Chapter 315: Arrodes Finally Meets Its Great Master

Of course, Audrey had no idea that this seemingly well-mannered young man, Klein, was internally going through a drama-fest. She took a step closer and smiled warmly, "Hello there, Mr. World."

"…."

Klein's mouth twitched.

I worked so hard during Tarot Meetings to craft a cold, brooding persona, and now it's all gone in a puff!

If I'd known this would happen, I never would've told Edward I was The World on impulse!

"H-Hello, Miss Justice."

Klein responded awkwardly, unsure whether he should continue playing The World persona or just let it drop.

"Have a seat, Klein," Edward gestured casually, then sat down across from him with Audrey. "What brings you here?"

"Mm…"

Klein hesitated for a moment. "A few days ago, you said I could…'resurrect' and go back to see Benson and Melissa."

"You went to visit them already? They must've been thrilled, right?"

"No."

He shook his head. "I haven't made up my mind yet."

Edward frowned. "Why not?"

"…I—I just have a feeling that…going back to see them…isn't the right decision."

Edward raised a brow. He could ignore other people's "feelings," but not a Seer's. And especially not one who had the Grey Fog and the Sefirah Castle above it. If he said something felt wrong, then it really needed to be taken seriously.

But what could possibly be bad about Klein seeing his siblings again?

That kind of deep familial bond would only strengthen his resolve to grow stronger—to resist the Outer Gods.

Could it be…Amon?

Could the emotional attachment become a weakness for Amon to exploit?

Klein continued, "I tried divination, but the question might've been too vague. I couldn't get a clear answer."

Edward's eyes lit up. "Perfect. I know of a mirror that claims to be omniscient and capable of answering any question. You could try asking it."

"Oh, and it's an activated Sealed Artifact."

In the original timeline, Klein met Arrodes while investigating the Desire Apostle (the one who owned the Devil Dog). But judging from Arrodes' last reaction, it seemed they hadn't actually interacted yet.

Sure enough, Klein was intrigued.

"There's such a Sealed Artifact? Sounds like something straight out of Snow White—the magic mirror!"

Audrey pursed her lips and said, "It's way worse than that. Every time you ask it a question, it has to ask you one back. And the questions it asks are usually…deeply personal and uncomfortably sharp."

When Edward had told her about Arrodes before, she had been shocked.

What kind of shameless Sealed Artifact behaves like that?

No wonder some Beyonders would rather be electrocuted than answer its questions.

Then again…many times, Arrodes already answers your question by the time it asks you one of its own. You're just left choosing between two equally embarrassing answers.

Klein, not knowing all that yet, didn't seem to mind. He stood up and said, "Let's go. Hopefully this Sealed Artifact will help. Where is it kept?"

"It's at the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery."

Klein sat back down silently. "A…Church of a True God?"

After more than a month of being a "freelance Beyonder," he'd developed a bit of a natural aversion to the official churches.

"Relax," Edward said. "I go there like it's my second home."

He turned to Audrey. "Want to come along and see it too?"

"Sure!"

She pinched her chin and smiled mischievously.

"Perfect. I can ask it if you've been keeping any little secrets from me."

Edward raised his hands in mock defence. "I wouldn't dare!"

"Hehe. I don't believe you~"

Standing off to the side, Klein thought: Thank you both so much. It's not even lunchtime and I'm already full—from all this dog food.

———

[Saint Hierländ Cathedral—Arrodes' private room]

The moment the three of them stepped inside, the ancient silver mirror began emitting bursts of colourful spark-like light. Across its surface appeared a series of playful, almost gleeful sentences:

"Welcome, my dear gentlemen and lady. How may I be of assistance today?"

Tch. Shameless dog energy. So this is how Arrodes behaves around Klein, huh?

"Mr. Arrodes," Edward said, "my friend here has some questions he'd like to ask."

"No problem at all~"

Under Edward's gesture, Klein stepped forward.

But before he could say a word, the old silver mirror gave a slight tremble. A line of white words flashed across its surface:

"Your loyal and humble servant Arrodes, at your service."

Klein froze.

Wait. Why is this mirror being so polite? This isn't what Edward described!

He immediately became wary, stepped back, and looked at Edward.

"Did you…see what the mirror just wrote?"

"Huh?"

Edward blinked, then glanced at the mirror's blank surface.

"Nope. Didn't see anything."

Audrey also shook her head.

"I don't see anything on it either."

So only I can see it?

Klein hesitated. He didn't trust any unexplained benevolence. If this Sealed Artifact named Arrodes was acting like this, it definitely had an agenda.

Should I just abandon the idea of asking it?

As he deliberated, new text appeared on the mirror's surface:

"Apologies. Are you hesitant about something?"

—accompanied by an animated emoji of a teary-eyed, nervous expression.

Edward noticed Klein's reaction and instantly guessed the problem. Ah. Arrodes must be in full fanboy mode again.

Well, that's not my problem. I've done my part—I brought its 'dearest and greatest master' right to it. Whether it earns his trust or not is on it now.

In the original story, Arrodes licked his way into Klein's inner circle just fine.

After a long pause, Klein finally spoke, "Respected Mr. Arrodes, do you think I should return to see my brother and sister?"

The lights in the room dimmed, becoming deeper and more mysterious. The mirror's surface shimmered with a strange, watery gleam. A few lines of text emerged:

"You can go see your brother and sister—but it's best not to get too close."

Klein reflexively asked, "Why not?"

But Arrodes didn't respond to that.

