An unexpected visitor arrived at the White Tower. Olovice was quite surprised by this guest because it was the Baron of the Black Tower.

All the staff at Morito Church greeted the Baron with smiles and led him to the treatment room, treating him with respect. The Baron was a devout believer in the Radiant Lord, and the Holy Cathedral of the Light Cross in Morito City received large donations from him every year. On Christmas Day, the Baron was even more generous, almost single-handedly funding the church’s Christmas decorations. With the Baron’s strong support, the Light Cross Cathedral in Morito was one of the top in the southern region of the kingdom.

The operation of the steam train made the Baron increasingly wealthy, and he was beginning to make a name for himself in the Kingdom of Hearn.

Such a noble with real status, who should be particularly busy, came to see him. When the healing nun opened the door, Olovice showed a surprised yet joyful expression, trying to sit up with his hand on the bed’s edge. The healing nun quickly supported him and said with a smile, “Olovice, the Baron has come to see you.”

The Baron stepped in, shook Olovice’s hand, and said with familiar concern, “Olovice, I’m so glad to see you’re out of danger.” After speaking, he turned to the reporters who had followed him in, “Not long ago, I, along with the Radiant Bishops and this injured hero, defeated a powerful and evil demon, providing more security for the citizens’ travel and lives. Demons are terrifying and dangerous, but there’s no need to worry. I, along with the Radiant Church and many righteous religions, are silently protecting everyone.”

“This is what I should do,” Olovice replied, half-lying on the hospital bed, watching the Baron’s political show, and said, “For the safety of Morito City, you are the one who truly puts in the effort, Baron.”

With the sound of cameras clicking, various camera angles focused on the Baron speaking eloquently, while some cameras moved closer to the bed to capture the scene of the Baron comforting the injured hero.

“Protecting the citizens’ safety is my responsibility, and I will uphold and practice this principle for life, making Morito City better and better. Morito City has been the champion of the Poitiers Five Cities Safe Living Choice for ten consecutive years. In the first half of this year, it was also selected as one of the best tourist scenic cities in southern Hearn. By the end of the year, I will implement electrical renovations for affordable housing in the city.”

The Baron raised his hands high, “Ladies and gentlemen, I urge all citizens to actively participate and fill out the major city questionnaires in the ‘Hearn Noble Journal,’ so that His Majesty the King can see the voices and choices of the people. Please join me in creating a beautiful future for Morito City.”

Olovice knew about this journal, published by the Hearn nation. It was said that the top twenty nobles in the survey would receive an audience and rewards from His Majesty the King, while those at the bottom would have investigators sent to visit and investigate.

After the thunderous applause, the Baron finally finished his excellent and highly infectious speech.

After a large number of reporters left, the church staff were also asked to leave by the Baron’s assistant. The healing nun was preparing potions and bandages on the platform.

The Baron looked at the person on the bed again, as if remembering something, and asked, “Bishop Ulrich approved you to be a rural priest, and Captain Pulin recommended you to become the spokesperson for the Light Cross Church in Morito City. It’s a very respectable and safe job with excellent pay.”

“Thank you for your and Captain Pulin’s kindness, but I want to return to Letania,” Olovice said.

The Black Tower Baron didn’t say much more, just sighed, “What a pity.”

This young man’s appearance was simply too suitable for the position of a hymn spokesperson.

After the Black Tower Baron left, the healing nun unwrapped the bandages around Olovice’s waist and abdomen. It was much better than a few days ago. Although the new skin was still very fragile, it was healthy. After thoroughly checking with a pollution detector, the healing nun recorded the recovery status of the combat personnel in the treatment document: good, no pollution, clear cognition.

Watching Olovice finish today’s dose of inactivated potion, the healing nun, holding the document, couldn’t help but say, “Olovice, I heard that Letania doesn’t even have a steam train station.”

“Not only that, most of the roads there are dirt roads, and it takes a whole day by carriage to get to Montpelier,” Olovice replied with a smile.

“Oh, by the Holy Light,” the healing nun exclaimed, “That’s too remote. Why not stay in Morito City? You were seriously injured fighting the demon this time. With this experience, no one in the church would oppose you being the hymn spokesperson.”

Olovice said, “My teacher is getting old. I want to take over his position and take good care of him in his old age.”

“I see,” the healing nun realized, admiring this priest steward even more. Not everyone can refuse such a bright future so quickly. She asked, “What would you like for dinner? It’s already the fifth day, Olovice. For better recovery, you can have some soft stewed meat. Do you have a preferred flavor?”

Hearing this good news, Olovice smiled, “How about tomato-braised beef brisket?”

“Congratulations, the cafeteria just bought fresh beef brisket and tender lamb. Wait, I’ll bring it to you for dinner,” the healing nun said, noticing that Olovice didn’t need any extra mental comfort, and then left.

The September sun was no longer scorching. With peace around him, Olovice lowered his eyelashes. Since he discovered it last time, the demon flesh inside him had been much quieter. When Olovice used the power of the Holy Spirit to examine his body, he found it was coiled around his heart.

