Northwest Exit Outpost

"Who's there?!" a male voice suddenly asked.

Vivian stopped singing and she immediately cast a spell.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak.

Her left eye reverted to its human form and all she could see was darkness.

Vivian's demonic eyes only allow her to see the world in black and white, similar to thermal vision but much better because it isn't affected by light. And if she sees any living being, the ones who could cast Magic Arts would have a blue-colored nervous system, while the ones who couldn't cast Magic Arts would have a red-colored system. Although someone might recognized that one of her eyes was that of a demon, she wasn't worried because her surroundings were still dark and she was wearing a mask.

"I'm asking, who's there?!" the male voice asked once again.

Vivian continued to not reply back as she walked until she finally spotted the person.

Her right eye was still in its demonic form and all she could see was a humanoid-shape blue nervous system. Meanwhile, on her left, it was still complete darkness.

He has no light source…

So he must be using some sort of Magic Item with Vision…

"Hey! I'm asking --"

But Vivian cut the man off.

"I'm a Priestess! Who are you and what are you doing here?!"

Hearing Vivian's voice, the Priest quickly turned in the direction of where her voice came from and he finally spotted her. But at the same time, he also found himself dumbfounded. He was one of the people stationed to patrol this place. So for someone to throw such a question at him, it caught him off-guard.

He finally recovered.

"I'm also a Priest!" he said and finally noticed something else the closer Vivian got.

The Priest was wearing a Magic Item that allowed him to see in the dark. It was a passive Earring of Vision. But now that he got a good look at Vivian, he noticed that she was wearing a mask that Inquisitors wear and he knew that the current headquarters of the Inquisitory Division was within the tunnels but he didn't know where exactly.

However, that wasn't his biggest issue. His biggest issue is that he couldn't tell what was the color of the sun symbol on Vivian's forehead.

He could use [Halo] but he would rather not because the person in front of him could be a high-ranking member and he might get in trouble for that.

"Are you an Inquisitor...?"

"Trainee," said Vivian.

"Huh? So you're just a trainee?"

Vivian's eyes turned into slits behind her mask.

"So why are you here, brother?"

"I'm currently in charge of patrolling this place. What are doing here at this hour?"

"I'm taking a stroll."

A dumbfounded look appeared on the Priest's face.

"A stroll?"

"Yes, a stroll. So where is the exit? I want to breathe fresh air."

The Priest taught about it for a moment before finally answering.

"There's been an incident a couple of days ago in the east concerning a Sarcoise Colony and a rule has been issued by the higher-ups that everyone who enters and exits the tunnels must prove their identity. And for those from the Inquisitory Division, although you don't have to reveal your face, you must prove that you're from the Inquisitory Division by talking to the head of this outpost in order and get a gate pass."

Vivian knitted her brows and recalled the ongoing practical exam for the trainees of the Inquisitory Division.

Is this part of the exam…?

"Are you aware of the practical exam of those who are taking the Training Course of the Inquisitory Division?"

"The one where you mustn't reveal your identity? Yes sister, I'm aware."

"Then you know what my answer will be. Isn't my mask enough?"

"I'm sorry, sister, but it's an order from the higher-ups. If this was before the incident, such measures wouldn't be needed."

"And if I still refuse?"

"Then I will have to apprehend you."

An amused smile appeared behind Vivian's mask.

I doubt that a lackey like this can even survive a single blow from me…

Based on the Priest's voice, she could tell that he was still young, around her age.

But…

She let out a sigh.

I'm currently in the main city of the Temple of Priests where even the current Light Saint and the Cardinals reside…

"Okay, take me to the head. But if I sense anything strange, I will defend myself."

"No problem, sister. Please follow me," the Priest said before turning away and walking.

***

Vivian entered a building and was being led to an office.

On their way here, she noticed several Guards, a few Knights and Priests around and the place looked like some kind of checkpoint.

Is this some sort of outpost…?

Normally, there would only be around 5 Priests stationed here with around 15 other people. But ever since the incident regarding the Sarcoise Colony happened and the mystery hasn't been solved yet, the higher-ups decided to beef up the security for the time being.

And as for how Vivian managed to bump into the Priest who was currently leading her, it was pure luck, or to be more specific, bad luck.

The non-Priests were in charge of patrolling the area.

But for this particular Priest, since he was new in this outpost and was also bored and couldn't sleep, he decided to patrol around to kill some time.

Knock.

Knock.

The Priest leading Vivian knocked on the door twice before opening it and entering.

"Excuse me, High Brother Sack."

The office had a desk and sofas on the side.

The owner of the office wasn't sitting behind the desk. What Vivian and the Priest found was a man in his early 30s sleeping on one of the sofas and wearing nothing but a white shirt and brown pants with his boots on the side and his Red Cloak hanging on a wall.

"High Brother Sack?"

Sack slowly opened his eyes and he turned to Vivian and the Priest.

"What is it…?" he said with a sleepy voice.

"There's a trainee from Inquisitory Division who needs a gate pass."

