Eldritch Horror Theatre

Ensuring a risk paid off was not the same as taking a risk just for a payoff.

Fu Qian didn’t doubt that if Su Gao endured the influence a little longer, she might sense more through the lingering connection.

But with something like contamination, a single moment could easily plunge someone into eternal damnation.

The Decree of Return was a method he had planned out early on. It had a track record of purging contamination, and considering this was a heavily modified and upgraded version, it should still have some effect, right?

”It does. It should drastically shorten the time needed.”

True to form, Demigod Su didn’t hesitate. Savoring the sensation for a few seconds, she gave her confirmation, then fell silent to focus entirely on expelling the contamination.

Even now, her skin seemed to glow, its texture constantly shifting between flesh and something completely alien.

Faint, ripple-like patterns surged across her body during the process, creating an indescribably mesmerizing sight.

Naturally, Fu Qian had full confidence in her judgment. Since Su Gao said she could handle it, he didn’t need to do anything extra.

Even if the resulting commotion was a little loud.Tearing his gaze away from Su Gao, Fu Qian looked down one side of the Corridor.

...

Starlight was limited, and it was nearing midnight. This cordoned-off crime scene was undoubtedly shrouded in darkness.

And that was even after the Prison Archangel’s dying outburst had increased the building’s overall light transmittance.

Yet this darkness wasn’t just as dead as it appeared—it was even more lifeless.

Through his now-unobstructed perception, Fu Qian was quite certain something was moving in a nearby corner.

The reason he felt such profound lifelessness was simple.

Although there were actually two humanoid figures there, they gave off almost no sign of the living. They were like a pair of walking corpses.

Furthermore, while their movements were slow, their intent was clear: they were heading straight for this spot.

Clearly, his conversation with Su Gao, along with her somewhat intense exorcism, had drawn attention.

Given the considerable number of ancient mummies they had seen earlier in The Ark, it was easy to assume these creatures possessed enough mystical power to chase them out here.

His decision to stand guard suddenly felt much more necessary—especially since he actually recognized these two walking corpses.

”Forgotten the lesson from working overtime that night so quickly?”

Without dropping the Decree of Return or even bothering to stand up, Fu Qian stayed leaning against the wall and tossed out the question.

In his perception, the two corpses froze instantly, instinctively shrinking back.

But a second later, they seemed to realize something. Their movements sped up, and they completely stopped trying to hide.

”Professor Fu?”

Under the starlight, the one walking in front asked with a truly grating, broken voice.

Yet even so, the absolute disbelief in that tone was unmistakable.

...

Shriveled flesh, deathly pale skin—visually, there was barely a trace of vitality left.

The one who had called out looked exactly like someone who had been dead for days.

The other fellow walking behind him, half-hidden in the darkness, didn’t look much better by comparison.

”It looks like Dean Casi was wrong about you. You’ve been truly diligent lately, Professor Rob.”

Giving a slight nod in response, Fu Qian addressed the newcomer by name.

”And Professor Ah Kai.”

He meant the one behind him.

Indeed, these two midnight walking corpses hadn’t chased them out of The Ark. They were actually two outstanding young talents from the Academy’s Apocalypse and beneficent curse branches.

As for why they had ended up in such a state, that was something they would have to explain themselves.

While casually revealing their identities, Fu Qian also took a moment to check Su Gao’s reaction.

The result was no reaction at all.

Classmate Su Gao was clearly at ease with their current situation. Her eyelashes didn’t even twitch as she poured her whole heart into eliminating the hidden danger.

”Professor Fu, it really is you! Why are you here at a time like this? And who is this?”

While Rob still looked faintly flattered by the praise, Ah Kai—the second person Fu Qian had named—rushed to speak in an equally eerie voice.

”Shouldn’t I be the one asking that question first? Why did you two run over here in the middle of the night, and why do you look like this?”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian was in no rush to satisfy his curiosity.

...

His own left sleeve had been completely ruined earlier when he used the Biochemical Demonic Arm, leaving him looking less than presentable.

However, compared to literally turning oneself into a walking corpse, the difference in severity was massive. Because of that, Fu Qian’s counter-question carried obvious weight.

”We...”

Falling silent, Rob and Ah Kai shared a brief look. The next moment, they stepped forward in unison, completely exposing themselves to the starlight while lowering their voices.

”We came in to investigate the previous incident.”

Oh? So it really was because of the Meteor Shower Incident.

”And you specifically chose this time to come in?”

Fu Qian raised an eyebrow, not entirely surprised by the excuse.

”It was my idea... It’s slightly easier to hide at night, and undergoing this transformation serves the same purpose.”

After a slight hesitation, Rob pointed at himself and openly confessed.

”After the incident occurred, the entire Academy was alarmed. Everyone wanted to know what happened. But Dean Li, who had initially been organizing the investigation, suddenly changed his attitude not long after and strictly forbade anyone from entering this place.”

Ah Kai offered a supplementary explanation from the side.

”But I was truly curious. I waited a long time, and there was still no progress. That’s when Professor Rob found me. He mentioned he had a way to bypass the guards, and I was quite familiar with the inside...”

No surprise there. The guy standing next to you has done this sort of thing more than once.

Fu Qian shot Rob an expressionless look. Regardless of anything else, the fact that he had previously snuck into the Sword Pavilion and quietly swapped out its collection without being discovered was enough to prove his expertise.

However, regarding their explanation, he was more interested in a different point.

”Waited a long time?”

Fu Qian blinked, noncommittal.

”Yeah, it’s already been three days without a single peep. I figured I would come in and take a look without touching anything... Then, worried there might be special traps inside that could easily cause a commotion, I sought out Professor Ah Kai.”

Showing a sense of responsibility, Rob took over the conversation, carefully explaining that it had indeed been his own idea.

Three days... It wasn’t just from before dawn until late into the night; an entire extra day had passed in between.

And yet, inside The Ark, neither he nor Su Gao had felt a thing.

Truly miraculous.

”Did you only seek out Professor Ah Kai?”

Amidst his marveling, Fu Qian suddenly threw out another question.

”Yeah...”

Rob was visibly confused.

”Then you’re in trouble. Come closer. Stand over here.”

Fu Qian gestured toward the path they had come from and spoke in a direct, commanding tone.

Ah!

Subconsciously obeying, the two shocked men shuffled forward while involuntarily glancing back over their shoulders.

”What are you doing here?”

Before they could even stop walking, a roar came from that direction.

This voice was much more natural. It was instantly recognizable as the temporary custodian of the Sword in the Stone, Professor Chang Mo.