Chapter 51 - A Tease

"So? What are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

"Don't you have any of these 'skill' that can make people lost a part of their memory?"

"No, I would have used it if I have it."

"This is really tricky. The girl also didn't have any bad intention and the fact that she knows about your secret—you can't do anything, huh?"

If Yuna actually has bad intention, then Sheila won't have this much trouble because she could just 'torture' the girl until she was so scared that even by mentioning the secret will cause her whole body to tremble in fear. Of course, killing is also a choice, but Sheila prefers the former torturing method. It was not like Yuna exactly followed behind her and found out her secret that way; it was purely an accident. If she wasn't so stupid back then, it might not have happened.

But Sheila couldn't agree to that since there might be more to it. What if, it was fate that the junior and Ria would eventually found out her secret? No matter whatever path she goes, her secret would be exposed to the two of them. If it's really so then, it is more tricky than what Ria had thought of it. 

Sheila didn't want to involve other if possible. She wanted to be the one taking care of the problem while still being able to maintain ordinary life, but is that even possible? What if the spatial crack happened right in front of Ria one day? There's no way a normal girl like her could protect herself from the unknown creature that might walk out of the space. And also, what if this happened around the world? If she's the only one handling it, she has to travel from one place to another without any rest. Game? That's the relic of the past. How could she enjoy playing the game when she needs to hurry herself to solve the problem before it gets bigger.

Trial Tower and The Key, the two of these is trying to imply something to her. It's like an attempt from a system that's telling her a way for her to accomplish it. She had thought it was a place only for her to level up and grow stronger but guess not. 

"Ria."

"? What is it?"

Ria looked over to Sheila, who has a serious expression on her face, and her eyes appear to be determined. It was like seeing someone who has found their resolve. 

"Are you sure you wanted to follow me until the end?"

"Of course."

"Even if it will cost your life?"

"So long as you're safe, it's my duty as your best friend."

When Sheila asked the question, Ria also answered it seriously. She feels like it was her job to be the one protecting the girl in front of her. That time when Sheila's parent gave the duty of taking care of Sheila and the time when Ria noticed her class as a healer; Everything seems to be making her into supporting Sheila. To be honest, she didn't like it. She feels like she was getting manipulated by someone else. But if there's really someone out there who could manipulate Sheila and her, then more reason for her to follow along this uncertain path.

After all, she didn't want to lose Sheila.

"Ria... actually, I have a plan regarding the problem."

"You do? What is it?"

It took Sheila 20 minutes to explain everything about her plan. Ria took a few minutes of silence in order to digest everything while also pondering if there's any hole in the plan and how to fix it. She was also considering whether the plan will work or not. But once she has digested everything, she was surprised that the plan was actually...

"Are you sure about this, Sheila?"

"Yes, It's the only plan that I could come up with."

"Well, it also fits your personality. Then I'll also give you a hand on the individual part."

"That's plentiful enough; I don't have much time on my hand, you see. I need to get stronger in order for my plan to work out without any problem."

"I know, that's why I'll be supporting you."

Ria said as she leaned closer and wrapped her arms around Sheila. The warm feeling was transmitted to Sheila as she smiled while also covering her hands around Ria. To be honest, Sheila was really happy to be having a best friend like Ria. Her very existence was important as she supports Sheila in the place that she needed. Sheila didn't want to think of a day that she might lose her, that was why, she would continue on getting stronger, faster but definitely. Only by becoming stronger could she protect those who she cared for.

"Don't be hasty; you should take care of yourself too, alright?"

"I promise."

"Good."

It was about five minutes later before they part away from the hug. Sheila was about to teleport to her Trial Tower when she came to a pause.

"What's wrong?"

"...I should level you up first."

Sheila said as she turned back to Ria and gripped her shoulders. Ria didn't know why, but she feels scared. It was like a warning that something is wrong here, but Ria couldn't point it out where exactly. She tried to resist by trying to shake her shoulders and get away from Sheila, but she couldn't resist the strength of Sheila. 

"U-Um... Can you let me go, Sheila?"

"No. It's power leveling time."

And just like that, the day passed(in the Trial Tower). Sheila spent her time power leveling Ria until she reached level 7. Ria pulled out the white flag in defeated when Sheila bring out a potion from the inventory. Sheila wanted to continue, but since Ria was tired mentally, she decides to end it there. It was a good power leveling, Ria's class-specific skill; Healing Magic went up to level 3. Now, she could heal small, medium injury and one fatal injury without running out of MP. It didn't stop there; she also gained Swordsmanship skill. It was inevitable since she had been swinging the silver sword around the whole time.

"Haa... Ha.. Haa.. this is insane."

"Really? I want to do more, though."

"You monster."

Ria said while she was sprawl on the ground, breathing heavily like a person who had run a marathon. It couldn't be helped for Ria to be like this since they have been doing nothing but hunting the slimes one after another. Sheila was doing fine is due to her vitality attribute being so high, or she might have gotten used to the grinding since she had experienced it. 

"Here, have some cold water."

Sheila hand over a bottle of cold mineral water to Ria who was dying on the ground. In the blink of an eye, the bottle was already in the hands of Ria as she drunk it down her throat. A feeling of déjà vu rushed all over Sheila who was watching at the side. Ria feels refreshed as if her tiredness has been wash away by the cold water that has flowed through her throat. She put the empty bottle to the side before opening her mouth and said.

"Is this how you do in this space?"

"..."

"It's much harder than this?"

"Yes."

"M.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t."

"I'm not!"

"Hardcore M.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t."

"I told you I'm not!"

"A pervert m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t girl who likes hardcore."

"Ria! That's going too far!"

Sheila was trembling all over as her face went deep red— she is mad. Ria knows that she went too far, but she had to. 

"Then explain everything that you went through in this space. if not, I would still call you a hardcore m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t."

"Fine! Then listen to this!"

Sheila is definitely an idiot to fall for such trick easily. She didn't even need to take so much effort for Sheila to pour out everything to her with just a word from her mouth. This is why it is worrisome to let her be alone. She's the type that becomes a pushover if the opponent is someone like Ria. Ria was pondering while listening to Sheila's experience as the girl tried her best to explain it in detail. She even describes how much pain she suffered when she had a battle with the Goblin Shaman. Thankfully, she was not panting like a certain pervert dragon. 1

"There, I'm done! I'm totally not some kind of pervert who likes to enjoy pain."

"That's good, or I might have more concern pilled up onto my already heavy shoulders."

"Hmph, I told you so."

"I was just teasing you. It wasn't my fault that I didn't expect for you to react so strongly to that."

"Wha—" Tio Clarcle(Klaus) from Arifureta.