Eldritch Horror Theatre

This was what they called leaving some leeway to save face down the road.

Watching this display of tacit understanding, Fu Qian, who had remained expressionless the entire time, mentally gave a thumbs-up to their brief and efficient exchange.

At this moment, the atmosphere was undoubtedly delicate.

Given what he had just said, it was impossible for the two young people not to undergo some kind of psychological shift.

Whether they were actually affected didn't even matter that much, because Ais certainly believed they were.

They had waited in high expectation and followed the instructions in absolute earnest, only to end up with nothing, looking like clowns.

And the explanation Ais finally offered not only faintly matched his own severe chuuni aesthetic, but even contradicted itself.

She had just said the Vacuum Flower wouldn't mind unreasonable offenses, only to later claim the attempt failed because someone had already offended it.

It was a terribly unconvincing argument.

Under these circumstances, even though the two hadn't voiced such questions, anyone in Ais's position would probably have to account for those doubts.

Sending the two of them straight home without restricting their freedom, while leaving a sliver of hope to ensure their utmost secrecy, was a choice that worked out well for everyone.

...

On the way back, although their morale could not be mentioned in the same breath, they moved even faster than when they had come.

Ais walked with Fu Qian the entire way. After they escorted the two trainees to the upper level, they found a stern-faced stranger already waiting for them.

Having already secured their promise of secrecy on the road, Ais warmly bade them farewell and instructed the gentleman whose hair covered half his eyes to ensure their safety.

"Shall we go now, Excellency Lord of the Rings?"

After watching the three leave, she quickly turned around. The expression on her face vanished in a second as she addressed Fu Qian meaningfully.

"Of course. I've had enough of your boring games of house."

"But since you're so persistent, let's hurry up and reach the end of the story."

Without a single second of hesitation, Fu Qian spoke in a flat yet firm tone.

"I like your confidence."

With their audience gone, Ais appeared increasingly relaxed. She leaned in close, smiling as she studied him, her breath almost brushing against his face.

Naturally, that also meant the visor—which had once fired dark red beams—was no more than ten centimeters from Fu Qian's face.

"I hope you can keep it up."

After waving that deadly weapon in front of Fu Qian twice, Ais truly didn't waste any time, signaling for him to follow her back down.

...

"Let me guess. After committing a grave mistake, that blasphemer was locked behind one of the doors?"

Walking back the way they had come, Fu Qian's pace remained undoubtedly steady as he casually questioned Ais, who was walking beside him.

"Smart. I thought you'd guess I sent them away to take you back in."

Slowing her steps, Ais turned her head to look at him. The surprise on her face was impossible to distinguish as real or fake, and she spared no praise.

"And then enjoy the gift all to myself with fewer competitors around? Sorry, I've never been interested in such cowardly little schemes."

Fu Qian scoffed, filling in Ais's subtext while simultaneously showing his disdain.

"What is mine is mine. Regardless of what those two think, I've never cared about this so-called competition."

"Now I truly feel... you're more qualified than they are to wield the Weapon."

Her smile fading, Ais observed Fu Qian as if looking at a stranger. A moment later, she let out a relieved sigh of realization.

"No, you don't."

This sort of approval following a misunderstanding was undoubtedly quite flattering.

It was a pity that a true chuuni youth would never fall for something like this.

Not believing for a second that her current act was any different from before, Fu Qian slowly shook his head.

"Otherwise, you wouldn't be wasting my time on such boring matters."

...

For a moment, Ais looked like she really wanted to execute him on the spot.

However, facing the immense chuuni aura radiating from Fu Qian, it seemed as if every cell in his body brimmed with divine destiny.

Full of absolute fearlessness, he didn't even glance at her again.

Infected by this excessive confidence, Ais struggled to unclench her fists. A moment later, she gestured to the side.

Oh?

Fu Qian stopped in his tracks, finally deigning to give her a little attention.

Under his silent gaze, Ais learned from her past lessons and didn't waste any words, stepping right up to open the door.

It was as warm as a sauna.

Almost the instant the door opened, the stark contrast hit them in the face.

Within this distinctly well-designed, cool, and dry underground structure, a wave of moist, warm air suddenly rushed out.

Judging by the feel of it, it had probably already reached the standards of a steam room.

"After you?"

Ais didn't take the lead this time, but smiled as she looked at Fu Qian.

'Testing to see if I'm afraid of being locked inside together?'

Her intentions were far too easy to grasp.

Fu Qian directly took two steps forward and stood Inside the Door, bathing in the dense mist.

"Why aren't you going further in?"

Ais seemed amazed by his decisiveness, yet puzzled as to why, having already stepped inside, he would still show such meaningless caution.

"Should I give a heads-up, so that if there's a lady inside, she can adjust her attire?"

Fu Qian gestured toward the depths with his chin, completely unbothered by his robe rapidly soaking up the moisture.

'He steps Inside the Door to show he isn't worried about being locked in, but then stops here to be polite?'

"You really haven't disappointed me."

A kindred spirit was hard to find, but Ais quickly grasped the meaning behind his actions. For a moment, she seemed touched by these razor-sharp principles, even clapping her hands in admiration.

"But don't worry, the person inside has always dressed very neatly..."

By the end of her sentence, her smile was undeniably meaningful.

Even though he noticed this, Fu Qian had no intention of probing further, striding toward the depths.

...

Lady Ais truly hadn't lied.

Compared to the previous residence of the Vacuum Flower, the layout of this place was noticeably much more normal.

Walking toward where the water vapor was thickest, Fu Qian soon arrived in front of a rectangular metal platform.

It was a bit longer than a person but not very tall, and hollowed out on the inside, looking quite a bit like a bathtub.

The vapor was pouring out from within it.

And the reason he considered Lady Ais to be honest was that looking down from his vantage point, besides the water, there was also a puddle of robes floating inside—the exact same type he was wearing.

Through the gaps in the robes, a face with its features completely out of place—as if violently stirred by someone—was looking back at him with a single blood-red eye.

It was indeed wearing clothes, and this was indeed a seemingly familiar scene.

Fu Qian naturally recalled, for a moment, the face he had once stirred up while exploring the Underground Ruins.

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