SCIAW: Chapter 293/294

Chapter 293: Second Loyal Believer

"The diary will respond to a very strong wish."

Keeping this in mind, Sonoko entered the quiet room, took out the diary, and began the lottery.

As the roulette wheel began spinning, her heart was lifted.

Even though she had Ren's assurance, Sonoko was still a little worried when it came to her sister's future.

To avoid the possibility of her wish not being strong enough, she kept clasping her hands together and silently praying as the wheel spun.

After a while, she cautiously opened her eyes.

Seeing the indicator on the roulette wheel, she let out a sigh of relief.

[Lord of Mysteries]

[Obtained Sequence 9 Spectator Potion~]

A flask filled with a mysterious liquid appeared on the bed, sealed with an oak cork.

The moment the potion materialized, Sonoko jumped up in excitement.

Then the girl carefully picked up the flask and stepped out of the room.

Waiting just outside was her sister, Ayako.

Sonoko smiled and handed the flask into her sister's arms.

"Sis, you got the potion."

"Sonoko…"

At that moment, Ayako looked at her sister's smiling face and felt a strong urge to hug her tightly.

She didn't know how Sonoko had managed to obtain the potion, but she knew it had undoubtedly slowed down her sister's own progression.

"Oh my, don't get so emotional. I know it seems like a big deal to get the potion, but there will be other chances to improve in the future."

Sonoko understood her sister's personality far too well. She tried to speak casually so that Ayako wouldn't worry too much.

But judging by the look in Ayako's eyes, it was obvious she wasn't going to listen.

"It's just that the next stage of the potion might take a bit more time."

Ayako shook her head slightly, overwhelmed with emotion.

"This is enough for me."

She opened her arms and hugged her younger sister.

Sibling affection among conglomerate families was rare, but the Suzuki sisters were an exception.

Whether it was her previous decision to marry into another family or her current decision to take on the family business, it had always been for her sister's sake. Still, Ayako had no complaints. To her, it was something she willingly accepted.

Because it was something her sister needed her to do.

It was precisely because she understood how much Sonoko had done for her that Sonoko, as a younger sister, especially hoped her sister could take that path. It wasn't just about helping her embark on a mysterious journey, but also ensuring her future safety.

"Sis… don't get so touchy all of a sudden."

Sonoko patted her sister's back helplessly. She knew Ayako was excited, but she still wished she wouldn't be so sentimental.

"Sis, you can't always be the one helping me. I need to help too. I might not be able to do much in other areas, so let me help you with this one thing."

Letting go of her still-excited sister, Sonoko turned to Ren.

"Ren, I'll be relying on you from here on."

"Yeah, don't worry."

Ren adjusted his glasses.

After what happened with Chika, he now understood that the corruption and loss of control during potion absorption might have been caused by his unconscious influence. He was determined not to let that happen again.

"Ms. Ayako, come in with me."

Holding the flask, Ayako took a deep breath and followed him into the room.

As the door closed, Sonoko finally let out a long breath. She didn't wait outside but returned to the living room.

There, she saw Chikako holding a pen, revising her manuscript.

"Chikako, you're already revising?"

"Yep. I have the time now, and after receiving the blessing of the Fool, I want to contribute quickly."

Chikako had only wanted a chance to make a comeback, so she brought the story she had spent over a year crafting, hoping Ayako would give her a shot.

She never imagined she'd be chosen by the Fool. What else could she do but make the most of this blessing? She had to fulfill her role, and ideally exceed the long-term expectations assigned to her by the Fool.

But as she looked over the story she had spent a year developing, she couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with it.

"If the goal is to eventually lead people to believe in the divine, then horror or sci-fi stories like this tend to shift faith toward something darker."

Hearing her complaint, Sonoko nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, adding religious elements to these kinds of stories often makes them lean that way. Since it's science fiction, it's not really suitable for promoting faith."

"For stories that deal with religion, Western settings usually work better."

Chikako also nodded slightly at that.

"Maybe I should just toss this manuscript and come up with something new, something that can naturally incorporate belief in the Fool."

Sonoko was taken aback and quickly stopped her.

"Chikako, I think you should use this story to build your reputation first. Once that's done, you can start thinking about how to add faith elements into your next work. At that point, you can consult with Ren about the Fool."

Chikako gave it some thought and nodded.

She did need a strong story to make her comeback. After all, she'd already spent a year constructing this one. But now, she felt it lacked something deeper.

Although this story might not be the best vehicle for spreading faith, she could still insert a few elements. For example, she could include divine themes presented through a more scientific lens.

The nature of the antagonist group could also be altered. Instead of being the villains behind the world crisis, they could be reimagined as a group trying to prevent one.

It didn't have to be done all at once. She could weave it in gradually.

With that in mind, Chikako grew eager to revise the story.

Seeing her excitement, Sonoko hesitated, then raised a question.

"Chikako, are you aware that the power of the gift comes with side effects?"

"I know. Like how Ayako received her power this time—it's quite special. She got it with your help. That's different from a direct gift."

Sonoko wasn't surprised that Chikako understood.

"Aren't you worried that the power of the gift might be taken back?"

"Why should I worry?"

Chikako's tone was calm.

"If this power is truly a gift from God, and I act according to His will, doing everything within His standards, then why would He take it back?"

