Sarah's training was a mess.
I already made that obvious to her, but I couldn't stress this point enough. For the past hour and a half, I watched her practice her swings over and over again. Overhead, horizontal, diagonal...
In all fairness, it wasn't like this sort of practice was entirely useless. It indeed helped one practice their endurance and motion, but to do so for ten hours...?
What was she thinking?
"What... do I need to do?"
Sarah stared straight at me. Her complexion was still a little pale for what I did before, but she seemed to have recovered her bearings a little.
I pondered for a moment, and asked,
"How committed are you to this?"
"..."
She didn't answer immediately. Then, as I watched her fists slowly clench, she looked back at me and resolutely said,
"Like my life depends on it."
I stared right into her hazel eyes.
She was looking at me in utmost seriousness, and as I gazed deeply into them, I wanted to discern for any lies and falsity in them. Yet, she never diverted her gaze, steadfastly meeting mine without uttering a single word.
"Cut down your individual training to one hour and a half like today. Then, spend the remaining three hours and a half in the simulation room fighting non-stop."
I headed back for my bag and put my arm into the sleeve of my blazer. It was already quite late and our time for today was up.
I saw all that I needed to see.
"When I mean non-stop. I mean non-stop. Endure the pain that you receive every time you die. Even if it tears you apart, and makes you feel like killing yourself... Endure it."
Within the Guild were simulation rooms. In these chambers, one could engage in battles against simulations of monsters and other members who had registered their data into the system.
It was a popular method Star-Chasers used to train. The Academy had plenty of them.
But what I wanted from her was different...
"As you know, you can set different pain tolerances in the training room. I want you to set yours at 100% and continue fighting non-stop from there."
The Guild typically restricted users from going above 20% pain tolerance because of how often people died inside of the simulations.
It wasn't that they wished their members to be impervious to pain; rather, the goal was to prevent them from enduring any lasting real mental traumas.
But what I demanded from Sarah was the opposite.
"You said you wanted to learn the skill I showed you, correct?"
"...Yes."
"Then, you must be aware that it isn't easy."
"I know, but I want it."
It was fleeting, but I saw it. 'Greed'. I could tell she wanted it. And I liked that look of hers.
'Right, you need to be greedy in order to achieve that state.'
Greed was only a sin to those that abused it.
But to those that used it properly...?
Then, they'd reach the state of...
"To learn the skill I showed you... You must endure getting your neck cut, your body severed, mangled into nothing, stabbed right at your chest, burned alive... Continue to experience all those pains. Let yourself be swallowed whole by them."
Obsession.
The ultimate state of Greed.
I wanted her to reach a state of obsession.
An obsession with herself and her strength. She needed to endure the torment her body would undergo, allowing herself to plunge into a state of total depravity where nothing besides reaching her goal mattered.
Because...
I pointed at my eye.
"...Only when you peer through the abyss can you reach the abyss."
***
"Hahaha. I knew you'd understand me, Vice-Director."
Joana cheerfully said as she smacked her can against Dean's.
"I thought I was banned from drinking. What suddenly prompted the change?"
"Well, you know... With how things are looking up right now, I thought we could celebrate a bit."
"Then celebrate we shall!"
With unfocused eyes, Joana smacked her can against the couch. A bit of the liquid spilled out from the can, splashing against the surface of the couch.
"Haaaa! I needed this!"
"..."
Unbeknownst to her, peeking through the narrow gap in the door that separated the kitchen from the living room was a lonesome figure. Watching everything with a cold gaze. Go on. Drink. More. Fall. Lyla had lost count of the many times she had cursed her.
She didn't have to curse for very long. Within a couple of minutes, Joana's demeanor started to change.
"V,Vice-Director?"
"Yes...?"
"Why are there two of... Hic! Y,you?"
Smack—!
Joana pushed her hand forward, accidentally slapping Dean's face in the process.
"Uah!? What was that for?"
"Oh? Ah!? Hihihihihihihi."
Smack—!
She smacked him again.
"That's enough!"
"Hihihihihihihi."
"Damn it... I'm starting to regret this."
"Ah? Why?"
"Just take a look at yourself."
It's time.
Lyla took a deep breath. Her heart was thumping madly, but she knew it wasn't time for her to be nervous. She then fixed her clothes and took her first step.
"Hihihih. V,vice Director, why are there three of you?"
"Eh... no? Get away from me!"
"Hmm? Lyla? What are you doing h,here?"
Lyla took another deep breath. Debuff or not, the third Demon King was as terrifying as they come. Just a glimpse of her gaze made her legs feel like jello... the beautiful, squishy, and bouncy jello...
"Slurp."
Lyla wiped away the saliva that dripped from the corner of her lips. Her mind had wandered away for a moment.
She glared at the Demon King.
What powerful bewitchment.
"Lyla...?"
Unfolding the paper in her pocket, she handed it to Joana.
"Sign."
"What's... Hic! this?"
"Sign. Make me happy."
"Oh?"
