The Strange Adventures of Hearn the Believer

The second young lady of the Yukinoshita family had her eyes hidden under her bangs, and her slender body trembled slightly, not from fear but from sheer anger.

"You're dead."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As it turns out, a group of thugs who had no professional training and relied solely on haphazard fighting were no match for a prized disciple of an Aikido martial arts master.

Yukinoshita wisely chose a narrow alleyway as the starting point, meaning her opponent couldn't effectively deploy all their forces to simultaneously attack and defend against her. Another clever aspect of the alleyway was that it had two 90-degree corners on either side, perfect for sending a sarcastic greeting to any uncouth person who disrespected a lady.

The battle was extremely mindless, basically consisting of a four-step cycle of attacking, receiving, flying, and fainting. It has to be said that these thugs under the snakehead had no sense of teamwork whatsoever. They fought until the last man was killed, without ever thinking of the routine of four people rushing up at the same time to grab each other's arms and legs and immobilize them, so that the remaining people could do a great job. Instead, they turned the gang fight into a scene of the Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather.

Why did I run away from home?

After sending the last thug to kiss the concrete, Yukinoshita calmed her breathing and sighed involuntarily.

The sea route is blocked, the smuggler himself hasn't been dealt with yet, and that's their stronghold with a lot of manpower. Going there rashly would be no different from delivering vegetables to someone else.

Yukinoshita pondered whether to retreat to a densely populated street first, then find an opportunity to log off and return to reality to make further plans.

If I remember the direction correctly

After pondering for a moment, Xuezhong decided on an escape route.

She left the group of unconscious thugs behind and quickly departed.

Aikido is a way of self-protection. It is said that if a master of Aikido is about to encounter a crisis, various ominous signs will appear before their eyes, warning them to choose another path.

To be honest, Yukino Shinobu didn't really believe in those mysterious claims, but after taking a few steps, a sense of crisis, like a thorn in her back, did prompt her to dodge to the side.

Just as she dodged, a dark shadow shot out, leaving a hole the size of an arm in the ground where she had been standing.

In the gaps between the flying pebbles, Yukino looked back and was taken aback.

Among the fallen thugs, a tall figure slowly stood up.

No, something's not right. After the series of exchanges just now, Yukinoshita had a general understanding of the physiques of these thugs she had beaten to the ground. There was definitely no giant among them like this one, who was over two meters tall.

No, its robustness far exceeded the realm of comprehension. The bulging muscles piled up and obscured its face, leaving only a few small recessed holes where the eyes, ears, and mouth should have been. The hole at the mouth emitted a hissing sound like a broken organ. Its skin was a corpse-like bluish-white, and the black shadow that had just pierced the ground was a tendril-like tentacle growing from its wrist. On its back, a tumor-like muscle stretched out, which turned out to be a brand new arm!

A familiar piece of fabric was wrapped around the waist of the muscular man. Yukinoshita stared intently and realized that it was part of the shirt worn by the thug named Goto before.

"What"

Before she could finish speaking, Yukinoshita felt a gust of wind rush towards her, and the bulky muscle group suddenly burst forth, covering the 5-meter distance in an instant. No one could have imagined that the seemingly bulky thing was so fast and even had the ability to think.

The difference in physical performance ultimately exceeded the limits that skill could compensate for. Even with her arms outstretched, Yukino could only barely encircle the thing's violently swollen tentacles, which were covered in an unknown mucus.

Caught off guard, Yukinoshita was struck directly in the chest by the tentacle. The next moment, she was like being hit by a speeding heavy truck, flying backward and crashing into the wall on the side of the street before slowly sliding down and collapsing to the ground.

The situation was terrible; she didn't even know what had attacked her.

Thoughts began to descend into chaos, and the damned sea of ​​electronics faithfully relayed pain signals back to the body.

The bloated mass of muscles and the hissing sound emanating from the gaping mouth that was now just a hole made Yukinoshita's head throb with pain. The scene before her eyes became distorted and unbearable, unclean phantoms overlapping with the streetscape, and bright red flesh and blood began to fill her vision. A pale, grotesque figure waving its tentacles gradually approached.

Disconnecting is not possible.

When her remaining consciousness noticed this, the runaway girl experienced the emotion called "fear" for the first time.

"Ouch, this is nothing! The freedom I seek is not about encountering such random things."

Fate played an extremely cruel joke on her.

"In short, escape first."

Relying on her remaining consciousness in her dying moments, the girl struggled to her feet. The pain of her ribs shattering and piercing her lungs surged into her brain through electrical signals. The intense pain, accompanied by the incessant, organ-like screams from the monster, tore at her nerves constantly, and her remaining consciousness could fly away at any moment.

