Chapter 57: Organization and Summary

After pausing for a moment, Klein continued writing.

"The essence to resolving the problems with potions is through

digestion, not simply controlling it. This can be understood in a

straightforward manner.

"Merely controlling it would be akin to using the power of potions as an

external tool. A tamed beast no matter how well controlled would

ultimately not be a part of a person. The risk of it turning on them

would be ever present. As for digestion, it is to view the downed potion

as a part of them. They can break it down, fuse with it, absorb it, and

form an overall system.

"I am currently certain of this point. What is more important is how

'acting' helps in digestion.

"According to my experience as a Seer today, I can make two hypotheses.

They can be verified in the future."

"One: Acting based on the potion's name changes the state of one's body,

heart, and soul, making them closer to the remnant headstrong psyche of

the potion's core. This results in resonance which allows gradual

assimilation and absorption.

"Two: The remnant headstrong psyche spirit of the magic medicine might

be like a computer with complete defensive mechanisms. If one wishes to

attack it and break it down, they will need to find a bug, security

hole, or key. The name of the potion provides a corresponding clue;

thus, we can disguise our body, heart, and soul as 'part of the system'

through acting, and so we deceive the system's defenses. This line of

thought is similar to Emperor Roselle's description.

"No matter which guess is right, there is no escaping the body, heart,

and soul, for they are the only bridge between acting and the power of

potions."

Klein put down his pen and looked at the paragraph of text. For a

moment, he even wanted to thank the education he received from the

Foodaholic Empire.

No matter if he chose science or engineering for his further education,

he was equipped with the basics of logical thought. Otherwise, there was

no way he could have become a keyboard warrior, nor would he have been

able to analyze his current situation.

"Acting might have an effect, but we'll have to wait and see for the

specifics," Klein guessed.

After that, he wrote down his second question.

"Why would a Seer, being more well-learned and professional in the

domain of mysticism, be lacking in means when it comes to direct combat?

Wouldn't being more well-learned and professional make a Seer even more

powerful, giving them the ability to discover a way to defeat their

enemies?

"The reasons could be...

"First, just like the web novels I've read in the past, I have

transmigrated to a game world that has become reality. Thus, different

'jobs' come with different specialties that have to be balanced against

each other. But up to this point, there has been no sign of this world

being a game, nor are there signs of mission-like developments. I'll put

this reason on hold, but it's very unlikely.

"Second, the fundamental law of this world is balance. The Creator made

this world with the core idea of balance.

"Third, potions at the same Sequence level would have the same level of

power. It is the most optimal state based on what our forefathers found

out and summarized. Exceeding this level of power would make it easier

for one to collapse and lose control. Below this level of power would

make it such that one would not obtain the desired Beyonder powers.

Thus, under the situation of a balanced power level, being stronger in

one area would naturally mean that one is weaker in another area.

"Fourth, everything in this world originated from the same source; they

were formed by the remnants of the Creator. Thus, everything in this

world is technically fragments of the Creator, and the fact that they

have to complement each other would mean that there are inherent

shortcomings to an individual.

"I am leaning towards the third and fourth reasons, but the latter stems

from an unconfirmed myth and can only serve as a guide.

"Thus, I shall use the third reason as a guide, and try to ascertain it

using my current knowledge and future studies."

At this point, Klein had already written two full pages but did not

stop. Instead, he penned a new question.

"From what I learned today, my luck enhancement ritual is categorized as

a classic ritualistic magic.

"Similar kinds of ritualistic magic can be split into three parts, the

first being a sacrifice that sparks the interest of a corresponding

existence. The second is comprised of incantations specifically

describing the existence in question. The third is using simple

formatting and symbols to convey what one is asking for.

"Using this as a benchmark to analyze the luck enhancement ritual,

there's an obvious problem. "There is no third part!

"It has the sacrifice aspect in the placement of staple foods and

walking a square in a counterclockwise manner with four steps. There is

also a clear indication who the incantation is for, such as the phrase,

'The Immortal Lord of Heaven and Earth for Blessings.'

"But all I did after was close my eyes and wait. There was nothing in

the ritual that described the goal of enhancing my luck.

"In other words, the corresponding existence has no way of knowing what

the so-called luck enhancement ritual is asking for, and can only do as

they see fit... Do as they see fit...

"What a troll! Isn't that darn 'Quintessential Divination and Arcane

Arts of the Qin and Han Dynasty' too much of a troll?

"I must have had rocks in my head back then for trying..."

Klein stopped writing and took two deep breaths, trying hard to calm

himself down.

He spat out a foul breath and continued writing.

"I can consider re-designing the ritual, making it more complete. The

motive of the ritual shall be to return to Earth, back to the world with

my parents and friends.

"Then here comes the question: was the entity truly acting on a whim? Or

is there a deeper meaning to it?

