Moments earlier.

"Hmm, what do I even expect?"

Deklan looked at the gate entrance before him and let out a small sigh.

For someone who came from the twenty-first century, the sight before him doesn't surprise him at all.

In fact, it made him miss his home world even more.

Before him was the supposedly Ingver Town—that was the biggest town in the area, and even then, the entrance to the town was filled with cracked stones. People were shouting, bantering, and even singing, creating this rowdy atmosphere that was worse than anything Deklan had seen in his previous world.

And when he stepped inside, what greeted him first wasn't the architecture.

But the smell.

Judging from the coal dust in the air and smoke, Deklan already knew what era he was in.

And he was already judging hard even before he entered.

However, surprisingly enough, the pungent stench of trash and shit didn't hit his nose—he was greeted by fresh air instead—which has no bad stench at all. "How can this be?" Deklan was taken aback, soaking in the rowdy and dirty scene, "Hygiene is not that much of a thing, but the town doesn't smell bad?"

Deklan looked around and noted the pipes that followed along the road.

He saw holes across the pipes, and every ten seconds or so, it sucked in air and puffed out blue gas.

Curious, Deklan went over to the pipes and squatted down to check.

"Oh…? As expected," He nodded eagerly, rubbing his chin, as he inspected the pipes with interest. "It's inhaling the bad air and letting out purified air, similar to a plant. I love the magical world. Had this world been exactly as my previous world, this town would've smelled like shit."

Now that he found comfort in knowing this, Deklan stood up and placed his hands on his waist.

He looked around and immediately scoured the entire town.

From going around for about fifteen minutes, Deklan noted that the entire town was at least ten times bigger than Slosa Hamlet; perhaps even more. The outskirts were rough, then there was the marketplace where the bulk of the people gathered, then factories with sky-high chimneys, and lastly the square that hosts nuances other than the means for living.

Of course, Deklan went instantly to what he wanted to do the most.

The Barber Shop.

Leaving his nest to spread his wings, it's only right for him to make a symbolic change, and cutting his hair is one he could think of right now. Besides, he has never had long hair in his previous world, as it was a hassle for him and also sultry.

Making his hair shorter would suit him more.

Deklan entered the shop and was instantly greeted by the hairdresser.

He took a seat even before the hairdresser could say a single word, and then pointed at his head.

"Taper fade, please. Get rid of this long hair."

"Taper fade, Sir?"

"Yes, taper fade. What's wrong?"

Deklan turned to look at the hairdresser, and the hairdresser looked at Deklan like he was an alien.

Both of them blinked, and then blinked again in silence.

Only then did Deklan realize that the hairdresser didn't know what he was talking about.

"Okay, get your things. I'm going to teach you how to do it." Deklan waved his hand.

Of course—this world didn't know much about hairstyles, as even the hairdresser didn't know the most generic one. However, it does not matter—Deklan roughly knew how his barber cut his hair, so he could teach it to the hairdresser.

Almost half an hour later, Deklan leaned to the mirror to see his reflection.

He turned his head left and right and nodded in pleasant surprise.

"It's quite good," He praised, giving a thumbs up to the hairdresser. "You have talents, Sir!"

"Hmm, you'll look like a ruffian with that kind of hairstyle, Sir," the hairdresser smiled acutely, finding Deklan's taste in hairstyle to be quite odd. "But I suppose that's none of my business. Anyway, it'll be six silver coins and twenty-five bronze coins. I take paper, too."

Upon hearing that, Deklan paused for a second.

Ah… Shit. I don't have money.

Since he was too excited about a new town, finally leaving the harshness of the forest, he forgot that he had no money whatsoever. He didn't even say goodbye to Marsha, so he couldn't even ask for some help to survive.

Seeing the wry smile on Deklan's face, the hairdresser's face turned sour.

Pah!

"Fuck, what was that for?!" Deklan howled when he was slapped on the back of his head.

"If you don't have money, then why did you even come to an establishment!" the hairdresser shouted, veins bulging across his neck. "You come here and act high and mighty, and yet you're deadbeat. How shameless can you be?!"

Pah!

"Yo! This is assault!"

"Assault? Are you going to call the police?"

Pah!

Of course, Deklan couldn't call the police for this, as he was the one who couldn't pay.

But still, the hairdresser was too vicious!

"Do you think this is charity?"

Pah!

"You think you can come in here and use my service without paying?"

Pah!

Deklan kept being hit over and over again, and he ran in a circle across the entire room.

Every time he wanted to say something, he was slapped on the head.

