— Target is Not From This World.
Eh? Does that mean that he’s like me? I could tell by flipping through all the warnings you’re giving me, Wisdom, that this guy means business. I scanned his status again, but was met with more warnings. He’s human-shaped like me, but not human. What kind of dangerous Skill is that? Would Pride work if I cracked open this human-shaped-but-not-human human?
— Analysis incomplete. Human 2 is, in fact, entirely human.
I suppressed a groan. Then why is there a 2 next to it?
— …Cracking one apart would result in the creature’s death, however there are traces of exotic magic runes and unique ontological features within it that are functionally distinct from the Humans of this Realm. Mainly, its brain has been REINCARNATED. Its knowledge might be the cause of the rapid leveling of technology inside this Human city, beyond the scope of the ones who follow the Goddess of Light’s Convergence.
— Recommendation: Do not crack this one open until Brain Extraction methods are unlocked.
Blanche might know something about that, I thought. Brains are stinky, so I’d rather not be the one extracting them, thank you very much! The Human 2 known as Orskyr the Heretic did not seem disturbed at the sight of all the “disassembled” Church assassins strewn all over his shop floor. Instead, he nodded to Dalton and after a moment, the overworked employee lowered his gun.
“A Human, but not a Human?” I narrowed my eyes on him. “Are you the leader of this little den?”
“So you could already tell,” his own blue eyes shifted between the golden spider, the blue spider, and I. “It’s best we discuss things inside, if that’s alright with you, Witch. I promise I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Everything? I just wanted a gun! Hailey and Aqua seemed impressed by my ability to coerce him, but I could probably spare a moment. Dalton raised a hand in an objection, but lowered it and headed inside. So we followed him in. The entrance of his safe room sealed behind us with a sharp hiss, with its wheel he used to open it spinning shut by itself. I observed the Heretic, noticing his skinny frame and the moonlight reflecting the jewelry hanging from his ears. The Clothes Identifier labeled them as earrings, but they seemed painful! He willingly stabbed his ear lobes with those? What’s with humans and secret entrances? Was it because of all the small Church fry? It was an impressive trinket, but if he intended on trapping us inside then he probably should have–
— Unstable Spiders activated.
A violent cough suddenly gripped my throat, sending me into a sputtering fit. I groped Hailey’s leg in an attempt to balance myself on the stairs, smacking my chest as the girls attended me. The two Humans were startled, but they didn’t notice me wringing the Unstable Messenger Spider out of my mouth. How inconvenient! Wisdom! Fix this at once! I spat out blood, but of course, she didn’t respond. She was probably happy that I was suffering!
“Are– is she okay?” Orskyr looked at Hailey.
“Don’t look down at her! She just has a condition!”
“I’m fine!” I tossed the Messenger Spider behind me. “Never been better.”
The thud was audible definitely by everyone and the following skittering patter of tiny scratching legs wormed its way in my ears, but the Humans must have decided not to question it further. At least I was slowly infecting this town by coughing. I glanced nervously at the debuff counter. For a 1/1000 chance, this seemed to happen quite often, so help me Geer’Sha and Wisdom! The passageway led us into another room, where magic lights flickered on and off. The enigmatic S&O emblem reflected the shining light off the floor, though Orskyr stepped on it and held his shaking hand up to let us through. Was I smiling again? Humans (and now Human 2s) hate it when I do that. Why are you nervous, O Heretic? The night’s just begun!
“I’ve been trying to learn why Sarn and I were reincarnated in this world. But that was long ago,” Orskyr traced his hands along the wall, eventually tracing over a board with a bunch of news headlines and scrolls tacked onto it, connected by strings. It was like the Adventurer Guild’s commissions board, but more messy. Pictures of the Church, faces of people I didn’t know, and Spider Monsters covered the majority of the board. What caught my eye was a picture of my own face beneath several Bohun Nobles. Did Twig give him one of these? Come to think of it, Father never put up any portraits of me inside the Manor. A strange resentment began to grow inside me as I recalled the dusty hallway I used to walk through, but I decided that was the old Charlotte’s fault. “It’s an art project, ha, forgive me.”
