Hypocrites

On my way back, I saw that the collective prayer turned into a sort of winter festival. Even though it was already past midnight, the children were running around screaming, while their parents chatting and drinking. What most of them had in common was that they had candles in their hands.

Perhaps because I was just fed, maybe for some other reason, the sacred candles were not as painful as before. ''Some of the candles they carry are weaker than others,'' I murmured.

''It's not the candles that are weak. All the candles come from the same place, that cleric guy's temple. What is weak is some people's faith. The religion of the light temple is not generous enough to protect nonbelievers.''

Noticing that the lights of the candles the children were holding were brighter and stronger than the others, I raised eyebrows. The difference was not obvious, but with my sensitivity to both light and sacred things, it was impossible to miss.

''You can't compete with a child's faith, huh. I admit it's annoying, but are these things really strong enough to keep the demons away?''

The fox appeared on my shoulder and wrapped around my neck, camouflaging itself with the fur I was wearing. ''It might just be annoying to you, but it's unbearable for stronger demons. You will understand after passing level 10. After that, your evil aura will grow stronger than you can hide from that cleric guy.''

I sighed and noted that I had to find an excuse to leave here soon. Also, I had to find a place to go, sure. Since traditionally there would be a level up quest at level 10, I could at least choose when I could level up. Otherwise, if I happened to be in a temple at that moment which I collected enough exp to level up, and declare my presence to all the clergyman would be troublesome.

The fox sneezed and covered its nose with its paw. ''Can't you use another way? All these holy lights are making me sick.''

''Why don't you turn off your physical form then?''

''If it was about the physical world, everyone's light would shine with the same strength. Do yourself a favor and take another way.''

Since I don't have a reasonable objection, I headed to a neighborhood that I guessed would not be preferred by believers. I hadn't come to prostitutes street since the day I threw my dagger and broke the window of my room at the small bet we made with Ender.

''I wonder if the landlord will give my money back. I had paid for a month.''

''No way he'll give the money back. Why are you wasting your time instead of returning to the hotel?''

I paused at a junction and chose the street leading to the hostel where I used to stay. ''I feel extremely energized. I don't want to go back and sleep. Also, for some reason, the air feels warmer. It feels good. Perhaps collective prayer has diminished the influence of the ice demons on the region? ...huh? Now, I wasn't expecting that.''

''I, on the other hand, was expecting that.'' The fox raised its little furry head off my shoulder and looked at the hostel, which had been turned into a brothel. ''Half of the tenants were prostitutes, and the other half were their clients. Ah, yes, I was expecting that.''

Before deciding what to do now, I felt someone is going to put their hand on my shoulder a second earlier. There was a lot of movement everywhere, we are in an open area, and I couldn't sense the movements around me as well as I sensed inside a room so I didn't have time to react.

''Looking for a room, darling?''

I brushed the hand off my shoulder and turned to look at who was offering himself to me, I knew from his voice that he was a man. Before I saw the man, I smelled the alcohol and grimaced.

The man's appearance was not bad, he could be even attractive with a little effort. But his teeth were yellow from smoking, and his breath was smelling like a carcass. ''No, I was just passing by.'' I walked around to pass the man.

He grabbed my wrist, ''Hey, hey. You gotta wait for people to finish, you know? I made good money today so I can spoil you a little. Me and two others, until the morning. We'll give you a silver coin, what about that?''

''Sorry, I don't do it for money.'' I tried to pull my wrist back, but the man didn't let it go.

The man laughed, eventually his laugh turned into a cough. He cleared his throat and spat on the ground. ''Even better. With that armor, you're asking for it, you know? I can see you're not wearing a bra, you know? Damn, I can see even your nipples and that damn booty. Come with me, girl. I have what you are asking for, you know?''

He pulled my wrist to get my hand on his groin, but the man wasn't like Hermes, he was a simple town thief and with my increased strength as a demon, I wasn't weaker than him. I wasn't strong enough to suppress the man, but I was much better off compared to a human woman facing a man weighing twice her.

''I don't think you or your friends have what I'm asking for.'' I used my other hand to open the man's fingers clenched on my wrist.

The fox moved slightly on my shoulder and its nose touched my ear. ''You're a picky eater, you know?'' It was imitating the man's voice.

The man's eyes were focused on my hand as if he couldn't believe how weak his own hand was so he didn't see the fox's movement. ''You bitch. I'm being kind here since you have a pretty face but you bitches, all the same, thinking you can treat us like treating dogs. But you know what? I'm going to shatter your face so men will have to put a bag over your head to fuck you. Don't blame me later, you asked for it.'' The man pulled a dagger from his belt.

I stroked my ring with a sigh. ''You know what? I was doing my best not to spoil such a good day with you, but you're asking for it.''