For a moment, the screen remained blank. Then:
Painful!
The crowd jumped a little in surprise. Leonard and Benson paled, while Melissa's hands clenched her skirt. They recognized that voice.
"I knew it." She choked back a sob, hands trembling in her lap. "I knew it, I knew it..."
Benson pulled Melissa into his side, looking ashen. Leonard looked on with shame curdling in his stomach.
Most people (read: Alger) were curious about who the voice belonged to, but seeing the violent reaction from the siblings, they restrained their curiosity.
Real fun start, Will complained to himself. Real cheery.
How painful!
My head hurts so badly!
"What happened?" Leonard muttered before his eyes narrowed slightly. Klein Moretti had been hired by the Nighthawks due to his involvement with the Antigonius family notebook - a Sealed Artifact that had caused him to shoot himself in the head with a revolver!
Don't tell me, we'll be seeing that scene? He cast a worried glance towards Benson and Melissa. The real reason he survived is due to the Fool's interference? I'd always suspected, but...no, what about the curse of the Antigonius family's notebook... I feel like I don't know anything at all!
A gaudy and dazzling dreamworld filled with murmurs instantly shattered. The sound asleep Zhou Mingrui felt an abnormal throbbing pain in his head as though someone had ruthlessly lashed at him with a pole again and again. No, it was more like a sharp object pierced right through his temples followed by a twist!
"Zhou... Mingrui?" Danitz scoffed. "Poor bastard must have gotten bullied with a name like that."
Definitely a Provoker. Roselle fumed to himself. It's a very proper Chinese name, okay?! Almost as good as Huang Tao!
"It's true that I don't recognize that naming style from anywhere," frowned Cattleya. She looked towards Bernadette, who shook her head to signify that she didn't know either. Even Azik - who had regained many of his memories from across a thousand years of life - found the conventions unfamiliar, though he didn't say as much.
Leonard blinked. Zhou Mingrui? He didn't recognize that name, so his theory must have been mistaken, but he'd been so sure...
"That was definitely Klein's voice," Melissa said faintly. "I'd recognize it anywhere. Who...?"
Ouch…In his stupor, Zhou Mingrui attempted to turn around, look up, and sit up; however, he was completely unable to move his limbs as though he had lost control over his body.
From the looks of it, I'm still not awake. I'm still in a dream… Who knows, perhaps the next scene will be of me thinking I'm already awake, but in fact, am actually still sleeping…
What is this? The experienced Tarot Club had no idea what was going on. Zhou Mingrui? Who is that? What does this have to do with Mr. Fool?
"Maybe this person is under the influence of a Nightmare?" Xio suggested uncertainly.
Yes, this does all seem like a nightmare... Benson, who had completely misinterpreted her words, smiled bleakly to himself.
Zhou Mingrui, who was not unfamiliar with similar encounters, tried his best to focus in order to escape the shackles placed upon him by the darkness and confusion.
However, while still in his reverie, whatever will he could summon was ethereal like a fleeting fog. He found his thoughts difficult to control and introspect. No matter how much he tried, he still lost his focus as random thoughts surfaced in his mind... F**k, don't tell me I'm going to die young?
The group listened to Zhou Mingrui's panicked thoughts with increasing worry. This didn't seem like a normal headache.
I need to wake up! Now!
Leonard frowned, wishing he could use his Nightmare abilities to do something. Even if this person wasn't actually Klein, hearing someone with his best friend's voice scream in agony made him want to cry.
Eh? Why doesn't it seem to hurt as much as before? But why does it still feel like a blunt knife is slicing through my brains…
"That is a very uncomfortable experience," Azik said thoughtfully to himself. "I wish I hadn't regained that memory."
This gained him many horrified looks from those who were within earshot. Thankfully, Benson and Melissa were too focused on their brother's voice to pay much attention.
From the looks of it, sleep is impossible. How am I to show up for work tomorrow?
"He's still thinking about work in a situation like this?" The slacker Fors couldn't imagine having such dedication.
Why am I still thinking about work? This is some authentic headache. Of course I have to take time off! I don't have to worry about my manager's grumblings!
Hey, putting it that way, it doesn't seem too bad. Hehe, I can end up getting some spare time for myself!
Fors smiled. "That's more like it."
