Two days later, early in the morning, Edward had just finished washing up when—
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
The one who entered was Akasha, dressed neatly in a suit. She carried Arlde's notebook in her hand and said, "Mr. Sparrow, Dubois asked me to check with you. Since you'll be moving into the new villa in just a few days, do you want to take the chance to host a banquet? If so, now would be the time to prepare the invitations."
Edward thought for a moment before answering, "Just invite Roselle and his family. After all, I don't know anyone else right now."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Mr. Sparrow, that's exactly the kind of mistaken thinking a commoner would have."
"Oh? And why's that?"
"Noble banquets aren't about inviting only those you already have close ties with. Quite the opposite, actually—most of the time, it's precisely because you don't know them that you invite them. That way, after a few rounds of banquets, you'll become familiar. Isn't that how it works?"
Edward gave it some thought and nodded.
"You have a point. But let's put that off for later. For the first gathering after moving into a new home, I'd rather celebrate with people I actually know."
"Heh, I just worry that Roselle might not give you the time of day."
"That's fine too. We can just celebrate on our own at home."
"Very well then, your house, your decision."
Akasha shrugged and turned to leave.
"Wait. What's with that outfit?"
She looked back, puffing out her chest with pride. "I'm currently doubling as your personal valet. So, for now, I expect double pay!"
Edward arched a brow. "I think a short skirt would suit your new role better."
Akasha chuckled. "Should I pair it with black stockings too?"
Edward blinked. "You actually know about that?"
Akasha sneered. "Of course. Isn't that so-called 'fetish set' one of Son of Steam Roselle's inventions? You think I…wouldn't know? Hmph, don't tell me you've got ideas about me now?"
…What the hell.
It was clearly just a normal office lady outfit. How had it suddenly turned into a fetish costume?
Emperor Roselle, what on earth had you done to this world?!
"Out. Now."
"Got it~."
Once Akasha had left the room, Edward entered the Sefirah Castle again. He materialised a piece of green crystal and performed a divination:
"Will there be danger if I go to that 'treasure' site today…"
After seven silent recitations, the crystal began rotating slowly counterclockwise.
"So, today's the day. Time to see what exactly lies hidden in the ruins that Intis mentioned—and what kind of pitfall awaits me."
…Tch, it seemed I'm not a full-blooded "master-class coward" after all.
If it were Klein facing some unknown "ruin," no matter how strong his curiosity, he would definitely keep a respectful distance.
Yes…it must be a lingering aftereffect of playing the role of the Lunatic.
Just as Edward was about to leave the Sefirah Castle, a soft voice brushed his ears. From the depths of the grey fog, the star representing Bernadette shimmered faintly.
"What's this girl looking for so early in the morning?"
He stretched out his spirituality, allowing Bernadette's image to form amid the fog. She sat at her desk, chin in her hand, looking up with expectant eyes as she whispered, "Mr. Sparrow, it's been two days already. Isn't it about time you took me to find the mermaid?"
Edward suddenly recalled that two days ago, he had casually promised her "in two days" he would take her to see a mermaid. To him, it had just been an adult's polite social phrasing—yet she had taken it literally.
Had the Great Emperor never taught his daughter the finer points of "classic" sophistry?
After a moment's thought, he extended his spirituality to reply, "I have something important to do first. If it goes well, I'll take you tonight."
Her doubtful voice soon followed, "And if it doesn't go well?"
"Then another day."
He didn't bother waiting for her reply. Edward withdrew from the Sefirah Castle, ate a breakfast that was unique in flavour but not particularly tasty, then prepared to head out.
"Where's Dubois?"
The butler-cum-valet Akasha answered, "He seems to have gone back to his room. Last night he apparently took a potion and became a Beyonder. But he can't control the leakage of his spirituality—it's like he's trying to advertise to the world that he's extraordinary."
Edward raised his brows. "A new Beyonder leaking spirituality?"
"That's perfectly normal. Plenty of wild Beyonders without a teacher run into that problem at first. Of course, if you insist on a reason, well…the main cause is probably just—being too stupid."
But wait. When Susie accidentally drank the Spectator potion, she'd never leaked spirituality. Oh, right—she was destined to become a Dream Hound in the future, hardly someone ordinary could compare with.
"How long will he stay like this?"
"Once he learns cogitation, it'll be fine."
Edward nodded. "Find some time later to give him a few pointers."
"Alright."
"I'll be busy in the study for a while, handling some private matters. Don't disturb me."
She shrugged indifferently. "Oh, going out again, huh?"
