Hilda slowly opened the box, adding suspense to annoy Shila.

  “Alright, 3, 2—” Hilda counted down, annoying Shila as she quickly snatched it, opening it up instantly.

  “Screw you,” Shila said, opening it up to find a thick, worn-out book.

  “A book?” Shila said, throwing the box away as Hilda caught it.

  “No littering,” Hilda said, watching as Shila opened up the book.

  Day 1.

  I finally have a use for this useless book, I got it as a birthday present last year when I was 13 years old.

  I suppose I made a new friend today? End of today's diary I suppose.

  Now that I think about it, I lead a pretty boring life, don't I?

  “A Diary?” Hilda asked, Shila sighing in disappointment.

  “How lame,” Shila said, preparing to throw it away before getting stopped by Hilda.

  “Wait, let's check out some of the later pages,” Hilda said, holding her hand out as Shila passed it to her.

  “It'll probably be lame, I bet the most interesting thing in there is the guy's fetishes,” Shila said, crossing her arms.

  “And I thought I was messed up,” Hilda said, flipping to the last page and finding it empty except for some lingering mana.

  “You are. I'm messed up too since I'm connected to you, but I promise, I'm nowhere as messed up as you,” Shila said, snatching the diary and flipping through every page to find some writing.

  “Here,” Shila said, passing it back.

  “Thanks,” Hilda said, checking out the diary with Shila.

  Day 253.

  Well, it's time for the ceremony again.

  I wonder which poor soul will be chosen this time. Some people call it a blessing while some call it a curse to be sacrificed to our guardian.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I honestly consider it a curse but openly announcing it is taboo since our ancestors regarded it as our god.

  Hilda and Shila read before flipping to more pages, getting immersed in it as if reading some mystery novel.

  Day 276.

  It's a curse.

  Why do the villagers trust in it so much? Why does our guardian demand sacrifices?

  Why did it have to be my friend?

  I wish I could kill it, to end this tradition, even if the people cast me out.

  Day 608.

  My father has died, and I've taken on his role as the chief. I'm putting an end to the ritual permanently.

  I'll never let any of our future generations choose to sacrifice themselves or their loved ones to that… monster.

  Day 619.

  It's a disaster, why are we being punished like this? Just why do you have to—

  The sentence is cut off. This is the last page of the diary with any words written on it.

  “Wow, you thought it'd be boring?” Hilda turned over at Shila.

  “I take it back,” Shila used mana on the book, finding the book to be enchanted with water-proof magic and enchantment magic along with another magic she could barely recognise due to it being worn out.

  “It seems that we'll find out more as we find the other diaries,” Shila said, teleporting them to the 42nd floor.

  “Seems like we're going to remain underwater for a while,” Shila said, looking at the wall in front of them.

  “Pain. Welp, I suppose you gotta pull me up,” Hilda said as Shila turned to no.

  “No, you're going to learn to swim,” Shila said, crossing her arms as she pulled out the flashlight and turned it on.

  “No, I refuse,” Hilda said, crossing her arms too as the both of them stared down at each other.

  “The potion is going to run out. Eventually; you're going to have to learn,” Shila said, not willing to drag Hilda along.

  “I can always teleport to the other floors,” Hilda said, watching as Shila walked nearer.

  “Swim, you lazy piece of crap,” Shila said, unwilling to relent.

  “... Fine,” Hilda said, not wanting to stay deep under any longer than she had to due to the darkness.

  “Jump and kick your legs,” Shila instructed. Hilda tried to follow her instructions but ended up spinning 360 degrees followed by a couple more spins, ending up on her face.

  “Ok.. you know how they say fear is the best motivation?” Shila said, watching as Hilda tried again, ending up on her back this time.

  “Actually, I think the quote was that it was a great motivator but how can you even make me scared?” Hilda said, her tongue challenging.

  “Me? Who said I was going to do anything?” Shila said, shrugging as she did so.

  “Then, why did you even—” Hilda said, getting interrupted by Shila pointing to her right with her thumb.

  “Wha—?” Hilda said, finding a massive shark. One over 3 times bigger than the ones on Earth.

  “Ahh!! I hate oceans and water and this is why!” Hilda kicked her legs desperately, swimming a little bit.

  “See? Fear is the best motivation,” Shila said, watching as the shark got closer and Hilda kicked more, managing to slowly, very slowly.

  “But I suppose fear isn't big enough of a motivation to get you to start swimming immediately.

  The shark finally reached, opening its mouth as a massive vortex made from mana appeared in front, sucking Hilda in.

  “Idiot,” Shila muttered, watching as the shark swam away with Hilda in its mouth, perfectly okay.

  “Well, she'll figure it out. Now, the wall is my problem. I'll solve this diary by my…” Shila's voice trailed off as she realised the diary was still in Hilda.

  “Damn it. What do I do now… screw it, She'll figure it out, I'll go collect the rest of the probably empty diaries first,” Shila said, swimming up and intending to get the other diaries as Hilda is getting carried off into the distance into a ravine.