There was not a single suitable piece of furniture in the secret hideout. The only tool for a prosperous life was an old mattress on the floor. Other than that, the space was neatly organized with items necessary for work and survival.

 

Mostly canned food for a week. Two pistols and five rounds of ammunition. A large map of the city hanging on the wall. A necklace with strange symbols. And various illicit books and documents.

 

“It feels like a base set up specifically for investigation. I didn’t expect there to be not a single chair.”

 

“That must mean they were really focused on the mission.”

 

Tara looked around and then found a handgun, picking it up. She seemed very interested in the killing power that this small weapon possessed.

 

“So this is the thing that pierced Bennett’s shoulder earlier?”

 

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

 

“Niore, there’s a whiteboard over there. It’s smaller than the one you were carrying around, but it should do the trick.”

 

Bennett reached for the whiteboard that was hidden in the secret compartment and handed it to Niore. As soon as Niore took the whiteboard with both hands, she started scribbling something.

 

“No need for apologies. Don’t waste the ink.”

 

[⋯⋯Understood.]

 

Niore stopped her hand on Bennett’s command.

 

Bennett lightly tapped the outer wall to make a sound and gather attention. He organized the situation. Two pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

 

“First, let’s finish investigating the secret compartment. We might find additional information on the Twilight Sect of Silver. After that, we’ll discuss our future plans and move forward.”

 

[Yes, understood, Bennett. I’ll work hard. I hope I can be of help this time.]

 

“It doesn’t seem like there’s anything special… Can I take this gun?”

 

“Your killing power is lacking, Niore…”

 

Bennett recalled Niore’s past self and was about to hand her the gun. Then, he remembered the ominous spell she used in battle against the fanatics. The massive pillar with thousands of mouths.

 

He furrowed his brow and spoke to Niore.

 

“Niore, it seems like an explanation is needed.”

 

From Noble mtl dot com

 

[⋯⋯⋯⋯.]

 

“That seemed like a spell similar to what the fanatics use. The cost of the spell was always extreme. We need to find out how you learned it and what it consumes as a spell.”

 

“[Isaac gave me this.]”

 

“…Abraham’s daughter?”

 

Niole took out the grimoire from her arms. Just by looking at its surface, she could tell that it was not a proper item. It seemed ominous and foreboding.

 

“It might be difficult to understand the contents and take some time, but it is a beneficial book that can provide a lot of wisdom.”

 

“It doesn’t look beneficial at all. In my opinion, it’s no different from a cursed artifact. It’s something that harms the user. It’s better not to use it…”

 

Niole hugged the grimoire tightly and shook her head. Like a child who heard the request to give up her beloved toy. And she hurriedly defended herself.

 

“It will be helpful!”

 

“Just like a cursed artifact, evil artifacts eventually lead the user to destruction. You can be helpful enough without using it. I’ll seal it, so just hand it over willingly.”

 

“…Uh, okay.”

 

Niole nodded hesitantly and started to sob, looking up at Venet. She wanted to make up for her mistake. If she could have dealt with the fanatics in one breath, maybe it wouldn’t have been too late.

 

When Venet judged that the grimoire had brainwashing abilities and forcibly tried to take it away from her, Tala intervened, even if it meant racking her gun and loading bullets.

 

“Just let it go, Venet.”

 

“What?”

 

“We need power, don’t we? The Twilight Order is still strong, and there are plenty of people we need to kill. We need magic that can cause mass destruction.”

 

“And you’re just going to let it be? There’s always a price for abnormally strong power.”

 

Clank. The mechanical parts meshed together and the sound of bullets being loaded interrupted Venet’s words. Tala, who had been talking while looking at the gun, raised her head and met Venet’s gaze.

 

“It’s not your price to pay, is it? Right?”

 

“……”

 

“I’ve made up my mind. It’s my decision, Venet. I don’t want to regret it.”

 

Venet, who was not in a position to criticize Niole herself, didn’t have anything to do with Tala’s words. Having a desperate ally willing to take risks was actually an advantage.

