Dictionary deficiencies made it temporarily impossible for them to completely interpret the correct text. Shen Lin asked them, “Do you know about Princess Louise?”
Several people nodded. Although it was a secret, due to its widespread nature, many in the noble circle were aware.
Bai’er slapped his forehead, saying, “Damn, I forgot. I’m still a noble, educated at the damn Noble Academy.”
Freud said, “But here, I live like a beggar.”
The group fell silent in the face of their pitiful reality.
kp: “You mentioned Princess Louise; try to get some inspiration.”
Shen Lin rolled the dice and succeeded.
In that instant, he suddenly remembered something. He had heard from his godfather about ten years ago. Princess Louise and the eldest son of the Haino family had a marriage agreement. The wedding was supposed to take place when the princess turned 16.
However, unfortunately, the eldest son of the Haino family fell seriously ill and died. Shortly after, the princess also died in the iris flowers after that horrific ritual.
Shen Lin: “Ten years ago, due to the loss of a sacrifice, the ritual failed. The eldest son of the Haino family, who is also Dorena’s brother, died a violent death. The princess also died shortly after the ritual.”
Nana asked, “Were they offering to a deity?”
kp: “Get another inspiration.”
Byer got goosebumps all over. “It’s over, it’s over. I have a bad feeling about something.”
Shen Lin rolled the dice.
Success.
kp: “Now, make a sanity (san) check. Subtract 0 for success and 1d6 for failure.”
“What the hell! 1d6?” Bai’er shouted.
Freud’s hand, pushing up his glasses, was trembling. He said, “I remember a rule, once the san value drops by 5 points or more, you’ll experience temporary insanity.”
“That’s right. However, before falling into temporary insanity, you need to make a Will check to see if you can comprehend these sudden thoughts.”
“1d6… If you roll a 5 or 6, you might fall into madness.”
“What are the manifestations of temporary insanity?”
“Well…” kp said slowly, “Random manifestations. Roll a 10-sided die, and the number represents your insane symptoms, such as 1 for amnesia, 2 for pseudoparalysis, 3 for violent tendencies, 4 for paranoia, 5 for interpersonal dependence, 6 for fainting, 7 for evasive behavior, 8 for hysteria, 9 for fear, and 10 for mania.”
Everyone: “…” Damn, all sounds terrifying.
kp smiled kindly, “Let me explain in more detail. For example, pseudoparalysis is when you believe you have a physiological defect, such as blindness, deafness, missing limbs, etc. Interpersonal dependence means you’ll have a severe dependency on someone you’ve come into contact with,” he deliberately or unintentionally looked at Yan Xiu, “you’ll consider him your lover, have a strong possessiveness towards him, and even desire to have a relationship with him.”
“Oh dear.”
“Anyone is possible?”
“Yes,” kp said, “Not limited to players, NPCs may also experience it.”
“Is there any say in who it is?”
The paper man in the guise of a magician grinned mysteriously, “Depends on my mood.”
Everyone: “…” Damn, better not offend kp.
Shen Lin fell silent and asked, “How long does temporary insanity last?”
“Not long, just 1d10.”
“Up to 10 days?!” Everyone got anxious, “In ten days, we’ll turn into ashes.”
“So, good luck to you,” he said with a smile, watching Shen Lin.
The dice appeared before him, and Shen Lin threw it.
San-check failed.
Throw again to reduce the number.
6 points.
Everyone: “!!!!”
Shen Lin asked, “Will check?”
kp: “Yes, please roll. Let me explain. If you pass this sanity check, it means you can understand what is happening and fall into madness. If you fail, it means you can’t comprehend what is happening. Your brain’s protective mechanism will make you consciously ignore these incomprehensible things.”
Shen Lin rolled the dice, got 89 points, and failed.
Everyone sighed in relief.
Bai’er: “Scared the hell out of me.”
Shen Lin’s mind was a mess, and memories from childhood surged in. Those memories were so distant and blurry, like the morning mist, thin yet obscuring the view.
Nightmares from childhood flooded his mind—
He heard the barking of dogs.
He pushed open that door.
Every corner was filled with thick smoke.
He saw a handsome man with golden hair and blue eyes being torn apart in the room by something indistinct. He didn’t know what those things were, but in the dim light of the lamp, he could see something like a tail dragging under the black mist.
They all bit into the man, dense and numerous, like blood vessels and bones intertwining and stacking on the body under the black mist, without substance. Long and soft tongues pierced the skin like bee stingers, sucking everything liquid from the man. He quickly became emaciated. Under the black mist, what seemed soft but was actually sharp and pointed claws pierced the man’s flesh, picking out his viscera. Fresh blood and murky viscera filled the ground.
The man hadn’t died completely; he weakly looked at Shen Lin, emerald pupils holding a dim light. He exerted his last bit of strength, forming words with his mouth to Shen Lin, “Escape—”
He stopped breathing.
