Chapter 7 – The Abacus Beads Are Practically Hitting Me in the Face (4k)
"…I never expected my Swindler characteristic to have digested a portion."
Standing outside Lumian's house, Ning Lu muttered to himself.
All morning, Ning Lu had patiently listened to Lumian and Aurore discuss the current situation in Cordu Village based on what they knew, clarifying the present point in the timeline:
Within the dream of Cordu Village, the real danger had yet to erupt; Lumian was simply hunting for traces of Beyonder power, trying to use his "dream" to become a true Beyonder.
Besides, the news Ning Lu had brought—that "the outskirts of Cordu Village are sealed by some inexplicable force"—prompted Aurore to verify it personally with her Beyonder abilities, while Lumian was sent to make contact with the outsiders dispatched by the churches and the government.
Under such circumstances, a "stranger" like Ning Lu obviously shouldn't stay in Lumian's house, so he took the chance to stroll around Cordu Village and memorize the terrain.
—The abilities of a Cryptologist really had made his brain much sharper.
Even though he was currently blessed by Sefirah Castle, he was ultimately only a sequence 7 Error-path Beyonder, and the "three sneaky Families" were famous for being fragile; one careless moment and even a Sequence 9 could kill him.
Yes, that unnamed Magician who was solo-killed by Sequence 9 Klein and mistaken for a Clown—unlike Master Luo, this jester who brought everyone so much fun didn't even leave a name; the world's morals are slipping.
"In my memory, Lady Salty Fish hasn't had much contact with Lumian yet, while the Church Trio are trying to investigate… those five are the only real people inside this dream."
Ning Lu pondered:
"Of course, now I have to add myself to the list…"
"I recall the Church Trio were sent here because they received a plea letter pieced together from words cut out of the 'little blue book.' If I could see that letter, I might parse out more with my Cryptologist abilities."
"Unfortunately, I don't remember the plot very clearly. How come I wasn't given a recap of the novel when I transmigrated?"
Ning Lu gave a self-mocking chuckle; he only remembered that Lumian's dream had looped three times and which Major factions were involved—the rest was fuzzy.
So he planned to proceed at his own pace: first investigate the Church Trio and see if their current clues could yield more information… "Your outfit reminds me of some unpleasant rumors."
Outside the Old Tavern in Cordu Village, Lia spoke diplomatically to Ning Lu, who stood before her in a pitch-black Warlock robe—one monocle short of the protagonist in certain creepy tales.
This investigation team had been dispatched by the Intis Republic to deal with the Cordu incident. It consisted of Ryan from the Machinery Hivemind, Valentine—a cleanser of the Everlasting Sun Church—and Major Lia of the Eighth Bureau, on the Seer path.
All three were high-Sequence Beyonders, showing how seriously Intis's churches and Beyonder organizations viewed the matter.
"But rumors are only rumors, aren't they?"
Ning Lu chuckled softly and replied to Lia:
"To you three I may be a heretic disloyal to the gods, yet we share the same need here—you must investigate what's happening, and I must leave this place."
At his side, Ryan listened impassively, while the Everlasting Sun zealot Valentine's face was dark, clearly restraining the urge to "purge the heretic."
After speaking, Ning Lu leaned back slightly, waiting for the trio's answer. Yet as he did, he felt a primal hunger well up the instant his gaze met Lia's.
Still, it wasn't uncontrollable; with slight effort he suppressed the sudden appetite.
[Did you feel it?]
A familiar voice sounded beside his ear—the Celestial Worthy:
[Part of me is within you, so you inherit our instinct—didn't you want to tear her apart and swallow her?]
Ning Lu gave a slight shake of his head, ignoring the Worthy's temptation, and offered the three a polite smile as he extended his hand:
"Have you considered?"
Lia exchanged glances with her two companions, then said only after confirming their stance:
"We can't fully trust a Marauder, but limited intelligence sharing is possible."
"For example, we're trying to find the person in the village who mailed that plea letter…"
Earlier, the three had told Ning Lu about the plea letter, jogging his memory.
If he recalled correctly, the letter had been pieced together from clippings taken out of the "little blue book" in Lumian's house.
The matter seemed tied to April Fools Day—followers of the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings—and the "Sinners" who worshipped the Circle of Inevitability.
"…That's about all we know for now." After repeating to Ning Lu what they'd told Lumian, Lia exhaled softly and asked curiously:
"Unlike the helpful villager who visited us earlier, you're also an outsider unfamiliar with the place—how do you intend to find the target we're after?"
"Helpful villager"… Ning Lu smiled at her words. "Some things are inconvenient for you, but for me they're simple and convenient."
Valentine's gaze sharpened, as if weighing whatever plan this wild Beyonder was about to propose:
If Ning Lu meant to harm the villagers, the zealot of the Everlasting Sun would stop him by any means.
"For instance, quietly 'stealing' the little blue books from their homes."
