A knock on the door woke me up. It had to to be Namrick’s breakfast signal. I opened my eyes.

Is it day already?

I stared at the ceiling. I felt really unmotivated today.

I should probably get up.

I didn’t move a millimeter.

Well, maybe another five minutes.

「…」

No, I had many things to do, I couldn’t afford to vegetate in bed. I knew just the thing.

【Reso–

「…」

Ok, it’s just a fluke, Allen. Let’s try it again.

【Res–

Nothing. I just couldn’t put my heart in it. Too bothersome.

I slowly became aware of my rumbling empty stomach and my full bladder. All stuff that required immediate attention which I could not bother with.

This is not looking good. I considered. I should probably call for help.

「Allen: Hmmrbgffhh.」

Welp.

Maybe I could just abandon my dignity and let the bladder empty itself. Who needs dignity anyway? Well, kidney failure is always an option.

My empty stomach filed another grumbling complaint to remind me I was starving.

I moved my eyes a fraction. Man, was that bathroom always so far?

Emotion magic wasn’t gonna save me from this one. Perhaps I shouldn’t have abused it.

Nah, a little healthy breakdown once a while can only temper my will.

I remained still for some time.

What was it that the teacher was warning us about… Ah, right. Ending up like a vegetable and wasting away.

That doesn’t sound so bad…

Plants have it easy. No taxes, no jobs, no contracts, no bothersome human interactions. Just vegetating without a care in the world.

Is it too late to become a plant?

No! I need help I need… I looked toward my right hand. Ring! Do something!

Quest Added (Rise from the bed)

I slowly rolled from the bed to the floor.

*THUMP!*

This is what I call progress.

Quest Completed (Rise from the bed) +1 EXP

So stingy.

Quest Added (Walk to the bathroom)

Whoa there, that’s too much. I already gave up.

Quest Updated (Walk to the bathroom: take one step toward the bathroom)

Okay, this is manageable. One step. Ezpz.

I took a deep breath.

I can do it.

Despite the urge to remain still, I managed to stand up and make a step. I stopped. The bathroom still looked so distant.

Achievement Obtained (Even the longest journey begins with a single step)

Fuck you. Damned sassy ring. Lucky for it, I was in no condition to dismantle it.

Quest Updated (Walk to the bathroom: take another step)

I groaned. This was gonna be a very long day.

Eventually, I walked out of my room.

Then I reached the staircase.

Oh no…

I stared long and hard the stairs. They were mocking me with their effort wasting requirements.

Quest Added (Walk down the stairs)

I should ask the innkeeper to build a chute, more efficient.

Walking down required too many useless movements… I had a better idea.

I rolled down the stairs, hardening my flesh with mana to reduce damage.

*TOMP, CLONK, THUMP*

Quest Failed (Walk down the stairs)

「Allen: Hrrmphmf.」

Hurts…

Yes! Pain will spur me into action! I stood up.

My three young friends had stopped eating and were looking at me with confused expressions.

「Ellin: Allen… are you well?」

Ellin asked with concern. I grunted in reply.

Quest Added (Have breakfast)

I walked slowly, taking a deep breath every step, and sat down the chair before my plate. Ox eye eggs.

I eyed the cutlery and the plate. Too many wasted movements.

I let my face fall next to the plate.

「Namrick: Allen!」

My aim was true, I landed on the side with my mouth close to the eggs. I pushed the eggs into my open mouth with a touch of 【Telekinesis】.

Maximum efficiency. I would have smiled, but that required moving more muscles and I didn’t feel like it.

「Grastel: What’s wrong with him?」

Grastel was poking me with a finger. I grumbled at him, then I noticed Ellin had moved closer and was inspecting me.

「Ellin: I don’t know, he doesn’t look hurt… poison?!」

She looked worried.

「Allen: Hmmffrngl.」

I explained my situation concisely.

Ellin frowned and put her hand around my head.

「Ellin: My 【Cure Poison】 is not having any effect… but I feel something wrong. It could be magic related.」

She said, removing her hands.

「Grastel: He seems almost catatonic…」

I ignored Grastel and focused my attention on the glass of milk next to my plate. My friends had filled it for me. Heartwarming.

