Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Fool was asleep, but life went on.

There were many things to do in preparation for the apocalypse. In order to better serve their god and protect the ones they cared about, the Tarot Club had continued to advance and carry out their missions around the world, all the while nursing hope in their hearts. Someday, they knew, ‘He’ would wake up, and a new grand performance would begin.

So when their visions suddenly filled with crimson, it was not fear they felt, but joy.

In the Empress Borough of Backlund, the Hall family was sitting down for dinner.

Alfred Hall looked at his loved ones, satisfied. Fighting madness day after day and surviving that hell known as war was all worth it just to be able to be here with everyone he cared about: his two doting parents, his brother Hibbert, and his sister Audrey, who was called "the most dazzling gem of Backlund". A title she was worthy of, he thought with pride.

Unfortunately, she was also the source of the only current problem in his life. After seeing so many of his comrades lose control - practically losing control himself - how could he be happy to know that his precious sister was a Beyonder? A Sequence 7, no less! He tried to take comfort in the fact that she seemed to have heeded his warnings seriously, but he couldn't help but worry...

As if on cue, Audrey looked at him and laughed. "Dear brother, what are so worried about? You look like you've swallowed a lemon!"

Alfred blinked. Hadn't he hidden himself well? Ah, right, she's of the Spectator pathway... He let out a helpless laugh. "I was just thinking of how much you've grown up."

"Really?" Audrey's eyes lit up. She puffed her chest out with pride. "I think it must be the new perfume I bought - a certain friend of mine who often travels gave it to me and said it was from Intis! I always feel very worldly and mature when I wear it..."

Earl Hall and Hibbert laughed at the girl's antics. Caitlyn simply smiled as Audrey continued to talk about the various places her friend had traveled to.

Alfred leaned back in his chair, content. Perhaps I was wrong, he thought fondly. She hasn't changed at all...

At that moment, crimson light flooded his vision.

His battle instincts kicked in, but there was nothing he could do. The last thing he saw was the alarmed expressions of his family - and Audrey's face which had drained of all emotion, like a goddess watching impartially from above.

A boy no older than three or four licked at an ice cream cone happily.

Aaron Ceres looked at his son with a complicated expression. As a surgeon and doctor, he couldn't approve of Will's near-constant sugar intake. On the other hand, he'd performed several checkups on Will, and had others in his medical circle examine Will as well, and his sugar levels appeared to be perfectly normal - which was strange in and of itself. Where was he getting all that ice cream from, anyway?

This abnormality was only one of the few odd things he'd noticed about his son. For instance, how Will had silver hair and golden eyes, traits that couldn't have come from either Aaron or his wife. Or how Aaron's luck had dramatically increased soon after Will was born. If not for the luck-based anomaly he'd suffered before the birth of his son, at the hands of a boy of the same name, Aaron easily could have dismissed these things as coincidences. 

Well, it should be fine... Aaron thought. What am I thinking? This is my child. It's best not to pry into these matters.

"Klein, you jerk..."

Having let his thoughts wander, Aaron was snapped out of his reverie by the sleepy voice of his son. He looked back to where Will was sitting. The boy had drifted asleep in the grass, ice cream fallen to the ground. Aaron let his lips twitch, imagining how upset Will would be about that when he woke up.

Who is Klein? An imaginary friend, perhaps? Aaron wondered. He gently scooped up his sleeping child and went inside the house. All the while, Will's eyelids fluttered, as if he were having an unpeaceful dream.

In Feynapotter, a bronze-skinned man sat in a cafe writing on a piece of paper.

"...Your mentor and friend, Azik Eggers."

Just as he was about to sacrifice the letter, his gaze turned into an endless field of crimson.

Oracle Danitz sat in the pews of the Church of the Fool with an unusually contemplative expression.

Dogshit... He cursed. Why does have an Oracle have so many responsibilities? This is the first time I've been able to sit down all day. Well, it's befitting of a lord such as myself... still, it's all Gehrman Sparrow's fault! That son of a bitch!

As he continued to curse a certain crazy adventurer, his sight suddenly flashed crimson.

In a mausoleum on a primitive island, a Dark Emperor sat on his throne, trapped in eternal slumber.

Suddenly, a sigil on the back of his chair began to glow. A pupil-less eye representing secrets. Contorted lines representing change. The symbol grew brighter and brighter until the shadowy figure was enveloped in its light. Slowly, the Emperor's eyes began to open.

The first and last thing he saw was crimson.

Bernadette sat in her cabin in the Golden Dream with a newspaper in front of her. As she read, her eyebrows began to raise.

The "Queen of Stars" has been gaining notoriety lately... it won't be long before that girl catches up to me.

In the privacy of her own room, she allowed herself to smile. If there was one thing in this cruel and maddening world that Bernadette was proud of, it was Cattleya. She had grown so much from the small child that used to look up to Bernadette in awe. 

As pride and nostalgia bloomed in her chest, her thoughts turned in a familiar direction. The smile began to fade. She drew her body into itself and softly whispered:

"Father..."

Through the film of tears that had begun to form, she barely noticed the crimson light surrounding her.

Benson and Melissa Moretti sat in their apartment, sharing a meal and talking.

They'd both witnessed much suffering in the war. But they had survived; Benson had even gotten married. Now, even though they'd lost so much, they were just happy to have each other.

"I can't believe it." Benson shook his head. "My sister, who never believed in mysticism, part of the mystic world... what did you say you were called again?"

"Savant. It's the sequence 9 of the Artisan Beyonder pathway," Melissa answered.

"...I don't know what half of those words mean."

Melissa smiled. "It just means that I'm not at a level where I'll face much danger. I don't plan on advancing further. I only became a Beyonder to become better with machinery, anyway."

"That's good. I trust you to make your own choices, Melissa." Benson reached out and gently held his sister's hand. "But... please be careful."

Silence passed over the room. Unconsciously, both of their gazes moved to a third seat at the table, where a person had once sat.

"I will," Melissa said hoarsely.

Benson nodded and squeezed her hand. The wound that left behind by their brother had yet to fully heal. Maybe it never would. But they had each other, Benson reminded himself, and that would never change.

At that moment, the simple dining table disappeared from their sight, replaced by endless crimson.

In the astral world, a goddess sat among flowers. She plucked a night vanilla flower from the ground and brought it to her veiled face. 

The appearance of the crimson light did not surprise her. Her lips curved into a frown, her concealed expression becoming solemn, but nevertheless, she let herself be enveloped by the light.

In Sefirah Castle, a man sat in the throne of the Fool. He wore a hooded robe and felt indescribably ancient.

He was not Klein Moretti.

Chapter Text

They were summoned to different parts of Sefirah Castle.

This was an easy conclusion to come to. Although Amanises was alone, she could sense many auras surrounding her. Instead of immediately seeking out the others, she closed her eyes in thought.

Calling so many people here - more than he had in that gathering of his, as far as she knew - was unusual. This was not an action taken by Klein himself. Rather, it was more likely an effort by the former Lord of Mysteries, who had apparently gained a temporary advantage in the battle, to destabilize the Fool's anchors somehow. While this had been within her expectations of development, it was definitely a scenario she would have rather avoided. 

As for her own presence here, Klein seemed to exert some control over those who were called. The Celestial Worthy would never have allowed such a powerful ally of the Fool to be here, where she could so easily mitigate the consequences of whatever was to come.

And if the Fool still had some control, she told herself, then not all hope was lost. She would gladly accept the opportunity that Klein had given her.

With that thought, she went to where she sensed several groups of people were converging.

Roselle Gustav opened his eyes. Immediately, he felt that something was different.

He looked down at his hands. The corruption has been temporarily suppressed?

His first instinct was to leap for joy, which he did with no shame whatsoever. After a few rounds of giddy fist-pumps and raucous laughter, he allowed himself to consider his situation. Had his fellow Earthling Zhou Mingrui successfully become a Great Old One and saved him? Or at least found a way to stabilize the situation? Was this strange area the product of a sefirah? Finally, the euphoria began to fade as he seriously looked around. If that were the case, then why hadn't Zhou Mingrui appeared before him? He didn't seem like the type to pull such a mean prank on a poor old emperor who had just been de-corrupted. Then again, they'd only met once...

Suddenly, he heard footsteps. If it's really Zhou Mingrui, I'll punch him for scaring me, he internally grumbled before yelling, "Who's that?"

"Father...?"

Roselle's heart stopped.

Out of the fog, a figure emerged. Leather boots. Chestnut hair. Bright blue irises that stared at him with something between hope and despair.

He'd know that face anywhere. Even in that hellish mausoleum, more dead than alive, he had never forgotten.

"Bernadette," he said.

The girl - no, the woman in front of him flinched like she'd been hit. Her eyes began to mist over.

"My little princess." His chest hurt, but he was grinning so hard he could barely form the words. "I don't know what's going on, either. Last thing I remember, I was in that awful place, and now-"

His words were cut off by a heavy force slamming into him. Bernadette Gustav, Pirate King of the Five Seas, who he had raised to be meticulous in both conversation and battle, had thrown caution to the wind and rushed to hug her father.

Roselle felt a growing wetness on his shoulder. He smiled, blinking back tears, and wrapped his arms around Bernadette.

"I'm here, baobei. Your dad isn't going anywhere."

Bernadette shuddered with a sob. He stroked her back softly and hummed a lullaby that his own mother had sung to him, a song that had gone unsung for thousands of years.

After a short while, they pulled apart. Bernadette's expression had steeled once again, but her eyes were still soft.

"What's happening?" she asked.

"No idea." Roselle extended a hand to his daughter with a laugh. "How about we find out?"

The first thing Alfred Hall heard when he regained consciousness was, "Dogshit!"

He did not consider this a good omen.

Alfred stared uncertainly at the blond man a few feet away from him, who was still muttering: "This isn't usually what happens when I have a revelation... Gehrman, that bastard, what did he do..."

Finally, he tore his gaze away. His family was most important at the moment! He spun around to see his loved ones looking around in confusion and fear. Mother, Father, Hibbert, and-

His heart sunk into his stomach.

"Where's Audrey?" The words felt like ashes in his mouth.

Earl Hall looked at his son grimly and shook his head. Caitlyn gripped her husband's arm fiercely. Hibbert's mouth was set into a quivering line.

Alfred forced himself to stay calm. He was the only Beyonder within his family right now - not that he'd let Audrey fight if she were here - and they were depending on him. Not only were they in an unknown situation, Audrey was missing. Alfred's list of priorities was to find her, then escape this place.

He thought of the strangeness he'd seen on Audrey's face in that last second. The way she'd stiffened like a marionette. Then he shook his head. A hallucination, probably, out of stress or simply a side-effect of the potion's madness. 

"Everything is going to be fine," he forced himself to say. "We just have to stick together, and we'll figure things out."

Next to them, the mysterious ruffian cursed even louder, then suddenly looked at them and sighed.

"So you were pulled up here, too?"

Earl Hall finally recollected himself and stepped back into his role as the head of the family. "Yes. We don't really know where we are. Do you have any idea?"

"Any idea?" The man laughed raucously, then smirked at them. "I've got more than an idea. Let this noble Lord Danitz educate you. This is the divine kingdom of the mighty Fool!"

"Divine kingdom...?"

The words sent shivers down the backs of the Hall family. One didn't need extensive knowledge in mysticism to have a general idea of what a "divine kingdom" meant. Whatever they had just been pulled into, it involved matters at the level of the gods!

"You mean to say that this place belongs to a god?" Earl Hall struggled to keep his voice even.

“Sure does." Danitz pointed to himself proudly. "And I am his divine oracle."

...Not much about him seems divine... The Hall family thought simultaneously.

The Fool... the Fool... Alfred racked his memories. Isn't that the patron of some tiny church that's been gaining traction in the Rorsted Archipelago? What could we have done to attract that existence's attention? And more importantly, what could that existence have done to Audrey?!

His thoughts were interrupted by a bark. With fearful expressions (though Danitz only raised an eyebrow), everyone turned to the source of the sound: a golden retriever emerging from the fog. The familiar family pet bounded up to them.

"Susie?" Hibbert asked with disbelief. 

"Yes," said the dog. "I think you need to come with me."

The Hall family's mouths fell open. Caitlyn fainted in her husband's arms. Danitz just looked resigned.

Melissa Moretti looked around wildly. Her advisor, Portland Moment, had been made sure to thoroughly educate her on the dangers of interacting with unknown existences, and she'd always been a careful person by nature. So how could something like this have happened?

"What is this place?" Benson's voice was wary. "Does this have something to do with Beyonders?"

"I think so," Melissa replied. She grabbed her brother's hand. "Whatever you do, stay close to me. I don't have much ability in combat, but I'll do whatever I can..."

Benson looked at her, aghast. "I'm the older brother, it's my responsibility to-"

"You don't understand!" Her voice came out sharper than she intended. She took a breath. "The difference between a Beyonder and a normal human... you can't understand it unless you experience it yourself. There's nothing you can do here."

Benson looked at her quietly. He clutched his sister's hand, while his other hand fell uselessly to his side.

"I wish I wasn't so helpless..."

The words left his mouth and were silently swallowed by the fog.

At that moment, from that same endless fog, a sniffle was heard.

Melissa and Benson's hearts stuttered in their chests. Trapped in an endless and unseen world, and from the depths of that world, hearing the cry of a child - it was a plot straight out of a horror story!

The sniffling grew closer, along with the sound of footsteps. Melissa balked. Since she didn't plan to advance and was only interested in machinery, she had never actually received any combat training. She and Benson were essentially defenseless. Despite this, she made a half-hearted attempt at a fighting stance.

Finally, the source of the cries revealed itself: a small boy, practically an infant, with unusually white hair. The child rubbed at his eyes and looked up at them.

Golden irises? Well, he looks mostly normal... Melissa thought uncertainly, heartbeat racing. Is this a trap?

"I dropped my ice cream," the boy sniffed.

The Moretti siblings' heads momentarily went blank.

While Melissa was still in shock, Benson sent her a look that said I'll handle this, then knelt down to look at the boy properly.

"What are you doing?" Melissa fiercely whispered to her brother.

"I took care of both you and Klein when you were kids," he whispered back. Then he turned to the boy. "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you know where you are?"

The child shook his head. "Fell asleep...When I woke up, Mom and Dad were gone." He sniffed again. "My ice cream..."

Benson remained patient. "We don't know what this place is, either. So how about we find a way out together? After you get home, I bet your parents will buy you a new ice cream."

The boy's eyes lit up, and he rapidly nodded.

"Good." Benson smiled. "My name is Benson, and this is my sister, Melissa. What's your name!"

"Will!" After a moment of thought, the boy added, "I'm three!"

"That's a good age. Nice to meet you, Will." He turned to Melissa. "Should we look for a way out?"

Melissa was just about to nod, still in a daze, when another set of footsteps began to approach. Will clung to Benson's leg fearfully as a tanned man in a suit walked out of the fog. 

"So there are others here." The man smiled gently. His demeanor seemed relaxed and experienced, as if he'd witnessed the vicissitudes of life. Melissa absently noted the presence of a mole under his right eye. "Do you know why we've been summoned?"

Summoned. Melissa felt her blood run cold. So we really were summoned... but what hidden existence would want anything to do with two orphans, let alone a three year-old? Her thoughts continued to race, old and half-formed suspicions bubbling to the surface. She couldn't explain why, but she had the urge to whisper the name of her brother who had died three years ago.

Benson smiled sheepishly. "We're just as clueless as you. I'm Benson, this is Melissa - my younger sister - and this kid is Will. We found him just now, wandering like us. What's your name?"

"Benson and Melissa..." The man's brow furrowed. "Are you, by any chance, Klein Moretti's siblings?"

-!

The Moretti siblings jerked as if they'd been struck. Suddenly having the name of their deceased brother thrown at them, especially in a place like this, was too much to handle. Benson's hand tightened around Melissa's.

When Benson responded, his voice was considerably lower and slower. "Who are you?"

"I apologize for the shock. That was impolite of me." The man bowed slightly to them. "My name is Azik. I was your brother's history teacher at Khoy University, as well as his personal mentor. He talked about you two very often." He smiled, soft and sad. "I'm sure this doesn't help much, but Klein Moretti was one of the best people I've ever known. And he cared for you deeply."

Benson fell into silence. Melissa could feel his hand trembling. Or maybe she was the one who was trembling.

"We know," Benson finally managed. His voice was rough. "Thank you."

Azik smiled at them again and dipped his head. He then knelt to face Will as Benson had done moments before. "And you, child. Your last name wouldn't happen to be Auceptin, would it?"

Will stuck out his lower lip in a pout. "It's Ceres now."

Now? Melissa latched onto the strange wording in an effort to distract herself from grief. He had a different last name before? Did one of his parents remarry? No, how does Mr. Azik know this child in the first place?

"Is that so?" The man, Azik, seemed strangely amused. "You know, the Bible of the Fool lists you as his most cherished angel."

"Since when have I been his angel?!" the three year-old groused.

The Moretti siblings' jaws dropped.

Just moments ago, this child had been clinging to Benson like, well, a child missing his parents. Now he had the aura of a middle-aged worker complaining about his boss to his drinking mates... The suddenness was too much for the siblings, who had just escaped their previous state of shock.

What? Huh?

"Besides," they distantly heard Will continue, "He's a 'Him' now, right?"

Azik laughed. "He's not the type of person to enjoy being called a "Him". It's not like you refer to him as 'Him', either."

"Of course not," Will scoffed. "He exploited me while I was still in the womb!"

"Womb?" Benson mouthed.

What... is this? What is this? The whole conversation was too nonsensical for Melissa to listen to. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "Was Klein a Beyonder?"

Everyone turned to look at her in surprise. Benson looked almost betrayed.

She leveled her gaze on Azik. "You and that... child seem to know something. And obviously, you knew our brother. Was he a Beyonder?" Her hands balled into fists. "Is that why he died?"

Azik's eyes were deep and fathomless. Even Will, whose baby face shouldn't have been intimidating in the least, had a gaze that felt like it was boring into her. It was almost enough to make Melissa regret speaking. But not quite.

"I'm afraid I can't say anything about this," Azik told her with sincere regret. "It's best we begin investigating the circumstances that brought us here. That might lead to some answers."

"You didn't answer my question."

"I can't," Azik repeated. "Please understand."

Benson put a hand on her shoulder. "Melissa, you can't really think..." He trailed off, looking at her with sadness.

Will (Auceptin? Ceres?) giggled. "You're a funny pair. But Mr. Azik is right, you know. I just sensed some pretty big changes in fate." He smiled innocently. "If you want to learn anything, finding the cause of those changes is your best bet."

Melissa and Benson exchanged a look. Fate, the Bible of the Fool, this unusual child and this strange fog... nothing made sense. But they still had each other.

They both nodded, and the group began to walk.

With hope and excitement surging in their chests, the members of the Tarot Club all looked towards the head of the table where the Fool usually sat-

Except there was no table.

That grand palace, which seemed to have been made for giants, was nowhere to be found. The group stood in an endless sea of gray fog. Confused, they began to look around, and Fors was the first to gasp.

They could see each other's faces!

The others discovered this shortly after as they looked at each other in alarm. Xio instinctively covered her face; Emlyn took several steps back; Audrey immediately scanned the new figures in front of her. Seeing blurry outlines, or having vague ideas as to the identities of other members, was nothing compared to this. 

"You're the one who bought Tinder?" Mr. Star asked Mr. Moon in shock.

Emlyn chuckled deeply. "It seems I've been discovered."

...What is he going on about? Leonard deadpanned.

