I walked through the tavern's back door just as the first rays of dawn broke over the city.
My body hummed with energy. Five hundred Yōki. Full reserves. For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt powerful.
Not truck-level powerful. Not even close.
But powerful enough to deal with three perverted ghosts.
I pushed open the door to my storage room.
They were waiting, of course. Vincent floating near my bedroll, Klaus swaying drunkenly by the wall, Boris standing in the corner doing his unsettling stare.
"Oh, she's back!" Vincent said cheerfully. "We were starting to worry! You were gone all night, and—"
"Good morning, gentlemen," I said, closing the door behind me.
Something in my tone made them pause.
"Uh," Vincent said. "You sound... different."
"I feel different." I rolled my shoulders, feeling the Yōki flowing through my spiritual form. "I spent the night at a graveyard. Very productive. Absorbed some interesting spirits. Learned some new things."
"That's... nice?" Klaus hiccupped. "Did you bring back any souvenirs?"
"No. But I did gain the ability to do this."
I reached out and grabbed Vincent's arm.
My hand didn't pass through.
It gripped.
Vincent's eyes went wide. "Wait. You can—"
I yanked him toward me and punched him in the face.
The impact sent him flying across the room. He crashed into the wall—through the wall, actually, his spiritual form disrupted for a moment before reforming.
"OW! YOU HIT ME! YOU ACTUALLY HIT ME!"
"Yes," I said calmly. "Turns out when you have enough Yōki, you can interact with spirits physically. Who knew?"
[System: New Skill Unlocked - Skill: Racist!]
[System: Effect: Deal 150% damage to opponents with black hair!]
[System: Note: This skill was gained through your previous... enthusiastic work as a vehicle. You hit a statistically significant number of black-haired individuals. The universe has recognized this pattern! ♪]
I stared at the notification.
"Are you SERIOUS right now?"
[System: The skill name is unfortunately accurate! But look on the bright side - it's very effective in this region where black hair is common! ♪]
"That's—that's the WORST skill name possible!"
[System: Take it up with the universe! I just report the stats! ♪]
Klaus was backing away slowly. "Uh, Hitomi? Maybe we can talk about this? We didn't mean any harm, we were just—"
"Harassing me? Keeping me awake for two nights? Asking me to show you things I will NEVER show you?"
"We were BORED! We've been dead for YEARS—"
"Not my problem."
I lunged at Klaus. He tried to float away, but I was faster. My hand grabbed his collar—his spiritual collar—and I slammed him into the floor.
Or rather, through the floor slightly. Spiritual combat was weird.
"Wait, wait WAIT!" he shrieked. "We can leave! We'll leave! We'll haunt somewhere else!"
"Too late." I grabbed Boris, who had been trying to silently drift toward the door. "I need the Yōki."
Vincent reformed and tried to tackle me from behind. I spun, caught him mid-air, and threw him into Klaus. Both ghosts tangled together in a mess of translucent limbs.
"This isn't fair!" Vincent protested. "We're unarmed! We're dead! We can't even defend ourselves properly!"
"Should've thought of that before asking to see my boobs."
"IT WAS JUST A QUESTION—"
"Well, here's your answer."
I grabbed all three of them—Vincent, Klaus, and Boris—and activated the same draining technique I'd used at the graveyard.
The pull was immediate. Their spiritual forms began to dissolve, wisps of blue-white energy flowing into my hands.
"NO NO NO—"
"PLEASE—"
"WE'RE SORRY—"
I didn't stop. Their protests became weaker, more desperate, until finally—
Pop.
All three ghosts vanished, absorbed completely.
[System: Three spirits absorbed!]
[System: +45 Yōki gained!]
[System: Current Yōki: 545/500]
[System: Warning - Yōki overflow! Excess will dissipate over time!]
I stood there in the silence of my room, breathing hard more from satisfaction than exertion.
Finally. Peace.
I collapsed onto my bedroll and closed my eyes.
Real sleep. Finally.
I woke four hours later feeling incredible.
Actual rest. Proper, uninterrupted sleep. No perverted ghosts. No harassment. Just blessed silence.
I stretched, feeling my joints pop, and—
"She's waking up!"
I froze.
"Took her long enough. I'm bored again."
"At least we're not scattered across the void. Could be worse."
"..."
The voices were coming from inside my head.
No.
No no no no—
"Oh, she can hear us! Hi, Hitomi!"
"WHAT," I said aloud.
"You absorbed us," Vincent's voice said cheerfully in my mind. "And apparently, when you absorb spirits with strong enough consciousness, they don't just disappear! We become lesser spirits bound to your spiritual energy! Isn't that neat?"
"NO. NO IT IS NOT NEAT."
"I think it's kind of cozy," Klaus said. "It's like being drunk but without the hangover. Everything's fuzzy and warm."
"..." That was definitely Boris, somehow communicating nothing while still being creepy.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD."
"Can't! We're bound to you now! Linked to your Yōki! Where you go, we go!"
