Mystery: Lucky One

It’s bad. I gave too much... Alice watched the coffin bearer take back the coins reluctantly. She glanced at the little girl next to her and decided to maintain her image and put the blame on Klein.

The feeling of lying in the coffin was actually not that interesting. After the novelty wore off, Alice began to want to leave.

But when she thought of her gold coin, she felt reluctant to part with it. She lay in the coffin in a state of confusion, gritting her teeth.

As she was thinking, a familiar gray fog suddenly enveloped her. She heard Klein's curious voice:

"Alice, come to think of it, have I never asked you what you have seen in me?"

This was the question that came to Klein's mind after he caught a "winner" doll.

When Alice first heard Klein's question, she was stunned.

What did she see? She saw the fog around Sefirah Castle and what it represented.

——The “Lord of Mysteries”.

But she couldn't tell Klein this. Alice frowned, hesitated for two seconds, and then, while Klein hadn't returned to the real world yet, she simply lay in the coffin and went above the gray fog.

Alice blinked under Klein's puzzled gaze and told him:
“I can’t tell you what it represents… but if you’re curious, I can visualize those scenes—with the gray fog blocking it, it shouldn’t get you into trouble.

“And, um…

"Maybe I can mosaic some patterns and symbols? Anyway, you just need to see the general shape, right?"

This can be said to be covered up tightly. Klein thought about it and confirmed with Alice:

"The things behind that are also information that only angels can know?"

Alice explained:

"Almost, right? Because you can't hide your specialness. The Beyonders of the Monster Path can directly see the gray fog around you through you, as well as what that gray fog represents..."

After pausing for two seconds, she looked at Klein and told him solemnly:

"That is, the real owner of this castle."

Klein's breathing suddenly quickened. He pressed his hand against the tabletop and stared at Alice. He wanted to say something, but after his voice changed several times, it finally turned into the original question:

“I want to see the specific picture.”

"Okay." Alice nodded and materialized the scene with Klein's help.

That was what she saw through the mist on Klein's body. It was also the scene that Alice had to see every time she tried to climb up to the Sefirah Castle—light gates stained with a little blue-black, countless light balls, transparent and translucent worms huddled together, and countless complex patterns and symbols.

Of course, those patterns and symbols were blurred by Alice.

Klein frowned as he observed the scene. His eyes first fell on the ball of light. With a strange expression, he told Alice:

“…This is the scene for my meditation.”

Alice put her hand to her forehead.

Klein went to observe the light gate and the two different worms again. Alice, who had seen them many times, was obviously very familiar with these things. The images she materialized were very realistic, and Klein saw something familiar in them:
"...The Worm of Time?"

"Yes," Alice nodded, "The Time Worm, and the Gate...wait a moment."

Her voice suddenly stopped, and she stared at Klein as if she had thought of something terrifying.

Klein was also made nervous by her attitude. He asked hesitantly:
"what happened?"

Alice swallowed hard, looked at the transparent worms with a gloomy look, and replied with a distorted expression:
"I think I know what your mythical creature form is."

Klein followed her gaze towards the pile of transparent worms. His expression also became strange. He asked hesitantly:

"I'll turn into... a bug?"

Alice shook her head and said in a heavy tone:

“It’s not a bug, it’s…

"Well... from what I've seen of Amon and Pales, you're going to turn into a pile of bugs."

Klein took a breath of horror.

This was quite terrifying for him who was still a human being. It was hard for him to imagine that he would become a group of transparent worms hugging each other in the future. Just thinking about it made him feel that his sanity was seriously threatened.

At this time, Klein felt that it would be better for him to turn into some kind of furry animal.

He glanced at Alice. Even though the Alice in front of him could be called a "mercury snake" in human skin, Klein didn't feel much psychological comfort - turning into a snake at least sounded more acceptable than turning into a ball of insects.

"Don't worry," Alice soothed calmly, "Look at the bright side, at least you won't have to worry about a big belly when you're pregnant with me, and you can put fewer bugs in your belly."

"......?" This unique consolation made Klein look at Alice. After the corner of his mouth twitched, his expression became even weirder. "Alice, you don't like playing with bugs, do you?"

Alice recalled the feeling of the Time Worm crawling on her hand. She shook her head quickly, then stopped and said hesitantly:

"wrong……

"I'm not actually afraid of bugs. I'm afraid of the Time Bug because..."

That's Amon.

Klein understood the reason without her saying it. He realized that Alice would never be afraid of him, so he asked hesitantly:

"So, do you like playing with bugs?"

Alice looked at Klein who was lost in thought.

They were silent for a dozen seconds before Klein changed the subject:

"By the way, can you still locate Ludwell? It's 'Admiral of Hell'."

Considering Alice's intermittent memory, Klein deliberately emphasized Ludwell's title. Alice slapped her head and remembered this person. She greeted Klein and briefly left the gray fog.

After confirming in the real world, Alice returned to Sefirah Castle and nodded.

"Yes, you want to find him?"

Klein nodded and said, "Maybe soon."

Alice made an "OK" gesture.

They chatted for a few more minutes, and Alice remembered that she was still lying in the coffin. In order to prevent the pallbearers from really thinking that she was dead, she returned to the real world.

Klein watched Alice disappear and swore in his heart that he would never reveal his mythical creature form in front of Alice again.

——He always felt that Alice would reach out and grab a handful, or pick up a few of them to play with. ...He hoped that she would not accidentally crush them to death.

Klein sighed and couldn't help but draw a scarlet moon logo on his chest, praying sincerely to the goddess who shared the same suffering.

……

Klein met Mr. Azik on the second day.

It had been a long time since he last saw Mr. Azik. Klein showed a look of surprise when he first saw him. After a few breaths, he suddenly noticed that Mr. Azik was standing next to the doll.

