A Promise

Neph looked down at Nim, her expression solemn and her voice calm, doing her best to project an imposing presence-at that moment, she was praying that her height would lend her a little authority and make her performance more convincing.

Nim's mind, however, was no longer on that. Excitement actually showed on his face, as though a suspicion of his had been confirmed. Before Neph could react, he crossed his hands over his chest, bowed, and cried out in a strange accent:

"Chernobyl!"

Time seemed to slow at that moment, and everything fell silent. Neph watched Nim. When the old man raised his head again, tears had stained the wrinkles covering his face, but he paid them no mind. His eyes were full of anticipation as he asked:

"Have you come to take us away from here?"

Neph suddenly regretted her disguise a little.

Giving people hope only to plunge them into despair was a terrible thing to do. Yet it had already happened, so Neph had no choice but to avert her gaze and say softly:

"I'm sorry, I..."

She suddenly stopped. An idea took root in her mind. Looking at Nim, she asked, "What year is it?"

Before the disappointment in Nim's eyes could fully take shape, this abrupt question reached him, and he replied:

"Moon City was once a city of vampires, but that civilization was destroyed in ancient times.

"Afterward, at the command of the great Sun God, the Lord that Created Everything, we migrated here to watch over the Gray-White Fog you emerged from and make the corresponding attempts. Even after this land was cursed and the Lord ceased to answer us, we never gave up.

"As of today, three thousand seven hundred and twenty years have passed."

Three thousand seven hundred and twenty years...

Neph repeated the number to herself, let out a breath, and looked at Nim, her tone certain:

"I haven't come to take you away. At least, not yet.

"In two years, the miracle meant for you will set foot on this land. Then you will meet him, the man who brings miracles."

Her gaze was resolute, because this was neither a prophecy nor foresight borrowed from knowing the plot. It was a promise-if the person who was supposed to arrive in two years did not come, then she would become that "miracle."

Two years might not be enough for her to grow powerful enough to lead people out of the Forsaken Land of the Gods, but Neph believed she could at least accelerate Frank Lee's research and bring food to the Forsaken Land of the Gods ahead of time.

Still, Moon City's central problem is corruption. Purifying the corruption in the Forsaken Land of the Gods requires a Sealed Artifact corresponding to an Unshadowed... Wait, with my Sequence's name, wouldn't handling an Unshadowed artifact get me into trouble?

...It's fine. That shouldn't be too difficult to resolve.

...Come to think of it, if I really take them out, what will happen to Klein's Miracle Invoker ritual?

Thinking of the promise she had made to the True Creator, Neph frowned slightly.

In the original novel, Klein had pushed open the gates of the Giant King's Court, and Amon had seized the opportunity to take the first Blasphemy Slate. Without the first Blasphemy Slate's assistance, the True Creator, whose condition was already poor, had been forced to let Adam take the dominant role in their fusion.

To change all that, Neph would have to take the first Blasphemy Slate and give it to the True Creator. To lead the people of Moon City away, she would have to push open the gates of the Giant King's Court. At this moment, those two tasks had actually converged.

-But the advancement ritual for Miracle Invoker is to bring a lost piece of history back into the present era. Where am I supposed to find another lost piece of history for Klein?

Neph had no time to think the question through. The disappointment gathering in Nim's eyes had vanished, replaced by pure radiance. Excitement filled his face, and his lips trembled as he murmured:

"In two years... In two years..."

-A wait with an end in sight was always easier to endure than one without.

Neph gave Nim some time to collect himself. Once he finally calmed down, she spoke before he could say anything:

"Before you found me, did anything happen near that fog?"

Neph fixed her gaze just above Nim's head, afraid he might notice the intensity in her eyes-what she was really asking was whether Klein had arrived in this world.

This was crucial to her. After seeing the food in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, Neph felt she would probably have to be on the verge of starvation before she could stomach it.

...No, even starving to death might not be enough.

Nim did not leave Neph pondering for long. Within just a few seconds, he gave his answer:

"Yes."

"Two months and seventeen days ago, a small hill nearby suddenly disappeared, leaving only a deep pit behind.

"There were no signs of an explosion in that area, nor was there any earth scattered around it."

Two months and seventeen days ago... In other words, the current Klein is already the Klein I know? Hmm, the change should have occurred on June 28, 1349. By that calculation, today should be September 14, 1349... That day is...

Neph had read a timeline of Lord of the Mysteries compiled in the fanfiction section. With only a brief moment of recollection, she identified the date-on September 9, 1349, Megose had walked into the Blackthorn Security Company, the True Creator's offspring had descended, and Klein had died. On the night of September 15, 1349, Klein had pushed open his coffin and sat up!

This was the day before Klein's first resurrection.

Nim caught the shift in her expression from delight to contemplation. He lowered his head and continued:

"We investigated further. An investigation team encountered a Demon Wolf there. Not a rotten or mutated monster of a Demon Wolf, but one of the original kind."

Nim said no more after that. Neph glanced at him without offering any explanation for her emotions and simply asked:

"What arrangements do you have for me?"

Nim replied, "Please come with me."

He turned to leave, and Neph followed. As they passed the doorway, Nim picked up the food that had been left on the floor and asked, seemingly casually:

"Is this not to your taste?"

This time, Neph answered without hesitation. "I no longer need to eat."

Nim glanced at Neph again. He said nothing, but she sensed an anxious gaze fixed on her.

She instinctively looked toward its owner. By Moon City's standards, his face could already be considered well-proportioned. At that moment, he stood a short distance ahead, frowning as he watched Neph.

?I think either something for him...

He looked back at Neph.

Nim seemed to notice Neph's gaze and introduced him:

"This is Davy, Moon City's Evernight Priest.

"Davy, this is Her Excellency Neph, the Lord's emissary."

The man named Davy nodded, his scrutinizing gaze still resting on Neph. She heard him ask:

"Your standing in the Beyonder world isn't high, only a little above an ordinary person's. Yet you already have no need to eat?"