"She did WHAT?!" Those three words were enough to wake me up harshly and completely.

I opened my eyes, and noticed that I was in the doctor's cottage once more. I wasn't too surprised to find myself here, but at the same time, I was a bit shocked to find myself inside the building once more.

I started to constantly blink my eyes, making sure that my body was fully functioning. Surprisingly enough, I couldn't feel any pain from my left shoulder, and my body felt like I just had a perfectly good night's rest.

I cautiously moved my left arm slowly and silently, and to my surprise, it seemed like I was all better now. Rather, the injury I had sustained had been completely healed, almost as if I was never bitten at all.

Not to mention the fact that my body felt relaxed and functional. I didn't feel any kind of strain from moving my body, and I silently turned my head to look at the person that had shouted so loudly.

I couldn't help but blink. I didn't expect my father to be the one who was currently yelling, I expected Amelie to be doing that.

He was currently standing up with a look of utter bewilderment, while she was sitting down with her hands in her face, unable to look up at all.

Meanwhile, the doctor was sitting down on a random chair quietly, and his assistant was looking right at my dad, watching him for any hostile actions.

"She killed a wolf by herself by pulverizing its head," the doctor said calmly and softly, "She also did this while her left shoulder was being ripped apart."

"By the Sun Goddess, she just keeps becoming more and more unnatural, doesn't she?" grumbled Father, before sighing in utter dismay and falling onto the couch. The furniture groaned from impact, but held strong.

Then, he looked at the doctor with pleading eyes that had become somewhat wet. "Is there anyway for us to help out our daughter? There's got to be some medications you have to make her less bizarre, right?"

"Darcon, I don't." The doctor's words cut through my father like a spear impaling a soldier, and he simply could not bear the cruel reality of those words. He simply leaned back and let himself just stay there, unable to say anything at all.

I could only blink at these words. What was so wrong about me killing a wolf? I managed to protect myself, didn't I? Shouldn't they be relieved I was safe, rather than being completely horrified over my current state?

Actually, why are they being visibly distraught by my weirdness? I knew that I wasn't exactly playing the role of a two year old correctly, since I knew how to speak easily, but I never witnessed them being worried about this until now.

"Is there anything we can do to help her out? You said she was suffering from way too much work and too little sleep. Don't you have anything that could at least let her sleep better?" Amelie asked, literally pleading with the doctor in an attempt to get some kind of help for me.

"I could get her some medicine that would help her sleep... but it's expensive, and I don't want to put your family into debt." Immediately, as soon as the doctor's words were said, my father slammed his hands right on his knees and looked at the physician.

"I don't care about the price!" he shouted, "All I care about is my family and making sure that they can all live happily and peacefully! Couldn't you help us out here and get the price lowered?"

"I would if I could, but that's not possible." The words from the doctor hit my dad hard in the chest, but he recovered quickly and returned to his original position.

"Why? Why can't you get us a cheaper sleeping medication for Feliza? That's all we need to just make sure her diet and system would be better, right? After all, you've stated earlier that she's suffering from lack of rest." Amelie as her head rose, and I could notice that her face had taken on a visage of total despair.

"It's because the herbs are expensive and the process is incredibly time-consuming," the doctor said, and both of my new guardians slumped in their seats. "The ingredients are all the way up in the mountains, and I'm not confident in the village guards capabilities at all. Personally, I don't think they'd be even able to go into the forest and survive, let alone Mount Aspgreen."

Mount Aspgreen? That was a location that I remembered easily. A mountain that was home to several unique herbs and spices, riddled with monsters and some magic beasts that maintained an ecosystem of some type in those wilds.

I knew about that place, because that's where I grinded for EXP and crafting materials on and on with my character. There were some pretty strong creatures there, so knowing that the landmark was nearby was good for me.

Nevertheless, I think I got all the information I wanted for now. Right now would be a good time for me to 'wake' up.

I started to pick myself up, and before I knew it, I had just gotten hugged by both sides from my parents.

"Oh, by the Sun Goddess' name... we're so glad you're safe," they said as they squeezed me tightly.

I honestly didn't know how to react. I... what?

I didn't expect any of this at all. I was expecting some screaming, some anger, some hatred. Instead, all I was given was a shower of love, as if I was someone that mattered to them.

I couldn't understand this situation. I was lost and confused, unable to respond completely. Why was this happening?

"We got so worried when we heard you were at the doctor's place," my new father said as he clutched me tightly, "Please, don't do something so reckless again."

"Um... okay." I really didn't know what to honestly say to that. This situation was way too far from my current capabilities.

I was getting reminded too much of my mother, and I was doing everything I could in to prevent myself from crying.

Then, they all let go of me and took a few steps back. I couldn't help but feel a bit sad by that, and sincerely wished that the moment lasted just a little bit longer.

"Now, Feliza. What we're going to tell you might make you upset, but you have to understand why we're saying this."

My ears opened up, and I got ready to listen in on what they were going to say. After all, if it was something that would impact me in some way emotionally, then I needed to be fully aware of what was to come.

"You're banned from going to the forest." The words that came out of their words stabbed and slashed right through me, completely throwing me off in a loop.

"What? But why?!" I asked reflexively, and I instantly regretted that decision.

"Feliza, you nearly died on your first trip!" My stepmother said with steel in her tone, "Do you really think that you'll be safe if you go back there again?"

I opened my mouth to bring up a rebuttal to her argument, before I stopped myself and let myself relax.

