3 Chapter 3: slices of life, priests and more baby?!

First off, Im sorry, swear this sounds better in my head

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The more I learned about soul things the more it's making my head hurt...

Sure, I have the ability to potentially tweak the hell out of my soul, but the thing is, y'see, I only given vague instructions on how to do it, so I have to experiment with my own.

Fortunately, the upgrades included safeguards to prevent me from overshooting my attributes, so I didn't injure myself due to my body's inability to keep up with the sudden changes in the soul. Some tweaks, such as my weakness to light and holy, are basically gone now because I kept reducing it before I sleep, whereas others are more difficult.

Gah! why didn't I get a manual on this thing!

[skip]

We celebrated the day I got adopted a few days ago, that's kinda cool.

The years just flew by, and I think it was mostly because of Between choosing a good name for the dog, her name is Rei now by the way, failing on attempting to make the energy not destroy everything, writing practice, and playing with Natsuko, I guess it left an impression that I didn't have any friends, so my parents told me to get some and play on the playground. I didn't want to, but my parents look like they really want me to have someone to talk to outside the family. It's not my fault I only play with Natsuko. That much cuteness can't be healthy!

So yeah, try to make friends, how hard could it be?

...

Well, turns out it's kinda hard, who knew?

After a while and still failing with the normal "hey, my name is Seiji, what's yours?" I decided to just insert myself into any kids' group that's playing around. Turns out that works. when they are playing they sometimes called me to join.

It didn't mean that I spent less time with my sister, instead of the playground, we often played in our house. When we play together, Natsuko wants my attention and will bug me. She only stops when I give in or pat her head. For some reason, headpats are very effective.

"What do you want, Natsuko?"

She just wildly waving at me, gesturing at my shoulder?

Oh!

"Want to ride my shoulder?"

"Nn!" she nods excitedly

Then I started giving her shoulder rides around while doing airplane noises, with her grabbing my hair to steer it.

With not much else to do as kids, me and Natsuko were happy to just lounge around and watch some shows while cuddling on the floor. I've gotten used to Natsuko coming to me for her daily snuggling, I just lay down and wait to be hugged.

I was content to be a pillow. It's a nice feeling, and I felt happy that someone I cared about wanted to be close to me.

Mom's voice called out from the kitchen, "Seiji!"

"Yes, mom?" I replied, removing the arm that was hugging me and walking to the kitchen.

"Could you please go to the store? I think that clerk give me more than the usual" She gives me a plastic bag.

"sure." I take the bag, and walk to the store by myself.

After a quick return and one apologetic clerk later, I became curious about Rei and wanted to see what she looked like, so I went into an alley near the store to get some privacy. before I could summon her, a loud noise came from one of the buildings. I didn't want to look into it, but my body refuses to listen no matter how many times I tell myself to go back.

But before I could investigate, I was interrupted by the sound of footsteps, which revealed a man with a warped and twisted face and an unusually long arm.

My mind only gave me one answer: a monster.

"Well what do we have here, I thought I felt something, but it's just another prey" He smiles and gestures with his normal arm, while his other arm has what looks like some kind of protrusion.

I feel an invisible pressure coming down on me and I can't help but stare as his long arm reaches out to grab me, his twisted smile turning into a grin.

'moveMOVEMOVE!'

Finally, my body acts and I try to move out of the way, but its normal arm smacked me to the side, and I could feel my back hitting a wall.

Pain.

I can feel the air in my lungs forcefully expelled.

"Less than I've eaten so far, but I don't mind." I hear it chuckle, and before I can take a breath, I feel myself being grabbed on my neck and thrown into the air for a second time before being slammed into a wall.

My body ache, it's hard to breathe.

I must do something!

Rei...

"REI!"

"WOOF!" Suddenly, Rei comes from my shadows, biting its face. It's distracted by her that I can take a breather and look at Rei for the first time. She has green fur with a black snout and legs.

I then reminded that I can see her later, but for now I need to get out of here!

