Reborn In Another World As A Spirit Familiar-Chapter 246: Giving My All

Suddenly, it felt like I was being torn apart. Not like limb pulling muscle tearing fashion. It was more like feeling a biting wind ripping your skin bare and then some more.

"Ah... Agh!" [Solace]

I collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at ten percent." [Spirit Guide]

Touching the ground made it feel even worse. It was like someone was raking underneath my skin.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at twenty percent." [Spirit Guide]

Tears welled up in my eyes as I grit my teeth to endure the pain.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at thirty percent." [Spirit Guide]

I believed that I could somewhat get a grip, maybe even stand up for once. I attempted to pick myself up in defiance, only to drop into even more pain.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at forty percent." [Spirit Guide]

Through my teary vision, I could see my allies moving about. I wasn't too sure of what was happening, but they weren't trying to help me like the other times I reacted like this.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at fifty percent." [Spirit Guide]

Within moments, I felt binds wrap around me as if it were grating my skin.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at sixty percent." [Spirit Guide]

I was pulled into a kneeling position, my arms bound taut.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at seventy percent." [Spirit Guide]

Even when I tried to grasp my surroundings, I was only able to see the ground due to my body reflexively curling inward from the pain.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at eighty percent." [Spirit Guide]

The binds made it so much worse. It felt more concentrated on where it made contact with my skin. It also felt cold to the touch. Maybe it was chains of some kind. I couldn't tell.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at ninety percent." [Spirit Guide]

I felt something press against my shoulders, pushing me down and forcing me in place. With that much movement, of course it hurt more.

"Alert: |Sanity| restoration at one hundred percent." [Spirit Guide]

I let out a gasp and took deep breaths as the pain faded.

"Wha...? What is...?" [Solace]

I observed my surroundings, finding that I've been bound. Transparent chains wrapped my arms, somehow tied to the air around me. There were also vines sprouting from the stone tiles, several wrapped around my shoulders to ensure I was grounded. I also felt weaker, perhaps it was because I reverted back to my original stats?

("Or maybe a weakening spell?") [Solace]

Other than that, my allies hovered around me with cautious stares in which case I didn't blame them.

("Where's Doppel?") [Solace]

It appeared that Doppel had disappeared during my sanity restoration.

"...Alt?" [Wilharrow]

They had their weapons trained on me, worried I might attack them again. There was then an awkward pause as my eyes met theirs.

"...It's me." [Solace]

A few of them had relief in their eyes, but Raon didn't lower his weapons.

"How do we know you're not lying?" [Raon]

"What do you want me to say?" [Solace]

Raon glanced at the others.

"What do you guys think?" [Raon]

Surprisingly, Fina was the first to step up.

"Alt... Are you... Solace?" [Fina] freēnovelkiss.com

My eyes widened in shock hearing that.

"Solace?" [Wilharrow]

"Wasn't that the skill that foreign hero used to blow up?" [Raon]

Fina shook her head.

"That's the name of my |Spirit|." [Fina]

She knelt down and made sure we made eye contact.

"Answer me, Alt. Are you... Solace?" [Fina]

I wasn't sure of what to say. Do I continue my lie or do I tell the truth? Would it protect her or would it harm her?

"I... I'm not sure what you're talking about?" [Solace]

Once those words passed my lips, an expression of betrayal made itself known on Fina's face.

"Why...? Can't you tell me...?" [Fina]

I couldn't find it in me to speak.

"I don't want to rush, but we need to figure out if Alt is still deranged. Fina, please move aside if you're finished." [Wilharrow]

"Why don't we just question why he attacked us?" [Raon]

"Good idea. Alt, why exactly did you attack us?" [Wilharrow]

Finally some easy questions.

"I have a skill that messes with my cognition the more I die. I... I thought you guys were Edwill." [Solace]

My allies exchanged a few more glances.

"Ah... So that's why... huh." [Raon]

"You're referring back to the tomb?" [Wilharrow]

"Yeah, that one." [Raon]

They must've recalled that time I tried to claw out my own throat.

"How do we know your cognition is fixed?" [Wilharrow]

"Well, it-" [Solace]

"It must be related to his panic attack after combat. In exchange for several lives it's most likely there is a price to be paid." [Fina]

Smart as ever.

"That's... exactly it." [Solace]

"Well... it looks like that price is already paid." [Wilharrow]

The others nodded in agreement.

"Then can you release me now?" [Solace]

Wilharrow shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Alt. I've been ordered to arrest you." [Wilharrow]

"What?" [Raon] [Solace]

"Wilharrow?" [Fina]

Is this guy serious?

