Bian Locke was standing behind the counter, his expression calm, lost in thought.
Kevin and the others had returned to the second floor. However, they did not go directly back to their rooms—they gathered in the living room. Kevin held his phone, turning it over and over, the screen showing 11 PM.
"So, you were deliberately discussing those things in front of Bian Locke just now?" Menchi asked.
When they had discussed the relevant matters earlier, they had not avoided Bian Locke.
Kevin nodded.
"I'm a little suspicious. Who do you think is the mastermind?" He looked at Gowen and asked.
During this time, Gowen had been responsible for building good relationships with the villagers and gathering more information.
Gowen said, "First, it's certain that the village chief's faction definitely doesn't want anyone to disturb them at this time. As for the other faction, although their behavior isn't as obvious as the village chief's, they also seem unwelcoming to outsiders appearing at this time.
"That is to say, the one who led us here might be a third party within the village. At this stage, my suspects are only the Saintess, Bian Locke, and that vagrant outside the village."
After speaking, Gowen pointed downstairs. "Bian Locke's expression just now was too obvious. But this also indirectly indicates that it wouldn't be him—though he definitely knows who it is."
This was why Kevin had talked to everyone in front of Bian Locke.
The young villagers wore their thoughts on their faces. Kevin didn't expect to probe out some clues so easily. Therefore, Bian Locke needed some time to calm down and think. As a marginal figure in the village, his attitude was crucial. At least, compared to Kevin and the others, the villagers would definitely trust him more.
They would go down and lay their cards on the table with him after a while.
Inside the castle, Melusine was half-lying on the bed, her face showing a faint trace of joy, but also a hint of melancholy.
Lorian sat beside her, casually flipping through the manga in her hand.
"It's 'Love Meteor' again. You're still reading it after all these years," Melusine said.
Hearing this, Lorian didn't care, smiling as she held up the book. "Because it's really good. I think it's the best work."
Melusine disagreed, retorting, "'Tea Party Schemes' is the best."
Normally, Lorian would argue with her, but today she seemed to have other things on her mind.
"You two today... were you—" Lorian said, her face slightly red.
"No way! Don't jump to conclusions so fast!" Melusine quickly denied, then sighed softly. "I feel like he's very conflicted."
"Doesn't he like it?"
"He likes it, but also somewhat resists it."
After speaking, Melusine stared intently at Lorian, clutching her hand tightly.
Lorian felt a little flustered by her gaze.
"Today, I saw a meteor with Kevin," Melusine said.
"You... you guessed it?"
"Yes."
Melusine nodded, then hugged Lorian.
She was very grateful to her.
"I think the so-called mastermind might not be trying to manipulate you to do anything," Bian Locke said, standing behind the counter, his gaze calmly fixed on Kevin and the other three, speaking slowly.
Kevin and the others' conversation just now had not avoided him; he had sat there and heard the entire process. It wasn't that Kevin and the others trusted him so much, but rather that they knew Bian Locke's situation in this village was somewhat awkward.
As he himself had said, the village was divided into two opposing factions, led by Rabik and the village chief. In essence, there was also a neutral faction, which consisted of those villagers who went with the flow.
Regarding Bian Locke, Kevin had learned from Melusine and Lorian that this person had, to some extent, drifted away from the mainstream of the village. He had chosen another path—just as Kevin and the others had previously guessed—to earn enough money from the outside world and then hire a Nen exorcist through the Hunter Association to lift the curse on himself. Lifting the curse on himself alone would be relatively easier, allowing him to regain his freedom.
At this moment, Kevin and the four had come downstairs, precisely to obtain more detailed information from Bian Locke.
"Why do you say that? Or have you already guessed who led us here?" Menchi turned her head, staring at Bian Locke unceremoniously as she asked.
"No. Just a guess."
Gowen looked at Bian Locke and shook his head. "Your nervousness is evident on your face. You must have guessed who it is."
Bian Locke was silent for a moment. These people discussing this in front of him clearly sensed something—or suspected that he was one of the participants.
For the villagers in this village, it was too difficult for them not to show emotion, to have the exquisite acting skills of professional actors. This enclosed environment meant that all their mental activities were written on their faces; they simply couldn't hide them. Or rather, their attempts at concealment were so naive that they were obvious at a glance.
"You Hunters are really annoying," Bian Locke mumbled irritably, then slowly said, "I'm not sure yet, but I probably guessed who it is. If it's as I think, then your arrival was just an accident."
