As I was sitting at my desk finally relaxing and able to think about which world I wanted to travel to next, I had a few that I was seriously considering. First, Harry Potter. Growing up, I had always liked the stories and thought how cool it would be to use magic like in the movies and to explore Hogwarts. I, however, did not want to go as a student. Being 20 years old, I was not a fan of the idea of being a student and listening to adults or having a curfew. No, I had a better idea: why not go there as a teacher? All the perks of traveling to Hogwarts and the influence of the position, but none of the rules a student would have imposed on them.
With my new ability to customize my background when entering a world, I could also give myself whatever origin I wanted. A genius pureblood wizard of a surviving house of the Sacred 28, perhaps. This would give me an excuse for my wealth, knowledge, and the status to accomplish whatever I wished.
The second world I was considering was Game of Thrones. There were a lot of things I could do when traveling to that world. I could appear some time before the rebellion as a member of any house I wished. A couple of the options I was considering were making myself the firstborn of Aerys—instead of Rhaegar being crown prince, it would be me—or maybe Jon Arryn's heir in the Vale, a region that was, in my opinion, full of untapped potential. Hmmm… things to consider.
There were also advantages to appearing after the war too. I could make myself Robert's eldest legitimate son. That would give me prime opportunity to work my magic. I could even replace Jon Snow. Eh, thoughts for later, I suppose.
One thing I definitely needed to do was make Daenerys mine. That, by itself, was one of the main reasons to go to Game of Thrones, hehehe… I definitely wasn't going to wait for Khal Drogo to plow her. No sloppy seconds for this guy. Cersei was hot too, but could I get past the brother-fucking? Eh, I'll decide that when I see her.
Lastly, a world I would definitely be making a stop at at some point: the Pokémon world. This would be a good chance to relax and train up a team of Pokémon. I'm thinking of making myself an insert as Ash and Gary's neighbor, starting in Kanto. Ash's mom needs some company other than Mr. Mime. Starting there would also give me prime access to Professor Oak and his contacts, a perfect way to get registered with the League and obtain a Pokédex. I'm not opposed to going to some other regions, however—Hoenn or Sinnoh seem cool as well. But it's not like I'm going to spend all my time in one region anyway, I thought, picturing Cynthia, Misty, etc. Might even have to convert Jessie away from Team Rocket too...
Hmm. Decisions. I know—let's let chance decide. Opening a website to create my own wheel, I quickly typed in the three worlds—Pokémon, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter—and clicked the spin. The wheel spun around several times before slowing down, looking as if it would finally land on Pokémon before moving that last bit and landing on Harry Potter. "Harry Potter it is then," I muttered to myself. Hmm, I definitely need to refresh my knowledge of Harry Potter before jumping in. Picking up the phone on my desk, I rang my secretary to bring the books into my office.
A sexy blonde in a white button-up and a black pencil skirt walked in, excited to be in my office as she dropped the books on my desk while giving me the eyes and exaggerated hip movements on her way out. Checking her out, I thought she reminded me of Sydney Sweeney. Might need to make some more appearances at the office in the future... Shaking myself from my thoughts, I reached for the first book: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Upon opening the book, I noticed the familiar ripple that accompanied my screen when I first gained these powers.
"Holy shit!" I whispered to myself. If this meant what I thought, I wasn't just limited to fictional content on a screen. If books and text could also be accessed, this opened up a whole new world of possibilities. First though, I needed to understand how using my ability differed with a book and with the screen. For example, when I wanted to grab an item from my screen, I needed the object I wanted to be displayed on the screen when I grabbed it. So if I wanted to grab the Sorcerer's Stone, for example, how would that work? I quickly flipped the page to the scene where the Sorcerer's Stone appears during Harry's confrontation with Voldemort.
Staring at the page, an instinctual knowledge entered my brain as I focused on the words Sorcerer's Stone. Reaching my hand into the book while focusing on the words, I felt my fingers grasp a crystalline rock before slowly dragging the stone out of the pages. It worked... this opened up a whole new set of possibilities. If I could do this with a book, could I also do it with a web novel? A bigger question—did this ability work only on established works, or could it even work on fan fiction itself?
