Chapter 108 - 108: Arrival at Bayam

"Such a child…" Edward stepped into the washroom to freshen up, all the while pondering where else he could obtain the two main ingredients needed for the Scribe potion. "Asmann's Brain…I remember…the original novel mentioned that it was some kind of creature that only existed in ancient legends. Miss Fors got her Asmann's Brain from her teacher, Dorian, when she was promoted to Scribe." "If all the remaining Asmann's Brains are in the hands of the Abraham family, then this could be a real headache. Should I go see Lawrence again? Since he wants me to protect Christine, he probably doesn't want me stuck at this bottleneck forever, right?" "But it definitely won't be free. What kind of request would a dying man make? Hm…it certainly won't be simple." "Then there's the Ancient Wraith. I recall there being one in a castle in Backlund. The pollution from what's suspected to be an abyssal rift doesn't bother me, but…isn't that the territory of the Sanguine? In the original novel, the Sanguine Marquis only told Emlyn about the castle to test The Fool. If I just barge in, will it attract unwanted attention from the Sanguine?" "Maybe I should try buying it first." ——— That night was a momentous one—for Trissy. Because she had finally escaped that damn prison. She had no idea how many people were hunting her in the darkness or whether a high-sequence Beyonder might jump out at any moment. Right now, she had only one thought: Run! Run fast! Then retrieve that strand of hair—and burn it. She didn't know whether doing that would just land her into another pit of fire, but it was all she had left. "Damn it…that guy doesn't actually live in the sewers, does he?" Trissy, in her ornate gown, trudged down increasingly filthy streets, the elegance of her attire clashing jarringly with the squalor around her. She fought the urge to vomit as she stumbled forward, step by agonising step. Before long, a foul-smelling sewer entrance appeared ahead. She nearly threw up. —Honestly, Trissy had seen far worse things. The old her would have just frowned slightly and continued doing what needed to be done. But the pampered, luxurious lifestyle she'd lived for the past while had softened her. She'd grown used to nobility, and everything in front of her now triggered a deep, instinctive urge to flee. Maybe I should just go back to the estate. The thought had barely surfaced when she pinched herself hard: No! Never again! Never again do I want to wake up in the arms of some man! Never again do I want to live in a fog, day after day! I'm going to break free from all of it—from the chains they forced on me! Trissy slowed her breathing to its quietest, most controlled level and stepped into the dark, grimy sewer, following the trail of markings she had left behind, seeking the strand of hair Edward had hidden down here. "Damn it! I swear, I will kill that bastard!" She reached a corner piled with muck and trash, mentally preparing herself for half a minute. Then, tearing a strip from her skirt to wrap her hand, she steeled herself to dig through the filth. Suddenly, an intense sense of dread surged from up ahead. She jerked her head up—and locked eyes with a pair of blood-red pupils. In the next instant, both parties turned around and ran in opposite directions at the same time: "Holy sh*t, a monster (an evil god)!" ——— "Achoo!" Edward had just woken up from a satisfying night's sleep and was hit with a string of sneezes. He was about to reflexively blame Lilith again, only to turn his head and find— No sign of her. Now that's rare. Usually, if her food bowl was empty, she'd unleash a combo attack of stepping, biting, scratching, and clawing to wake Edward up and demand a refill. If it wasn't empty, she'd probably still be curled up by his pillow for a second round of sleep. Could it be…she's finally taking her potion digestion seriously and working harder? Click. The door nudged open softly. A small black figure squeezed through the crack, then flicked her tail to close it with practised ease. In her mouth was a fat, plump rat. Her steps were light and cheerful—it was obvious she was in a good mood. "Meow?" Feeling the gaze of her big-cat human, Lilith turned her head and let out a muffled meow. Right. Why do I even bother expecting anything of her? With a plop, Lilith dropped the rat on the floor, then poked it with a paw, her expression turning puzzled. "Hm?" Edward walked over. "What's wrong?" "It felt like this rat was different…kinda like Susie. But now it's suddenly gone dumb again." As she spoke, she gave it another poke with her paw. "???" A chill suddenly rose from deep within Edward's chest. Without hesitation, he scooped Lilith into his arms, then vanished into thin air with a flash of Apparition. When they reappeared, they were already in another district. "Mmph! Mmmph!" Lilith shook her head in protest, clearly unhappy. "Edward, what are you doing?! Miss Lilith hadn't even picked up her rat yet!" "Oh, for heaven's sake! Can you stop thinking about that damned rat for one second? What are you, a scout sent by the royal army? You'll drag anything back home, huh?" Edward hadn't forgotten—Backlund was a city where a Demigod of the Marauder Pathway once possessed a rat as a host. Now here she was, bringing a rat home—one