Chapter 3: Honor Thy Father, Even unto Madness
September 9th, 1349
Tingen City, Awwa County, Loen Kingdom
Zouteland Street, Blackthorn Security
-Klein Moretti-
What just happened…? Klein Moretti—formerly Zhou Mingrui, part time Fool; honorary Nighthawk; certified Transmigrator Extraordinaire™; former history graduate; Lord of Virgins, Lord of Bathrooms—blinked slowly, utterly flummoxed.
His gaze drifted, almost unconsciously, toward the spot where the figures had been standing moments earlier. Two…no, three figures, if Ma'am Arianna's reference to the 'Angel of Imagination' was taken into consideration.
And then there was Amadeus' behavior, particularly when he stepped out of the shadowy expanse of that peculiar space, where he had no doubt tortured Ince Zangwill.
The entire sequence of events left Klein with a deeply incongruous and difficult-to-articulate feeling.
What had begun with the relatively straightforward discovery of evil cultists—Sirius Arapius and Hanass Vincent—had rapidly snowballed into the descent of an Evil God's Spawn, which in turn had directly prompted the arrival of three Angels. Two of Them had even personally received divine revelations from Their respective Gods, compelling Them to intervene in person.
Wasn't Tingen supposed to be the starter village? What's with all characters only beatable at level 100 doing in this obscure, backwater city? The Fool lampooned internally, suddenly understanding the feeling of mortals—which he read about in Cultivation novels—who could only raise their heads in awe, envy, and dread as an Immortal passed overhead; indifferent, detached, and utterly unconcerned with the suffering of those trapped below.
That feeling, however, was fleeting. His thoughts quickly shifted toward the individual who had aroused such intense reactions from beings on the divine level.
Amadeus.
'Love your neighbour as yourself'. 'An eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand'. 'Whoever sheds man's blood, by his blood shall be shed'. 'The LORD giveth and the LORD taketh'.
As those words resurfaced in his mind, Klein couldn't help but frown, sinking into contemplation.
Although he wasn't especially knowledgeable about Christianity, he had not been completely ignorant either. As a former keyboard warrior and generalist, he possessed at least a rudimentary understanding of its teachings. And the first quote—Love thy neighbour as thyself—was unmistakable. It was as widely known as 'Let there be Light' or 'I am the Alpha and the Omega'.
Some Chinese games even took inspiration from Christianity when creating lore or characters.
Taking into account the repeated references to the Lord, Saviour, and Son of God, Klein found it increasingly difficult to suppress a certain suspicion.
Could Amadeus be a Transmigrator?
Or perhaps these expressions were part of the Aurora Order's doctrine?
The Fool's eyes widened briefly as he suddenly recalled the Honorific Name that Amadeus almost recited. The Lord that Created Everything…isn't that the Creator worshipped by the City of Silver? No…The Sun had referred to the Creator as 'Omniscient and Omnipotent', while Amadeus said 'The Lord who Reigns Behind the Curtain of Shadows'…
And hadn't The Hanged Man once mentioned similar characteristics when speaking of the Aurora Order?
As these thoughts aligned, a sense of absurdity crept in, closely followed by no small measure of fear.
Creator…
True Creator…
Fallen Creator!
In his mind's eye an image of himself appeared, held aloft by strings like a puppet—
At that moment, someone tapped his shoulder.
"Klein?"
It took every ounce of the Clown sequence's body control for him not to jump out of his skin. Even so, he failed to suppress a slight flinch.
One Mr. Azik clearly noticed.
"Are you alright?" Soft brown eyes looked over him in quiet concern.
A sense of calm washed over Klein as he remembered his teacher was present. Not wanting to worry him further, Klein forced a composed smile. "I'm fine, Mr. Azik. Just… a little surprised by how everything turned out."
The former lecturer gave an understanding nod in agreement. "Indeed. It was beyond expectation that the Spawn of the True Creator would resolve the discordance in your fate." Mr. Azik paused, and gave Ma'am Arianna a respectful nod. "With the matter settled, and an Angel present, I believe it is time for me to take my leave, Klein."
The Fool wasn't surprised by his words, Mr. Azik was a wild Beyonder in the eyes of the Church's, though perhaps not all if Ma'am Arianna's clear inaction is anything to go by.