Why was I fighting so strongly on this? I could just sneak out and go to the forest at night. After all, I could always do such a thing easily. That wouldn't be too hard, especially since the doctor had just said that we couldn't get sleeping medication since the materials were hard to get.

I was being irrational for no good reason, and I could only feel relieved that I managed to stop the argument from even happening in the first place.

Rather, the wisest thing to do in this situation would be to just swallow and take the hit. There were always chances to get the ban revoked in some way.

"Okay..." I said softly. Deep in my mind, I thanked Terry, Alise, and Nellie for their cruel and harsh lessons on how to interact with people correctly.

Without their help, I probably wouldn't be capable of lying like this.

"Alright, I'm glad we could have gotten that cleared up without any kind of arguments," Amelie said as she sighed and visibly relaxed. My father nodded, seemingly approving of the situation and the de-escalation of the whole conversation.

"I'm sorry to destroy this peaceful moment," the doctor said, simultaneously shattering the tranquility and bringing an aura of worry towards me, "But Feliza, can I ask if you sleep well at night?"

Fuck. There was the question that I was hoping to avoid. Thankfully, I did have a lie to cover up my tracks, and now I had to hope that this answer convinced all of them.

"I have trouble sleeping at night," I started, "I can't feel comfortable at all, and often times, my body just refuses to let me rest at all. I end up having to move around a lot just to try to fall asleep, and that doesn't always work..."

"So you're saying that you don't always sleep at all?" the doctor asked, with incredulity trespassing into their voice. I don't blame him, that is quite the claim to make.

"Yeah... I don't," I said. This time, I was telling a half-truth, so there was some supporting pillars that would back up my argument here.

I took a look around, and my parents looked thoroughly convinced, with their faces racked with worry and concern. Alexander, the doctor's assistant, was nodding and looking at me with pity.

However, the doctor was a completely different story. He was looking at me with a raised eyebrow, clearly trying to pick apart my statements and attempting to find some kind of falsity within.

I kept my appearance up, although a few sweat drops escape here and there. I chose to stare right at the wall across from me, not trying to attract any kind of attention towards me.

Since I couldn't see his expression, I was forced to wonder about what he was doing. Did he suspect something? Was he able to figure out that I was lying?

I did my best to make sure that I wasn't actively shaking or showing any signs of panic. After all, if I did show a small action that proved I was lying, then I would be snagged and pulled right into the open.

At this point, I could only hope that the doctor would believe my false words.

"Well, if that's the case..." the doctor said with resignation, making me feel utterly joyful.

Yes! I managed to fool him! I can't believe that I managed to squirm my way out of this tight situation!

I watched as he walked over to a random desk, and got a paper and charcoal pencil ready.

"I'm going to write you some remedies that could possibly work. They may cost a bit of money, but they won't come close to the price of sleeping medication," he said as he wrote down some stuff on the sheet, "They'll be in picture form so all of you can understand what to do."

"Understood," Amelie said as she took the paper from him, "We really can't thank you enough."

"Just get me some pickled vegetables from your farm, that would be enough as payment for some simple advice," the doctor said lightly as he handed them the paper, "Now, let's all go outside and talk some more. After all, Feliza will need her rest, and she will need a lot of food to eat in a bit."

I watched as all four of them left the building, heading outside to do whatever they wanted to do. As soon as they left, I proceeded to lie back down on the bed and think to myself for a while.

After all, I did just survive a narrowing death with a wolf, and I deserved a moment of peace. A time for me to have a clear head and figure out what to do from here.

Right. I needed to sneak out at night and go to the forest to get more power. Then, figure out how to get a backbone and possibly formal combat training.

At my current state, I was as useful as a straw dummy standing in a war zone filled with machine guns. I had to learn legitimate fighting techniques, and to learn how to act on a battlefield.

Wait. I blinked, before I realized something. I did murder a wolf, right? That would mean that I had to get some EXP.

What was I waiting for? I needed to see what the fruits of my labor were! I couldn't just stay in the dark when I had this opportunity before me!

"Status." I said in a low tone, with excitement hurrying my speech. Then, I could only blink as the knowledge flowed through my brain.

What? How? Really?

All these questions ran through my head as I digested all the information, and before I knew what I was doing, tears began to fall down and cover my vision.

I chuckled weakly as I laid there, facing the empty ceiling as I shed tears and laughed as softly as possible.

I now knew what I had to do to survive and become stronger in this world. In order for me to gain power and strength, in order for me to become a true hero...

[Level 2]

[HP 45/45]

[MP 0/5]

[Strength 32]

[Endurance 23]

[Intelligence 31]

[Wisdom 21]

[Agility 26]

[Dexterity 10]

[EXP Points: 1000]

[You have enough EXP Points to increase a stat. Please choose wisely!]

[You have leveled up! Level ups can be earned after you somehow manage to twist the fate that has been set in stone for you, and being able to break out of the mold! In essence; leveling up requires you to survive a scenario of absolute death!]

... was to actively try to get myself killed.

In the end, I realized the joke too late. All this time, God hadn't been intervening, because he was waiting for this exact moment, this revelation of truth, this shining grace that I would be gifted.

Because in the end, I was the one that was being puppeteered from the start. The game had been stacked from the very start, and there was no way I could have even been able to twist the system to my advantage.

This was fitting for someone like me. Truly, this was the hell I sincerely deserved.

A self-centered bitch with no dreams of becoming friends with anyone, stuck with disappointment and delusion should be rewarded with nothing but punishment of the maximum caliber.

After all, if something had to be achieved, one had to be willing to risk their life to gain that opportunity... and I was no exception to this rule.