After a brief moment of surprise, Emlyn couldn't help but look around, somewhat suspecting that "The World" was lurking nearby, one of the few believers.
It's important to know that he never mentioned the " Nightmare Candle " in the Tarot Club. Bishop Utravsky rarely clashed with others and almost never used any magical items. If Emlyn hadn't been given the Psychological Suggestion to frequently visit the Harvest Church and hadn't been reminded by Sherlock Moriarty, who later inquired with the bishop, he himself would have been unaware of the existence of the " Nightmare Candle."
In that moment, Emlyn saw everyone as "the world," whether it was the obese middle-aged man, the old lady with the gray headscarf, or the beautiful and fashionable young woman; in his eyes, they all had something in common with "the world."
No, I have to find out more. He knows so much about my surroundings... There are some things I haven't even mentioned to Mr. " The Fool "... Emlyn was genuinely startled. He stood up, went into the back clergy's lounge, and replied in the quiet, empty space:
"Dear Mr. ' The Fool,' I wish to speak directly with the 'World.'"
In less than ten seconds, a tidal wave of Red Light surged before Emlyn's eyes, engulfing him.
Then, he found himself back above the Gray Fog, back inside that magnificent palace, back in his rightful place.
At the far end of the mottled long table, a blurred "world" awaits.
Compared to the past, Emlyn had improved considerably. He didn't rush to speak with the "world," but first bowed to the " The Fool," who sat high above, observing leisurely, before looking at his target and speaking:
How did you know I could get my hands on ' Nightmare Candle '?
Under Klein's Manipulation, "The World" chuckled softly:
We may have met.
He didn't say much, only pointing out the key points. Whether the other party could guess the actual situation was up to them.
Of course, Klein believed that Emlyn couldn't connect it to Sherlock Moriarty for the time being, given the lack of necessary clues.
Emlyn's brow furrowed slightly. He had a growing number of suspects, yet he couldn't determine who "the world" truly was.
"Believe me, I have no ill intentions towards the members of the Tarot Club." Seeing that Emlyn hadn't spoken for a long time, "The World" added.
"Ah, one day I'll find you!" Emlyn muttered to himself, then asked:
"What do you want with the ' Nightmare Candle '? I need a valid reason to lend out this magical item."
Klein restrained his right hand, which was about to rub his temple, and made "the world" pause for a moment before saying:
"Treat my mental health issues."
Treatment... mental problems... Emlyn couldn't help but shrink back, then straightened his back again.
Looking at "the world" again, the look in his eyes clearly said, "He is indeed a dangerous Lunatic."
"...' Nightmare Candle ' do have that effect." Emlyn thought for a moment. "I can only lend it to you for half a day, is that alright?"
"Yes," Klein replied, suppressing the threats and pleas from the voice in his head, Manipulation "the world."
If the " Nightmare Candle " works, Klein can solve the problem in fifteen minutes. If it doesn't work, he can keep it for days or months without any problem. Therefore, the rental period is not the key, and he doesn't care about this requirement at all.
Emlyn did some mental calculations for two seconds and said:
"The rent is £300, plus five pages of extraordinary abilities to Record in ' Lemano's Travel Notes '."
He shared half of his responsibilities with others.
Five pages... Just how many pages did this guy use...? Klein muttered to himself as he told "the world":
"No problem."
After the deal was struck, Emlyn immediately returned to the real world and left the clergy's lounge in the Harvest Church.
Emlyn glanced at the Half-Giant bishop Utravsky standing beside the altar, waiting to communicate with the believers, and suddenly felt a little uneasy.
Although he spoke with great confidence in front of the "world," he had never actually borrowed such an item from a priest before and had no idea how the priest would react.
Emlyn's gaze unconsciously wandered, and he subconsciously looked around the rather cramped prayer hall.
"I helped the priest and the church save many civilians infected with the plague, and I've been teaching herbal medicine to those who are willing to learn, allowing the faith in the Earth Mother to spread relatively well in this area. What's wrong with borrowing a ' Nightmare Candle ' for half a day?" Emlyn raised his chin, walked towards Bishop Utravsky, whom he had to look up to, and cleared his throat, saying:
"A friend of mine is having mental health issues, and I'd like to borrow a ' Nightmare Candle '."
He didn't directly mention his contributions because his pride wouldn't allow him to.
