Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Seeing the strange "ghost" suddenly appear, the ever-alert Irene reacted immediately. Deep, tranquil black flames materialized out of thin air, descending onto the ghost's black armor in an instant.

The "Black Flame" of a Witch burns with spirituality as its fuel, and it quickly turned the ghost into a blazing torch—no matter how peculiar, a "ghost" was still a spiritual body!

Crackle, crackle… Accompanied by sounds akin to burning firewood, the ghost's body could no longer hold itself together, shattering into countless fragments.

However, what shattered along with it was everything Irene could see in front of her. To her shock, she realized that while she was still standing near the altar, the "Provoker" whom Mr. A had tasked her with guarding had been relocated to the base of the staircase.

Above the Provoker floated that same strange ghost, who now extended a single finger toward her and whispered a word in ancient Hermes:

"Divine."

As the dark golden sunbird brooch on the ghost's chest emitted a faint light, an air bullet was launched with a bang.

The air bullet immediately took on a holy radiance as it hurtled straight toward her face.

Seeing this, Irene had no time to question why the ghost could launch an attack imbued with "divine" power. She quickly conjured layers of ice in front of her, attempting to block the air bullet.

But at that moment, the strange ghost raised its right hand, clad in dark iron gloves, and declared in ancient Hermes:

"Ice magic is forbidden here!"

In an instant, the ice wall Irene had summoned vanished without a trace. The holy air bullet then struck her forehead with precision.

Her body stiffened in place, shattering like an illusion. In the corner of the basement, a small mirror cracked with a snap, quickly disintegrating into shards scattered on the ground.

It was the Mirror Doppelgänger Technique!

Nearby, Irene's true figure—dressed in a purple dress and fur-lined coat—emerged beside the now-broken mirror.

But before she could catch her breath, she felt countless invisible spider threads wrapping around her body. Some were rigid, others supple, teasing various parts of her, triggering sensations that transported her mind to the nights she had spent with her many "good friends." Her body instantly went limp, tingling with numbness.

However, as someone who had devoted her mind and body to the "True Creator," she quickly overcame this psychological "pleasure," realizing that there must be another enemy in the vicinity. Struggling to handle the strange ghost alone had already pushed her limits. If she were to face another opponent, especially one who seemed to be at least Sequence 6 like a Witch, the Provoker would surely escape. Failing her mission to guard him would mean disobeying her Lord's messenger.

"For the Lord!" Without hesitation, Irene cast a fanatical gaze at the statue of the True Creator and the blood-red altar beside it. She began chanting an incantation to "sacrifice" herself, transforming into a powerful evil spirit as part of the ritual.

Only in this form could she hope to keep hold of the Provoker, someone valued by her Lord.

But the strange ghost—Klein, who had transformed into the hero bandit "Black Emperor"—wasn't about to let her complete the ritual unimpeded. He tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and unleashed a sharp, inaudible screech!

Buzz! Irene's head jerked back, her body swaying. The ground seemed to ripple beneath her feet, and her incantation was forcibly interrupted.

At the same time, behind Irene, another figure—slender and clad in black tights—materialized from thin air. It was none other than the "Pleasure Witch" Lina, who had infiltrated the basement after discovering that Shoko had been captured. However, Klein's screech had also affected her, leaving her slightly dizzy and unable to maintain her invisibility.

Klein immediately recognized the Witch who had once saved Cohen Lee. Aside from their memorable encounter in Tingen, Klein had occasionally seen glimpses of Lina's daily life through Shoko's "mystic communion."

Knowing that neither Lina nor Shoko were truly malicious—Shoko, in particular, had maintained his goodness and abided by strict moral boundaries—Klein chose not to attack Lina while she was still disoriented. Instead, he prepared to launch another air bullet to take down the Witch loyal to the "True Creator."

But at that moment, phantom black flames suddenly ignited among the spider threads binding Irene. Her body trembled uncontrollably.

At first, Irene tried to summon her own Black Flame to resist, but she was quickly overwhelmed. The black flames Lina had conjured consumed her from the inside out, rising from her feet to her head.

Realizing she was losing, Irene instinctively attempted to use her Mirror Doppelgänger Technique again. But to her despair, she discovered that not only had Lina's curse destroyed her hidden wand, but the strange ghost had also raised his right hand once more and solemnly declared:

"Mirror Doppelgänger Technique is forbidden here!"

Having noticed Lina's actions, Klein instinctively coordinated with her. The reason he had only "forbidden" a specific substitution technique was simple: he himself possessed the Paper Figurine Substitution Technique. In such a dangerous place, he couldn't risk banning his own life-saving ability.

