Chapter 122 - Unconscious Treatment
"Mm..."
As I quietly opened my eyes, a familiar sight greeted me.
"...My room."
I had no idea how much time had passed, but this place felt real enough. At the very least, my mind was clear, unlike before.
Come to think of it, while I was lost in my unconsciousness, I'd had some rather peculiar experiences. A cozy, warm darkness where I curled up tight. Being forcibly dragged out of it toward somewhere strangely familiar. The sensation of my body shattering into pieces—painless, somehow. And the feeling of connecting with someone else.
I'd vaguely sensed all that in the depths of my unconscious, and when I opened my eyes, my dormitory room came into view. How many weeks—or months—had passed this time? What had happened to Clana? If she started worrying about me, how would I handle the impending trial? The slave market? Stacking penalties? Perloché's secret? What should I do next?
"Hoo..."
The moment my mind sharpened, a flood of worries crashed in. I sighed and flopped back onto the bed.
'Feeling a bit worn out today, huh?'
Honestly, I was a little tired. Ever since my innocent childhood days, when everything seemed perfect and Father first told me the prophecy, up until now. I'd charged forward with one sole purpose: defeat the Demon King and bring a happy ending to the world.
Sure, there were times I wanted to quit, moments I nearly succumbed to temptation. But I'd pressed on without faltering. Because if I gave up, it would all be over.
Every time your identity as a 'Villain' is exposed, your life force and lifespan decrease.
(Special stacks deduct only life force.)
[Stacks: 3 | Special Stacks: 1]
"Hm."
As those thoughts swirled, I opened the debuff window and soon chuckled softly to myself.
"...No wonder I'm worn out."
Lifespan loss was imperceptible. But life force? That hit immediately. It was the foundation of movement, thought, and ability—everything that made a person function.
That was it. I wasn't mentally exhausted or overwhelmed. My body was just running low on life force, making everything feel that way.
So, time to buck up. A dip in lifespan and life force was no big deal. With mountains of tasks ahead, I couldn't afford to whine about it.
Didn't my ancestor say you could clear the game up to 5 stacks?
- In theory, you can clear the game up to 5 stacks.
I remembered that clearly. No problem at all.
- The catch is, that's just what the developers said. And who knows if it's even possible? Even I, the only one who cleared Blacktail Fantasy 1, couldn't beat 2.
But there were clear records on the leaderboard, right? So just conserve stacks as much as possible...
Anyway, no issue.
"Agh."
As I steeled myself to get up, pain shot through my body. With 3 stacks piled up, my body had taken a real beating.
"...Hm?"
Cautiously rising, I caught sight of black hair poking up in my vision.
Tap, tap.
Staring at it, I absentmindedly prodded. Then it hit me—it was Kania's hair.
"...Hello, Kania."
Watching her with a faint smile, I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and frowned.
"Are you hurting anywhere?"
Stroking her hair with concern, I carefully slipped out of bed so as not to wake her. She'd clearly spent days nursing me, slumped on her knees by the floor. She needed rest, even if just for a bit.
'What's this...?'
It looked like mine—my name was engraved on it. I headed toward the staff in the corner of the room.
"Much better."
Picking it up and examining it, I leaned on it and grinned in satisfaction.
"See? It was just my body being worn out."
The moment the staff touched the ground, energy surged back. Of course. Was I really going to collapse from one extra stack? I still had a long way to go to defeat the Demon King. Not even second or third year yet—just midway through first-year second semester's main quest. No way I'd falter here.
Yeah, it was all the life force drain. Still manageable.
"Hmm."
As I moved to leave, I glanced back at Kania, face-down on the bed.
'Sleeping like that will wreck her back.'
I'd suffered insomnia for ages in past loops, sleeping in all sorts of weird positions. Keep that up, and back problems were guaranteed.
"Up you go."
I gently lifted her, intending to lay her properly on the bed. She looked utterly exhausted.
"...Huh?"
But now wasn't the time. The clock in my view showed class starting in just 10 minutes.
"Kania, wake up."
"Mm..."
I couldn't stand the thought of her hating to be late for class, so I chose to rouse her. I desperately wanted her to rest, but classes were classes.
"Y-Young Master...?"
"Kania."
She slowly opened her eyes in my arms.
"How've you been?"
"...Ah."
I smiled at her, and she stared blankly.
"What's wrong?"
"Young Master."
"Yeah?"
I tilted my head, and she buried her face in my chest.
"If you want to rest, just say the word. Anytime."
"Uh, y-yeah?"
"Don't push yourself."