"Also, is the entity that the descriptive incantations point towards in

this world the same one from Earth?

"If so, the difference in results between the first and second ritual

could be explained as the entity doing as it wishes. But the results of

me appearing above the gray fog during the second and third time, while

being able to connect to Justice and The Hanged Man has basically no

differences. Why would that be so?

"If the fourth ritual tomorrow afternoon shows me the same stable

results, that would mean that the effects are consistent. That would

mean that the unknown entity has an agenda I do not know about. If that

is the case, adding new descriptions and requests would not get me a

clear response. In fact, it might complicate the ritual and result in

adverse effects.

"Would the difference between the first ritual and the subsequent

rituals---under the premise that the entity I called upon is the same

one---mean that the results would be different depending on the world

I'm in? It is like I am using a different interface...

"Then how can I design it to obtain my desired outcome?

"If I think that the entities behind the first and subsequent rituals

are different, some of the questions can be perfectly answered. But

similarly, the stability of the results in the second and third rituals

would mean that the entity I am praying to has a certain agenda, and

there is no way I can change that for the time being.

"The most important question is the identity of the entity that the

ritual is directed. Where is He, and why doesn't He give me any clues or

guidance?

"Could He be deep in the world of fog?

"Hmm, can I treat Him as an entity in slumber, an entity that would give

fixed responses if I give Him a certain stimulus, but would not

interfere with what I do other than that?

"Then I can introduce a different ritual as a stimulus and conclude

whether the feedback I receive is regular. That way, I can find the

correct method of returning.

"But the problem lies in the possibility that He is not asleep. In that

case, such tests might result in terrifying outcomes. It might be really

dangerous.

"The first attempt must be conducted with extreme caution. The design

must not anger the being...

"What a headache. I need more knowledge."

Klein sighed and gave a summary.

Finally, he wrote down other miscellaneous items.

"There are always formless voices resonating in my ears, shouting

'Hornacis and... uh, was it saying Frygrea or Feygrea?

"Hornacis is the mountain range dividing the Loen Kingdom and the Intis

Republic. Its main peak is six thousand meters above sea level.

"According to the records in the Antigonus family's diary, there existed

a Nation of the Evernight in the Fourth Epoch. Is the Nation of the

Evernight related to the Evernight Goddess---is there any connection

between the two? Are they allies or enemies? Was the Antigonus family

obliterated by the Church of Evernight due to Nation of the Evernight?

"Did I hear murmurings coming from the diary, from the howls of the

Antigonus family over one or two thousand years?

"What then does Frygrea, uh---Flegrea mean?

"An interesting question. To be able to leave behind such a diary, to

leave behind Sealed Artifact 2-049 implies that the Antigonus family had

possession of a relatively powerful Beyonder power. If that is so, which

Sequence did they possess? Was it complete or not complete?

"My realization that the diary is in the hands of Ray Bieber was a bit

of a coincidence, but without any indication of it being arranged, could

my fate really be tied up with that diary's?"

His ideas were penned on the pieces of paper. Klein tried his best to

write down the events he had experienced and his guesses about their

meaning.

He wrote a total of four pages on both sides of each paper.

Rip! Klein suddenly tore off the four pages and read them from

top to bottom, sometimes marking certain sections with his pen, adding a

few sentences at other times.

Time flew quickly. The crimson moon was temporarily covered by dark

clouds. Klein picked up the pocket watch on the table, snapped it open,

and looked at the time.

He put down the watch and took out a box of matches from his drawer. He

lit one and brought it close to the four pages of notes.

The orange flame ignited the edges of the paper and quickly spread.

Klein placed the notes on top of the wooden dustbin and watched the

ashes drop.

He then released his fingers, allowing the papers to fall. In just ten

seconds, everything had disappeared. All that was left was the

still-swirling ash and the charred bottom of the dustbin.

As there was Emperor Roselle's secret diary in this world, Klein did not

dare leave behind any evidence that he knew how to write Chinese---if

Old Neil and the rest discovered the four pieces of paper he wrote, he

would have no idea how to explain the matter.

And while writing the confidential questions, Klein was worried that the

one paying attention to his dreams would be able to see and decipher the

contents no matter which language he used, be it Loen, ancient Feysac,

or Hermes. Therefore, he could only write notes in Chinese to organize

and summarize. After he was done with the task, he burned the notes to

leave no traces.

And precisely because there was no way of saving, he set up a plan for

himself. He would do this summary once a week just in case he forgot

anything.

As he watched the ashes fall, Klein pulled out a white piece of paper.

He wrote the title: "To my respected mentor,"

He wanted to write to Senior Associate Professor Quentin Cohen, asking

if he had any relevant historical information about the main peak of the

Hornacis mountain range.