We came in closer to watch what was happening from a safe distance. Things seemed to be weird.
I couldn't grasp what the woman was thinking.
She wasn't doing anything in particular, and with my heightened senses, I made out their interaction.
The newborn Sila seemed too charmed by his own beauty. Unable to answer the nun that approached.
His eyes stuck on the face in the reflection.
I started to realise that his innate desires were likely vain, and not at all destructive like I hoped.
Which was what caused this situation to happen.
"Excuse me. Would you be willing to hear me out a bit?" The nun asked him, but he still ignored her.
After a while of talking to a wall, she finally lost her patience and murmured something in a whisper.
"It's an undead type, huh?" A cold and emotionless voice replaced the approachable elegance of tone.
My eyes widened by the next scene that followed.
*Shing*
A blade was unsheathed from the white cross she had been holding this entire time. Striking fast.
Not even hesitating to puncture the newborn Sila's neck in public. A rare display of violence in this era.
My mouth hung open from the shock.
What… happened?
The newborn didn't even have time to demonstrate its powers before being burnt by a holy white fire.
It barely made out a muffled scream before the flame engulfed its figure and destroyed its body.
No one reacted to this terrifying sight.
Not even turning their heads.
The fuck?
Was reality always this cruel?
"They're props." As if to answer my confusion, a calm and collected voice was heard next to me.
I looked closer at the 'people' in the vicinity, then realised they seemed more like illusionary figures.
Getting blurrier the closer you looked at them.
But how…?
"What she used was a standard barrier of the Hidden World. It's used for isolation." (Clarissa)
"Isn't that way too overpowered?" (Adam)
"You have to borrow power from the Alaya Force to complete the technique. Understanding of time and space aren't necessary. Moreover, it's only difficult to get out of the user is strong." (Clarissa)
"Sounds cool- Wait, that's not the point. Was my Sila really that weak in power? I expected more of a fight to happen." To me, it was really disappointing to see how the newborn Sila died to her so easily.
Was she actually strong?
"Untrained, distracted, along with the difference due to affinities, and having no sense of urgency to battle. I could tell that former man was strong, but the lack of any other 'strengths' was vital." Clarissa broke me down and criticised me for my actions.
The only part I was unable to understand was what she meant by 'affinity difference'. Was it that bad?
But I put that question off for the moment.
The thing that interested me was what happened next. With how the Nun dealt with the burnt Sila.
After completely turning the body to ashes, the nun stored them inside a container and closed it.
Seeming very respectful to the dead Sila, rather than the 'living' one that was walking around.
After finishing the clean up, she flicked her fingers and released the 'barrier' that she had laid down.
Every moment being interesting for me to watch.
"Who is she calling?" Instead of listening in, I tried to get more context to my knowledgeable partner.
"Probably reporting what she saw to the Hunter Society." Clarissa shrugged as if it didn't matter.
"Not a Church or Vatican?" (Adam)
"What are you thinking? If they had this sort of power, wouldn't they advertise it?" (Clarissa)
"…I can't argue with that." (Adam)
"Alright, you're not totally wrong. The 'Hunter Society' exists to sort out and hunt problems that might affect people at large. Demons are hunted by religious groups within the society." (Clarissa)
"Then what do they mainly hunt now?" (Adam)
"Criminals, madmen, disasters, and sometimes the occasional demonic entity. Normal people can at times awaken superpowers, and they tend to overdo it. You can guess the rest." (Clarissa)
When I thought about my high school self suddenly awakening the power to see through clothes, I didn't catch her drift. The world needs more superpower users. This joke wasn't spoken loudly.
I didn't want to seem like some kind of pervert.
Anyway…
"So how strong is she?" (Adam)
"Entry level." (Clarissa)
My mouth fell a little, but I made sure to clarify myself just in case we were on the wrong page.
