Backlund, in the luxurious villa of Earl Hall's family.
After meeting Prince Edessak and Princess Helena, Audrey was utterly dumbfounded.
That Lady Sloth really was something—either she did absolutely nothing, or she pulled off something enormous every time.
As for this pair of royal siblings, who had taken the full blame for the Great Smog of Baclund incident, they were now wanted by both the royal family and the Church, each offering a sky-high bounty, dead or alive!
Audrey had thought she would never see them again for the rest of her life, yet here they were, standing right before her, very much alive—and somehow, inexplicably, they'd become her subordinates.
Subordinates? She could barely believe it. I don't have the courage—or the qualifications—for subordinates like them!
She seriously suspected that the Psychology Alchemists had discovered some issue with her and were trying to set her up in this elaborate way. But then again…why would they go through such trouble?
Sigh…I just hope whatever they're doing in Backlund this time doesn't end up being something terrible, she thought helplessly, resting her chin in her hand as she brooded at her writing desk.
Just then, a boundless expanse of grayish-white fog surged before her eyes. Within the depths of the mist, the figure of Mr. Fool appeared. His calm voice echoed:
"'The World' has returned to Backlund."
A moment later, Klein's figure manifested.
"Miss Justice, I've completed my advancement and come back to Backlund. You can choose a location—we'll meet tomorrow."
Audrey thought for a moment. "Then let's meet at the villa where Mr. Tower used to live."
"Thank you, Mr. Fool."
"Mm."
The greyish fog receded, and she returned to her own room.
"So…he's finally back."
Audrey rubbed her fingers together, hesitation flickering across her eyes.
Am I really going to pretend to be…a fellow countryman, just to 'reconnect' with Klein?
But my understanding of his original world is limited. If I slip up, he might quickly associate it with Edward…
Wouldn't that be selling Edward out?
Besides, is it even necessary to 'reconnect' with him at all?
Maybe Klein really is from the same world as Edward, and perhaps also that girl he's searching for—but what good would pretending to be a fellow countryman do to help me find Edward?
"…"
Audrey suddenly froze.
Yes…what good would it do?
A shiver ran through her. She quickly began organising her thoughts.
The reason she'd developed the idea of "acknowledging Klein as a fellow countryman" was because, after Edward's disappearance, Klein had posted a commission in the Tarot Club to find a certain girl—and something in her intuition had told her that there was a connection between the two.
But now that she thought about it carefully…was there really any inevitable link?
Granted, that girl might also have come from Edward's world, and perhaps she was involved in his disappearance—but what would be the point of "confessing" this to Klein?
Klein is searching for that girl too—he doesn't know where she is either!
Could it be that what I thought was intuition…was actually a psychological cue?
As the thought surfaced, Audrey's face turned pale. Her fingers, which had been nervously twisting, tangled tighter together, and a wave of cold dread spread from her heart.
When…when was I placed under psychological suggestion?
Who did it?
And what was their purpose?
Question after question flooded her mind. Her spirituality began to surge restlessly, her body trembling uncontrollably. Faint, translucent lines—like the scales of some unseen creature—appeared across her skin.
Yet she remained unaware that she was teetering on the brink of losing control.
Just then, a cool sensation flowed from the crown of her head, spreading swiftly through her body. Audrey's chaotic thoughts and turbulent spirituality calmed at once, and clarity returned to her mind.
"What's wrong, Audrey?"
Susie had padded over and now sat down before her, tilting her head up, her eyes full of concern.
"Thank you, Susie."
Audrey took several quick breaths, forcing a smile back onto her face. "I was just…overthinking things and made you worry. Sorry."
"Were you thinking about Edward?"
"Yes." Audrey nodded seriously. "Don't worry—he'll be fine."
Clenching her fists lightly, she smiled again. "Yes, he'll definitely be fine."
Was it really a psychological cue?
Didn't I pray to Mr. Fool for the protection of an angel?
And…why did I suddenly 'wake up' from it just now?
She quickly reviewed the events of the day in her mind—then suddenly froze as a thought struck her.
Could it be…because of Edessak and Helena?
But why?
———
After several dozen days—
Klein finally returned to Backlund.
Standing at the edge of the bustling street, gazing at this colossal city and breathing in the foul, mixed stench of its air, he was seized by an inexplicable sense of déjà vu, as if centuries had passed since he last stood here.
After delivering him back to Backlund, Queen Mystic had simply vanished—without so much as a farewell.
Hmph! Today you act like you couldn't care less, but come next Monday, I'll make sure you'll be the one who can't reach me!
Of course, that thought was merely a bit of self-deprecating humour. In truth, Klein was deeply grateful for her help this time, and he silently resolved to repay her kindness someday.
As for the Sequence 4 potion formula, he currently had two possible approaches in mind: one was to inquire of that talking mirror, Arrodes; the other, to seek aid from the Snake of Mercury.
But those matters could wait. His first priority was to visit Captain Dunn.
He raised his hand and knocked.
Knock, knock, knock.
After about half a minute, the wooden door creaked open, revealing Miss Daly.
