Chapter 11: Aberrant Demon? (3/4)

Chapter 11: A Heterogeneous Demon? (3/4)

After finishing the breakfast Aunt Winnie had prepared, Kaelen walked down to the first floor and saw Paul and Ron sitting in the flower garden, chatting.

"Good morning, Master Kaelen."

"Good morning, Master."

Ron was exceptionally enthusiastic, thanks to the five hundred lubis from yesterday.

Kaelen turned to Paul and asked, "Do we need to take the car out later?"

Paul shook his head. "I haven't received any phone notifications yet."

Ron chimed in, "I think today should be a pleasant and relaxing day. Mr. Mason and Madam Mary haven't even gotten out of bed yet."

His uncle and aunt were sleeping in while there was no business at home.

"Paul, can you drive me to the hospital? I need to visit Mr. Hoffen on behalf of Grandfather."

"Of course, Master."

The Inmeles family car was not very convenient for private use elsewhere, but traveling to a place like the hospital was perfectly legitimate.

Returning once more to the interior of the vehicle, where one suffered regardless of being alive or dead, Kaelen sat down on the cushion and lamented with a sigh:

"Actually, we could replace this with a new hearse."

This one was a modification after all; a proper hearse had a groove in the middle to place the coffin, with fixed seats and armrests on both sides, and a much more spacious interior.

"Mr. Mason wanted to change it long ago, but Madam Winnie wouldn't agree."

Paul started the car, and the hearse began to drive down Mink Street.

"Paul, make a turn over there and drive past the front of the townhouses."

"Alright, Master."

However, just as Paul had turned onto that road, Kaelen changed his mind. "Never mind, Paul, turn back. Let's just go straight to the hospital without taking a detour."

"Alright, Master." Paul did not show the slightest impatience; his temper was indeed much better than Ron's. Of course, if you tipped Ron, Ron would instantly become incredibly enthusiastic as well.

Kaelen had originally wanted to pass by the door of his uncle's first love again to catch a glimpse of that second-floor window, but on second thought, his grandfather was not sitting in the car right now after all. For safety's sake, he dismissed the idea.

In about ten minutes, Paul drove the car into the hospital parking lot.

"Master, I will wait for you here."

"Alright."

Kaelen got out of the car and walked toward the inpatient building.

As he walked up the steps, he realized he was visiting a patient but hadn't even brought any fruit.

Should he go out to buy some fruit or a bouquet of flowers before coming back?

Hesitating for a moment,

Kaelen still found it too troublesome. Forget it.

"Hello, excuse me, which room is Mr. Hoffen's ward?"

"Mr. Hoffen? Please wait a moment, let me check for you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The young nurse at the reception desk was flipping through the patient register for that section. As she searched, she raised her head to look Kaelen up and down, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Kaelen continued to smile politely, waiting patiently.

Since he had inherited this handsome appearance, he could only bear the troubles that came with it. Alas.

For instance, this young little nurse was deliberately searching very slowly just to look at him for a bit longer.

Finally,

"Found it. Mr. Hoffen is in Ward 301, Bed 2."

"Thank you."

"Do you need me to take you there?"

"No need, thank you."

Kaelen walked up the stairs to the third floor. Room 301 was right at the top of the staircase; he reached it as soon as he came up.

Pushing open the door to the ward, there were two hospital beds inside. Lying on one bed was Mr. Hoffen, while a middle-aged woman in a caregiver's uniform was fast asleep on the other, snoring softly. She didn't even notice when Kaelen pushed the door open and entered.

The caregiver was slacking off.

Kaelen stepped forward, preparing to wake her up.

But at that moment,

Mr. Hoffen's voice came over:

"She works three jobs and is too exhausted. Let her sleep a bit longer."

Kaelen turned around and looked at Mr. Hoffen lying on the hospital bed. His head was bandaged. Before Kaelen entered, he must have been reading a newspaper, so it seemed he was recovering well.

"I knew you had woken up, so I came to visit you right away."

Kaelen, who had come empty-handed, sat down by the bedside.

A cold sneer appeared at the corner of Mr. Hoffen's mouth as he said, "I didn't plunge to my death. You must be very disappointed, aren't you?"

Kaelen shook his head and spoke bluntly, "If I had wanted to, you probably wouldn't have made it to the hospital alive."

Mr. Hoffen frowned slightly, asking in confusion, "What, you're not even putting on an act anymore?"

"What is there to act? I am Kaelen, it's just that the previous illness caused a rather large change in my entire being. After all, I almost died of illness, so it's quite normal for a person's character to undergo some changes, isn't it?"

"I am very curious why Dis would still let you continue to live."

"I am Grandfather's grandson. What you're saying is rather meaningless."

"Don't you know what kind of creature you actually are?"

"I've said it, I am Kaelen."

Mr. Hoffen raised his neck, revealing the crucifix necklace underneath:

"Take it off."

"Alright."

Kaelen reached out and removed the crucifix necklace from Mr. Hoffen's neck.

Mr. Hoffen stared at Kaelen,

And said:

"I will tell you right now exactly what kind of creature you are."

"As expected of a professor of philosophy. In fact, I am also very pleased to discuss philosophy with you."

"Hold it!"

"What?"

"Use your hand, grasp the crucifix!"

Karen looked at the crucifix necklace hanging from his own hand, newly removed from Mr. Hoffen's neck, and did not move.

"What, you don't dare to?"

"No."

"Then grasp it. As long as you grasp it, you will know clearly exactly what kind of thing you are."

"Mr. Hoffen, it is fine to treat divination as a hobby, but it really isn't suitable to indulge in it excessively, otherwise it will affect your life in reality."

"If you are that thing, when you actively grasp it, your soul will also be annihilated along with it."

"Are you telling a story?"

"Yes, so grasp it, cooperate with me to keep telling this story."

Karen hesitated.

"What are you hesitating for? Grasp it. What, could it be that you are even deceiving yourself? Hehehe, I don't know why Dis still allows you to continue living. Perhaps he too has grown old, so old that..."

Mr. Hoffen's eyes suddenly widened,

Because with his own eyes he saw Karen, who was sitting right in front of him, use his left hand to squeeze that crucifix into his palm.

One second,

Three seconds,

Ten seconds;

Half a minute;

After grasping the crucifix, Karen remained completely motionless.

Mr. Hoffen propped both hands against the hospital bed, struggling to climb up, but at this exact moment, Karen suddenly pressed his body forward, a sound escaping his mouth: "Huo!"

"Oh my..."

Scared out of his balance, Mr. Hoffen fell back onto the bed, yet his gaze remained fixed on Karen, filled with disbelief.

Karen tossed the crucifix necklace beside Mr. Hoffen's pillow, spread his arms, and even spun around on the spot,

Saying:

"Didn't you say the soul would be annihilated? Look at me, how is it that nothing happened to me at all?"

"Impossible, this is impossible!" Mr. Hoffen began to mutter to himself incessantly.

"Get some good rest. I will come visit you again in a while, and I hope by then, this place can return to a more normal state." As he spoke, Karen pointed to his own forehead, "Goodbye, Mr. Hoffen."

Having finished, Karen walked out of the ward.

"His soul was actually not annihilated by the instrument of purification,

Could it be that I was wrong?