Vol 3. Chapter 89: Recurring Nightmare

“So yeah, overly sharp people are just a pain.” Shicodale tilted his chin up as he spoke.

“Sorry, I truly have no idea what you’re talking about, Classmate Dale.” Aesphyra was still all smiles.

“Tch.” Shicodale didn’t spell it out. He just glanced at Vinny, said nothing, and yanked Vinny toward himself—then half-collapsed into his arms, leaning her weight against him.

“Classmate Dale??” Vinny froze, not sure what he was trying to do.

“Hold me tight.” Shicodale didn’t offer any other explanation. He just grabbed Vinny’s ear and, right at his ear, told him with full-chested force.

“Ah, ah, huh??” Vinny pressed his lips together. Since Shicodale had shifted his whole center of gravity onto him, he couldn’t exactly shove him away, so he could only stay there like that, unmoving.

But, like... you know, Aesphyra is right there watching them??

Fine, sure, if you insist on asking what’s wrong with Aesphyra watching, there’s... probably nothing wrong. But Vinny just felt all kinds of not okay about it. He was sure if Aesphyra saw this kind of scene, it had to be bad; he didn’t even know why he was sure, just that he was.

“Classmate Dale, do you not have bones of your own~?” Aesphyra stood there with her arms folded, watching the scene, the corners of her lips curved in a half-smile.

“Silver-haired human woman, I don’t have much time this round. Next time, I’ll take my time playing with you.” Shicodale lay in Vinny’s arms and threw Aesphyra a provocative look. “Don’t think that just because I’m not around, you can do whatever you want.”

With that, Shicodale’s head tipped to the side, landing on Vinny’s collarbone as a pillow.

“? Classmate Dale? Are you okay??” Vinny called him a few times. Before half a second passed, he heard Shicodale’s murmur, like someone woken from too deep a sleep.

“Mm, mm? Wh-where... where am I?”

Yep. There it was. That familiar flavor: Black Shicodale had hit log-off, and White Shicodale had logged back in.

“Classmate Dale, are you okay?”

“Classmate Vinny? Where is this? Weren’t we supposed to be—? Mmph!”

He caught a familiar scent. That scent was so close to him, so overwhelmingly close, that Shicodale went blank for a second. As his memories rewound, everything that had happened before surfaced in his mind in scattered fragments.

“She... came out again?”

“Yeah.” Looking down at confused Shicodale in his arms, Vinny could only nod helplessly.

“Sorry, she... actually doesn’t mean any harm to Classmate Vinny. She just... I’m sorry, Classmate Vinny.”

“Why are you apologizing to me?” Vinny was a bit speechless.

“I... in any case, she really doesn’t have any ill will toward you!”

“I know, I never said I blamed her for anything. She even helped me out a ton just now.”

No idea how those two kill-stealing bastards were doing at the moment. Hopefully they felt like heaven had caught fire and their tempers were red-lined and cracking.

“Really? Then that’s good.”

“Ah-leh?~ From the look of things, am I the extra wheel here?” Aesphyra suddenly cut in, out of nowhere.

“Ahem, Classmate Dale, since you’re fine, you should probably get up now, right?” Vinny said, flustered.

There was still a white-furred nutball watching from the side. No matter how you sliced it, it wasn’t great. Even though Vinny still had no idea why exactly it wasn’t great.

“Ah, oh.” Shicodale only now realized he’d been lying in Vinny’s arms this whole time.

He’d noticed it earlier, actually—but there was just that little bit of reluctance he didn’t really want to bring up.

Shicodale reluctantly peeled himself off of Vinny. As he recalled his earlier memories, his cheeks involuntarily surrendered a few enticing hints of blush, like a half-ripe little apple.

Aesphyra’s gaze slid casually past Shicodale, then came to rest on Vinny.

“Classmate Vinny, how did you do in this hunt~?” Aesphyra walked over with a graceful catlike stride and flicked a glance at Vinny’s magic card. “Looks like you’re in pretty good shape~?”

“Not bad. Other than running into two unlucky pieces of filth, everything went smoothly.” Vinny said his piece and left it at that.

“Honestly, shouldn’t Classmate Vinny at least ask me how I did too?” Aesphyra said, amused.

“Tch, if you want to show off in front of me, just say it. Can you not do this winding, roundabout nonsense??” Vinny gave Aesphyra a contemptuous look. “Your score being lower than mine? Don’t kid me.”

