"!!!!!!"
The next second, something completely unexpected happened—
That androgynous figure, the one whose gender no one could quite discern, abruptly vanished from the ossuary cathedral.
Huh?
Edward blinked in disbelief.
Wasn't that…a bit too much of a reaction?
So quick, so practised—don't tell me they're from the Jacob family?
The sudden disappearance clearly unsettled the rest of the gathering. The others glanced at each other, hesitant, as though debating whether they too should bolt.
Edward was at a loss for words. Had his little joke really gone too far?
Still—
The potion digestion for Spiritcaster suddenly accelerated by another chunk. Edward almost wanted to thank the "brothers and sisters" of the Twilight Hermit Order for this lovely "rocket booster."
After a stretch of tense silence, Hermes finally spoke:
"Number Eight, it would be better not to make such jokes in the future. One never knows when they might…become real."
Edward laughed, taking off the monocle. "Hahahaha, I was only trying to liven things up. Don't take it too seriously, everyone."
"..."
The hunter leaned closer to Hermes, muttering, "Hermes, are you sure…that was just a joke? I've heard rumours—that one really is capable of such things."
The witch patted her chest with a faintly nervous look. "Yes. If Eight truly entered an Amon ruin, how did he walk away unscathed? His strength must be…"
"You may not trust me…" Hermes said evenly. "But surely you trust our Leader? If Number Eight truly was Amon, there's no way the Leader would have remained silent."
That reassurance calmed the others considerably.
But then another voice spoke up—the figure in the opposite row, wrapped so thickly in robes he resembled a human-shaped pillar, his build indiscernible. His voice, however, was clearly male.
"Yet…I noticed our Leader seemed to glance at Number Eight several times before leaving."
That set the group on edge once again.
Edward raised a brow. "And you are…sir?"
The hunter raised his hand. "His codename is 'Wisdom.'"
Wisdom?
Could he be from the Reader or Seer Pathway?
"Thank you, Hunter. Well then, Mister Wisdom, I think the Leader only looked at me several times…because I'm handsome."
"Wisdom" replied with utter seriousness, "Mm. That possibility cannot be ruled out."
Just then, the figure who had fled before reappeared. He glanced briefly at Edward, then spoke in a cold voice:
"The Leader says—he is not Amon."
Edward only shrugged.
The hunter burst into laughter. "Oi, Coward, don't tell me you really ran off just now because you were scared?"
"…And what if I did? I am the one who chose the codename 'Coward.' Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"Hahaha, I always thought you picked that name as a disguise—to make us think you were timid, when in fact it was the opposite."
The one called Coward said flatly, "You're overthinking it. I told you from the beginning: apart from tasks issued by the Leader, I will never collaborate, accept commissions, or make deals with any of you. That's because I am timid. I don't trust you."
He paused, then looked directly at Edward.
"Just like now. I possess information that would be of great interest to Number Eight—but I will not reveal it to him in any form."
"..."
Edward's jaw tightened. Damn you!
He held his silence for a few seconds before asking anyway:
"Does it have to do with the two Sequence 3 Beyonder characteristics I mentioned last time?"
Coward said nothing, shifting his gaze elsewhere.
"Hahahaha!" the hunter roared with laughter. "Every month, I look forward to these gatherings. Just when I think I've figured you all out, the next month you always find a new way to surprise me!"
The witch covered her mouth, giggling. "Senior Hunter, you never fail to show me new sides of yourself, either."
The hunter flashed her an internationally 'friendly' gesture, then swept his gaze across the cathedral.
"All right, everyone. Truly, no one's willing to join me in hunting down that War Bishop? I swear, he's carrying something good!"
When no one so much as twitched in response, he finally shut his mouth. "Fine, then I'll just have to risk it myself. Hopefully, I'll still be alive to attend next month's gathering. Ah, can you imagine how boring this meeting would be without me?"
Edward secretly nodded. On that last point, the hunter wasn't entirely wrong.
The corpse cathedral fell into another brief silence.
When Hermes was sure no one else would speak, he began, "At last month's gathering, we arranged three matters. As of now, the first and third have been completed, while the second is a long-term task—one to be pursued step by step."
