Eldritch Horror Theatre

”And then?”

Without a hint of hesitation, Fu Qian pinched the gleaming gold coin between his fingers the moment Madam Yingzhu spoke.

The sheer smoothness and absolute resolve of this no-nonsense posture struck with incredible impact, instantly serving as the perfect footnote to his previous declaration.

Oz’s increasingly grave stare was proof enough of that.

”What are your thoughts on the engraving?”

Excellency Yingzhu truly lived up to her role as a formal examiner. Though her expression was just as solemn, she did not hesitate to follow up.

”The craftsmanship is superb, and it captures the essence perfectly.”

Both sides of the gold coin bore the same pattern. Fu Qian simply stood it on its edge atop a nearby low cabinet, staring at the figure’s back in the engraving as he delivered his critique.

”What else?”

His answer clearly leaned too far into art appreciation. Yingzhu frowned slightly, looking less than satisfied.”It even makes incredibly clever use of the material. If it weren’t for this level of pure gold, I’m afraid it would be difficult to convey the physical texture of this body.”

Without batting an eye, Fu Qian answered fluently.

”...Aside from all that, did you not discover anything else unusual about it? Perhaps something related to how you found it?”

Yingzhu finally couldn’t help but steer his answer back on track.

”Are you referring to the patterns drawn on the walls? Of course I did.”

Nodding slightly, Fu Qian replied without missing a beat.

”Although they look quite different at first glance, they obviously share certain common elements.”

”That’s why I didn’t doubt Excellency Oz for a second when he told me this was his favorite coin. It’s obvious that the various patterns hidden in that place must correspond to different gold coins—”

As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the surrounding walls.

”Just like the ones in here.”

”Why do you say that?”

Seeing his suddenly serious approach to the test, Madam Yingzhu looked somewhat satisfied. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she chose to press him further.

”Isn’t it obvious? In just the short time I’ve been standing here, I’ve already spotted plenty of familiar details that I saw back at that other location.”

Fu Qian shook his head. A moment later, he lightly flicked the gold coin, sending it spinning in place.

”They seem to correspond one-to-one. The nature of their relationship should be similar to the engravings on the gold coins, morphing from certain core elements. Honestly, I think the patterns on these walls are the original versions.”

”...You really did know what I was getting at.”

Following his sweeping analysis, even Madam Yingzhu couldn’t hide the shock in her eyes. It was clear the examiners were already somewhat won over.

”So what was the point of your first answer? Just being contrary and avoiding the real subject on purpose?”

This was an obvious jab at Fu Qian’s initial art critique, expressing her dissatisfaction with his attitude. Unfortunately for her, Fu Qian’s response was entirely unapologetic.

”You were the ones who avoided the real subject first.”

With a cold snort, he slapped the spinning gold coin flat against the cabinet, his tone already dripping with impatience.

”I don’t see any value in discussing information that’s so easily deciphered. Don’t even try to tell me that this was your so-called test.”

...

Being a chuuni was never an easy psychological state to fake, even for this special organization using it as camouflage.

Honestly, Fu Qian actually found their little scheme somewhat amusing.

After all, up to this moment, his journey here hadn’t involved a single transcendent element.

Everything that had happened today could still be easily explained away as a fan club set up by a bunch of chuunibyou sufferers trying to act mysterious.

The Night Watchers weren’t particularly strict about policing such things. He had even bumped into similar groups back in Dunis.

That meant if he failed their assessment, the difficulty of managing the security risks would be incredibly low.

But while it was a decent idea, the unfortunate reality was that by Fu Qian’s standards, their execution was still a bit lacking.

Simply put, they weren’t chuuni enough.

Taking advantage of this excellent opportunity, he might as well show them what a high-end chuuni spirit looked like and teach them a thing or two.

His earlier ”the world is wrong” routine was one aspect; his current utter disdain for their trivial red tape was another.

”You truly are... very different...”

It seemed his efforts hadn’t been in vain. The two of them had clearly been deeply impacted by his performance.

After slowly letting out a sigh of praise that perfectly fit the mood, Excellency Yingzhu’s expression suddenly turned dead serious as she pointed at the wall.

”You are correct. The ones drawn here represent their most primordial forms. And I can tell you in no uncertain terms that these seemingly simple patterns contain the laws that govern the world.”

”For anyone who obtains the gold coin, we automatically assume they have the potential to build an affinity and establish a connection with it. Since you don’t like taking things step by step, then go.”

”Observe, feel, and then show me what you manage to reap from them.”

...

As expected, this was the ideology of the Post-Blind Eye Society.

Madam Yingzhu’s suggestion was so thoroughly unsurprising that Fu Qian naturally thought back to his attempt to temporarily command the Sacred Cloth down in the Underground Ruins.

Back then, he had also relied on its patterns to forge a special connection, allowing him to wield that incredible power with a mere Mortal Body.

”Given your outstanding performance earlier, you now have the entire night.”

Madam Yingzhu’s voice continued to ring out.

”Oz and I will leave this place to you. By the time the sun rises tomorrow, I hope you can prove your claim that destiny is calling you—”

”I didn’t find anything.”

Unfortunately, she was ruthlessly cut off before she could even finish.

The newest candidate showed absolutely no intention of racing against the clock. Instead, he just shook his head.

”What do you mean?”

This unexpected twist clearly left the examiners deeply shaken.

For a moment, even Oz, who had kept a low profile this entire time, couldn’t help but ask.

”I’ve been looking at them since I walked in. I am entirely certain that even if I sat here all night, I wouldn’t reap a single thing.”

Even though it sounded like he was forfeiting, Fu Qian still wore a look of total arrogance.

”I admit they’re unique, but at the end of the day, they’re nothing more than patterns. I am absolutely certain I won’t receive any feedback about the laws of the world from them.”

Shifting his gaze back to Yingzhu and Oz, Fu Qian shook his head slightly.

”Nor do I believe that this is the so-called power to hunt Gods mentioned in that original message.”

Back in the Underground Ruins, it was true that he had genuinely comprehended an ability after some effort, but there had been far more to it than just a single pattern.

The Golden Armor and its matching patterns worked together to seal and command the transcendent traits housed within.

If this technique truly originated from the Holy Grail Cult, then those elements were most likely all indispensable.

Casually scribbling a few strokes and expecting someone to just sit down and achieve enlightenment was honestly quite insulting to us chuunibyou sufferers.