It’s similar to the one tucked into the bouquet I received earlier.
An awkward combination of three words.
“Every single one is an unnatural sentence.”
“Indeed. ‘Bocuse sitting down avoids risk’…. What could this possibly an?”
“…Who knows. ‘Tightening the cookie this way’, ‘Of the more cunning and dubious diocese’.”
Reading it again, it’s still an extrely strange combination.
“They appeared all over the Catacombs this morning. If it were just words, I would have dismissed it, but since strangely nonsensical sentences were written, I took photos just in case.”
“Today.”
Muttering that, I stared intently at the photos.
Neatly written letters in paint on a bright wall.
They look almost printed, making it seem impossible to identify the person by handwriting.
“I’m sorry I can’t be of help, but I also don’t know the identity of this phrase.”
“I see. It can’t be helped. Maybe it’s just graffiti by a drunk person…”
“That’s unlikely. I just received such a strange sentence myself.”
Marianne Baum’s eyebrows shot up.
“You received one?”
“In a bouquet soone left behind, the sentence ‘Audienz dubioses schockiertes’ was written.”
“…Audienz? Soone familiar with English?”
I silently agreed with Marianne Baum’s self-muttering.
Usually, ‘audience, spectators’ is written as Publikum, not Audienz.
Though the words following that aren't typical of a foreigner just learning the language, still, it makes sense to concede on this part.
“That’s what I thought too. Wondering if they used Audience intending the aning of Publikum. Honestly, for a letter received at a performance venue, the word audience is more appropriate than reception, isn't it?”
“Indeed.”
“But seeing this sentence written in the Catacombs… my thoughts are changing a bit.”
It’s not a mistake or ignorance.
The person who wrote this is intentionally arranging strange words.
Marianne Baum, lost in thought for a long while, lowered his voice.
“Sa here. Considering the note you received, Sir, it seems unlikely this is simple graffiti.”
He shook his head slowly and draped his arm over the adjacent chair.
“My goodness, I really just asked on a whim, but looks like this story is going to get longer too…”
“For now, I will check if similar reports co into Bavaria.”
“Yes. More importantly, seeing the note sent to you, Sir, it seems the humans who did this wrote the phrase to fit the situation sowhat. We should quickly find the Frenchman nad Bocuse and tell him to sit tight. Hahaha!”
I didn't laugh at his nonsensical joke.
Anyway, if it was tailored to the situation, it could indeed serve as a warning sentence.
Of course, what kind of warning the sentence ‘The audience was shocked’ conveys is unknown.
The sa goes for ‘Tighten the cookie this way,’ and whether ‘The diocese is dubious’ refers to the Pleroma diocese or a real continental diocese is unclear.
Especially depending on which diocese the last sentence refers to, everything hinges on whether the writer of this sentence is on our side or not.
‘Is there any reason for Pleroma to openly warn that ‘the continental diocese is dubious’? The gain seems quite small compared to the risk.’
Alternatively, if soone is warning that ‘the Pleroma diocese is planning sothing strange,’ it makes a bit more sense.
But the fact that the informant didn't contact us directly is concerning, and sending this to Lucas instead of Nicolaus is also concerning.
Lost in thought, I looked around the cafe and asked.
“How has Pleroma been since that day?”
“Doing nothing. Vice Chairman Anje Draher was prepared to mobilize all forces, but surprisingly, absolutely nothing happened.”
“I see. That’s fortunate.”
Good information.
It ans erasing their mories and implanting fake ones is still holding.
Anyway, it seems necessary to check if such phenona appear more often throughout the Empire to be certain.
Perhaps I'm overreacting to phrases that sound like a drunkard's ramblings, but finding out if more such nonsense has been written isn't difficult, so it's fine.
“If more are discovered in the Catacombs, I will send a letter to your office, Sir. Now then, I must address the first matter.”
I nodded.
I can't even grasp how their experint differs from what I experienced.
“You stated, Sir, that touching the victim’s Core allows entry into their inner world. Our experints confird entry into the inner world is correct. Reaching a *Vitriol* state simultaneously was also the sa. If you hadn't warned us, Sir, dozens would have already been sacrificed.”
