By the time I dragged myself back to the tavern, it was well past midnight.
Every muscle ached. I was covered in dried goblin blood and dirt. My stamina bar was a pathetic sliver that refused to refill no matter how slowly I walked.
Agatha was waiting behind the bar, arms crossed, expression thunderous.
"You're late."
"I was almost eaten by goblins."
"That's not an excuse. Your day off ended at dusk. It's now well past—"
"Agatha." I looked at her with dead eyes. "I fought forty goblins. I used a skill that drained all my stamina. I ran for my life. I'm covered in blood. I'm going to bed."
She opened her mouth to argue, saw my expression, and apparently decided it wasn't worth it.
"Fine. But tomorrow, you're working a double shift to make up for—"
I was already walking toward my storage room.
"—and you'll need to clean the—are you even listening?"
I closed the door behind me, shutting out her voice.
My bedroll had never looked so inviting.
I collapsed onto it fully clothed, not even bothering to remove my boots. Sleep claimed me instantly.
"—and then she took off her—"
"No no, the OTHER barmaid, the one with the—"
"I miss ale. Gods, I miss ale so much."
I stirred slightly, my exhausted brain registering voices. Male voices. Conversation.
Who's in my room?
"—probably had the biggest—"
"You always say that. You said that about every girl."
"Because it was TRUE! I had an eye for—"
"You had an eye for getting yourself killed is what you had."
My eyes opened.
Three men stood around my bedroll.
No, not stood. Floated. Their feet didn't quite touch the ground, and their forms were slightly translucent, like they were made of smoke and moonlight.
Ghosts.
They were ghosts.
And they were all staring at me.
Well, two were staring. The third was staring at the ceiling above me, swaying slightly like he was drunk.
"Oh wow," one of them said—a man with a roguish face and wavy hair. "She's even prettier up close."
"Vincent, you're dead," the second ghost said flatly. He was stockier, with a scar across his face. "You can't—"
"I can appreciate beauty! Death doesn't kill taste!"
The third ghost—thin, pale, with sunken eyes—said nothing. He just stared at me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
I sat up slowly.
They kept talking.
"—wonder if she's single—"
"Vincent, we're DEAD. We're GHOSTS. We can't—"
"I'm just SAYING—"
"Excuse me," I said.
They froze.
All three of them turned to look at me—really look at me—like they were seeing me for the first time.
"Did she just—"
"No way."
"She can't—"
I waved. "Hi."
"SHE CAN SEE US!" Vincent shouted.
"Impossible!" The scarred ghost—Klaus, based on the way he was now stumbling around in shock like a drunk. "Living people can't see spirits unless they're—"
"—blessed by a deity—"
"—or have spiritual awareness—"
"—or she's a medium—"
"I'm not a medium," I said tiredly. "I just... recently regained spiritual awareness. Now can you please leave? I'm trying to sleep."
They stared at me.
Then Vincent grinned. "Oh, this is AMAZING. Do you know how long it's been since someone could see us?!"
"Don't care. Please leave."
"But we've been SO BORED—"
"Not my problem."
"We could keep you company!" Vincent floated closer. "Tell you stories! We've been dead for years, we have GREAT stories—"
I tried to shoo him away with my hand.
It passed straight through him.
He laughed. "Oh, that's adorable. You think you can touch us?"
I tried again. Same result. My hand just went through his translucent form like he was made of mist.
"You need spiritual energy to interact with ghosts," Klaus said, his words slightly slurred. "And you clearly don't have enough. We're stuck here, you're stuck with us!" He laughed and took a swig from an invisible bottle.
"I will find a way to exorcise you," I said flatly.
"Sure you will, sweetheart," Vincent said. "In the meantime—" He floated around to my side, trying to peer over my shoulder. "—what are you wearing under those clothes?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOTHING YOU'RE GOING TO SEE."
Boris—the silent one—just kept staring. His dead eyes tracked my every movement.
This is a nightmare. This is an actual nightmare.
"Look," I said, trying to stay calm. "I'm exhausted. I almost died today. I just want to sleep. Can you PLEASE leave?"
"Where would we go?" Klaus asked, genuinely curious. "We're bound to this area. This is where we died."
"You died in my storage room?"
"Well, no. In the tavern. Various accidents. Vincent choked on a chicken bone—"
"It was a HEROIC death!" Vincent protested. "I was eating to regain my strength after a battle!"
"—Klaus drank himself to death—"
"Best way to go!" Klaus raised his invisible bottle.
"—and Boris... well, we don't talk about how Boris died."
Boris continued staring. Silently.
I'm going to lose my mind.
"Fine," I said. "You can stay. But you have to be QUIET. And stop STARING at me."
"We're dead," Vincent said cheerfully. "We have nothing else to do BUT stare. And you're the most interesting thing that's happened in years!"
