Chapter 69: Pleading

Chapter 69: Pleading

After a brief moment of shock, Emlyn could not help looking left and right, somewhat suspecting that the World was lurking somewhere nearby, one of the few believers present.

After all, he had never mentioned the Nightmare Candle during the Tarot Club. Bishop Utravsky also rarely came into conflict with others and almost never used any mystical items. If Emlyn had not once been implanted with the psychological suggestion that made him frequently come to the Harvest Church, and if he had not later received Sherlock Moriarty’s reminder and asked the bishop afterward, even he himself would have found it difficult to learn of the Nightmare Candle’s existence.

At that instant, everyone looked like the World in Emlyn’s eyes. Whether it was the stout middle-aged man, the old woman wrapped in a dull gray headscarf, or the fashionable young lady with pretty features, all of them seemed to share something in common with the World.

No, I have to ask this clearly. He actually understands the situation around me this well… There are some things I have never even mentioned before Mr. Fool…

Emlyn truly felt a little frightened. He rose, walked into the clergy’s rest room at the back, and in the quiet, empty environment, responded, “Honorable Mr. Fool, I would like to speak with the World directly.”

In less than ten seconds, tide-like crimson light surged before Emlyn’s eyes and drowned him.

Then he found that he had returned above the gray fog, returned to that majestic, magnificent palace, returned to the seat that belonged to him.

At the far end of the mottled long table, the World’s blurred figure was already waiting.

Compared with the past, Emlyn had improved greatly. He did not rush to speak with the World, first bowing to Mr. Fool, who sat high above and leisurely watched. Only then did he look toward his target and ask, “How do you know I can obtain the Nightmare Candle?”

Under Klein’s control, the World gave a hoarse chuckle.

“Perhaps we have met.”

He did not say too much, pointing out only the key point. Whether the other party could guess the truth was Emlyn’s own problem.

Of course, Klein believed that Emlyn temporarily had no way to associate him with Sherlock Moriarty. After all, he lacked the necessary clues.

Emlyn’s brows knitted little by little. One suspect after another appeared in his mind, yet he could not determine which of them was the World.

“Believe me. I bear no malice toward members of the Tarot Club,” the World added after seeing Emlyn remain silent for a long time.

Heh. One day, I will find you…

Emlyn silently muttered, then changed the subject.

“What do you want the Nightmare Candle for? I need a sufficient reason before I can lend out this mystical item.”

Klein restrained the urge to lift his right hand and rub his temples. He made the World remain silent for a moment before saying, “To treat my mental problem.”

Treat… a mental problem…

Emlyn could not help shrinking backward. Immediately afterward, he straightened his back again.

Looking at the World now, the expression in his eyes clearly said: As expected, you are a dangerous madman.

“…The Nightmare Candle does indeed have such an effect.” Emlyn thought briefly. “I can only lend it to you for half a day. Is that acceptable?”

“It is,” Klein answered through the World, enduring the threats and pleading echoing in his mind.

If the Nightmare Candle was effective, Klein could resolve the problem within fifteen minutes. If it proved useless, then holding it for days or months would make no difference. Therefore, the rental period was not the key point. He did not care at all about that requirement.

After mentally calculating for two seconds, Emlyn said, “The rent is 300 pounds, and five pages of Beyonder abilities recorded into Leymano’s Travels.”

He split half of the burden he had to bear onto someone else.

Five pages… Just how many pages did this fellow use?

While lampooning inwardly, Klein had the World say, “No problem.”

After the transaction was settled, Emlyn immediately returned to the real world and left the clergy’s rest room of the Harvest Church.

He glanced at the half-giant Bishop Utravsky, who stood beside the altar waiting to converse with believers, and suddenly felt uneasy.

Although he had sounded very confident before the World, in truth, he had never borrowed similar items from the priest before and had no idea what attitude the other party would have.

His gaze drifted unconsciously, and Emlyn instinctively looked around the modest prayer hall.

I helped Father and the Church save many commoners infected by the plague, and I have been teaching herbal knowledge to those willing to learn. The faith of Mother Earth has been spread rather well in this area thanks to me. What is wrong with borrowing the Nightmare Candle for half a day?

Emlyn lifted his chin, walked toward Bishop Utravsky, whom he had to look up at, cleared his throat, and said, “A friend of mine has a mental problem. I would like to borrow the Nightmare Candle.”

