"I am indeed just a mortal."
Alaric said with a smile, opting not to hide his current sequence from Mr. Door. He tailored his approach to different people, and with someone he had summoned, Alaric wasn't stingy about revealing a bit of truth... it was a strategy in itself.
After all, if his plans worked out, he'd have plenty of interactions with Mr. Door in the future. Pretending to be a big shot might hinder those plans.
Besides, in the eyes of a perceptive figure like Bethel, claiming to be a "mortal" might be more effective than claiming divinity.
Bethel gave Alaric a meaningful look upon hearing his words. "Let's hope so."
Clearly, he didn't buy it.
Alaric chuckled, choosing not to explain the sealed power within him. Instead, he looked at Bethel and smiled. "So, Mr. Door, have you confirmed this is the future?"
"This is indeed not my time." Bethel acknowledged. In that brief minute, beyond meeting Pallez, he had used his travel ability to explore, confirming that this world was vastly different from the one he knew.
Bethel turned to Alaric. "I don't know how you did it, but I doubt you brought me to this era just to catch up with an old friend."
"What are you planning?" Bethel asked, staring directly into Alaric's golden eyes, searching for the emotions within.
"If I said I just wanted to make friends with the renowned Mr. Door, would you believe me?" Alaric replied with utmost sincerity. It was even true... one of his reasons for summoning Mr. Door was indeed to befriend the King of Angel of the Door pathway. He coveted the abilities of that pathway far too much.
Of course, even if he succeeded in befriending Bethel, Alaric wouldn't abandon his efforts with Fors. After all, "the more friends, the more paths" was an ironclad truth for him.
Alaric had no qualms about cultivating multiple allies in the same pathway. If he fell out with one, he'd still have others to borrow power from.
Bethel's brow furrowed slightly. He could sense the sincerity in Alaric's words but was certain they weren't the full truth.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Bethel said, "I don't mind making a friend from the future, but I doubt that's your only goal."
Alaric laughed, meeting Bethel's gaze without flinching. His golden eyes seemed to hold a hint of amusement... or perhaps not.
In that moment, Bethel was inexplicably reminded of Amon. He finally understood the subtle familiarity he'd felt upon meeting Alaric. The man gave off a vibe similar to Amon's, yet distinctly different.
Alaric smiled. "I'll admit, besides wanting to befriend you, Mr. Door, I do have a small favor to ask."
"What favor?" Bethel asked.
"I want to create a pocket dimension. People holding a specific token should be able to instantly travel to this space from thousands of miles away when needed and return to their original location. If that's not possible, pulling token-holders to a fixed location would suffice…"
Alaric described his request, clearly aiming to manually craft his own version of the "gray fog" for future Joker Club gatherings.
Bethel listened quietly, pondering for a moment before nodding. "I can indeed help you create a pocket dimension and meet your requirements. But what can you offer me in return?"
Alaric's request might be challenging for other pathways, but for Bethel, it was well within his capabilities.
"Good question." Alaric wasn't surprised by Bethel's response. He smiled, adopting a thoughtful expression before saying, "What I can offer you, Mr. Bethel, is an attempt to help you break free from the Mother Goddess of Depravity's corruption."
Bethel's gaze sharpened instantly, scrutinizing the man before him. After a few seconds, he said, "That doesn't seem like an equal trade. I don't believe in free gifts."
"Exactly. That's why I said 'attempt,' with no guarantee of success. Truth be told, I'm quite interested in studying the power of Outer Deities, and you're an excellent specimen." Alaric said unhurriedly, meeting Bethel's gaze without hesitation.
Bethel gave him a deep look. "That's not something to toy with. Once tainted, you might end up like me."
Alaric suddenly laughed, a genuinely delighted sound. "Mr. Bethel, you really are a good person."
He could tell Bethel's words carried both caution and a warning. The King of Angel was wary of him, this unknown entity, but also genuinely didn't want him to be corrupted by an Outer Deity's power.
It might not be concern for Alaric himself, but at least for the safety of the world.
"No need to worry. If I dare to do this, I have my reasons." Alaric said with a smile. It wasn't entirely a lie... while there was risk, he had some confidence that, even if he encountered an Outer Deity's power, it likely couldn't corrupt him.
A thoughtful glint passed through Bethel's eyes.
Alaric then looked out at the crimson moon in the sky, chuckling softly with a hint of playfulness. "Mr. Bethel, do you know your own fate?"
Bethel's lips tightened. "Perhaps you could tell me?"
For someone capable of summoning beings from the past, knowing the future wasn't hard to believe.
"You'll become a stepping stone for Amon's ascension, a sacrifice for his rise to Sequence 0. Of course, it's voluntary... you'll offer yourself up for the world's safety."
Alaric paused, glancing at Bethel before continuing, "A cliché ending, isn't it?"
Bethel met his gaze, his thoughts unreadable. He merely looked up at the crimson moon and asked, "Did the world get saved, then?"
"Of course…" Alaric's smile widened, though his eyes held little mirth. "Another guardian sacrificed themselves as well. Not Amon, of course."
Bethel seemed momentarily stunned, though not overly surprised. He let out a long sigh, then looked at Alaric with a knowing expression. "You don't like this ending." He said, his tone certain.
***
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