“Three years ago,” Nona said softly, “that was when I first got sick. I kept feeling dizzy and unwell, though it wasn’t very serious back then.
“Then this summer, my health suddenly took a turn for the worse. I don’t know how to describe the feeling… it seemed related to my head, but not entirely. It was as if… as if I had turned into someone else.”
As she spoke, Nona couldn’t help but tremble, wrapping her arms more tightly around herself.
Mr. Ghost sat down directly on the ground, quietly watching Nona.
Her words reminded him of Colin Lane—the Revelator he had encountered during his very first experiment with Old God pollution. Colin had repeatedly performed rituals tied to the Apostle of Sin, causing his will to be polluted by the patron entity whose power he borrowed. Consequently, he had constantly felt as if he were becoming another person, as though something was lurking within his shadow.
Yes, spiritual pollution, Mr. Ghost thought.
And three years ago? Mike Lampson’s mental issues had also begun three years ago.
Thus, Mr. Ghost asked, “Three years ago, Nona, did you happen to obtain something?”
Nona pondered for a moment before replying, “A doll.”
“What?”
“A ragdoll,” she said. “I picked it up out of a trash can. After I fell ill, my grandfather said the doll was unclean, so he threw it away. But I thought the doll was very nice.”
Her voice was very light, carrying the lingering innocent naivety of a young girl. She murmured, “What could a doll possibly do?”
Mr. Ghost narrowed his eyes slightly. He continued, “Then what about this summer? Did you pick anything up then?”
“This summer!” Nona exclaimed. “Mr. Ghost, are you trying to say that my illness is connected to those things?”
Mr. Ghost replied candidly, “That is my guess.” He added, “Nona, I’ve met a few other children who have fallen ill with the same sickness as you. They also seem to have encountered dangerous objects.”
Sudden realization dawned on Nona, and she muttered under her breath, “There are actually other people like me? How strange. But I haven’t seen any other children here.”
“Where are you?” Mr. Ghost asked.
“I don’t know either,” Nona said. “A place that’s very bright, yet also very dark.”
Very bright, yet very dark?
Mr. Ghost pressed further, but Nona couldn’t offer any more details. Moreover, whenever he pushed her, a deeply bewildered and pitiful expression would cross her face.
So Mr. Ghost shifted the topic: “So, Nona, did you get anything this summer?”
Nona tilted her head, thought for a bit, and said, “This summer… there was a trade fair near my house.”
Mr. Ghost started slightly. He thought that must refer to the underground trade market near Ernestine Tavern.
Nona continued, “A lot of strangers appeared near my house during that time. Grandfather wouldn’t let me go outside, but I snuck out anyway… because I saw someone throw away something golden. I thought it could be sold for money, so Grandfather wouldn’t have to work so hard.”
Mr. Ghost listened quietly to the little girl’s account. He asked, “What was it?”
Nona opened her eyes a bit wider and said, “It was made of copper… you know, that thing nobles always hold…”
“A cane?”
“Yes!” Nona nodded vigorously. “The handle of a cane.”
Mr. Ghost knitted his brow slightly. “Did you give it to your grandfather?”
“…No,” Nona said, disheartened. “I don’t know why either… I originally wanted to give it to Grandfather. I only picked it up for his sake. But… I don’t know why, I just didn’t tell him about it.”
“And then your illness worsened?”
“Yes. It should be… around that time,” Nona said uncertainly. “Later on… I don’t know what happened. That day Grandfather went out, so I secretly threw that thing away.
“Then… Grandfather came back and told me to take that flower to find a doctor. So I went. But… I started feeling even worse, my head hurt terribly, and I fainted.
“When I woke up again, I was in a dark room…” she murmured.
As she recounted her story, Mr. Ghost gradually recalled the information he had gathered from his previous two entries into Nona’s deep-sea dreams.
A dark room… terrible-tasting medicine, other people’s voices, talks of conducting some kind of experiment on Nona’s body…
…What was that medicine?
Mr. Ghost felt a flurry of lingering doubts.
