Chapter 14: Is There Any Difference?

The news about the demon and the awakener in town couldn't be hidden with how many people witnessed what happened at the arena.

Unease spread and people were very vigilant. What they're feeling right now is similar to seeing a legend come back to life. They are now very uncertain about their future, but life needs to go as usual. They need to work to survive.

While carrying Rena to school, Cia noticed that the streets were emptier than usual.

Even if there were few people roaming around, most of them would be walking fast as if they were being chased around by a ghost.

Cia heard some people muttering about the town's head's inaction and their dissatisfaction at the fact that the officials hid the demon under the guise of a human killer.

Everything was buzzing with silent panic that was about to erupt anytime soon.

Just as he thought that Rena's classes are suspended, when he arrived at the church, classes resumed as usual.

"Schools in my world are also like this. Despite the students struggling to go to school because of the weather conditions, the school seemed to view us as some kind of immortal and refuses to suspend the classes." Cia felt a bad kind of familiarity once he arrived at the church.

To his surprise, there are many parents there. Then he remembered that in this world, being able to study means 'my child now had the ability to peek into the world of the upper class.'. If the school dared say yes, the parents wouldn't dare say no.

But Cia just never realized how heavy the cognition of the townspeople that only school is the way out of poverty until now. The parents gritted their teeth and despite the danger, they still sent their kids to school.

"They said that the serial killer was the demon on the loose." A parent whispered to the lady beside her, "But it should be safe inside the church right?"

That question seemed to have opened a can of worms. Many parents started to express their concerns.

"I don't know. I haven't seen a demon, but based on the books, they should be the natural enemy of God."

"Sister Lily wouldn't do this without making sure that the children are okay. I think it should be safe."

"This town is a mess. Once my husband came back home from the trip, I'll tell him we should move to the neighboring city."

"Are people not reporting this to the capital? Although we have an awakener, I still think it's not enough."

Cia listened to their gossip and realized the police told everyone that the 'weeping man' was their people. It was probably to minimize panic and an attempt to investigate which side he is on.

[Host, is this okay?] The system is a bit overwhelmed thinking about the social connotation of everything that was happening.

"Should be? I'm not really sure but for now, it's not affecting us." Cia is not a God. He couldn't accurately predict what everyone would do.

The parents' unease didn't go unnoticed by the church as Sister Lily ordered a nun to calm them down.

"Parents, don't worry. You are all under the Lord of the Seas' domain. No one dared act nasty within this church so your child will be safe with us." A beautiful nun came out. The holy outfit couldn't hide her busty figure, as the buttons on the chest area was begging for life as it held together.

Her outfit accentuated her S figure. A very huge and round front asset and a full but firm backside.

Cia is not a pervert and he usually respects the nuns so he really doesn't dare evaluate their figures that much.

But goodness he is a normal male with eyes. This nun's outfit looked very dangerous right now. Not because it was tempting (well, it was a bit), but because the buttons were about to pop out. Clearly her outfit is too small for her figure.

The original owner grew up in the city. Older nuns in those churches are crazy about modesty. There had been cases of them publicly humiliating a young nun because her skirt was shorter than it was supposed to be.

It's not really their fault as they entered the church when they were just 14. Most of them are still growing, but clearly none of the older nuns cared about that.

This nun was strange, but Cia didn't think it was alarming. He just took a mental note of it and put Rena on the ground.

"Be good. Sam would be here to look after you after I leave." Bringing Rena like a keychain did cross Cia's mind, but who can say that it would be safer to stay with him than to leave Rena with his brothers?

Cia now knew that he should go harvest some sinner EXP to level up. Because as of now, his strength is still average.

He had no comparison, but the insecure feeling in his heart clearly says that it isn't enough. He needs to become stronger to hold his ground in this chaotic world.

Rena nodded, and just as he was about to leave, Rena suddenly grasped his clothes.

Cia looked down, feeling confused, "What's wrong?"

Rena looked very secretive. She gestured Cia to bend down and so Cia did. She scurried towards him and whispered in his ears.

"Brother... Do you like Sister Estel?" Rena saw Cia staring at Estel a while ago.

"Rena, Sister Estel is a nun. Grandma seemed to have taught you a lot of things about religion. This is not allowed." Cia was speechless. Who can tell him despite being this young, Rena already knew how to play matchmaker.

"Grandma taught me... But..." Rena seemed to hesitate before finally saying in a tiny voice, "Sister Estel is different. If you like Sister Estel then you can give her silver coins. I saw Beth's father doing that and Sister Estel agreed to play as his wife."

