Gundams Do Not Exist

When Bai Zhi and his group emerged from the Underground Library, the entire castle was eerily quiet.

It was empty and desolate, like a country forgotten for a thousand years.

Or perhaps this is simply the norm in this castle, because there is no living Life whatsoever in the entire Rose Manor, not even a tiny ant. Plants might be a few, but most of the plants in the Rose Manor are shrouded in a rather discordant and unpleasantly lifeless atmosphere.

In the Rose Manor, the Unique being that could be called Life, if not life itself, was Anna, and the giant Plush Cat that accompanied her.

Originally, this castle was supposed to be laid out like a medieval European castle, and their entire operation was supposed to be carried out in darkness and by candlelight. However, after a Pioneer sacrificed his Life to bring electric lights, the difficulty of their mission was undoubtedly greatly reduced.

"Speaking of which, if I asked Anna to have a Gundam in this castle, would a Gundam actually appear in the castle?"

Looking up at the chandelier above him, Steel Bones seemed lost in thought.

"You can give it a try. Don't worry, I'll remember to visit your grave and offer incense this time next year."

Bai Zhi answered without turning his head.

"Well..."

Soon, everyone gathered in a long, dark Corridor on the fourth floor.

Along this brightly lit Corridor, oil paintings hang on both sides; even a cursory glance reveals at least dozens of them.

The oil paintings hanging on both sides of the corridor are clearly the work of famous artists.

Some are self-portraits of old men with goatees, dressed in Noble Attire, sitting in chairs with serious expressions; others are landscape paintings overlooking the scenery from a high point in a castle; still others are simply a corner of a lively ball scene... and so on.

Although they didn't know why the other party had specifically mentioned at the end of the Notebook that they should observe the portraits hanging in the castle, since they had nothing else to do, following the instructions to explore the area was generally necessary.

This time, Bai Zhi didn't need to say anything. After they arrived, everyone spontaneously dispersed and gathered around the portraits to observe them.

Similarly, Bai Zhi also stood in front of an oil painting.

The oil painting in front of him depicts a scene at a ball, where various Nobles and Socialite dressed in gorgeous costumes gather together, chatting and dancing. The painter is clearly highly skilled, and the large scene of hundreds of people makes the ball extremely lively.

"A surprise... What kind of discovery can be called a surprise?"

As Bai Zhi gazed at the oil painting before him, he began to ponder in his mind.

The sentence the other party deliberately left at the end of the Notebook, along with the illustrations, was certainly not unfounded. There must also be some secrets hidden within the portraits hanging in the castle corridors...

Just as Bai Zhi was pondering, a gasp came from the other side. When Bai Zhi turned around to look, he saw Between Heaven and Earth’s Mountains and Seas staring at the painting in front of him, Forbidden Land taking a few steps back with an expression of disbelief on his face.

"What's wrong?"

Frowning slightly, Bai Zhi walked over in that direction.

"... He's in this painting."

He took a deep breath and pointed to the painting in front of him, his hand seemingly reaching out to touch the Between Heaven and Earth’s Mountains and Seas.

"He?"

"It's Colorful Black! He was painted on this canvas!!!"

The oil painting in front of me, nestled Between Heaven and Earth’s Mountains and Seas, depicts a sacrificial ritual whose meaning is somewhat unclear.

The image depicts a structure resembling an altar, with a man bound by ropes atop the high altar, his feet resting on piles of firewood.

Around this mysterious altar, a group of figures dressed in black robes, almost completely blending into the darkness, were Black Shadow. These Shadow Person knelt and worshipped devoutly towards the center of the altar.

... It's a scene straight out of a cult 'Human Sacrifice.

If it were just that, it wouldn't really matter. But the man who was tied to the altar, preparing to be burned at the stake, had a strikingly different face—a face with Colorful Black pattern.

The Painter of this painting is clearly quite skilled, and there is no possibility that it could be mistaken for something else.

Looking at what was depicted in the oil painting, everyone fell silent for a while.

After a while, Fireworks of Romance turned to look at Bai Zhi.

Are you sure you still want to go?

"I'll have to go eventually... I think I'm starting to understand how this Rose Manor is structured."

Bai Zhi glanced at the oil painting in front of him, then looked up at the chandelier above his head, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"It's definitely dangerous there, or rather, it's the most dangerous place in the entire Rose Manor, because that's the core of this Dungeon. This castle is merely an outer part located within that core..."

"You consider yourself better than the two of them?"

She interrupted him without any politeness, Fireworks of Romance words carrying a rather aggressive tone.

"A Senior Investigator died silently there, and the Colorful Black was burned alive inside. Are you so sure you'll survive?! What kind of Hero are you trying to be at a time like this?!"

"Please, what I want to do is none of your business, right? Have I done anything to offend you? All I did was steal one of your kills before?"

Rolling his eyes, Bai Zhi began to speak in a very irritated manner.

"Some things always have to be done by someone. This isn't about blindly playing the Hero. The word 'Hero' isn't something you can just casually use... Do you know what the meaning of Hero is?"

"The meaning of Hero? What does that have to do with me?"

After a slight pause, Fireworks of Romance waved his hand somewhat irritably.

"Let me make it clear beforehand, I do owe you a favor, but if you're going to go into that kind of dangerous place, I absolutely will not go in."

"Who asked you to go in... Do you really think I care about your favor?"

With a pursed lip, Bai Zhi turned around and walked towards the stairs.

"Besides, when you found that Notebook, I already said we should consider it repaying a favor, but you insisted on dwelling on it. There's definitely something wrong with your head... I'm going to the tea party. You guys are free to do as you please; there shouldn't be any danger at this time. Oh, by the way..."

Turning around, Bai Zhi looked at Steel Bones with a serious expression.

"Steel Bones, Gundam doesn't exist, wake up and go to sleep."

Steel Bones: "???"