Nona wanted to continue, but suddenly, the surrounding space began to shake. She cried out, “Oh! Mr. Ghost, I have to wake up!”
Mr. Ghost wanted to ask more, but he only had time to say, “I will appear in your dream again tomorrow!”
“See you tomorrow, Mr. Ghost!” Nona replied briskly, looking in much better spirits.
Right after that, the dream shattered abruptly.
He stood in the center of the isolated island, gazing at Nona’s sapling. It still seemed to be growing sturdily, allowing him to breathe a slight sigh of relief. He then looked over at Emil Harrison’s sapling.
Emil hadn’t dreamed today.
He had originally wanted to chat with Emil about that Rubik’s Cube, but now he had no choice but to abandon the idea with regret.
Once again, he was left alone in the silent deep-sea dreams. He spent some time pondering the gains from this conversation with Nona.
Three years ago, Nona had accidentally picked something up—most likely a Time Trace—which led to her mental issues. Her grandfather had realized the doll was an unclean object and disposed of it in time.
This had stabilized Nona’s condition slightly, though the influence had lingered.
In that regard, Nona was luckier than Mike. The latter’s parents hadn’t discovered the issue with the bracelet, causing Mike’s condition to steadily deteriorate. Still, Mr. and Mrs. Lampson couldn’t be blamed for that.
This summer, Nona—whose condition had been relatively stable—picked up another item, presumably the handle of a noble’s cane. That caused her mental state to rapidly worsen, which ultimately led Anselm Norrison to take a desperate risk by stealing the copper-cast saffron from a private museum.
…The question was, had Anselm’s action been an indiscriminate choice, or did it serve a specific purpose?
Furthermore, he had sent Nona to deliver the copper flower while remaining at home to await the police. This seemed to prove that as long as the item was delivered, the underground gang would treat Nona. That was why he had felt reassured enough to let Nona carry out the task.
However, Anselm’s “reassurance” seemed entirely unfounded. The underground gang appeared to be deliberately conducting experiments… experiments somehow related to Time Traces and spiritual pollution.
…What could that be?
After pondering for a while, he couldn’t reach an answer.
If there was an Old God looming faintly behind this entire incident, it would likely be Personari, the God of Fertility and Life, symbolized by blooming spring flowers.
Whether it was the copper flower on Nona’s end or the Major Suit: Life card found on Nanisal’s end, both points hinted at Personari’s presence. But… Personari?
How could this Old God, who symbolized life, be connected to these Time Traces that caused mental illness?
And the only person who might know the truth—that mysterious creator of the Fate Cards—remained missing without a trace. He hoped Alva’s side could uncover something, though he didn’t hold out too much hope.
Shifting his focus, he directed his attention back to the deep-sea dream around him. He needed to discover something new before he could leave this place—truly, what if a day came when he couldn’t discover anything at all?
Would that mean he was completely trapped here, or would it mean he had fully mastered Akamara’s power?
Yet right now, he couldn’t even search the dreams…
At that exact moment, he suddenly froze.
When the thought “search the dreams” popped into his mind, an inexplicable intuition washed over him. He cast his gaze across the boundless sea covered in mist.
Countless dream bubbles floated within it, surrounding the isolated island and the puppet.
…He could search the dreams now.
The moment he realized this, at 6 Hayward Street at four in the morning, Siles woke up with a jolt.
He thought in astonishment: I can search dreams now? Why can I do it suddenly?
He realized his control over Akamara’s power had taken another step forward, but awkwardly enough, he had no idea why. Had he unknowingly aligned with Akamara’s power somewhere?
Over the course of the past half month?
Siles pondered it over and over, finally turning his focus toward the novel he was currently writing.
Miss Garland’s Dream Adventure.
In every sense, only this novel aligned with Akamara’s power. But truthfully, he hadn’t even started writing it yet…
…Could mere concepts and ideas influence a god’s power? Or was it because he already possessed part of Akamara’s power, making his current actions akin to actively “becoming” this deity?
