Fors returned from above the gray fog to reality, then she and Xio left Audrey's lounge one after the other.
She strolled casually through the ballroom, declined invitations to dance from two unfamiliar gentlemen, drank a glass of nearly 150-gold-pound Ormir wine, and only then slipped—utterly inconspicuously—into the washroom.
Inside, she sealed the surroundings with spirituality, reached into a hidden pocket sewn on the inner lining of her gown, and pulled out a card.
After unsealing it, she removed Lemano's Travel Notes.
She flipped to the final page of the magic book—a sheet of yellowed paper marked with a pupil-less eye.
As gray-white mist rose, Fors reached into the empty air before her.
Her arm suddenly sank. She yanked backward quickly—dragging out a figure dressed simply in a white shirt.
Brown curly hair, sharply defined features, handsome—
It was Ebner Bryan.
Ebner's eyes shifted; he instantly dispelled his momentary daze and became indistinguishable from his real self.
He walked to the washbasin, picked up the gold-rimmed glasses placed there, and set them on his nose.
Then he turned back, smiling at Fors:
"Nicely done."
Though most of the spirituality used for History Projection came from Lemano's Notes, the one who activated the ability still paid part of the cost.
So at the moment, Fors's spirit looked rather drained.
She seemed to realize something and asked:
"Your real body is inside that spectacles' 'Quiz Maze,' isn't it?
"If so, why insist on having me use this magic book to pull out the projection?
Couldn't you have come out yourself?
"Don't tell me… you exhausted me on purpose so I wouldn't have the energy to question you… about that matter?"
Ebner waved his hand, smiling:
"Nothing of the sort! My real body has always been outside.
I can clearly sense that the Catastrophe Demoness has been locking onto me with some special method.
"I placed 'Alvin's Quiz Maze' here mainly so you could hide in it."
"I'm going to hide inside?"
Fors's mind—slowed by spiritual depletion—struggled to follow his logic.
"If I hide inside, and two of you appear outside, wouldn't that make her suspicious?"
"Look at who I am now," Ebner chuckled.
He simulated the ability of a Faceless, and in a blink, transformed into her exact appearance.
Fors looked at the perfect mirror image—like a twin sister—and sighed:
"Same routine again… Fine, I understand.
"Open a room in that 'maze' for me. I'll go in now."
Ebner looked her up and down, then shook his head:
"Hold on. One last step…"
"What step?" Fors asked blankly.
Ebner pointed to her gown and smiled:
"Same as last time—you'll need to lend me your clothes…"
…
In the Hall family mansion's kitchen, under Audrey's command, the "bag-carrying assistant" Islant easily hypnotized all chefs and servants, sending them out.
Before leaving, he made them ignite several flammable items left too close to an open flame.
The fire started small but quickly spread.
By the time the chefs and servants "woke up," the blaze had already engulfed the room and was spreading outward—far beyond their control.
Standing in a concealed chamber, Audrey looked at the fire she had deliberately created to end the ball early and murmured silently:
"Fire is also a 'disaster'… If I personally create this disaster, it should replace whatever disaster was originally supposed to happen, right?
"Next is to get Hibbert to discover it quickly and evacuate the guests…
"But I made a mistake… the chefs actually tried to extinguish the fire when it wasn't that big instead of reporting it…
"T-This might cause a real disaster!
"Wait—animals usually sense danger earlier, don't they?"
She looked down at Suzy.
Suzy met her gaze, stood up promptly, and said:
"I understand!"
Then she trotted out—closing the door behind her.
"…I didn't even explain…
Suzy's psychology research seems more advanced than mine…"
Audrey blinked, feeling a rare twinge of defeat.
"Maybe if I bring Suzy into the Dream Labyrinth Tower, I might pass the seventh level more easily?"
No!
I refuse to lose to a dog!
But thinking this way makes it sound like I'm Suzy's assistant…
Also, being "better than a dog" isn't exactly praise…
Audrey puffed her cheeks in self-mockery, then left—planning to "find her dog" and discover the fire.
…
Elsewhere, "Fors" left the washroom and quickly found Ebner—who was still speaking happily with Hibbert—via the connection with her real body.
"Lord Hibbert, may I borrow the Viscount for a moment?"
"Fors" smiled politely.
"Beautiful lady, that is naturally your right."
Hibbert had no reason to refuse—especially since the bicycle-stock acquisition was already settled.
Under the subtle, ambiguous gazes of several guests, Ebner and "Fors" slipped into a vacant lounge and exchanged identities:
Ebner's real body changed into Fors's appearance and put on her gown,
While the historical projection reverted to Ebner Bryan.
A few minutes later, the news of the kitchen fire reached Hibbert.
His expression froze.
Ending the ball halfway would damage the Hall family's reputation—and his own image as a competent heir—but guest safety came first.
He began an orderly evacuation with the butler's help.
During this chaos, a certain viscount's "historical projection" quietly slipped away from his two female companions and left alone by carriage…
Almost no one noticed—
Except a certain black-clad lady watching him with ulterior motives.
When "Ebner's" carriage reached a quiet stretch of road, the scenery abruptly inverted.
"Ebner" understood immediately—
He had been dragged into the Mirror World!
Then, a soft, nocturne-like, alluring voice whispered at his ear:
"Mr. Bryan, don't leave in such a hurry…
"I have something I'd like to ask you~
"What exactly are you carrying?
Why do I feel such a strong desire to be close to you?"
"Ebner" instinctively turned his head—
and saw a pair of night-sky-bright eyes reflecting him.
At some point, the woman had appeared beside him—
the Demoness Sect's angel, the Black Saintess!
"Be good, won't you…"
With a tone like a soft, coquettish plea, the Black Saintess leaned toward him—
their breaths mingling, drenched in irresistible charm.
"Madam, pardon me…
"But I refuse!"
(End of Chapter)