Subaru noted that both of them speak the same Loen language…the woman had a tense vibe, while the same was present in the man but much more muted.
Hah…how am I supposed to answer that? I know as much as you… was what Subaru would like to say, but he acknowledged that it was a bad idea.
He must have stayed silent for a while since the man finally decided to speak…
"That's what I like to know as well." He said with wariness in his voice
Neither the words nor the meanings displayed by the couple were something special, but what caught Subaru's attention was their display of something akin to…reverence. There were surprise, panic, vigilance, too…but Subaru assumed these were just the reaction of a normal person.
To them, I must have been perceived as someone 'powerful'. The thought instantly clicked inside Subaru's head. I brought them here, after all…
With an unknown method, he managed to drag two people into this world surrounded by black miasma! Subaru, who was the initiator, was feeling quite dumbfounded, let alone those who were dragged here against their will.
Subaru thought of two paths he could proceed from then on. One was to feign ignorance in order to become a part of the group and possibly gain their trust.
There was a problem with this, however. He didn't know what he looked like in this dark world. While the couple was covered with miasma, masking their defining features, Subaru was almost sure that what applied to him was something worse to invoke such emotions in their voices. After all, they didn't have such strong feelings when looking at each other.
So, as an avid reader of novels, Subaru concluded that he must look like something quite distasteful.
If that is the case, why not take advantage of it? With Heinkel's experience, which Subaru was positive he could emulate, he could try to maintain his mysterious identity in the eyes of the couple. That way, he would have much more control over the situation, and he could still glean valuable information.
Without ample time to deliberate the situation, Subaru decided that this was the most optimal solution. To exploit the psychological state of others to influence them…any policeman worth their salt will know how to do this!
After a few seconds of synchronizing with Heinkel's memories, Subaru let out a chuckle. He spoke with a relaxed tone, as if he was replying to the polite greetings from the visitors "An attempt."
An attempt…an attempt? Crusch Karsten looked at the mysterious guy dripping dark liquid from his body, and she thought that this situation was simply absurd and horrifying.
I shouldn't do anything rashly… Crusch started to loosen her grip on the sword. She was at the dressing table inside her bedroom for only moments, yet she was snatched up to this dark world in just a moment! That man…is definitely not someone I can defy!
Crusch took a breath, and smiled courteously, a skill she couldn't imagine would come in handy one day, and bowed her head "Sir, is the attempt over? Might you permit our return?"
Otto Suwen also had the intention to probe Subaru but refrained from doing so. His rich experience suggested to him that taking on the role of a silent onlooker was probably the best course of action.
Subaru looked at the questioner. He glinted through the miasma to see a silhouette of a tall girl with long green hair. He didn't answer impulsively, but instead turned to look at the man. He had messy grey hair that fell under his chin, as well as a medium build. However, he noticed that the exact countenance of the two couldn't be seen clearly.
Perhaps when he became stronger or gained a deeper understanding of the shadowy world, he could see through the miasma and discern their appearance.
He noticed that both of them, however, looked considerably incorporeal. They looked like a hologram with a slight red sheen, projected by the two crimson 'stars' beyond the shadowy ocean.
The connection between him and the crimson red must be the reason for this projection. This intangible connection, as he understood, was something only he could grasp hold of. If the connection was cut, the projection with disappear, and only then would they return.
Let's not waste time, then.
Subaru nodded at the green-haired girl, chuckling lightly "Of course, if it's what you request, I can send you back right this moment."
While not excellent at noble etiquettes, Crusch had a talent for deciphering lies, which gave her some advantages in the political world. Right now, she didn't identify any ill intention from the tone. This man likely wasn't hostile to her or didn't consider her worthy of his hostility. Crusch was inclined to believe the latter.
It could be that he possessed incredible acting skill, but Crusch dismissed that thought immediately.
Crusch was confident that if the gap between them was unsurmountable as she thought, there would be no reason for him to go against his words. With that in mind, a kind of anticipation was building up inside her.
