I wake up.

My mind is scattered. Thinking is hard.

My eyes are caked shut. I’m in a dark room, but I see some faint light leaking through the eyelids.

Am I alive?

Sensations return. I try to move, but I can’t.

Is this still a dream?

I wriggle again, trying to stand up.

Rattling noises. I feel heavy.

A bell sounds.

My heart is pounding.

I start to feel something pressing against my skin. I’m tied down.

This doesn’t feel like a dream…

I hear a creaking noise behind me. “He’s awake!” A man’s voice.

Wait…

I am alive!

My isekai adventure is not over just yet.

The game is still on!

I shift back into the right frame of mind.

I woke up fully and managed to blink my eyes open.

Everything was blurry, but I could make out several chains protruding toward me.

I cleared my throat.

My body felt sore. The number of chains wrapping me was unreal, I was somehow suspended mid-air. I couldn’t even tilt my head.

Two figures moved close to me, poking and prodding. It took me several blinks to clear up the image.

「Allen: I feel… heavy.」

I croaked.

Everything was coming back to me.

Grastel, the body-stealing demon, Ellin, Namrick. What happened to my friends?

「Allen: What… happened?」

I asked the middle-aged man and woman who were inspecting my condition. I guessed they were healers or something.

「Healer: Stay still while we take a look.」

He turned to the woman.

「Healer: What does it look like, Priestess. Is the spirit healthy?」

Ohhh, a priestess. She wrapped her hands around my face and closed her eyes.

「Priestess: It would appear so, but if he allowed me to go deeper, I could confirm for sure.」

「Healer: You… Try to loosen up your spirit body, if you can.」

He said, with a tone suggesting both an order and a request.

I complied, and only while doing so did I feel how exhausted my spirit body was. It felt like a muscle after a cramp. I was sore both in body and spirit.

I experienced a somewhat unpleasant sensation of something rummaging through my spirit. Bad experiences with rude goddesses came to mind, but the priestess had a gentler touch.

「Priestess: Done! He’s fine, there’s no trace!」

She said cheerily. Both took a sigh of relief.

「Healer: That is blessed news.」

Right. The demon had burrowed into my spirit. Had the exorcism worked? My mind was still a little dazed.

「Priestess: One last thing.」

She said, addressing me.

「Priestess: Your spirit body should take around four more days to fully recover. I recommend avoiding unnecessary magical strain.」

I blinked. I thought worse.

「Allen: Okay.」

The healer seemed satisfied. He straightened up and addressed the priestess.

「Healer: Call them. They wanted to be informed.」

The priestess nodded and scurried away, footsteps echoing from the outer corridor. Then he turned back to me.

「Healer: You’re very lucky, you know? Some of the other victims suffered extensive damage from the demonic spirit. A few have yet to wake. Others lost their lives…」

He began undoing the chains.

「Allen: I see. I take it the demon spirit was successfully exorcised.」

He nodded.

「Healer: It appears so. I was told the whole area was quarantined, and everyone checked thoroughly.」

He waved at the black walls around us.

「Healer: As the last one who had been attacked by the demon, and because your own spirit was closed off tight, which made it hard to inspect without causing damages, you had been placed inside this obsidian chamber. A necessary precaution.」

Yeah, thanks for turning me into a chain mummy.

「Allen: I understand. I would have done the same.」

He nodded. A healthy dose of precaution and paranoia always leads to better risk management.

Releasing updates to production healed me from delusions of misguided optimism. Something always goes wrong unless you cover all your bases.

The healer released first my feet and legs, allowing me to stand on the cold ground.

And finally, the last of the chains rattled on the floor. A literal weight off my chest.

My muscles felt unusually weak, and I almost buckled down. Thankfully the man was supporting me.

「Allen: How long did I sleep?」

「Healer: Two days whole.」

He cast some magic, his hands slightly glowing with mana, and I felt my body becoming less sore. I stretched my legs and stood on my own.

The chain marks on my skin were disappearing.

Two days… Why don’t I feel like I need to piss? I didn’t really want to know. I shooed the grim thoughts away.

「Healer: Easy, spirit possession causes damage to the body. Although, in your cause, it didn’t linger long enough that you should suffer from it…」

He said while inspecting my condition.

「Allen: What about the kids that were with me? Did the girl get hurt in trying to exorcise the spirit?」

The healer walked out, beckoning me to follow. Outside, there was a bench. I took a seat there. Shielding my eyes from the sunlight.

「Healer: I wouldn’t know. I only treated the patients that were sent here.」

I looked around. The place was unfamiliar to me.

