Eldritch Horror Theatre

So it was him.

Fu Qian was quite open-minded. In theory, there was nothing wrong with what the night guard had said.

With freedom in his heart, naturally he would yearn for the outside world.

Not to mention he had come from the outside world in the first place, only forced to stay because something went wrong.

The problem was his tone.

The sudden contrast made him sound like an undercover operative who had just completed a secret rendezvous and instantly dropped the act.

Even the lighting cooperated perfectly, making one instinctively believe that what he said at this moment was the truth.

"Leaving this place would be great, of course. I originally planned to find a gap in the wall and slip out quietly."

As his vision quietly recovered, Fu Qian watched the guard, whose pace never faltered. He continued to follow, recalling the bumpy road of his mission.

The guard maintained that same tone, completely devoid of emotion.

"Those thorn bushes look dangerous."

Fu Qian continued to tell the truth.

"Very observant. They are indeed dangerous, especially after you cross them."

Honesty really was the best policy. After a brief silence, the guard suddenly had much more to say.

"This is truly outside the world. There are no humans for a very large area around us, but there are many wild beasts. I believe you heard them earlier.

"Those thorn bushes repel the beasts. Anyone inside their perimeter is perfectly safe and can enjoy all of this without being devoured... but once you leave that area, you won't survive for long."

So that was how they were dangerous?

As they spoke, the Head Physician's Office faded further into the distance, and Fu Qian seemed to gain a deeper understanding of the Sanitarium in the dark.

It wasn't that the thorn bushes themselves would hurt people, but that going outside meant losing their protection.

At first glance, this sounded a bit beside the point. After all, he didn't really need to worry about wild beasts—as long as he left, wouldn't his task be complete?

But since the guard had brought this up, he surely had some brilliant point to make next.

"There is only one way to truly leave this place, and that is the railcar used for transporting supplies."

As expected, the guard delivered a unique insight the very next moment.

"I see. I did catch a glimpse of that earlier... but given your position, it doesn't seem like you should be suggesting this?"

Fu Qian gave a slight nod.

"And given your position, you shouldn't have just 'caught a glimpse' of it... after all, that's the car you arrived on."

The footsteps in the dark seemed to hesitate for a moment. The guard turned his head, stared quietly at Fu Qian, and asked this in return after a short pause.

...

Very reasonable.

He hadn't been spouting nonsense earlier. Along the way, from certain angles, he could faintly see a corner of the railway, and there was even a rack railway specifically for climbing slopes.

Combined with the necessary traction cables, it was far more suitable for this terrain than any other mode of transportation.

And as a Columnist granted permission for an interview, he really should have been more familiar with what appeared to be the only passage.

"Unfortunately, I don't really remember it."

In response, Fu Qian tapped his own head, honest once again.

"As expected... I could feel it just now. Another sin added to Servis's tally."

Amnesia was usually a suspicious claim, but the night guard seemed to accept it instantly.

His next sentence was even more shocking, no longer hiding his dissatisfaction with the Attending Physician.

"I actually feel pretty good. After coming out this time, I feel like I'm blending into this place more and more."

For a moment, Fu Qian couldn't help but offer a few words of advice.

It was normal for a worker to be unhappy with their boss, and there was nothing wrong with having a sense of justice, but there was no need to risk one's job just to stand up for a stranger.

"...Of course you're blending in. In fact, from where I'm standing, you already look quite a bit like that group."

The guard clearly hadn't expected to be the one getting counseled. His footsteps came to a complete halt.

After a brief mental struggle, he gave Fu Qian high praise.

"But as long as you can still feel yourself blending in, as long as you still desire to leave, it isn't too late.

"The truly hopeless ones know very well that they have become a part of this place. That makes the other half of their soul incomplete, leaving them completely unable to leave in the end."

...

"I think I understand. Servis is the culprit behind everything. He isn't acting as a doctor at all—in fact, quite the opposite, he's mutilating countless souls?"

As the guard's words grew bolder, the situation seemed to grow clearer.

Sensing his deep pity for the victims, Fu Qian indicated that he, too, was beginning to understand the truth of the Sanitarium.

"And you can't stand all of this, so you want to help me escape?"

Then there was the guard's goal.

Just as he had said before, the traitor was right beside him.

The night guard wasn't just a lackey of the Attending Physician; he was actively opposing him, swearing to save the victimized Columnist.

"Getting you out is only the most insignificant part of this."

Unfortunately, his feeling of self-importance took an immediate hit.

"I need someone to spread the truth of this place, to let more people know that such tragedies are occurring, and to bring total judgment down on this place... That is clearly what you excel at."

The night guard was very direct, indicating that he only valued Fu Qian's identity.

"And I believe that after all the torment you've endured these past few days, you should be more than happy to do so?"

And the suffering he had endured.

"I get it. You don't just save anyone, and you aren't just some ordinary bleeding heart. You expect a sufficient return on your investment in me."

Fu Qian gave a slight nod as he listened. He seemed to be looking at a brave warrior who chose to endure humiliation and shoulder heavy burdens, deep undercover in a demon's lair, finally waiting for the chance to slay the devil.

It was just this phrasing... bring total judgment down on this place?

Why did that sound a bit ominous?

Fu Qian inwardly shook his head as he thought back to the Judgment Day that was only nine days away.

"A good person? You flatter me. No one who stays here long-term is a good person.

"But you really are quite lucky. If you hadn't run into me, you'd probably be tied up in Servis's Office right now."

Furthermore, the guard didn't appreciate the sentiment. He mocked himself while coldly rejecting the compliment.

"But I heard he never goes to the office?"

Another interesting tidbit. Fu Qian brought up the rumor he had heard before.

"So you're going to waste time on a question like that? We don't have much time. In this season, there is only one train at noon."

Unfortunately, the guard was in no mood to chat.

I knew it—

Fu Qian didn't question why they were already short on time when the train wouldn't arrive until noon. He simply looked up.

Quietly, the sky had already grown bright.

Judgment Day had drawn at least another day closer.

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