In the dimly lit room, drops of crimson dotted the table where a notebook lay open.
Ince Zangwill gripped his quill with a twisted expression, violently scribbling away.
Every few words he wrote, he would pull out a needle and jab it into his arms or thighs, using the intense pain to banish all unnecessary distractions.
Scratch—scratch—scratch—
One vivid red word after another spread across the page like blood:
"…Due to some unknown cause, a small meteor was drawn toward Tingen City and crashed into No. 5 Tulip Street.
Edward, overly elated by having thwarted Ince Zangwill earlier that day, reacted too slowly to his spirituality's warning and was struck dead by the meteor in his sleep…"
Scratched out.
"Something unexpected happened. The black cat, who had just taken its potion, displayed astonishing vigilance.
It bit Edward awake just in time, allowing him to teleport away a second before the meteor struck.
Poor Ince Zangwill failed once again."
—
"But this time, Ince didn't seem all that surprised, nor did he go mad.
That was because, deep down, he had accepted a certain truth:
He could not kill Edward with such methods.
No—this was merely a warning.
A warning to Edward…
That if pushed, Ince would drag everyone down with him."
—
"But…would a warning like this work?"
Ince's hand clenched the quill so tightly that veins bulged across his skin. He stabbed his thigh again and again, gritting his teeth before continuing to write:
"Yes! It will work!
Because Edward is a smart man—too smart—and burdened by excess compassion and laughable responsibility.
So, to prevent the deaths of innocent people, he will choose to back off.
He must back off!
That's logical…
That's human nature!"
—
At this point, Ince set the pen down. His lone remaining eye, numbed by pain, regained a sliver of calm.
He muttered to himself, "It'll work. I will make it work."
———
[No. 5 Tulip Street]
Edward stood a short distance from the ruins, trembling slightly from the shock and fury.
So close. I was so close to dying in that maniac's story…
Wait—sure, I got out in time…but what about Mr. Steven Green and Priscilla next door?
All that remained there was scorched earth and burning rubble.
Were they…dead?
"Meow!!"
Lilith let out a sharp cry and darted toward the wreckage.
She kept glancing back as she ran, urging Edward to follow.
A flicker of hope ignited in Edward's chest. He quickly gave chase.
The closer they got to the impact site, the more serious the damage became. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, and surrounding homes were in disarray.
Residents began pouring out of their houses, their faces pale, their voices hushed in frightened murmurs.
Man and cat soon arrived before the rubble.
Flames crackled and danced everywhere.
At the center of the debris stood a mound—like a burial site, vaguely domed.
Rustle…rustle…
The "mound" began to tremble. Loose soil and stone slid off, revealing a massive humanoid skeleton.
It crouched, body folded over, its long arms clasped into a protective circle.
Then, the gigantic skeleton slowly released its arms and sat upright—revealing, nestled beneath it, an unconscious father and daughter.
The massive skull turned toward Edward. Its eye sockets blazed with pitch-black flames, the bone structure ghostly and ethereal.
Clatter—clatter—clatter—clatter—
The skeleton abruptly collapsed. Bones scattered in all directions, then vanished upon hitting the ground, as though they had never existed.
Crack!
The feather pendant around Priscilla's neck shattered with a crisp sound.
Edward's eyes narrowed.
That was a mystical item from the Death pathway?
———
The Next Day.
A private hospital room in Tingen.
Steven sat by Priscilla's bedside, playing a game with her. She looked happier than usual—after all, her father was always busy and rarely had time to stay by her side like this.
The little girl quietly made a wish to herself: If only every day could be like this…
Just then, Edward and Klein pushed open the door.
Behind him trailed Lilith, who was sniffing all over the room and sneezing repeatedly from the sharp scent of disinfectant.
"Lilith! Brother Edward! You're here!" Priscilla called out cheerfully.
Edward walked over and ruffled her hair. "Feeling any discomfort?"
"Nope!"
"Good." He turned toward Steven Green, "And you, Mr. Green?"
Steven raised an arm and smiled. "Just a few scrapes. Nothing serious."
He then looked at the unfamiliar man beside Edward. "And this is…?"
Klein stepped forward and showed his badge.
"I'm an officer from the Tingen Police Department. I'm here to investigate last night's incident."
He paused, glancing briefly at Edward.
"Oh, and Edward's a colleague of mine."
Steven blinked in surprise.
"Wait, I thought you were a magician?"
Edward shrugged and grinned. "Side job."
"All right then, let's get to the point," Klein said, his expression turning serious.
He took out a notepad, ready to write.
"Mr. Green, what can you tell us about last night?"
"Uh…you mean the meteor?"
"No. I'm talking about the giant skeleton that shielded you and your daughter."
"..."
Steven fell silent for a moment. "Let's talk outside."
"Alright."
The three of them moved to the lounge, leaving Lilith to accompany Priscilla.
"Edward, I told you before that my wife and I met in West Balam," Steven began, his voice low. "But she didn't die of illness. She was killed…by a cult called the Numinous Episcopate."
