The interior of Siren's Sanctuary was spacious and rustic.
The grand entrance led into a spacious foyer adorned with aged yet meticulously maintained furniture, displaying a rustic charm that hinted at the villa's history.
A sweeping staircase, embellished with intricately carved railings, ascended to the upper floor, where empty bedrooms awaited future inhabitants.
The rooms were currently devoid of personal touches. Tall windows adorned with delicate curtains allowed moonlight to filter through, casting a soft glow on the wooden floors.
The ground floor boasted a large common area, featuring a fireplace that stood as a centerpiece, promising comfort during chilly nights. The walls, adorned with maritime-themed artwork and artifacts, paid homage to the villa's origins.
Towards the rear, a set of doors opened onto a patio, offering a breathtaking view of the deserted backyard and the distant sound of the sea. The absence of immediate neighbors contributed to the villa's secluded ambiance, creating an atmosphere of tranquility.
In a corner of the common area, a doorway hinted at the potential for a secluded potion laboratory. Eren envisioned this space to be equipped with alchemical apparatus, shelves stocked with exotic ingredients, and workstations for crafting the magical elixirs he had mastered over time.
"Hm. This place really is "haunted", in a traditional sense," Eren thought to himself as he scanned the entire region with his Spirit Sense. He detected several presences that weren't quite alive.
[ Greater Skill: Domain of Gluttony
Derived Skill: Mouths of Gluttony ]
Eren unleashed his Greater Skill, summoning the Mouths of Gluttony across the newly acquired villa grounds. These ethereal entities manifested to consume the lingering Spirit Force remnants left behind by deceased Practitioners.
In the wake of their appearance, a symphony of distant wails and muffled cries echoed. It was as if someone was playing various audio-capture Array Disks at once and the cacophony of these sounds was creating a haunting ambiance.
"Aaaaah! Ghosts! They… they are real!"
Arman, unsettled by the mysterious voices echoing around him, was overcome with fear. The chilling realization that something spectral surrounded him prompted him to instinctively seek solace by embracing Reen. The sensation of an otherworldly presence left him trembling with goosebumps.
Reen chuckled, gently ruffling Arman's hair in an attempt to ease his distress. "Don't worry; it'll be over soon."
These residual spiritual force clusters, commonly referred to as ghosts by mortals, explained the villa's name, "Siren's Sanctuary." The mortals were often spooked by the sounds these residual Spiritual Force clusters produced. These sounds were often linked to a siren's wail in the region, which became the origin of the villa's name.
Swoo. Swoo. Swoo.
The Mouths of Gluttony diligently devoured these lingering spiritual entities, their consumption contributing marginally to the enhancement of Eren's Spiritual Force. However, for a demigod with a Grandmaster Ranking Status, the augmentation didn't mean much.
"Hmm. This should be enough," Eren thought to himself and waved his hand.
The unsettling aura that had gripped Arman gradually dissipated as the Mouths of Gluttony completed their task. Even as a mortal, he sensed a profound transformation within the villa—a purification, an exorcism of spiritual impurities that rendered the once-creepy atmosphere cleansed and renewed.
"Alright, big bro, now that you've settled in, it's time for me to leave," Arman declared, observing Eren effortlessly dealing with the ghosts haunting the villa.
Despite the successful exorcism, the mortal kid harbored concerns about potential lingering spirits, unwilling to risk encounters with unseen apparitions. After all, he lacked the ability to make problems disappear with a snap of his fingers, a luxury reserved for beings beyond mortal confines.
Raising his eyebrows, Eren regarded Arman with understanding, quickly deciphering the kid's unease.
"You know, little Arman, I can help you become a Ranker if you don't want to feel powerless all the time."
Eren casually extended an offer that addressed the mortal's unspoken fears. Initially taken aback, Arman eventually comprehended the significance of Eren's proposal. Kneeling before Eren, he bowed, expressing readiness to become the demigod's disciple.
"I am ready to become your disciple, Sir Eren," Arman proclaimed, prompting both Eren and Reen to exchange confused glances before refocusing on the earnest mortal. Eren gestured for Arman to stand, addressing the misconception.
"Where did you get the idea that I'm accepting you as a disciple?" Eren queried, observing Arman's perplexed expression. The mortal, equally bewildered, responded, "Weren't you going to teach me how to become a Ranker?"
Eren didn't know that the mortals were often recruited by Practitioners into their fold as disciples. Especially when the mortals were in their teens.
Kids of Arman's age were ideal seedlings for the divine temples and demonic cults to raise as their own. They imprinted strong ideologies onto the kids' psyches from their young years, making them staunch supporters of the faith their respective organization was practicing.
This was why Arman had assumed that Eren was ready to follow other Practitioners in the footsteps. One could say that this was one of the common practices in Labh Salem.
Eren clarified the misunderstanding, shaking his head.
"No, it seems you got something wrong. I said I'd help you. At most, you'd become my subordinate.
I'll need some assistance managing this villa and the upcoming potion-selling business. In exchange, I'll offer you a suitable F-
Ranked Tantra and a few Skills. What I'm suggesting isn't a master-disciple relationship but an employer-employee deal."
Arman's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Eren's proposal. "So, you're saying I won't be bound to your school or faith if I choose to leave your service?" he inquired cautiously, seeking clarity on Eren's intentions.
Eren chuckled softly before replying.
"Exactly. You'll have the freedom to chart your own course in life, Arman. I'll give you a few pointers from time to time if need be. But the path you take will be entirely your own.
Where I come from, a Ranker's Path is seen as a solo journey, one that can only be initiated by the individual on their own." He crossed his arms as he spoke.
===
AN: Mouths of Gluttony were explained in chapter 1128.
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