He pulled out a stick and tapped a scroll tacked high above our heads after tracing several red lines. I squinted at it, but conveniently, Wisdom read it for me.
EUREKA SOUL THEORY — Heretical Theorems, Laws and Forbidden Teachings
Are you suspicious of someone experiencing a “Sense of Not Belonging?” Has a dear loved one started talking mad, bringing up topics such as “being from another world,” “reincarnation,” or even having “spontaneous enlightenment” on subjects such as science and concepts they wouldn’t otherwise have anything to do with? Some Heretics have explained this sudden EUREKA moment and personality erasure as a result of Souls sharing information with each other in between passing into a greater metaphysical Soul oceanic sphere. When one soul passes into this sphere often at the time of death, they have a chance to reconnect with another soul who also happened to pass at the same time, therefore ceasing to exist in this world but having a new soul occupy their body.
Affected individuals often identify as a “foreigner to this world” or having a “deep and profound loss of the self.” Reporting any suspicious fellows is hard, since they’re usually wearing the face of a loved one, but you can always do it anonymously without fear of being punished! This is for your safety, as there have been hundreds of these heretics causing untold damage and even death to trusting family members.
“That’s where we’re at,” Orskyr said. “Sarn and I, we’re both not ‘from this world,’ and so the Church hunts us. In any case, I’m sure the original brothers are fine, right? Right? Ha…”
A knot pitted inside my throat, but Unstable Spiders did not activate. I wondered if he felt the same odd guilt I felt when I first came to this Realm. Where did the original Charlotte go? Where did her Mother go? Did my Forbidden Skill take her away? If that was the case and we swapped places – Did Iyun kill her instead of me?
“I can tell by looking at you, Witch, that you’re just like me. Trapped in the Heretical daughter’s body. They’re searching for you as we speak.”
Both of the Spiders seemed uneasy at his reveal, but I steadied them with a look.
“But, Witch, what brings you here? I get it. There’s nothing but humans to feed to Monsters and evil things to do, but you haven’t done that either to us. So what kind of Human are you?”
“I’m here, because,” I fumbled around inside my Bag of Holding. Where did I leave my broken toy? Gah! I forgot to bring it with me for a refund! It’s still lying on the fortieth or so floor in my labyrinth! Think, Charlotte, think! Orskyr shifted nervously as he waited for me to say something. Either that, or my concentrated expression was freaking him out! I better blurt out something. “I believe… I believe we can work together!”
Orskyr’s frightened expression turned serious for a moment, but he paused. His eyes were consulting something. Was he looking at his Status? I resisted the urge to lean over and peer at him from different angles. So this is how it feels to have someone stand there and not speak for no apparent reason.
“Mother–” Hailey protested, but I cut her off.
“I offer thee… protection! You grow your factory, feed us knowledge, and guns!” I got excited but snapped back to seriousness after seeing his shocked expression. “I mean, information on the Uralta Seals scattered about this Realm. Or I feed you to my Spiders regardless, hmm?”
Orskyr’s jaw dropped, but he recovered.
“It’s hopeless either way,” he sighed. “If it’s guns you want, that’d be my twin, Sarn’s responsibility. Unfortunately, he’s trapped with the Luminaries, ‘heretical Scholars of the Old Ways’ the Church blabs on about. Leonreims and Bohuns have formed a coalition and have been fighting up north for a while now. I’m contacting them with a Unique Skill of mine, but it seems dire. As for this factory, it’s finished. This town is finished. You saw that big crater–”
“Well, I’m the one who caused it,” I boasted proudly. So what if the Arch Spider did it, it was my portal that got him there in the first place! I can be trusted with the credit!
“Eh?” He looked shocked. “I– I planned those streets! No matter, if you caused that, then perhaps you can stand against the Church. It’s where you will find out about the Uralta Seals. But, Witch, they’re hunting both you and I. How shall we escape?”
“Oh, that’s easy! I know a guy,” I waved him off, summoning Malcolm. “He could even get all your workers to safety as well.”
