You Are Saved

Retrieving a large sheet of white paper from the grocery store beside the square, the two of them carefully laid it over the damaged floor under Lynch's direction, securing the edges.

“Conceptually, this is equivalent to us repairing the floorboards. The chosen material is a bit unconventional, but the essence remains unchanged. So, judging by its earlier behavior, it should...”

Expanding, contracting.

Vibrant color gradually seeped through the paper, reappearing before their eyes.

Sure enough, the color had returned to the bell tower's floor—or more accurately, to the white paper that patched the floor.

Lynch pondered for a moment, then unfastened the secured edges and removed the white paper. Without question, the color returned to the foundation beneath the floor.

Naturally, it was more complex on a conceptual level, but visually, at least, it had returned to the bell tower's foundation.

His judgment was correct; it was worth a try.

Laying the paper back down, Lynch closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, crouched down, and pulled out his pen.

“A few days ago at Lilla Women’s Academy, I used the new concept of a 'stage' to overwrite the old concept of an 'altar,' ruining the game those crazed schoolgirls were playing. That makes me think conceptual transformation is viable in the world of mystery. Besides, occultists often use similar tricks to solve problems.”

As he spoke, Lynch examined the stain on the paper. After pondering for a moment, he began sketching around its edges.

Screams echoed ceaselessly outside, but Lynch was entirely engrossed in his task, turning a deaf ear. Soon, with a few added strokes, the irregular stain was contoured into an irregular pond. Beside the pond, he sketched several blades of grass, with two plump frogs crouching alongside them.

“So I intend to use the same method now—overwriting the old concept with a new one. Earlier, it was 'the color residing in the bell tower or town,' but now it has taken on a new concept: 'the color composing this painting,' an integral part of this picture.”

Officer Angel understood Lynch's train of thought and nodded thoughtfully. It was a whimsical idea—a method she, skilled in direct combat, had never imagined. She had no idea whether it would work, but logically, at least, it was self-consistent.

Then it was worth a shot.

Finishing the last few strokes, Lynch straightened up and looked down at his work. Done in the style of a child's stick-figure doodle, it possessed virtually zero artistic value, but it was unquestionably a proper, recognizable drawing.

“Right now, it possesses both the old and new concepts simultaneously. Since they don't directly conflict for the moment, they can coexist. Next, we just have to force the two concepts apart, and theoretically, it will have to retain one over the other.” Lynch exhaled. “Conventionally, the new concept should overwrite the old one, but... truthfully, I'm not certain either.”

“Then let's give it a try,” Officer Angel said with a gentle smile, patting his shoulder. “Sometimes there really is only one chance, but if you don't dare to try, you won't even have that one. Even if we fail, as long as life remains and our souls endure, we'll still have another shot. Don't worry. We'll try together—I'm with you.”

Then what was there to hesitate about? I am not alone.

Lynch smiled. The two drew close and carefully pried away the fastenings at the paper's edges once more.

Without looking at the paper, Lynch pressed his fingers against the edges, locked eyes with Officer Angel, and whispered, “Get ready. One, two, three.”

Before the words had even faded, they both lifted their hands, peeling the drawing up from the floor.

Anxious and on edge, neither dared to look at the outcome right away.

Yet what was meant to come would always come.

Neighbor protect me, neighbor protect me.

Assuming he had probably annoyed the neighbor with his repeated prayers by now, Lynch finally shifted his gaze down toward the floor.

Nothing!

There was no color on the floor, nor on the foundation.

The miraculous color resided upon the drawing paper. Within the black-and-white linework, the red pond radiated a magnificent, eerie luster.

The color within the painting had materialized; the conceptual rewrite was a success.

“Did it work?”

Officer Angel's voice trembled slightly. The two gingerly folded the drawing paper. This entity was far too perilous and potent for either of them to let down their guard.

The transformation was equally bizarre: such a spread of color was folded down into a tiny packet, appearing completely ordinary aside from its persistent, dazzling brilliance.

