Cassian's POV
The sun had yet to rise fully over the horizon when I woke up.
Stretching my arms with a yawn, I glanced at the dimly lit ceiling. Another day, another hunt.
As usual, I began my morning with light exercise—push-ups, sit-ups, squats, stretches. Compared to the hellish torture that orc trainer put me through during the early days of my training, this routine was nothing more than a gentle warm-up. Still, it got the blood flowing.
After an hour, sweat coated my skin, dripping from my forehead and soaking my shirt. My muscles tingled slightly from exertion, but in a good way—like they were grateful for being used.
I tossed my clothes into the basket and stepped into the bath. The tub here was a luxury—ceramic lined with silver patterns, always ready to fill with warm water at the pull of a lever. As the hot water enveloped me, a deep sigh escaped my lips.
"Ah… it feels nice," I murmured, letting my body sink a little deeper into the warmth.
Steam curled around the room, blurring the mirror and fogging the windows. I closed my eyes, letting the silence soak in. These few peaceful minutes were rare—precious, even.
After soaking for a while, I got out, dried off, and put on my uniform—the Exorcist robe. Black and silver, it hugged my frame neatly now. I stared into the mirror, inspecting my reflection.
"Hm… not bad," I muttered, brushing back a lock of my hair.
My face still had remnants of youth, but my eyes—those had changed. They weren't the same as six months ago. No longer filled with uncertainty. There was resolve now, and something colder hidden beneath it.
Grabbing my belt and strapping my sword to my side, I stepped out of the room.
"I should head to the cafeteria," I said aloud to no one in particular.
Today, I had plans.
After finishing my assigned duties at the church, I was thinking of heading to the adventurer's guild. With my status as an Exorcist, it wouldn't be hard to take on some side quests. Maybe something that pays decently. I doesn't hurt to get more funds—not just for survival, but for growth. Equipment, potions, maybe even enchanted gear.
Money made the world move.
As I walked through the stone hallway, I couldn't shake a feeling. There was… a gaze. Subtle, distant, but present.
I didn't stop walking. My posture didn't change. But my senses were alert.
'Someone's watching me,' I thought. 'Not hostile… just observing. Surveillance?'
It didn't matter right now. I'd act if they acted. Simple as that.
Entering the cafeteria, the smell hit me first—savory, warm, fresh.
My eyes scanned the room.
"Oh? Pizza today?" I muttered, noticing several people munching away with wide eyes and greasy fingers.
It didn't take long to locate the source.
"That panda chef's got skills," I chuckled, making my way to the counter.
I grabbed a full pizza for myself—generous slices, golden crust, bubbling cheese. Just looking at it made my stomach rumble.
I sat alone at one of the long tables, instinctively choosing a corner. Habit. Less exposure.
Even as I bit into the first slice—hot, chewy, slightly crispy—I could feel that same gaze. Still watching. Still far.
I ignored it.
After finishing my breakfast, I quietly stood, picked up my tray, and returned the dishes. I made sure to avoid eye contact with the panda chef. Last time he roped me into washing plates again. I closed my eyes briefly as I set the tray down.
'Not today. I've got undead to kill.'
With breakfast done, I left the cafeteria and made my way to the usual place.
The cleansing grounds.
My daily task was the same: hunt and purify as many undead as I could. The church provided the area, the tools, and the blessings. It was a grim job, but necessary. The energy of the undead corrupted the land if left unchecked.
I stood at the edge of the forest. Dense fog clung to the ground like a shroud, and the air smelled of rot.
Tying a cloth around my mouth and nose, I took out my new sword.
It was beautiful—sleek and deadly. The hilt was wrapped in black leather, the guard inlaid with golden patterns, and the double-edged blade shimmered faintly even without mana. An incomplete holy sword, according to the records. They never finished crafting it.
'Lazy bastards,' I thought, gripping the handle tightly. 'Still, even incomplete, you're amazing.'
As I stepped forward, my boots crunched over dead leaves and brittle twigs. The deeper I moved, the heavier the air became.
