It's over! It's finally over!

I pulled Chiaki in and left the dimension faster than I ever did anything in my life. Of course, before I did so, I scanned the battlefield for my demon generals to take them with me as well. Apparently, they were fine, but as the field was reverted into some state of undefined primordial matter, they couldn't really act anymore. So it was even more important that I got them out of this. Now I'm left with the question regarding how to go forth from here on out. Currently, we're in some kind of pocket dimension within my dream. It's not quite the same realmspace as where Soraja and The People are, but rather close. Basically, one could throw things from here to there. As Chiaki, aside from the usual discomfort after transportation, generally seems fine, I excuse myself and head to my demon general. Though, now they hopefully will have to find new jobs. I'm neither demon lord, nor at war, nor do I require powerful generals to crush my enemies. They look a little lost, yet once I approach in my usual human form, they all fall instantly to their knees.

Damina is the first to speak.

"Master! Ma-ster. Master!" (D)

Ehm, okay?

"Is everything alright?" (I)

I don't wish for any of them to have another problem due to how they got whisked away from their former world. I hope I can handle this.

"The restriction! It's gone, master! I can freely call you as I please!" (D)

A parting gift from Switchy? Or maybe it's just the fact that they're out of that world and its rules don't apply anymore.

"Master!" (Heras)

"Goddess!" (Lajus)

"Your Greatness!" (Kroga)

Wow, now they're all trying to freely speak their mind. Yet, even if it was only a minor thing that only applied to certain instances, I can fully understand how it must be liberating to now be free of them. If it just wouldn't be about the fact that they're calling me in ever greater titles of reverence.

"Hey! Do you want to introduce me to them?" (C)

Suddenly, all my demon generals get into an offensive stance, aimed at Chiaki.

"You!" (D)

"Master, behind us!" (L)

Before anything can happen, I get several tentacles out from the ground below us. We are here in my dream, so different from Soralia, my powers are basically absolute here.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. This, on the other side now, is Chiaki. She's my friend and was the one we were trying to rescue. Therefore, I wouldn't appreciate it if you fight her now." (I)

I say this as calmly as possible, using my sense of superiority to ignore that they were about to attack my best friend. Nonetheless, they seem to panic and start crouching on the ground in front of me.

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"Forgive me, my lady!" (D)

"We are sorry. It's just that we could feel with her the presence of the hero of light, your great enemy." (L)

Okay, makes sense.

"Hey, Iori! What's going on over there? Ah, whatever." (C)

"WHROSH"

Suddenly, my tentacle wall gets obliterated.

"Hello there!" (C)

"Chiaki!? How..." (I)

That wall consisted of massive, living darkness! Since when is she so strong?

"Because I'm The Hero of LightTM!" (C)

"But the game is over!" (I)

"Well, seems like I got to keep the powers. Could be all the mana I absorbed in the dungeons. Who knows. Maybe they'll dissipate over time once we are back in our world." (C)

"And this doesn't concern you in the slightest?!" (I)

"Not particularly, no. Switchy guaranteed that no harm would befall us due to that game. I'd certainly count that as related to the game. So, no harm from them." (C)

How can she be so calm about Switchy having done something to her? Possibly permanent?!

"Master?" (Kroga)

Oh right. These guys were still here.

"I'm very sorry. You fought valiantly for my selfish desires, and now I don't know what to do with you. I have to apologize, but right now I don't know any other way to deal with you but this." (I)

None of them retorts. Not like they could when, in the next moment, I have cocoons form around every single one of them. Another moment later, and they're gone.

"Uh, what did you do to them, Iori?" (C)

Why is she sounding so concerned?

"I transported them to our spa." (I)

They deserve to relax for a bit after the hardships and risks they endured for my sake.

"Oh, huh? Well, that sounds good." (C)

What did she believe I had done to them? Though, I don't have the time to ask her out in this regard.

"We should really get going now. We were gone for so long that I don't even want to imagine how the situation back home is." (I)

"Oh, that's no issue. Switchy told me that time was running slowly in this world, while he was in his fairy form. So we should be fine in that regard." (C)

Okay, that's at least one concern less. That is if Switchy's understanding of time correlates with mine. Wait!

"Switchy was the fairy!?" (I)

"Yes. I think because I was the only character not under their direct control, they basically had to put this guide in front of me to get me moving in accordance with their script. You can believe me, they are a serious control freak if it's about their games. I even got a quest marker installed in my vision, so I'd know where to head for the next power up." (C)

Right. Seems like Chiaki was enjoying herself when she got to live her main-character-in-a-fantasy-world dream.

"Fine, then let's go." (I)

While I prepare our transit, I can't help but to look at Chiaki and think about the role she played. It was... a bit... difficult.

"Is everything alright, Iori?" (C)

So now she's asking about me!?

"You stabbed me..." (I)

"I already told you, I didn't have any choice on that matter. Also, Switchy explained to me how your body works and that you would feel little more than a sting before coming back." (C)

"And you believed them?" (I)

"We made that contract for this exact reason. One can't make a cosmic contract based on falsehoods. That's not supported by the regulations." (C)

"And you believed them on that too?" (I)

"Well, yes. But it was also that it kinda felt like that's the case." (C)

Oh great. I got stabbed with a godslayer weapon based on a feeling. I hope you understand why I don't relish in that memory. It certainly wasn't great, getting obliterated.

"Fine, let's go." (I)

Once again, I make my gesture to bring our transportation forth. But then Chiaki says something that puzzles me beyond any rational thought.

"But all in all, that was fun, right? Maybe we should call Switchy next time from our side. That should still be allowed with the contract." (C)

She's seriously saying that?!!

"Okay, I've had enough!" (I)

I drop the cocoon and walk straight up to Chiaki!

"Ehm, Iori? Why are you so upset?" (C)

"Upset? Upset?! You fucking stabbed me! Goddamnit, Chiaki, you're not acting like yourself! You're acting unreasonable, brazen, and never seem to concern yourself about any consequences of your actions!" (I)

"Well, you do already for the both of us, so..." (C)

"Shut up! Don't act smart here! You know perfectly what I mean! It's incredibly off how little you mind our situation. Just look around you! You're standing here, literally in some dimension outside of space itself, waiting for me to port us back home after an eldritch creature abducted you and forced you to slay your supposedly best friend! Why don't you care?!" (I)

"I do care! I was just hoping it would work out somehow." (C)

Yeah, her happy-go-lucky attitude was certainly a great help, for someone!

"Still. You weren't afraid. You didn't get second thoughts. You just played your role without doubts. I can barely believe this to be you, Chiaki." (I)

"What do you know!?! Of course, I was afraid! Differently from you I'm not absolutely indestructible! Sorry, but that's my way to cope with this!" (C)

Is this truly the case? She's crying a bit, but something makes me mistrust her motivation. She was simply too proficient at playing her role. That was a level of commitment and flawlessness I wouldn't attribute to someone doing this in deep distress. Yet I don't see how pushing her more on this is going to lead to anything here.

"Fine. Then just let us get back home and hope that our initial transportation didn't affect the walls in my room too much." (I)

Before Chiaki can say much, she's already wrapped up and on the way back home. Of course, with me. Let's hope that we can sort everything out in time.

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