"I meant the Nun." (Adam)
"Same here." (Clarissa)
"But she killed my guy so easily…?" (Adam)
"Well, he would've lasted longer if he was an actual fighter. Normal civilians aren't brawlers." (Clarissa)
"Still, she killed him in one hit though…" (Adam)
I wasn't sure why I'd felt a little depressed. It was a rushed creation, but my zombies should be strong.
Seeing my shifting mood, Clarissa grasped my shoulder and tried to make me feel a little better.
At least she tried…
"Don't worry. It's also because Holy Magic is intrinsically stronger than Evil Magic." Clarissa tried to console me, but these words only made me nervous when it came to fulfilling my purpose.
"You say what now?" I fumbled over my words.
"Ahem… Did you not know?" She lifted a brow.
"I'm new at this, remember?" (Adam)
"Well… Ummm… When have you seen miracles of any 'God' be overpowered by Devils?" (Clarissa)
Again, she made a good argument about this.
Seeing how the nun left, we returned back to our current residence to replan our next actions.
It looked like things wouldn't be so easy…
That Nun from earlier didn't even use a Magic Circle. She just cut my undead, and it died easily.
We needed to become stronger.
Clarissa went to the back to work on something while I studied about things using their library.
Nothing was written down obviously, but I could generally get a sense by reading history and circumstances regarding the Hidden World. Which all started from what they had most knowledge on.
Before the Pine Household had dwindled to the point that the family separated (with only Clarissa was left to carry the torch), they had researched and compiled data regarding certain individuals.
From cross examining information, I realised that these 'Nurturers' were crucial to 'this world'.
Since not many was naturally born with superhuman powers, it was the responsibility of a Nurturer to train those under their tutelage to become just that. Infusing their powers into them.
It seemed to be a training method using Magic Circles. Similar to physical education for a sport.
The more I'd looked around, the more I realised there were actually four main support professions taken nowadays. These were what people normally trained to become rather than fighters and hunters.
After all, we lived in a money valuing community.
Maybe in ancient times, the secret world was filled with brawlers and people trying to become famous.
But now, it was either for security or entertainment.
The most common jobs taken by adults these days in the Hidden World was taking a supportive role.
That meant becoming either an 'Nurturer', 'Exorcist', 'Shaman', and 'Artificer'. Besides those who become Gift Retainers through Awakening or Bestowal (like aristocrats) everyone used Magic.
What interested me more than Nurturers wasn't Exorcists or Artificers, but instead it was Shamans.
After all, to become a Shaman, one needed to have enough evil influence to Curse another person.
'Curse Invocations…' I wasn't sure what was the difference between this and Evil Magic, but I was ready to start learning as soon as I came across someone with suitable skills., and I'd use my Gift.
Why was I in such a hurry?
I only had around a month's time before that disaster Kang Hyuk told me about would occur.
It wasn't that I wasn't aware of my own lacking strength, nor how dangerous this world really was.
The only problem was that I didn't have a better plan. After all, you had to make do with your skills.
I couldn't start regretting the Gifts I'd personally chose at this point, even if they were dragging me down. If I did so, I'd be no different from ungrateful trash that couldn't count the blessing given to me.
Whether it was a prophecy of destruction, or my Gacha Phone, all of it were things to be used.
Wallowing in pity over small stuff only wasted time.
It was at that point I wondered what Sidmund and Sophia were doing, but I didn't shift perspectives.
Just because I COULD use something didn't mean I should ignore the punishments of doing so.
I chose to be responsible for my mental health.
Polluting my mind with the thoughts of others should only be done when I've gained composure.
A level of control over my mind and body.
Thus, I tried to relax myself despite how urgent my plans were. Trying to get completely comfortable.
As I was doing so, I released the Cosmetic Polymorph on my appearance and shifted my sitting posture to accommodate for my tail. The sensation of having horns was also being felt.
This was my new body, so I had to get used to all of the changes that came with my transformation.
It was at that point I noticed something about my horns in particular. Notably, they had many nerves.
Why would horns need so many in the first place?
Trying to dig deeper into the wealth of improved abilities let me uncover a secret. A trait of demons.
One that humans couldn't replicate.