What is this? Alger's thoughts whirled. Why was my face suddenly exposed? Although Little Sun has seen me before, I still had anonymity with the others! No, more importantly, this doesn't seem like our usual gathering place. Why exactly were we called here?

"What's going on?" Little Sun's question did not sound uncertain, as it might have when he'd first joined the Tarot Club. The other members could now clearly see his gentle features, which were currently molded into confusion and wariness.

The Hermit frowned. "I don't know. Mr. Fool isn't here, either..." Since her identity as Queen of Stars was already widely known through Mr. Hanged Man and her connection to Queen Mystic Bernadette, she was a little calmer than the rest.

Her mention of Mr. Fool caused the members to look around as they realized she was right: their patron god, the only one capable of calling them above the gray fog, was not here.

"Could something have gone wrong with his awakening process?" The Magician said uneasily, feeling as if she'd stepped into the pages of a horror novel.

"That's impossible." Derrick shook his head strongly. "There's no way that 'He'..."

Everyone could easily fill in the rest of Little Sun's sentence: There's no way that 'He' would abandon us.

"We have to stay calm," said the Hanged Man. "If the reason we're here isn't Mr. Fool's awakening, we must be here for something else. We just have to figure out what it is. Has anything of note happened lately?"

The Tarot Club thought before collectively shaking their heads.

"Something must have triggered this anomaly." Cattleya stroked her chin. "If we can't think of anything, then we've been manipulated to miss something, or the issue lies on Mr. Fool's side. If the latter is the case, there's nothing much that we can do about it. For now, we have to keep pursuing the same line of reasoning."

Ma'am Hermit sure is experienced... Audrey nodded. "As a Spectator, I should be able to notice when I'm being guided, unless the opposing force is of an angel level or higher." Everyone thought of a certain Visionary and the ancient secret organization he headed. "I don't sense psychological cues on any of us, but again, this is on the premise that the force is not of an angel level." 

"If our enemy is an angel, then there's still not much we can do," the Star said thoughtfully. "Our highest-ranking currently active members still only reach the level of saint. Besides, how could an angel infiltrate the domain of a god?"

"Regardless of anything, it seems like the problem is at a god's level, doesn't it?" Emlyn sighed. "In that case, what can we do besides just wait around?" Ah, I miss my dolls... No, such sacrifice is part of a messiah's duty. Be strong, Emlyn White! You are a noble Sanguine!

"We have to do something!" Derrick's words were tinged with desperation. "Mr. Fool could be in danger!"

He and the City of Silver had already been abandoned by the Ancient Sun God. Although he respected and admired Mr. Fool, believing he would wake up successfully, Fors' offhanded comment had forced him to acknowledge the similarities between the two deities he had worshipped.

Derrick believed Mr. Fool would return safely, but he had once believed the same of the Ancient Sun God.

If there was something he could do - if Mr. Fool had called them here as some sort of cry for help - then how could Derrick stand here and do nothing?

Step.

Before anyone could respond to Little Sun's plea, the members of the Tarot Club turned in unison. In this gray fog, a place that they believed they were the only ones to step foot in, someone else was approaching.

"I smell five people and an animal." The Moon sniffed the air. "Four of them have similar scents, so they might be related. Actually, their scent is rather similar to yours, Miss Justice."

Since everyone knew that the Moon was a vampire - ahem, noble Sanguine - nobody batted an eye at this comment. The members turned to look at Audrey.

The Sequence 3 Dream Weaver felt unsure of what to say in a way she hadn't for at least a year. "I do have relatives, but I have no idea why they would be here."

"But that doesn't account for the other person and the animal," Leonard pointed out.

"Oh, well..." Despite the control that her Beyonder pathway gave her, the senior Spectator's expression became rather awkward. "As for the animal..."

Suddenly, a golden retriever bounded into view. It paused for a moment with happiness on its face.

"Audrey! I found you!" it called.

The Tarot Club blinked in unison. Ah...

I've been a Beyonder for so many years, and this is still off-putting, Leonard lamented.

Derrick's eyes widened. Is this a dog? I've never seen this breed before. While there were plenty of dogs in Bayam, most steered clear of the New City of Silver. Derrick suspected some combination of the citizens' unusual height and the residual scent of giant's blood. Whatever the case, it meant that he rarely got to see such animals up close. Its fur looks so soft. I wonder if I could pet it...? No, what am I thinking! I have to stay focused and help Mr. Fool!

"Yes, hello, Susie..." Audrey's lips twitched. Her eyes darted around to the other members of the Tarot Club.

"This would be the Beyonder pet you inquired about in the early meetings?" Alger raised an eyebrow with a slightly evil expression.

"U-Um, Mr. Hanged Man, there's really no need to bring that up!" Miss Justice laughed nervously, cheeks burning. "It's practically ancient history at this point, right?"

The other members of the Tarot Club exchanged confused looks. Why is she so embarrassed? Did the dog drink her potion or something? No way that would happen... Meanwhile, the golden retriever ran up to its owner happily and spoke again.

"Your family is here. They're with a strange man I don't know. They'll arrive in about twenty seconds."

"I see. Thank you, Susie." The girl stroked Susie's soft fur.

Xio frowned. "Miss Justice, is anybody else in your family in a Beyonder? Or do they have anything to do with Mr. Fool?"

"Not to my knowledge, no. My brother is a mid-sequence Beyonder..." She refrained from mentioning his pathway and sequence; even though she trusted the Tarot Club, Alfred was her brother, and it wasn't her information to share. "However, the closest contact he's had with Mr. Fool that I'm aware of is coming across Mr. World's ritual involving Utopia."

Emlyn made a puzzled expression. "Why are they here, then?"

Audrey only mutely shook her head.

Faint footfalls could now be heard. The Tarot Club was not a place to exchange information about one's personal life, but everyone at least knew that Miss Justice had totally immersed herself in the mysterious world, leaving a Virtual Persona behind to comfort her family. Several people sent concerned or sympathetic looks in her direction.

"Will you be alright?" Fors asked.

Justice looked up. Her hands clenched into fists, then unclenched as they smoothed out her dress. Her expression was steely, her eyes cold and grim.

"Thank you, Miss Magician. I'll be alright."

Alger bowed his head. She's sure grown up since our first meeting... Ah, what kind of stupid things am I thinking? This just makes her a stronger ally, that's all.

"Audrey!"

A desperate female voice echoed from the fog. Suddenly, a woman ran forward. Her gait was awkward, restrained by the heavy dress she was wearing, but she paid this no notice. Her face lit up the second she spotted her daughter, not even registering anyone else in the area.

The senior Spectator's frozen expression immediately melted, becoming a perfect picture of surprise. "Mother? You're here, too? But Father and the others..."

Fors and several others shivered in the background. Spectators sure are scary.

"They're here," the noblewoman cried, rushing to wrap her arms around Audrey. "They're all here, you're the only one that was missing! We were so worried!"

Audrey remained stiff for a beat before forcing her body to relax. She still remembered the days when she herself had been wrapped safely in her mother's arms, protected from the troubles of the world - what few troubles she'd known of, anyway. Now Caitlyn Hall clung to her, Mother's tears wetting her dress. She slowly put her arms around the woman who she hadn't seen for a year, not knowing what to feel. 

"I'm here, Mother," she said softly, and even she wasn't sure if the words were a lie. "Your daughter isn't going anywhere."

The Tarot Club members silently averted their gazes.

But Derrick hadn't turned away fast enough to miss the hollow way Miss Justice - Audrey, he now knew - had stared out over her mother's shoulder. It made him feel a strong wave of longing for his own parents, who had once worried over him the same way. But he felt no jealousy towards his friend; they had, to a degree, experienced the same pain. Wasn't what she was doing equivalent to killing her family in her own mind?

"Caitlyn, where did-" Another voice sounded from the fog, several silhouettes becoming visible as they stopped in their tracks. "Audrey!"

Three similar-looking blond men were soon crowding around the noble girl and Caitlyn, who was still clinging to her daughter.

Trailing behind them was a scowling blond man - unmistakably unrelated to the others - with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"What are they so excited for..." Danitz mumbled to himself. Looking around, he saw the overdramatic blond family crowding around each other and some people standing awkwardly in the background. Among them was a familiar face.

He walked up to Alger Wilson and whispered, "Any clue what the hell is happening?"

Alger shrugged with a blank look. "Aren't you supposed to be the Fool's oracle? You tell me."

Meanwhile, the family reunion was coming to an end. Hibbert grabbed Audrey's shoulder and asked, hysterical, "Sister, did you know that your dog talks?"

"Ah, well..." Audrey smiled brightly. "You know how these things go."

...No, we don't, thought everyone else simultaneously.

Alfred looked at his sister in deep thought. "But you were with us when this - this anomaly happened. Why did you appear with a different group of people?"

"Oh, leave her alone for now," scolded Caitlyn. "What's most important is that we're all safe, and that we're not alone." She stressed the words meaningfully before her face turned sheepish, and she bowed to the Tarot Club. "I'm terribly sorry for that display. I presume you're all in the same situation as us?"

As the de facto charmer of the group, Leonard stepped up to the plate with a gentlemanly smile. "Yes. You can imagine we're all a little confused."

Danitz rolled his eyes. "We know who summoned us here, but not why."

"This 'Fool' fellow you mentioned?" The Earl pursed his lips. "Well, how do we find out what he wants with us?"

Silence.

"Well," Caitlyn said. "Perhaps we should start with some introductions?"

The Tarot Club members eyed each other warily.

"Audrey," said Susie, reading the mood, "that tall boy is looking at me strangely."

Derrick blushed violently. "What? No, um, I wasn't-"

Sorry, Little Sun. The others mentally apologized for throwing their youngest member under the bus. Meanwhile, the Hall family blanched at the unpleasant reminder of the sentience of their family pet, only able to helplessly watch the conversation spin out of control.

"Did you not have dogs in..." Fors tried to keep the conversation going on a different topic, but wavered when she remembered the presence of outsiders nearby. "...your hometown?"

"Well, we had hound-like beasts." Little Sun hung his head. "But they were vicious and didn't look much like normal dogs. They killed many of our expedition members."

...Right, the City of Silver isn't exactly the best way to carry a lively and happy chat... The Tarot Club awkwardly cleared their throats.

Hibbert and Caitlyn paled. Meanwhile, Alfred's eyes narrowed. Expedition members?

"Just what kind of place were you living in?" Earl Hall asked with an uneasy chuckle.

Derrick sent an alarmed glance in the Hanged Man's direction.

"The time he spent in his hometown still haunts him," Alger cut in smoothly. "It's hard for him to talk about. But I'm sure he'd appreciate getting to pet a dog for the first time."

Mr. Hanged Man! Derrick thanked his mentor from the bottom of his heart.

Unfortunately, before Little Sun had a chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of petting a dog, Emlyn stood up straighter and sniffed the air again. "I smell four more people. Two with similar scents."

"Smell?" Alfred regarded Emlyn suspiciously. "And red eyes... Are you a vampire?"

"Sanguine!" screeched Emlyn. "I am a noble Sanguine! I have no idea why you humans can't understand, it really isn't that hard-"

"People!" a child's voice shouted. Suddenly a young boy ran out of the fog, followed by an apologetic-looking bronze-skinned man, as well as a black-haired man and woman (siblings?) who both eyed the child warily. The man and the boy both seemed unusually relaxed, while the siblings earnestly scanned all of the new faces.

The girl's eyes widened. "Miss Audrey?"

This time, Miss Justice's surprise was genuine. "Melissa? What are you doing here?"

"I don't..." Melissa shook her head. Then she caught someone else's gaze, and her expression froze over. "You?"

A confused Benson followed her gaze and similarly flinched. Leonard Mitchell looked back at them with a stiff and guilty expression. He knew the pair hadn't forgotten him. How could they forget the face of the Nighthawk who had delivered the news that destroyed them?

"Miss Moretti. Mr. Moretti." He bowed his head, but it was impossible to tell if it was as a greeting or out of shame. "It's been some time."

The Tarot Club members watched the exchange with silent confusion, creating theories. All except for Justice Audrey, who had worked with Melissa long enough to hear the occasional wistful story about a deceased brother named Klein. The same name that Leonard had used to refer to the World Gehrman Sparrow in the Hall of Truth!

Originally she had dismissed this as a coincidence - Klein was a common name, after all - but if the Moretti family had been pulled into this, then Audrey had to consider the possible connection. Could it be that Gehrman Sparrow was originally Klein Moretti who faked his own death? Not just members of the Tarot Club, but our friends and family have been summoned as well?

"Ha! I told you this was the right way!" a male voice interrupted.

Under the watchful gazes of the group, a man and woman emerged from the mist. Both had chestnut-colored hair and blue eyes.

"An Emperor Roselle lookalike?" Benson frowned.

"Y-Your Majesty?" Cattleya gasped.

"Queen Mystic!" Alfred accused, being somewhat knowledgeable about pirates due to his time at sea, then whirled around in realization. "And you're the Queen of Stars! What are two Pirate Kings doing here?! Audrey, get away from them!"

"Huh?! My daughter isn't some infectious disease, you punk!" the Roselle-lookalike shouted.

Bernadette sighed. "Father, calm down."

"Oh, dear," muttered Azik. Will, who was clinging to his pant leg, grinned like he was watching a fun show.

I don't know any of these people. Derrick sent a longing gaze towards Susie. I wonder if I could pet the dog while everyone is distracted...

Audrey pinched the bridge of her nose before Placating everyone in the area. The yelling began to subside as everyone looked around, now more confused than angry. Several Tarot Club members shot her appreciative looks.

Now that she could think properly, Cattleya's brow furrowed. "But if you're with... with Queen Mystic... you're the real Roselle?"

Even if the specifics were unclear, this was enough to convince the Tarot Club, which had long been aware of the connection between Emperor Roselle and Queen Mystic. They regarded the pair with new awe and excitement. The man in front of them had once been one of the most influential rulers in the world and had almost achieved godhood!

Of course, this meant nothing to just about everyone else, who only became more perplexed. 

"That's impossible," Melissa said flatly. "Roselle has been dead for almost two hundred years."

"Nuh-uh," said Roselle. "Just mostly dead."

"What?"

"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch when I see him," Danitz grumbled. "I really mean it this time. Soon as I see him, a fist right to those smug glasses of his, I really mean it..."

"Does anyone know what's going on?" pleaded Hibbert Hall.

"We've all gathered."

Everyone in the gathering froze. The voice that had spoken didn't belong to any of them.

At some point, unbeknownst to anyone, a woman had appeared in their midst. She wore a layered black dress and a starry veil that obscured most of her face. Although she'd been standing among them all this time, not a single person had noticed her.

Huh? She looks... Some senior Tarot Club members were able to draw a comparison to a Fourth Epoch statue that the World had once shown them. They paled in horror. The authority of concealment... Evernight Goddess!

"I expect," the ethereal woman continued, "that we will have our answers soon."

Wordlessly, 'She' looked at a certain area of fog--

--The fog began to stir.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced the minds of everyone present. They clutched their heads and fell to the floor, skull buzzing with illusory ravings, as the fog began to boil over and twist into a shape. In an instant, every Beyonder was brought to the brink of losing control. Blood spurted from eyes, ears, noses, mouths - the ravings grew louder - the shape grew firmer.

The fog settled.

Bodies still trembling, the gathered people slowly looked up. There was a figure looking back at them.

It wore a simple black robe. Underneath the hood of the robe was a faintly visible smile. It opened its mouth and spoke:

"Do you like mysteries?"

Chapter Text

"Do you like mysteries?"

Above the gray fog, the people gathered came from all walks of life. Nobles and pirates. Angels and mortals. Knowledgeable and inexperienced. Among them was a true god, as well as a man who had almost become the Dark Emperor. Yet not one of them dared to look the existence who had spoken those words in the eye.

They knew that the second they met its - no, 'His' gaze, a fate too terrible to describe would befall them.

"I like mysteries very much," 'He' continued, not seeming to care about the fear everyone regarded 'Him' with. "But I've come across an especially enjoyable mystery recently. I like it so much that I'm going to share it with you all."

The smile widened.

"Would you like to see it?"

Everyone shook in explicable horror. 'His' presence alone had nearly sent twenty people tumbling head-over-heels into madness - just what could 'He' have called them here to see? Nobody wanted to know the answer. They bowed their heads in silence.

Chuckling filled the endless void. Laughter. The being laughed and laughed. It was a laugh that made you want to rip your own ears off just so you wouldn't have to listen to it anymore - and then perhaps gouge your eyes out as well, and then your tongue, and then your heart-

Suddenly, the laughter changed. Another sound seemed to overlap inside of it: a whimsical voice, like that of a clown's. The figure's smile contorted into something ridiculous and exaggerated, layered on top of 'His' face like an illusion. It flickered in and out before dissipating. Everyone watched this happen breathlessly.

The figure sighed, smiled, shook 'His' head.

"Enjoy the show."

'He' spoke these words and then vanished. Not teleportation, not concealment or invisibility. 'He' simply ceased to exist the moment his voice stopped.

The only signs that 'He' had ever been there at all were the crowd of pale, deathly faces - and the large, bloodred number that had appeared midair, hovering above in silence like the crimson moon itself. It read:

3:00

Nobody breathed. A silent second passed.

2:59

Somebody exhaled shakily.

After the initial shock began to fade, terror set in anew. Caitlyn Hall collapsed against her husband, who could barely stand himself. The Moretti siblings clung to each other for dear life. Will Auceptin stared ahead with an uncharacteristically blank expression. The members of the Tarot Club were particularly affected: without exception, they could feel themselves drowning in a dark ocean, swept away from salvation by a fierce wave of horror. That existence was undeniably the one who had called them here. But at the same time...

"That was not Mr. Fool," Derrick whispered hoarsely.

Roselle, whose head was buried in his hands, flinched so hard that Bernadette almost shrunk back. He was mumbling to himself, quiet enough to be barely audible, in a language she did not understand.

"Father?" she asked.

Her soft plea was swallowed by the fog around them.

Suddenly, a wave of calm spread over the group, as if they were looking at the stars on a calm and serene night. As a true god, Amanises had been the first to recover 'Her' senses. 'She' watched as people's heads began to clear - although residual madness remained - and they began to stand up again. It was time to take charge of the situation.

"The Fool is still asleep," 'She' said. "He is doing battle with a powerful enemy in a dreamscape. That enemy is the one who has gathered us here."

Her statement settled over the Tarot Club like an oppressive cloud.

"Does that mean that Mr. Fool is losing?" Derrick asked quietly.

"He is at a temporary disadvantage," Amanises reassured. "This enemy is likely using 'His' temporary upper hand to try and destabilize your god's anchors."

The Morettis and the Hall family listened with helpless shock. The conversation was at a level totally beyond their understanding, but fear of that smile had already been engraved into their hearts. They were too afraid to ask anything.

Audrey, Alger, Derrick, and Fors - who had all recognized the Evernight Goddess thanks to Mr. World's Fourth Epoch statues - felt their blood run cold. Just what kind of existence would be referred to as a 'Him' by a true god?

"Who-" Xio had to pause to swallow, her throat terribly dry. "Who is this enemy? Are we allowed to know?"

Amanises thought for a moment. "Those below the level of angel are not qualified to know 'His' identity. But 'Mysteries' should be a safe enough name to use for 'Him'."

Mysteries. Everybody shuddered instinctively.

"If no one's gonna mention it, I will," Danitz snapped. He pointed to the bloodred number that was steadily ticking downwards. "What the hell is that counting down to?"

2:00

No response.

"Dogshit!" Danitz swore, kicked at the ground, then fell silent again. His hands, still shoved in his pockets, were trembling.

