Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Your name is Patches?”

Hearing Lady 6’s slightly neurotic reply, Doctor Cynthia naturally frowned, watching her as she repeated the question.

”That isn’t the name in your medical file.”

”In my medical file... I’m not Patches?”

Lady 6 repeated subconsciously, her eyes growing increasingly dazed.

”It told me my name is Patches... No, I told myself...”

Judging by these symptoms, she seemed to have suffered a severe mental impact.

Faced with Lady 6’s clearly abnormal reaction, Fu Qian evaluated the situation silently from the sidelines.

Cynthia didn’t interrupt her either. She merely listened, jotting down notes in the medical file in her hand.

By this point, Lady 6 was agonizingly scratching her head again. Several bloody scratches had already appeared on her pale face.”No matter who told you, do you still remember the name in your medical file?”

After taking a few more notes, Doctor Cynthia finally stopped writing. She closed the medical file and tapped it against her hand.

”...I remember.”

Staring at the tabletop for a full half-minute, Lady 6 finally spoke with great effort.

”What is it?”

”My name is... Kuraki Eiko—”

Toward the end, Lady 6’s tone grew resolute, her words spilling out faster.

”I’ve figured it out. I am Kuraki Eiko. Patches... That voice in the Testing Room wanted to make me believe I was Patches!”

”Is that why you attacked the other test subjects?”

Neither confirming nor denying this, Cynthia continued her questioning in a flat tone.

Attacking the other test subjects...

Prompted by Cynthia’s reminder, Lady 6, Kuraki Eiko, quickly recalled what she had done just moments ago.

”...Even I find it a bit hard to understand my actions back then. It was as if I was bewitched. I just felt that it was very dangerous in there, that something was influencing me, and I wanted to leave that room.”

”And when Number 1349 got close to me, that sense of danger grew even stronger, so I just— How is he now?”

”He’s in no life-threatening danger.”

Cynthia nodded, revealing neither joy nor disappointment.

”Of course, the influence he suffered was far more severe than yours. After his first test, his reaction was already a bit like yours is now.”

...

”And what about you?”

Ignoring the shocked Kuraki Eiko, Cynthia had already turned toward Fu Qian.

”I noticed your reaction was exceedingly calm. Not only did you make no unusual moves, but even when the other two clashed, you didn’t dodge or attempt to stop them.”

Very professional, but perhaps not professional enough.

That was Fu Qian’s immediate reaction to the doctor’s second inquiry.

As a researcher, Doctor Cynthia’s logic was sound, and her line of questioning and summarization were incredibly experienced.

But from the very beginning, Fu Qian had been wondering about the intention behind arranging for the three of them to enter the Testing Room together.

Everything had a motive.

Especially in a test setting, minimizing variables was the most basic scientific principle.

Even this questioning was being done in front of them both. She still hadn’t asked Kuraki Eiko to leave.

Could this be the exact effect Doctor Cynthia wanted all along?

She cared not just about their individual reactions, but also about their influence on one another.

Like the conflict between Kuraki Eiko and Brother 1349, along with his own cold observation from the sidelines.

She wanted to see how the three of them interpreted each other’s states.

As things stood, Kuraki Eiko had suffered relatively severe mental influence and nearly twisted her own self-cognition, while Brother 1349’s situation was undoubtedly worse.

A sudden realization dawned on Fu Qian, and he quickly made up his mind.

He decided to play a more extreme role.

”I’m calm because I am not confused.”

He answered in a flat tone a moment later, raising his head to glance at Kuraki Eiko.

”I have never had any doubts about who I am.”

”Oh?”

Cynthia nodded noncommittally.

”So your name is—”

”Patches.”

Fu Qian answered the moment the question left her lips.

”Ah!”

A few seconds later, a gasp of utter disbelief rang out.

Kuraki Eiko covered her mouth, instinctively trying to distance herself from Fu Qian.

Her expression looked as if a divine statue in a temple had suddenly revealed a Health Bar.

”Very interesting, but I must remind you, that is quite far from the name in your medical file.”

Doctor Cynthia appeared rather unfazed. Her hand rested on another document, her face remaining completely devoid of expression.

Plenty of composure. Truly worthy of a high-level researcher.

Of course, this might also be related to her strength.

In Fu Qian’s assessment, Doctor Cynthia held the highest combat power he had encountered so far in this mission. She was a solid Mid Tier, far above Kuraki Eiko beside her.

”Which is why I forgot it.”

The next moment, Fu Qian pointed at the file in her hand and coldly snorted.

”I was a bit confused earlier as to why I forgot so many things after the first test.”

”Until just now, when I finally figured it out.”

”It’s because they were nothing more than boring illusions to begin with.”

”My true self has always resided deep in my mind.”

Fu Qian tapped his temple, his tone absolutely unwavering.

”The second contact finally enlightened me. Now, I have truly awakened.”

Stretching out his arms, Fu Qian looked as though he wanted to embrace the world, his voice gradually deepening.

”Am I dreaming of the butterfly, or is the butterfly dreaming of me? So many obstacles... Recognizing one’s true self is truly no easy task!”

”I think I understand what you mean, Mr. Patches.”

Faced with Fu Qian’s zen-like declaration, Doctor Cynthia’s expression finally stiffened slightly.

Even so, she stuck to her duty as a researcher and continued her questioning.

”But if that’s the case, there is one thing I’m very curious about.”

”How do you interpret the reactions shown by your two fellow test subjects? They seem to have experienced similar feelings to yours, albeit to a lesser degree.”

Without a doubt, this was a brilliant question. Fortunately, Fu Qian had already prepared an answer.

”I know everyone wants to be the Chosen One. That is especially true for transcendents.”

Fu Qian chuckled with evident disdain.

”What a pity. That voice wasn’t meant for them.”

”If they are too weak-willed to distinguish the truth, or simply indulge in self-deception for the sake of an illusory sense of satisfaction, I can only express my regrets.”

”Fortunately, it seems this lady recognized her true self in the end.”

”Is that why you didn’t step in to stop them?”

Doctor Cynthia nodded.

”You didn’t think they were worth the effort?”

”You can interpret it that way. Regardless, I can’t be bothered with something so boring.”

Fu Qian’s proficiency at playing a psychopath was practically unfathomable. Right now, he merely sneered at Kuraki Eiko until her expression grew as stiff as a board.

”Of course, I also enjoy a good show.”