Chapter 20 - Overthinker

"So, what you're saying is, I was supposed to turn this on before I sleep?"

Fily smiled awkwardly at me which made me roll my eyes at her.

"I'm sorry" All of a sudden, she went in front of me, begging for forgiveness.

"I didn't mean it." She continued, catching my eyes wherever I turn my cheeks, trying to ignore her.

"Your stat-hut said that your Knowledge is Level 10. How can you forget something so important!?" I tried pushing her away but she won't give up! She's even rubbing her cheeks on me.

"You're just too cute.."

"Venedette!!" I cried, calling for help..

"But still Fily, you're still not supposed to experience flaws with perfect knowledge stats like that."

"Ahhh, hehe, my old Stat-hut is actually broken. I was meaning to replace it but you already gave me one. So thank you!"

"It's broken? You didn't fix it?"

"I can't... I think it got overloaded due to my overprocessing mind."

"Ah! Thank goodness I bought you special ones! One that can withstand over-thinkers like you!"

"Really!? That's great!! Thank you again Venedette!" Finally, she let go of me and went to hug Venedette instead.

"Speaking about special stat-huts, I didn't buy you these for free. You need to pay them back."

"What!?" It was Fily who first complained while I was left dumbfounded.

I don't even have a single penny in me!

I have been living off of Venedette's riches for almost two weeks now that I forgot my own status and got used to this kind of life even though in reality, I am just a penniless nobody!

"H-how much are these?"

Venedette looked like she's having fun upon seeing us suffer.

But after some time, she dropped the act and went back to her original attitude.

"I won't expect you to pay me money. But instead, I want you to work hard on maximizing your abilities. I want to see you both exert effort and be among the greatest, like me." I was surprised about Venedette's conditions, I wasn't expecting that 'condition' to be something that I'll be glad to do so!

"I'll really work hard! I promise!" I jumped from my seat even though my head was still dizzy. Venedette is really the best one of the best and I will try my best to be like her someday.

"I'll be looking forward to that, Gem."

The two of us looked at Fily who was hesitant but still pitched in, "I'll also do my best!"

And then the three of us laughed.

Not long after, Sir Fred interrupted our chitchat by telling Venedette that someone had arrived in the palace and was waiting for her.

"I understand Sir Fred, is it the visitor that I was expecting since yesterday?"

"Yes madame, it is him indeed."

"Who's he?" I asked Fily silently but she didn't answer.

"Ah! I would need to talk to you after this kids," Venedette looked at us and stopped momentarily, "can you go and fetch the boys, Gem and Fily?" she's asking us to get Von and Lei?

"And then ask them to wait for me here. I have something important to discuss with you all."

"About what?" Fily seemed nervous.

"About the event."

"The event... You mean--?"

Venedette nodded her head, immediately confirming her speculation. "I don't have much time, kindly bring them here please," she said and hurriedly went out of the library with Sir Fred.

Fily's face turned pale after that confirmation.

"What were you guys talking about?"

"I-i-it's t-the.." Fily was stuttering so much that I didn't understand a word that she was saying!

"Fily? You okay?"

"Huh?? Sorry! I'm just.. I-i can't believe Ven tricked me into this.." Her eyes opened wider and the corner of her mouth slightly turned up, but her face was dark.

"What's happening?"

"It's nothing."

"Then let's go find Von and Lei?" I pulled her in the hands without moderating my strength, which was my mistake coz I almost led made her bones fractured.

"Ouch!!"

"I'm sorry"

I want to hear the news already!

"Do you know where they are? Come on I'll just carry you!" Unlike Fily, I'm slowly feeling so energetic after recovering from my dizziness. Probably because of the thought that I could train to be like Venedette someday.

I wish time would go faster.

"They're in the courtyard but--" And as soon as I heard where those two are, I wasted no time and carried Fily in my back, running to the courtyard as fast as I can... but when we arrived, they were not there.

"They're not here."

"Maybe they went to get some water?" I was about to carry her again but she stopped me.

"Let's just wait for them here..."

I noticed a weird expression on Fily that I have not seen on her before. Unlike her nervous expression earlier, her face looked like she lost the will to live, tears building up in her eyes that I didn't fail to notice.

"Are you sad?"

"What? N-no! Of course not!" She tried her hardest to smile but her sniffs told me otherwise.

"What is it? What's the problem?"

"N-nothing." Her lips were trembling as if she's scared of something.

"Fily..."

"I-it's the tournament... I think Venedette wants us to join the tournament."

"That tournament you were talking about earlier?"

"Yes, the Dekadalaw Tournament."

"What's wrong with it?"

"I-i can't fight! If I join I will only be a burden to all of you." I watched her tears make their way down her chin.

I could tell from her eyes that she wants to join, but I still cannot find a reason for her not to.

"You're really an overthinker, Fily. You're not weak. You're special." I don't know where these words came from but I think it helped her calm down a little.

"By the way, what's the tournament for?" My curious mind could not wait any longer and my mouth obliged.

Fily pouted at me as I moved closer to her, sitting in the bleachers that are facing the vast field of grass where I think superhumans have their training.

"Dekadalaw Tournament is the most anticipated tournament around the world. It happens every 10 years, which will be 5 years from now. But this is survival of the fittest and I am not fit!"

I looked at her, getting annoyed about why she was thinking like that.

"You have maxed your super knowledge... how are you not fit? It's me who is not fit on joining this event. I'm just weak and have no special powers. I am a nobody."

"You have your Salamandite you just need to figure out how to use it. But me? I'll only be an inconvenience for you. Do you want a sleepyhead in your team?"

"If that sleepyhead is intelligent then why not? I think your powers would be a great help for Venedette."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

I saw Fily smile a little bit because of that. I'm really glad I could help influence her decisions even if she was a genius already.

"Do you know who was the man earlier?"

"I'm guessing it's the organizer for the event. Venedette is planning to make her guild."

"With us?"

"I guess so."

"For what?"

"That's what we're going to find out later." Fily stood up and so I did too.

"But what is this tournament for?"

"It's a long story. Come on, let's go look for Von and Lei."

"Okay!" Right.... we were supposed to look for them!

"Where are they?" Fily went ahead of me but I caught up to her immediately.

"The fountain."

"Where is that?" I'm glad Venedette asked us to look for them together. Without Fily I'd probably be lost, and without me, it would take Fily forever to reach them.

"Let's go!" I carried her by surprise and I'm glad that she's feeling okay now than overthinking about not being enough to join Venedette's guild. Even I don't think I'm fit enough to join that tournament but my experience made me confident.

And besides, the powers of the Salamandite would be too much of a waste if I cannot serve Venedette with it!

"We'll do great." I took an oath under my breath to work hard and achieve my dream of becoming like Venedette.

I just really hope I can use the Salamandite's powers already to be useful for Venedette.

I think it's one of the reasons she kept me and I will not disappoint her!