Inside the tall walls.
Shawn now has to work two jobs because he also has to do Lorice's share of the work.
Mrs. Hecate is still absent today, and the Ghost Maid has brought Shawn two books: "Super Magic Techniques of the Caster" and "Madman's Stance of the Evil Object."
This mysterious knowledge is a bit over Shawn's head, but Mrs. Hecate seems to want him to memorize it first.
"You've been contaminated."
As Shawn returned to his residence, the Butcher's deep voice sounded.
He was still focused on chopping meat, with a disassembled Pillar of Flesh and Blood nearby, and he said in a deep voice, "I will send you back to the reality world ahead of schedule tomorrow."
Shawn froze in place upon hearing this.
The Butcher continued to swing his knife, calmly saying, "You don't feel fear because you have no fear."
"But His presence has already entered your mind."
"You'll remember Him forever."
Shawn hesitated for a moment, and the image of that strange, hunched, massive creature flashed through his mind. He murmured softly, "What is that?"
The Butcher hung the heavy Pillar of Flesh and Blood on the blood-stained iron hook and said slowly, "The orphan of Mist Island."
"That's what we call Him."
"An unnameable ancient existence, an heir of the old days, some Otherworlds refer to beings like Him as Ancient Evil."
Shawn continued to ask, "Am I contaminated?"
"Why do I not feel anything?"
The Butcher disassembled the Pillar of Flesh and Blood like a skilled chef, speaking in a deep voice, "There are many things you don't feel, mental contamination doesn't take effect immediately, it's a slow process."
"But once you see His existence, you have to endure His madness."
Shawn frowned, asking softly, "Is there any solution?"
The Butcher split the Pillar of Flesh and Blood in half, extracting the spine, and said in a deep voice, "Mrs. Hecate can help you remove the contamination, but she won't return for a while."
"Another way is to forget over time, to endure the phase when His mental contamination affects you."
Shawn was somewhat confused.
He suddenly thought of the dark red leather book he had read today, and said solemnly, "Madman's Stance?"
The book said.
Once you see the Madman's Stance of the Evil Object, you'll be infected by madness, continuously losing rationality. If you can't endure it, you'll gradually enter a state of periodic insanity.
The Butcher glanced at Shawn and nodded, saying, "You could say that."
"But His abilities are more terrifying."
Understood.
Because Shawn took a look at Him, he now has a lasting negative status where his rationality will gradually diminish over time. If he can't endure it, Shawn's mental contamination will flare up, first exhibiting periodically insane behavior and eventually becoming a complete madman.
Mrs. Hecate can remove this negative status, but she's not here now, seemingly due to some other important matter.
"SAN value?"
"I must rely on myself to endure the time when the Madman's Stance takes effect?" Shawn mused to himself.
He looked at the Butcher in front of him and asked in a deep voice, "How long do I have to endure?"
The Butcher thought for a moment and said, "I don't know."
"Seven days at least, half a month at most."
"If you go half a month without any impact, then your rationality is probably stronger than others!"
"Tomorrow, I'll send you back to the reality world."
"The impact there will be less."
"Once you endure this period, Mrs. Hecate should be back."
Shawn couldn't help but think about Lorice, wondering if she was still sane or had gone mad.
Tonight's dinner was grilled fish, mashed potatoes, mushroom soup, Shawn suspected the mushrooms grew from the tombs, as he had eaten mushrooms several times.
The Butcher remained a vegetarian.
After Shawn returned to his room, he picked up the heavy iron hook and hung up the Pillar of Flesh and Blood.
"Why have you come?" he asked towards the empty space next to him.
Moments later, the Butcher said in a deep voice, "I know, but it's the only way to send him back to reality ahead of time, which is safer there."
"Everything waits for Mrs. Hecate to return."
A brief silence.
The Butcher lifted the heavy meat hook, fiercely saying, "It's the Whisperer."
"Only they can plant a Mind Suggestion without being noticed."
Nightfall descended.
Shawn had a very vivid dream.
He dreamt of endless fog, where the Shadow Giant wandered, strange whispers echoed around, occasionally accompanied by cries akin to a baby's. Perhaps because of the absence of fear, Shawn wasn't that scared; instead, he was curious. When the fog appeared, he already realized he was dreaming.
He saw an island in the depths of the sea.
A black swollen organ appeared like a tumor, seemingly a fetus, spreading across the Earth, lightly pulsating, and amidst the fog's cover, a black hand with sharp claws tore open the placenta. His hunched figure slowly crawled out, dragging a long umbilical cord, filthy blood spreading along the ground, and finally countless umbilical cords waved like roots, intertwining to form three pairs of wings like seaweed, expanding as Angel's Wings.
Finally, He slowly opened His eyes, the pitch-black pupils piercing the fog, looking at Shawn's position.
