Chapter 12: I Really Haven't Seen the Blasphemy Slate, Nor Am I Roselle's Descendant
He couldn't exactly say—
At his core, he was a Fun-seeker; how could he possibly follow the rules?
While nurturing a law-abiding "Spectator" was safe, it wasn't nearly as exciting as personally cultivating a "Calamity Demoness."
He wondered what kind of peerless charm Audrey, who was already comparable to a Demoness, would possess after being further beautified by the Demoness potion.
He also wondered what kind of breathtaking "beauty" would bloom when this innocent and pampered Miss Hall stepped onto this path destined to bring chaos.
Just imagine: a high-born, exquisitely beautiful Earl's daughter, who was secretly a Demoness bringing calamity and suffering.
This intense sense of contrast, this setting of walking on the edge of Light and Darkness, was simply a top-tier drama!
As for the "bringing calamity" part of the acting principles, it wasn't a problem at all in Nairn's eyes.
According to his "training plan," Audrey only needed to spark a few reforms and push the wheels of history forward. In that process, some vested interests of the old era would inevitably be crushed mercilessly.
Isn't that a "calamity"?
With proper handling, the acting requirements could be satisfied from a positive perspective.
Of course, Nairn wouldn't voice these deep considerations directly.
He only gave the most superficial reason:
"Because this Pathway can enhance your beauty."
"Beautification?" Audrey repeated the novel term, not quite understanding.
"Yes." Nairn nodded, beginning his persuasive guidance. "A woman who chooses this Pathway will have her personal charm greatly enhanced. Whether it's her facial features or her skin condition, they will improve upon an already excellent foundation, becoming... beyond your imagination."
He paused and added, "It's a breathtaking beauty that can make all men go crazy for you and all women envy you."
Audrey's heart skipped a beat.
No girl could resist the temptation of "becoming more beautiful," even if she already possessed looks hailed as the "Brightest Jewel of Backlund."
She subconsciously imagined the scene Nairn described, her cheeks feeling slightly hot. Making all men go crazy... did that include... the mysterious gentleman before her?
The thought made her a bit shy, but at the same time, a strange sense of excitement quietly sprouted.
However, Audrey was a well-educated noble after all; she quickly calmed down and grasped the key point.
"Then... what are its drawbacks?" she asked in a tone of feigned composure.
She didn't believe such a good thing would come without a price.
"The drawbacks..." Nairn drawled, "are also very obvious."
"Just like the name of this Pathway, you need to become a messenger of calamity and suffering. Every promotion requires you to actively or passively trigger a chaos, a tragedy, a disaster. The beauty you spread is itself a harbinger of calamity."
"Ah..." Audrey took a small breath, the spark in her eyes quickly cooling.
Bringing calamity and suffering... this was completely contrary to the education she had received since childhood to become a kind and elegant lady.
She couldn't imagine herself actively hurting others, especially innocent people, just to become stronger.
She felt a sudden wave of disappointment; it turned out the price of becoming beautiful was so high.
"But I really recommend you choose this," Nairn suddenly added, his tone full of instigation.
Audrey looked up in surprise.
"The requirement to bring calamity and suffering sounds terrifying, but it can actually be 'bypassed,' or rather, satisfied from a more 'positive' angle."
Nairn began his "sophistry."
"For example," Nairn explained, "making a heinous factory owner go bankrupt, causing his factory to close—wouldn't that count as a 'calamity'? Or exposing the conspiracy of an evil noble, ruining his reputation, shaming his family, and eventually driving him to suicide in despair—wouldn't that count as bringing 'suffering'?"
"From the outcome, what you did was punish a bad person and uphold justice. But from the process, you did indeed trigger chaos and cause suffering. This way, doesn't it satisfy the promotion requirements without violating your conscience?"
Nairn's words opened a door to a new world for Audrey.
She had never thought that "calamity" and "justice" could be linked in such a way.
She had to admit that Nairn's proposal was very attractive. If it truly worked that way, then the drawbacks of the "Demoness" Pathway didn't seem so unacceptable.