"Probably something that'll kill us," Fors muttered. "What better way to destabilize an anchor than to get rid of it completely?"

"But if 'He' had the power to kill us, why wouldn't 'He' have done so already?" countered Cattleya. "'He' wanted to show us something. I assume that when that countdown ends, the show will begin."

Bernadette nodded. She had been about to say the same thing. Silently, she put her hand on her father's back, and Roselle smiled weakly at her.

"Ah, excuse me..." Earl Hall finally spoke up, face covered in cold sweat. "You all seem to know something that we don't. This Mysteries, and this Mr. Fool... Could you please explain the situation as best as you can?"

As a respected noble and banker, he was used to being treated in a respectful manner, which gave him the courage to speak up. But he'd hired Beyonder bodyguards before and knew how out of his depth he was. No matter how powerful of a human he was, he was just a human. He was willing to act deferent if it meant getting his family out of here.

Once again, the Tarot Club shared a look. The Church of the Fool was gaining presence in the real world, and several members had ties to it - the Hermit through her known connection to Gehrman Sparrow, the Sun who served as archbishop, and the Hanged Man who served as pontiff in the Church of the Sea God. But they were still a secret organization. What was the point of a secret organization if everybody knew about it?!

Still, it was becoming clearer and clearer that they didn't have much of a choice.

Alger began to speak carefully. "Mr. Fool is an ancient god who has been awakening over the past few years. I suspect that everyone who's been summoned here has some connection to 'Him', whether they realize it or not."

"That doesn't make sense," Alfred Hall insisted, fighting against the terrible suspicion forming in his mind. "We've never had any contact with someone like that before. Right, Audrey?"

Miss Justice said nothing.

Earl Hall, Caitlyn, and Hibbert looked at the girl who stared ahead, not meeting their gazes.

"...Audrey?" Alfred repeated.

If it really becomes necessary, I'll cue them to forget everything that's happened here, Justice thought. She grit her teeth. I wonder, when did I become capable of thinking like this?

"I don't-" Benson shook his head. "I-I'm sorry to interrupt, but I don't think we should be here, either. We're just normal people. There's no way, there's just no way..."

Beside him, Melissa stared at the floor, unseeing. Her words came out in a ragged whisper:

"Klein..."

The Star watched the two of them and bit the inside of his cheek, a familiar guilt welling over. "It's possible that... that loved ones of those with connections to Mr. Fool were pulled in as well."

"Sir, please stop." Benson's voice was hollow. "He's been dead for years. What connection could there be?"

Leonard's gut twisted. I want to tell them. I need to, but the situation is so uncertain. Mr. Fool is fighting some unknown entity, and who knows how long it'll be before Klein can wake up... A fresh wave of dread washed over him. What's going to happen to all of us?

A man walked over and put his hands on Benson and Melissa's shoulders. It was Mr. Azik.

"Death is not the end of all things," he said gently. Benson and Melissa looked at him, confused. They seemed like they wanted to get angry but could no longer muster the energy. The wisdom in his eyes, like he'd seen and done everything, made it hard to resist calming down.

Something in Azik's words seemed to trigger a memory in Derrick. His eyes widened. "Angel of Death?"

Azik chuckled. "Yes, I suppose."

Naturally, everyone in the Tarot Club had read the Bible of the Fool, and they turned to look at Azik in awe. He bowed politely in response. Melissa and Benson were left totally lost. Angel?

"That guy, going and recruiting angels as he pleases," Will muttered under his breath, too quiet to hear. He didn't want to reveal himself as Angel of Mercury just yet - not that he'd accepted that title, of course. He was just going along with it for now. 

1:00

"So, whatever we're going to be shown, it has to do with this - this Fool?" Caitlyn Hall said faintly.

"Fool's the right name for him," snorted a gruff male voice. It was Emperor Roselle, who had recovered from his bout of corruption-induced trauma. "Picking a fight against someone like that... even I'm not that ballsy."

"Language," Bernadette chided.

"I'm two hundred years old, I can say whatever the fuck I want."

Danitz snorted. "I'd say you're pretty ballsy, trying to pass yourself off as Emperor Caesar. You do a pretty good disguise, I'll give you that, but the mustache is all wrong. I would know - I'm from Intis."

Roselle fixed the pirate with a blank look. "Provoker, eh?"

"H-How did you know?!"

Bernadette coughed delicately into her hand.

"Excuse me...?" Poor Caitlyn Hall had already been forgotten.

"It will probably relate to Mr. Fool, yes." Audrey took pity on her mother.

"Mr. Fool..." Alfred looked at his sister. "You call him that, too?"

Audrey had made the slip on purpose. She smiled and watched her family's eyes widen as they collectively came to the realization: the reason they were here was none other than their prized daughter, the most stunning gem in Backlund, a "mere Sequence 7" who had gotten herself involved with a secret existence!

"Later," she said simply. Her loved ones gaped back at her.

"But this is meant to be an attack on Mr. Fool, isn't it?" Derrick's eyes burned with determination. "Everyone here is connected to 'His' anchors in some way. We absolutely cannot let them be destabilized. Whatever we see, we must remain steadfast."

"Steadfast!" echoed three year-old Will Auceptin.

("Why is there a child here?" Fors whispered to Xio.

"How should I know? Maybe he's the kid of a Tarot Club Member," Xio whispered back.)

Meanwhile, the other Tarot Club members expressed their agreement and looked at Derrick with respect. He was still their beloved Little Sun, the baby of the group, but he had grown into his position of leadership. Alger had a strange urge to ruffle the hair of the boy who was over two meters tall.

"Childish as ever, Mr. Sun," sniffed Emlyn. "A group of messiahs would never crumble so easily, let alone a noble Sanguine such as myself. Would it kill you to have some faith?"

"Whatever is coming, we can handle it if we think things through," Cattleya said firmly.

Audrey nodded. "We all believe in Mr. Fool. That will never change."

The Tarot Club had weathered many storms together in the past; they had been helped and saved by Mr. Fool more times than they could count. Now that their god needed the favor returned, how could they even consider failure?

Amanises smiled to 'Herself'. It was rare to see a god who inspired such humanity in his followers. It was rare to see a god with much humanity at all. If it meant protecting that - ensuring that it would survive the apocalypse - 'She' could handle a bit of damage control, or even infiltrating Klein's dream to assist in the fight against the Celestial Worthy if it came to that.

0:30

Suddenly, Susie let out a bark and bounded over to Derrick, whose eyes lit up brighter than the Eternal Blazing Sun. His hand hesitated over Susie for a moment before the golden retriever nuzzled into it. He immediately broke out into a huge smile.

"So this is what a dog's fur feels like..." he said in awe. "It's like a cloud, but warm and fuzzy." I can't wait to tell everyone in the New City of Silver!

Miss Justice laughed. "Susie is an excellent judge of character. Be proud, Little Sun!"

The Halls looked on blankly, unable to understand what they were seeing - their very own darling Audrey, more trusting of strangers than her own family, laughing about things they couldn't understand. Laughing in a place like this, in a situation like this. Laughing in the face of fate.

"Dog!" Will cheered, despite or perhaps because of the Hall family's distress, perfectly acting the part of a three year-old. He let go of Azik's pant leg and ran to wrap his chubby arms around Susie's neck. From behind the golden retriever's fur, he stuck out his tongue at Melissa and Benson, who were watching with distant horror.

"You're a little heavy," Susie said to Will. The sight of a talking dog once again made Melissa and Benson want to faint.

"It's starting soon," Bernadette murmured to her father. "Ah, before I forget, I took on a disciple. I'll introduce you to her later."

"You WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me earlier?! Who is she, where is she, how long ago, how did you meet-"

"Later."

Roselle whined pitifully.

Life and cheer had returned to most of the Beyonders in the area - you had to be able to bounce back quickly if you wanted to survive in this crazy world. The non-Beyonders were having a little more difficulty, staring at the countdown obsessively.

Benson and Melissa exchanged a look.

"You really think Klein had something to do with this?" Benson said softly.

"There's no other way to explain why we're here," she said. "My connection to Miss Audrey through the charity foundation isn't that deep. It has to be him. I don't know how, but..."

For the third time that day, Benson took her hand.

"I believe you."

Melissa exhaled, long and slow. Her shoulders slumped as if relieved of a great weight.

"Thank you, brother..."

0:05

Everyone straightened.

0:04

The gray fog began to shift again, shaping itself into seats and a large screen.

"Movie theater!" Roselle yelled. "Fuck yeah!"

0:03

People shuffled into their seats. Susie made herself comfortable on Derrick's lap.

0:02

"Praise be to Mr. Fool," Audrey whispered under her breath.

0:01

Without hesitation, the Tarot Club followed her example, a rush of whispers stirring the fog in the silent theater:

"Praise be to Mr. Fool."

0:00

The screen lit up with crimson words.

Lord of the Mysteries

Chapter Text

For a moment, the screen remained blank. Then:

Painful!

The crowd jumped a little in surprise. Leonard and Benson paled, while Melissa's hands clenched her skirt. They recognized that voice.

"I knew it." She choked back a sob, hands trembling in her lap. "I knew it, I knew it..."

Benson pulled Melissa into his side, looking ashen. Leonard looked on with shame curdling in his stomach.

Most people (read: Alger) were curious about who the voice belonged to, but seeing the violent reaction from the siblings, they restrained their curiosity.

Real fun start, Will complained to himself. Real cheery.

How painful!

My head hurts so badly!

"What happened?" Leonard muttered before his eyes narrowed slightly. Klein Moretti had been hired by the Nighthawks due to his involvement with the Antigonius family notebook - a Sealed Artifact that had caused him to shoot himself in the head with a revolver!

Don't tell me, we'll be seeing that scene? He cast a worried glance towards Benson and Melissa. The real reason he survived is due to the Fool's interference? I'd always suspected, but...no, what about the curse of the Antigonius family's notebook... I feel like I don't know anything at all!

A gaudy and dazzling dreamworld filled with murmurs instantly shattered. The sound asleep Zhou Mingrui felt an abnormal throbbing pain in his head as though someone had ruthlessly lashed at him with a pole again and again. No, it was more like a sharp object pierced right through his temples followed by a twist!

"Zhou... Mingrui?" Danitz scoffed. "Poor bastard must have gotten bullied with a name like that."

Definitely a Provoker. Roselle fumed to himself. It's a very proper Chinese name, okay?! Almost as good as Huang Tao!

"It's true that I don't recognize that naming style from anywhere," frowned Cattleya. She looked towards Bernadette, who shook her head to signify that she didn't know either. Even Azik - who had regained many of his memories from across a thousand years of life - found the conventions unfamiliar, though he didn't say as much.

Leonard blinked. Zhou Mingrui? He didn't recognize that name, so his theory must have been mistaken, but he'd been so sure...

"That was definitely Klein's voice," Melissa said faintly. "I'd recognize it anywhere. Who...?"

Ouch…In his stupor, Zhou Mingrui attempted to turn around, look up, and sit up; however, he was completely unable to move his limbs as though he had lost control over his body.

From the looks of it, I'm still not awake. I'm still in a dream… Who knows, perhaps the next scene will be of me thinking I'm already awake, but in fact, am actually still sleeping…

What is this? The experienced Tarot Club had no idea what was going on. Zhou Mingrui? Who is that? What does this have to do with Mr. Fool?

"Maybe this person is under the influence of a Nightmare?" Xio suggested uncertainly. 

Yes, this does all seem like a nightmare... Benson, who had completely misinterpreted her words, smiled bleakly to himself.

Zhou Mingrui, who was not unfamiliar with similar encounters, tried his best to focus in order to escape the shackles placed upon him by the darkness and confusion.

However, while still in his reverie, whatever will he could summon was ethereal like a fleeting fog. He found his thoughts difficult to control and introspect. No matter how much he tried, he still lost his focus as random thoughts surfaced in his mind... F**k, don't tell me I'm going to die young?

The group listened to Zhou Mingrui's panicked thoughts with increasing worry. This didn't seem like a normal headache.

I need to wake up! Now!

Leonard frowned, wishing he could use his Nightmare abilities to do something. Even if this person wasn't actually Klein, hearing someone with his best friend's voice scream in agony made him want to cry.

Eh? Why doesn't it seem to hurt as much as before? But why does it still feel like a blunt knife is slicing through my brains…

"That is a very uncomfortable experience," Azik said thoughtfully to himself. "I wish I hadn't regained that memory."

This gained him many horrified looks from those who were within earshot. Thankfully, Benson and Melissa were too focused on their brother's voice to pay much attention.

From the looks of it, sleep is impossible. How am I to show up for work tomorrow?

"He's still thinking about work in a situation like this?" The slacker Fors couldn't imagine having such dedication.

Why am I still thinking about work? This is some authentic headache. Of course I have to take time off! I don't have to worry about my manager's grumblings!

Hey, putting it that way, it doesn't seem too bad. Hehe, I can end up getting some spare time for myself!

Fors smiled. "That's more like it."

What a carefree fellow... After some slight mocking, Alger habitually began to analyze the situation. This obviously isn't a normal occurrence, or it wouldn't be worth showing to us. But "Zhou Mingrui" doesn't seem to realize that yet. Although there's some panic and hesitation, it's clearly the fear of a normal person in a strange situation - not the reaction of someone used to pain or danger. Is this man even a Beyonder? Just what secrets could he hold, for his existence to threaten Mr. Fool in the eyes of Mysteries?

Throbbing pain inundated Zhou Mingrui, allowing him to slowly accumulate immaterial strength until he was finally able to move his back and open his eyes. He finally broke free from his reverie.

Several people sighed in relief.

His vision first blurred before it was screened by a faint crimson red. All he could see was a study desk made of burly wood in front of him. Right in the middle was an opened notebook with coarse, yellow pages. The title was eye-catchingly written with strange, deep black lettering... In front of the ink bottle and to the right of the notebook sat a dark-colored pen with a fully circular body. Its tip shimmered with a faint glint while its cap rested right beside a brass revolver.

A gun? A revolver? Zhou Mingrui was completely taken aback. The things laid before him were alien to him. It looked nothing like his room!

"So he had a bad headache and woke up somewhere else?" Xio, who worked for MI9 and often dealt with similar cases, summarized. "This sounds like a kidnapping. He might have been drugged."

It kind of was like getting kidnapped, actually, mused Emperor Roselle.

"Kidnapped and not restrained in any way? Unlikely," countered the Hermit. However, she had no alternate suggestion to offer, simply furrowing her brow with an expression identical to Bernadette's. The two Pirate Kings tried to puzzle out the situation, but couldn't come to any certain conclusion.

"Maybe he got blackout drunk and slept at a girl's place," Danitz suggested lamely.

"He obviously sleepwalked," declared Emlyn as if he'd solved everything.

A revolver. Shot in the head. Leonard felt sick. There's no way... I'm overthinking it.

While feeling shocked and confused, he discovered that the desk, notebook, ink bottle, and revolver were covered in a crimson veil, a result of the light shining from the window.

Subconsciously, he looked up and shifted his gaze up bit by bit.

And that's when he saw it. Hanging in the air, a crimson moon shone above the black velvet curtain, glowing eerily in silence.

The temperature of the fog lowered several degrees, its chill seeping into everyone's bones. They felt that the sight in front of them, completely ordinary to any citizen of this world, had somehow been turned into something strange and terrifying.

Shaking themselves, the Evernight believers present all praised the Lady, despite the fact that authority over the crimson moon was no longer included in 'Her' honorific name - 'She' had given that to Earth Mother Lilith.

Amanises 'Herself' was expressionless, knowing the truth behind that so-called beautiful moon. It had always been 'Her' least favorite authority, anyway. Not only was it too close to the Outer Gods, but more than that, it was an omnipresent reminder of the place 'She' could never return to. Even thousands of years later, 'She' could still recall looking up into an unfamiliar sky and seeing that crimson light for the first time. The stars on 'Her' veil swirled and shifted. How fitting, that it was the first thing you saw when you came to this world.

Roselle similarly suppressed a sigh, remembering the first time he'd seen that red light. And what had happened when he'd seen it up close... That crimson moon really marked the beginning and end of everything. He smiled bitterly.

This…Zhou Mingrui felt inexplicably horrified as he stood up abruptly. However, before his feet fully straightened, his brain protested with throbbing pain. It made him temporarily lose his strength as he fell uncontrollably...

"I don't get it." Danitz was confused - well, moreso than he usually was. "Why is he so surprised? It's just the moon."

"Just the moon," Roselle mocked under his breath. "I'm really starting to not like this guy."

The pain did little. Zhou Mingrui stood up again by propping himself up. He turned around in a fluster as he began to size up the environment he was in.

The room was not very large, with a brown door on each side of the room... Items resembling coal stoves sat in the right corner of the room near the table, along with soup pots, iron pots, and other kitchen utensils.

Is this what an apartment looks like in cities to the north? Although Derrick was still tense and worried about Mr. Fool, he couldn't help but be curious about the outside world - a place he hadn't had the chance to see much of, since he'd spent most of his time there getting everyone from the Forsaken Land of the Gods settled. He absentmindedly pet Susie and watched the scene with interest, determined to find anything that could help Mr. Fool.

Benson and Melissa straightened, breaths catching. There was no mistaking it: this was a description of their apartment in Tingen, the one they'd lived in before Klein had gotten that job, and then...

"What is this...?" Benson was at a loss for words. "What is going on?"

Across the right door was a dressing mirror with two cracks. Its bottom was made of wood and the patterns were simple and plain.

With a sweep of his gaze, Zhou Mingrui noticed himself in the mirror—the present him.

Black hair, brown eyes, a linen shirt, thinly built, average-looking features and a rather deep outline…

Everyone who knew Klein Moretti inhaled sharply. Benson seemed to lose all strength, letting out a choked noise, while Melissa jumped out of her seat.

"Klein!" she shouted. "But that's- that's not-"

Once again, Azik put a hand on the girl's shoulder. At the same time, Audrey cast Placate on her friend, holding back a sad sigh. While feeling sympathy for Melissa, she tried to analyze the situation. Is this a case of body-swapping like in the novels? No, Audrey, you're not a little girl anymore! It doesn't always work like a story. Is it even possible to manipulate a Spirit Body like this? Perhaps just his physical body was changed with Faceless powers? Wait, what does this mean in relation to Gehrman Sparrow's identity...?

After standing very still for a moment, Melissa dropped back into her seat, eyes hazy.

"What's going on?" Benson repeated. His face was haggard and tired.

Leonard had to stop himself from yelling in surprise at the sight of his "dead" best friend. He hadn't seen Klein as, well, Klein, since long before he'd gone to sleep alongside Mr. Fool. But wait - was this even Klein? Who was this stranger in Klein's body?! No way... Parasitization?! But if that were it, why wouldn't he tell me at some point? Is it something else? Did he not trust me? Is the person on screen even my friend in the first place...? Leonard's thoughts drifted as he covered his mouth in shock, coming to the realization that he knew even less about his former colleague than he'd thought.

Azik stared at the screen calmly. It seems my student's origins are a little deeper than I imagined.

Meanwhile, those who had never met Klein (the majority) were left to stew in growing confusion. They had no way of knowing what it meant that someone named Zhou Mingrui was in this body, other than what they had gleaned from others' reactions.

Who is this? Alger frowned at the screen. I'm sure I've never seen him before, but Mr. Star had such a strong reaction. Miss Justice seems to know something as well. But the most important people in this situation are obviously those two siblings. Benson and Melissa, were they? Which member of the Tarot Club are they connected to? The only ones that the girl, Melissa, had reacted to were Mr. Star and Miss Justice, and she hadn't looked close with either of them. 

...But there was one member of the Tarot Club that wasn't present right now.

