Maybe my very own 'foolishness' will be the death of me.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lucian eventually agreed to whatever the Avatar of the Witch of Dreams meant by teaching her how to be human—it was also a testament that as time passed, or perhaps due to extreme circumstances, an Eternal Class Awakener would gradually lose their humanity.
It didn't mean that they would become cold-blooded, indiscriminate murderers. Rather, they would be prone to sacrificing the few for the sake of the many.
Lucian was curious how every Eternal Class Awakener would gradually lose their humanity. However, seeing even just the superficial state of current society, it was evidently prevalent that even those below the Class Grade: Eternal would have a few screw loose already as a side-effect of possessing incredible power.
Historically, before the Twelve Family Heads managed to restore the order of society, Chaos Awakeners—awakened ones who used their acquired power for pure evil and mere self-interest—ran rampant throughout every corner of the habitable world.
It was a very simple yet grave situation that revolved around one question...
What would you do if you were suddenly given extraordinary, godlike powers?
Those who were already evil and find joy at the suffering of others...
Those who were initially helpless and had no choice but to only contain the intense emotion of rage within them...
Those who became drunk on the limitless possibility...
There was only one answer—rampage.
The moment humans were granted inexplicable power, regardless of Class Grade bestowed on them by the mysterious [Heaven System], the Awakener's humanity was already heavily compromised.
Lucian thought so as he glanced at the Witch of Dreams, tilting her head as she scrutinized him.
"So, what do we do?"
Facing this persona, and based on her very words, Lucian learned that the Witch of Dreams split herself among numerous avatars each containing a set of individual personalities.
The one who possessed his sister, Samantha Morgath, was known as the Clumsy Self—all of which were a product of one of her Main Skills named Reality Fragmentation.
"You told me you have some business, how about I help you with that?"
On the other hand, though inexplicably chilling, Lucian was informed that this persona with him was called the "Obsessive Self of Existential Identity," which was also one of the dominant avatars of the Witch of Dreams that barely had humanity.
In other words, this girl who looked like in her early twenties could act as a cold-blooded killing machine if things were on the slippery slope, to the edges of merciless retaliation in case she was wronged.
"I know I agreed to teach you how to be human... But there are some things I have to do personally... and discreetly."
As they sat by each side on the rooftop while being surrounded by countless ghosts, some of which were floating mid-air, unaffected by the natural law of gravity, Lucian carefully chose his words.
"We're allies, aren't we? Why can't I know–"
Hearing such a query, Lucian raised his one hand to interrupt her, not knowing whether or not to feel pity at such a seemingly naive question.
Letting out an expressive sigh, Lucian gazed intently at her dreamy dark purple eyes tinted with solid pink pupils.
Looking at each other closely, Lucian expressed what was on his mind.
"...But we're not friends."
For some reason, this avatar of the Witch of Dreams had her expressive eyes widened, hearing such an unexpected set of words that were indirectly distinguishing the difference between what it meant to be allies and friends.
"...Alliance means that both parties share the same interest. But being friends with each other means accepting the differences with one another and staying deeply involved regardless of these differences.
"One could betray, the other must not—or else it's not called friendship from the start."
Before accepting her offer to teach her how to become human, Lucian formulated at the back of his mind the ways it could succeed.
To begin with, being human means to have humanity...
In addition, to have humanity meant to be compassionate...
Moreover, to be compassionate meant to understand others...
If your main body is listening to everything, then I'll gladly befriend all of you.
Lucian was deprived of friends because of his guilt of worthlessness which had eaten away his early teenage years. But in any case, fortunately so, his humanity didn't wither just by sealing himself inside his room all these years.
"Friends...?"
The Obsessive Self of Existential Identity was momentarily at a loss for words. And for some reason, such a display of innocence seemed to pluck Lucian's heartstrings.
What happened to you...?
He wondered.
Then, to push further, Lucian nodded.
"...Yes, let me teach you what being friends means."
Without a response, the avatar suddenly dissipated with an unusual smile on her lips.
***
Quest Title: [ The Comforter of Souls ]
Description: [ Your genuine desire paved the way for the lost to find rest. Guide them to your unrefined heaven on earth. Be like a shepherd who would sacrifice everything for his sheep. ]
Objective: [ Fulfill the ultimate desire of and guide every wandering soul in this hospital to eternal rest. Understanding your role would bring you various benefits. ]
Completion Rewards: [ Abolition of the Daily Quest; Passive Daily Death Points (DPs); Death Wheel; Massive Skills Upgrade; Massive amount of Unallocated Stats; and Unique Stat. ]
Failure Penalty: [ None ]
Duration: [ 30 days ]
System Reminder:
[ Throughout the duration of the Hidden Quest, the daily quest will be temporarily halted. And by completing this special quest born from your desire, every trace about the Main Quest will be revealed at once. ]
...
Some time had passed, and before the 30-day duration of the Hidden Quest that was given to him, Lucian finished relocating all the wandering souls that naturally marked the Seoul District Five Medicine as their territory.
[ Ding! ]
[ You have completed the Hidden Quest: Comforter of Souls! ]
[ Assessing the completion rate of the quest objectives (0/3)... ]
Lucian barely noticed, that this Hidden Quest had three objectives—(1) to fulfill the desire of the wandering souls; (2) to guide them to the Gehenna's Bosom; and (3) to understand his role as the unique kind of Necromancer granted by the Cosmic Fall System.
[ Ding! ]
[ Every desire of the lost souls is fulfilled! ]
[ You have guided every lost soul to your heaven on earth! ]
And lastly...
Though he didn't know why...
[ You have yet to understand your role as the guide of the dead. ]
[ Objectives Completed (2/3) ]
It seems Lucian had failed to understand his role.
What...?
With his mind preoccupied, the messages from the system continued, signifying that even though he had yet to comprehend whatever this was, the mission was already considered completed.
[ Congratulations! ]
[ Daily Quest will now be abolished! ]
[ You will passively gain Death Points daily! ]
[ You have unlocked a system-related privilege known as the Death Wheel! ]
[ Your Skills have been upgraded! ]
[ You have received a massive amount of Unallocated Stats! ]
More importantly...
[ You have acquired a Unique Stat: Sin ]
Before Lucian could process what he had just read, as he was welcomed by the first ghost he had led—Kim Sana—something happened.
In the presence of hundreds if not thousands of souls, in the outskirts of the mountainous forest where the seemingly abandoned villa of his sister was located, a considerably massive crack of space manifested.
It was a dungeon rift!
But suspiciously so, it seemed the target was his very heaven.
It was only after another prompt that he had understood the situation...
That after completing the Hidden Quest...
[ The traces of the Girl from Heaven are now in your hands! ]
[ Do NOT lose the traces or else, the apocalypse will be hastened! ]