Within this ledger for the year 550, no such records of calamity existed whatsoever.
Considering this fact alongside the evidence preserved throughout centuries of recorded history, it could only mean one thing:
A great calamity was bound to strike this continent.
…And judging by the time remaining, it would occur within the next two months at most.
Viewed separately, none of these pieces of information seemed particularly significant. But after reading the broader picture and connecting it with the knowledge he already possessed, he had managed to piece together a hidden truth concealed beneath the surface.
He could sense that this constituted the 'Insight' Mr. Edwin had warned him about—and it was Insight bearing no small burden behind it.
If Mr. Edwin's words held true, then perhaps his eventual advancement to the next rank as Spirit Medium would not be as smooth as he had hoped.
His thoughts cycled back to the core issue. He began assessing everything he had learned from reading the records.
This impending disaster, lurking in the immediate future, was a reality Nicholas had discovered, Terrifying as the discovery was, if viewed from an alternative perspective... it might not necessarily involve him directly.
Naturally, such a catastrophic event was bound to happen, but it could very well occur in some distant place where he would feel no repercussions at all.
Yet despite telling himself this, he remained deeply uneasy.
His instincts warned him against indulging in such complacency. But then again... No matter how much he worried, there was nothing he could do to change it.
The second thing he had uncovered was a crucial clue connecting the Moon Worship Cult to the Escolo de Lune Archipelago in the northern reaches of the Empire, as well as the existence of the Sun Sect, which seemed to share an inexplicable connection with the moon-worshippers.
Finally... He had gained a vague understanding of the Moon Worship Cult's true objective by reading the last part of Müller's books.
That alone made this visit to the library worthwhile— At the very least, he had obtained half of the answers he had come seeking.
...And yet, beneath it all, a quiet dread was slowly seeping through Nicholas's mind.
The fragments of knowledge he had gathered today might share no actual correlation; it was entirely possible he was merely his own wild speculation.
But if there were even the slightest possibility that his deductions were correct, and all these events were truly linked together...
Then the sudden appearance of the Moon Worship Cult within York might harbor a purpose far grander—and far more terrifying—than anything he could imagined.
While the young man was lost in thought, the calm measured voice suddenly resonated through the air, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Time's up."
Those words meant that Nicholas's privilege to remain here had expired, and it was time for him to leave.
...It seemed he had become far more absorbed in his reading than he had realized. In the blink of an eye, it was already late into the night.
Nicholas let out a long sigh and returned the records in his hands to the bookshelf. He straightened his clothing and composed himself, forcing his emotions back under control.
Yet his hands still trembled slightly.
...Not from fear, but from mental preparation.
Nicholas walked toward the white-robed man's desk, which stood between him and the exit. As he did, he could not help glancing once more at the 'presence' he had sensed earlier.
It still clung to the far wall. but this time, he could perceive it as a shadowy silhouette—large, with unnaturally elongated limbs and what appeared to be three heads branching from a single body.
Even now, he could feel it watching him intently.
Pretending not to notice it, the young lawyer continued forward.
Yet he paused slightly when he reached Mr. Edwin's desk. The latter remained focused on the documents before him, seemingly paying little attention to the young man.
Nicholas silently debated whether he should reveal everything he knew—the Moon Worship Cult, the clues he had uncovered, and the suspicions weighing on his mind to Mr. Edwin.
But as he hesitated, the other party spoke first.
"Judging by your current state, it appears you still have much more to consider. Return home for now..." He placed the documents in his hands down and looked up.
"Don't worry. If there is something you wish to discuss with me later, inform Romero. He will contact me on your behalf."
Having heard this, Nicholas said nothing more. Instead, he raised his hand to offer a respectful salute to the elder before him and quietly took his leave.
Mr. Edwin gazed at the now-empty room. The cryptic whispers once more resonated inside his ears. His index finger tapped the desk in rhythm several times before quietly sinking into thought.
...What exactly had that young man learned from that bookshelf in such a short time to make his gaze change so drastically?
.....
By the time Nicholas emerged from the Order's main headquarters, it was already quite late.
