Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Awkward Phrases
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It was similar to the one tucked into the bouquet I had received earlier.
An awkward combination of three words.
"Every single one of these sentences feels so unnatural."
"Right? 'The seated Bocuse avoids danger'... What could that even mean?"
"...Who knows. 'Tighten cookies this way,' 'More cunning and suspicious parish.'"
Even reading it again, it was an incredibly bizarre combination.
"They started appearing all over the catacombs this morning. If they were just random words, I might have brushed them off, but since they were these nonsensical sentences, I took photos just in case."
"This morning?"
I muttered that as I stared intently at the photo.
Neat letters painted in paint on a bright fence.
They looked almost printed, making it impossible to identify the handwriting.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, but I have no idea what these phrases mean either."
"I see. Well, no helping it. Maybe it's just some drunk's graffiti..."
"No, it can't be. I just received one of these strange sentences myself."
Marian Baum's eyebrows shot up.
"You received one?"
"There was a note in a bouquet someone left for me: 'Audienz dubioses schockiertes.'"
"...Audienz? Someone familiar with English?"
I nodded inwardly at Marian Baum's mutterings.
Normally, 'audience' or 'spectators' is expressed as Publikum, not Audienz.
The words after that didn't seem like something a foreigner just learning the language would use, but I could agree on this part at least.
"That's what I thought too. Maybe they meant Audience instead of Publikum. After all, in a letter received at a theater, 'audience' fits better than 'press conference.'"
"True."
"But seeing these phrases written in the catacombs... it's changing my mind a bit."
It wasn't a mistake or ignorance.
The person who wrote this was deliberately arranging strange words.
Marian Baum, lost in thought for a while, lowered his voice.
"I agree. Considering the note you received, this doesn't seem like mere graffiti."
He shook his head and draped his arm over the chair beside him.
"This is annoying. I only asked just in case, but now it's turning into a long story..."
"First, I'll check if there have been any similar reports in Bavaria."
"Good. And looking at the note sent to you, it seems these people are tailoring the phrases to the situation. We should find this French fellow named Bocuse as soon as possible and tell him to sit tight. Haha!"
I didn't laugh at his joke that led nowhere.
If it was indeed tailored to the situation, it could be some kind of warning.
Of course, I had no idea what warning 'The audience is shocked' was supposed to be.
The same went for 'Tighten cookies this way,' and 'The parish is suspicious'—I couldn't tell if it referred to the Pleroma parish or an actual continental parish.
Especially, depending on which parish the last phrase meant, everything from whether the writer was on our side or not would hinge on it.
'Would Pleioma openly warn 'The continental parish is suspicious'? The gains seem too small compared to the risks.'
If it was someone warning that 'the Pleioma parish is planning something shady,' that would make more sense.
But the fact that the tipster hadn't contacted us directly was suspicious, and so was sending it to Lucas instead of Nikolaus.
Lost in thought, I glanced around the café and asked,
"How has Pleioma been since that day?"
"Nothing. Vice Chairman Ange Draher was prepared to mobilize all forces, but surprisingly, nothing happened."
"I see. That's a relief."
Good news.
It meant the memory wipe and false memory implantation on them was still holding.
Anyway, first I needed to confirm if this phenomenon was appearing elsewhere in the Empire.
It might be overreacting to drunken nonsense, but checking for more such scribbles wasn't hard.
"If more turn up in the catacombs, I'll send a letter to your office. Now, shall we get to the first matter?"
I nodded.
I had no clue how my experience differed from their experiments.
"You said that touching a berserker's core pulls you into their inner world. From our experiments, yes, you do enter their inner world. And it identically leads to berserk state as well. If you hadn't warned us, dozens would have already died."
"I see."
"But there was one difference. You said you entered the 'victim's' inner world, right?"
"Yes."
"That's fascinating. It wasn't like that for us. When contaminated together by the victim's core, we got trapped in our own inner world, not theirs."
"...?"
But I entered Adelbert's inner world?
In his body, no less.
"The labyrinth is always like that. You don't see others' memories; you see your own traumas. Of course, with our technology, we can extract and share it externally."
Marian Baum shrugged proudly.
I had known this since falling into the space made from Leo's memories earlier.
More importantly, a new term.
"Isn't the labyrinth a maze?"
"Yes. The abyss of abysses. That's how we describe the berserker's inner turmoil."