"People who worry about such things are those with complicated hearts and ulterior motives."

"I do have some ambitions. But after struggling these past two years, I've learned that when an opportunity comes, I must seize it—and never let go."

"So why should I worry about losing a gift from God?"

At that moment, Chikako spoke with the conviction of a true believer.

Her devout faith was clear in every word.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 294: This Time the Police Came Very Quickly

After drinking the Spectator pathway potion, Ayako once again experienced that sensation of her consciousness floating, just like before.

However, compared to the previous time, it didn't last as long.

Her consciousness quickly fell back and returned to her body.

She opened her eyes.

Took a deep breath, gradually adjusting to the new state. Ayako felt that her mental clarity had significantly improved.

One thing, however, remained unchanged.

The Spectator's ability had no effect on Ren. She couldn't read any of his inner thoughts, as if he was submerged in an endless sea.

There was no visible darkness, but it felt darker than anywhere else.

The more she looked, the more it felt like her consciousness was about to sink into those depths.

Pah!

Just as her mind began to sink, a pair of hands suddenly clapped in front of her, pah!

The sensation of drowning consciousness was immediately broken.

"Huff… huff…"

Ayako came to her senses, gasping for air as if she'd just resurfaced from deep underwater.

"Guarding against corruption and losing control, yet forgetting about sinking."

While catching her breath, Ayako heard Ren mutter that line.

"Wait… did I do something wrong just now?"

"No, it's not your fault, Miss Ayako. I should've reminded you. Especially since you just took the potion, you're in a sensitive state. It's easy to be drawn in by the source. Your consciousness nearly sank into the depths."

Hearing Ren's slightly apologetic tone, Ayako let out a sigh of relief.

So that feeling of sinking hadn't been an illusion.

She raised her head to look at Ren again, but this time, she didn't see the boundless sea, and the sensation of sinking had disappeared.

It all felt like a dream.

But Ayako was certain that what she had just experienced was very real.

Still, the answer wasn't something she could easily find now.

She shook her head and temporarily set those thoughts aside.

"Amamiya-san…"

"Just call me Ren."

Ren interrupted her, stressing the point.

"Sonoko and I are dating. It feels weird if my girlfriend's sister calls me 'san.'"

Ayako was stunned for a second by his straightforwardness, then burst into laughter.

The divine, distant aura she had felt a moment ago vanished entirely.

That overwhelming sensation of being submerged in the sea also faded, leaving behind only a shy young man.

"I've heard from Sonoko about the Sequence pathway. Next, I just need to approach things from the Spectator's point of view, then I can begin to operate. But I want to ask… will Sonoko suddenly requesting a potion like this affect her in any serious way?"

There was deep concern in her voice. If her younger sister had rushed into this path for her sake, it weighed on her heart.

Ren could clearly see how much Ayako cared for Sonoko, and he understood her worry.

Even in the world of mysticism, potions weren't easily obtained. Different Churches possessed different Sequence potions, and the formulas and ingredients were strictly reviewed.

That was already the case in the original world, let alone in this world where mysticism was nearly nonexistent.

However, this was also a matter of love.

"Don't worry too much, Miss Ayako."

Ren gave a reassuring smile.

"Though mystical potions are rare and precious, we have our own extraordinary ways of acquiring them. These ways are also tied to the stories happening around us."

"As I mentioned before, Mr. Fool enjoys observing the fates of others. When he sees interesting fates, he tends to become generous out of delight."

"As for the specific methods, I can only explain more after you've truly gained something."

Ayako watched his expressions closely. The Spectator potion enhanced her observational skills, and although she still couldn't read Ren's thoughts, she could see that he was speaking truthfully…

She didn't pry into how Sonoko had acquired the potion. As long as she knew Sonoko hadn't fallen out of alignment with them, she could relax.

Beep, beep!

At that moment, sirens blared in the distance, getting closer with each second.

Ren walked to the window and looked out. In the darkness of the forest, red and blue flashing lights flickered. It looked like the police would reach the suspension bridge in just a few minutes.

"They're much faster than I expected. I thought the police wouldn't show up so quickly this time."

Ayako smiled at the cliché comment.

Indeed, the Tokyo police's inefficiency had long been the butt of countless jokes.

"I think it's the aftermath of the Tsukikage Island incident."

Reminded by Ayako, Ren recalled just how much trouble that incident had stirred up.

"I figured they'd talk a big game but do little, like always. Didn't expect them to show some real force this time."

Ayako lightly shook her head and explained.

"I think it's because the Tsukikage Island situation caused too much commotion. In Tokyo, the home of the Metropolitan Police Department, there was a major drug cartel operating freely, and that entire island chain became the epicenter of drug distribution across nearby regions. That's not just embarrassing—it's dangerous."

"Our family's also been receiving frequent police notices lately. Of course, they're safety-related. To ensure our business operates normally, the MPD has even arranged several patrol cars to monitor areas around our company branches."

Ren was a little surprised after hearing this, though not entirely.

After all, the Tsukikage Island case had blown up. If they didn't suppress the atmosphere created by the event, drug networks on other islands could pop up like mushrooms after rain.

Now that they had a chance to eliminate it in one strike, the Metropolitan Police could demonstrate a strong stance, and in doing so, reshape their public image.

Especially after being seen as incompetent and tax-wasting civil servants for so long.

(To be continued.)