"The first task was completed under Mr. Feynapotter's direction, and the third was undertaken by Mr. Intis, who has not joined us today. Both will receive the Leader's reward."
As Hermes mentioned Feynapotter, he glanced at the last silent member present. The man simply inclined his head slightly, still offering no words.
Hermes continued, "Now then, aside from the remaining matter, there are two more tasks to be addressed."
"First: to discover the reason behind the deviation of the trend of times. How it has deviated, or in what form it manifests—the Leader has not revealed to me. You must all do your utmost."
"Second: the Demoness Sect seems to be plotting something. Ordinarily this would not concern the Twilight Hermit Order, but their target location lies in Trier. And as you know, the one chosen by the current of the times—Roselle Gustav—resides in Trier. We must ensure his safety."
The hunter raised his brows. "Oh-ho! Usually our assignments are about killing this or that. This time we're to play bodyguards?"
Edward interjected smoothly: "I think instead of playing bodyguards, it'd be far simpler to eliminate every witch that dares enter Trier."
"???"
The hunter's tone faltered. "Number Eight, don't you think that's a bit extreme?"
The witch put on a pitiful air, her voice soft and sorrowful. "Number Eight, are you saying…you'd even kill me?"
"Didn't you claim you weren't part of the Demoness Sect?"
"And what if I actually am?"
Edward clapped his hands and laughed. "All the better! Then you can simply share the sect's plans with Mr. Hermes. If they pose no threat to the 'Son of Steam,' everyone will be satisfied. If they do, we can prepare in advance—and the mission's reward will go straight to you."
The witch froze, then covered her mouth with a lilting laugh. "That does make sense~ In that case, I'll gladly accept this mission's reward."
The hunter thought for a moment. "Mr. Hermes, I want to know—what exactly is in Trier? Why would the witches be drawn there?"
Hermes shook his head. "I don't know."
"Come now, you're the Leader's most trusted aide. How could you not know?" Even though his expression was hidden, everyone could imagine his exaggerated waggling brows. "Perhaps Intis's absence today is related?"
Hermes only shook his head again. "I don't know."
"I recall Trier was once the capital of the Tudor Empire. Could the secret remnants there be involved?"
"I don't know," Hermes repeated.
"Boring! Where's the trust between people?" The hunter clicked his tongue, folding his arms in mock despair.
Coward sneered. "And those fools who did trust others? They've been dead for how long?"
The hunter thumped his chest. "But I'm absolutely trustworthy!"
No one acknowledged him. Realising his joke had fallen flat, the hunter turned toward Edward.
"Hey, Number Eight. Intis's absence today—it really has nothing to do with you? He tricked you into walking into an Amon ruin. You're not even a little angry? Don't you want revenge?"
Edward spread his hands. "It'd be a lie to say I'm not. But…even if I want revenge, I'd have to first find out who and where 'Mr. Intis' actually is, right? Otherwise, what use is my anger?"
"Ha! He called himself an Intisian, and he was the one who had that count killed. So it's basically certain he wasn't lying. He's most likely in Trier."
"But Trier has over a million people. How would I ever find him?" Edward sighed. "And even if I did, what then? I'd still need the strength to face him."
The hunter rubbed his chin. "True enough. Conservatively, Intis is an angel. Ordinarily, I'd act like a scared little cat before such a being, terrified of offending them. But here? I mock him, ridicule him, even curse him—and it feels amazing!!!"
"Joy often begets sorrow, Hunter," the witch murmured.
"Shut it, you."
The hunter flipped her another rude gesture before turning back to Edward.
"Let's make a deal, Number Eight. Help me kill the War Bishop so I can advance to Sequence 3. After that, I'll not only help you secure a Sequence 3 characteristic, I'll also stand with you against Intis. How about it?"
Tsk. Why is he so fixated on me? Just because I'm the rookie? Easy to rope in?
Edward lowered his head in thought. "I'll consider it."
"How long will that take?"
"I don't know."
"..."
"All right, everyone." Hermes raised his voice. "For the coming month, I ask you all to continue your efforts."
He was about to close the gathering when Edward quickly interjected, "Mr. Hermes, could I perhaps have a private word with Mr. Coward afterwards?"
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.