"Explain." [Solace]

With a tired expression, Wilharrow spoke.

"For the action of murdering the |Divine Beast| of the goddess |Soloi|, you are hereby ordered to be taken into the Temple's court under the charge of heresy." [Wilharrow]

Memories of fighting that strange animal back at the village flashed into my mind.

"For that? That thing was no |Divine Beast|! It was a monster!" [Solace]

Wilharrow sighed.

"Look, I don't want to do this either, but-" [Wilharrow]

"Then don't do it!" [Solace]

"You know I can't." [Wilharrow]

"Wait wait wait." [Raon]

Raon cut in.

"When did you even get this order?" [Raon]

"Does that even matter? Guys, just hear me out." [Wilharrow]

"What's there to hear out? The Temple will kill him!" [Fina]

Seriously? Is it like how witches are burned back in medieval times?

"Listen! I can vouch for him! We can lessen the punishment if a hero uses their name!" [Wilharrow]

"To what?! Life imprisonment?!" [Fina]

"Hold on, I can vouch too. A hero and a duke's heir is quite the formidable duo, no?" [Raon]

"Why are you taking his side?! Leon, say something!" [Fina]

Leon shrugged.

"Why should I care?" [Leon]

I can't say I was surprised. She was near emotionless unless it came to food. Besides, she only joined the Hero's party because of Jukhan's order. Even so, it left the others speechless.

"Ah... Anyway, the backlash of not going through with the order is greater than doing it. Fina, it's two to one. Please, you have to understand." [Wilharrow]

Fina refused. Without saying another word, she immediately tried to break the transparent chains and vines binding me.

"Fina, stop it!" [Raon]

Wilharrow and Raon tried to grab her arms, but were pushed away by an unknown force.

"She's using |Polarity Inversion|?!" [Wilharrow]

From the information Belrick flashbanged me with, I knew that |Polarity Inversion| was a high level spell. It basically allows the user to select certain targets and apply polarities to it. From this, I knew Fina had selected herself, Raon, and Wilharrow as the same polarity, making it so that a magnetic force would push them away as they got closer.

("The chains... They're weakening!") [Solace]

I was more than happy with the result of getting freed, until I saw Fina's blackened hair begin to turn gray.

"Huh? Wait, Fina?!" [Solace]

That's strange, why was her hair turning gray? All she was doing was using magic.

("Magic...?") [Solace]

"Fina, where are your mana stones...? Fina?!" [Solace]

Magic circles rotated within the palm of her hands. Her EMPTY hands. Fina wasn't just using mana. She was using her life force to free me.

"Fina, stop it!" [Solace]

I strained myself against the vines and chains. The chains screeched as it began to reach its limit, but the elasticity of the vines made it difficult to go beyond that.

"Fina, you're going to die if you keep this up!" [Wilharrow]

Finally realizing the situation, Wilharrow tried to push against the magnetic force of |Polarity Inversion|.

"Ugh...! C'mon...!" [Wilharrow]

Although I could see him struggle to get closer, his efforts were in vain. Each time he lifted his foot, he would slide back to the start. Raon also seemed to have done the same thing. As for me, I set the vines on fire.

"Ngh...!" [Solace]

Using |Flame Cannon|, I was able to easily burn the vines. The problem? The vines were only burning. They didn't degrade in strength so it felt like I had two belts left in the sun scorching my shoulders.

("If I can just...!") [Solace]

I tried focusing on one arm to break the chains. It's just that the way they had me chained up made it difficult to build any strength.

"The chains! Someone break the chains!" [Solace]

Raon immediately switched from trying to stop Fina to attacking the chains that bound me. However, Wilharrow blocked him.

"What are you doing?!" [Raon]

"How will we capture him again if we free him?!" [Wilharrow]

Raon grabbed Wilharrow by the collar before speaking.

"Fina is DYING! You're letting the thoughts on the Temple's future politics get in your head when we need your thoughts HERE! Are you going to abandon not one, but TWO of us?!" [Raon]

As Wilharrow froze, I squeezed out one last mighty push.

"Just... break!" [Solace]

The chains snapped and the flaming vines tore. Within that instant, I was free at last.

"Fina!" [Solace]

I saw her collapse, causing me to rush to her side.

"This is...?" [Solace]

Fina was short of breath and half of her hair had turned gray. There were also purple lines appearing all over her body, which was a clear sign of something bad.

"...She's dying." [Wilharrow]

I didn't even reply to him. Like, no shit sherlock.

