Chapter 49: Is he also Lord thousand faces' subordinate?
Nairn closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into that eternally shifting Chaos Theater.
He felt it was time he had an honorific title of his own and designed a unique set of ritual Symbols.
This wasn't just for show; it was a practical necessity.
Having a portable relay station like the Chaos Theater, which was comparable to a Sefirah, and not utilizing it would be a complete waste of a godsend.
He could act just like those high-Sequence existences, receiving the prayers of believers through a true name and rituals, and even interfering remotely at critical moments.
What should he call himself?
He rubbed his chin, his thoughts flowing between the two Pathways.
The Path of a Thousand Faces and the Path of Chaos—two completely different Character Cards naturally required two independent true name systems.
One set would correspond to thousand faces, that mysterious existence walking among shadows and legends.
The other would belong to the Lovers, the incarnation of variables stirring up storms at the Tarot Club.
His train of thought quickly became clear.
The thousand faces card represented narration, acting, and the tampering of fate. Its tone should be mysterious, grand, and elusive.
"The Ever-changing Countenance, Wielder of the Masks of All Sentient Beings..."
Nairn recited the first line in a low voice, the corners of his mouth curling up unconsciously. This was very fitting; it both pointed out the essence of "thousand faces" and carried a hint of lofty divinity.
This was the cornerstone, the beginning, announcing his essence as the performer of thousands of stories.
Next was the extension of Authority.
What was the end of this Pathway?
Nairn's gaze pierced through the night, looking into the deeper void.
What kind of magnificent sight lay at the end of that Pathway?
He thought of those forgotten legends, those tampered epics, and the truths that had silently vanished into the river of time.
He would be—
"The Scribe of Fate and the Graffiti Artist on its Reverse Side..."
This sentence was not just part of a true name, but a declaration.
He would not only write the direction of the world but also leave his own graffiti, full of variables and absurdity, behind the glamorous front of the narrative.
He wanted to be the existence that could both go with the flow and swim against the tide.
The second line of the true name took shape accordingly.
Finally, the declaration of ultimate Authority, the definition of the entire world.
"The Ultimate Interpretation and Definition of the World."
A three-part true name, completed in one breath.
When linked together, it was not just a description of his own power, but also a prophecy for the future and an ambitious manifestation for the entire world's script.
Nairn recited it in his heart in its entirety:
"The Ever-changing Countenance, Wielder of the Masks of All Sentient Beings;"
"The Scribe of Fate and the Graffiti Artist on its Reverse Side;"
"The Ultimate Interpretation and Definition of the World."
Very good.
So, what about the Lovers?
The true name for the "Lovers" was actually easier to conceive.
If it were to represent the Path of Chaos, then it represented all accidents and possibilities.
Nairn hardly hesitated before a three-part prayer emerged in his mind.
The first part pointed out its essence:
"Incarnation of Variables, Manifestation of Accidents."
Nairn whispered this line, a faint smile playing on his lips.
This was his Fun-seeker essence, the core of his ability to plant chaos within established order and create accidents within the inevitable.
Next, he thought of that theater that always performed through improvisation, and that little partner who shared his heart and mind.
"Eternal Sovereign of the Chaos Theater."
This true name was an expression of the special bond between Nairn and the Sefirah.
It meant that he was not just a borrower of power, but the sole master of that theater, the ultimate director of all its changes.
This title was also more stable than the other true names because the Lovers Character Card was directly linked to Nairn's essence and closely aligned with that overflowing favorability.
The third part revealed its deeper meaning:
"The Crack in the Inevitable, the Possibility that Persists within Chaos."
This was not just a summary of the Path of Chaos, but an exposition of Nairn's own philosophy of existence.
He enjoyed the pleasure of creating deviations on established tracks, the thrill of finding new life within chaos.
And Nairn deliberately bestowed the title of "Eternal Sovereign of the Chaos Theater" upon the Lovers Character Card.
This was a clever balance and constraint.
He knew well that even if he was the master of the Sefirah and possessed abilities like Character Planning, it wasn't entirely without risk.
If the "Fate Anchor" of a character he designed was too powerful or dangerous, or if the target of Name Sealing had an extremely high status, then that character might undergo uncontrollable mutations, or even—
Try to backfire on him, evolving from an incarnation or a persona into a truly "independent existence" that escaped his control.
This wasn't baseless paranoia.
When using the Magician Beyonder ability "Turning Falsehood into Reality," even as the master of the Sefirah, he had to be careful.
Once a Lie becomes reality, it has the potential to turn around and consume the creator of the Lie.
Nairn had already experienced firsthand the burden and drain of maintaining various Lies when he was "disguised" as Old Neil's deceased wife, Salist.
It wasn't just a drain on spirituality; it was a challenge to self-perception, as if he had to split off another complete version of himself in an instant.
