Chapter 193: Another Form of Companionship

Chapter 193: Another Form of Companionship

Above the boundless grayish-white fog, Klein’s figure appeared within the ancient palace.

With only a simple glance around, he discovered several differences.

The most obvious was that the state and layout of this mysterious space had been completely projected into his spirit body. Even from very far away, he could see the grayish-white clouds condensed in midair and that strange door of light.

Aside from the palace I manifested and the door of light that already existed, there is nothing here. Empty, boundless, filled with power of an extremely high level… As Klein murmured, he sat down, raised his right hand, and lightly lifted it.

In an instant, the entire gray fog boiled. The mysterious space it carried also trembled inexplicably, emitting dark, dim rays of light one after another.

Those rays gathered together, following Klein’s will to condense into a half-transparent angel with illusory wings on its back—an angel with the corresponding status and power, majestic, holy, and overwhelmingly oppressive.

“No need to attach the Black Emperor card, the Tyrant card, or the Red Priest card. No need to rely on the Sea God Scepter either. By myself, I can pry open the power of this mysterious space to the greatest possible extent and make The Fool’s angel become a true Sequence 2 angel. Of course, this angel cannot respond to prayers, cannot last for long, and only exists in the form of an Embrace and a few attacks. It possesses some powers in the domain of miracles…

“As expected, my ability to resurrect is a bestowment from Sefirah Castle. As for exactly how many times I can still revive, I can’t draw a conclusion yet. If I can obtain a Grade 0 sealed artifact and borrow its status to observe, I should be able to see it clearly… I’ll treat it as one time at most. It’s not a bad thing to underestimate the number. That reminds me to be sufficiently prudent and careful… That is the way Beyonders of the Seer pathway survive…

“What a pity. This kind of ‘miracle’ can temporarily act only on myself…

“Mm. By ‘greatest possible extent,’ I mean only at present. To truly possess and control this mysterious space, I would at least need to become an angel—perhaps even a Sequence 1 angel. As expected of Sefirah Castle. As for that strange door of light, the requirements may be even higher, and I currently can’t tell whether it hides any danger…

“What is the purpose of Sefirah Castle’s existence? To ‘fish up’ transmigrators and revive that original Creator?” Klein gave his right hand a slight shake, causing the holy, powerful angel to dissipate in midair.

The entire Sefirah Castle calmed with it.

Then Klein stood and, in a single step, arrived above the grayish-white cloud condensed in midair, standing before the strange door of light composed of countless light spheres.

That door of light was stained with a little blue-black. The essence of every light sphere was a cluster of transparent and translucent worms coiled together.

Staring at the transparent “cocoons” hanging from one black thread after another, Klein extended his right hand and slowly reached toward the door of light, trying to touch it.

An inch. Two inches. Three inches. His hand finally reached the edge of the door of light, but it passed straight through, as though the door were merely an illusion.

However, compared with his previous attempts, the illusory door of light was obviously a little more viscous, as if it was close to gaining substance.

Is this the object that represents the essence of Sefirah Castle? Klein pondered for several seconds, then turned and returned to the ancient palace.

Without delay, he left above the gray fog and began experimenting with the various abilities he had newly obtained.

“First, I need an honorific name… A Sequence 3 can receive prayers and respond within a region. The scope differs depending on authority. Clearly, Sea King is a type with a relatively large territory… So my honorific name must also have a range restriction. Protector of all poor children in Backlund? That feels strange…

“Mm. Others must have such a restriction, but perhaps I don’t. I can replace it with ‘Blessed of the spirit world and Sefirah Castle.’ At present, I should be the only blessed belonging to both places. That makes it unique enough. That way, as long as someone is in the same city or region as me, they can pray to me through that honorific name.

“If they are not in the same region, there is no way. I cannot split off several Worms of Spirit above the gray fog the way I throw the Sea God Scepter up there, then use Sefirah Castle’s status to respond worldwide… Although I still cannot confirm the relationship between Dark Angel and the ancient Sun God, this is enough to warn me to be careful with avatars and marionettes. And it is not enough to split off only a few. I would have to leave the majority of my Worms of Spirit in Sefirah Castle to achieve such an effect. I simply do not have that ability…

“Right. My mental state is still rather good. I have not developed a split personality or uncontrollably become cold and terrifying. This means that a Scholar of Yore’s imprint in history is their anchor… Also, it was only after the Emperor became an angel that this condition became severe enough that he had to rely on believers as anchors to provide positioning. I am still one major level short… I need to gather information on what can serve as anchors besides believers, just in case…” As thoughts rose and fell in Klein’s mind, he took out paper and pen.

He then wrote the first line of the honorific name:

“Blessed of the spirit world and Sefirah Castle.”

After thinking for a moment, relying on his rich experience and the knowledge fed back by his divine patterns, he wrote the second and third lines:

“Mystery originating from ancient times;

“Witness of a long history.”

