Snow woke up in his room as usual, still enveloped in the deep darkness of the night. The wheat-shaped hands of the clock on the wall pointed to three in the morning, but he often felt more energetic in the night than during the day.

Today, however, he noticed that the door to Quinn’s room across from his was wide open. Quinn was sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by boxes and bags, looking as if he were preparing for a long journey.

Snow was momentarily stunned before a sinister smile crept across his face, made more eerie by the crimson moonlight outside. In an instant, he transformed into a shadow and swiftly moved along the shadowy paths to appear behind Quinn.

Perhaps because Snow harbored no killing intent, the not-so-alert Quinn remained focused on packing his things, unaware of Snow’s presence.

“Good morning!!!”

“Ah! Good good good… morning!”

Quinn, engrossed in his packing, was so startled by Snow’s sudden appearance that he nearly jumped out of his skin. He clutched the pocket he was working on, instinctively answering with his eyes closed.

He then slowly turned around, seeing Snow behind him, and glanced at the conspicuous piles of luggage around him, despair flooding his eyes.

It’s over, I can’t hide this! No, I must stay calm… Snow’s intelligence is about the same as mine; maybe I can bluff my way out of this! Quinn worried that his secret of being watched by a mysterious entity would be exposed, especially given his current unusual behavior.

“What are you doing?” Snow’s pale red eyes stared at Quinn in confusion.

“That… that…” Think, brain, think! Got it!

Quinn forced a laugh, sweat forming on his face, and stammered:

“Just, uh, the new family in town… As the bishop of Bikini Beach’s only official church, I must, of course, pay them a visit!”

“Bullshit,” Snow responded flatly. “In the five years you’ve been here, I can count the times you’ve left this church on one hand. And now you suddenly decide to visit new residents? You might as well say you’ve been marked by an evil god or demon and are planning to run away!”

“Spill it!”

Wait, why is Snow so smart today? Quinn became even more anxious: Should I just tell him everything? But he quickly dismissed that thought.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Yes, Quinn was packing up to flee. He planned to head to the Earth Mother’s main temple in Feynapotter, hoping the angels there could remove the mark left by the “Fool,” even though hope seemed slim after he made a pact with the “Fool” and was branded.

After his conversation with the “Fool” yesterday, his spirit returned to the material world, but he noticed an ancient, mysterious crown-shaped mark on the back of his right hand. Under the sunlight, it quickly merged into his skin.

Revealing the “Fool’s” information without confirming whether he was some evil, hidden entity could draw more of his attention! Then not only he and Snow but the entire town could be targeted and corrupted… There was too much unknown about them.

“Alright, I’ll tell you!”

Quinn steeled himself.

“The, uh, new family… I happened to see their little girl, um… I found her very… um, so I decided to bring ‘some’ gifts!”

“!”

As soon as Quinn blurted out this hastily concocted excuse, he saw Snow’s pale red eyes flare with terrifying blood-red light in the darkness.

The meaning of that light was unmistakable—even to the muddled Quinn: “Gossip!” This was Snow’s most intense thought.

Mother Goddess! Quinn, this reclusive person who lived like a vampire, wanted to make a move. It was unbelievable!

Great, I think I fooled him! Quinn silently cheered.

Wait… something’s off. Snow suddenly asked:

“But…”

“Oh, no buts, I’m leaving!”

Quinn didn’t give Snow a chance to question further. With a wave of his hand, red soil surged from the gaps in the walls, outside the windows, and under the chimney, enveloping him and his packages. He sank into the ground, quickly disappearing from the room without disturbing anything.

But they only have a son… Snow’s unspoken words caught in his throat. However, Quinn, being a Sequence 6 Biologist, was undoubtedly more knowledgeable about the differences between genders than Snow, a Sequence 7 Vampire.

As he recalled the new family’s child’s appearance, Snow’s expression became twisted, puzzled, and confused.

“What a heavy taste… No wonder he’s Mother Goddess’ favored.”

“Mother Goddess… Please save your poor follower; he might be targeted by some bad guy!”

Quinn sped through the soil with his luggage, moving faster than the highest-powered steam train. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

The mark of a mysterious entity didn’t draw the Mother Goddess’ attention! Has the Mother Goddess abandoned me… No, I can’t think that way, Quinn! Maybe the Mother Goddess’ guidance was intercepted by the Roselle’s angel! Persistence is victory…

Hmm… The “Fool” said the gathering is at three in the afternoon on Monday, which is today!

Right, today is Sunday… Quinn thought of the people in Bikini Beach: Snow, Old Bob, and more, silently praying in the church, while the bishop himself was missing. A sense of loss filled his heart.

He changed his direction from heading towards the port to the vast wilderness away from the coast. Finding a secluded spot, he used his Farmer ability to dig an underground chamber the size of a washroom and entered it.

I’ll stay here until three, attend that gathering, and then decide what to do next. Quinn unconsciously tidied his bishop’s robe.

His gaze fell on the large boxes around him, thinking apprehensively:

“Will they like these ‘local specialties’…”

As the sun in the sky moved lower, Quinn, bored and playing with the sensitive plants he had grown, suddenly jolted.

It’s almost time. He sat up straight, then saw layers of gray fog emerge from the boundless void, engulfing him.