What a carefree fellow... After some slight mocking, Alger habitually began to analyze the situation. This obviously isn't a normal occurrence, or it wouldn't be worth showing to us. But "Zhou Mingrui" doesn't seem to realize that yet. Although there's some panic and hesitation, it's clearly the fear of a normal person in a strange situation - not the reaction of someone used to pain or danger. Is this man even a Beyonder? Just what secrets could he hold, for his existence to threaten Mr. Fool in the eyes of Mysteries?
Throbbing pain inundated Zhou Mingrui, allowing him to slowly accumulate immaterial strength until he was finally able to move his back and open his eyes. He finally broke free from his reverie.
Several people sighed in relief.
His vision first blurred before it was screened by a faint crimson red. All he could see was a study desk made of burly wood in front of him. Right in the middle was an opened notebook with coarse, yellow pages. The title was eye-catchingly written with strange, deep black lettering... In front of the ink bottle and to the right of the notebook sat a dark-colored pen with a fully circular body. Its tip shimmered with a faint glint while its cap rested right beside a brass revolver.
A gun? A revolver? Zhou Mingrui was completely taken aback. The things laid before him were alien to him. It looked nothing like his room!
"So he had a bad headache and woke up somewhere else?" Xio, who worked for MI9 and often dealt with similar cases, summarized. "This sounds like a kidnapping. He might have been drugged."
It kind of was like getting kidnapped, actually, mused Emperor Roselle.
"Kidnapped and not restrained in any way? Unlikely," countered the Hermit. However, she had no alternate suggestion to offer, simply furrowing her brow with an expression identical to Bernadette's. The two Pirate Kings tried to puzzle out the situation, but couldn't come to any certain conclusion.
"Maybe he got blackout drunk and slept at a girl's place," Danitz suggested lamely.
"He obviously sleepwalked," declared Emlyn as if he'd solved everything.
A revolver. Shot in the head. Leonard felt sick. There's no way... I'm overthinking it.
While feeling shocked and confused, he discovered that the desk, notebook, ink bottle, and revolver were covered in a crimson veil, a result of the light shining from the window.
Subconsciously, he looked up and shifted his gaze up bit by bit.
And that's when he saw it. Hanging in the air, a crimson moon shone above the black velvet curtain, glowing eerily in silence.
The temperature of the fog lowered several degrees, its chill seeping into everyone's bones. They felt that the sight in front of them, completely ordinary to any citizen of this world, had somehow been turned into something strange and terrifying.
Shaking themselves, the Evernight believers present all praised the Lady, despite the fact that authority over the crimson moon was no longer included in 'Her' honorific name - 'She' had given that to Earth Mother Lilith.
Amanises 'Herself' was expressionless, knowing the truth behind that so-called beautiful moon. It had always been 'Her' least favorite authority, anyway. Not only was it too close to the Outer Gods, but more than that, it was an omnipresent reminder of the place 'She' could never return to. Even thousands of years later, 'She' could still recall looking up into an unfamiliar sky and seeing that crimson light for the first time. The stars on 'Her' veil swirled and shifted. How fitting, that it was the first thing you saw when you came to this world.
Roselle similarly suppressed a sigh, remembering the first time he'd seen that red light. And what had happened when he'd seen it up close... That crimson moon really marked the beginning and end of everything. He smiled bitterly.
This…Zhou Mingrui felt inexplicably horrified as he stood up abruptly. However, before his feet fully straightened, his brain protested with throbbing pain. It made him temporarily lose his strength as he fell uncontrollably...
"I don't get it." Danitz was confused - well, moreso than he usually was. "Why is he so surprised? It's just the moon."
"Just the moon," Roselle mocked under his breath. "I'm really starting to not like this guy."
The pain did little. Zhou Mingrui stood up again by propping himself up. He turned around in a fluster as he began to size up the environment he was in.
The room was not very large, with a brown door on each side of the room... Items resembling coal stoves sat in the right corner of the room near the table, along with soup pots, iron pots, and other kitchen utensils.
Is this what an apartment looks like in cities to the north? Although Derrick was still tense and worried about Mr. Fool, he couldn't help but be curious about the outside world - a place he hadn't had the chance to see much of, since he'd spent most of his time there getting everyone from the Forsaken Land of the Gods settled. He absentmindedly pet Susie and watched the scene with interest, determined to find anything that could help Mr. Fool.
