The world controlled by dice [Western Fantasy]

"Good evening, Mr. Ghost."

Garland's youthful, innocent voice carried her usual vivaciousness.

"Good evening, Garland." Mr. Ghost also felt a little relieved when he realized that the children's lives seemed to be the same as before.He hoped so, it wasn't a pleasant time, after all.

He asked patiently: "What's the matter with you, Garland?"

A slightly embarrassed, shy smile appeared on Garland's face.She said, "It's just... it's coming next Saturday."

Then Mr. Phantom suddenly understood—Garland was a little nervous because of her first stage performance.Regardless of Garland's past, she's still just a little girl.

In the past period of time, Garland also appeared in dreams from time to time, sharing some recent situations with Mr. Ghost.Occasionally, the little girl would complain about the hard work of rehearsing, but most of the time, she showed that she liked her life now.

If not rehearsals, Garland will also (along with Nanisar) follow the investigators of the Church of the Past, shuttling between different events.In addition, she has to find time to study.

For such a young girl, a busy life has become her norm.

...One thing worth mentioning is that when they are investigating the conspiracy of the shadow believers, the followers of the old gods have no intention of keeping their own.

The investigators of the Church of the Past and the Second Corridor of the Historical Society rushed to the scene of different cases as always, but these incidents were not as big as usual, most of them were human beings who thought they were inspired by the old gods, A case committed alone.

Mr. Phantom has heard a lot of relevant information whether it is from Eric Collens or from Garland, which occasionally makes him lament the hugeness of the world—except for shadow believers, there are always Trouble of one kind or another.

But this time, he didn't want to talk about those things with Garland.

He said, "So, are you confident about next Saturday's stage, Garland?"

They are now on the top of a high mountain, and they can see the river and the city in the distance.It's like a paradise for Garland, who has decorated the clearing with flowers, shrubs and various other plants, while weaving two swings out of vines and planks.

This was built up by herself little by little, which surprised Mr. Phantom at the time.

Now they are sitting on a swing, swaying, and looking at the distant scenery.

Garland seemed to think for a moment, then said, "Confidence." She seemed to take a deep breath and said, "I think... I like this job."

"drama?"

"Performing," Garland murmured, "I became the man in the mirror."

Mr. Ghost subconsciously looked sideways at her.

"...Hey, Mister Phantom, don't worry about me." Garland said, with a mischievous and light tone, "You are always worried that I will become that Garland...but actually, I can already play her well It's—acting, so she must not be me, right?

"Because I know it's a play, I know it's a stage, it's a play... I know it's fake, it's just a reality show... I know what you're worried about, but I hope you don't Worry."

Mr. Ghost was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Garland, you have grown up."

"I have grown up a long time ago." Garland said proudly, "Although I have lost some memories, Garland also has memories that belong to Garland, right? There is Mr. Ghost, there is Thrall, everyone in the Church of the Past, Everyone who has a theater... is my memory."

Mr. Ghost gave Garland a deep look.He really wanted to ask Garland if he was still curious about the memory of the past.But he felt that seemed... not suitable for the occasion.

Or maybe, sooner or later, Garland will know, in a more mature and stronger way.

"You worked hard to do it all," Mr. Ghost finally said. "So, next Saturday, that's Garland's stage."

"That will belong to Garland—my stage." Garland murmured, "...that story."

"how?"

"...is it real?" Garland said, "I know, it was written by a novelist whose pseudonym is 'He'. I also know that he is a university professor who once saved me.

"So this is a novel. You once told me that maybe that Garland lived somewhere in this universe... But, is that really the case? Is she really alive?"

Garland's eyes always carried her youthful innocence and childishness. Even after experiencing many pains and tribulations, the innocence in Garland's eyes never changed.She always has the innocence of a little girl.

For a moment, Mr. Phantom hesitated. He felt that it was not a bad thing to let Garland know the truth at this moment and tell her that reality is reality and illusion is illusion.

Once he didn't do this, making Garland think that Garland was alive because the foundation of Garland's self-cognition was based on the Garland in that story, so he couldn't make Garland realize that it was illusory.