Instead, blood-red words etched themselves onto the glass:

"By the law of reciprocity, it is now my turn to ask you a question. If you lie or cannot answer, you must accept a task from me or suffer punishment."

Then, the question appeared:

"Your current name, Sherlock Moriarty, isn't your real name, is it?"

Klein froze.

"…That's correct."

"It is now your turn to ask a question."

Klein: "???"

He whipped his head around to stare at Edward:

This is the kind of deeply personal question you warned me about??

Even Audrey looked stunned. This sealed artifact didn't quite match how Edward had described it.

Then a sudden thought struck Klein.

Could it be…related to the Grey Fog?

If there was one thing that separated him from everyone else, it was the mysterious space above the grey fog. Maybe the reason this mirror was treating him differently…was because it sensed that aura?

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became.

If that's true…then it means the secret of the Grey Fog isn't really a secret to certain people—or certain entities.

"Respected Mr. Arrodes, I'd like to know why you said what you did just now."

The surface of the mirror shimmered again with watery light as Arrodes responded:

"All that I know comes from what has already happened or is happening. I do not possess the ability to foresee the future. Therefore, my suggestion just now was a response based solely on the information I currently have…Truthfully, I don't know why I said it either."

"So I cannot answer your question. You may ask another instead."

Klein frowned.

"…I don't have any more questions."

"Eh?"

A pitiful emoji immediately appeared on the mirror's surface, as if begging for attention.

Klein returned to stand beside Edward.

"I'm done asking."

Edward turned to Audrey.

"Anything you want to ask?"

She thought for a moment, then stepped forward.

"Respected Mr. Arrodes, I'd like to know where I can find the fruit and sap of the Illusory Chime Tree."

Klein was visibly startled.

You can ask about that? Then doesn't that mean I could ask about the Deep Sea Naga hair I still need? Or even Cynthia—the maid Prince Edessak commissioned me to find?!

Ahhh, I gave up asking way too early!

The mirror's surface shimmered, then conjured an image:

An island surrounded by vast ocean on all sides. In the distance stood a tree laden with fruit shaped like little windchimes.

The view zoomed in, showing the tree up close. Around it grew a variety of rare plants, with strange and magical creatures roaming nearby.

The vision faded.

Then came Arrodes' question, spelled out in bright red text:

"Of the two gentlemen present, if you had to choose one to spend the rest of your life with, who would it be?"

Audrey blinked in stunned silence, her cheeks quickly flushing red.

Why?! Why was Mr. World's question so simple, but mine has to be like this?!

This is so unfair!

Klein stood frozen, face stiff.

Was bringing me along really necessary?

"You must answer honestly, or be punished," Arrodes prompted.

Audrey answered solemnly, "Of course I would choose Edward. After all, this is the first time I've truly met Mr. World today. How could I choose a stranger to spend the rest of my life with?"

The mirror flickered for a few seconds, then replied, "That explanation was a bit…excessive."

Audrey: "….."

She glanced at Edward and saw him grinning cheerfully at her. She couldn't help but puff up her cheeks.

"Any more questions?" Arrodes asked.

Edward stepped forward.

"I need an 'Undying' Beyonder characteristic from the Death pathway. Where can I find one?"

The mirror shimmered, and a series of people flashed quickly across its surface—leading with none other than Mr. Azik.

No surprise there. These were all demigods and above from the Death pathway. Most likely high-ranking members of the Secret Order.

Then came images of various Sealed Artifacts.

And finally, several feathered serpents appeared—white feathers tinged with yellowish grease.

So that's it. No readily available characteristics. Either I have to kill someone to get one…or break open a Sealed Artifact to extract it.

Edward frowned.

Neither option was easy.

The images of the feathered serpents faded, and a new question appeared on the mirror:

"Would you like to know the location of the feathered serpents?"

Klein and Audrey: "???"

Hey! Isn't that question a bit more helpful than Klein's was??

Edward couldn't help feeling a bit smug. All these perks… ust because Klein's here. I'm loving it.

"Yes," he replied.

The mirror displayed an emblem—the crest of the Eggers family, descendants of Death in the Southern Continent. A caption clarified that the feathered serpents were raised by Death's descendants.

Then the image shifted to a pirate ship sailing across the ocean, with a line of text beside it:

"Due to unknown interference, I am unable to directly reveal the other place where feathered serpents reside. However, this location may offer you clues."

Edward's eyes narrowed.

Isn't that the Blue Avenger—the pirate ship under the Hanged Man?

He understood immediately. The place Arrodes couldn't reveal was the nameless island belonging to that Russian priest.

Another question appeared on the mirror:

"You've already figured out which location I meant, haven't you?"

Edward nodded. "Yes."

"Any more questions?"

Edward and Audrey both shook their heads. Klein, seeing this, could only shrug as well.

Fine. I only came to ask whether I should see Benson and Melissa anyway.

Just then, a line of text appeared on the mirror—visible only to Edward:

"Thank you, Lord Edward. As a token of gratitude, I shall consult you first for any questions involving you in the future."

Tch. Sounds nice.

But I bet the moment Klein asks you something, you'll spill everything without blinking!

The three of them left the cathedral.

——

Outside, Audrey immediately asked, "Edward, why were your questions so outrageous?"

Klein also turned to look, visibly curious.

He had originally thought that the mirror's over-the-top enthusiasm was reserved for him, but now—seeing Arrodes treat Edward with just as much bootlicking energy—he couldn't help but feel strangely…betrayed.

Like he'd just been emotionally NTR'd in front of his face.

———

[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.