"Sorry, sorry! I didn't expect to suddenly fall asleep. Did I scare you?" Lynn swiftly apologized, clearly already experienced in this sort of thing.
"It did give us a bit of a fright." Bethel nodded, not denying his earlier anxiety. Instead, he smiled and said, "But I suppose you didn't call just to let us know you're okay, did you?"
The word and the concept of "phone" was something Mr. Door had learned from the two "transmigrators."
"We do have something we need to ask you," Lynn nodded, gesturing to Klein. "Klein has just been promoted to Faceless, and the Faceless potion dissolved instantly. Next, he plans to look for a Mermaid to advance to Marionettist, so we wanted to ask if you had any advice for that stage."
Bethel was momentarily taken aback when he heard this, casting a slightly surprised glance at Klein. He seemed thoughtful, then said, "There aren't too many things to pay attention to at the Marionettist stage. The most important thing is to obtain a high-quality marionette—preferably a Sequence 5. If not, a Sequence 6 will do. The marionette is the core of a Marionettist. A strong marionette not only enhances the Marionettist's abilities but also helps speed up potion digestion…"
Mr. Door went on to explain a few more points. Finally, he added, "Also, unlike Faceless, where you can impersonate anyone but must still be yourself, when playing the role of a Marionettist, it's crucial that each marionette has its own independent identity and setting. Don't treat them as extensions of yourself, but maintain their individuality as if you were performing in a play."
Though everyone interprets the same Sequence in their own way, and the acting principles vary from person to person, every potion does have core or foundational principles common to all.
Bethel was describing one of these fundamental principles.
Klein listened attentively, feeling that he had gained a lot. Without Mr. Door's reminder, he would likely have unconsciously manipulated his marionettes as though they were extensions of himself. The reminder to give them identities and roles would save him from many missteps.
Meanwhile, Lynn stood quietly, listening to Bethel instruct Klein on the nuances of being a Marionettist. It was evident that after spending so much time together, the two, despite not being officially teacher and student, had formed a strong bond and mutual respect.
'This didn't surprise me at all. As the conscience of the Fool pathway and the conscience of the Door pathway, it's no wonder the two get along so well. If Pallez were here, he'd probably join in the conversation…' Lynn thought to himself.
After a while, Bethel finally finished his lecture, and Lynn took the opportunity to ask, "By the way, Bethel, did you absorb that bubble I gave you last time? What kind of knowledge did it contain?"
At this, Mr. Door hesitated briefly, as if organizing his thoughts. After a few seconds, he said, "It was knowledge about ascension…"
"Huh?" x2
Both Lynn and Klein were confused.
"It's hard to describe the concept. 'Ascension' is the best word I could come up with," Bethel explained. "The knowledge outlined how to transform from a human into another form, becoming a being rooted in certain rules of the world…"
"That sounds like an information-based lifeform?" Lynn mused, rubbing his chin.
"It's similar to that, but more advanced…" Bethel considered his words. "The knowledge I gained was incomplete. Most methods of transformation into other rule-based beings were missing. The only complete one was how to become an embodiment of spatial rules. It's possibly akin to becoming a unique Door, but while retaining self-awareness."
"Rule-based beings…" Klein echoed, looking contemplative. Then, as if struck by a thought, he turned to Lynn and hesitantly asked, "Lynn, is it possible that you're an embodiment of the rules of time or something like that?"
Lynn blinked at Klein's words, then slowly nodded. "Now that you mention it, it's not entirely impossible…"
However, Lynn didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he looked at Mr. Door and asked, "Is there any downside to this transformation? Is it reversible? Overall, are the benefits greater, or are the drawbacks more significant?"
"I believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks…" Bethel explained thoughtfully. "According to the knowledge I've gained, becoming a rule-based being grants immense power, eternal life, and favor from the world. The only downside is that you become bound to the world. If this world is destroyed, I wouldn't be able to escape…"
"But… if the world is destroyed, what's the point of me being alive?"
At that, Lynn gave Bethel a sharp glance and asked, "So, you're tempted?"
"A little…" Bethel admitted without reservation. "In my current state, I'm nothing but a burden to this world. Even if, with your help or that of the Angel of Secrets, I manage to rid myself of the corruption from the Mother Goddess of Depravity, at best, I'll be an King of Angels with two Sequence 1 characteristics. That level of power won't be of much use in future battles."
"But if I transform into a rule-based being, I should be able to face an evil god."
Lynn pressed his lips together, unsure how he felt. Although Mr. Door's description of becoming a rule-based being sounded overwhelmingly positive, it was still an unknown. Who knew what hidden pitfalls there might be?
But Lynn could see that Mr. Door was serious, and the decision made him happy.
It wasn't surprising. For Mr. Door, who had been trapped by the Mother Goddess of Depravity for over a thousand years but still loved this world deeply, death wasn't terrifying. What was truly frightening was becoming useless—watching helplessly as his home was destroyed, unable to do anything.
"But…" Lynn muttered, "What if there's some hidden drawback we don't know about? I think we should be more cautious—at least let me figure out exactly what's going on…"
"That would be dangerous for you, wouldn't it?" Bethel looked at Lynn. After absorbing the bubble of knowledge, he seemed to have some understanding of the risks. "Seeking knowledge like that, even for you, would be unbearable."
Lynn frowned, clearly wanting to argue further, but Mr. Door spoke first, "I want to go home, Lynn."
Lynn froze.
Bethel sighed softly, wearing a slightly melancholy expression as he looked at Lynn and said, "I've been away from home for a long time. Let me go back."
Lynn suddenly found himself at a loss for words. After a long while, he turned his head away, sulking, "Do whatever you want…"
(End of Chapter)
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