“I see.”
“But there was one difference. You said you entered the ‘victim’s’ inner world, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“That’s truly strange. It wasn’t like that for us. When contaminated together with the victim’s Core, one becos trapped in *one’s own* inner world, not entering the victim’s inner world.”
“…?”
But I entered Adelbert’s inner world?
And in his body, no less.
“The Labyrinth is originally like that. One doesn’t see others’ mories but one’s own trauma. Of course, with our technology, we can extract and share it externally.”
Marianne Baum shrugged with a proud face.
I knew this already from falling into the space created from Leo’s mory before.
More importantly, a new term.
“Isn’t Labyrinth a maze?”
“Yes. The abyss of abysses. That’s how we describe the inner world that causes the victim’s anguish.”
Hearing a word here that I've only read in Greek mythology feels unfamiliar, but I understand the concept.
“But here lies a problem. Even if mories are made into a shared space, only observation is possible, not intervention. Yet you claid, Sir, to have entered the victim’s body and controlled him. No, actually, you were sucked into another’s space on your own without even extracting the space externally. How could that be possible?”
“……”
I’d like to know that too.
As I didn't answer, Marianne Baum waved his hand.
“Of course, as you said, Sir, the result of touching the Core and succumbing to *Vitriol* together to die is the sa. Pleroma advancing the drug by one stage, that is. So the difference in process isn’t a major problem.”
“Indeed.”
Still, personally, I am curious.
Isn’t that why Marianne Baum is sitting before too?
‘More importantly…’
Why wasn't Narce surprised even after knowing I had beco Adelbert?
Of course, he’s the type who doesn’t show much emotional change and just smiles every day, so maybe it isn’t strange.
“Even if mories are made into a shared space, why is intervention impossible?”
“Because being able to freely manipulate the world is a right belonging to the world’s creator. Thinking of our world makes it easy. Isn’t what we think of as our choices actually all His will?”
This person also talks like a religious figure.
Anyway, that’s not important right now.
“I have previously entered shared mories in the Catacombs. There, I moved freely and changed the progression of the mory.”
“You changed it?”
Marianne Baum shook his head as if not understanding.
But I wasn’t like that.
‘I get it.’
Making it a shared space turns one into an observer, but in that state, if one manipulates the world owner’s brain, one can gain agency? So it’s ultimately a matter of sequence.
The reason I—though I don’t know why I could enter soone else’s inner world—was sucked into Adelbert’s inner world was because it wasn't a shared space, so instead of becoming an observer, I beca the subject himself?
‘…No, the opposite is more natural.’
Everyone said they saw their own trauma after being contaminated by Vitriol. That’s actually correct.
It’s more likely that because I beca Adelbert, I saw Adelbert’s Labyrinth.
Then the problem is why on earth I beca Adelbert.
Anyway, since it’s difficult to find an answer now, I should just tell him the thod to change from observer to participant.
Organizing my thoughts, I threw out casually.
“If the mory owner grants free will, one could interact with that world. Just as God gave us free will.”
“Ahahaha! That makes sense.”
“Not joking. Try manipulating the mory owner’s brain a bit with mind-intervention drugs later.”
Marianne Baum’s face instantly turned serious.
“…Huh?”
“Try it and let know.”
“An idea worth attempting. I will try it and let you know. Anyway, your case, Sir, is a peculiar one that cannot be replicated no matter how many tis we experint. Please let know if there are any changes.”
“Understood.”
Marianne Baum took out a pen and scribbled various notes.
After that, he asked questions about the Catacombs and Pleroma for a long ti, and I too gathered useful information through the Q&A.
As he was about to fill a whole page of paper, Marianne Baum asked.
“Are there any plans to attack Pleroma first?”
“Even pre-existing plans have been postponed, so there are no plans for the governnt to attack Pleroma yet.”
“Indeed, manpower is insufficient even just for restoring the contamination and treatnt. Recently, news about the new drug was even reported.”
No matter how much it could stir emotions, there was no intention to conceal information from the public; a few days before the 2nd exam, the fact that *Vitriol* now leads to death was reported.
