Eldritch Horror Theatre

Deep into the night, the discussion atop the Church was in full swing, proving highly productive thanks to the efforts of several experts.

It was visibly apparent that some of the previously indifferent attendees were now completely engrossed.

Even though their resistance to the idea of the Stars being distorted was palpable.

But that was the charm of knowledge. Even with their features twisted in conflict, they could not resist the natural inertia of this line of thought, helplessly drawn into it.

”A very interesting story. So interesting it could rival a fairy tale.”

As the member of the Blood Clan with the most ambiguous stance and an active participant in the discussion, Madam Bali had undoubtedly become the center of attention.

Having helped derive this conclusion, she ultimately did not disappoint her kin, refusing to lose her objectivity simply because she had reached the answer herself.

”It is quite clever, and even holds a degree of rationality. Unfortunately, its foundation is completely invalid.”

”The Stars do not make mistakes, because they are the very definition of what is correct.”

Looking completely composed, she gestured toward Jacques.”This time, I agree with Jacques’s handling of the situation. This is not a scenario that needs to be considered at all.”

”Correct—you mean how night immediately followed dawn?”

Fu Qian displayed the poise of a top-tier scholar, listening earnestly before throwing out a casual counter-question.

...

The atmosphere, which had only just relaxed a fraction because of Madam Bali’s words, instantly pulled taut again.

Knowing exactly what Fu Qian was referring to, almost everyone shot an involuntary glance out the window.

”As the Children of the Stars, you must have felt it just now. Are the Stars still correct?”

Fu Qian’s question was rigorous and unforgiving.

Based on what had been said earlier, the Dark Moon had not actually been seen manifesting outside the Nightmare created by Prout.

This was not surprising. The Nightmare had relied on Prout’s susceptible constitution to make certain traces more obvious, acting like a highly sensitive experimental indicator.

But that did not matter. The Blood Clan’s close connection to the Stars was enough to bridge that gap.

Because the sudden nightfall caused by the Dark Moon’s influence had clearly been transmitted to the outside world.

”I admit the changes just now were highly unusual. In fact, I made an exception and came here precisely to find an answer.”

In the face of ironclad facts, even Madam Bali lowered her voice, forced to frantically rack her brains.

”Unfortunately, before I could ask for Safar’s thoughts, he died by your hands.”

”But I imagine there will eventually be a logical explanation for this, as well as for how you managed to shatter the shared Blood Clan Boon.”

So Safar truly had the most experience? That title of elder really wasn’t just for show.

Fu Qian praised him inwardly, feeling absolutely no remorse.

Even if that guy actually knew something interesting, there was no way he would have shared it anytime soon.

It was better to place a little faith in the potential of the youth.

”Then think of a logical explanation.”

Fu Qian spoke directly the next moment, refusing to let them equivocate.

His true goal here obviously wasn’t to shatter the faith of these Divine Children and make them convert to his Dark Moon.

Quite the opposite. Fu Qian needed their determination to defend their faith, using it to stimulate their maximum value.

Otherwise, he would not have bothered mocking them.

...

”A Dark Moon from the Painting World that causes even the Stars to distort, thereby proving that the world before our eyes isn’t real? Is this what you, as a Dark Moon Apostle, want us to accept?”

To his pleasant surprise, the first person to respond to his provocation was not Madam Bali or Jacques, but a newcomer joining the discussion.

Madam No. 2, who had been overflowing with murderous intent this whole time, spoke with words just as sharp as her posture.

”Unfortunately, after receiving the information Jacques brought back, both Safar and I used various methods to investigate it. We confirmed that the painting with the handprint isn’t special in any way. Clearly, The Order shares the same view.”

”At the same time, your behavior was extremely strange. After walking around for a few days under the identity of a Dark Moon Apostle, you specifically reverted to Ann’s appearance to show up at the Art Gallery. No matter how you look at it, it was entirely unnecessary.”

”I couldn’t wrap my head around it before, but just now, it suddenly clicked. You were diverting our attention.”

Staring fixedly at Fu Qian, Madam No. 2 wore an expression that clearly said, ’I’ve caught you.’

”You really do come from the Painting World—just from a completely different painting, right?”

”Go on.”

Despite the heavy undertone of a personal attack in Madam No. 2’s speech, Fu Qian did not mind at all. He even put on a solemn expression to encourage her.

Heh...

Sure enough, she seized the momentum and pressed her advantage, sneering as she spoke at a rapid pace.

”Unlike them, Safar once shared some legendary Ancient Laws with me. Among them were similar special sanctuaries, although they have long since been lost to history.”

”So I actually believe the claims about the Painting World. You didn’t come from a Nightmare, but from a reality hiding behind a painting. The only problem is, it’s not the painting you pointed out.”

”The reason you showed up using Ann’s identity was to mislead us on this very point, making everyone think you were just like the many other victims in Laerdin.”

”But I actually visited more than one of them, and absolutely no one remembers you. The same goes for this so-called Dark Moon.”

...

Her logic was actually somewhat sound. She even went out of her way to conduct fieldwork. How thoughtful of her.

Fu Qian’s smile continued to ”dissipate,” while he sighed in admiration inwardly.

His previous efforts truly had not been in vain. The Blood Clan had put in a lot of work over the past few days.

Even though her conclusion was entirely wrong, the fact that there was once an Ancient Law capable of achieving something similar to the Painting World was quite valuable information to him.

As expected, extreme pressure breeds inspiration. Madam No. 2 had even smoothed out the logic behind his two separate appearances.

The only pity was that the situation was not nearly as beautiful as she imagined. There was no other painting.

Whether it was his own handprint on the painting or his positioning after transforming into a worm, both facts could prove this point.

”So, in my eyes, your so-called Dark Moon is very likely just related to some ancient, special Law. After a long period of concealment, it has reappeared. That is also why it can affect the Stars.”

”What is laughable is that you actually want to use this to deny the Stars.”

Madam No. 2 spoke with a soaring momentum like a rainbow, already delivering her closing statement to completely expose Fu Qian’s true colors.

”The problem is, if your theory is correct, wouldn’t that make me the favored one of an even more ancient Law compared to you all?”

Having listened closely, Fu Qian gave a half-smile.

”By the Blood Clan’s logic, it seems I would possess an even more noble bloodline. Yet, just a moment ago, you were preparing to kill me?”

”Yes... but if you are dead, the Blood Clan will remain the most noble bloodline.”

Madam No. 2 smiled with naked murderous intent, completely unfazed by his rhetorical trap.

Just as he thought, the faith of a Chosen One was often much flimsier.

Sighing inwardly, Fu Qian glanced around the room.

”Do you have anything else to add?”