Chapter 110: Future Days Simulation and the Death Train

Future Days Simulation and the Death Train

The Past Days simulation remained unchanged, still returning to June 16th.

Simply because Ciel had spent two days in reality, Day 5 became Day 7.

But the Future Days simulation... Ciel remembered clearly, on the 21st, it simulated September 29th, which was 100 days after the 21st.

Because the number was Day 100 and the required Fate Points were also 100, it even disrupted Ciel’s plan to simulate again, so Ciel’s impression was very strong.

Logically speaking, today was June 23rd, only two days had passed, the Future Days simulation number should be Day 98.

But the original simulation date of September 29th also moved forward by two days, becoming September 27th, thus changing it to simulating 96 days later...

Her own time moved forward two days, and the future days also moved two days closer to her.

This was a situation Ciel had never encountered before.

When the system was first activated, Ciel’s Future Days simulation couldn’t exceed the evening of June 19th at 6:31 PM, because that moment was determined by the system as her fated death.

Later, only after Ciel killed Thomas, who had consumed half a potion, and Blackwater Gang leader Solari, was this restriction lifted.

Now, the simulation date had moved forward by two days without her knowledge.

Using the last time she checked the simulation days on the 21st as a baseline, the Past Days simulation increased by two days due to the progression of the real world, Day 5 became Day 7.

The Future Days simulation, due to the advancement of the displayed time and the adjustment of the simulation time itself, also moved two days closer to her, resulting in a total reduction of four days, Day 100 became Day 96...

It seemed now that September 29th was not a randomly simulated date by the system.

It was highly likely the fated death deduced for her by the system.

And now, due to some decision she made, the fated death had directly advanced.

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Ciel didn’t follow the maid who had returned to her post to find Avena, but went directly to the deserted study on the second floor, sat down on the study sofa, and thought quietly.

“System, the Future Days simulation moved two days closer to me. Is that a new fated death?” Ciel asked the system inwardly.

Soon, she received the system’s obviously perfunctory reply.

【Oh my, who knows? Maybe you remembered wrong? Why not wait a bit longer? Originally, you had to wait 98 days to know the result, now you only need to wait 96 days】

【Maybe if you’re lucky, in a few days you’ll only be able to simulate within 30 days, then you can simulate cheaply for 10 Fate Points, isn’t that great? ^^_】

Ciel paid no mind to the system’s obvious teasing words.

Whether it was a fated death or not, Ciel had to spend 100 Fate Points to see what the situation was 96 days later.

To see exactly what she did that caused a fated death, that caused the fated death to advance.

But 100 Fate Points was too much for Ciel; she only had 161 Fate Points now.

If she simulated this time, she would only have 61 points left. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

These Fate Points couldn’t be saved. Not simulating now when a problem clearly arose—was she supposed to take this pile of Fate Points to her coffin?

Besides, Ciel now had a relatively stable method to earn over 20 Fate Points. As long as she diligently drank potions and killed Kitty, the points could always be earned back.

However, these hundred points couldn’t be spent carelessly either. A detailed plan and thorough preparation were necessary.

At the very least, if it was a fated death, the detailed cause of death had to be investigated.

Ciel stood up and walked out of the study.

Her canvas bag was still in Avena’s room. She had to retrieve it and write down a detailed plan in her notebook.

The maid from before waited dutifully outside the study door. Ciel declined her offer to lead the way, walked up to the third floor herself, and headed towards Avena’s room.

These days, Ciel no longer got lost in this large estate as she did initially. At least, she knew how to get to Avena’s room, her own guest room, the kitchen, the study, and the reception room.

Ciel stopped at Avena’s door, raised her hand, and knocked. Avena happened to be inside, and the door was quickly opened by Nia.

Avena seemed to be sitting at her dressing table, writing something with her head down. Hearing the commotion behind her, she asked directly without looking up:

“You’re back?”

“Dinner won’t be ready so soon. If Amy arrives, you can entertain her first.”

