Wait, System! Stop Helping The Protagonist!

Slowly, Rias raised the sword, preparing to cleave the Sunshine Girl’s head.

"Forgive me." Rias spoke with guilt before his sword dropped, ending the Sunshine Girl’s life once again.

The Sunshine Girl deserved more than just forgiveness. However, to her, leaving this godforsaken was the greatest gift. Her will doesn’t know if she would be reborn again or in what form. She hopes, as her last and only wish, she can sleep. Sleep for eternity, dreaming the romanticized life she always imagined.

Her body turned into specks of green light, gradually entering Rias’s Life Ring.

As Rias’s body filled with Life Essence, his injuries began to heal, making him feel anew.

All of a sudden, Rias’s face froze as he whispered. "Even in your death, you will still shine your light onto others."

The light Rias spoke of was a skill.

[ Indestructible Will: Even Gods and Demons sacrificing their bodies can shake your unwavering will! ]

Hearing Rias’s whisper, Ashton knew he got the skill that the Sunshine Girl offered. He felt slightly jealous thinking of this skill. It was something extremely rare. Those being in the stars would sacrifice themselves if they knew there were a skill like this.

Rias reached Bronze, Refinement 3, and gained a new skill, but he didn’t feel any happiness in his heart. He asked Ashton, looking at the bed the Sunshine Girl was resting on earlier. "Is this Filth?"

"Unfortunately yes." Ashton shook his head secretly, knowing what Rias was going through.

"The history, the place, and the people that are lost in the wave of time are all here. From saint to devil. They are here to remind us of the evil in our hearts. To present the most disgusted nature of our inner mind. Hence they are called Filth. Just as they test our physical strength, they also test our spirit." Rias narrated with a sudden realization.

"That’s right." Ashton nodded his head and decided to further explain, as it won’t affect Rias in the grand scheme of things. "The most dangerous thing about the Filth is the memory lane they show us after their arrival. This phenomenon is called Lingering Reality. Normal Filths can’t do it; it is only possible by special Filths. Everyone can contend with Filths physically, as there is no Ringer who has no combat experience, well, with a few exceptions."

Ashton gave a quick glance at Lovia’s innocent face with a pair of big eyes, which were wet from the tears she shed.

He continued. "The most deadly thing about the Filth is the Lingering Reality we just experienced. There is no way of dodging it, so we just have to rely on our spirit. There are special powers inside the Lingering Reality that can deeply influence your emotions. If one’s spirit isn’t strong enough, their spirit can die, a complete collapse of mind."

"The Filths at this level already influenced us so badly, so imagine the Filths at the higher level." Ashton let out a sigh. "I heard from Baron Krestic that the Lingering Reality of Filths at that level has a complete world of its own that you can experience!"

"But take it with a face value as Baron Krestic isn’t sure about it himself."

Rias nodded his head and then remained silent, clearly needing a moment for himself.

Leaving Rias, Ashton focused on the girls. He asked with concern. "Are you girls, okay?"

"Mhm." Lovia bobbed her head up and down as she wiped away her tears.

’Hah~ You did good. For a girl from the modern century, who has never experienced any horror, your spirit is strong.’ Inwardly, Ashton sighed before looking at Anastasia. Her body trembled as her limp arms shook vigorously.

Just like in the original, Anastasia’s heart was clearly shaken. So, he had to give her some conforming words.

’This task was supposed to be Rias’s. But now I have to do it.’ Despite complaining, Ashton decided to bring back Anastasia’s spirit.

"Hey," Ashton clasped onto Anastasia’s shoulder, forcing her body to stay still. "Tell me, what is going on?"

"No...nothing." Anastasia stuttered and couldn’t force herself to elaborate.

’It’s okay. I knew you wouldn’t speak about your mother in front of everyone,’ Ashton thought to himself. He didn’t need her to answer. He just wanted to make her mind clear.

"If there is nothing, then stop shaking." Ashton shook his head in dismay. "If your sister sees you like this, she will question if she picked an unworthy brother-in-law."

Anastasia didn’t catch onto Ashton’s words first, but in a moment of realization, her head clicked.

Anastasia asked with a hostile gaze. "What did you say?"

"Nothing." Instantly, Ashton denied.

Unfortunately, Lovia was present, who had read the book. She asked dumbfounded. "Ashton, are you marrying Anastasia’s sister?"

Ashton smiled in response as there was someone far eager to answer.

"What are you talking about, Lovia? Don’t believe anything this guy says! How can my sister marry such a person with untasteful rhetoric?" Anastasia glared down upon Lovia’s face, forcing her to agree.

"Yes, yes. You are right! I was scared for your sister." Lovia nodded her head, like chicken pecking rice.

Watching the two girls once again spewing all kinds of slander against him, Ashton sighed in dismay. ’Does slandering me really make you guys so happy that you can forget all the trauma you just experienced?’

"What should we do now?" Rias suddenly asked, bringing his usual cold face that had disappeared after meeting them.

"Let’s go out. There are two more towers just like this one. I suspect these towers might be the key to leaving this Filth Drop." Ashton hypothesized, rubbing his chin.

"You are right. We have to leave this place." Rias said, walking ahead of everyone. "I will take the lead from now."

Ashton agreed, as no one here was in peak form as Rias, and he also felt now was the time for the protagonist to take the center stage.

Because the road ahead would be murkier than the one they just walked on.