Since Pleroma’s new drug, the Empire, already short on manpower and resources from defending against *Vitriol* with double the budget and personnel, has no capacity to attack Pleroma.
To attack, the only way is to charge in alone like before, but that too has its limits.
Marianne Baum, who had been silently staring at the paper for a long ti, smacked his lips.
“So, do you have any intention of continuing acting?”
“Acting? It’s the Drama Club, so I have to.”
“Not that, I an in our theater company.”
“……”
How can I now…
“My face is sowhat known, so I can’t.”
“The public probably doesn’t rember faces that accurately? Or how about performing in the Catacombs? What I just saw was acting too good for alone to see.”
“Was it my acting you found too good to see alone, or the cultural dissonance as an old-generation human you found too good to see alone?”
“Hahaha! Ah~ Unfortunately, that doesn’t work.”
He chuckled heartily, then looked out the window, lost in thought.
“Each actor has their color. Acting is harmonizing by layering the character’s color on top of that. Yet your acting, Sir, only shows the character’s color. Don’t you hear that often?”
“……”
I did hear it often.
Not here, but in reality.
People’s judgnt seems similar.
“It’s not unconditionally good, but actors who completely erase themselves and imrse are rare, and I want such an actor to be my character. The offer is sincere, so please let know anyti if you develop feelings for acting.”
Marianne Baum’s gaze was serious.
Being soone always passionate about theater, it made sense.
“Understood.”
“And co to the Catacombs too. Everyone will welco you.”
“If it’s alright for to go, I will.”
“You need to investigate together which side the cookie should be turned towards.”
Marianne Baum laughed playfully.
Though it was still a completely nonsensical joke, seeing he was trying to make my visit comfortable, I just smiled.
“I should. I’ll visit soon.”
***
The Arts Festival still hadn't ended.
And I was openly drinking alcohol on the dormitory rooftop.
“What’s the deal with the school booth selling alcohol?”
“Isn’t beer okay? I was planning to buy it in advance, but Leo just told to buy it at school, so I waited, and here we are.”
Tsheringen drank, smiling brightly.
Who knows what the student council wanted, but they permitted alcohol today. Of course, only wine under 10 degrees and beer like served in the cafeteria were allowed, but still, it was quite surprising. Because it wasn't allowed during the last festival.
‘Co to think of it, Elias, that guy, I asked him to ask why the festival was moved up, but he didn’t even ask and just went out to play.’
Is he doing the exact opposite of everything I say? I’ll have to ask Leo myself directly.
Surveying the table, I ate the Sauerkraut brought as snacks.
‘Light for an after-party.’
Which is good.
With six people, I was expecting 500,000 won as a base, but everyone eats less than I thought, and since everything was handled with food sold on campus, the table wasn't heavy.
Looking at my still mostly full glass, I asked.
“Do you guys like alcohol?”
“Of course…”
“Yes.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to one side.
The Class 1 Ainsidel, who had been silent the whole ti, answered firmly.
As everyone was slightly taken aback and speechless, Tsheringen asked with a smile.
“First ti hearing that. What kind of alcohol do you like?”
“Just everything. I heard alcohol is absolutely banned at school, so this is unexpected. Surprising.”
“Normally, it is banned…. Were you guys like this since the 3rd Academy?”
“Ah.”
At my words, Philip let out a slight scoff.
“You and him didn’t attend the 3rd Academy. Right.”
“Haha, judging by usual behavior, the one acting like they just started school for the first ti is Philip, not 3rd Academy or whatever.”
Tsheringen quickly cut off the conversation.
It made sense.
As prestigious private schools often are, students who ca up through the sa foundation via escalator system have strong bonds.
Tsheringen suppressed Philip before he could puff himself up over sothing useless.
‘Bastard…’
Such childish thoughts. Listening to his true feelings erge as he gets tipsy, he really is a twisted guy deep down. Just pitiful.
Changing the subject, I asked the question needed now.
“Have you guys seen strange sentences written around campus?”
“Huh? Strange sentences?”
“Where?”
Looks like they haven’t seen them.