Only when Ciel knocked would Nia open the door directly without announcement. Coupled with the maid’s earlier report, Avena knew it was Ciel without turning around.

“Sorry, I might need to prepare some things too.” After entering, Ciel saw her canvas bag on the small glass round table in front of the sofa. She walked straight over, opened the bag to glance inside, then picked it up directly. “That guest room from before, I need to borrow it, Avena.”

“Feel free.” Avena turned her head towards Ciel but only saw Ciel’s back quickly exiting the room.

Avena looked at Nia closing the door. Nia also looked at Avena. They stared at each other.

“What’s wrong with Ciel?” Avena asked with some confusion.

“I don’t know, milady.” Nia shook her head and said, “She took her bag and left.”

“Uh...” Avena put down her silver, gold-rimmed dip pen, a slight sense of unease in her heart.

She was already writing a letter to the Deton Group demanding compensation. After all, encountering such an “accident” and having her purchased items left behind, claiming compensation was the normal course of action.

What happened with Ciel now? Wasn’t everything resolved?

Could it be there were still experts involved?

Now, Avena had no mood to write letters either. She hastily finished the last few paragraphs and stopped.

After affixing a stamp to the envelope, sealing it with her personal seal and a wax seal, Avena stood up and began pacing in the room.

“What do you think it could be, Nia?” Avena couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t know,” Nia shook her head, then guessed conservatively, “Something related to evil gods? Cultists summoning an evil god... something like that?”

Avena was about to say it was impossible, but recalling the encounter at Deton Manor at noon, she fell silent again.

If someone else said this, she could dismiss it as a joke.

But if these things happened to Ciel, it seemed quite plausible.

She was very curious, wanting to ask Ciel directly, but worried that going to Ciel now would disturb her. She could only struggle internally in her room, reviewing recent events to see where a problem might have arisen.

After a while, Avena finally gave up thinking, simply called the butler, and instructed the staff cleaning the rooms not to disturb Ciel for the time being.

-

Meanwhile, Ciel had returned to the previous guest room with her canvas bag.

She walked to the desk, placed the bag on it, and took out her notebook and pencil.

Over ninety days... 100 Fate Points...

The simulated self must do something to fully utilize this time...

Ciel wasn’t prepared to let her simulated self figure things out.

Because her simulated self, especially after realizing she held a sub-system and was within a simulation, lacked the strong sense of crisis and urgency that the real Ciel possessed.

If a certain potion was digested in the simulation, the personality change could be even greater. Letting the simulated self make plans was purely a gamble.

She was willing to gamble before because it only cost 10 points, and the actions of her simulated self weren’t crucial; key moments were mostly handled by herself personally.

But this time, her simulated self had over ninety days, entirely possible to gain more benefits after resolving the issue.

Therefore, she had to set a detailed plan before simulating.

Ciel raised her hand, put pen to paper, and wrote a line of Chinese.

【Investigate the cause of the fated death, pay attention to all abnormal occurrences】

The starting point for the investigation, according to Ciel’s considerations, involved several aspects. The most likely was the Divine Advent Church.

Not just Amy, but also the notes left by the spiritual being called the divine servant.

That parchment letter wasn’t written for Ciel, but for Amy.

It not only mentioned protecting Amy under the “great will” but also stated it had “informed” a most loyal follower to help Amy.

It was highly likely it mistook the “great will” for herself. The problem most likely lay with that “follower.”

This was one direction for investigation.

Ciel wrote down “Investigate follower,” then continued considering other possibilities.

Her own existence was unknown to anyone.

Forces or individuals who might have contact with or even know about her could only learn through the events that happened today at Berren City’s Deton Manor.

Divine Advent Church, Deton Group, Church of the Savior Goddess, Redemption Society... Hmm... these were all stakeholders in this matter. These factions must be investigated thoroughly.

Since the incident just happened, Ciel couldn’t see the subsequent reactions and developments yet. She could only rely on her simulated self to relay future developments back to her.