And now, Garland seemed to have found her place in the world, she no longer lived by that story—the one that kept her company in the miserable, drowsy darkness.

but……

"...Can this book manifest in a dream?" Mr. Ghost said, "Miss Garland's Dream Adventure."

"Uh, of course." Garland looked at him with some confusion and curiosity.

A thin storybook appeared in front of them, floating out of thin air, even carrying a brand new ink fragrance.All eyes were on the book.

In silence, Mr. Ghost stretched out his hand and flipped through the pages.

At a certain moment, Garland suddenly said: "Here, Garland entered the city in the sea...Ah! Here, she heard a terrible story...Here, she met new friends...Here, she defeated against a vicious foe... and here she embarks on a new journey."

She spoke slowly and familiarly, and it could be seen that Garland must have read this storybook day and night for a period of time in the past, and even knew it by heart.

As she spoke, she was thoughtful.

Finally, Mr. Ghost finished the book, so he closed the book and turned it over so that it was facing up.Garland reached out his hand almost subconsciously, touching the cover of the storybook.

"We've finished the book," said Mr. Ghost.

Garland nodded.

"how do you feel?"

"...They, she, seem to be alive."

"You are alive, so the story is alive." Mr. Ghost laughed, "That city, that story, that world, those people...they live in your memory."

Garland nodded half-understanding, and then she said, "These papers are their home!"

Mr. Ghost smiled, and he said, "Yes. So you have to take good care of their home."

Garland nodded solemnly. After thinking for a while, he reached out and patted the cover of the book, as if to tell them to "be good".

Now Mr. Phantom really couldn't help laughing.They played on the swing for a while longer.

"...Garland, you are a smart kid." Mr. Ghost said, "Don't be bound by the concept itself. The real and the unreal are always close at hand."

Garland nodded, staring at the scenery in front of her a little absently.After a while, she said, "It's like life and death."

Mr. Phantom froze for a moment.

“…I can’t help but think about what happened that day,” Garland said. “So did Thrall. Our lives are… much better now. But we still wonder about that day.

"We've all lost some memories, like waving goodbye to the past, never to be seen again. But that's not what we meant."

Garland whispered.

... I don't know if it's because the stage performance specially practiced the lines, but Mr. Phantom faintly felt that Garland's diction was much more mature than before.Or maybe, she has indeed matured.

After a while, Garland added: "Besides, Sal cares more about the past than I do. I can still talk to you in my dreams, but Sal can't find a helper. I can see that sometimes , he's too embarrassed to even talk to me."

"What's he thinking?" Mr. Phantom asked involuntarily as his heart moved.

Garland sat on the swing with that annoyed look on her face as she said, "I don't know what Sal is thinking either! He doesn't like to talk. Also, I know he hasn't completely lost his memory, he knows more than I do." many.

"However, he is unwilling to say anything. Especially recently, Thrall has become more and more strange."

"strangeness?"

"...He seems to have seen someone. I'm not sure." Garland said hesitantly, "I went back from rehearsal one day before, but Sal wasn't there. I thought he was investigating something with other people. But in the middle of the night, he came back by himself.

"How should I describe his expression... Lost... What? Oh, I don't remember the word. After that day, although he seemed to be back to his original appearance, I know he has been thinking whats the matter.

"I was a little curious, but he didn't want to go into details. He said that he was just contacted by someone from the past... By the way, he also said, what would I think if one day he left the Church of the Past.

"...I, I don't know. Sal is my friend. We left the underground together and studied in the church of the past. He will accompany me to rehearse, and I will accompany him to investigate...I don't understand why he suddenly mentioned and leaving things.

"Of course, I said it kindly, it depends on where he lives after leaving the Church of the Past. I'm a little skeptical because the person he met told him to take him away.

"After that, though, he never mentioned it again. I almost forgot about it."

Garland patted her forehead a little ruefully, and she whispered, "Mr. Ghost, is this important? I've been busy rehearsing, so I totally forgot about it."

"It's nothing, Garland." Mr. Ghost first comforted her, and then asked, "When did this happen?"

"It was... around the end of September. I don't remember the exact date," Garland said.

end of september.Mr. Ghost thought to himself.

Nanisar has a meeting with a mysterious person connected to his past who offers to take Nanisar from the Church of yesteryear?