Still disoriented, burning from the black flames, bound by spider threads, and with her escape method sealed, Irene ultimately couldn't escape death. Her spirituality was completely consumed by the flames, and she collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

With the Witch guarding Shoko now dead, Klein didn't immediately relax. His gaze flicked to Lina, who seemed slightly more seductive than when they'd met in Tingen. A trace of wariness crossed his mind: She was probably pretending to be affected by my screech—lowering the Witch's guard and testing my attitude. Only after seeing that I didn't attack her did she decide to cooperate with me to kill the Witch…

As he mulled this over, his eyes drifted to the lifeless Witch. To his surprise, he noticed that even in death, she was clutching something in her hand.

"Is that… a piece of paper?"

Just as he was about to step forward to inspect it, Lina sheathed her black dagger, turned to him, and asked with a smile, "Hero bandit 'Black Emperor,' is it?"

Without waiting for Klein's response, she glanced at the unconscious Shoko—her future "sister"—by the staircase, then crouched down and retrieved the paper from Irene's hand.

She gave it a quick glance, her eyes narrowing sharply as she read the contents. Written on the paper was the divine oracle Mr. A had recorded earlier, a message from the "True Creator":

"Find:

"The Fool who does not belong to this era;

"The mysterious ruler above the gray fog;

"The King of Yellow and Black, who controls good fortune.

"Believers and followers, in Backlund."

"The Fool's believers and followers?" Lina thought. To have such an honorific name, to be so valued by the True Creator, someone referred to as 'The Fool' must be an evil god on par with Him...

Wait… During Mr. A's earlier conversations with that Witch, he placed extraordinary importance on Shoko, even ordering the Witch to guard him with her life…

Shoko had often fallen into inexplicable "trances," randomly "thinking up" bizarre and delicious dishes. I once teased him, saying he'd been blessed by the "Evil God of Cuisine"…

Just now, the hero bandit 'Black Emperor' emerged directly from Shoko…

Could it be… Shoko has become a follower—no, even a favored one—of this so-called Fool? And perhaps the hero bandit 'Black Emperor' as well…

I've heard that when he saved the girls from Capim, he left many Tarot cards on the slave trader's corpse… And 'The Fool' is the main card of the Tarot deck, the beginning and the end of it all…

Does "The Fool" favor extraordinary individuals who enjoy playing Roselle's version of a "superhero"? Is that why Shoko, who always acts as a vigilante, caught His eye?

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Lina stood up, raised her eyes toward the towering figure in black armor, and made a decision. She smiled and asked, "You're a follower of 'The Fool,' aren't you? Shoko mentioned you before—Your Excellency, 'Black Emperor'?"

She was testing him, trying to verify her suspicions.

Hearing the term "The Fool," no matter how much Klein prided himself on his composure, he couldn't help but feel an intense jolt of disbelief. Shoko has a "mystic connection" with me, but he shouldn't know anything about this. How could he possibly have told Lina the name 'The Fool'? Could he have gained some knowledge during our interactions? But I specifically set the part where I "granted" knowledge to focus on culinary skills…

—A "mystic connection" involves using various means to align oneself with a great or hidden being, gaining corresponding spiritual experiences or assistance. The outcomes are often unknown, depending on what the great or hidden being grants. Depending on the nature of the being, the connection can yield different knowledge and powers.

No, even if Shoko somehow learned my name during the connection, it's impossible for him to confirm that the hero bandit "Black Emperor" is a follower of The Fool. At most, he might have speculated because of the Tarot cards…

Lina is testing me? It seems she improvised after reading that paper… What was written on it?

As Klein tried to suppress his shock and analyze the situation, Lina had already discerned clues from the subtle shifts in his emotions. She smiled even more brightly and took a few steps closer to the hero bandit, though she remained at a safe distance. Holding up the paper she had taken from Irene, she said:

"It seems I was right… Since Shoko has become a follower of The Fool, as his dear sister, wouldn't I have the honor of learning the teachings of 'The Fool' as well?"

But at that moment, Klein had no attention to spare for her questions. His focus was entirely on the content of the paper.

The Aurora Order knows about "The Fool"? They know my honorific name? Has the "True Creator" locked onto me?

Klein immediately felt as though he were facing a monumental threat. If not for the fact that this "magician's performance" wasn't over yet, and the Aurora Order's ritual magic hadn't been interrupted, he might have immediately canceled the summoning and returned to the gray fog.

However, he quickly ruled out the possibility of being directly targeted by the "True Creator." If that were the case, standing in front of an altar powered by His strength would have already resulted in a saint descending from the heavens to crush him.