「Allen: So where am I? This is not the Academy, is it?」

The middle-aged healer shook his head.

「Healer: No. This is the Healer’s Guild.」

I still felt slightly lightheaded. I really thought I was a goner. Had Ellin succeeded in performing the exorcism alone?

Well, even if she received help from rescuers, the fact that I was in good condition spoke volumes. I had to thank her.

「Healer: I should go check the other patients. Wait here, there were people looking for you that may know more.」

I nodded, and he excused himself, returning to his job.

I circulated my mana slowly, also stretching my spirit body. Funny how a demon spirit had proved to have a lighter touch than a fucking goddess. Or maybe it just didn’t have enough time to cause real damages.

My memory of receiving the spiritual assault was spotty. I didn’t really remember much of it.

I waited for ten minutes or so before I was greeted by my visitors.

Violet and Grohm.

「Allen: Hello.」

「Grohm: He’s safe. He looks safe.」

Grohm said to Violet, whose reply was a slight tilt of her head.

「Allen: I’m fine. I was told that my spirit will make a full recovery in four days.」

I offered my reassuring corporate smile.

「Violet: Good.」

「Grohm: Yes, good.」

A short silence ensued.

This was a no-hug scenario. As expected from fellow nerd magicians.

Better. Hugging is usually done to squirming targets, like a predator smelling weakness, or chasing fleeting prey.

I can do it if I know I’m making my target uncomfortable. Their discomfort is what makes it comfortable, like teasing. Otherwise, you’re the one feeling uneasy. Or maybe that’s just me.

I stood up.

「Allen: So, what happened after I got possessed? The demon talked about… a diversion?」

Violet nodded, relaying the events that unfolded that day.

Apparently, the bodystealer demon had exploited the accumulation of fear-aspected mana to summon nightmare creatures. Something only possible to those up in the hierarchy of Feras’ cult. The interference had been detected, and Violet, along the main forces, had moved to squash it down. The creatures had targeted the population, both to fan their fears and to scatter through buildings and narrow alleys. One day my teachings about shady alleys will be heard.

Dealing with them wouldn’t have been a problem on an open field, but under those conditions and the reduced visibility from the snowstorm, it proved tricky and time-consuming. It was too late when they realized the Academy itself had been attacked.

That hadn’t been a spur of the moment. The demon had planned it all surprisingly well. The nightmares were summoned while I was still en route. By the time I reached the gates, the subjugation forces had already left. I hadn’t noticed anything amiss until I got inside and he appeared. He had killed the guards outside and unleashed another nightmare to keep anyone from leaving.

The damage to the Academy had looked worse during the conflict than it actually was. The structure was built with enchanted stone, so structural damage had been relatively minor. Teachers and students had worked to quench the fires, once safe to do so. It would be reopened in another couple of days, Violet said.

The whole ordeal had lasted around ten Respites, so fifteen minutes or so. It had felt much, much longer.

About the demon, his abilities had been abnormal. He must have been both skilled and holder of a direct blessing from the Nightmare God to be able to do what he did.

And to fuel this blessing, his process had been to create fear among the populace to strengthen itself. That had to be the reason he had started small both here in Valarest and Noirdant.

He had been impossible to detect because, instead of consuming the host spirit, he had put them to sleep in a looping nightmare. He wore their spirits like a suit, hiding his presence.

I didn’t remember any looping nightmare. Not that it would have worked on me, anyway.

「Violet: I have arranged for you to lodge in the outer barracks of the royal palace. An escort is being prepared for your safely.」

Grohm nodded.

「Grohm: It doesn’t hurt to be sure in these uncertain times.」

「Allen: What about my apprenticeship with the Alchemist’s Guild?」

「Violet: It can wait.」

She said curtly.

Welp.

「Violet: You can focus on your contract with the military enchanters. Prepare yourself. We’re leaving as soon as you’re ready.」

「Allen: What? Right now? 」

I wanted to check up on my friends first. Also, I was wearing this world’s version of hospital robes. Not something to brave the winter with.

Violet walked away without replying. I would have felt annoyed, but her swaying bottom soothed my spirit.

Even in full winter, she was wearing her usual attire. That’s a proper mage for you.

Grohm coughed to catch my attention and pressed a bag into my hands.

「Grohm: The healer put your clothes and belongings in this bag… Usually, they leave them next to the patient, but there were special circumstances. Take.」

「Allen: Thank you.」

I said, accepting the bag. Inside was all my stuff, rings included. I hadn’t even noticed I wasn’t wearing them.

Reaching the First Step to restore clarity was not something I could attempt at that moment.