“And why not?”

“Tch, get lost already!” The moment he saw Aesphyra in that “I’m going to have my fun with you” mood, Vinny snapped his head to the side.

“Hey, Classmate Vinny, you really aren’t going to take a look?” Aesphyra tilted her head.

“No. If you don’t get to flex in front of me, you get physically uncomfortable, right? Hurts so bad you might die?” Vinny grumbled. Then, ignoring her completely, he went up to their mentor and turned in his magic card and score.

“Classmate Dale, let’s go. The Hunt’s over. Time to head back and sleep like the dead.” Vinny called Shicodale over and left.

As for those two kill-stealing dogs from earlier, Vinny had already completely erased them from his memory.

All in all, the tense and thrilling competition had ended, and the students all returned to their dorms. The next few days were theirs to use for rest.

The way back was a little crowded, bodies pressed against bodies. Probably everyone was desperate to hurry back. No one wanted to keep hanging around on this island full of spirit beasts.

Carillian Academy was at least somewhat humane: after the Hunt, they didn’t throw classes at the students with no buffer at all. Instead, they gave them a few days off.

Vinny figured he really needed to rest properly for a few days. Ever since the term started, it had been the Marsmo crisis, then racing to catch up, and now the Hunt on top of that. He was mentally and physically exhausted. He truly did need to rest.

Back at the dorm, he lay down and crashed, sleeping like a log.

It wasn’t until noon the next day that Vinny finally dragged himself out from under the covers, dazed and foggy.

He felt like he’d overslept. His head was heavy and muddled. On pure instinct, he felt like something was off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what.

He got out of bed, put on his clothes, opened his door, and walked out into the living room. He looked toward the kitchen, sat in silence for a moment—then finally realized what was wrong.

It seemed like... Shicodale hadn’t called him up for breakfast today??

“Classmate Dale, Classmate Dale?” Vinny tried calling for Shicodale, but got no response.

“That’s weird. Where did he go today?” Once he realized Shicodale wasn’t in the dorm, Vinny muttered to himself.

Well, this was Carillian Academy. There definitely wouldn’t be any danger. But—

Wasn’t this a little too out of character?

Normally, Shicodale always came to wake him up, right?

Where was he going today?

Fine, maybe it was just that the pressure lately had been too much. Maybe Shicodale had his own things to deal with too?

Knock, knock, knock. Just then, he heard someone knocking at the door.

Vinny went over and opened it, to find Ferdi and a whole group of card nerds outside.

“Vinny, little bro, rare vacation and you’re getting up this late? What a waste. You coming to play cards or not?” Ferdi grinned.

“You guys... how come you’re all here?” Vinny scratched his head and frowned.

“You’re really asking? You’re the only one missing, obviously we came to get you.” Ferdi laughed. “You forgot we agreed yesterday that we’d play cards all day today? Time came and you were nowhere in sight, so we all came to find you.”

“You forgot??”

“Ah, really?” Vinny rubbed his own head.

“You brat—fine if you’re not proactive about other stuff, but how can you be this unenthusiastic about playing cards? You got a screw loose? How do you forget something like this?” Ferdi said with a frown.

“Ah, feels like... that did happen.” Vinny thought for a moment. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Let’s go, let’s go, time to play!” With that, Ferdi yanked Vinny out the door, and the card buddies crowded around.

Vinny’s brows drew together. He couldn’t shake the sense that something was wrong. A lot of things felt off somehow, but he just couldn’t remember exactly where the wrongness was.

It was like everything was perfectly normal.

Ferdi and the rest of his buddies—this was exactly how they always were. Nothing strange about them.

It was like a layer of haze hung over Vinny’s thoughts, keeping him from pinpointing exactly where the dissonance lay.

Still, surrounded by familiar card geeks, he did feel at ease.

“So, where are we going to play today?” Vinny suddenly thought of something. “I... don’t think I brought my cards.”

“I have to go back for them.”

But just as Vinny tried to turn around and head back to grab his cards, he realized Ferdi hadn’t let go of him. He was still dragging him forward.

And the card nerds around them were the same. Everyone was chatting and laughing, the atmosphere exactly like usual, but it was as if no one had heard a word he’d said. They just kept talking among themselves, blocking his path so he couldn’t go back even if he wanted to.

