The Strange Adventures of Hearn the Believer

"A clever girl, but that's just a representative part of it."

“Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth does not mean that life will be smooth sailing, Mr. Hearn.”

"I understand. After all, no matter how long we travel, we are the ones who row the boat, whether we are moving forward or backward, or where we are heading."

"So, in Mr. Hearn's opinion, is my small boat moving forward or backward?"

"Huh? Are you kidding me? You're not rowing now, you threw the oars away and jumped into the water."

""

"Take what I'm about to say as some after-sales rambling. Listen to it for now, and it's up to you whether you take it or not."

"Okay, tell me."

"The Far East is a very uninspiring country. Here, the path to advancement for the elite is monopolized by conglomerates from the time they begin their education. A lawyer's son has a relatively low barrier to entry to becoming a lawyer, and a professor's son, if he wants, will most likely become a professor. For ordinary medical students from Tokyo University, the most pressing issue after graduation isn't finding a job, but rather marrying into the family to avoid being marginalized in national hospitals—and you have a very good starting point. In your classmates' eyes, you are the daughter of a member of parliament, beautiful, academically excellent, and capable in both academics and martial arts; you are a true high-achieving beauty with a bright future ahead. But..." Yes, in your own eyes, you're just a pitiful girl living in a suffocating environment. Whether it's the school where no one understands you or the family where your parents' authority reigns supreme, your future seems predictable. Compared to your shrewd, worldly, and unfathomably principled older sister, you, unable to let go of your inner convictions, seem inferior to her in every way. Taking over the reins of family affairs is neither your turn nor something you want to do. Thus, your future has already been decided in advance. Hmm, a caged canary—that's a rather elegant way to describe it. I mean, marrying a scion of a similarly wealthy family and contributing your remaining energy to the Yukinoshita family's business."

"Wait, Mr. Hearn, putting everything else aside, I'm curious how you know I have a sister? And how you know she's a troublemaker?"

"Ah, I can tell from your face. Your forehead is dark, it's obvious that you've been angered by your older sister since you were little."

""

"Miss Yukinoshita, you actually have a great hand, it's just that your card skills are below average."

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Chapter 32 The Golden Witch

“There are countless ways to solve this problem, but you have only chosen the least cost-effective one. Of course, I am merely presenting the pros and cons to you, and I am not forcing you to make a decision like your parents do.”

The believer, Hern, jumped off the back of the scooter and casually straightened her clothes.

As the snow fell, the scooter was parked at the back door of the bar. After the engine roared from afar and then abruptly stopped, a frustrated commotion erupted inside The Real Folk Blues bar.

"Once you've made up your mind, feel free to contact me directly. Whether it's to ensure your safe arrival in Finland or simply to provide after-sales advice on how to resolve your predicament, this temporary contact method will remain valid until the end of [White House]." Xin Nu sent a temporary message to the girl in front of her, then added softly, "Also, thank you. Thanks to you, this little lamb has made it home safely."

“It was nothing, Mr. Hearn,” Yukinoshita replied softly as well. “But why was it so noisy in the bar?”

"I don't know. I heard Kasen wailing and howling. She's probably playing some trick again." Nobunaga pointed towards the back door. "Now it's free time. If Ms. Yukinoshita has other plans, please feel free to do as you please."

After saying that, he made a stepping motion.

“Mr. Hearn,” a female voice called out to him from behind.

"Hmm?" The believer turned around, squinting at the other person with a hint of amusement. "By the way, this place is not open to minors under normal circumstances."

Yukino Yukinoshita was still a little unaccustomed to the other person's frivolous style that was somewhere between joking and serious. Compared to this person, the men she had encountered in the past were all too docile and timid. "Actually, I hope to repay your kindness within my means."

"Didn't I say? Take a break for a while, then come with me to the [White Pavilion], and everything will be settled then." The believer raised her eyebrows helplessly, thinking to herself that this girl was a serious person who would run into many obstacles in the future.

"No, in fact, you are right. I was indeed accidentally caught up in a hidden [Hive] once and was lucky enough to be the sole survivor. So I know very well the value of what I gained from it. Your ease in the Dragon Palace is enough to prove your strength, and following you to the [White Mansion] will greatly increase my chances of survival, even as a [Beloved One]—of course, all of this may just be wishful thinking on my part."

"Don't doubt yourself. I will reward you for this mission, and I will naturally guarantee your return alive." The believer subconsciously scratched her head, then realized, "Hmm, where's my hat?"

"When Yukinoshita recalled the scene in the Dragon Palace, she felt a lump in her throat. After hesitating for a moment, she decided to ignore the interlude and continued, "But in this way, the gains from the trip to the White Pavilion will become a new favor that I owe you."

"Young lady, sometimes being too calculating can be exhausting," the believer replied softly.

“Well, perhaps an adult like Mr. Hern would think that way, but as you can see, Yukino Yukinoshita is still just an immature minor who might run away from home on a whim due to fear of the future. So, please allow me to be a little petty this once.” Yukinoshita bowed slightly.

