Ch.91After the Storm (1)

*Crash-*

I could see the mental world that had been imprisoning us collapsing, starting from the destroyed monitor screen I had just smashed.

Judging by the speed of the collapse, it would take about ten more minutes for it to be completely destroyed.

Just a little longer and we could escape this insufferable place.

“Haaah…”

This signaled the end of our long battle, so Lumia and I, tension finally released, collapsed onto the floor without any coordination between us.

The floor was uncomfortable since it had been a battlefield until moments ago, but it wasn’t like we had any energy left to move elsewhere.

Besides, it was questionable whether there would be any decent place to rest in a crumbling world anyway.

‘Even if we found somewhere better, it would collapse soon too. Might as well just rest here.’

Lumia seemed to share my thoughts on this matter.

So we lay there in the crumbling world, leisurely unwinding and sharing our thoughts.

“Sigh… Finally over. I don’t understand why I’m so exhausted in a mental world. You’d think we wouldn’t have to deal with muscle pain here.”

“I know, right? Thanks to someone, I was dragged here against my will, couldn’t even die properly, and had to swing around a sword that doesn’t suit me at all.”

“Haha… Sorry for putting you through that. But thanks to you, I survived. If I had been alone, I wouldn’t have even made it to the battle—I would’ve been forced to sign that contract and been dragged away.”

The fact that the fox bead had activated in the first place meant I had faced a problem I couldn’t overcome alone.

After all, the fox bead only activates when my very existence is certainly doomed.

If I hadn’t been lucky enough to obtain the fox bead, I shuddered to think what might have happened.

“So you’ve successfully achieved your original goal of repelling the Evil God. What are you planning to do now?”

“I should go back to dying as planned~ is what I’d like to say… but that seems impossible now.”

I asked Lumia, who didn’t dream of tomorrow, about what came next, and she made a troubled expression as if this was weighing on her mind too.

After pondering for a moment, Lumia got up and thoroughly examined her body.

Regardless of whether she wanted to die or not, her body showed no signs of fading, proudly displaying its vitality.

This meant she was no longer in a position to disappear as she had originally intended.

“Sigh, isn’t the fox bead’s performance too good? It even revives people who want to die.”

“Since you’re alive now, why not continue living? I’ve been feeling uneasy about taking over a body after its owner died.”

Knowing why she wanted to die, I playfully suggested she try living a bit longer.

Listening to my words, Lumia pointed out one error.

“You know our souls have already become one. At this point, we’re practically just two personalities in one entity.”

“Well… that’s true. That’s why even the Evil God couldn’t detect it.”

I couldn’t refute Lumia’s point.

In reality, our souls had already melded together completely.

Trying to separate us now would only result in damaging a single soul by splitting it.

“Just think of it as self-comfort. Even though we share one body and one soul, I’m still me and you’re still you.”

“Sigh, I don’t understand why you’re saying this when you’d manage just fine on your own.”

“I wouldn’t say ‘just fine’ when I only survived thanks to you this time. And beyond usefulness, it’s a matter of conscience.”

Beyond souls and bodies, Lumia and I were clearly distinct entities.

Because we knew each other better than anyone else, we felt our differences even more acutely.

That’s why, regardless of becoming one or whatever, that would mean death. And I didn’t want to remain alone at the cost of killing my roommate.

“Used goods aren’t usually popular, you know. So please, I’m asking you.”

“Sigh… I’ll try living for now. Though it’ll be terribly frustrating without a body.”

After my persistent requests, Lumia finally surrendered.

Her face still showed reluctance, but even this much progress was significant.

‘Perhaps just as I’ve been influenced by her, she’s been influenced by me too.’

Still, worried that Lumia might change her mind, I quickly offered a solution to her concerns.

“I have a hidden piece in mind for your body. Until then, if you want to come out, I can switch with you occasionally.”

“Even if you say ‘hidden piece,’ there are so many possibilities… Well, alright. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

*Crack- Crackle-*

As our conversation wound down and the mental world approached its end, I suddenly remembered something.

