You're Not Honest

"Sophie Toilet Paper: It's rare to see fanfiction of Lord of Mysteries. Here's a little suggestion: as times change and things evolve, don't cling to the original work's twenty-two Pathways. As the protagonist, you should act like one. You should create a Pathway that belongs to you alone, one that fits your identity as the protagonist. Only then will you live up to that identity. Believe that the protagonist has that kind of talent.

"For example, if it were me, the Pathway I created would be the Pauper God Sequence."

This was serious nonsense. Sifa felt the muscles in his cheeks twitch slightly.

"Melancholy Flatbread: If you choose the Hunter Pathway, then at Sequence 7, you should start picking companions. Otherwise, ***********"

For the Hunter Pathway, one had to choose companions at Sequence 7? Why?

This Watcher should have explained the reason afterward, but unfortunately, the information had been blocked.

After reading the Watcher's message, Sifa picked up the quill pen on the Book of Mysteries and crossed out the words previously written on the Message Board.

The Message Board quickly cleared. After thinking for a moment, Sifa lowered his pen and wrote a passage.

"Knowledgeable Watchers, I hope to obtain information regarding the history of the Abraham Family and learn about the Tudor Empire. I believe you will surely be able to provide accurate and positive replies. I sincerely thank every Watcher who offers help. Thank you."

After writing those words, Sifa felt his spirituality rapidly drain away, leaving his head aching slightly. He hurriedly dismissed the summoning, and the hands of the pocket watch began moving again. Dust continued drifting through the sunlight, and everything returned to its normal course.

Sifa rubbed his brow. Now he understood why he felt mentally exhausted every time he summoned the Book of Mysteries.

Whether he read the information in the book or wrote messages on the Message Board, both consumed his spirituality.

Considering the "Knowledge Authority" on the cover, perhaps once his authority increased and he read more concealed information, the spirituality consumed would be even greater.

"Sure enough, there's no such thing as a free lunch." He shook his head and muttered, "Unfortunately, Mother seems unwilling to mention that family or even the history of the Tudor Empire for some reason."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to waste one use of the Message Board."

He opened the wardrobe, changed into formal attire, and left the bedroom.

That day's mysticism lesson ended at ten in the morning. Enilu opened the wooden door carved with symbols and said with a smile, "You have basically mastered Hermesian. There are some books in this room. If you have time, you may take them and read them. They will help with your studies in mysticism."

"You may rest for the next two days. Next Monday, I'll begin teaching you Ritual Magic and how to make charms."

"All right, you're free to do as you please. I need to find your father. We won't be back for lunch."

It sounded as if they had a date. Sifa smiled and said, "Have fun, Mom."

As soon as his mother left, Helibel hurried away as well, as though she were rushing to do something.

Could she have a date too? Come to think of it, she was already sixteen. It was perfectly normal for someone her age to have a romantic partner. Sifa let his thoughts wander and picked out a copy of Creation Myth from his mother's little study, preparing to return to his room.

In the corridor, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and caught the faint fragrance of a young girl. Then a somewhat anxious voice called out to him.

"Mr. Sifa, please wait."

Sifa turned around. It was his sister's personal maid, Aria, who was young but rather well-endowed.

Though it was not yet noon, Qingxiang Road was already extremely bustling. Street vendors were everywhere, hawking pan-fried fish, oyster soup, and Desi Pie. Their cries echoed along the road and through every alley, drawing the attention of passersby.

A newsboy wearing a flat cap pulled the brim low and hurried across the gravel-paved road. From time to time, she dodged filthy water poured directly from doorways, passed vagrants in old, patched clothing, and turned into a dark, damp alley.

"Number 78, Number 78, here it is."

The newsboy found a small building and slipped inside. The air in the stairwell was a chaotic mixture of odors: urine, sweat, mold, and burning wood. Blended together, they made her cover her nose with one hand.

She found a tightly shut door, looked around, then pressed her hand against the wall beside it.

The wall abruptly lit up with a dim blue glow. The light formed a hazy, insubstantial door. The newsboy leaned forward slightly, as if about to pass through it.

Without warning.

A voice spoke from the shadows of the corridor. "So this is the Beyonder Ability of an Apprentice?"

The newsboy shuddered. "Who's there?!"

Then a figure swiftly took shape and stepped into the sunlight cast into the corridor from outside the window.

His short, tousled black hair was gently stirred by the breeze blowing through the window. A faint smile glimmered in his dark teal eyes, and beneath his left eye, on a sharply defined face, was a faint scar like a tear mark.

The young man in formal attire, carrying a cane and wearing a top hat, seemed utterly out of place in this gloomy environment.

The newsboy relaxed. "Sifa? Why are you here?"

"Of course I came to find you. Aria was worried about you, my dear sister." Sifa twirled his cane as he walked forward, looking at the hazy, illusory door. "But let's go inside before we talk, unless you want someone to see us."

"Ladies first." Sifa stopped before the door, raised an arm, and smiled in invitation.

Helibel, disguised as a newsboy, lowered her head and passed through the door. Sifa followed behind her, feeling as though he had passed through a curtain of water before finding himself in a small room.

The hazy door vanished. Helibel removed her flat cap, letting her brilliant golden hair cascade down like a waterfall. With her hands on her hips, she looked at her brother. "Did Aria tell you I was here?"

Sifa inspected the surroundings and said, "Wasn't it obvious? So Aria's mother went missing. No wonder she looked as if she had been crying a couple of days ago."

"But I really didn't expect you to come help her investigate. It seems you care about her quite a bit."

Helibel snorted. "I'm just interested in this matter, that's all. Besides, I heard that several people have gone missing on Qingxiang Road recently."

"Among them were workers, vagrants, and people living alone, like Aria's mother."

You really aren't honest, little sister. Sifa suddenly twitched his nose and caught a faint floral scent.

If not for the Hunter's keen sense of smell, others would probably have found it difficult to notice.

"A relaxing scent, a little cloyingly sweet... Hmm, this seems to be the scent of Moon Flower."