"Hmph, I'm still very young." The believer leaned against the back door wall and replied somewhat sullenly, "Even if I claimed to be seventeen years old, plenty of people would believe me."

"That's certainly true of your appearance."

"Oh dear, I'm so embarrassed."

"So, let's keep things separate. You first saved my life, and then you helped me out of the crisis of my whereabouts being exposed. Please allow me to repay your kindness to the best of my ability."

"uh-huh?"

"【Golden Witch】, this is a gift I received after surviving the original 【Hive】. The Black Cat Transfiguration is just one of the few spells I currently possess. Besides that, I can grant you a permanent blessing. Hmm, Mr. Hearn, what are you doing?"

"It's nothing, I just suddenly felt a bit hot, so I loosened my tie to let some air in." The woman, Hearn, retied her tie with a regretful expression, her movements practiced. "Hmm, a blessing, right? In what way?"

"Is it hot?" Yukino Yukinoshita looked up at the rainy sky, puzzled in the cold winter, but still answered.

"Lucky."

"?"

"The Golden Witch's [Heavenly Blessing] will bring good fortune to the recipient."

""

"Mr. Hearn?"

The believer, Hern, slowly removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of azure eyes reminiscent of the distant sea. For the first time, he looked the girl up and down with such seriousness, from head to toe, and then from toe to head, not missing an inch of her skin, as if he were appraising a rare treasure.

Yukino Yukinoshita noticed that she had received another communication link on her personal terminal. The source was still Mr. Hern, but this time it was not a temporary link but a permanent channel.

Incidentally, she felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Um... is there something wrong with Mr. Hern?"

"It's nothing, I just feel like my luck has improved."

"Hmm? But I haven't prepared a blessing ceremony for you yet." Yukino Yukinoshita asked, puzzled.

“I believe that to meet you in this vast sea of ​​people is already an immense stroke of luck,” the believer Hearn replied sincerely, withdrawing her aggressive gaze and putting on her sunglasses.

I found the treasure.

The believer entered the main hall of The Real Folk Blues bar through the back door. The main hall was in a mess, with girls sprawled out on the sofa cushions, feigning weakness. The dedicated female bartender was still standing behind the bar.

"What happened?" The believer moved to the bar, sat down, and asked.

“Miss Huashan has set up a bet with very high odds, betting that you won’t be able to ride the scooter back unscathed,” Jill said weakly, looking up.

"Here's your key back." The woman placed the car keys on the bar counter and casually tossed them aside. "And then?"

"Only Miss Charlotte bet that you could bring the lamb back unharmed, so all the participants, including the dealer, lost everything."

"Hahahaha." The believer laughed wildly. "By the way, mix me another drink. The previous [PianoWomen] was drunk by PianoGirl."

"As you wish."

A moment later, Jill pushed a glass of blue cocktail, resembling the starry sky, in front of the guest.

"what is her name?"

"【Sleeping Beauty】/【Sleeping Beauty】"

"Oh, thank you." The woman gave Jill a knowing look, then picked up her wine glass and slowly walked to the sofa where she had been sitting.

Charlotte sat quietly reading her book, and when she noticed the nun approaching, she gave her a slight nod in greeting.

Nobunaga sat down on the sofa. Touma, still in a daze from being drunk, subtly shifted her body after realizing someone had returned, resting her head back on Nobunaga's lap.

The woman took a sip of the cocktail she had just made, then placed it on the coffee table. After a moment of contemplation, she reached out and gently combed through Touma's smooth black hair.

"How is it?" Touma asked softly, his eyes closed contentedly.

"Well, she's an interesting little girl," the believer replied with a smile.

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Chapter 33 I ask you, are you a human being?

"Good morning."

The woman pushed open the door of TheRealFolkBlues. It was 8:00 AM Tokyo time on December 28, 2097. The female bartender behind the counter glanced at him briefly and then ignored him, making a gesture of "do as you please."

Whether in reality or in the digital world, there's no doubt that this is not the proper operating time for a bar.

"Ah, good morning, Mr. Hern." A response came from the corner where the sofas were huddled together. The runaway young lady seemed to have been engrossed in quiet reading until she realized someone had arrived, and she was slightly flustered at the sudden turn of events.

The believer looked the girl up and down, and after confirming that she was in good condition, she suddenly sighed.

"Hey, you haven't been offline the whole time, have you?" he asked, subconsciously thinking of his older sister.

Just yesterday, a group of people who were vacationing on Rarotonga took a direct flight to Narita Airport and returned to the Far East. The first thing Nobunaga Hearn did after landing was to go straight to her home in Inner Minato Ward, Tokyo, to check if her shut-in sister had passed away.

The refrigerator had been empty for a week. Fortunately, the only neighbor living across the hall on the same floor, the internet-addicted girl next door, hadn't forgotten his instructions. She was careful and checked on the shameful shut-in next door at least once a day to make sure he was alright and reported back to him regularly.