Having come up with a preliminary, if shaky, theory, Alger leaned forward in his seat and prepared himself for whatever information was coming.

This…Zhou Mingrui immediately drew a gasp as many helpless and confused guesses surfaced in his mind.

The revolver in ancient European style and the crimson moon that looked different from Earth's moon could only mean one thing!

"It could?" Danitz was puzzled.

"European...?" Derrick echoed the unfamiliar word. Was this another thing he was unaware of due to the City of Silver's isolation? But everybody else seemed just as lost...

Amanises closed 'Her' eyes, remembering 'Her' own home.

C-could I have transmigrated? Zhou Mingrui widened his mouth slightly.

"Transmigrated..."

Several people repeated this word in confusion. The way Zhou Mingrui had said it made it obvious that it was important, but nobody seemed to know what it meant. Even experienced Beyonders felt lost in a way they hadn’t since they’d first entered the mysticism world, unable to even venture guesses at what was going on.

Roselle snorted. "Figured it out way quicker than I did. Damn Seers," he sneered in Mandarin.

That language again... Bernadette cast a sideways glance at her father. I wonder if it's what he writes his diary in. How does the Fool know it? This term, "transmigrated" - does Father know what it means?

Is that - whatever this person did - the reason he's in... he's in Klein's body? Melissa's heart raced. Tears pricked at her eyes. When did this happen? When did Klein stop being Klein? How could I not have noticed...?

"Did we lose our brother before we even knew that we'd lost him?" Benson's words came out terribly faint.

Nobody had an answer.

Audrey watched the pair and said nothing. Her hands lightly balled up the fabric in her dress.

The Beyonder world is cruel, she thought.

He had grown up reading web novels and had often fantasized over such scenes. However, he momentarily found it hard to accept the situation when he found himself in one.

Roselle bared his teeth in a facsimile of a smile. "Not as pretty as the stories, eh?"

A quiet suspicion began to grow in Bernadette's mind.

This was probably what it meant to love a fantasy? In a minute, Zhou Mingrui had already cursed himself while trying to make the best out of his adverse situation.

If not for the still throbbing headache that made his thoughts high strung but clear, he would have definitely suspected that he was dreaming.

Calm down, calm down, calm down…After taking a few deep breaths, Zhou Mingrui worked hard to stop panicking.

This style of thinking seems familiar... Miss Justice's lips twitched as she silently added another reason to her mental list of "Why Klein Moretti is Gehrman Sparrow", improving her mood.

At that moment, as his mind and body calmed down, memories began flooding him as they slowly appeared in his mind!

Klein Moretti, a citizen of the Northern Continent's Loen Kingdom, Awwa County, City of Tingen. He is also a recent graduate from the Department of History at Khoy University…

People stared open-mouthed at the screen, unable to make sense of what they were seeing and hearing.

Roselle and Amanises both winced slightly, remembering their own memory dumps. They hadn’t been very fun.

Memory fragments? Azik came up with a theory. Perhaps there's some split inside his soul, similar to my own, putting him in the situation of an Undying? But since it's only a fracture, not complete breakage, the symptoms aren't as severe and he regains some memories immediately. It doesn't account for everything, but perhaps...

Meanwhile, Will had a theory of his own. Reincarnation in the style of the Fate pathway? Though my method doesn't involve any lost memories and starts from birth. This guy is as unique as ever, it seems.

Implanted memories? Alger wasn't sure what to make of this. Or some unusual, mysticism-caused type of amnesia? Who is the real person - Klein Moretti or Zhou Mingrui? Given the presence of those two siblings, I'd wager Klein... but then, what does that make Zhou Mingrui?

His father was a sergeant of the Imperial Army who had sacrificed himself during a colonial conflict with the Southern Continent. The bereavement allowance gave Klein the opportunity to study at a private language school and laid the foundation for his admission into university…

His mother was a devotee of the Evernight Goddess. She passed away the year Klein passed the entrance examinations to Khoy University…

Amanises distantly recalled a prayer light 'She' had listened to in passing - a haggard mother with black hair and brown eyes, hoping for her son's success in university. 'She' bowed 'Her' head. Your wish would have been granted even without faith or prayer.

He also had an elder brother and a younger sister. They stayed in a two bedroom apartment together…

Tears began to fall down Melissa's face. She set her mouth into a grim line, determined to wait until she was alone to break down and process this fully. In the meantime, she burrowed further into Benson's side, who was making no effort to hide his tears. 

From a few seats over, Caitlyn Hall stared worriedly at Melissa. Lost beyond belief, her family in shock, and unable to face her own daughter - who was only a few steps away but had never felt further - Caitlyn at least wanted to help the girl in front of her. She put a gentle hand on Melissa’s arm.

”Are you alright, dear?” she asked.

Melissa stared back for a moment, dazed, before mutely nodding. Her lips were tightly pressed together as if she’d scream the moment she opened them.

Their family was not wealthy and its situation could even be described as somewhat wanting. At present, the family was supported solely by the elder brother who worked at an import and export company as a clerk…

Benson laughed bitterly. “That company closed down in the war. I’d be out of a job if you hadn’t forced me to study for the civil service exams...”

Hearing his remark, the crowd looked over at the Morettis and finally made the connection.

"Are you Klein's siblings?" Emlyn asked with a frown. He had just realized that their scents were a little familiar. They almost remind me of Sherlock Moriarty. How strange... Well, I suppose he does look very similar to Klein Moretti, except with a beard. In fact, they could almost be twins. Emlyn felt that he was on the verge of grasping something, but before he could reach it, he received a response.

"We are," Melissa said blankly. "Benson and Melissa Moretti. That's us."

Although Mr. World wasn't a part of the Tarot Club at the time we were discussing civil service exams, as Mr. Fool's favorite, he was probably kept up to date on the gatherings. Because of that, he encouraged his brother to start studying for an opportunity he knew would come, Alger reasoned. My theory is becoming more and more likely. But is Gehrman Sparrow Klein Moretti, or is he Zhou Mingrui? Is there even a difference?

As a history graduate, Klein grasped knowledge of the ancient Feysac language—deemed the origin of all languages in the Northern Continent—as well as the Hermes language which often appeared in ancient mausoleums as well as text regarding sacrificial and prayer rituals…

Hermes language? Zhou Mingrui's mind stirred as he reached out to rub his throbbing temples. He cast his gaze toward the table at the opened notebook. He noticed that the text on the yellowed paper turned from strange to alien, before turning from alien to something familiar. It then turned into something readable.

It was text written in Hermes language!

Leonard paled. He remembered that notebook. Could this really be the night that Klein had “died”?

No… Leonard thought with growing horror. He walked out of his own grave once. It’s possible that he really did die and come back to life at that time. But was he already Zhou Mingrui then? How long has Klein Moretti been dead…?!

The dark ink wrote the following:

"Everyone will die, including me."

”W-What…?”

Even though most of the Beyonders gathered were experienced, such horrifying words combined with the mystery surrounding the circumstances - along with the underlying tension of their own situation - were enough to chill their blood.

Except for Roselle, who grinned. "Dramatic." My "transmigration" wasn't nearly this over-the-top. The body I woke up in had just died in its sleep from a fever... I'm kind of jealous!

"H-Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Danitz let out an uneasy laugh. His question hung unanswered in the air.

Is this an early prediction of the apocalypse? Bernadette wondered. Or something else?

Meanwhile, Earl Hall grimaced. He’d gotten plenty of death threats in his time (an occupational hazard), but he’d never heard of writing a death threat directed at oneself. Just what could drive a person to do such a thing? Maybe the same madness that would drive my daughter to involve herself with a hidden existence, he lamented.

"Why would - why would Klein write that?" Benson's voice cracked in two. "Why would he write something so terrible? Melissa, you're a Beyonder. Do you know?"

Melissa's throat was so clogged with tears that she could barely speak. "No. I don't know."

I don't... know anything anymore.

It really is that notebook, Leonard thought bleakly. Oh, Klein. What did you do?

Hiss! Zhou Mingrui felt inexplicably horrified. He instinctively leaned back in an attempt to widen the distance between him and the notebook, as well as the text on it.

"Inexplicably?" Danitz scoffed, his voice slightly shaky - he didn't want to admit the notebook had scared him a little. Dogshit... "That's pretty explicable."

Fors shuddered. "I'd do the same thing." She paused and added, "I'd burn the notebook for good measure."

Seeing Zhou Mingrui's shock onscreen, Alger couldn't help but think. Whatever is happening, it's obviously not by this man's will. The memory fragments prove that this isn't just a change in physical appearance, either. Either he's really become Klein Moretti, or a demigod Spectator implanted false memories into his mind. Either way, this involves an existence of a very high level. Why would someone like Klein Moretti or Zhou Mingrui attract its attention? 

Being very weak, he nearly fell down but managed to extend his hands in a fluster to hold onto the edge of the table. He felt that the surrounding air was turbulent as though there were faint murmurings resounding in it. The feeling was akin to hearing horror stories being recounted by elders when he was young. 

He shook his head, believing that everything was an illusion. Zhou Mingrui found his balance and shifted his gaze from the notebook as he heaved for breath.

Denial... while understandable in such an overwhelming situation, it won't get you far. Miss Juctice habitually psychoanalyzed the situation. To show such a reaction, Zhou Mingrui is probably a normal person, with no experience in mysticism whatsoever. How could such a person become involved with Mr. Fool? It must have to do with what was written in that notebook!

This time, his gaze landed on the shimmering brass revolver. He suddenly had a question arise in him.

With Klein's family situation, how can they have the money or means to buy a revolver?

"He's right," Melissa murmured. "If we bought a fancy gun like that, we wouldn't be able to buy food for two weeks."

Audrey frowned. Was their situation that bad? She'd have her Virtual Persona increase Melissa's salary at the charity foundation later.

"Maybe he stole it?" Emlyn suggested.

The offhanded remark seemed to snap Benson back to life. He glared at the Sanguine with a surprising amount of vitriol, snapping, "Klein would never do that!"

"Someone must have given him the gun then," reasoned Miss Judgment.

Benson turned to focus his glare onto Xio. "Klein would never get involved with that kind of person, either. He didn't have a violent bone in his body."

Mr. Star and Miss Justice's thoughts turned to a certain cold and crazy adventurer whose biography had topped the bestselling lists for the past two weeks.

No, just a violent alter ego. Leonard coughed into his hand.

Wasn't there an entire chapter dedicated to listing the bounties he cashed in? It was at least ten pages long... Audrey recalled, expression betraying nothing.

"It was just a suggestion." The seasoned Imperative Mage, who knew nothing of Gehrman Sparrow's origins, met Benson's gaze calmly. "Besides, there are many reasons someone could have given him a gun. For self-protection, or perhaps he was coerced into keeping it."

"How many times do I have to tell you?!" Benson's anger began slipping into desperation. "He'd never get himself into a situation like that in the first place! He wasn't - he wasn't-"

"Benson," Melissa hissed, tugging at his sleeve.

The man's emotions seemed to peter off as he looked at his sister. With a deep sigh, he sunk back into his seat.

"I'm sorry," he croaked. "I'm just... very confused."

Xio shook her head, signifying that she held no grudge. "You have every right to be. This is an unusual situation for all of us."

Meanwhile, the Moon felt slightly miffed that he was yelled at for no good reason, but he was smart enough to pick his battles and stayed quiet.

Zhou Mingrui could not help but frown.

While in deep thought, he suddenly discovered a red handprint to the side of the table. Its color was deeper than the moonlight and much thicker than the 'veil.'

It was a bloody handprint!

Goddess... Despite already being emotionally exhausted, Melissa and Benson somehow found the energy to suck in a breath, offering a quiet prayer. Leonard, slumped in resignation, sent a regretful look in their direction. He knew what was coming.

An unfamiliar room, soaked in blood and moonlight... heh, that's a pretty good line. Who would dare say I can only plagiarize poetry? Roselle chuckled to himself, but staring at the crimson-stained screen, the mirth quickly faded. Although he didn't know Zhou Mingrui's experience - they'd really only met once, and there had been no time to swap stories - he could take a guess as to where all that blood had come from. That alone told him Zhou Mingrui's story hadn't had a pretty beginning.

Judging by the look in Zhou Mingrui's eyes during their first and only meeting, it hadn't had a pretty ending, either.

Azik frowned in worry. Klein - well, Zhou Mingrui, apparently - had never told him about an incident like this. What happened to him?

"Does he have an ouchie?" asked Will Auceptin.

"A bloody handprint?" Zhou Mingrui subconsciously flipped his right hand that had been holding the edge of the table. Looking down, he saw that his palm and fingers were covered in blood.

At the same time, the throbbing pain in his head continued. Although it had weakened a little, it continued incessantly.

Dread began to build in the hearts of the audience. 

Fors felt her heart speed up and tried to comfort herself by thinking of her writing. T-This would be an excellent opening to a thriller novel!

Did I smash my head open?

Zhou Mingrui guessed as he turned around and walked towards a cracked dressing mirror.

A few steps later, a black-haired figure of medium build and brown eyes appeared clearly in front of him. The person had a distinct scholarly air to him.

Is this me? Klein Moretti? Zhou thought to himself in shock.

"No, that's not..." Melissa's words died in her throat. She fell silent, unable to say anything against the familiar face on the screen. Unbeknownst to her, many in the audience shared her worries:

Just what is going to be reflected back at him...?!

The lack of light made it hard for him to see clearly, but he kept moving forward until he was just inches from bumping into a mirror. With the help of the crimson moonlight, he looked up to examine his own forehead.

In the mirror, he saw a gruesome wound on his temple. Burn marks surrounded the injury, and blood stained the area. had a grotesque wound with burn marks along its periphery. Grayish-white brain matter could be seen slowly squirming within the wound.

"Goddess!"

Caitlyn Hall screamed. A series of sharp gasps echoed throughout the theater. Benson and Melissa clapped hands over their mouths, eyes glazed over in horror.

"A big ouchie," Will said.

Chapter Text

As soon as the viewing ended, Roselle found himself alone in an endless sea of gray fog. The theater was nowhere to be found.

He sighed loudly. "I'd appreciate a warning next time."

"Sorry," Amanises said in a way that made it sound like 'She' wasn't really sorry at all. 

"Whatever," Roselle grumbled. "You can't maintain concealment for long in the Celestial Worthy's domain, can you? Spit it out."

Amanises lowered 'Her' ethereal voice, growing serious. "The Celestial Worthy has gained access to Zhou Mingrui's memories. You should know what this means."

The emperor's face darkened. "Yeah. 'Mr. Fool' can kiss his secret identity goodbye."

"There's no way to predict how his anchors will take the news," Amanises said. "Although I can conceal these memories from them later, it's not an effective long-term solution to fight the influence of a Great Old One. The best outcome is to guide them into truly accepting the Fool as their god regardless of his true identity."

"Yeah, yeah, power of friendship and all that." Roselle waved her off. “I've read enough manga to know how this goes."

"Don't you mean manhua?"

"Huh?"

"Manga is Japanese. Manhua is Chinese," Amanises said as if that explained everything.

"Oh. Well, yeah, but I always liked manga better than manhua..." His eyes narrowed. "Why do you know that?"

"Know what?" the Evernight Goddess asked innocently.

"Oh, don't try that now! I know what you are! You're a-"

"Zhou Mingrui is a Chinese name, isn't it?" Amanises inspected ‘Her’ nails. "I seem to recall him collecting your diary entries."

Roselle abruptly paled.

"If we're seeing his memories, then... my diary-!" He looked up wildly, a pleading expression on his face. "Hey! You still have some authority over concealment left, right?! My daughter, give me five minutes with my daughter!"

"Next time," Amanises said coolly.

"Why, you-"

In the theater, everyone remained silent, unsure of what to say.

Caitlyn Hall clutched her stomach and mouth as if she were about to throw up. The Tarot Club wore solemn frowns. Leonard's expression was totally lost. Even the loudmouth Emperor Roselle, taking pity on the many audience members in emotional turmoil, chose to stay quiet.

Melissa Moretti's hands were pressed to her face, shaking violently. Bile rose in her throat.

She and Benson had been healing. They'd been getting better. Even after their parents, and Klein, and the war, they'd dared to hope that things really were looking up for them. Then they'd been taken to this strange place, learned all sorts of strange things, even questioned how much they'd ever known about their own brother - and now this? She... she couldn't-

Suddenly, her negative thoughts scattered like dandelion seeds in the wind. She felt as if a comforting hand was stroking her hair. Looking at Benson, whose disturbed and haggard expression had softened into confusion, it appeared he'd experienced the same phenomenon.

"I Placated you both."

The Moretti siblings around to look at the source of the voice: Miss Audrey Hall, whose green eyes shone even clearer and brighter than usual.

"That must have been hard to see." Her smile inspired calmness and security in anyone who looked at it. "Placating is an ability of the Spectator pathway. I'm sorry to use it on you without your permission."

As far as her family knew, she was a Sequence 7 Psychiatrist, and the Tarot Club obviously knew her true Sequence. In addition, everyone who had been summoned seemed to have a connection to Mr. Fool, which proved them to be trustworthy in Audrey's eyes. This made her willing to bite the bullet and publicly announce information as important as her own pathway to settle the situation - as well as gain trust in return. 

After all, a psychiatrist is useless if their patient doesn't trust them. This was an acting principle that Audrey had personally concluded.

"Miss Audrey..." Melissa's mind was still sluggish. "You're a Beyonder, too?"

The noble girl only smiled again, then curtsied to her family. "I Placated all of you, too. Please forgive me."

Please forgive me for not telling you the truth all this time, she silently added.

The Hall family stared back in a daze. They'd all known that Audrey was a Psychiatrist - they'd even received treatment from her on occasion - but aside from those fleeting moments, they'd never seen her behave in such a manner. Mature, calm, the most knowledgeable one in the room. In a crisis like this, even the Justiciar Alfred was unable to act, and his Sequence 7 sister had adapted effortlessly.

No... Is she even Sequence 7? Alfred's heart stuttered. Could she be a Sequence 5 like me?

Just as he was about to ask his sister to explain herself, somebody spoke up.

"If we've all calmed down a bit, then we should start conferring," the man said. He had tanned skin and thick, seaweed-like blue hair. Sailor pathway? "First of all, the new timer that's appeared."

From the sidelines, Alger had watched the scene with approval. Miss Justice (he continued to refer to her as such, both out of respect for her privacy and out of habit) had handled the situation very well, especially considering that she was facing her family for the first time in a year. He couldn't have done it better himself. Not letting her hard work go to waste, he had taken the chance to speak. 

He jutted his chin at where a new bloodred number had appeared midair. It read:

5:00

The second it had been acknowledged, it began to tick down.

4:59

"We're being given time to discuss what's been shown?" frowned the Hermit. It feels like analyzing a novel in a book club...

"It looks like our generous host wishes for us to draw our own conclusions," the Star said.

"What we just saw was confusing, but so far, I don't see how any of it relates to Mr. Fool." Little Sun looked to be in deep thought. "The secret must be connected to that term that Zhou Mingrui used. 'Transmigrated'."

The Tarot Club had habitually gone into discussion mode, forgetting the presence of others around them.

This incurred some suspicion from Alfred Hall, who had already begun to form doubts due to how easily the group interacted with each other. Are they all part of the same Beyonder circle, or maybe the Church of the Fool? How did Audrey become involved with these people? Are they the ones responsible for her abnormalities?

Melissa looked on with growing dread. Miss Audrey and Klein's colleague from that security company... they're talking so comfortably with those other people. They, and apparently even Klein, have connections to this 'Fool'? Or was it Zhou Mingrui and not Klein? When did this all start? She frantically combed through her own memories, remembering every time that "Klein" had acted strangely in the months before his death. Once again, she felt bile in her throat. How much has been going on in the shadows around us?