Yet he didn’t feel that his mind or will were being influenced by Akamara. It seemed just as Grenfield had said: this was merely the pure residual power of a fallen Old God.
Out of caution, however, Siles still subjected himself to a Will check.
【Keeper of Secrets, Siles Noel (University Professor) is performing a Will check.】
【Will: 93/…】
A string of numbers flashed before Siles’s eyes. After a moment’s thought, he selected a “0”.
【Will: 93/0, Critical Success.】
【Are you finally starting to mess with your own mind? Truth be told, this check changes nothing… but well, a Critical Success is a Critical Success. Thus, the dice have wiped away some dust from your soul.】
Siles: “…”
Dust on the soul?
Why would there be dust on a soul?
He felt quite doubtful, but he knew the dice would never give a random prompt without reason.
That meant: first, the concept of “soul dust” existed; second, his soul had indeed accumulated dust earlier.
The dice had wiped the dust away, but Siles felt no physical difference whatsoever—no sudden surge of mental clarity, nor any weight lifted. Everything remained as usual. Yet the dice had stated it explicitly.
…So when had that dust been gathered?
Almost the moment the question arose, Siles instinctively thought of a possibility: the Dark Sea. He had gathered that dust in that boundary between life and death.
He contemplated for a moment, letting out a soft sigh. Even knowing it was a possibility, he had no way to truly grasp the deeper implication behind the dice’s hint.
At the end of the day, when would he be able to establish a stable and efficient method of communication with the dice?
This question brought Siles back to his research topic on Time Traces.
Over the past period, he had indeed gradually come to understand how to use Time Traces, but he couldn’t establish a method of communication as he had originally envisioned.
When faced with his idea, both his assistant Annerin and Ms. Aston had expressed immense surprise.
Ms. Aston had asked directly, “Why would you want to communicate with a Time Trace?”
“Because…” Siles had provided a more reasonable answer, “rumors say that a soul is sealed within Time Traces. If Time Traces possess self-awareness, why can’t we communicate with them?”
Ms. Aston had looked at Siles with profound shock, yet she replied, “You truly are a genius. I have never considered such an avenue; perhaps your idea will prove fruitful. Regardless, I hope you manage to discover something.”
His superior’s support had certainly relieved Siles.
Of course, he was putting too much pressure on himself. No one expected him to unravel the secrets of Time Traces within a mere few weeks; that would have been absurd.
As dawn broke, Siles got out of bed. It was Saturday morning, and he intended to head to the History Society.
Inside Room 557, the two Time Traces remained. Annerin was absent; Siles had no need for him to be on standby at all times.
Siles quietly observed the feather and the nail. Under the combined effects of the potion ritual duration and Akamara’s Eyeglass Frame, he could clearly discern the miraculous marks and bizarre mist clinging to the two Time Traces.
By comparison, Siles found the seemingly harmless feather to be far more dangerous; it was very likely connected to Lusmi, the God of Stars and Radiance.
…Wait.
Siles suddenly realized a problem.
When explorers spoke of the birdmen of the Ashless Lands, they generally assumed those were mutated creatures created by Trisli, the God of High Mountains and Rivers.
No one had considered whether it was related to Lusmi. People assumed that because birdmen were a combination of human and animal, they had to be connected to Trisli. Yet in reality, this deep-blue mist proved that it carried Lusmi’s power.
…The sky was Lusmi’s domain.
Then why would Lusmi’s power appear inside the deep-sea dreams?
Siles’s brows furrowed tight. He felt an increasingly subtle sense of dissonance regarding the Old Gods’ powers.
Timiafa might have consumed Elco; Menavaca might have consumed Hoodoka, or vice versa; the birdman’s feather came from Lusmi rather than Trisli; and Lusmi’s power had invaded the deep-sea dreams, Akamara’s paradise.
Grenfield had once mentioned that a deity’s Divine Title signified the starting and ending point of their power, yet Siles felt their powers were not that simple—they seemed capable of… expanding?
What connection was there between Lusmi and Akamara?
