Eldritch Horror Theatre

The demigod calculated the distance and tore open a small gap to find a new passage.

Taking this development as a good sign would be overly optimistic.

In Fu Qian’s estimation, tearing open a few more gaps would only reveal more passages.

The two of them obviously weren’t in some simple maze or corridor; it felt more like they were trapped inside a wet lump of flesh.

If they wanted to bore holes into it, they could make as many as they wanted.

”It’s definitely not looking good.”

Fu Qian nodded at the pensive Aike, helping her arrive at that conclusion.

”...It’s even more bizarre than I imagined.”

Prompted by his words, the demigod took a deep breath and found her voice again.

She made no move to step inside, clearly not naive enough to think a casual tear in the wall had magically revealed a secret passage.”It looks like we’re trapped in an endless expanse... We should have tried to stick to the outside.”

”Don’t be so optimistic.”

Facing Aike’s regret over their strategy, Fu Qian waved a hand to signal that she shouldn’t blame herself.

”I think taking the outside route would just be a different kind of endless expanse.”

...

”So, what do you think we should do next?”

Expert Fu’s comfort rarely required a second sentence.

The cold reality he painted successfully silenced Aike for a moment, leaving her impatient to hear what brilliant idea he might have next.

”The crying is getting louder, and our perception is being suppressed.”

Stepping up to the challenge, Fu Qian listed their current problems.

”And the changes on your arm suggest this place is eroding you. Staying here is obviously quite dangerous.”

”That makes sense. But that brings up another question: why aren’t you being eroded—”

Aike’s question came to an abrupt halt as she stared at the right hand he displayed.

Traces of a bizarre, dark green hue seemed to be seeping out from beneath the skin of his index and middle fingers, forming a stark contrast with the rest of his hand.

”This is the part that grew back after my flesh was shredded earlier,” Fu Qian explained casually, entirely unfazed by the sight.

”Starting from the weakest parts of the body and changing them silently—it lines up perfectly with my impression of certain dark forces.”

”You sound like you have a lot of experience...”

Aike seemed momentarily at a loss for words, offering a rather emotionless compliment.

”Just a bit,” Fu Qian replied politely.

He wasn’t just spouting nonsense. Not too long ago, the erosion from Alakir had followed almost the exact same principles.

”Great... and then?”

Aike clearly had no intention of lingering on the subject.

”Then there’s the fact that we’re on a countdown, and we can’t even confirm what we’ll run into if we keep going.”

”True.”

”But by comparison, there’s one direction that offers a bit more certainty.”

Fu Qian shifted the conversation, pointing behind them.

”...You mean we go back the way we came?”

Catching on instantly, Aike frowned.

”It’s hard to guarantee the path behind us hasn’t changed. But based on our current situation, as long as we don’t actively forge a new route, things at least seem normal on the surface.”

Fu Qian nodded.

”So, taking a path we’ve already walked should offer a higher chance of escaping... But not for ’us.’ Just for you.”

...

”What do you mean? Where are you going?”

This final twist was incredibly startling, catching Aike completely off guard.

”I’m going to keep pressing forward, of course.”

Fu Qian looked as though this were the most natural choice in the world, gesturing toward the path ahead.

”You laid all of that out in a clear and systematic way, but you aren’t going to take your own advice?”

Aike let out a cold laugh, apparently very curious to hear his excuse.

”You were the one who asked me, so naturally, I was analyzing your situation.”

Fu Qian looked perfectly at ease, seeing absolutely nothing wrong with that logic.

”For me, things are slightly different.”

”What’s the difference?”

”I’m too weak.”

...

Aike didn’t say a word. Fu Qian just pointed to his own face and kept talking calmly.

”Given the gap in our strength, you might have the luxury of turning back, but for me, pushing straight through in one go is probably a better choice.”

”Without any trump cards, playing it safe is mostly just a slow death. I don’t think I have that opportunity anymore... Time is tight.”

Finishing his casual explanation, Fu Qian made no effort to check Aike’s reaction and directly gave her a farewell wave.

”Wait.”

Yet before he could even take a few steps, a fleeting figure darted forward and caught up to him.

”I’m not sure of your true motives, but you clearly don’t know the Night Watchers very well.”

Moving just a hair faster than him, Aike spoke with a cold, firm voice.

”What exactly makes you think I would go back out again?”

...

Did it really work that well? Looking at the situation, Fu Qian figured he wouldn’t even need to lift a finger no matter what jumped out at them next.

He silently praised the demigod for her determination to climb to new heights.

While his words just now had been incredibly provocative, he hadn’t strictly needed to goad this demigod into continuing her role as his tool.

As for his original goal in wasting time talking to her...

”What exactly are the Night Watchers so worried about when it comes to the newborn Offspring of the Laria Royal Family?”

Quickly matching her pace, Fu Qian casually asked the question.

”Why do you ask?”

For a split second, even Aike—who had just steeled her resolve—seemed to hesitate slightly in her steps.

”A grand demigod of the Night Watchers gracing them with her presence could, of course, be chalked up to the former royal family still holding some sway, but your excellency seems awfully fixated on the fact that we haven’t seen the child yet.”

Fu Qian kept his eyes straight ahead as he walked.

”So much so that I’m forced to suspect your main reason for attending this banquet.”

”What kind of risk could possibly be hiding within the newborn heir of this sparse, ancient bloodline? Enough that the Night Watchers feel the need to keep them under surveillance?”

”I’m suddenly thinking... once this is over, you’ll need to come back with me.”

After her longest silence yet, Aike finally spoke up.

”I’ll take that as a good omen, your excellency.”

”...Do you know why the Laria Royal Family calls their bloodline God-Man?”

Past the polite banter, the demigod finally confirmed Fu Qian’s suspicions, deciding to share a long-hidden secret to help them survive their current predicament.

”Isn’t it just a claim of the divine right of kings? If you want to rule a territory, having a legend like that seems like a good idea.”

”True, but there are plenty of families like that. Only this one can truly be called God-Man.”

Pushing open yet another door in front of them, Aike let out a soft sigh.

”Aside from their sheer power, the High-Tier Transcendents of this family have always shared one distinct trait throughout history: they have no progression process. It’s as if at a specific moment, a Deity simply reincarnates directly into their bodies, choosing them to become king.”