Eldritch Horror Theatre

”...Are you planning to book the entire place?”

Peaceful moments were always fleeting, but fortunately, happy hour was up next.

As the familiar door swung open, an even more familiar voice rushed out to greet them before they could step inside.

It was none other than a shocked Professor Lanaya.

When choosing a venue for their department gathering, the research assistant had ultimately settled on the theme of ”blending in with the masses” and selected this little tavern once again.

Fu Qian naturally had no objections. The only issue was that their departmental headcount had become a bit bloated.

After taking a shower and changing clothes at Classmate Liushuang’s suggestion, Fu Qian stepped out to find the Laboratory already packed with people.

Classmate Wen Li had surprisingly returned early today as well. She was deep in a discussion with Classmate Liushuang about the food at their gathering spot, clearly quite interested.

Beside them stood a slightly awkward Professor Lisa.

Even though she had tossed a box at him the moment she saw him and prepared to take her leave, Fu Qian simply bundled her into the group, inviting them all out to eat and drink on the Laboratory’s dime.Professor Lisa had undoubtedly been sent by the Dean to deliver the item; how could he possibly slight her?

It just went to show that the Dean was indeed capable of swift and resolute action. Calling her away earlier must have been for exactly this matter.

”How could that be? We’re just here to join the crowd... Don’t tell me you really booked the place?”

Faced with this completely unsurprising scene, Fu Qian simply smiled and greeted the head of the Disciplinary Department.

Although night had fallen, it was still early relative to the little tavern’s operating hours, so there was genuinely no one else inside.

”Why would I do something so boring? I just think your little group is expanding a bit fast.”

True to form, Lanaya scoffed at the idea, clearly not a fan of such ostentatious behavior. Her gaze swept over Ji Liushuang and the rest, and she offered Lisa a passing greeting.

”Isn’t that a good thing?”

Professor Lanaya’s words carried a hint of hidden meaning, but Fu Qian just led his group to sit beside her and countered with a question of his own.

”It is a good thing...” Lanaya sighed deeply, glancing at Wen Li with a tone of complete mental exhaustion. ”It just feels like my burden as the head of the Disciplinary Department keeps getting heavier and heavier.”

A multitude of talents had recently emerged from the Academy. Three High-Tier Transcendents alone had popped up, painting a picture of a grand revival.

The only problem was that the accompanying chaos was equally spectacular, making her job more complicated than ever before.

”Look on the bright side. At least your busy day is over now.”

As an honest man, Fu Qian offered no empty platitudes about things getting better once this busy period passed. Instead, he simply gestured in a way that suggested enjoying the present and drinking while the wine flowed.

”Fair point...”

Lanaya seemed somewhat comforted by this, letting out a long breath.

If nothing else, the fact that Professor Fu was in the mood to host a department gathering right now proved that the little anomaly from earlier was truly nothing to worry about. Everything was fully under control.

”This meal is on me.”

However, his rare burst of generosity elicited a sharp intake of breath.

...

Hiss—

Professor Lanaya’s hand seemed to tremble around her glass, and the slight buzz she had finally managed to cultivate vanished instantly.

”Are you really just here to eat?”

After staring at Fu Qian for a long moment, far too many bad memories finally compelled her to ask for confirmation. She even cast a glance toward the corner of the room, half-intentionally.

The waitress of the Midnight Diner was busy working over there, though her posture looked a bit stiff.

”Then this meal is on you.”

Fu Qian sighed, keenly aware that his lack of foresight had frightened her. He immediately changed his tune.

”...I’ll cover the bill.”

The sudden pivot in the conversation was not only bizarre, but its deeper implications were downright terrifying when she really thought about it.

After hesitating a few times, Lanaya finally achieved sudden enlightenment regarding the legendary concept of ”buying peace of mind.” Bracing herself, she insisted on playing the host.

Compared to a loss of departmental funds, a quiet night was infinitely more precious.

”Then we won’t hold back.”

Seeing her boss successfully secure sponsorship for their department activity in just a few words, a smile tugged at the corners of Classmate Liushuang’s lips. She quickly offered her thanks before carefully taking the menu and pointing out dishes to Wen Li.

”Do you guys come here often?”

Beside them, Lisa didn’t seem particularly keen on the food. Instead, she was quite intrigued by the dining environment.

Perhaps sensing some strange, underlying connection as she looked around, her gaze lingered on the waitress for an extra few seconds.

”Yeah. The alcohol and the fish here are both pretty good.”

Fu Qian spoke with the complete confidence of a regular, his menu recommendations drawn from hard-won experience.

”Alright... I’ll try the fish, then.”

Unsurprisingly, very few people shared Lanaya’s liquid diet preferences. After frowning in thought for a moment, Lisa decided she still wanted some animal protein.

...

Everyone was truly relaxing today. This was the true meaning of nightlife.

It didn’t matter what Lisa chose. The mere fact that she was earnestly deliberating over food choices proved that she had successfully stepped away from the tense atmosphere of the day.

As for being kicked out so they could chat in private earlier, that clearly hadn’t bothered Lisa in the slightest. To her, two giants of the Apocalypse secretly scheming in private was perfectly normal and caused her no extra worry.

”Can any of you have an adult hobby for once?”

Despite the sudden influx of companions, Professor Lanaya still ended up drinking by herself—a development that seemed to drive her a little crazy.

Especially when she glanced over and caught Classmate Liushuang recommending the fish to Wen Li as well.

”This tavern actually has some lighter-tasting drinks as well...”

At that moment, the waitress waiting nearby to take their orders seemed to finally remember her duties. She carefully cut into the conversation, offering the guests a new option.

”Is that so...”

Honestly speaking, it was a perfectly normal business tactic with no hint of overly aggressive upselling. Professor Fu didn’t show the slightest bit of aversion as he stared at Sunny’s face, falling into deep thought over his choices.

...

She really seemed to be enjoying her current way of life.

Indecision when ordering food was perfectly normal, but it was obvious that Sunny was incredibly tense. She looked like she was practically forcing herself to maintain eye contact.

”Then let’s bring out a little bit to taste.”

Fortunately, her rusty sales pitch had ultimately succeeded. In a suffocatingly tense moment, Professor Fu finally nodded, deciding to let the team try something new.

”You really don’t need to be this frugal on my behalf...”

As Sunny quietly breathed a sigh of relief and walked away, Fu Qian was met with a predictably strange look from Professor Lanaya.

She undoubtedly knew that this waitress didn’t have a simple background. Hell, back in the very beginning, she had even spoken with the man beside her right in front of the waitress’s face.

But that only made Professor Fu’s behavior even harder to understand.

Since he was fully prepared to just let the girl enjoy an ordinary life, why go out of his way to terrify her like that?

”You wouldn’t understand. I was calculating whether my research assistant was of legal drinking age.”

However, under her intense scrutiny, Fu Qian remained perfectly calm and offered a casual excuse.