「Namrick: What do we do?」

I used telekinesis to topple the glass over the plate then lazily slurped the collected liquid.

Basic body needs, fulfilled.

Quest Completed (Have breakfast) +2 EXP

Unbeknownst to the trio, I was winning all the battles against the encroaching apathy.

Quest Added (Defeat the encroaching apathy)

「Grastel: We should probably stop him from making a mess of things. Mister won’t be happy about that spilled milk and the eggs remain over the table…」

「Ellin: We need a specialist, I know someone… Namrick help me carry him!」

She suddenly exclaimed.

「Namrick: Sure!」

Strong arms wrapped around me. Namrick tossed me on his shoulders.

No! I want to rest on the table. Who knew hardwood could be so comfy.

「Allen: Hrmmff!」

I complained intelligibly but then relaxed. Wait, I don’t have to move. Efficient.

Ellin led the way, while I studied Valarest’s paved roads hanging from the heights of Namrick’s shoulders.

「Specialist: Hmmm… It’s clear. This is the rebound from excessive use of emotion magic, more specifically, 【Resolve】.」

No shit! It’s what I’ve been saying from the very beginning!

「Allen: Hngrmm hpffmmm!」

If only my stupid mouth could be bothered to actually turn the thoughts into words.

「Specialist: This is a rather severe case. I’m surprised your friend managed to get up from bed… 【Resolve】 abuse can be very dangerous if there’s nobody around to help the patient when the rebound hits. It always happens suddenly.」

Ellin shot an angry glance at me. It was brimming with I-told-you-so.

「Ellin: What can be done?」

She asked looking back at the gray-haired man with a shaved face, except for those bushy sideburns.

「Specialist: It usually takes a whole week of complete rest before the body starts recovering its normal faculties, and then it depends on the individual, usually four to six more days…」

Too much!

「Allen: Hmm mmh!」

「Specialist: … But there are also decoctions based on Viridian leaves that can lessen the effect of the rebound. No need to say, further use of emotion magic should be absolutely forbidden during the recovery. I’ll write you down the suggested dosages.」

The man wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to Ellin.

「Ellin: Thank you, master Edelrac.」

The man smiled and nodded.

「Specialist: Always a pleasure. Please give my regards to your father.」

「Ellin: I will!」

Ellin bowed courteously, then she nodded to Namrick who put me back on his shoulder. We left the specialist’s office and were back on the streets.

I can’t spend a whole week resting, I gotta start the contract’s job soon. I considered watching the ground moving beneath me. Violet will have my hide!

「Ellin: I told you to be careful!」

Ellin reproached me while jabbing a finger at my sides. She put more emphasis than usual, it almost hurt.

「Allen: Mmnff.」

The irritation gave me a faint stimulus clearing the apathy for a split second. And then it was back.

Pain.

Pain is the key.

「Grastel: So… Are we going to have to lug Allen around all day? I mean, sure. He looks like an interesting conversation topic, doesn’t he?」

「Allen: Ngrrm!」

He grinned insufferably.

「Namrick: We could bring him along to the training grounds so he can see how we practice and we can keep an eye on him.」

While the trio discussed what to do with me, something across the road caught my attention.

Here in Valarest, there was a variant to the three shells game. They called it the “pain ring cup”. The rules were to hold a wooden cup full of water and then putting on the ring, which was enchanted with pain-inducing spells while attempting not to spill the liquid. If you won, you’d get twice what you paid.

It was a scam, no normal person could avoid the spasming. The scammer also had one or more accomplices that would take part in the game to make it look like it was possible to win, but they’d be actually using an unenchanted ring.

Despite the obvious scam, people still fell for it. Just like in my world. People are dumb.

None of that really mattered to me.

Pain. Key.

I used all my effort but I managed to give a couple of pats on Namrick back to catch his attention.

「Namrick: Hmmm? Need anything, Allen?」

He stopped and tilted his head toward me.

「Allen: Nhrrm.」

I pointed a finger at the scam artists. Grastel and Ellin, who had stopped as well, glanced at me and at the direction I was pointing.

