Too Much in Sixteen Short Days
Too much had happened in the blink of sixteen days. I was exhausted. For real.
We'd fought tooth and nail against someone, killed them, and finally—I'd met the protagonist for the first time. It was the biggest event to hit my supposedly peaceful isekai life in weeks.
"…."
On the way back, none of us said a word. We were too busy hightailing it out of the back alleys.
No time for joyful reunions or sorting out what happened—we just ran. Staying alive and getting home in one piece came first.
My feelings are all jumbled up….
I'd figured that when I first possessed this body and finally met Kiara, it'd be some grand event. I wasn't expecting anything specific, but at least it'd give me a clear direction.
But now that we'd actually met? This was just the beginning. Watching Kiara stick so close to Charlie only made my heart more tangled.
"Both of you. Let's go home."
There was still so much left to do. After sorting through my messy emotions, that was all I could say.
The mood sank again. The silence was broken back at the orphanage by Alice, who'd waited up all night.
"Charlie!"
"…Sis."
"Wh-where have you been! Where did you go…?!"
"The director said it was urgent…."
"The director's inside! Why were you out here?!"
"Well…."
Alice yelled through her tears. She cried in relief. I knew I shouldn't feel this way watching someone else cry, but it was like all my emotions were finally back on track.
At least one thing's settled.
I felt a bit of satisfaction. A return to calm. Peace of mind.
"You little punk! I oughta break your legs!"
"I'm sorryyy…."
Kids these days…?
"Shasha, shouldn't we stop her?"
[I don't have a body. You stop her.]
Uh… um… mentally….
"Do you know how hard it was looking for you and the director? I oughta sell you off as a slave to knock some sense into you?!"
"Waaahhh!"
[Let her. Orphans need to toughen up.]
"R-right…?"
Good thing she's the big sister. Anyway, starting today, she officially is. This was the perfect chance to drill it into Charlie's head: don't follow strangers, or you're in danger.
[It's already dangerous.]
"…."
Not because I'm scared. Oof… my neck's gonna snap…?
Anyway, we still had way bigger problems. Charlie and Alice's issue was settled (ignoring Charlie's opinion), but what to do with Kiara? The Evil God's "reward"? And that power—Authority?—I'd used mid-fight? All needed thinking.
I'm swamped. Insanely busy. I could use two bodies, let alone two minds.
I wanna talk to Kiara.
Glancing her way, she looked eager to slip out too. Nothing more awkward than being stuck in someone else's fight.
Perfect timing—our eyes met.
Let's get outta here.
I signaled quietly, planning to sneak out together. Hey, Kiara? She was definitely looking, her blank expression flickering with widened eyes.
Wow… she's really pretty. Her lips moved, saying something drowned out by the noise.
"Uh…."
My vision dropped. Kiara loomed over me. No—my head was falling.
Collapsing…?
Wh-what…?
This isn't formless poison, you're poisoned… Wait, no. Even as my consciousness faded, I reached for my neck.
My neck's still attached—
But why….
"Director?"
"Director?!"
"Luagwen?!"
* * *
【Kill.】
【Kill it.】
【Kill.】
【Kill it.】
What was that, hypnosis brainwashing? Luckily, no hentai scenario when I opened my eyes. Just the familiar orphanage ceiling. Phew… right?
Did I overdo it…?
Trying to sit up, my body wouldn't cooperate. I'd fainted plenty in my old life, so no big panic. But yeah, this time was rough….
As I quietly gathered myself, something else startled me.
【130 days】
A bug? What the hell. Why'd it drop so much? Wasn't it 141 days recently?
"A whole week passed…?"
[Yeah. Now we're both about to die together.]
"You're not messing with me?"
No memory of waking midway… Did I really lose a full week?
But why 130…?
The math didn't add up. A week's passed, fine, but after all those sacrifices, my lifespan shrunk more?
[First time awakening Authority, big backlash is normal.]
"Ah…."
[Space-related Authority is rare. You're lucky.]
"Haha…."
Now the numbers made sense. In the final clash with Malkor, when his arm got severed then reappeared—that was my power….
I thought it was free help.
Feels like I overpaid. I'd barely snagged some lifespan from the Evil God, and now it's gone. Nothing more futile.
[While you were out cold, the kids visited a few times.]
"Yeah? They must've been worried."
Proving Luagwen's point, a few cards sat on the bedside table. Opening one, the childish scrawl jumped out.