"It's Lorian, isn't it?" Kevin blurted out unexpectedly.
Bian Locke's pupils instantly dilated, his fists clenched, and he abruptly stood up.
As expected. He couldn't hide it.
"Why did you—are you trying to trick me?" Bian Locke said angrily.
Hunters were indeed cunning fellows.
Facing the enraged Bian Locke, Kevin remained calm, shaking his head slightly. "No. Just a reasonable deduction."
From observations over the past few months, Bian Locke cared most about his younger sister. He even planned to have his sister take over his work after he freed himself from the village's curse. He likely intended to continue earning money after leaving and then help his sister also lift the curse and take her away from here. He wanted to get a head start and establish himself outside.
His thoughts and plans were not difficult to guess.
Therefore, only when it involved Lorian did he become so hesitant and evasive. And Lorian was the person who cared most about Melusine—rather than a maid, she was more like a companion responsible for taking care of her. The so-called "maid" identity was a label they had given themselves after reading manga, a kind of interesting role-playing.
Moreover, Lorian was Melusine's biggest supporter. According to Kevin's understanding during his time in the castle, while other maids were still surprised that Melusine liked him, Lorian had already begun to strategize.
If Bian Locke hadn't acted abnormally, Kevin wouldn't have suspected Lorian of being problematic. But once Bian Locke's behavior became strange, Lorian's various actions became highly suspicious.
"Yes, I suspect it's my sister. Her Nen ability is very strange, and I'm not clear on its specific usage. But as far as I know, if it's really as you say, and your arrival feels strange, it's very likely that she caused it unintentionally." After speaking, Bian Locke looked at the four with a serious expression.
"Whatever you plan to do, you are not to harm her. I will help you ask—this time for free."
Kevin smiled and pointed behind him.
"It seems she prefers to answer our questions herself."
No sooner had he spoken than the door was pushed open.
Lorian, dressed as a maid, stood at the doorway.
"Lorian?" Bian Locke exclaimed in surprise.
He instinctively looked at Kevin, thinking Kevin had done something.
Lorian was also a bit flustered at this moment. She had just wanted to talk to her brother and find an opportunity to speak with Kevin. But she hadn't expected that in the middle of the night, none of these people were asleep—and they were all gathered at the door.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
"Sit down. It looks like you have something to talk to me about," Kevin said with a smile, gesturing with his hand.
Lorian nodded, glanced at her brother, and then sat down in a nearby chair.
Before she could speak, Bian Locke preemptively asked, "Did you use your Nen ability?"
At this, Lorian's eyes widened.
This once again proved that the young people in this village were not good at lying—their emotional expressions were very direct.
"How did you know?" She didn't remember mentioning this to her brother.
Bian Locke rubbed his forehead, sighing helplessly.
Lorian looked at everyone and suddenly realized that she hadn't come at the wrong time, but rather too "punctually."
She took a deep breath, her whole body like a deflated ball. Looking at Kevin, she slowly said, "There are many things I cannot say, especially to outsiders like you."
Kevin and the others wanting to know the village's secrets was too direct for the villagers. Normally, no Hunter would not be curious.
Bian Locke next to her nodded, confirming her statement.
"Melusine doesn't have much time left. But she hasn't gained anything, hasn't had time to do anything. Yet everyone in the village is so selfish." At this, Lorian couldn't help but cry.
"I've always wanted to do something, but I've never been able to. Until about half a year ago—a meteor streaked across the sky.
"I used my Nen ability. I don't know what Melusine wished for, but if I didn't act soon, there wouldn't be another chance.
"So when I heard that a group of Hunters were coming at this time, I guessed it might be Melusine's wish taking effect." After speaking, she looked at everyone.
Although her words were few and jumbled, the information revealed was crucial.
"So your Nen ability can only be used once?" Menchi asked curiously.
She was too curious—if it were true, it would be like granting a wish, which was incredibly powerful.
Lorian didn't know how to explain, so she took out a manga from her embrace and handed it to Kevin.
"Love Meteor"
To construct one's Nen ability through manga?
It must be said, that was also a method. After all, this village was isolated from the world. They received limited outside information, and their worldview formed from childhood was relatively simple—either influenced by their elders or yearning for freedom outside.
Kevin casually flipped through the manga. One chapter detailed the core setting of the entire book.
"So your Nen ability is similar to what's described here?"
Lorian nodded. "There are some differences, but most of it is the same."
