Chapter 99:  The Lure of Forbidden Knowledge

Lynn delicately flipped through the faded pages of the journal. The gentle sound of the leather binding creaking accompanied his meticulous exploration, revealing a collection of handwriting that adorned the parchment.

"A personal journal belonging to the mastermind..." he murmured, his voice filled with intrigue. This seemingly ordinary book held the potential to unlock the mystery behind the inexplicable transformation of the merchant Knott and shed light on the motives behind his disturbing actions.

At first, the writings appeared ordinary and unremarkable—a collection of brief notes detailing various business dealings, the productivity of his agricultural endeavors, and the dispatch of goods abroad. The merchant had diligently recorded the daily affairs of his prosperous life.

Page after page revealed meticulous logs of financial transactions and comments on market trends. Knott had built his wealth through shrewd business acumen, keeping a close eye on every transaction, no matter how minor. His attention to detail was evident in the thorough record-keeping.

The mundane daily recordings persisted for several pages, until, suddenly, the dates leaped forward by several months. Lynn's eyes narrowed, sensing a sudden shift in the narrative.

"This couldn't be a simple coincidence," he pondered silently, recalling Sheriff Cooper's offhand remark about the merchant embarking on an extended trip a few months earlier, and how his demeanor had drastically altered upon his return, withdrawing into a reclusive lifestyle.

Lynn's intuition spurred him on, convinced that something pivotal must have occurred during this mysterious journey. With a sense of urgency, he hastened his pace, swiftly flipping through the journal's pages, seeking clues to unravel the enigma behind the transformed disposition.

The sheriff and officer stood in tense silence, recognizing the significance of any revelations this personal record might contain. The fateful confrontation with the mastermind was imminent, but understanding his motives could prove invaluable.

Following the leap in time, there was a noticeable transformation in the tone of the journal entries. The neat penmanship gave way to hurried scribbles as if the writer's hand struggled to keep up with the whirlwind of thoughts. The ink was smeared in places, evidence of the writer's growing agitation and desperation.

Knott described suffering a terrible accident while abroad, cryptic allusions pointed to a catastrophic event. The details were vague, but it was clear that it had left him shaken to his core.

Due to this incident, he unexpectedly came into possession of a mysterious artifact. An object of immense power that had seemingly allowed him to make contact with the mysterious side of the world, giving him knowledge and extraordinary abilities.

However, its acquisition exacted a harrowing price. The thing exerted a corrupting influence, seeping into his mind and soul, and twisting his thoughts and desires.

"Spiritual pollution...," Lynn whispered to himself, the description of the side effects of the artifact matched the symptoms of this phenomenon, which meant that this item was probably one of his objectives - a potential sublimation material.

As he delved deeper into the journal, Lynn discovered references to strange occurrences and unsettling dreams that plagued the merchant's nights. His mental state deteriorated rapidly, his thoughts consumed by visions of dark entities and ancient rituals.

The journal entries became more fragmented and incoherent as Knott's descent into madness accelerated. He spoke of hearing voices, of seeing shadows that whispered forbidden knowledge into his ear. The line between reality and delusion blurred with each passing day.

Lynn's expression remained neutral as he absorbed the contents, but his mind churned with speculation. It was evident that prolonged contact with this mysterious artifact had triggered this downward spiral, unleashing something sinister from within.

Flipping ahead, he continued scrutinizing the incoherent scrawl filling each page. Knott's writings had devolved into a chaotic stream of consciousness, punctuated by cryptic allusions to sinister rituals and unhinged ravings.

Strange symbols and mysterious drawings started appearing amidst the chaotic scribbles as if an unseen force was guiding the merchant's unsteady hand.

"These symbols... I've seen some of them before," Lynn pondered, his eyes narrowing as he traced his fingers over the strange shapes and markings littering the pages. Some rang familiar, conjuring memories of past encounters.

Among them, he recognized the mark etched on the bodies of the controlled monsters encountered. Certain symbols also resembled the runes that adorned the flat of his sword, Flame Edge.

But most importantly, interspersed occasionally were symbols reminiscent of the intricate seals that Alice, the detective, had inscribed with her blood during his first dungeon. Those powerful wards had managed to contain the sinister power emanating from the Distorted Flesh.

However, while Lynn recognized certain common elements across some of these markings, their meanings and specific purposes remained elusive. He could not decipher them himself or comprehend their significance.

With a frustrated sigh, he flipped to the next page, only to be greeted by more. Knott's direct contact with the sublimation material seemed to give him extraordinary knowledge for the price madness.

As his disappointment grew, he felt a glimmer of hope when he turned to the second to last page. To his surprise, the incoherent ravings abruptly ceased, giving way to something unexpected. 

The final page of the journal was completely devoted to a captivating illustration, meticulously crafted with an astonishing level of detail. Lynn's eyes widened as he fixed his gaze upon the drawing, his curiosity piqued.

At first glance, the image depicted a humanoid figure, standing tall and upright. But as he studied it, he discovered something far more peculiar and extraordinary. The being before him appeared to be a fusion of various monster parts, seamlessly interwoven to form a harmonious whole.

Lynn found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the fantastical illustration. A human form constructed entirely from non-human parts—the concept seemed too bizarre even for himself.

Yet, the ominous realism of the sketch left a lingering unease, suggesting that it might have existed, or that it was drawn about something that actually existed.

"A perfect creature...," Lynn muttered unconsciously under his breath.

At that moment, as the words left his mouth, Lynn experienced a sudden revelation. Reacting swiftly, he abruptly closed the journal, as if seeking to sever the connection between himself and its enigmatic contents.

He took a deep breath to steady his whirling thoughts, and shook his head, a brief, instinctual gesture to clear his mind from the tendrils of influence that had taken hold.

A furrow formed on his brow as he contemplated the situation. It was clear that the content of this book held a power that extended beyond mere words on paper. Their influence nearly seeped into his very being, tugging at the edges of his perception and distorting his understanding of reality.

Just a few moments looking at that illustration carried a perilous risk. Had he not exercised caution and severed the connection in time, he might have succumbed to some kind of spiritual pollution, irreversibly damaging him.

As the realization dawned upon Lynn, he couldn't help but connect the dots. "That would explain why this diary was left here."

This was no accident or mere oversight. its strategic location and effects strongly suggested a deliberate ploy by their adversary. By leaving this corrupting book to be found, the enemy likely sought to incapacitate Lynn, undermining his ability to fight through spiritual pollution.

Lynn immediately stowed the diary away, placing it in his inventory where it could be kept secure. Despite the hazards it presented, he couldn't ignore the extraordinary knowledge that the journal could hold, which would be of immense value.

Suddenly, a sound of footsteps reverberated through the air, accompanied by an unsettling symphony of snarls, growls, and hisses. The unmistakable sound of a vast multitude of creatures moving with alarming speed echoed from the distance, instantly evoking a sense of impending danger.