With this idea planted firmly in mind, I opened a fan fiction that, if I was able to enter it, would open up even more possibilities. Quickly flipping to a fan fiction I had read in the past, I decided to address a problem I knew would arise at some point for me. With as many women as I had and planned on getting eventually, there would be issues. Women in certain worlds would definitely not be cool with me having other women. Konosuba ended up working out for me because the culture and logic in that anime world worked in my favor, and polygamous relationships were widely accepted. When I entered worlds like Harry Potter or Game of Thrones, that would not fly.
This would especially not work in a world like Game of Thrones, where each woman from a different house all had different allegiances and political rivalries or vendettas. Finally seeing the chapter I was looking for, I read the scene where the main character had displayed before him a table full of CYOA Essences. I had several in mind, mostly ones for convenience. With great anticipation, I reached forward and was immediately gleeful upon seeing my hand reach into the screen and grabbing the items I wanted most.
📜 Essence of the Hivemind "You are now a hivemind, a collective of minds bound together in unity. How this takes shape is up to you. By default you are the central and dominant intelligence of the hivemind, but start out with no other minds linked to you. All that are part of the hivemind have a mental link to you that cannot be severed unless you will it, and can talk with you or each other through it. Infinite multitasking, memory, and memory storage to handle the load of the hivemind. You will always have access to the collective might of the hive's knowledge, skills, and any memories added to it. You can spawn bodies, either direct copies of yourself or customized ones. Everything about them from their looks, attributes, personality, and powers can be changed or modified when they are first created. You can also dispose of these copies at will, as you share one mind. Anything that places them above regular mortals has to be something you possess or have added to the hive. As long as at least one body is intact, you and the collective cannot truly die. Other individuals can join either by their consent or by overpowering their will with your own. Those absorbed will have their memories, skills, and knowledge added into the collective. Their consciousness will remain if you desire, and it will be loyal until its total destruction. You can choose who in the collective has access to what knowledge, powers, memories, and can select who can contact who via link."
📜 Essence of the Home "You gain a personal home that exists outside of reality and beyond the reach of most entities. This home is practically impenetrable to any being you do not want inside—even a supreme deity could not pierce the barriers in place on this property. The home can be of your design, or you can let it surprise you by generating itself based on your needs and wants; it will fit to you perfectly. As your needs change and grow, the home will expand with new facilities as needed. The home takes care of basic utilities automatically and requires no connection to any power or mundane infrastructure. It has functionally infinite supplies of water, food, and air. While inside the home, you and anyone you bring with you will not age, require any basic needs, or suffer from illnesses. You may optionally have the home create servants to tend to it while you are gone. You also may give the home sentience to manage things. The home is entirely, unwaveringly devoted to you and cannot be turned against you by unwilling subversion."
📜 Essence of the Nomad "You are granted infinite stamina. Your body is completely rid of minor aches and pains, and minor wounds will heal instantaneously. Other living beings do not see you as a threat and will ignore you. This can be toggled (Don't plan to use this unless for epic pranks). You are able to teleport by any method you wish. You can travel to alternate universes at will. You are granted encyclopedic knowledge regarding all the most exciting places in the universe. You always have enough money to get by. You are immune to any disease. You automatically have the skills to drive, pilot, or ride any form of vehicle or mount. You are granted the skillset necessary to survive in any environment, with your body/clothes adapting as needed. You become able to speak and understand any language, whether spoken, written, or containing non-verbal components such as telepathy. You will always know where you are, where you've been, and how to navigate/orient yourself by any means. You can 'mark' any world that you've been in in order to more easily find it again."
📜 Essence of ROB Insurance "Any of your powers, skills, and abilities can never be drained, reduced, or otherwise limited in any form of fashion unless you will it so. You have complete control over all your abilities and can dial up and down the strength of anything you are capable of, or even turn any off completely. No entity can double-cross, betray, force their will, or otherwise try and cheat you in a contract, deal, or empowerment like a CYOA. Those that try implode into nothingness, or suffer some other punishment you might fancy. Nothing happens if you cheat them."