Joana cocked her head as she carefully studied the paper in her hand. Flipping it sideways, she cocked her head once more.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
Lyla could feel her own heart beating unsteadily as she rigidly stood on her spot. Would this method work? Would she sign it? Will she finally get her freedom back...? All sorts of thoughts ran through the child's mind at that moment.
And...
"Ha. Sure. Sign. Why not?"
Joana looked around.
"Pen... where can I get a p—"
"Here."
Lyla beat her to it as she swiftly handed her a pen with trembling fingers. She then pointed at the exact area she wanted her to sign.
"Sign."
Could this finally be...?
"Oh... Hic."
The pen pressed against the paper.
Lyla licked her lips which had gone dry. She stared as the pen left a small mark on the paper. Her toes curled inward at the sight.
Go on.
Just a little more.
Just a little...
"Bleergh!"
"...Uh, ah?"
Time seemed to have stopped at that moment.
It all happened so suddenly and so unexpectedly that Lyla barely had any time to process what had happened.
No.
Even if she had the time, she probably wouldn't have been able to.
"Bleergh!"
Blink. Blink.
"..."
Her little mind seemed to have gone in overdrive as Joana hunched over and...
"Bleeergh!"
Puked all over the sacred quest paper.
"Ah, I'm suddenly regretting doing this. Joana, puke over here."
Dean rushed over with a small bucket which Joana quickly took before puking her heart out.
"Bleeeeeeargh!"
The world looked bleak at that moment. Lowering her head and staring at her paper which was covered in vomit, Lyla opened her mouth.
"..."
But no words came out.
Life had finally hit the young girl's heart.
"Come here. Let me bring you to your room. Ugh. Off we go."
It wasn't long before she was standing in the living room by herself.
"Hick... Hick..."
She made noises but no tears came out of her eyes. Joana's previous words had traumatized the young girl's heart.
And then...
Click.
The door opened.
When she raised her head, Lyla found a familiar figure entering the apartment.
"What's going on here... what the..."
It was the Ex-Guardian. The man corrupted by evil. He looked around in utter bewilderment.
Beside him was the fourth Demon King.
"What's with all the mess here, and why are you here by yourself?"
Walking toward Lyla, Liam bent down on one knee, meeting her gaze. Lyla's nose scrunched up as she pointed at her paper.
"...That..."
"Hm?"
Liam casually looked in the direction where she pointed before finding the paper.
"Is that...?"
"...Um."
"Why is it like that?"
"..."
With a pair of hollow eyes, Lyla lowered her head. What she didn't notice was the abrupt shift in Sarah's expression as she hastily looked at Liam.
"Did you teach her?"
"What? Ah, no. That's..."
He scratched his head. 'How am I going to explain this?' he muttered silently to himself.
"Just know I didn't teach her. It's something else entirely."
"...Really?"
"Why is this even a question?"
"She looked just like you..."
"Haa. I think I know what's going on. Let me see. Oh?"
Liam blinked, his eyes hovering above the paper which was covered in vomit.
"You've managed to get everyone to sign?"
"...Un."
Lyla lifelessly nodded her head. Holding her back as if she were an old man, she sat down on the floor, reminiscing about the past when she was oh so close to defeating the four Demon Kings.
"...the good old days... "
Liam and Sarah exchanged glances. She whispered to him,
'You really didn't teach her?'
'I don't think so...'
Even he was starting to doubt it.
"Well..."
Riiip—!
"...?"
"You've got one signature left."
Lyla accepted the piece of paper with a vacant look. Her mind seemed to race through all sorts of thoughts before her face bloomed into a large smile.
Seeing her reaction, Liam turned to face Sarah.
"I guess you're the only one left. Don't le—"
"I accept. "
"..."
He didn't even get to finish his sentence before witnessing Lyla hand Sarah a pack of candy, in what seemed to closely resemble a drug deal, and getting her to sign.
"Done."
Lyla stared at the paper with shining eyes. After staring at Lyla for a couple of seconds, Liam raised his head to look at Sarah.
"...Couldn't you have at least struggled a little?"
"Hm? Why?"
"No, never mind."
"Here."
With the shine remaining in her eyes, Lyla tapped on the Ex-Guardian's leg.
"Mission complete."
And held onto the paper up high. As if to show off her achievement.
"Yes. I saw."
"...So?"
"Well, it's late now."
"But..."
"Go to sleep for now. Starting tomorrow, you'll be allowed to watch TV again, is that okay?"
Pinching her chin with her hand, Lyla relented.
"Well, fine."
She rolled the paper and gently caressed it. She could concede this much. After all, she was indeed feeling a little tired.
"Alright, go to bed. Same for you Sarah. Go take a bath."
"Um."
"...Un."
Trotting back to her room, Lyla suddenly paused. Thinking for a moment, her little legs trotted back to where the Ex-Guardian was, and she nudged at his clothes.
"Yes?"
"Thank, you."
Lyla bowed her head.
"Hmm."
Then, as if that wasn't enough, Lyla recalled something and bowed even more.
"Thank you... fucker."