The offer seemed to have been rejected by Nanisar, who might have left long ago.Moreover, from Garland's statement, except that Nanisar's performance was very abnormal that day, Nanisar later returned to its original appearance.

...But now Nanisar is indeed an introverted and taciturn child, and it is difficult for people to see his thoughts from his always taciturn face.More people may think that he is just in the rebellious period.

However, the mysterious person who met Nanisar made this strangeness develop in another weird direction.

The other thing about the end of September is that it seems like right after that Emil Harrison started working on that painting and finished it a while ago.

...Did Nanisar meet with the shadow believers?The answer to this question can have many different outcomes.

Maybe it's just the remnants of the Bryant family, wanting to bring the only heir of the family back.

Although Jonathan Bryant has been on trial, Mr. Ghost believes there are remnants of the ancient family, or branches of the family.

The nobles' emphasis on blood may make them want to take Nanisar back.In fact, half a year had passed since the accident at the beginning of the year. This time was enough for those people to finish their trivial matters before coming to find Nanisar.

But, maybe...

Is a shadow believer.

If it was just the Bryant family, Mr. Phantom believed that Nanisar would not show... the expression of "destroyed" in Garland's mouth.

Nanisar just forgot part of his past experience, and his personality became introverted and silent—or rather, one of his former personalities may have died—but, regarding the past and the Bryant family, he is not I don't remember at all.

Even after the Underground Arch incident ended, many of the information obtained in past church investigations came from Nanisar.

So, why was Nanisar so surprised by the appearance of the Bryant family?

As for the shadow believers, one of the problems that has been bothering Mr. Ghost is that it is said that 14 years ago, Ebenezer Const was not directly killed. It was the decision of the Const family, and its source was Ebenezer. The reason for exposing his beliefs - he claimed to have a wife and son.

So, who are Ebenezer's wife and son?Does it really exist?

Mr. Ghost suspects that Nanisar may be Ebenezer's son.He didn't have any evidence, but simply made this guess based on Nanisar's age.

...if Nanisar was so surprised it was because...

Mr. Phantom thought for a moment, then decided not to delay.He said, "If you'd like...Garland, can you do me a favor?"

Garland was a little surprised, but nodded without hesitation.She said briskly, "Of course, Mr. Ghost, you go ahead."

Not long after, he returned to the Lonely Island and sought out Nanithar's dream.When the dream bubble appeared in front of him reluctantly, he couldn't help but feel a little amused.

He thought of the conversation he had had with that insolent Nanisar in the hospital.He had to admit that this child always had a kind of... as if born stubborn.

He touched the dream bubble.

"...He said that I can leave the Church of the Past and then rule this country."

When Mr. Ghost first appeared, the boy in the dream said in a low, angry tone.

Mr. Phantom was slightly startled, and then he looked at the scene in front of him.They were in an ordinary room that looked like Nanisar's bedroom.Nanisar was in her pajamas and her hair was a mess.

The boy was staring at Mr. Ghost.For a moment, his eyes seemed to flicker.

"I'm sorry, Nanisar," said Mr. Ghost, "but I don't have much time to wait. You're a smart boy, so you should know what's going on in town... or , you already guessed it."

Nanisar was visibly surprised.

He was woken up in his sleep by Garland who hurried over.In reality, it is four o'clock in the morning, although the time in the dream is always frozen in the unknown night.He listened completely blankly to Garland talking about Mr. Ghost, about the dream meeting, about the end of September.

He just wanted to get back some sleep, so he did what Garland said.But when he really fell asleep, he came here inexplicably and met an inexplicable person.

... Nanisar did become a little more tempered after the Underground Arch incident, but that doesn't mean he won't be angry.So he spoke out a little angrily about what happened at the end of September, and planned to leave quickly.

But the so-called Mr. Phantom obviously wouldn't make it easy for him.

...Moreover, what Nanisar may not know is that Mr. Phantom actually didn't intend to meet with Nanisar immediately, but Garland hurriedly said that he could solve Mr. Phantom's confusion today, and then hurried to wake him up Nanisar.

In any case, Mr. Ghost's words made Nanisar's expression suddenly tense.

"Rule the country," whispered Mr. Ghost. "Is that what he said?"

