Meddling The Omniverse

Chapter 23: 23. Seth's First Change



"Forgive me for demeaning your comrades. It was a test, and from the intent of your eyes, I'm happy to say that I'm not disappointed."

"Is that all you got to say…" Buggy asked, seething with anger.

"No, right now you have passed a hidden test, the price is that you will be offered a third option. For what the third option is..." A contract suddenly materialized in front of Buggy which he seriously read.

"Previously, the first choice was for you to be reincarnated as a new baby with no memories, The second was for you to be sent to another world with all your powers and memories intact from your previous life. If you agree to this second one, we will give you a complimentary gift that would strengthen or help you strive in the new world, adding on top of that devilish power of yours." Seth explained it like it's business.

He continued. "Since you did not disappoint this godly self and passed the test. This self offers a proposition or a third option that you would have appreciated more. In this new deal, you will return to your old world, right after you drowned while also bringing back one of our coveted complementary gifts with you."

Set then warned about the price, "If you proceed with this, you will be inevitably sent to another world just like the previous options stated, but this will occur in the future at a later date. I remind you again that when that time comes, it will be mandatory, you must abide by its beck and call that moment." 

Seth waggled his fingers, lifting his first, second, and third fingers sequentially, "Be warned that when you take this deal, you will be sent to more than just a single world. Fortunately, to make it fair, You may not be alone in this and you will always be given the chance to go back. With each world you successfully endeavored, you will be further rewarded." Buggy nodded as he read the contract. 

Finally, as he arrived at a certain section, Buggy's eyes bulged.

"From your expression, I believe you have finally read the possible rewards section and were tempted by it," Seth stated.

Buggy grimaced from being found out, but he couldn't help it, one of the rewards was too tempting. 

He began asking about many parts of the contract that he found unclear, to which Seth answered patiently. After having all of his questions answered.

After the intense questioning, Buggy understood that after this deal, he would become a mercenary of sorts for this unfathomable being in front of him, or for those higher ones hiding behind this being. His main tasks were exactly what Seth stated, he would be sent to other worlds doing the tasks that were given to them. Accomplishing them would reward him the rewards that have been shown before him in the contracts.

Yet that wasn't all, If Buggy could offer something of value or interest to them, he would be paid or rewarded handsomely for it.

He summarized, "So if I take this new deal, I will now work for you?"

"Mhm." Seth hummed with confirmation.

"This contract stated a revision could always be done if the contract will inconvenience me in the future and a need for change arose. Seth aren't you making things too convenient for us?"

"It's all about ensuring fairness in our dealings. We believe in building trust through generous and straightforward agreements."

Understanding this, Buggy decided, "Well then, you got yourself a deal. I have no other options anyway; all your other choices suck! I won't survive in another world as I currently am." As those words were uttered. The contract on his hand burned with golden flames.

Seth clapped with his mass of a cosmos of a hand, "Congratulations! With this, you have changed your fate for the better!" 

"What do you mean by that?"

"Bless your luck as this self is a god who could see bits of your future, I will hate to say it, but without my intervention at this moment, your future was fated to be pathetic. An actual clown easily squashed by others while also a figurehead without any power."

A small vein appeared on Buggy's forehead, and with it, he thought of something, "I may not completely understand your fancy string of words implied but I got the gist of it. Seth could you?" Buggy gestured for Seth to come closer.

"What is it?"

"Come here." Buggy beckoned. 

Seth arose from his throne and walked until he was in front of Buggy.

Buggy waved his finger towards himself, indicating he wanted Seth to lean closer to his face. Seth obliged even though he didn't have to.

The moment Seth's face was inches away from Buggy, *BAM!!!* A knuckle sandwich was slammed onto his face.

"AGH!!! WHAT IS YOUR FACE MADE OF!!!" Buggy screamed in pain as he held his swollen fist.

Seth's head didn't budge at all, realizing what happened he asked, "Is this for calling you weak?"

"NOT JUST THAT! THAT'S ALSO FOR CALLING MY FRIENDS SUICIDAL!" buggy shouted in anger and pain.

Seth smiled and offered, "If you're not satisfied, I'll allow you to do it a second time. On a softer and more punchable face."

Buggy didn't reply but Seth could see that his aggression hadn't dropped.

"I'll take that as affirmation." He stepped back and did something that would traumatize Buggy for life.

At the sight of what he saw next, Buggy stuttered in his mind, Wh... what… what have I just witnessed!? His eyes were wide and his legs wobbled weakly from fright.

"Sorry, did my transformation scare you, let me help," Seth spoke in human form, with slightly tanned skin and galaxy-shaped eyes. 

Seth touched Buggy's forehead. The moment Seth touched him, a realization struck him, I forgot!? The horrifying thing I saw, I can't remember!? Panicked flashed on his face, yet the expression of extreme fear was gone.