Upon hearing the word "transmigrated", Bernadette looked to her father to gauge his reaction-

He wasn’t here.

Bernadette pushed down the instinctual flash of panic. 

She cleared her throat and spoke clearly. "Emperor Roselle has vanished."

This caught everyone’s attention. In this mysterious world above the gray fog where they were all in within each other’s sight, how could one person suddenly go missing? The crowd felt more and more as if they had entered a horror novel. 

“That’s impossible. There’s nowhere to go!” Danitz swore, looking around urgently. She’s still calling him Roselle even when he's not around? Queen Mystic isn't stupid enough to be tricked by some lookalike, is she? No way - is that guy the real deal?!

"-bastard!"

As if on cue, Roselle's voice cut through the fog as he reappeared by Bernadette, looking much paler but otherwise no worse for wear. He was accompanied by the mysterious woman in the starry veil - who had vanished without anyone noticing.

"I apologize," the woman said. "A private discussion was necessary."

...Just what were they discussing... Everyone thought.

An existence suspected to be the Evernight Goddess? What could 'She' want? Bernadette sent a questioning look towards her father, who shook his head and mouthed, "Later." 

This was enough to pacify Queen Mystic, but not Hibbert Hall, whose confusion had reached a boiling point.

"Excuse me," began the eldest son of the Hall family. "You must realize how suspicious it looks to have a private discussion under these circumstances. Not to mention, you seem to know the most about the existence that brought us here. If I may ask, who exactly are you?"

While Hibbert was well-versed in politics, he knew very little about Beyonders and was largely unaware of the danger he had just placed himself in. He was also more impulsive than his experienced father, who was staring at Hibbert as if his foolish son had just sprouted a second head. Will Auceptin began to giggle to himself.

Leonard, eager to distract himself from the first viewing, considered the question seriously. She is very likely a 'She' with powers over concealment. Almost certainly the Sleepless pathway... could it be Ma'am Arianna of the ascetics?

...Brother, this is the same goddess you praise every night at dinner... Audrey sent a silent prayer to the Evernight Goddess, hoping for the safety of the well-intentioned Hibbert.

Whether or not she had received that prayer, Amanises hadn't planned on taking drastic action. "Knowledge of my identity is prohibited below certain levels. Even your Sequence 5 brother has no right to learn my name, let alone a non-Beyonder such as yourself."

The entire Hall family tensed in terror.

Sequence 5! The blood drained from Alfred's face. How does she - no, how does 'She' know?! Actually, it's better not to ask... The information of his Sequence had clearly been used as a gentle warning: "don't pry into matters you have no knowledge of". The woman had also indirectly confirmed that 'Her' existence was at a level similar to that of Mysteries, whose true nature could not be known beneath the angel level. 'She' is incredibly dangerous!

"I understand my behavior is suspicious," Amanises continued. "But for now, I must ask you to trust that I am an ally."

Trust, my ass! You're just making sure we're all too scared to try anything! Danitz shouted in his heart. It was only with the discipline cultivated through several months of being Gehrman Sparrow's servant that he managed to keep quiet. 

"In that case, ma'am, may we know what to address you as?" Audrey addressed the true god with a curtsy, hoping to defuse the situation.

Amanises tilted her head before responding:

"Arianna."

S-'She' stole the name of 'Her' own servant! Miss Justice, who was totally immersed in the Beyonder world and had a close connection to a deacon of the Evernight church, naturally knew who Arianna was. Is this really okay? Gods can sure afford to be brazen... Scolding herself for her blasphemous thoughts, she looked over at Mr. Star, who had already formed a deep misunderstanding.

'She' really is Ma'am Arianna, leader of the ascetics! Having failed to recognize his own goddess without knowledge of the Fourth Epoch statues, Leonard felt rather proud of himself for guessing correctly. After being so shaken by the revelation of his best friend's identity (he wasn't ready to start properly thinking about Zhou Mingrui yet), it felt refreshing to have at least one theory be true. He sensed a gaze watching him and glanced at Miss Justice, who had a strange look on her face.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing." She pat his arm with a smile. "I'll tell you in a bit."

Leonard nodded, feeling strangely patronized.

"Anyway, now that we're all here..." Danitz, who had enough survival instinct (again, thanks to Gehrman Sparrow) to not dare provoke "Arianna", instead glared at Roselle. "We gonna start figuring this out or what?"

Roselle flipped Danitz off. Of course, the literal restructuring of civilization from the ground up had rendered this gesture meaningless, which meant nobody told him off for being unnecessarily rude. 

"Honestly, I'm not sure it would do much good to deliberate over anything right now," said Xio. "We just don't have enough information. We'd be wasting time with baseless conjectures."

"I agree," Cattleya said. "Judging by that timer, this viewing was clearly the first of several. It doesn't seem like we're meant to understand anything yet."

"But we can't just give up." Derrick protested.

"Nobody said we were giving up," explained the Hanged Man. "We're observing and holding back judgment until we understand things better. Comprehension takes time."

”The most concerning thing to take note of right now is that place Zhou Mingrui mentioned. ‘Earth’.” The Hermit crossed her arms. “He said that Earth’s moon was different from our own.”

"Could his homeland be in a similar situation to the City of Silver's?" Derrick suggested. "There were also anomalies with our sky in the - over there."

Alger shook his head. "That was a very unique situation. The chances of it happening again somewhere else are incredibly low. Unless..." Eyes scanning the theater, he decided to hold his cards close to his chest and not mention the Western Continent directly. "Unless he's from the west."

The Tarot Club, as well as many older and high Sequence Beyonders, immediately made the connection and began considering it. Meanwhile, the Moretti and Hall families were totally lost.

Alfred Hall could only listen in, trying to make connections to the other strange things he’d heard about the boy’s “hometown”. Expedition members killed by hound-like beasts… a unique situation… anomalies in the sky? What does this mean? What kind of place are they talking about?

"But that place is sealed," Mr. Moon pointed out. Mr. Hanged Man's investigation of the Western Continent made sure they were all up to date on this situation. "How could he leave or be made to leave?"

Queen Mystic, having been silent until now, spoke in a soft voice. “Perhaps the existence that sealed that place is the same existence responsible for Zhou Mingrui’s situation. ‘They’ would certainly be able to bypass 'Their' own seal.”

This suggestion caused a quiet to fall over the Beyonders gathered. The power needed to conceal an entire continent from the world was unimaginable; only someone at the level of a true god could attempt it. If Queen Mystic’s theory was true, it was another piece of evidence pointing to something unimaginable lurking behind the scenes of Zhou Mingrui’s circumstances.

The discussion continued for a while - in considerably more hushed tones - but Miss Magician said nothing, frowning to herself. For some reason, the advancement ritual for Planeswalker had appeared in her mind: "Leave legends about yourself at nine different locations outside of this planet." Could it be... there are civilizations outside this planet? No way, right? If I say something like that, everyone’s going to laugh at me!

3:00

Melissa and Benson sat to the side uneasily, watching the others dissect their brother's situation like it was a story to be analyzed. The image of "Klein", pale and terrified with a hole in the side of his head, had already been burned into their retinas. Although they were grateful that the group was giving them space, being understanding of their emotional turmoil, sitting to the side like this felt wrong.

"Melissa." Benson called to her softly. "This Zhou Mingrui, he..."

His voice trailed off. There was so much to say and no way to say it. Language wasn't built to have conversations like this. Where could they even start?

Is he still our brother?

Neither of them were ready for that question.

"I don't know what to think yet." Melissa struggled to keep her voice level.

Benson let out a deep, exhausted sigh, like his soul was leaving his body. "Neither do I."

"...I wasn't done. I don't know what to think yet." Melissa's eyes traced the outlined silhouettes in front of her. "But I think they can help us find out."

The look in Benson's eyes deepened. For a moment, he seemed much older than he actually was. Then he nodded.

"...Um, pardon me."

With her brother's blessing, Melissa spoke up, catching the attention of the debating group.

She cleared her throat. "I have a bit of information."

All eyes were instantly on her. She shrunk back a little before Benson put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she straightened again.

"Klein - or, well... I'll call him Klein for now. Klein did - die. He died. But it wasn't anything like this." She unconsciously glanced at Leonard. "He'd just gotten a new job at some security company. We were told he was attacked by a criminal and that he..." Her voice faltered. "He died a hero."

The Beyonders present frowned to themselves. Whether through personal experience or gained knowledge, most of them knew that official Beyonder groups often used fronts like security companies in order to hide their true purpose from the public. Not to mention that specific wording - "died a hero"...

She looked at Mr. Star again, Alger noted. She knows him, but doesn't seem to like him... Mr. Star is trying to pass along a message about Klein Moretti, who might also be the World Gehrman Sparrow. Mr. Star knew Mr. World before joining the Tarot Club. Mr. Star is a Nighthawk of the Evernight church... Alger's eyes narrowed. Mr. World was once a Nighthawk? An official Beyonder?

"That's very valuable information, thank you." Xio easily stepped back into the mindset of her job at MI9. She quickly explained the way official Beyonder organization used covers to Melissa. "With that in mind, it's possible that your brother became a Beyonder by joining one such organization."

"I see," Melissa said quietly. She looked at Mr. Azik, angry and slightly hurt.

Azik bowed his head. "I really am sorry. It wasn't my place to say anything."

"You knew about Klein becoming a Beyonder?" Emlyn inferred. "No, how did you even know him? Sir." He quickly corrected himself to be polite, reminding himself that this was Mr. Fool's angel he was talking to.

"I was his history teacher in university." The Death Consul blinked. "Ah, I never introduced myself. My name is Azik - Azik Eggers."

Eggers? This raised the eyebrows of several experienced Beyonders. The imperial family of Balam in the Fourth Epoch, in control of the Death pathway... This person isn't simple.

"Found yourself a real bigshot to cling onto, eh, Zhou?" Roselle snickered in Mandarin. Meanwhile, his daughter brightened - she had read several interesting historical texts written by Azik Eggers of Khoy University. She decided to ask him some questions later.

The Tarot Club, who had first known him as the Angel of Death, was not surprised by Azik's connection to the Eggers family. With blank faces, they tried to imagine a divine and noble being - the angel longest to follow Mr. Fool - teaching history at a university. Did 'He' do something to make Mr. Fool mad...?

Perhaps Klein Moretti, or Zhou Mingrui, caught Mr. Fool's attention with the strange circumstances of his "death", or perhaps "rebirth". Mr. Fool then sent the Angel of Death to that university in hiding specifically to scope out the World, who was Klein Moretti at the time, as a possible Blessed? No, the timeline doesn't quite match up. Klein had already graduated university at the time of this incident... The Hanged Man made up a theory and promptly trashed it.

"In the spirit of sharing information, I should say something, too." Leonard began uncertainly.

He planned on telling the Morettis the truth of what had happened to “Klein”. Of course, while it would help everyone here by providing information, he really only cared about telling Klein's siblings. They deserved to know the truth. 

"Whatever it is we're being shown, it seems to be focused on Klein - well, Zhou Mingrui-" Leonard rubbed his temples. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, there's something you should know, and it shouldn't matter if I tell you this not." He took a breath and addressed the Moretti siblings. "Klein-"

The words stopped coming out of his mouth. His lips continued to move, but no sound was produced.

Leonard frowned and tried again, only to meet the same result.

"That's strange," he said aloud. His voice was now working fine.

"Mysteries has some authority over concealment," Amanises said by way of explanation.

...Couldn't you have told me that before I embarrassed myself? Leonard wanted to grumble. Does this mean I can’t tell them about the Antigonius family notebook either?

Audrey, who could easily read his thoughts with her Hypnotist powers, kept her face carefully smooth. Ah, Mr. Star, the one you're slandering in your heart right now is your very own goddess... She blinked to clear her thoughts. "Does that mean that Mysteries doesn't want us to share information? Or is it this piece of information in particular?"

"Well, 'He' said that 'He' liked mysteries, right?" Fors tapped her chin. "Maybe 'He' just doesn't want 'His' audience getting spoiled early and ruining the surprise."

Spoken like a true author... The Tarot Club deadpanned.

Leonard rubbed the back of his neck guiltily and looked at Benson and Melissa. "Whatever the case, I guess I can't tell you right now. I'm sorry... But you'll likely find out eventually."

Benson and Melissa nodded, not really sure what to think. Both of them couldn't help but nurse a little hope in their hearts - that the thing he'd been trying to say was, "Klein isn't really dead." But they both knew that things like that didn’t happen. And even if that were the case, considering the existence of Zhou Mingrui, would it even be true anymore?

1:00

"I think it would be best to list our goals for information," said the Hanged Man. He began to count out on his fingers. "For example: finding out what 'transmigrated' means, determining the exact situation regarding Klein and Zhou Mingrui, and determining Klein or Zhou Mingrui's connection to Mr. Fool." He added on the last one since Klein Moretti being Gehrman Sparrow had yet to be confirmed beyond all doubt, and it was best to explore other possibilities if confirming one was temporarily impossible.

Roselle stifled a laugh. Right, transmigration isn't a thing right now, or at least it wasn't while I was still around. I'll clue them in soon if they don't figure it out. Well, after I talk to my daughter.

"Speaking of connections to Mr. Fool..." Danitz grit his teeth and pointed to Will, who had been kicking the back of the pirate's seat the entire time. "Does anyone know why this brat is here?!"

Fors blinked. "He's not someone's kid?"

Melissa ruthlessly sold out her temporary traveling companion.  "He's not a normal child. Mr. Azik called him the most cherished angel of the Fool." That wasn't exactly what Mr. Azik had said, but close enough, right? Even if she wasn't exactly sure what angel meant, besides that it sounded powerful, she'd like to see the kid try and smite her with everyone else watching.

"Angel of Mercury?!" Little Sun gasped.

Emlyn and Fors' jaws dropped. You're got to be kidding! That's a literal infant!

I called 'His' angel a brat...! Danitz drained of all color, looking around as if he expected Creeping Hunger to appear at any moment. P-Please don't eat me!

"What angel? I'm just a baby," Will Auceptin protested.

"No, I know what I heard," Melissa returned blankly. "You're an angel."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

Both of them suddenly snapped to face Azik and said, "Well?"

The ancient Angel of Death wrung his hands helplessly. On one side was a very angry young woman. On the other was a three year-old child whose eyes were welling up in an incredibly ominous manner. No amount of battlefield prowess, no number of regained memories could have prepared him for this. 

"I, well..." Azik finally gave up, shoulders slumping. "I believe that's the Angel of Mercury, yes."

Will Auceptin sniffled in a way that could only be described as menacing, then began to wail, crocodile tears running down his chubby cheeks.

"Melissa and Azik are meanies! You're so mean! Meanies!" he sobbed.

H-'He' can cry on command... Everyone thought at once.

While this commotion was going on, Miss Justice leaned over to Mr. Star. "Um, about 'Ma'am Arianna’..." She whispered something into the Star's ear. 

The blood drained from his face. "WHAT?!"

Audrey nodded, looking guilty.

Leonard clutched his head. "I can't believe-! Oh, Goddess..."

Amanises looked over in his direction.

The Star's eyes widened. "No, no! I didn't mean-" He cut himself off by burying his head in his hands, letting out a muffled noise of despair.

This is the most embarrassing day of my life... I actually failed to recognize my own goddess...!

0:05

”Everybody, shut up, it’s starting!” Roselle, who was the type of person to loudly shush others at the movies, shouted. “Don’t you have any theater etiquette?!”

Dogshit, you’re the loudest person here! Danitz cursed.

Will Auceptin let out a final sob for good measure, blew a raspberry at Melissa and Azik, and fell back into his seat in a huff. Melissa crossed her arms, satisfied with her victory. Leonard let out a muffled whimper.

It was in this state of general disorder that the second viewing began.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Remembering where things had left off, everyone immediately sobered. Will wiped the last dregs of tears from his eyes, while the Morettis braced themselves, taking hold of each other’s hands once again.

Zhou Mingrui reeled back in fear at the sight that greeted him. It was as though the person in the dressing mirror was not himself, but a desiccated corpse.

Melissa, Benson, and Leonard flinched. The memory of the funeral, despite being years ago, was still fresh in their minds. Apparently this viewing would be no kinder than the first.

How could a person with such grievous wounds be still alive?!

You'd be surprised, thought Azik. His expression grew solemn. But it’s true that this is incredibly unusual for someone who shouldn’t even be a Beyonder yet…

Caitlyn Hall looked sick to her stomach. Her husband stroked her arm reassuringly.

Melissa and Benson both felt a terrible nausea. They hadn’t expected to agree with the person that had taken over their brother’s body.

He turned his head in disbelief again and checked the other side. Even though he was a distance away and the lighting was poor, he could still see the penetrating wound and dark red blood stains.

“This…”

Zhou Mingrui drew a deep breath as he tried hard to calm himself.

He reached out to press his left chest and sensed his racing heart that exuded immense vitality.

He then touched his exposed skin. Beneath the slight coldness was flowing warmth.

It seems that "Klein's" death had no obvious lasting effects, Cattleya noted. Still, resurrection is a high-level ability limited to a few pathways. Surely Mr. Fool must have authority over one of them?

When he squatted down and after verifying that his knees could bend, Zhou Mingrui stood up again and calmed down.

“What’s happening?” he muttered with a frown. He planned to inspect his head injury seriously once more.

”It’s a miracle he’s as calm as he is.” Fors shook her head. If I woke up in an unfamiliar place with a wound like that, I probably would have started crying!

He took two steps forward and suddenly paused. The moonlight of the sanguine moon was relatively dark, so it was insufficient for his ‘serious inspection.’

Emlyn puffed out his chest in pride at the word 'Sanguine', smirking. "It's just that a human's eyesight isn't good enough."

He’s not subtle at all, thought every Beyonder in the room (besides Melissa, who hadn’t received thorough education on such matters).

A memory fragment triggered as Zhou Mingrui turned his head to look at the grayish-white pipes and the metallic-gridded lamp on the wall right beside the study desk.

This was the most common gas lamp of the times. Its flame was stable and its illumination capabilities were excellent.

"My flames are better," Danitz grumbled.

With Klein Moretti’s family situation, even a kerosene lamp was a dream, much less a gas lamp. Using candles was most apt for their standing and stature. However, back when he burned the midnight oil four years ago to be admitted into Khoy University, his elder brother, Benson, felt that it was an important matter which their family’s future depended upon. Therefore, he insisted on creating conducive studying conditions for Klein even if it meant taking on debt.

Audrey smiled. “You’re a good brother, Mr. Moretti.”

Under normal circumstances, Benson would have been bashful to receive such a compliment. Now he only thanked the girl with a tired smile. Good, but not good enough, he thought bitterly.

Bernadette remembered her own brothers, who she hadn't seen in many years. Is this what it’s like to have a strong sibling relationship? I'd forgotten. He acts more like a father than a brother.

Of course, Benson, who was literate and had worked for several years, was not a rash person who did not think of the consequences. He had quite some tricks up his sleeve. He reasoned with the landlord to ‘raise the apartment’s standards by installing gas pipes to improve the likelihood of rentals in the future.’ The landlord was convinced and provided the money to complete the basic modifications. Then, using the convenience of working at an import and export company, he purchased a brand new gas lamp which was nearly at cost price. In the end, all he needed was to use his savings and did not need to borrow money.

Roselle cackled. “I think I like you.”

“…” Benson didn’t know how to feel about that.