Stars, radiance… nighttime?
Siles understood all at once—nighttime!
The sun sets, and night falls. The radiance of the stars shines upon the earth while humanity sinks into dreams. Lusmi wanted to claim Akamara’s dream power.
To a degree, that expanded Her power, but from another perspective, it seemed Her power was simply… extending in a specific direction?
Siles froze for a moment before letting out a soft sigh of relief.
He contemplated the thirteen known deities, considering the possibilities of them clashing or consuming one another. Then an idea naturally popped into his head.
Personari… Personari, the God of Fertility and Life—would She want to consume Trisli, the God of High Mountains and Rivers?
Fertility and life held a certain thematic alignment with nature, wildness, mountains, and rivers.
Furthermore, Siles recalled that in Jan Calder’s book, Gods and Believers in the Shadows, the author mentioned Menavaca having a secret crush on Trisli.
According to certain rumors, during the Age of Empire, Menavaca had secretly plotted the collapse of Lusmi’s Bright Light Empire. Meanwhile, Jan Calder claimed that during the Age of Shadows, Thaddeus and Lusmi had a child together, prompting Personari to sever ties with them over it…
Siles felt a headache coming on.
I mean… why did the relationships between these deities sound so insanely convoluted?!
Thirteen Old Gods. And that wasn’t even counting Antinam, who appeared later. Who could possibly know what had gone through the minds of these lofty deities over the past tens of thousands of years?
After dwelling on it briefly, Siles stopped torturing his brain with these questions. He left the History Society around noon and made his way to 18 Housewell Street.
At the gathering, he indeed learned a piece of news.
Madam Fuller said very gently, “Professor, I have arranged everything for you. On the afternoon of Friday, December 18th, the Lamifa Museum welcomes your visit.”
Friday afternoon, December 18th?
Siles was momentarily taken aback.
He realized that was the day right before the next deep-sea dream session!
He expressed his sincere thanks to Madam Fuller. Smiling, Madam Fuller waved her hand, signaling him not to be so formal.
“It was no trouble at all,” Madam Fuller remarked.
They chatted about the weather and food. Siles mentioned the dishes Chendo had prepared, and the novel cooking style left the few Konst locals present thoroughly amazed.
“Once winter passes, perhaps I can travel abroad during the spring break,” Angela commented. “I’ve never been to a country outside the Duchy of Konst.”
“As the mist clears and the Ashless Lands are developed, we will slowly come to learn about other nations as well,” Eric said quietly, a touch of wistful longing in his tone. “I also hope that one day I can take my wife and daughter to see the sea.”
“Speaking of development,” Madam Fuller interjected suddenly, “I heard that the internal bidding for the city development plan of Lamifa City has already begun.”
“It has already started?” Angela sounded quite surprised.
Madam Fuller nodded, then shook her head: “Currently, it’s an internal bidding process and hasn’t been opened to the public. However, the general framework has been finalized. One of my business partners participating in the internal bidding mentioned that the Grand Duke clearly wants to catch the old nobility off guard.”
Darrell couldn’t help saying, “Sounds like big changes are coming to the city soon.”
“Yes,” Madam Fuller said mildly. “In a month or two, some projects might be placed on the agenda—such as road renovations, sewer clearing, and additions, among other things. Regardless, as ordinary residents, I believe these projects are meaningful.”
Eric nodded in agreement. As an older individual, he clearly shared more common ground with Madam Fuller, bringing up the clogged pipes at home, the garbage on the West District streets, and the vagrants scattered across the city’s corners.
“Such an environment is hardly comfortable,” he sighed.
Angela scratched her chin: “Still, Madam Fuller, what you’re mentioning are small matters. When will the truly massive engineering projects arrive?”
Madam Fuller replied meaningfully, “That depends on the compromises and power plays between the Grand Duke and the old nobility.”
At the mention of the old nobility, Siles felt a stir in his heart and asked, “I would like to ask everyone—” The others turned their gazes toward him. “—do any of you know much about Jonathan Bryant, the Minister of Finance?”
