A massive burst of energy engulfs me. I get the feeling I am quite mutable right now, my appearance, that is. Is this what Seria felt? The feeling of infinite possibilities reaches out to me.

I turn them all down. My appearance is me. For sure I could become some kind of super-bishie... but that would be hypocritical and shallow, right? And given this opportunity is from Thanatos... I'm sure something else would be paid in compensation. This is surely a moment of 'which one of these did you drop? The golden one, silver one, or iron one?'.

Something I don't expect then happens. I feel like I'm suddenly stabbed in the brain. A whining noise occurs, and I briefly black out.

Or not? I have a splitting headache, and as I crack open my eyes just a slight bit, the light makes me shut them again and grimace.

'Level up! Level up! Level up! You have completed the Unmaking. You have been made anew in your old form. Bonus skill points have been awarded. 17 skill points gained.'

What the hell...

SEVENTEEN points?!?!

But... right now... I should focus on something else far more important.

Namely the fact that I am certainly not on a stone floor.

Namely the fact that there is something soft, breathing calmly on my chest and upper right arm.

Hmm... is this some kind of general anaesthetic effect, where time has passed but it seems like a less than a second for me? When am I having the operation, nurse?

I manage to open my eyes again, and moving as carefully as possible, I crook my head to look at what it is.

Curled up against me, like some kind of kitten, is Kaede. It has been a while since I've seen her with her hair down.

Although she is wearing her ninja dress, it has ridden up in several strategic locations. Suspiciously strategic locations, to be honest. Especially considering that this time, there are no kunai and knives offering convenient censorship opportunities, I can only conclude this is a deliberate assassination attempt.

It’s certainly enough to give any red-blooded man a heart attack, even if they didn't have my deviant interests. I mean, I am also on a large bed here, in a bedroom.

Hoh... well, she really has changed, eh? But it looks like she managed to blunder in the crux moment. After all, she is either one hell of an actress, or she is simply, genuinely sleeping. The slow breathing, the slight fluttering of her long purple eyelashes as her eyes flicker in a dream, the calm demeanour. All these at once are hard to mimic.

I smile to myself; and lower my head.

I also lay my free arm down, and realise Aeris is there, still in sword form, as I brush her hilt.

'Master-sama?...' I suddenly hear groggily from her in my head.

'Elijah-sama!!! You're not dead! Not dead! Thankyou! Thankyou! Aeris knew you would be back! Knew it knew it knew it!' She suddenly exclaims.

Ouch. My headache isn't any better...

'Calm down Aeris. I'm back. I wouldn't ever want to let any of you down.'

'Nnn! Right! Nnnnn!' I can almost feel her nodding furiously.

Suddenly, there is the pitter patter of rushing feet outside.

I decide to attempt to pretend to sleep again.

Now Kaede wakes up, just in time to hear a door slam open.

"Elijah!"

It's Aria's voice.

"Wait... what the hell are you doing, Kaede?"

Kaede did wake up, for sure, but actually didn't move all that much, it was more that she seemed to just tense up in case of needing to react to an attack or something. Obviously, a honed instinct of hers.

"I am... seducing Nii-sama, yes? I was given watch duty, yes?"

I think Aria is briefly stunned to silence.

"Hah... w-when did you become so audacious... jeez... ahem... well... you're not watching very well! He is awake!"

"Eh? I... he is...?" Kaede honestly sounds devastated.

Yes! Deceived the ninja! Hehe...

"I know you are, Elijah! Stop pretending! I'm itching like crazy again!"

Ah right... I levelled up. Busted.

I open my eyes and sit up in a smooth motion, giving a shrug.

"Eh... I didn't want to wake her up, she looked so serene."

Kaede looks shocked and distraught... she squirms, and she still hasn't fixed her clothes despite now sitting on her knees. Its pretty erotic.

Aria facepalms and rubs her eyes.

"Your damn kindness..."

She storms over, leaps onto the bed and crowds my space, glaring directly at me from point blank with her big azure eyes.

"Stop. Fricking. Scaring. Me. You. Asshole."

She slaps me.

And then she grabs my face, pulls it back, and kisses me.

So tsundere. But delicious none the less.

"Shit! Fuck! We're too late!" A rowdy Kiku appears, flanked by the other three.

They all begin to dash over as well.

Well... this is going to get interesting, assuming it doesn't result in my premature death...

...

...

...

Well, I have become a dakimakura for the six girls again. Nothing ero this time, it was more they're all relieved I wasn't in a coma after all.

It seems that, as I reappeared in the circle, clutching Aeris, I instantly collapsed.

Fortunately, it seems the circle had an emergency exit feature built in, and I was automatically transmitted to the start.

Since then, I have been out for two days.

Honestly, its rather frustrating that I keep losing time being unconscious. But at least this time I have three levels to show for it, so it’s actually an efficient use of time.

In the meantime, the girls have stayed busy, exploring the rest of the first sage’s demesne. Upon discovery of this master bedroom and determining its safety, my body was dumped here to rest along with Aeris, who remained inert and shut down in the same way.

And the girls agreed on a guardianship rota. Which apparently Kaede decided to interpret in a rather loose fashion.

Still I guess it’s ultimately rather entertaining. And interestingly, none of the others went to pursue any sort of punishment, which makes me wonder if they're all guilty of something similar. Quite likely...

I enlightened them all to the fact that the unravelling gave me several upgrades and probably gave Aeris quite a boost as well.

We came to the conclusion that a further weeks training spent here would still be a beneficial use of time. Seria still had plenty of library to peruse, and Kiku thought it would be a good opportunity to give me my needed sword basics.

Speaking of which, the next priority for me should be focusing on what I should use my skillpoints on, right?

If Aeris has gained some kind of blessing from Thanatos, I wonder just what this will have unlocked?

Whilst I'm here, now is a good time to check the skill forest, right?

I couldn't have possibly imagined at that point what I was about to find out...