Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

"Of course, I'm equally grateful for Mr. Fool's leniency. After all, I deliberately used some 'garbled' diary entries to test Him before, yet He merely reprimanded me by providing a new interpretation of 'little girl' and teaching me how to write dates...

"This is truly a 'God of Justice' who genuinely believes in 'equivalent exchange.'

"Praise 'The Fool'!" Ebner praised again.

Those garbled pages were intentional? I hadn't thought about it that way before... So, those scandalous stories of Roselle were also intentional, right? At least, they weren't carefully filtered...

Fortunately, the persona I established is that of a deity who adheres to the principle of 'equivalent exchange.' Naturally, when receiving such diaries from others, I wouldn't refuse Mr. Tower's...

Otherwise, this alone would have made him suspicious... No, he must have been suspicious, otherwise, he wouldn't have tested me... It must have been the few 'miracles' I performed afterward that dispelled his doubts, right?

However, the Evernight Goddess, the Mother Goddess of Earth, and the Vampire Ancestor might know my true background, but they don't seem to have told 'Tower'...

Moreover, even though they are closely related to Liu Bo, they clearly haven't told Mr. Tower that things like the 'Seal of Calamity,' Duke Rhine, and 'Lord of the Undead' Vicente Miranda are also 'Liu Bo.'"

Perhaps this is for Mr. Tower's protection? He shouldn't know this information yet?

Klein forced himself to shift his focus and analyze and speculate, to avoid revealing any unusual expressions due to "shame."

This didn't last long. Once Ebner stopped his "praise," Klein said seriously: "Mr. Fool, though lenient, His leniency is not limitless."

"I understand," Ebner responded solemnly, then extended his hand with a smile. "Let's formally introduce ourselves. My name is Liu Bo. What do I call you?"

It really is you, Liu Bo! Hearing Ebner introduce himself, Klein had no more excuses this time. While sighing inwardly, he also extended his hand and shook the other's, saying, "Zhou Mingrui... I transmigrated in 2018. What about you?"

"2021," Ebner replied without hiding.

2021... Why did he transmigrate so late, yet appear in this world during the early Fourth Epoch? Are the timelines of the two worlds perhaps misaligned? Klein's heart trembled slightly; he dared not think too deeply, but he hesitated and still asked, "Do you know the reason for our transmigration?"

Upon hearing this, Ebner shook his head: "I'm not quite clear how I transmigrated, but it should be similar to the methods of other transmigrators like the 'Seal of Calamity,' Daniel, and Duke Rhine... It should be different from you and Roselle, and also different from the Creator in Silver City."

This is similar to what Old Huang said and what was recorded in Roselle's diary about the 'Seal of Calamity'... However, the Creator of Silver City? Was that Ancient Sun God really a transmigrator? No wonder he named his sons Adam and Amon, and influenced by him, the religions of this world are similar to the Western churches of my previous life...

But... our transmigration methods are different? In what way? Klein thought this and asked.

Ebner thought for a moment, then pretended to ask Mr. Fool for permission to speak.

Klein was speechless, but he cooperated, having the "hidden" "Fool's" marionette emit a voice: "You may."

Only then did Ebner organize his words: "To my knowledge, you, Roselle, and the Evernight Goddess transmigrated by relying on 'Sefirah Castle'... while that Ancient Sun God emerged from the 'Sea of Chaos'..."

"The Evernight Goddess is also a transmigrator?" Klein was instantly dumbfounded, even his "Clown" ability couldn't mask his astonishment. Then, he suddenly understood, musing:

No wonder the Evernight Goddess paid attention to me as soon as I transmigrated... So, She also has the same origin... But She has already become a deity, yet hasn't returned to Her homeland... Is it impossible even for deities?

Since the Evernight Goddess is a transmigrator, what about Lilith, whose name is even more "suspicious"? Is the Vampire Ancestor also one?

Also, I heard the name 'Sefirah Castle' again... What does it refer to? This gray fog space, or that luminous door I can't enter?

With thoughts rapidly swirling, Klein first asked if Lilith was a transmigrator.

But Ebner wasn't sure either, and could only sigh: "I can't be certain... She seems very good to me, but the feeling I get from her is somewhat ethereal; I don't know where that goodness comes from... So I haven't found an opportunity to ask."

Is there a possibility that you had interactions with her in your previous life or lives? Hmm, from this, it seems Mr. Tower truly doesn't have memories of his past lives yet.

Klein also had no intention of telling him that Rhine, Miranda, "Seal of Calamity," etc., were all Liu Bo. After all, even the Vampire Ancestor, the Mother Goddess of Earth, and the Evernight Goddess, who were closely related to him, hadn't told him. This indicates that Mr. Tower shouldn't know this now, and if I blab, there might be adverse changes...

Of course, taking the opportunity to collect some "dirt" on Mr. Tower is just a side benefit and not worth mentioning.

"What is 'Sefirah Castle'?" Klein asked again, having processed a series of bombshell revelations.

"This place is 'Sefirah Castle'... or rather, within the scope of 'Sefirah Castle'! As for what it is..." Ebner paused, then meaningfully said: "The answer to that question isn't cheap, but since we're fellow countrymen recognizing each other today, I'll give you a discount..."

