Eldritch Horror Theatre

"You really have changed!"

Blood dripped down his cheeks onto the carriage, but the clown wasn't in a hurry to answer Fu Qian's question. Instead, he offered an observation.

"Now I believe you don't wear a mask out of cowardice, because you don't seem to care if others despise you."

"You flatter me."

If someone else had said that, Fu Qian might have thought they were being sarcastic, but this guy in front of him was clearly offering sincere praise.

"So you still haven't answered my question. Why do you hate carriages?"

"It's simple. Because it is the most tedious thing of all, representing the most boring side of this place."

The clown made a rolling gesture with both hands.

"Smooth, steady, never stopping. Every time I see one, it's like turning around just as you reach the climax in a movie theater and noticing the film reel, reminding you that everything is already predestined."

Fu Qian nodded.

It was obvious that although this guy's Rank wasn't high, his perception was sharp. He had even faintly touched upon the underlying mechanics of how this world operated.

"That's why you're a lucky guy today. In a little while, you should see a carriage that exists outside the film reel."

"Then I'm really looking forward to it!"

The excitement in the clown's voice sounded quite genuine.

"What else do you want to know?"

Now this was what you called a pleasant conversation!

Fu Qian was very satisfied with this reaction, and he didn't hold back.

"Do you know where I can find flames?"

"Flames?"

The clown froze for a moment; then, as if he had heard something incredibly amusing, he bent over laughing.

In his extreme excitement, a cold light flashed in his hand, and he hurled his Dagger straight out.

A miserable scream rang out. The victim was a bare-chested young man in a roadside alley.

Before he was struck, he had been squatting there, tearing bloody fur from a live animal.

But in the blink of an eye, his neck was pierced straight through, pinning him to the wall behind.

"Ah—"

The man, who just moments ago had worn a bloodthirsty expression and fanatical eyes, shrieked bizarrely as he tried to pull himself off the wall. But after several attempts, he remained completely pinned.

His desperate screams, along with a wound that bled even more profusely from his struggles, only prompted several starving dogs hiding nearby to rouse themselves and slowly creep closer.

...

"There aren't any, trust me, my friend."

Amidst the increasingly frantic screams, the clown closed his eyes, seemingly quite enjoying the melody.

"In this place, there are no flames, only ashes."

"Freezing cold, damp, just like a corner that can never be swept clean. Incredibly tedious."

"Of course, do you know what the greatest benefit of ashes is?"

"What is it?"

Fu Qian asked, cooperating smoothly.

"Flames go out, but ashes are always ashes."

The clown still didn't open his eyes.

"You attain Eternity. No matter what kind of devastation you face, nothing can change your essence."

"Even if you die, you will still undergo Rebirth, right?"

Fu Qian nodded.

"Yes. You will reappear at an unknowable time, in an unimaginable way."

"For a very long time, this was my greatest source of amusement. Besides, even an outsider can enjoy this grace."

The clown confirmed Fu Qian's guess.

"Of course, after that, you'd no longer be an outsider, hahahaha..."

...

So this prison philosopher really didn't know either?

After earnestly listening to the clown's answer, Fu Qian reflected on this.

Given this guy's style, he had almost no reason to lie. But it was clear he had no special knowledge regarding the concept of flames.

Still, it wasn't a total loss. At the very least, it proved his guess about Rebirth, adding another layer of understanding to his knowledge of this world.

"Thanks for the answer. Also, you've arrived at your stop."

A moment later, Fu Qian spoke, effortlessly bringing the carriage to a halt.

"Right around here? It does smell like a lively scene."

The clown finally opened his eyes, examining the long street ahead thoughtfully.

To be honest, this comment was a bit bizarre.

Because at this very moment, not a single person could be seen on the street.

"Of course. Two Demigods just died."

Fu Qian, however, fully agreed with his observation and explained the reason.

"Oh?"

This terrifying news clearly didn't bring the clown any fear; instead, it instantly excited him.

"Did Ballard die?"

"No."

Fu Qian shook his head.

It really wasn't strange that the clown hated that Mirror Knight so much.

It would be weirder if this guy actually liked someone from such a staunchly Order faction.

"How truly disappointing."

It was obvious this statement was full of emotion. Even though the Human Skin Mask was merely draped over his face, the clown somehow managed to form a frowning expression with it.

"Do you have any more advice?"

"No. After all, I'm only using you."

Fu Qian was being unimaginably honest.

"Have fun."

"Haha..."

Stunned for a moment, the clown actually looked quite delighted. He leapt right off the carriage.

...

It turned out that, despite his low Rank, the clown had his own unique talent when it came to seeking amusement.

A few minutes later, Fu Qian walked into a building lit by neon lights.

Compared to the outside, this clearly aged bar displayed a starkly contrasting liveliness. At a glance, it was packed with men and women.

The air smelled of alcohol fermenting within human bodies, the exact odor varying from person to person, swirling and clashing alongside the deafening music.

And right now, a hint of blood mingled into that chaotic air.

Amidst the crowd, the clown who had entered first was swaying to the music with exaggerated seriousness.

The uniquely styled Human Skin Mask on his face drew plenty of appreciative glances—until someone realized it wasn't a mask.

"Ah—"

A woman who had leaned in, attempting to kiss the face, let out an ear-piercing scream upon feeling its extraordinary texture, scrambling backward frantically.

"Don't be nervous. Be happy."

The clown, however, didn't give her a chance to escape. Not only did he yank her right back, but in the next moment, he tore the skin off his own face and slapped it directly onto hers.

"I'm the best at making people smile."

Wearing the Smiling Mask, the woman's screams practically tore the roof off.

Unfortunately, no matter how she struggled, she couldn't even manage to peel off that layer of skin.

"It really is an interesting mask."

Amidst this chaos, a voice finally rang out.

A woman who had stood up from the corner of the bar silently approached.

With that nonchalant remark, she caught the struggling woman from the clown's grasp and casually peeled off the skin.

Miraculously, the dripping human face shrank almost instantly the moment it landed in her hands, transforming into a genuine red-and-white mask.

Weighing it in her hand a few times, she tossed the mask back to the clown while wiping the blood from her fingers.

"But it's best if you wash it a bit cleaner next time, otherwise ladies will find it repulsive."

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