Chapter 10: Bored To Death

'So, now what?'

Alone in an abandoned orphanage filled with dead bodies, both human and monster, Mikael wondered what to do next.

'Hmm… even though it was temporary, I definitely became a low-grade demon and a skill was generated…'

Mikael decided to understand his system more closely.

"Skill page!"

The translucent window appeared with the list of his available skills.

<Skill Page 1>

<Psychokinesis Lvl. 2>

<Teleportation Lvl. 1>

<Reverse Clairvoyance Lvl. 1>

<Blessing of the Mist Lvl. -1>

<Possession Lvl. 1>

Mikael scanned the page and thought, 'Even though I became a demon for several hours, the innate skills from the poltergeist class remained, and even when I reverted, the possession skill is still here…'

He analyzed the system and concluded that his level and skills are independent of his class.

'That must mean that even if I become a seraph, the skills I previously obtained from other classes will remain!' Mikael beamed at the good news. Despite his bitterness at starting from the poltergeist class, he now greatly appreciated his Psychokinesis and Reverse Clairvoyance skills.

'Right, these skills were certainly useful.' Then he cocked his head to the side, "So, what's the effect of player class?"

As always, the Ascension System was quick to answer his question.

Ping!

< Poltergeist Class Effect:

(1) Grants 10% immunity to holy-attribute attacks.

(2) The player can equip up to (two) cursed items. >

"I see… well that makes sense. If there are cursed items then there should also be holy items, right?"

Thinking of obtaining an Excalibur for himself, Mikael's eyes landed on the last two skills.

'Hmm… I know from my experience in the underworld that losing the blessing of the mist makes me see the true form of mythical creatures but I have yet to see its effect in this world…'

"Blessing of the Mist! Activate!" Mikael figured that instead of thinking, he should just see the effect of the skill for himself.

<Passive skill: Blessing of the Mist Lvl. -1 is activated.>

His eyes briefly shone and his pale green irises clouded and turned milky white.

'Huh… I don't see anything different though?' he turned his head around to look at his surroundings.

"Oh well, maybe I'll figure it out in due time.'

He canceled the skill and turned to the last one. He read the description that popped up in another panel.

<Active Skill: Possession Lvl. 1>

Description: Fully possess a contracted living being for a limited time.

Current Limit: 1 contracted being

Skill Cost: 20 MP per minute.

Ping!

<Due to your deep understanding of the Mythical-grade creature 'Cerberus', your Possession Lvl. 1 skill is automatically upgraded to Integration Lvl. (max).>

Ping!

<Skill Update!>

<Active skill: Integration Lvl. (max)>

Description: Player may opt to integrate with a contracted living being either partially or fully for a limited time.

*In partial integration, the two parties share consciousness while operating select parts of the body.

Limit: 1 contracted being.

Skill Cost: 20 MP per minute (Full Integration), 5MP per limb per minute (Partial integration)

"Huh? What does 'contracted' mean?"

In response to his query, the system brought up another window.

<Glossary>

<Contracted Living being>

< A Low-grade demon may form a contract with any living being capable of free will (i.e. human, demi-human, intelligent monster, etc.)

The contract binds the fate of the two entities. It is made by attaching the soul of the contractor (Party A) to a medium, an object of great importance to the contractee (Party B).

The contractor shares his/her skills with the contractee in exchange for the latter's body and the 'SunRight' which allows the contractor to live inside a medium during the daytime.

The terms of the contract state that:

(1) The two parties shall be bound by the life granted by the universe. Thus, if Party B dies then Party A will be forcefully sent back to the underworld's court of justice.

(2) Party A may not harm Party B in any form nor intent and vice versa.

The contract is non-terminable and non-transferrable.>

'Oh! So basically, I need to form a contract with someone if I want to be able to go out during daytime. In exchange, I have to protect him or her.'

Mikael tapped his index finger on his chin, 'Hmm… isn't this contract thingy too risky for me? I mean, going out under the sun would be nice and all but if my partner dies, I'll be sent back to Tartarus!'

He was slowly losing interest in having a partner as he thought the contract terms were too favorable for the contractee, "It's unfair! This is essentially a slave contract! Nope! Not gonna do it. Humph!"

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But after an uneventful week, Mikael grew bored of roaming around the abandoned orphanage.

He had done everything he could – cleaning up the monster corpses and tidying the rooms until they sparkled. He even buried the remains of the children and performed a ceremony as he didn't want them to end up like him – decomposing at the bottom of a cliff, with no one mourning his death.

'I hope they get to Elysium…'

Another week passed and his boredom reached its peak.

"AAAAHHHH!! I'm bored to deaaaath! Isn't there anything entertaining in the afterlife?!" He suddenly missed the days when he worked himself to exhaustion.

