Eldritch Horror Theatre

Inside the curtain, the aroma of tea swirled in dead silence.

Following Fu Qian’s abrupt remark, a momentary sense of unreality washed over the seated Nepheli, as if she might dissipate at any second.

As a legendary Divine Emissary, however, her anomaly vanished in a flash. She did not drop her teacup or slam the table in outrage; instead, she simply raised her head to stare at Fu Qian.

Beside him, his number-one enforcer, Demigod Su, had silently risen to her feet, her hand resting on her Curved Sword.

”Is Mister Dancy joking?”

Nepheli finally spoke first to break the standoff, her voice devoid of any readable emotion.

”Yes.”

Fu Qian confirmed her suspicion and gestured for Su Gao to sit down.

”Just a sudden whim to liven up the mood.”

...His rapid flip-flopping in less than a minute successfully plunged the atmosphere in the opposite direction.

”If you’re curious about how we intend to answer to the Night Watchers, there is no need to play with fire like this.”

After a long silence, Nepheli’s gaze grew darker.

”So Yasui Tokiyuki’s actions aren’t considered playing with fire?”

Completely unfazed by the oppressive aura of a Divine Emissary, Fu Qian countered naturally.

”They are. But the trick to playing with fire is knowing how not to get burned.”

”As of right now, Anjing Company is still operating within the rules, wouldn’t you agree?”

”Whether it’s the Miracle Potion or that Infamy Mini-Game, they have never forced the innocent public to participate. In fact, they are charitable initiatives responding to public appeal.”

”Even if this notoriety has now materialized, pinning the blame on Yasui Tokiyuki won’t be easy. You would first need to prove that a cognitive influence exists, and then prove it’s directly tied to that notoriety. The miraculous thing about this attribute is that it provides zero supernatural feedback.”

”Fair point. But given the Night Watchers’ style, are you sure they will be that reasonable?”

Seeing Nepheli’s air of total control, Fu Qian voiced his doubt.

”Gin Kazuhiro will, at the very least. And he is the man in charge of Ye Island.”

Nepheli smiled.

”Since he already paid you a visit, you should have sensed as much.”

It seems Chief Gin really is caught in their grip.

Fu Qian mused inwardly.

”Understood. So, is this also the stance of the Primordial Council?”

...

”You certainly know quite a bit!”

This time, Nepheli’s silence stretched on even longer.

”Relax. We simply hold different ideologies.”

Fu Qian waved a hand, signaling for her not to be so sensitive.

”And as the younger generation in our organization, we aren’t quite so dogmatic as to believe that limb grafting is the only future of this world.”

”You people...”

Nepheli’s gaze instinctively dropped to Fu Qian’s hands.

”The Rebirth Club?”

It seems the fearsome reputation of my Rebirth Club is well known even within the Primordial Council.

All that campaigning far and wide hasn’t been for nothing!

Nepheli’s reaction left Fu Qian feeling a brief wave of emotion.

”Due to image issues, most of our members aren’t suited for undercover work.”

He casually shook his hands.

”So we have to personally handle the fieldwork.”

”Also, I agree with your earlier view, Madam Nepheli, but there is one glaring issue we cannot ignore. Among that vast sea of people outside, cognition is surging and flowing unchecked, gathering into a storm. It might not be obvious right now, but over time...”

”I understand your meaning, but that actually isn’t a problem.”

”Because the moment Yasui Tokiyuki achieves his objective, he can simply cancel the materialization of this concept. It will revert entirely to the realm of entertainment, without leaving a single trace.”

”So in fact, the choice that minimizes harm to ordinary people is to let Yasui Tokiyuki succeed as quickly as possible.”

Nepheli clearly harbored doubts about Fu Qian’s claim to be from the Rebirth Club, but fortunately, she didn’t seem to care all that much.

So that’s how it is. How very considerate.

Fu Qian nodded inwardly, deep in thought.

”The storm might pass, but that doesn’t mean everything will go back to normal.”

”It is enough as long as no one knows a storm ever came.”

Nepheli offered a half-smile.

”And who cares about ’normal’ anyway? Not even the fools themselves care.”

That’s more like it. She is a legendary Divine Emissary, after all—what was with that act earlier?

Catching the condescension casually slipping into her tone, Fu Qian was certain this was her true face.

He highly doubted that a supreme existence just beneath a God would truly pay much attention to ordinary mortals, viewing them as little more than ants.

”It looks like Yasui Tokiyuki will reach his goal before long?”

Pushing his internal critiques aside, Fu Qian distilled the information he had just gathered.

”It indeed won’t be long, so you two should make sure to stay safe.”

Having revealed her true colors, Nepheli’s posture instantly turned languid, her dark eyes brimming with cold indifference.

Being stared down by those eyes gave him the chilling sensation that no secret could remain hidden.

The meaning behind her words was perfectly clear: the moment Yasui Tokiyuki freed his hands, the two of them would likely be in trouble.

...

”So Yasui Tokiyuki really is preparing to go a step further?”

Fu Qian asked in the tone of casual small talk.

Hmm?

Nepheli’s eyes widened a fraction, but she remained silent.

”I thought elevating someone to a Demigod was already an earth-shattering achievement, but I didn’t expect it wouldn’t even count as practice. The knowledge possessed by the Primordial Council truly is enviable! Did Rom tell you all of this?”

”You seem to know far too much...”

With every word Fu Qian spoke, Nepheli’s expression grew a fraction more grim. By the end, her tone was dripping with naked murderous intent.

”I am simply clever and fond of learning.”

”Is that so? Being eager to learn is a good habit, but knowing too much can easily bring a world of trouble down on you.”

Before Nepheli even finished speaking, the misty water curtain surrounding the three of them suddenly rapidly expanded, while her body simultaneously turned ethereal.

At almost the exact same time, a streak of light flashed as Su Gao decisively attacked.

Though only a faint shimmer flowed along her Curved Sword, it radiated an overwhelming sense of holiness. The ethereal mist, which appeared formless and immaterial, was violently torn open.

However, before the blade could strike her, Nepheli’s body had already dispersed, merging completely with the surrounding mist.

At the same time, wisps of water mist transformed into viscous spider silk, wrapping evenly around Fu Qian and Su Gao.

They didn’t bind them completely rigid, but the overlapping layers of interwoven webbing sapped away the vast majority of their physical strength.

Even as two Demigods, their movements were noticeably restricted.

”Its structure is stable. Breaking it will take time.”

With a few swift slashes, Su Gao sliced through dozens, perhaps hundreds of layers of the ’spiderweb’ before turning her head and speaking softly.

”I can see that.”

Fu Qian was still sitting.

It was a Divine Emissary’s technique, after all. It wasn’t strange for it to have this effect.

Furthermore, a technique like this, designed solely to bind rather than kill, was usually just an appetizer. The entire point was simply to pin him and Su Gao in place.

In fact, Fu Qian could already sense a peculiar transformation occurring within the water mist.

Good thing I never planned on going anywhere else to begin with.

In the very next moment, Fu Qian’s right arm rapidly swelled. A hideous, massive claw instantly tore apart the obstructing webbing in front of him.

However, instead of helping Su Gao clear away the rest of the spider silk, Fu Qian reached out and snatched at a specific corner of the room.

”You’ve worked hard, Brother Sawada. Sit down and join us for a drink.”