Arata wakes up the next morning. Although that isn't quite right, he had slept in to the point that it was almost noon. Ah… sleeping in, where did you go? The perfect foil to productivity. Wait no! How am I supposed to sleep with those terrifying eyes!

  Looming over his bed, he watched Rachamah. She didn’t attempt to wake him, move or even blink. The only thing that gave away that she wasn’t motionless was the breathing. The girl quickly realized Arata was awake, “You’ve lost sleep over moving through the forest, you got one day to rest before we attack the Erlking… you should go back to sleep.”

  I can't now, not that you're staring at me. Arata props himself up in the bed, “And you?”

  “No sleep needed, haven't needed any since eating those mushrooms.” Rachamah’s eyes don't even close, forget sleep, they must be dry.

  Yeah no, that isn't normal, is she high or something? “Try to be a little cautious with those in your system.”

  Rachamah shakes her head, “There's a lot to get done today, the soldiers need to be taught how to fight the Erlking's army. Any form of fire available is being used, yet from talking to the commander, I can tell you we’ll be spread pretty thin. The number of soldiers they’ve been up against is in the thousands. Luckily, since they’ve been burning ally corpses to prevent alraune possession so we have the necessary tools.”

  Thousands! The numbers I've used these tactics against pale in comparison. Frankly I'm still doubtful… but I brought her here, I brought Chive. Could I really look them in the face and say I don't suspect us to come out unscathed? Arata holds his breath and a cold, guilty expression strikes his face.

  “I need to speak to Celine. I'm sorry to ask you to leave but I really have to speak to her alone here.” Arata pleads to Rachamah who leaves immediately, like she was waiting for it.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  A few minutes later, the door opens with Celine. She sits down on Rachamah's bed, clearly waiting for Arata to be the one to talk first.

  Right… she's waiting on me. “Celine, the truth is, I have zero faith in this plan. The previous group I led was all mostly wiped out. We were up against a force ten times as small compared to the main army. I'm not a strategist, I can give tips on how to fight and present the only option I believe will work but to lead the forces myself to their deaths. I can't.”

  Celine shakes her head, “Not your job… run over your plans with me. I’ll be the one speaking out there.”

  That's the problem, based on the scripts too, I just have no idea what I'm up against either… no idea huh?

  An angelic figure breathes down Arata's neck, “Time loop productivity anxiety… when time becomes irrelevant, there should be something more you can do right? Anything short of a perfect result is your own failure?” Ravenna's voice whispers in his ear to warn him.

  What the- since when did I summon her?

  “Were you dreaming about me? I was summoned in your sleep, used the time to explore the base. Pretty neat, like a movie set.” Ravenna remarks.

  Arata sighs a little, “Sorry, no hard feelings, Ravenna. I need some time to think.”

  Arata quickly prays, sending her back, her condemnation of “asshole, at least say something!” Slowly fades.

  Celine remarks, “Wow, Clemence told me about your habit of talking to yourself but I can tell, there's someone actually there. That's your ability then? Just like the guy from Tungsten Cube Sprint?”

  Celine chuckles to herself. It was a very Arata adjacent tactic to improve his mood, she was visibly proud to pull it off.

  “How could anyone here be confident? Even if we're picking between two shit options, the men at this base are genuinely grateful for lending us the less terrible option. Mind if we go for a walk?” Celine takes Arata's hand, pulling him up out of bed. The two of them make their way outside after Arata puts on his helmet, fire mages were being given instruction and other men worked on filling specialized arrow heads with tar-soaked rags attached.

  The men all would salute Arata, or as they know him, Justice Knight. The plan’s already in full swing… geez, time loop productivity, once the battle begins, I can't go back? Why don't I just go ahead?

  Wait!