Benson and Melissa straightened, breaths catching. There was no mistaking it: this was a description of their apartment in Tingen, the one they'd lived in before Klein had gotten that job, and then...
"What is this...?" Benson was at a loss for words. "What is going on?"
Across the right door was a dressing mirror with two cracks. Its bottom was made of wood and the patterns were simple and plain.
With a sweep of his gaze, Zhou Mingrui noticed himself in the mirror—the present him.
Black hair, brown eyes, a linen shirt, thinly built, average-looking features and a rather deep outline…
Everyone who knew Klein Moretti inhaled sharply. Benson seemed to lose all strength, letting out a choked noise, while Melissa jumped out of her seat.
"Klein!" she shouted. "But that's- that's not-"
Once again, Azik put a hand on the girl's shoulder. At the same time, Audrey cast Placate on her friend, holding back a sad sigh. While feeling sympathy for Melissa, she tried to analyze the situation. Is this a case of body-swapping like in the novels? No, Audrey, you're not a little girl anymore! It doesn't always work like a story. Is it even possible to manipulate a Spirit Body like this? Perhaps just his physical body was changed with Faceless powers? Wait, what does this mean in relation to Gehrman Sparrow's identity...?
After standing very still for a moment, Melissa dropped back into her seat, eyes hazy.
"What's going on?" Benson repeated. His face was haggard and tired.
Leonard had to stop himself from yelling in surprise at the sight of his "dead" best friend. He hadn't seen Klein as, well, Klein, since long before he'd gone to sleep alongside Mr. Fool. But wait - was this even Klein? Who was this stranger in Klein's body?! No way... Parasitization?! But if that were it, why wouldn't he tell me at some point? Is it something else? Did he not trust me? Is the person on screen even my friend in the first place...? Leonard's thoughts drifted as he covered his mouth in shock, coming to the realization that he knew even less about his former colleague than he'd thought.
Azik stared at the screen calmly. It seems my student's origins are a little deeper than I imagined.
Meanwhile, those who had never met Klein (the majority) were left to stew in growing confusion. They had no way of knowing what it meant that someone named Zhou Mingrui was in this body, other than what they had gleaned from others' reactions.
Who is this? Alger frowned at the screen. I'm sure I've never seen him before, but Mr. Star had such a strong reaction. Miss Justice seems to know something as well. But the most important people in this situation are obviously those two siblings. Benson and Melissa, were they? Which member of the Tarot Club are they connected to? The only ones that the girl, Melissa, had reacted to were Mr. Star and Miss Justice, and she hadn't looked close with either of them.
...But there was one member of the Tarot Club that wasn't present right now.
Having come up with a preliminary, if shaky, theory, Alger leaned forward in his seat and prepared himself for whatever information was coming.
This…Zhou Mingrui immediately drew a gasp as many helpless and confused guesses surfaced in his mind.
The revolver in ancient European style and the crimson moon that looked different from Earth's moon could only mean one thing!
"It could?" Danitz was puzzled.
"European...?" Derrick echoed the unfamiliar word. Was this another thing he was unaware of due to the City of Silver's isolation? But everybody else seemed just as lost...
Amanises closed 'Her' eyes, remembering 'Her' own home.
C-could I have transmigrated? Zhou Mingrui widened his mouth slightly.
"Transmigrated..."
Several people repeated this word in confusion. The way Zhou Mingrui had said it made it obvious that it was important, but nobody seemed to know what it meant. Even experienced Beyonders felt lost in a way they hadn't since they'd first entered the mysticism world, unable to even venture guesses at what was going on.
Roselle snorted. "Figured it out way quicker than I did. Damn Seers," he sneered in Mandarin.
That language again... Bernadette cast a sideways glance at her father. I wonder if it's what he writes his diary in. How does the Fool know it? This term, "transmigrated" - does Father know what it means?
Is that - whatever this person did - the reason he's in... he's in Klein's body? Melissa's heart raced. Tears pricked at her eyes. When did this happen? When did Klein stop being Klein? How could I not have noticed...?
"Did we lose our brother before we even knew that we'd lost him?" Benson's words came out terribly faint.
Nobody had an answer.