After writing these down in the notebook, Ciel paused, then after a moment, added another name.

Nia.

Besides Amy being an unstable factor, Nia was also a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

Her current sanity was maintained solely by Avena’s transcendent ability. If Avena lost control, Nia would become a terrifying third-tier iron figure. This had to be guarded against.

And being 120 years old, while unsure if that was long or short for a third-tier transcendent, for an ordinary person, that age should have long meant death from old age.

The possibility of Nia going berserk couldn’t be ruled out.

Ciel rested her forehead on her left hand, twirled the pencil in her right fingers a few times, then put pen to paper again.

【If you feel the investigation is making no progress, or feel the danger might arrive sooner, you can try completing the Reconstitution Ritual, try digesting potions...】

If the fated death advanced towards her day by day, one day closer each day... starting the simulation now, the maximum time her simulated self could act was only 48 days.

She had to assume the most extreme scenario.

【If after 47 days, you haven’t been able to investigate anything】

【Take sister, leave Ansu, sever all ties in Berren City】

【If, after severing all ties, you can live out the remaining days, it means the fated death has been resolved】

This was a last resort. If the investigation yielded nothing, she would have to flip the table.

If Ansu didn’t work, go abroad. If abroad didn’t work, leave this continent. Ciel truly didn’t believe any force could cross oceans to search for her.

Besides, Ciel felt she really wasn’t that important. She had always acted very low-key. What organization would expend such vast manpower and resources to search for her?

If there was one, the only possibility was the Divine Advent Church.

If it was confirmed that the Divine Advent Church caused her fated death, she wouldn’t mind going to Ansu in the simulation for a grand summoning ritual to see how many “rats” were hiding in Ansu’s dark corners.

Of course, this method was predicated on the investigation failing.

If the cause was found and the fated death was resolved, her simulated self couldn’t rest either.

【If the cause is found, and you live to the 48th or even 49th day, then find a way, in the remaining time, to collect all first-tier potions and Reconstitution Rituals for all paths as much as possible】

【Even if you don’t collect all potions and rituals, at least complete the path information】

【If you have already drunk a potion, try to digest it as soon as possible, complete the next stage Reconstitution Ritual, and leave behind your method】

【All time must be utilized, do not waste it】

Ciel stopped writing, placing the pencil aside.

Various speculations and instructions filled two full pages of Ciel’s notebook.

This was the first time Ciel experienced such a long simulation, so she left behind numerous to-do items, almost writing down daily tasks.

Ciel took out her pocket watch and looked at the current time.

17:45.

Checking her notes once more, confirming nothing was missed, Ciel put down the notebook, bent over, rested her head on the desk, and slowly closed her eyes.

The system interface unfolded in the darkness before Ciel’s eyes.

100 Fate Points... must find something out.

Ciel opened the simulation interface, selected Future Days simulation. The save file options jumped before Ciel’s face.

Going over this time might involve danger. Ciel didn’t greedily choose No.0 for simulation to try drinking potions, but selected the No.2 “Judicator” save file.

This was Ciel’s current highest combat power save file, sufficient to handle most special situations.

“Future Days...”

“No.2.”

Ciel recited silently in her mind. A flash of silver light enveloped her.

Her consciousness gradually drifted away...

-

【Future Days】

【Saint Year 741, August 9th, 20:15】

【Countdown – 23:59:59】

August 9th?

47 days later?

The silver light before her eyes gradually dissipated. A phantom timer interface lingered before Ciel’s eyes for several seconds, then slowly faded, leaving only the flickering firelight against the night sky.

“Little Ciel... Little Ciel...”

“Little Ciel!”

A call instantly activated Ciel’s full control over her body, also making her feel the familiar pain of being scorched by the surrounding flames.

Instantly, a black shadow pushed her up from behind. Ciel gritted her teeth against the chaotic wails and whispers in her mind, rushing towards the source of the familiar voice.