She took my hand quietly, stood, and gazed at me.
"...Me too."
"...?"
Out of nowhere, she grabbed my free hand—the one not holding the staff—to support me, and we slowly left the room.
"Kania, the reports—"
"Let's hold off for now. I'll brief you all at once later. For the time being, just attend classes and rest."
"Alright, then..."
"Please take care of yourself."
For some reason, Kania seemed... upgraded? What was this?
……
- Screeech...
"Ahem."
To avoid drawing eyes, I casually opened the classroom door and slipped in.
""""...!!!""""
Despite my efforts, every gaze snapped to me instantly.
Fair enough. After collapsing and holing up, the infamous troublemaker suddenly shows up—who wouldn't glance?
"Anyway."
Having weathered far worse stares, I ignored them. Kania quickly detached and vanished somewhere.
"...?"
I eyed her oddly, then read the kids' expressions and frowned inwardly.
'Feels like déjà vu.'
Like Clana's debut—shunned by commoners, rejected by nobles. Except now it was me.
"Frey! Over here! Sit!"
"Haa..."
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
"Perloché?"
"Partners sit together!"
"...Fine."
I sat beside her quietly, and the stares followed. Nobles probably sizing up my rumored dire health for gains and losses. Commoners praising the heavens for justice or gawking at my fall. All eyes on me.
"Lady Clana, free after class?"
"Lady Serena, I have some nice accessories..."
Minutes later, as expected, nobles split into factions: one around pale-faced Clana, the other fawning desperately over Serena.
'Wait, already?'
I watched dully, tilting my head at the oddity.
'Why split now? I figured second year, way later. I still have some sway... What's going on?'
"Lord Frey, are you alright?"
"...Dark circles down to your chin!"
"This could be serious..."
A few girls approached. Surprising—some still in my camp?
"You lot! Back off!"
"P-Perloché?"
"I'm on intensive watch for Frey! Don't interfere!"
Perloché shooed them away. Handy as a totem in times like these.
"Irina, wanna hang out?"
"Lunch together later!"
"Uh, y-yeah?"
Glancing at beaming Perloché, I noticed commoners swarming Irina behind us.
Was Irina that popular?
"Frey, free tonight?"
"What?"
As I eyed suspiciously popular Irina, Serena broke from her faction and approached.
"...Frey, you do love me, right?"
"Uh, y-yeah."
Something compelled a factual yes. I tilted my head—Serena acted night-like. Daytime her avoided our PDA with Kania.
"Everyone, settle down."
The chaos hushed as Isolet entered, drawing all eyes.
"Open to page 168 of Theory of Swordsmanship. Today, we'll delve deeper into wielding sword aura."
""""Yes, ma'am.""""
Always thought it—kids never talked back to Isolet. Top marquis house, lineage from the Sword Saint who founded it and joined the hero party. Who'd dare?
'Oh, right. Me.'
A silly thought crossed my mind staring at the board; I chuckled, then slowly closed my eyes.
"Frey! What are you doing? No sleeping!"
"...Just a bit. A little nap."
Perloché protested, but drowsiness overwhelmed. Just a moment's rest. Just...
……
"Ugh...!"
In the dark room, thick black magic billowed ominously.
"Cough! Cough!!"
"Ugh..."
Everyone inside hacked violently.
"Kania... what happened?"
After prolonged coughing, Clana frowned and lifted her head.
"Didn't you say entering Frey's unconscious would let him dream his deepest 'desire'?"
Frey lay beside her, still out cold.
"Yeah, so... I braced myself."
Irina nodded grimly beside Clana.
"But why just a dream of attending class?"
"Well..."
Kania bit her lip.
"At this point, what Young Master desired most... was just ordinary academy life."
"What?"
Clana gaped in disbelief.
"But does that make sense? This black magic drags out the deepest desires!"
"...That's how exhausted he was."
Kania's voice grew somber.
"He should've woken by now, so we started this therapy days ago... At first, he just slept all day."
"Just... slept?"
"Yes. Worried, I called you two... and finally got that specific wish."
Gazing quietly at Frey, Kania added,
"Above all, as one with him, I feel it strongly. He craves peaceful rest."
Silence fell heavily. Imagining a life where one's deepest urge was mere rest was unimaginable.
'Something's off.'
In the quiet room, Kania murmured inwardly.
'Serena couldn't come due to circumstances, and Perloché was excluded to avoid suspicion...'
She eyed Frey beside her.
'Why'd they appear in his unconscious?'
Her gaze sharpened suspiciously.
'No way...?'