Eldritch Horror Theatre

The false facade remained.

It indeed gave a sense of déjà vu of being completely unaffected, still bearing that look of misery amidst prosperity.

Just like over at the Academy, as long as one didn’t go through the main gate, they wouldn’t return to the city, allowing them to wander freely without hindrance.

Making his way outside, Fu Qian easily spotted many familiar sights from the past.

Not only did it seem completely unaffected, but it also felt as if barely any time had passed.

For instance, he could still see that kind of White Mask with abstract facial features hanging in the roadside shops.

Fu Qian casually bought another to wear, and surprisingly, he walked down the street without drawing the slightest attention.

So much so that, on a whim, he grabbed a bunch of random junk and draped it over himself before continuing toward Kisaragi Chie’s Fortune Teller’s Cabin.

The only pity was that he couldn’t use Classmate Su Gao’s name to ask Kisaragi Chie for a discount this time.

...”Welcome.”

As it turned out, she had indeed learned her lesson that slacking off led to misfortune. Not only was the Fortune Teller’s Cabin still operating, but it had opened quite early.

Fu Qian didn’t bother with pleasantries either. He pushed the door open and stepped right into the tiny storefront of just a few square meters, his gaze falling on the wooden shelf in the back that held playing cards and copper coins.

He held that pose for five seconds before the second-rate fortune teller, Kisaragi Chie, finally walked out from the back room and offered a greeting that could hardly be called enthusiastic.

Despite not seeing her for days, she hadn’t changed much either, much like the streets outside.

She was still dressed plainly, still holding her standard professional posture, and still instantly trying to read her customer’s expression.

In other words, it was highly likely she remained at the level of a second-rate fortune teller, with zero improvement.

This time, however, her instinct to read him hit a wall. When her gaze landed on Fu Qian’s face, she visibly sank into deep thought as she stared at the mask.

”So, what do you want to ask?”

Even so, Kisaragi Chie didn’t ask Fu Qian to take off the mask. Instead, she gestured for him to sit and delivered her classic opening line.

”Is your sister not around?”

Fu Qian didn’t speak in riddles. He simply raised his hand, took off the mask, and asked the exact same question he had during their first meeting.

Even though he hadn’t been wearing this face at the time.

...

”It really is you.”

She truly lived up to her trade as a mystic charlatan. Before he had even spoken, Kisaragi Chie had already vaguely guessed the identity of the person behind the mask, and there wasn’t even much shock in her tone.

Even why the notorious Mister Dancy would be interested in her sister didn’t seem strange to her at all.

”She usually stays here, but she went out early this morning.”

With a profoundly meaningful expression, Kisaragi Chie actually answered Fu Qian’s question.

”She went to the Night Watchers?”

Without questioning her claim, Fu Qian stroked his chin thoughtfully.

The relationship between these two sisters was undeniably special.

Regardless of how close they were, considering everything they had been through together, it didn’t seem too strange for them to continue living under the same roof.

And considering that Kisaragi Kana had successfully transformed after sacrificing one of her hands, she was now a bona fide member of the transcendent realm. Given her highly unique set of abilities, it was perfectly reasonable that she needed to report to the Night Watchers when she had free time.

”Yes, she has to go there every day now... to assist with a few things.”

That confirmed Fu Qian’s guess. But when it came to exactly what she was doing, Kisaragi Chie hesitated, clearly holding something back.

”She is indeed quite unusual. The Night Watchers’ focus on her is justified.”

Fu Qian didn’t mind. He even expressed full understanding of the underlying reasons.

”So are you sure you still want to look for her under the current circumstances? Even for you, this has to be a very dangerous thing to do, right?”

Just as forces are mutual, faced with his friendly attitude, Kisaragi Chie pondered for a moment before she finally couldn’t help but express her incomprehension at Fu Qian’s death-courting behavior.

...

In theory, it was indeed very dangerous.

Fu Qian, who had always been good at empathy, naturally didn’t think the fortune teller was being alarmist.

The divide between people was never originally that deep, but there was no stopping the Night Watchers from digging it deeper.

Regardless of her past deeds or character, Kisaragi Kana’s core trait now was that she belonged to the circle of transcendents.

And the reason Dancy Crawford had previously been able to engage in rapid flip-flopping on the Night Watchers’ red line without being punished was precisely because his victims had been of the same kind as him.

But now, to use a common saying, the two sides were no longer from the same world.

If an ordinary person harmed a transcendent, the Night Watchers would absolutely intervene.

If Dancy Crawford still had an appetite for Kisaragi Kana, Madam Hayami Suzune—who had always wanted to eliminate him—would probably be thrilled to death to hear about it.

”You actually seem to be worrying about my safety? Theoretically, we should be considered enemies, right? After all, your father’s death had a lot to do with me.”

This time, however, Fu Qian didn’t rush to agree with Kisaragi Chie. Instead, he grew curious about her motives.

”...That’s true. But I also said that for him, it was a release.”

Although theoretically she was now the family of a transcendent, the fortune teller still didn’t feel that even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. She took a deep breath before lowering her head and speaking.

”Otherwise, if he saw Kana now, I can hardly imagine how he would react.”

...

Not only did she lack the feeling that even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, but it was obvious that her sister ’coming ashore’ wasn’t even considered a good thing in Kisaragi Chie’s eyes.

”Has your sister become even more like a hollow wax figure lately?”

The bias in her words was already very obvious, and Fu Qian couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

He also clearly remembered Kisaragi Chie’s past evaluation of her sister.

”Yes. Even though she’s also becoming more and more lifelike... If other people saw her, they might think she was getting better.

”She’s no longer as willful as before. When I speak, she stands there and listens... Even in terms of emotions, she’s no longer as frivolous as she used to be.”

And it clearly wasn’t just him having his memories stirred. At that moment, Kisaragi Chie seemed to have the past flashing before her eyes as well.

”That sounds nice.”

Fu Qian nodded. If he weren’t fairly familiar with her style, it would be almost easy to misunderstand and think she was showing off her child.

”She looks nice too... Even though I know very well that the last remaining trace of my sister beneath that shell is already gone.”

Sure enough, Kisaragi Chie’s outlook was overwhelmingly pessimistic, and her tone gave off the feeling that she was beyond tears.

”But you still live with her.”

Fu Qian recalled what he had heard just a moment ago.

”Yes. We even sleep in the same bed at night. She likes me to hold her from behind...”

Kisaragi Chie continued, adding more details.

”Why?”

Fu Qian expressed his curiosity.

”Because she is my sister.”