[Oh?]

"Wha—" Cia's eyes widened. He did not expect to hear such a juicy gossip from his sister. But, hey, that doesn't seem to be appropriate!

"Rena... That's wrong. Don't follow Sister Estel's example." He was speechless and had no idea what to say.

He told Rena again and again that what Sister Estel was doing is wrong. After talking with her about it, Cia realized that Rena seemed to have thought that weddings and playing wife was the same thing.

She havent seen anything, but she heard Sister Estel saying, "I'll be your wife for tonight."

She clearly didn't understand how taboo it was for Sister Estel to do that when Beth's father clearly has a living wife and she was serving the Sea God.

After a few minutes of talking, Cia felt like he was sitting on pins, Sam finally arrived. Cia was freed from his duty and just as he was about to leave, he suddenly bumped into the main topic of their discussion.

"Sister Estel? Is there anything you need?" Cia's voice sounded awkward. Of course it would be.

Sister Estel walked towards him, her full breast bounced up and down. If it was before, Cia would have felt guilty but now, he felt complicated. Based on what Rena said, this Sister Estel clearly knew what she was doing.

"You are Rena's elder brother? I haven't seen you before. I guess you're the eldest. The one who lives at the city?" Sister Estel stopped at an uncomfortably close distance from him. Cia could feel the heat emitting from her body.

Cia took a step back and held his breath. He smiled stiffly, "Yes. I just came back from the city. Thank you for taking good care of Rena... Uhm, I'm sorry but I need to excuse myself. I'm running late for my work."

Sister Estel smiled. Her eyes narrowing, "Sure, goodbye. I'd be happy to talk about Rena's progress with you when you have time."

Cia didn't look back as if a man eating monster was staring at him.

After walking at a certain distance from the church, Cia exhaled the breath that he was holding.

"That was very uncomfortable." Cia patted his chest.

[Why didn't you accept her flirting host? I don't think you'll lose anything] The system doesn't have sexual impulse, but it somewhat understands a male adult's line of thoughts. A pretty lady flirting is a good thing.

"Innocent system. Pretty ladies flirting is good. But being in this field for too long, I understand that unless you want trouble, you shouldn't sleep with every girl that had intentions with spending a spring night with you." Cia doesn't let lust cloud his judgement. Being a nun and sleeping with people signified that Sister Estel is a troublesome woman.

After calming himself, Cia starting to go on his way to the library.

...

"Eri is not around?" The senior carpenter looked at the unfinished cabinet laying on the ground. This was supposed to be Eri's work but he was nowhere to be seen.

One of the workers that was hammering the chair looked up and told the senior carpenter, "Eri was here a while ago but someone notified him that the police will be releasing the prisoners after paying the fine."

The senior carpenter clicked his tongue, "His brother Ain is making trouble again?" Then he shook his head. "Tell him after he came back that he need to finished his work by today or I'll deduct his pay."

After he left, the worker who was talking to him just now nudged the guy beside him, "Boss is very considerate to Eri. If it was anyone else who dares leave work without permission, they would be laid off."

Ugan pushed his friend away, "If you are as productive as Eri, then you'd have the same treatment as him."

Marc laughed, "I'm a sane person. How can I compare to that machine guy who worked tirelessly as if there was no tomorrow."

They had never seen someone as productive as Eri.

"Look after the chair. I'm going to talk to Ron about the bed." Ugan stood up and patted away the wood dust that had accumulated on his lap.

He walked outside and didn't see Ron. He thought that maybe he was getting some wood at the supply area so he went to check at the back.

Sure enough, he saw Ron and just as he was about to call him, he realized that Ron was talking to someone.

Ugan paused as he looked at that familiar face of the man that Ron was talking to. He crouched down and hid beside the wooden boxes.

If he was not mistaken, that man should be the infamous human trafficker, Argon.

Ron held the list in his hand, "This is the children?"

Argon puffed a smoke from the cigar that he was holding. He tossed Ron a pouch, "This is the pay for the three girls that you sent a week ago. Now, the same as usual. Get those kids and you get the money."

Ron caught the pouch and grinned, "Well, okay. I noticed, the demand seemed to be getting higher?"

"None of your business. The less you know the better." Argon gave Ron a warning glance, "Remember. Just the children on the list. Don't touch those who are not there."

"Now is a good time to profit. With the emergence of the demon, we can move our hand and that creature will be our scapegoat."

Demons and humans... When it comes down to cruelty and danger, is there any difference?