Chapter 58 - Another Way

"How did you suddenly fainted?"

"I don't know, but the last thing I see was the evil spirit rushing toward me, so maybe I was possessed?"

"If you were possessed, shouldn't the evil spirit being able to control your body? But you stay collapsed on the floor and only woke up when I use healing magic on you for a couple of times."

"I don't know, that was just my assumption anyway, I don't know how the spiritual thing works. So, it hasn't been an hour or anything?"

"No, it only has been five minutes."

Sheila nodded her head at Ria affirmation words before pulling out the phone from her pocket to check about the quest. But what she saw next caused her to cried out in surprise.

『 Free The Girl From Suffering(?) 』

『 Save the girl named Sylvia from the suffering she suffered through her whole life.

[ Exorcist the Evil Spirit: 1/1 ]

[ The requirement has not met. ]

Reward: Trial Tower Access 』

『 The requirement has been fulfilled. 』

『 The quest is updating...Complete. 』

『 Free The Girl From Suffering(?) 』

『 Save the girl named Sylvia from the suffering she suffered through her whole life.

[ Exorcist the Evil Spirit: 1/1 ]

[ Stop Sylvia from suiciding at M School: 00:29:59 ]

Reward: Trial Tower Access 』

[ 00:29:55 ]

"There's a timer?!"

"What is it?"

Ria looked toward Sheila, who was visibly disturbed by what she saw on her phone. She didn't wait for anything before putting the phone back into her pocket and was about to rush outside when she came to a halt and remember that Ria was still here with her. She turned back to look at Ria before opening her mouth and said.

"Let's leave the house first; I need to go somewhere quick, let's hurry."

"Alright."

[ 00:29:48 ]

Knowing Sheila, Ria didn't ask much and followed suit right behind her. If Sheila weren't in a hurry, she would have been told what it is about, that was why Ria didn't worry much about Sheila doing something stupid. After exiting the house, Sheila bid her farewell to Ria before immediately rushing out as fast as she could, straight to the M School. While Sheila was on her way there, she was pondering on why the girl would suicide now of all time. Is it because the girl couldn't take it anymore and want everything to end? But why now? Or is it just a coincidence that today was actually the date she decides to commit suicide?

"But from all thing to do, why go for suicide? "

[ 00:28:57 ]

In Sheila's opinion, the girl could stop everything by simply stepping forward. The bullying at school, she could just end it by simply telling the bully and if that didn't work, beat them up. The abuse in her house, she can just leave the house and live alone somewhere or something. So, all the girl needs to do is training her body and get a part-time job, and everything will end after she had done enough of it. But that is if everything is normal, not including the movement of an evil spirit. Perhaps, the evil spirit might have something to do with the girl going to suicide today, like planting the idea in her mind or something.

[ 00:26:35 ]

There's also the factor of will power, but so far the girl appears to be the type who has a strong will. Even when she was bullied at school, she kept quiet and didn't say anything or cry about it, at least not that anyone see her doing it. The girl could be crying secretly; she didn't know her much after all, with only the information she gathered unless she saw the girl with her own eyes and get to know her. 

[ 00:25:10 ]

It took her five minutes until she arrived at the front gate of M School since it wasn't far from the girl's house when she used her full power. She didn't wait any longer and went inside; no one could stop when she's using Shadow Magic, moving to and fro until she reached the girl's classroom. But she didn't see any shadow of the girl inside the classroom, where did she go? If someone is going for suicide, what would the place they chose for it? 

[ 00:24:27 ]

Sheila went into the girl's restroom but didn't see anyone in there. If it's not here, then where is it? The animes that she had watched so far, and when it comes to suicide, they would usually go for in the toilet. That was why when it comes to a horror video game with a school setting, the bathroom is the scariest place ever to go. There would definitely be a jumpscare or two in there. 

[ 00:23:49 ]

With the urgency of the time, Sheila could only go and check from place to another while in the shadow. But the school is big enough for there to be a lot of rooms, including the storage room, etc. Obviously, it is a waste of time by checking the room after room, but she couldn't think of anything else at the moment and just does the simple thing she could think of. Thankfully, the school is a four-story building. But it's not the only building in the school, Sheila didn't have much time and only went for the building of where there is the girl's classroom. 

