Smack.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Edward gave himself a light slap on the cheek. "Seriously? Is this really the time to be daydreaming about nonsense?"
If Zaratul really had obtained the notebook during the birthday banquet, then by now he must have already learned that his chance to advance to Sequence 1 lay atop Mount Hornacis.
Zaratul, oh Zaratul, Edward thought, you'd better move quickly.
———
In the dead of night, Edward was jolted awake by a surge of noisy prayers.
He lifted his head and saw nothing but pitch-black darkness outside the window—no moonlight, no starlight. It was one of those rare times he'd been awakened in the middle of the night without even a trace of irritation.
He leapt out of bed, took four steps backwards, and entered the Sefirah Castle.
As expected, the deep crimson star that symbolised Roselle was flickering—pulsing like a heartbeat, expanding and contracting in a steady rhythm.
Amon, perched in his birdcage, had his head buried in his feathers as if asleep. Edward blinked in mild surprise.
"Amon…needs to sleep?"
"I certainly don't need to sleep," Amon murmured, raising his head slowly. "But maintaining the habits of ordinary humans—eating, drinking, sleeping—helps preserve one's humanity. You did, after all, inject a bit of humanity into me. I've grown rather fond of it, so I'm merely following your example."
He yawned lazily. "Still, it's a bit dull here. No food, no drink. Next time, remember to bring me something."
Edward thought for a moment, then crouched and pulled a small suitcase from beneath the desk. He reached inside, grabbed a handful of rice, and scattered it into the cage.
"Eat."
Amon pecked a few grains absentmindedly, then shook his head. "I'd prefer worms—Worm of Spirit, Worm of Time, maybe even Worm of Star."
"Next time," Edward replied dryly.
He then injected spirituality into the crimson star and opened Roselle's latest "message."
"Mr. Chairman, Zaratul came to me tonight. But he didn't take the notebook. He only used it briefly—perhaps to perform some kind of divination—and then returned it. He said he was done with it."
Didn't take it?
Edward was surprised for a second, but realisation came quickly.
Zaratul didn't want the Antigonus Family Notebook for its contents—he merely needed it as a medium to locate Antigonus himself. For that, one divination was enough.
Edward typed back, "Did he say anything else?"
The reply came swiftly, "No, he left soon after. He just said he'd answer my questions next time. Oh, and he left behind the Marionette he used during our meeting."
Huh?
Edward instinctively glanced at Amon. Zaratul, you're as careless as ever with your Marionettes. One day, you'll regret it if Amon decides to pay you a visit.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Amon asked lazily.
"I was just wondering," Edward said. "Can you use a discarded Marionette like that to locate Zaratul?"
"Hardly."
Amon shook his head, feathers rustling softly. "Lil' Zaratul isn't that foolish. The fact that he abandoned the puppet means he must've completely severed his link to it. No trail left for anyone to follow."
"Fair enough."
Edward leaned back in his chair and replied to Roselle, "You did well. Wait for my next instruction."
He tossed the image of the message into the crimson star, severing the link.
Amon tilted his head. "So, Zaratul's already discovered where Antigonus is hiding?"
"Nine chances out of ten," Edward replied.
"You're planning to hunt him at Mount Hornacis, aren't you?"
A knowing smile curled across Amon's lips. "A little friendly warning—no matter how desperate Zaratul is to advance to Sequence 1, he'll only send a Historical Projection in his place. Even if you manage to trap him, you won't get what you want."
Edward smiled faintly. "Once he sends a Historical Projection, finding his true body won't be difficult."
Amon blinked, feigning confusion. "And how exactly does that make a difference? His consciousness can withdraw from the projection at any moment. Why not just hunt down his real body directly instead of going through all this trouble?"
"I have my reasons."
Amon's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Oh? I think I see what you're planning."
Edward chuckled. "Besides, who said I'm going after Zaratul just to hunt him?"
"Not for the Miracle Invoker's Beyonder characteristic?"
Edward's grin widened. "Exactly. But if I can claim the Attendant of Mysteries' characteristic that Zaratul takes from Antigonus, and have someone shatter it for me afterwards—why should I fear lacking a Miracle Invoker characteristic?"
Amon laughed softly. "Heh. So that's your scheme. Then allow me to congratulate you in advance."
Edward leaned forward and poked two fingers through the bars of the cage, gently rubbing the top of Amon's head. "Thanks. Congratulations to you too."
Amon froze.
"…"
Is he seriously petting me like some household bird?
This bastard really is treating me like a pet!
———
After leaving the Sefirah Castle, Edward lay back down in bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
He didn't know how much time had passed when his spirituality suddenly stirred. The next moment, he woke to find himself sitting on the living room sofa, sunlight spilling through the windows.
It was clearly a dream—one crafted by extraordinary means.
The door opened silently. A woman in a simple black robe entered: Arianna, the Servant of the Evernight Goddess. Her movements were soundless, her expression calm as ever.
"Zaratul has reached Mount Hornacis," she said flatly.
Edward blinked in mild surprise. He hadn't expected Zaratul to move this quickly.
"What's the current situation?"
"I don't know," Arianna replied. "But given Antigonus's present state, Zaratul should have little difficulty achieving his goal."
