Akasha clicked her tongue. "Bernie Huang? That's a strange name."
Edward was just as surprised. Wasn't 'Bernie Huang' her 'Modern Day' sidestory counterpart's name? Had the Emperor truly used that name as a pet name for Bernadette?
At that moment, Bernadette pushed open a nearby door. "Since you're already here, why not join me?"
"I still have…"
"Tell me a story while you're at it."
Edward let out a long sigh. "Alright."
Audrey's three potion formulas were still missing a number of ingredients. He might as well use this opportunity to ask Bernadette for help in acquiring them.
The two of them entered the room one after the other. From behind them came Akasha's teasing voice. She leaned against the doorway, gazing at Bernadette with a smile. "Would you like me to provide personal service?"
"No need," Bernadette replied, her tone flat and calm.
"Aww, alright then."
Akasha chuckled. "You two enjoy yourselves~"
The wooden door closed without a sound.
Bernadette removed her shoes, walked over to the hot spring pool, and sat down at the edge. Her pale, smooth feet slipped into the warm water, gently stirring up soft splashing sounds.
She looked just like a carefree neighbourhood girl, one who'd somehow lived over a hundred years.
Edward sat down on a nearby sofa, watching her back as he asked, "What kind of story would you like to hear?"
Supporting herself with both arms behind her, Bernadette played with the water and said, "Tell me a story about water."
"About water?" The Crow Drinking Water? Water Babies? A Nixie in a pond?
"Why don't you just pick one yourself?"
Bernadette turned her head, eyes narrowing in quiet scrutiny. "If I choose one, will you actually tell it?"
Edward forced a smile and replied with a non-answer, "If it's one I know, of course I will."
"Then tell me 'The Woodcutter and the River God.'"
That's related to water?…Oh, right. The axe fell into the river.
"A woodcutter was chopping wood near a river when he accidentally dropped his axe into the water. He tried many ways to retrieve it but failed, so he could only sit on the riverbank and sigh."
"The river god, moved by his sorrow, appeared and conjured a golden axe. He asked the woodcutter, 'Is this golden axe the one you dropped?' The woodcutter shook his head and said no."
"Then the river god conjured a silver axe and asked again, 'Is this silver axe the one you dropped?' The woodcutter once again shook his head. Finally, the river god retrieved the woodcutter's original iron axe and handed it to him with a smile."
"The woodcutter was overjoyed and said, 'This is my axe!' The river god, impressed by his honesty, gifted him the golden and silver axes as well."
"Later, someone else heard the story…"
The tale was brief. Even though Edward deliberately slowed his narration, he finished it in under ten minutes. "That's the end of the story."
Bernadette asked, "What would you have done if it were you?"
Edward pondered for a moment, then replied, "I'd try my best to avoid chopping wood near a river in the first place. That way, I wouldn't drop my axe."
"…???"
Bernadette was stunned.
"Fairy tales are fairy tales because they depict a world that's simple and pure. Good is good. Evil is evil. But in reality, it's never that straightforward. The river god asked, 'Is this golden axe the one you dropped?' He only asked if it was the one I dropped. He never said he'd give it to me. For all I know, if I chose the golden one, he might have used it to split my skull open. If I picked the silver one, he might have done the same with that."
Edward shrugged. "Isn't that exactly what the Beyonder world is like?"
"You're talking about the Hidden Sage?"
That question momentarily threw Edward off. What does this have to do with the Hidden Sage?
Then he quickly remembered. That suspected sentient Hermit Uniqueness—the Hidden Sage—was indeed just as he described. When one prayed to "Him" for knowledge, "He" would cheerfully respond…and then drown you in an overwhelming flood of knowledge. Drive you mad. Lead you to lose control.
Bernadette smiled. "Don't worry about "Him". After Father advanced to Knowledge Emperor, I no longer have to worry about the Hidden Sage's influence. I can continue walking this path while adhering to the creed: 'Do as you will, but harm none.'"
She paused for a few seconds.
"Even though Father later switched to another pathway, the influence of the Hidden Sage on me remained minimal. So, rest assured."
I wasn't particularly worried in the first place, Edward thought silently. But aloud, he said, "Your Majesty, I have a batch of materials I'd like to trouble you to help acquire. As before, I'm willing to pay a certain level of premium."
Seeing that she didn't refuse, Edward wrote down the materials required for Audrey's three potion sequences. After all, she was wealthy—and these materials would have to be acquired sooner or later anyway.
Bernadette glanced at the list and raised her brows in surprise. "These are all for high Sequences on the Spectator Pathway? Are you gathering them for that little girlfriend of yours?"
"Yes."
It didn't surprise her that she recognised the pathway. After all, the list clearly mentioned things like the pituitary gland and brain of a Mind Dragon.
"Where did you get this? From the Psychology Alchemists?"
Edward thought about it, then decided not to hide it. He briefly recounted what had happened that morning.
Bernadette's brows furrowed immediately. "A Mind Dragon from ancient times? Beings like that do not show kindness without reason."
"Besides, Father once told me something—'Beware of the Spectator.'"
Edward nodded. "I understand that. But in that situation, if I didn't accept "His" kindness, I might've had to face "His" malice instead. It wasn't a question of choice."