[ 00:21:38 ]

It has been exactly 8 minutes, yet she didn't find nor see any shadow of the girl. Sheila started to feel anxious as she wonders where could the girl possibly be; she had already checked every room in the entire building. Is it the wrong building? If she had known that this would happen, she should have taken hold of the girl's position before proceeding to exorcise the evil spirit. But now is not the time for regret as every second passed, it is getting closer to death. Sheila didn't waste any time as she went ahead to another building and started searching the room.

But yet as if Sheila was getting further, she didn't find anything, not even any trace behind. The time is ticking; I need to move faster and faster! As she went through room after room, she was also pondering hard on where could the girl be. 

[ 00:16:41 ]

"Ha..haa.. Ha.. Where.."

She had spent half of her energy, searching another building yet didn't find anything. Did the girl got spirited away? If not, why can't she find the girl anywhere! Is she even in school?! But the information on the quest said so, it should be true that she is somewhere in this school. Sheila breathes out a sigh as she looked up in the sky. And it was then, in her sight, she could see that there's figure stood on top of the building. That is— without saying anything, Sheila immediately runs as fast as she could, toward the top of the building before it's too late.

Now that she thought about it, she had never checked the top of the building. Isn't it a favourite place where the most protagonist of a story would hang out? How could it not cross her mind at all? Is it because in reality, the door to the top of the building is usually locked, that is why she never think it was possible? Either way, it's okay now that she had already found the girl. So, she was planning to suicide from the fall, huh? It would be a quick death if she falls head-on first, but if she somehow survived, it would be even more hell in her life. 

Once Sheila arrived at the top of the building, she immediately called out her name, which halts the girl from advancing further. Of course, she had already equipped a mask to cover up her face while also configured her whole body with disguise skill beforehand. She had to take all kind of measure in any way possible. Seeing the girl didn't respond, she called out her name once again.

"Sylvia!"

"Do you really want this?"

Sheila said in a tone which would make any person relaxed when they listen to her voice. But the person in front of her is about who is already resolve herself for suicide, which is why she called her out again.

"I ask you, do you really want this?"

But the girl still didn't respond to her question. Maybe I should move forward and try calling her out again.

"I will ask you again, do you really want this?"

And to her surprise, the girl responds as if everything busted open.

"Yes, yes! I do!"

"I want this to end, everything and everyone to stop! Why are you stopping me?!"

The girl shouted back at her as tears slowly fall out of her eyes which caused her cheeks to get wet. Just by looking at the girl's current expression, Sheila could tell that the girl must have suffered a lot more than she thought. But the girl apparently didn't notice that she was crying.

"Then, do you mind telling me why are you crying right now?"

The girl was stunned from her word as she reached her hand out toward her cheeks and could feel that it was wet from the tears. Perhaps, in the girl's subconscious, she didn't want it to end like this.

"Do you really want to end it like this?"

"You don't understand anything! I!"

The girl shouted back at her as if denying what Sheila had said to her. 

"Of course I don't, so why don't you tell me while we seat and the bench right there?"

Sheila said as move closer before wrapping her arms around the girl. And at that moment, the girl ended up sobbing hard as she poured everything out. Sylvia started speaking while crying from when she was a child, and until now, every suffering she had suffered was slowly coming out of her. Perhaps, she just needs someone who would listen to her; it doesn't have to be anyone important. Sheila didn't say anything and just quietly listen to the girl while sometimes patting her in the back. Once the girl was done, Sheila took a moment to think before deciding as she opened her mouth and said.

"My name is Akane, what's yours?"

"I'm...Sylvia."

"Sylvia, that's a beautiful name."

"You want this to end, right? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Rather than suicide which will end up with pain, why not follow me?"

"Follow...you?"

"Yes, I won't tell you the detail yet, but if you believe and put your trust in me, I'll show you another way. So, would you?"

Sheila said to the girl. To be honest, she also didn't know how to recruit the girl; it was to the point that she sounds like someone suspicious, but that was the truth. Sheila IS suspicious, with a mask covering her face and also using a fake name. But she couldn't help it; she had to be sure before the girl agrees, only until then would she show her real identity. 

Sylvia appears to be deep in thought, but it didn't take her long before her eyes were filled with flickering light as she slowly opened her mouth and said.

"I...I will."