Thinking of this, Klein hurriedly flipped to the next diary, hoping for more clues about the "chaos":
"September 11, light rain.
After days of processing, I've finally learned to control my emotions. Now, even facing Amon, I can manage a smile and suppress the murderous intent in my heart.
I need to bide my time. Until I can kill Amon, I have to survive under His thumb.
I know my flimsy facade is probably obvious to Amon, but that's fine. After last time, He's more intrigued by me. Until He's dug out all my secrets, He doesn't mind playing a little game.
That's good."
"September 15, overcast.
Today, I asked Amon about occult knowledge as usual, as if nothing had happened.
'Interesting!' I heard Him describe me, then flash the same gentle smile as before, answering my questions like a true teacher.
After addressing all my queries, I saw Amon adjust His monocle and comment, 'You should rein in your eyes a bit. The killing intent's too obvious.'
'Sorry, teacher. I'll be more careful next time. Thank you for the reminder.'
I heard myself reply, obedient and hypocritical. Then I caught my reflection in the window.
That guy was smiling."
Reading this, Klein would've struggled to keep a straight face without his Clown ability to control expressions.
These two entries held no critical information but marked a turning point in Zoroast's character. For revenge, Zoroast had learned to mask his true feelings, playing along with Amon.
This shift undoubtedly helped Zoroast survive, but… Klein sighed inwardly and moved on to the next diary:
"September 20, clear.
Today, Amon taught me more about Fourth Epoch history. He said the Blood Emperor Tudor and the Primordial Demoness were closer than most people think, describing them as 'though it sounds insane, those two lunatics might actually have had something like love.'
Seriously? Hunters and Demonesses are adjacent pathways that can switch, and while other adjacent pathways are busy fighting, you Hunters and Demonesses are out here falling in love?
Guess that's Fourth Epoch history for you—official records wilder than rumors."
What? Blood Emperor Tudor and the Primordial Demoness were true love?
Even though Klein had heard some gossip about Tudor and the Demoness from Jack, and knew they even had a child, Mr. Fool was still floored.
The gossip was just too juicy. He'd assumed the two true gods had allied for strategic reasons, but true love?
So gods fall in love too… Suddenly, Klein felt gods weren't so distant, almost relatable.
After the shock, Mr. Fool turned to the next diary, dated much later:
"October 21, stormy.
Last night, I dreamed again—of that chaos. But this time, I saw another me in it.
Well, maybe not me. He looked like me, but who says looking alike makes you the same person?
For now, I'll call him the dream-me.
Dream-me smiled when he saw me and said, 'Ah, finally meeting you.'
'Who are you?' I asked.
'You can call me Lucifer,' he answered.
Lucifer? I'd heard that name in myths from before I transmigrated, so I asked curiously, 'So, you're Satan?'
'No, I'm just your shadow,' dream-me replied.
Then I woke up."
Without his Clown expression control, Klein might've cracked Mr. Fool's unshakable persona right then.
This entry was a bombshell. It all but confirmed Zoroast's diary belonged to the Mr. Lucifer Klein knew, yet things weren't so simple.
"Split personality? Or is Lucifer a separate consciousness from the chaos, replacing the original Zoroast…?"
Klein's mind raced with guesses, urging him to check the remaining diaries. Unfortunately, they were all Roselle's, with no more Zoroast entries.
Still, Roselle's diaries held plenty of valuable info, so Klein didn't feel shortchanged.
While Mr. Fool quietly read, Evah, naturally, was guessing his progress.
Lately, Evah had been writing diaries, summed up as The Birth of Lucifer. They detailed how Lucifer was toyed with by Amon, rallied to learn deception, played along with Amon, and in the process touched the power of chaos, meeting a "Lucifer" claiming to be his shadow.
In this setup, the shadow Lucifer was a villain, akin to the True Creator—a fusion of Lucifer's negative emotions and the chaos's will. He'd teach Lucifer knowledge, hasten his fall, and ultimately die as a villain, yet persist in another form.
Evah arranged it this way to plausibly explain Lucifer's info sources—can't pin every rumor on Amon, after all.
The shadow Lucifer also mirrored the Celestial Worthy's will, fleshing out Lucifer as a revival vessel for another great existence.
Plus, it added mystique to Lucifer in Mr. Fool's eyes, lowering the risk of exposure.
"And most importantly, it makes Lucifer's persona richer and more fun!" Evah muttered inwardly. He had a flair for drama and loved nesting complex personas like matryoshka dolls.
Unaware of his friend's scheming, Klein finished the diaries and scanned the Tarot Club members, an idea forming.
With a soft chuckle, Mr. Fool announced he'd share some general knowledge, explaining the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Indestructibility and the Law of Conservation of Beyonder Characteristics within adjacent pathways.
This was news to Hanged Man Alger and Justice Audrey, who gained much from it but also had new questions, like "what are adjacent pathways?"
Those answers weren't free, but neither Alger nor Audrey minded paying for such useful knowledge.
(End of Chapter)