"Klein, Klein…" Melissa sobbed softly, clutching Klein's remaining clothes, tears streaming down as if mourning her lost brother. Benson's gaze was vacant, his already thinning hair sparser, grammar books scattered across the table. A whistle, a piece of clothing, and three severed fingers found in the ruins—these were all Klein left for his siblings.
When Benson, nearly losing control, demanded why Klein's body wasn't recovered, later arrivals only said Klein was "missing," his body unfound. This gave the Moretti siblings a sliver of hope, but the 8,000-pound pension delivered soon after extinguished their illusions.
It was clear: their brother had sacrificed himself.
The room's air was near deathly still, as if frozen. The doorbell's soft chime broke the silence. Benson opened the door, finding a smiling courier holding a tightly taped box, wearing a classic soft cap and a monocle over his right eye.
"Your package, Mr. Moretti! Please sign here!" The courier enthusiastically handed the box to Benson, who, in no mood, signed, mumbled thanks, and gently closed the door. Amon's smile widened, his hand lingering on the doorknob, nudging his monocle.
"The aura of Sefirah Castle… Oh, who sent this family a potion? Interesting…"
Amon prepared to parasitize the siblings, probing their memories for Sefirah Castle clues. But his world flattened, his body compressed. With a yelp, he and his cart drifted into a photograph.
Adrian casually picked up the photo. This Amon's Beyonder characteristic was only Sequence 7, easily sealed. Nearby Amon parasites on objects were weaker, Sequence 8 or 9. Clearly, Amon's true body paid little attention to Tingen, sending only a low-sequence clone to monitor. Adrian smirked, summoning the Hidden Sage, fully corrupted by his Sefirot, and slipped the photo into an envelope, dispatching it via his messenger.
The recipient: Ince Zangwill.
Incidentally, Adrian attached a heartfelt charm from a cosmic Outer God behind the photo stack, ensuring this Sequence 7 Amon vanished among Amons before transmitting intel. Would Amon's true body notice Ince Zangwill?
Adrian didn't know—he hadn't yet accommodated the Wilderness of Knowledge.
He waited briefly, deciding to visit the Morettis tomorrow. Having just sent Klein's photo to Benson, visiting now felt tactless. Hearing a girl's sudden sobs from the house, Adrian recalled his exchange with Klein.
Two days ago.
"Klein, you need to tell Benson and Melissa your situation," Adrian said, irked by the True Creator's jab about his lacking humanity. You're just the Ancient Sun God's human side—big deal if you've got more humanity! I'm an Outer God; my humanity's only because I'm a transmigrator. Thus, Adrian felt Klein needed more human attachments.
—Like his bond with Benson and Melissa.
Divinity was poison to humans, humanity too fragile before it. Excess divinity made Beyonders cold and detached. Anchors stabilized high-sequencers' humanity, but too many anchors were polluting, and Lord of Mysteries' anchors were frail. If the Celestial Worthy awoke, a single anchor-pull could doom Klein. Family as anchors, however, was stable and effective.
Per a certain unnamed Demoness enthusiast's diary, family anchors and high-sequencers' impressions were most effective. With few such anchors, even as Klein advanced, facing high-sequence foes, his Seer pathway abilities could protect them.
"Benson and Melissa…" Klein hesitated. On his bed, his flame-seared, shattered right arm ached faintly. Cautiously, he asked:
"I'm with the Aurora Order now. It might affect them. If I'm branded a traitor, Benson and Melissa could…"
"You're misunderstanding the churches, Klein," Adrian smiled, voice stern. "The Evernight Church might not be so brutal, but the Storm Church likely differs from your assumptions. You think cutting ties with Melissa and Benson will keep the Storm Church away? No, never entrust your family's lives to others in this world. The fact is, Mr. A saved you, and the Aurora Order and Storm Church are mortal enemies."
"From gods to Sequence 9, every single one."
Klein's cheeks numbed, recalling pre-transmigration religious tales. He imagined the Storm Church discovering his Aurora Order ties—what would happen to Benson and Melissa? He'd seen their water dungeons; Melissa would emerge a battered corpse!
Klein felt nauseous, a sudden loathing for the Storm Church.
Yet, in the Land Abandoned by God, Adrian's avatar, noting the Evernight Goddess's sharpening gaze, decided to praise the Evernight Church.
Despite mutual suspicions of betrayal, Adrian and Amanises were allies. Earth's gods and Outer Gods clashed over sealed Sefirot and their own survival. Outer Gods sought their Sefirot; Earth's gods feared annihilation by mightier Old Ones. When a Sefirot-complete, semi-human Outer God proposed collaboration, the Evernight Goddess agreed instantly. Both were fine with backstabbing to perfect their plans.
Adrian didn't mind preserving Earth gods' anchors, and the Evernight Goddess's pathways (Evernight, Death) didn't border White Tower or Visionary. They clicked: she'd become Eternal Darkness, Adrian would claim tasty characteristics, and betrayers Storm, Wisdom, and White were served to the True Creator and Adrian.
One was a Sefirah Castle backstabbing maestro; the other, an Outer God indifferent to all, eager to seal God Almighty's ashes and savor the show.
"But rest assured, Klein," Adrian soothed. "The Evernight Church internally seeks you, but publicly, even to low-tier Beyonders, you're a 'hero.' Unless the Storm Church goes rabid, the Evernight Church can shield Benson and Melissa."
"Still, I suggest bringing them to you, even in Backlund, for better safety. The Aurora Order stations a saint here, eager to aid a Favored. If evidence ties you closely to the Aurora Order, even the Evernight Church can't help."
Seeing Klein waver, Adrian pressed:
"You can't go to Tingen now, so I'll explain to your siblings. I'll have Mr. A find a nearby plot for our manor—if the Aurora Order's exposed, your siblings can relocate swiftly. I can secure Backlund University applications; if you want to enroll with Melissa, I'll help."
Klein bowed his head, voice choking. "Thank you, Old Adrian…"
Silently, Klein vowed to support Adrian's future endeavors. This friend had helped him immensely; ingratitude would be inhuman. In this mad world, such genuine friendship was rare.
Klein recalled Adrian's "unconscious" chat remark: he aimed to become the White Tower pathway's true god, using its omniscience to find a way home.
Knowing the White Tower already had a true god, Klein understood Adrian's goal. It was a grueling path, but as his fellow transmigrator and friend, Klein resolved to aid Adrian's dream, alongside avenging Ince Zangwill.
It was his life's creed, and Adrian's wish was Klein's too.
After all, Klein also yearned to go home.
…
The next day, Adrian gently knocked on the Morettis' door. Benson paced the living room, fearing a prank. Melissa bit her lip until it bled, clutching the photo sent with the letter. It showed a pale youth on a white bed, face pained, his right hand blackened, bandaged over cracked burns.
That youth's face was unmistakable to Benson and Melissa: their brother, Klein Moretti. When Benson opened the letter yesterday, he gasped; Melissa stopped sobbing, staring at the photo.
This was their brother, likely lost in the disaster! The sender might know his whereabouts!
How could the grieving siblings not be stirred?
After a pause, Melissa wailed, venting days of pain.
She wanted to rush to the police, demanding they find Klein. But Benson cautiously stopped her, urging they wait for the letter's sender.
The letter's signature, in Benson's familiar script, read:
"Adrian Abraham."
(End of Chapter)