Mystery: Survival from the Secret Doll

Chapter 276, Poem 275

At noon, after Pedigru returned from his fieldwork, he brought Klein some good news.

Of course, he didn't seem surprised that Klein had left the hospital on his own initiative.

“If you feel that’s enough, then it’s a good thing not to be in St. Peter’s, after all, it’s a hospital.”

Pedigris shrugged. Wizards, by nature, had a slight aversion to places that emphasized "science."

"In addition, the 'Professional Ritual Magic Level Test' held by Miskatonic is about to begin. I have already brought you the registration form, and I think you are planning to register."

Klein took the ancient parchment that Pedigris handed him, which was decorated with a unique emblem, patterns, and distinctive features. He saw a sentence written in large characters in dozens of languages, including Ancient Hermes, Giants' Language, Dragon Language, and Elvish:

"Notice of the Professional Ritual Magic Level Test (Northern Continent)".

"Organizer: Miskatonic University"

"The 1102nd Professional Ritual Magic Level Test (Northern Continent Region), fully administered by Miskatonic University, will be held on August 4th of this year at Miskatonic University. Please note that the registration deadline is 24:00 on July 31st. You can inform the university of your application intention through rituals, letters, or other means. The standard procedure for ritual magic is as follows:..."

"Please note that the professional ritual magic level test (Northern Continent region) is classified as a '1' level ritual master. Recommended candidate sequence: Sequence 1 to Sequence 3."

“Level 2 Ritual Master: Sequence 3 to Sequence 7.”

“Level 3 Ritual Master: Sequence 7 to Sequence 9.”

"We urge all candidates to make informed choices regarding their chosen Priest level to avoid irreversible personal injury. In the event of any of the above-mentioned situations, our school reserves all rights to manage, trace, and take appropriate action. Furthermore, for candidates found cheating, adhering to the principle of 'honest examinations, no cheating,' you will be permanently blacklisted by our school..."

"Attention: Candidates skilled in ritual magic and favored by evil gods, please note that the protection of evil gods will be nullified upon entering Miskatonic University. Your rituals that request power from evil gods will be considered 'cheating.' Please register with caution..."

Klein skimmed through the parchment from beginning to end, and then he saw the name that was finally signed on the parchment.

"President of Miskatonic University: Nikolai Flamel".

To Klein, that neat line of words seemed like an indescribable vortex, threatening to swallow him whole.

"call."

Klein took a deep breath and asked, feigning curiosity, "This, um, Nicolas Flamel, is the one you're talking about..."

Klein didn't know who Nicolas Flamel was in the real world. He had only seen the name in the diary of Emperor Rosell, so Klein acted as if he was seeing the name for the first time, showing some curiosity and an inability to help but guess.

After all, the close ties between Miskatonic University and the city of Tingen are enough to show that the university has a very deep connection with the "guardian" of Tingen.

“Yes,” Pedigru did not deny it, “so Klein, within Tingen… and even outside Tingen, it is enough for us to recite His name, because it involves the name that symbolizes the essence. Reciting such a thing can lead to something far more terrible than reciting His name.”

"of course."

Klein was no longer a novice who had just entered the world of extraordinary beings; he was quite clear about what a true name from a god represented.

but……

"But that person put their name directly on the notification form."

The real name, which cannot be pronounced, is just written so blatantly on the exam notice. Aren't they afraid that someone might actually try to pronounce it using a language with supernatural powers?
Pedigris: "Why don't you try reciting it in Rune?"

Klein did as he was told, and he was able to recite it.

"Try using ancient Hermes again."

Klein obediently opened his mouth, but this time, his mouth vibrated, and what came out was a meaningless string of noise.

"This is?"

“It is also a kind of authority and symbol,” Pedigris said. “That is the embodiment of ‘error.’ On the North Continent, there are many extraordinary individuals who obediently follow the procedures to participate in the level exams. If they learn that person’s true name through the signature on the exam notice, they cannot use a language with supernatural powers to recite it.”

This is both protection and deterrence.

Pedigris clearly knew more about this matter, "and once you have the qualification certificate, some ritual magic involving hidden entities becomes available to these extraordinary individuals."

"Those secret organizations and wild extraordinary individuals generally find it difficult to get a non-malicious response from the true gods. This is indeed a way for them to quickly improve their strength. Of course, there are quite a few of them who harbor ill intentions..."

Klein quickly understood what Pedigru was saying. He pondered, "So, that person's name appears from the perspective of a regulator or guardian? Like a witness to a contract and the holder of shackles? After all, whether it's a secret organization, a wild extraordinary being, or the Church of the True God, there should be people participating in this test, right?"

If a fight were to break out in the exam hall, it would truly be a chaotic brawl.

"Yes."

Pedigre nodded and smiled slightly. "Besides, this thing is essentially a fixed weekly allowance, isn't it, Klein?"

Klein was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

Yes, you're right.

After ending that topic, Klein shifted the focus from Miskatonic University to his mother.

He had already prepared a draft in his mind beforehand, and said immediately, "I would like to ask other doctors at St. Peter's Hospital, well, the kind with supernatural powers, real doctors in the occult sense, to treat my mother."

“This will be very expensive, but the treatment costs can be deducted from my weekly salary in installments. I just don’t know if there will be any interest… If the interest is acceptable and the doctors in St. Peter’s can agree, I hope to treat my mother’s injuries as soon as possible, Pedigre.”