Woosh—

Flames still raged behind her. The moment Ciel burst out of the sea of fire, she collided head-on with a figure trying to rush into the fire, pushing them directly outwards.

“Sister...” Ciel saw the figure she had knocked down, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She abruptly turned her head. Behind her seemed to be a gravel slope, several sections of shattered train carriages scattered across it. Some cargo or coal from the carriages had ignited everything. The entire freight train and the miscellaneous trees and weeds on the slope were already engulfed in flames.

The firelight almost illuminated the entire night sky. Countless screams and wails emanated from the fire. This suffering was perceived by Ciel, causing her head to ache as if it would explode.

Steam train... derailment?

Notebook!

Ciel quickly patted herself down; there was no canvas bag hanging on her.

She raised her hand towards the sea of fire. Four black shadows emerged from her back and rushed directly into the flames.

Soon, a half-burned canvas bag was held high by a black shadow running out of the fire.

Ciel quickly took the canvas bag and opened it directly.

Inside were bundles of 20-pound denomination Su pound banknotes rolled into money rolls. Many were half-burned or reduced to ash, leaving only three intact rolls of Su pounds.

Beneath the pile of Su pounds was a notebook with a soot-blackened cover.

Ciel took out the notebook and quickly flipped it open. Fortunately, only the cover was scorched; the pages inside were slightly yellowed from smoke but still legible enough to read the information recorded.

The notebook was almost filled with text. The last date stopped at 16:00 on August 9th, four hours before the fire started.

What exactly happened?

Ciel looked at the contents recorded on the last page.

【Saint Year 741, August 9, 16:30】

【Things ended up like this after all... I did my best】

【I investigated everything I should have, even that loyal follower of the Divine Advent Church appeared, but I still couldn’t determine which organization, which person targeted me】

【Really unlucky lately... No, it’s like being cursed. I don’t want to stay in Berren City for another day. This place is jinxed】

【Seriously, I even wanted to use the sub-system’s “Deep Simulation” to see where the problem lies】

【But my mission is to investigate and survive as long as possible. Even exploring the Other Side can only wait until the last moment】

【Only 5 points left. Remaining potions have been exchanged for money. Fortunately, transfer arrangements are all set. Already boarded the steam train with sister】

【After several comparisons, I finally chose to go to Ansu. Although the steam train is slow and doesn’t go directly to Ansu, requiring transfers, overall speed is still much faster than a carriage】

【That’s it for today, mentally exhausted】

“Little Ciel! What’s wrong? Little Ciel!”

Calls echoed beside Ciel’s ear. Ciel, somewhat dazed from the whispers, slowly raised her head and looked at Lichie shaking her shoulders.

“Take me... away from here...” Ciel slowly opened her arms.

Lichie, almost without hesitation, took the canvas bag from Ciel’s hand, held it securely, lifted Ciel directly into a princess carry, and ran away from the train.

Boom—!

Just as they ran less than 10 meters, a section of the train behind them exploded violently. The strong shockwave destabilized Lichie’s figure, causing her to fall forward.

But before hitting the ground, she forcibly twisted her body, hitting the ground with her side back and shoulder, rolling several times without letting Ciel in her arms get hurt.

After this explosion, most of the whispers and wails in Ciel’s mind dissipated instantly. She fully recovered.

The struggling, panicked people were almost all dead.

Ciel quickly got up, picked up the discarded tattered canvas bag and notebook, took Lichie’s hand, and led her up the slope.

Only after crossing the railway tracks and reaching the opposite slope, no longer feeling the heat from behind, did Ciel stop, coughing a few times.

Inhaling too much thick smoke in the carriage earlier made Ciel feel slightly dizzy.

Lichie also stopped, panting. She looked back at the thick smoke and firelight behind them, somewhat uncertain and alarmed.

What... exactly happened just now?

Sister suddenly opened the carriage window, and she inexplicably... flew out, landing steadily on the ground.

But the next second, the train suddenly exploded, derailing entirely, tumbling down the slope before her eyes, erupting into fierce flames almost instantaneously.