"Be careful Mr. Azik."
The Demigod smiled kindly in response, "You as well, Klein. If you ever need help—or answers—feel free to send me a letter."
"I will, Mr. Azik."
With a final nod to those present, the teacher vanished into the multicoloured expanse of the Spirit World.
In the next moment, Arianna's voice rang out—with that familiar strange, serene quality—addressing the Tingen Nighthawks.
"The Morningstar Order…" She paused briefly before continuing. "If they send an envoy to Tingen, let them be."
Her gaze flicked toward Dunn Smith as She spoke.
"Understood, Your Excellency." The Captain of Tingen Nighthawks stepped forward, bowing in respect.
Morningstar Order…Klein inwardly mused. Even now, he felt a sense of disbelief as he thought back to how the Son of an Evil God was able to get what amounted to a ceasefire from an Orthodox Church.
….
Earlier, before Amadeus and Co left Blackthorn Security…
-Arianna-
"Can the Church of Evernight cease its pursuit of the Aurora Order?"
Arianna gazed into those resplendent, madness-tinged eyes that had no right to belong to a child. Yet for Her, who had witnessed the rise and fall of Gods, the presence of an intelligent child was nothing remarkable, all the more so when that child bore a divine nature.
However, for a Demigod to purify the corruption of a True God—wielding a power that was an absolute anathema to that God's very nature, Degeneration—was something else entirely. In Her long life, it was the first time She had encountered something so utterly incomprehensible. More than that, from the very moment he had stepped out of his Shadow Enclosure, Arianna had felt something impossible occur. Or rather, not impossible, but something that could only happen in the presence of the True God of Her pathway.
The inability to use Her Authority.
No…it's not exactly the same. Arianna instantly noticed the unsubtle difference. Rather than Her Authority being overwritten by a superior force whenever She attempted to draw upon it, it was as though She simply could not touch it at all.
Completely static.
This child… perhaps this was the reason the True Creator held him in such regard, to the extent of ordering the Angel of Fate to serve him. And even without direct perception of Him, it was abundantly clear that the Angel of Imagination harbored a deep interest in the child, whether through personal curiosity or prior arrangements.
Even so, to cease pursuing the Aurora Order was impossible. And She made that clear, even with two Kings of Angels present.
"Impossible." Arianna shook Her head softly.
At that moment, a pair of impassive silver eyes glanced toward Her. Yet a simple tap from the Spawn of the True Creator—Amadeus, according to the Nighthawks—caused the Angel of Fate to withdraw His gaze.
Arianna said nothing, merely noting the exchange.
Amadeus looked up at Her, a smile still present despite the rejection. "I expected as much, big sister."
Big sister…For the briefest instant, the image of a black-haired girl—bearing a striking resemblance to Herself—overlapped with the child before Her, before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
"In that case," Amadeus continued cheerfully, "feel free to proceed as you see fit. Hunt them. Pursue them without respite. Hound them until their names are reviled across the world, their reputations ground into dust, until nothing remains but your satisfaction." The child spread his arms wide, as though embracing the world itself, grinning broadly. His golden eyes gleamed with unmistakable amusement.
Has he been corrupted completely by the True Creator? Arianna's brows creased ever so slightly as She peered into those gold eyes. The madness within them wasn't even concealed, unlike the usual lunatics of the Aurora Order. It far surpassed even the lunacy She had witnessed among Beyonders of the Chained Pathway.
The Servant of Concealment did not miss the glance Ouroboros cast toward the child, yet the Angel of Fate said nothing.
"Of f course, we won't let you have all the fun," Amadeus continued, his smile unwavering as he clasped his hands behind his back and straightened his posture. "From this moment onward, the Morningstar Order will naturally work alongside the Seven Churches to rein in and eradicate the Aurora Order."
"Morningstar Order…" Arianna's serene eyes rippled faintly. It was not difficult to discern the intent behind this divine child's plan. "You intend to convert the Aurora Order."
Amadeus' all-knowing smile softened into something smug. "Heh! I really like smart people, big sis. What do you say about changing faith and following the Lord and Savior, Amadeus Beaumont?"
