Eldritch Horror Theatre

The nature of this assignment was undoubtedly a bit peculiar.

The Black-Veiled Lady before him could probably be considered a healer of sorts, though her treatments were highly unconventional.

Combining her sparse words with the details from the briefing, he could roughly deduce that this so-called spiritual filth wasn't some dark, twisted evil in the traditional sense. Instead, it bordered on the metaphysical—approaching a state of absolute emptiness.

So much so that he had to worry: if the treatment was too successful, would he just immediately "achieve enlightenment" and revert to his original, untainted state?

Especially since the assigned task item was literally called the Bitter Fruit. It was hard not to make the association.

Therefore, Fu Qian didn't rashly accept her invitation to begin the second course of treatment.

From their brief exchange, it was also obvious she wasn't one to freely express herself. Thus, Fu Qian chose to take the initiative in the conversation.

As for why he didn't just force her to speak?

Fu Qian rubbed the dreamlike Ring on his finger.

Besides rendering his usual method of coercion ineffective, this restriction implicitly proved one thing: the reality of their current location was highly questionable.

Lucid Dream always repelled its own kind. Back on the Ring Archipelago, for example, it couldn't be deployed inside the looping dream controlled by Jin Ting.

Although its success rate had improved decently after being upgraded with the Holy Grail Cult's legacy, that only made this kind of failure all the more noteworthy.

In that moment, Fu Qian decided to assume the worst-case scenario.

Namely, not only was everything before him unreal, but he couldn't rule out the possibility that a Sovereign existed in this special space-time, watching his every move from the shadows.

Therefore, he might as well respect his current role and play along, rather than rushing to use brute force.

"If you think it would help, I could also try listening..."

After a long, lingering gaze, the Black-Veiled Lady finally nodded.

"You may begin, outsider."

...

That last form of address was certainly interesting.

So he wasn't even a local? Was he someone who had traveled from afar to seek medical treatment?

Fu Qian's mind raced with possibilities.

The last time the Warehouse arranged a similar persona for him, hadn't it been during his very first mission?

His memories of accepting this part-time job and stepping into the Full Moon Garden for the first time naturally surfaced in his mind.

Truth be told, whether it was the Black-Veiled Lady or himself, their attire did share a similar classical aesthetic.

"First, I must express my gratitude. For a moment there, I truly felt what it was like to cast off my shackles and reflect all things purely through my heart."

Of course, he kept these rambling thoughts completely hidden behind a neutral expression.

Simultaneously, Fu Qian continued to express his gratitude with utmost sincerity.

"But just as I was about to wholeheartedly embrace that euphoria, I suffered a kind of interference that is very difficult to describe."

...

True to form, the Black-Veiled Lady treated her words like gold. Faced with Fu Qian's impassioned narration, she showed absolutely no intention of interacting, choosing instead to quietly listen.

"It was as if... in that very moment, another personality suddenly appeared within my body."

However, for a seasoned actor, her lack of response wasn't an issue at all.

Without the slightest change in expression, Fu Qian continued to immerse himself in his feigned inner struggle, even providing a remarkably realistic metaphor.

"He slipped in during a moment of weakness and immediately began interpreting everything from a completely different perspective. His will was so overwhelmingly strong that I no longer know... who exactly am I now?"

Fu Qian paused, his eyes filled with a struggle so deep it seemed almost tangible.

"Not only can I no longer find that joy, but I can't distinguish anything anymore, not even who I am—"

"Hilaria..."

"But you at least know who I am, right?"

As the saying goes: if an audience wasn't enthusiastic, it was simply because the actor lacked skill.

Moved by his seamless display of emotion, the Black-Veiled Lady—who had previously looked like she would rather pull him into an embrace twice more than utter a single syllable—finally broke her silence.

"I hope this helps you anchor yourself to your current reality."

Even as she volunteered her name, her voice retained that same dead, eerie calmness.

"Beyond that, however, I am sorry. I cannot do more for you, nor can I even begin to imagine how you feel."

"Perhaps you should go up and have a look. I am sure that when an outsider like you arrives in this place, you will draw a lot of attention..."

"Of course, you must remember—if it is dark outside, do not leave the Church... It is a pity I have not been able to sense such things for a long while."

...

Don't leave the Church if it's dark?

Fu Qian was quite satisfied with the results of his emotional acting.

Hilaria had finally revealed some rather interesting information.

It wasn't hard to deduce that they were currently in the Underground of a Church.

Many similar buildings had subterranean spaces for storing bones, coffins, and the like.

And judging by Hilaria's words, she had seemingly been down here for so long that she had lost all concept of day and night.

As for what exactly lurked in the dark and why he needed to be so careful, judging by her statue-like silence after speaking, she was clearly not going to elaborate.

"Thank you."

Even so, Fu Qian still demonstrated the polite manners of a passing traveler. He offered his sincere thanks before taking his leave, leaving Lady Hilaria behind to perfectly blend into her gloomy surroundings.

...

He had to admit, the depth of this Underground level bordered on the absurd.

As he walked up the long flight of stone steps, Fu Qian examined the somewhat blurred patterns and Emblems on the walls, confirming that he had never seen them before.

But that didn't necessarily mean this was a forgotten faith. His perception was growing sharper, and he could already sense more than one presence in the above-ground area he was approaching.

In fact, their appearances challenged the imagination even more than Lady Hilaria's.

White satin, lace trim, and an exaggeratedly wide skirt... As he stepped onto the final landing, Fu Qian's gaze naturally fell upon the most eye-catching figure in the relatively modest space.

From any angle, she looked exactly like a bride.

Even if her pinned-up hair was somewhat disheveled, her exquisite makeup ruined by tears, and the hem of her long dress no longer pure and flawless due to dirt and mud...

Upon noticing his gaze, not only did she not bother to straighten her appearance, but she even smiled and lifted her veil, revealing the dense, slender scars crisscrossing her snow-white neck and back.

Wasn't the costume design of this suspected dreamscape a little too ostentatious?

Nodding in response to her enthusiasm, Fu Qian couldn't help but silently criticize the display.

"How are you? Do you feel any better?"

Right then, a remarkably kindly voice called out from another direction, expressing concern for him.

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