บท 326: Quest and the Armor Golem
"June 12, 1146…
"Is this a recreation of a certain period in Backlund's history?"
Scanning the date on the newspaper header, Ebner's suspicions were confirmed. As his eyes moved down the page, the content began to transform, shifting from news articles into mission details:
"A thousand years ago, the Loen royal family sent Baron Kolger on an expedition to a Soloman Empire ruin. Upon his return, the Baron's personality had radically changed, and he even poisoned his close friends.
"Mission One: In Backlund, uncover clues to the ruin's location, enter it, and solve the mystery behind Baron Kolger's personality shift.
"Mission Two: Enter the ruin and uncover the secrets hidden in the murals.
"Completion of either mission allows for clearing the level and exiting the scene at any time.
"Completion of both will yield an additional reward upon passing."
Lowering the newspaper, Ebner frowned in thought:
The mystery of Baron Kolger's personality change? I already have a theory from my investigation into the second-generation Baron of Ramde—that Kolger likely died during the expedition, and the 'changed' Kolger was likely an impersonation by someone sent by the royal family.
However, Mr. Gaston did say that guesses alone aren't enough on the sixth floor. Proof is required to substantiate any theory… which means I'll indeed need to visit the ruin.
Fortunately, based on Roselle's diary that Xio obtained from MI9, he recorded his own exploration of this ruin, apparently after acquiring the information in the university library…
Wait, hang on… from my experience grinding these levels, each labyrinth scenario has some core narrative to it, and in 1146, the story's protagonist would clearly be Roselle…
Could this entire scenario be based on his journey? Very likely!
Ebner recalled the dates from Roselle's diary pages that he'd read: June 12th to June 20th… and today's date on the newspaper matched June 12th.
Is this just a coincidence?
Ebner shook his head quickly, piecing together a more plausible theory:
It's likely not… for someone who hasn't read or understood Roselle's diary, this scenario would be like searching for a needle in a haystack, a situation similar to Mr. Gaston's confusion with the undead in Raccoon City, where he was forced to face off against hordes of zombies. That's one path, certainly, since killing enough of them would naturally attract the attention of Umbrella Corp.
But the "main characters" in Raccoon City and a potential Roselle here are probably the 'shortcuts' in these scenarios. Finding them depends on the adventurer's deduction abilities and a bit of luck.
So… my best option would be to locate Roselle and try to join his expedition.
First things first: confirm Roselle's presence here!
With these thoughts in mind, Ebner chuckled to himself. These "challenges" are practically designed for someone with a "guide" like mine. Simulating both "Flight" and "Invisibility," he took off towards Backlund University.
According to Roselle's diary, he'd found the hidden manuscript on an old bookshelf in the university library on June 13th… meaning he might still be there now.
Though time flowed parallel between the dreamscape and the real world, there was a time difference—the current time outside was late at night, but within this "dream Backlund," it was already morning.
Flying for only a short while, Ebner noticed an obstruction overhead: an invisible barrier that felt like the world's edge itself…
An "invisible wall"? Ebner's mouth twitched as he analyzed it, thinking, Really, Roselle? Even this? So this "dream labyrinth scenario" is like a video game map?
Once the nature of this "dream world" was clear, Ebner became curious about its boundaries and made a swift loop around the city.
The Backlund of 1146 was far smaller than it would be over a century later, covering less than a third of the city's future sprawl.
The factory and dock areas were little more than wasteland, and districts like Cherwood, Hillsdon, and part of the northern area were still collectively called the "northwest area."
As for St. George's district, it was mostly farmland, and Ebner could only glimpse it from a distance beyond the barrier.
Sodek Palace and various church buildings were similarly restricted by invisible barriers—virtual "textures" within this simulated world.
Well, they might be nothing more than "textures" in this context, Ebner mused. The royal palace and major churches undoubtedly contain Grade-0 Sealed Artifacts, which even the "Labyrinth Tower" likely can't replicate fully…
It seems the capacity of this level maxes out at one city… same for Raccoon City, and now here.
So when I find the "clues" and head toward the "ruins," I'll likely have to "switch maps."
After some more internal muttering, Ebner finally turned and "flew" toward Backlund University, aiming to visit the library and "befriend" Roselle of this era.
...
In the university's library on the second floor, Roselle Gustav sat at a long table, reading an old book while sneaking glances at the fresh, youthful faces of the students walking by outside.
"Praise be to the Goddess! Without Her church's efforts to uplift women's status, how could we have a coeducational university like this?"
Though Roselle was thinking it to himself, he knew there was no chance of him staying here long-term. Besides the fact that his Intis noble heritage would keep Ruen authorities from trusting him, he'd also recently invented the steam engine, marking him as the Church's "Child of Steam."
There was no way Intis would allow him to reside in Backlund for long.
His current trip was only possible due to his role as an "archaeologist," a guise sanctioned by the church for exploration.
Just as Roselle was lost in thought, he noticed a young gentleman with brown curly hair approaching him.
He felt a slight twinge of caution but wasn't overly worried. Though only Sequence 8, he had numerous powerful items for self-defense thanks to the church's favor.
To his surprise, the gentleman leaned close and said something he couldn't understand at all. Frowning, Roselle searched his memory but was certain he'd never heard such a language before.
...
The "gentleman" who had approached Roselle was, of course, Ebner. He now stifled a laugh, thinking, Roselle doesn't understand Rosellean? This version of Roselle seems to lack any memories of "Huang Tao"… clearly by design.
To avoid leaving an exploitable hole, Roselle must have intentionally removed any understanding of Rosellean from this scenario. Otherwise, challengers would've cracked Roselle's journals long ago and possibly even exposed his "transmigrator" identity.
Realizing the plan to "identify a fellow Rosellean" had failed, Ebner shifted his approach, smiling as he struck up a conversation with Roselle.
...
In the East Borough, in the single-story house on Black Palm Street, Closfia, reclining on the bed and reading Hero, smirked suddenly and said to Dunn, who was seated across from her sipping coffee, "They're here!"
With that, her presence seemed to vanish entirely, as if she'd been erased.
Dunn took a deep breath, hoisted the metal suitcase beside him, and after a moment's hesitation, finally murmured, "Transform!"
Instantly, the suitcase began to reshape itself, inching up from his hand and gradually enveloping his body, forming an armored shell around him.
Meanwhile, thick, viscous blood oozed ominously up through the floorboards…
(End of Chapter)
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