183 Alter Mode ON

"I have a piece of good news to announce before you two took a leave. Remember when Sheila told me to find her a piece of land with a few sets of requirements?"

Although confused, both of them nodded their head in agreement with her words. Never in their wildest dream did they thought it would be this fast for Sara to find a land that's suitable for Sheila soon-to-be headquarter of her yet-to-be-named organization. Sara smiles as she continues.

"It was honestly unexpected. I never thought to come across such a good deal right in front of my face just as I thought of giving up. Yes, it is as you thought, I have found precisely the land you're looking for, my daughter."

"Really?!"

Sheila suddenly stood up with a shout. One could even see her eyes sparkling with excitement. After all, she had been waiting for so long for this very moment. Technically, it's only around a few months, but that doesn't matter. Although she won't admit if someone asked her, Sheila actually has a certain amount of fondness with a final boss-like character, ever since she was small. 

To her, It doesn't matter whether they are a villain or heroes, as long as they are the final boss, she loves them. As someone who stood at the top of the predator's pyramid, they didn't that have that much worries in life. They are free to go wherever they wanted, free to do whatever they desire, that is the ultimate freedom, in her opinion.

Because she was born into a wealthy and influential family, many people have high expectations that she would also become successful like her parents once she had grown up to a healthy adult. When Sheila was at a very young age, she's very proud of her family, even now she still is. As a naive child who knew nothing about the world, she does her best to learn everything that would prove to be helpful in her endeavor to be successful. But it was only when a particular accident happened did she realized how much pressure she had onto her shoulders.

It was during her fallout that she came across animes, games, etc. And during that time, she isn't doing too well with her parents, a side effect caused by the incident. It wasn't because her parents were disappointed with her or anything like that, but more of her ignoring them on a daily basis. Sheila couldn't face them properly without remembering the incident, and thus, this is where Ria came in. Now that she has power in her hands, she couldn't help but entertain the thought of finding the culprit who caused the incident and make them suffer her dominant wrath. 

If she's aiming to become someone like a final boss where they were given the freedom to do whatever they pleased, she has to do something regarding the regret dwelling inside of her.

"Of course. Do you want to go and check it in person? Why don't you go along with us too, Ria?"

"Eh, me?"

"Yes. you have nothing to do anyway, right?"

"Well, it isn't like I don't have anything to do, but more of wanting to take a break from studies...but, yes, taking a fresh breath of outside air once in a while might be a good idea."

Sara smiles at her before turning her head toward Sheila and ask.

"How about that other girl, Sylvia, was it? If she's not busy, why don't you invite her as well? The more people, the merrier, isn't it?"

"She has something to do, so she can't tag along, unfortunately. Anyways, let's get going now, yeah?"

Sheila said. It was clear to the two that this girl is way excited to visit the place more than they thought she would. With a helpless sigh, Ria spoke.

"I think you need to get a change of cloth, Sheila. Didn't you just come out of the Trial Tower? Though I know you don't have any trouble there, you might have sweats, even a tiny bit. So, why don't you take a short bath first while we prepare ourselves in the meantime? Once all of us are done with our own preparation, we shall meet again in the living room."

Sara gives a curt nod in response to her words.

"Eh, does it really matter? It's not like I smell, so there's no need for a bath. And both of you look good, what else do you need to prepare for?"

Knowing that she would be stubborn about it, Ria decided to used her trump card.

"Didn't you say something about your favorite mobile game are going to do a special event today? I remember hearing that from you the other day. I'm sure you have been busy for a while now, did you forget about it, perhaps?"

"Ah."

***

Twenty minutes later..

"Come on, Sheila. A moment ago, you were so keen on it. So, why are we waiting for you now?"

Ria said, followed by a helpless sigh. After informing her about the event of the game, Sheila immediately took off upstairs to her room in haste. When Ria walked into the room, she can see the latter playing a console game with a solemn expression on her face. She couldn't help but snickers, finding Sheila looking so intently at the console game in her hand, priceless. Honestly, it has been a while seeing her looking like that. During the past couple of months, while they were playing games together, Sheila always seemed to be taking it easy and casual, which is the opposite of her current state.