"…."
The air instantly grew stagnant.
The tranquility Arianna habitually carried vanished in an instant, not due to offense, but due to the sheer audacity of his words. To blaspheme his Father in the presence of His most loyal Angel…
The Angel of Fate's dazed gaze sharpened immediately, fixing itself upon the Spawn of the True Creator. "Do you, like Wind, Wisdom, and Sun, intend to betray the Lord?"
The child stiffened. His smile wavered for a fleeting moment, his lips twitching repeatedly. And just as She was about to conclude that he was, indeed, merely a child—
Laughter erupted.
Unrestrained, full-bellied, maddening laughter echoed throughout the reception hall as Amadeus doubled over, clutching his stomach.
"Me?" the black-haired child gasped between breaths, forcing himself upright as he suppressed his laughter, though stray chuckles still escaped him. "Betray Father?"
"What's is so amusing?" the silver-haired Angel frowned. "Your words are blasphemy against the Lord. To covet the position of the Lord, if that is not betrayal, then what is?"
The inhaled slowly, the last remnants of his laughter fading. Then, with clear amusement, he replied to the King of Angels:
"'Honor your Father and Mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.'"
Ouroboros blinked, confusion evident on His face.
Arianna, however—possessing a far richer humanity than the Angel of Fate—understood immediately.
Filial Piety…The divine child was coveting his Father's Godhood out of love and respect? Arianna gazed into those radiant eyes. Beneath the flickering madness lay a sincerity that was deeply unsettling. Does he intend to take the madness of the True Creator upon himself? No… he possesses those eyes capable of purifying corruption…
The Servant of Concealment's thoughts fell silent, She had believed She grasped the entirety of the child's intentions, yet something still eluded Her.
Amadeus sighed, his shoulders slumping as he regarded the Angel of Fate with visible exasperation. "Uncle Silver, this is exactly why you should try getting yourself more Anchors."
The Spawn of the True Creator explained patiently, his tone eerily similar to that of an adult simplifying matters for a child. Arianna would be lying if She said She didn't feel a faint trace of amusement at the irony. "Mother, Megose, and Father, True Creator. Without either of them, I wouldn't exist. This life of mine? I'll dedicate it to giving them the best ending I possibly can."
Arianna silently observed the child, contemplating the changes he might bring upon the Aurora Order. Or rather, the Morningstar Order.
The Angel of Fate furrowed His brows, now more confused than offended at the previously implied betrayal. "Then why do you call yourself Lord? The Lord is the Lord. You are His Spawn."
Amadeus fell silent. A thoughtful expression crossed his face as his gaze flicked toward the empty space beside him—where the Angel of Imagination stood—before he spoke with a knowing smile.
"Because in this entire universe, I am the only one fit enough to become God Almighty."
"!!!"
Ouroboros's eyes widened in shock, a reaction entirely understandable, and one that mirrored Her own.
In the next instant, Arianna swiftly severed the corruption that had begun to worm its way into Her existence. She glanced back at the Nighthawks, only to find them unaffected, undoubtedly due to the Angel of Imagination's intervention. When She looked back at Amadeus, she found him entirely unaffected.
Is it because of those eyes? She couldn't help but speculate.
"Hm? What do I mean by what I said?" the child tilted his head left, tapping his lip thoughtfully as he glanced toward the Author with playful curiosity. "What if I said I was an arrangement planted by God Almighty? Would you eliminate me, Big Brother Adam?" His golden eyes blinked pitifully toward the empty space.
Arianna ignored the oddity of the scene as the word repeated in her mind. Arrangement…
"Don't worry, big brother. I'll explain it all to you later," Amadeus continued lightly. "But it seems we've gotten rather sidetracked."
His playful smile turned toward Her. "Heh, big sis, if you want to eavesdrop on some truly juicy information, perhaps you should consider my earlier offer."
Seeing that there was nothing further to be discussed between the divine child and the Angel of Fate, Arianna responded without indulging him. "Regarding the Morningstar Order, this matter will be decided by the Goddess," She tapped Her chest four times, tracing a clockwise circle.
