Olovice lay on a bed in a purification room inside the White Tower. The sudden bright light above made him close his eyes, the light filtering through his eyelids was a soft pink. He turned his head, listening to the voice of the healing nun.

He had been severely scolded by Captain Pulin for recklessly examining the fragmented flesh of Samuel’s face, and then sent to the healing nun in the White Tower for a check-up to see if he had been contaminated by Samuel.

The White Tower housed graduates from the school, such as magic pattern restorers and healers. They were supposed to be assigned to a church as a secretary or deacon, and with age and experience, become a reserve priest for the church. Alternatively, they could become a preacher within the church, using their power to protect and maintain the church and the safety of the priests, without competing for the next priest position, essentially becoming the church’s armed force. A lesser choice would be to become a pharmaceutical scholar within the church.

Of course, these choices were limited to the cathedral. In unknown small churches in the countryside, the priest would handle all these tasks alone.

If one was very ambitious and had decent talent and strength, they could apply to join the Black Cross and Black Knights, but once they chose these departments, they could not transfer back, as it was a lifelong labor contract.

Due to the demon riot, last year’s graduates had been delayed for a long time. The seniors in the White Tower were full of complaints about Samuel, feeling unlucky to be assigned the task of suppressing the Black Tower demons with excellent grades, unable to quit halfway, and having to clear thorns, maintain and repair magic arrays, observe pollution sources for any spikes, or carry out the injured for treatment.

“You newbie are too bold, daring to touch Samuel’s flesh without gloves, aren’t you afraid of being contaminated? Luckily, it was in the Spiritless House, where its contamination properties were minimized.” After checking with the instruments and finding nothing abnormal, the healing nun felt lucky for this exceptionally handsome young deacon.

“Don’t be so reckless next time, Captain Pulin’s anger is terrifying.”

The healing nun helped Olovice up.

“Thank you.” Olovice half-sat on the treatment bed, thanking the healing nun. His bed was surrounded by detection and treatment instruments.

When he left the White Tower, Olovice took out his pocket watch to check the time. It was 5:07 PM, nearing evening. The baron’s banquet was at 7 PM, and most of the people in the White Tower were already having dinner in the White Tower cafeteria.

Olovice walked along the neat and orderly road. The White Towers were connected, with the Black Tower in the center, surrounded by the White Towers. Olovice counted seven White Towers, perfectly reflecting the seven-pointed star position of the magic array, definitely a large-scale magic array in terms of area.

At the end of the path was a White Tower garden. Passing through the garden and walking straight, he could reach his villa residential area.

As Olovice reached the garden, he saw the Red-Haired Witch.

“Who are you?” The red-haired witch asked warily, “Why do you have Lily’s hair on your clothes?”

Olovice took a strand of red short hair from his collar. It was hard to notice under his golden long hair, but the witch had sharp eyes.

“Do you want to see Lily?” Olovice sat on a bench in the garden, noticing the red-haired witch’s hair turning into snakes, hissing.

“Don’t be so agitated, I mean no harm to you,” Olovice said, explaining how he brought Lily: “Lily has always missed you. To be honest, you should all thank me. It’s not easy for a wandering witch to enter the Morito Bright Cathedral.”

Hearing her name, Lya believed him a bit. She took the strand of her sister’s hair from the deacon’s hand. The red short hair was bright and had her sister’s scent, with the fragrance of shampoo, looking much better than when they were wandering together.

In the five years apart, Lya constantly missed and worried about her sister. She could only do better, the best, to qualify to leave the Black Tower.

“Lily… she…” Lya turned her back, wiped her tears, then turned back to continue speaking: “I can’t go now. I have to wait until tomorrow when I meet the conditions to leave the tower. I came out now because they went to eat, and I sneaked out. If I’m discovered, Captain Pulin will definitely lock me in the Black Tower.”

“Thank you for helping us.” Lya pulled out a strand of her long hair: “Please give my hair to Lily and tell her I’ll see her tomorrow. Tell her not to run around or act impulsively, just wait for me.”

“Please.” Lya bowed deeply.

Olovice took Lya’s long hair and said, “Okay, but I also need your help. I’m in the team to eliminate the demon next time, and I want to know about Samuel in advance, any information, like its behavior, personality traits, appearance.”

Lya hesitated for a moment, then quickly whispered, “Samuel has always been locked in a dark cage. I don’t know what it looks like, and it never speaks. At least, in the five years I’ve been in the Black Tower, I’ve never heard it say a word. The Black Knights never let us get close to it. Whenever they need us witches to cast spells, we stand at the room door, far away. Its room is as big as a palace.”

