"After all, it's not exactly a happy ending, and I've always been a fan of satisfying conclusions. I may not be a good person anymore, but I still hope good people get their due rewards." Alaric spoke with a trace of nostalgia and a hint of melancholy, his expression inviting speculation about the stories behind his words.
In truth, he was merely embodying the Lucifer persona with dedication.
In a way, Alaric was truly the chosen Joker, perfectly aligned with this pathway from top to bottom.
But he didn't linger in the melancholy for long. Soon, he flashed a grin and looked at Bethel, adding earnestly, "Of course, the main reason is that I really don't like Amon, so I'm not keen on letting him be the final winner."
Bethel gave Alaric a deep look, his expression betraying little surprise. He replied calmly, "You've chosen me as the variable to change this outcome."
"It's fitting." Alaric said with a slow nod. "In a satisfying story, everyone deserves a better ending."
As for whether that better ending would see Klein or Bethel become the Lord of Mysteries… Alaric honestly didn't know.
He'd hedge his bets on both sides... whichever became the Lord of Mysteries, he wouldn't lose.
Bethel didn't comment, instead saying abruptly, "You're the Lord of Chaos that Pallez mentioned, aren't you?"
"Shh! You know, so keep it quiet. Don't tell Pallez... I'm not done having fun yet!" Alaric, unfazed by having his identity exposed, placed a finger to his lips with a playful smile, his Joker nature on full display.
He wasn't surprised Bethel had figured it out. After all, what kind of favored one could summon a Shadow of Time and harbor such a terrifying power within? It was obvious something was up.
Alaric had never intended to hide this from Mr. Door, but he also wasn't about to overexplain.
Smart people fill in the blanks themselves, don't they?
Bethel, meanwhile, felt a twinge of sympathy for Pallez. Though their time together was brief, he could tell this man's mischievous streak rivaled Amon's... perhaps even surpassed it, given the abilities he possessed. Lucifer's potential for chaos was likely greater than Amon's.
But it was only sympathy. Bethel and Pallez weren't particularly close. After Solomon's first fall, they had followed different emperors, becoming near enemies. While Bethel was a good person, he wasn't so altruistic as to risk warning a former rival.
"I won't tell Pallez." Bethel said flatly, then looked at Alaric with a hint of curiosity. "How do you plan to try?"
He was, of course, asking how Alaric intended to purge the corruption from Mr. Door.
"First, let's establish a connection with the you of this era." Alaric said, grinning at Bethel.
Connecting with the Mr. Door of this time wasn't too difficult. Though Alaric lacked Abraham family blood or the Apprentice pathway, having the past Bethel by his side made the process smooth.
Then, Alaric heard a pained voice:
"Don't save me… Don't save me…"
It was the voice of this era's Mr. Door, the last shred of Bethel Abraham's lucid will, tainted by corruption.
Alaric glanced at the past Bethel. "Did you hear what he's saying?" He asked, almost wistfully.
"I heard." Bethel sighed. As he helped Alaric connect with his present self, he naturally formed a link as well, clearly hearing the anguished cries.
"Any regrets?" Alaric asked, studying Bethel curiously. "His cries have cut off the Abraham family's chance at producing high-sequence Beyonders. If not for that… you might have survived."
Do you regret it? Your future choice… this path destined for sacrifice.
"…I've failed the Abraham descendants." past Bethel said after a long silence, sighing. Yet his tone grew resolute. "But I have no regrets. Compared to becoming a toy of an Outer Deity, death is the better choice."
"If this is my future, I accept it."
Alaric smiled at that. The pained voice in his ears quieted, fading for a second or two before returning. This time, it seemed to sense Alaric's connection, speaking in a friendly tone: "Hello!"
Past Bethel's brow twitched. He recognized that this was his corrupted self speaking... the lucid will of this era's Mr. Door had sunk back into oblivion.
Thanks to past Bethel's deliberate shielding, the corrupted version didn't notice his presence.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged, but his voice took on a timid tone. "W-Who are you?"
"You can call me Mr. Door. May I have your name?" The corrupted Mr. Door replied gently, his voice so warm no one would suspect it belonged to a personality born of corruption.
"I'm Lucifer, Lucifer Zoroast." Alaric said, slipping into character without blinking. "You're Mr. Door? I've seen your name in my family's records…"
"Zoroast…" The corrupted Mr. Door seemed to chuckle. "It seems you're a descendant of an old friend. How nostalgic, that surname…"
Alaric smoothly steered the conversation toward Pallez. After a few exchanges, he glanced at Bethel, who was looking at him with exasperation.
"Don't give me that look. I didn't lie... I'm currently Lucifer Zoroast." Alaric said with a grin. He paused, then added confidently, "Besides, I'm dealing with a you controlled by the Mother Goddess of Depravity. Playing along is only natural."
"Do whatever makes you happy." past Bethel replied, at a loss for words.
Alaric, indeed quite happy, continued his act with the corrupted Mr. Door for a few more exchanges before saying, "Mr. Door, I reached out to you this time because I have a gift for you."
"…A gift?" The corrupted Mr. Door faltered, clearly caught off guard.
"A gift is… a gift!" Alaric blinked, flashing a brilliant smile. In a lightning-fast move, he channeled the power of the Nyarlathotep fragment within him through their connection. The next moment, a scream of agony rang in his ears.
"Aaahhh... "
***
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