Late at night, the circulation of my Fluid Grasp technique caught on something strange, magic being interrupted. Even while asleep, the flow continues; if disturbed, I wake immediately.
This wasn't a phantom, though. I've gotten used to recognizing different magical signatures, just like how each person has a distinct voice.
When the intruder got close, I grabbed my stun-gun artifact and zapped them, hearing a satisfying crackle. Switching on the lights, I saw a man dressed in black, gripping a knife even while unconscious. A true professional.
But the real test begins after they've passed out.
I should probably train myself to release Death in my sleep automatically—preferably with some form of ally recognition, of course.
I poke the assassin with a chair. No response. Still out cold.
Now, what to do with him? Killing him would be the easiest option, but doing that in the academy dorms would bring trouble. Maybe I should call Phantom.
With a sigh, I decide on a compromise. I tie the guy up, rip off his mask, and pin a note to his chest reading, "I am an assassin." Then, I drag him out into the hallway and pelt the door with stones.
Eventually, someone checks the noise, sees the assassin, and the panic begins.
He won't rat me out as his target—assassins have their pride. Even if he does, I'll just say, I fought back and won, but I was too tired to deal with it. Probably won't face much trouble.
It's annoying to get more attention, but I can manage.
The next day, after finishing my rank battles, I followed Phantom to the Assassin's Guild. Apparently, only amateurs don't affiliate with the guild. Phantom told me he'd been scouted by them multiple times in the past.
I could see why—his stealth ability, Hide, was perfect for assassins.
Entering a dilapidated shack, we were greeted by an elderly woman dressed like a fortune teller. I sensed five people hiding behind the walls.
"Heh, heh, heh, do you know where you are, boy?" she cackled.
"Yeah, Assassin's Guild. There are five guys behind the wall."
"Heh, impressive. Only someone who's fended off an assassin would notice that."
"If your guild keeps sending people after me, I might have to take you down."
The laughter vanished from her voice.
"Do you think you could?"
"Of course."
Her voice turned serious, and I could feel the weight of her gaze. "You really mean that."
"You cast a truth-detecting spell," I said, amused. "And yes, I could destroy your entire guild if I wanted."
"Hah... I underestimated you. It's no bluff. I can sense your confidence." She sighed. "Fine. We'll no longer accept any contracts against you."
"You've made a wise choice."
She laughed again, but it was nervous now. "Knowing when to retreat is a survival skill, kid."
On the way back, Phantom couldn't help but chuckle. "Boss, I knew you were strong, but I never imagined you could take on an entire assassin guild."
I shrugged. "They came after me while I was sleeping, but I dealt with it. I need to train so I can cast Death while asleep."
"That's some bold talk."
"I'm serious. I'm heading to the forest to sleep outside. Training begins now."
"You're really something else, boss."
I set up camp outside the capital, laying down a mat to sleep in the forest. By morning, hopefully, I'll wake up to a bunch of dead monsters. At worst, I'll at least wake up.
A few hours later, I was rudely awakened by a monster.
Death.
Okay, this is harder than I thought. How do I train my body to react automatically to a magical disturbance?
I kept trying. Over the next few nights, I repeatedly killed monsters that disturbed my sleep, but progress was slow. Too slow.
"Can you really sense them coming in your sleep? That's incredible," Phantom said, genuinely surprised.
"It's like feeling pain when something interrupts the flow of my magic," I explained. "The hard part is linking it to an attack."
"To strike back while asleep, that's a storybook skill. It's not something anyone can pull off."
I rubbed my temples. Maybe this wasn't going to work.
After five nights of sleeping in the forest, I admitted defeat. "Alright, I give up. I'm not cut out for this."
"Boss, just being able to sense them is impressive enough," Phantom said, half-exasperated.
"Yeah, but imagine being able to fight back while asleep—that would be awesome."
Phantom raised an eyebrow. "It's impressive in fiction, sure, but this is reality."
"This is another world, though. If anything, I thought it'd be possible here."
I had this fantasy—what if I could keep razors or something hovering in my magical flow while I slept? Maybe a magic item could do it...
"Wouldn't that be a little dangerous?" Phantom asked, eyes widening.
"Maybe. But if I could manage it, I'd be invincible."
Determined, I headed to the local magic item shop the next morning.
"Got any Intelligence Flying Swords?"
The shopkeeper, a grizzled old man, looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "If I could make intelligent items, I'd have closed this shop and retired. I can give you a sword that flies in a straight line. That's the best I can do."
I frowned. "That's not exactly what I had in mind."
"If you want self-defense, I have a barrier device. It drains mana fast, though. Use it for a minute, and you'll be a dried-up corpse. But hey, it's strong."
"Fine. I'll take it."
"Wait, seriously? It's dangerous, you know."
"You recommended it, didn't you?"
The shopkeeper shook his head. "Didn't think you'd actually go for it. Just don't overuse it—you'll die."
"I like your products. Let me know when you make something else in the use-it-too-much-and-you-die category."
With that, I left with my new barrier device in hand. This should at least help me survive future assassination attempts.
I still dream of being able to fight back in my sleep, but for now, this will have to do.