“No, not yet.”

Both noticed it simultaneously: although the color had been transferred to the paper, every living thing in town was still glowing, with slender beams of light still tethered to the sheet. Most crucially, the thought of leaving the town still could not take root in their minds.

“We have to sever its connection to the outside world.” Veteran experience showed as Officer Natalie quickly deduced the cause. “It previously established a link with everything around it. No matter how we move it now, that connection remains active. We must sever its link to us, or everyone will still die.”

“I remember you saying that an enclosed house is the best barrier for isolating mystery—just like when we investigated that journalist's home,” Lynch said, frowning. “Let's find a house, put it inside, and shut the door.”

“It's a viable thought, but unfortunately it won't work. Its area of effect covers the entire town, and every building here was built upon this town—their conceptual identity is intertwined with it. No matter which room we lock it in, conceptually, it's still inside the town, and the connection won't be broken. That is, unless we lock it in a house that doesn't belong to this town. But...”

“We can't get out.”

“Exactly, so it's a paradox. Unless we reach the edge of its boundary and throw the paper out—though in that case, we wouldn't be able to place it inside an enclosed house. It's still a predicament. We have to find a house within this town that isn't part of this town to solve this problem.”

“We can find one.” Lynch's eyes lit up. He grabbed the officer's hand and sprinted. “Follow me.”

Outside was in utter chaos. Quite a few townsfolk had been tied up and dumped together—those whose symptoms had already flared up and were frantic to get home. Death would likely claim them before long.

Meanwhile, those who remained lucid had descended into sheer terror; the slightest provocation could become the straw that broke the camel's back.

Right at that moment, they saw the two running toward them, cradling a mass of dazzling light.

“The problem will be solved in a moment! Everyone will be saved!”

Though Lynch was less experienced with crowds, Officer Angel understood the public's fragile mental state perfectly and shouted immediately, nipping the impending panic in the bud.

The two then dashed into roadside residences and shops, rummaging through chests and cupboards house by house.

Finally, after searching through four or five buildings, they dug out a worn dollhouse.

It was a large box packed with model buildings, miniature furniture, and a few figurines—toys that many families of this era liked to buy for their children.

Lynch breathed a long sigh of relief, opened the box, and pulled out the largest structure inside.

It was a miniature house styled like a villa.

Flashing a smile at Officer Angel, Lynch lifted the roof, stuffed the glowing, folded drawing inside, and closed the roof under her astonished gaze.

Click.

As the roof sealed shut, the brilliant light abruptly vanished, plunging everything into darkness.

The color was sealed inside a house that conceptually did not belong to the town. With the connection temporarily severed, all the glowing light and tethers throughout the entire town extinguished completely.

The howling outside came to an abrupt halt. The townsfolk who had been struggling violently to get home suddenly ceased their thrashing, looking at one another in a daze, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Soon after, they saw Lynch and Officer Natalie walking over, carrying a battered toy house. Lynch suddenly hoisted the house high into the air.

“Everyone, you are saved! We'll be leaving here very soon!”

Indeed, in that moment, the shackles were undone, and everything returned to normal.

The townsfolk exchanged glances before abruptly erupting into near-hysterical cheers. They rushed forward, prostrating themselves before the two and shouting their heartfelt gratitude for being saved.

In an instant, the ground was filled with kneeling people, leaving only Lynch and Officer Natalie standing tall. Exchanging a smile, they lightly bumped fists.

In this moment, the two seemed like saviors descending from above.

Neighbor, did you see that?

Back then, before the power of mystery, I was like an ant struggling in the dust, doing everything just to survive. But after fifty-odd days, I can finally rely on my own intellect and strength to confront mystery head-on.

I will keep walking this path until I can help you achieve your goal, working together to avert the impending catastrophe.

【Mm, I look forward to it. Thank you for everything you've done, neighbor.】