“Jonathan Bryant?” Angela said. “Isn’t he…”
Siles nodded: “Yes, a member of the Elders’ Council at the History Society. We once suspected he was the mastermind backing the underground gangs in the West District, and now…” He phrased it carefully, “…I believe he indeed is.”
He shared the findings from his recent investigations, including the boy he had encountered at the hospital.
The rest listened with keen interest.
“An illegitimate child?” Madam Fuller said. “I haven’t heard anything about that. Still, the Minister of Finance is getting up there in age; having an illegitimate child wouldn’t be impossible.”
Angela nodded in agreement: “The Bryant family is that exact kind of…” She wrinkled her nose, “…old nobility. You couldn’t find a family more pedantic and hypocritical, at least within the Duchy of Konst.”
When she said this, Darrell asked curiously, “How do you know?”
“Uh…” Angela looked up at the ceiling before admitting candidly, “Fine, because I had a very unpleasant encounter with that family when I was little. They seemed to want me to get engaged to Jonathan Bryant’s nephew.”
Darrell nodded, only half-understanding.
Eric, however, reacted immediately: “But wasn’t the age gap between you two quite large?”
“Exactly!” Angela declared. “I was under ten years old back then, while that man was nearly thirty—old enough to be my father!
“I truly don’t understand how they had the nerve to propose such a thing, acting as if marrying into their family would be me climbing the social ladder! Never mind that my family holds a Marquess title of our own!”
Angela casually blurted out the title of “Marquess,” no longer bothering to hide her status as a noble lady. Of course, everyone present was already well aware of her noble background.
…They even knew who her stepmother was, despite the newspapers never publishing a word about it.
In summary, the Bryant family appeared to be a noble household with a rather poor reputation, albeit one that had produced a powerful Minister of Finance.
Siles asked, “So how did the Bryant family develop into what it is today?”
Madam Fuller explained, “They were retainers to the first Grand Duke, coming to this land alongside the Grand Duke of Konst during the partition of the Sardinian Empire. However, that was four hundred years ago.
“The Bryant family was historically a staunch supporter of the House of Konst, much like the Constantine family. But fourteen years ago, the situation changed.”
Angela interjected, “That was also around the time they wanted to form a marriage alliance with my family.”
“Fourteen years ago…” Siles said in a low voice. “Because of the incident involving the current Grand Duke?”
“Yes,” Madam Fuller replied. “The current Grand Duke had an elder brother, and back then, everyone assumed he would inherit the title. Yet due to an unknown turn of events, it was the current Grand Duke who ultimately took office.
“The Bryant family was deeply dissatisfied by this. They believed the current Grand Duke and his backers had ruined the long-standing traditions and noble dignity of the Duchy of Konst, and that he shouldn’t continue as Grand Duke.
“…In fact, quite a few old nobles felt the exact same way.”
Darrell, listening with only partial comprehension, asked directly, “So what actually happened fourteen years ago? Why didn’t the Grand Duke’s elder brother take the throne?”
Madam Fuller let out a bitter smile and shook her head, saying, “No one knows.” She paused, exchanging a glance with Eric.
Out of the five people present, Siles, Angela, and Darrell were all children fourteen years ago and knew nothing about the high-level politics of the Duchy. Madam Fuller and Eric possessed a bit more context.
Eric hesitated briefly before speaking: “I recall… overnight, the designated heir to the Grand Duke changed. A few days later, the elder brother vanished without a trace. Months after that, the former Grand Duke passed away, and the current Grand Duke ascended the throne.”
Madam Fuller nodded, adding, “As far as I know, the change of heir was a decision made personally by the former Grand Duke; that much is indisputable. Thus, the sole point of suspicion is what transpired to cause such a sudden shift.”
Angela sighed, “Sounds terribly complex.”
Darrell nodded in complete agreement.
“In that case, the upcoming city development plan for Lamifa City will clearly serve as their battleground,” Siles remarked. “New and old forces, new and old nobility—everything is due for a changing of the guard.”