Sack closed his eyes and opened them wide before sitting up and turning to Vivian and the Priest. His eyes landed on Vivian's mask, particularly at the brown-colored sun symbol on her forehead before looking away and stretching.

Pop.

Pop.

Pop.

His body made some popping sounds.

"What time is it…?"

"2:42 a.m., High Brother," replied the Priest.

Sack's eyes became wide and his head whipped toward Vivian and the Priest.

"2:42 a.m.?!"

"Yes, High Brother…" said the Priest.

Sack got up and looked at Vivian.

"God of Light, why are you two even doing here at this hour?!"

For some reason, something in Vivian made her doubt if she should properly address Sack.

She wasn't sure if it was because she was currently in the Holy Crusade.

She wasn't sure if it was because of her current strength.

She wasn't sure if it was because she wasn't in Luxen City.

Or perhaps all of the above.

"I couldn't sleep and got tired of studying for the Training Course so I decided to take a stroll, High Brother."

Better to be safe than sorry…

"That's… That's your reason…?" he said and rubbed his hand over his face and then neck. "Look here, even if you go to the nearby town and village, everything is closed. You'll only see animals and drunkards lying on the streets with their vomit."

Vivian didn't say anything.

Sack let out a sigh and scratched his head.

"People, really…" he said under his breath before returning his gaze to Vivian. "So you're a trainee of the Inquisitory Division and you need a gate pass?"

"Yes, High Brother."

"Tell me your alias and show me a Class Magic."

"Why?"

Sack raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean why?"

"High Brother, isn't it enough that I'm wearing this mask with a brown-colored sun?"

Sack scratched his head.

"For someone who's a trainee for the Inquisitory Division, aren't you supposed to be smart?"

Vivian didn't say anything.

"Look, I know about the ongoing practical exam. I'm not asking you to show me your face or your Identity Papers. I'm just asking you to tell me your alias so that I can confirm your identity at the Inquisitory Division later and you also need to show me a Class Magic so that I can also confirm that you're really a member of the Temple of Priests."

"I don't mind telling you my alias," Vivian said and paused for a moment. "However, for my Class Magic, it can be a little bit complicated."

She had two concerns.

The first one is that she was afraid something similar to what happened to Radford would happen to her.

He used [Halo] during a mock battle without any permission and got kicked out of the Training Camp. And although Inquisitors are allowed to use [Halo], they can only use it during an "official" ongoing investigation because there's so much politics involved, especially if the suspect is a high-profile person. And right now, there was no investigation and she wasn't an Inquisitor, only a trainee.

The second one is that she was well aware that out of all of the new recruits for the month of Aurgus 3023, she had the highest Physical and Magic Force.

If they find out how powerful she was and they had any interest about her or tell anyone who was looking for her whereabouts, not only could people easily decipher her true identity. Moreover, she had to idea on how to explain to people how was it possible for her to jump from Adamantite Physical Force and Orichalcum-Adamantite Magic Force to more than Spirit Steel in the span of 3 weeks.

She wouldn't be surprised if they decided to link her with the destruction of the Sarcoise Colony and use that against her to pin her down and force her to reveal all of her secrets.

When Sack and the other Priest noticed Vivian's hesitation to reveal her Class Magic, a serious expression appeared on their faces.

"Tell me, SISTER, why is it a bit complicated for you to show your Class Magic?" said Sack.

Shit…!

I don't know how to get out of this…

And it's not like I can just eat these people…

No, I can…!

I'm currently wearing a mask…

They haven't seen my face yet…

And doubt if there are more powerful people than this Red Cloak…

If there is, it's probably a Gray Cloak…

But that person has to be older…

Yeah…

I can just eat everyone here…

But that would be my last resort…

"Because I only have [Halo] and I'm not yet an Inquisitor. I don't want to risk getting kicked out of the Training Course."

Hearing her answer, both Sack and the Priest's faces relaxed a bit.

"Don't worry about it," Sack said as he waved his hand. "I give you my permission and it will just be between you and me."

"And if I overpower you? What will happen?"

The faces of Sack and the Priest returned back to their serious expression from earlier.

"What do you mean, sister?"

Please don't let me overpower this Red Cloak…

Please don't let me overpower this Red Cloak…

Please don't let me overpower this Red Cloak…

"I mean this."

[Halo].

A golden ring appeared on Vivian's back and a dark expression flashed across her face as she saw the faces of Sack and the Priest.

As expected…

They got affected…

"Tell me, the both of you, who is the most powerful person currently present at this outpost?" Vivian's sweet and soothing voice echoed in their ears.

"Me…" said Sack.

"I believe it's High Brother Sack…" said the Priest.

[Greater Origin Transformation].

Blaaak!

Chak!

Chak!

Two long demonic spider-like arms burst out of Vivian's ribs and her hands stabbed the faces of Sack and the other Priest, killing them instantly. 

She closed her eyes.

"Fuck…!"

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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Please note that the chapters posted there are only drafts. So when those said Chapter Drafts will be published here, there will be some edits. They also involve a few secret outline notes/details that I won't publish here because they contain spoilers or dispel some of the mysteries. And at the moment, Chapter Drafts 268-272 are posted there.

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