I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 223 - 223 222. Put the doll set here_1

Chapter 223: 222. Put the doll set here_1 Chapter 223: 222. Put the doll set here_1 After reading the novel, Cui Siter looked terrible.

What was described in this part of the manuscript was the investigators’ decision to inspect the novelist’s house before heading to Beihan Town. They encountered the bleak courtyard, the putrid pond, the dilapidated living room, and strange sounds coming from the second floor.

Then, the group ascended to the second floor, witnessed the ferocious and terrifying monster, and defeated it. In the messy bedroom, they found part of the novelist’s manuscript and realized they had done the same things as the characters in the book.

“It’s like nesting dolls.”

Lu Ban commented.

“But it can’t be denied that what we did is indeed almost the same as what’s in this novel,”

Shia pointed out.

Apart from some minor details, their experiences were exactly what had been depicted in the novel.

The manuscripts only got as far as the people reading them being greatly shocked, their Sanity taking a hit, and preparing to go to Beihan Town to investigate further.

Of course, it also mentioned that on the way to Beihan Town, the group seemed to have encountered something unimaginable, but that part had been crossed out and written in a messy way, as if the author had denied what he had written and planned to rewrite it on another sheet of paper.

However, there was nothing more.

“Nonsense, sheer nonsense,”

Cui Siter appeared somewhat agitated, unsure if it was a side effect of decreased Sanity or because such incomprehensible events were happening in his own world.

Lu Ban could understand that feeling.

Even if what he encountered was outrageous and the monsters were fearsome, they were merely creatures from the Foreign Domain and wouldn’t suddenly cross the dimensional barrier to come looking for you in your own bed.

But when these spooky events occurred in one’s own world, they felt very real, especially when one finds oneself becoming the protagonist in a horror novel. If it were Lu Ban… perhaps…

Perhaps there wouldn’t be any issue.

“The handwriting on these manuscript pages is very clear, and the penmanship doesn’t seem messy, which indicates that Ancient Capital must have been relatively sane when writing all this. He was seriously considering these plots, which obviously doesn’t match the condition of the house. This means he was quite composed while writing this novel, but left in a hurry. What happened in between?”

Shia examined the contents of the manuscript pages again.

“Moreover, if this manuscript had been here from the beginning, then the editor who came to check earlier should have found it by now. The reason we’re seeing it now… is it because it just appeared?”

Lu Ban added.

“What nonsense are you talking about…”

Cui Siter leaned against the wall, took a strong puff of his pipe, and tried to use tobacco to numb his mind.

“No, no, no, I mean, this manuscript was brought here by this monster,”

Lu Ban glanced at the disorderly bedroom.

“Look, this way, no matter what, we would end up killing that monster and obtaining this manuscript, thus aligning with what’s written in the novel, and if we couldn’t kill the monster, naturally we wouldn’t be able to see the manuscript.”

“Hmm?”

Cui Siter’s attention was drawn by Lu Ban’s words, as he seemed to have thought of something.

“It’s a simple trick, to prepare several different story branches in advance and place them at trigger points. This way, whatever choice we make, it seems as if the author had predicted it all beforehand. Child’s play,”

Although Lu Ban hadn’t encountered something this elaborate, there were many similar instances on the internet. The simplest was people posting predictions about sports game outcomes using multiple accounts and, when the results were out, deleting the incorrect posts and leaving only the right one to create an illusion of prophetic ability or a journey back from the future.

Just like now, the monster bringing the manuscript made them feel as if everything had been written into the novel, as if it were fated. There might be similar manuscripts in other places that Lu Ban and the others could access. When they found those, they would again feel like their actions had been predicted by the novel.

“…that does seem to make sense,”

Cui Siter muttered to himself, though he still looked unsteady on his feet.

“So, does that mean we shouldn’t go to Hanxu?”

Shia pondered.

“We don’t need to worry about that, the novel has designed us, but it also reveals information, that is, as long as we go to Beihan Town, or rather Hanxu, we can proceed to the next step, and it’s possible we’ll meet the author.”

Lu Ban immediately responded.

“However, the fact that someone can control such a monster suggests that Ancient Capital, or the person behind it, probably isn’t too normal either.”

The three searched the house in Ancient Capital for a while but didn’t find any more clues. As evening approached, they decided to have a meal and then set off for Hanxu.

North of the city, Tenth Circle District.

“I didn’t expect you to not have your own car, Old Cui. It seems like you’re not doing too well for yourself,” Lu Ban remarked.

“I usually don’t leave the city, there’s no need for a car,” Cui Siter defended.

The three of them faced a dilemma with their travel plans.

Although the road between Abandoned Capital and Hanxu was long, it was relatively safe due to regular traffic, and there were even some small villages in between. However, taking public transport would mean they couldn’t leave for another two days. To depart tonight, they would need to drive themselves.

Cui Siter didn’t have a car, so they would need to rent one.

This was yet another expense.

“You just don’t want to spend the money,” Lu Ban hit the nail on the head.

“I think leaving in two days isn’t bad either, it’s more lively,” Cui Siter said evasively.

“Given the development of this kind of abnormal situation, things might deteriorate to an unmanageable level in two days,” Shia reminded.

If Ancient Capital or someone else was influenced, two days were enough for a person’s mind to collapse and then reform into a kind of sane insanity. If they delayed their departure for two days, the situation might be worse.

“You can’t drive, can you?” Lu Ban asked.

“How is it possible that I don’t know how to drive!” Cui Siter protested, stamping his foot. He went to the car rental place, which was usually a Gang business on the outskirts. The shop housed some dubious-looking cars and a few toughs in old suits and caps who were watching the place.

After a brief exchange, Cui Siter chose a car and went to pay at the cashier’s desk.

The Gang in Abandoned Capital, frankly, is still in business to make a profit. They have legitimate businesses, as well as underground dealings. Generally speaking, if the transaction is normal, the Gang doesn’t trouble its customers. But if someone is looking for a bargain without respect, perhaps the Gang will make them an offer they cannot refuse.

“A deposit of eight thousand, four hundred a day for rent, sign here,” the cashier, a young man who had been reading a novel, said hurriedly, setting his book aside as soon as he saw a business opportunity.

Lu Ban noticed that the novel was one of Ancient Capital’s works, with a cover featuring a monster emerging from a painting. The creature had the body of a large dog and the head of an octopus with tentacles, identical to the one they had seen in Ancient Capital’s home.

Cui Siter’s expression suddenly froze.

Shia borrowed the book and saw that it was called “The Dog in the Painting.” She flipped through it briefly, and the story was about the protagonist buying a mysterious painting from which the creature on the cover emerged, ultimately killing the protagonist.

Then, the cashier looked at Lu Ban, and his expression suddenly brightened.

“Are you Mr. Lu Ban?”

He stood up, looking at Lu Ban.

“I’m Stone.”