As if he hadn't noticed Valentine's shifting stare, Ning Lu said casually:
"Praise the Lord; though theft is a sin, if a small evil serves a greater good, I believe my Lord and Father will forgive me."
"Before I became a Beyonder, I already had my own faith. Although I never joined the Everlasting Sun Church, I still live by the morals and principles in my heart."
Ning Lu had only a faint, hazy impression of Valentine—knowing him to be a fanatic of the Eternal Blazing Sun. Apart from the difference in faith and a style that wasn't too extreme, Valentine's temperament wasn't all that different from the True Creator's followers in the Aurora Order.
—This was a common flaw among Beyonders of the Hanged Man and Sun Pathways.
As for verbally professing belief, neither he—a genuine Transmigrator—nor most of the old day remnants cared much about it.
Take the great Mr. Fool: he worships the Evernight Goddess and the God of Steam and Machinery, all while being the Chosen of the Fool.
Coupled with the Swindler trait boosting Ning Lu's eloquence and charm, and with a deliberately modulated tone, Ning Lu noticed Valentine's expression soften rapidly, a hint of approval surfacing in his eyes.
"Though it deviates from the doctrines I follow, it's still commendable."
"…Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Valentine. Honestly, I've worried I might stray from my original path."
Ning Lu smiled, nodded, stood up, and prepared to head out.
"In that case, I'll take my leave. Time is tight, and I need to hunt for clues. If I find anything, I'll exchange information with you at once."
…The next dawn, after waking from his dream, Lumian pressed a hand to his forehead.
"I've meditated so many times in reality and never heard that weird voice, never felt any pain…"
"Could it be that the anomaly exists only inside that dream?"
In last night's dream, Lumian had seen the blazing Sun of his meditation turn blood-red, then quickly ink-black, nearly killing him and wrecking his condition—so he hadn't explored the dream ruins.
With the doubt in mind, he tried meditating again; after confirming reality was safe, he opened his eyes to find a small silhouette re-appear outside his window.
It was the shadow of the owl from the local Warlock legend!
Just as Lumian watched the owl about to take off and was going to call Aurore to track it, he suddenly noticed a wisp-shrouded figure emerge beside the bird.
He watched the figure leap into the tree with inhuman agility, eyes gleaming; the owl's body spiraled down like a kite with its string cut, dazed, and was caught in the figure's hand.
It was that terrifying gray dream-shadow—that powerful Beyonder who seemed to know his sister!
So this is a Beyonder's might… Lumian's heart surged.
Yet the gray shadow soon vanished from view, replaced by a knock—tap-tap—on his window.
Lumian hurried over and saw Ning Lu outside, holding an owl.
"Hello."
Ning Lu greeted him with a friendly smile:
"Mind letting me in?"
That fast? Stunned, Lumian opened the window. "You caught the owl?"
About to nab the bird that had spied on him twice, Lumian dropped the tough act and asked eagerly.
"Caught it—well, half of it… and something more important has come up."
Ning Lu glanced at the owl dangling limp in his hand, as though its soul had been sucked out.
"Something more important?" He winked, directing Lumian's gaze toward the grove.
At the edge of the trees, an elderly woman in coarse skirts and graying hair slowly walked into the woods.
Lumian's stare froze. "Naroka?"
Ning Lu shot him a sideways look. "You know her?"
"She's an old woman in the village…" Lumian blurted. "But she should be normal—just an ordinary person, as far as I know!"
"Right now your whole village is abnormal; your little place is… blessed with outstanding people." Ning Lu said drily, setting the owl down:
"See for yourself."
He showed Lumian the bird. "There's something Beyondish on it; after I hit it with a Mind Scramble, it died."
Once the power of Sefirah Castle touched the owl, the creature collapsed like an NPC whose AI had been yanked out.
"Dead…"
Lumian's tone turned grave. He drew a deep breath, smoothed his expression, and said casually,
"By the way, you know Aurore?"
"More or less." Ning Lu sat down. "In a sense, she and I are half from the same hometown. I never imagined people like us could have family here."
Family… Lumian felt a secret thrill, but kept a straight face. "Shame you know my sister; I can't call you 'dear little cabbage' anymore."
—"Dear little cabbage" is rural Intis slang, something like a father's pet name for his child.
"Indeed a shame." Ning Lu stayed deadpan. "Any chance I know Intis dialects well enough to recognize the term?"
Um… Lumian felt a flicker of embarrassment, but brazenly changed the subject:
"Friend, what should I call you?"
"Actually, you could just call me Godfather." Ning Lu produced a cup and poured hot water. "But you probably won't, so plain old Ning Lu will do."
"All right, Mr. Ning Lu." This time Lumian behaved. "You're the strongest Beyonder I've ever met—you can even step into my dreams…"
Ning Lu gave him a wordless glance.
The abacus beads were practically bouncing off his face.