Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Professors, it really is my grandfather. It looks like he’s already...”

At that moment, the middle-aged man who had been crouching to examine the body stood up, his expression grief-stricken.

”This is Kamakura Keiji.”

Reminded of the pressing matter at hand, Casi casually introduced the man to Fu Qian before returning to his questions.

”You’ve examined him? Any other unusual wounds?”

”None.”

Kamakura Keiji glanced at Fu Qian and slowly shook his head.

”It seems Mister Yun truly had nothing to do with your grandfather’s death.”

Casi’s tone remained unchanged.

”And the extent of your loss of control appears far more severe than the reports suggested.””My grandfather always had the most violent reactions. The day before yesterday, he came down here alone to find a solution. Who would have thought he would...”

As he spoke, Kamakura Keiji subconsciously checked his own body.

Red streaks marred his exposed skin, so vivid they looked ready to drip blood—a shocking sight.

At his feet, the corpse had been rolled onto its back.

From this angle, it was clearly an elderly man.

On that aged face, red scars far worse than Kamakura Keiji’s had torn completely open. His entire head was flayed, the flesh split so deeply that a gentle tug might strip it down to the skull.

Faced with this scene, Casi pondered for a moment. Then, with a flick of his heavy robes, he extended a bizarrely shaped hand.

It had only four fingers. The joints were grotesquely swollen, and its overall size far exceeded an ordinary person’s. Tooth-like scales were visible across the skin.

In an instant, something seeped from those scales.

At first glance, it looked like black mist. But as it gathered, it transformed into dancing flames. The cluster of black fire then silently exploded, sweeping through the space.

Standing directly opposite Casi, Fu Qian bore the brunt of it.

It carried no heat whatsoever, but an unnatural sensation washed over him.

Wherever the flames passed, it felt as though the surface of his body had skipped the process of burning entirely and instantly turned to ash.

”There are no signs of a struggle. Your grandfather’s death was indeed caused by his own condition.”

Casi snapped his fingers, dispersing the black flames instantly, and spoke with absolute certainty.

”Take the body back. Let the people above have a look as well.”

”Understood.”

Kamakura Keiji clearly didn’t dare question the judgment of the Dean of the Apocalypse Branch, obeying immediately with deep respect.

”Mister Yun, I believe you had no part in this. However, the Kamakura Family is currently facing some trouble.”

Casi turned back to Fu Qian, gesturing at Kamakura Keiji.

”As a family known as cursed swordsmen, it appears their sword path has slipped out of control.”

”You are undoubtedly an expert in this field. Would you be interested in joining us to take a look and offer some advice?”

Good eye. After all, I used to be someone who mastered nearly a thousand strands of sword intent!

Recalling his experience seeking enlightenment in the Sword Pavilion, Fu Qian gave an easygoing nod.

”Alright.”

Casi’s approach didn’t surprise him.

Even if they were no longer pressing him about why he was here, letting him walk away now was out of the question.

Fortunately, I never planned on leaving anyway.

[Current task updated: Discover the cause behind the Divine Seal losing control.]

Because at almost the exact same time, the task prompt had finally appeared.

The Divine Seal—this undoubtedly referred to whatever afflicted the Kamakura Family. The legendary, ferocious blessing of the Tombkeepers.

Judging by the task details, his goal clearly aligned with Casi and the others’.

This expert team had even taken the initiative to invite him in.

...

Leaving the blood-scented secret room, the group made their way up the giant stone-paved Corridor.

Just as expected, this was clearly an Underground structure. The overall layout was as gloomy as a crypt, entirely devoid of any holiness.

Its greatest feature was its sheer size. The secret room from just now was merely a tiny corner.

As they walked, the architecture’s grandeur was impossible to hide beneath the ruin. One could easily picture its former glory.

Thinking back to that shattered statue, the place seemed to have been deliberately vandalized. He wondered who that Nameless Divine Entity had managed to offend.

Kamakura Keiji was clearly quite familiar with the route. Even while carrying a corpse, he continued to take the lead.

Before long, the team—which boasted two demigods—stood before a pair of massive doors.

Sunlight was already spilling through the crack in the open doors.

Cradling his grandfather’s remains, Kamakura Keiji carefully slipped sideways through the gap.

Almost immediately, an uncontrollable wail rang out.

Clearly, people had been waiting outside the doors all along for the results of the trio’s expedition.

As Fu Qian was the last to step outside, countless gazes instantly converged on him, causing the crying to stutter for a half-beat.

Who is he?

Expressions of shocked uncertainty surfaced on face after face.

Only four people had gone down. Now, a corpse and three living people had returned, but suddenly there was an unfamiliar face among them. It naturally drew widespread suspicion.

After setting his grandfather’s remains down, Kamakura Keiji immediately leaned in close, whispering softly to a man whose face was similarly marred by bloody scars.

”Yun? He didn’t die?”

Faced with this introduction, the old man—who radiated the full majesty of a family head—had nearly the exact same reaction.

”Not only did he not die, he ascended to a demigod. Just now, down below, Dean Casi proved that he had nothing to do with Grandfather’s death. He even invited him to join the investigation.”

Kamakura Keiji thoroughly understood the art of delivering the bottom line, conveying all the key points at maximum speed.

Not only surviving, but advancing to a demigod—the news was simply too astounding.

Besides, why was he down there in the first place?

The Kamakura Family’s family head was clearly still full of questions. But displaying the poise of a great clan leader, he took a deep breath and refrained from interrogating him on the spot.

”Thank you both for your hard work.”

He first expressed his gratitude to Casi and Guan Jingzheng. Then, he looked at Fu Qian.

”Mister Yun, I am Kamakura Ki. On behalf of the entire Kamakura Family, I thank you for your forthcoming assistance.”

”Alright.”

Faced with Kamakura Ki’s expressionless gratitude, Fu Qian stuck to his current style, replying with just a single word.

Meanwhile, his gaze cut through the crowd, landing on another group standing off to the side.

They were an elite investigation team, as expected. Aside from the leading demigod beside him, even the weakest among the rest was at the Mid Tier.

And this weakest Mid Tier happened to be an acquaintance.

You’ve made quite the progress lately, Classmate Ji Liushuang!

Looking at the familiar face standing at the edge of the crowd, Fu Qian couldn’t help but reflect on how quickly time flies.