"Gwaaahhh!!"
The familiar groan echoed from between the trees.
Two undead stumbled toward me—rotting flesh, empty eyes, crooked limbs. They moved like puppets, but with hunger in their steps.
"Infuse: Purification."
The blade responded immediately. Golden and silver light burst from the blade, encasing it in a radiant aura. This sword amplified my skill efficiency, using less mana and creating a brighter, stronger purification field.
I dashed forward, lowering my stance, eyes locked on their chests.
SLASH.
A horizontal cut sliced through both of them cleanly. They didn't even have time to react.
Thud. Thud.
Their bodies hit the ground, disintegrating into ash and light.
"…That was too easy," I muttered, blinking. The sword really was overpowered.
"Gwahh!!"
Another pair.
Grinning beneath the cloth mask, I welcomed them.
"Let's dance."
SLASH. SLASH.
They fell just as fast.
I started moving through the woods, carving a path, sketching a mental map to keep myself oriented. The trees all looked the same here—twisted, bare, and looming.
Fifteen minutes passed, then thirty. More groans, more ambushes.
"SLASH! PURIFY! SLASH!"
I moved like a ghost through the forest. Strike, pivot, cleanse, repeat.
Each kill gave me a small boost of energy and sometimes even a faint pulse of experience. With my mana potion secured at my side, I didn't worry too much about exhaustion. Purification was more sustainable with this new sword.
But then… I stepped into a small clearing and froze.
Five undead surrounded me.
They moved fast. Too fast.
They weren't the usual brainless zombies. These ones were semi-coordinated, approaching from five angles like predators. Their claws scraped the ground, and their empty eyes flickered with a strange crimson light.
"…They're working together?" I muttered.
'Not good.'
I backed up a step, placing one foot behind the other, tightening my grip.
Closer… closer…
"AREA HEAL!"
A burst of green light erupted from my body. Unlike a normal heal, this version had been modified with purification energy. It corroded the undead in a radius around me. Two exploded immediately, their corrupted mana unable to resist the divine force.
The others staggered back, parts of their bodies melting or flaking off.
I didn't wait.
I lunged.
SLASH!
One lost its head.
SLASH! SLASH!
The others were cut down before they could recover.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Silence fell once more.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"...Tch. I need to be more careful. They're evolving."
I knelt briefly, placing a hand on the earth where one of them had fallen. The taint was lighter now. My work was effective. Still…
How many more of these things were out there?
I glanced at the system interface that flickered faintly in my vision.
Daily Task: Cleanse the Corrupted Grounds Progress: 17 / ???
No fixed number again. Just keep going until the system says stop.
"Fine," I whispered.
My robe fluttered behind me as I stood again and resumed walking.
Through fog and silence. Through rot and shadows. Through blood and light.
One Hour Later
Over thirty undead cleansed.
My clothes were stained with blood and soot. My mana had dropped to 30%, but I still had a potion left. The new sword hummed faintly in my hand, eager for more.
The air was calmer now, less tainted. But I knew that wouldn't last.
I sheathed my sword and sat under a tree, pulling out the choco lava cake the panda chef had given me yesterday. It was still wrapped nicely.
A small reward after hard work.
I took a bite—and instantly, my eyes watered.
"…Damn, that's good," I muttered.
Sweet, warm, and chocolatey. It melted in my mouth, filling me with a strange sense of peace. Almost made me forget the smell of decay around me.
Almost.
I leaned my head back against the bark, staring up at the sky breaking through the tree canopy.
"Another day done," I whispered.
Then I paused.
No.
Not done yet.
There was still one thing left to try.
I pulled out the sword again and held it in front of me.
"…Time to get familiar with you."
I swung once. Then again. Slowly. Gracefully.
"Slash. Slash."
A warm wind followed each motion.
Suddenly, I heard a rustle behind me.
I spun around, blade raised—
—and froze.
There, peeking at me from behind a tree… was a girl.
Not undead. Not a threat.
Her eyes widened.
Mine narrowed.
"…What the fuck?"
—To be continued..