Chapter 24: The All-Old Association
Klein didn't know the answer to this question, but these random thoughts weren't something he needed to consider right now.
Because Nairn's "godhood crash course" was still in session.
"The Acting Method is only the foundation." Nairn changed the subject, "More importantly, you need to learn to establish your own 'reputation' in this world. A sufficiently loud and directional true name."
Klein was startled: "true name?"
"Ritual magic that relies on external forces requires a clear direction. For example, praying to the Evernight Goddess, or praying to the Lord of Storms."
Nairn's explanation was clear and thorough, as if he weren't a transmigrator who had just arrived in this world, but an ancient existence who had lived for thousands of years.
"true names at the level of a deity are generally three-part and can be responded to worldwide. For example, 'The night gave me black eyes, but I use them to seek the light'... Cough, wrong script. For example, 'The Evernight Goddess, more noble than the Cosmos, the protector more ancient than the eternal darkness'."
Nairn cleared his throat and continued.
"Of course, you can't achieve that level yet, but the gray fog is your home turf, the prototype of your divine kingdom. Using it to pull us in from all over the world already ignores physical distance. So, you can try to design a three-part true name for yourself."
He looked at Klein as if admiring a piece of unpolished jade that was about to be shaped.
"You can design your true name like this," Nairn's voice dropped lower, filled with a mysterious rhythm, "'the fool who doesnt belong to this era; The mysterious ruler Above the Gray Fog; The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck'."
Boom!
When this true name echoed in the room, Klein felt the gray fog in his mind tremble, as if responding to this tailor-made title.
Doesn't belong to this era... Above the Gray Fog... Wields good luck... Every word accurately struck his essence!
Klein repeated it silently in his heart, a strange throb arising within him, as if this title naturally belonged to him.
"Very good." Nairn nodded, not at all surprised by the result. "Next is the core of the ritual—sacrifice and bestowal."
"Ritual magic that relies on external forces involves praying for the help of different existences. The beginning of the incantation must have a clear direction, such as your true name."
"First, set up the altar and carve the corresponding symbolic symbols."
"Symbolic symbols?" Klein was stunned. He only then realized that he, as "The Fool," didn't yet know what his symbolic symbol was.
"The one behind the high-back chair," Nairn reminded him casually.
Klein immediately thought of the complex symbol composed of an "Eye without a Pupil" and "Contorted Lines" behind the high-back chair at the head of the long bronze table!
Ah? So Nairn had already seen through everything Above the Gray Fog!
Is there anything about this gray fog that Nairn doesn't know?
Thinking about how naturally Nairn had designed "The Fool's" true name, Klein felt an inexplicable sense of being NTR'd.
"Second, recite the incantation. Remember, you must use Jotun, Dragonese, or Ancient Hermes, using their direct Connection with natural forces to complete the communication."
"The key words must be included: 'Pray', 'Gaze', 'Offer', 'Kingdom', 'Gate', 'Open'."
Nairn paused, looked at the enthralled Klein, and simply threw out the final template.
"Since you, this 'evil god' in his startup phase, are so clueless, I'll just be a good person to the end."
"The prayer for the sacrificial ritual is: Your loyal servant prays for your gaze; prays for you to accept his offering; prays for you to open the gates of your kingdom."
"And the prayer for the bestowal ritual is: Your loyal servant prays for your gaze; prays for you to open the gates of your kingdom; prays for you to bestow power."
Nairn described the mature ritual template from his memory word for word, even explaining the Dual-ritual Method and how to create a spiritual environment clearly.
Klein was thrilled as he listened, feeling as if a door to a new world had slammed open before him.
He couldn't help but ask, "These... these high-level methods, can I tell 'Justice' and 'The Hanged Man' at the next gathering? It would be a good time to formally set up the framework of the Tarot Club."
He wanted to use this to solidify his image as "The Fool."
However, Nairn's reaction was unexpected.
"Up to you." Nairn shrugged, a playful smile on his face as if watching a play. "Act however you want. Regardless, I'll cooperate with you on the spot."
"Good luck, Mr. Fool."
Klein: "..."
The expression on his face froze instantly.
He could almost imagine the scene.
He would be Above the Gray Fog, pretentiously throwing out this knowledge, while Nairn, as "The Lovers," sat below like a Spectator, enjoying his slightly clumsy performance.
A strange sense of shame welled up in his heart.
Why did he feel like a Puppet on strings, a Clown performing hard?
He even started to regret why he hadn't just recognized his fellow countryman on the spot when he heard that "Holy shit" Above the Gray Fog.
Now he was stuck here, unable to go up or down, only able to bite the bullet and keep acting under a false pretense.
Fortunately, the substance behind this facade was this unfathomable man in front of him.
However... as Nairn spoke deeper and deeper, even casually designing some secrets he had never heard of to support his theories, a thought in Klein's heart could no longer be suppressed.
This knowledge was too detailed, too systematic.
He looked at Nairn's young face that seemed to see through everything and couldn't help but grumble in his heart.
Fellow countryman, why are you so skilled?
"...Once the recitation is finished, the materials containing spirituality will combine with the natural force vibrations caused by the incantation. At that time, if you respond from Above the Gray Fog, you can 'pull' the sacrifice up or 'throw' down the thing you want to bestow."
Nairn finally ended his long-winded speech and took a sip of the now lukewarm black tea.
The entire room fell into a brief silence.
Klein was still digesting the massive amount of information and that lingering sense of weirdness in his heart.
Seeing this effect and his serious studying attitude, Nairn also nodded.
It wasn't in vain that he had specifically asked Triss to supplement him with the basic knowledge of ritual magic and various examples of rituals at the deity level.
In short, watching Klein's contorted face—a mix of hesitation, shock, admiration, suspicion, and embarrassment—during the teaching process, the curve of Nairn's lips grew wider.
Teasing the future "Lord of the Mysteries," this kind of fun didn't happen every day.
Well, it seems like it's every day now?
Then the fun is even greater.
"By the way."
Nairn said casually, as if suddenly remembering something.
"The Tarot Club is one thing; it's an open cooperation platform."
"But regarding our goals and content that is more complex and involves high-level enemies."
"Privately, we need a more secretive organization hidden behind the scenes to cooperate with my plan."
"The name of this organization for now shall be—"
"The All-Old Association."