Chapter 57

[AI ERROR / SAFETY BLOCK - RAW ENGLISH RETAINED]

After pausing for a moment, Klein continued writing.

Digestion is the essence of resolving problems with potions, not merely control. This can be understood in a straightforward manner.

Merely controlling a potion is akin to using its power as an external tool, like a tamed beast. No matter how well-controlled or practiced I become, it would ultimately not be a part of me, increasing the risk of backfire. In contrast, digestion means viewing the consumed potion as part of myself— to break it down, incorporate it, absorb it, and become one with it.

I am currently certain of this point. What is more important is why “acting” helps in digestion.

According to my experience as a Seer today, I can propose two hypotheses to be verified in the future.

1.Roleplaying based on the potion's name changes the state of one's body, mind, and soul, bringing them closer to the remaining stubborn spirit of the potions core. This resonance allows gradual assimilation and absorption.

2.The residual spirit at the core of the potion is like a computer with a complete defensive mechanism. If one wishes to invade, breach, and break it down, one must find a bug, a backdoor, or a key. The name of the potion reveals the corresponding clue. Thus, through acting, we can disguise our body, mind, and soul as “part of the system, ” defeating its defenses and sauntering through the door. This line of thought is similar to Emperor Roselle’s description.

No matter which hypothesis is correct, one cannot ignore the state of the body, mind, and soul, for they are the only bridge between acting and the power of potions.

Klein put down his pen and reviewed the paragraph. For a moment, he was almost thankful for the exam-oriented education he received from the Foodaholic Empire. Whatever the case, whether he had chosen science or engineering for his postsecondary education, he possessed the basic skills of logic. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to become a keyboard warrior, nor would he have been able to analyze his current situation.

Acting might really be effective, but we’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.

Klein made a brief conclusion for this point. After that, he wrote down his second question.

It’s a strange description. Why would a Seer, despite being more knowledgeable in the breadth and depth of mysticism, necessarily lack means when it comes to direct combat? Wouldn’t being more well-learned and professional make a Seer more powerful and more likely to find a way to defeat their enemies?

The possible reasons are as follows.

1.Just like in the web novels I’ve read in the past, I have transmigrated to a game world that has become reality. Thus, different “classes” must be differentiated while still maintaining However, up to this point, there has been no sign of stats in this world or any mission-like developments. I’ll put this reason on hold, but it seems very unlikely.

2.The fundamental law of this world is balance. The Creator designed this world with the core idea of equilibrium.

3.Different Sequence potions of the same rank exist on the same energy level. These represent the most optimal states our forerunners discovered through exploration and evaluation. Exceeding this energy level would make it easier to lose control; falling too short would render one unable to obtain the desired extraordinary powers. Thus, when the energy level is consistent and finite, being stronger in one aspect naturally means being weaker in another.

4.Everything in this world originated from the same source; they all evolved from the Creator. Thus, we are all fragmented parts of the Creator, and the fact that we must complement each other means that each one has inherent shortcomings.

I am leaning toward the third and fourth reasons, but the latter stems from an unconfirmed myth and can only serve as a reference.

Thus, I shall use the third reason as a guide and try to verify it through my current studies and future discoveries.

At this point, Klein had already written two full pages. But he did not stop. Instead, he began summarizing a new idea:

From what I learned today, my luck-enhancement ritual is categorized as a classic form of ritualistic magic.

Similar kinds of ritualistic magic can be split into three parts. The first part is a sacrifice that pleases or sparks the interest of a corresponding entity. The second is an incantation that specifically describes the entity in question. The third is the practical aspect of one's request, which must be verbalized using a set format of words and representative symbols.

Using this as a benchmark to analyze the luck-enhancement ritual reveals an obvious problem: There is no third part!

It includes the sacrificial ceremony—a step involving the placement of staple foods and walking a square in a counterclockwise manner with four steps. There is also an incantation step that clearly indicates who the request is for, as in 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 that explicitly stated that turning my luck around was the goal of the ritual.

In other words, the corresponding entity has no way of knowing what the so-called luck-enhancement ritual is asking for and would have to improvise... Improvise...?

What a troll! TheQuintessential Secret Divinations of the Qin and Han Dynastyis too much of a darn troll!

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

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

He exhaled sharply and continued writing.

I can consider redesigning the ritual to make it more complete. The goal of the ritual shall be to return to Earth, where my parents and friends are.

But here's the question: Was the entity truly acting on a whim, or is there a deeper meaning to it?

Furthermore, is the entity to which the incantations refer in this world the same as the one on Earth?