"Then can we go wait in that foggy town ahead of time?"
Arianna looked directly at him.
Even with her tranquil temperament, honed through years of ascetic devotion, her gaze betrayed a faint ripple of emotion—disbelief, perhaps even exasperation.
He really is shameless, she thought. To so openly, so casually, make use of a god's power for his own ends?
She could not help but wonder why Her Lady had agreed to such an impudent request in the first place.
If Edward had known what she was thinking, he would have sneered.
Why else?
This was merely part of the Evernight Goddess's greater plan—luring Zaratul into a trap had always been one of Her intended moves. Edward was just helping Her advance the schedule a little sooner than expected. It wouldn't disrupt the divine strategy.
But he would be the one doing the dangerous work—venturing into the Forsaken Land, perhaps even into the Chaos Sea itself—risking his neck in the process.
"…Understood."
Arianna soon regained her serenity. "But my Lady has instructed me to inform you that, in Her current state, She cannot keep Her consciousness anchored in this world for long. Your time is limited."
"…"
Edward had strong doubts about that explanation. To him, it sounded suspiciously like an excuse—one meant to deliberately complicate his task, to ensure he wouldn't succeed too easily.
Honestly, he thought, why make things harder than they need to be?
"Well then," he said with a faint smile, "I'll trouble you, Miss Arianna, to cloak our presence."
"Of course."
———
Mount Hornacis—The Hidden Palace
Within the shadowy, labyrinthine palace that crowned the mountain, Zaratul's Historical Projection was making its final moves.
Through a dizzying series of layered techniques—coordinating his Marionettes with additional historical projections—he had managed to deceive the frenzied Antigonus, buying himself a precious opportunity to seize the very thing he had long yearned for:
The Attendant of Mysteries' Beyonder characteristic—the one Antigonus had obtained long ago, after slaying his own father in concert with Mr. Door.
After thousands of years, it had finally returned to Zaratul's hands.
Only one final step remained before he could ascend to Sequence 1.
The Marionettes' projections continued their chaotic battle with Antigonus, while Zaratul's own projection, clutching the newly won characteristic, darted through the vast halls of the palace like a shadow.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of relief—if not for Antigonus's madness, how could a Sequence 2 like himself possibly confront a Sequence 1 of the same pathway?
Up ahead, faint light shone—the exit.
Once outside, he could summon a Traveler's historical projection and use it to cross the Spirit World instantly, escaping with his prize.
But as he drew closer, tension coiled in his chest.
His long-expected enemy had yet to appear.
Was it possible his fears had been unfounded? Had he been imagining things all along?
No matter, he told himself. Unless a god personally descends, even if a Sequence 1 comes for me, I've made preparations. I can return safely with the prize in hand.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
A dark figure appeared in front of the exit.
It hadn't teleported or emerged suddenly. It was simply there, as though it had been standing in that spot all along, patiently waiting for him.
At once, Zaratul stretched out his hand and summoned two Historical Projections: one of a Sequence 2 Weather Warlock, and another of a Sequence 2 Duke of Entropy—both figures who had been close allies during the Solomon Empire's reign.
The moment the two projections materialised, they charged directly at the black figure.
Meanwhile, Zaratul's own projection took advantage of the distraction, veering away and dashing through the palace gates.
Without pause, he pulled out another projection—that of a Secrets Sorcerer—and plunged into the Spirit World with it.
Once inside, he immediately made a wish:
May no one be able to track or divine me.
The wish consumed a great deal of spirituality and wish power, but as soon as he felt it succeed, he ordered the Secrets Sorcerer to accelerate.
They reached their destination swiftly, and the Secrets Sorcerer tore open space itself, preparing to send Zaratul's consciousness—and the Attendant of Mysteries characteristic—back to his true body.
But at the very moment he stepped out of the Spirit World—
Zaratul felt his consciousness freeze solid.
His eyes widened in horror as he watched his own body begin to fade, bit by bit—as though erased by an invisible rubber, vanishing into nothingness.
With the last of his strength, he flung the Beyonder characteristic toward his true body.
Then, through dimming senses, he caught a final glimpse of the black figure at the palace exit:
A woman stood there, dressed in a black robe, motionless. Her face was beautiful but vacant, her eyes lifeless and still.
"You…you are—"
In the next instant, Zaratul's awareness was swallowed by eternal darkness.
———
Foggy Town.
Within a small chapel, Edward and Krismona sat quietly side by side.
Nearby, Pallez Zoroast wore a look of deep suffering. "Half-dead as I am, you still expect me to risk what's left of my existence for this? Truly…what a miserable fate."
As for the little serpent, Will—he had declared firmly that he would only provide remote support for good fortune. Under no circumstances would he set foot into the Evernight Goddess's domain.
Edward's voice broke the silence, brisk and composed:
"The one coming here will only be Zaratul's Historical Projection. Killing him outright won't mean anything."
He turned to Krismona. "Our goal is to keep him here long enough for me to locate his true body."
Krismona nodded. "Understood."
Then she hesitated briefly before asking, "Sir…can you truly pass through that barrier? The one leading into the deeper layer of the world—to find my mother?"
Edward smiled, his expression confident and resolute.
"I can," he said. "And I will."
———
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