On the other side, Fors pulled Xio along as they appeared on a street in the Cherwood Borough. Her face was pale, still showing the lingering terror of their near-death escape.
"What happened?" Xio asked belatedly.
"We were just discovered. One more second…and we wouldn't have made it back."
Fors touched the bracelet on her wrist. It saved my life again, she thought. Unfortunately, only two beads remain.
Just then, Xio asked, "By the way, did they just say that Yurigus is dead? Does that an…our commission failed?"
"Yeah."
Fors gave her a helpless look. Of course, that's the part you care about—the money!
"This won't do! Even if we didn't succeed, we still worked hard, didn't we? We've been running around for days, and you even lost one of your bracelet beads! I'm going to ask Audrey if she can give us so kind of compensation."
"Uh…isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Xio patted her chest confidently. "Don't worry, I'm really good at persuading people."
Ugh. The tricks you use to convince people probably won't work on Miss Audrey Hall…
"Let's go ho and rest first."
"Mm."
———
The next morning, as soon as Edward opened his eyes, he saw Lilith sitting right in front of him, looking obedient and full of anticipation. Her mouth was curled in a way that was almost human-like, eyes sparkling with excitent.
"Good morning, Lilith."
"Morning, Edward!"
She swayed her tail, her gaze filled with eager anticipation, as if the words "Co quiz now!" were written all over her face.
But Edward deliberately pretended not to notice.
"Brushed your teeth yet?"
"Nope."
"Then go brush. Breakfast's coming soon."
"But…"
"You want worms growing in your teeth?"
"Oh…"
Grumbling, she followed Edward into the washroom.
Fifteen minutes later, after freshening up, Edward had just sat down on the sofa when Lilith whooshed onto the coffee table. She wagged her tail again, eagerly watching him.
"Hm…let's see what's on today's schedule."
She nodded quickly. "Mhm!"
"First, I'll check in with everyone about the Brain of Azmann and the Polymath trait. Then I'll look into any news from Emlyn's castle. And finally…"
Lilith's eyes widened. She echoed, "And finally…"
"Finally, we'll have dinner and go to bed."
"Ah?!"
She was getting flustered.
"Edward, did you forget sothing?"
"Nope."
"Yes, you did! Think again!"
Edward stroked his chin thoughtfully for a while. "Ohhh—now I rember!"
Lilith's eyes lit up. "Tell ! Tell !"
"I still have to drop by Audrey's."
The little feline's whiskers drooped instantly: "…"
She wanted to remind Edward that today was supposed to be the day of her evaluation. But then she worried that if she said it outright, she might seem too eager. After all, Miss Lilith was the smartest, most naturally talented cat in the world—who could learn how to read without even trying!
Sothing like an evaluation wasn't worth fussing over at all!
Whatever!
Miss Lilith—doesn't! Care! At! All!
"All right, let's go eat breakfast."
Edward decided not to tease her anymore. He planned to fulfil her wish for an evaluation right after breakfast.
Knock, knock, knock.
Soone knocked on the door.
"...…"
Lilith imdiately exploded with rage. She turned and shouted, "Nobody's ho!!!"
"Uh, Mr. Edward, it's —Ikanser Bernard from the Church of Steam and Machinery. Do you rember ?"
A familiar voice ca from outside.
Soone from the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery? What are they doing here?
"Co in."
Edward opened the door and invited the dishevelled deacon inside.
"Deacon Ikanser, what brings you here…?"
"Oh, Archbishop Horamick sent ."
Ikanser drew a triangle over his chest.
"His Grace asked if you could perhaps…provide sothing that might help with the developnt of the Church."
He looked embarrassed. "Honestly, I'm not too sure what that ans either."
Sothing to help the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery…develop?
A Walkman? A radio? A transceiver? Or maybe a generator?
Or perhaps he could give them a general idea of where future technologies were headed—solar power, hydro power, wind power, nuclear power—and let the Church figure it out on their own?
Well, since the Archbishop helped so much the other day, I can't be too stingy either—especially since this was also the Goddess's will.
Speaking of which, that notebook containing the Card of Blasphemy is supposedly in the Church of Steam and Machinery's hands. If I ask Horamick to let borrow it, would he agree?
Hmm…too sudden. If I make the request, they'll imdiately suspect sothing's off with the notebook.
Forget it.
"All right, I'll go with you."
Edward turned back to Lilith. "Lilith, I'll be out for a bit."
The cat nodded.
Edward gently patted Ikanser on the shoulder. With a startled yelp, their forms twisted and vanished—reappearing inside the Saint Hierländ Cathedral. Experiencing Apparition for the first ti, Ikanser felt like his stomach was turning inside out. If not for his years of being electrocuted and his toughened body, he might have thrown up on the spot.
"F-Follow , please…"
He stumbled a step, adjusted himself, then led Edward into a massive room. The walls were divided into compartnts of various sizes, and inside each, tools were neatly arranged by size, function, and type. Anyone with OCD would be thoroughly satisfied.
But the room was empty for now—perhaps everyone had been cleared out beforehand.
"This is where everyone usually studies machinery and alchemy."
"Got it," Edward replied.
One by one, Edward pulled out a portable cassette player, a radio, a walkie-talkie, and six or seven other small household gadgets. As he presented each item, he patiently explained to Ikanser how to use it. The deacon's eyes grew wider and brighter with every new device.
When Edward finally finished introducing the last item, Ikanser couldn't hold back anymore. "These…were all invented by you?!"
"No," Edward shook his head. He paused, then solemnly traced the symbol of the crimson moon over his chest and said piously, "These were bestowed upon by "Her" Holiness, the Goddess of the Evernight."