I pulled the blanket over my head.
"Aw, don't be like that—"
"She's got nice legs though—"
"Vincent, she can HEAR you—"
"I know! That's what makes it fun!"
I was going to kill them.
Except they were already dead.
Dawn came far too quickly.
I hadn't slept. At all.
Every time I closed my eyes, I could hear them.
"—remember that time at the festival—"
"—the dancer with the—"
"—never did find out what happened to my sword—"
And through it all, Boris just... watched.
When Agatha banged on my door at sunrise, I felt like death.
"Hitomi! Time to work!"
I dragged myself upright. My body felt even heavier than yesterday. Like someone had added weights to my limbs overnight.
[System: Yōki levels critically low!]
*Yoki referes to the spiritual energy used by Yokai and deities to exist and use their abilities. If Yoki is exhausted as a Yokai it leads to death of the Yokai. As a human Hitomi does not need it for survival though.
[System: Spiritual Awareness is passively draining your Yōki!]
[Note: Spiritual awareness cannot be turned of once aquired]
What?
I opened my status screen with a thought.
[Yōki: 15/200]
[Status Effect: Spiritual Exhaustion - Passive Yōki drain from maintaining spiritual awareness]
[Warning: Low Yōki levels result in physical weakness, reduced stamina, and decreased cognitive function]
You couldn't have told me this BEFORE?!
[System: You didn't ask! ♪]
"Hitomi!" Agatha banged again. "NOW!"
I stumbled to my feet, nearly falling over. The ghosts watched with interest.
"She doesn't look good," Klaus observed.
"She looks exhausted," Vincent agreed. "Wonder why?"
"IT'S BECAUSE YOU KEPT ME UP ALL NIGHT," I snapped.
Agatha's voice from outside: "Who are you talking to?"
"NO ONE!"
I opened the door. Agatha stood there, looking concerned and annoyed in equal measure.
"You look terrible."
"I didn't sleep well."
"Were you... talking to someone in there?"
"Just myself."
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you feeling alright? You've been acting strange."
Strange because I can see dead people and they won't leave me alone.
"I'm fine. Just tired."
"Well, get un-tired. We have customers." She walked away, muttering something about "otherworlders and their problems."
I looked back into the room. The three ghosts waved at me.
"Have a good day at work!" Vincent called.
"We'll be here when you get back!" Klaus added.
Boris just stared.
I closed the door and leaned against it.
I need to fix this. Fast.
The day was agony.
Every task felt ten times harder. Lifting dishes was exhausting. Walking between tables was exhausting. Existing was exhausting.
[System: Yōki: 8/200]
[System: You're running on fumes! Recommend finding a source of spiritual energy soon!]
How?!
[System: That's a great question! Unfortunately, explaining would require detailed information, which isn't free! ♪]
You're going to charge me, aren't you.
[System: Premium Information costs 100 Karma! Would you like to purchase?]
NO.
[System: Your loss! ♪]
I gritted my teeth and kept working.
By evening, I could barely stand. Agatha noticed.
"Hitomi, are you—"
"I'm FINE," I snapped, immediately regretting it. "Sorry. I just... haven't been sleeping well."
"You need rest. Real rest." She studied me. "You're off tomorrow anyway. Use it to recover."
I nodded weakly and trudged back to my room.
The ghosts were waiting.
"You're back!" Vincent said cheerfully. "We missed you!"
"Klaus told the chicken bone story four times," the scarred ghost added. "I'm so bored I might actually fade from existence."
"Vincent, that was YOU who told it four times—"
"Details!"
I collapsed onto my bedroll without even removing my boots.
"Aw, she's tired again," Vincent floated closer. "Hey, you know what would cheer you up? You could—"
"Don't finish that sentence," I warned.
"—tell us about your day! We love hearing about—"
"I'm going to sleep."
"But we want to—"
"SLEEP."
"Just one little—"
"Vincent, if you finish that sentence, I will find a way to exorcise you even if it kills me."
He laughed. "You're fun! I like you!"
Boris drifted closer, his dead eyes fixed on me.
"And YOU," I pointed at him. "Stop STARING."
He didn't stop staring.
I'm in hell. I've died and gone to hell.
[System: You're not dead! You're just spiritually exhausted and being haunted by perverted ghosts! Totally different! ♪]
The second night was worse.
They didn't stop talking. Not once.
"—wonder what she looks like without—"
"DO NOT FINISH THAT SENTENCE."
"—the blanket! I was going to say blanket! What did you think I—"
"I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT."
"She's feisty. I like that."
"VINCENT I SWEAR—"
"Hey, hey, serious question. Can you, like, show us—"
"NO."