Ah!
Shawn awoke.
He felt his heartbeat racing, his body drenched in sweat, but his emotions gradually calmed after waking up.
"Has it already started?"
Shawn's condition wasn't that bad, just felt tired and mentally sluggish, he suspected others were scared into madness.
But now he felt no fear.
If this degree of mental contamination is all there is, Shawn feels he can endure it for a long time.
Just a real nightmare.
"No more sleeping!"
"Cultivate immortality!"
Shawn had no desire to continue sleeping, and he began leafing through the knowledge he had forced himself to memorize today, searching for secrets behind madness.
"Mental pollution begins with the Dream Realm."
"Some people resist sleep to ward off mental pollution, but as their energy declines, they start experiencing hallucinations during the day."
"Tier One madness is mental sensitivity, neurosis."
"Tier Two madness is mental disorder, with a deviation in self-perception."
"These effects continuously intensify, and by Tier Three, the Polluter already exhibits a certain degree of frenzy."
No more cultivating immortality, continue sleeping.
After Shawn finished reviewing the knowledge stored in his memory, he decisively lay down to sleep.
The sky was dimly lit.
Shawn heard the Butcher chopping meat as he got up and dressed, and the Butcher was already waiting outside for him.
The real world.
Shawn showed a hint of excitement because, in his memory, the real world was a normal place.
The Butcher patted his shoulder and said, "Come with me."
"There are some things you must know before leaving."
"First, do not casually disclose anything about this place in the real world."
"Second, do not easily use Supernatural Ability in the real world, or it will attract law enforcement. I don't want to dig you out then."
"Third, abide by ordinary people's laws; they are the cornerstone of the real world."
The Butcher led Shawn through twisting corridors; everywhere seemed to be corridors, downstairs was a corridor, through the dark room was also a corridor.
Shawn hesitated and softly asked, "Can you tell me why?"
The Butcher instantly understood Shawn's meaning and said solemnly, "It's a protective mechanism."
"When ordinary people do not believe in Supernatural Ability."
"Then most people's cognition won't touch the taboo and are less likely to see those indescribable horrors."
"Just like the Confusion on you."
"Not knowing makes you less fearful."
Understood.
The more you know, the faster you go insane.
If you don't know anything, it's actually the best protection.
The Butcher handed over a certificate and a decent-looking wallet to Shawn nearby and said, "I've arranged your identity as an Investigator; here is your certificate."
"But you currently don't need to do anything, just rest and recuperate."
"Make sure to do things that make you feel relaxed, happy, and joyful; this will help restore your mind."
"This is money."
"Advance payment for your month's salary."
The wallet contained a stack of bills; they seemed abundant, but the purchasing power was unknown.
After walking for more than half an hour, the Butcher led Shawn to an ancient door with many mysterious symbols Shawn didn't recognize.
With respect, the Butcher bowed and said, "Mr. Door."
Amid Shawn's astonished gaze, countless mysterious symbols on the ancient door began to change until an elderly face emerged. It slowly opened its eyes and looked at Shawn, saying solemnly, "What is the meaning of life? Soul of the Otherworld!"
A somewhat abrupt question.
The Butcher calmly stood beside and said, "Answer any way you like, Mr. Door asks everyone the same."
Anyone passing here will be asked the same question.
Shawn hesitated a moment, glanced at the Butcher beside him, and cautiously asked, "What's your answer?"
Does this question have some allegory?
The Butcher answered without a care, "Responsibility."
The meaning of life?
Asking such a profound question right off the bat?
"Life has no meaning," Shawn thought a moment and said, "If there is any meaning, it's that I was here."
Mr. Door said nothing.
But with the sound of a heavy door opening, a slightly glowing Light Gate appeared before Shawn.
The Butcher stayed in place calmly and said, "Go."
"Someone outside will meet you."
Shawn took a deep breath and stepped into the Light Gate before him.
Head spinning.
After a bout of dizziness, a bright scene unfolded before Shawn: a towering Grand Pendulum Clock in the distance and buildings in modern era style appeared; afar came the rumble of trains, and where he stood was high, offering a view of crowds thick as ants at the train station.
To the right was a residential area filled with small villas with private yards, seeming like a wealthy district, to the left bustling market with cars and people, where voices and selling calls could be heard.
"Are you Investigator Sean?" a gentle and polite male voice sounded.
At the staircase entrance stood a tall young man, handsome with a high nose, resembling a Greek sculpture. His attire was gentlemanly, a well-fitted suit, a tall jacket, holding a black umbrella gracefully.
With a friendly gesture, he removed his hat and said, "I am Benjamin Tilian, and I will be arranging your vacation next."
Shawn instinctively shifted the Confusion.
This time, he saw nothing.
.........