The Whispers

Cole was sitting at a table. He casually spread some butter on bread as he dipped it in the soup and ate with relish.

Even though the food was of average quality and made for servants, he didn't complain in the least, nor was he bothered by it.

Hehe...Free food! Cole thought as he placed accountability on the compensation from his employee.

His gaze moved across the room he was in, oil lamps were glowing brightly, providing a soothing warmth. This was servants' quarters, as such instead of using expensive magical means, cheaper alternatives were more than sufficient.

Suddenly, Darkness around Cole cooed softly. As if tempting, seducing the man. But Cole ignored it without battling an eye.

"mendacium... fictus..."

Cole quickly finished his meal as he rubbed his temples.

"I get it. Can you all just shut up already!?" He barked at the invisible enemy making a racket.

"Ever since that unfaithful day, you have not stopped making a mess in my head. Just what do you want from me?" Cole asked the darkness.

Instead of a proper reply what came was a cacophony of whispers, ringing in his ears like the never-ending horizon.

"I get it. I may have been rude but I never had any ill intention toward the darkness. I don't care whether you pollute the whole world or not."

"Bro, just leave me alone!"

With a frown on his face, Cole stood without bothering with the whispers ringing in his head.

Hmm… I lost both of the Bargains that I so painfully collected from Alternate Aspirations Cult. I need to contact them again…

Cole thought for a moment and decided to leave the Auch's mansion. As for his maid's identity? He was still a maid at the Auch mansion, but it's not like maids weren't allowed to leave the mansion after the Auch family went to sleep.

Two types of servants worked at Auch's mansion: One stayed inside the mansion, and the other came in the morning to help with the work and left after dinner or in the evening.

Also, Once Cole has taken the identity, he could easily switch back and forth between his real identity and other identities unless someone finds something suspicious with his fake identity. It's just that, he lost one 'Bargain' to gain the identity of a maid. And upon being caught, his fake identity would be gone. However, no one has discovered him yet, as such, he had complete access to Auch's mansion without any obstacles in his way. He could go and come as he pleases.

Once out of the mansion, Cole stood in an alleyway where darkness concentrated.

The darkness kept murmuring incoherently.

Cole stretched his hand as his hand melted in the darkness.

He shook his head as his face showed a perplexed emotion, "They, who fear the Pollution gets Polluted sooner or later... The way to escape is to embrace it...?"

That being said, Cole took another step, and his entire body blended with the darkness as he vanished from his spot.

…..

South Grovebourne, Aedenstile.

Crawling out of a dark alley, a manly figure with ordinary looks in black hooded clothes, cracked his neck a little.

"I wonder whether high-ranking members of church travel through the Dark world or not?"

Pretty sure, the stronger ones should be immune to pollution to a large extent… Cole narrowed his eyes.

"Damn, this place is still as gloomy as I remember."

Though the last time I came here was just yesterday… Cole laughed awkwardly.

Without wasting any more time, Cole briskly sauntered through the narrow streets. He saw many poor, old, and young hurdled in some corners with burning candles in their hands.

Just as he was passing by an empty alleyway, a girl of about 18-19 approached him with matches and a burning candle in her hand.

"Brother, are you not afraid of Pollution?" She smiled innocently.

Cole deadpanned: "I'm not."

"Oh, but what about the cold? If you are looking for warmth, I might have a perfect solution for you!"

Seeing where she was going Cole's eyes went back to the matchsticks she was carrying.

The girls smiled suggestively at him, "I have matches, you know. It makes all the cold go away…" Her bright innocent eyes shined, "I live right across the street, brother."

I see… A match lady.

In Aedenstile, Women carrying matchsticks sold matchsticks… along with their bodies. It was not surprising that a match lady approached him. Although it was difficult to detect Cole, he was not literally invisible.

The girl was attractive and she fit Cole's tastes. She was young, with a vibrant, youthful aura and a little smile that could make any man wish to protect it at all costs. She was the perfect definition of a cute little cousin that aroused both the familial and romantic feelings of a man.

However, being a cheap stake, Cole's heart pained.

Ahhh! What a damn shame! I love money more than a young body. Cole thought internally as he strengthened his resolve.

Seeing his hesitation, the girl knew what he was thinking as she scooted closer to him. Cole was surprised by the youthful fragrance of the girl that he inhaled. He almost gave himself away…

She narrowed the gap between them even more as she pushed her bust forward enticing him with her cleavage. If Cole had some hesitations before they would've gone up in smoke by now…

"If you don't want to wait… this passage seems empty to me." A frail voice with a hint of shyness floated in his ears. She bit her lips lightly.

Cole stared fixedly at those huge mounds… but before he could say anything, hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

Note To Self #59: Money will never betray you!