Dikeâs magic made every one of my muscles scream in agony.
Blood was pouring out, bones were creaking, and my wounds were re-opening.
Itâs as if Shunichi was torturing me again.
His creepy smile came back to my mind.
Iâm barely able to stay conscious through the pain. I canât imagine if Dike hadnât anesthetized me.
â AAAAAHH!!!!
The pain was making me squirm uncontrollably.
Do we really have to do this!?
â Kunnn~
Mike saw my tears and looked at Dike.
â Hold it together! We canât treat this with normal medicine. If you want to go back to Searat in one piece you have to endure this.
Dike didnât stop. He kept chanting âGo backâ with sweat filling his forehead.
â Dike, what do you think?
â Weâre about to get to the worst part. It all depends on my stamina.
He took his armor off, drank a potion, and focused all his magic on me.
â RAAAAHH!!
And then.
My body felt light as a feather.
â Ughhh⊠Huh?
I couldnât tell what was going on.
â The pain⊠Itâs gone?
The pain disappeared, my wounds were nowhere to be seen, and my teeth were back to normal. As if everything that happened had been a dream.
I could move all my limbs just fine.
â Well, I was able to rewind an hourâŠ
After accomplishing a miracle way beyond what my potion wouldâve been able to, Dike fell to the ground.
â Dike!
â Heh, thank you for tolerating the treatment. I donât think I couldâve handled rewinding much longer.
Dike passed out.
He was smiling, probably from being glad to be helpful.
â Letâs let him rest. He really outdid himself.
â Roar, what was that? And why was he chanting âGo backâ?
â Itâs exactly what it seems. Dikeâs magic turned back the time on your body. Thatâs his hidden power.
â âŠWhat!?
I was at a loss for words.
He rewound time? Is that why my wounds reopened for a moment?
How is that even possible? I know this is a different world, with skills and levels and magic just like in a game.
But, Dike? Having a power like that?
To think itâs not the leader, not the priestess, but the womanizer who has such an ability.
â Everyoneâs tree paper is different. Some donât have roots, some donât even have a tree.
A soft voice reached my ears.
It was a voice I was happy to hear.
The Sage of the Forest made an appearance, wearing a dark green robe.
Behind her was, of course, Akane.
â Grandmast-Bwhafh!?
I couldnât even finish my sentence before Ever asphyxiated me with a hug.
â YOU WORRIED ME, IDIOT. If it wasnât for the talisman you would be part of a magical beastâs feces right now.
The talisman hanging from my neck started shining along with Everâs.
â Iâm sorry, Grandmaster.
â Youâre not excused. Youâll have to clean my entire palace. And be my butler. Youâll be by my side at every moment of the day.
I donât mind being her butler, but I do not want to step a foot into the haunted rooms.
â Takaya, this is yours.
Akane handed me my knife.
The blade had turned black, presumably from having to go against its masterâs orders, but itâs back to pure white.
â Akane-sanâŠ
â I canât believe you got kidnapped by bandits. I thought you were better than this.
Despite her harsh words, Akane was relieved to see me.
â Well, then.
Everâs gaze turned to my classmates. Shunichi, who was unconscious, Akito, who was restrained by Meirir, and the rest of them gathered in a corner.
â Hey, tomboy. Yeah, you, Meirir, your turn is over. Now itâs mine. (Ever)
â TOMBOY!? Also, Iâm the one who beat them. I should be-
â Meirir. (Ever)
â âŠ?
Ever muttered in a low voice that gave everyone chills.
Even Mike flinched a bit.
Itâs the first time Iâve seen Ever this angry.
â The power to fast forward time for an instant. A strong ability, but extremely easy to counter once itâs revealed. You wouldnât be able to beat that kid.
â TchâŠ
Meirir left Akito and joined us.
â Meirir-san.
â Sorry, Takaya. I couldnât take revenge.
â Donât worry about it. You defeated Suetsugu, which is more than enough.
I had a bigger grudge with Shunichi than with Akito anyways.
The knight Dike, capable of rewinding time. The priestess Meirir, capable of advancing time.
I am forever indebted to these people.
â We lost.
Akito sighed looking at the state of affairs.
He might be strong, but now Mike and Ever are here.
Thereâs not a chance in this world they could win.
â Hey, you lightning moron. Youâre the one who kidnapped my precious disciple, arenât you?
â Yes.
Akito could feel the strong bloodlust coming from Ever.
The curtain falls on the story of the adventurers who just wanted to return to their world.