Nanisar was dazed for a moment, and then said in a low voice: "He said he was my father... my real father. He said that the 'father' in my memory was just an adoptive father arranged for me by the Bryant family.

"He said that more than ten years ago, under the arrangement of my grandfather, my mother went to his side and became his secret lover. This is a political transaction.

"He said that my grandfather originally wanted a political marriage. He refused, but my grandfather, Jonathan Bryant, still sent my mother, his daughter, even if it was just to let her live next lover.

"14 years ago, this man who claimed to be my father thought he was necessary to leave a blood line and impregnated my mother. Soon after my mother became pregnant, he had an accident...I didn't know he had What's up.

"He left the city of Ramifa. My mother had no choice but to ask my grandfather for help.

"And my grandfather, at that time, started his plan. He let my mother give birth to me, and put a caretaker for my mother...I thought it was my 'father', but it was just My mother's caretaker!

"...I don't know anything, I don't know anything from the beginning...I can't do anything from the beginning!"

Nanisar's emotions finally became agitated, and a touch of anger and sadness quickly flashed across his face, and then faded into an indescribable depression.

"...I don't want to be some kind of king," said Nanisar. "I don't see what's so good about being a king, being a god. Everything is bad in this world."

he said almost cynically.

He has never completely forgotten his experience, and naturally he has never been able to completely shake off those bad emotions.Usually, he used an introverted face to cover up such emotional fluctuations, allowing himself to survive unconsciously.

He actually did a good job, neither Garland nor the investigators of the Church of the Past, they didn't realize what this introverted boy was thinking in his heart.

…At the end of the day, Nanisar Bryant will always be that Nanisal, the kid who throws a tantrum in the hospital.

He had that grumpy, dismissive nature about him.He was a smart and too smart kid.He was going to hypnotize himself and forget about the damned painfully gloomy experience.

He was almost on the verge of success, and his life became another look, which made him calm down.

But suddenly—suddenly, a man who claimed to be his father appeared.Damn it, his father should have died in the past and been forgotten by him just like his grandfather and his mother!

He obviously thought so, with a naturally arrogant temper.Or, cowardly temper.

Unfortunately, he still had to face this guy after all.The guy wanted Nanisar to go with him, he would make Nanisar king of the country.

And Nanisar refused.

"...you still stayed in the church of the past." Mr. Ghost said.

Nanisar seemed to hesitate for a moment, then nodded.

"why?"

Nanisar seemed to be on fire, his eyes widened and his body trembled.He said loudly: "I don't want my life to be arranged again and again. Holy sons, gods, and kings are not what I want!"

This is a boy who was once arrogant enough to say "why did the gods become me instead of me becoming gods".From another perspective, his past life also made him arrogant, otherwise he might have lost himself a long time ago.

Nanisar panted hard, and after a while, she calmed down slowly.

Mr. Ghost said at the right time: "You know his identity."

"...I guessed it. He is not a good person after all." Nanisar said, and he suddenly looked at Mr. Ghost again, "I know you too. Garland once told me about you..."

"You realized my existence from Garland's words, right?" Mr. Ghost said calmly.He didn't think Garland would volunteer to tell anyone about Mr. Ghost's existence, not even Nanisar.

Nanisar muttered something under his breath.

For a moment, Mr. Ghost felt a little nostalgic because of Nanisar's performance.

Of course, he didn't mean how lovable this child is, but, thinking of Nanisar's performance in the hospital, behind the underground arch, and after leaving the underground... In any case, this seems to be more Be more energetic.

However, Mr. Ghost will not reveal his thoughts, after all, he has no intention of revealing his real identity.

Nanisar continued: "Anyway, you suddenly want to meet me today because of...the man who called himself my father?"

Mr. Ghost nodded and asked, "How did he contact you?"

"I finished my research that day and planned to go to the Lancelot Theater to see Garland's rehearsal and go back to church with her," Nanisar said, "but I was stopped on the way. That's all, I don't know how he got there."

Mr. Phantom narrowed his eyes slightly, but he didn't delve into this issue. Instead, he asked, "Do you know what he's going to do?"

"...he will destroy this world," Nanithar whispered, "and build a... new world on the ruins."

Mr. Phantom was slightly startled and felt a slight sigh.

