Chapter 26: A Dream Rewritten

The Daydream’s Effect

My body felt light.

A strange buoyancy, like floating underwater, accompanied a sense of pressure.

It was unfamiliar, but I quickly realized why.

Daydream.

In dreams, don’t you always flail, moving sluggishly?

The area was under my power’s influence, like a dreamscape.

“What just happened?”

Orphe looked at me, asking.

“What do you think, idiot? It’s a fcking dream…”

Huh?

Why did my words come out unfiltered?

What’s going on?

…

The gods were silent.

Maybe they can’t respond?

This isn’t reality anymore, is it?

“Huh, no idea what you did, but I feel no pain. Did you drug me?”

Saved his ass, and he’s spouting nonsense.

I almost hit his solar plexus but stopped—then did it anyway.

His wounds were vanishing in real-time.

One hit wouldn’t kill him, right?

Whack!

“Hm, doesn’t hurt at all. Must be drugs.”

“Idiot, it’s because this is a dream!”

“Ha, is it? Guess it makes sense, seeing how you’re talking.”

Goddamn it.

Why doesn’t the restriction help when I need it?

It’s annoying when it’s on, but now that it’s gone, it’s just as bad!

As I scrambled for words, Orphe suddenly raised his hand to my face.

His thumb brushed my cheek like before.

“Why do you keep crying? The wounds are gone now.”

This guy.

He was half-dead a moment ago, and now he’s teasing me for crying?

“Tears aren’t just for sadness, you know.”

“Oh? Then why’d you cry?”

“Well…”

Why did I cry?

No reason to.

“….”

And why’s he staring so intently? It’s embarrassing.

I turned my head slightly, avoiding his gaze.

“…Just because?”

“Really?”

Orphe laughed.

My face heated up.

This half-dead jerk, huh?

Keep grinning, you smug bastard.

Does being handsome excuse everything?

Annoyed, I hit his solar plexus again.

Whack!

“Why do you keep hitting my chest?”

“Take back what you said earlier.”

He tilted his head.

This guy doesn’t even know what he did wrong.

I poked his chest with the dagger’s handle.

“That crap about regressing if you die—take it back.”

“…Isn’t it true?”

Fck.

Thought he was getting better, but this guy’s hopeless.

“You think regressing fixes everything? What about me?”

Take a few more hits, you jerk.

Worried I might accidentally stab him and trigger regression, I tossed the dagger aside and kept hitting his chest.

Whack-whack-whack-whack!

“If we meet from the start, what? Teach me weapons? Who are you to teach me?”

“Wait…”

“Acting like you know everything, not caring about others’ worries, saying you’ll just die?”

I stopped hitting him.

My hands rested weakly on his chest.

“Don’t ever say that again, got it?”

Such a high-maintenance guy.

“…Sorry. Didn’t know you felt that way.”

“Think an apology fixes it? If sorry was enough, why have laws?”

I said it, but now what?

Just mimicked drama heroines without a follow-up plan.

Hmm… maybe demand his good side dishes at meals?

No, my restrictions force fixed portions, so that’s pointless.

And it’s a buffet anyway.

Maybe make him my snack shuttle?

Restrictions don’t block snacking.

Just don’t ask for macarons—don’t want a tragic vibe.

My thoughts were cut off.

Orphe stood and hugged me.

“Sorry.”

What’s happening?

Hugging me?

Why?

“I’m fine now, so stop trembling.”

“What are you doing, hugging people like that?!”

“Sorry… I’ll apologize, so stop crying.”

I wasn’t crying!

This is just… from yawning, you know?

From being choked, I’m exhausted, that’s all.

Embarrassing thoughts swirled in my head.

Orphe’s repeated apologies echoed in my ears.

We stayed embraced until the power’s effect faded.

Back to Reality

When I opened my eyes, we were back to just after killing the beast.

Everyone looked around, bewildered.

“What… just happened?”

Patricia spoke first.

“You don’t remember?”

“Wait, why are you fine? You were covered in blood…”

“It’s the saintess’s power.”

As if they’d understand that, idiot.

Big guy, small brain…

And that annoyingly warm, broad chest of his.

If his words matched half his actions, it’d be great.

Patricia, confused by Orphe’s words, noticed me and jumped.

“Saintess Isidora! When did you get free?”

