1105 The Key Diary Entry (1/2)
Above the grayish-white that wasn't perturbed at all, Klein silently sat at the end of the long, mottled table, like a stone statue that had existed for hundreds of thousands of years.
Regarding the discovery he had just now, he felt a deep sense of fear from the bottom of his heart. He felt a chill rush out from the back of his head, spreading across his entire body, bringing with it obvious yet real shudders.
It was as if he had witnessed a familiar friend become a stranger in a very short span of time. His actions were abnormal, as though he had been replaced by someone else.
Of course, there was a clearer and more direct analogy in this aspect: It would be Leonard Mitchell coming to visit and discuss the matter regarding Pallez Zoroast as a monocle is suddenly taken out and then put on.
Could it be that the emperor was unknowingly corrupted after his ascension to the crimson moon, and he didn't notice it at all? He usually didn't show any abnormalities. Only through reminiscing about his past through his diary entries, analyzing his inner voice, and talking to himself would certain premonitions surface in his mind? Or could it be that this was a form of hypnosis by Adam? But Roselle was at least a Sequence 1 when that happened... Klein couldn't help but lower his head to inspect himself. He imagined how another version of himself existed in his body without realizing it. He wasn't sure if this entity could be called a ”human.”
This truly is an extreme sense of horror... Klein slowly took a deep breath and forced himself to focus his attention on the diary pages of Emperor Roselle.
Soon, he discovered something worth reading:
”28th July. I attended that ancient secret organization's gathering once again.
”From the discussions among the members, I sensed a problem:
”Is it because I advanced too quickly that I'm relatively inexperienced? There are many things that I have never heard of before?
”Just like how they mentioned about the corruption from the cosmos and underground. This is the first time I know of their existence!
”Heh heh, I wonder how many of them are 'He's1 or 'She's.' Apart from a minority of the members, most of them don't like others knowing their levels.
”While others are communicating with each other, I asked Old Mister Hermes with a whisper, hoping to understand more about the corruption that stems from the cosmos and underground.
Hermes told me that this isn't something I can come into contact with at my current level. Just learning about it alone will cause me to be corrupted!
”It's actually that scary? What could it be? I'm even more intrigued.
”That old mister later told me that the corruption that originates from underground can be ignored because it will fade with time. A long time ago, in the era when the ancient gods were active, powerful creatures had attempted to resolve this problem completely. In the end, it made things worse and caused tremendous losses. Later, they gave up on the idea of directly exerting influence, and they switched focus to sealing and guarding it.
”From that day forth, although accidents happened occasionally, it was stable overall. Today, even if there are no seals or guards, as long as no one comes close and tries to go deeper, there won't be any incidents of corruption.
”What a surprising situation. It appears it doesn't require the protagonist of this era to resolve this problem.
”Old Mister Hermes mentioned the cosmos again and said that the situation there is more complicated, interesting, and more dangerous than I imagined. 'He' said that even a Sequence 2 angel doesn't have much knowledge of the cosmos. 'They' only have a general understanding of it. 'They' aren't aware that, apart from the dangers, there are too many other things. If it wasn't for the fact that 'He' once knew an existence that was good at wandering the cosmos and learned plenty of matters from that person, he wouldn't be able to tell me all of that.
”I was very curious, but I didn't hold much hope when I asked about the existence who was adept at wandering the cosmos.
”Old Mister Hermes didn't hide the truth. He said that it was Mr. Door, Bethel Abraham.
”Mr. Door... I pretended not to know anything and asked about that person's level in a very casual tone.
”Hermes didn't answer directly. 'He' only said that in the Fourth Epoch, even angels and demigods would address 'Him' by 'His' name in private. 'Those' who could make everyone address 'Them' by their titles are in a small minority—of which, Mr. Door was one of 'Them'—aside from Evernight, Storm, Earth, and the other deities.
”Is that so... Mr. Door's level really isn't low.”
The corruption that stems from underground will naturally fade with time? Arrodes, said that the gray fog gives it a feeling that resembles that of an object from underground... It hopes that I can explore the underground world after I return to my throne of divinity. As for Lucca Brewster, he's certain that the higher the Sequence, the greater the danger the underground world will bring... Klein tapped the edge of the long, mottled table with his fingers. He was increasingly puzzled about what was happening underground.
Fortunately, Hermes's description, the state of the abandoned castle, and the attitude of the Evemight Goddess seemed to indicate that the corruption that stems from underground would naturally dissipate. Leaving it alone was the best solution.
Phew, then I shall temporarily put aside my worries regarding the underground world... Hermes's words and the bronze door deep in the City of Miracles corroborate with each other. The Dragon of Imagination Ankewelt had really tried to resolve the problem of the underground world, but ended up with fear and trauma... From the looks of it, the greatest possibility for the coming of the apocalypse is probably from the cosmos, and my current Sequence doesn't qualify me to know of it... Amidst his thoughts, Klein sighed as he continued flipping through the diary pages in his hand.
After reading a few pages, his eyes suddenly lit up and locked onto one of the pages.
”31st December. The end of a year is the most suitable time to make a resolution and start a new story.
”I've already thought of where the eight secret mausoleums should be built. I'm just clueless about the last one.