Audrey watched the pair and said nothing. Her hands lightly balled up the fabric in her dress.
The Beyonder world is cruel, she thought.
He had grown up reading web novels and had often fantasized over such scenes. However, he momentarily found it hard to accept the situation when he found himself in one.
Roselle bared his teeth in a facsimile of a smile. "Not as pretty as the stories, eh?"
A quiet suspicion began to grow in Bernadette's mind.
This was probably what it meant to love a fantasy? In a minute, Zhou Mingrui had already cursed himself while trying to make the best out of his adverse situation.
If not for the still throbbing headache that made his thoughts high strung but clear, he would have definitely suspected that he was dreaming.
Calm down, calm down, calm down…After taking a few deep breaths, Zhou Mingrui worked hard to stop panicking.
This style of thinking seems familiar... Miss Justice's lips twitched as she silently added another reason to her mental list of "Why Klein Moretti is Gehrman Sparrow", improving her mood.
At that moment, as his mind and body calmed down, memories began flooding him as they slowly appeared in his mind!
Klein Moretti, a citizen of the Northern Continent's Loen Kingdom, Awwa County, City of Tingen. He is also a recent graduate from the Department of History at Khoy University…
People stared open-mouthed at the screen, unable to make sense of what they were seeing and hearing.
Roselle and Amanises both winced slightly, remembering their own memory dumps. They hadn't been very fun.
Memory fragments? Azik came up with a theory. Perhaps there's some split inside his soul, similar to my own, putting him in the situation of an Undying? But since it's only a fracture, not complete breakage, the symptoms aren't as severe and he regains some memories immediately. It doesn't account for everything, but perhaps...
Meanwhile, Will had a theory of his own. Reincarnation in the style of the Fate pathway? Though my method doesn't involve any lost memories and starts from birth. This guy is as unique as ever, it seems.
Implanted memories? Alger wasn't sure what to make of this. Or some unusual, mysticism-caused type of amnesia? Who is the real person - Klein Moretti or Zhou Mingrui? Given the presence of those two siblings, I'd wager Klein... but then, what does that make Zhou Mingrui?
His father was a sergeant of the Imperial Army who had sacrificed himself during a colonial conflict with the Southern Continent. The bereavement allowance gave Klein the opportunity to study at a private language school and laid the foundation for his admission into university…
His mother was a devotee of the Evernight Goddess. She passed away the year Klein passed the entrance examinations to Khoy University…
Amanises distantly recalled a prayer light 'She' had listened to in passing - a haggard mother with black hair and brown eyes, hoping for her son's success in university. 'She' bowed 'Her' head. Your wish would have been granted even without faith or prayer.
He also had an elder brother and a younger sister. They stayed in a two bedroom apartment together…
Tears began to fall down Melissa's face. She set her mouth into a grim line, determined to wait until she was alone to break down and process this fully. In the meantime, she burrowed further into Benson's side, who was making no effort to hide his tears.
From a few seats over, Caitlyn Hall stared worriedly at Melissa. Lost beyond belief, her family in shock, and unable to face her own daughter - who was only a few steps away but had never felt further - Caitlyn at least wanted to help the girl in front of her. She put a gentle hand on Melissa's arm.
"Are you alright, dear?" she asked.
Melissa stared back for a moment, dazed, before mutely nodding. Her lips were tightly pressed together as if she'd scream the moment she opened them.
Their family was not wealthy and its situation could even be described as somewhat wanting. At present, the family was supported solely by the elder brother who worked at an import and export company as a clerk…
Benson laughed bitterly. "That company closed down in the war. I'd be out of a job if you hadn't forced me to study for the civil service exams..."
Hearing his remark, the crowd looked over at the Morettis and finally made the connection.
"Are you Klein's siblings?" Emlyn asked with a frown. He had just realized that their scents were a little familiar. They almost remind me of Sherlock Moriarty. How strange... Well, I suppose he does look very similar to Klein Moretti, except with a beard. In fact, they could almost be twins. Emlyn felt that he was on the verge of grasping something, but before he could reach it, he received a response.
"We are," Melissa said blankly. "Benson and Melissa Moretti. That's us."