Simply put, her Nen ability was to mark a wish-maker and a celestial phenomenon for wishing—which was essentially a meteor. She could not make a wish herself. When the wishing celestial phenomenon appeared and the marked wish-maker simultaneously made a wish, her Nen ability would activate. However, whether it activated ultimately depended on Lorian herself.
About half a year ago, the conditions were met, and she activated her Nen ability.
This was a one-time linkage—at least that was how it was set in the book. After using it, the Nen ability would be gone. It wasn't that she couldn't use Nen, but that the Nen ability itself couldn't be used, and her memory space was filled with information about the related ability. She temporarily became a Nen user without a Nen ability.
Kevin found it difficult to understand why such a Nen ability would exist, and the manga's setting of "can only be used once in a lifetime" was clearly replicated. However, upon closer thought, possessing such a powerful ability indeed required a huge price. But whether it could truly only be used once—only Lorian herself knew.
"It seems you really like this manga," Kevin said, looking at the well-preserved but clearly well-read book.
Lorian nodded.
"I've liked it since I was very young."
It was an old manga.
No wonder. So she had this thought since childhood.
Kevin handed the manga back to her.
Although much of the dark mist shrouding them had dissipated, many mysteries remained unsolved. Upon learning this information, they understood that there was no mastermind deliberately manipulating them to come here—everything was merely an accident triggered by a Nen ability.
After understanding Lorian's Nen ability, everyone fell silent. Gowen even muttered, "There's actually such a Nen ability?"
Although he had unveiled the mysterious veil of Nen users half a year ago, he now realized that Nen ability could reach such an unimaginable extent.
As time passed, everyone began to think based on the current situation.
Gowen frowned and said, "If the person who made the wish was Melusine, based on the current situation, her wish should have been for a 'Prince Charming'—that is, a suitable romantic partner."
"But the actual situation is not like that, because the over here sound that appeared outside was very targeted at Kevin. That means Melusine's wish was not just that simple."
Lorian was a bit confused. She didn't quite understand what Gowen was saying.
In her opinion, when Melusine made the wish, she had wished for a perfect romantic partner. The reason she had come to confess everything at this time was because Melusine didn't have much time left. If Kevin kept failing to respond positively due to the conflict brought by this wish, it would be too regrettable. She hoped Kevin could let Melusine experience the sweetness of love in her last month.
"Are you saying Melusine's wish wasn't what I thought?" Lorian asked.
Gowen looked at her and explained, "There's definitely an element of that, but it shouldn't be the whole picture."
Kevin checked the time and regained control of the conversation's rhythm.
"What the wish is doesn't matter. What matters is that we know why we came here. The most crucial issue now is the festival—the source of everything."
After speaking, he looked directly at Lorian.
"You certainly have many things you can't say. So don't actively say anything now, and don't intentionally reveal information. Just listen to our questions."
Lorian didn't know what Kevin was going to do, but she nodded anyway.
"Melusine is called the Saintess because she will make a sacrifice at the festival?"
Lorian couldn't answer. She couldn't even deliberately control her expression. Her emotions could only flow out naturally.
It seems I guessed correctly.
Indeed, this could be exploited—thanks to these young villagers who were bad at lying and wore their emotions on their faces. Although Lorian couldn't actively provide information, some answers could be obtained through her passive reactions. And Kevin could also use the fluctuations in her emotions to aid his judgment.
Kevin continued to ask: "Melusine doesn't know all the details of the festival, but she knows she will make a sacrifice—she thinks it's her duty."
So it was.
"You hate the village chief because he instilled this idea of sacrifice in Melusine from a young age?"
That was partly the reason, but not entirely.
"You want Melusine to have a passionate romance in her final days, rather than gaining freedom. Does that mean there's some mandatory, unavoidable factor in the festival, and is this part of the curse?"
Uncertain. Not entirely so.
"Is the festival part of the curse?"
No.
"Is the festival part of weakening the curse?"
No, it isn't.
"Is the festival—part of prolonging the curse?"
Correct.
What kind of logic is this? Does this village actually wish for the curse to exist?
No.
"If the curse disappears, will it bring more serious danger than now?"
I see.
This was why Melusine always avoided questions about the festival and her own issues.
"If there were multiple Saintesses before, then what did my sister do when the previous Saintess was sacrificed, causing her to die?"
Gowen seemed to have thought of something.
This meant that interfering with the festival would cause danger—not danger from attacks by villagers. Rather, the festival itself was dangerous.
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