"I initially thought they were just a group of lunatics obsessed with worshiping Death. I even tried to seek help from the police. But I later learned…this world isn't as simple as I thought. Beyonders, supernatural powers, even evil gods…they're all real."
"My wife…she might have been a member of Numinous Episcopate. The pendant Priscilla wears was left behind by her—it was her keepsake." Steven lowered his head, grief etched into every line of his face. "Last night…I think that was her protecting us for the final time."
"I'm sorry."
Edward clenched his fists. If it hadn't been for that pendant, that father and daughter would have died because of him.
Steven rubbed his eyes and forced a faint smile. "It was a natural disaster. Surviving it is more than enough."
No! It wasn't a natural disaster—it was man-made!
"I've told you all I know, Officer," Steven said.
Klein thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know anything else about your wife or the Numinous Episcopate?"
"No…I only found out her identity just before she died."
"I see. My apologies, Mr. Green, for making you relive painful memories."
Steven left. Klein turned to Edward, who looked deeply troubled. With a faint smile, he said, "Come on, nobody actually died. You don't have to blame yourself so much."
"Guilt is one part of it. More importantly…"
Edward rubbed his temples, frowning. "I wanted to disrupt that guy's rhythm—to force him into making mistakes, losing control of the situation, and ultimately showing his hand. I never expected…he'd summon a meteor."
"Doesn't that just prove he's already lost control?" Klein reasoned. "As you said, the more absurd a story is, the harder it is to make it come true—and the greater the backlash. Forcing a meteor down from the sky? That can't possibly be 'reasonable.'"
"But don't you think this was a warning? He's telling us that if push comes to shove, he's willing to…no, he'll drag a whole crowd of people to die with him!"
Klein began to feel a headache coming on. At his core, he was someone with a strong sense of justice and compassion. But now he didn't know what to do—especially since this entire conversation with Edward could easily be overheard.
Just then, Leonard limped over, his expression dark. "What a damn day."
The two of them turned to him. "What happened?"
"On the way here, the carriage horse got spooked and bolted. We crashed into a ditch. I nearly broke my neck."
"…."
"The captain told me to inform you both—reinforcements from the Church of the Evernight were supposed to arrive, but due to a malfunction on the steam train, they won't get here until tomorrow or the day after."
Another "coincidence."
To recklessly create such coincidences—was he not afraid of the quill's backlash?
Suddenly, Edward had a gut feeling: Ince Zangwill had been cornered—he was going to make his move.
Had he found a way to deal with the "unknown variable" that was Edward?
Leonard handed over a black leather notebook.
"Oh, right. I found this diary while tracking Lanevus these past few days. It was hidden at his place. Take a look."
Lanevus's diary?
That wasn't mentioned in the original plot…
Klein opened the diary and laid it flat on the table so the three of them could read together. Then he began flipping through the pages:
——
August 28th
Why did I suddenly start writing a diary? Oh right, I've noticed that my behavior and speech have been more and more unlike myself lately. I keep doing things that feel…wrong, like they aren't mine to do. Is someone controlling me? Is "He" awakening inside me?
No! I can't give in—not like this!
August 31st
I can't escape—there's no escape. He knows where I am. They all know!
No, I have to find a way—there has to be one!
That book…yes, that book!
September 2nd
Why? Why does it require a key?! The hope to break free is right there, within reach… I'm so unwilling!
No, there's still a chance. Yes! Return to Tingen. The key must be in Tingen.
September 3rd
Tonight—I'll retrieve the key tonight.
September 3rd
Something's wrong. I can feel it. That sense of being controlled is stronger than ever. This split in my mind—it's unbearable.
I should have better options, right?
Why did I suddenly decide to return to Tingen?
What's going on?
Why did I write a second entry today?
Did I even write the last one?
September 3rd
The key must be beneath the Tingen Nighthawks' base.
Get the key. Open the door.
Then I'll truly be free!
September...
I felt it—him.
The one who can restore my sanity.
Find him.
Find him.
I must find him!!!
September 3rd
Run.
I have to run from Tingen!!!
——
The second-to-last entry…aside from the word "September," all the other handwriting was clearly different.
The moment Edward saw the contents, a chill surged up from the soles of his feet—his entire body broke into goosebumps.
A deep instinct told him:
This…this was written by the True Creator!
He knew I was in Tingen?
Since when?
Do the Aurora Order people know, too?
"What's wrong, Edward?"
Edward glanced at Leonard, then pointed calmly at the second-to-last entry.
"This was most likely written by the True Creator."
"???"
Klein and Leonard both stared at Edward, completely dumbfounded.
They looked at him as if to say: Are you seriously saying that out loud?!
Edward took a deep breath. "And the 'him' mentioned in the diary—the one to be found…"
"…Is most likely me."
"..."
Leonard recoiled as if shocked by electricity, eyes darting between Klein and Edward, as if trying to figure out whether this was some kind of joke.
Klein was momentarily at a loss for words. He and Leonard were thinking the same thing:
Shouldn't you be keeping this kind of revelation a secret from others?!
But Edward had no time to care about their reactions now.
There was only one thought in his mind:
Is this the new script Ince Zangwill has written for me?
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.