Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Chapter 927: Just Acting

Since Cullen still needed to guard the island shrouded in the power of the Shadow World—making it impossible for those trapped inside to leave—Ebner didn’t choose to host Mr. Azik, Silica, and Cullen at his villa. Instead, the banquet was arranged in a seaside town on the west coast of the Southern Continent.Mr. Azik struck a match, elegantly warming a cigar as he watched Silica cradle a bottle of Daniel’s Pure Dew in her illusory silver wings, happily savoring the "flavor" of the liquid within.

The corners of his lips curved into a smile, his mood clearly quite good.

As for Cullen? As long as Silica was taken care of, what he ate wasn’t of much concern to Mr. Azik.

Seeing that the atmosphere had warmed enough, Ebner made his request to borrow the "key."tist potion and unscrewed the cap.

Better hurry, in case of accidents!

Gulp. The slightly bitter, decayed-tasting potion slid down his throat, rushing straight into his stomach.

He didn’t know how long had passed before he opened his eyes and drew in a breath, silently marveling:

"Finally...

"Finally, Sequence 5!

"Finally, I’m a Marionettist!"

The sunlight overhead was dazzling, everything bathed in gold. Just as Klein finished familiarizing himself with his new abilities and was about to return to the Future, he suddenly heard ethereal prayers whispering in his ears.

The voice was familiar. Despite some distortion, Klein recognized it as Miss Temperance, who had been "missing" for some time.

Sharon has also advanced? Klein’s heart leapt in joy. Today really is a day for promotions. Even the mermaids, shyly parting their lips to reveal wolf-like teeth dripping with viscous fluid, look... cute, somehow...

Alright, that’s just an illusion. In truth, this was harder to stomach than an actual monster.

Now’s not the best time to go above the gray fog...

Klein looked away, then quickly pulled out another Sea God charm, whipping up strong winds to push the small boat back toward the Future.

After receiving congratulations from Anderson and Frank, and a brief inquiry from Cattleya, Klein finally returned to his room under the Star Admiral’s order to sail back. He entered the washroom and ascended above the gray fog.

This time, he didn’t sit at the Fool’s seat. Instead, he sat at the World’s position before extending his spirituality to Miss Temperance’s star.

In the next moment, crimson light surged, and Sharon—wearing a Gothic court dress and a matching small soft hat—suddenly appeared on the high-backed chair marked with the Temperance symbol.

"Good evening." The doll-like lady turned her head, looked toward Klein, and offered a slight nod with her greeting.

If she hadn’t spoken, she would have been the very picture of a perfect, exquisite doll.

So it’s evening now? In the God War ruins sea, it’s midday one moment and midnight the next. I’ve lost all sense of time... Klein mocked himself silently, then rose and bowed toward Sharon, whose light-golden hair, pale face, and azure eyes gave her a chilling elegance:

"Good evening, Miss Sharon.

"And congratulations on attaining divinity and becoming a demigod."

Sharon quietly returned his gaze. Her voice, airy and otherworldly, carried a faint inhuman quality as she said:

"Thank you. And congratulations on advancing to Sequence 5."

Miss Sharon actually strung together that many words? Before, she would have only said ’thanks,’ then given me a look to let me figure out the rest myself...

How odd. Now that she’s Sequence 4, her appearance is even more doll-like, but the feeling she gives off is less so than when she was Sequence 5.

While Klein accepted Sharon’s congratulations, he couldn’t help feeling surprised.

As though reading his thoughts, Sharon’s azure eyes flickered ever so slightly as she said:

"My teacher told me that after reaching the higher Sequences, when Acting, one must emphasize the ’self,’ and occasionally indulge one’s own behavior...

"To remind oneself that it is only ’acting.’"

...

Backlund, South Bridge District, Rose Street.

Under the night sky, Ebner easily slipped through the locked gates of the Harvest Church and stepped into the prayer hall.

Before he could even rouse Bishop Utravsky to ask whether it was possible to seek an audience with the Earth Mother, he felt his consciousness suddenly plunge into "darkness."

(End of this Chapter)