Eldritch Horror Theatre

As a distinguished senior expert actively bending the rules, Fu Qian naturally had no intention of making things difficult for the man.

Offering a solution alongside a request was simply good manners.

”Please wait a moment.”

After stealing a glance at Veil standing beside him, the stunned gatekeeper underwent a brief internal struggle before finally giving up on his pointless adherence to protocol.

”Please come in.”

After gesturing for them to wait, he completed the application process with remarkable efficiency.

Returning with a complicated expression, the man didn’t drag his feet. He opened the doors with swift, crisp efficiency.

”Dean Li said you and your friend are free to look around as you please.”

”Thank you for the trouble.”

Brother Weixuan certainly knew how to do things properly.Praising the man inwardly, Fu Qian offered a mild word of thanks and gestured for Veil to follow.

...

His prestige is a little too immense...

Inside the massive Sword Pavilion, the chilling aura of sharp weapons lingered in the air, just as it had during his last visit.

Yet, despite the golden opportunity before her, the privileged swordswoman Veil found it hard to focus her attention on the surrounding blades.

Although the whole situation felt bizarre, the truth behind Professor Fu’s earlier words was becoming increasingly difficult to deny.

Did I actually stumble upon a legendary stroke of fortune today?

Yes and no.

”Make the most of your time.”

Fully understanding the meaning behind her gaze, Fu Qian blinked and offered the gentle reminder.

Their encounter earlier certainly hadn’t been a mere coincidence. After sensing her wandering figure, he had simply slowed his pace to wait for her.

He had to admit they were an interesting pair of sisters. Since Lotte—who had helped him run his tests—believed that coming here to heal her hand was just as important as helping her older sister secure an opportunity, he figured he might as well grant her wish.

It was an effortless favor anyway.

Of course, if Veil hadn’t followed Professor Lisa’s advice, their little chance encounter wouldn’t have happened at all.

From that perspective, calling it a stroke of fortune was completely justified.

”Right.”

Jolted by his reminder, Veil suddenly realized this was no time to marvel at her luck. She immediately poured her entire focus into the task at hand.

...

Looking around the Sword Pavilion now, his state of mind felt entirely different.

By comparison, Fu Qian’s demeanor was far more relaxed.

As everyone knew, the guidance of a senior expert was always a matter of letting nature take its course.

He had gotten her through the door; whether or not she actually reaped any rewards was entirely up to her.

There was no need to force anything.

Not to mention, based on the information he’d gathered earlier, ever since the sword heart was destroyed by his own hands, the chances of encountering an epiphany in this place had utterly plummeted—

Frowning slightly, Fu Qian took a couple of steps forward and stopped right beside Veil.

Of course, it wasn’t because this peerless genius had been struck by a sudden wave of inspiration the moment she walked in—he was the one who had felt something.

”What is it, Professor Fu?”

His sudden movement slightly disturbed Veil’s concentration. She couldn’t help but ask softly, her eyes naturally following his gaze.

Pitch-black and sporting an uneven surface, it was a Broadsword that looked impossibly heavy.

Yet, despite its rugged exterior, the razor-thin glint along both edges gave the weapon an imposing majesty.

But that was it.

In the quiet air, Veil stared at it intently for several breaths. She still couldn’t spot anything special about the blade, and helplessly turned her attention back to Elder Fu.

”Wait—”

Unfortunately, she didn’t get an explanation. Instead, Professor Fu reached right out and grabbed the hilt of the sword.

...

”Game, Void, Kill, and even the unity of man and sword... I have immersed myself in the sword path for many years, sweeping unhindered across the world. Yet, who would have thought that all the enlightenment I painstakingly chased would pale in comparison to a single glance back today.”

Echoing within the Sacred Land of the Sword Comprehension Institute, the voice of Apocalypse’s Lifetime Professor sounded solemn and majestic, yet it carried a profound sense of release.

”The most exquisite craftsmanship... ultimately cannot triumph over unadorned nature...”

Sighing deeply, Fu Qian turned to look at the figure hurrying over and let out a laugh.

The figure was, of course, the gatekeeper. That shout from earlier had come from him.

However, faced with Fu Qian’s posture of complete enlightenment, the words died in the gatekeeper’s throat.

Has this man... experienced another epiphany?

Stirred by some rather unpleasant memories, the gatekeeper’s expression twisted into something incredibly bizarre. Yet, amidst his muttering, Professor Fu had already drawn the blade out inch by inch.

”A sword is just a sword. What else could it possibly be... Such a simple truth, yet I only grasped it today.”

”If my intention today hadn’t been to escort someone inside, leaving my heart devoid of any selfish attachments, I fear I still wouldn’t have been able to see through it.”

”The nature of fortune is boundlessly mysterious indeed.”

Staring at the Longsword—a blade so dull it couldn’t even cast a Reflection—an incredibly infectious sense of relief washed over Fu Qian’s face.

But the most crucial part was... as much as the gatekeeper loathed to admit it, there was a truly indescribable aura radiating from the weapon the moment it rested in the professor’s hand.

...

”So, I should be the one thanking you today.”

As a practitioner of the sword path who had been lucky enough to enter this treasured land, the sudden turn of events clearly left Veil bewildered.

Before she could even voice her thoughts, Professor Fu suddenly turned to her, offering a smile and a word of thanks.

”We aren’t allowed to touch the swords in here, are we?”

Before she could formulate a response, he had already turned his attention back to the gatekeeper.

”...That’s correct.”

Staring at Fu Qian’s hand, the gatekeeper’s expression was exceedingly complicated, and his tone matched it perfectly.

”So, can I take it outside?”

Do you not understand basic words? What kind of bizarre logic is that—

”You can explain the situation to Dean Li.”

Although it was a repetition of the earlier procedural suggestion, Fu Qian’s sentence successfully brought the gatekeeper’s internal rant to a screeching halt.

”...Please wait a moment.”

After a few seconds of hesitation, the gatekeeper finally offered the same reply and hurried away.

”Dean Li says you may take it, but please be careful not to damage it...”

Just a moment later, the gatekeeper’s returning footsteps echoed heavily through the silent air.

”Thank you. I appreciate the trouble.”

Looking completely unfazed by this outcome, Fu Qian offered his thanks before smoothly bidding Veil farewell.

”Take your time looking around. I’m heading back.”

”Right...”

Amidst her bewildered response, Professor Fu had already strolled away.

...

Interesting.

There was, naturally, no one inside the Laboratory.

Having made his way back, Fu Qian set the sword down in front of him, the profound enlightenment previously plastered across his face vanishing without a trace.

Of course he hadn’t just comprehended the heavenly dao or undergone some kind of awakening to unlock a second profession.

There had indeed been a stroke of fortune, just not of that variety.

He could only conclude that Ms. Veil had, quite inadvertently, made a massive contribution toward maintaining the neighborly relations between the Sword Comprehension Institute and Apocalypse today.

As he pondered, Fu Qian swept a finger across the rugged blade.

At his touch, the grooves—which had previously looked like solid stone—suddenly swayed slightly, as if brought to life.

Just as I thought.

Fu Qian lifted his finger to his nose.

What he had smelled earlier hadn’t been an illusion. It really was a mushroom.

A mushroom cultivated by a certain professor from the Apocalypse Branch named Rob.