"In fact, I've only just started online, and I also need to take care of my daily chores regularly."

"Good girl." It seemed the other person had a clear sense of priorities, which made Xin Nu feel somewhat relieved. "How are you feeling?"

"It's still relatively optimistic. At least when I went out shopping wearing sunglasses, a mask, and a knitted hat, there was no sign of exposure."

Wow, these young ladies are really something these days.

If you had used that tenacity for anything other than your sophomore year syndrome, you probably wouldn't have had to worry about being married off as a pretty face by your family at all.

The believer sighed silently.

"So?" Yukinoshita stood up from the sofa, casting a hopeful glance at him, eager to try.

"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

"It's bad, isn't it?" Yukinoshita hesitated for a second before answering.

"Bad news, cough, it's like this," the believer cleared her throat and organized her thoughts, "First of all, the purpose of our gathering here today is to explore the [White Mansion], which is part of the business settlement."

“Mm.” Yukino Yukinoshita nodded, signaling him to continue.

"The White Pavilion originally had five invitations, one main and four secondary. The core one was the one you, as the 'beloved,' had—cough, a love letter from the past. The other four were just extras; the reasons for being invited were inexplicable. For example, judging from the content of the invitation I received, I must have been a very popular, lively, and silly person from that stingy guy named Tsukiyama Seiichi's middle school days. Anyway, judging from his description, he probably hated me quite a bit. This invitation was probably to confess or even propose to your middle school goddess—you—in front of me. It was revenge after so many years. Hmm, that's about it." Mr. Hearn spoke eloquently.

""

“What kind of chicken is this?” Mr. Hearn sighed, rubbing his forehead.

“Ahem, Mr. Hearn, you’ve gone a bit off-topic. Please continue with the bad news.”

"The bad news is—originally, the lineup we had to protect you this time was very strong: a 'Pianist on the Sea' who could perform a piano-string flower cutting helicopter for you; a 'Muscle Man' who could use his pectoral muscles to crush a great white shark and was considered a perfect meat shield; a Little Red Riding Hood who could be seen everywhere; and an ordinary person with an unremarkable appearance—me."

"Mr. Hearn, let's not even talk about how much dangerous information you've revealed in your words, but you still haven't told me what the bad news is."

"【Devil Muscle Man】has been canceled."

""

"Listen to the recorded message he sent me ten minutes ago." The woman casually clicked on a window, and a passionate male voice immediately came out, his voice deep and resonant.

"Hearn, I'm sorry, I can't attend tomorrow's party. I know you've always disliked this kind of breaking promises, but as a man, as an older brother, I have something I have to deal with right now—that bastard from Chiba actually took advantage of my dearest sister while I was away and then dumped him! If I don't skin him alive and throw him into a concrete slab in Tokyo Bay, I'll change my surname!!!"

A long busy signal.

The believer cut off the message and then gave the girl in front of her a look that said, "You understand now."

“Mr. Hern, isn’t this already a criminal declaration?” Yukinoshita seemed to wake from a dream.

"Okay, now let's talk about the good news."

"Wait, Mr. Hearn, is it really okay to leave Mr. [Devil Muscle Man] alone?"

"Everything will turn out for the best. Let it be. Let's move on to the good news."

""

"The good news is that I brought in another foreign player five minutes ago, and you know him too."

As Mr. Hearn finished speaking, a middle school girl who looked very familiar to Yukino Yukinoshita appeared in the corridor leading to the back of the bar. When Yukinoshita matched her with a certain image in her memory, she subconsciously took a step back, as if she wanted to say something.

It's that middle school girl with a specific fetish!

However, after noticing the other party's unfriendly gaze, Yukino swallowed her words and returned to normal.

"Hello, Miss this time, my name is Kuroyukihime." The middle school girl politely lifted her skirt and bowed to Yukino Yukinoshita.

What kind of weird name is this? Is it some kind of princess syndrome?

And what does "this time's lady" even mean? It sounds subtly off.

Despite having many questions, it's best to give a heads-up first.

"Hello, my name is Yukino Yukinoshita." Yukinoshita greeted him in a similar manner.

"Believer, and this time, Miss, everyone has been waiting inside for a long time."

"Understood." The believer nodded. "Let's go."

Still feeling uneasy about that title, Yukinoshita saw the two move deeper into the corridor and had no choice but to ignore the interlude and quickly follow.

After wandering around the corridor for a while, following the two people ahead, Yukinoshita soon came into view a spiral staircase hidden deep inside the building. In stark contrast to the modern exterior of the building where the bar was located, the craftsmanship of this spiral staircase was full of Baroque elements. What was most surprising was that it did not lead to the upper level, but to the unknowable underground.

"Keep up." The woman whispered a reminder from ahead, then descended the spiral staircase, with Yukinoshita and Kuroyuki following behind. This slightly unsettling journey came to an end a few minutes later.

At the end of the spiral staircase leading underground, there is a classic wooden door, in the same style as the spiral staircase, giving people a sense of displacement as if they were in a Western European castle.