What Edward found himself wondering, however, was this: If someone began experiencing signs of memory fading after multiple resurrections, would maintaining close contact with him afterwards allow those faded memories to gradually recover?
This question, however, would have to remain unanswered for now. With Adam "guarding the corpse" inside the memory space, Edward had no choice but to abandon his original plans and enter slumber before this instance of death arrived.
But the problem was that his remaining spirituality was far from enough to [Fantasy] another replica of himself to act as a replacement—someone who could gather imagination in his stead.
"Mr. Sparrow! Mr. Sparrow!"
Akasha's voice abruptly broke his thoughts. She sounded both anxious and excited. "Hurry and take me out of here! If Grandfather finds out I'm gone, I won't be able to leave later!"
Arlde reacted a moment later. "Mr. Sparrow, my suit too— the ability you placed on it seems to have expired. Could you help me again…?"
Edward exhaled softly, lifted a finger, and pointed at Arlde.
"It's done."
Sure enough, the suit on Arlde's body regained its form-shifting ability once more.
"As for you…"
Edward looked at Akasha, falling into hesitation—not about whether he should help her leave, but whether he should try doing something before falling asleep, something that might prevent the tragedy of her parents' and grandfather's future deaths.
After all, he had known this pair of siblings for quite some time.
Just as he was thinking this, the door was suddenly pushed open. Standing at the entrance was an elderly man with white hair, a short white beard, and a black suit— the Marquis Punk, the siblings' grandfather.
The moment the marquis saw Edward, a smile appeared on his face.
"Oh? I was wondering who would bother visiting these two children. So it was you..."
Akasha's expression changed instantly. "Ah! I'm doomed…"
"Grandfather, I didn't call him here! I kept telling him again and again that I'd never run away from home! Arlde can testify!"
Arlde: "…"
Edward shot her an exasperated look and flicked his finger. A loud smack sounded as a bright red bump appeared on her pale forehead. Then he turned to the marquis.
"I happened to be passing by and dropped in to take a look. I'm leaving now."
As he spoke, he opened an illusory door leading directly to his home in Trier and prepared to step through.
A flash of astonishment passed through the marquis's eyes. He had, of course, recognised that Edward had not opened a Traveler's Door, but the ability only mastered by a Sequence 2 Planeswalker.
In other words, within only a few months, this sorcerer who had once been merely Sequence 4 had advanced repeatedly and become a Planeswalker—someone whose power already surpassed his own.
Fortunately, he had not sent word to the duke earlier. Otherwise, if they had actually fought, it would have been troublesome.
But after a brief hesitation, the marquis still asked:
"Sir, may I ask you a question?"
That single respectful "sir" stunned both Arlde and Akasha. To them, Mr. Sparrow was a formidable demigod, yes, but surely nowhere near their grandfather's level.
Yet their grandfather now showed…faint restraint?
Edward paused his step and looked back. "Speak."
The marquis asked, "Regarding the being Akasha claims delivered an oracle to her—do you know what is happening?"
"What oracle?"
"That…the same thing 'that one' did to us Sanguines during the Four Emperors War. The command to…offer up all the sealed items we have collected for many centuries."
"Uh."
The Mother Goddess of Depravity probably would not do such a thing.
Which meant this was almost certainly Lilith again.
Edward thought for a moment and said, "I can only tell you this—Lilith…your Sanguine Ancestor Lilith…knows about this matter, and she does not oppose it."
She…probably did not oppose it.
"…"
The marquis's eyes trembled, his emotions shifting noticeably. "You mean…Ancestor truly still—"
Although many Sanguines had long believed their Ancestor remained alive, the fact that she had never sent down a single decree also weighed heavily on them. As the years dragged on, even the faithful began to waver.
"I didn't say anything. And I know nothing."
Edward waved his hand, stepped into the doorway, and vanished.
Seeing their grandfather leave immediately afterwards as well—his face alight with excitement—the siblings looked at each other in confusion.
After a long moment, Akasha said, "Arlde, I'm hungry. Go get me something to eat."
"You literally just—"
"Hurry up!"
"…Fine."
Arlde pouted, then walked out quickly.
The moment her brother left the room, Akasha sat upright with a plop and began praying devoutly:
"Ancestor Lilith…I have something to report to you…"
———
When Edward returned home, he was greeted by an empty house. A glance at the calendar on the wall told him that only a single day had passed since his last death.
Lilith was nowhere to be seen—no idea where she had gone.
Edward had barely collapsed onto the sofa when the dressing mirror flashed. Lilith stepped out of it, hurried over to him, and exclaimed with delight, "Edward, you're back!"
But her smile froze almost immediately. She rushed forward, panic filling her voice.
"You—what happened?! Why is your condition so awful? Edward, is your resurrection not without cost? Are you hiding something from me?!"
"It's not that, it's not that."
Edward gently patted her back. "There were…complications."
Lilith wrinkled her nose. "What happened?"
