Barriers

[Late Night — Occult Research Club, Kuoh]

{Asia Argento}

"T-Thank you."

God had finally listened to me.

"Are you hungry?" the pretty lady with red hair asked, sitting right next to me.

"No, this coffee is enough." I gave her a bright smile. She was my savior.

Reo, the other pretty lady, her friends, and everyone!

They saved me.

However, the lady's face suddenly turned sad. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's my fault. I should have been more thorough in looking out for people."

Her happy smile turned somber.

"It's my fault you got hurt."

"No!" I said, embarrassed by my outburst. "I'm alive because you sent your friends to save me and because God was watching over me."

"Ugh!"

"Are you alright?" I saw her suddenly grip the side of her head.

"Y-Yeah, it's nothing," she said. "I'm just glad that you're safe."

She knew magic and had given me a vial with liquid that instantly healed my wounds the moment I consumed it.

Truly a miracle of God.

As I took a sip of the warm coffee, I wondered about him.

"Where is Reo?"

I hadn't seen him since he brought me here and introduced me to everyone.

"He said he wanted to take a long shower." She glanced towards the door with comforting eyes. "He's been through a lot recently."

The Lord always tests the good people. When they don't lose hope and faith and make it through tough times, He always rewards them.

Reo will be rewarded too.

"He is a good person." He truly is. "He will find the answers he is looking for."

Rias smiled brightly upon hearing that. "Yes, he will make it. He is one of the strongest-willed men I have met."

He did kill Priest Freed, but Priest Freed had strayed from the path of God and committed unforgivable sins.

Reo only sent him to await the day of judgment.

I know God will be kind enough not to punish Reo for it.

"Can I help you in any way?"

"Help me?" she wondered, then shook her head. "You don't have to. We didn't save you because we want anything in return. You don't have to feel indebted."

But it wasn't only because of that.

"I want to help you because it's the right thing to do." Help without expecting anything in return. "Helping others is the right thing to do."

Once again, she shook her head.

"It's fine. We are all fine. You should rest for now." She said, but I could see that she wasn't fine.

"But you aren't fine!" I pointed at her injured arm.

"Oh, this?" She chuckled. "This will heal in a bit. I'm keeping it just to remind me of my foolish mistakes."

Oh.

I wondered why she didn't heal herself when she had instantly healed me with the vial.

If she used the same thing, she would have recovered, right?

"It's just a way I'm punishing myself."

"No!" I nearly shouted again.

But it wasn't right for her to punish herself!

"Only the Lord has the right to punish us! You should not punish yourself by not healing!"

She looked at her hand. "Don't I deserve it?" she asked. "Because of me, Reo and Issei got entangled in a mess. They might have died if not for Reo being smart enough. I even endangered my team, and you ended up getting hurt because of me."

"No… It's not your fault." She was blaming herself. "Priest Freed abandoned the Lord. It was not your fault. You have helped me!"

I wanted to help her! "So please! Let me help you!"

She thought about it deeply.

And looked outside.

"Everyone else also declined the Phoenix Tears. So, I guess… this is a nicer alternative." She looked at me. "You have Twilight Healing, right?"

"I do." I told her about it, and she seemed amused to hear about it.

After thinking for a while, Rias gave me a bright smile. "Alright. You can help me by healing my friends. And then, if you're not tired, you can also heal me."

"Of course!"

…

…

{Congratulations! Reo has broken free of his psychological barrier and strengthened his mind without external help!}

Despite the message and the reward it gave me, I still felt a sour taste in my mouth.

I understand that sometimes killing is the only option, and leaving some people alive only causes unbearable pain for the innocents.

But why are people so wicked?

Killing innocents, harming the kind, and chasing after foolish dreams?

It pained me to recall the things I experienced in such a short time.

And I don't only blame the supernatural.

The supernatural have power stronger than humans, and I have delved deep into this supernatural world, which is why I've seen so much of the dirt.

But humans are the same.

They rape, kill, and torture.

Evil is everywhere.

I just don't understand… why?

What is the purpose of evil?

I knew I wouldn't get an answer. Not yet, not now.

Maybe in the future, but for that answer, I had to grow stronger.

Thankfully, this system was helping me with that.

{Reward Obtained: <>}

A defensive magic, and a strong one at that.

{Reo can imagine barriers around him or others to protect from incoming dangers and threats. As long as the attack is physical and comes from a High-High level threat, the attack can be stopped.

Certain restrictions may apply.}

As long as it wasn't a mental attack and didn't exceed a High-High level threat, I could protect myself?

And I could even protect the people I cared about?

That was nice. After everything I've seen, I need defensive magic that does not rely on elements.

But God… I am tired.

I feel like I am dying.

I haven't been home in almost two nights.

I did call my mom and told her that I had to come to look after a friend who had an accident. But constantly lying to her also felt bad.

However, I didn't have much of a choice.

I haven't even been able to sleep properly in so long.

The only thing I am hoping for right now is not having to fight or involve myself in trouble for a while. These past few days have been more hectic than the events of my entire life combined.

I have experienced a lot.

The good and the bad.

I have met a lot of people, befriended a few, and made enemies out of others.

I wonder… what is Yumma doing?

Vali said she would be punished.

I wonder what he meant by that.

She had bad intentions; she wanted to harm me.

But…

No, never mind.

I shouldn't fill my mind with unnecessary worries.

I should go and talk to Asia—if I can.

Good for the devils; they come with built-in translators.

But yeah, let's focus on the important things for now.

The things that matter.

Like getting dressed?

I don't want to be called a pervert for walking out naked.

So I quickly grabbed the clothes I had and walked out of the bathroom.

It's best to let the hair dry naturally instead of using a hairdryer.

With a fresher and calmer mind, I walked towards where Rias and the rest were.

Dressed in my coat, as it had gotten cold at night and my hair stuck to my face.

"Hey, Rias, do you have another towel for my fa—"

But just as I walked towards the redhead, I heard a sound that was never good.

{Quest Alert!}

Fuck.

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