He did not directly mention his contributions, because his pride did not permit him to do so.

Father Utravsky lowered his head and looked at Emlyn in his clerical robe. With a gentle smile, he said, “Alright.”

…That is all it takes?

Emlyn froze for a moment, unable to believe that the priest had agreed just like that.

Instead of accepting smoothly, he could not help asking one more question.

“Aren’t you afraid I might lose the candle?”

Bishop Utravsky answered with a smile, “Every person and every object has its own end. All will return to the earth, be buried deep within the soil, then sprout again, grow tall, and bloom, life after life.

“This is the fate of all things. If the Nightmare Candle is lost, then it means the connection between it and me has come to an end. I must patiently await the arrangements of fate and Mother.”

Whether the Nightmare Candle gets lost is its fate, and whether I get beaten to death by you for it is also fate?

Emlyn grumbled inwardly. Without asking more, he accepted the strange candle the half-giant priest handed him.

Then, using the excuse of treating his friend, he left the Harvest Church, found a hotel at random, and began arranging a sacrifice ritual.

…

Above the gray fog, Klein once again obtained the Nightmare Candle.

This mystical item seemed to have already burned down by more than half. Its exterior was wrapped in a layer of something resembling human skin, with several lumps protruding from it.

Its wick was very short and completely pitch-black, with fine scale-like patterns.

Klein did not delay. He would not give the secondary personality any chance to grow. He had to seize this moment while it was still weak and eliminate the problem completely. Otherwise, what awaited him would be an irreversible fate of losing control. As for the mysterious space above the gray fog, its environment could fully block the negative effects that an internal battle between two personalities might have on the body.

Whew…

Klein slowly exhaled and reached out, summoning the Sea God Scepter.

At that moment, he performed no divination, because he could not be certain who the word “I” would point to. Naturally, the result would hold little meaning.

Snap!

Klein snapped his fingers, lighting the Nightmare Candle.

Atop the pitch-black wick, a pale-blue spiritual flame quietly emitted light, illuminating the palace that resembled a giant’s residence.

Unknowingly, the environment changed. Cabinets, a desk, a coal stove, bunk beds, and a gas meter entered Klein’s eyes at the same time. Outside the window, crimson moonlight silently poured in, draping every object in a thin veil.

This was the apartment room where the Moretti family had once lived.

This was the place where Klein Moretti had shot himself.

At that moment, a figure sat on the lower bunk, looking at Klein, who held the Sea God Scepter, with a twisted expression.

He had black hair, brown eyes, a thin body, ordinary features, and a somewhat deep facial outline. He had an obvious scholarly air. He was clearly another Klein.

This Klein revealed an angry expression.

“You occupied my body, and now you want my spirit completely extinguished as well?

“I am Klein Moretti! You despicable, shameless transmigrator! Parasite!”

He seemed to have only just grown and still had no way to use objects in the outside world.

Klein did not respond. His expression was solemn as he walked forward step by step.

That Klein’s expression slowly changed. Fear gradually occupied his eyes.

He curled up his body and trembled faintly as he pleaded, “Let me go. Please let me go.

“You stole my brother, stole my sister, stole my life. Is that not enough?

“I will quietly remain inside the body, help you analyze problems, give you suggestions, and absolutely never fight you for control.

“Let me go. Please let me go…”

Klein still said nothing. He raised the right hand holding the Sea God Scepter.

That Klein was already covered in tears. Both furious and terrified, he shouted, “I only wanted to warn you!

“If not to warn you, why would I expose myself?

“Let me go. Please let me go… I bear no malice!”

Klein silently stared at him and allowed the blue-green gemstones on the Sea God Scepter to light up one by one.

Bolts of lightning instantly emerged, twisting and entangling as they enveloped that Klein like a storm.

Amid shrill screams, the figure rapidly dissipated, erased of all traces by streak after streak of electric serpents.

“As expected of myself… You know where the softest places in my heart are. You know what kind of pleading is most effective against me… But I had already recognized myself before. I am Zhou Mingrui, fused with Klein’s memory fragments and part of his emotions. If I let you go, it would be equal to separating the two and acknowledging their opposition. The moment I returned to the real world, I would immediately lose control…”

Klein lowered the scepter, closed his eyes, and sighed softly.

Then, having remained clearheaded throughout, he left the world of the mind.