After hesitating for a moment, he told the truth.
"Adam."
He briefly explained how Adam had ambushed him inside the memory space and attempted to replace him. Lilith's hair practically bristled. She rolled up her sleeves, fury exploding across her face as she prepared to storm out.
"That bastard!! I'm going to kill him right now!"
Edward quickly grabbed her. "Without Sequence 0 strength, you won't pose any threat to Adam. Even if you want revenge, you must wait."
"I can't swallow this!"
Lilith's small face darkened, her eyes filled with cold, vicious murderous intent.
"Back then, he and Cheek teamed up to kill me. I didn't pursue it because he truly helped me afterward. But this time—He dared to lay a hand on you. I won't tolerate it—absolutely not!"
"Lilith."
Edward held her face between his hands, looked straight into her eyes, and spoke each word clearly, "I'm telling you about Adam's ambush because I don't want to hide things from you. So you must also promise me this—until you reach Sequence 0, do not cause trouble for Adam."
"When I awaken, I want to see a healthy, intact Lilith waiting for me."
"But…"
Hack—cough, cough!
Edward was suddenly seized by a violent coughing fit.
"My time is almost up, Lilith."
Lilith panicked instantly. "...I—I promise! I promise, okay?!"
"Pinky swear."
He extended his pinky and forcibly hooked it with hers. "Deal."
"…Okay."
Lilith lowered her eyes.
"That's my good girl~"
With a tired smile, he tapped her nose, forcing himself to stand. "Wait for me. I need to make a trip to the Sefirah Castle."
He then walked backwards four steps, entering the magnificent ancient palace.
As usual, he first interrupted the Sefirah Castle's attempt to acknowledge a master. Then he climbed the stairway of light, arriving in the region filled with hanging cocoons. He retrieved the Beyonder Characteristic of the Attendant of Mysteries, gave it a flick, turning it into a sheet of fabric, and wrapped it into a cocoon.
It was as though something had sensed this.
The bone-clinging "Death" suddenly erupted. Edward's legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed onto the ground. His consciousness blurred, and his spirituality weakened to the point he could not even trigger alarms.
After a long effort, Edward gritted his teeth and shakily pushed himself upright. He flipped a coin to make sure nothing was wrong, then exited the Sefirah Castle and returned home.
The moment he landed, he collapsed onto the sofa again.
Lilith rushed to him, her voice tight with anxiety.
"Edward…you—you should go to sleep now."
She pressed her lips together and clasped his hands tightly.
"Seeing you like this…it hurts."
"Don't worry. It's taken care of."
Edward smiled faintly. "I can fall asleep anytime. But before that, I want to say goodbye to a few friends."
"After all, this nap might last a hundred years."
———
Montague Street No. 125—The Spice Shop
Little Snake Will was sitting in a corner his mother couldn't see, sneaking spoonfuls of ice cream into his mouth.
Suddenly, two figures appeared beside him. His spoon froze mid-air. He turned his head.
"Ah, Lilith. Congratulations—you finally completed your true resurrection. Mm, as I thought, you're still cuter as a kid."
Then he looked at Edward, frowning.
"Your condition is completely off. Are you about to die?"
"…Do you have to remind me every time someone sees me?"
"Just so you know—no matter how much good luck I give you, it won't work in this situation."
"I don't need your luck."
Edward snatched Will's ice cream and took a bite. "I came to say goodbye."
"Last words before dying?"
Lilith immediately smacked Will on the head with her fist. "If you can't talk properly, shut up."
"I'm not dying."
Edward spoke calmly, stating a simple fact.
"I just need a period of sleep."
The little snake rubbed his head and stared at him.
"Sleep? Did some mysterious consciousness inside you awaken?"
"No. It has nothing to do with that. I'm sleeping to resist death."
"Oh~ I see."
Will pinched his chin, surprised.
"But you're not the master of the Sefirah Castle anymore. How are you ordering it around?"
"Heh, maybe I'm just well-liked. Even the Sefirah Castle likes me."
Will's eyes gleamed. He grinned.
"…Then you better teach me how to do that so I can sweet-talk the Key of Light someday."
"Sure—but that'll have to wait until I wake up."
Edward smiled. "While I'm asleep, I hope you can help Lilith as much as possible. And if she does anything reckless, stop her."
Lilith immediately protested, "Edward, you don't trust me!"
Will said at the same time, "You…probably shouldn't trust me to stop Lilith."
But he quickly shook his head, then extended a hand.
"What's in it for me?"
"No, actually—"
He suddenly pulled out a sheet of paper.
"You still owe me one favour from last time."
"Then I'll owe you two."
Will stared at him silently. After a while, he took out a pen, scribbled a line on the paper, and handed it to Edward.
"Fine. Start by completing the first one."
The childish handwriting spelled out a line in ancient Hermes:
"Wake up alive."
Edward laughed.
"Deal."
———
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