Eldritch Horror Theatre

Such initiative...

It was obvious Persuader wanted to maintain a cool, detached persona, but he instantly realized it was completely pointless with this guy. He just narrowed his eyes and stayed silent.

”No need to hold back. Trust me, putting that intention out there is a good thing for both of us.”

Seeing this reaction, the ever-empathetic Fu Qian naturally offered earnest comfort.

”I’ve always advocated for mutual benefit. Honestly, if you had shown this a little earlier, we might not have had that waste just now.”

’So it’s my fault again, is it?’

Persuader still didn’t say a word, though the lines of his face grew a fraction stiffer.

”The reason I did that was simple. I felt the situation was getting a little out of hand, and I wanted to preserve that excellent tool.”

Fu Qian didn’t mind the silence, and even went on to explain why he had wasted the opportunity.

”After chatting with Brother Persuader, I regret my decision even less.”...

”You did indeed show extraordinary sharpness...”

Persuader naturally understood that the ”getting out of hand” Fu Qian mentioned referred to the Transcendent manifestation in the Nightmare being corrupted by Yalakir.

But that didn’t mean he understood Fu Qian’s choice.

”Under those circumstances, the Imprint left behind wouldn’t necessarily be dominated by you. But even so, it wouldn’t have been entirely meaningless.”

”Once Yalakir completes its Descent, with the help of its power, things will be much easier for us too.”

”You aren’t delusional enough to think you can finish this purely on your own, are you?”

”How much do you know about that world?”

In the face of this incomprehension, Fu Qian simply shook his head and returned a question.

”Do you know what kind of reaction would be triggered the moment that tool showed any abnormality?”

...

”Are you certain the Night Watchers would react that fast?”

Fu Qian’s words provoked another brief silence. It was clear Persuader didn’t want to show weakness on this front, actually taking the initiative to bring up the Night Watchers.

”Maybe not, but right now, far more than just one faction is keeping an eye on Shangjing.”

Unfortunately for him, such a struggle was simply too feeble against Fu Qian.

”Just from what I know, there’s the Origin Council, the Holy Grail Cult, and even the recently prominent Rebirth Club. It’s said there is an old one Divine Entity presiding over that organization.”

At the mention of the last group, even Fu Qian dropped his usual dismissive attitude toward the world’s heroes, his expression turning solemn.

”This is also why I want to know more about that Higher Existence.”

”I need to confirm what His first move would be if He truly succeeded in His Descent, and whether He would hide Himself properly. Only then can I evaluate the value of continuing back there... as well as the risks.”

”Do you think He would?”

...

It was obvious that, aside from the Night Watchers, the names of the organizations Fu Qian threw out were somewhat beyond Persuader’s knowledge.

Especially the last one, the Rebirth Club. The moment the claim of an old one Divine Entity presiding over it was mentioned, his expression grew visibly grave.

”I can only say that I cannot guarantee it.”

After a slight hesitation, it turned out Persuader didn’t have much confidence in Yalakir’s Sanity Value either.

”Even though I’ve been staying in here all this time, I don’t know much about Him.”

”Then how do you know the name?”

Fu Qian pressed the question without hesitation, fully adopting the stance of a risk assessor.

”The Nightmare behind the door.”

As the conversation hit its stride, Persuader’s answer was remarkably quick.

”You really haven’t given up hope, have you? So, which door was it?”

Giving a sigh of praise, Fu Qian remembered clearly that Persuader had mentioned every door led to a path out of The Corridor, only the opportunity within was incredibly difficult to grasp.

”The one you went into, of course.”

Unfortunately, this acknowledgment didn’t make Persuader any more thrilled. He replied coldly.

”Although the Nightmares behind every door are jointly dominated by the Higher Existences, they each have their own focus.”

”The reason the area behind that door is slightly less chaotic and disordered is because the will of Yalakir, who dominates it, is relatively more awake.”

”But you still failed to find your own opportunity.”

Nodding as if accepting the lesson, Fu Qian’s critique was nonetheless razor-sharp.

”I didn’t.”

Persuader showed no trace of embarrassment, only a deep sigh.

”That is essentially a Deity’s dreamscape—dangerous, complex, and simultaneously subjected to some kind of intense restriction.”

”If it were really that simple, Yalakir would have freed Himself long ago.”

”Makes sense.”

Fu Qian strongly agreed with this assessment.

”A Deity’s path to freedom is heavily targeted. Sounds like He’s locked up here?”

”You can think of it that way.”

Persuader did not refute the idea.

”In short, I experienced all kinds of mixed fragments, eerie powers, and grotesque manifestations in there. The name Yalakir appeared on a stone stele.”

”And the instant I saw it, I knew it represented the Sovereign of that dreamscape.”

...

A stone stele.

The pilgrimage experience Persuader recounted naturally made Fu Qian recall that book he had borrowed in the dream.

It sounded as if its Rank was even higher.

”Was there anything else besides the name?”

”I didn’t find anything.”

Persuader shook his head firmly.

”I tried to observe it more closely, but unfortunately, it was just too unstable in there. In the blink of an eye, it shifted into a completely different scene.”

”I can imagine. And I can understand why you place such importance on this remnant dream.”

Fu Qian nodded slowly.

”It wasn’t a waste for me to expend the effort to maintain it for so long.”

”Although it’s weak and crude, because it isn’t a Deity’s dream, the restrictions on it are nowhere near as strong as those behind the door.”

Persuader didn’t shy away from the topic either, openly acknowledging the dreamscape’s value.

”It is ’us’ acting as the Sovereign, no need to be polite.”

Fu Qian smiled and made a gesture.

”Are you sure?”

Staring intently at Fu Qian, a moment later, the wings on Persuader’s back spread open once more, gleaming with bizarre, oily colors.

”I already told you, this is my sincerity in our cooperation. Besides, I plan to keep trying to find some new channels; I have no intention of just guarding this place forever.”

Fu Qian’s posture was as confident as ever.

”You made it sound so precious, wouldn’t it be perfect to take control of it right here? Of course, you could also refuse, and just let it dissipate.”

”...Since you are so generous.”

It was evident that his tragic past experiences still made Persuader hesitate for a second, but with such terms, he obviously couldn’t spot any downside for himself.

Finally making up his mind, his extended wings gave a slight flap.

Sitting across from him, Fu Qian could clearly feel that with this movement, the surrounding order was rapidly subjected to some sort of corrosion, which then resonated with the human-faced insect before him.

Truly worthy of being the God Corroder; this was far more convenient than his own mental brute force.

Praising him internally, Fu Qian genuinely didn’t call upon his dreamscape control to put up any resistance. In the very next moment, his body shattered like foam, leaving behind a word of encouragement for the volunteer.

”Thanks for the hard work.”