"This is…a surreal experience. Although I have always been hoping for something like this to happen…I couldn't help but be baffled when it actually did." She took a deep breath to compose herself. She then turned to Subaru, eyes filled with determination "Sir, what can I do to become a Beyonder?"
Crusch was afraid, yes, but she was also excited. Her Father, who with his countless tales that she used to dismiss as mere fantasies, it was then that she realized they had the potential to become true! With that mere stimulant, all of her previous fears and hesitation seemed to have disappeared.
Huh…that's what I'd like to know as well… Subaru sighed inwardly
Subaru was in a dilemma as to how to maintain his unfathomable image if he was this ignorant.
Suddenly, he felt it was unbecoming of him to talk while standing. After all, it wouldn't be a bad idea if he and his guests were provided somewhere to sit, especially when having a conversation like this. Shouldn't he in a long table, on a mysterious high-back chair filled with ancient symbols while silently observing his visitors?
As soon as this thought of him materialized, the shadow around them started to ripple and swirl, startling both Crusch and Otto.
In an instant, they saw the shadow melded together, finally giving shapes to various stone pillars around them. Above them was a massive dome that encapsulated them.
The entire structure gave them a grandiose and lofty feeling, not unlike being in a legendary palace made for witches.
Directly under the dome, the shadow converged and a long bronze table appeared, with ten high-back chairs on both sides arranged in a symmetrical manner. The back of each chair dazzled and shone faintly with crimson red, drawing the outlines of weird constellations that differed from reality.
Crusch and Otto were sitting at the Seat of Honor, looking directly at each other.
The girl once again looked around with wide-eyed amazement, and she couldn't help but exclaim "Incredible…"
That, I can agree with you… Subaru thought as he reached out his hand to touch the edge of the bronze table. Could I create anything with just my thoughts in this darkness? I think I should be able to…
Nevertheless, I will have all the time to experiment later…
Otto in the meanwhile inspected the surroundings. After a few moments of silence, he decided to answer Crusch's question instead.
"Miss…are you a Loen?" He inquired, to which Crusch nodded "If you want to become a Beyonder, the easiest way would be to join the Churches of either the Evernight Goddess, the Lord of Storms, or the God of Steam and Machinery. As long as you pass their challenge, they will welcome you as one of their recruits. With enough merits, you can eventually apply to become a Beyonder."
"But will it be that easy? I thought the numbers of Beyonder are few and far between."
"A reasonable assumption, but ultimately an incorrect one. While you may think Beyonders are limited in numbers, since ordinary people are not likely to meet a Beyonder in their entire lives, I can assure you that this is not the case. Beyonders still exist in courts, tribunals, and execution agencies. While the number has diminished since beginning of the Iron Age, they are still a prominent force fighting against the lurking dangers. The Churches are just one of the well-known sources of Beyonder." Otto stopped abruptly "I apologize if my conjecture bored you. Researching about the Beyonder world is a hobby of mine."
As Subaru listened attentively to Otto's words, he silently process the information while maintaining a expression of clearly faked disinterest.
Relying on Heinkel's fragmented memories once again, Subaru noted that the "Iron Age" referred to the current epoch, which was the Fifth Epoch that began 1349 years ago.
"No, no, it's actually very interesting. I had heard bits and pieces about the world beyond before, but I couldn't imagine it would be…so vibrant." She spoke again after some thought "However, all the choices you listed seemed incredibly restricting…"
"I suppose the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punished, and the Machinery Hivemind could also be your choices…but it wouldn't provide you with any real freedom." Otto said before sighing "The point is, you can't become a Beyonder without sacrifices. If you don't want restriction, you can only seek the royal families and the few nobles with family histories of more than a thousand years. If you are desperate enough, you could seek for evil organizations-"
"That's out of the question." Crusch interrupted, clearly disgusted by the idea. "Are there no other solutions?"
Otto sank into silence. About half a minute later, he turned around to look at the 'mysterious man' who was watching them leisurely.
Realizing that Subaru had no plans to make any comment, he looked back at Crusch and said with reservation "I have two sets of Sequence 9 Potion formulas."