[System: Congratulations! You've gained three lesser spirits as permanent companions! ♪]
"I DON'T WANT COMPANIONS."
[System: Too late! When you absorb spirits with sufficient self-awareness, they integrate into your spiritual matrix! They'll regenerate Yōki passively now - about 1 Yōki per hour each!]
"Ooh, we're useful now!" Vincent said. "See? This isn't so bad!"
"I JUST wanted to SLEEP without HARASSMENT."
"Well, good news - we can't physically touch you anymore! Bad news - we can talk to you whenever we want!"
"I'm going to find a way to un-absorb you."
"Good luck with that!"
Then, another voice joined the chorus. Deeper, more confident, distinctly male.
"Ah! I'm back! That absorption was RUDE, by the way. I was trying to introduce myself properly—"
Masayuki.
Of COURSE Masayuki was in here too.
"No. Absolutely not. Get out."
"Can't! I'm a lesser spirit now too! Though I have to say, it's much better than being a grave-bound ghost. I can actually move around now! Through you! This is great!"
"This is a NIGHTMARE."
"Oh don't be so dramatic. We'll keep you company! Tell jokes! Share stories! I have GREAT stories about my harem—"
"I will find an exorcist and have you ALL deleted."
"You could try!" Vincent said. "But we're pretty integrated now. Removing us might damage your spiritual structure. You'd lose Yōki capacity, maybe drop back down to—"
"Fine. FINE. You can stay. But you will be QUIET."
"Define quiet," Klaus said.
"SILENT. NO TALKING."
"For how long?"
"FOREVER."
"That seems unreasonable—"
"I AM BEING VERY REASONABLE CONSIDERING I COULD TRY TO UNABSORB YOU!!!"
"Fair point. Shutting up now."
Blessed silence returned.
For about thirty seconds.
"So... is she always this grumpy?" Masayuki whispered.
"Seems like it," Klaus whispered back.
"I like it. Very attractive." That was Masayuki.
"..." Boris.
"I HEARD THAT."
"We're in your head! Of course, you heard it!"
I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it.
[System: Would you like to visit the System Shop? ♪]
I stopped screaming. "What?"
[System: The System Shop is now available! Due to your increased power level and karma progress, you've unlocked access to the divine marketplace!]
[System: New message from: God of the Shovel Cult - Water]
A deity. A SHOPPING deity. What fresh hell is this?
I opened the message.
[Hello, valued customer! I am Water, God of the Shovel Cult and Divine Proprietor of the System Shop! I've been watching your progress with GREAT interest! You're doing amazing, sweetie! ♪]
[As a special introductory offer, I'm extending you a LINE OF CREDIT! That's right - you can purchase items NOW and pay the karma LATER! All purchases are completely secure and backed by a divine contract! Check out our inventory and treat yourself! You deserve it! :) ]
"Oh, this deity seems nice!" Vincent said. "Very friendly!"
"I don't trust it."
"Why not? They're offering credit! That's generous!"
"Nothing is free. Especially not from gods."
But then the four spirits—Vincent, Klaus, Boris, and Masayuki—did something I wasn't prepared for.
They started moving through my clothes.
Not metaphorically. Literally phasing through my body, their spiritual forms passing through my kimono, my skin, my—
"STOP THAT."
"We're just exploring!" Vincent said cheerfully. "We've never been bound to a living person before! This is fascinating!"
"So soft," Masayuki said appreciatively.
"I can feel her heartbeat," Klaus said, sounding awed.
"..." Boris was definitely doing something creepy. I could feel it.
"GET OUT OF MY CLOTHES."
"We're not IN your clothes, we're passing THROUGH—"
"SAME THING."
They phased through again. And again. Like children playing in a pool.
"This is amazing!"
"I haven't felt physical sensation in years!"
"Her spiritual energy tastes like—"
"THAT'S IT."
I opened the System Shop interface.
A dazzling array of items appeared—weapons, armor, potions, skills, enchantments. All with karma price tags that made my eyes water.
Holy Sword of Divine Judgment - 50,000,000 Karma
Ring of Immortality - 100,000,000 Karma
Shovel of the shovel god - 60,000,000,000
Skill: Actual Transportation (Like A Real Truck) - 25,000,000 Karma
I scrolled desperately until I found something affordable.
Butterfly Hairpin of Spirit Containment - 1,000 Karma
[Description: A beautiful butterfly-shaped hairpin enchanted to store and contain bound spirits. Spirits remain conscious and can communicate telepathically, but cannot manifest or physically interact with the wearer. Perfect for the spiritually-gifted adventurer who values their personal space! ♪]
Perfect.
I clicked purchase.
[System: Insufficient Karma! Current Balance: -9,999,999,999,999,999,948,063]
[System: Would you like to use DIVINE CREDIT to complete this purchase?]
"Yes. Absolutely yes."
A contract appeared.
DIVINE CREDIT AGREEMENT
Purchaser: Hitomi (of the Highway)
Vendor: God Water of the Shovel Cult
Item: Butterfly Hairpin of Spirit Containment
Price: 1,000 Karma
Credit Terms: Repayment due within 30 days. Standard divine interest applies.