“Oh! I can assist Sarn, Mother,” Hailey excitedly wobbled as she tugged my sleeve.
“M-Mother?” Orskyr looked at her oddly and then back to me. Well, she was a few days old, after all. Anyone could get confused that she was still technically still in the human larva stage, I guessed. Did humans have larvae? She was much taller than me even if I had recently evolved.
“Go,” I shrugged. Hailey activated her Divine Eye Skill, scanning Orskyr’s memories for Sarn’s location. I peered through her vision, noticing rows of soldiers readying cannons against them. The Luminaries were defending them from the castle’s ramparts. That Sarn fellow seemed vastly outnumbered. Wait a minute, I realized that she wanted all the experience points for herself! Hey! No fair! Get back here!
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It was too late, for the screaming Portal ripped reality apart. Hailey bowed and stepped through it.
“Mother – I could go investigate the Church for the Uralta Seals,” Aqua chimed in. I groaned but nodded. She looked happy, and as my favorite child at the moment, she deserved to be! Two darkness portals formed behind us, one from Malcolm and the other formed by Aqua. Orskyr looked pale. Bask in our evil magical power’s convenience, O Human 2!
“You called, Boss?” Malcolm stepped through with a bow.
“M-Master Malcolm?!” Orskyr cried out. Malcolm looked at him with an odd disdain, but it seemed the Heretic was used to that. “The legendary Ward mage… using…”
“He’s going to help us with his knowledge, but this place is compromised,” I shrugged. “Be a dear and help him build a great new factory, yes?”
“At once, Boss!” Malcolm turned back to Orskyr. “How many Souls do you have that can work? Plans are coming along in Tiltoast and I must congratulate you for masterfully completing the plans over here too, Boss!”
Plans? Eh?
“It’s all thanks to you,” I decided to act like I knew what plans he was referring to. He bowed.
“You’re too kind,” Malcolm looked happy, so therefore I was too! Go fuzzy butts, go!
Orskyr pulled out a book, with tabs and strange etchings scratched along its cover. I couldn’t read it. How weird? It must be in a language that was not of this world. How interesting, I sighed. It evidently was a list of the surviving workers and their families.
“Very well, Master Orskyr,” Malcolm took the book and scanned it. Don’t tell me you deciphered its contents just by looking at it! “We will be retrieving those Souls at once and depart for Tiltoast. Do visit us, Boss, I know you’re busy and all, but we would love to see you.”
We?
“T-Tiltoast– The demon town?” Orskyr stammered. Demons? Malcolm looked at him with a sinister smile, but held out his hand for the factory worker and the Heretic to enter. He bowed to me once again and left. Suddenly, I was all alone in the factory’s vault. What was I supposed to do!?
I guess I could wander around outside. My Father was searching for me, but perhaps I could visit the Uralta Seal myself. Still, it was quite rude of them to ditch me here! Hmph! I checked the vault door’s clean and cold surface. It was thick as a castle gate and covered the whole entire wall. I inspected the odd gears locked in place and determined twisting the wheel Orskyr used would not open it. Mage link revealed to me that not a single soul was inside this whole factory. Using a Portal could spell trouble though if I got caught and the chances of someone seeing it in the middle of the commotion outside was quite high. No matter, a simple door or two was not enough to confine me! I just had to rip it off its hinges.
The whole wall shook and groaned as I peeled the door’s hinges apart, then its metal ripped like cloth. The noise was horrific, but it was quieter than using a portal. The dust settled on my skin as I debated on what to do next. Should I return to my Father or go search for the Uralta Seal? I stepped over the guts of the dead Church Assassins before noticing that the Messenger Spider I puked up was missing. Where did he go? Surely leaving babies unattended was fine by human standards, right? Even Demons do that!
I drifted over the mess, casting a Spick and Span spell to clean myself and scooped up the umbrella Hailey dropped on the floor. The silver curtain of raindrops glinted under the moonlight as I walked down the streets. There were less people out and the soldiers have left. Heh, I smiled to myself. Would they even recognize me if they were truly searching for me? I tried to recall what happened before I got myself kidnapped, but only the pain of the Light magic that Church woman used on me stung. A bell struck midnight, ringing a forlorn boom amidst the drowning pattering of rain. Oh, I forgot I was supposed to meet up with Twig and go sightseeing in the ruins surrounding that place. Bitterness pooled on my tongue. I didn’t even want revenge against that woman, but it was her fault I missed gathering information on the Owl Circle.