📜 Essence of the Smartphone "You are allowed to carry with you a smartphone with infinite charge that you own. This phone will have service and internet no matter where you are located. You can call and message others even if they are in a different world than you are. Your abilities will be enhanced to above-average degrees and your potential will basically be limitless in whatever magic and abilities the world you are currently in has. You can, if you choose, subvert common tropes: Nobles/Royals will actually be grateful and repay you for great deeds (saving them, curing their blind wife, uncovering a plot against the king, etc.). Women won't be opposed to sharing you; at least one will encourage the others into it."
📜 Essence of the Gourmand "You are granted encyclopedic knowledge of all the ingredients in the multiverse. You can receive ideas on how to create new dishes. You can conjure any ingredients and cooking equipment you want out of thin air. You can eat as much as you want without having to worry about your weight. In fact, the more you eat, the more your attributes increase. You can eat anything. Your teeth are always flawless and can bite through any substance, and it will soften inside your mouth. Should you wish it, you can gain the properties of anything you eat. Cooking it increases the benefits you gain."
I didn't intend to abuse most of these powers. Most of them I chose for convenience of knowledge, such as the Nomad Essence. With this, I could skip the need to orient myself to each world and could navigate with ease. With the Smartphone Essence, the issue of my harem was solved and I could now, blessedly, use my phone anywhere I wanted (I almost died of boredom at some times in Konosuba without YouTube or my fanfiction). With the Essence of the Hivemind, I could give each woman in my harem the attention they deserved without anyone feeling left out. When sleeping on a bed, each of them could snuggle up to their very own copy of me (which would all actually be me, as I could infinitely split my focus into each copy I made). Gourmand just sounded sweet: no need to worry about calories, and the ability to make the most delicious food in existence? Sign me up! Plus, if I planned a Food Wars! jump in the future, I was set up. Erina Nakiri, in the bag.
With all my concerns finally addressed, I could now plan my trip to the Harry Potter world. With the upgrades to my mind, I basically didn't need the NZT anymore. Quickly speeding through the books, I quickly memorized all the plot points before deciding to jump into the Harry Potter world at the end of Book 3: The Prisoner of Azkaban. I chose this for a specific reason: first, I really wanted to act during the events of Book 4: The Goblet of Fire, but starting right at the end of Book 3 would give me a chance to master what I needed to about Harry Potter magic and apply to the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. With the background I created, I was basically guaranteed to get the job and could put my plans in motion prior to the beginning of the fourth year.
Checking out the Essence of the Home, I was greeted by a beautiful mini world and a house that was massive. Each part of the house had a style of architecture that I enjoyed, each segment being basically a huge estate on its own. One section was Japanese-themed, complete with koi pond and gazebo in the middle of the water. Another was a classic mansion like I owned in Konosuba. There were others too—whatever you could imagine—including a modern attachment complete with futuristic electronics and an infinite amount of supplies. Teleporting home, I quickly placed the girls in the new Home and let them explore. After setting up a way for them to enter between the house and reality, I had finally gotten all of my affairs in order and was ready to travel.
Opening up The Prisoner of Azkaban and turning to the last page of the book, I selected to travel into the book. Using my background customization item, I fiddled with the world somewhat, giving myself a background as a member of the Cross family, a pureblood member of the Sacred 28. Relegating another house to a more minor position—whatever house it was, I don't know nor care. Making my background as a genius student who chose to study in Ilvermorny instead of Hogwarts and was ready to take up a teaching position after having traveled for a bit after graduating. I also used the background customizer to raise the ages of the grades in Harry Potter.
When everything was finally set up, I appeared near Harry's house on Privet Drive. With my new abilities granted by the Essence of the Nomad, I knew exactly where I was, and the memories I gained from my "background" appeared in my head.
Using my ability to teleport, I quickly arrived at my estate before shouting, "Biddy!" before a crack sounded out as a young house-elf quickly chirped out, "Master Ethan, welcome home! Biddy has missed you terribly."