—The invisible black condemnation swept through the endless corridor full of terrifying fantasies, bringing my destruction.
He heard the chanting of the troubadour, as low as the dusk of a stormy evening.
He distinctly heard his own heart pounding loudly against his chest.
“Olok? Olok?” Freud’s soft call pulled Shen Lin out of this dark and terrible memory.
Shen Lin took a deep breath, easing for quite some time before saying, “It’s a miracle I didn’t go crazy.” He was about to retell this memory to everyone when he suddenly thought of a possibility. He asked kp, “If I tell them, will they lose san?”
kp smiled, “Yes, dear.”
Shen Lin: “…”
After thinking for a moment, he said, “I saw the situation of a handsome man with golden hair and blue eyes before he died. I won’t go into details; you might lose san. I guess that person was Dorena’s brother. Do any of you know what he was called?”
Freud said, “Verin Haino. How did you see the scene of his death?”
“I don’t know,” Shen Lin said, “but it feels like a recurring nightmare from my childhood.”
“Damn!” The others were completely shocked.
“There’s a good chance that I actually witnessed that scene back then,” Shen Lin wiped sweat from his forehead, “which is why it became a childhood nightmare. But before that, I never remembered it.”
“So…” Nana asked with confusion, “How did you see that scene?”
“It’s possible I visited the Haino family. Aren’t we all nobles? Nobles often host those tea parties, right?” Bai’er scratched his chin. “You know, those social gatherings?”
“Golden hair and blue eyes…” Shen Lin murmured softly.
Floyd, hearing his murmur, got goosebumps all over. “…Can’t be?” He thought of a possibility.
Shen Lin fell silent.
kp said, “Get another inspiration.”
Everyone: “??? Another one?”
kp: “Yes, indeed.”
Shen Lin rolled the dice, but this time he failed.
kp sighed regretfully, “I really wanted to advance the plot.”
Everyone knew: You clearly just want to see someone lose sanity.
The discussion temporarily came to a close, and they shared their observations and experiences of the day. Just then, there was a sudden knocking on the door.
Everyone tensed up. Bai’er lowered his voice nervously, “Should we pretend no one’s here?”
“The room is brightly lit.” Freud rolled his eyes.
Bai’er: “…”
Shen Lin said, “Bai’er, go for some reconnaissance.”
Bai’err: “Oh, oh! Kp, I’m doing reconnaissance.”
He rolled the dice and succeeded.
Bai’er hid behind the window, looking outside through the blurry glass.
Outside, there was a middle-aged woman wearing an apron. She was tall and slender, with cheekbones slightly protruding, and she had a stern expression. She held something in her hands.
Behind her stood a girl named Lisa, holding a basket with a few unsold lilies inside.
Bai’er informed Shen Lin about the visitor.
Shen Lin, through the door, asked, “Who is it?”
Lisa’s crisp voice came from outside, “It’s Mrs. Funnell. This house used to be hers.”
Everyone: “…”
Shen Lin glanced back at them. The others temporarily found a place to hide. Shen Lin obediently stood in front of Mrs. Funnell, letting her scrutinize him with a cold gaze.
Shen Lin said, “Sorry, Mrs. Funnell, we really have nowhere else to go. Lately, things have been quite turbulent outside.”
Mrs. Funnell’s gaze shifted away from Shen Lin’s face and fell on the puddle of blood on the ground. Her expression became even more serious. “Why are you living here? Aren’t you afraid?”
Shen Lin was startled and looked at Lisa. Lisa gave him a meaningful look, and Shen Lin vaguely understood.
kp: “I suggest not using charm; this lady has a very strong will.”
Shen Lin gave him a look, “Might as well wish for generations of prosperity for the Moon Sinking Village?”
kp: “…”
Shen Lin said, “Mrs. Funnell, are you referring to this bloodstain?”
Mrs. Funnell’s gaze was sharp, reminding Shen Lin of his high school math teacher. She was also a rigorous and serious middle-aged woman, always serious and not very popular with students. Shen Lin didn’t have much fondness for her until one day, he coincidentally saw her picking up her daughter from kindergarten. He saw her soft and motherly side.
Seriousness and dedication in her career, warmth and love in her family. She was a good teacher and a good mother.
Shen Lin didn’t know Mrs. Funnell well enough, and besides charm, he only had a relatively high skill point in listening. If persuasion failed, it was very likely, so he decided to use physical persuasion through his own observations.
“Start with some reconnaissance,” Shen Lin said.
He rolled the dice and succeeded.
In the next moment, under Mrs. Funnell’s stern gaze, Shen Lin discovered a trace of sadness. He quickly found the direction of persuasion. “I’m not afraid because this bloodstain was left by my compatriot.”
Mrs. Funnell looked at Shen Lin in shock. Her features gradually relaxed from the serious expression, revealing a fragile defense.
Lisa sighed and said to Shen Lin, “Mrs. Funnell is here to mourn her child. The one who died here is her son.”