Father Utravsky glanced down at Emlyn, who was dressed in a priest's robe, and smiled gently:
"Good."
... That's it? Emlyn was a little stunned, unable to believe that the priest had agreed so easily.
Instead of accepting the offer, he couldn't help but ask:
Aren't you afraid I'll knock that candle away?
Bishop Utravsky replied with a smile:
"Every person and every object has its own end, and will return to the earth, buried deep in the soil, to sprout again, grow and bloom, life after life."
"This is the Fate of all things. If the ' Nightmare Candle ' is lost, it means that my connection with it has come to an end, and I must resign myself to Fate and my mother's arrangements."
Whether the " Nightmare Candle " is lost is its Fate, and whether I will be killed by you because of it is also Fate? Emlyn muttered to himself, then took the strange candle from the Half-Giant priest without asking any more questions.
Then, under the pretext of treating a friend's illness, he left the Harvest Church, randomly found a hotel, and began setting up the sacrificial ceremony.
Above the Gray Fog, Klein once again obtained the " Nightmare Candle ".
This strange object appeared to be mostly burned, and was wrapped in something resembling human skin with several bumps protruding from it.
Its wick is very short, entirely black, and has fine, scale-like patterns.
Klein didn't delay, not giving the alternate personality a chance to grow. He wanted to take advantage of its weakness and completely resolve the problem, otherwise, what awaited him was an unchangeable Fate of being out of control. The environment of this mysterious space above the Gray Fog could completely shield the negative effects of the internal battle between the two personalities on their bodies.
Huff... Klein slowly exhaled and summoned the " Sea God Scepter ".
At that moment, he didn't perform Divination because he couldn't determine who the term "I" would refer to, so the result would naturally be meaningless.
Snap!
Klein snapped his fingers, igniting the " Nightmare Candle."
On the pitch-black candle wick, a pale blue, Spirituality flame quietly emitted its light, illuminating the palace that resembled the dwelling of Giant.
Unbeknownst to him, the environment had changed. Cabinets, desks, coal stoves, bunk beds, and gas meters all came into Klein's view at the same time. The crimson Moonlight outside the window shone silently in, draping everything in a light veil.
This is the apartment room where the Moretti family used to live!
This is where Klein Moretti shot himself!
At that moment, a figure was sitting under the bunk bed, looking at Klein was holding the " Sea God Scepter," with a Distortion expression.
He had black hair, brown eyes, a slender build, ordinary features, and deep-set eyes, exuding a distinct scholarly air—a veritable other " Klein."
" Klein " revealed an angry expression and said:
"You've taken over my body, do you also intend to completely extinguish my spirit?"
"I am Klein Moretti! You despicable, shameless time traveler, Parasite!"
He seems to be just growing up and doesn't yet know how to utilize external things.
Klein didn't respond, but walked over step by step with a serious expression.
Klein's expression slowly changed, and fear gradually filled his eyes.
He curled up, pleading with a slight tremor:
"Please let me go, please let me go."
"You stole my brother, you stole my sister, you stole my life, isn't that enough?"
"I will stay quietly inside your body, help you analyze problems, give you advice, and will never fight you for control."
"Please let me go, please let me go..."
Klein remained silent, raising his right hand that held the " Sea God Scepter ".
The man named " Klein," his face streaked with tears, shouted angrily and fearfully:
I just wanted to remind you!
"If it weren't to remind you, why would I have exposed myself!"
"Please let me go, please let me go... I meant no harm!"
Klein silently gazed at the other, causing the blue-green gems on the " Sea God Scepter " to light up one by one.
Bolts of lightning instantly appeared, Distortion and tangling, engulfing " Klein " like Storm.
Amidst a piercing scream, the figure vanished swiftly, all traces erased by streaks of lightning.
"As expected of myself... I know where my soft spot is, and I know how to beg most effectively... However, I have already come to realize that I am Zhou Mingrui, a fusion of Klein's memory fragments and some of his emotions. If I let you go, it would be like separating the two and acknowledging their opposition. Then, as soon as I return to the real world, I will immediately lose control..." Klein put down his scepter, closed his eyes, and sighed softly.
Then, remaining clear-headed throughout, he left this world of the mind.
P. S.: I'll update this first and then make changes. It should be working normally tomorrow.