Trissy jolted awake from a peaceful sleep, finding herself in a pure white void. Nothing existed here—sky and earth were empty. Moments later, a massive, layered pattern appeared before her, its mere glance dizzying her senses.
Why am I here? Who did this? Was I attacked? Before panic set in, her surroundings shifted, placing her in a vast courtyard.
Warily scanning the area, she saw an enormous spherical entity resembling an eye, adorned with intricate, chaotic patterns. One glance triggered a frantic spiritual warning, a sharp pain piercing her mind. She quickly lowered her gaze, avoiding the sphere.
This must be a god… or at least a great existence! Within seconds, sweat beaded on her forehead. Her mind raced, wondering what entity summoned her and why such a being noticed her. She racked her brain, unable to recall offending anyone warranting this attention.
As the spiritual warning faded, Trissy cautiously glanced up. The giant pupil had morphed into a layered sphere, veiled by curtains, still disorienting but less threatening. Her heart steadied slightly.
She studied the sphere carefully. It appeared discontinuous yet seemed circular, creating a paradox—like seeing a complete circle and fragmented, radiant limbs simultaneously. Seeing no further action from the sphere, Trissy relaxed marginally.
At least this near-divine being doesn't entirely disregard our lives. If it meant harm, it wouldn't need to act—my spiritual backlash could kill me. Even if it's toying with me, I'm alive for now.
Trissy glanced around, noting she sat on a broken wooden chair—an odd, counterintuitive phenomenon. Its four legs didn't touch the ground, yet it was anchored in space, supporting her weight. As she observed her companions, the other two in the space were also eyeing each other.
Viscount Glaint was bewildered, astonished, and slightly fearful. Previously, the Actor potion had enhanced his performance and eloquence, letting him thrive among emerging nobles. Night after night, he marveled at Beyonder powers; the potion perfectly matched his status, helping him forge noble connections that multiplied his income severalfold.
But this helicopter-like wealth accumulation sparked fear. He began distrusting Beyonder powers, doubting such might could be bought with mere money. Now, in this illusory space reminiscent of his advancement ritual, he felt oddly reassured.
Such paranoia was a rich man's ailment, born of abundant capital. Amplified by Beyonder abilities, Glaint's wealth surged, propelling him to greater status and riches. A commoner with the same potion couldn't achieve such meteoric success.
Steadying himself, he studied the two before him—a girl surveying the surroundings and a heavily pregnant woman.
Why a pregnant woman? Glaint wondered, but then the woman bowed slightly to the sphere, saying, "Your Majesty."
She knows this evil god—no, this near-divine being? Glaint froze, mouth agape.
"I will assign you tasks. You may choose whether to accept them," the High-Dimensional Overseer said coldly. "You'll be my earthly agents. Complete my tasks, and I'll grant you gifts."
"Pardon, Your Majesty. I don't understand," Trissy ventured cautiously. "I'm just an ordinary Witch. Why choose me?"
"Ordinary? You're not ordinary," the High-Dimensional Overseer replied in a mechanical tone. "I've watched you long. You're interesting. That makes you extraordinary. I like you, so I offer gifts."
Gifts? Trissy's pupils shrank, but she dismissed the notion. You can trust a god's might, not its benevolence. If I'm chosen, something about me caught its eye.
Except for Megose, devoted to the High-Dimensional Overseer for her unborn child, Trissy and Glaint were flooded with doubt. Though Glaint knew little of the Beyonder world, he sensed an uncanny aura from this nameless entity—lacking eyes, perhaps, as it seemed an eye itself.
"Gifts?" Glaint echoed instinctively.
"Yes, gifts. Here, you can gain anything you desire, provided you complete tasks matching your reward," the High-Dimensional Overseer said, using a recorded mechanical voice from a collection. "Money, power—anything. Fulfill my tasks, and I'll grant your wishes."
Anything? Trissy mused. What did she want most? To be a wealthy man, living blissfully with her cherished maid. Before becoming
her, he had dreamed of a Beyonder life—not this, forced into a female body, pleasing nobles for the Demoness Sect's gain.
I must become male again! With this great master backing me, I'll escape the Aurora Order's grasp! I'll leave the Demoness Sect and become a demigod, restoring my manhood!
Using the Hidden Sage, the High-Dimensional Overseer subtly infused their deepest desires into their minds. Under His guidance, fantasies surfaced: becoming male, gaining titles and wealth, protecting a child. Drawn into His Sefirot, their hearts burned with an insatiable pursuit of desire!
An avatar of the High-Dimensional Overseer returned the Apostle of Desire's Beyonder characteristic to its box, halting the induction. Fully guiding His agents would yield no surprises. Reading hearts was easy; after observing humanity for eons, He knew how to steer them. But He preferred surprises over scripting, favoring the role of observer over director.
"Those unwilling to serve may leave now. You'll face no punishment, but my kingdom's gates will never reopen to you."
"Those who stay, swear this: reveal nothing of this place to outsiders and never harm your teammates in any form. These are my only restrictions. I care not for your methods. Achieve my desired results, and I'll grant the promised gifts."
The merciful High-Dimensional Overseer offered lenient terms, eager to see how these three—noble, fugitive, and Cheek's divine vessel—would perform as prime "actors."
"Thus, I'll assign your tasks here. First, your identities will be shared with your partners."
Trissy's name appeared first, startling her as fine-lined text materialized before her: "Trissy, Sequence 7 Witch, Tasks Completed: 0."
Seeing the text, she glanced at the noble-clad man and the pregnant woman, noting similar text before them: "Glaint, Actor" and "Megose, Scholar." To her shock, both were only Sequence 9. She'd assumed this great entity would recruit high—or at least mid-Sequence—Beyonders!
Why… Trissy speculated on the great master's motives.
"Now, view your first task. It includes corresponding rewards. To accept, click confirm," the High-Dimensional Overseer continued. "After completion, return here to claim your reward."
Task: Obtain the Primordial Demoness's statue from Madam Sharon.
Reward: Freedom from the Demoness Sect.
Seeing the task, Trissy's pupils constricted. She pursed her lips, taking a deep breath. Recently, the Demoness Sect had assigned her to an elderly noble's household—a fate she dreaded. Trissy still felt male.
But Madam Sharon was a Sequence 6 Pleasure. Trissy doubted she could win. The reward was irresistible, but pleasing men seemed less dire than dying. Weighing her dignity against death, her gaze shifted.
Yet, as she hesitated, a third line of text appeared, and the High-Dimensional Overseer's voice echoed from all directions:
"For each task, I'll provide relevant intelligence. Completing a task earns extra intelligence. After this task, you can accrue merits to exchange for your needs."
Trissy's breathing grew heavy as she read the text: The Evernight Church's Nighthawks would move against Madam Sharon in a day. Trissy trusted the Beyonder who'd previously injured her could delay Sharon, creating the perfect moment to steal the "Cheek Statue"!
If she escaped with the statue, she'd evade Nighthawk pursuit. With Sharon and the Nighthawks clashing, her actions would likely go unnoticed, and injured Nighthawks wouldn't chase her. Another factor swayed her: currently, she was forced into a noble's bed as a mistress. What would the Demoness Sect demand next?
Since being tricked into drinking the Witch potion, Trissy had lost all trust in the Demoness Sect.
After a brief hesitation, Trissy Cheek gritted her teeth and pressed "Confirm" on the task. Her eyes reddened slightly as she asked the High-Dimensional Overseer, "After completing the task, how do I submit the statue to you?"
(End of Chapter)