She fell into deep hesitation.
On one side was the safe and steady "Spectator" that suited her personality; on the other was the "Demoness," full of challenges and temptations, which could make her more beautiful and allow her to exercise "Justice" in a special way.
How should she choose?
Just as she was struggling, a strange thought suddenly popped up.
Why is this gentleman... so strongly recommending I choose "Demoness"?
Could it be... could it be that in his eyes, my current appearance isn't enough, and I need this "Beautification"?
This thought made Audrey's cheeks puff out instantly, looking a bit huffy.
—I won't! I'm already very pretty!
She grumbled secretly in her heart, even with a bit of a young girl's minor defiance.
'If you don't believe it... if you don't believe it, come meet me in person!'
Of course, this was just a fleeting grumble and complaint in the girl's heart.
This small, somewhat nonsensical thought finally made her reach a decision.
"Thank you, sir, but... I still feel this isn't suitable for me," she said, gathering her courage.
"Is that so? That's a pity then."
Nairn shrugged, his face showing a look of regret as if saying, "You just missed out on a fortune."
He didn't press further. After all, a Fun-seeker's joy lay in unpredictability.
If everything went according to his script, it would be boring instead.
Audrey being able to resist temptation and stick to her choice was an interesting "variable" in itself.
"Fine, since you're not interested in 'Demoness,' then pick from the remaining ones," Nairn resumed his lazy tone.
Audrey hardly hesitated and made her choice immediately.
"I choose'Spectator'!" she said firmly.
Although "Seer" and "Lawyer" sounded cool, the feeling of being a cold bystander with insight into people's hearts was what truly resonated with her.
"A good choice," Nairn nodded.
Was it the convergence of world lines? Or was it due to her own personality?
He didn't push any further.
After all, the "Spectator" Pathway was indeed very suitable for Audrey, and... Audrey becoming a "Spectator" had other benefits for him.
His "Player" Pathway's subsequent promotions also required the Beyonder characteristics of a "Spectator." Although he was only Sequence 9 now, it was never wrong to prepare early.
And a "Spectator" who could see through hearts and influence others' emotions would be far more useful in high-society social circles than an "Assassin" who only knew how to kill.
The deal was thus struck.
However, Audrey then remembered a topic and said:
"I heard that besides the Tarot cards—Emperor Roselle actually created another set of cards, secret ones that symbolize certain unknown powers. There are twenty-two in total. After completing them, he used them as a reference to invent the twenty-two Major Arcana of the Tarot cards as a gaming tool. Is this account accurate?"
She looked at Zhou Mingrui, seemingly wanting an answer from the mysterious Mr. The Fool.
Zhou Mingrui only smiled and didn't speak, turning his gaze toward "The Hanged Man" as if to test him.
Alger subconsciously straightened his back and said in a deep voice:
"Yes, it is said that Emperor Roselle had seen the Blasphemy Slate, and that set of cards hides the mysteries of those twenty-two pathways of the gods."
"Twenty-two pathways of the gods..." Audrey repeated in a tone full of yearning.
Then, she and Alger, and even Zhou Mingrui at the head of the table, subconsciously turned their gazes toward Nairn.
Because just now, this gentleman had personally claimed that he knew "all" the potion formulas.
This was almost equivalent to him being a "living Blasphemy Slate" himself!
Since this gentleman knew all the potion formulas, did he... also know what those twenty-two pathways of the gods were? Might he even possess that legendary set of "Cards of Blasphemy"?
Thus, not just Audrey, but even Alger, after finishing his sentence, turned an inquiring and reverent gaze toward Nairn.
Klein also pricked up his ears, waiting for Nairn's answer. This was a question he also wanted to know.
"Hey, hey, hey, why is everyone looking at me?" Nairn felt a bit uncomfortable under those three burning gazes and complained wildly in his heart.
I really haven't seen the Blasphemy Slate, nor am I Roselle's descendant—
Who would have anything to do with that old man who wrote about [doing] a Demoness in his [diary]?