Madam Fuller sighed, “Indeed.”
“…Because of this, I suspect Jonathan Bryant and the underground gangs whose interests are threatened might back themselves into a corner and do something drastic,” Siles said quietly. “Perhaps we should keep a close eye on his movements.”
His companions nodded in unified agreement.
During the subsequent Dawn Revelation Society meeting, he brought up the matter with the three members there as well.
“Jonathan Bryant?” the Noblewoman said with keen interest. “The Minister of Finance? I know him—a truly shameless old man.”
“Oh?” the Paperboy asked, sounding intrigued.
“He once tried to get my stepdaughter engaged to his nephew,” the Noblewoman revealed. “They were a whole generation apart; I have no idea how that old man could come up with such a proposal.”
Croupier: “…”
Honestly… sometimes he really couldn’t get used to these situations.
The Paperboy and the Knight nodded in strong agreement.
The Paperboy shot a thoughtful glance toward the Croupier before saying, “Mr. Croupier, you truly are sharp. Over the coming period, Lamifa City will indeed become quite chaotic. What a headache of a winter.”
“Indeed,” the Croupier replied softly.
“Speaking of the Croupier,” the Noblewoman suddenly chuckled, “I heard an interesting piece of news recently. In the Ashless Lands, “croupier” has become quite a popular profession lately—some people have even become professional croupiers.
All three of them were stunned.
The Knight asked curiously, “How did that happen?”
The actual, genuine Croupier in the room felt a strange sense of helpless anticipation.
“Because of a certain type of card game… Noel Cards?” The Noblewoman said with slight uncertainty, “I believe that’s what they call them.”
The Knight shot a fleeting glance toward the Croupier.
The Noblewoman continued, “People say hidden within that deck are secrets pertaining to the Old Gods, which can only be uncovered by playing the game… complete nonsense, of course, yet people believe it whole-heartedly.
“They believe a Croupier chosen by fate will grant them the right answer, so recently, many explorers aren’t even bothered to go out adventuring—it happens to be a freezing winter anyway.
“They simply gather at post stations or villages, playing cards with other explorers to search for potential secrets using the rules of Noel Cards. If you ask me, they just want to play cards, not find any secrets.
“However, because of this alleged divine secret, they no longer gamble money when playing, which is quite fascinating. It can be considered a good thing.
“No one knows the origin of these cards. Rumor has it they came from the House of Hales, but now that the House of Hales has been reduced to ashes, nobody knows who invented them.
“Anyway, to play the game, they naturally need a Croupier to deal. But since there’s no money involved, many people acting as Croupier aren’t very attentive. The gamblers feel this reduces their chances of uncovering secrets, so they seek out professional croupiers instead.
“Now they’ve developed all sorts of playstyles and created cards with different designs. Some cards have even become exorbitant due to their exquisite art, selling for hundreds of Duke coins at a recent underground auction.
“…If you ask me, those explorers are just looking for fun during the bitter cold. Though it seems some people are actually taking it seriously.”
Saying this, the Noblewoman couldn’t help shrugging.
The others looked at each other in surprise.
The Paperboy remarked, “That is… quite unexpected.”
“I thought so too,” the Noblewoman said, scratching her chin. “Though I think there’s good profit to be made there.”
The Paperboy exposed her without hesitation: “You mean you see a business opportunity, don’t you?”
The Noblewoman laughed. After a brief pause, she added, “Still, it’s surprising that they don’t gamble money. A rumor spread from somewhere claiming that if you want to discover the divine secret within the cards, you must not gamble.
“Once money is involved, any possibility of uncovering the Old Gods’ secrets is lost… truly incredible.”
“Perhaps that’s precisely why people believe a divine secret is hidden within,” the Knight observed objectively. “Otherwise, if it were just an ordinary card game, what secret could it possibly hold?”
The Noblewoman nodded in agreement, though she sneered, “Knight, ‘ordinary card game’? Truth be told, many explorers are utterly obsessed, unwilling to go on expeditions at all, spending all day studying their… what did they call it?
