Eldritch Horror Theatre

Having just experienced how things remain while people change in the Other Shore, in the blink of an eye, he was experiencing the exact opposite here in the Laerdin Ruins.

When he had traveled here with the Witch, he had judged the place a silent dead zone bathed in warm sunlight.

It had looked bright and clear, but in reality, it was suffering the devastation of a large-scale distorting power.

Now, however, it was obviously different. The surroundings were so gloomy that a single glance felt incredibly oppressive.

It was as if the Mist that once lingered on the outskirts of Laerdin had finally surged all the way inside.

Naturally, Fu Qian didn't think this was merely a change in the weather.

"The previous commotion was indeed a bit loud, but the situation isn't actually that exaggerated.

"It isn't an influence from the starry sky, merely a reaction from a certain power lingering in this world. I even know who it is."

The Knight's reliability was truly comforting, but as the Witch confirmed this, she also signaled that the situation wasn't that bad.

However, Fu Qian's suggestion remained as simple and brutal as ever.

"The death of that kind of thing easily attracts attention, even though this place shouldn't hold any value anymore for those former destroyers."

The Witch's reaction was equally exaggerated. She didn't worry at all about whether they could kill it, pondering instead the hidden dangers that would follow.

"Then how about we kill it and pull it back up to act as a puppet? There's a chance that could save us from even more trouble later."

Fu Qian gestured that it wouldn't be a problem, checking if the Witch had any inhumane methods available.

"That wouldn't be a big problem, and handling it that way really is a bit better. Good timing, too, since you're free..."

The Witch quickly agreed with Fu Qian, and a bloody plan instantly took shape.

"But there's no rush. Let's get down to business first."

As she spoke, she pulled Fu Qian along and walked toward the painting they had once collaborated on.

...

"It's still much more pleasing to the eye here."

In the blink of an eye, they were already inside the former Dark Moon Church.

Although the visibility was even worse than outside, Fu Qian, who had come for an audience many times, didn't hesitate to give it a good review as he walked.

As for why the Witch hadn't just positioned them straight into the studio when she could easily control their landing spot, choosing instead to take an extra trip through this hall—Fu Qian's gaze fell on a corner of the ornate long seat, staring at a Pocket Watch that had clearly malfunctioned.

"Remember?"

Considering that the Knight had lost all his inspiration, the Witch, who had actively pulled him through the door, let go of his hand and gestured toward his discovery.

"I remember. You picked it up and put it here? Not a bad idea."

Facing the smiling Witch, Fu Qian nodded. Naturally, he recognized that it was exactly the Countess.

During his first time visiting this world for a mission, in order to increase the operation's success rate, she had stolen this Pocket Watch to let him consume the blood inside.

And because a sliver of her will had merged with the Pocket Watch in her final near-death state, when Laerdin later reemerged from history, the Pocket Watch also woke up from the Nightmare with certain human-like qualities.

It was just a pity that Laerdin soon fell into being a painting within a painting once more. In the end, the Pocket Watch's fate was to be picked up by the Witch and placed right here.

With such a series of ups and downs, it could truly be written into a saga—though the words on the Pocket Watch were gone, replaced by bloodstains that had yet to dry.

Fu Qian walked up to the seat and earnestly pondered whether this situation should actually count as things remaining while people changed.

"Let's go, First Apostle of the Dark Moon."

But the Witch had no intention of explaining further, nor did she mean to take the Pocket Watch with her. She simply smiled and signaled for them to continue.

...

"So, does this place look familiar?"

Navigating the familiar route with ease, the two arrived at the hidden studio in the blink of an eye, smoothly entering Laerdin within the Painting World.

This time, the Witch's positioning was clearly quite precise. When the two reappeared, they were already in another Rotunda.

Based on the scenery outside the window, this was the top of a rather tall building.

"Of course. I once placed a Vampire's Heart right here."

Watching the Witch walk forward step by step and sit down on a chair directly facing the entrance, Fu Qian naturally pointed to the spot right next to her hand.

That's right, this was exactly the Peak of the West District Church of the Celestial Sphere Cult, the former gathering place of the noble Vampire Clan.

It was a pity that not only was that group of favored ones no longer present, but even the layout had changed—

The seats that had once formed a circle were mostly cleared away. Aside from the obvious seat of honor beneath the Witch, only one other chair remained beside it.

And as Fu Qian answered, he had already sat down in this extremely favored seat.

"Shafar, was it? For the Blood Clan, you actually did a good deed.

"Otherwise, when that kind of problem occurred with the Stars, their reaction likely wouldn't have been as rational as it is now."

After escaping her predicament, the Witch had evidently taken the time to thoroughly understand the Knight's dramatic rescue experience, casually dropping a name.

"I can imagine. With his personality, he definitely wouldn't have been able to handle that kind of fall from grace. So who is the person in charge of their overall situation right now?"

Nodding slightly, Fu Qian accepted the Pope's excessive praise without a shred of guilt.

...

It truly wasn't hard to deduce. They were already a bunch of arrogant fellows. If they had still retained their most arrogant person in charge, then under the sudden mutation, they almost certainly would have resorted to extreme actions.

And the ensuing consequences would have left almost no other possibility than causing this group of remnants from a previous era to perish even more thoroughly.

Fortunately, not only had that extreme person in charge perished one step ahead before the arrival of the Dark Moon Era, but the one who helped him perish was actually the First Apostle of the Dark Moon. It could be said that his pride had been dealt the greatest possible blow.

"Most of them are hiding in the dark, truly staying far away from human crowds just like the legends say, but a portion of them is already adapting to the new situation."

The Witch had clearly been paying attention to the recent situation of the Blood Clan as well.

"After all, they have a long history of experiencing the Favor of the Stars. Once they drop their prejudices, it's still relatively easy for them to gain some insights. The one whose words carry the most weight right now is a tall woman. You should remember her too, right?"

"Bali?"

Having paid her a special night visit, Fu Qian easily thought of the one who fit the description.

"That's right... Want to know what insights they've gained?"

Seeing that the Knight remembered the matters here so clearly, the Witch looked somewhat gratified. The next moment, she flashed a sly smile.

"I'm extremely curious."

Fu Qian naturally played along enthusiastically.

"Here... what kind of appearance does First Apostle Herbert of the Dark Moon have?"

The Witch had already raised both hands, making a special gesture while muttering under her breath.

[Tall and fierce, dressed in exquisite Armor, his entire body shrouded in coldness and moonlight.]

A flash of light swept across their surroundings and vanished. The next moment, words surfaced on the wall beside them, answering the question she had just asked.

'She really knows how to play... I knew she wouldn't just bring me here to see an old acquaintance. Did she secure a position for the Countess within the Dark Moon Law?'

'Answerer? Response Officer?'

Facing this bizarre scene, it wasn't to the point where Fu Qian couldn't understand it, but he was still amazed by the Pope's imagination.

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