Truly, habits are frightening.

'Right, I can still go out at night!' he enthusiastically thought, but even his night strolls quickly became uninteresting as nightlife was practically nonexistent in this medieval rural village.

At 7 pm, all the doors are closed and most of the villagers were already fast asleep.

"I wonder how the children are faring?" he wandered around until he found the eldest boy's house.

Through the windows, Mikael could see the child pretending to sleep as his mother tidied up his study desk.

"Sweet dreams, my baby…" his mother whispered as she stroked his hair and planted a loving kiss on his forehead.

"Hunggh…" The boy scrunched his nose and turned the other way.

"haha! Okay, okay. I won't bother you anymore." His mother chuckled.

She silently closed the door and went downstairs.

'Hah! This kid! Such a tsundere. Even though you bawled your eyes out when your mom rescued you.' Mikael smirked.

He entered the boy's room and floated beside the child who had one eye peeking at the door as if making sure that his mother had gone.

"Hey, Kid! Long time no see! Or rather, no hear. Hahaha!" Mikael heartily laughed at the boy's silly behavior.

<Passive Skill: Reverse Clairvoyance Lvl. 1 is activated>

"Uwaahh!" the boy shrieked in surprise but Mikael pressed his mouth shut but controlling two pens simultaneously.

The duck-faced kid snatched the pens and searched the air, "M-Mister?"

"Yep. So, How's it going?"

"H-how are you here? I thought you lived at the orphanage?"

"Well… I live there for now but I can go out at night. Why? You don't want me here?" Mikael purposely lowered his voice to tease the child.

Gulp!

"Uhh… t-that! Our neighbor said you were a demon."

"Hmm… I certainly was."

"Was?"

"I was a demon before but now I'm just a regular poltergeist," Mikael admitted. He waited for the kid's reaction and softly smiled when the boy noticeably relaxed.

"I knew you were not a demon! Mister is definitely a good guy."

"But Poltergeists are still bad, you know?"

"Nope, Mister is definitely good." The boy insisted, "So? How come you're here, sir?"

"I wanted to check if you kids are okay…" despite being invisible, Mikael could not help but to avoid the kid's eyes.

The child's eyes narrowed, apparently unconvinced of Mikael's noble reason, "You're just bored, aren't you?"

His accusatory tone riled Mikael up, "I'M NOT!"

The child waited, silently pressuring Mikael to be honest.

"Okay! Maybe just a little! But it's true that I checked on you because I was worried!"

The boy snickered, "Haha! If you say so, mister! We're all fine, thanks to you but rumors have begun circulating about you, mister."

"Rumors?"

"Yep. Our neighbor warned everyone not to enter the abandoned orphanage saying a cruel demon lived there."

"Oh… So that's why the forest's been so quiet."

"I wish you could come here during the mornings, Mister. The other kids would love to meet you again. Unfortunately, we have been banned from going anywhere near the forest."

"Ah… I see… Well, I could go during daytime but I'd rather not."

"Why?" the child gave Mikael the puppy dog eyes.

'Ugh! this kid's great at acting, no wonder his mom adores him.' Mikael decided to tell the kid about his dilemma.

"Oh! So if you form a contract with someone, you can go out during the day? That's great! Quick! Form a contract with me!" the child eagerly asked.

Mikael flicked his forehead with a pen, "Not so fast, kid. Forming a contract is dangerous!" he said and internally added, 'for me. 'cause you're a mischievous little runt.'

The child pouted but immediately moved on, "Then form a contract with someone with a strong sense of responsibility."

"Why?" Mikael's eyes glittered to hear the child's rationale. He was really beginning to like the kid.

"Because if it's someone like that, he would put your safety before himself, and since you share life, he will most likely avoid getting into dangerous situations."

Mikael slowly nodded, ' Right. If I partner up with a good-natured person, wouldn't I naturally get to collect points to become an angel? Currently, I have no way to collect good karma but if I form a contract with a hero…' the gears in his head turned as he quietly pondered on his next move.

--Chapter end—

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Question#1: Will Mikael's Spirit Core get destroyed by any type of light?

Answer: No. only Sunlight destroys a spirit core. Artificial lights, candlelight etc. are okay so it's possible for him to stay indoors during the daytime.

Question#2: Can't Mikael use an umbrella to block away the Sun?

Answer: Also no. recall that light is both a particle and a wave but for simplicity, let's consider it as a wave. Imagine sunlight as an infinite amount of wave that strikes the body from all directions.. If Mikael uses an umbrella, he can block out the wave coming from above but those from his left, right, front, and back can still touch him. (sorry, too much physics stuff hahahaha!)

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