“…Tactics. Yes, card tactics. Some are even discussing fixed openings, which card to play first, which community card to snatch, and which Old God card is the most useful. They’ve turned card playing into an art form, and it’s barely been any time.”
The Paperboy clicked his tongue in wonder. Thinking it over with great interest, he said, “At this rate, maybe they’ll even host a… Noel Card Tournament?”
Croupier: “…”
The Knight burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer, letting out a hearty laugh.
The Paperboy and Noblewoman stared at him in confusion.
After laughing for a moment, the Knight explained, “I just find it so unbelievable. A bunch of explorers, addicted to a card game… it’s rather comical.”
“Indeed,” the Noblewoman agreed. “Though compared to life-or-death exploration, perhaps they prefer seeking thrills from a completely safe card game. Put that way, I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing.”
The Paperboy nodded in concurrence.
“Speaking of strange occurrences,” the Noblewoman suddenly recalled, “let me share a piece of hilarious news from the Ashless Lands. Do you know Chendo Praia?”
Croupier: “…”
He felt he already knew what the Noblewoman was about to say. His eyes slowly drifted toward the ceiling as he felt an urge to transform into Mr. Ghost and float right out of the room.
…Do ghosts really exist in this world? He felt he was pondering this question with extreme rationality.
The Knight shook his head, while the Paperboy said, “I think I’ve heard of him. An explorer? Supposedly extremely powerful, but not very pleasant, always a lone wolf.”
“You can’t call him a lone wolf anymore,” the Noblewoman said with a mysterious smile. “It’s spread all across the Ashless Lands. Word is that this explorer fell in love with a man, and plans to bid farewell to the madness of the Ashless Lands to return home and enjoy a warm blanket.”
Her smile was laden with meaning.
The Paperboy let out a soft exclamation, saying, “How interesting! I wonder who his lover could be?”
Croupier: “…”
Sitting right here, he thought with mixed feelings of amusement and helplessness.
And “spread all across the Ashless Lands”?
It seemed he had still understated Chendo’s fame in the Ashless Lands…
After chatting about gossip and expressing curiosity about how Noel Cards were played, the Noblewoman and the Paperboy left one after another. They agreed in unison that in such cold weather, they didn’t want to get home after dark.
Once they departed, the Knight removed his helmet and spoke with clear amusement: “Professor Noel, first off, congratulations on the publication of your research paper. However, it seems your winter trip to the Ashless Lands was quite event-filled?”
Siles remained silent for a moment before saying, “Thank you. It was indeed. Furthermore, I have an additional piece of information to add.”
Carol was startled, asking curiously, “What is it?”
“Chendo Praia is my lover,” Siles said calmly and frankly.
Carol: “…”
He froze on the spot, his eyes widening as he stared at Siles in disbelief. Moments later, he let out a loud, hearty laugh, saying warmly, “So, just now—Siles, while we were discussing Mr. Praia, what were you thinking?”
“…’Chendo Praia’s lover is sitting right here,'” Siles said dryly. Of course, except for himself, no one could detect that “dry” emotion from his cold, calm face.
Carol couldn’t stop himself from laughing again.
Siles waited patiently for him to regain his composure.
“…Apologies, apologies, Professor,” Carol said, barely holding back his laughter. “I just didn’t expect your life in the Ashless Lands to be so colorful.”
Siles felt a bit helpless, but a faint smile touched his lips as well. He said, “Indeed it was.”
Carol looked at Siles with slight doubt, unsure of what his “indeed” referred to.
Siles shifted the subject: “By the way, Carol, I wanted to ask for your help with something.”
Carol said in surprise, “That’s a first coming from you… Please go ahead, Professor Noel. The ‘Replicating the Self’ ritual you presented alone makes it worth doing something for you.”
Siles paused, realizing he was benefiting from his own reputation. He said, “It concerns Brewer Darrow. I heard…”
He weighed his words carefully.