“Its room is very dark, filled with its flesh. These dismembered flesh pieces automatically form Samuel’s flesh avatars. They have no intelligence, can’t communicate, and just wander aimlessly wherever they can go.”

“I once tried to communicate with Samuel, but it had no reaction.”

“It hates the bright magic fluctuations. Every time Pulin and the bishops come, its personality becomes more irritable than before. The dark cage is banged loudly by it, and its flesh avatars increase.”

“Those deformed twisted monsters crawl everywhere.”

“Believe me, it’s a terrifying scene, a blasphemous creation.”

Olovice listened intently and asked a crucial question, “Does it have any special abilities?”

“I overheard Captain Pulin say it seems to have some special absolute domain, pulling people entering its room into its world.” Lya’s face turned a bit pale, “Samuel is really scary. As it grows, its absolute domain is slowly expanding.”

Hearing this, Olovice looked at the flower-filled garden.

Some exceptionally powerful great demons have their own absolute domains, a very rare talent. Within the absolute domain, the demon has an absolute home-field advantage.

Returning to the third-floor room in the villa area, Olovice handed the long hair to Lily, repeated her sister’s words, and let Lily go play in the suite. Only then did Olovice lie on the soft big bed, staring expressionlessly at the carved patterns on the ceiling.

It’s a bit strange, he thought.

The students in the White Tower were excellent graduates, and their work was similar to what the teachers said, assisting the armed institutions Black Cross and Black Knights within the church. The church would produce some preachers at most, so what about him?

The old priest, Bishop Ulrich, and Captain Pulin all praised and affirmed him, letting him fill Mr. Brown’s position. He also had to participate in this demon elimination activity with Captain Pulin and others, instead of being stationed in the White Tower with those graduates.

But he had just become familiar with the demon extermination gun and didn’t have much combat experience. There were also some combat elites in the White Tower, so why not promote them and instead let him, a novice, join? Captain Pulin even wanted to bring him along for the temporary containment of the Alektryos Magic Mirror.

This strange attention made Olovice think more.

He glanced out the window, the sky was almost dark. Today was August 30th, the last day of August.

It was also the day the blood moon appeared every month.

Olovice got up, stood by the window, and saw his reflection in the glass. It wasn’t as clear as a mirror, but the intense colors of his original body looked more impactful in the blur. Olovice touched his eyes. He had carefully observed this shell before; his eyes were different from his previous life’s black pupils, with deep blue eyes having a cold, pure feeling like the depths of the ocean.

This body’s face was extremely inhuman, especially when not smiling. Olovice had always made sure to control his facial expressions well, moving his facial muscles, slightly lowering his eyes, curving the corners of his eyes into a gentle angle, and raising the corners of his lips, with a smile just right.

Olovice inadvertently thought of the black eyelashes he saw in the afternoon.

The Black Tower demon’s eyelashes were black.

Olovice couldn’t describe his feelings when he discovered this. He was impulsive, uncontrollable, and in the next second, he suddenly lifted the demon’s eyelid.

He didn’t see black eyes.

After a long time, Olovice realized he was in a cold sweat, with fear, confusion, dread, excitement, trembling, and disappointment hitting him belatedly.

What was he looking for? What was he afraid of? Olovice knew very well.

The deepest secret was unspeakable. He wasn’t from this world; his soul occupied this perfect shell, hiding in this mysterious and dangerous society.

But at a certain moment, seeing the black eyelashes that most people in this world couldn’t possibly have, Olovice realized he had always been lonely and afraid deep inside.

Touching the unformed eye socket of the demon, Olovice vaguely felt that it was its eye, just not fully grown, or the eye tissue had fused together.

Black eyes, only now they had turned into a pool of black water.

Olovice thought he must have been influenced by the Alektryos Magic Mirror.

For a moment, he even had hallucinations and auditory hallucinations again, hearing the desperate sobs of the lady in the magic mirror and sensing changes in the demon’s eye socket. Its texture began to have a slight elastic moisture, but the eyeball was a bit large, occupying the entire eye socket, rolling and turning non-stop, with every part of the eyeball brushing against his fingers, without any white showing.

It seemed blind, relying only on touch.

The next moment, his hallucination disappeared.

Captain Pulin violently pushed him away and stomped on the demon’s eye tissue flesh.

Olovice opened the window.

The blood moon had already begun to show its color.

When Olovice followed Captain Pulin and the others to the Black Tower Baron’s castle, the blood moon had risen to the sky. The end-of-month blood moon made the sky particularly dark, but it didn’t stop the baron’s castle from being brightly lit.

The Morito City Archbishop and Bishop Ulrich were already waiting for them, then led everyone into the castle. The baron’s castle was a relic from the last century, with black as the castle’s theme. The butler, dressed in a black tailcoat, led the guests to the side hall.

