Eldritch Horror Theatre

Space was limited, so running into someone was hardly surprising. Besides, there were no lights along the way; it was hard to notice anyone without getting close.

It wasn't hard to explain away such a coincidence.

Though Fu Qian leaned toward a different explanation—for instance, that Clara found observing people on this trip far more interesting than the scenery.

Judging from her behavior so far, he wasn't the only one using this tourist group as a probe—she was doing the exact same thing.

Her exact purpose might not be clear yet, and she seemed even more interested in this place than in the Royal Imperial Garden, but it was still hard to believe Clara had wandered over by sheer accident.

But it didn't matter. This seat had never been a petty person.

"I couldn't find a suitable spot, so I was just trying to immerse myself in the atmosphere from back then."

Fu Qian offered the casual excuse without even turning his head. He held the bundle of thin incense, gesturing toward the distant lake.

"...I originally thought you weren't the type to take things so seriously."

Still, after a brief hesitation, she didn't leave. Instead, she followed him onto the terrace.

"That just shows you're still too young. In this life, finding amusement is the one thing you cannot afford to take lightly."

Completely unbothered that the woman beside him had nowhere to sit, Fu Qian leaned back comfortably in his chair, imparting this great truth of life.

"All self-deception will come back to bite you when the final moment arrives, leaving you with no chance to make amends."

...

"That actually makes a certain amount of sense, though Mr. Anke doesn't seem much older than I am."

Her casual doubt had been unexpectedly elevated to the level of life philosophy. After a brief, complicated silence, Clara finally found a tactful angle of attack.

"No 'seem' about it."

Fu Qian finally turned his head, looking her up and down.

Clara was also holding a bundle of thin incense, in no rush to light it.

"You are definitely older than me."

However, Fu Qian didn't linger on that point, choosing a different angle of attack instead.

"...People's levels of comprehension vary. It really can't be measured simply by age."

The results were incredibly effective. Clara took a deep breath, surprisingly managing to put herself in his shoes.

"So why choose this place to immerse yourself? It's just an empty terrace. Does sitting here really help you experience the feelings of the ancient royalty?"

To keep the conversation from straying too far, Clara forcefully steered the topic back on track.

"Yes."

Fu Qian nodded candidly.

"Why?"

Clara frowned slightly, as if feeling brushed off.

"Because I think royal pride isn't something that can be expressed inside an exquisite box. It belongs under the starry sky."

Shockingly, he actually had an answer prepared.

Fu Qian pointed toward the depths of the vast lake once more.

The boundless surface of the lake was surprisingly calm at this moment, smooth enough to reflect the scattered clouds.

...

"On that point, I have to agree with you."

Equally surprisingly, Clara's expression froze the next moment; she actually seemed moved by Fu Qian's reasoning.

Speaking softly, she walked forward until she was leaning against the protruding railing of the terrace, gazing into the distance.

"In this world, royal pride is indeed hard to demonstrate through the worship of others. On the contrary, their attitude toward God says far more.

"The ancient customs of praying for blessings were indeed originally held out in the open... and it looks like you already know why?"

Clara's words undoubtedly confirmed his earlier assessment: she really did know a bit too much about the history of this place.

"To make a display of it. To not pray to Them, and to let Them see that refusal to pray."

And how could her little test possibly stump Fu Qian?

"So how did you know? Have you looked specifically into the Vinland Family?"

Clara could no longer hide the surprise on her face.

"I guessed."

Fu Qian maintained his lazy posture. He wasn't even lying.

For a family that could invent a symbol completely unrelated to the gods—and firmly believe it could protect them—what was so strange about doing something like this?

Of course, in the eyes of Fu Qian—who already knew portions of the taboo history—this family had one other hidden skill aside from their narcissistic pride: sheer luck.

If not for the gods falling silent after the Long Night, with the active few entering a state akin to a dark forest, courting death like this would have easily brought down a catastrophic disaster.

Yet they had actually managed to leave behind a glorious history. This family's luck index was practically on par with humanity during the Stable Era.

"But is this really where the Vinland Family prayed for blessings? Honestly, the style seems quite different from what we saw during the day."

While silently marveling at them, Fu Qian didn't waste the opportunity with the highly knowledgeable Clara, asking the question that had been on his mind.

"That's because the place you saw during the day is no longer in its original state."

She didn't disappoint. Clara quickly gave him an answer with a soft sigh.

"The Vinland Family wasn't the only family on this land. Their glory eventually met its end, and they were replaced by a newer power. A Lian already mentioned this during the day.

"But what she didn't mention is that after the Vinland Family was driven out, the royal residence over there underwent massive renovations. Compared to its original form, it's completely unrecognizable."

...

"So that's how it is. Thanks for the explanation... no wonder I prefer this style."

His doubts resolved, Fu Qian politely expressed his thanks, making no effort to hide his preferences.

"You really are taking this immersion seriously... Can I ask what character you're imagining yourself as?"

Clara's mood remained somewhat complicated. As she lowered her head to carefully unwrap her bundle of incense, she watched Fu Qian out of the corner of her eye.

"Anke Vinland. It's what A Lian suggested today. Couldn't you tell?"

Fu Qian looked somewhat surprised by her question, seemingly unable to believe he hadn't made that blatantly obvious.

Uh...

Forced to turn her head, Clara was met with his stare and temporarily fell speechless once again.

"But... if your surname is Vinland, then what's mine?"

That only lasted for a breath, however. Soon, a very particular smile surfaced on her lips.

Even as she asked the question, she casually lit three sticks of incense and placed them into a groove on the railing.

Oh?

Watching Clara, whose entire aura seemed to shift in that moment, Fu Qian didn't rush to reply.

After placing the incense, surrounded by the increasingly rich, distinct fragrance, she unexpectedly took a step back, lifted the hem of her skirt, and struck a pose.

It was a pose similar to the one the Dancer had used at the start of her performance earlier today—and it somehow felt even more professional.

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