Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"All your big problems and your pressing worries are related to me. Isn't that a big enough reason for me to ask you that question?"

Said Reen with serious expressions on her face. But one could see a hint of worry and guilt hidden behind that seriousness.

"Yeah. I have to admit. You are the reason behind my problems, Reen."

Eren said this while nodding nonchalantly. Due to which Reen had a blank face. She thought her master would try to talk some sense to her, saying how wrong she was in thinking the way she was thinking. The butcher was unpredictable to even his demon beast, it seemed.

But then Reen sensed Eren's emotions and got angry:

"Hmph! Now I get it. You were just teasing me. Be glad I don't like to bully my master. Otherwise, you'd be in a lot of trouble."

Eren smiled mirthlessly after he heard his demon beast throwing tantrums at him. She was becoming more like a teenage girl than a feared demon beast.

"My point is even if I knew these troubles beforehand, I'd still choose to make you mine. That's because you are that important and precious to me."

Eren tried to cajole Reen into submission. And it would have worked on almost any teen girl. But alas, Reen could read his thoughts well.

"Important to you or your crafty plans?"

Reen said this and narrowed her eyes as if she was paying close attention to her master's moves and his statements. Eren scratched his head before continuing:

"Why do they need to be mutually exclusive in the first place? You are important to me and my plans both. Besides, you were the reason behind a buffoon like Dom getting successful in the previous timeline. Surely, we can do something about my rotten luck in future as well. Hehe!"

This answer finally satisfied Reen. It highlighted the importance of her existence in her master's life. Eren didn't deny that he had become her master for his interests. But he also added that she was an integral part of his existence now.

Reen thought that Eren was investing his time and resources into too many things at once when he could have just focused on his ranking journey. All his planning and cunningness were not worth it in her eyes. That's why she couldn't help ask him:

"Eren, I feel you are better suited as a cultist than a normal ranker. Why do you need to put this much effort into everything you do when you can join the other side and enjoy more freedom?"

Eren raised his eyebrows again after listening to Reen's question that came out of the blue. He scratched his chin along with his barely growing beard before replying:

"Hehe! While I admire your efforts in looking after me, Reen, you are still too much of a greenhorn. You see rankers and cultists as two groups. But they are two sides of the same coin.

There's not really a difference between a ranker and a cultist when you think about it. One does all that they wish while the other does things in the dark."

Said Eren and stored Edgar's journal back in his storage space. Then he picked up the purple apple kept on the fruit stand and started eating it. He threw the other one to Reen who caught it with a trace of confusion still visible on her face.

"So why do humans see each other as cultists and rankers at all? Why can't they all just be rankers pursuing their own paths to power?"

Asked Reen while following her master's lead and eating the purple fruit she was handed to. Eren looked at the girl savouring the fruit and shook his head before continuing:

"There are some cosmetic differences between the two. And cosmetics matter.

The biggest advantage cultists have over rankers is the way they share their knowledge about their ranking journey. It seems the bigshots among them have invested their time and resources into finding old and new paths to power that can be deemed revolutionary when compared to what the rankers have today."

Eren said while finishing his fruit. Now he had retrieved another book from his storage. This was a pioneering book about ingredients. He was reading on the irritant gas released by Malva Hibiscus and its uses.

"But then why are you hesitating to become a cultist? Your status as a potential demi-human is sensitive no matter which side you join or abandon. But with cultists, at least you'd have more ways to learn about the lost path of becoming a demi-human. Here, as a ranker, you won't gain much regarding how to tap into your true potential.

If you can't come out in the open regarding your potential demi-human status,

But the cultists' advantages end there. The establishments spread across this continent are way too powerful. They won't allow the cultists to prosper because they are anti-establishment.

The cultists exist because the establishments want them to exist. The kingdoms and empires use the cultists as their powers in the shadows to create unrest in their enemy's territory.

In short, the cultists exist to serve as an excuse for the establishments to do their dirty work while shedding responsibility for their actions. No matter what they do inside and outside their territory, they always have one force to blame for their mischiefs: the cultists.

Sure, I'd like my freedom. Which sane ranker who wants to progress faster and further in their ranking journey would ever say no to such an offer? But I don't want to sacrifice my safety because of it.

Being a ranker has its disadvantages, I can't pretend that they don't exist. And rankers' societal rules are bothersome. What's even more bothersome is the way they are less restricted the higher you climb in the ranking ladder.

But even with all restrictions, staying as a ranker would give you a stable way to progress without being worried about the repercussions from the powers that are above you. Slow and steady progress in the beginning ranks is essential for a ranker.

And it's not that I won't ever swim in those murky waters. But right now, I'm better off as just another ranker."

Said Eren and closed the book he was reading. Reen was satisfied with her master's explanations as she looked at him pondering over something.

Eren then retrieved the runic container in which Malva Hibiscus was stored. He checked the ingredient one more time to ensure everything is the way it should be.

Eren stored the container after the final recheck and raised his hands towards Reen. The latter just converted into her slime form and merged with the tip of his index finger before disappearing into his body.

It was time Eren met up with Adapt Levine.

AN: Thanks Venom30 for the pizza. Sure hit the spot. ;)

This bonus chapter is dedicated to another set of 100 GTs we received. VEH is almost within the top 50 Golden Tickets ranking. I couldn't have asked for more in its first win-win month. Cheers!

A few readers wanted to know about Eren's take on the cultists. Hope this chapter answers your queries.