"Stop! Stop! Hold on!" Deklan extended both of his hands, keeping the distance between him and the hairdresser as his shoulders pressed into the corner. He was staring at the wooden rod in the hairdresser's hand. "I don't have money, but I can pay! I'm an Exorcist!"

"Exorcist, my arse!" the hairdresser stepped forward again—rod raised high. "Now you're lying about this? Are you not afraid of the association?!"

"It's the truth!' Deklan quickly snapped his fingers.

A small, sharp pop echoed in the closed room—a burst of harmless flame flickered and died in his palm.

Even though it was crude, that alone made it undeniable that he's an Exorcist.

"Huh… You're really an Exorcist?" The hairdresser lowered his hand, surprised.

"Yes! I… I…" Deklan looked up at a trace of mana coming from the second-floor. "Do you have any problem? If you show it to me, then I'll help! I can sense mana coming from the second floor, so don't lie to me."

Just then, the hairdresser's face brimmed in surprise before it turned gloomy.

"Forget about it…"

"Trust me! I'm not a normal Exorcist. No harm in showing me and seeing what I can do, is there?"

Although the hairdresser was reluctant, he eventually agreed.

He couldn't believe he met someone like Deklan this very early in the morning, but it's fine.

Perhaps, maybe this is fate.

Despite his reluctance, the hairdresser opened the door and gestured for Deklan to go inside.

Deklan was expecting there to be some kind of cursed object that might give him some Spooky Dollars, but what he found was not as he expected. Lying on the bed weakly was a young girl no older than eight or ten at the higher end.

She looked peaceful with her hands clasped above her stomach and eyes closed.

And from how pale she was, she almost looked like a corpse.

…

[Sudden Quest!]

Description: Heal the young girl from mana infection.

Reward: 50 Spooky Dollars

…

"She's my daughter, Andreya. A few years ago, she caught the flu, but it quickly escalated to this state. I have called multiple Shamans to save her, but none could do anything," the hairdresser said, looking at his dear daughter with deep sadness. "I'm willing to give up everything as long as she can wake up and smile again."

"Good news to you, I may be able to help," Deklan folded his arms and inspected her.

Since the system gave him a quest, that means there's a way for him to help this young girl.

Besides, the reward he got isn't that much, so this should be easy for him.

"Y-You can…?" The hairdresser looked at Deklan in shock.

"Of course. Consider yourself lucky you met me, and that I'm currently broke. Others might not be able to save her, but I can," Deklan gestured toward the young girl, his fingers tracing the line of a sinister, ink-black energy that sizzled from her forehead like a sizzle. "Have the other Shamans mentioned that sizzle over her forehead?"

"Sizzle? What sizzle?" the hairdresser looked at his daughter and frowned.

He saw no string that Deklan was talking about.

Just from that alone, Deklan could already tell that he was the only one who could see it.

But what's the reason? Why am I the only one who can see it? And where is it going?

Deklan looked up to the ceiling—and saw a small portal there where the sizzle entered, which showed that it was connected to somewhere. A place that he found familiar. It gave the same aura as that dark place I was in after passing out.

Regardless, he would need to find more of this condition to know for sure.

The portal that was created by this young girl was too small for him to sense anything beyond it.

Deklan approached the bed and knelt beside it.

"S-Should I give you some space?"

"No, not necessary. It's going to be over quickly."

Deklan reached out, fingers splayed, and attempted to grasp the black sizzle directly. His hand passed through it as if it weren't there. He shifted, placing his palm directly in its path, blocking its line to the portal near the ceiling.

But the energy didn't divert or pause.

It simply streamed through his flesh and bone as if he were made of smoke.

He even tried using mana to grasp it, but the result stayed the same.

Nodding his head, knowing what to do, Deklan summoned a small, delicate knife from thin air.

Naturally, he used the Ghost Conqueror skill to create this knife.

And following his instincts, he used that knife to cut this black sizzle, certain that it would work.

As expected, the knife's edge sliced through the sizzle, severing it from the portal.

Roar—!

Deklan tilted his head upwards—when a distant, astral roar resounded the moment the connection was severed. He expected a backlash, but there was nothing like that. Instead, the portal dissipated, and then the black sizzle next.

[Sudden Quest completed!]

[50 Spooky Dollars have been rewarded.]

"Huh… Easy-peasy," Deklan rose to his feet again and then turned to look at the hairdresser. "It's done, my guy. I've dealt with the main problem, so your daughter should be waking up soon. That should be more than enough for the haircut, right?"

Hearing this, the hairdresser frowned and checked his daughter.

Deklan barely did anything.

Normally, the Shamans would take an hour, but this is barely a few minutes.

Doubt lingered in his heart, but then, he noticed his daughter's eyelids trembling.

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