"Good," he tapped his cheek and leaned closer, "my offer still stands." Seth declared with a smile as he angled his cheek.

Not a second later, A fist truck squarely on Seth's face.

Seth's head in human form tilted slightly from the swing. The impact was real but no bruises surfaced on his cheek.

"I did it, that's what you get for talking sh*t about my comrades, I don't care if you manipulated my mind, I'm just happy that it hits." Buggy's other hand hurt again as his face tinged with fear, but his grit overwhelmed it.

"Nice punch, either way, my offer from the contract still stands, you'll be able to see Shanks again."

A blinding pillar of light illuminated him.

"MY EYES!" Buggy covered his eyes as he struggled, the only last thing he saw was Seth waving back at him.

The lights intensified, and the final thing Buggy heard before all turned white was, "Good luck."

With that last message, his mind slumbered again.

In the medic bay of a ship, A bunch of people gathered around a blue-haired boy with a funny nose who they couldn't wake up.

One of them was a red-haired boy similar to his age, he asked, "Crocus, how's Buggy holding up?"

"Compared to our captain's case, Buggy's current condition is child's play," Crocus answered with a laugh. 

The others in the room stared silently at Crocus, still serious and all.

Crocus coughed and continued, "I already took out all the water from his lungs, made sure his heartbeat is stable, and many more. Right now he's just unconscious."

The red-haired boy named Shanks spoke, "I understand, can't we do something to wake him up, I heard you have those stinky salts that jolt them awake."

"There's no need for that, lad," Crocus answered concernedly

Just then, the previously unconscious boy, who was also known as Buggy woke up with a gasp, "B*ST*RD!" 

Realizing the change in scenery, he checked himself, "HUH! I'm back!?" 

Shanks slapped him on his back with a grin, "BUGGY! Good to see that you're still kicking. How could you forget that you can't swim anymore."

"GODDAMMIT, SHANKS! You! Because of you! I got this devil fruit and fell into the sea! I wouldn't have drowned in the first place if it wasn't for you!" Oops, he slipped.

Luckily, "Did the drowning jumble your memory? Didn't you brag and eat the devil fruit in front of the whole crew? Days before this whole fiasco?"

"AHH! Ehh… Ugh…" Buggy sputtered at a loss of words. He couldn't just say he faked the previous thing.

Shanks gave Buggy a hard slap on his back again, "Honestly when you were not reacting, it spooked the bejeezus out of us, just promise me never to do that again, or do I have to remind you all the time now when you're near water?" He replied with a teasing tone and everyone around them chuckled at it.

"What! No! You don't have to! I get it…" Buggy retorted in frustration but became silent when new memories flooded in.

Everyone else was oblivious to what Buggy went through as they laughed at the sight of him being perky as usual.

"Oi! Is our boy buggy still alive and kicking?" a very confident black-haired man entered the room, followed by a blond man and another who held an axe.

"Roger! Yeah, He's doing fine." Crocus replied.

"Are you sure? Look at his face." the blond man pointed out.

They followed suit and realized Buggy's face was deep blue and green as if suffering from severe diarrhea.

"Hey, buggy? What's wrong? Hello?" Shanks asked while waving his hand.

Yet it was pointless, for Buggy was now only focused on his mind.

That damn encounter with Seth! The contract! It's real! What have I gotten myself into!? Realization struck him deeply. 

The multiverse! It exists! So there are worlds other than the four blues and the Grand Line! Which means I'm screwed! He thought. He remembered when he asked Seth about this, which after explanations understood he would go to places that do not exist here, a whole different planet if you say. He was a bit brought along by the mood, it was when everything was over that it all kicked in.

Buggy held and shook his head like a rock star. SHIT-SHIT-SHIT!!! I don't know what world he's gonna drag me to! Two things for sure are that I have time (hopefully…) AND that my powers and strength will be transferred to other worlds! 

*sigh* there's no point crying over spilled milk. I'm already knee-deep on whatever that being will throw me into, then again he did say a gift came along with me before that day came, where is it? Buggy thought hard to find anything regarding Seth's gifts in his memory.

Oh, there is a chest in my mind? I don't know how a chest could exist in my mind but Seth's a god I supposed? He thought about opening it which caused the box to introduce itself. 

Your possible future if you stay like your old self? Buggy read the message from the chest. Buggy hesitated a bit, but since he knew there was no other way, he proceeded.

With this confirmation, a vision of his possible future unraveled, In the possible future, he became a lowly unknown pirate in the east blue. Whose past relation and past stature haunted him in the future. 

He saw how he lived like a lowlife, beaten to the ground by rookies, being hunted by almost everyone in the world, and even having his allies use him as a dangling puppet, while they become the mastermind behind the curtain.

he would become pathetic and powerless in the future.