“Lady Charlotte?” Someone called for me? Pink? My mind scrolled through the many Noble Ladies I saw last night, but I remembered that giggling! “It’s me! Lady Mei! You remember me from last night, right?”
I had my guard up, but I recalled she probably had no idea I was technically missing.
“Oh?” I greeted her. “Where is… Rita? Rosa?”
“My Lady Reya? So you do remember us!” Pink Dress, who was wearing a thicker and pinker overcoat over her dress, swooned. Why was she swooning? “She is waiting for me to come home! Come with me, come with me! We have much more ‘dark arts’ to perform since it worked on you the last time!”
— Mei Wisteria, level 20
HP: 100%
Classes
— Human Noble [Rare], level 10
— Human Priestess [Epic], level 10
— Target has a Unique Stat called Faith!
Buffs: Presence of the Divine Spider Queen
The House Wisteria has a controversial history concerning the Old Ways, but after countless battles with the Church and the Bohuns it eventually voted in favor of burning Witches after twenty years of infighting. Fortunately for the Daughter-Lady herself, she doesn’t have to worry about any of that. As long as she is pretty and complicit with the Wisteria’s family image, the House shall not fall.
Faith? Eh? Her status was not that bad! Well, this was not what I had in mind, I found myself in the lobby being dried off by maids. It sure beat being outside, I thought absentmindedly as a towel softer than my blankets wiped my face. Pink was saying unintelligible things to me the whole way to her mansion, but the streets were empty. The Nobles seemed to not care about the massive crater that ate one of the Shopping Districts or the police and soldiers swarming around earlier. It was quiet and peaceful. A hand pulled me towards the stairs. Lady Mei’s. She showed no fear and instead seemed mystified by me. Why was that? Were those so-called “dark arts” truly that impactful on her? All I knew afterwards was the guilt of bothering Geer’Sha over their trivial trends.
“Reya-chan’s upstairs already with the others! Come, come!” Her hands were shaking from excitement, so I had to see what was next. Sorry, Geer’Sha, if I wake you! “Ugh, Sir Wisteria isn’t here, at least. So we have ourselves the room!”
“Sir Wisteria?”
“Mmhmm!” Lady Mei held my hand and guided me up the stairs with an enthusiastic nod. “He’s our husband!”
“H-Husband?” I nearly choked. And what do you mean by ‘our?’ Who would want to marry in these conditions? I was engaged to a fat guy! Lady Mei’s face was beautiful, though. She ducked and peeked around for any maids that could be nearby before she whispered.
“Reya and I married him so we can be together,” she giggled. He has two wives? Perhaps Humans were more civilized than I thought! “He’s almost never home, so we can practice all of the Dark Arts we want! Hehe!”
I did not want to know what she meant by that, but I could tell she was not referring to the rituals we were apparently doing now. Wisdom revealed to me what she meant with alarming detail, making me suppress a shudder. I definitely did not want any of that! A towering door stood before us, as foreboding as a Dungeon Boss Door, but Lady Mei swung it open without any fear. Gah, lady! Let me steel myself first before you do that! A red haired lady was busy moving odd stones on the floor with other women in a strange pattern, making me relieved that it was a ritual instead of Lady Mei’s and Lady Reya’s personal Dark Arts.
“Reya, Reya! Look who I brought!” Mei squealed. The red haired lady, who was apparently Reya, looked over at us with a scolding face but her wrath ceased when she noticed me. I recognized all of the other women assisting in the experiment as well. They were with us during the last ritual! I felt oddly egotistic with all their attention. When did I get this respect? Not only that, this room was as big as the ballroom at Father’s Manor!
