Eldritch Horror Theatre

"So that's how it is."

Though he had uncovered the Old Lady's little secret, Fu Qian didn't point it out. He didn't even ask her to explain the details of her husband's disappearance.

They were in a perilous, pitch-black environment—the very place her loved one had vanished—and she was facing a complete stranger.

Under these circumstances, anyone with half a brain would know better than to casually reveal their life-saving trump card.

In truth, the Old Lady had already shared quite a lot.

It was likely just as he had deduced earlier: fueled solely by this obsession, she was nearing her breaking point. She needed to confide in someone just to find the strength to press on.

"I'm sorry, but I came from that direction, and I truly haven't seen anyone like that."

Even so, Fu Qian pointed toward the empty expanse behind him.

"...You've already been over there?"

It was a location even further from the Small Town, even more remote than Madam Sarah's residence.

Dusty roads, factory buildings, heavy machinery, and haphazard mounds of dirt...

Fu Qian hadn't actually come from that direction, of course, but he knew the Old Lady hadn't either.

Based on his perception earlier, her search route had been quite clear.

Even while risking her life, she had been smart enough to stick close to the residential zones, ensuring she always had a house nearby to duck into at a moment's notice.

But that didn't mean she could maintain that self-control forever.

Judging from her occasional pauses and lingering gazes, it was obvious that after scouring this area countless times and turning up empty-handed, the Old Lady was growing eager to venture into that far more dangerous zone.

Considering the chances of actually finding her missing husband out there were practically zero, Fu Qian didn't mind telling a white lie. He also figured he'd ask her for a favor while he was at it.

"There was nothing."

Fu Qian nodded.

"Then I heard a very strange noise around here, so I headed this way. You didn't hear it?"

...

"...What noise?"

At his claim, the Old Lady was visibly crestfallen, but she also seemed a bit skeptical.

After a brief silence, however, she ultimately decided not to question it.

And as she expressed confusion over his question, both her tone and expression were perfectly natural.

"Crying. The rather strange sound of a child crying."

Fu Qian merely let out a soft sigh. He had already suspected as much, but the Old Lady's reaction confirmed it: she truly hadn't heard the crying he had caused.

Even though the tracking Tree Infant was nowhere to be seen this time, was it really still this targeted?

"No..."

She subconsciously scanned her surroundings as she spoke. From her tone alone, it was obvious that his words had made the dark night feel a bit more terrifying.

"Then I might just be exhausted and hallucinating. Searching this place is taking a real toll on me."

Not wanting to dwell on the subject, Fu Qian casually offered an excuse as he surveyed the buildings crouching in the darkness.

"Could you do me a favor? I'm looking for someone. If possible, I'd appreciate it if you could lead me there."

Having just been absolutely zero help to her, he then unceremoniously asked for her help instead.

Pointing the way outside, handing over a potion in the dream—judging from her past actions, the Old Lady seemed to be a fairly warm-hearted person.

"Who are you looking for? Most of the people around here are long gone..."

Sure enough, she didn't disappoint. After a moment's hesitation, she didn't refuse.

"A young man. Tall and strong..."

Fu Qian was naturally referring to the silent member of the four-person group from the Healing Dreamscape, and he casually rattled off a few more details about the man's appearance.

He had to look on the bright side—since there were hardly any people left, it would obviously be much easier for the Old Lady to narrow down his identity.

He chose this specific person because, during their brief encounter, the man's attire had clearly matched the style of this neighborhood. Fu Qian had even noted at the time that he looked somewhat like a miner.

Although the Old Lady was still quite hale and hearty, a shorter trip would be less exhausting for her.

"This person you mentioned... I can take you to have a look, but I can't guarantee it's him."

After mulling it over, she nodded.

...

"So, has everyone around here moved away?"

The Old Lady was remarkably spry. Once she decided to help, she immediately took the lead.

And though she still showed no intention of lighting a lamp, her steps were incredibly steady as she navigated through the houses and alleys.

It was obvious that after countless nighttime excursions, she knew this place like the back of her hand.

Marveling at this, Fu Qian followed steadily behind her and took the opportunity to ask for more information about Akons.

"Well... it started one morning at dawn. Over half the people were just gone, as if they had all packed up and left in a rush during the night."

The Old Lady didn't seem to mind having someone to chat with, even if the picture she was painting was somewhat chilling.

"After that, more and more people vanished every single night..."

That didn't sound good at all. Under those circumstances, it was hardly surprising that a few nighttime ghost stories had cropped up.

Fu Qian listened closely, quietly assessing the situation.

Even though he still hadn't had the chance to meet "it," everything he'd seen and heard so far proved that Akons was far from simple, just as he had suspected.

Coupled with the vintage architecture and culture, he was genuinely curious about the exact form in which this entity existed.

"Can you still hear the crying?"

The Old Lady suddenly asked, proving she hadn't forgotten the strange phenomenon he'd mentioned earlier.

Although the slope had been gentle along the way, there was a noticeable shift in elevation as they walked, and they were already a good distance away from where they'd started.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Fu Qian shook his head at her concern, indicating the situation hadn't improved.

In truth, it was worse than that. As he spoke, his fingers deftly slipped beneath his ribs, yanked out a bubbling clot of blood, and casually tossed it aside.

Clearly, the crying wasn't just trying to spook him. As time passed, its true effects had finally begun to manifest.

Much like the Heart Strike that Sarah had previously unleashed, an abnormal shift in his blood flow had erupted within him. It struck without warning, almost like a curse, steadily and unstoppably converging toward his heart.

While it wasn't a major problem for Fu Qian just yet, seeing it would undoubtedly terrify the Old Lady, so he did his best to deal with it discreetly.

The Old Lady didn't press the issue. She quickly lowered her head and continued leading the way, until—

Tshh!

A moment later, accompanied by a soft spark, the Old Lady—who had been navigating in the dark this entire time—silently lit a Lantern.

"It should be just up ahead—"

By its dim light, she turned to look back at him as she spoke.

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