This meant the Aurora Order only knew of "The Fool" and His honorific name, and that there were clues pointing to Backlund… Who leaked this information? Klein frowned, deep in thought.

Soon, a possibility came to mind:

Recently, only Little Sun has recited my name, and it happened while he was interacting with an exploration team contaminated by the "True Creator." He also conducted a sacrificial ritual there, which must have included symbols corresponding to The Fool and possibly even a vision of the ancient palace above the gray fog. That must be how the "True Creator" noticed The Fool's existence and identified me as the one who… desecrated—no, harassed—no, peered at Him.

Additionally, Little Sun used the "All-Black Eye" at the time, which contained the mental corruption of the "True Creator." Through that, He confirmed that my followers or believers were in Backlund…

I can't let Little Sun take the "All-Black Eye" out again!

As for the Aurora Order searching for his followers, Klein wasn't too concerned. After all, "The Fool" didn't have fixed believers or followers…

Well, except for Shoko, who seems to have been "exposed"… But his situation is naturally Lina's concern. Since she managed to resist the manipulations of "0-08," she must have the means to block the Aurora Order's investigations.

Returning to the present, Klein finally remembered Lina's earlier question. After a moment of hesitation, he utilized the iron-black gloves—an extraordinary item called "Roselle's Grasp" inherited from Hras—along with its aura of "dignity," and asked coldly from above:

"You've learned things you shouldn't know. Aren't you afraid I'll silence you?"

Lina smiled faintly, her eyes shining as she gazed at the armored ghost before her. "You're part of a 'heroic' organization, aren't you? Though I've made many mistakes, according to Ruen's laws, even without hiring a famous lawyer, I wouldn't face the death penalty…

"What's more, my enemies are far too powerful… And there's someone I absolutely must save… In such a situation, I'd sell my soul to a devil if I had to. Compared to that, becoming a follower of The Fool—who, judging by His choice of believers, might even be benevolent toward humanity—isn't that a much better deal?"

Her tone carried a hint of self-mockery as she spoke.

For whom? Prince Edessak? Klein wondered. This… this must be true love, right? But is Prince Edessak in danger? Did Ince Zangwill "arrange" something for him? Is the royal family just standing by?

Considering the possibility of a royal faction collaborating with secret organizations to conduct human trafficking… it's not impossible. Is the prince a hostage? One of the foundations of their cooperation?

If I want to deal with Ince, will I have to go up against the royal family and a secret organization as well?

In that case, Lina's interests do align with mine for now…

Klein's mind raced through countless possibilities. He eventually nodded slightly and said,

"My Lord is naturally merciful…"

As Lina seemed ready to speak further, Klein raised a hand to interrupt her, directing his gaze toward the altar.

"But now isn't the time to spread my Lord's teachings…" Mainly because I haven't written them yet. Where would I get teachings?

"Let's destroy the Aurora Order's ritual first!"

....

At the edge of Rhine Street, the half-giant Bishop Utravsky, carrying a greatsword, and Hazel, holding a red shortbow, stopped before an invisible barrier.

"It doesn't seem to block entry… but it's likely impossible to leave," Hazel said, frowning as her metal arm detected the nature of the barrier.

"This is the Aurora Order's ritual magic… It's called Abyss of Flesh," Bishop Utravsky explained after a brief pause, describing the spell's effects and horrors:

Once inside, no escape… gradual weakening of the "sacrifices"… relentless pursuit by evil spirits… ultimately being offered as sacrifices to the 'True Creator.'

With every sentence the bishop spoke, Hazel's face grew a shade paler. However, she bit her lip and refrained from suggesting they retreat. To steady herself, she casually asked, "Father, you seem very familiar with this magic?"

"Yes…" Utravsky sighed and continued, "The Aurora Order used it once in Feysac, causing nearly 500 deaths… I was the sole survivor.

"It was after that incident that I came to understand the value of life and became a follower of the Mother Goddess."

He lowered his head, looked at Hazel, and gently asked, "Now, will you still step into it with me?"

"Of course!" Hazel gripped her shortbow tightly and answered without hesitation.

"Very good, child. The Mother Goddess will watch over you," Utravsky said with a gratified smile. "Besides, the danger isn't as dire as I made it sound earlier. After all, this is Backlund, and I've already notified the Nighthawks and the Machinery Hivemind. They'll arrive soon."

Hearing this, Hazel finally relaxed slightly and nodded.

Then, the tall and short figures resolutely stepped through the invisible barrier.

(End of Chapter)