Although Mr. World wasn't a part of the Tarot Club at the time we were discussing civil service exams, as Mr. Fool's favorite, he was probably kept up to date on the gatherings. Because of that, he encouraged his brother to start studying for an opportunity he knew would come, Alger reasoned. My theory is becoming more and more likely. But is Gehrman Sparrow Klein Moretti, or is he Zhou Mingrui? Is there even a difference?
As a history graduate, Klein grasped knowledge of the ancient Feysac language—deemed the origin of all languages in the Northern Continent—as well as the Hermes language which often appeared in ancient mausoleums as well as text regarding sacrificial and prayer rituals…
Hermes language? Zhou Mingrui's mind stirred as he reached out to rub his throbbing temples. He cast his gaze toward the table at the opened notebook. He noticed that the text on the yellowed paper turned from strange to alien, before turning from alien to something familiar. It then turned into something readable.
It was text written in Hermes language!
Leonard paled. He remembered that notebook. Could this really be the night that Klein had "died"?
No… Leonard thought with growing horror. He walked out of his own grave once. It's possible that he really did die and come back to life at that time. But was he already Zhou Mingrui then? How long has Klein Moretti been dead…?!
The dark ink wrote the following:
"Everyone will die, including me."
"W-What…?"
Even though most of the Beyonders gathered were experienced, such horrifying words combined with the mystery surrounding the circumstances - along with the underlying tension of their own situation - were enough to chill their blood.
Except for Roselle, who grinned. "Dramatic." My "transmigration" wasn't nearly this over-the-top. The body I woke up in had just died in its sleep from a fever... I'm kind of jealous!
"H-Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Danitz let out an uneasy laugh. His question hung unanswered in the air.
Is this an early prediction of the apocalypse? Bernadette wondered. Or something else?
Meanwhile, Earl Hall grimaced. He'd gotten plenty of death threats in his time (an occupational hazard), but he'd never heard of writing a death threat directed at oneself. Just what could drive a person to do such a thing? Maybe the same madness that would drive my daughter to involve herself with a hidden existence, he lamented.
"Why would - why would Klein write that?" Benson's voice cracked in two. "Why would he write something so terrible? Melissa, you're a Beyonder. Do you know?"
Melissa's throat was so clogged with tears that she could barely speak. "No. I don't know."
I don't... know anything anymore.
It really is that notebook, Leonard thought bleakly. Oh, Klein. What did you do?
Hiss! Zhou Mingrui felt inexplicably horrified. He instinctively leaned back in an attempt to widen the distance between him and the notebook, as well as the text on it.
"Inexplicably?" Danitz scoffed, his voice slightly shaky - he didn't want to admit the notebook had scared him a little. Dogshit... "That's pretty explicable."
Fors shuddered. "I'd do the same thing." She paused and added, "I'd burn the notebook for good measure."
Seeing Zhou Mingrui's shock onscreen, Alger couldn't help but think. Whatever is happening, it's obviously not by this man's will. The memory fragments prove that this isn't just a change in physical appearance, either. Either he's really become Klein Moretti, or a demigod Spectator implanted false memories into his mind. Either way, this involves an existence of a very high level. Why would someone like Klein Moretti or Zhou Mingrui attract its attention?
Being very weak, he nearly fell down but managed to extend his hands in a fluster to hold onto the edge of the table. He felt that the surrounding air was turbulent as though there were faint murmurings resounding in it. The feeling was akin to hearing horror stories being recounted by elders when he was young.
He shook his head, believing that everything was an illusion. Zhou Mingrui found his balance and shifted his gaze from the notebook as he heaved for breath.
Denial... while understandable in such an overwhelming situation, it won't get you far. Miss Juctice habitually psychoanalyzed the situation. To show such a reaction, Zhou Mingrui is probably a normal person, with no experience in mysticism whatsoever. How could such a person become involved with Mr. Fool? It must have to do with what was written in that notebook!
This time, his gaze landed on the shimmering brass revolver. He suddenly had a question arise in him.
With Klein's family situation, how can they have the money or means to buy a revolver?
"He's right," Melissa murmured. "If we bought a fancy gun like that, we wouldn't be able to buy food for two weeks."
Audrey frowned. Was their situation that bad? She'd have her Virtual Persona increase Melissa's salary at the charity foundation later.
"Maybe he stole it?" Emlyn suggested.
