The opponent is also a soul from the Otherworld.
But it's unknown where they come from; so many travelers appearing here at once is an inherently eerie occurrence.
No one's words can be trusted.
To Shawn, he only believes what he sees with his own eyes.
In Shawn's Spiritual Vision, everyone is a monster, including Madame Hecate, an 'unseeable' terrifying presence.
This girl wasn't as bizarre, but the black aura surrounding her was probably no ordinary thing.
The Butcher isn't here today.
Shawn's dinner was smoked meat, bacon, boiled broccoli, baked tomatoes, and a portion of stewed mushroom porridge.
The maid delivering the meal today was another one.
But still not a living person.
Shawn's appetite wasn't good today; he's been pondering the girl's words, as if her words planted a seed of doubt in his heart, making everything suddenly seem suspicious.
"What exactly is this place?"
"Who should I trust?"
Shawn took out his three revolvers and began reloading the bullets one by one. As a newly-transcended, his spells were not powerful; one spell required physical contact with the target to take effect. Compared to that, the three guns in front of him gave him a bit more sense of security.
Lorice's origin is quite complex.
The Butcher had said that Otherworld souls coming to the Bizarre Realm aren't just humans, but also Elves, Devils, Angels, and even Transcendent beings like Giant Dragons.
"Then, what was Lorice's past life?"
"A human from the Otherworld with powerful abilities, or a legendary Non-human Race!"
"She doesn't believe in anything here."
"She wants to escape."
Shawn also needs to search for answers, because if Lorice is right, then the lies they have meticulously woven must hide a greater conspiracy.
He drew his guns and aimed at the bookshelf ahead, three guns, a black Invisible Hand extending from Shawn's back.
The Butcher didn't return today.
Shawn didn't know where he went, but he remembered his work during the day because the Butcher said the dead must work here.
Maze corridor.
Coincidentally, Madame Hecate wasn't present today either, so the scheduled class turned into a self-study session, with the Ghost Maid having prepared some readable books for them.
——"Advanced Skill of Spellcasting Focus".
Shawn was also a bit distracted today, his gaze constantly drawn to the girl opposite.
But the girl was calm today.
Until three hours ended, they exited the maze corridor one after the other.
"Have you thought about it?" Lorice's figure hid in the shadow.
Shawn stopped, softly said, "Why should I believe what you say?"
Lorice seemed confident, calmly said, "Then you'll only stay here waiting for death, or worse than death."
——Detect Emotions.
Shawn's eyes flickered; he sensed a strong surge of impatience and anxiety, seeming contrary to the calm demeanor she showed.
This spell is somewhat like Mind Sensing, only able to detect the strongest emotions the opponent is feeling at the moment.
Shawn pondered for a moment, slowly said, "What's your plan?"
Lorice appeared very alert, said solemnly, "Then you agree to collaborate?"
Shawn did not answer directly and instead said, "I want to know the truth."
Lorice deeply gazed at Shawn before her, pondered for a moment, then said, "Okay. As long as we can cooperate."
Before she spoke, Shawn decisively said, "Since it's collaboration, shouldn't our first step be intelligence sharing."
The girl seemed to assume Shawn was also an Otherworld human, not knowing he came from a farther Earth, even more confused about everything here. From the Butcher's words, Shawn had some indications and guessed that most Otherworld souls came here from worlds with Supernatural Powers.
The arrival of these Otherworld souls might be related to the legendary 'Old Days'.
Lorice's expression was solemn, slowly said, "What do you want to know?"
Shawn softly said, "Tell me everything you know, and I'll tell you everything I know."
Lorice pondered for a moment and swiftly agreed.
"Here certainly isn't as they say, and after my death I should enter my master's realm."
"I shouldn't reincarnate in this grim place."
"Moreover, they used some Ritual Spell to alter my memory, trying to make me believe everything they said."
Lorice's words touched many of Shawn's knowledge blind spots, forcing him to rapidly function his imagination to guess.
However, by the way she spoke, these seemed ordinary Otherworld common sense.
Firstly, Lorice was like him, revived after death; secondly, the 'master' Lorice spoke of was intriguing, seemingly not used to describe humans, as The Master's realm, Shawn guessed was the realm of the Divine Spirit.
When followers die, their souls enter the Divine Spirit's realm. Is the opponent a devout follower of some Otherworld God?
Memory alteration? Is it Soul Resonance? She distrusts everything here?
"So, what do you think this place is?" Shawn tried to direct her words.
Lorice glanced at him, slowly said, "Some Demigod Witch Demon's lair!"
"Here are all Necromancers, Undead Monarchy, bizarre Living Dead, and subordinate Corpse Demons serving — only a powerful Demigod Witch Demon can command so many Undead!"
Corpse Demon?
Those maids that deliver food?
Completely different information from what the Butcher provided.
Shawn sternly said, "So, you're saying they're deceiving us all along?"
Lorice pondered, "Not necessarily; the situation here is indeed eerie, and my prayers have never received any response from my master."
"The ancient indescribable entities they spoke of are somewhat like Ancient Evil."
"This place certainly has been eroded."
Her words again hit some of Shawn's knowledge blind spots, and he could only rely on guesses to analyze.
Before he could speak, Lorice furrowed her brow and said, "Since it's intelligence exchange, naturally I shouldn't be the only one talking."
Shawn pondered for a moment, slowly said, "I haven't been awake long."
"I don't understand anything here."
Hearing Shawn's words, Lorice's face changed, seemingly angry, as those words appeared perfunctory. But before she could react, Shawn sternly said, "When I just woke up, my consciousness hadn't fully cleared; I saw a very weird presence."
Lorice asked, "What did you see?"
Shawn sternly said, "A floating skull, with a ruby embedded in its forehead."
Upon hearing this, Lorice gasped, muttering, "It surely is a Demigod Witch Demon!"
.........