“Come to think of it, since my consciousness is here, I must be unconscious in the real world, right?”

“With your mind here, that would be the case.”

My determination to finish this without fainting had been utterly crushed.

It would be nice if I could just be disappointed about fainting, but sadly, the chances of that being the extent of it were very slim.

“Lilly and Kitsune must be worried sick seeing me like that.”

“Considering they probably know we just had a showdown with the Evil God, I’d say they’re more than just worried.”

They had already expressed concern multiple times about my recklessness.

“Hmm… When I wake up, I’ll probably get scolded for fainting again…”

“Pray you don’t end up imprisoned.”

I could already imagine the lectures I’d receive from Lilly and Kitsune.

They would scold me for moving around despite being physically unwell and lecture me for handling dangerous objects recklessly.

So I came up with a clever idea and suggested it to Lumia.

“To commemorate your new life, would you like to go out instead of me and greet those two?”

“Dream on.”

Of course, she didn’t bite.

* * *

After the mental world completely collapsed and darkness briefly enveloped my consciousness, I was able to open my eyes and breathe in the air of reality.

“Ugh… my head… urp… I feel nauseous too…”

Though that air wasn’t entirely refreshing.

The unpleasant sensation of someone having rummaged through my mind made me feel queasy and disoriented.

[That’s because you were connected to the Evil God.]

[After such an enormous entity swept through, it’s no wonder you’re not feeling well.]

‘I expected that, but I feel so sick I might throw up… urp… just a moment.’

With Lumia’s voice echoing in my head on top of everything else, the urge to vomit intensified rapidly.

I immediately tried to find a suitable container to throw up in, but unfortunately, my actions were hindered.

*Clank-*

“What is this…”

I found myself restrained with chains binding both my arms and legs.

I wasn’t completely immobilized, but I certainly couldn’t leave the bed either.

“I don’t think these will break even if I apply a little force…”

*Clank- Clank-!*

I pulled on the chains a couple of times with some force, but they showed no signs of breaking.

I got the feeling that moderate strength wouldn’t even scratch these chains.

‘Hmm… These aren’t ordinary chains.’

[Based on the circumstances, I suspect Vulcan made them.]

[Probably as a precaution in case you were controlled by the Evil God.]

That explanation made sense, but it only made my situation more difficult.

Something kept trying to come up from my stomach, but I was reluctant to break chains made by Vulcan.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to attempt an escape.

“Are you alright?!”

Mochizuki Kitsune, who had been waiting outside, heard the sound of chains and immediately came in.

“Yes, I’m in perfect… urp… please just give me something to throw up in.”

[[A lady’s moment]]

“Ahh… I feel much better after emptying my stomach.”

“I’m relieved you’re alright. We were so worried when you suddenly collapsed…”

Now feeling more comfortable, I was able to hear from Kitsune about the current situation in Gagap.

First, the war with the Apostles had ended successfully.

This wasn’t surprising since the tide had turned the moment I dealt with the Apostles’ boss.

The Titan had been a variable, but apparently the Hero and Vulcan had joined forces to handle that situation well.

After the war ended, the city’s reconstruction was progressing smoothly under Vulcan’s direction.

“So, could you please remove these chains now? I’ve been tied up since I fainted, and my whole body feels stiff…”

“About that… Vulcan instructed us not to remove them until Lilly confirms your condition. He said we need to be absolutely certain in cases like this…”

Kitsune’s explanation left me in an awkward position, and I also wondered about Lilly’s whereabouts, as she was nowhere to be seen.

Normally, she would have appeared by now, acting tsundere while showing concern for me.

“I don’t see Lilly around. Did something happen to her?”

“Ah, about that. Lilly is currently being scolded by the Fairy Queen…”

Kitsune’s words made me recall the various crimes Lilly and I had committed, such as impersonating Apos Hunt members and unauthorized use of the gate.

“I never expected Lilly would be disciplined before me.”