"Why... are your eyes closed?"

Rena's face had a strange expression on it as she spoke up, or so I imagined.

"It's more interesting."

A faint tingle of confusion tickled my nose, granted by her ceaseless stare.

Apparently that's not enough...

"It's all just... yellowish-white bark. It's not cold, not warm, not soft, and not hard. It's uncomfortably comfortable, so I'm challenging myself a little."

She had an unscrupulous look on her face.

"It doesn't look like a challenge."

Her reply was quiet but loud enough to hear, and it was quite apparent that she wanted to try it herself.

Hah, amusing.

I waited... Waited for a grand total of about eight seconds before seeing her veer off course; only a moment more passed, and she had swerved perfectly to the side.

"You're going to walk into the wall..."

Her head pulled away as if a punch had been thrown at her, and a sharp gasp sounded out with her eyes snapping wide open.

How funny. Now it's my turn to look at her incredulously.

She turned to me, and I graced her with my vibrantly warm smile; hers was coloured with embarrassment but quickly warped into one of vexation as she crossed her arms tightly across her body.

"You can probably see even without your eyes... Just sniff."

There was a dully accusatory look in her eyes that I could only avoid.

I coughed and looked away.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

It's a rather hasty response, one she's sure to deconstruct way too literally, but she's given me an idea.

"Oh, you're a genius; I should practice my mana sense instead."

Her mouth was open, ready to attack my words, but her expression shifted at my, totally not purposeful, change in subject.

Seriously, she's getting more outspoken, and it's more than my rapidly failing facade can handle.

I'm acting more and more like myself; I should just leave her at this village while I collect my body, then find somewhere more permanent... I haven't seen much of this world so far, but I'm sure she's talented—because I'm so talented.

"You have a visual-mana sense as well?"

Baffled, she looked at me speculatively.

I only returned the look, prompting her to continue.

"Even for mage classes, that's rare around here."

The hidden meaning wasn't lost on me.

'around here'

Is this place... low level? How far down the food chain are we, exactly?

Wait... she said classes. So classes are a study like botany and not just a part of the system, huh.

"I didn't know that. I just sort of practiced it?"

My conversational skills aren't exactly on overdrive right now; I'm only vaguely responding while activating my mana sense.

I didn't think about it before, but... I'm using it in conjunction with my spatial awareness, which seems to degrade the overall 'quality' of what I'm seeing—far away is only a blur of sharp lines cutting through my vision.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

When it comes to abilities, it seems I still have to put some thought into practice, and I need to try and vary things up—push at its boundaries and use it in ways I haven't thought of.

I need to chip away at the exterior until it gives way and I'm flooded with 'inspiration' from the system.

Hmmmm, I can only imagine rapidly focusing on different details while expanding and contracting my spatial awareness, which I haven't really tried either...

Honestly, I probably should have done this sooner, but so much has happened.

Despite my title, it's extremely difficult to mix the mana sense and the other senses, even just to see them in parallel at the same time—especially with sight since it's mostly visual.

If only I could merge them, but the more I try, the more apparent it becomes that I'm missing something... and at the same time, there aren't really any details to focus on here; it's like target practice without the target, so I can't even test it thoroughly.

The only thing I can do is focus into the distance as much as possible.

...

"Huh?"

We both stopped at my unconscious expression.

This startled Rena, and she began looking around a little warily.

A chaotic amalgamation of red and black strokes... like tangled balls of yarn, only it's gradually growing more refined, sharp, and detailed.

Is it coming this way?

Without a word, I drew my sword and stepped in front, but when I flicked over to my normal sight, my anxiety quickly faded.

The mana sense must make things feel much larger than they are, and this thing isn't particularly fast either.

Wait, is it... a demon?

My eyes grew wide at the sight.

Why is there a random demon running through here?

They drew closer, and the finer details became more apparent.

He's young, but rather tall and skinny, with rough brown-black hair and purple eyes.

Flickering flames sparkled around his arms, and the air popped with faint micro-explosions.

He came to a halt, a fierce look in his eye, but I could clearly disern the underlying fear within.

I hadn't moved yet—something was nawing at my mind, a faint sense of recognition.

There's no way... the stalker Imp?

Why is he here? Should he not be at the outpost?

"KILL IT! Stop it from- from..."

Rena suddenly shouted at my side, halting my thoughts.

Why was she so scared of him?

No...

I looked at her; there's viceral disgust in her eyes, but I can't tell where it's coming from—it appears complicated, but in reality...

She's scared of not killing him.

With little tactical thought, the boy jumped forward, seizing his chance at survival.

I lightly pushed Rena back with my right arm and jabbed out with my left, connecting my gauntlets with his face.

He flew back against the ground, a watery stream of blood pouring from his nose, despite how weak the attack had been.

She's so agitated; her eyes are wide, and she's fidgeting as if in a strange state of hysteria.

"Calm down!"

She recoiled away from me at my harsh words.

I stared at her meaningfully.

However, seeing my reflection in her eyes, I turned away.

It seemed to snap her out of it, but I looked more angry than I'd intended to.

Stalker... boy stood up again, his previous energy and spirit gone; I didn't miss the odd glance he threw behind himself.

His eyebrows visibly twitched upon seeing me cut a line in the ground with my sword.

Shaking his head in confusion, I spotted the light of recognition in his eyes.

To him, it's only a coincidence, but I know he'll recognise its meaning.

I eyed him closely and walked to the side of the path, placing my hand against the wall of this great root.

[Monumental Shift]

Strength soared in my arm, and a tense, muffled shout left me. I slammed forward, and despite the short distance, the wall shattered apart, splintering into a fine mesh of dust and bark.

That wall is surprisingly hard...

Discarding the thought, I turned back to face him.

He looked awkward, unsure of what action to take, yet I can obviously see him inching towards the hole... What a little weasel, just leav-

I suddenly raised my sword, throwing it from the hilt with all my strength. My arm bulged as it released the energy of the skill, just before it faded.

The wind shrieked, and the sound of gargling blood shortly followed.

Everyone turned to look at the warping air just behind him, and a corpse seemed to materialise out of thin air.

[You have killed lvl9 Rotta:

exp: +(1) * 410 = 410]

Tch. Disappointing, even though I'm getting all of it...

I briskly walked past the stunned demon and pulled my sword from its skull.

"Go."

Speaking directly, I turned and looked down at him.

He didn't wait, quickly fleeing from the window I'd created.

"W-why did you let him go?"

Rena's distressed voice made its way to my ears.

I can't describe it properly; it sounds alien coming from her, yet despite the severity of her tone, her eyes shine with the light of someone out to kill an insect.

She's afraid of him but sees his death as inconsequential.

That doesn't add up to me.

I mulled over what to say; a part of me wants to change her opinion.

"Because you look at him like I looked at you."

She stumbled at my words.

I caught a brief glimpse of the shock on her face before she spun around.

She seemed to be hit from an angle she didn't think existed... perhaps it would enlighten her a little.

What I said wasn't the exact truth, but from her perspective, it was, and the point I'm trying to make is honest, I think.

It looks like she has a lot to think about; maybe she's questioning some of the things she's learned, but I'm not going to morally barate her; I have no real idea what Demons or Angels are like at large...

But... I do know that a doctrine that allows her to go through what she has is one I disagree with, and that he has done nothing wrong.