Bernadette fell silent.
After a moment, she spoke seriously. "Since "He" gave you the 'reward' in advance, then "He" must believe that there's a high chance you'll do as "He" wishes…Or perhaps, "He's" already implanted an extremely subtle hypnosis into you."
Edward froze, a sudden thudding in his chest.
Hypnosis!Psychological Cues!
These were signature abilities of the Spectator Pathway! And yet…neither he nor Audrey had even considered the possibility at the time? That alone was a glaring red flag!
But then, something occurred to him. He quickly described the circumstances under which they had neglected to think of hypnosis or suggestion, then followed with a logical doubt: "But couldn't we just recount what happened to someone familiar with the Spectator Pathway? Wouldn't they immediately realise something's wrong?"
"Mental Plague," Bernadette replied.
"In general, a mental plague quietly plants a seed of contagious madness within the target's mind island, which then spreads to those around them, driving everyone mad. But in the same way, it can plant a seed of 'selective blindness to hypnosis'—a form of suggestion that spreads to others."
"He is a Sequence 2 Angel. In a situation where the attacker is prepared and the defender isn't, even a Sequence 2 could be affected. I only avoided it because of a Sealed Artifact my father left me."
A chill ran through Edward's heart. "So now that I've realised this…does it mean I'm no longer under its influence?"
"No. You've only re-realised that hypnosis and cues might have occurred."
"You mean…even if I know I've been hypnotised, I might still end up doing certain things uncontrollably?" Edward's expression darkened. "Can you lift it for me?"
Bernadette shook her head. "I can't. Perhaps when I advance to Sequence 2, I might be able to give it a try."
"I see."
Edward nodded. Truthfully, he wasn't too panicked. After all, this kind of situation was something he could always bring to Mr. Fool. In the original novel, Klein's Paper Angels had proven remarkably effective against the hypnosis and suggestion of Spectator Pathway Beyonders.
The only real concern was whether the current Paper Angel had the strength to counter a Sequence 2-level hypnosis.
If it really comes to that, I could always ask the Goddess for help...She'd probably—hopefully—maybe be willing.
Bernadette added, "But there's likely no need to worry in the short term. That ancient dragon still needs you to complete something for "Him". Before that's done, your safety is likely guaranteed."
"Mm."
Edward turned serious. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Without your insight, I might not even have known how I met my end."
She offered a faint smile. "Just tell me a few more stories next time."
"By the way, I have a Sealed Artifact here. Could I trouble you to help me test its capabilities?"
Edward took out the frame.
Bernadette blinked. "A picture frame? What does it do?"
"Well…just a little thing. It can create a space separate from reality—sort of like your Peach Blossom Spring. But I haven't figured out its limits yet."
Splash.
She lifted her pale feet from the water and stood barefoot. "Go ahead."
"Pardon me."
Edward channelled a bit of spirituality and activated the frame's power.
A film-like haze, like frosted glass, enveloped them. They were now inside the world of the painting.
Bernadette showed a trace of surprise. "I didn't feel a thing before it pulled me in. This object…doesn't seem like such a 'little' thing."
Edward's mind stirred. He immediately deactivated the painting realm.
"What is it?"
"I want to try again—this time, you try to avoid getting pulled in."
Bernadette understood his intent and nodded.
"Here we go!"
Edward activated [World Within the Painting] once more. Almost simultaneously, Bernadette dissolved into a flurry of iridescent bubbles and vanished.
"She dodged it?"
"No," came her voice from behind.
The bubbles rapidly gathered and reformed into her figure. Bernadette frowned. "Even knowing you were going to activate it, and taking action in advance, I still couldn't escape. This Sealed Artifact seems rather extraordinary."
"Then let's test its durability."
A flash of light crossed Bernadette's deep blue eyes. A dark-red, ancient spear appeared in her hand out of thin air. In the next instant, Edward felt as if he were caught in the heart of a storm. His spirituality surged in alarm, screaming danger—this was on a completely different level from the Spear of Longinus he had documented. It was far more powerful.
With overwhelming force, the spear hurtled toward the edge of the space.
Crack!
The unmistakable sound of shattering glass rang out—Edward knew that was the prelude to the collapse of the painting world.
In the same moment, the Spear of Longinus dissipated into nothingness.
Bernadette spoke calmly. "It can't withstand a full-powered strike from my spear."
Seeing Edward's slight disappointment, she added, "But most demigods probably wouldn't be able to break it. And considering how difficult it is to evade, this Sealed Artifact is already very powerful."
Fair enough. After all, this frame was one of the few pleasant surprises in that pile of 'trash.'
Edward quickly composed himself. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"No need to thank me. Just lend it to me if I ever need it."
"Of course."
Bernadette returned to sit by the hot spring, dipping her feet back in. Casually, she said, "Bornova left for Intis yesterday."
"So soon?"
"He…no, "He" only lives for the Church of Steam and Machinery and "His" god. The only reason "He" came to Backlund at all was because the archbishop here had something to ask of "Him". "He" simply went along with it."
A hint of disappointment laced her voice. "I should have realised it sooner. My brother, Bornova Gustav, died a long time ago. What remains now is merely an angel with his face and no humanity."
"…"
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.