Everything happened too quickly for Lichie to react.

By the time she realized her sister was still on the train, her sister had already rushed out of the sea of fire.

It seemed she also saw her sister’s canvas bag fly out of the fire...

“What... exactly happened? Ciel?” Lichie stammered, excessive nervousness making her speech slightly unclear.

Lichie was still reeling from the chain of events earlier, unable to concentrate and think about what occurred.

Ciel, holding the notebook, turned back somewhat puzzled, looking towards the smoke-filled other side.

She also wanted to know what happened.

How did the train suddenly explode and derail? Did someone know her itinerary and plant a bomb to assassinate her?

“Sis, what happened just now?” Ciel looked towards Lichie, squeezed her hand, and slowly asked, “Can you tell me in detail? About what happened on the train.”

-

Hearing Ciel’s calm voice, Lichie seemed infected by Ciel’s composure, her previously panicked emotions gradually stabilizing.

Slowly, Lichie began to speak, recounting everything she could remember after boarding the train to Ciel.

After boarding the train, everything was normal... Apart from a few people coming over wanting to meet Ciel, nothing special happened.

Her simulated self seemed to have used the last 5 Fate Points just before the explosion, sending Lichie outside—most likely using the “Judicator” save file, as only the black shadow could achieve that.

The simulated Ciel, relying on 【Precognitive Sight】’s one-second prediction, saw the explosion happening one second later and used the last moments to send her sister out.

And she herself was knocked unconscious by the thick smoke inside the carriage, nearly burned alive.

Ciel analyzed that it was highly likely the explosion killed the “Judicator” save file. The main body, lacking any ability to escape the fire, was trapped inside and already considered dead by the system, which was why she arrived at this point in time.

She could have chosen to jump out of the carriage herself.

That way, she could have lived a few days longer, investigated a bit more...

Ciel couldn’t blame her simulated self for this emotional action. If it were her, she couldn’t bear to watch Lichie die before her eyes again, especially when she had the power to prevent it.

Regardless, the death of her simulated self caused Ciel’s simulation to advance prematurely, forcibly jumping from the original September 27th to August 9th.

It seemed she couldn’t travel to a time point her simulated self hadn’t experienced yet; she couldn’t go to a time after her simulated self’s death.

Ciel clenched the notebook in her hand, clouds of doubt swirling in her mind, refusing to dissipate.

What exactly happened?

Why was her simulated self so pessimistic today? Why was the investigation making no progress? It wasn’t even that fanatic follower from the Divine Advent Church? Had her simulated self already met the other party?

Ciel desperately wanted to open the notebook and find out, but right now, she had to take her sister to a safe place first.

Sister had seen a small town in the direction they came from earlier. Ciel supported her sister, walking along the railway tracks towards the town. Only after the firelight behind them dwindled to a small dot did Ciel bring Lichie to the town entrance.

After renting a room in the town’s simple inn, Ciel brought her sister inside. After comforting her sister and letting her fall asleep, Ciel sat down beside a wooden table and opened the notebook.

【Saint Year 741, June 23, 17:46】

【Saw the sub-system, left quite a lot of tasks... The me from minutes ago】

【June 23, 21:30】

【Dinner is over, very sumptuous】

【After eating, Avena brought Adele and Amy to the study. Nia briefly introduced the transcendent background to Amy, then listed a checklist for Amy to choose from】

【The list included two paths I hadn’t seen either, “Performer,” “Gardener”... Can’t imagine the abilities just from the names】

【Looks like only the last two paths remain unknown now. Even Avena knows little about them. It seems to be a secret cult existing only in legend, rarely recorded even in books】

【Remember the flowers in Amy’s garden and room?】

【Yes, that’s right, she chose “Gardener,” a potion I wouldn’t have picked just by hearing the name】

【But Avena doesn’t have the “Gardener” potion either. It seems related to a mysterious nature cult. She decided to modify her compensation claim from Deton Manor, asking them to find a bottle of “Gardener” potion including the Reconstitution Ritual】

【That’s it for today. I plan to find sister, let her move into the newly rented house. Avena investigated for me; the landlord has no issues, just an ordinary old lady】

【Presumably tomorrow, the stakeholder groups related to Deton Manor will start investigating the incident. I’ll leave more information then】

The first page ended mid-section here Ciel continued flipping downwards.