The sky today was overcast with heavy clouds, leaving little starlight to reach the streets below.
Dim gas lamps lined the road, casting pools of pale light along his path as Nicholas slowly made his way home. Perhaps because there was so much weighing on his mind, he could only walk, entirely lost in thought.
Even now, he had yet to make up his mind about whether he should reveal certain matters to the Order of Spirit Mediums and Mr. Edwin.
Before he could organize his thoughts, however, something unfamiliar caught his attention.
A grand carriage— one glance enough to identify it as belonging to a noble family, was parked along the road ahead. Beside it stood an elderly gentleman dressed in a black tailcoat. A top hat rested upon his head, his neatly trimmed mustache and spotless white gloves giving him every appearance of a butler serving a distinguished household.
Such a sight was hardly common in a district located beyond the residential quarters of the upper class. Still, it was not entirely impossible.
In any case, whoever owned such a carriage had absolutely nothing to do with Nicholas.
Yet as he drew closer, his brows gradually furrowed.
The elderly butler removed his hat with impeccable manners, offered a courteous smile, and walked directly toward him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Parlay."
Placing a hand over his chest, the old man bowed his head in the customary greeting of the Church of Death and Rebirth.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled.
"Have we met before?"
"Please forgive my rudeness, sir." This time, the elderly gentleman crossed his hands behind his back and performed a subservient bow as he introduced himself.
"My name is Rupert Oakley, a humble servant of the Marcelo family."
"The reason I have come to meet you today, Mr. Parlay, is to formally invite you as a guest to the Marcelo Estate. I sincerely hope you will grace us with your presence and accompany me there."
Nicholas let out a soft sigh before inquiring in a half-jesting, half-serious tone,
"And what if I were to decline?"
"If that were the case, my master would be deeply disappointed."
Though the elderly man's smile never faltered, a fleeting hint of menace flashed through his eyes.
As a Spirit Medium, Nicholas's senses were naturally far sharper than those of an ordinary person, especially on a night like this, when spiritual power hung densely in the air.
He could sense a subtle shift in the surrounding environment. Dozens of armed men were concealed within the shadows lining the street. At the slightest signal, they would be ready to move.
There was no doubt that these men belonged to Le Purgatoire's gang.
"May I ask who extended the invitation?" Nicholas inquired.
"Naturally, the head of the family himself."
Upon hearing this... Nicholas's expression darkened inevitably.
When it came to the leader of the Marcelo family, there was only one man who could rightfully refer to himself in such a manner—
Don Marcelo, the kingpin of the formidable mafia syndicate.
Nicholas had only ever heard the man's name and his reputation many times before, and it was far from favorable.
Even Rodrick Rickman, the mysterious private investigator, had once warned him regarding this man. Thus, it was hardly surprising that Nicholas felt his tension rise.
In truth, he had anticipated a day like these many times. Yet he had not expected it to arrive so soon.
It was not that Nicholas had failed to follow up on what transpired after his confrontation with Antonio. Quite the opposite... he had paid considerable attention to subsequent developments.
Yet after that incident, there had been no news whatsoever regarding Antonio's disappearance.
In reality, for a prominent mafia figure to vanish without a trace for several days should have been enough to make newspaper headlines. Instead, everything had remained deathly quiet, as though nothing had occurred at all.
...Such an outcome was really abnormal.
Nicholas did not have many options. Rather than openly starting a fight here and exposing his true identity, he decided to resolve this quietly.
After all, he had prepared contingency plans for this scenario long ago.
After a brief silence, Nicholas accepted the butler's invitation.
The old man responded with a friendly smile and courteously ushered him into the carriage. As soon as Nicholas settled inside, a sharp headache throbbed through his temples.
Over these past days, he had faced numerous challenges. Today alone, he had confronted such weighty truths that nearly split his mind apart—only to find yet another problem had arrived on his doorstep."
...It seemed fate truly had no intention of allowing him even a fleeting moment of peace.
10.11.550
Nicholas Parlay
Spirit Medium (Éna)