Hearing a term from Greek myth here felt unfamiliar, but I got the concept.
"But here's the problem. Even if we spatialize shared memories, you can only observe—you can't intervene. Yet you entered the victim's body and controlled it. No, it even sucked you into their space without extracting it externally. How is that possible?"
"......"
I wanted to know that too.
As I didn't answer, Marian Baum waved his hand.
"Of course, the result is the same as you said: touch the core and berserk to death together. Pleioma just advanced the drug one step. So the process difference isn't a big issue."
"Right."
Still, I was personally curious.
Wasn't that why Marian Baum was sitting here with me?
'More than that...'
Why wasn't Narke surprised that I became Adelbert?
Sure, the guy barely showed emotions and just smiled every day, so it wasn't that strange.
"Why can't you intervene even in spatialized shared memories?"
"Because freely manipulating a world is a privilege reserved for its creator. Think of our world. What we call our choices are really all His will, aren't they?"
This guy sounded religious too.
Anyway, that wasn't important now.
"I've entered shared memories in the catacombs before. There, I moved freely and changed the memory's progression."
"You changed it?"
Marian Baum shook his head as if it made no sense.
But I got it.
'Understood.'
Spatializing turns you into an observer, but manipulating the world owner's brain in that state gives you agency. It's a matter of sequence.
I—though I don't know why I could enter someone else's inner world, but anyway—was pulled into Adelbert's without spatializing, so instead of becoming an observer, I became the person himself?
'...No, the opposite makes more sense.'
Everyone said after Vitriol contamination, they saw their own traumas. That's probably correct.
I became Adelbert and saw his labyrinth.
So the question is why I became Adelbert.
Anyway, hard to resolve now, so better explain how to switch from observer to participant.
I organized my thoughts and tossed it out casually.
"If the memory owner grants free will, you could interact with that world. Like how God gave us free will."
"Ahahaha! That makes sense."
"Not a joke. Later, try manipulating the memory owner's brain with the mental intervention drug."
Marian Baum's face turned serious for a moment.
"...Huh?"
"Try it and let me know."
"Worth a shot. I'll try and report back. Anyway, your case is a unique one we can't reproduce no matter how many experiments. Let me know if anything changes."
"Got it."
Marian Baum pulled out a pen and scribbled notes.
After that, he questioned me at length about the catacombs and Pleioma, and I gathered useful info through Q&A.
As he filled a page, Marian Baum asked,
"No plans to attack Pleioma first?"
"We've even postponed pre-planned things, so no government-level plans to attack Pleioma yet."
"Fair enough. With contamination recovery and treatment, hands are full. And now the new drug announcement."
Even if it could stir emotions, we didn't hide info from the public—we announced just before the second exam that berserk now means death.
After Pleioma's new drug, doubling budget and manpower on berserk defense left the Empire short on resources for attacking Pleioma.
Attacking solo like before was the only option, but it had limits.
Marian Baum, staring silently at his paper for a while, smacked his lips.
"So, no plans to keep acting?"
"Acting? Theater club, so have to."
"Not that. With our troupe."
"......"
What now...
"My face is too known."
"The public won't remember your face that precisely. Or act in the catacombs? That acting you just did is too good to keep to myself."
"Pitying the acting alone, or as a pureblood regretting cultural disharmony alone?"
"Hahaha! Ah~ Doesn't work, huh."
He laughed heartily, then gazed out the window thoughtfully.
"Each actor has their color. Acting harmonizes your color with the role's. But your acting only carries the role's color. Don't you hear that often?"
"......."
I had, often.
Not here, but in reality.
People's eyes are similar.
"Not always good, but actors who erase themselves completely and immerse are rare. I'd love one like that in my troupe. The offer's sincere—tell me anytime if you feel like acting."
Marian Baum's eyes were earnest.
He was always passionate about theater.
"Understood."
"And come to the catacombs. Everyone will welcome you."
"If it's okay, I will."
"We need to investigate together which way to turn the cookies."
Marian Baum laughed playfully.
Still a joke with no punchline, but I could see he was trying to make me comfortable, so I just smiled.
"Right. I'll go soon."
* * *
The arts festival was still ongoing.
And I was openly drinking on the dorm rooftop.
"Selling booze at school booths? What gives?"
