"I knew it. It was you all along. I started to have suspicion on you the moment you used your Shadow Magic, but even so, I thought there might be someone out there who can use the same magic as you since it isn't impossible of a thought. Plus, your well-executed disguise is the reason that I decided to believe in your lies. As far as my experience goes, the only magic that had the same characteristics as your disguise is Illusion Magecraft, but one can easily see through it if they are experienced enough. That is why I never thought of the whole persona was just nothing but a disguise. But it all came together the moment you sent me in here."

Mia said after Sheila had removed her disguise and tell her of the truth, in the Trial Tower. To be honest, Mia did felt a bit upset upon being told she was played around by Sheila just like that, but once she realized it was for her own good and part of a bigger plan, she couldn't muster any strength to do anything to the latter. Even so, she couldn't help but advise Sheila to warn her or give a signal ahead of time before doing that sort of thing. If Sheila had done that, Mia wouldn't have been so troubled in that kind of situation. Had Ria been here, she would have nodded her head, agreeing with Mia's thought. That is because Sheila had been troubling her with this sort of situation multiple times.

Even before she got her hand on the 'mystical system,' Sheila had always been a troublemaker, one way or another. But if Ria had to compare between before and now, the latter gives her more headaches. One time Sheila was feeling a bit of mischief and decided to surprise her in the bathroom as a creepy-looking ghost. She had just finished washing her body at the time, and just as she went out of the shower wanting to dry her body with the towel, her steps came to a halt. In front of her, there stood a creepy-looking ghost, staring at her with its bloody eyes. It was one of the scary experiences she ever had in her entire life.

Nonetheless, Sheila ended up getting beaten up by Ria black and blue once she realized it was the prank from her best friend. Because they have a potion and her healing skills, Ria didn't put her strength to waste during the punishment and went all out. Of course she didn't go too far with her punishment, unlike a certain girl. In a way, Ria might have spoiled the latter way too much, and now she's just reaping what she sows.

"I sincerely apologize if that upset you."

"It's fine. Now that I think about it, it's nothing much anyway. After all, you did save me from that assassin. The least I can do is to forgive my savior, isn't it?"

"Is that so..."

"Yes, it is."

Perhaps she finally believes that Mia had forgiven her, Sheila got up on her feet. Since she had been kowtowing for almost half minutes while explaining everything to Mia, her knees had become weak for a few seconds before she could stabilize herself. If she had been ordinary, she might have to take a minute or so. After stabilizing on her feet, Sheila did a couple of light exercises for her body by stretching side to side. 

"Now that the problem has been put to rest, I have a question for you, Mia."

"What is it?"

"It might be sensitive but, you don't have to answer it if you feel uncomfortable. I'm simply curious, after all. Anyways, you're an orphan, right? Do you have any memories of your family before you were admitted to the Orphanage?"

"..."

Mia was silent for a moment, but she soon replied with a wry smile.

"I do not, not even a single piece. The earliest memory I can remember is when I have already admitted to Orphanage. When I asked the Caretaker about it, she answered that I was found sleeping peacefully in a basket, at the front of the doorstep of the Orphanage. If not for the fact that Caretaker always goes outside early in the morning for some business, I might have frozen to death in my sleep."

"That is..."

"it's fine, I'm alive now, aren't I?"

"But, don't you ever thought of looking for your family?"

"It would be a lie to say I haven't thought of it. I do, very much. But without a clue in hand, I couldn't get anywhere."

"I see."

'Hmm, then why did the assassin target her instead of the other girl? In my opinion, the latter holds a higher position than Mia. After all, the difference between an orphan and daughter of an influential family is just too evident. It wouldn't be strange if the assassin were to go for the other girl. Did that assassin perhaps know something about Mia? I should have taken him away the moment that guy was about to behead him, but that is too late to regret now. If I came across that guy again in the future, I will ask him.' thought Sheila.

"Oh right, are you going back now? I think it'll be bad for you to go since they already know about you." Sheila asked.

"Ah! That's true, but I have nowhere else to go."

"How about that friend of yours, Angelica Ernest, was it? She has a quite outstanding background, or so I heard."

"Of course she did cross my mind but, I think it will only make the situation in her family worsen if I go. Her family was once united but due to a certain accident, they had been split into two factions a decades ago, I think. Even to this day, the two factions keep on fighting against each other like dog and cat; there has never been a day where they could sit and converse calmly on the same table. My presence there would only be adding fuel to the already burning flame."

'I wonder what kind of accident that caused them to split and fight against each other. If this had been a game, a quest would have pop up by now. But ever since that day, the quest system had been silent. Although it did give me more time to focus on my current quest, it still feels like something is amiss. Because usually, at a time like this, it would definitely show up to give her a quest or two. Or is it because the current is that important?'