Because Sequence 3s were not true gods and could not use a three-line description, Klein thought it over and added two more lines:

“Protector of magic and theatrical performances in Backlund;

“The great Gehrman Sparrow.”

In fact, non-true gods could also use three-line descriptions, but one of the lines had to borrow the status of a true god—for example, Klein could use “Blessed of the Evernight Goddess.” Under such circumstances, the essence would be closer to a summoning incantation than an honorific name for prayer, similar to a messenger. And if the messenger was a spirit world creature, even the restriction of which true god they were blessed by would be unnecessary. Because of that, what was summoned was often unknown and quite dangerous.

After repeated consideration, Klein controlled his marionette Enyuni and had him recite the honorific name he had just written in ancient Hermes.

Several seconds later, Klein raised his right hand and rubbed his forehead, his expression rather strange.

He had not “heard” the prayer.

“What is wrong with this honorific name?” Klein examined it very seriously several times and gradually formed an idea. “I may not be the only blessed of the spirit world and Sefirah Castle. The Fog Hounds count too… A restriction must be added…”

After modification, his marionette Enyuni once again recited in ancient Hermes:

“Blessed of the spirit world and Sefirah Castle;

“Mystery originating from ancient times;

“Witness of a long history;

“Protector of magic and theatrical performances in Backlund;

“The great Gehrman Sparrow.

“I pray for Your blessing. I pray that You illuminate the darkness before me.”

No sooner had Enyuni finished speaking than Klein heard his prayer. Furthermore, only a few Worms of Spirit heard it, and it did not affect his main body’s actions at all.

This is different from prayers relayed by Sefirah Castle. It is very clear… With a thought, Klein’s Worms of Spirit responded according to rules he had set in advance.

With a whoosh, a ball of fire surged up before the marionette Enyuni’s eyes. It floated in midair and illuminated the entire room.

Not bad… If praying in Hermes, one must set up a ritual and draw the symbol… As for essential oils and herbs, having them is fine, not having them is also fine. Am I someone who can be pleased by such things? The symbol will be composed of a scroll representing history, a complete eye representing witness, and curved lines symbolizing change… Klein had no immediate plan to spread this honorific name. After all, it would announce that Gehrman Sparrow had become a Sequence 3, causing him to lose a trump card. Besides, he already had the two identities of Sea God and The Fool. A new honorific name was not especially important.

Snap!

Klein snapped his fingers, igniting the paper on which Gehrman Sparrow’s honorific name had been written.

“A Scholar of Yore also has methods to create fog and lower temperature, but those are not core abilities… Next, I need to try summoning projections from the historical void. Who should I choose first?” Amid silent murmuring, Klein suddenly sighed.

He then half-closed his eyes. With the aid of divinity, he allowed part of his spirit body to enter the gray fog and roam through history.

Following the various positions he had previously established, Klein instantly arrived before a speck of light.

Within that speck of light was a spacious, bright room with two rows of French windows. Inside, a man wearing a dark-red coat embroidered with golden thread stood by the window, gazing toward the place where the sun was setting.

He appeared only in his thirties, with slightly curled chestnut hair, blue eyes, a high nose bridge, thin lips, and two carefully groomed little mustaches. He was rather handsome.

Roselle Gustav.

…

In the North Borough, on a street, a young man with a thin face, a broad forehead, and a monocle sat in a roadside café, holding a fountain pen and thinking earnestly.

He raised his other hand and pinched the monocle, then finally lowered the pen and wrote a line:

“Blessed of the spirit world and Sefirah Castle…”

Then the fountain pen stopped again, as though he had not yet decided what to write next.

…

In East Borough, inside a two-bedroom rented apartment, Klein took out his gold-cased pocket watch and flipped it open for a glance.

He had already made an appointment with Miss Sharron and Maric to meet that night inside an unoccupied house.

After thinking, Klein raised his right hand and reached into the air before him.

A brass-colored key of ancient design instantly appeared in his palm.

This was the Master Key that had once helped him defeat the Wraith Steve and prevent the True Creator’s descent—the key that allowed one, on full moon nights, to hear Mr. Door’s ravings.

Now, Klein had summoned it back from the historical void, and it could be maintained for ten minutes.

“Heh. To a Scholar of Yore, any item that one has possessed and used, whether it was ultimately sold, returned, destroyed, or lost for various reasons, is never truly lost. It has merely changed into another form of companionship at the Scholar of Yore’s side…” Looking at the Master Key in his hand, Klein sighed inwardly with some satisfaction.

With this item, as long as Klein could master the corresponding ritual, he could also speak directly with Mr. Door.

Putting away the Master Key, he put on a double-breasted wool coat, wore his silk top hat, picked up his gold-inlaid cane, and walked out of the room.