「Grastel: Why is he pointing at the pain ring cup scammers? You know it’s a scam, right?」

I jabbed again my finger at the air. The effort was monumental.

「Namrick: Let’s take a look.」

Namrick said with a quick shrug.

The scammer looked at us approaching and gave an annoying smile. The small crowd of spectators parted to let us through.

「Scammer: Good morning gentlemen! Would you care to wage a silver?」

Namrick looked at me.

「Allen: Hrrnnng.」

I pointed at the ring in the man’s hand.

「Grastel: He wants to play?」

Ellin shot me a puzzled look.

「Ellin: Are you sure? Why would you…」

「Namrick: Let him try.」

Namrick said.

「Namrick: Can you stand?」

I grunted positively and he set me down. I faced the scammer.

「Scammer: One silver for ten breaths and you’ll earn it twice back! Dare to try?」

Shut the fuck up and give me that fucking ring.

「Allen: Hrmm ffp gmm hrnnng.」

「Grastel: Now I’m curious, I’ll pay the coin.」

Grastel grinned and produced a silver coin from his purse. The scammer greedily accepted it. And sized me up, probably anticipating his win.

「Scammer: Very well! Very well! And now gentlemen the trial!」

He made a lot of useless hand-moving before he gave me the wooden cup full of water. I took it on my right and raised the left to have him put the stupid ring on.

Come on, I don’t have all day. Actually, I did. No! Keep it together.

He grinned and made more flourishes then finally slid the ring on my finger.

FINALLY!

I was washed over by jolts of pain. Which turned into anger. Which turned into fuel against the apathy.

Somehow I even managed to keep the cup still.

「Allen: AAGH! FUCK!」

I yelled suddenly, startling the scammer a little.

It hurt, but compared to that time with the demon, this was nothing. I could manage it.

I stared at the man and asked kindly.

「Allen: RING. WANT.」

I grunted, feeling my brow spasming and my muscles twitching. The scammer took a step back and shielded himself with his arms.

「Scammer: Who-whoa! B-Battle rager?!」

*CRACK!*

I failed in controlling my rage and reduced the wooden cup to splinters. Water sprinkled around propelled by the suddenness of my tightening fist.

The scammer paled and walked another step back, looking left and right as if seeking an escape route.

「Allen: RING! HRGN. BUY!!」

The man flinched back further, worry painted on his face.

「Scammer: N-NO! SO-SORRY!」

Stop walking back I’m trying to buy the fucking ring!

I stomped hard on the paved ground to release some tension. I thought I heard a few tiles breaking but I didn’t check.

「Allen: SIX SILVVVGRRR!」

I yelled out my offer, waving my hands in frustration.

「Scammer: A-A-AAhhHH!」

He yelped and bolted away.

I gritted my teeth and looked at the crowd, they were gawking at me with dumb bewildered eyes.

「Allen: WHAT?!」

I shouted politely. They all broke into a run like frenzied chickens.

I hate people.

I turned around to face the trio.

「Namrick: Allen, you’re making one hell of a scary face.」

Namrick stated.

I touched my face.

Well, thanks. My muscles were spasming, my brows twitching and yes… it was possible that my face was contorted in some kind of grimace.

「Ellin: You can walk and talk…」

Ellin stared open-mouthed.

「Allen: Can. Manage.」

I grunted in reply, pressing my lips while I attempted to control my rage.

Grastel doubled down.

「Grastel: Ah-hahaha! That was a silver coin well spent.」

He beamed.

Insufferable.

I stared at the ring on my tightly clenched left fist. I didn’t remember clenching the left. I was feeling the impending urge to punch something.

「Namrick: So, huh… Need another ride?」

Namrick asked, scratching his head while wondering what my next move would be. Punchin– No.

「Allen: Walk. Good.」

Stomping hard on the ground would help but I had to do something about the ring before I went berserk and started hurting people or things.

I slammed one foot forward, loudly. Then another.

「Allen: Good. See?」

My friends did not look completely convinced but it was just a mistaken impression caused by all the spasms and twitching.

Quest Completed (Defeat the encroaching apathy) +15 EXP