"Then why don't you stay here for now? As for food and the other essential stuff, leave it to me. If you stay here, a place where no one in the outside world can reach, you will be safe. Once I have found land to build my base, you can live there too if you want. How about it?"

"Land? And a base?"

"Yes, that's also included in the plan I was talking about. Once I have successfully created the base, I'm sure you will be much safer there than anywhere else in the world."

'If what I saw in my nightmare true, that would indeed be the case.'

Mia took a moment of silence to look at her surrounding which was filled with nothing but endless grassland. She had already been used to this background when she was training here, can she possibly live here even for a short while? As Sheila had said, no one else other than those who have been permitted by her can enter this place, so it isn't wrong to say that it's the safer place in the entire world. Plus, she can also train herself. Yes, just like the saying of two birds hit with one stone.

"I don't have any other choice so, I guess it will do. I don't really go outside that much anyway since I'm more or less, a home person. But you have to bring me something like books so that I can spend my free time reading it."

"Sure, that is not a problem for me. Then, I'll take my leave now to buy a few necessary things for you while I'm at it. Fortunately, I haven't reached home yet. I'll see you again later."

With that, Sheila vanished from the Trial Tower and reappeared in reality at the alleyways. Before she went into the Trial Tower, Sheila goes through the trouble of running all over the place in hopes that it can cause confusion to whoever is following her. Though her effort was proven to be futile since no one seems to be tailing her, it is better than having caught unprepared when the time came.

"Mhm, I still remember the first time I met a goblin in this exact alleyways. At that time, I was still weak and even have trouble fighting a single goblin. And now, I'm so powerful that even an army of goblins couldn't stop me. My growth speed is so fast that I find it unbelievable now that I think about it. Furthermore, the thing that I thought was impossible is now possible. I wonder if there' a limit to what I can do and how far can I go?"

Sheila muttered softly to herself while gazing downward at her hand. This hand used to be an ordinary hand of a girl where it can't even lift heavy objects for half minutes, but now, it has become a hand that can even leave a hole in the concrete wall by a single punch. Even so, this monster-like strength is nowhere enough in the face of the unforeseen future. 

"Well, that's enough of that. I need to go and do some shopping. I don't need to worry much about money as, ever since the day that I told her regarding the system, Mother has been supporting me. Alright, I shall not waste any further."

***

"Huff... Huff... Huff.."

"Damn it! What in heaven was that? A murder case caused by a crazy psychopath? Don't be kidding me! That's nothing like a psychopath at all! If I had been any slower, I would have become a corpse litter on the ground, heck, there's also a possibility of me becoming 'it's' food!"

Max cursed under his breath once he is certain that 'it' was not following right behind him. The shock and fear upon witnessing 'it' with his own eyes had truly overwhelmed him. As a police officer, it's his job to handle a case that endangers the public. But this case goes far beyond his capabilities. That monster, the Werewolf, there's no way an ordinary man like Max can stop it. 

He had come to this place for an investigation regarding a murder case around the place. The case was reported by the people who live close to this area upon finding a gruesome corpse accidentally while they were playing around in the wood. The first thought that came into his mind is that a psychopath is living in the wood. If only that was the case. But who would have thought that he would come across a monster from the myth, a werewolf?

Just as he was about to get on his feet and continued running, a soft yet alarming growl can be heard right behind him. 'No way?! It's already here? Damn it!' Without looking back, Max charges ahead at full speed with his remaining strength. But his effort proven to be futile, or perhaps the werewolf had enough fun with him and decided to end him now. Either way, the werewolf suddenly appeared right in front of him, followed by a gust of wind. Before he knew it, the claw was already a meter away from his face, on its way to tear his face to pieces. And so, Max couldn't help but close his eyes when realizing that he couldn't escape.

"???"

But even after a while, the pain that he expected to come, never came. Slowly, Max opened his eyes as he regained a bit of courage after the long silence. 

"What...is..this?"

The werewolf that he thought as a fearsome creature now litter on the ground as a headless corpse. But what brought another round of fear to him is the one standing near it. From its humanoid figure alone, Max had almost mistaken it for another human like him for a moment there. But it is without a doubt another monster just like the one on the ground. 

The only thing that registered in his brain is that 'it' has a humanoid figure, nothing else and nothing less. It was as if something, some kind of supernatural power, is stopping him from learning of 'its' identity. When 'it' turned around to face him, Max suddenly feels his eyes growing heavy as drowsiness assault his mind. And within a few seconds, the police officer, Max, soon fell unconscious on the ground. 

It was only two days later that someone randomly walks into the wood and found him laying against an aged tree that he was immediately brought to the hospital. A day later, Max awoke with no memories regarding the strange experience he had in the woods. The last thing he remembers is entering the woods for investigation regarding a murder case happening around there.