”That really is impressive,” said Alfred Hall. “Taking care of your family is the noblest thing anybody can do.” He has potential for the Justiciar pathway, not that I’d wish becoming a Beyonder on a good person like him.

Derrick bowed his head in remembrance of his own family, who he had failed to save. Susie nuzzled into him comfortingly. He thanked her with a scratch behind the ears, grief slightly lessened.

After the memory fragment flashed past his mind, Zhou Mingrui came to the desk where he turned the pipe’s valve and began twisting the gas lamp’s switch…

A few seconds later, he turned around and walked toward the door. He arrived at the machine installation which was similarly inset into the wall and had grayish-white pipes connected to it.

This was a gas meter!

”It took you that long to figure out how to work a lamp.” Roselle snickered. “That’s just depressing.”

After seeing the exposed gears and bearings, Zhou Mingrui took out a coin from his trousers’ pocket... It was called a copper penny. One penny’s purchasing power was roughly three to four yuan before his transmigration... 

"Yuan...?" Several people repeated the word uncertainly.

"It sounds like a currency system, but I've never heard of it." Cattleya's brows furrowed once again. "Where exactly could Zhou Mingrui be from?"

Clearly this person hadn't just appeared out of nowhere. He came from a place with its own currency and naming conventions, unlike anything any of them had ever seen.

The Tarot Club frowned thoughtfully. Was it really possible that Zhou Mingrui came from an isolated place like the Forsaken Land of the Gods?

After flipping the coin—which was only minted and circulated after King George III ascended to the throne—a few times, Zhou Mingrui inserted it into the gas meter’s thin vertical ‘mouth.’

Several people stiffened at the mention of the late George III - particularly Benson and Melissa, who had witnessed his "death", and Bernadette, whose father occupied the spot of the currently reviving Dark Emperor. Had George III succeeded, Roselle would have been truly eradicated from this world.

The Hall Family all drew the crimson moon across their chests, praying that the dearly departed king’s soul was resting in the kingdom of the goddess.

Audrey watched them silently.

Clink! Clang!

After the penny fell to the bottom of the meter, the sound of grinding gears sounded immediately, producing a short but melodious mechanical rhythm... A fire plume ignited and rapidly grew. Bright light first occupied the internals of the wall lamp before penetrating the transparent glass, blanketing the room with a warm glow.

The darkness quickly receded as the crimson retreated out the window. Zhou Mingrui felt at ease for a baffling reason as he quickly came in front of the dressing mirror.

"What's so bad about the moonlight?!" Emlyn puffed his chest out in anger. "Crimson is a beautiful color!"

Beneath ‘Her’ veil, Amanises’ eyes narrowed. For a baffling reason…Instinct? Or…

This time, he seriously inspected his temple and did not miss a single detail.

After a few rounds of inspection, he realized that apart from the original blood stain, liquid was no longer flowing out of the grotesque wound. It appeared like it had received the best hemostasis and bandaging.

“The fuck is-" Danitz squinted. “Hemostasis?”

”Hemostasis is the process of stopping the flow of blood,” Cattleya said.

”But don’t you need blood?”

”It’s to prevent bleeding out from open wounds,” the Pirate King explained calmly, showing no anger towards her dull comrade. “Such as this one.”

”Oh.” Danitz, who had been reminded of his own captain, became ‘inexplicably’ embarrassed. “T-Thanks.”

As for the slowly squirming grayish-white brain and the discernible growth of flesh and blood around the wound, it meant that the wound might take thirty to forty minutes, or maybe even two to three hours before it would only leave a light scar.

Caitlyn Hall felt sick once again, turning pale.

Alfred had seen much worse scenes during the war, so from the perspective of gore, he was hardly impacted. He sent a worried look towards his mother before his senses finally returned to him: Audrey!

He’d gotten so caught up in the situation that he’d forgotten about the well-being of his own sister! Even if she was able to Placate herself, or… have Susie do it for her… that was no excuse! He turned to where Audrey was sitting, prepared to cover her eyes if necessary-

But Audrey Hall was staring calmly at the screen, unaffected.

Dread began to build in the pit of Alfred’s stomach.

“The restorative effects that transmigration brings?” Zhou Mingrui curled up the right corner of his mouth as he muttered silently.

”Transmigration has a healing effect?” This caused many people’s eyes to widen. “How mysterious.”

Bullshit! Roselle complained as he watched the misconception spread. You’re the only one who got those cheats!

Mr. Fool hasn't shown any signs of interfering. Was my theory wrong? Or was 'He' the one that healed Kle - er, Zhou Mingrui? Why wouldn't 'He' pull Zhou Mingrui into Sefirah Castle, then? Leonard shook his head and whispered, “Just how many secrets do you have?”

Following that, he let out a long sigh. Regardless, he was still alive!

Benson and Melissa clenched their hands into fists.

After settling his mind, he pulled open a drawer and took out a tiny piece of soap. He took one of the old and tattered towels hanging by the side of the cupboard and opened the door. He then walked to the public bathroom which was shared by the tenants on the second floor.

Yes, I should clean up the blood stains on my head, or I’ll keep looking like a crime scene. It’s fine scaring myself, but if I were to scare my sister, Melissa, when she gets up early in the morning tomorrow, it would be quite problematic!

Sister! Melissa straightened, heart surging in her chest. Is it still Klein after all? Or are there at least remnants of him left behind? She lowered her eyes. No… does it even matter in the end? He’s gone now.

The corridor outside was pitch black. Silhouettes were barely accentuated by the crimson moonlight from the window at the end of the corridor. They looked like a pair of monster eyes that silently observed the living late into the night.

Danitz grimaced. “Why is this guy’s imagination so creepy?”

Zhou Mingrui lightened his footsteps as he walked towards the communal bathroom with a shuddering fear.

…C-Communal bathroom… Although Miss Justice had become much more worldly through her work at her charity foundation, as well as her year away from home, there were still some things she had yet to accept.

When he entered, there was even more moonlight, allowing him to see everything clearly. Zhou Mingrui stood in front of a wash basin and turned the tap’s knob.

Upon hearing the gushing sound of water, he suddenly recalled his landlord, Mr. Franky.

Benson let out a weak laugh. “Good old Mr. Franky. Of all the curly-haired baboons I’ve met over the years, his hair must have been the curliest.”

Hey, if you wanna call the guy stupid, just call him stupid! Roselle was ‘inexplicably’ pissed off by this Loen-styled euphemism.

Meanwhile, the Hermit suppressed a shiver. Franky, not Frank Lee. Not Frank Lee!

As water was included in the rent, this short and thin gentleman who wore a top hat, a vest, and a black suit, always inspected the bathroom actively to take note of any sounds of flowing water.

If the water gushed too loudly, Mr. Franky would ignore all of his gentlemanly traits by flailing his walking stick and striking the bathroom’s door, shouting things like ‘Darn thief,’ ‘Wastage is a shameless matter,’ ‘I’ll remember you,’ ‘If I see this happen another time, scram along with your filthy luggage,’ ‘Mark my words, this is the most value-for-money apartment in Tingen City. You will not find a more kindly landlord anywhere else!’

“Scoundrel!” Emlyn cursed.

Judgment Xio let out a deep sigh. “Landlords are evil no matter where you go.”

”Or no matter how many thousands of years pass,” Roselle muttered under his breath.

Azik frowned. “That’s no way to run a business or treat a tenant.” My student was living in conditions like these? I wonder if this Franky fellow is still in Tingen. I haven’t been to that city in quite some time, anyway…

Putting away those thoughts, Zhou Mingrui used a moist towel to clean the blood stains from his face again and again.

After checking himself using the rundown mirror in the bathroom and verifying that all that was left were a hideous wound and a pale face did Zhou Mingrui relax. Then, he took off his linen shirt and used a bar of soap to wash away the bloodstains.

Danitz shivered, recalling the countless hours he’d spent slaving over Gehrman Sparrow’s bloodied shirts. He suddenly felt a deep kinship with the man on screen. Maybe I should find this guy and start a “victim’s alliance” with him!

At that moment, he knitted his brows and recalled of a possible problem.

The wound was too exaggerated and there was too much blood. Apart from his body, his room likely still had signs of his injury!

"At least he remembered to clean everything up," Xio said halfheartedly. "That makes him smarter than a surprising amount of criminals."

My brother wasn't a criminal! Benson grit his teeth before the anger began to bleed out of him, leaving only numbness behind. But... He looked at the screen bleakly. That isn't my brother.

After Zhou Mingrui was done with his linen shirt a few minutes later, he briskly returned to his apartment with a moist towel. He first wiped the blood handprint on the desk and then, using the gas lamp’s illumination, sought out spots which he missed out.

He immediately discovered that quite a substantial amount of blood had splattered onto the floor beneath the desk. And there was a yellow bullet to the left side of the wall.

”It can basically be confirmed,” said Alfred Hall, who was desperate to contribute something. “Cause of death was a bullet to the head.”

“Releasing a round with a revolver pointed at the temple?” After mixing and matching the clues from before, Zhou Mingrui had a rough idea how Klein had died.

The Morettis flinched, unable to deny the reality in front of them. In the dead of night, unremarkably and unbeknownst to either sibling, Klein Moretti's life had ended. Their brother had been dead long before his own funeral, and for three years they hadn't known any better. The idea caused a terrible wave of nausea to roil in their stomachs.

Benson covered his hand with his mouth, forcing himself to take deep breaths. I just don't understand, he thought. That was all he ever seemed to think lately.

While not quite as severe, Leonard’s mind was in similar disarray. Was Zhou Mingrui’s appearance an anomaly caused by the Antigonius family notebook? If so, then the Klein I know has always been Zhou Mingrui… the original Klein really died as simply as that. Is it okay to call him my friend then?

He was in no hurry to verify his guess. Instead, he seriously wiped away the blood stains and cleaned up the ‘scene.’ Following that, he took the bullet and returned to the side of his desk. He opened the revolver’s cylinder and poured out the rounds inside.

A total of five rounds and a cartridge shell all had a brass luster to them...

”He’s thorough.” Bernadette nodded her approval.

He shifted his gaze to the left and it landed on the notebook’s words: ‘Everyone will die, including me.’ Following that, even more questions arose in him.

Where did the gun come from?

Was it suicide or a faked suicide?

Benson and Melissa jerked in their seats.

”Suicide?!” Benson yelled. “That- Klein wouldn’t…” He slumped. “We were doing badly, but not that badly.”

”Did your brother have any enemies? Anyone who would want to hurt him?” Xio asked.

The siblings shook their head mutely. 

”Mr. Moretti, please understand,” Audrey began, voice gentle and soothing, as she Placated the siblings once again. “People don’t always have reasons for the ways they act. They can lose hope or rationality and do things that nobody would have expected of them. I’m not saying that’s what happened here, but… keep it in mind for the future.”

Benson and Melissa gave her hollow looks before nodding.

“Besides, there’s the other possibility of forced suicide,” interjected the Hanged Man. “Not necessarily by a human, but by the influence of a supernatural force. That would explain how he caught the attention of an official Beyonder group.”

”Considering the message in the notebook, it’s likely that mysticism is involved,” Cattleya agreed.

”But how would Klein come across something like that?” Benson asked, helpless.

Leonard once again felt guilt churn in his stomach. Would Mysteries stop him if he tried to explain what had happened? As a test, he opened his mouth and tried to explain, but no words came out. He sighed in resignation.

Miss Justice shot a look in his direction. Mr. Star knows something, but the authority of concealment is stopping him from telling us?

What kind of trouble could a history graduate of humble origins get himself into?

Why would such a suicide method only leave behind so little blood? Was it because I transmigrated in a timely manner and it came with healing benefits?

”So little?! You just spent fifteen minutes cleaning it up!” Danitz yelled. Fuck! If he’s so willing, why doesn’t this guy clean Gehrman Sparrow’s clothes!

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Mingrui changed into another linen shirt. He sat on the chair and began pondering over more important matters.

Klein’s experience was still not something he needed to concern himself with. The true problem was to figure out the reason for his transmigration and if he could return!

The Moretti siblings bit back sounds of protest. They already knew that the man on the screen was not Klein, but did he have to keep repeating it over and over? It had been hard enough to hear the first time, and it would never make sense no matter how many times it was said, so Benson and Melissa just wanted to stop thinking about it.

His parents, relatives, best buddies, and friends. The fascinating world of the Internet and all sorts of delicious delicacies… These were reasons that prompted his desire to return!

Roselle’s smile wavered. In an effort to cheer himself up, he laughed weakly and said in Mandarin, “Really? The Internet and delicacies are your grand motivations? Well, we weren’t citizens of the Foodaholic Empire for no reason.”

The rest of the group, aside from Amanises, absorbed the tidbit of information greedily. They wanted to learn everything they could about Zhou Mingrui’s strange homeland. Although Zhou Mingrui obviously came from somewhere, the confirmation of the existence of other people - an entire civilization, even - had a huge impact on everyone.

”What’s the Internet? A different world?” Derrick asked, confused.

”Maybe the Internet is his homeworld,” Fors suggested hesitantly, thinking of her own theory.

Roselle choked so hard he almost fell out of his seat. 

Click. Click. Click… Zhou Mingrui’s right hand was subconsciously pulling out the revolver’s cylinder and slamming it back into place, again and again.

Danitz shuddered again. W-Why did that feel so familiar? 

Yea, there has not been much difference for me between this period of time and the past. I was just a little unlucky, but why would I transmigrate for no baffling reason?

Bad luck… Yes, I tried a luck enhancement ritual before dinner today!

Will Auceptin’s eyes narrowed. This guy has always had an unusual relationship with luck. I thought it was due to Sefirah Castle, but could this have anything to do with his abnormalities?

A thought flashed in Zhou Mingrui’s mind, illuminating the memories which were concealed by a fog of confusion.

As a qualified keyboard politician, keyboard historian, keyboard economist, keyboard biologist, and keyboard folklorist, he had always deemed himself as ‘knowing something of everything.’ Of course, his best buddy would often mock him as ‘only knowing a little of everything.’

Roselle did fall out of his chair this time, howling with laughter. Zhou Mingrui was a keyboard warrior! He wheezed. I’ll never let him live this down!

The Tarot Club sent uncertain looks towards Roselle. Was this really Emperor Caesar, the Son of Steam, a man important enough to have his diary collected by Mr. Fool? The same man laughing like a lunatic for no clear reason? 

He was the messiah of a previous era, but isn't he kind of an idiot? Emlyn thought.

Amanises just watched with a blank expression on ‘Her’ face, feeling second-hand embarrassment for ‘Her’ Blessed.

And one of them was Chinese Divination.

”Chinese? Is that like Loenese, a nationality?” Little Sun asked.

“They appear to also have divination there,” Emlyn noted. “The original Zhou Mingrui may have been proficient in mysticism.”

Don’t you think you’re getting a little hasty there? thought both of the Earthlings present. 

When he visited his hometown last year, he had discovered a thread-bound book titled ‘Quintessential Divination and Arcane Arts of the Qin and Han Dynasty’ at an old bookstore.

Cattleya, Bernadette, and Azik listened with special interest as the local history enthusiasts. 

It looked pretty interesting and could aid him in posturing on the Internet, so he bought it. Unfortunately, his interest was short-lived. The vertical script it used made the reading experience horrible. All he did was flip through the beginning pages before he threw it into a corner.

"Vertical script? How interesting." Despite her vast knowledge, the Hermit Cattleya had come across very few texts written in vertical script, and none seemed to match the description of this text. How could something so archaic end up in an ordinary bookstore?

He had experienced a spat of bad luck in the past month—losing his cell phone, customers running away after cheating him, and mistakes at work.

Will Auceptin whistled innocently.

Only then did he suddenly recall the luck enhancement ritual written at the beginning of ‘Quintessential Divination and Arcane Arts.’ Furthermore, the requirements were extremely simple, without any basic foundation requirements.

All he needed was to get four portions of the staple food in his area and place them in the four corners of his room. They could be placed on furniture such as tables and cupboards. Then, standing in the middle of the room, he had to take four steps in a counter-clockwise fashion to make a square. The first step required him to sincerely chant ‘Blessings Stem From The Immortal Lord of Heaven and Earth.’ The second step was to silently chant, ‘Blessings Stem From The Sky Lord of Heaven and Earth.’ The third step was ‘Blessings Stem From The Exalted Thearch of Heaven and Earth,’ and the fourth step was ‘Blessings Stem From The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth.’ After the four steps were taken, he needed to close his eyes and wait five minutes in his original spot. Only then would the ritual be considered complete.

The jovial expression immediately slipped off the infant's face, and Will's eyes went steely. He sat up straighter in his seat.

This explains why he's always had the aura of Sefirah Castle. From the beginning, Klein Moretti's ascension to Lord of the Mysteries was arranged by the previous Lord 'Himself'? To produce an awakening vessel? How insidious. Will wanted to laugh bitterly, but as that wasn't befitting of a child, he kept quiet. To bear a fate like that, Zhou Mingrui must have the worst luck in the whole world.

"Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth?" Azik frowned to himself. I can't remember, but I feel like I should know something.

The Hermit began, ”What kind of ritual-”

She was cut off by an intense aura filling the theater.

A violent shudder ran down everyone's spines, as if the coldness of every long and dark night in the world had seeped into their bones. They didn't have the courage to look its source in the eye: “Arianna”, the mysterious woman whose face was concealed.

Below the veil, ‘She’ was visibly frowning.

This filled people’s hearts with an indescribable terror. Nobody dared to speak.

Since it did not cost him any money, he found the book, followed what was stipulated, and did it before dinner. However… nothing happened back then.

Who would have guessed that he would actually transmigrate in the middle of the night!

Transmigration!

“There is a distinct possibility that it’s due to that luck enhancement ritual… Yes, I should give it a try here tomorrow. If it’s really because of that, I stand a chance of transmigrating back!” Zhou Mingrui stopped flicking the revolver’s cylinder and suddenly sat straight up.

The heavy aura lessened, but still persisted. Beneath the veil, Amanises’ eyes were a little duller than usual.

As a Sequence 2, Queen Mystic knew better than to speak aloud, but she could still maintain rationality within her own mind. More talk of transmigration. I should ask Father what it means after this viewing ends. She glanced at her father out of the corner of her eye, only to tense at what she saw.

In her youth, Roselle had always been a lively man. Smiling, talking, laughing - his exaggerated expressions in private a total contrast to the ruler’s façade he put up in public. Even then, though, her animated father was never quite still: he’d tap the armrest of his throne, or send her a wink across the room when nobody else was looking.

There were few times when she remembered him to be truly, truly still. But most of them had been when he’d been standing at that window, looking to the west. Searching for something nobody else could see.

So why? Why have you regained that stillness now…?

Regardless, he had to give it a try!

I’m sorry, old friend. Roselle‘s expression was numb. There's nowhere left to go back to.

He had to attempt a Hail Mary!

The theater descended into thick silence.

Chapter Text

5:00

The crowd shifted in their seats uneasily, saying nothing. Several people sent uncertain looks towards "Arianna". Although the horrifying aura emanating from 'Her' had long since dispelled, nobody was quite comfortable - after all, there was still the question: just what had upset ‘Her’ so much?

Amanises scanned the room, then let out an unnoticeable sigh. The calming and serene feeling of a starry night spread throughout the theater, causing the tension to dissipate. I showed my rage too clearly.

T-The Evernight Goddess has the title of "Empress and Misfortune and Horror" for good reason... Alger flexed his hands, which had just stopped shaking. This is the constrained power of a true god. How incredible... But then, what kind of existence could have called a true god here and managed to subdue 'Them'? He felt cold sweat bead on his forehead at the thought of Mysteries.

