Growing up surrounded by technology, Levi found the concepts of gods, demons, angels, and the like to be vague and abstract.
To him, they were merely a form of escapism crafted by humans to satisfy their hidden desires and imaginative cravings.
So, when Eleanor and Eris kept insisting that they were demons, Levi couldn't help but feel like laughing at them.
He thought they were either deep into roleplaying or perhaps afflicted by the infamous "eighth-grade syndrome."
Yet, that perception was short-lived.
His first shock came during Eris' transformation.
Initially, he suspected she was employing some kind of cheap trick, the sort magicians use to beguile their audience. However, no matter how much he pondered and scrutinized her actions, there didn't seem to be any evident trickery. Perhaps there was indeed a trick, but it was executed so seamlessly that he almost began to believe what she was doing was real magic.
The surprises didn't end there.
Following that, Eris unveiled yet another astonishing feat.
She created a magic circle using her blood. Yes, her blood! How did a few drops of blood spontaneously form what appeared to be a perfectly intricate magic circle?
There was a high chance that Eleanor and Eris might have prearranged the floor's alteration, but Levi still found himself gazing in astonishment at the magic circle, captivated by its stunning design.
It truly was a sight to behold.
However, his shock deepened when he discovered yet another surprise awaiting him.
Once the magic circle was finalized, it appeared to spring to life, emanating a glowing, eerie aura that descended and sent shivers down Levi's spine.
For a moment, the words of Eleanor echoed in his mind.
"Eris and I are demons."
'Do demons really exist?' he pondered. This time, instead of harboring skepticism, genuine curiosity and excitement grew within him as he eagerly anticipated what other surprises might await him.
Subsequently, a creature emerged—an ugly-looking creature that stood on all fours.
Levi's mind went blank at the sight of the creature. It didn't look like a hologram or someone in a costume. To him, the creature felt undeniably real!
As the creature appeared, an unpleasant odor emanated from the peculiar creature. The smell was indescribable but undoubtedly disgusting, capable of inducing nausea if one lingered too long.
Fortunately, Eris had no intention of letting the creature linger. After assigning it a name, she swiftly commanded it to capture some animals in the garden.
Unexpectedly, the creature didn't head for the door leading to the garden. Instead, it dove straight toward the glass window.
In a matter of seconds, a resounding crash echoed through the room as the glass window shattered.
Clank!
The shattering of the glass not only echoed its physical disintegration but also symbolized the collapse of his longstanding perceptions about the world.
Once, he staunchly believed that mythical entities were nothing more than imaginative constructs. However, now... he found himself in a state of uncertainty. It seemed increasingly likely that they did exist, tucked away in the corners of the world unbeknownst to most humans, silently observing the flourishing society from the shadows.
As he contemplated this, an abrupt chill crept up his spine. In reaction, his eyes instinctively sought out Eleanor. She appeared to have sensed his gaze and responded with a smile.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed the shattered glass fragments heading in his direction.
Each of those fragments seemed to possess a needle-like size, and he knew that the smaller the fragments, the more dangerous they were.
His subconscious urged him to avoid them, but the speed of the fragments was not to be underestimated. He believed his body would be unable to evade them.
Suddenly, Eleanor's words came rushing back to him once again.
"It's normal for someone who's just undergone a transformation to be unable to control their strength properly"
The keyword here is 'transformation.'
According to her words, it seemed like his body had undergone a transformation he himself was unaware of.
But, even if he had no idea what kind of transformation he got, it was undeniably evident that it had granted him a substantial boost in physique. The stark evidence lay in his daunting height increase and monstrous strength.
Following this line of reasoning, one could assume that his agility had also increased, right?
Thinking of this, he observed the glass fragments about to reach him and promptly vanished from the spot.
At first glance, it appeared as if he had vanished, but that wasn't the case. It was simply because he moved too fast, creating the illusion of disappearing.
Upon reappearing, he found himself back in front of the room where he had slept moments before.
After counting the distance, he was rather astonished. 'Did I just leap backward ten meters in a single bound?'
It was almost inconceivable to think that he had just accomplished a feat considered challenging, if not impossible, even for most athletes!
Just as he was being smug of himself, he observed Eleanor, seated closest to the glass window, maintaining her composure without much movement. Surprisingly, not a single glass fragment landed on her.
He felt miserable all of a sudden.
"Something about you has changed. Did you finally accept our existence?" Eleanor's voice snapped him back to reality.
"Yeah, it would be foolish of me to stubbornly stick to my old beliefs. When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth," Levi sighed.
"Lucky for you. If you had persisted in denial, I might have had to resort to another method, which you likely wouldn't have appreciated," Eleanor smiled, revealing her pristine, white teeth.
Levi dared not inquire about the kind of method she was referring to and promptly asked, "So, what kind of demons are you guys? And do other supernatural beings like vampires, angels, also exist? If so, where do they dwell? How is it that we humans never catch a glimpse of them? An-"
"Slow down," Eleanor cut him off. "There's no need to be so hasty. We've got plenty of time; just ask your questions one by one."
"Right," Levi scratched his head, but before he could pose a question, Eleanor's words echoed once more. "And for your information, you shouldn't associate yourself with the word 'human' again."
"Why?" Levi suddenly had a foreboding feeling.
"Because you're no longer a human,"
"You're a demon."