Her face was pale, sickly even. When she saw the stranger at her door, her gaze sharpened instantly, a chill flashing through her eyes.
"Who are you looking for?" she asked coldly.
"Miss Daly—it's me, Klein."
She froze for a second, but didn't immediately believe him.
Klein hurried to add, "It's really me…If you don't believe it, you can perform a spirit communication."
"..."
The suspicion in Daly's eyes slowly faded. Her tone, however, remained detached. "So you're back? Come in."
"What's wrong, Miss Daly?"
She led Klein into a bedroom and pushed the door open. Dunn was lying on the bed, the air filled with the heavy scent of medicine.
Klein's face changed instantly. "What happened to the Captain?"
Daly clenched her fingers, her voice dropping to a frosty register. "It was Ince Zangwill…He suddenly appeared and attacked Dunn. If I hadn't arrived in time and threatened him by putting my own life on the line, Dunn would probably…"
Her voice trembled faintly.
"But even so, his body suffered severe damage. Even if he recovers, there might be permanent aftereffects."
Staring at the unconscious Captain, fury blazed up within Klein's chest.
He had known Ince Zangwill would seek revenge and had warned the team beforehand—but he hadn't expected Dunn to still fall victim to him.
Suppressing his rage with effort, he asked in a low voice, "What about Leonard?"
"He's fine," Daly replied. "At least, for now."
Right—Leonard still carried within him that angel-level existence. Even if he encountered Ince Zangwill, he should be able to retreat unharmed.
That meant the most vulnerable right now were the Captain…and Miss Daly.
As long as Ince lived, danger would linger. He was like a venomous serpent lurking in the dark—no one knew when he might suddenly strike again.
"You must be careful too," Klein said solemnly.
Daly's expression remained cold.
"Ince Zangwill has already advanced to Demigod. Not only is his power formidable, but he also wields a sealed artifact that allows him to blink and teleport."
Klein's pupils contracted. "How did he advance?"
Wasn't his plan to steal the ashes and ascend destroyed by Edward?
"He switched to the Warrior Pathway," Daly explained. "He's now a Sequence 4 Demon Hunter."
Klein froze. "The Warrior Pathway?"
He suddenly recalled what Priscilla had mentioned—she had seen Ince Zangwill in Feysac. And the Feysac royal family…happened to possess the Warrior Pathway.
Could it be that Ince Zangwill's advancement was connected to the Feysac royalty?
———
Year 1160, Past.
An island shrouded in fog.
Roselle stumbled out of the strange little chapel, his mind still reeling as he tried to digest what he had just heard.
Ever since he had "travelled" to this world, he had known of the Church's doctrine—that the Seven Gods had "created and saved the world."
But what that golden-eyed priest had just told him was an entirely different history—one that overturned everything he thought he knew.
If the Churches heard such words, that priest would be burned alive by fanatical believers within the hour.
Yet it wasn't merely the story itself that had shocked Roselle. The true reason for his trembling disbelief was what happened next: after recounting that blasphemous history, the priest had turned his gaze on him and said—
"You do not belong to this world."
Roselle's scalp had gone numb.
Feigning ignorance, he'd forced a smile and replied, "Of course I don't belong here—I'm from Intis, not the sea, though I do enjoy sailing, haha."
The priest said nothing further.
The next moment, Roselle's vision blurred. When his senses cleared, he was already outside the chapel.
Startled, he turned around—but the golden-eyed priest was nowhere to be seen. All that remained inside was the statue upon the altar—a man bearing a cross upon his back, the very same figure the priest had called The Creator.
Why did he say I don't belong to this world?
Did he truly see through me…that I'm a transmigrator?
Who is he? And why tell me all this?
Roselle recalled his first "accidental" entry into that mysterious Chairman's divine kingdom—how he had already suspected then that the being behind it might be related to his arrival in this world, perhaps even aware of the truth of his transmigration.
And now, another mysterious priest had appeared—one who directly pointed out the same secret.
A chill crept through Roselle's chest.
He felt as if he had stepped into the centre of some vast and dreadful vortex.
He suddenly remembered the "Misery Contest" from a month ago—the Chairman's prophecy about his future. A suffocating dread pressed down upon him.
If I don't resist, perhaps that terrible fate is destined to come true.
But if I struggle…would that resistance be the very thing that brings it about?
"Captain, are you all right? What did that priest tell you? And where did he go?"
Edwards and Grimm hurried toward him, concern written all over their faces.
"I—It's nothing."
Roselle forced a strained smile.
"I just sat too long…stood up too fast. Got a little dizzy."
The four knights exchanged uneasy glances. None of them seemed convinced.
Edwards shot William and Poli a look; the two immediately tensed, stepping cautiously toward the small chapel.
"William, Poli."
Roselle raised a hand, shaking his head. "Forget it. Let's go back."
With that, he waved and strode forward.
The four knights reluctantly followed—but after a short distance, they couldn't help glancing back.
And in that instant, their hearts went cold.
The chapel behind them..
Had completely vanished.
———
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