Seated inside the magnificent, gold-and-jade–glittering carriage space, Dorian, Vilrod, and the others felt a lingering unease.
Although the family's accumulated heritage ensured they lacked nothing materially, they were at best middle class, and none of them had ever experienced such overwhelming pomp and grandeur.
It was not that they were incapable of affording it, but rather that the Abraham family had long been forced to remain hidden; displaying such extravagance would inevitably attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.
With considerable effort, they tore their gazes away from Yellow Saintess Natalia and the other beautiful maidservants behind her. After swallowing nervously and exchanging a few glances, Dorian finally spoke with caution:
"Forebear, we wish to know the root of the family's 'full-moon' curse."
—It was not that Dorian, Vilrod, and the others were particularly lecherous. In order to establish a suitably luxurious persona, Ebner had simply instructed Yellow Saintess to pull out projections of the Red Saintess, Blue Saintess, White Saintess, and Despair Nightingale to serve as attendants. Under the compounded allure of so many high-ranking Demonesses, the fact that they did not lose composure on the spot was entirely due to wills tempered by centuries of enduring full-moon whispers.
Ebner deliberately kept the marionettes in their original appearances and personalities—Natalia included—partly to sequentially perform the low- and mid-sequence roles of the Seer pathway.
After all, a Miracle Invoker's characteristic contained the complete Sequence 9 to Sequence 2 framework; digestion still required systematic acting.
In truth, the earlier continent-wide "announcement" to angels had also doubled as a form of Magician acting. Several existences had seen through it, and in their own way, offered silent "applause."
While his thoughts drifted freely, Ebner did not answer immediately. Instead, he sighed with deliberate gravity and asked in return:
"Do you truly wish to know the truth—even if it is cruel?"
He infused his words with a trace of divine majesty. Dorian, Vilrod, and the others paled instantly, while their Astrologer intuition screamed a warning that the truth would be deeply unfavorable.
Yet this question had haunted the Abraham family for over a millennium. Even if it meant death, they felt they had to know. Clenching their teeth, they answered as one:
"Yes, Forebear… we seek the truth!"
Ebner withdrew the pressure, allowing them to breathe again, before speaking calmly:
"The so-called full-moon curse originates from the Ancestor Himself… He does not wish for the Abraham family to produce any more demigods."
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"Why would the Ancestor do that?"
"Has He gone mad?!"
The carriage erupted in disbelief.
Vilrod reacted most intensely. His eyes were bloodshot as he demanded:
"Forebear—why? This defies all mystic logic!"
Ebner glanced at him. In the original timeline, this professor-like man would later be exploited by Amon through sheer obsession, ultimately delivering the Ancestor into ruin. But in truth, he was merely a pawn of far greater existences—not truly culpable.
Ebner answered evenly:
"Have you heard of contamination from beyond the stars?"
Aside from True Gods and angels, few families understood the cosmos as deeply as the Abrahams. Their archives contained countless veiled records and ominous hints.
Vilrod frowned, then nodded solemnly.
"We know."
"The Ancestor was polluted by the starry sky and reduced to a puppet," Ebner explained. "Later, He was jointly exiled by the Evernight Goddess and the Lord of Storm. Knowing that once freed He would bring about the apocalypse, He takes advantage of the rare moments of lucidity during the full moon to whisper, preventing family members from advancing to demigod—lest they be misled by the puppet within Him and bring disaster upon the world."
Silence followed.
Some felt grief, others understanding, some acceptance, and a few resentment—but no one spoke.
Only after Ebner lifted his teacup for the third time did Vilrod sigh:
"So that's how it is… but could it be that the true Ancestor is actually calling for help, while the one stopping us is the 'puppet'?"
Ebner smiled faintly. Insight had already shown him this reaction.
"When you advance to demigod, go and listen to the Ancestor's whispers yourself. You'll know then."
"But the curse makes that impossible—" Vilrod halted abruptly, then snapped his head up. "You… You can lift it?"
Every gaze ignited with hope.
Ebner flicked his fingers, and several cards Flashed into the astrologers' hands.
"A complete cure isn't possible yet, but sheltering the few of you during the full moon is."
"On the night itself, hold the cards and recite the incantations printed upon them. You'll enter this bizarre—this space I've named Yuyu Heaven.
"Here, the full-moon whispers are completely blocked."
They murmured the name and instinctively glanced out the carriage windows. There was only endless darkness, yet their intuition told them the name held profound mystery.
"Thank you, Forebear!" they said in unison, feeling an unmistakable closeness to this suddenly revealed angelic ancestor.
Ebner nodded.
"As for the rest of the family, I cannot shelter them yet… but there is another method—if they are willing."
"What method?" Dorian asked, barely containing his excitement.
Ebner assumed a solemn expression.
"Have every family member convert to my Lord. Then, during full moons and blood moons alike, they will receive protection and be free of the curse."
"Your Lord… You serve a Great Being?" Vilrod asked instantly, wary.
"Of course," Ebner replied with a smile. "Why do you think I alone do not fear the full-moon curse, and was able to become a demigod—then an angel?"
Realization dawned on every face. The unasked question was finally answered.
"…Which Lord?" Dorian asked after a pause.
"My Lord calls Himself the Fool," Ebner proclaimed solemnly. "In the past, the present, and the future, He is the great ruler of the Spirit World, the King in Yellow and Black who governs good fortune, and the beacon every being seeks on the path to eternity."
"The one from the Antigonus family?" Vilrod probed.
As a Fourth Epoch angel family, the Abrahams naturally possessed records of that "half-Fool."
Ebner shook his head.
"My Lord is the true Fool, the light that redeems the apocalypse."
He continued before they could ask further:
"However, you have ample time to decide. I have not even sought Mr Fool's consent yet—He may not be willing to shelter you at this moment."
Even if He is willing, it would still have to wait until Klein becomes a demigod. His spirituality is insufficient right now.
Relieved that no immediate decision was demanded, they also felt a surge of gratitude. The Forebear was kind; an angel could easily have forced their compliance.
Dorian and Vilrod exchanged glances. Dorian then spoke respectfully:
"Forebear, the family still possesses two Grade-0 sealed artifacts: God's Picture Scroll and Star Scepter. Since You have returned, You should take custody of them."
This had been agreed upon in advance: if Alvin truly returned as an angel, they would offer a Grade-0 artifact in exchange for protection.
Yet the ancestor proved far kinder than expected, prompting them to bind themselves fully. In any case, such artifacts were of limited use to them—each activation cost many lives, a last-resort suicide card.
Ebner had been waiting for this moment. Though he had once been a demigod as Alvin, he had never been close to the family and had only seen Box of the Past. He would not miss this opportunity.
"Excellent… but custody isn't necessary," he said with satisfaction. "Just bring them for me to take a look."
For an angel who advanced from Wanderer to Miracle Invoker, whether through historical projection or recording, any item that once belonged to him would forever be his.
The family found this unsurprising. Even without knowing an angel's full abilities, the effects of Star Scepter were already revealing.
—While holding the scepter, if one can clearly picture an ability or a person, the staff will reproduce the corresponding power or individual, allowing them to launch a single attack.
After setting a time to retrieve the artifacts, Ebner ended the discussion and looked around.
"I have already informed all factions of my ascension. They will soon send envoys with offers, asking me to join them… I need one of you to act as a liaison."
(End of chapter)