“The Second Corridor has unsealed the investigation files regarding the Darrow family. I heard their archives and collection of books are kept elsewhere? I wanted to ask if it might be possible for me to review some of those materials? I believe it could offer some insight.”
Carol sighed, “Ah, Brewer… The Darrow family’s collection is indeed kept by the History Society, stored in a bank’s deposit vault. I’m not certain if you’ll be allowed to inspect those files.
“However, given your current reputation and standing within the History Society… it’s not entirely impossible. In any case, I’ll try asking Grace.”
“Thank you, Carol,” Siles expressed his sincere gratitude.
“Don’t mention it,” Carol replied. “I am also looking forward to your group unraveling the mystery behind the Darrow family’s demise.”
His words caused Siles to pause.
Siles sighed softly, saying, “I hope so too.”
As evening approached, they bade each other farewell and left the History Society. Siles headed to 32 Lowell Street, where Chendo was waiting for him.
“I only arrived home a little earlier than you,” Chendo said. “I guessed you’d return around this time, so I bought dinner on the way back.”
Siles was taken aback before lifting the food container in his hand. He couldn’t help but smile, speaking in a low tone, “I bought some too.”
Chendo froze visibly, then said teasingly, “Looks like we’ll have to eat a bit more, Professor Noel.”
They had happened to do the exact same thing. Such unspoken understanding manifested in peculiar ways, yet it brought a genuine sense of warmth.
After leaving the Ashless Lands, Siles had harbored slight worries that their feelings might wear down amidst the mundane, trivial, day-to-day routine.
Yet a tighter, deeper connection seemed to bind them together. Their feelings grew with each passing day, never diminishing in the slightest.
After dinner, they tidied the kitchen and dining table. Chendo stretched, coming to stand beside Siles to gaze at the desolate winter scene outside the window. He muttered, “I’ve mostly finished auditing the accounts. None of the insiders were brave enough to do anything major, which is a bit disappointing.”
“That counts as a disappointment?”
“Making an example out of someone,” Chendo said with rare coldness. “I must admit, after becoming the sole heir to the Praia family’s assets, I haven’t had much patience for managing them.
“So the operation of these businesses relies entirely on their self-discipline. Now that I’ve come to Konst, I need to do something so they know I’m here—like auditing accounts, or hunting for internal traitors.
“…Of course, since the Praia family’s assets are running fine, I don’t need to waste much energy. I hope they keep it up. I don’t want to waste my thoughts on those matters… because my thoughts are all on you.”
Siles looked at Chendo in surprise. He wasn’t shocked by Chendo’s affection, but rather amazed by his objective stance toward his family assets.
He said, “I appreciate you placing your thoughts on me. Still, I am surprised by your attitude toward the Praia family assets. I thought you never cared for those things.”
Chendo rested his head on Siles’s shoulder, complaining, “Are you saying I’ve always been childish and never showed any work competence?”
“No,” Siles let out a low chuckle. “I just feel you’ve impressed me.”
Without waiting for Chendo to reply, he added, “This afternoon at the Dawn Revelation Society, they mentioned that the mysterious, powerful explorer from the Ashless Lands—Chendo Praia—has found a lover.
“If I hadn’t been hiding my identity, I would have loved to tell them right then that I am Chendo Praia’s lover. Chendo, I am honored to be…”
His words cut off halfway because Chendo kissed him—so urgently, so eagerly, as if Siles actually finishing that sentence would drive him entirely mad.
A moment later, their lips parted. Chendo murmured softly, “You’re cheating. I need to make you realize that.”
Chendo’s words made Siles chuckle softly. He said, “I have to say something to prove I’m not as cold as you think.”
“Oh…” Chendo muttered under his breath, “I don’t see you…”
“…What?”
Chendo wisely shut his mouth right then. Of course, he had no choice, as his beloved deity softly kissed him again, whispering gently, “Give me time to prepare, alright, Chendo?”
Chendo thought about it for a second before admitting completely that he had zero resistance against Siles. He said, “Of course, whatever you say.”