'Director. Get better quik. -Charlie-'
Spelling was spot-on despite the handwriting—Alice must've checked it. Looked like I needed to recover fast to ease her burden.
[They chattered nonstop while you slept. I wanted to sew their mouths shut…]
"…."
[Anyway, they said the church is investigating the back alleys.]
"We didn't get caught, did we…?"
[No way. Money source is dead, so they're poking around. Show warning.]
Don't wanna die? Sacrifice properly like the next guy. They'll nab a few as examples, so back alleys might improve.
Alice'll worry less.
I was reading Alice's card when the door opened.
"Director."
It was Kiara.
"…Come in."
Trying to sit up proved too much, so I just stayed lying down.
"Feeling better?"
"I'm fine. What about you? Must've been rough, tied up like that."
Light greetings exchanged. To me it was recent, but a week ago for her—she seemed more composed than expected.
"…Yes."
No. Her tone was cool, but her voice grew misty between words.
"I was scared…."
"Y-yeah…?"
"But… thanks to you, Director…."
This is….
Alert! Tears incoming! Teenage hormones surging!
Alert!
"B-but where were you all that time? How'd you end up with Charlie?"
"…Ah, um… Are you mad…?"
"Why would I be…?"
I didn't wanna watch the protagonist cry, so I played it casual. Good thing—the tears stopped just before bursting.
It was just to change the subject, but I hit the nail on the head. Kiara hesitated for the first time.
What the hell had she been up to?
"I've been helping out at shops in my free time…."
"I see."
"Sorry for sneaking out…."
Is that something to apologize for…? She knows the orphanage's state. Earning her keep? Smart move. Sure, she's a minor… but who doesn't work kids here?
"On my way back, I saw Charlie following some shady guy… I thought he could escape fine."
So, play along then bail. Dumb, but teenage recklessness—totally get it.
I pulled all kinds of stunts to escape the hospital too.
Doesn't mean full forgiveness. If younger Alice endures, Kiara should too.
"Reckless. Stupid."
"Yes…."
"Kiara. How old are you again?"
"Sixteen…."
"…."
Sixteen, huh.
"Right, a grown big sis can't act that reckless."
"Yes…."
"You've learned your lesson, so no repeat. Reflect on it! Go rest in your room."
I tried stern, but no energy, and it wasn't my style. Still, she got it—head down, she left, all dejected.
Our first real talk ended anticlimactically.
[Total baby.]
"Hey, use nice words."
[You're a full-on kid handler now.]
"Wha…."
[Lame ending. You were all 'Kiara~ Kiara~' freaking out before.]
"…."
First-loop Kiara, pre-grind? Not much to worry about. Talented, sure, but unpolished gem. Pure sixteen, lacking experience and edge.
That was first loop.
"We're on the same page, huh."
Unknowing 'Luagwen' would've dismissed it as teenage nonsense—or ignored it. But as a reader with meta-knowledge, confirmation bias hits hard. Every action refracts through my foreknowledge.
[Dunno. What's your take?]
"I asked first."
[No surprise when you woke after a week.]
Normal people call for help or freak out. Not her. Like she knew.
"Not enough proof."
People react differently. Plenty time to compose herself. And I wasn't close enough to the kids—especially Kiara—for dramatics.
"But she knew her exact age."
[Age?]
Malnourished by foster parents and director, she looked younger. Neglected, no one told her her age—she guessed by looks. Lived as fourteen till ducal adoption. Learned truth right before grand duke and debutante* party. (*Noblewomen's societal debut.)
Too soon for certainty….
Maybe she just answered fittingly. Slim chance, but possible.
Knock knock. Brief silence, then door opened.
"…Director?"
"Alice?"
"Yes, Director."
….
"Wait… when did you wake?! No, lie down! Now!"
Ah, mid-cool pose. Alice barged in and forced me down. Like a doll in a kid's hands, I went limp. No neck-snapping today….
"You must rest!"
"I know…."
Her attitude shifted since I collapsed. Before, I was just awkward and scary. Now… more comfortable, but like caretaking a frail kid? Dunno what's better.
"Someone left a gift for you. I'll set it here. Bringing porridge, so if bored, open it but don't move."
"Gift? From who?"
Me? Friends? Ha.
"…Hard to explain."
What? The package from Alice held a small glass vial. Fancy embossing screamed expensive, but pitch-black contents? Mystery.
Perfume? Liquor? No note or card.
Gifts usually have messages. Nada.
"No words from the giver?"
"Just 'reward.' Maybe church for good deeds?"
"Reward?"
My hands froze.