The offhanded remark seemed to snap Benson back to life. He glared at the Sanguine with a surprising amount of vitriol, snapping, "Klein would never do that!"
"Someone must have given him the gun then," reasoned Miss Judgment.
Benson turned to focus his glare onto Xio. "Klein would never get involved with that kind of person, either. He didn't have a violent bone in his body."
Mr. Star and Miss Justice's thoughts turned to a certain cold and crazy adventurer whose biography had topped the bestselling lists for the past two weeks.
No, just a violent alter ego. Leonard coughed into his hand.
Wasn't there an entire chapter dedicated to listing the bounties he cashed in? It was at least ten pages long... Audrey recalled, expression betraying nothing.
"It was just a suggestion." The seasoned Imperative Mage, who knew nothing of Gehrman Sparrow's origins, met Benson's gaze calmly. "Besides, there are many reasons someone could have given him a gun. For self-protection, or perhaps he was coerced into keeping it."
"How many times do I have to tell you?!" Benson's anger began slipping into desperation. "He'd never get himself into a situation like that in the first place! He wasn't - he wasn't-"
"Benson," Melissa hissed, tugging at his sleeve.
The man's emotions seemed to peter off as he looked at his sister. With a deep sigh, he sunk back into his seat.
"I'm sorry," he croaked. "I'm just... very confused."
Xio shook her head, signifying that she held no grudge. "You have every right to be. This is an unusual situation for all of us."
Meanwhile, the Moon felt slightly miffed that he was yelled at for no good reason, but he was smart enough to pick his battles and stayed quiet.
Zhou Mingrui could not help but frown.
While in deep thought, he suddenly discovered a red handprint to the side of the table. Its color was deeper than the moonlight and much thicker than the 'veil.'
It was a bloody handprint!
Goddess... Despite already being emotionally exhausted, Melissa and Benson somehow found the energy to suck in a breath, offering a quiet prayer. Leonard, slumped in resignation, sent a regretful look in their direction. He knew what was coming.
An unfamiliar room, soaked in blood and moonlight... heh, that's a pretty good line. Who would dare say I can only plagiarize poetry? Roselle chuckled to himself, but staring at the crimson-stained screen, the mirth quickly faded. Although he didn't know Zhou Mingrui's experience - they'd really only met once, and there had been no time to swap stories - he could take a guess as to where all that blood had come from. That alone told him Zhou Mingrui's story hadn't had a pretty beginning.
Judging by the look in Zhou Mingrui's eyes during their first and only meeting, it hadn't had a pretty ending, either.
Azik frowned in worry. Klein - well, Zhou Mingrui, apparently - had never told him about an incident like this. What happened to him?
"Does he have an ouchie?" asked Will Auceptin.
"A bloody handprint?" Zhou Mingrui subconsciously flipped his right hand that had been holding the edge of the table. Looking down, he saw that his palm and fingers were covered in blood.
At the same time, the throbbing pain in his head continued. Although it had weakened a little, it continued incessantly.
Dread began to build in the hearts of the audience.
Fors felt her heart speed up and tried to comfort herself by thinking of her writing. T-This would be an excellent opening to a thriller novel!
Did I smash my head open?
Zhou Mingrui guessed as he turned around and walked towards a cracked dressing mirror.
A few steps later, a black-haired figure of medium build and brown eyes appeared clearly in front of him. The person had a distinct scholarly air to him.
Is this me? Klein Moretti? Zhou thought to himself in shock.
"No, that's not..." Melissa's words died in her throat. She fell silent, unable to say anything against the familiar face on the screen. Unbeknownst to her, many in the audience shared her worries:
Just what is going to be reflected back at him...?!
The lack of light made it hard for him to see clearly, but he kept moving forward until he was just inches from bumping into a mirror. With the help of the crimson moonlight, he looked up to examine his own forehead.
In the mirror, he saw a gruesome wound on his temple. Burn marks surrounded the injury, and blood stained the area. had a grotesque wound with burn marks along its periphery. Grayish-white brain matter could be seen slowly squirming within the wound.
"Goddess!"
Caitlyn Hall screamed. A series of sharp gasps echoed throughout the theater. Benson and Melissa clapped hands over their mouths, eyes glazed over in horror.
"A big ouchie," Will said.