Siris's detached house was large, with many empty rooms. The gray-eyed officer led Galad into one of the guest chambers and gestured for him to sit. He chose a chair for himself, pulled out a pipe, sniffed it absently, then slid it back into his pocket.
"Let me introduce myself. Dunn Smith."
"Good evening, Officer Dunn."
Galad sat opposite him, cautious. He still didn't know what the younger, black-haired officer had whispered to Dunn earlier, or whether it might land him in disaster. Alone with this man, guardedness was only natural.
"There's no need to be so tense. Just tell the truth."
Dunn smiled politely. His gray eyes seemed impossibly calm as he leaned forward, clasping his hands and resting his elbows on his knees. A faint ripple shimmered around his body—so subtle Galad almost thought it was an illusion.
"Mr. Galad, you mentioned you often experience hallucinations. What exactly do you see?"
Galad hesitated, then spoke honestly. "A giant, hanging upside down. And whispers… terrible whispers."
Dunn didn't look surprised. "And how do you feel about them? Do you find comfort, like you've finally discovered your true home?"
"What? Of course not!"
Galad stared at him, baffled. "I hate them. They almost drove me insane. I'd be mad myself if I enjoyed them."
"So your faith is still with the Evernight Goddess."
"Yes."
Galad recalled the seven gods worshipped across this world and the Rondell family's shallow faith in Evernight. "I believe in the Evernight Goddess."
That's not a lie, he thought. The original owner of the body really did believe in her. But it has nothing to do with me.
Dunn nodded slightly, relaxing against the chair. "Anything else you'd like to add about your experiences?"
"No."
"Alright then. How exactly did you defeat Siris? Please describe it in detail."
Galad recounted the battle again—leaving out the part where Siris lost control after contact with his skin. Instead, he said Siris had suddenly gone mad, giving him a chance to strike.
"You're truly fortunate, Mr. Galad," Dunn remarked gravely when he finished.
Fortunate? Galad thought bitterly, though he kept it to himself.
"You must have noticed how his body changed," Dunn continued. "For you to survive, let alone kill him… rare indeed. Have you considered why he became that way?"
"Because… he worshipped an evil god?"
"Correct. That faith corrupted his flesh, drove him mad, and gave him power."
Galad drew a sharp breath. "So there really are mysterious powers in this world?"
"You could say that." Dunn's tone was matter-of-fact. "We Nighthawks are an organization that handles such Beyonder incidents. We serve under the Evernight Goddess's Church. Other churches maintain similar groups. Since your family are Evernight believers, the police contacted us."
"Nighthawks…" Galad remembered the black-haired officer with the citrine pendant. "So all of you wield special abilities?"
"Yes. We are Beyonders—just like you."
Galad's heart lurched. "Like… me?"
"Indeed," Dunn said calmly. "The substance Siris forced into you has already made you a Beyonder."
Fear rose in Galad's throat. His mind buzzed with questions, but before he could speak, crimson moonlight spilled into the room. Half of Dunn's figure was bathed in its glow, the other half swallowed by shadow. His gray eyes seemed bottomless, as if they could pierce straight through Galad's soul.
"You're wondering how I know, aren't you?"
Dunn raised a finger, pointing behind Galad.
With stiff movements, Galad turned his head.
There stood Siris—his skull shattered, his corpse grotesque—yet his eyes were wide open in death, staring straight at him. The torn mouth moved faintly, forming soundless words.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Knocking.
"Ah!"
Galad shot to his feet with a cry. His heart raced as he looked around wildly.
Dunn was still sitting across from him, calm, unhurried, and with a posture different from a moment ago.
Was I… dreaming? Or am I still inside it?
Another knock sounded. The door pushed open, and the green-eyed young officer peeked in. "Captain, Klein divined Siris and discovered he had an accomplice—Haynes Vanster. A colleague at the Divination Club. Quite famous for his skills… Oh, sorry, did I interrupt?"
"It's fine. The important questions are done," Dunn replied evenly.
The officer withdrew. Dunn turned back to Galad. "Have you calmed down? Sit."
Galad slowly eased back into the chair, breathing raggedly. "I think I… dreamed just now."
"That's right. I drew you into a dream." Dunn's tone was gentle but unwavering. "It's a unique ability of my Sequence—the 'Sleepless' Pathway. Allow me to reintroduce myself: Dunn Smith, Captain of the Nighthawks. Forgive me for forcing the nightmare upon you. It was necessary for the investigation."
Sleepless? Sequence? Galad silently engraved the unfamiliar terms into memory.
"In reality," Dunn continued, "people can lie, deceive, and disguise. In dreams, however, they cannot. That is why I prefer dreams for interrogation. The truth emerges unfiltered."
Galad's expression froze. That's not right… In the dream, I was completely aware. I knew what to say and what not to. I even remembered everything afterward. It was practically lucid. Why was I unaffected? Because I'm a transmigrator? Or because the original Galad was already mad? Either way, this… is another of my traits.
He put on a pained expression, pretending to struggle with his memory. "I… think I said something in the dream."
"No need to strain yourself. It's not good for you." Dunn waved it away. "What matters is this: you are not a believer in an evil god, only an unfortunate caught in the crossfire."
"So… my suspicion is cleared?"
"Yes," Dunn said. Then his voice grew firm. "But given your current state, we must place you under protection. Siris belonged to the Aurora Order—a cult that worships an evil god. They seek chaos, attempting to summon His descent. His accomplices may target you next. And since you are already a Beyonder, we must ensure you remain under control."
Galad's mouth went dry. Control? Protection? Or purification?
He forced himself to ask, "How… will you deal with me?"
Dunn smiled faintly, as though reading his unease. "Don't worry. You'll be kept safe until the incident is resolved, then arrangements will be made. It won't be as grim as you imagine."