Chapter 72: Fool of This Era!
Dr. Allen left the ward to prepare for the upcoming surgery.
"I might be working for a long time. If you can't wait, you can leave," he said.
Fors hesitated for a moment, then whispered something in Ashes' ear before turning to follow a nurse to change her clothes.
Meanwhile, Will's father also left the ward to pay the surgery fees.
This left only two people in the room: the half-lying Will and Ashes, who was watching him thoughtfully.
"Big brother," Will blinked innocently, "was that lady your girlfriend?"
"Maybe, maybe not," Ashes replied calmly, never taking his eyes off the boy.
[Mercury Snake] Will
Ashes looked at the top of the boy's head, pondering a serious question: could he burn this one?
From a positional standpoint, it should be possible. Though the burning time wouldn't be as lasting as someone like King Gwyn, it would at least be on the level of Eldritch.
Since there was no sign of the Black Emperor yet, he wouldn't mind burning other Lords of Cinder first. Just like during the last time he linked the fire, the first volunteer wasn't necessarily the Undead Legion; it could also be the Twin Princes. The order didn't matter.
As he pondered, Ashes' vision suddenly blurred. He saw boundless gray fog, a tall figure in an ancient majestic palace, and a young man praying devoutly.
"Fool of this era!"
"Please convey to Mr. 'Lover' that I need his help!"
"..."
Ashes received the vision and frowned slightly. The young man's figure was familiar; it was Klein, the Beyonder he had met in Tingen.
"Excuse me," Ashes quickly left the ward, stopping a passing nurse. "Where is the washroom?"
"Over there," the nurse, momentarily dazed by Ashes' appearance, pointed in the washroom's direction.
Meanwhile, in the ward, Will's innocent face darkened, a shadow covering his youthful features. Beneath the shadow, his eyes filled with fear.
"What kind of monster is that?! Why couldn't I see him?"
...
"Plop!" Klein's steps were heavy as he walked toward the underground. He didn't know why Megose came here. He had only met her at the divination club; she shouldn't know this address. But regardless, it had happened. He couldn't change the past, only try to salvage the situation.
But facing what seemed like a god-like being, what could he do? The Captain was only Sequence 7, and he and Leonard were only Sequence 8. Yet the baby in Megose's womb was at least a mythical creature!
Thinking rapidly, Klein took a deep breath, deciding to prepare every possible measure for self-rescue. He stopped, took out his divination paper and pen, and wrote a letter to Mr. Azik.
After blowing the copper whistle to summon the messenger and seeing him leave, Klein knew it was likely in vain. He wasn't sure of Mr. Azik's strength, but the chances of him arriving quickly were slim.
Klein's expression fluctuated. This didn't feel secure enough. Who else could he seek help from? Besides Mr. Azik, the only person who might help was Ashes.
He could contact him through the gray fog. However, interacting with him as the Fool wouldn't be wise. Luckily, he might have another way.
Feeling the weight of the situation, Klein didn't waste time and began a devout prayer:
"Fool of this era."
"Please convey to Mr. 'Lover' that I need his help!"
"I'm about to face a powerful enemy, so I hope Mr. 'Lover' can lend me a 'Sacrificial Ring.'"
"If Mr. 'Lover' agrees to my request, please recite the Fool's honorific name in five minutes."
Having done this, Klein sent the vision to the flame representing Ashes. He took a deep breath, knowing this would expose his identity. But it didn't matter—Ashes had already suspected his connection to the Fool. In Ashes' eyes, he was the Fool's follower. Seeking help now would seem reasonable.
Finishing his prayer, Klein quickly headed toward the Chanis Gate. He had to retrieve a sealed artifact within five minutes and respond to Mr. 'Lover' before Megose's baby grew impatient.
Standing before the Chanis Gate, he waited for Leonard to enter and retrieve a bloodied pale vein. Holding the "Blood Vein Thief" in his left hand, Klein climbed the stairs back to the second floor.
As he prepared to leave the basement, a response came from the gray fog. Klein, delighted, immediately replied to Ashes.
Before the large bronze table, only Klein, shrouded in fog, and Ashes, who had been summoned, were present. Klein swallowed nervously, worried Ashes might see through him. Why didn't Klein directly seek the Fool's help instead of indirectly using his power to ask Mr. 'Lover'? Why didn't he personally meet Mr. 'Lover' here? Why hadn't the Fool appeared at all?
These hurried preparations were full of potential flaws, which might reveal too much. However, Ashes remained unperturbed.
"Mr. Fool," Ashes rose and bowed slightly, placing a ring on the table, "this is the Sacrificial Ring." Pausing, Ashes asked, "Mr. Fool, what weapon does Klein prefer?"
"A short dagger," Klein replied promptly, surprised by the question.
"A short dagger, huh?" Ashes pondered briefly before producing a dagger and placing it on the table. "This is an additional weapon from me to him, no cost required, only that it be returned afterward."
[Dark Dagger +10]
[Though weak in power and short in range, due to its light weight, it can attack quickly and repeatedly. Following a block with a counter or a backstab results in a powerful critical strike.]
[Combat Skill: Sidestep - Quickly move to the enemy's side or rear, especially effective when locked onto the target.]
PS1: Regarding why the protagonist couldn't identify Klein and the Fool as the same person, you can simply consider it like the relationship between "Omenkiller Morgott" and "Morgott the Omen King." The specifics will be explained later.
PS2: Under high attributes, daggers have one of the highest physical attack stats among all short sword-type weapons. The sharp transformation results in the highest end-game stats for pure physical weapons, though chaos and dark transformations can achieve dual-A stats.
(End of chapter)
50 Power stones = Extra Chapter