that apparently 'felt' like Susie? Anyone would make the same terrifying association! Lilith blinked, wide-eyed and full of confusion. "Miss Lilith has no idea what you're talking about." "Didn't you just say that rat reminded you of Susie? That it had intelligence? Could speak? Possessed Beyonder abilities?" "Nope~" She shook her head and casually lifted a paw. "Mmm…maybe just a teensy bit smarter than the average rat." "Really? Where'd you catch it? Was it from the sewer?" Edward finally began to calm down. If it truly were the Demigod, there was no way Lilith could've caught it so easily. "Nope~ Caught it in a garden." "Oh, thank goodness." Edward let out a breath of relief. Still, just to be sure, he pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and then flicked a gold coin into the air. "The rat just now—was it the Demigod of Marauder Pathway?" The coin landed with the numbered side facing up: No. Good. Without a sound, without a trace, Edward returned to the hotel. The rat still lay there on the floor—motionless, no sign of transformation, no abnormalities. Just to be safe, he waited patiently for a few more minutes before raising his wand. "Petrificus Totalus. Reducto!" Crack. The rat exploded into a pile of rubble, crushed into tiny stone fragments. "AHHH!! My rat!" Lilith leapt from Edward's arms in a fury, scrambling on all fours to gather the broken pieces into a neat little mound. Then she sat there, staring blankly at the pieces—clearly debating whether they were still edible. Edward pinched the scruff of her neck and lifted her off the ground. Her limbs dangled freely, but her eyes never left the rubble. "Stop staring. Here, have a dried sardine instead." The moment he pulled out the treat, she perked up and chomped it in one bite, still mumbling through a full mouth: "Edward…you owe me…a smart rat…" "Yes, yes, fine." Just then, the space before them suddenly warped—red grew redder, yellow brightened, white turned dazzling. Colours intensified and overlaid, while the air rippled like the surface of water. Curious, Lilith reached out with her paw to touch it. From the shimmering ripple stepped out a man with bronze-colored skin—Azik Eggers. Startled, Lilith immediately jumped back in alarm. Azik's expression carried a trace of apology. "Apologies—I'm late. Sorting out matters with Priscilla took longer than expected." Edward immediately asked, "How is she now?" "…She's become a Beyonder." Azik looked a little lost. "I don't know if that's truly a good thing…but I didn't have any better options." He quickly composed himself, his gentle face regaining warmth. "Oh, and about Klein—thank you. I'm not sure exactly what happened that day, but the fact that he's still alive must be thanks to your help." Edward hadn't expected Azik to thank him on Klein's behalf. Tch…they really are close. No wonder everyone calls Azik Klein's dad. "I'm friends with Klein too. It's only natural I helped," he said with a smile. "So, have you decided where to head next?" "Yes, actually, Mr. Azik. The reason I'm going to sea is to aid in my potion's digestion. For now, I plan to become a pirate hunter—but I haven't decided where to go. Do you have any recommendations?" Azik pondered for a moment. "Any island on the sea has pirates, but for your first voyage, I recommend Bayam. It's one of the earliest colonial islands. The facilities and general lifestyle there are relatively developed. It'll give you time to adjust." That…is surprisingly considerate. "I understand. Then Bayam it is!" "Shall we leave now?" "Just a moment—there's someone else coming with me." That person, of course, was Danitz, who was still undergoing 'reform' at the Harvest Church. ——— September 22, 1349. Saturday. Mr. Azik led Edward and Danitz through the strange, shimmering Spirit World and out onto a warm, tropical island where the sea breeze carried the scent of salt and sun. This was Bayam—the "City of Generosity", capital of the Rorsted Archipelago. Rich in minerals, blanketed in dense forests, abundant in fruit and fertile soil, Bayam had once drawn the eye of colonial powers. Today, it stood as a vibrant, bustling city—a far cry from the grim steel of Backlund. Edward silently took in the view, marvelling at the city's tropical vibrancy. From his arms, Lilith—now transformed into a fluffy white Persian cat—leapt out and sneezed twice as the salty wind hit her nose. After adjusting, she immediately began wandering off to explore. Edward's disguise as Gehrman Sparrow took the form of a handsome young man in his twenties, with a warm, harmless smile. Just from appearances, most people would naturally be inclined to like him. Danitz, meanwhile, was still thoroughly bewildered. He rubbed his eyes again and again, glancing left and right, jaw slack with disbelief. "This…This is Bayam?!" Just minutes ago, he'd been trading barbs with that idiotic vampire at the Harvest Church. Then Edward showed up, exchanged a few words with the priest, and whisked him away. After that, a calm-looking man with bronze skin appeared… And now—now he was standing in Bayam. If we were taking a ship, it'd take at least a week! So just who the hell is this mild-looking middle-aged man…? ——— [Note]: Tho we missed our goal by 10, oh well. 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