“As Orphe said, I used divine power to undo everything in this area. May the gods’ grace be with us.”
‘Those fcking bastards are dead. I begged for help, and they ignored me?’

Just wait till I get back to the academy.

I’ll offer nothing but garbage as tribute.

[The God of Dreams says they saved you, so give them a break.]

Fck off.

You’re the worst, huh?

Telling someone who can help to pray for it?

You’re a tangerine peel chicken bone.

“Well, that explains it…”

Monica sighed in relief.

Fifirel rejoined us.

“It felt… weird, like a bad nightmare…”

It was a dream (nod).

We bantered but kept eyes on the opposite side of the clearing, staying alert.

Just in case.

We stayed tense until we reached the academy.

Thankfully—or not—no demons reappeared.

Academy Chaos

The academy was in an uproar.

One instructor was killed in a demon attack.

Our group’s attack didn’t help calm things down.

All outdoor activities were banned, and classes were suspended.

No one’s in the mood for lessons in this emergency.

Students were confined to dorms.

Rumor has it Prince Theo caused a scene, raging about the academy’s management and instructors.

Not my ally, but he’s useful in times like this.

It felt like my old world during a COVID lockdown.

No idea how long it’ll last, but as a homebody, I wasn’t fazed.

They even delivered food, so I ate happily.

Fifirel, my roommate, seemed miffed about the lack of meat due to fixed portions…

Anyway, I had tons of free time.

This time, I’ll get past the preface and unravel all the restrictions’ secrets!

[The God of Love asks why they’ve been getting fishbone offerings for days.]

Shut it.

[The God of Dreams begs to stop sending tangerine peel chicken bone stir-fry.]

Eat it.

[The God of War says they wanted to help, but divine intervention risks world balance.]

Enjoying that flat, lukewarm beer?

[The God of Beauty says it’s unfair since they can’t grant powers.]

Tough luck.

Should’ve picked better friends.

[The God of Entertainment requests negotiations.]

Nope, not changing.

Just go away.

[The God of Entertainment begs to at least hear them out.]

Sigh.

I was just past the preface.

“Speak, O Gods.”
‘Spit it out.’

[The God of Entertainment proposes revising the power structure.]

[1. Add a mileage system to the random power draw. The random draw remains, but using powers accumulates mileage…]

Cut it, f*ckers.

Still not getting it?

Want me to “storm off angrily”?

Keep spinning that power roulette.

Live like crap, I don’t care.

…Well, I’m not that mad anymore.

[The God of Entertainment suggests a modified proposal.]

[1. Change the random power draw to a conditional selection system. When the saintess requests a power, choose from three randomly selected divine powers.]

Now that’s more like it.

But I bet I can squeeze more.

[1. …If the saintess deems a power unsuitable, a one-time redraw is allowed.]

Nice.

A mulligan makes it usable.

Gacha with bad pulls is the worst.

Now it feels like a saintess’s power.

Next!

[2. Simplify power granting. Instead of kneeling and clasping hands, a sincere prayer is enough to grant a power.]

So, as long as I don’t spout nonsense, I get powers?

No need to say it out loud?

[The God of Entertainment says verbal prayer is still needed.]

Fine, I’m a saintess, after all.

Even Erdike does it properly.

I’ll let it slide.

[The God of Entertainment says thanks.]

Yeah.

See how easy it is when we communicate?

They fixed a few other annoyances too.

Oracles only in critical moments.

Loosening restriction criteria.

They didn’t detail everything, but I’d have more freedom.

I still need polite speech, but they agreed to avoid contradicting my actions as much as possible.

Guess they slapped restrictions on me to reform an angry commenter.

…Maybe I should test the restriction limits soon?

Oh, right.

I also demanded a boost in combat ability.

Can’t match Orphe’s perk-sniping, but a saintess shouldn’t be dead weight.

[The God of Entertainment says not to worry.]

[The God of Hunting says they’ve already taken steps for combat upgrades.]

What’d they do to sound so smug?

Then—

“Saintess Isidora?”

“Yes?”
‘What?’

What’s this?

Dinner’s still far off.

“A visitor from outside requests you.”

A visitor?

I don’t have anyone to meet.

“Bishop Dominic wishes to see you.”

Hearing the servant, I finally understood the gods’ “steps.”