Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Eren paused for a bit before continuing his conversation with the boy from the boonies.

"You mentioned to the city guard that you're a regular here. Could you show me around? You know, give me a quick rundown of the city's history, noteworthy places, eateries, and notable figures?" he asked without turning to face the boy.

"Hahaha," Arman chuckled heartily, rubbing his hands together. With a confident assertion, he declared, "Fear not, big bro. You've stumbled upon Sunhaven's finest tour guide. Leave it to me," punctuating his promise with a resounding pat on his chest.

"Keke," Eren chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm. "Easy on the chest slapping, my little friend. You might end up with a damaged rib cage."

"Haah! What nonsense are you spouting?" Arman retorted, his playful defense accompanied by a dramatic sigh. "Bright minds aren't always the picture of fitness, you know. We're too busy tending to the world to fuss over ourselves," he declared, maintaining a light-hearted tone.

"Kekeke. I like your enthusiasm, little kid. I guess you are more outspoken than I was at your age. I'm glad I got to meet you on the first day of me being here," Eren laughed, coming to a halt.

"Lead the way then, Mr. Sunhaven's Finest Tour Guide. I want the premium package," he declared, making a sweeping gesture with his hands.

The boy leaped with excitement, recognizing that Eren was ready to avail himself of his services. Glancing around, he put the pinkie fingers of both hands into the corners of his mouth, inhaling deeply before emitting a sharp whistle. Almost instantly, a fleet of carriages appeared, approaching the duo.

These were simple, mortal-designed carriages without any magical embellishments. Pulled by F-Ranked horned horses, these conveyances offered spacious interiors, accommodating around four people at a time.

"You'll get what you asked for, big bro," Arman said as he opened the door of one of the carriages for Eren. The latter boarded, with Arman following suit.

The carriage driver, initially irked by the sight of a beggar boy entering, withheld his complaints upon glimpsing Eren's face and sensing his distinctive aura.

Taking charge of Eren's tour, Arman directed the carriage driver along the route he had devised in his mind. As the carriage headed northbound through the city, Arman provided Eren with comprehensive insights into the various facets of the City of Sunhaven, accompanied by brief histories of the sites they passed.

'Hmm. Everything is exactly how I wanted it to be. I can inform Roza and Kayara to join me here in a few days after selecting a suitable place and settling my affairs with the city administration.'

Eren contemplated as he surveyed the city with an impartial gaze. Mortals, he observed, had their unique way of handling things. To him, it didn't seem like they were lacking anything in their lives by not incorporating mana into their daily routines.

'Magic and mana don't fundamentally alter things. They merely amplify the blessings and curses that already permeate our lives,' Eren mused with a subtle smile, allowing his thoughts to wander.

As the carriage navigated through the broad city streets, Arman continued sharing information about Sunhaven. While Eren possessed some prior knowledge about the city, Arman added additional insights, granting Eren a deeper understanding of his chosen operational base.

"I'm bored, Erni. Let me see the city as well," Reen materialized beside Eren seemingly out of thin air. She promptly settled by the carriage window, observing the changing cityscape as the carriage progressed steadily.

Reen, too, appeared to be a mortal girl, inheriting Eren's distinctive eyes. She wore her waist-length hair neatly tied, with locks gracefully cascading down her face, giving her an elegant appearance. Her rosy lips, clear skin, and cute face made her seem youthful as if she were in her late teens.

Dressed in a simple black gown devoid of any flashy elements, Reen emanated a natural and unassuming beauty. She seemed like a girl from the capital city of Eldorath who had ventured into this seemingly remote city for sightseeing.

In Sunhaven, Reen had deliberately altered her usual appearance, suppressing her powers to appear no different from Arman. However, unlike Eren, she couldn't entirely conceal her inherent charms.

It was ironic that Reen didn't have much experience when it came to altering her appearance considering it was through her that Eren had received the groundbreaking bloodline powers. Then again, Reen didn't have any reason to alter her appearance in the past. Her time in the Purgatory was wasted on worrying about her survival.

With the resemblance she bore to Eren, it appeared as if Eren were Reen's young father. This observation left Arman wondering whether it was appropriate to continue addressing Eren as his "big bro." He didn't want to inadvertently offend Eren by undermining his seniority.

"Who... who is she?" Arman questioned in surprise at the sudden appearance of a third person inside the moving carriage. "She is Reen, my... um... my kin," Eren responded casually. "Don't worry about her. Now, where were we?" he prompted, encouraging Arman to resume his city explanations.

'Magic... magic truly is magical. I wonder if I can ever become a Practitioner like them?' pondered the scrawny youth from the boonies.

'This… This is a big chance for me. Let me provide them with the best service. I can seek their help later on. Guiding me in the right direction shouldn't be too challenging for them.'

It took Arman a while to regain his composure. Eventually, he sighed, assuming that such occurrences were par for the course for Practitioners of Eren's caliber. He also decided to ask Eren for help regarding his wanting to become a Practitioner.

Arman rebooted his tour guide duties with renewed focus, even fielding Reen's inquiries about various aspects of the city. He answered briefly and made the carriage driver stop at the right places for Eren and Reen to explore a few places on foot.

As Arman spent time with Eren and Reen, he observed their distinctiveness from regular individuals and even Practitioners of Paths with whom he had occasional interactions. They appeared unfazed by his shabby attire and colloquial Labhi. They showed no concern for the scrutinizing glances from citizens that their presence invited.

Instead, they simply sought to absorb every detail about the city from him.