The Taboo of Names

As the lavatory door was pushed open, a portal to the spirit world suddenly appeared beneath Fors—who had just moments ago been so terrified that she couldn't move, helplessly awaiting the bite of that vicious maw.

At the same time, the final bead on the bracelet around her wrist—a dark blue stone with burn marks—emitted a pale blue, illusory glow.

Clearly, despite her fear, she had still managed to take action... though perhaps a bit too drastically.

Fors also heard the sound behind her now and couldn't help but worry that whoever had entered might be killed by the out-of-control sealed artifact. She made an effort to turn around, hoping to warn them before fully stepping into the spirit world.

But just as she moved, she realized that the one who had entered the lavatory... was actually a very fat orange cat. It had already leapt—at a speed barely perceptible to the naked eye—next to the "Flesh Trigger" and firmly pinned it down...

The last thing Fors saw before entering the spirit world was the maw of fangs disappearing, and the trigger—formed by three fingers—lying obediently beneath the cat's paw.

Wait... that thing with the fangs was just for show? A fat orange cat could subdue it? And I actually used up my last 'Teleport Stone' for this...

Just as that thought crossed Fors's mind, her figure turned completely transparent and vanished from the spot.

...

Inside the villa at 28 Kingster Street.

Returning home, Ebner found that Helene and the others had yet to return. They were likely still discussing follow-up cooperation with the bishops. So he decided to take a short nap and catch up on some sleep.

After all, he'd spent the entire previous night crafting mystical items, and then had remained on high alert while with Lilith. By now, he was truly exhausted.

However, just as he changed into his sleepwear and lay down in bed, he suddenly noticed a silhouette rapidly taking shape on the ceiling above him.

Ebner was immediately startled. He grabbed the magic mirror with one hand and the staff leaning against the headboard with the other. His self-developed secret technique, "Disintegration," was ready to launch at any moment.

But he quickly lowered his guard, having recognized the falling figure as a very familiar "salted fish."

With a soft thud, Fors landed on the bed—right next to Ebner. Their gazes met.

"Good evening, Ebner," Fors greeted, a little awkwardly.

Miss, did you set your teleportation point to my bedroom? I remember that last time, when we were escaping from Baron Conva, you also ended up teleporting here directly.

Does she subconsciously think my bedroom is the safest place?

Ebner mocked silently to himself, but outwardly he asked seriously, "What happened?"

She actually used her Teleport Stone. Did something go wrong at the theater? But with Xio and Her Highness Vera there, unless multiple demigods caused trouble, it shouldn't have been a problem...

Seeing Ebner's gaze, Fors blushed slightly as memories of the moment before teleporting flashed through her mind. She stammered out a retelling of what had just happened, only omitting the part about receiving a "gift." She claimed the item had been purchased at a previous gathering of Beyonders.

So it was my fault after all... but the 'Flesh Trigger' is usually well-behaved—why would it deliberately scare Fors?

Thinking this, Ebner sat up, changed into his outdoor clothes, and said to Fors, who was still sprawled on the bed:

"We're heading back to the theater now. Your item should be safe in that big cat's paw."

As he spoke, he glanced at Fors's rather indecent posture, cleared his throat, and added, "You should get up too. It feels a bit strange talking like this..."

Fors had already turned her head away when he started changing clothes. Hearing this, she hurriedly stood and headed for the door.

But she was stopped by Ebner, who reached out an arm to block her path.

"What is it?" Fors turned back, puzzled.

Even though my reputation is already bad enough, I should still avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings if I can help it.

Ebner sighed inwardly, then simply explained, "I'll teleport you back myself."

With that, he grabbed Fors and simulated the teleportation ability he had learned from the herded "Recorder."

Although it was only a lower-tier version, the distance from Kingster Street to the Hillston Borough would normally only take about ten minutes by carriage—well within its range.

Very soon, Ebner brought Fors back to the theater's lavatory, and to their surprise, the "Lion" Leon was still waiting there.

After re-establishing the Wall of Spirituality, Ebner asked Leon to return the "Flesh Trigger" to Fors.

However, "Lion" Leon didn't agree immediately. It gave Fors a few curious glances before suddenly speaking, "I heard you're the author of a best-selling novel?"

"Huh? Oh… yes…" Though Ebner had briefly introduced Leon to her earlier, Fors was still surprised to see a talking orange cat.

"Then I want to commission a piece from you. You must write an article that satisfies me, as payment for keeping that extraordinary item safe for you." Leon swayed its head dramatically as it spoke.

"What would you like me to write?" Fors asked cautiously after recovering from her surprise.

"Relax, just a few stories about Roselle…"

...

Aboard the White Agate, inside the first-class cabin Danitz had paid for, the 3,000-pound gentleman had just returned to the sitting area after washing his clothes when he suddenly noticed a radiogram operating on its own in the dim, moonlit room. The paper it was printing appeared phantom-like.

—This was something Gehrman had left here earlier? Why is it running on its own? Flames condensed in Danitz's palm as he carefully approached, ready to call out to Gehrman Sparrow in the master bedroom at the first sign of danger.

—Thanks to Miss Sharon's efficiency, Klein had acquired the radio telegraph much earlier than in the original timeline.

As Danitz neared the radio device and saw several Ancient Feysac words spelling out "Hello" on the illusory white paper, he couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"

"My name is Arrodes.

"In exchange, you must answer a question for me," the white paper printed out two more lines of text.

A question? Why does this strange radiogram have the same weird quirk as that eccentric Doctor who likes to pretend…? Only, the latter preferred others to ask him questions. Danitz was now extremely on guard, but he cleared his throat and said aloud:

"You can ask, but I may not answer."

When dealing with things like you, the best course is to ignore them altogether.

The radiogram fell silent for several seconds before it began clicking again. Another length of ghostly paper was printed, with reddish-colored words:

"Did you know that after Edwina picked up the love letter you wrote, she corrected a few of your grammar mistakes?"

...

When Gehrman Sparrow—aka Klein—entered the sitting room, the first thing he saw was Danitz standing there with a thoroughly wrecked expression on his face.

Just then, accompanied by rhythmic clicking, the radio telegraph produced another strip of white paper. This time, it bore two neat and elegant lines in Loenese:

"Your loyal and humble servant, Arrodes, is honored to once again follow in your footsteps, always awaiting the chance to serve."

Arrodes? That mirror that worships the ground I walk on actually found me again?

Klein pondered for a moment, then turned to Danitz and said:

"Go wait outside the door."

"…Understood!" Danitz bolted to the door without hesitation.

He was terrified that the devil named Arrodes might ask another question!

Once Danitz stepped out into the corridor and closed the door, Klein stood silently for a moment longer before turning toward the radio telegraph linked to Arrodes. He began to inquire about the whereabouts of the "Mermaid" and finally received the answer: the ruins of the gods' war.

Having obtained the result he wanted, Klein originally intended to end the conversation there. But suddenly, something came to mind. After a moment's consideration, he cautiously asked:

"Arrodes, do you know Liu Bo?"

At the mention of that name, Arrodes fell silent for a long time. Finally, it responded ambiguously:

"Honorable Master, may I ask you to change the question?

"'Liu Bo' is a name that in itself is a taboo. Without Their permission, merely knowing it can lead to inexplicable corruption...

"You and Roselle are permitted to know, within accepted bounds…

"But I am not…"

Although the characters "Liu Bo" were blacked out completely on the paper, Klein knew exactly which two characters they were meant to be.

(End of Chapter)