 

Nevertheless, there was a distinctly bitter taste in his mouth.

 

Bennett stepped back. The three individuals silently examined the items from the secret chamber. The necklace of the Twilight Sect in silver seemed useful for disguising one’s identity. Perhaps it could be used to infiltrate the sect’s building.

 

Within various illicit books and documents, they could discern the scale of the Twilight Sect. Officially, there were around a hundred followers, but if you included unofficial members, the number could triple or quadruple.

 

There was no chance of winning in a direct confrontation. These were people adept in violence, willing to sacrifice their lives to unleash bizarre spells. If faced head-on, death would come at the end of a war of attrition.

 

Furthermore, they could deduce the purpose of the Twilight Sect. A significant harvest awaited them.

 

In the data stolen by the investigator who infiltrated the sect, there were confidential documents revealing the inner workings of the sect. Although cloaked in sacrilegious names and metaphorical entanglements, Neo could interpret it.

 

With a somewhat vague expression, she wrote down the words.

 

“They are trying to summon a deity.”

 

“A deity? Like a goddess?”

 

“I don’t know. Only that it’s an enormous and powerful presence. Referred to as the Vice-King, the second highest being in this universe, possessing the ability to manipulate time and space.”

 

“The cultists use their rituals to harness the power of that…being.”

 

“He is approaching from a distant part of the cosmos. Originally an entity that mere mortals dared not invoke, but as he draws closer, the Twilight Sect believes it’s possible to summon a part of him.”

 

Summoning.

 

Neo’s explanation, somewhat intoxicating and unclear, led Bennett to quickly organize the information in his mind and articulate it.

 

1. The malevolent entity known as the Vice-King possesses the power to manipulate time and space. Therefore, the Twilight Sect members, who draw power from the deity they serve, manipulate time and space.

 

2. The difficulty and magical energy consumption of summoning magic decrease with proximity to the target and detailed knowledge of their location. Coincidentally, the malevolent entity is moving closer to this world. As time passes, the success rate of summoning the entity will increase.

 

What came to mind upon hearing this was Abraham’s research. He spoke of a colossal energy that could not be observed with human eyes… traversing the universe. If the name of that energy mass was Vice-King, everything seemed to align.

 

If it were to be summoned, Abraham had already foreseen what would happen. The demise of everything. Entire planets scattered and vanished. It was the Twilight Sect’s grand suicidal intent.

 

So why did the Twilight Sect hinder Abraham’s research? In the grand scale of the arrival of the malevolent entity, what role could the old man’s small research possibly play? Why obstruct the research, kill the old man, and erase the mansion?

 

Bennett, who had a broad but shallow understanding of magic, knew a bit about summoning spells as well. When a summoning spell is reversed, it becomes a counter-summoning spell. Like the two sides of a coin, summoning and counter-summoning were inseparable as long as they did not separate.

 

If one could summon, it was also possible to send back in reverse.

 

The α value.

 

The calculated value of the acceleration of the approaching energy mass. And the data observed by Abraham, who had stacked the universe like a pile. If these existed.

 

If the Vice King could pass through some part of the universe— in other words, locate his position—then he could initiate a counter-summoning. It was a magic to send divine beings back, so immense power would be needed, but…

 

Depending on the presence or absence of the α value, possibilities and impossibilities would be divided.

 

Perhaps Abraham’s research could—save humanity.

 

“…Abraham’s research wasn’t in vain. It was a threat. To them.”

 

[In that case, let’s quickly go to the Golden Library and obtain the α value to save the world…]

 

“Wait. There’s also a risk. Just like summoning becomes easier with coordinates.”

 

On the contrary, if the α value falls into the hands of the Cult of Twilight, they will effortlessly summon malevolent spirits. It was a double-edged sword.

 

Tara’s opinion was clear.

 

“If it means giving those Twilight Cult bastards a hard time, I’m all for it. If the goal was to achieve it even by killing Abraham, I’ll smash their bones with my own hands.”