"It's beer, so fine, right? Planned to buy ahead, but Leo said just buy and drink at school, so I waited, and here we are."
Tscheringgen grinned brightly as he drank.
Student council must want something today—they permitted alcohol. Only cafeteria wines and beers under 10%, but still surprising. Not allowed at last festival.
'Come to think, I asked Elias why he pulled the festival forward, but he went out without asking Leo.'
Does he do everything opposite? I'll ask Leo myself.
I looked around the table and ate the sauerkraut as anju.
'Light for afterparty.'
Better that way.
Expected 500k minimum for six, but they ate less than thought, all from campus food, so table wasn't heavy.
I eyed my still-full glass and asked,
"You guys like booze?"
"Of course..."
"Yeah."
Everyone's eyes turned one way.
Class 1-A's Ainsidel, silent till now, answered firmly.
All slightly flustered and speechless, Tscheringgen laughed and asked,
"News to me. What kind?"
"All of 'em. Heard no booze on campus ever, so surprising. Cool."
"Usually not... Your 3rd Training Academy like this from start?"
"Ah."
Philip snorted lightly at my words.
"You didn't go to 3rd either. Right."
"Haha, judging by usual antics, Philip acts like first day at school regardless of academy."
Tscheringgen swiftly blocked it.
Fair play.
Like elite privates, foundation kids bonded tight.
Tscheringgen nipped Philip's ego trip.
'Bastard...'
Cunning. Hearing true colors slip with booze—guy's twisted inside. Pity.
I changed subject with the needed question.
"Seen weird sentences written around campus?"
"Huh? Weird sentences?"
"Where?"
Guess not.
Still, watch for a while.
"Nah. Tell me if you do."
"Lucas drunk..."
"Nope."
Cutting Melvin off, Tscheringgen laughed and shifted.
"Oh, our whole team to finals—should all make top 18 like this? No idea school's team logic, but wanna see you all to end. Let's go strong."
No idea on teams? Thinks school wouldn't go easy either.
As Tscheringgen's soft smile built emotion, Ainsidel spoke.
"Guys."
Flat voice drew eyes again.
"Fun week training with you."
"......"
Why this now?
Felt it when he said he called me to befriend, but keeps blurting socially off or brutally honest. Timing off, tone grave.
Tscheringgen smiled back.
"Me too, Haike."
"M-Me too...! You're really good. Next, you and Lucas team?"
"Yeah."
Ainsidel smiled at me.
First emotion shift around others.
"Lucas, let's do well next team."
Smile on blank face made him human-like.
I stared quietly, answered shortly.
"Yeah."
* * *
Last on rooftop: me and Ainsidel.
He held me back. Poured booze endlessly into stomach.
Council limited per person, but he magicked refills somehow.
'How knows useless spells like that.'
Like studied magic to drink.
Tried distancing, but stuck for 2 weeks finals anyway—no point.
Wore artifact linked to Elias/Leo for safety—just in case.
As Class 1-A Ainsidel emptied another and tried magic, I chuckled and stopped him.
"Stop... Stomach'll hurt."
"Yeah?"
"So why hold me? Got stuff to do."
"Yeah...?"
He muttered voice subtly down.
'What the hell.'
Really wants to befriend me?
Gives 0 affinity?
'Some scheme?'
Already swamped with Adelbert/Elias berserks.
Weird sentences too.
Gotta check, but likely warning—can't relax.
Plus Ainsidel Nth gen like this—headache.
"Why wanna befriend me?"
Blunt question.
Had to ask.
Affinity from -2 to 0—trait only. No points otherwise.
0 yet wants friendship? 0's air, classmates ~27th.
"Dunno."
Ainsidel pondered genuinely, eyes rolling.
"Feels like we'll see each other long."
"......."
I looked at his face.
Blank, gazing campus.
"That's it?"
"Yeah."
I stayed silent long, then spoke.
"Haike. Any white-haired mage ancestors?"
"White? Elias family?"
"His whiter, others yellow."
"Yeah? Ours all dark. Grandma black young, uncle/mom dark blonde like me."
Yeah, no resemblance.
To that Ainsidel. His whiter than Elias, features totally differ from this Haike Ainsidel.
Maybe that Ainsidel faked name.
Probe impossible攻略 reason—safely.
"Haike."
"Yeah?"
"Can I visit your house?"