After finishing her explanation, Barbara bent over and hauled Eros up, her face a mask of practiced indifference. "From now on, I will teach you the principles of Mysticism. This is so you can quickly..."

  She had intended to say "so you can quickly reclaim your former power and memories," but the words died in her throat. Instead, she pivoted:

  "This is so you can revitalize your clan. You know as well as I do that the North family is in a precarious position. You must increase your strength so your family can at least defend itself."

  And so, Eros’s "miserable" double life began.

  By day, he studied under the watchful (and strict) eyes of the family elders; by night, he was dragged into the soul world for Barbara’s private tutoring—all while a certain giant tentacle peeked from the shadows. It was a schedule more grueling than the 996 work culture of his past life.

  His only solace was the "Estelle Energy" he recharged every night. Before sleeping, he would listen to Estelle sing lullabies in her soft, ethereal voice. Although Estelle didn't understand why a boy his age still insisted on lullabies, she never refused. In fact, she was delighted that her child loved her singing so much.

  After soaking in the lullabies, he would head to the soul world to annoy Barbara. He discovered that her fuming, "ready-to-explode" face was actually quite adorable.

  If only she’d listen to my suggestions for the outfit, he lamented. He had explained the structure, texture, and aesthetic of black stockings with scientific precision, but she kept playing dumb, claiming she "didn't understand." Cursed artifact, she’s definitely pretending.

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  Two months flowed by in this orderly fashion.

  One night, just as Eros was about to drift into sleep after his usual lullaby, his door was flung open.

  A slender, swaying figure stood in the doorway. Thanks to the passive buffs of the Eye of Eternal Night and the nighttime environment, Eros could clearly see who had broken into his room in the dead of night.

  It was Undine, that "bratty younger sister" figure. But her state was terrifying. Her face was deathly pale, and her entire body was convulsing. Eros’s heart sank; he knew exactly what was happening.

  Undine was suffering from Eldritch Erosion. After months of study, he was no longer the novice who knew nothing of the supernatural.

  "When you gaze into the mystery, the mystery gazes back. When you touch the occult, the occult draws near."

  "Every night, souls that have touched the supernatural have a chance to drift into the Spirit Realm. There, they are like candles lit in a pitch-black forest."

  "The wandering, twisted entities of the Spirit Realm will follow that glow of spirituality and invade the human soul. If you cannot endure it, you will be consumed and transformed into a monster. This is the price of seeking the Truth."

  These warnings had been the first lesson the elders taught him, and they had repeated them like a mantra ever since.

  Strangely, the family was baffled by the fact that Eros had never suffered a single erosion in months. They had developed various theories, the most popular being that he still carried the residual aura of the "Great One" (the Elven Goddess), which scared off lower-level entities. Because of this, even Estelle, who stayed near him, remained untouched.

  Eros’s expression had been complicated when he heard those theories. Residual divine power? Maybe. But the real reason is probably the giant tentacle monster loafing around in my soul world.

  Barbara had explained it bluntly: "The greatest 'Anomoly' in the world has already claimed you as its territory. What brainless spirit would dare to steal a 'prey' marked by Him? Out of sheer terror, they don't even dare to come close. That’s why anyone near you is safe."

  Eros didn't know whether to be relieved or disturbed by that explanation.