"Uh…"
Ikanser looked dazed. There was a sentence burning in his chest that he dared not speak aloud: Do you even hear yourself?
The goddess who presides over night and secrecy…created a bunch of chanical devices completely unheard of by the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery?
Shouldn't she be serving as our god instead…?
No—Lord, please forgive my blasphemous thoughts!
"Well, I've delivered everything. You're free to use them as you wish."
"Thank you, Your Grace!"
Ikanser escorted Edward all the way to the entrance of the cathedral. The mont Edward left, Ikanser turned around and sprinted back into the laboratory, shouting, "Quick! Everybody out!"
Whoosh!!!
Dozens of individuals, all dressed differently and varying in age, ca pouring out from who knows where, eyes gleaming as they scrambled toward the pile of gadgets.
"Let try first!"
"I got here before you!"
"Move it, you oaf!"
"Stop crowding! You'll break the stuff!"
"The Archbishop is here!"
"Let him co! No one's stopping from researching—uh, Your Grace, after you…"
Edward, naturally, was unaware of the chaos he left behind. Just as he stepped outside the church and looked for a quiet spot to Disapparate ho, a small black bird tore through the air and gently deposited a letter into his hand.
"This one's from that vampire with weird hobbies!"
Emlyn's letter?
Mhmhm, this little bird's attitude is really improving lately. Not bad.
But—
"How co you're suddenly giving everyone nicknas?"
It tilted its head and replied, "I learned it from soone else."
"Who?"
"Hmm…" It thought for a mont. "That scary lady without a head."
"…"
Holy crap. Isn't that Miss Reinette Tinekerr?
Alright, mystery of the nicknas: solved.
New mystery: how does my ssenger bird even know her? And well enough to learn habits from her?
That kind of relationship suggests they're on pretty good terms.
"What's your relationship with that Rein—uh, the headless lady?"
"She's a friend I made recently. She helped chase off a pesky fellow."
Reinette Tinekerr? She sided with Klein in the original story, sure, but she's not exactly the type to go out of her way to help others…
Unless it's because the bird's my ssenger?
Now that he thought about it, Edward had used the information that she was still alive to barter with Sharron and Maric, and they still owed him a favour for it.
He pondered for a mont, then said, "Help ask your friend if she'd be willing to lend a hand if I get into serious trouble. I can…pay."
"Got it."
The bird nodded and then looked at Edward with sparkling eyes, clearly saying: Haven't I been super obedient lately? Don't I deserve a feather snack?
"…"
Fine. The stronger this little guy gets, the more it benefits anyway.
Edward tossed five feathers its way. "You've done well these past few days. Keep it up."
"Understood!"
Clutching the feathers in its beak, the bird asked solemnly, "Need a reply?"
Edward opened the letter, skimd it, and shook his head. "No need. Off you go."
The little bird imdiately sliced through the air and returned to the spirit world.
Emlyn's letter didn't say much—just that he had obtained the location of the castle, and they should et at the Harvest Church to discuss the details.
Tch. Not trusting , huh? Wants a proper exchange—info for the doll.
Cautious bastard.
With no other choice, Edward set off once again for the Harvest Church.
Just as he reached the entrance, Emlyn burst out from inside, eyes anxious. "Quick! Hand over Alicia!"
"…Give the location first."
"Southeast of Backlund, right in the centre of the Delaire Forest. Here's a map to get there."
He sounded like he could hardly wait. "It took a ton of effort to get this."
Edward took the map, pulled out a coin, and silently chanted seven tis, 'The location Emlyn gave is correct,' then flicked the coin and caught it in his palm.
Heads—confird.
He handed over the doll without hesitation.
Emlyn imdiately clasped the puppet's hand and said softly, "Oh! Alicia, I'm so sorry I'm late!"
Drama queen.
"How exactly did you get this information?" Edward asked.
"How?" Emlyn scratched his head. "I just asked every clansman I ca across. If they didn't know, I moved on to the next."
"…Good thod," Edward lied without blinking.
"Eventually, I ran into Ernes Boyar. He said he didn't know either, but then suddenly ca to later saying Lord Nibbs wanted to see ."
Edward's eyelid twitched. "And then?"
"Well, I went…but Lord Nibais didn't et . His grandson handed the address."
"Did you notice anything strange?"
"Not really."
Edward sighed. "Alright. You can go."
Emlyn, beaming, carried the doll into the church—hopefully, the priest wouldn't slice it in half with one swing of his sword.
Edward followed him in, nodded from afar at the priest, and sat down in the last pew. He took out a pen and paper and wrote:
Southeast Backlund, the centre of Delaire Forest—castle location.
He recited the phrase seven tis and entered his dreamscape.
A vague image appeared: a half-collapsed castle slowly erged from the mist. The entrance was two-thirds blocked by rubble, with green vines snaking across the weathered, eroded stone walls.
The vision fragnted and shifted—to the interior of the castle. Collapsed staircases, layered debris from crumbled upper floors, and a floor littered with bricks and rotting wood.
Another jump. He descended a stone stairway into an underground hall nearly ten ters high. Two shadowy figures stood faintly visible—one a woman with her hair coiled, dressed in knight's trousers and a flamboyant shirt; the other a man clad in silver-black armour, wielding a rusted longsword that looked ready to snap.
The image shattered again.
Darkness fell.
Just as Edward was beginning to wonder, a pair of bronze doors appeared before him with a thunderous boom. A bone-chilling, sinister aura surged out toward him.
———
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