"And I rejected him." Nanisar's tone changed slightly, "Because, I don't want to do this. I want to arrange my life myself.

"Even if others think the king is a good thing, I don't think so, because it's just that they—this group of ignorant adults forced it on me."

Mr. Ghost listened silently, then he frowned suddenly, and he asked, "Did he really tell you his plan?"

"No." Nanisar shook his head, "He just said that he wanted to destroy the world, and he didn't say anything more. Because I didn't promise him, he said, 'It's a pity, if you promise me , you can get more.'

"...It's a lunatic. Who wants more? This group of stupid adults never know what I want, do they think that what they want is what I want?"

I don't know if it's getting angry or really angry enough, Nanisar's tone is full of personal emotions, if Garland hears him at this moment, I'm afraid his eyes will widen in surprise.

Mr. Ghost did not echo Nanisar's words, nor did he rebuke or comfort him.He just said: "You should pay attention to safety for some time to come."

Nanisar's anger stopped abruptly, and his eyes widened in a little surprise.

"It is very likely that they will act before this year's God's Birthday." Mr. Ghost said in a flat tone, "Although you don't know their specific plan, you know that they will carry out an action after all.

"...I don't think you should think that that man will worry about the relationship between father and son, right?"

Nanisar shook his head blankly.

"So, they won't mind killing you to silence you, considering you don't intend to join them." Mr. Ghost said.

Nanisar stood still for a moment, then murmured in a low voice, "I suddenly feel that being a king is not bad..."

Mr. Ghost: "..."

Are the children of today... all like this?He thought rather puzzlingly.

After he was speechless for a while, he said helplessly, "I think you have no other choice. Be careful."

"... I'll pretend to be sick for a while and not leave the Church of the Past, is that okay?" Nanisar said.

"If you can do it," said Mr. Ghost.

Nanisar nodded, and then he said, a little coyly, "Thank...you, thank you, sir." He paused, "There are very few people who are willing to remind me in advance what to do and what to pay attention to. "

Mr. Ghost looked at him in surprise.

"...Only you. You are a good man, always have been." Nanisar laughed suddenly, and he blinked a little slyly. "I will keep it a secret. Good-bye, sir."

...Mr. Phantom was a little bit dumbfounded to find that Nanisar seemed to have already discovered his connection with Siles Noel.

Are these two faces really so alike?

But Garland doesn't seem to notice.

...Maybe it's because Garland has lost his memories of the past, and he doesn't have much contact with Celes in reality.She might not be as sharp as Nanisar.

However, you can also find an opportunity to talk to Garland about this matter.It is not necessary for him to keep this identity secret all the time, in fact, many people already know this.

He thought, and then said, "Goodbye, Nanisar. Remember to tell Garland for me to take it easy next Saturday."

Nanisar nodded, returned to his usual appearance, and then left the dreamland...Mr. Phantom estimated that he might not be able to sleep today.

Akamala's power has advantages and disadvantages. Although it can get a good sleep, if something really happens, sleep may become a luxury.

He returned to the isolated island and casually looked at the remaining three dream bubbles on the isolated island—Emile, Hurd, and Alfonso—but he was not in a hurry to go there.

He first thought about what he had gained from meeting Garland and Nanisar this time.

People usually think that young children are ignorant and inexperienced.Maybe their biases aren't entirely wrong, but at least some of the time, their flippant biases can be problematic.

Obviously, Garland and Nanisar may be smarter and sharper than ordinary adults, especially since they have been working with the investigators of the Church of the Past.

Nanisar obviously did not tell others about his meeting with Ebenezer Const. Maybe he thought it was over, maybe he thought he could solve it.Of course, it may also be because he is unwilling to talk about it with adults.

The reason why he was willing to tell Mr. Ghost about this was because of Garland and Sirius Noel who had helped him and reminded him.

And this message...

The end of September seems to be a time for Shadow Cultists to be in the dark.he thought to himself.

Ebenezer met Nanisar at that time—his elusiveness is well explained, sewers and manhole covers—and it was then that Emil seemed to finally know what he was going to paint.

And when the time enters October, everything will be settled.Everyone is waiting for God's birthday, or the eve of God's birthday.

