Eldritch Horror Theatre

He really had the nerve to ask!

Yuan Fang’s brazen ”request” left Fu Qian in a momentary state of profound admiration.

The premise was simple enough, but the matter itself was far from it.

”Your demigods seem to have acted once already, and based on their performance, it’s hard to have any confidence in them.”

Fu Qian made no effort to hide his skepticism.

”I know what you mean.”

Yuan Fang naturally saw Fu Qian’s lack of enthusiasm and hurriedly explained.

”I didn’t offer much input on Ballard and the others’ previous operation. It was little more than a reflex—an attempt at self-preservation.”

”The only information I provided was that Qiong and the Lord were indeed dead.”

”Gathering manpower, collecting clues, and taking action—that was all their own doing.”Click!

As he spoke, Yuan Fang pulled out a metal lighter and lit a cigarette.

”In fact, even if I did offer advice, they might not listen.”

”After all, I’m not their leader. I’m an advisor at best.”

Taking a deep drag, he closed his eyes with a look of sheer intoxication.

”You should be able to tell that I’m not even a demigod.”

Why did every cryptic riddler he ran into share this exact same chain-smoking uncle vibe?

Bernard, the Bookstore Owner, was also never seen without a smoke or a drink.

The scene before him couldn’t help but remind Fu Qian of an old friend who was always coming and going like a ghost.

”My understanding of your words is that you don’t plan to participate in this upcoming grand operation.”

Shaking off the nostalgia, Fu Qian offered a sharp interpretation of Yuan Fang’s words.

”Of course.”

Yuan Fang opened his eyes and admitted it without hesitation.

”Compared to any of you, I’m far too frail. I just have a bit of a talent for fortune-telling.”

”So you really can predict the future?”

Fu Qian’s interest was genuinely piqued.

”I can see a little bit, but it’s chaotic and full of uncertainty—especially once an outsider’s influence is involved.”

For a supposed prophet, Yuan Fang was quite humble.

”Do outsiders come here often?”

”Not often. This place is equally dangerous for an outsider, and they can’t take any of their gains out with them.”

”Except for fire.”

Fu Qian pointed out.

”That’s right. Except for fire.”

Finishing the cigarette in three drags, Yuan Fang tossed the butt away and stared at Fu Qian.

”But the creation of fire is devastating to this place.”

”I thought this place was immortal. It can actually be destroyed?”

Fu Qian let out a sound of surprise.

”First of all, this place is immortal.”

Yuan Fang pointed at his own head.

”Thanks to my special connection with this place, I am absolutely certain of that.”

”No one knows when this place originated, or even how they got here. That includes Ballard and the rest. Every single person has been here since the moment they gained sentience.”

”Secondly, the people inside are not immortal.”

”Just like how the clown has died many times. Every time, he forgets something.”

Although he was looking at Fu Qian, Yuan Fang seemed to be talking about someone else.

”You can relearn things, but at its core, this is an irreversible process. It’s the same for everyone.”

”And even though this group’s future is already sealed, I still hope this process can be dragged out a little longer.”

”I get it. It doesn’t even need to be as drastic as death; they are losing themselves every waking moment?”

Fu Qian rubbed his chin, recalling the earlier metaphor of the gears.

If death were the only thing that caused a person to gradually lose their sense of self, then as long as the demigods acted cautiously, it wasn’t a situation of complete despair.

It seemed they really were like gears; as long as they were turning, the wear and tear was constant. It just wasn’t as obvious.

And eventually being ground down into formless iron filings was their only destiny.

”Yes. That’s why I’d like to ask for your help—at least to avoid the most violent outcome.”

Yuan Fang sighed.

So that was it.

Fu Qian gave a slight nod.

It hadn’t been a wasted effort. Prophet Yuan had still revealed quite a bit of information, especially regarding the birth of fire.

At first glance, it was highly consistent with Chaumont’s account. The two seemed to corroborate each other.

But there was a very important problem here—if flames were born from the perishing of a Divine Being, then what was his own task supposed to be?

Chaumont had gone through so much trouble to kill two demigods, acting completely heartbroken over having to use a Talisman. Was there actually a place where the flames were so massive they needed to be extinguished?

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Brother Prophet was holding something back regarding the state of this place.

”Regardless of what I should call you, there’s no doubt you are a special existence right now.”

Seeing that Fu Qian remained silent, Yuan Fang continued his earnest persuasion.

”If you are willing, you will be the Savior of this world.”

Savior—why did that word give him such a strong sense of déjà vu?

It would have been better if he hadn’t said it. The moment Yuan Fang opened his mouth, Fu Qian felt an increasingly bizarre sensation.

There seemed to be far too much familiar yet grotesque information in this world.

”If you’re willing to participate, I have a plan.”

Yuan Fang continued.

The sense of déjà vu from that phrase was even stronger...

”Let’s hear it.”

Suppressing the urge to make a sarcastic remark, Fu Qian remained noncommittal.

”Follow me.”

Hearing Fu Qian’s tone soften, Yuan Fang was clearly emboldened and gestured for him to follow out to the balcony.

”Do you see it?”

He pointed out the window.

Fu Qian followed his gaze. In the distance, there was actually a tranquil lake.

Its surface was as flat as a mirror. Under the gloomy sky, it felt particularly dark and profound.

”Who would’ve thought? You actually have a lake-view apartment!”

Fu Qian let out a breath of admiration.

”It’s alright... So, what do you feel when you look at The Lake?”

Fu Qian’s bizarre focal point almost made Yuan Fang forget his next words.

”Round.”

Seeing that Yuan Fang wasn’t very keen on discussing real estate, Fu Qian didn’t push the issue.

And saying it was round wasn’t nonsense. Although the lake outside wasn’t large, at a glance, it formed a nearly perfect circle.

”...And?”

”There’s something inside it.”

”Very good. That is annihilation... or, you could call it fire.”

Seeing that Fu Qian was finally on the right track, Yuan Fang looked relieved.

”And no one knows about this?”

This was undoubtedly bombshell news. Fu Qian frowned slightly.

So this was the target he was supposed to find?

Yet from this angle, it looked exactly like a completely placid little lake.

He had only faintly sensed something unusual based on a trace of intuition.

But now Yuan Fang was saying there was a massive amount of fire inside. Had that group of demigods really never noticed it?

”It’s hard to explain. All I can say is that in my divinations, the trajectories of everyone’s fate—including Ballard’s—cannot form any connection with that place.”

”But an outsider isn’t bound by this invisible restriction?”

As soon as Yuan Fang said that, Fu Qian instantly understood.

No wonder the man was being so polite and sincere in their conversation.

After all his previous maneuvers, he had become the only entity they could communicate with who possessed the traits of an outsider.

As expected, investing in oneself was the true path to success.

”Yes. And what I hope you can do is very simple.”

”Awaken the fire, and lure that hunting party over here.”