Half-step Purgatory

For a long time, Malin always felt that Fate had been quite generous to him. Although he had to face that life-threatening job every day, as long as he had the lovely Leopard Girl cooking delicious food for him daily, and as long as there was meat to eat and cats to stroke, life wasn't too unbearable. Working a bit harder and facing some difficulties on the job weren't really an issue for a man.
Moreover, being able to live two lives meant one shouldn't have too high demands, right, Mr. Different-Kind?
Having said that, and without waiting for an answer, the young man snapped his fingers, and the white flame on his fingertip lit the tobacco in his other hand, then he flicked it towards the non-human entity on the stake.
Welcome to Abield, to witness the last splendor of the steampunk era.
And the madness.

Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

"What's the matter, old Francis?" Because there was an outsider present, Malin asked in the tone used for internal Church discussions.


"There's a little problem. Yesterday, a team of Church apprentices went on a mission to a small town south of the city to dispel some flying heads, but they did not return all night. The Archbishop found it strange, and before dawn today, he sent a team of Church guards to the town. Just now, two riders came back and reported that the town is shrouded in thick mist. Of the eight in their team, only the two who didn't enter the town survived. The remaining six disappeared into the mist and never re-emerged."


"I'll be ready in a moment, I need to change my clothes."


Malin returned to his room to change his attire and then went to Lulu's room to inform the girls about the incident at the Church of the Goddess of Harvest and to wait at home, after which, Malin, equipped with his gear, followed old Francis out and mounted the carriage.


Section 516: The Shape of Voice (Part 1)_3