This is because of the positioning medium... Klein, who knew many angels at the same time, quickly reacted to this matter and realized that Mr. Azik actually relied on the copper whistle to locate him. He couldn't help but imagine the scene of Mr. Azik grabbing the doll and walking away.

...You should pay more attention next time.

He closed his eyes, and Mr. Azik looked at his new face and said:
"Are you ready?"

Preparation... Of course I don't have any... Klein smiled without any guilt and told Mr. Azik:

"The method to locate Ludwell is with Alice. I have to call her."

When he heard the name, Mr. Azik paused, looked up at Klein, and asked hesitantly:
"……circus?"

This was his most profound impression of the name.

The corner of Klein's mouth twitched, revealing an awkward yet polite smile.

Mr. Azik looked away from him and said calmly:

“You contact her.

"By the way, are your gloves sealed?"

Klein mentioned this to Mr. Azik, who showed a "crying hunger" and explained:
"This is the seal made by Alice..."

Mr. Azik's eyes fell on the gloves, and after a few breaths, he retracted his gaze and nodded.

Klein immediately told Azik about his divination dream as a warning, of course he covered up a few things in the middle. Azik nodded calmly, expressing his importance, and finally asked:

"How are you going to contact her?"

Crane responded, “I can pray to her.”

Azik's gaze froze for a moment, and he seemed to want to ask something, but in the end he said nothing, only nodded, motioning him to start.

Klein lowered his head and prayed to Alice in front of Mr. Azik. He could sense that when he heard the three-part honorific name, Mr. Azik's gaze froze for a moment.

Alice's figure soon solidified beside her. She blinked and soon saw the legendary Mr. Azik.

Their only meeting took place when Alice pushed open the grave and climbed out for the first time. Alice did not forget the man who watched her climb out of the coffin and watched Klein climb out with her. She was silent for two seconds and showed an equally awkward but polite smile:

"Hi."

Mr. Azik's eyes fell on her, his brows furrowed a little, and he asked thoughtfully:

"Miss Destiny?"

Alice turned to look at Klein.

Klein turned to Mr. Azik and said to him:
"There is only one thing left to prepare, and that is to confirm that 'Admiral of Hell' Ludwell is not in a dangerous place, and there are no demigods of the Spiritual Cult around."

After hearing this, Alice immediately raised her hand and said, "I can confirm it!"

Azik and Klein were not surprised by this. They all looked at Alice. Alice closed her eyes and found the long-lost monocle. She was very happy to find that Amon was not around.

Of course, this was not the primary object of observation. She walked around again, then opened her eyes and said to them:
"It's safe over there."

Azik and Klein nodded at the same time, and then stood there with Alice, looking at each other. After a few seconds, Alice asked sincerely:

"Should I lead the way or just take you there?"

Mr. Azik was silent for two seconds before replying, "...You can just take us there."

Alice suddenly realized what was going on and reached out her hand. Then she looked at the three people in front of her in silence for a second, then turned to Klein and asked:

"Can you take your doll yourself?"

Klein reached out and grabbed his doll without saying a word.

Alice took them on a journey, and soon they returned to the real world.

After Klein stood firm, he looked around. This was an environment he was quite familiar with. There was a huge ship with a dark green tint in the darkness, a pale mainsail with a black tulip painted on it, and undead creatures such as zombies, skeletons, resentful spirits, and shadows that were maneuvering the sails, patrolling back and forth, or practicing artillery. All of these proved that this was the flagship of the "Admiral of Hell," the "Black Tulip."

Alice was also observing her surroundings. The difference from what she saw last time was that there were many living Extraordinary People on the "Black Tulip" this time.

The captain, "Admiral of Hell" Ludwell, who was wearing a thin rapier on his waist, a lace shirt, a gorgeous coat, a three-cornered hat with a white skull on it, and a silver-white mask on his face, was standing at the entrance of the cabin and looking over here.

Suddenly, the square black ring on Ludwell's right hand vibrated slightly, and a light flashed.

The pale flame in the eyes of this proud pirate general flickered noticeably and finally shrank to the extreme.

Then, Ludwell bent his back, and in front of the crew's dull, surprised or lifeless gazes, he faced Azik Eggers, prostrated himself on the ground, and kissed the deck.

Alice looked at this scene in amazement, opened her mouth wide, and uttered a word of praise to Azik Eggers:

“So cool.”

This is almost what Klein feels.

He had guessed several possible reactions of Ludwell, such as there was a demigod lurking on the ship, or he was unprepared and was easily defeated by Mr. Azik. He never expected that the other party would kneel down and beg for mercy as soon as they met.

He and Alice stood there in shock. Alice looked at Mr. Azik seriously. Azik raised his hand and pressed down the silk hat on his head. He walked towards Ludwell who was kneeling on the ground at a moderate pace.
One step, two steps, three steps, he stopped in front of "Admiral of Hell" Ludwell and said in a low voice:

"What progress has the Spiritual Cult's plan to create a man-made death god reached?"

Ludwell pressed his forehead against the ground and replied hoarsely:
"The artificial death god can actively influence the high-sequence ones who failed to be promoted, but it is still unable to respond to prayers and rituals..."

After finishing the description, he slightly raised his upper body, took off the square dark ring on his right hand, held it in both hands, and handed it forward.

Alice looked at Ludwell in surprise, who was clearly awake but acted more like he was being controlled. After the ring flew into Mr. Azik's hand, she asked:
"If your attitude towards Him is because He is an angel, then I am also an angel, why don't you kneel down to me?"

Klein turned his head and looked at Alice in astonishment.

Mr. Azik did not move. He turned his eyes away from Ludwell, who did not dare to raise his head, and explained to Alice:

"The high sequence of the 'Death God' pathway has a strong suppression on the low sequence." (End of this chapter)