“Lady Charlotte!” They chanted, while I inspected Reya’s Status. I realized why I didn’t know who she was initially – she was wearing a mint dress instead of a red one! How could my patented Skill: Color Coding of Humans [CCH, for short] fail me?
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. Skill: Color Coding of–
I know that it’s not a real Passive Skill, Wisdom! Let me live my tiny former Demon Queen and former Human life!
— Reya Wisteria, level 22
HP: 100%
Classes
— Human [Common], level 20
— Human Priestess [Epic], level 2
— Target has a Unique Stat called Faith!
Buffs: Presence of the Divine Spider Queen
Reya, formally of Sharra, was given to the Wisteria House by her family in order to have fewer mouths to feed. Originally a servant of another sibling, the Daughter Lady Mei had taken notice of her from childhood and the two have been nearly inseparable since then.
“...Stand in the center of the ritual circle, like before, and I’ll say the phrase twice–”
“Not thrice!” Reya chimed in, leaning close and locking arms with Lady Mei. Whoops, I wasn't paying attention. Well, we did this before, so what could go wrong?
“Not thrice!” Mei echoed. “And the ritual will reveal your true self!”
“My… True Self?” I felt a little bad. What if my True Self kills them? Would the Dark Stone allow them to see me anyways? Either way, it seemed fun so I nodded in agreement with them. “Okay! Begin the ritual, Lady Mei!”
“Please, call me Mei!” Lady Mei pleaded. Her eyes were big and nearly irresistible. Lady Reya joined in the pleading, pressing her cheeks against her friend’s face as they bobbed their heads in unison. “Call her Reya as well!”
“It’s your loss anyways,” I muttered.
“What?”
“I mean, ah, very well, M-Mei and Reya,” I stammered. They seemed too happy at my acknowledgement to notice my slip up. “P-Please take care of me!”
Lady, er, Mei marched up to the top of the pentagram, dropping Stardust into a small jar of water. The others let out a chorus of oo’s and aw’s, while my Mage Link detected Divine Runes begin to cultivate within the waters. The water bubbled and began to glow from the Runes’ effect, but I didn’t recognize them. They didn’t match Geer’Sha's flowing ones or even the One’s dying Runes. Was this Dark Art really a Priestess Skill? I wondered. Who, or what, is it calling upon? With a deep breath, Mei finally began to chant.
“O, Stars above who watch from their heavenly Heights
We seek enlightenment from a fate so bright
Reveal her worthy nature in the Night
the True Self ever to be divined.”
The cyan runes shuddered as they changed into a glowing murky color. A warmth wrapped around my cheeks as the pentagram on the ground began to let out a crimson glow. Mei’s voice shook as she began to notice the changes in the room. I shifted nervously. Perhaps calling upon Gods in the heavens was not a good idea? I wanted to object, but the women seemed more excited and a fanatical fervor proliferated within the mood. Well, I was never one to back away from an experiment and the fervor was beginning to infect me so I glanced at Mei for her to continue. The pentagram released more inky Runes, knocking her to her knees but she raised her hands above the little jar and recited her phrase once more.
“O, Stars above who watch from their heavenly Heights
We seek enlightenment from a fate so bright
Reveal her worthy nature in the Night
the True Self ever to be divined!”
Let’s go, I grinned to myself as I entered the blinding ring. These humans might die, but perhaps that’s a sacrifice the God wanted? The murky runes stuck to my skin like blood and mud, but they were ice cold despite looking like smoke. Bring me my true self, O God behind the Stars. I think. The pentagram groaned, letting out some smoke and surprisingly, the eyes of the watchful ladies were all still on me. No, I peeked at one. Mei, Reya and the others were all fixated on something before me.
“L-Lady Charlotte, is that truly you?” One of the girls pointed at something floating behind me.
“Wha?” I turned around and together, we all looked in shock at the monstrous being that revealed my True Self from the smoking mist wafting from the now-melted jar Mei performed the ritual from. “Whoa…”
Looking down upon us and filling the entire auditorium was the form of a massive, eight eyed spider with a jet black spiny body and flaming red pincers. A red skull marking burned upon its head, seemingly glaring upon us by itself. This was me?