***

[ Congratulations! You've slain a Perverted Sinner. ]

[ You've received a Sin Fragment: sloth. 142/10000 ]

[ Your agility has increased. ]

[ Your clone has grown stronger. ]

***

…

***

[ Congratulations! You've slain a Toddler Sinner. ]

[ You've received a Sin Fragment: Coldness. 192/10000 ]

[ Your speed has increased. ]

[ Your clone has grown stronger. ]

***

Halo woke up to the bronze screen buzzing abruptly before his eyes as though glitching. The sight of having it blink on and off repeatedly, and the fear of losing his humanity this way was enough to cause him a migraine.

But having that cozy sensation run down his spine after each consumed Sin Fragment almost made him disregard the pain entirely.

He couldn't tell which clone it was, but with Tough and Light still following him like shadows, he knew it was either Saint or Sunday.

The kills were too much, even for Sunday, though. Killing both Toddler and Perverted Sinners simultaneously would be an incredible feat, and over fifty of them at that. He knew without a doubt it was Saint.

She was really going at it with her new form.

Yet he barely dwelt on Dark Saint's strength.

He had a big day ahead, and having to deal with so many notifications from kills was getting on his nerves. But the weight of his Purpose kept him going.

StoneHaven was awake and kicking, the loud noises through the narrow window in his room told him that much. He needed to join in early and hope there would be casualties from the previous night to give him some intel about the Chaos Eaters.

Before long, he was already heading from his floor to the ground floor. But the sight before him made him question where he was.

"You fucker… you really think you can disrespect food in front of me?"

Unlike the previous night, the inn was filled with people trying out Silas's meals. But in the middle of the hall was Silas, dressed in his usual white attire, his face red and flushed, sweat dripping down his brow.

He held someone angrily by the collar. The burning rage in his eyes told Halo everything he needed to know about the man's Flaw.

He'd been very calm-headed and mysterious the previous night, but to see him act this aggressively told Halo it would be best if he continued to gulp down whatever Silas prepared, whether he could taste it or not.

He didn't wait to see how the commotion played out. His Purpose called.

Outside the inn was a street filled with vendors and buyers. The number was less than when he first arrived, but he understood it to some extent. Most people left StoneHaven due to the dangers at night.

He moved from street to street, often approaching vendors to avoid looking suspicious. People loved to talk, a lot, mostly about his hair, and some couldn't help but share their own adventures or express envy at his youth.

Still, he learned some vital things from the chatters.

As it turned out, it wasn't only Silas who was protective of the land's guards. Most people grew offended whenever Halo mentioned them, and though some remained calm and respectful, he realized there was something deeper behind the people's obsession with their guards.

He pictured their relationship as an addiction. They were well aware the Knights weren't doing anything significant about the Chaos Eaters, but in their defense, the guards were only human, and without them protecting the land, everyone would most likely fall.

They had to deal with Sinners surrounding the citadel on the mountains it rested on. What most people admired was how they reassured them during the day, as if carrying everyone's burden.

This land was mostly populated by elders. After living in a world where they had little time to even build a home, where kind words could come from the most rotten hearts, it was only natural they'd cling to familiarity.

Halo thought it was all bullshit until he met a guard himself on StoneHaven's most prestigious avenue.

He was dressed casually, his black hair pulled back in a ponytail. The gentleness in his eyes as he greeted everyone by name with a smile… yet this person was observant enough to notice Halo was new to this land. Strange as it was, he finally understood why people were so protective of their Knights.

Everything seemed bizarre and obsessive, yet after hours of strolling the streets, everyone only had praise for the guards and grew violent when the Knights' reputation was threatened. Just when he thought it was all obvious, he spotted a tavern.

He smiled.

No one talked more than a drunkard, besides the desperate man.

The tavern stank of sweat and dead rats when he entered. But it was exactly what he wanted, men drinking heavily and jumping between topics without ever finishing them.

Initially, he wanted to buy them drinks, hoping they'd say something useful. But the moment he approached the counter and was greeted by a beautiful woman whose appearance didn't fit the ragged place he stood in, one of the men behind him spoke.

"It has to be her… that girl, the library witch, she must've brought those things here."

His eyes narrowed. The bartender tried to initiate a conversation, but Halo simply requested the cheapest drink and took a seat.

The men went on and on about some liberal girl who must be the source of something, though they weren't specific, until one of them said something that made Halo's skin crawl.

"They say she was born here. Who's to say her body doesn't become one of those Chaos Eaters every night? Tsk… maybe we should end her before she ends us."

The bartender was becoming annoying, trying to initiate conversation and nearly irritating Halo enough to drive him out of the tavern. Still, he was appreciative of the information he'd gathered.

They were all supposed to be brought from a distant world, but it was said that a few were born in this cursed world, and those weren't considered humans.

If she were truly born in this world, Halo would not only be curious about what she looked like, but she would also be a great lead to figure out who was creating the Chaos Eaters.

He needed to find the library and hope for the best. But night was approaching, and the last thing he wanted was to look suspicious. Staying out late would give Silas reason to doubt him.

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