The Milt residence was as distinctive as ever, designed from the front gate onward to avoid any angles sharper than one hundred and twenty degrees.
Before learning about the Hounds of Tindalos, Lynch and Natalie had merely thought the family was odd. But after listening to the Yithian's detailed explanation and looking at the house again, all three of them felt a chill run down their spines.
The few locations where acute angles were unavoidable looked like sharp blades in their eyes, as if some strange blue mist might billow out at any second, coalescing into an incomprehensible, grotesque entity.
“Please rest assured, guests, there is no danger here.” Ever since Lynch and Natalie had stood up for the Milt family last time, the loyal old steward had been exceptionally warm toward them. Seeing where their eyes were lingering, he guessed their thoughts and took the initiative to explain, “Those things only appear around our master and mistress. When they are inside the safe house, the outside is completely safe. In truth, there was no need to build the courtyard like this, but Miss sometimes comes out to move around or greet guests. Occasionally, an unforeseen mishap allows those things to spot her. A courtyard designed like this ensures those creatures can only emerge from a few fixed locations, giving Miss ample time to react.”
“What about her brother?”
“I haven't seen Young Master in several years.” The steward sighed, his expression turning somber. “Young Master's condition is far more severe than Miss's; he cannot leave the safe house even for a moment. That is why the entire Milt household is deeply grateful to you for what happened last time. If those rioters had broken in and destroyed the place, Miss might have managed to endure, but Young Master, I fear...”
“This is the price of playing with time, Mr. Lynch Levive—ah, no, I should say Sir Lynch Levive.”
In front of the mansion entrance, Miss Skye Milt stood in a loose white dress, offering the group a gentle curtsy with a calm smile.
“Is it really alright for you to stand out here like this?” Perhaps because she had seen too many cultists alongside Lynch recently, Natalie was no longer as wary of Ms. Skye, speaking calmly as if to an ordinary friend. “Isn't it still dangerous?”
“Thank you for your concern, Officer. Besides, offering my congratulations now should be much more appropriate than last time, shouldn't it?”
“W-W-What? I don't know what you're talking about,” Natalie stammered out. “We're talking about your situation right now.”
“Pfft. Do spare His Knighthood's arm; he looks ready to cry out in pain, and the young countess looks about ready to cry as well.” Ms. Skye chuckled and shook her head. “Don't worry, my friend. We've long grown accustomed to this sort of life. As I mentioned last time, I can use a certain method to briefly confuse those crazed pursuers, making it impossible for them to pin down my exact location along the timeline. Of course, it can't last too long, and there can't be too many hounds glaring at me, or else it won't work. That's what happened to my brother. You helped our family immensely last time, and Brother wanted to thank you in person, but his condition hasn't been great lately. If he were to come out, the courtyard might not even be able to contain them.”
“Why take such a big risk?” Lynch asked in confusion. “Can't we just enter the safe house to meet you?”
“We could, technically—provided you are willing to strip off all your clothes and personal belongings. Though I would rather not witness that,” Ms. Skye explained. “The hounds cannot use human flesh as a target for jumping; otherwise, even a safe house wouldn't protect us from their pursuit. Clothing, however, enjoys no such luck. Even when worn, it serves as a target for the hounds' jumps, which is why my brother and I practically never see each other face-to-face.”
Lynch nodded, secretly sighing that video calls were truly the pinnacle of civilization.
“Please, come inside and take a seat. That goes for you as well, alien lady from the future—or is it the past?”
At first, the three didn't register her words, but then they all snapped their heads toward the Yithian in unison.
Female? Oh right, this body was borrowed. But how on earth did one distinguish gender on a cone-shaped creature with tentacles and morning-glory-shaped trumpets?
Setting aside this unsolved mystery of the world, the group returned to the living room they had visited before. Compared to last time, the room had changed slightly—several pieces of furniture and quite a few porcelain pieces had been replaced with new ones, making the trio sincerely hope not to find out what had taken place here recently.
Ms. Skye merely offered an embarrassed smile. “Minor accidents happen on occasion, hardly worth mentioning. By the way, if you happen to encounter a hound, under no circumstances should you try to attack it. No matter what happens, do not engage. The moment you attack, you establish a connection with it, and it will haunt you until you are dead.”
As she spoke, Ms. Skye retrieved a box resembling a ring box from a glass cabinet and set it down in front of Lynch.
“Only you can enter the River of Time; no one else may follow.”
Officer Natalie grew tense first, asking urgently, “Why?”
“It is exceptionally difficult for anyone without temporal abilities to even catch a glimpse of the River of Time, let alone step into it. Time was too tight, so I was only able to secure a single set of materials. Furthermore, I only found the Silver Key meant for Lynch. Anyone without a Silver Key who enters the River of Time will be lost forever in the torrent of time, unable to return to the present. So I am deeply sorry, but the rest of you can only be onlookers.”
Though they had mentally prepared themselves, the two ladies were still quite disappointed. Lynch, on the other hand, was rather relieved; at least the two girls wouldn't have to risk their lives alongside him. However, he didn't dare show his joy, putting on an equally regretful expression as he opened the box before him.
“Huh? This thing is a key?”
Inside the box lay a cigarette—ordinary and unexceptional, save for a subtle, strange pull emanating from it, as though it meant to draw in a person's entire spirit.
“The Silver Key is not an actual key, and the Gate of the Silver Key is not a physical gate; those names are merely symbolic descriptions. In truth, the so-called Gate of the Silver Key is a barrier—a barrier isolating an isolated island beyond time. The great All-in-One, Tawil at'Umr, watches over what lies behind that barrier, guarding the second gate.”
“There's another gate?”
“Yes. Behind that gate lie the ultimate truths of the universe and all the laws of existence. That is the Gate of Truth.”
Hss... Goosebumps crept all over Lynch's back.
“No one knows where the Silver Gate lies. It could appear in the past, the present, or the future—at any single point along the long River of Time. The so-called Silver Key is the beacon that guides people to locate the Silver Gate and pass through that barrier.”
Lynch exhaled softly and carefully picked up the cigarette. “So this is the beacon guiding me?”
“No, it is merely a cigarette,” Ms. Skye said somberly. “The Silver Key hasn't been integrated into it yet.”
Lynch felt a sudden urge to punch someone.
“Shh.”
Ms. Skye put a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. With a dreamy look in her eyes, she took the cigarette and murmured softly:
“Lacther fungus, the most beautiful mushroom on the Old Continent. Its purple cap is speckled with bright red dots, while its stalk is pure white like snow, crystal clear. This was made by blending threads of Lacther fungus with filaments of Dream Soul Flower. It has a delightful aroma and a wonderful smooth taste.”
“Um...” Lynch leaned back slightly. “What about its effects? Why does this thing feel so dangerous to me?”
“Rest assured, it is merely a hallucinogen. Very safe—it will only project your soul from your body.”
“Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about the word 'safe'?”
“At least it won't make you drop dead on the spot.” Ms. Skye stuffed the cigarette into Lynch's mouth and lit it for him. “Once you are 'dead,' I will send the Silver Key into your soul, and then you will naturally know what to do.”
“You literally just used the word 'dead' yourself! No way, I want out.”
Despite his words, Lynch took a deep drag anyway.
In the next instant, a brilliant rainbow of colors burst forth before his eyes.
Rate on N.U.