He pondered some of the information Nanisar had just revealed.

Nanisal's mother, a woman whom Jonathan Bryant sent to Ebenezer Const for political gain.And maybe Jonathan didn't expect that Ebenezer himself had an accident not long after.

Looking back at Ebenezer's original events from this point in time, it is difficult for him not to consider a possibility, that is, Ebenezer deliberately exposed his beliefs.

The "Shadow" probably contacted them 14 years ago, so the Shadow believers knew what they needed to do.And they did in the end—they got Shadow out of the Folio Sea.

A subtle detail is that Ebenezer Const was ultimately in charge of this matter.Therefore, the "shadow" far away in the Fuliou Sea chose to contact a believer in the Duchy of Const.

...sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn't it?After all, there are many shadow believers on the isolated island in the Sea of ​​Foley, or in Middleton.

But "Shadow" finally chose the Principality of Const... Maybe it was because of the clay bowl?

In any case, Ebenezer Const received the revelation from "Shadow". He must leave the Principality of Const and head to the north for the gods he believes in.

However, he may not be willing to completely abandon the power he has been operating in Lamifa City for many years.Therefore, it would be a better way to control everything in your own hands.

In other words, while Ebenezer's trip to Middleton was a purposeful action, it must not be forced (at least not in essence) for him to leave Ramifa City, but it is very likely that he took the initiative to do so made.

He arranged everything in advance, such as the experiment of the Historical Society, such as the Fillmore family continuing to hide in secret, and at the same time secretly helping other shadow believers.

However, he should also be very clear that his departure will definitely bring about drastic and complicated effects, especially when he is the heir of a country.

He wasn't sure how long he would be away.

He needs to try his best to keep the Principality of Const as it was when he left (mainly on the side of the Revelator), so that at some point in the future, if he can return to this city, he can also make this city welcome his return.

...So, in the Historical Society, he needs a conservative old man to take charge of the situation.

The experiment to reproduce the power of the gods (maybe including Mr. Xia's departure?) did indeed achieve this effect.Although this caused the internal contradictions of the Historical Society to accumulate, it has always maintained its original appearance, and there has been no change in the past 14 years.

Of course, the dissipation of the fog and the ambition of the contemporary Grand Duke—for Ebenezer, that was the younger brother who followed him as a child—had brought great changes to the Dukedom of Const today.This may have been unexpected by Ebenezer.

But the most critical problem is that 14 years ago, Ebenezer Const chose to make others think that he was a follower of the old gods.In the midst of the chaos, it was Mr. Xia who united with the Church of the Past and asked the Grand Duke to change the heir.

At this moment, royal power and religious power clashed.

Would Ebenezer have anticipated this?He will.However, it was impossible for the church in the past to watch a follower of the old god become the Grand Duke. This was a natural conflict, and the existence of Ebenezer detonated the bomb.

Perhaps this is the reason why people have kept secrets about what happened 14 years ago.

The Conster family did succumb. They changed their heirs and deprived Ebenezer of his right to inherit. At the same time, after just a few months, they simply changed the candidate for the grand duke.

...but Ebenezer Const is not dead.

His "flaw" started by claiming that he had a wife and children.But no one seems to know that Naissar Bryant is his child.

Whether it was the Bryant family or the Conster family, neither side expressed anything, especially after the incident with the Bryant family, the Conster family had no intention of recognizing Nanisar at all.

…so the child may have been unknown in the first place.

Perhaps it was Ebenezer Const who used the existence of this child and this bloodline to threaten the Const family and the Church of the Past—"If you don't let me go, then I won't let this pair of mother and son go. "

Or maybe the Const family deliberately used Ebenezer's excuse and deliberately chose to save Ebenezer's life, just to let the church in the past recognize their status-"Oh, after all, there is still a mother and child. Besides , he is 'Const'."

In short, the situation eventually became what it is now.

There are many explanations for why Ebenezer Const left a bloodline.

But there may be one, it may be because he feels that he may not be able to complete the task assigned by "Shadow" and that he may not be alive soon, so he wants to leave a child, whether it is to inherit his own beliefs or inherit the family. blood.

... I don't know if Ebenezer Const knows what the old man Jonathan Bryant did to Nanisar.

Or