The side hall doors opened, and Olovice was momentarily dazzled by the lights inside.

The hall was luxurious, the banquet already set up, and the baron, with his female companion, walked over with a smile.

Olovice first looked at the enchanting witch beside the baron. She had a perfect female figure, wearing a crystal gown that accentuated her curves, with a beautiful face and brown waves cascading to her waist, adding to her allure, especially her eyes, brown like filled with honey, extremely charming.

Undoubtedly, she was a true beauty, the most charming woman Olovice had seen so far.

Compared to the enchanting witch, the Black Tower Baron’s appearance seemed ordinary, but his dark gray eyes were very sharp.

Olovice suddenly thought of the Morito City Archbishop, who also had dark gray eyes. He recalled the two faces and found they did resemble each other a bit, probably relatives?

A bunch of clergy and a witch getting along amicably, Olovice found it a bit subtle.

“Is this the new one from your Radiant Church?” The enchanting witch, after the baron and the archbishops exchanged pleasantries, pointed at Olovice with a charming smile and asked.

Her pointing was too direct, making it impossible for Olovice, who had been walking at the back, to pretend not to see. He drew a cross and smiled, “Hello, madam.”

The enchanting witch, arm in arm with the baron, walked up to him, scrutinizing him for a while, “I can’t imagine that the southern part of Poitiers has such an outstandingly handsome young man.”

The enchanting witch’s words encompassed all the southern cities of the Hearn Kingdom, giving the highest praise. She looked at the young man in a simple deacon’s white robe with appreciation and joy, “What’s your name?”

“Ahem.” The baron, who had also noticed the young man early on, coughed.

“Dear, don’t be jealous. You’re still my favorite human. For you, I can do anything.” The enchanting witch snuggled against the baron, gently stroking his luxurious clothes, smiling like a flower.

After a small interlude, Olovice sat at the end of the long table, watching the baron and the bishops chatting and laughing, expressing the determination to eliminate the demon and introducing the enchanting witch to help.

Bishop Ulrich refused without thinking, Captain Pulin hesitated slightly, while the Morito City Glorious Bishop supported the baron’s idea and approach.

Listening to their debate, Olovice noticed the enchanting witch kept looking at him, and when he noticed, she raised her wine glass to him from afar.

Hearing Bishop Ulrich’s refusal, the baron defended his female companion.

“Bely is a witch of noble blood. Her family was once a guest of the Silver Moon Count. The Silver Moon City still sells a romance novel written by Bely’s ancestor. Bishop Ulrich, I hope you can put aside your prejudice against witches and respect the noble descendants of the witch, the Caril family.”

Unexpectedly, this enchanting witch was a noble among witches. Olovice took a sip of white wine.

The four big figures discussed the demon elimination for tomorrow. The baron was eager to have the witch join, already gaining the agreement of the Morito City Archbishop and the Black Knights, leaving the isolated Bishop Ulrich at a disadvantage.

Initially, Olovice was a bit puzzled why Captain Pulin would agree, but then he realized Captain Pulin’s station was in Morito City, under the Black Tower Baron’s watch.

Among the four, only Bishop Ulrich was an outsider to the Morito City circle.

In the end, Bishop Ulrich agreed.

“That’s better. Bely is well-intentioned. The Black Tower demon has been in my Morito City for so many years, and you haven’t completely solved it, causing me a lot of trouble. Now, with the church and Bely’s help, I’m sure there will be a good result tomorrow,” said the Black Tower Baron.

“Rest assured, Baron, I will solve your troubles,” Bely smiled.

Olovice saw Bishop Ulrich’s face turn ashen.

It felt like the waters of the Black Tower’s forbidden area were getting murkier, with even witches joining in.

As the banquet was about to end, the Black Tower Baron invited the bishops and Captain Pulin to discuss more details for tomorrow, leaving the hall.

Only the secretaries, some team members, and Olovice remained.

The enchanting witch, swaying a glass of red wine, walked gracefully towards Olovice, placing her hand on his shoulder, leaning down with a sweet smile, “Let’s continue our unfinished conversation, little one. What’s your name?”

Olovice stared at the enchanting witch’s face, which looked no older than twenty, unable to guess her actual age. After a while, he smiled and replied, “Hello, beautiful Lady Bely, my name is Olovice.”

“Translated from Krumbiswen to Hearn, it means light, shine, warmth, radiance. This name suits you well,” the enchanting witch said, her gaze lingering on the young deacon’s face. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I smell the ashes of a Nusantong spirit medium, a nostalgic snack I haven’t had in a while.”