“Ferdi, buddy, I’m telling you, I didn’t bring my deck. I have to go get it.” Seeing the total lack of reaction, Vinny frowned and tried to wrench himself free from Ferdi’s grip—but he couldn’t.

“Hey, what the hell is wrong with you all today? You take the wrong meds or something??” Vinny couldn’t help saying.

Only when his voice got loud enough to drown everyone else out did they finally quiet down and stop moving.

“What is with you guys today, seriously?” Vinny said, brows knit. “You’re acting weird.”

“Huh? Vinny, little bro, what are you talking about? What’s weird? Do we look weird?” Ferdi turned around and shook his head. “It’s you that’s really weird.”

“What do we need cards for? We don’t need cards to play.”

“?? Are you sick or what??”

That line made Vinny feel the wrongness sink bone-deep.

“No, Vinny, little bro, we think you’re the one who’s sick.”

“When we play cards usually, isn’t this... exactly how we play?” As Ferdi spoke, his face suddenly burst open, revealing a bloody, blue-faced demon’s visage lunging at Vinny.

“?! You—??” Caught totally off guard, Vinny still barely dodged on pure reflex.

Before he could even process what was happening, the card buddies blocking the way behind him grabbed both his shoulders and sank their teeth into him.

“You guys—??” Vinny stared in shock as the card nerds before him all split apart into grotesque, bloody monsters. “What the hell are you?!”

“Vinny, little bro, you don’t remember us?”

“No use wasting time. Let’s start playing already.”

“Heeheeheehee...”

As they spoke, the monsters tore off “parts” of their own bodies and started hurling these “pieces” at Vinny.

The scene was gory enough to make someone vomit up last night’s dinner.

By instinct, Vinny tried to cast a spell, only to find he couldn’t do anything at all. Only then did he realize his Spirit Soul was sealed; he couldn’t use magic in the first place.

“Ahhh?!” Vinny felt a pain that seared bone and soul. He jolted upright.

Panting hard, he realized he was still lying in his own bed. His back was soaked through with sweat.

This—?

What was all that just now?

So... it had been a dream??

Vinny was still shaken. In the quiet room, only his own ragged breathing echoed.

Yeah. Something that terrifying and grotesque... what else could it be but a dream?

He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

It was already midday.

But Shicodale still hadn’t come to wake him up. The noonday sunlight outside the window made his eyes ache a little.

Vinny put on his clothes and went downstairs.

He still didn’t see Shicodale.

Had Shicodale gone out to take care of something?

On any other day, Shicodale would always be home.

And this was identical to the scene from his dream.

Vinny hesitated for a moment and sat down on the living room sofa. Just as he lowered himself into the cushions, there was a knock at the door.

The familiarity of the sequence made Vinny feel like he was stuck in some kind of loop.

Knock, knock, knock. The knocking continued.

Vinny paused, then decided he was probably just being jumpy—he’d had a bad dream and was taking it too seriously.

He got up, walked to the front door, and peered out through the magic peephole—only to see no one there. A chill ran down his spine.

Damn, that was creepy as hell. How could there be knocking, but nobody outside the door??

“Classmate Vinny, are you in~?”

In the next instant, a familiar voice dispelled his misgivings.

Oh. So that’s who it was. Turned out to be Aesphyra.

Well, that explained it. That explained it.

Vinny opened the door and took in the sight of Aesphyra outside, dressed neatly and appropriately.

“What do you want? Coming to bother me in the middle of the day, what for?”

“Can’t I come see Classmate Vinny if there’s nothing wrong?” Aesphyra rested both hands lightly over her abdomen and chuckled.

“Tch. Come in.” Vinny opened the door wider, letting Aesphyra take off her shoes and step inside.

“Much obliged.” Aesphyra slipped off her loafers and walked in.

“You—”

Once they were on the sofa, Vinny poured Aesphyra a cup of tea. He looked at her, hesitated, wanting to bring up the strange dream he’d had, but he was afraid Aesphyra would laugh at him, so he swallowed the words back down.

“What is it?” Aesphyra tilted her head, gazing at Vinny with keen curiosity.

“It’s nothing.” Vinny shook his head and sat down on the other sofa.

“So you just came over to have tea with me?”

“Mm~? There couldn’t be anything else?”

“Suit yourself.” Vinny looked away.

“Actually, if you want to say there’s something, there is.” Aesphyra’s tone flipped, suddenly meaningful.