Olovice didn’t know how it avoided the pollution detector. When the healing nun checked, there was no alarm or abnormality. Olovice once tried to use the Holy Spirit’s power within him to remove it, but it was impossible. When he tried to remove it, it felt like he was desperately pulling his own heart from his chest.

The instant pain made Olovice break out in a cold sweat, his vision darkened, and he almost fainted, taking a long time to recover.

Later, Olovice waited for it to not be on his heart, but once it left the heart’s position, the mass of flesh seemed to dissolve into the river, making it hard to trace. Because of this, in just two days, Olovice’s control over the Holy Spirit improved significantly.

But Olovice had a worse suspicion about the demon. It had the ability to mimic or merge.

Yes, he should have thought of it earlier. Since it could parasitize, split, and copy, it should also have mimicry and fusion abilities. These two are always intricately linked because its original form was a fusion product.

During his time at the White Tower, Olovice wasn’t idle. He learned about the beginning of the Black Tower demon from the books in the White Tower and the healing nun.

The existence of the Black Tower demon could be traced back to the last century, during the reign of Caesar VI. It was imprisoned in the Black Tower then. The dark cage, while imprisoning the demon, also granted it deep sleep. The peace of the Black Tower didn’t mean peace for Morito City. Being far from the capital, slightly remote in location, and once a war fortress for centuries, Morito City attracted some wandering black magicians, underground evil cults, dangerous demons, annoying sorcerers, and mad mystics…

The last century’s Morito City could be described as a dance of demons.

It was once known as the City of Demons.

The ancestor of the Black Tower Baron thought of the Black Tower demon imprisoned in the Black Tower.

Because he discovered that as long as the hard-to-kill demons or dangerous cult members, strange special items were thrown into the room imprisoning the Black Tower demon, they would be consumed by the room, eliminating threats without losing manpower.

Such a perfect solution was unanimously agreed upon and supported by the church at the time because of its significant effect. The demons in the surrounding cities of Morito gradually disappeared.

His teacher’s peaceful study period and occasional regrets about not achieving great things were subtly linked to the Black Tower demon.

By the time of Caesar VII, the current Baron was horrified to discover that, unbeknownst to him, the Black Tower demon, as the original sin body, was no longer asleep.

Initially, the forbidden item, the Sea God’s Horn, could still put it to sleep. Later, the horn’s effect weakened, and the Baron had to start looking for people to suppress it. The church, knowing its danger, was also working hard to suppress it.

The awakening and growth speed of the Black Tower demon exceeded the expectations of both parties.

The formation of the absolute domain further dealt a blow to the church. Olovice already knew the rest because he had become involved.

Before thinking of a better solution, Olovice welcomed his dinner with a worried and troubled mind.

The food comforted his body and soul, though it was a pity there wasn’t more.

At eight in the evening, after another fruitless investigation, Olovice went to the bathroom to wash up, changed into new pajamas, and prepared to sleep. He was still in a weak period and needed to recuperate. During this time, busy dealing with the demon, he was exhausted every day.

Under the silver moon, Olovice fell asleep.

He didn’t know how long it had been when he suddenly woke up.

Olovice immediately noticed something strange in his mouth.

He looked down at the piece of meat he was biting into, the smell of lamb filling his nostrils. Blood trickled from his mouth to his neck and collar, staining the front of his white cotton pajamas with a bloody mess. Olovice slowly released his bite, the deep teeth marks on the lamb showing his eagerness to eat.

Olovice looked around; it was the small kitchen of the White Tower. With the withdrawal of the White Tower staff, the kitchen was used by him and the healing nun. The kitchen was stocked with various foods purchased by the chef. Except for the damaged meat, everything else was intact.

Olovice looked at the piece of meat in his hand, cut off the bitten part, and then diced that small piece.

During this time, Olovice felt his saliva frantically secreting. The not-so-fresh, bloody lamb seemed to become the most delicious and best food in the world. His stomach urged him to eat the raw meat.

Olovice knew his stomach wasn’t his own; it was its.

After cutting and bagging it, Olovice carefully washed his hands, ensuring no trace of the smell remained. He didn’t want to wake up again to find himself eating his fingers.

Then, he left the kitchen.

He could only be thankful that the White Tower currently housed only him and the healing nun.

Returning to the treatment room, Olovice flushed the diced meat down the toilet, changed into new pajamas, and burned the previous set and the bag with holy fire, leaving no trace.

Tomorrow, when his teacher arrives, he’ll return to the remote Letania with him. He can’t stay at the Morito City Light Cathedral any longer, Olovice thought as he brushed his teeth.

Standing in front of the mirror, the mint-flavored toothpaste washed away the taste of raw meat, and the toothbrush and teeth created white foam, not missing a corner of his mouth.

Olovice stopped brushing only when he saw tiny blood streaks.

He opened his mouth wide.

In the mirror, deep in his throat.

A hand flashed by.