The Curtain Rises on the Stage of Madness
The curtain rises on the stage.
According to the Association’s intelligence, a structure presumed to be the 'Anomaly' is installed at the center of the Sejong Anomaly Zone.
If one were to compare that structure to something from our modern world...
They say it bears a striking resemblance to a circus tent.
Indeed.
The Awakened Association’s intelligence-gathering capabilities are truly world-class.
"It looks like a place where tigers would be jumping through hoops. ...What on earth does that have to do with mental attacks?"
"More often than not, the appearance of an anomaly has nothing to do with its abilities."
Yoo Iseul, who answered me bluntly, did this:
Shing!
She drew her sword.
The sound of the blade leaving its scabbard echoed throughout the silent Anomaly Zone.
The sound was so clear and crisp that the word 'beautiful' naturally came to mind, but that was only because I was Yoo Iseul’s ally. If the one facing her had heard that sound, it would have been a chilling noise, like the scream of the God of Death.
"Let's go."
"...Yes."
Yoo Iseul took the lead.
Because this anomaly utilized a powerful mental attack that destroyed the brain, preliminary investigation was completely impossible. We had no choice but to throw ourselves into it and figure out the opponent's abilities firsthand.
Ah.
To be precise, that's 'me', not 'us'.
I followed closely behind Yoo Iseul, cautiously approaching the tent.
The tent wasn't exactly huge, but it wasn't small either.
However, the entrance was undeniably massive.
It looked like a tank could drive right through it, let alone a person.
After we got close to the tent, Yoo Iseul spoke to me.
"Check it."
"Gulp."
Now.
It was time to confirm the true nature of this anomaly.
Is it even an anomaly in the first place?
If this tent wasn't an anomaly but a Sanctum of a Fervent Follower, it would undoubtedly be 'censored' again, making it impossible to confirm accurate information.
If that happened, we’d have no choice but to charge in blindly without the advantage of information...
...I just have to hope it isn't a Fervent Follower's Sanctum. What else can I do?
I placed my hand on the tent and checked the wiki.
[Sanctum of the Performer (Anomaly)]
1. Overview
2. Characteristics
3. Containment Class (Risk)
4. Resolution Method
1. Overview
A Cosmos-class anomaly created directly by a pseudonym (The Performer), who is a 'Fervent Follower of the One Who Creates Boundaries'.
The structure resembles a classic circus tent, and the interior is transformed into a 'stage' where the distortion of time and space is applied. Physical laws are partially ignored on this stage.
2. Characteristics
...
...
...
"Huh?"
"I can tell by your reaction. It's a Fervent Follower's Sanctum, isn't it?"
"I-it is, but this is..."
"We don't have time, so let's go in. It's going to be censored anyway, right?"
"No, wait a second, Unnie."
Having checked the contents of the wiki, I opened my mouth in no small amount of shock.
"It's not censored."
This tent is a Fervent Follower's Sanctum.
This was the first time I had ever been able to check information about a Fervent Follower's Sanctum all at once.
It wasn't even censored at all.
When dealing with an anomaly or a Fervent Follower, having an information advantage over your opponent is an indescribably huge benefit.
It feels like I might be able to resolve this more easily than I thought, but...
That actually makes me more anxious.
There must be a reason why it isn't censored.
...I don't know exactly why, but I can ponder those questions later.
For now, let's just focus on dispelling this Fervent Follower's Sanctum and capturing the main body of the Fervent Follower.
When I spoke, Yoo Iseul, perhaps sensing something strange herself, wore an absurd expression as she asked.
"Does it even list a resolution method?"
"...Yes."
"Then it's over as soon as we go inside and you recite the incantation, right?"
"Theoretically, yes. But do you think it'll go the way we want?"
"Probably not."
"...Right?"
Yeah, looking at the wiki, I don't think it's going to work.
"Tell me the details."
It was a tight situation, but sharing information is essential.
I proceeded to tell Yoo Iseul every single detail about the Sanctum, from start to finish, without leaving out a single word.
2. Characteristics
Time flows differently inside the Sanctum compared to the outside. Any living being that enters the anomaly is considered an 'Actor' of the stage and is forced to participate in a 'Play' directed by the pseudonym (The Performer).
The 'Actor' must perform the assigned role. During this time, their real-world ego is temporarily extinguished.
The stage background, lighting, and audio change moment by moment. The backgrounds and characters appearing in the play are all 'Boundaries' imitating reality. However, the Actor, the Observer, and the Director cannot perceive which is the truth between reality and the play.
