"Door"…
To be honest, it didn't surprise Ebner that Panatiya, a witch who likely had a "joyous" past with Roselle, possessed a Blasphemy card.
But why the Door?
Was it because the Theosophy Order under the Demoness Sect controlled some of the potion formulas for the Door pathway?
Moreover, this Demoness of Despair possessed extraordinary items from the Thief pathway and mystical objects from the Door pathway. In the end, she had been sent to the "half-Fool's" kingdom…
In this kingdom, there was also a "Wanderer"… Hmm, she had died at the hands of "Soul Sovereign" Vicente Miranda's projection, and that "Death Regent" was clearly connected to the Phoenix Ancestor, Gregrace… who wielded dominion over "Death" and "Doors" as an ancient god…
Considering this, her death here might have been influenced by fate… Perhaps a gathering of extraordinary forces?
Hmm… this doesn't feel like a coincidence. It's likely someone manipulated this fate-related connection to "arrange" it… the goal being to send the Door card into the Night Kingdom, to be retrieved by me in a "hidden" environment?
Whose scheme is this? Roselle's? Or the Calamity Seal? Or perhaps another traveler?
The Goddess is clearly aware… Aside from severing my fate to "resurrect" Zaratul, She pulled me into this small town, perhaps with the additional purpose of aiding the plotter's scheme…
sigh, although I don't want to be "Deified," every action these gods and shadowy figures take seems so profound… It's impossible to fathom!
Ebner sighed and studied the Blasphemy card carefully for a moment, realizing that it hadn't yet lifted its "seal," failing to reveal any of the "profane" knowledge it was meant to contain.
"Bernadette!" Ebner tried the unlocking incantation from the original text of the "Black Emperor's card" in Ancient Feysac, but got no response from the card, proving that the incantation was not the right one.
That makes sense. If the unlocking spell were so easy to guess, Panatiya would have figured it out by now. She wouldn't have left it unsealed.
With this in mind, Ebner put the Door card away.
As for how to unlock this Blasphemy card, Ebner had some ideas but would need time to test them one by one… And this dangerous town was clearly not the best place for such experiments.
After looting the Demoness of Despair's "legacy," Ebner was preparing to wander around the town, collecting the remains of the Beyonders who had perished from the Feathered Serpent's Pale Flame…
However, just then, the "Wanderer" in his mental connection sent a warning, informing him that the red moon would soon pierce the mist again, and this time, the danger in the town would be far greater than before. Even with the help of the Marionettist to control the "spirit threads," it was highly likely he would end up hanging beneath the church's dome. He was advised to leave before the scarlet moon became clear.
The "Wanderer" had long been dead, only his body remaining with lingering spirituality… Even though he was adept at astrology, how could he possibly have "warned" me?
This… this must be the Goddess's will, right? Since She bound Alvin's fate, influencing him shouldn't be difficult…
In a flash of thought, Ebner understood the Goddess's intent.
Just moments ago, Miranda's projection, the Feathered Serpent, had cleansed all life in the town with its Pale Flame. Even though it intentionally avoided the existing spirit threads, there was inevitable collateral damage…
Given this, when the red moon becomes clear next time, the entire Misty Town will likely undergo "maintenance"… and outsiders like him will certainly have nowhere to hide during such "maintenance!"
"I don't have time to hunt down those Beyonders' traits… such a shame." Ebner muttered to himself, then dismissed the "greed" from his heart and hurried back to the church. He arrived at the wall behind the dark altar and the statue of the "Mother of Heaven."
Without hesitation, Ebner placed the obsidian tablet into the indentation.
The two fit together without the slightest gap.
The wall before him glowed and gradually became transparent, revealing the stone slabs outside, the crumbling wall, and wisps of cloud drifting in midair.
As long as I draw the right symbol, I can get out… Ebner thought, glancing once more at the Wanderer, Alvin Abraham, seated not far off, then deliberately severed their spiritual link.
Although he couldn't take him along yet, just those two summons of historical projections had already yielded so much… one mustn't be greedy!
Next time I get the chance to come here, I'll uncover every secret.
With that warning—and a word of encouragement to himself—Ebner wasted no more time. He extended his right hand, pointing like a pen, and sketched the dark seal's simple emblem onto the transparent wall.
In an instant, the scene beyond the door rippled like water and shifted.
He could still make out the broken wall, but now it lay far in the distance, its outline faint. In its place rose a sheer cliff with jagged rocks, clouds floating in the air, stars, and the red moon—like standing atop a snowy mountain peak!
Outside, a cold wind howled.
Ebner hesitated—simply walking through felt impolite—so he pretended to trace a Scarlet Moon sigil over his chest before pushing open the illusory gate.
Darkness enveloped him at first, then he saw boundless night and a tapestry of stars, and realized he stood on a snow-covered summit.
This peak was familiar.
Wasn't it the mountain beside the Hot Springs Villa north of Indorport? He'd once erected a teleportation altar in a cave there.
Relieved to be somewhere known, Ebner sighed and checked his pocket watch—it was eight o'clock in the evening.
I was sent into the Night Kingdom by 0–17 around two in the afternoon, so I spent about six hours there? Hmm… I'm a bit hungry.
Patting his stomach, Ebner "flew" toward the nearby villa, planning to use the teleportation altar hidden in its cellar to return to Bayam and feast on the delights of the Aromatic Estate.
After putting on a show in Backlund, it was best to lay low overseas for a while.
Next, he'd fulfill his promise to Leon the Lion—take him to the Trier Press in Intis… and investigate the odd luck of that Ms. Bianca hiding there… see what connection she had with the suspected traverser Felipe…
Also, his contract with Helene was nearly up. Her home was in Intis too, so he could escort her part of the way… though he wasn't sure if she'd agree to travel with him.
Finally, after wrapping up matters in Intis, he'd sail south to West Balam for the invitation he'd received the moment he became a Guardian—sent by the greatest tool… no, Hunter Anderson.
Standing before the flaming "gate," Ebner mused inwardly.
(End of chapter)