As the memories of abuse, being looked down upon, and more went through his mind. All he felt wasn't despair nor hopelessness, but rage and determination.

The chest left one more final message, "Change your fate, become stronger. The moment I deem you as a different man from your sad future, a promising future will be given."

"Buggy, what's wrong?" Shanks asked.

"Captain, everyone… Please teach me how to become stronger! I'll do anything! I beg of you!" Buggy spoke, and with those words the room became silent.

"Why suddenly ask such things," Roger asked.

"The moment I drowned, I realized something, I'm currently weak, and if I don't do anything about it, I'm gonna be swept up by time itself. I'll be surpassed easily, I need to become stronger to survive!"

*BONK!* This time the man with the axe hit him. Buggy with a bump on his head stared confused.

"Buggy, do you know who we are?" the man with the axe questioned.

"The Roger pirates?"

"No! We are your crewmates, your comrades! What does this mean?" the man with the axe spoke loudly.

"I don't know…"

Looking at this Roger chipped in, "It means you're one of us, and you shouldn't beg us for such trivial matters, we'll gladly teach you without even a single Beri. Am I right guys? AM I RIGHT!?" 

"YEAH!!!" As those words were uttered, all the crew shouted in unison.

Seeing such sights, something fluttered inside his heart, it was warmth. Buggy realized deep within him how fortunate he was to be part of this crew.

Tears streamed down his cheeks. And from this, the future for him and this world changed forever.

Seth sat on his throne in the middle of the night skies, he smiled as he took a peek at the events that happened after Buggy's return.

*knock-knock* "Can we come out Sir?"

"Of course you can, Jif," Seth replied, 

a magic portal appeared and the fairy made of fluffy clouds entered. 

It was the previous fairy who handed Seth his isekai list previously (chapter 21). This little fella was Seth's recently assigned assistant. It was now sporting a tiny pair of spectacles and carrying a tiny clipboard to show that it had just adjusted to its new role.

"Congratulations on your first successful transmigration sir. Although you delayed and returned him to his original world, this will still be considered an actual isekai in your list." the fairy, who can now be referred to as Jif, celebrated.

"But sir, may I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Why did you lie about the fact that he died, you even meddle with the events in that world to make it more believable. He was never near death, but you spoke as if he actually died."

"The simple answer is to manipulate him in the direction we wanted," Seth responded.

Like a good and curious student, Jif cutely raised his little hand that looked like little nubbies, "Can you explain more?."

Seth explained further, "Did you see the glimpse of his future my clairvoyant showed, where he became pathetic?" 

Jif nodded.

Seth continued, "I wanted to change that. I first told him that he was dead to up the stakes, urging him not to do this halfheartedly. Second, I made him angry to suppress his cowardly side. Third, when the contract came in, the rewards evoked his ambitious side, but since I saw some wariness in his eyes, I answered all of his doubts to assure him that he wasn't tricked. Fourth, that scare and memory manipulation made him realize how powerful or dangerous I am, squishing any funny idea out of him. The two punches I let him throw solidified his confidence and let him know I'm not exactly tyrannical. And finally, the impending time of his destined isekai and knowing of his possible pathetic future gave him the deep reason and motivation he sorely needed."

Jif raised his nubbies again, "This seems too mean and complicated, doesn't pure motivation and niceness work just fine?"

"Sadly no, his history and future showed that Buggy was blessed with opportunities. He was part of the most powerful pirate crew in that world. He has all the means and potential to become mighty, you would have thought so if you just saw his past and current situation as so."

Seth opened his hand like a saint, "But as fate is deep and unpredictable, my clairvoyance, (proven to be accurate by the organization) revealed that he miraculously and tragically didn't grow. With this revelation, I have to convince him that he has no other option than to become strong."

Jif's eyes twinkled from such analysis, but then he realized something, "The part where he has to go to multiple worlds, is that related to the big thing the organization planned?" 

As an answer, Seth nodded, nothing more.

"Good job, Seth." A neutral female voice resounded the room. A portal appeared again and the white-haired goddess Eris arrived. She congratulated Seth but her face showed otherwise.

Looks like Lady Eris is still in a bad mood from before. Jif remarked in its mind.

To lighten the mood, Jif pointed at a part of the contract, "the reward section said that you could send a mighty crew and ship to him as one of his rewards, how will you send that? We don't have those without breaking the rules."

"I have my ways." Seth smiled cunningly as his galactic-patterned pupil stared into the distance.

On the desolate beach of an unmanned island. A lone figure picked up a glimmering object in a small chest. 

It only had a golden medal with ancient intricate engravings. "You sure this is the thing?" he asked as he shook a compass in his hand.

In the end, he pressed his tongue against it, "Ooh! Tingly!" before pocketing it in the folds of his rugged shirt. Unbeknownst to him, it glistened on its own.


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