Klein's attitude was very sincere. Pedigru pondered for a moment, seemingly considering the legality of the matter, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said:
"Well, you can ask the captain about this later. I remember that the confidentiality agreement signed by the night watchmen includes some rules regarding the night watchmen's relatives... If the captain agrees, remember to write an application for me."

"I'll try to contact St. Peter then. The Night Watchers and St. Peter already have a certain cooperative employment relationship... Regarding the medical expenses for this part, part will be covered by the Night Church's medical insurance fund, and part will be covered by the Tingen City Government. The rest should be able to be paid off quickly with your weekly salary. As for the interest... it shouldn't be high. I need to find the documents."

Klein was surprised that things went so smoothly. He nodded with delight. Pedigre waved his hand dismissively and walked out of the office prepared for Klein.

"There are definitely more good people than bad in this world."

Klein's pent-up frustration—or rather, the original owner's—was finally relieved, which somewhat eased his less-than-ideal mood, which had been lingering since last night's nightmare.

Taking advantage of the daytime, Klein planned to go back to 47 Red Rose Street to pick up some more of his clothes and check on Benson and Melissa to see if they were worried while he was away, leaving them a note to let them know he was safe. "After all, it's been so many days since I've been home, it's normal for Benson and Melissa to be worried... Hmm, there shouldn't be any major problems during the day, but the captain still hasn't let me leave directly, so I should talk to the captain about this first."

Klein walked out of the office, just about to go and ask Dunn if he could go home first.

Pedigris went out again, and Klein, being only a support member of Sequence 9, needed to consult the captain's opinion.

Klein had just stepped out of his office and hadn't gone far when he saw Leonard, wearing a monocle, walking towards him from the end of the corridor.

Are you planning to go out?

Leonard approached and asked in a teasing tone.

Klein wasn't too fond of this mysterious and rather eccentric fellow, but since they were both night watchmen, Klein didn't want to offend Leonard. Of course, he could at least keep his distance as much as possible.

“Oh, Captain forgot to tell you, you can go out now, accompanied by any other Night Watchman… After all, Tingen City isn’t as safe as it used to be. Even with the official Extraordinary organization, we still need to ensure our own safety, right, Mr. Moretti?”

"You want to go out, right? How about we go together? I happen to want to go out for a walk too, and you can take this opportunity to go to the fortune teller's club and try to seriously play the role of, um, fortune teller?"

Klein instantly understood what Leonard Mitchell was trying to say.

"Does he want to say something to me?"

After experiencing the ravings of this madman once, Klein didn't really trust this seemingly carefree and strange poet. His spiritual intuition told him that the poet in front of him was hiding a big secret and a big problem.

Even that seemingly ordinary monocle gave Klein a creepy feeling at times.

But this also aroused Klein's genuine curiosity, though it was far from the extent that he had spent time alone with the poet when they were by themselves.

"Those who are superstitious and eccentric are usually suffering from some serious illness."

Seemingly sensing Klein's hesitation, Leonard habitually adjusted his monocle in his left eye socket once more, and said with a smile:

"Of course, if you don't want to, we can just talk about strange dreams... or something like that."

"After all, as a nightmare myself, I think I still have some right to speak on this."

Klein: "..."

I have a feeling this is a subtle jab at him.

"This guy knows I've had that dream for the third time?"

Klein was surprised, but he remained silent and boarded the same carriage as Leonard.

The carriage slowly made its way toward 47 Red Rose Street, but there was complete silence inside.

Since getting on the bus, Leonard had been writing and drawing on a piece of paper he'd somehow acquired with a fountain pen. Contrary to Klein's expectations, he didn't immediately utter any nonsense. Instead, he seemed to ignore Klein and immerse himself in his own world.

Klein was now even more confused about what this guy meant.

He didn't speak up, and neither did Leonard.

Just as the carriage was about to turn from White Rose Street into Golden Rose Street, Leonard handed what he had written to Klein.

"As you can see, I am a poet."

Leonard smiled and adjusted his monocle. "I only have one purpose in coming out with you."

"Please critique my poem."

Klein was taken aback upon hearing this. He instinctively took the paper from Leonard's hand, and saw these words written on it:

"The deep red roses begin to wither in July."

"The spider weaving nightmares spread out eight ankles wrapped in silk threads."

"The weeping traveler, dripping with blood and tears, looks down upon the earth with pity."

"Blood and red are the main themes of this world."

"The stars twinkle in the darkness."

"The sun is held high in the sky."

"The earth trembled, thunder roared, and as the storm approached, the spider that had spun its web caught its second prey."

"Spider silk entangles the prey, which is trapped in a nightmare and unable to struggle in the pouring rain of the night. Among the thousands of spider webs, there are the dews left when the storm comes."

"Knowledge is the only way to save this butterfly that has fallen into the trap. Beside the spider that has spun its web, there is another white cocoon that is already fast asleep."

"Birth and destruction have always been a strange pair of twins, and the place closest to the stars is the end of all things."

"Your hope is not here. The spider's silk has already bound you. The process of transforming from prey to hunter is itself a process of breaking out of the cocoon and becoming a butterfly."

"When your voice reaches the ears of the stars, destiny will guide you to your inevitable end."

"Awakening in falsehood, sleeping soundly in reality, the spider weaving its web lovingly caresses its prey's body, injecting it with a poison for which there is no antidote."

"The deep red roses are in full bloom, but the glass holding them is about to shatter."

"In that distant rose field, two more roses bloom in competition."

"One of them symbolizes stagnation, and the other symbolizes new life."

"The only chance for a withered rose, which can be picked because of a spider, to bloom again is the dew left on the spider's web..."

(End of this chapter)