"How can we fix this?! Should I give her a mana potion?!" [Solace]

I opened my |Item Box| to take one out, which led to Wilharrow grabbing my arm.

"...Are you telling me to let her die?" [Solace]

I was THIS close to crashing out again.

"A mana potion won't work. Like the First Hero said, either a demon lord's heart or giving her a new mana core will do the trick." [Wilharrow]

He turned away with guilt and pity on his face.

"...I told you this would happen." [Solace]

Rage resurfaced as if it were fresh from fighting Edwill.

"I said, we didn't know how much time she had left. What did you do? Defend that fucking hero." [Solace]

Wilharrow didn't reply.

"Were all my efforts in vain? Was all the suffering on the way here for nothing? Wilharrow, tell me." [Solace]

Still no reply.

"...Fine. A mana core, right? That's all we need, right?" [Solace]

Wilharrow's eyes locked onto me with caution.

"You wouldn't..." [Wilharrow]

"Don't worry, I won't take yours." [Solace]

I stood up, tensing my arm.

"It'll be mine." [Solace]

I pierced my gut, feeling around for my mana core.

"Alt!" [Raon] [Wilharrow]

"Ugh...! Urgh...!" [Solace]

After a few moments, I felt it. Something the shape of a sphere, the size of my palm. It matched the description I recalled. I forgot who told me what it was like and where the mana core was located, yet I'm confident it was probably my master. Just as I was about to tear it out, time froze.

"You can't be serious." [???]

Appearing out of thin air, Hema, the Goddess of Death made her entrance.

"Hema..." [Solace]

"Take your damn hand out of your gut. That mortal isn't worth it." [Hema]

I let out a scoff.

"Great. Even a god wants to stop me? My day can't get any fucking worse." [Solace]

Hema rolled her eyes.

"Spare me the curses. What you need to do now, is take your hand out. Ignore the girl, and get over it." [Hema]

"You speak as if it's just that simple." [Solace]

"It is. So, do it." [Hema]

I paused for a moment. Something was off. Why was a god so adamant about letting Fina die? Why was it so important for me to stop?

"...You're afraid." [Solace]

Hema raised a brow.

"Afraid? Me? Of what?" [Hema]

"Either Fina has something I don't know of, or you don't want me to lose my mana core. Why?" [Solace]

Hema, who normally had a nonchalant expression, hardened it into one that was firm and focused.

"I will tell you this now. If you give that girl your mana core, you will lose access to everything. Your skills... Your life... Your... Immortality." [Hema]

There it was.

"You're afraid of losing your investment." [Solace]

I knew that after taking out the mana core, I wouldn't live long. I wouldn't have access to mana to heal the wound to rip it out, leading to death by blood loss.

"I've also been protecting you. You've killed not only a |Divine Beast|, but also a Hero. You've pissed off two VERY powerful gods. If you do this, I'll let them do whatever they want with you." [Hema]

"Oh, I'm so~ scared." [Solace]

I was gonna die anyway, why should I care?

"...Fine, suit yourself." [Hema]

With that, she vanished, allowing time to resume. With one loud grunt, I tore out my mana core.

"Argh!" [Solace]

It was like a dazzling blue gem, sparkling in the surrounding fire's light. I wasn't too sure of how to get it in Fina, so I kind of just hovered it near her. Thankfully it seemed to dissipate into her, causing the purple lines on her to fade.

"And... that about does it." [Solace]

I wobbled back a few steps before falling onto my back.

"Oof...!" [Solace]

Within my view was the sky, and two heads peering over.

"That... was insane." [Raon]

"You're out of your mind." [Wilharrow]

It seemed like we were on peaceful terms again.

"I'm aware." [Solace]

The two gazed down on me with pity.

"Alt... I... I'm sorry for all I've done. I won't bring you to the Temple." [Wilharrow]

"Why? Cause I'm going to die soon anyway?" [Solace]

Wilharrow's expression told me I was spot on.

"...Yes, I'll report your passing." [Wilharrow]

"We'll be leaving you here. Is there a cool pose you want me to put you in before we leave?" [Raon]

I made an attempt to wave him off, but it probably looked more like flinging my arm.

"Get out of here. Ah... wait, do me a favor." [Solace]

The two waited for me to speak.

"Take care of Fina for me, will you? Promise me." [Solace]

The two nodded.

"I trust you to not be lying this time, Wilharrow. You backstabbing bastard." [Solace]

He gave me an awkward look.

"I promise. I'll try my best to look after her." [Wilharrow]

"You fuckin' better." [Solace]