"What do you want?" Klein asked in a deep voice.

At the same time, he prayed to the Evernight Goddess, hoping "Tower" wouldn't demand too high a price.

"It's not troublesome. You should know that the 'Book of Concealment' is with me. Its essence is actually a 'Time Worm,' well, a dead 'Time Worm'...

"Currently, there's one left in the book, but utilizing it requires a ritual like the one in the 'Ritual Chamber,' which is very troublesome... So, I'd like you, as 'The Fool's' favored one, to ask Mr. Fool to help me turn it into a 'Concealment Charm.'"

"The specific method is recorded in the 'Book of Concealment.'" Ebner stated his request.

"Concealment Charm"? Klein remained outwardly calm, but was quite interested inwardly. However, he remembered his identity, so he only replied faintly: "I will consult Mr. Fool about it."

This Attendant of Mysteries act... Tsk! Ebner praised him inwardly, then nodded and said, "Your word is enough."

With that, he organized his thoughts and said:

"Unlike the creation myths of various Churches, to my knowledge, the original Creator left behind nine different entities. Some are kingdoms, some are cities, some are rivers, some are oceans, some are keys. 'Sea of Chaos' and 'Sefirah Castle' are among them.

"These nine entities might be related to the 'Original Sefirot' recorded on the second 'Blasphemy Slate.'

"The black viscous liquid we saw on the first floor of the 'Dream Labyrinth Tower,' and the contamination Xio experienced earlier, were actually just phantoms of the 'Sea of Chaos.'

"If you want to know more, you can ask Arrodes...

"I happen to have a secret art for 'summoning' it."

Klein was originally pondering the "Original Sefirot," but hearing the last sentence, he couldn't help but inwardly complain: Are all you Mysticism Magisters so enthusiastic about promoting these socially embarrassing spells? Stuart of the Church of Storms is like this, and so are you...

But unfortunately, Arrodes is very "obedient" in front of me; I don't need a secret art to find it... You should teach your "Vice Admiral Iceberg" that spell instead!

"Is all transmigration related to 'Original Sefirot'? Could it be that your reason for transmigration is also some kind of 'Original Sefirot'?" Klein speculated after a period of contemplation.

"Perhaps..." Ebner didn't actually know what was behind the "Eye of Pure White."

But his reason for transmigration definitely wasn't an "Original Sefirot."

After this topic, the two fell silent for a while before Klein brought up the conversation again, briefly mentioning the contents of Daly's report to Ebner and asking about the Evernight Goddess's attitude.

Earlier, Klein was somewhat wary, but after hearing that She was also a transmigrator like himself, his guard was somewhat lowered.

And "Tower" had even extracted the fact that the Evernight Goddess was a transmigrator, clearly indicating an unusual relationship with Her, and he must know something.

The Evernight Goddess took "Tower" away after the Great Smog; I even worried for a while... Now that I think about it, I was probably overthinking it...

Thinking this, Klein felt a bit regretful, believing he had underestimated Liu Bo's "ability."

Ebner, however, was unaware that Klein was inwardly "slandering" him. He was first surprised by Daly's pregnancy, but then relieved, as with Daly and Dunn constantly together, not getting pregnant would be strange.

Then he thought about the task the Evernight Goddess assigned regarding entering the Chanis Gate, as well as the state of the Land of Evernight after he had "cleansed" it with his "Pale Flame," and confidently told Klein: "Without a doubt, this is the Evernight Goddess's reward for you.

"It just comes with some trials."

Although he wasn't sure why the Evernight Goddess bothered with this extra step, Ebner believed She certainly had Her reasons.

"I see..." Klein nodded. He didn't know that entering the Chanis Gate would send him to the Land of Evernight; he only thought the reward was the Antigonus family's notebook.

As for the trials, he thought it might be "obstacles" deliberately set up because he had informed the Earth Mother.

"Oh, by the way, did you receive the Evernight Goddess's reward?" Klein asked casually, then felt he had asked a superfluous question, as surely if the Evernight Goddess gave a reward, it would be to him first.

"Yes, the Evernight Goddess reimbursed me for a 600,000-pound bill..."

Ebner answered with a smile, and as expected, saw Klein's mouth slowly fall open.

A 600,000-pound bill? What did you buy that cost so much? And the Evernight Goddess actually "reimbursed" it?!

Should I say, as expected of "the Evernight Goddess's kept man"?

But why am I so envious... I even somewhat understand Roselle's feelings now!

Klein took a few deep breaths, skipped this "sad" topic, and instead started talking about his arrangements for Dunn and Daly: "I want to prepare a rich man's identity for Dunn, so he can marry Madam Daly under that identity and interact normally with the priests of St. Samuel Cathedral.

"When I return to Backlund in the future, I can take over this identity and naturally inquire about how to enter the Chanis Gate...

"If this identity isn't exposed even after that, I can use it to enter the upper echelons of Loen and uncover the truth behind the Great Smog!"

This plan previously had a flaw: Dunn and Daly would be implicated if exposed...

But now, since the Evernight Goddess is "one of us," there are no worries. The Evernight Goddess will surely make arrangements then.

"I've given this identity a name...

"It's called Dwayne Dantès."