As a Sequence 1 Snake of Mercury, Will Auceptin was less affected than most. He rubbed his eyes like a sleepy child and frowned. "I know a thing or two about luck, and that's not a normal ritual."

Sefirah Castle was temporarily under the Celestial Worthy's control, at least for the most part. Even if nobody had been (noticeably) corrupted by the viewing's mention of 'His' honorific name - even if 'He' could have killed them all through corruption already if 'He' had so desired - Will didn't want to risk saying the name aloud. It was incredibly dangerous to acknowledge the existence of a Great Old one anywhere, let alone inside 'Their' own domain, and Will hadn't survived this long by being reckless. This forced him to express his suspicions in a more roundabout manner.

The Lord of the Mysteries had disappeared sometime around the First Epoch. How could Zhou Mingrui have found a ritual pertaining to 'Him' in his hometown?

Meanwhile, Azik was deep in thought. The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth? Little Will seems to recognize this name, but I can’t remember properly… Does it have to do with the reason Klein was forced to sleep? But how could Zhou Mingrui come across such a thing?

"I've never heard such an honorific name before," the Hermit said quietly. "Not even for a hidden existence." This world was full of mysteries no matter how powerful you were, but those undiscovered possibilities lurking in the shadows never became any less horrifying. Cattleya hesitated before looking towards Queen Mystic. Bernadette appeared calm on the surface, but Cattleya had known her for decades - she could see the subtle signs of unease, of something close to fear. Bernadette herself was looking towards her father, who appeared unusually solemn.

Why does Emperor Roselle look so shaken?  As a quasi-true god, he probably knows more than all of us... even more than Queen Mystic... Cattleya suppressed a deep shiver. To her, Bernadette had always been - a mother, yes, but something more than that in the way she never allowed herself to be swayed. Queen Mystic was untouchable. She knew everything that was worth knowing. But if that wasn't the case anymore...

The idea struck more fear into her heart than any hidden existence ever could.

Mind drifting, Bernadette was too distracted to notice the attention of her disciple. Her lips moved, but made no sound:

"Lord of the Mysteries..?"

All of the higher-level existences have taken note of this special figure in the luck enhancement ritual... A deep anxiety fell over the Tarot Club, its members feeling more clueless than they had in a long time. The World Gehrman Sparrow had been the only one among them to reach the angel level, which they knew to be the threshold for some sort of knowledge - of course, they weren't sure what that knowledge was, but to provoke the Evernight Goddess and to shake the former Emperor of Intis to 'His' core... Could it have to do with the apocalypse?

"It seems that Zhou Mingrui performed a suspicious ritual, caught the attention of some unknown existence, and was forcibly made to transmigrate by that existence," the Hanged Man summarized, willing his racing heart to calm down.

Benson and Melissa, who had understood very little of anything recently, tensed at this. While they lacked the mystical understanding to realize how truly out of their depth they were, they could at least realize this much: Zhou Mingrui hadn't purposefully taken over Klein's body.

"Then..." Benson's voice was quiet. "Why did this happen? Were Klein and Zhou Mingrui both involved in supernatural incidents involving the same existence? Did that form a connection between them?"

Xio sighed. "Nothing is clear yet. We know almost nothing about the nature of either of those incidents."

Could this Celestial Worthy have anything to do with the Antigonius family? Leonard wondered. He decided to try and speak once again. "I'm not sure how much I'll be allowed to say, but I know some things about the original Klein's death. He-"

The words abruptly stopped coming out of his mouth. Leonard suppressed a scowl. Little Sun pat his arm sympathetically.

This man knows something? Melissa narrowed her eyes. If that company really was a Beyonder group, then he’s probably a Beyonder, too. Did he and… Zhou Mingrui… both form connections to the Fool through their work? She worked to keep her thoughts moving in any possible direction besides the grief still gnawing at her mind.

Miss Justice sent a worried look towards her friend. As expected, the Morettis are very conflicted… it’s a miracle they’ve handled things this well, even. Melissa is hyper-focusing on finding answers in order to escape her pain, while Benson seems to be doing this to a lesser degree - he’s still in shock… I have to step in soon. Not only that, I have to discuss things with the Tarot Club!

“I have a question.” Derrick spoke up. “When-“ He paused, unsure if it was wise to use codenames with other people around, and instead nodded to Leonard. “When you spoke up, saying that you knew about Klein’s death didn’t count as ’spoilers’. You were only stopped when you tried to share details. Why is that?”

Alger hummed in thought. “That’s a good point. If we want to figure out what’s going on here, figuring out this ‘spoiler’ system is a good start.”

This is my chance! Audrey cleared her throat elegantly and said, "Then, if nothing of note comes up in the next viewing, I think we should temporarily split off into groups to discuss. This should also allow us to further test what counts as 'spoilers' by sharing knowledge within these groups. For example, is it still a ‘spoiler’ if everyone present already knows the information? What level of detail is allowed?” She smiled. “Besides, I'm sure there are many of us who have been waiting for the opportunity for private conversations."

Nice save, Miss Justice! The Tarot Club cheered in their hearts.

Having totally misunderstood the girl’s intentions, Earl Hall, Caitlyn, Alfred, and Hibbert all brightened. Audrey was taking the initiative to find a way to talk to them! This comfort, as well as the prospect of getting answers, made the Hall family relax. The image of Audrey’s emotionless face and cool demeanor had temporarily disappeared from their minds.

Roselle grinned and took the opportunity to cheer himself up. He might get to explain things to his daughter without having to rely on that weasel, Amanises! Audrey, was it? I don’t mind making you my second honorary grandchild! The first will be Bernadette’s disciple, of course!

“That’s a sensible idea,” the Hermit agreed. “Not all knowledge can be shared with everyone, but in a situation like this, we should all be as knowledgeable as possible. Is everyone in favor?”

Nobody raised an objection. Secrecy was a must in the mysticism world, so even if most people could easily recognize that the group was trying to arrange a private discussion for themselves, they were in no place to judge. In fact, they were in similar situations.

Only Melissa, who hadn’t yet realized how deep the tradition of secrecy went in the Beyonder world, felt hesitant. We’re breaking off into groups? As for us, who know the least - won’t we be left behind? What could they want to talk about alone? Although her paranoia was rising, she knew she couldn’t be the only one to object, so she kept silent. Her hands trembled slightly in her lap as she blinked back tears.

”Then it’s decided,” Cattleya said firmly. “For now, there isn’t much left to discuss besides choosing groups. I believe most of us know who we want to convene with?”

The majority of people exchanged wordless glances and nodded - including the Hall family, whose faces were bright with hope for the first time since their arrival. Audrey’s heart twisted guiltily at the sight.

”Hey, what about us leftovers?” Danitz complained - he had been one of the few who hadn’t nodded. “What are we, canned wolffish?”

”You can form a group of your own,” Judgment Xio suggested. “A discussion between parties of different knowledge levels will also yield important data.”

”But…!” Danitz spluttered and glanced to his side. “Arianna”, who had also abstained from nodding, returned his gaze, and he jerked away like he’d been burnt. D-Doesn’t that mean I’ll be stuck with that woman?! Dogshit, no way! She’s even scarier than the captain!

”But?” prompted the Evernight Goddess, ‘Her’ melodic voice shocking everyone.

”N-Nothing! Haha.” Even as he smiled, Danitz wanted to cry. 

3:00

“With that settled,” said the Hanged Man, crossing his arms, “We should continue a group discussion for now.”

”Speaking of that - I have a tentative theory about transmigration.”

The crowd turned and looked to the source of the voice, which was none other than Miss Magician.

Ugh, this is so embarrassing… The relatively introverted Fors cleared her throat. “I happen to know of a certain advancement ritual for the Door pathway. It requires the Beyonder to leave legends about themselves on places outside of this planet. Of course, the prerequisite for a legend is that there are sentient creatures to understand the legend.” 

“You think Zhou Mingrui is from another planet?” Miss Judgment clarified. Her voice was level, but Fors, who knew her well, could hear the note of teasing.

”It’s possible,” she defended herself. Xio, you jerk! “It would explain the difference in moons and the unknown culture he’s referenced.”

Aside from Xio, who continued to subtly tease her friend, the Beyonders took this theory in stride. The idea of life on other planets was incredible - but in a world where men could become gods, who was to say that it was unthinkable, or even all that surprising?

Bernadette's eyes narrowed. Outside of this planet? Could this be referring to the cosmos? Where those unimaginable monsters lurk..

Caitlyn Hall covered her mouth. ”Another planet? You can't be implying that we aren't alone in this universe… Is such a thing possible?"

”Few things are truly impossible, Countess Hall,” Azik said gently. “Dangerously few. As Emperor Roselle once said: 'Two possibilities exist - either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.'"

Hearing such a respectable quote from the reassuring Mr. Azik, Caitlyn calmed down slightly. Many people sent Roselle looks of respect. After watching the Son of Steam make a fool of himself during the viewings, they were now remembering that the man hadn't been called a genius and prodigy for no reason.

R-Right, I did say something like that shortly before I left for the moon... I think I stole it from a Weibo post... Roselle withered under the glare of the Evernight Goddess, who had, unbeknownst to the emperor, been a big reader in 'Her' past life. 'She' crossed 'Her' arms with a venomous stare that seemed to say: that's funny, I didn't know you were Arthur C. Clarke.

“Then our two most likely theories are that Zhou Mingrui comes from another planet, or that he comes from the west,” Alger summarized. “Unfortunately, have no way of investigating either of those possibilities at the moment.”

”Pardon me - you've mentioned this 'west' earlier, but what is it that you’re referring to? West of where?” Earl Hall asked politely. 

Danitz silently thanked the man for asking the question he’d been too embarrassed to ask.

The other Beyonders exchanged a look. To most people, the Western Continent only existed in myth. On the other hand, they had agreed to a baseline of knowledge - they were all trapped in this situation together, after all. Even if the non-Beyonders couldn’t contribute much to discussions, the building frustration of not being told anything could lead to problems later on.

After receiving several nods from the Tarot Club, Cattleya opened her mouth to speak-

However, no words came out.

She sighed. “I’m sorry. Apparently this counts as a ‘spoiler’.”

”I understand.” The Earl smiled graciously, but his inner turmoil only grew. What in the world? A place so secretive that even its name and location can’t be spoken, yet most others seem to know what it is… His eyes widened, and he shared a look with Alfred. They had both thought the same thing.

If it really is the legendary Western Continent… just what have we become involved in?

2:00

”The next order of business should be discerning the relationship between Zhou Mingrui and the Fool,” Cattleya said. “Did this incident catch Mr. Fool’s attention, or was ‘He’ the cause of the transmigration in the first place?”

Nobody spoke.

Several people looked to the Tarot Club members, who seemed to be experts on matters relating to the Fool. But even though the Tarot Club had been meeting for three years already, they still knew very little about the authorities that their patron god wielded, or even ‘His’ true goals. It was hard to tell whether Mr. Fool had the ability or motive to cause a transmigration. As for everyone else, they knew even less.

The Evernight Goddess nodded approvingly to 'Herself'. 'Her' fellow Earthling had concealed himself remarkably well - nothing like Roselle, that insufferable braggart. 

Azik’s brow furrowed like he was recalling a distant memory. The existence that Klein is currently fighting against - who is it? The culprit behind his transmigration? The recollection slipped out of reach, his mind a cloud of dust and feathers, and he sighed in frustration. The name “Celestial Worthy” barely appears in my memories at all...

"From what we can tell, transmigration involves the movement of souls or Spirit Bodies," Mr. Hanged Man began hesitantly. "Mr. Fool has the ability to summon Spirit Bodies to this space, leaving physical bodies behind. It's likely that 'He' could cause a transmigration. But Mysteries also summoned us here by manipulating our Spirit Bodies - who knows how many other hidden existences have that same ability? We can't be sure that Mr. Fool was the one behind this."

Isn't he just trying to prevent the Fool from being implicated? Alfred Hall narrowed his eyes. This man talks like a politician. If he's been manipulating Audrey somehow... Protective anger swelled in his chest. Even if the man turned out to be of a higher Sequence than him - a Sequence 5, the pinnacle of humanity before godhood - Alfred would find some way to win. He wouldn't forgive anyone who had brought harm to his sister.

Mr. Moon stroked his chin. "If Mysteries is trying to sabotage Mr. Fool through this viewing, then 'They' must be enemies, right? Perhaps 'They' are fighting for control over that ability? For example, Mysteries used this authority to summon Zhou Mingrui, drawing Mr. Fool's attention, or possibly the other way around."

"It's feasible, but we can't discount the possibility of other existences being involved." Miss Judgment pinched her temples, feeling like she was dealing with a particularly difficult MI9 case. "We're missing too much information."

"Regardless of whoever was behind it, there's a high chance that the 'transmigration' was what drew Mr. Fool's attention to Zhou Mingrui," concluded Alger. His eyes narrowed. The first Tarot Club meeting was around this time. Mr. Fool had likely just awakened. Was this the event that caused 'Him' to wake up in the first place?

Hm... Ma'am Hermit rested her chin on her fist, recalling the mysticism knowledge she had received as a reward for killing Saint of Secrets, Botis. Is authority over transmigration perhaps granted by the sefirah that Mr. Fool possesses? If that's the case, then it might not be transmigration itself that's the issue. Rather, it's ownership of the sefirah, a key object left behind by the Original Creator 'Himself'... Either way, if Mysteries is after Mr. Fool, 'He' surely must know of this sefirah - which means 'He' most likely covets it!

Sefirah Castle. Over the past year, she had tentatively come to believe that this was the true name of their monthly meeting place. Based on its abilities, if each of the nine sefirot corresponded to a pathway cluster as she suspected them to, then this gray fog would likely represent the Seer, Apprentice, and Marauder pathways. That would align with Gehrman Sparrow having to seek out mermaids in order to advance as a Seer!

Cattleya had long held such thoughts and suspicions, choosing not to share them with the Tarot Club. Even if the other members discovered this, they wouldn't blame her: their key principle was equivalent exchange, after all, and knowledge was power in the Beyonder world. Everybody had valuable information that they chose not to share. (Except for Little Sun, maybe, she thought with a twinge of guilt.) Now they were playing by different rules; an open discussion was necessary to get to the bottom of this matter. And yet, now that it had come to this, the spoiler policy would stop her from sharing this key piece of information... How frustrating. The experienced Ma'am Hermit pinched her temples.

"So Zhou Mingrui formed a connection with Mr. Fool before he ended up... dying." Miss Magician sent a guilty look towards Benson and Melissa. "He must have been of great importance if even his - well, Klein's uninvolved siblings were summoned here. After his own death, no less."

The siblings' faces fell, uncomfortable with the sudden attention.

"Klein had been acting a little strangely at times," Melissa began slowly. "He was different from his usual self. But we really don't know any more than that." She clenched her hands into fists. "I wasn't even sure that he'd become a Beyonder until you all confirmed it..."

"Could he have become a Blessed without realizing it? If Mr. Fool and Mysteries really are in conflict, then perhaps Mr. Fool made Zhou Mingrui 'His' Blessed to keep him out of Mysteries' control," Derrick suggested.

(You can become a god's Blessed without even knowing? Danitz thought in shock. His thought process was still a step above the unfortunate Moretti and Hall families, who had no idea what a Blessed was.)

"That's possible. And of course, the reason behind it would be 'transmigration'." Cattleya easily followed this line of of reasoning. "In that case, our most important questions are: who caused Zhou Mingrui to 'transmigrate' and why?"

Leonard sighed. "It figures that the most important questions are the ones we have no way of answering."

Meanwhile, Alger's thoughts were whirring. Mr. Fool's involvement in matters involving 'transmigration'... Mr. Fool's special attention towards Zhou Mingrui and Emperor Roselle, going so far as to collect his diary entries... written in a language nobody else could read... Of course nobody could read it if the language originated from another world! He struggled to keep a straight face, unwilling to share his theory out loud. This has to be discussed with Ma'am Hermit and the Tarot Club!

1:00

Bernadette spoke up in an ethereal voice. "Besides transmigration, there's a more pressing issue to address. How can we be sure that what we're seeing is real?"

The crowd stirred at the Pirate King's words. They had been so confused, having no choice but to go along with the flow of things, that they'd ended up making some foolish assumptions - placing too much trust in the existence that had summoned them here.

"Queen Mystic is right," Miss Justice said firmly. "Above all, we should remember that this is meant to be an attack on Mr. Fool. We have no way of knowing that anything we're seeing is the truth or just meant to deceive us."

Leonard frowned to himself. The notebook and the revolver - everything seems to line up so far. But there's no telling how that will change in the future. I can't let my guard down again!

"It's all true."

Everybody in the theater tensed. Three simple words from "Arianna" had rendered everyone silent and wary.

"I can verify the authenticity of everything we've seen so far, as well as everything to come," the Evernight Goddess said calmly. "I will notify you if there is anything wrong. But I doubt I'll have to. Mysteries likely considers 'Himself' above such cheap tricks."

How do you know that? thought half the crowd, too scared to voice their suspicions.

"Then..." Mr. Moon gathered his courage. "If you have the knowledge to verify this, does that mean you've been watching over Zhou Mingrui ever since his 'transmigration'?"

The goddess dipped 'Her' head in affirmation.

Fors and Leonard's jaws almost dropped. T-The Evernight Goddess 'Herself' has been involved from the start? What kind of ridiculously high-level event is this?!

"I'm just a baby, you know," Will Auceptin said aloud with a sniffle, totally unprompted. Nobody had the courage to ask what he was talking about.

Klein, you meanie! Using me to run all your errands when the Evernight Goddess was right there! Do you have any idea how hard it is to create your body from scratch inside a womb?! The three year-old Snake of Mercury sniffled again.

"'Transmigration' is really something incredible," Alger muttered under his breath, distracted by his own thoughts. To be able to garner the attention of a true god, as well as Mr. Fool... Well, such things have always been going on in the shadows of the world. I'll gain the right to partake in these events once I become an angel!

"Well, I trust Ma'am Arianna," Azik put forth. Although he had been an enemy to the Evernight Church in the Pale Era, those days were long gone now, and the goddess had no reason to lie that he knew of. "With 'Her' vote of confidence, I think we should take this viewing as the truth. Besides, we'll obviously be able to verify the authenticity of things involving ourselves."

Derrick's expression firmed. "Right. If it's focused around Mr. Fool and those involved with 'Him', it's inevitable that we would appear."

This caused many people to shift uncomfortably. Nobody liked the prospect of their thoughts, identities, and secrets being broadcast; however, the thoughts, identities, and secrets of a Beyonder were more dangerous than those of a normal person's. In the world of mysticism, knowledge was power - and not always the good kind. The members of the Tarot Club, a secret organization that probably wouldn't remain secret for much longer, let out a collective sigh.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it now." Xio broke the silence, crossing her arms. "The situation is out of our hands. All we can do is watch."

With her words, the crowd's attention shifted back to the crimson timer hanging in midair.

0:05

"Dogshit!" Danitz swore. "Already?!"

For once, the crowd shared his sentiments. Anxiety thick in the air, people straightened in their seats, preparing themselves for the viewing.

Amanises closed 'Her' eyes with an inaudible sigh. 'She' had considered simply lying, claiming that the contents of the viewing were false - but such a method would get too complicated too quickly once familiar scenes started cropping up. Claiming the falsehood of only the content involving Mr. Fool's identity was just too suspicious. 'She' couldn't risk leaving behind even a seed of doubt in the minds of Klein's anchors. Such things could be taken advantage of later. It was best to rip off the Band-aid, have them find out the truth, and build their faith back up stronger than ever.