Rules of the 'Play':
- 1. It is impossible for an 'Actor' to deviate from the script.
- 2. The script is incomplete, inducing improvisation.
- 3. If an Actor dies during the play, they die instantly in reality.
3-1. If an 'Immortal Being' dies during the play, the real-world existence is replaced by the character in the play.
- 4. After proceeding to #Scene-14, a 10-minute Intermission is provided.
4-1. During the intermission, the 'Actor's' real-world ego, which was temporarily extinguished, returns.
- 5. If an 'Actor' refuses to act or performs an act contrary to their role for any reason, the Director 'Pseudonym' can call 'NG'.
5-1. When the Director 'Pseudonym' calls 'NG', they can distort time and space to re-direct the situation.
5-2. Alternatively, they can forcibly eject the 'Actor'. In this case, the role assigned to that 'Actor' exits in the form of death.
- 6. Breaking the Fourth Wall is strictly prohibited, but it is partially permitted in audience-participation scenes.
- 7. As soon as the play ends, the 'Actor's' real-world ego returns. Afterward, the 'Actor' must bow to the audience.
4. Resolution Method
The Fervent Follower's Sanctum cannot be destroyed by direct or indirect methods. It must be dispelled through the following methods:
If you are a Fervent Follower, you can cancel the Sanctum summoning by reciting the following incantation:
[The Play is not reality. It is not a lie. The Play is a boundary and a dream, and the boundary is the true world.]
If you are not a Fervent Follower, you can cancel the summoning in the following order...
"..."
"..."
"...What do you think?"
"I don't know. I'm just as stunned as you are."
I definitely said it was a time-sensitive situation, but Yoo Iseul was just as stunned as I was.
It was understandable.
The information about this Sanctum... is too unrealistic to accept in such a short time.
To think that the moment you enter the Sanctum, you have to participate in a play as an 'Actor'.
I couldn't even begin to figure out where to start pointing out the absurdity.
...First of all, the culture of 'theater' is the exclusive property of humans.
But to not only incorporate such a culture into a Sanctum, but to have a Fervent Follower who governs 'direction'...
Does the culture of 'theater' exist even in the far reaches of outer space?
The point I need to pay the most attention to in this Sanctum information is...
The rules of the play, especially number 3.
- 3. If an Actor dies during the play, they die instantly in reality.
3-1. If an 'Immortal Being' dies during the play, the real-world existence is replaced by the character in the play.
...I don't even need to think about who that 'Immortal Being' refers to.
It's a Fervent Follower.
This is a fatal rule for me.
For example.
Let's say I enter the Sanctum and am assigned the role of 'A'.
According to the wiki, the moment I am assigned a role, the ego of 'Lee Jia, the Fervent Follower' is temporarily extinguished, and my ego becomes 'A'.
You could call it extreme method acting.
I can accept that much, but if I, acting as 'A', die during the play...
...The ego of 'Lee Jia, the Fervent Follower' is extinguished just like that.
In effect, it's no different from extinguishing the very existence of the Fervent Follower.
"..."
Just in case, I tried reciting the Sanctum dispelling incantation from outside, but as expected, it didn't work at all.
No matter what happens, to dispel this Sanctum...
We have no choice but to go inside the tent and face it head-on.
"It would be nice if I could just recite the dispelling incantation the moment I go in... but that won't work, will it?"
"There's no way it would be that easy."
"Ugh... B-but Unnie, you're immune to mental attacks, so you wouldn't be affected by the role or whatever, right?"
"Maybe, maybe not. But does that matter? I can't dispel the summoning anyway."
"..."
As she said.
In the case of a Fervent Follower, you can cancel the Sanctum summoning simply by reciting the incantation, but if you aren't a Fervent Follower, you have to perform an insanely complicated sequence of actions to cancel it.
How complicated is it?
It's so complex that it's practically impossible, to the point where you could just skim over it and it wouldn't matter.
Soon, Yoo Iseul sheathed her sword and said.
"Let's just go."
"W-wait, what about the plan?"
"First. I meet that Director guy myself and take him out. Second. You recite the dispelling incantation during the intermission. Third, you recite the dispelling incantation as soon as the play ends. It's one of these three."
"Ah...!"
That's right.
She said the ego returns during the intermission or as soon as the play ends.
In any case, we can't just stand around watching from the outside like this.
Even at this very moment, new anomalies are appearing all over the country.
I don't know what the connection is between those anomalies and this guy called 'Pseudonym'...
...Let's just go.