Eldritch Horror Theatre

Getting addicted, are we?

Fu Qian naturally had no complaints about the Witch's strolling efficiency.

Yet her seemingly considerate safety advice only made him grumble to himself.

Hold tight? I'd actually need hands for that, wouldn't I?

Given my current anatomy, telling me to wrap around you tighter would make a lot more sense, wouldn't it?

She was clearly taking advantage of him, deliberately using the tone of an adult walking a toddler through an amusement park.

Her behavior along the way proved she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

Still, considering she was carrying him around for a walk despite her exalted status as a Pope, Fu Qian decided not to bicker with her.

Of course, her behavior had never led him into any delusions about her true identity.

...

"You drew inspiration from the other moon?"

At the same time, it seemed far too coincidental to dismiss the Witch's self-proclaimed title as pure, improvised acting.

Even though the Red Moon had yet to find him the last time he connected with the Witch—meaning the two theoretically shouldn't have crossed paths—Fu Qian still suspected a deeper underlying reason.

"I found an interesting object while gathering your things."

She gave a soft chuckle, pinching a sparkling object and presenting it to him.

Almost simultaneously, the lighting dimmed. Their figures drifted softly and silently into the dilapidated painting.

It was certainly far more elegant than his own previous entry.

Without feeling the slightest discomfort, Fu Qian marveled as he confirmed his return to the Painting World.

Although losing the Law's restrictions had imbued the painting with a somewhat Transcendent aura, this former sanctuary remained utterly devoid of human voices, just as quiet as it had been during his last visit.

Even the light that had faded from the sky had not returned.

Even so, there was a fundamental difference between this place and the apocalyptic Laerdin.

It was serene and gentle—like a Safe House hidden away in a collapsing world.

Even the Witch relaxed into an uninhibited, languid posture upon entering, her tentacles swaying freely.

Right now, however, Fu Qian was focused on the object held in her tentacles.

With its delicate, slender band and teardrop-shaped dark red gemstone, it was unmistakably the Ring the Red Moon had given him.

...

"Compared to your other belongings, this one is distinctly special."

Traveling smoothly through the darkness, the Witch navigated the path just as effortlessly as Fu Qian had during his previous visit.

The Ring she held up for display didn't jolt in the slightest.

"I can sense a few clear concepts emanating from it. Concepts like the moon, and Favor..."

Sure enough, her inspiration really did stem from the Red Moon.

Though her level of perception was almost beyond comprehension.

To decipher such perfectly accurate concepts using nothing but a single object was astonishing.

Did a special connection truly exist between the moons of these two worlds?

Speaking of which, the casual ease with which the Witch manipulated the Bookstore World put his own previous struggles of breaking through barriers for a rescue to shame.

"Its name is indeed Favor. It comes from a special entity in that world whose outward manifestation is a red moon. Its condition, however, didn't look too good."

While pondering this, Fu Qian openly shared the information with the Witch.

"Its will is bordering on madness, and its very existence is much the same. I once saw the moon split its body open and extend arms and tentacles."

"It feels more like another Higher Existence that was forcibly twisted into the shape of a moon."

Forcibly twisted into a moon...

The Witch was clearly listening intently to Fu Qian's explanation, clicking her tongue in marvel.

"For me, power and symbolism are almost innate from birth, so it's quite difficult to imagine how such a transformation could be achieved... But there is one thing I am certain of."

She gazed at the Ring in her grasp and shook her head slightly.

"Though it is special, its core power attribute is completely different from mine. That might lend some credence to your theory about it being twisted."

"Aside from that, during our previous two connections, I could sense a similar Imprint of power on you."

"It did address me as its child."

The information provided by the Witch was undoubtedly a valuable reference. It naturally reminded Fu Qian of what the Warehouse had told him upon completing the Pseudo-God Ritual—the ever-watching Red Moon had long since woven his path to becoming a Deity.

Looking back over his career, this connection seemed to trace all the way back to his moon-viewing experience in the Full Moon Garden.

Even though the moon at that time hadn't exhibited such distinct features.

Had his bond with the Red Moon really begun back then?

It was only the moment he used the Emissary to synchronize with The Bookstore that it gained a clearer perception of him, thus driving Gulade's pawns to start hunting him down.

The logic actually made perfect sense.

...

"Considering the weight of such a precious gift, I believe that title was given sincerely."

The mention of a "child" brought a distinctly eerie smile to the Witch's face.

"That is also why I didn't take this from you earlier. Stripping away such Favor so casually would simply be too cruel."

Depriving me is cruel, so you bestow things upon me instead?

Fu Qian let out an undisguised sigh at her self-proclaimed thoughtfulness.

"Does this place look familiar?"

In response to his reaction, the Witch's smile only grew wider. A moment later, she came to a halt and brought up her old question again.

"Of course. I even paid a visit quite recently,"

Fu Qian replied casually, gazing at the familiar doors of the Dark Moon Church before them.

...

"It seems I went and did something unnecessary after all."

Fu Qian's answer caused the Witch to fall into a brief silence.

A moment later, following her soft sigh, the massive doors opened automatically, revealing the Great Hall beyond.

Compared to his last visit, the interior was even more barren and desolate. Even the figure that had been resting on the ornate long chair at the highest level was no longer there.

"It was quite nice. At the very least, your posture was delightfully languid and comfortable—it was highly contagious just looking at it."

Fu Qian naturally knew exactly what she meant by "unnecessary."

It had been clear from all her prior arrangements. Once she confirmed the issue at hand, the Witch's stance was exceedingly obvious: she didn't want him making any pointless sacrifices.

Not only did she refrain from summoning her Templar Knight to protect her, but she had even erased every last trace of information pertaining to herself.

She had merely left behind a final farewell here at the birthplace of the Dark Moon Cult—one with a vanishingly small chance of ever being discovered.

And his answer just now clearly confirmed to her that he had caught that very farewell, which ultimately forged that dangerous connection between them.

Languid and comfortable...

Fu Qian's praise clearly carried a unique charm—the kind that made one's vision swim with speechlessness.

"Oh? Just how uninhibited?"

However, fitting for someone who had just returned to her own domain, the Witch managed to adjust her mood by the time they reached the long chair. She casually fired back an abstract question of her own.

Hmm...

The carried Templar Knight pondered for a moment. In the next second, a pale, alluring face slowly emerged from his otherwise round, chubby body.

Paired with the cozy posture he currently held while nestled against the Witch, his appearance was surprisingly fitting.

"Like this. Exactly this uninhibited."

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