"Yes, Biddy, it is good to be back. Fetch me a quill and parchment, as I must pen Albus Dumbledore about an opening on the school staff. Afterwards, you shall take me to Diagon Alley."
"Of course, sir, right away!" he quickly ran off as if his life depended on it, with the usual intensity and enthusiasm the house-elves displayed in the books.
After quickly penning my letter to Albus:
📜 Ethan's Letter to Dumbledore
To: Headmaster Albus Dumbledore Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster Dumbledore,
I write to you with the intention of formally applying for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for the upcoming school year. As the last living heir of a Sacred Twenty-Eight line, I have been rigorously trained in advanced magical disciplines since childhood. My studies and field experience include extensive work with combat magic, defensive wards, and counter-curses.
Beyond personal mastery, I have a deep interest in teaching and inspiring the next generation of witches and wizards to not only defend themselves, but also to think critically about the forces they may face in an ever-changing world.
It would be an honor to discuss my qualifications in person at your convenience.
Respectfully, Ethan Cross
Shortly after sending the letter via owl, I had Biddy apparate me to Diagon Alley to buy some quick supplies, the first of which being a wand. Later on, if I found it necessary, I would make a copy of the Elder Wand, but for now one from Ollivander's would do. I wanted to blend in for now, after all. After entering the shop, the old man greeted me from his desk.
"Welcome, sir. What might I be able to help you with today?"
"Recently, due to unfortunate circumstances, my wand was irreparably damaged and I require another," I replied.
"Most unfortunate, most unfortunate," he shook his head. "The wand chooses the wizard, you know. Each is a partner that should accompany its master for life, if fortunate. But no matter—although older than most of my clientele, I can most definitely assist you with the finding of a wand," he said with a hint of pride in his voice.
Taking out various measuring equipment, he measured my dominant hand and various other things that I could not possibly see the relevance of before he started grabbing boxes, muttering about cherry wood, dragon heartstring, and various other attributes before shoving one in my hand.
The first wand let out an unfortunate cloud of air that sounded eerily similar to passing gas and an unpleasant odor before he quickly snatched it back. After going through several other variations of this for what was close to half an hour, he finally said to himself, "This one must be it, I'm sure of it," before reverently pulling a black wand out of a box as he placed it in my hand.
Immediately upon grasping this wand, I felt a sense of connection and what I could describe as "joy" coming from the wand before it let off a series of what I would call happy fireworks. As I bonded with the wand, Ollivander smirked before listing out the wand and its attributes.
Length: 13 ¾ inches
Wood: Blackthorn — traditionally known for resilience in combat, often chosen by warriors or those who expect conflict. It symbolizes both adaptability and a willingness to push through hardship.
Color/Appearance: Deep, almost obsidian black with a faint sheen of dark violet when caught in the light. The handle is subtly twisted, like a spiral of thorns, giving it a dangerous elegance.
Core: Thestral tail hair — rare, powerful, and enigmatic. A core only truly bonds with a wizard who has understood death and loss, granting profound power in dark arts, but also a mastery of defensive and life-preserving magic when the wielder wills it.
Flexibility: Rigid, reflecting Ethan's strong will and unwillingness to bend to outside forces.
Paying 15 Galleons, 2 Sickles, and 3 Knuts, I left with the wand. After quickly exploring and making a withdrawal from Gringotts, I had Biddy apparate me home where my owl was waiting with the reply Dumbledore had sent. Taking the letter from the owl and cutting it open with a letter opener, I read the contents.
📜 Dumbledore's Reply
To: Mr. Ethan Cross London
Dear Mr. Cross,
I am most pleased to receive your application for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Your reputation precedes you, and your heritage, combined with your impressive mastery of defensive magic, makes you a particularly compelling candidate.
I would be delighted to meet you for an interview at Hogwarts Castle on July 12th at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, in my office (you need only state your name to the gargoyle at the entrance).
I eagerly anticipate our conversation.
With warm regards, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts
Everything was shaping up nicely. With that in mind, and with the sky long dark, I decided to go to bed, ready to master the magic required prior to the interview, which was in about two weeks. Finalizing my plans, I finally went to sleep, ready to get back to the grind the next day.