Ria didn't need to prepare much, only a new set of cloth and nothing more than that. Since they were going outside for a short trip, she chose to go with a casual look, which is consists of a long white T-shirt, and comfortable pants on the go. It should have taken at most, five minutes but strangely, it took her ten minutes instead. Anyway, once she was done changing her outfit, Ria went to inform Sheila before leaving the room, expecting the latter to follow her. 

Ria only realized of this when she stepped on the stair leading to the first floor. So, she just stood there and shouted, calling out to Sheila. It took the latter ten minutes to prepared before she exits the room with the console game still in her hand, but this time, she wore an entirely different set of clothes.

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

"I'm here!"

She said with her eyes focused on the screen of the console game. 'Is the game event really special or something?' thought Ria, but she didn't ask and instead, decided to head down, of course, not before she was sure the latter is following right behind her properly this time. When they arrived in the living room, they saw Sara taking a sip of tea while watching the news on the TV.

"You two took too long."

"I'm sorry."

"No, you don't have to be as I'm sure it's definitely my daughter is at fault here."

Sara narrowed her eyes at her daughter, who clearly heard her words but chose to ignore it like a deaf person. She shook her head before getting up and walk toward the kitchen with a teacup in her hand. It seemed that the moment they stepped into the living room, what they saw was the last sip of tea. A couple of minutes before Sara came back, Ria walks toward the sofa and grabbed the remote control on the table before pointing it onto the TV, shutting it off with it.

Right on cue, Sara stepped in the living with the car's key already in her hand. 

***

"So, this is it? It looks surprisingly normal."

Ria muttered the moment she stepped out of the car and observed the surrounding. When she heard the details of the land and its price from Sara in the car, she assumed the land would be on a much smaller case, the same goes to the mansion. But upon arriving on the location and took a moment to analyze, it's proven that she's wrong. 

"But still, what is this cold and uncomfortable feeling when I stared at the mansion..."

"Evil Spirit."

Sheila said as she finally gets out of the car after finishing the game event. Ria turned her head toward her and ask.

"You mean, like the one in Sylvia's house?"

"Actually yes, but no."

Sheila paused for a moment, retrieving the bits of information she found from investigating the system thoroughly and continues.

"It's not exactly an evil spirit per se, but more of a 'vengeful spirit' sprouted from an unfair death. Technically, it is considered an evil spirit, but a real evil spirit is much more powerful than that. An evil spirit won't just let you exorcise it while standing in place like an idiot, but instead, they would attack you by entering through your body, trying to possess it. If one's will is too weak, their spirit would be devoured instantly, turning their body into nothing but a set of a skeleton as a result."

"Scary! That's too scary! Can I even exorcise it with my current strength?!"

"Good news or bad news, which one would you like to hear first?"

Sheila smiles as a mischief idea suddenly sprouted inside her mind. Though she was scared by her explanation, Ria turned around and noticed the wicked smile on Sheila's face, which brought a little sense to her chaotic mind for a moment, at the very least, it's enough to know that her best friend is planning on playing a joke on her. Even so, she can't help but ask.

"Bad news?"

"If you were to go to the mansion on your own to exorcise it, no doubt about it, you will be killed."

*Gulp!*

"T-Then how about the good news? Surely, there's a way to exorcise it other than that!"

Ever since she was small, Ria had always been afraid of apparitions for an unknown reason. Sheila obviously knew about this as a childhood friend. And as one of the bad examples of a friend, she had done countless 'surprises event' to her. Of course, there are times she had the intention of helping Ria with her weakness, but she ended up making it worse instead. As expected of IdiotSheila.

"Yes, there's indeed another way to exorcise it. And that's exactly the good news, I, the almighty Sheila, is here! I can buy all sorts of purifying items in the system's shop, no worries! Now, bow down to me, you peas—It hurts! I get it, I will stop! So, can you release your super-strong grip hand from this poor ear of mine, please? I think it's going to tear apart if this keeps on..."

"Hmm? Did you say something?"

With a dark aura surrounding her whole, Ria stares at Sheila with her not-so-smiling expression on her face. Just that alone brought chills through her body and caused the latter to be trembling in fear.

"Nothing, Ma'am! Even if this poor ear of mine is ripped apart, I can just heal it by drinking the potion, so no problem!"

"That's right."

'Sorry, my precious left ear. I am but a harmless human against this evil incarnation demon next to me. But don't worry, your sacrifice won't be forgotten!'