"

[Necromancer]: "Sure."

[Baroque Works Leader]: "I can spare some time."

[Railgun Girl]: "Uh... Just make sure you guys don't destroy the city!"

[Owner]: "I am happy you guys want to help, but seriously, is it a bit radical a move?! What if Aleister chooses to retaliate and attack us?"

Kaito feels happy that Aika is willing to go that far to help him, but in Kaito's opinion, this plan is a bit too dangerous!

...

[Mage of Exodus]: "Pffft! You are too timid, darling, and I bet you 100% that he won't dare. As Crocodile said, even if he does, Aleister knows we can always escape to another world, and he's probably willing to compromise with everything as long as his plan isn't ruined."

[Owner]: "Why are you so sure about this?"

[Mage of Exodus]: "His obsession. This is the same individual who has failed numerous times, yet still plans his revenge against the Magic God for centuries. He definitely didn't dare to risk it until Aleister was sure that we wouldn't be a threat to his plan."

[Baroque Works Leader]: "As someone who used to have an obsession myself, I can attest that what Aika said is true."

[SAO Administrator]: "Same here."

[Root Princess]: "Me too."

[Mage of Exodus]: "I guess you are getting used to always doing something too safely, so I will show you what kind of action we should take in a world where there's no task that binds us. Seriously... why do we need to be timid when we have a literal cheat... a chat group system behind us?"

[Owner]: "...I understand, then I will wait for you guys to come."

======

...

With Aika's reasonable explanation, Kaito admits that what Aika said was right. Kaito admits he might be getting used to playing safely because there are usually tasks that forbid him from doing anything out of line, situations that force them to play safe, or because he was not strong enough.

For example, in the Sekirei world, Kaito was forced to play strategically because he wasn't strong enough.

In the SAO world, chat group members were forced to play normally because of the task of the system.

And when they were finding Est's soul fragment, chat group members were also playing safely because they intended to connect their world to the base world... and those worlds just happen to be perfect to do so.

But right now? There's no limitation whatsoever. It's not a world with any task, and not a world that they wanted to connect to the base world.

There's only a personal task for Misaka... but Kaito believes it's only a matter of time before she completes it. It's just that Aleister needs Misaka's sister for his plan; if they could find something to replace that role, then they could finish it.

The only precaution they need to take is probably to ensure that their presence won't alert those demon gods, but since Kaito and everyone haven't been noticed either, it's safe to assume that their presence doesn't attract those gods' attention.

Realizing all of these facts, Kaito now feels much more relieved and stops worrying about the situation as he remembers the chat group was not as weak as a year ago. Not to mention, all of the current chat group members are basically armed with his props... hence, as long as they didn't face magic gods or Aleister, it should be safe to visit this world.