The monster extended its pale tentacles and, as the girl slowly straightened up and raised her head, reached in front of her face. The tips of the tentacles, dripping with mucus, were less than 2 centimeters from her eyeballs. The tips of the tentacles bloomed like sunflower discs, revealing a sucker-like mouth covered with sharp teeth, resembling that of a lamprey.

Tears flowed down.

Mucus, too.

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Chapter 17 Love

boom!

The dull thud of metal striking flesh.

Wow!

The sound of walls collapsing one after another.

Makishima

"Oh no, I bumped into someone! Wait, what are you yelling about?!"

"Mr. Hearn, please calm down! Although the body types are indeed similar, the one who was knocked away was not Mr. Makishima. He is still diving!"

"Tsk."

"Hey, did you just tsk?"

"Yes, Mr. Hearn just clicked his tongue."

What's going on here?

In a dazed and confused state, Yukinoshita only felt strange sounds coming from her ears before she completely lost consciousness.

What awakened the snow was a faint, intermittent sound, like the plucking of a harp string.

She awoke from her coma, her mind still foggy.

Yukinoshita covered her forehead and waited for her vision to gradually clear before looking around. She found herself lying on a simple bed in a room that wasn't very big, with some cardboard boxes and other odds and ends scattered in the corner.

The indoor lighting is not bright.

A strange woman sat on a bench by the bed, holding a long, two-stringed instrument in her hand. She examined it carefully and determined that it was a specialty of a neighboring country, probably called an erhu.

The woman was considered strange because she was still wearing a pair of round sunglasses in such a dimly lit room that resembled a mix of a storage room and a lounge.

She was a woman with pink hair. This hair color is not uncommon in today's electronic world. In fact, although people in the electronic world cannot change their appearance, they can buy props such as sprays to dye their hair. The same applies to colored contact lenses. This woman with pink hair should also belong to this category.

Yukinoshita had no intention of dyeing her hair. She felt that her hair color matched her appearance quite well. At the same time, she was one of the "purists," a minority group in this era. The allure of cybernetic modification did not outweigh her reason and preferences.

Yukinoshita continued to observe the woman, who seemed to be engrossed in tuning her erhu. One hand occasionally plucked the strings, while the other hand constantly adjusted the tuning pegs located at the top of the erhu's neck.

This is a long process that requires a great deal of concentration.

Yukinoshita didn't make a sound to disturb her, but sat silently on the bed watching her until a clear, melodious string sound rang out in the storage room, and the pink-haired woman revealed a satisfied smile.

"You're awake? You're such a thoughtful little girl," the woman greeted her, placing the erhu back into its case.

“Yes,” Yukinoshita nodded, “I seem to have encountered something that cannot be explained by common sense. Did you save me?”

"No, this is a storeroom in a bar. Someone brought you here on their way to settle in, and I'm just someone who needs a relatively quiet place to practice my sound, so I took on the task of looking after you."

"Even so, I am very grateful for your care." Yukinoshita was sitting on the bed, bowing to the woman.

"No need for that, it was just a small favor. You Far Easterners are really something, always making such grand gestures that it makes people feel quite embarrassed."

"And you are?" Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita looked up and noticed that the woman had two buns on her head, or rather, bun hairstyles. Her pink hair was styled in a way that resembled that of a neighboring country, just like the erhu she was playing.

"My surname is Hua, you can just call me Hua Shan." The pink-haired woman introduced herself. "I currently run a fortune-telling... cough cough, divination shop in the Chinatown area. If you have time in the future, please do me the honor of visiting. I will give you a discount. Of course, the divination shop operates in both the real world and the electronic sea, but the opening hours are different in the two places."

"My name is Yukino Yukinoshita. Nice to meet you, Ms. Kasen." Yukinoshita introduced herself, getting out of bed and checking herself over. Overall, she was in good condition. "Ms. Kasen, may I ask where I am?"

As they got closer, Yukino noticed that the other person's age didn't seem to be much different from hers, around twenty-something, the prime of her youth.

“A light music bar, the kind that bans all heavy metal, is the perfect place for people like us to relax after a long day at work.” Hua Shan picked up her erhu case and started walking out. “Come on, we can’t just stay in the storeroom all the time. Let’s go somewhere more spacious to talk.”

"Mm." Yukinoshita responded softly, following the woman in the cheongsam, Huashan, out of the narrow storage room.

After navigating several winding corridors, the view quickly opened up. To Yukinoshita, this bar called "The Real Folk Blues" didn't resemble a bar at all. Its interior design was more like a university clubroom than a bar, with a warm and soft color scheme and meticulous attention to detail. For a moment, Yukinoshita felt as if she had returned to school, and this thoughtful style greatly alleviated the unease of the newcomer.