Still, need to keep an eye out for a while.
“No. Just let know if you see any.”
“Lucas must be drunk…”
“No.”
Cutting off lvin’s words sharply, Tsheringen changed the subject with a smile.
“Ah, our entire team made it to the 3rd phase, so at this rate, everyone will probably make it into the final 18, right? I don’t know what the school was thinking when forming the teams this ti, but I want to see you guys through to the end. Let’s do well until the last mont.”
Saying he doesn’t know what the school was thinking, looks like he too thinks the school wouldn’t make it this easy.
Just as Tsheringen’s gentle smile was about to create a touching atmosphere, Ainsidel spoke again.
“Guys.”
At the emotionless voice, everyone’s gaze turned to him again.
“The week I spent training with you was fun.”
“……”
Why is this bastard suddenly acting like this?
As I felt when he told earlier ‘I called you because I wanted to be friends with you,’ he keeps spewing words that make it unclear whether he lacks social skills or is just being honest. Perhaps because the timing is slightly off and his tone is sowhat solemn, I ended up thinking that way.
Tsheringen answered with a smile.
“ too, Heike.”
“M- too…! You were really good. Next ti, you and Lucas are on the sa team, right?”
“Right.”
Ainsidel smiled at .
It was the first emotional change seen when he was with other friends.
“Lucas, let’s do well in the next team too.”
A smile returned to his expressionless face, making him finally look sowhat human.
Staring at him silently for a mont, I answered briefly.
“Yeah.”
***
In the end, the only ones left on the rooftop were and Ainsidel.
Because Ainsidel held back. The guy really kept pouring alcohol into his stomach nonstop.
The student council definitely limited the purchase count per person, yet this guy sohow connected magic sowhere and kept refilling his glass.
‘How on earth does he know such useless magic.’
Looks like a guy who studied magic just to drink.
I tried to keep so distance, but since we have to stick together for two weeks anyway for the 3rd phase, avoiding him is pointless.
Just in case, I ca wearing the artifact connected to Elias and Leo, so safety concerns should be sowhat alleviated.
As the Class 1 Ainsidel emptied his glass again and tried to cast magic on it, I let out a dry laugh and stopped him.
“Stop drinking…. Your stomach will get upset.”
“Really?”
“So why did you hold back? I need to go do my work now.”
“Right…?”
The guy muttered, his voice subtly lower.
‘What the hell.’
Does this bastard really want to be friends with ?
And gives 0 Favorability points for it?
‘What sche is he plotting?’
Dealing with Adelbert’s and Elias’s *Vitriol* incidents already gives more than enough to worry about.
And those strange sentences too.
I need to go investigate now, but since there’s a high chance they’re so kind of warning, I can’t let my guard down.
On top of that, an Nth generation Ainsidel descendant acting like this just makes my head hurt.
“Why do you want to be friends with ?”
I asked the question that might sound rather abrupt.
But I had to get it clarified.
His Favorability went from -2 to 0. That was purely thanks to the trait. Besides the trait, he hasn’t given a single point.
Being only 0 points, yet thinking he wants to be friends with ? As I thought before, 0 points is just air, a human equivalent to classmate #27.
“I don’t know.”
Ainsidel looked genuinely clueless, his eyes rolling in thought.
“Sohow, I feel like we’ll see each other for a long ti.”
“……”
I looked at his face.
His expressionless face overlooked the courtyard.
“Is that all?”
“Yeah.”
After a long silence, I opened my mouth.
“Heike. Among your ancestors, was there a mage with white hair?”
“White hair, isn’t that Elias’s family?”
“Even with him, only he is white, everyone else is yellow.”
“Really? My family mbers all have dark hair too. My grandmother had black hair when she was young, and my uncle and mother have the sa dark blonde hair as .”
Definitely, no resemblance at all.
To *that* Ainsidel. That Ainsidel has hair whiter than Elias’s, and his features are completely different from the Heike Ainsidel here.
Perhaps that Ainsidel lied about his surna.
Let’s find out why he’s Unconquerable. Within safe limits, that is.
“Heike.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I visit your house?”
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