"—your adventurer's license? I wanted to see what rank—"
"Oh." I paused. "Sorry. I thought you were going to—"
"I mean, I was ALSO going to ask if you could show us your—"
"VINCENT!"
Klaus's drunken laughter filled the room.
By dawn, I was ready to commit murder. Ghost murder. Whatever that was called.
[System: Yōki: 3/200]
[System: CRITICAL LEVELS! You need spiritual energy NOW!]
Agatha knocked. "Hitomi? I'm giving you your day off, just because you seem to be unwell. Just checking if you're—are you talking to someone again?"
"NO!"
"...Right. Well. Try to rest. You really do look terrible."
The moment she left, I sat up and glared at the three ghosts.
"That's it," I said. "I'm buying the information."
[System: Excellent choice! 100 Karma deducted!]
[System: Current Karma: -9,999,999,999,999,999,978,063]
[System: PREMIUM TIP UNLOCKED!]
This better be worth it.
[System: To restore Yōki, you have two options!]
[System: Option 1 - Meditation in areas with high spiritual energy concentration (temples, graveyards, sacred sites)]
[System: Option 2 - Absorb residual spiritual energy from deceased creatures]
[System: Note: This world primarily uses MANA for magic, not spiritual energy. Therefore, normal meditation is largely ineffective. You need to meditate in places where spirits and ghosts naturally gather!]
Of course. Of COURSE it can't be simple.
"Hey," Vincent floated closer. "You look like you're thinking hard. Want to share? We're great listeners—"
"I need to go to a temple," I said, standing up abruptly.
"A temple? Why?"
"To meditate. To restore my energy. To get AWAY FROM YOU."
"Aw, we're not that bad—"
"You kept me up for TWO NIGHTS asking me to show you things I will NEVER show you!"
"We were just making conversation!"
"Boris hasn't BLINKED in two days!"
Boris continued staring.
I grabbed my few belongings and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Klaus called after me.
"To find some peace and quiet!"
"Can we come with—"
I slammed the door.
The Temple of Rudra was the largest religious building in the city.
I'd passed it several times but never paid much attention. It was impressive—white stone, ornate carvings, a massive statue of a deity with multiple arms holding various weapons and symbols.
Perfect. A temple. Lots of spiritual energy. I can meditate, restore my Yōki, and maybe finally sleep.
I climbed the steps, each one feeling like a mountain with my depleted energy.
A priest in flowing white robes greeted me at the entrance. "Welcome, child. Have you come to offer prayers to Lord Rudra?"
"I've come to meditate, if that's allowed."
"Of course! All are welcome in Rudra's house. Please, come in—"
He started to gesture me inside when suddenly, his entire body went rigid.
His eyes unfocused, like he was seeing something far away.
Then he spoke, but his voice was different. Layered. Like multiple voices speaking at once.
"She is FORBIDDEN from entering this sacred space."
I froze. "What?"
The priest's eyes cleared, and he blinked in confusion. Then understanding—and fear—crossed his face.
"I—I'm sorry," he stammered. "Lord Rudra has spoken. You are... not permitted entry."
"Why?! I just want to meditate!"
"I don't know! The god has decreed it, and I cannot question—" He looked genuinely apologetic. "I'm sorry. Please leave."
Rudra. That name...
I looked up at the statue.
Multiple arms. Weapons. A third eye. Dancing pose.
Wait.
WAIT.
That's—
That's SHIVA.
Shiva. One of the deities. One of the deities who ISEKAI'D ME.
[System: You have 1 new message!]
[System: From: Lord Rudra]
My blood ran cold.
With trembling hands, I opened the message.
The sound that played was pure, maniacal laughter.
Not cruel. Not angry. Just... delighted.
And then his voice, warm and amused:
"Oh, Hitomi. This isekai thing is actually QUITE entertaining! I must admit, we deities were uncertain about this punishment, but watching you suffer has been MOST educational. Do try the graveyard next—I hear it's lovely this time of year. Though do watch out for the ghouls. They bite."
More laughter.
Then the message ended.
I stood there, in front of the temple, as the priest nervously ushered me away from the steps.
"Again, I'm very sorry—"
"It's fine," I said flatly. "Not your fault."
A deity. Actively blocking me. Because he thinks this is FUNNY.
[System: Look on the bright side!]
There is NO bright side.
[System: At least now you know where NOT to go! That's useful information! ♪]
I turned away from the temple, exhaustion and rage warring in my chest.
Fine. A graveyard then.
If the gods want to make this difficult, I'll make it work anyway.
I always do.
But first, I had to find a graveyard.
In a city I barely knew.
With Yōki at critical levels.
And three perverted ghosts probably waiting back at the tavern.
This is fine. Everything is fine.
[System: You're lying to yourself again! ♪]
I know.
I started walking, looking for anyone who might give me directions.
Just another day in my wonderful new life.
Just another day.