Even so, it still has everything a bar should have: comfortable fabric sofas, scattered casual tables and chairs, a long and gleaming bar counter, a dazzling array of bottles and glasses, a purple-haired female bartender dressed as a waitress skillfully mixing cocktails for guests, and a black, gleaming piano in the corner, with three microphones on stands on one side of the piano.

There weren't many guests, and Yukinoshita looked around but didn't see any men in sight.

Groups of two or three girls were scattered about; some were slumped on the sofa, seemingly drunk; while others sat in groups of four, with a neatly arranged mahjong set in front of them, but they didn't touch it.

All eyes were fixed on the piano, or more precisely, on the stage where the piano was placed, as everyone listened intently in silence.

Yukino noticed the atmosphere as soon as she entered the hall and remained quiet.

The girl's voice was clear and soaring, but the emotions contained in her voice were extremely cold. The professional singing skills and the sincere emotions mixed together created a catalytic reaction. When the emotions were deep, the cold voice pierced more than just people's hearts.

Yukino looked towards the stage, where a girl with the same dark eyes, black hair, and long, straight black hair as her was singing passionately. She was much taller than Yukino, with a slender figure and a shapely figure. She had a pair of long legs that were rare for women from the Far East. She wore a violet suit that made her look very dashing, and she also wore a tie of the same color. She was a natural model and a clothes hanger. However, her mood seemed a little off. She seemed to have been drinking, and she showed a hint of drunkenness. Even though she sang a cappella without any embellishment, there was always a strange meaning in her voice. It made the listener feel as if they were standing on one foot on the edge of a cliff with a surging sea, and one wrong step would plunge them into an abyss.

Yes, the abyss called "Howling Ghosts." This exceptional young female singer, with masterful vocal skills and rich emotional expression, seems to stand on the edge of such a precipice. Every melody sung in her clear yet sweet voice is captivating, yet there's a nagging feeling that she might burst into howling ghosts at any moment.

In the seat closest to the stage, a small, gray-haired girl was weakly waving a glow stick.

On the piano bench sat an unconscious white figure. He too had long, black hair and wore a pristine white suit, but his head was trapped between the piano keys and the piano lid, a bizarre posture; he was completely unconscious.

"Lonely? 気

Do you often feel sorry for yourself? Why have I already developed feelings for you?

Who provoked me?

When I came to my senses, I realized that I was already deeply captivated by the dream.

Heart Mirror Reflection?

How can I reflect my true feelings in a mirror?

Love Day

Even if this is a love that cannot be conveyed, will there ever be a day when it can be reflected?

Answer: From the beginning of love to the present.

Until the elusive answer is revealed, this love remains fraught with difficulty.

The first sound shakes the sun

The day you turned back to me after I first said those words.

眩見

You are so dazzling and radiant right in front of me, yet I cannot open my eyes.

A private message?

How can I imprint myself in your heart?

Ye Lian writes about the day

Even if you're in a doomed love affair, will there ever be a day when it leaves a lasting mark?

Answer: Rarely seen love begins

If even a glimpse of the elusive answer could be found, this love would surely begin to melt away.

A reflection in the heart?

How can I reflect my true feelings in a mirror?

Love Day

Even if this is a love that cannot be conveyed, will there ever be a day when it can be reflected?

Answer: From the beginning of love to the present.

Until the elusive answer is revealed, this love remains fraught with difficulty.

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Chapter 18 I am emotionless, a killer.

Rewind half an hour. The believer Hearn walked into the hall, briefly greeted the acquaintances there, and then sat down at the bar.

"Long time no see, Jill," he greeted the bartender in a lighthearted tone. "Is it your turn to work at Electronic Sea today?"

“Long time no see, Mr. Hearn. Boss is at the bar in the real world today,” said the bartender, Jill, who looked unwell and showed signs of sleep deprivation. Nevertheless, she tried her best to fulfill her professional duties, such as chatting with the talkative customers. “How was your Christmas holiday on that deserted island in the South Pacific?”

"A pleasant experience as expected. It's hard to find such a place in this day and age where electromagnetic waves are scarce. I really enjoy that kind of pure, natural experience. Of course, I mean in reality, in person." The believer's gaze swept over the metal wine menu. "Well then, the usual, please."

He was a regular here. Ever since he stumbled upon this upscale little bar hidden in an alley in Chiyoda Ward, every time he visited, Jill would ask him to order a cocktail that she thought was the most suitable for the moment, depending on the atmosphere. Of course, the price of this casual cocktail was outrageous.

"As you wish."

Jill skillfully began mixing the liquor. After a short wait, she stopped gently shaking the glass and let the liquid in the glass age for a moment before slowly pouring it into a stemmed glass.

"So, what's her name?" Believer Hearn rested his chin on his hand, watching Jill push the colorful glass of wine in front of him.