Chapter 1105: The Key Diary Entry
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been replaced by someone else.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's' 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.
"This has to be more covert than the eight previous ones, or else it
will be meaningless.
"After a long thought, I thought of a place: The nameless island where
Grimm was buried.
"Of course, the Abyss is also an option. However, I can't find a living
Devil in the area that I can enter, so I can't force them to become my
citizens and help me build a mausoleum. Ordinary humans can't survive
there, and even powerful Beyonders will find it difficult to resist the
corrosive properties of the Abyss itself.
"Regardless, the environment on that nameless island seems like a pretty
good choice.
"Heh, the Princes of Abolition in the Fourth Epoch's understanding of
citizens is too limited. The rule of an Emperor is not only limited to
humans and humanoid creatures; all living things should be my subjects!
"And there are many extraordinary creatures on that nameless island with
no intelligence. They have long worshiped and followed me. I can totally
drive them into building a secret mausoleum.
"When I wrote this, I suddenly recalled that experience. Because I
dreamed of Grimm, I brought Edwards, Benjamin, and the others back to
this nameless island and discovered that those extraordinary creatures
lived together in harmony. They were gathered together and holding a
ritual, and amongst them was the deceased Grimm.
"I was indeed shocked back then. I felt a fear that I hadn't felt in a
long time, and everything appeared extremely bizarre.
That time, William and Poli died. Only Edwards and Benjamin survived. If
I hadn't already become powerful and controlled a Grade 0 Sealed
Artifact, everyone would've perished along with them.
The power of those Beyonder creatures that affected that nameless island
actually came from the cosmos, and those who were corrupted would return
to the source after dying.
Thankfully, the power from the cosmos could only project a small portion
of it into the real world. I finally solved the problem and made that
nameless island my secret base.
"Now, it's time to use it!"
After reading the diary, Klein didn't feel exhilarated that he had
correctly guessed where Emperor Roselle's final mausoleum was. Instead,
he frowned slightly.
This was, on the one hand, because the corruption caused by the cosmos
had truly appeared "in front of him." On the other hand, the nameless
island wasn't that secretive. Other than the emperor, there were also
the two survivors, Edwards and Benjamin. It didn't meet Roselle's
requirements of complete secrecy.
Before this, did Edwards and Benjamin pass away normally, resulting in
them being unable to divulge any secrets, or was it that, after Roselle
successfully built the mausoleum, he made these two subordinates stay on
the island forever, resolving the problem of spirit channeling? Of
course, if Roselle had the corresponding Sealed Artifacts or Beyonder
powers, he could also make them completely lose the corresponding
memories... After a moment of silence, Klein flipped through the diary
pages again in search of the coordinates to the nameless island.
However, he didn't see the corresponding content when he reached the
last page. Instead, there was a diary entry that vaguely revealed some
of Roselle's thoughts in his later years.
"27th December. I've been feeling uneasy recently because I have no
confidence in what will happen next.
"I no longer yearn for help. I'm very satisfied if they can remain
neutral.
"I have put myself in the most dangerous situation. This is an act of me
taking initiative, but it is also a choice due to a lack of options.
"Sometimes, I'm very confused. How did I end up like this?
"Was I too extreme, or was this the only thing I could do?
"No, at this point in time, I can't be confused anymore. Apart from
affecting my mindset and making the already slim chances even slimmer,
it's meaningless.
"Now that I've reached this point, I can only continue on. If I succeed,
it will naturally be sunshine and rainbows.
"Heh heh, all my hopes are placed on one sentence:
"Life is possible by being in death's embrace!"
From the looks of it, the emperor really chose the method of making use
of one's revival after death to escape the madness and corruption...
This is simply crazy. It's like he's playing a game of Russian roulette
with all six chambers filled, hoping that one of the rounds misfire...
People who don't like going to the extremes, or those who are good at
coming up with all kinds of strange ideas, wouldn't consider the
viability of this method... Perhaps it's because the enemy can't guess
it that this might give the emperor a sliver of a chance of living...
Klein leaned back into his chair as he silently sat in the ancient
palace for a while.
After he slowly recovered his scattered thoughts, he considered how to
find the nameless island.
I remember that the person who visited the nameless island, Benjamin,
seems to be from the Abraham family. This can be asked via Miss Magician...
Yes, I'll be meeting her soon. There's no need to specially get The Fool
to pass the message...
I'll get Queen Mystic to ask the descendants of Edwards, William, and
Poli. That will be more suitable...
With this in mind, he surveyed the area and sighed before disappearing
above the gray fog.