By signing below, the purchaser agrees to all terms and conditions as outlined in this contract. As well as the rules of divine interest.
I signed without reading.
"That seems unwise," Vincent said.
"Shut up."
[System: Purchase complete! Item delivered!]
A delicate hairpin materialized in my hand. It was actually quite beautiful—silver with blue butterfly wings that seemed to shimmer with spiritual energy.
I put it in my hair.
Immediately, the four spirits were pulled into the hairpin. I felt them being compacted, compressed, stored.
"Hey! What—"
"Where are we—"
"This is cozy, actually—"
"..."
And then... silence.
Blessed, beautiful silence in my head.
I could still feel them there. Still sense their presence. But they couldn't phase through me anymore. Couldn't move around freely.
"CAN YOU STILL HEAR US?" Vincent's voice came through, distant and muffled.
"Unfortunately."
"LET US OUT!"
"No."
"THIS IS INHUMANE!"
"You're spirits. Humanity doesn't apply."
"TECHNICALLY TRUE BUT STILL RUDE!"
I smiled and lay back down on my bedroll.
Finally. Control over my own body.
[System: ...]
"What?"
[System: You should probably read the fine print on that contract.]
"Why?"
[System: Just... scroll down. On the contract. The part after where you signed.]
With a sinking feeling, I pulled up the contract again and scrolled past my signature.
In tiny, nearly invisible text at the bottom:
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
If payment is not received within 30 days, the outstanding balance will be DOUBLED. If payment is not received within 60 days, the outstanding balance will be QUADRUPLED. If payment is not received within 90 days, the purchaser agrees to forfeit their soul to the Shovel Cult for eternal servitude in the Estate Coal mine of Endless Digging.
Thank you for your business! ♪
I stared at the text.
"Double?"
[System: Double.]
"And if I don't pay in sixty days?"
[System: Quadruple. 4,000 karma.]
"And ninety days?"
[System: Eternal soul servitude in a mine where you will dig holes forever.]
I looked at my current karma.
-9,999,999,999,999,999,948,063
I needed to earn 1,000 karma in thirty days. Or 2,000 in sixty days if I missed the first deadline.
"This is fine," I told myself. "I can earn 1,000 karma in a month. Probably. Maybe."
"YOU GOT SCAMMED!" Vincent's voice crowed from the hairpin. "You got scammed by a deity! That's hilarious!"
"Shoulda read the contract," Klaus added.
"Classic divine marketplace tactic," Masayuki said. "They did the same thing to me once. Very embarrassing."
"Shut. Up."
"CAN'T MAKE US! We're stuck in your hairpin forever!"
"Or until you pay off the debt!"
"Or until you become a soul-slave to the Shovel Cult!"
"..."
I pulled the pillow over my face again.
This is fine. Everything is fine. I just need to earn 1,000 karma in thirty days while working at a tavern where 95% of my income vanishes to charity and I'm still in massive debt to Agatha.
Totally doable.
Absolutely.
Fine.
[System: On the bright side, the spirits are generating passive Yōki now! +3 Yōki per hour from Vincent, Klaus, and Boris! +5 Yōki per hour from Masayuki since he was legendary-tier! That's +14 Yōki per hour! ♪]
Okay. That's... actually helpful.
"See? We're useful!" Vincent said. "You should let us out to celebrate!"
"No."
"But—"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"We'll be good!"
"Absolutely not."
"..." Boris somehow managed to convey disappointment through silence.
I closed my eyes and tried to enjoy my last few hours before Agatha would come knocking.
At least I could sleep now.
Even if I had four dead men's voices in my head.
And a divine debt hanging over me.
And 95% of my income vanishing to charity.
And massive negative karma.
And—
Baby steps, I reminded myself. Baby steps.
[System: Current Status Summary!]
[System: Power Level: 4.2]
[System: Yōki: 545/500 (slowly normalizing)]
[System: Karma: -9,999,999,999,999,999,948,063]
[System: Debt to Agatha: 135 silver, 18 copper]
[System: Debt to God Water: 1,000 karma (payment due in 30 days)]
[System: Bound Spirits: 4 (annoying but useful)]
[System: Mental State: Questionable]
[System: Survival Probability: Surprisingly high! ♪]
"That's not encouraging."
[System: But you're still alive! Progress! ♪]
I couldn't argue with that logic.
I pulled the blanket over myself and finally, finally drifted off to sleep.
The voices in the hairpin continued chattering, but they were distant enough now that I could ignore them.
Tomorrow, I thought drowsily. Tomorrow I'll figure out how to earn 1,000 karma.
Tomorrow.
"She's asleep!" Vincent whispered.
"Should we wake her up?" Klaus asked.
"Let her rest," Masayuki said. "She's had a rough few days. And many more to come"
"..."
"Boris, stop being creepy."
"..."
"Seriously, dude, we can all feel you being creepy in here."
I smiled slightly despite myself and drifted deeper into sleep.
Baby steps.