Olovice initially wanted to divert the trouble to Noah, but with the secretaries and team members still in the hall, he didn’t speak.

“The night is beautiful outside, little one. Want to take a walk with me?” The enchanting witch laughed, her voice like a melody.

“Lady Bely, our bishop will be back soon,” a secretary spoke up.

“What’s it to you?” The enchanting witch glared at him, “The moonlight is so beautiful. Come on, Olovice, let’s enjoy this blood moonlight.” With that, she pulled Olovice’s hand and left.

Olovice, sitting at the end, was much closer to the door than the others. By the time the secretaries and team members chased after them, the two were already gone.

Olovice and the enchanting witch sat at the edge of the tower’s peak.

He looked up, seeing the huge red full moon high in the sky, its faint red moonlight covering the ground. The enchanting witch, like a playful child, tiptoed under the moonlight, gently waving her arms, spinning half a circle, her skirt fluttering.

“The snack you want is sold on the dark street in Montpelier,” Olovice said.

The enchanting witch, however, only stared at Olovice’s face. She reached out, her red-polished nails gently pinching one side of Olovice’s cheek, pulling outward, but nothing came off. Instead, her sharp nails pierced Olovice’s face, with a trickle of blood flowing from under his ear.

The enchanting witch looked at her fingertips, burned by the holy blood, and gently blew on them, feeling a slight pain.

Olovice wiped the blood from his cheek with a handkerchief.

“How strange,” Bely murmured, biting her fingertip, “I actually feel close to a clergy member of the Radiant Church.”

“This is unbelievable for a witch,” she muttered, her eyes puzzled.

“Lady Bely, I’ll take those words as a compliment,” Olovice smiled good-naturedly, his tone gentle and composed.

“No mask, the flesh is real, the holy power is real, even the appearance and name are the radiant holiness that witches hate,” the enchanting witch looked at Olovice again, “I should be extremely disgusted by you, little one, but the reality is completely opposite.”

“My perception and my actual actions have formed a contrast,” the enchanting witch, troubled, twirled her wavy hair, “Maybe I should see a psychologist, hope I don’t get schizophrenia.”

Olovice was amused by the witch’s statement. This world’s new era was indeed advanced in some aspects.

“Little one, do you know what you’re doing tomorrow?” The enchanting witch asked, looking like she was enjoying a show.

“I know, joining Captain Pulin and the bishops to eliminate the demon,” Olovice said.

“So brave, not afraid of sacrifice?” The enchanting witch teased, “I remember you’re the lowest rank among them, just a deacon. Your only advantage is probably your particularly pure holy power. They let you join just to send you to your death.”

Olovice looked at the enchanting witch.

She flew behind Olovice, laughing, “Did the bishop and the Holy Wing Captain tell you how to eliminate the Black Tower demon? With their current power, even with forbidden items, it’s not enough. The Black Tower demon’s absolute domain will slowly weaken the forbidden item’s effect on it, and over time, it will erode the forbidden item. This requires the church’s Holy Son to eliminate it.”

“The baron has already prepared a vessel for the Holy Son’s descent. Guess who that vessel will be?”

The young deacon didn’t speak, seemingly hit hard, his silver-white eyelashes drooping like frost, his thin lips slightly pursed.

“You’re breaking my heart,” the enchanting witch’s voice was both seductive and coaxing, “Why don’t I help you escape, poor little one?”

“No, I won’t leave.” Olovice suddenly raised his head, rejecting the witch’s offer. He drew a holy cross on his white robe, firmly saying, “Some things must be done, even if it means sacrifice. The holy light is eternal, humanity is eternal.”

The enchanting witch laughed in anger, “You Radiant Church people are really brainwashed.”

“My lord’s teachings, how could a witch understand?” Behind them, Bishop Ulrich, the Morito Church Archbishop, and Captain Pulin emerged from behind the large clock.

Captain Pulin’s gaze was momentarily complex.

Bishop Ulrich looked at Olovice with appreciation. This young man was truly loyal to the church, even after learning the truth, he didn’t choose to flee or betray, just a pity.

On the way back, Bishop Ulrich expressed his apology to the young man, promising that during the Holy Son’s descent, he would do his utmost to protect his soul and body, preventing them from shattering.

Olovice returned to his third-floor residence.

Lily was already asleep in the suite, snoring softly.

Olovice stood in front of the dressing mirror, looking at his face, mimicking the enchanting witch’s actions.

He dug along the wound behind his ear.

A small black beetle lay in his blood-stained palm.

The black beetle had many transparent, slowly moving phantom legs, making the beetle itself appear illusory, half-hidden in his palm, as if it were a creature from another world.

The grave digger of souls,

Born from the River Styx.