「Grohm: We’ll be waiting right outside. Don’t make us wait too long. Yes?」

「Allen: Yes.」

He nodded and left.

Violet and Grohm… I hadn’t expected to see them so soon. I wondered if Violet actually cared about me or if she was just protecting her investment. She was hard to read, but I was thankful nonetheless.

She was either a stone-cold psychopath or a socially awkward overpowered girl. Or both.

I put my clothes on. They had been washed from the blood. Then equipped my magical instruments.

SYSTEM BOOTING

Memory…OK

Routines…OK

AI_Interface…OK

Peripherals…OK

STARTING GAMERGUI.EXE

Quest completed (Defeat the Bodystealer) +500 EXP

I got my dopamine hit.

Quest completed (Mission: Survive) +1 EXP

Quest failed (Keep the bodyguards alive)

When did these quests even get added? I guess I had been too busy staying alive to notice. And what’s up with that 1 EXP?! Stupid ring.

Anyway, I had one important task to do.

Quest added (Check on the kids)

I inspected the damages to my mana body. It didn’t feel as bad as last time. I could even cast magic without pain or strain, as long as I took it slow. Good.

I checked the various rooms on my way down, looking for Grastel and Namrick. Since the exorcism had worked, Ellin had to be fine.

My random intrusions earned me some scowls from the staff, but I found Grastel.

「Allen: Hey.」

I said.

Grastel rolled his head toward me. He looked a little down on spirits.

「Grastel: Hey…」

He blinked twice and propped himself up.

「Allen: How are you holding up?」

I asked, crossing my arms and leaning on the door frame. I wanted to look like a dependable cool uncle.

「Grastel: That’s what I should ask you.」

He made a weak smile before going all serious again.

「Grastel: I…」

He swallowed before continuing.

「Grastel: I killed… those men… And I don’t even remember it.」

He said with his eyes fixing downward. I was tempted to give him a slap.

「Allen: Why are you blaming yourself? The demon killed those men, using your body against your will.」

「Grastel: I even hit Ellin and Namrick… I could…」

I walked a step forward.

「Allen: It’s not your fault… You were a victim too.」

Why do good people have to blame themselves for things that aren’t their faults?

「Grastel: I know, but…」

「Allen: No buts.」

「Grastel: …」

We remained in silence for a moment.

「Grastel: What did you feel when the demon possessed you? The only thing I remember is an unending nightmare…」

I didn’t really remember much of it, just some vague recollection of pain and random flashbacks. So I shrugged.

「Allen: What about Namrick and Ellin?」

「Grastel: Namrick stops by every day to check up on me. And to complain they wouldn’t let him see you. Ellin was called back to her family’s mansion. She’s fine.」

That eased my spirits.

Quest completed (Check on the kids) +5 EXP

How does that give more EXP than surviving?!

「Allen: I’m glad to hear that. So, how long till you recover?」

「Grastel: I was told a week or so. Ellin healed my body right away, but my spirit…」

I got closer and gave him a pat on the shoulder. He looked like he needed it.

「Allen: Rest well. I’ll be staying under protection for a while, so it will be a while before we can reunite. Tell the others I’m fine. I’ll write you letters.」

Grastel smiled and nodded.

「Grastel: May the Gods be with you, Allen.」

「Allen: You must be joking, surely?」

Those gods were the sources of all our problems.

Grastel grinned and waved me goodbye, and so I turned to leave.

I stopped.

Right, I keep forgetting because nothing can break me, but…

「Allen: I’m sorry you guys had to go through all that. It was… bad… wasn’t it?」

I turned in time to see Grastel wiping away a tear. Gone was the smirk. He was again wearing that haunted look I saw when I first entered the room.

Come on, Allen… There was no way all that blood and death hadn’t left a mark.

「Allen: Thanks for coming for me. Tell everyone… And remind Namrick our enemy was just too strong this time.」

Man, I suck at these sentimental things.

Grastel nodded one last time, and I left.

It was time to get myself into protective custody.

Violet and Grohm were just outside, waiting with a carriage ready. We made a quick stop back at my inn so I could collect some stuff I needed. Then they dropped me off in front of the castle gates, where my escort was waiting to receive me.

The escort showed me into another building inside the outer walls. The barracks.

It was all very disappointing.

My new room was a downgrade. Cramped space and stark stone.

I stood there, holding the crate with my stuff.

I was angry, not at the lackluster accommodations.

The nightmare god Feras had put my friends in harm’s way.

Not once, but twice.

He had to go.

The wooden crate creaked under my grip.