Sequence 9? Subaru muttered to himself
Otto leaned back slightly and replied in an even tone "As I'm sure you have known, humanity can only depend on potions to become real Beyonders, while the names of potions come from the 'Blasphemy Slate'. After constant translations into Jotun, Elvish, ancient and modern Hermes, and ancient Feysac, they have undergone changes to match the day and age of that era. The essence is not in their names, but whether they portray the 'core characteristics' of the potions."
"I have a Sequence 9 Potion named 'Prisoner'. It enhances your body and strength to an abnormal level. You also gained 'criminal knowledge' such as the ability to lock pick with wire, dig tunnels with soup spoons, and even make some seemingly harmless items possess lethality. You will also be able to use bombs and explosives effectively."
"That sounds…" Crusch trailed off
"Abhorrent…? Indeed. Both the names and the abilities must have sounded distasteful to you." Otto paused before continuing "The sequence 9 and above of this pathway is controlled by the Rose School of Thoughts, evil organizations, which can make subsequent advancements…difficult. Nevertheless, I assume you won't be interested in this potion."
Crusch gave a vigorous nod at that.
"Then, the second set of Sequence 9 Potions is much more tame. It's called 'Spectator', although like 'Prisoner', I am unsure of what it was called in the past. This set of potions enables you to have an exceptionally sharp mind with acute observational abilities. A noblewoman like you must have watched operas and plays, so I believe you understand what 'spectator' means. Just like an audience, spectators judge the 'actors' in the secular world, catching a glimpse of their real thoughts through their emotions conduct, and mantras."
"You must remember, however, that wherever you are at an extravagant banquet or a crowded street, spectators can only be spectators forever."
Crusch instantly felt the name and concept strike a cord in her heart. The method of discerning truths and lies was something she had been practicing, and this potion further enhanced that aspect. While she wouldn't mind something that gave her an edge in combat, she thought that this potion was indeed the best option for her.
It was no wonder that some emotions bled through her muted voice "This potion…how can I get its formula? What do you want in exchange for it?"
Otto, already prepared, said in an even tone "The heart of a werewolf, it must be intact."
Crusch nodded her head ever slightly "Very well, I will try within my capability to get you your items. However, how do I hand it to you?" She paused, seeming to weigh her words "How can you promise me that you can give the potion's formula to me in return for the werewolf heart, as well as the authenticity of the formula?"
Otto answered calmly "I will give you an address. About the formula, I can mail it to you, or tell you directly here, once I receive the heart of a werewolf."
"As for promises, I believe that you and I can rest assured under the witness of the mysterious sir."
As he said, he turned to look at Subaru who was sitting up straight at the Seat of Honor.
"Sir, the fact that we were brought here was a testament to your tremendous strength. With you as a witness, I believe none of us would dare to violate a promise."
"I believe so as well!" Crusch's eyes shone with unpalpable excitement. From her perspective, the mysterious gentleman who had unimaginable abilities was definitely an "authoritative" witness.
To trick him in any manner, would be to court death!
With that in mind, Crusch bowed her head ever slightly "Sir, please be the witness of our trade."
At that moment, she suddenly realized that she was all too hasty, having forgotten to ask a particular question. It's the core of noble conduct, yet she managed to forget so easily. Crusch could only blame her eagerness "Sir…how should we address you?"
Otto nodded along, and echoed the same question in a serious manner "Do you have a title you prefer us to invoke upon?"
Subaru was taken aback. He gently rapped his fingers on the bronze table. His first thought was to take the moniker of 'Pleiades', however, a certain someone has taken that and even named his tower after it.
The earlier divinations of an infuriating bard flashed through his mind suddenly. Perhaps it was not a coincidence he was born on that specific day.
Indeed...it suits me.
He leaned back, interlocking his finger together below his chin, and gave a faint smile to the duo.
"You can address me as…"
Subaru paused, a flair for dramatic he learned in class coming in handy. He spoke amiably and calmly "The Fool."