Prelude

"Sefirah Castle!"

As the man spoke those words, some of the Black Spots on his face miraculously fell away, revealing handsome features.

A few seconds later, his brown eyes came alive as well, losing their vacant look.

"'Sefirah Castle' really is the bane of the contamination inside me... Just by using the traces of its aura left on this pendant to draw on the power released when it descended, I've regained my senses for a while..."

The man, who still had a few Black Spots on his cheeks, muttered to himself. He checked his condition, then said thoughtfully:

"The Cursed Object possessing me seems to have been contaminated by something of an extremely high level too. It's actually reached a strange balance with the Underworld Contamination inside me... That's why I have a chance to control my own body...

"Austin, I made the right decision back then. After sleeping until this era together, we finally have a chance to free ourselves from the contamination..."

After rambling on for some time, the man looked toward Cherwood Borough again and said regretfully, "Unfortunately, Sefirah Castle's aura appeared for only an instant before vanishing. I couldn't pinpoint its location...

"But that's all right. I'm looking in the right direction...

"Austin, you can't wait to see me again either, can you?"

Backlund, inside a villa in Dock Borough.

Senior members of the Machinery Hivemind and MI9 sat on either side of a long table in the hall, waiting quietly.

Three chairs stood at the head of the table. Two were occupied: one by Horamick Haydn, the Church of Steam's Archbishop of Backlund, and the other by an MI9 Saint wearing a golden mask.

A few minutes later, Deacon Ikanser entered. He took off his hat, pressed down his thick but coarse hair, and