The blond-haired, mild-mannered little boy turned to look at the gear-covered book in Derrick's hand. His brow furrowed deeply, and his eyes filled with confusion. After a long while, he spoke as if recalling a distant memory:
"I picked it up in a pile of ruins… It was the remains of a mountain that seemed to have fallen from the sky...
"And the book was found inside a half-collapsed tower atop the mountain—we once spent the night there.
"Father said it was something made by sinners who defied the Lord…
"It was a fallen star...
"I remember I always kept it with me… How did it end up in your hands?"
.....
Derrick didn't answer his question. Instead, he continued pressing:
"Why did you always carry this book with you?"
"Because it helped me stay clear-headed…" the boy—Jack—said, his expression gradually turning vacant. "Oh right, it also kept those ugly things quiet… made me feel less hungry…"
"What ugly things?" Derrick asked cautiously.
Jack didn't reply. Instead, he pulled aside his clothing, revealing his bare chest and abdomen.
There—embedded within—were two eyes, a nose, and a mouth!
They weren't drawn on, nor were they made of stitched-together jewels. They were real—actual eyes, an actual nose, and an actual mouth. And they didn't match. They seemed to belong to three different people.
In an instant, a horrific image formed in Derrick's mind: Jack, after devouring his companions, had used their remaining eyes, noses, and mouths to form a grotesque human face on his own torso.
That face was serene and indifferent, and for some reason, struck Derrick as familiar.
It only took him a second or two to realize why:
That face closely resembled the silver-haired angel from the murals above—the one standing atop the Looping River!
So it really is because of It that we keep repeating the same exploration… Derrick's heart stirred. He instinctively shouted a word, as if it were a spell that could break the curse they were under.
"Rose Redemption!" he declared solemnly.
Jack lifted his head and stared at him blankly. Then, his mouth slowly widened—so wide it reached his ears:
"I'm so hungry…
"So hungry...
"Give it to me!!"
Derrick froze in place as he witnessed a fierce battle.
By the time he regained consciousness, he was seated once more by the campfire in their encampment.
"Rose Redemption" wasn't the right incantation… Maybe I should've taken Mr. Tower's advice and given the Chief a few hints… he reflected deeply.
.....
Above the gray fog, Klein sat at the head of the bronze table, fingers tapping lightly as he gazed at the surrounding layers of spreading light curtains, expressionlessly observing the figures praying to him.
Even though the image was quite blurry, Klein immediately recognized the figure—it was the vampire, Emlyn White.
Not bad. He's got some courage. Is this the same resolve he showed when going to buy that doll?
Klein gave a light sigh of admiration but didn't respond.
Although he wanted to understand the true intentions of the Blood Tribe, there was no need to place himself in danger. After all, it wasn't like there weren't other ways…
Staring at Emlyn White's crimson star, Klein chuckled and murmured:
"I can always delay my response…"
He planned to wait until Emlyn was away from the high-ranking vampires before replying to the prayer… Of course, this was on the condition that he first used divination to confirm there was no danger.
Just as he was preparing to leave the ancient palace above the gray fog and return to reality, another unfamiliar crimson star suddenly began to pulse—expanding and contracting.
Klein wasn't surprised. Ever since the Aurora Order had spread the honorific name of the Fool, there had always been reckless or ignorant individuals who tried to pray to him. He had already gotten used to it—though it had impacted his sleep somewhat.
Sometimes, Klein even thought about spreading some fake information—like, "the best time to pray to the Fool is during the day"?
But then again, what if the members of the Tarot Club believed it too…
While letting his thoughts wander, Klein performed a divination with practiced ease. After confirming there was no danger in checking this newly appeared "Crimson Star," he "clicked" on it, revealing the images and sounds it contained:
A woman in a black robe sat alone on her bed, fingers interlocked in front of her nose and mouth in a prayer gesture.
Just like with Emlyn earlier, her appearance was similarly blurred, making it impossible to see her clearly.
However, Klein instantly recognized her identity—Daly Simone, the Spirit Medium!
Daly is actually praying to me? Why? Is this a test from the Night Watchers? But the result of my divination just now showed no danger…
While feeling surprised, Klein also clearly heard the content of her prayer:
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era,The Mysterious Ruler above the Gray Fog,The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck,I pray to you, please let me meet Dunn Smith…"
This… Miss Daly seems to have misunderstood something… It was only because I tattled on you through that mirror that I learned Dunn was still alive…
And this question—why not ask Arrodes? Why pray to me, a so-called evil god… no, a hidden existence? Does she think Arrodes is more intimidating than an unknown hidden being?
Or… just like Emlyn, is Miss Daly also a pawn being used to test me?
Klein lightly tapped the worn bronze table with his finger and eventually decided to treat this the same way as with Emlyn—he would wait until Miss Daly left her current environment before responding.
"But unlike Emlyn, Miss Daly's own motivation is actually very clear… And I just so happen to know where the Captain is. Maybe I can help her fulfill her wish? Give her a surprise, a miracle…"
.....
Cherwood Borough, in a detached house—
Having returned to his real appearance, Ebner mentioned to Xio that there was something odd about Princess Vera and advised her to be cautious.
After hearing it, Xio simply shook her head and said, "I'm already aware of many of Her Highness' strange behaviors… She may have her own agenda, but I don't think she means any harm to me."
Her Highness had always appreciated her and never caused her harm, so Xio didn't want to assume the worst of her.
Ebner knew that this was just the kind of person Xio was—if someone had helped her and not harmed her, she would repay them with genuine sincerity. That was why she had so many friends… and he had earned her trust in the same way.
He didn't try to persuade her further. After all, that princess might truly just admire Xio… And even if there were some plot, even if she was being used, it wouldn't suddenly turn against her.
As Ebner mulled over the matter, Xio hesitated for a moment and said:
"By the way, Her Highness has recently met several times with the royal advisor, Hvin Rambis…
"At first, they didn't seem to get along very well, but after being summoned by the King, the latter made a compromise, and they eventually reached an agreement.
"But from what I've observed, their relationship is only harmonious on the surface."
Hvin Rambis? Isn't that "Arrogance," one of the Council members of the Psychological Alchemy Society?
"Arrogance" only agreed with Princess Vera after the King's mediation? What conflict happened between them before?
Ebner paused for a moment, and suddenly felt like the original plot had already been thoroughly "butterflied" beyond recognition.
.....
In a military base in the southern outskirts of the Western District—
Princess Vera looked across at a major and asked, "Ariehogg, how are things progressing?"
"'Eye of the Goddess' has already arrived. The amnesiac angel from the Eggers family will soon discover the clues. When that time comes, I will 'arrange' for them to enter the place…
"Tomorrow, at least one of the Augustus family's 'Chaos Hunters' will fall." The "Major" spoke with full confidence.
(End of Chapter)