【June 24, 12:00】

【Today was supposed to be a long-awaited day off, promised to spend the day with sister, but can’t take leave, still have things to investigate】

【Investigation in simulation is much harder. Sub-system can’t see changes in simulation days, only a deep simulation connecting to the Other Side. I don’t know what consequences my actions might trigger】

【Today I came to the luxurious clinic Avena bought. Because there was no advertising, there weren’t many patients today, much quieter. But Adele was busy concocting new potions】

【Avena’s Reconstitution Ritual progress is slow, but Adele’s speed is much faster—the “Dehydration Syndrome” antidote she made earlier seems to have inadvertently completed most of her “Plague Doctor” Reconstitution Ritual. The potion was bought long ago. Now she has everything ready, just waiting for the right moment】

【Enough talk, going for lunch. Investigation news should arrive this afternoon】

【June 24, 16:50】

【Not many patients this afternoon, but quite a few visitors came to see Avena. Among them, I saw familiar faces】

【First was Lucy Silva, senior commissioner of the Deton Group. She came on behalf of Deton Manor to apologize to the high-level VIP Avena. Compensation plan is still under discussion; she will visit again with the compensation】

【Second and third were “Radiance Bishop” Hugh and “Missionary” Uris. They didn’t recognize me, but I’m very familiar with them. However, when they came, I happened to be helping Adele test medicine and didn’t meet them directly】

【According to Avena, they came to ask if Avena felt anything unusual, and incidentally checked for free if Avena had been brainwashed by cultists. Looks like they are screening people who went to Deton Manor for any missed cultists—must hide Amy well】

【—By the way, if Adele asks you to test medicine, absolutely refuse】

【She insists on saying “I don’t want enemies to be able to directly consume my medicine if they find it,” stopped adding mint, insists on adding poison to the potion. The potion must be drunk together with the antidote, otherwise something bad will happen】

【The fourth visitor was a third-tier old professor from the Redemption Society. He seemed to be Sherlon’s teacher. He didn’t know the Sherlon incident happened at Avena’s house, just came looking for Adele, apologized to her, and hoped she could return to the Redemption Society】

【Besides these four, there was actually a fifth force, but not visiting, Avena actively visited them... Someone from the Royal Family seems to have been sent down to investigate too. This is a major event within Ansu; the Royal Family cannot ignore it】

【You were right, various stakeholder forces started appearing after this incident. The only definite news now is that Deton Manor’s loose ends were handled very cleanly. Besides the cultists, there were no other deaths, only some people with minor or serious injuries】

【They could only trace it back to the Divine Advent Church and the sacrificial ritual. The investigation reached a stalemate】

【The only force that could potentially find something, the Divine Advent Church, hasn’t shown any movement yet】

【Tomorrow night, there seems to be a banquet. These people are gathering to discuss the Deton Manor sacrifice incident. Many transcendents will be invited】

【As the involved party and “local power,” Avena naturally received an invitation. Since this is a simulation anyway, I decided to go along, treat it as investigation】

【Hope things end soon】

Royal Family members too?

An unexpected yet logical force appeared, but it shouldn’t affect the overall situation much.

This banquet, if it were reality, Ciel would absolutely not attend. But her simulated self, for the sake of intelligence, still chose to go with Avena.

They say criminals like returning to the scene of the crime. Ciel didn’t believe it before; now she did.

Up to this point, the events recorded in the notebook were still relatively normal.

Ciel flipped through page by page. When she reached a particular event, she stopped reading, flipped back several pages, her brow furrowed slightly.