'distract it!' i yelled to Rei in my mind

I feel an affirmation, and the monster's scream grew louder.

then I try to stand, but my chest hurts and I only can lean against the wall clutching my side with one arm, I only barely make it out of the alley when I could feel Rei retreat back into me, and the monster's scream suddenly got louder and screaming expletives.

"WHERR AR YOU?!" the monster screamed from the alley.

I can sense that he was coming, while still leaning on the wall I forced myself to stand and prepare to run.

Then I hear footsteps, and I look to see two people coming my way.

"this way!... must...before it-"

it... that.. a priest...?

"h-help.." My voice rasps from the heaving, and I wave weakly to attract their attention, My brain didn't register that if they were normal people, I could only lure them to their deaths at the hands of the monster, but in my mind, I just wanted to go home.

"..there! -id there!" one of them shouts, sounding young running to me, my mind lightheaded that i stumbled and fell, but before I reach the hard ground I can feel hands supporting me, "to...church...will..from here"

And before I black out I feel myself being carried, the monster's scream now distant.

.....

"Waah!" I woke up and opened my eyes, I feel sweaty.

"it's just a dream" I exhale, shuffling my blanket, trying to find a new position in the bed to sleep in, trying to forget...

wait a minute.. bed?

We didn't use bed!

In my panic, I tried to sit up when I suddenly felt pain throughout my body, causing me to squeak in pain.

After mustering some willpower and telling my body to simply suck up to the pain, I finally sit up and look around. I see On the table next to me, are my clothes neatly folded, along with some liquid, bandages, and what appears to be medical equipment.

"Oh.. it's not a dream.." I groaned, palming my hands to my face and trying to recall what had happened.

What happened after I faint? Did someone save me?

I hear a creaking sound. I look to the source of the noise and I see a door open, revealing a middle-aged man with light brown hair. I think I've seen him sometimes, but where?

He walked up to me and did a quick check on me, and then asked, "Are you okay, son?"

"y-yes, I'm fine"

He check on me some more, nodded then ask "Do you remember what happened?"

And I tell him what happened, without going into trying to summon Rei. how I went to the alley and hear sounds, the monster, and how I crawled before I see them both, There was a brief silence after I finished telling the story, with him scratching his chin and occasionally nodding.

I then ask another question that has been bothering me.

"what is that?"

"what is it son?" he softly asks

"T-the monster"

He sighs "Well, they are known as stray Devils.." He tells me about devils faction, and how they recruit a person to be reincarnated, and how certain reincarnated devils satisfy their own selfish desires and in turn become stray that prey on humans, and that it is their duty as exorcists and a member of the church to kill them in the Lord's name.

"Fortunately, when it chases you, it emits a fluctuation in demonic energy, which we can detect and locate before it causes further harm."

"..you say Factions?"

"Yes, there are many factions in this world, but the three Abrahamic factions are the most prominent. Heaven, devils, and, finally, fallen angels. Exorcists were dispatched by the church and by extension, Heaven to hunt down supernaturals who cause harm to innocent people, do you follow?" he patted my back.

"I-i think so yes" I absentmindedly answer, still reeling from the reveal that supernaturals exist.

"Son?"

"Ah, yes father?"

"you know.." his lips curled up "your parents always talked about their kid and how they wanted him to have some friends"

I blinked "How do you know mom and dad?"

"i live next to you" he said with a deadpan expression

"Oh..." that's why he looked familiar

He must have noticed my expression because he smiled at me. "Now, hyoudou-Kun, under any circumstances, don't tell anyone about your experience. the supernatural can exist anywhere, and telling the wrong person about it can have serious consequences." He emphasized the last part, causing me to gulp.

"Even my parents?"

"Even them I'm afraid"

"you said you're hunting evil monster right?"

"More like any supernatural that harms innocents, but yes, I hunt evil monsters."

"Then… can you teach me?"

He looked at me for a while, eyes boring into me, and finally says, "If you truly want to and have the drive for it, then I will teach you what I know." Yes! " But! If you are not, then the lesson is over and you swear in the name of the lord to never tell a soul about your experience. Okay?"

