Outside the door—it was Xio and Fors?
Outside the window—it was Jane… Wait, it seemed Emma, who was possessed by Flora, was there too… except the former hadn't noticed the latter…
No—it's because of Flora's ability. They can't perceive each other at all…
But why would Xio, Fors, Jane, Emma, and Flora all show up at my place in the middle of the night?
Just as Ebner was puzzling over it, the "magic mirror" beside him suddenly made Chesia—its puppet—speak:
"Master, happy birthday!"
Only then did it hit him—oh right, today was the birthday of this body.
A wave of warmth and pride welled up inside him. Having so many friends remember his birthday meant that, after crossing over to this world for more than a year, he had truly succeeded in integrating into it.
Still, why do I have a bad feeling about such a heartwarming scene?
Rubbing his chin, Ebner quickly activated the Pure White Eye, using the uniqueness of the "Wheel of Fortune" within to begin a simulation.
After half a minute and dozens of possible fate branches, Ebner wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and made his decision.
First, he released Yaloran's avatar and had her use "Mystery Reenactment – One Pillow Dream" to construct a large Dream Labyrinth inside his bedroom.
The labyrinth contained nothing else—just multiple, perfect one-to-one replicas of his bedroom.
Anyone who entered—whether through the door or the window—would be instantly drawn into one of the dream bedrooms, without realizing it.
Meanwhile, Ebner divided his Eyes of Wisdom, letting them take on his appearance inside these dreamscapes, becoming avatars of himself, each ready to greet the friends who had come to "celebrate" his birthday.
The Eyes of Wisdom had no corporeal form in the real world, but within dreams or the gray fog—these "illusory" realms—they could indeed become true incarnations.
After finishing all that, Ebner finally lifted the spiritual barrier around his bedroom and welcomed his friends in.
—Since the mythical form of a Demoness was dangerous enough to drive ordinary people and most Beyonders insane—or even kill them—just from a glance, he had previously constructed a Wall of Spirituality around his room as protection.
…
Jane Grant Miranda, who had rushed over from Nafs, didn't realize she was already inside a dream. She looked at Ebner standing before her and smirked mischievously. Then, with lightning speed, she took out the cake hidden behind her—its presence obscured by spirituality—and smashed it right into Ebner's face.
Ever since her birthday, when she had crossed that solemn corridor into a beautiful "castle" only to have her face covered in cake at the peak of her anticipation, she had been waiting for the perfect chance to get revenge on Ebner—and tonight, she finally got it.
Ebner's Eye of Wisdom avatar, of course, had foreseen Jane's "surprise," but he made no attempt to stop it, letting her get her revenge.
After all, it's just a dream anyway…
…
Compared to Jane, Emma was far more "ladylike." As a noble young lady, the reason she had come to Ebner's room in the middle of the night was half due to Flora's influence—being the fanatical believer of Ebner—and half because she genuinely wanted to "steal" Ebner's heart as part of her "Prometheus" role-play.
"Ebner, happy birthday!" she said politely, then presented her gift.
It was a mechanical wristwatch—its gears exposed, exuding a sophisticated mechanical charm.
…
The moment Xio Derecha stepped into Ebner's bedroom, her powers as someone on the Arbiter pathway made her faintly aware that something was off.
She scanned the room and the Ebner in front of her but couldn't pinpoint what exactly felt wrong.
Her brows furrowed. Even though she had returned to Backlund, the intense rhythm of her recent "disciplinary" missions kept her on high alert. So, while Ebner and Fors were chatting, she quietly recited a name under her breath:
"The Fool that does not belong to this era…"
…
At 160 Boklund Street, Klein was lying in bed in his second-floor bedroom, mulling over how to handle tomorrow's Full Moon Mass.
The Church of the Evernight Goddess didn't have that many holy days. The most important was the Winter Festival, followed by the Full Moon Mass, also known as the Moonlight Service, and then the usual weekly Sunday ceremonies. Different dioceses and cathedrals also had their own feast days depending on their patron saints or angels.
I'm not too worried myself. As Dwayne Dantès, I did interact with a few bishops and priests of St. Samuel's Cathedral because of Daly, but most were just acquaintances in passing. Even if someone replaced me, they wouldn't notice…
The real issue is Sharon. Normally, she could stay home using pregnancy as an excuse, but as the Night Goddess' Black Night Guardian, skipping the Full Moon Mass could draw suspicion.
And if she really goes, can Sharon truly play the role of "Daly" well enough?
Maybe I should use the Endless Book of Teleportation to visit Feysac and ask the real Daly to come help?
Just as he was debating the idea, Klein heard a faint, overlapping plea echoing in the spiritual realm.
He got out of bed, took four steps counterclockwise, and ascended above the gray fog. There, he discovered the one praying was none other than 'Judgment' Xio.
Ebner's birthday… the sense of wrongness after entering the room… wanting to know the source of that unease…
So today is "Mr. Tower's" birthday? I didn't even notice… Hmm, I should send him my regards later. After all, he once celebrated mine.
Thinking that, Klein extended his spirituality toward the crimson star representing "Judgment," using their connection to observe the source of her unease.
Moments later, his expression grew subtly amused—he had seen through exactly what Ebner was doing.
After a few seconds of thought, Klein manifested his pendulum and conducted a brief divination. As the yellow crystal spun counterclockwise, the corners of his mouth lifted.
Well, well, since this is Miss Judgment's prayer, and the price is two pages of Emperor Roselle's diary, as The Fool who trades in equivalent exchange, I can't possibly ignore it…
Besides, this can serve as my birthday "blessing" for you too, Mr. Tower. I do hope you enjoy it.
Having convinced himself, Klein picked up a "Paper Angel" and threw it into the crimson star representing "Judgment," granting her a blessing.
And that blessing had but one effect—allowing Miss Judgment to remain conscious within the dream.
…
Back in Ebner's room, Xio had just handed over her birthday present when she suddenly saw a twelve-winged seraph wrap its wings around her.
At that instant, she knew—this place wasn't reality.
Raising her head, she looked at the "Ebner" who was admiring the pair of cufflinks, and her eyes grew dangerously sharp.
If any criminal familiar with the terror of the Unseen Fear were here, they would recognize that look—
Discipline was about to descend.
(End of this chapter)