"I expected as much." Though Amadeus said so, the pout on his face betrayed his dissatisfaction. "If it helps, tell big sis Evernight that the Morningstar Order will be nothing like the Aurora Order, closer to the Orthodox Churches. And if that still isn't enough, tell Her I'll help with Her madness in the future."
Was this child intent on shocking Her time and time again? As if hearing Her thoughts, he continued casually.
"And if that still isn't enough, tell Her I'll help Her accommodate the River of Eternal Darkness." His golden eyes once more carried that infuriatingly smug mirth as he folded his arms.
Arianna briefly wondered whether this was a sign She should renounce Her asceticism.
"Ah right, big sis, may I have your Honorific Name? I'll contact you in a day to hear the Goddess' response."
Was he truly treating a divine revelation as though it were a casual letter exchanged between friends?
Arianna realized that attempting to fully comprehend the thoughts of this divine spawn was likely not in Her best interest. For those below the Angel level, merely remaining in the same room as him posed a tangible risk of losing control, given how irreverently he handled high-level knowledge.
"The Servant of Darkness beneath the Crimson Moon;
The Tranquility that suppresses terror and desire; The Mercy of Night that brings repose to body and soul; The Ascetic Matron of the Evernight Cloister;
Arianna."
As Her words concluded, the two figures before Her faded away, and She felt access to Her Concealment Authority return in full.
Arianna took careful note of that ability—alongside the purification one—and resolved to report both to the Goddess without delay.
….
Present…
-Amadeus-
"The trend of times…has become unpredictable."
Upon hearing the first words spoken by the Angel of Imagination after they entered the Corpse Cathedral, Amadeus did not hesitate to nod in approval at His focus, all while gently placing his mother upon one of the many pews lining the vast interior.
"Umu. One's plans are always something that should be treated with due seriousness. Inexplicable variables should be accounted for, but never allowed to become the axis around which everything revolves." The divine child hopped onto the pew directly beside Adam, his legs swinging idly as his gaze wandered across the cathedral's solemn expanse. "Of course, unless the one being revolved around is me."
A hushed silence settled between the two figures, though it did not last long before it was broken by the blond-haired priest.
"'Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted'."
"You think I'm being prideful?" shifted his attention away from the hundred-meter-tall cross looming before them, catching eyes that were the exact same shade of gold as his own, yet at the same time, utterly opposite in nature. "No, you're mistaken. 'I am confident that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion.'"
"True?" The Angel of Imagination peered into his, as if trying to see into the depths of his Body of Heart and Mind. "He would willingly relinquish His Godhood… for your sake?"
At that question, Amadeus felt another gaze settle upon his small form. He glanced to the side, noticing Ouroboros, who had been painting quietly nearby, suddenly focusing intently on him.
Even so, the Angel of Fate was difficult to take entirely seriously, considering the splotches of paint smeared across His face and robes.
Turning his eyes back toward the colossal cross—one that seemed to be suffused with innumerable souls —Amadeus shrugged lightly, his feet continuing to kick back and forth.
"To be honest," he said frankly, "I don't know."
He continued before either of the Kings of Angels could interject.
"Father—who symbolizes Sin-Bearing and Sacrifice—would He truly allow His son to shoulder His burden?" He mused calmly. "Father, whose nature differs little from that of an Evil Spirit, who has already been betrayed once before… would He willingly plunge a son who covets His position into the depths of Depravity?"
The divine child tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes reflecting the cross before him.
"What do you think, Adam, Ouroboros?"
Amadeus didn't wait for an answer, stretching a small hand to the large cross as if to grasp it. "All life tends towards Degeneration; towards decay, weakness, and imperfection, whether physically, morally, or spiritually, but this does not deny the value, dignity, or hope of life.
"'What is sown perishable, is raised imperishable'. Therefore, I will not lose heart for I am—"
"The Offspring of the Lord that Created Everything;
Embodiment of Degeneration; Emanator of Chaos; The Singularity of Madness;
The Eternal Morningstar."
….
….
….
"The Shadow that Denies the Original Creator."
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A/N: Aura Farming and being chuuni is as easy as breathing for Amadeus. I wonder, did anyone notice how Klein doesn't remember the talk about God Almighty, River of Eternal Darkness, basically the 'godly' info dump.