If so, the difference in results between the first and second rituals could be explained as the entity improvising. But my appearing above the gray fog during the second and third rituals, while consistently connecting to Justice and The Hanged Man, suggests otherwise. So why would that be?

If the fourth ritual tomorrow afternoon shows me the same results again, that would confirm that the effects are consistent. And that would mean the unknown entity has an agenda I do not yet know. In that case, adding new descriptions and requests would not yield a clear response; in fact, it might complicate the ritual and lead to adverse effects.

Could the difference between the first ritual and the subsequent ones— assuming the entity I called upon is the same—mean that the results vary depending on the world I'm in? Its as if I am using a different interface...

Then how should I design the ritual to obtain my desired outcome?

If I assume that the entities behind the first and subsequent rituals are different, that would perfectly explain some of my previous questions. However, the stability of the results in the second and third rituals suggests that the goal of the ritual was already embedded within, albeit hidden, which means I currently cannot change any aspect of the ritual.

The most important question remains: What is the identity of the entity to whom the ritual is directed? Where is He, and why doesn't He offer any hints or guidance?

Could He be deep in the world of fog?

Hmm, can I treat Him as a dormant entity—one that gives fixed responses in return for a certain stimulus but does not interfere with my actions otherwise?

If so, I could introduce different rituals as stimuli and attempt to deduce a pattern from the feedback I receive. That way, I might find the correct method of returning.

But the problem lies in the possibility that He is not dormant. In that case, any such endeavor might result in terrifying outcomes. It could be extremely dangerous.

The first attempt must be conducted with extreme caution. I must design it in such a way as to not anger the being...

What a headache. I need to learn more.

Klein sighed as he reached a conclusion. Finally, he jotted 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 that straddles the border between the Loen Kingdom and the Intis Republic. Its peak rises as high as six thousand meters above sea level.

According to the records in the Antigonus family's notebook, in the Fourth Epoch there existed on that peak a Kingdom of the Night. The Kingdom of the Night... The Evernight Goddess... Is there any connection between the two? Are they allies or enemies? Did the Church of Evernight obliterate the Antigonus family because of the Kingdom of the Night?

Were the murmurings I heard coming from the notebook...from the howls of the Antigonus family over one or two thousand years?

What then does Frygrea—uh, Flegrea—mean?

Here's an interesting thought: To be able to leave behind such a diary—to also leave behind Sealed Artifact 2-049—implies that the Antigonus family possessed rather powerful extraordinary abilities. If that is so, which Sequence did they have? Was it complete or incomplete?

My discovery of the notebook in the hands of Ryer Bieber was far too coincidental, yet there was no sign of it being arranged. Could my fate really be tied to that notebook?

...

One after another, Klein scribbled his ideas on pieces of paper, noting all the events he had experienced since his arrival along with his theories about their meaning. He filled a total of four pages on both sides of each sheet.

Rip!

[AI ERROR / SAFETY BLOCK - RAW ENGLISH RETAINED]

Klein suddenly tore out the four pages and read them from beginning to end, occasionally marking certain sections with his pen or adding a few extra sentences. Time flew by. The crimson moon was momentarily hidden behind dark clouds. Klein picked up his pocket watch from the table, snapped it open, and checked the time.

Then he put down the watch and retrieved a box of matches from his drawer. Lighting one, he brought it close to the four pages of notes. The orange flame quickly engulfed the edges of the paper and spread rapidly.

Klein held the burning notes on top of the wooden rubbish bin and watched as the ashes fell. He then released his grip, allowing the papers to drop. In just ten seconds, everything had disappeared— only swirling ash and the charred bottom of the bin remained.

Since pages of Emperor Roselle’s secret diary were still circulating in this world, Klein dared not leave behind any evidence that he could write in Chinese. If Old Neil and the others discovered the four pieces of paper he had written, he would have a hard time explaining himself.

When recording sensitive questions, Klein worried that whoever was paying attention to his dreams might see and decipher the contents, whether he wrote in Loen, Ancient Feysac, or Hermes. Therefore, he could only record his ideas and summaries in Chinese, and once he was done, burn the notes to leave no trace.

Precisely because there was no way to keep the notes, he devised a plan for himself: He would do this summary once a week to prevent himself from forgetting.

As all the ashes settled at the bottom of the bin, Klein pulled out a fresh piece of white paper and wrote at the top:To my esteemed mentor...

This was a letter to Senior Associate Professor Quentin Cohen. Klein wanted to ask if he had any relevant historical information about the peak of the Hornacis mountain range.