"You're too clever. Some things don't actually need to be said out loud."
Akasha grinned. "Wouldn't that make me seem calculating and deep? No, no, that won't do. I'm the type who likes to speak my mind. Putting on an act all day long—how exhausting is that?"
"If one day I turn into those old geezers, it'll either be because I was forced to…or because I'm no longer myself."
With that, she hugged her notebook and walked away. Before long, the sound of her kicking a door resounded:
"Dubois! Open up, your auntie's here to give you pointers!"
Edward, however, was suddenly thoughtful. If Akasha's words were true, then in the brief time he would spend with her in the future, although she would usually appear carefree, outspoken, and brash, there were rare moments when she seemed shrouded in secrecy.
So, back then, was she being forced? Or…was the "her" at that time no longer really her?
Ah, this question…perhaps only when he saw her again, two hundred years later, would he find the answer.
"Endili."
Edward suddenly remembered something and looked at the maid dressed like a cook. "Today's breakfast was good, but don't make it again."
"???"
Her face went blank. Why do these Intis gentlemen always talk in ways I can't understand?
Heh, this was called the "art" of language.
Back in the study, Edward once again used False Reality to disguise himself. Then, with a teleportation spell, he arrived in a mountainous region between Intis and Feynapotter.
Following a rugged mountain path, he descended to the edge of a cliff, leapt off, shifted into spirit form, and plummeted nearly a thousand meters into a gorge filled with thorns.
A river rushed from afar, bending around a cliff wall ahead. Looking up, the sheer rock faces were bare, revealing pristine white stone that radiated a strangely holy beauty.
Rock…holiness?
That was definitely abnormal.
Edward tossed out his wooden staff, which hovered in midair, wavered, and then pointed toward a thorn-covered spot.
He flicked his wand, using Transfiguration. Instantly, the mass of thorns split open, revealing a stone-choked cave entrance.
Through the gaps between the boulders, one could faintly glimpse a staircase of polished black marble leading underground.
"This is it?"
Edward flipped a coin. "Going deeper would be dangerous?"
The coin landed with the number side up—denial.
"Then let's go see for ourselves."
In spirit form, he ignored the collapsed stones and drifted through, setting foot upon the black staircase. He floated downward, deeper and deeper into the earth.
It was clearly an ancient ruin. Time had long since eroded the wall carvings at the entrance, leaving them unrecognisable. Only at the very bottom did a massive, heavy, double-panel stone door block the path.
Flanking the door stood two uneven stone pillars. The surface of the door was carved with rough, chisel-like patterns.
"Asymmetry?"
That resembled the architectural style favoured by the Solomon Empire during the Fourth Epoch.
This was indeed a genuine ancient ruin—very likely tied to the Abraham family. But would that "Intis" fellow really be so generous? Why deny knowledge of Abraham clues at first, only to provide this place later?
Edward hesitated for several minutes. In the end, all his doubts condensed into that old saying:
Since I'm already here…
Still, he didn't rush in. Placing a hand on the stone door, his eyes flickered with lightning.
In the next instant, spiritual power surged forth. Silver-white thunderbolts burst from Edward's palm, piercing through the stone and flooding into the ruin's darkness.
Rumble!
The ground trembled. Blazing light leaked out through cracks as dust rained down.
More than ten seconds later—
The silver-white lightning dissipated, the tremors subsided.
Edward waited another full quarter-hour outside the stone door, ensuring no danger lurked within. Only then did he slip through the gate.
Dozens of stones floated up, reshaping into lanterns that hung in the air, illuminating the pitch-black interior.
"Empty?"
All along the way forward, collapsed stones had been vitrified by the thunder. The walls were smooth and bare, without murals, monsters, or traps. There was nothing—no discoveries, no gains.
It seemed this ruin was hollow.
Edward suddenly recalled how, in the original timeline, when the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery once explored an "Amon Family Tomb," they had encountered the same situation.
So…was this also an "Amon tomb"?
Lost in thought, Edward eventually reached the deepest part of the ruin—or rather, the tomb. A corridor stretched further inward. If he guessed correctly, its end wall should hold a portrait of Amon.
Huh?
There wasn't one.
Instead, before his eyes stood a black stone door etched with chisel-like patterns. Unlike the corridor's walls, charred or vitrified by lightning, this door bore not a single mark—clearly extraordinary.
In its centre was inlaid a pattern resembling a "door," formed from elegant, flowing lines. Within that "door" shone clusters of stars.
That was…the Abraham family crest.
So this ruin really did belong to the Abrahams?
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.