"Of course!" I quickly nod. After that, I ask him more questions, but after a while, he tells me to go home, before I leave, I look back at him to ask him another question. "what is your name father?"

"You can call me father Touji"

"I see… then bye father Touji! I'll be here next Monday!"

"I'll see you then, shonen"

On the way home, Rei emerged from my shadow to walk beside me, She looked like she wanted to do something.

"Rei? what are you doing?" I ask, confused on why she walking next to me.

She then stepped in front of me and puked on my feet.

"First off, gross," I said, blinking slowly as I looked down at my feet. "And second, WHY?" I screamed, gesturing at the puke.

She then lowered her head and points her paw at a glowing thing.

"Wait a second what's that?" I poked the puke away from the glowing thing a few times before picking it up.

When I picked it up, I immediately knew what it was supposed to be.

"... oh wow it's the stray soul's" I did a quick check on it again "or at least a fragment of it when did you get this buddy?"

"bork"

"You take it while biting it? Wait, you can use the ability? nevermind that, why are you giving me this?!"

"Bork"

"Something about the soul?"

"Bork!"

And I begin to carefully examine it.

"What about it? it's a soul fragment and probably will go to wherever the-Oh!... oh."

It has a similar soul-type signature as mine...

Well, that just opens a whole another question

'And I'm just about to begin training with an exorcist.'

Is that energy thing counts as demonic?

I think I stopped some time ago because it kept going out of control, so maybe I'm safe?

I decide to keep the soul fragment as a practice on others' souls. After that, I continue walking back home.

When I got home, Mom yelled at me at first, but when she saw me limping, she became concerned and asked why I was limping. I had to tell her that I had tripped, and that a priest neighbor had helped me, and that I was moved by the act that I want to repay them by cleaning the church on Mondays and Fridays. Thankfully, she believed me, but now I feel bad because she just believed me.

[Monday]

It's now Monday, and I've already told my mother about my after-school church visit, so I walk into the church with anticipation.

Of course when father Shidou tells me to do push-ups and run around the church as long as I can feel myself almost immediately deflate.

"This is Masaomi Yaegaki, my subordinate, you shall train with him" He introduced me to the other priest casually as if he hadn't just put me through hell.

"Yes father" and then mister Masaomi threw me a wooden sword which I grabbed.

"You will call me sensei, Now, Try to attack" He took a brief stance, his figure blurred, and... I can see the sky?

"Huh?"

"*sigh* it's going to be a long day" I can hear him murmur.

Well, let's just say the rest of the "training" is like this..

*Smack*

"Your stance is atrocious, look at my legs and try to copy it."

*smack*

"Tighten your grip while using a sword."

*smack*

"Not that tight"

*smack*

"Stop dodging, just move your sword so you can block it!"

*smack*

Ow! Why! it's perfect!

"Your mind wanders, in combat keep your eyes on the enemy"

*smack*

*smack* *smack* *SMACK*

"Alright, that's enough for today." bwuh?

"owie.." my everything hurts.

"Well, at least you know how to hold a sword. That's certainly faster than most people. I'll see you next time " and he just walked away.

'Oh, he just used me, then when he finished he just spit me out is that it?!'

The first lesson is just me being a hyoudou tender meat. My everything hurts, but I'm happy that I know now how to grip a sword.

'baby steps Seiji !' I thought, trying to keep my head positive.

When I got home, Mom was acting weird.

"Ah! Welcome home, Seiji! " Mom chirped, tone totally different than usual.

What? "Mom? What happened? " I asked, weirded out by my mom's behavior.

But she just shushed me, "Wait for your father to get home." She says, while her arm is holding onto something while having a big smile.

Huh?!

Then I whispered to Natsuko, "psst! Natsuko, what happened with mom?" But before she could answer, dad's voice was heard, he was already at the entrance.

When the door was opened, mom ran towards it while loudly saying, "We're going to have another baby!"

There was silence for a moment, then I heard someone yell.

