『 "For the Preservation? Hmph, I don't think so. Do you have even the slightest connection to the Preservation?" The phantom's lips curled up into a mocking smile as he continued to jeer.
"I thought you knew… don't you understand me quite well?" After hearing the phantom's questioning, Aventurine let out a self-deprecating smile.
"Enough. Either shut your mouth right now, or get out of my sight immediately."
Aventurine was getting somewhat impatient and issued an ultimatum to the phantom.
"No problem. But, the one who is about to disappear from here—who is it really?"
The phantom wore a meaningful smile, giving off a mysterious and unpredictable vibe. In the next instant, the phantom vanished, as if he had never existed at all.
Staring at the empty space where the phantom had vanished, Aventurine couldn't help but fall into deep thought. After a moment, he murmured to himself, "It won't be me, anyway."
With that, he stepped through the curtain. Coming into view was the back of the child from earlier. Just as Aventurine was about to give chase, he suddenly noticed the world before him had turned somewhat bizarre. Distorted, warped words began to slowly emerge, floating in the air as if they possessed lives of their own. The words flickered with a strange light, sending shivers down his spine. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: That's one step closer to becoming family.
〘March 7th〙: The power of the Harmony is a bit too creepy.
....
『 (After the agony in stonier places)
(The shouts and the cries)
(Prisons, palaces, reverberations)
"I feel like I might really be going crazy…" Aventurine murmured to himself, his eyes vacant as he walked forward.
"Ah—do you want to play hide-and-seek? I'm the best at this—" That tender, childish voice seemed to still echo in his ears.
"Now it's my turn to hide—I bet you guys definitely won't find me—"
Aventurine walked in the direction of the voice. Suddenly, he heard a slight rustling behind him, but when he turned to look, there was nothing there.
At this moment, a familiar yet foreign dread surged in his heart, and he couldn't help but quicken his pace.
After passing through several alleys, he arrived at the Hanu-themed attraction in Clock Studios Theme Park: the Way of the Wolf.
"Hide-and-seek… what a sweet childhood memory."
The phantom appeared before Aventurine once again, his words filled with reminiscence and self-mockery.
"On the day you said goodbye to Mama, how many Katicans were chasing after you like jackals?" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: This must be why he quickened his pace after looking back just now.
....
『 "I bet you definitely can't forget their shrill laughter. To make yourselves disappear right under the noses of those savages, you and your sister had to roll in bloody water, ruining the only piece of clothing Dad left behind…"
Hearing this, Aventurine decisively interrupted the phantom. "It wasn't ruined. I've kept it all this time."
The phantom sneered dismissively and countered, "That's just a piece of rag. You can never wear it again."
"Now you don't have to hide anymore, and you even have the leisure to complain about your delicate outfit getting drenched in the rain… Your status really has changed, hasn't it?"
"I've never changed," Aventurine shook his head in denial.
"On the contrary, now you're the one who does the hunting. The last round of hide and seek, and you get to be it. You should enjoy it."
With that, the phantom vanished once more. 』
『 ....』
〘Aventurine〙: Rather than hating my outfit getting wet, it's more accurate to say I hate the rain.
〘Aventurine〙: The rain of my homeland…
....
『 Will that child be in there? Thinking this, Aventurine walked toward the cartoon standee ahead. Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to something on the ground—a gem that shouldn't be here.
"Is this… Topaz? Why is it here…" Aventurine murmured, looking at the gemstone on the ground.
Suddenly, a sharp, intense throb pierced through his head. The needle-like pain made Aventurine clutch his head and groan in agony.
"What does her cornerstone wrench at your heart so?" The phantom appeared again. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Oh ho, some gossip?
〘Topaz〙: Given how he ruined my investment last time, it's only right that his head hurts when he sees my Cornerstone.
〘Aventurine〙: I told you, you can't blame me for that. I was set up.
....
『 Aventurine clenched his teeth, enduring the pain. He no longer had his previous composure, though it was unclear whether it was due to the pain or the Topaz stone.
"I'm just curious why it's here, that's all."
The phantom shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe that winged guy put it here just to mock you. To make you realize that the grand magic show you painstakingly set up is nothing but a death struggle."
Looking at the Topaz on the ground, the phantom shook his head, his face full of disdain.
" 'The color of the Cornerstone is identical to the radiance of Qlipoth's body'… I can't believe you came up with such an absurd excuse. If he had been just a bit more careful, your lie would have collapsed instantly."
"It was just bait."
"Of course!" The phantom nodded. "That's why you included Ratio's 'betrayal' as a key part of your plan. I must say, the professor's acting was incredibly realistic."
"Maybe he wasn't acting at all?" There was a trace of imperceptible sadness in Aventurine's voice.
The phantom burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Ha, wouldn't that play right into your hands even more?"
"That meticulous Oak Family Head has an almost obsessive desire for control. You had to let him grasp enough information, yet not let him notice any flaws…"
"So you had Ratio find him and deliberately leak the plan. To keep him from doubting, everything you disclosed to Ratio was the absolute truth, and he relayed it to Sunday exactly as it was."
"In the end, through the bait you laid out, this family head found the other Cornerstone just as he wished. And thus—"
"—you were able to smuggle the third stone right under his nose."
"Stop rummaging through my head, you bastard." 』
『 ....』
〘Aventurine〙: Here it comes. Please enjoy the climax of my plan. Three chips are enough!
〘Qingque〙: So the three chips were actually three Cornerstones.
....
『 "Your head? It's our head. You are me, and I am you. We are the same."
"If you don't want to expose yourself in front of others, the cleverest way is to trick yourself first… But if you ask me, you can't trick yourself at all. You just got lucky this time."
As he spoke, the phantom walked over to the other side, where a brilliant green gemstone lay on the ground.
The phantom turned to look at Aventurine, pointing at the gem on the ground. "This is the other Cornerstone in Sunday's possession. Quite a beautiful color, just like you—smooth, cunning…"
"Tell me, what is its name?" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Isn't it Aventurine?
〘Aventurine〙: I'm glad to hear you say that, my friend. It proves my plan was a great success.
....
『 Aventurine sneered and barked, "Why ask me specifically?"
The phantom snorted, deciding to stop beating around the bush. "Hmph… then I'll make you remember it myself. 'Aventurine is the stone of luck and trickery'… That's what she said when you received this stone, right?"
"This kind of stone isn't rare, but its color is very close to a certain gemstone, so it is often used as a substitute for the latter. And that more expensive gemstone…"
Aventurine took over the phantom's words and replied slowly, "Is called Jade." 』
『 ....』
〘Aventurine〙: People tend to harbor preconceived notions. I never said this gemstone was Aventurine.
〘Stelle〙: But back then, the Professor searched your bag so thoroughly he almost shook it to pieces. How did you hide the Aventurine stone?
〘Aventurine〙: It wouldn't be fun if I just told you. Keep watching.
....