Therefore, the thousand faces incarnation was destined to constantly utilize various legends to increase its presence and stabilize itself through external anchoring.
It needed Name Sealing and "story re-creation" to become increasingly powerful under Nairn's control without completely breaking away.
In contrast, the Lovers card was directly bound to his main body, making it safer and more controllable.
Attributing the true name of "Sovereign of the Chaos Theater" to it was more appropriate.
With the three-part true names finalized, next were the ritual Symbols.
As soon as the thought occurred to him, the Chaos Theater within him became uncontrollably active, like a pet eager to show off, enthusiastically presenting two design schemes directly in his mind.
The first was the Emblem of Infinite Masks belonging to the Path of a Thousand Faces.
It was a hollow silhouette composed of three flowing arcs connected end-to-end. It looked like a minimalist profile of a mask with no fixed form, an ancient scroll slowly unfurling, and a miniature curtain about to be pulled open or closed.
The three arcs symbolized the narrative time of "past, present, and future," and also represented the three core elements of drama: "character, script, and stage."
The hollow and flowing form perfectly interpreted the essence of "faceless" and "thousand faces"—it was an empty vessel itself, yet it could contain and manifest infinite images.
That sense of dynamism, like a mask in the process of forming or dissolving, pointed directly to the core of the "narrative entity's" Authority: existence and stories are both defined within eternal change.
The second was the Emblem of Paradoxical Cracks for the Path of Chaos.
The composition of this Symbol was more direct and impactful.
A standard equilateral triangle symbolized the stability, order, and logic of the world. But its center was violently pierced by a sharp, irregular crack.
The crack was like lightning in the night, or like crazily spreading tree branches, with blurred edges as if it were continuously shattering and expanding.
The triangle represented the fundamental rules and certainty of the universe, while that crack was the intrusion and deconstruction of the "law of uncertainty."
The form of lightning implied "accidents," while the form of branches symbolized the infinite spread of "possibilities."
The entire imagery was like the frozen moment of order being backfired upon by its own loopholes; it was a flower of inevitability growing upon the crystal of rules.
It intuitively expressed the theater's maxim: "Where there are rules, I am the accident."
Two sets of Symbols, one elegant and profound, the other wild and subversive, perfectly matched the essence of the two Pathways.
The emotions transmitted by the Chaos Theater were full of the joy of seeking credit, like a puppy wagging its tail, looking at him expectantly.
"Master, Master, praise me quickly!"
Nairn was infected by this pure joy and couldn't help but laugh. He unsparingly gave the little theater the warmest praise in his heart.
The Chaos Theater, having received praise, was so happy it almost bubbled with pink bubbles, feeding back a more refined energy that gently nourished Nairn's spirit body... Having handled his own affairs, Nairn turned his gaze to Triss in front of him.
He imprinted the set of true names and ritual Symbols belonging to thousand faces deep into Triss's memory.
"Remember, if you encounter danger you cannot resolve, use this method to pray to me." Nairn's voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable power. "I will be heading to Backlund soon. During this time, try to keep a low profile and don't cause unnecessary trouble."
He paused, his gaze becoming somewhat subtle.
"Especially... be careful of those organizations with special needs for a 'Mother'."
He was truly worried that his newly established Demoness subordinate might accidentally be snatched by Ince Zangwill or Adam to become some unsavory part of the "Birth of the God's Son" plan.
God knows if that Lunatic, the True Creator, would come and "experience" the "taste of a Demoness is quite good" all over again.
After all, in Nairn's mind, these "Creators" might be existences that—
Had a special soft spot for Demonesses.
Meanwhile, Triss's heart began to pound wildly, an unspeakable sense of touch and fanaticism welling up in her heart.
He is concerned about me!
Triss had originally thought she was just a useful pawn, but she never expected to receive such meticulous care from the Lord.
The decision to follow this existence was the most correct choice she had ever made in her life!
Seeing Triss look so moved she was almost on the verge of "self-persuasion," Nairn felt no ripples in his heart, only continuing to add:
"If you really encounter trouble in Tingen that cannot be resolved, you can seek help from one person."
Triss immediately pricked up her ears, her expression incredibly focused.
To be personally mentioned by Lord thousand faces and allowed to seek help from, that must also be a big shot lurking in the shadows!
"His name is Klein Moretti, a history graduate, and currently a member of the Nighthawks squad."
A history student?
A Nighthawk?!
Klein Moretti... she had heard of this name; he was a recent newcomer to the Tingen City Nighthawks squad!
Triss suddenly looked up, her pupils shrinking violently.
A Nighthawk... actually... a shocking thought exploded in her mind!
Is he also Lord thousand faces' subordinate?
Lord thousand faces has actually even infiltrated the Church of the Evernight Goddess!