"WHAAT?!"

After a small celebration, it was hard to go to sleep at the prospect of another sibling when my mind lit up with five new charges. I have six charges in total now.

'maybe it's time for new power' I thought, flicking the switch in my inner mind.

[power got!

Umbrakinetic Creature Creation 1/5]

A flash of information rushed through my mind, and my exhaustion vanished at the prospect of an army of shadow creatures, and I sat up.

'Okay, let's start small' I thought, feeling giddy and stretching out my palm, and I imagined myself pouring something into a small container and summoning the creature I wanted to summon. It took some stamina from me, but it eventually made a click in my mind's eye, and I opened my eyes to corporeal shadow on my palm.

At a closer look it looks like... an ugly rat?

At least it shaped like one, eww.

"woof!" and Rei decides to pounce on it, making it dissolve, most likely from feeling my disgust at the abomination pretending to be a rat.

Now Rei is on top of me, sniffing at the palm, 'you're welcome.' I can almost hear her from the expression on her face, those puppy eyes demanding that I pet her in return.

"okay buddy" i indulge in patting her "let's see if the upgrade fixed it"

"Bork!"

"yeah yeah, just prepare to pounce just in case it's still ugly" I tell her

[Umbrakinetic Creature Creation 2/5]

I can feel the restriction size has now changed. I try to pour in the newest container and open my eyes to see a dog looking down at me. However, it's slightly smaller than Rei, and this one has black fur and black eyes. Rei gets off me to sniff it, and it sniffs back. It looks like it has some intelligence.

Let's see, "Rei, pounce it," and as Rei prepared to pounce at it, it simply tilted its head, and before it knew it, Rei was already on top of it. Okay, so durability has improved.

I ran more tests and found that I could communicate with it and that it could respond, albeit with a limited vocabulary, only knowing variations of enemy and ally, so not that intelligent.

After the test, I began to dissolve the shadow dog when I heard a small thud and noticed Rei looking at the floor. She looked at me again, and I patted her head before telling her to go back to wherever she goes when she is not summoned.

hmm... maybe upgrade intuitive aptitude so it's all the same across the board.

[Intuitive Aptitude 2/5]

Immediately after upgrading My attention was drawn to the heater, hearing it hum, somehow I realize that is not a healthy heater noise.

"is that heater always making that noise?" the noise of the heater now practically begging me to dismantle it and unravel its secret.

This is going to bug me, isn't it?

yep..

...

'This thing has to be replaced, maybe it can be substitute wit-'

"Hyoudou Seiji! what are you doing?!" I turned to face the noise. Mom finds me filthy in the middle of disassembling the heater, accumulating dust from the heater smeared on my hands and face.

I have to blink twice to register what's happening.

"I'm sorry!" I loudly whisper.

She was not amused, so she tell me to wash in the middle of the night.

When washing, I noticed that most of our stuff is basically in need of repair, and with a baby on the way, maybe it is time to help around the house.

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pure chapter 3000~ ish

because of a certain event, he is not gonna become full-on excorcist, just field trained to one

he only got the vague sense on what he can do when upgrading his power, so he has to experiment.

earned from this chapter

1 from a new chapter

1 for first meeting supernaturals, and survived!

3 from 3k words (1000 is 1 charge)

unspent: 3

power :

Umbrakinetic Creature Creation 2/5

have to be an animal, maximum size is increased, summon will have some intelligence, intellegent summon cap is limited for now, only can be spawned from shadow of the summoner, durability is increased, weakened in light, if gone far have some time to get in range before dissolving, can only communicate with simple sentences

Intuitive Aptitude 2/5

Faster learning speed, basic intuition, implement and adapt teachings at faster rate slightly above human, can know how mundane things works if have the time

Soul Manipulation 2/5

no risk self manipulation, very rough soul manipulation on other, can easily see and manipulate own "attribute" of the soul, will have some level of danger if used carelessly on other people, will have to be delicate and time consuming to take other's soul, can implement other's soul into self with risk