 

Niore didn’t hesitate either.

 

[When he is summoned, the engulfed soul will suffer infinitely. In the endlessly stretched time. We must prevent the act of turning the entire world into hell.]

 

But Bennett hesitated.

 

“……..”

 

Bennett had to think again. Is there a reason? No, the purpose of the group was not his own. His goal was the acquisition of the radiant isosceles tetrahedron. Even if this world were swallowed by the grip of malevolent spirits and turned into a wasteland, it wouldn’t matter.

 

Even if Abraham’s research left nothing behind and disappeared, with no one remembering. It wouldn’t matter.

 

If rescuing his younger sister was the only goal, it might be better to ignore it. Yet, a thorn seemed to be stuck in the corner of his heart.

 

Bennett quickly pondered the reason and came up with an idea.

 

“…I could use it as a bargaining chip.”

 

“Bargaining?”

 

“Yeah. If the shining scalene triangle is the key, there’s a high chance the Twilight Sect of Silver possesses it. We might be able to obtain the scalene triangle in exchange for the value of alpha… and…”

 

“You haven’t changed, Bennett.”

 

Avoiding eye contact, Bennett redirected the conversation.

 

“We agreed on obtaining the research data. The next destination is… the restricted section of the Miskatonic University library.”

 

The plan was set.

 

—–

 

Day 6. The tattoo of a watch on their wrists was approaching 0.

 

The entire group agreed that “time is running out.” Even if they had to turn back halfway, they all decided that they needed to obtain Abraham’s research as soon as possible.

 

However, after consecutive battles and tension, the group was considerably exhausted.

 

“Even if we leave right now…”

 

“Let’s rest for an hour.”

 

“Three hours.”

 

Tara and Niore expressed their dissatisfaction and impatience at Bennett’s declaration.

 

“Aren’t we resting too much? Two hours.”

 

[Hurry, don’t we need to go quickly? Resting for just an hour should be enough…]

 

“Three hours. Since I won’t accept any objections, you better just close your eyes.”

 

Bennett crossed his arms, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes. Sufficient rest was not a choice but a necessity, as the group had been up all night. Three hours was a tightly scheduled resting time.

 

Tara closed her eyes with a sigh. Soon after, she fell into a deep sleep, her occasional mumbling suggesting dreams of a peaceful meal with family.

 

Niole, sensing Tara’s slumber, couldn’t find rest and opened a spellbook. If this book, filled with numerous spells invoking the power of demons, included a reverse-summoning spell, it could mean the existence of counter-invocation magic. To discover and use magic to save the world and give Abraham’s death meaning…

 

As Niole read the spellbook, his brain itched. Surely, there were no tactile cells in the brain, yet it felt as if ants were crawling deep within. An itch in a place impossible to scratch.

 

Endure it. If it’s too itchy, pound your forehead against the wall. Tear at your hair. That’s how Niole managed to read the spellbook. It should be helpful. Because of him, Benett took a bullet. Redemption is possible. It must be redeemed…

 

And Benett did not dream.

 

—–

 

In a blank white space, Benett opened his eyes.

 

In front of him stood a girl with characteristic violet eyes tinged with pink. Quietly shaking her neatly tied blonde hair, the girl had an anxious and desperate expression.

 

Blurry. Is this a dream?

 

“Listen, Benett. I have a favor to ask. It’s crucial…”

 

How important could it be?

 

“Saving one person.”

 

That’s not important.

 

“Yes, it is. Don’t you think it’s essential for your future? The classes will get extremely difficult, and next time, you might be sent to a living hell worse than Cthulhu.”

 

I don’t understand.

 

“I’ll explain more outside… Just remember this. If you remove the Vice King, everything will be resolved. Got it?”

 

After uttering strange words, the girl vanished. Benett, still in a state of ambiguity between reality and illusion, looked around. Like extinguishing candles, she disappeared.