The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

George took the cloth bag from Bates and took out the broken wing from under the cloth.

It was a fragment of a wing, about one-third of its original size, seemingly melted in the middle. Its translucent texture was somewhere between mica and a thin film, and it gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen under the light.

He carefully placed it on the table, and the cards appeared on the table.

Metamorphosis: Fly Wings

[Sexual Characteristics: Abyss, Wine, Materials]

[Like pale mica wings, their metallic sheen is strikingly dazzling and intoxicating—but their owner has yet to understand their desires.]

"Perhaps it can be used as a material for alchemy, but other uses are currently unknown," George said honestly, looking up.

"However, it seems that the monster's level should stop at the level of the Veilbreaker—similar to ours."

Douglas pulled out a pipe from somewhere, lit it, and nodded in agreement after hearing George's conclusion.

"Good eye, George. This monster is probably close to the third tier of the Veilbreaker, but it's clearly driven only by instinct."

At this point, the inspector glanced at George.

"Speaking of which, George, judging from the monster's pajamas and the exposed limbs, it's almost certain that it's your brother Frederick."

He gestured with his pipe.

"Have you thought about how we should deal with it?"

"Tomorrow we'll try to capture it together, bring it back alive, and then study how to reverse the effects on it," George said without hesitation.

"Furthermore, live samples help to confirm the exact mechanisms of transformation and contamination."

He briefly described the actions taken in the quarantine area that afternoon—the distribution of the new drug, his instructions to Carson, and the arrangements for Kelly.

"A new batch of medication has been distributed, and there are initial signs of suppression in the fever and rash. The coma patients are also temporarily stable—at least they can get through tonight."

The two fighters were quite pleased to hear the good news that their symptoms were under initial control.

At dinner time, since Mrs. Patmer was still in isolation, the kitchen could only make do with roast meat.

The surviving servants hurriedly served roast meat, cold cuts, and bread, along with some pickles.

The restaurant was filled with the smell of alcohol and meat, and conversations were few and far between.

The old lady had instructed Mrs. Hughes to settle Miss Kelly and Attorney McGill early on, while she and Sybil returned to their respective rooms.

George finished his meal hastily and then excused himself to return to the alchemy room on the third floor.

He relit the fireplace and took the last book—"The Pilgrimage in Search of the Light."

The simply bound poetry collection, with a worn cover and yellowed pages, looks as if it has been turned countless times.

He flipped through the book while waiting for the [Rationality] card to regenerate.

Only when he was almost finished reading did George thoughtfully drift his attention back to the card table.

【The Pilgrimage in Pursuit of Radiance】

[Sexual aspects: candle, stream, books]

[A simply bound collection of essays, its content somewhere between poetry and prose, and the abundance of vocabulary from different languages ​​interspersed throughout, perhaps suggest that the author's spirit is extraordinary.]

The [Rationality] card has been restored and is now covered.

Light shimmered, words poured forth, and the analyzed knowledge flooded into my mind—

[The author's name and dates of birth and death are unknown. He divided the entire spirit realm into three layers, each layer into three levels—perhaps even more subdivided, and the radiance is not included in this. Countless beings began their ascent from the dream realm, a few of whom were able to reverse the primal sea of ​​descent they had previously experienced, even entering the abode of the supreme beings, and thus approaching that radiance.]

[Radiance, the highest center of the spiritual realm, overflowing with the origin of all levels, the source of all light, the ultimate abode beyond the infinite future... The author sings praises of the radiance, saying it reveals the essence of the world, guiding and driving all beings to ascend to higher realms.]

"Brighter than noon, purer than the full moon, more sacred than dawn, more magnificent than dusk..." Such poetic language describes it: "Facing the sublime heavens, what can we pursue? What will we gain as we approach the abode of the gods?"

As long passages of text were written, the cards materialized.

[Radiant Light]

[Sexual Aspects: Candle 8, Star 6, Flow 6, Secret Transmission]

"We are born to pursue the light, like sparks that fly upwards." — Keller

[Flow: The source may not reach the end, but all things flow eternally, and both the real and the illusory are the same. [Flow is the principle of change, cause and effect, and connection]]

Just as George was about to take a closer look at the card, another card on the table suddenly shone brightly and floated up on its own.

George waved it over and saw it was the [Path to the Spirit Realm] card, its information already updated—

[The Path to the Spirit World]

[Nature and Appearance: A Vague Path]

Beneath the surface of the mundane world lies another world: the spiritual home, a gathering place for countless beings, the abode of the greatest.

"How terrible must the lives of those who have never seen mountains, seas, skies, and stars, and who are confined to their small rooms, be?"

[Current Memory:]

【Chaos, Dream Realm, Shallow Dream Layer】

【Chaos, Dream Realm, Dream Reflection Layer】

[Dream Realm - Deep Dream Layer (Insufficient rank, unable to enter at the moment)]

【Misty Sea of ​​Souls - ? ? ?】

【Misty Sea of ​​Souls - ? ? ?】

【Misty Sea of ​​Souls - ? ? ?】

【Chaos·? ? ?】

George quietly absorbed this knowledge.

The structure of the spirit world was more complex than he had imagined, and the "radiance" seemed to be at the top of all levels, a kind of ultimate existence.

This is related to, yet different from, the "Light Source Siwei" he had previously encountered.

He recalled the "pathic passion" mentioned in the Viscount's notes—that indistinguishable yearning that drives the extraordinary to strive for ascension and deeper transformation.

If "glory" is the ultimate goal of all ascents, then the process of pursuing it might be the essence of this passion, or perhaps passion itself is a lower-level manifestation of the overflowing glory.

This sounds somewhat like some aspects of the Kabbalah system I learned about in my previous life...

The night outside the window was already deep.

George sat by the fireplace, sipping his tea slowly, his thoughts drifting to the "wax figure" in the Viscount's room.

Where the real viscount went is a somewhat dangerous question.

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to go and take a look at the tower.

Previously, due to being tied up with affairs and worrying about his father's condition, he had never really explored the iron gate that he had only approached when he was a child.

Now it's time for him to explore the hidden secrets.

George left the room and walked west along the corridor.

Moonlight streamed through the narrow windows into the dim air, and the wallpaper on both sides of the corridor shimmered with light and shadow in the darkness.

He arrived at the entrance to the tower.

It appears that the tower's main gate has been renovated during the years he's been away from home, with many new reliefs added to the wrought iron gate.

The patterns of the sun, moon, celestial bodies, and angels are intertwined, with an empty shield without a coat of arms in the center, which has a rocky texture under the moonlight.

George approached and stared at the reliefs, pondering how to open the door, when suddenly he heard a hollow, indistinct sound, like the clanging of metal, coming from inside the door.

Through what do we ascend?

George knew this was a test, and after a moment's hesitation, he answered softly, "I crave it."

A series of metallic clanging sounds came from behind the door, followed by a riddle.

Through what is the world illuminated?

"glow."

The clanging of metal grew louder, and the third riddle followed.

Through what means can the dead remain silent?

George recalled the knowledge he had previously analyzed and remembered the description of the virtual realm.

He whispered, "The Void Realm."

The sound remained monotonous and continuous, and the door remained unmoved.

George raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and then said simply, "It's not the 'Dead Body Mask,' is it?"

As soon as the words were spoken, a relief on the wrought iron gate—the angel holding a torch—slowly melted like a candle and dripped to the ground.

The liquid condensed and solidified on the stone slab, eventually transforming into a simple and ancient-looking key.

The gate then slowly slid open inwards, revealing a dark entrance and spiraling stone steps leading downwards.

The moonlight leaped into the corridor, only to disappear into the deeper darkness.