It was an unusual strategy for 'Her': faith. So unlike the usual meticulous planning and maneuvering. But Amanises could admit that it was a refreshing change. Klein Moretti had won the hearts of everyone gathered here once; 'She' had faith that he could do it again.

0:01

Amanises opened 'Her' eyes.

Prove me right, won't you? Zhou Mingrui.

0:00

After confirming his plan, Zhou Mingrui immediately felt he had a mental crutch. His fear and unease were all swept away into a corner of his mind.

"It's no wonder he was able to adapt so quickly," Emlyn realized. "He isn't really processing anything."

Roselle scowled bitterly. That works really well until the crutch gets swept out from underneath you...

Perhaps as a result of having a bullet pass through his head, Klein’s memories were like shattered glass. Not only were the memories not contiguous, there were many spots which were clearly missing. For example, memories pertaining to how the exquisite revolver appeared in his possession, whether he had committed suicide, or was killed, as well as the meaning of the words ‘Everyone will die, including me’ on the notebook, or whether he had participated in anything odd two days before the incident.

So he was telling the truth about one thing, Leonard thought dryly.

Xio sighed. "Of course. Nothing can ever be easy."

"The question is, what did cause this fragmentation? The unusual cause of death, supernatural influence, or 'transmigration' itself?" Cattleya asked thoughtfully. Because they knew so little about what "transmigration" entailed, the audience had no way of knowing whether or not this was par for the course.

Roselle and Amanises considered this question. The memories of their previous bodies had been fairly complete, regardless of the state of the body they had woken up in; however, neither of them had transmigrated into a body that had died due to a supernatural incident. (If you didn't count being killed in a Beyonder battle as a "supernatural incident", in the case of Amanises' transmigrated body.) Thus, the culprit of Klein's memory loss and the culprit of Klein's death were likely one and the same.

Talk about unlucky. The two transmigrators winced.

Not only had these particular memories become fragmented, there were also missing pieces. It was the same even for knowledge he ought to know. In light of the present situation, Zhou Mingrui believed that if Klein were to return to university, it was unlikely he could graduate. This was despite him having left campus just days ago without relaxing one bit.

Azik frowned. It seemed that whether it was Klein or Zhou Mingrui, his student always underestimated himself.

As a former Undying who was still forced to "die" every sixty years, Azik was very experienced in taking on new identities, so he had easily bridged the mental gap between Klein and Zhou Mingrui. To him, they were both his precious students. Zhou Mingrui, however, was the one who had become a Beyonder and written so many letters to Azik; he was not just a favored student but a trusted friend and ally.

At the same time, everybody who had graduated university grimaced sympathetically. Working hard to just barely pass for years on end, only to have that work erased in one fell swoop, was its own special brand of hell. 

He needs to participate in the Tingen University’s History department interview two days later…

"T-There's no way he'll get hired in this condition," said Hibbert Hall, happy to finally see a topic that he understood: the job market. 

Roselle rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Captain Obvious."

At that moment, there was a commotion inside the apartment. Soon, the sound of footsteps approached his door.

“Melissa is awake… She’s really as punctual as always.” Zhou Mingrui smiled. Due to Klein’s memories, seeing Melissa made him feel as though she was really his younger sister.

Melissa froze, heart stuttering in her chest. She opened her mouth as if to speak.

However, I do not have a younger sister… He immediately contradicted himself...

She shut her mouth, and the words died.

Of course. Melissa deflated once again, scolding herself for expecting anything different. This was just a series of unfortunate circumstances - that was all. The person on screen did not consider himself to be Klein Moretti, so Melissa shouldn't consider him as such either.

No matter how much she wanted to.

Audrey frowned in concern, glancing from Melissa back to the screen. I hope this viewing passes quietly so I can take the chance to fix the Moretti's mental states. Besides that, Zhou Mingrui himself is clearly in need of counseling. The foreign memories might end up creating a rift in his personality, leading to a dissociative disorder, and he doesn't even realize the danger... The senior Spectator sighed helplessly. Of course, this is all in the past now. If Zhou Mingrui has already gone insane, then there's nothing I can do. However, if he really is Mr. World, then he seems to have overcome this issue. She raised her head. It's important to have hope!

Melissa was different from most girls. From a young age, she enjoyed things like gears, springs, and bearings. Her ambition was to be a steam mechanic.

Audrey and Benson cheered up slightly. Melissa was a quiet girl, but if you managed to get her going about machinery, she could talk for hours. Miss Justice laughed at the memory of her friend bowing repeatedly, apologizing for "pointlessly rambling".

Roselle ruined this sweet moment by clapping his hands to his cheeks. "I'm not like other girls," he squealed. "I'm special - OW!"

The former ruler of Intis let out a grunt of pain as Bernadette stepped on his foot ruthlessly. Amanises hid the twitch of 'Her' lips with the authority of concealment.

"You didn't have to do it that hard," Roselle muttered, reaching down to rub his foot. "Well, steam and machinery is a good choice. I bet I'm better at it, though."

...Of course you're better. Your title is the "Son of Steam"... The Tarot Club deadpanned. In the first place, why are you comparing yourself to a fifteen year-old child?

Having suffered from a lack of culture, Benson, who knew the importance of education, supported his sister’s dreams just like how he supported Klein’s university education. After all, Tingen Technical School was only considered secondary education. There was no need for her to attend language school or a public school for more knowledge...

This earned Benson several more approving looks.

He's really sacrificed a lot for his family, Alfred Hall thought with approval and some sympathy. It's a shame that these siblings were born into such a difficult environment. If we're able to leave this place safely, I should check on their living conditions.

Suddenly, Danitz felt a little grateful towards his captain - even if none of her crew wanted to learn, at least it was free. Making education inaccessible to people who actually wanted it didn't make much sense to him. Dogshit, what a stupid system...

Meanwhile, Benson’s company was affected by the situation in the Southern Continent. There was a drastic drop both in profit and business transactions. More than a third of the employees were retrenched. In order to keep his job and maintain their livelihood, Benson could only accept more arduous tasks. He had to work overtime more frequently or head to places with harsh environments. That was what he was occupied with the past few days.

Danitz laughed raucously. "That's why the pirate life is better! We get to live on the sea, find treasure, and we get vacation time too!" His laughter trailed off as he realized that between working with the Resistance and managing the Church of the Fool as an Oracle, he hadn't actually been at sea in several months, nor had he had a vacation.

...Gehrman Sparrow, you evil bastard! I'll show you a real madman! The flames of rage in Danitz's heart suddenly burned hotter than ever.

It was not that Klein did not think of helping share his elder brother’s burden but being born a commoner and having been admitted into an average language school, he felt a strong sense of inadequacy when he enrolled into university. For example, as the origin of all languages in the Northern Continent, the ancient language of Feysac was something all the children of nobles and of the wealthy class would learn from a young age. In contrast, he only made first contact with it in university.

He faced many similar aspects during his schooling career. Klein nearly gave his all and often stayed up late into the night and woke up early before barely managing to catch up to the others, eventually allowing him to graduate with average results.

Emlyn shivered, remembering the long evenings he'd spent being forced to copy the Earth Mother's holy scriptures. W-Well, it all worked out in the end... Fate always favors the messiah, after all!

"Considering how far he was behind the rest, even that is incredibly impressive," Alfred Hall praised.

Benson smiled tiredly. "I told him that a lot, too. I don't think he ever believed me."

Memories regarding his elder brother and younger sister remained active in Zhou Mingrui’s mind until he turned the doorknob open. Only then did he jolt awake and remember that he held a revolver in his hand.

"He forgot he was holding a weapon?" Derrick asked, disbelieving. Having grown up in the City of Silver, where kids were trained to fight as soon as they could walk, such carelessness was unthinkable.

"He's clearly not as composed as he's pretending to be," Mr. Moon explained in the pretentious tone of a teacher educating a foolish junior.

Didn't you join the organization after Little Sun? thought the Tarot Club. And didn't he reach the level of demigod before you, too...

This was a semi-regulated item!

It will scare children!

Will Auceptin began to cry loudly. "I'm scared! I'm really scared!"

Child, my ass! Danitz, whose seat was still being kicked by the Angel of Mercury, shouted.

Also, there’s still the wound on my head!

"You just remembered that?" Fors muttered in shock. "I'd have a hard time forgetting about it."

With Melissa arriving at any moment, Zhou Mingrui pressed onto his temple and hurriedly pulled open a desk drawer and threw the revolver in before slamming it closed.

A round of blank stares.

"Wow," Roselle said flatly. "That was so subtle. Not noticeable at all."

"I would have noticed something was wrong, and I'm a toddler," said Will, who had stopped crying in favor of sucking his thumb.

“What happened?” Melissa looked over curiously when she heard the commotion.

Melissa tensed. "I remember this day," she said faintly. "I fixed his watch..."

A distant, blurry image came to Leonard: his coworker sitting in the Nighthawks office, staring at an engraved pocket watch with a fond expression on his face. The memory caused Leonard's chest to tighten. That wasn't the expression of a stranger. 

She was still in the prime of her youth. Even though she did not have much nutritious food to eat, making her face thin and slightly pale, her skin remained lustrous as it exuded the vibes of a young girl...

Audrey, Caitlyn Hall, and Azik all frowned at this description. Although it wasn't due to any neglect or purposeful mistreatment, Melissa clearly wasn't getting enough to eat.

She didn't look that malnourished when I first met her, Audrey thought with worry. Her situation has improved since then, right?

Azik just looked on solemnly. He'd known about his student's troubled financial situation and had even treated Klein to the occasional meal. Although he would have liked to do more, the Morettis weren't the type of people to accept handouts.

Well, the original Klein wasn't, Azik thought wryly. From what I know, Zhou Mingrui has no such qualms with accepting money.

Benson sighed, squeezing his sister's hand tighter. Those days had been difficult for all of them, and he still felt guilty for having not done more - for letting Klein wear ragged suits and letting Melissa go hungry. After years of hard work, they'd managed to raise themselves up from those conditions.

But now Klein wasn't here to see it.

A gentle silence fell over the audience as the on-screen Melissa methodically fixed the watch. The Moretti siblings and Leonard watched the familiar scene in a daze.

“It’s okay now,” she said simply without emotion. She then pressed the top button back and handed the pocket watch back to Zhou Mingrui.

Zhou Mingrui returned a smile politely in embarrassment.

Melissa shuddered. She remembered this exact conversation - she even remembered thinking that that sheepish expression was so typical of Klein. She'd been talking so casually with a stranger and she hadn't even noticed. She hadn't noticed the next day, either, or the day after that...

Two months? Melissa wanted to throw up. It was like this for two months?

The Hanged Man crossed his arms. "His acting skills are better than I would have thought. Most people would have no idea how to behave in a situation like this."

"It could be that he's using Klein's memory fragments as a guide, or perhaps the memories themselves have influenced him," theorized Miss Justice. "Since his mental state is still so fragile, he's likely just acting on instinct - rather, a combination of Zhou Mingrui and Klein Moretti's instincts."

Audrey has grown sharper than ever. Normally the Hall family would have thought this with pride, but now the observation was tinged with dread and confusion. How did she grow up so much without us noticing?

Melissa gave her elder brother a piercing stare before turning to walk to the cupboard. She took her toiletries and towel before opening the door to leave. She headed for the public bathroom.

Why did her expression have a look of disparagement and resignation?

Is it a look of love and concern for a retarded brother?

Several people muffled surprised noises into their hands. Danitz sniggered.

"What?!" Melissa was so surprised that she was broken out of her negative emotions. Her face burned in embarrassment. "I didn't mean it like that!"

Benson, similarly caught off guard, burst into shocked laughter. He wiped a tear from his face and began to tease his sister. "Well, it does feel like you look down on us sometimes."

"W-What are you saying?!" Ears turning red, Melissa elbowed Benson in the side, but he didn't stop laughing.

Surprisingly, Roselle made no comment on such low-hanging fruit. This setup is too easy. I'd be walking right into it. I have standards, thank you very much! Despite this, his hands were trembling with the effort of not making a joke. 

Zhou Mingrui lowered his head and chuckled. He closed the pocket watch’s cover with a click before opening it again.

He repeated this action as his idle thoughts focused on a question.

Klein committed suicide without a silencer. Well, I’ll consider it as suicide for now. His suicide should have caused quite a commotion; yet, Melissa, who was just a wall away, did not notice it at all.

The Moretti siblings sobered again. It really shouldn't have mattered whether Klein's death was caused by supernatural forces - he was dead either way - but the idea of Klein doing such a thing all on his own... suicide hurt too much to consider. The idea of the paranormal was frightening, but it was easier than the alternative. It was a mystery that could be solved.

Was she sleeping too soundly? Or is Klein’s suicide shrouded in mystery to begin with?

"Our walls were thin, and I'm a light sleeper," Melissa said sharply. "There's no way I wouldn't hear a gunshot. Something else is going on."

You're exactly right, Leonard wanted to tell her, but was only able to stay silent.

...Her gaze was once again glazed with exasperation as she said with a sweet voice, “Klein, take out all the remaining bread. Remember to buy fresh ones today. There’s meat and peas too. Your interview is soon. I’ll make you mutton stewed with peas.”

Benson managed a weak smile at the memory of his sister's cooking.

As she spoke, she moved a stove out from a corner. With some charcoal, she boiled a pot of hot water.

Before the water boiled, she opened the cupboard’s lowest drawer and took out what seemed like a treasure—a can of inferior tea leaves. She threw about ten leaves into the pot and pretended that it was real tea.

Melissa looked down, embarrassed. It was humiliating having their low social status put on display.

Tea... I wonder what it tastes like. Tea was not a popular drink in Bayam, so Derrick had never gotten the chance to try it - but he was sure that in the City of Silver, even inferior tea would have been like a gift from the gods. He looked over and awkwardly tried to comfort the girl. "Um, it's okay, Miss Moretti. My family always did things like that when I was growing up." His expression became serious. "There's no shame in trying to survive."

"O-Oh... thank you." Melissa blinked. To her, Beyonders had always seemed unreachable, totally separate from human experiences like poverty. "You were in a similar situation?"

Derrick frowned. He opened his mouth, then closed it. His face turned solemn like he was deeply considering something.

...Why does he have to think so hard about it... The Moretti siblings stared at him.

"I suppose I was," Derrick said after a lengthy pause. He sounded very uncertain.

"Is that so?" Benson stepped into the conversation, wary of the young man who had approached his sister out of the blue.

"Yes. Mr. Fool was the one who saved me." Derrick was much more certain about this.

"I see. That's nice." Benson forced a smile before subtly leaning towards his sister and whispering, "Melissa, don't answer if he talks to you."

After starting a conversation for no clear reason and openly admitting his connection to a mysterious god, Little Sun had accidentally made himself a very suspicious person in the eyes of the cautious Moretti siblings. Derrick himself had only a faint inkling that he'd done something wrong.

...L-Little Sun... Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man quietly watched the misunderstanding develop. 

Melissa poured two big cups of tea as she shared two pieces of rye bread with Zhou Mingrui over tea.

There is no sawdust or excessive gluten mixed in, but it is unappetizing… Zhou Mingrui still felt weak and was starving. He forced himself to swallow the bread with the tea while complaining inwardly.

Xio and Fors sucked in sympathetic breaths, remembering their own days of poverty.

"Waking up as a commoner must suck, huh," Roselle said smugly in Mandarin. I sure lucked out, getting a noble's body!

Melissa finished eating a few minutes later. After she adjusted her black hair that reached down to her vest, she looked at Zhou Mingrui and said, “Remember to buy fresh bread. All we need is eight pounds. The weather is hot, so the bread will easily spoil. Also, buy the mutton and peas. Remember to buy them!”

Indeed, she was showing concern for her dull brother. She even had to repeat to emphasize it another time… Zhou Mingrui nodded with a smile.

"If I didn't tell him twenty times, he'd always forget," Melissa grumbled under her breath - but her voice held no anger, only sadness. Benson was an attentive person who reacted quickly. She hadn't had to repeat herself in years.

“Alright.”

...Melissa did not say anything further. She stood up and tidied the area. After packing away the last bit of bread for lunch, she put on a tattered veil cap that their mother left behind, picked up a self-sewn bag used to carry her books and stationery, and prepared to leave...

"You can sew?" Caitlyn Hall smiled at the girl. "That's an excellent skill to have. Audrey always used to cry whenever she pricked herself with the needle, you know."

"M-Mother!" Audrey protested, half playing the role of an innocent noble daughter and half embarrassed to lose face in front of the Tarot Club.

In the Northern Continent, a year was similarly split into twelve months. Every year, there was 365 or 366 days. A week was similarly split into seven days.

The splitting of months was a result of astronomical observations. It made Zhou Mingrui suspect whether he was in a parallel world.

"Parallel world...?"

This left everyone speechless. The truth, while not totally unexpected, was still shocking: Zhou Mingrui had not just come from some isolated corner of the world, but a different world entirely. A deep sense of awe fell over the theater as they once again realized the enormity of what they were watching. The only exceptions to this shock were the angels and, of course, Amanises and Roselle - as well as Bernadette, who was frowning worriedly at the emperor's blank expression.

Father, she thought with growing unease, could you have really-?

"To think other worlds really exist..." Derrick's eyes were bright. As someone who had just begun to explore his own world, he felt as if countless opportunities opening up to him. "How incredible."

Fors squirmed in guilt, having never considered using her teleportation powers to help her fellow club member. "Little Sun, I'll take you anywhere you want after this."

"R-Really? Thank you! What would you like in return?"

"Um, no, I didn't mean it like an exchange..."

"Transmigration." Alger burst through this heartwarming (?) moment with a realization, eyes widening. "The method of moving between worlds is transmigration?"

A stir ran through the crowd as several people gasped, making the connection.

Benson put a hand to his forehead, struggling with the influx of information. "So our brother - no, he wasn't actually our brother-" He shook his head. "Zhou Mingrui was an alien?"

"It seems that way," Judgment Xio said in disbelief.

"Being an alien would have been so much cooler," Roselle muttered in Mandarin.

"If that theory is correct, then we've just solved one major mystery," declared the Hermit, head spinning with theories. "But this just leads to more questions. Why did Zhou Mingrui's soul transmigrate without his physical body? What does the process of transmigration entail? Why was Zhou Mingrui chosen to transmigrate - did the luck enhancement ritual truly cause this, or was it random? What existences are there that have the power to manipulate souls, let alone souls from other worlds?"

"One thing at a time, Queen of Stars." Bernadette's voice was a gentle reprimand.

Cattleya immediately straightened, clearing in her throat. "Y-Yes, of course. I apologize for getting ahead of myself."

The Tarot Club blinked at the sight of the lofty Ma'am Hermit easily deferring to someone else's criticism. She and Queen Mystic must be quite close...

Alfred Hall narrowed his eyes. The Queen of Stars is rumored to have defected from Queen Mystic's command. What exactly is the nature of their relationship? Besides that, Queen Mystic and - no, is that even the real Roselle? The experienced Beyonder fought back the urge to rub his temples. This stuff is way out of my league...!

"We still lack specific knowledge, but Zhou Mingrui talked about transmigration like it was common," Mr. Moon pointed out. "Furthermore, he himself knew what the term meant."

Miss Magician blinked. "You're right. He mentioned - what was the word - webnovels?" As in novels, right? But what's the difference between a webnovel and a normal novel... No, focus! "Anyway, transmigration seems to be a known occurrence in Zhou Mingrui's world."

"And by 'parallel' world, he's referring to a world with similar ground rules?" Xio, a Justiciar whose pathway specialized in order and laws, guessed. "For example, having twelve months in a year or twenty-four hours in a day."

No, that's not it. Amanises stared ahead silently. The signs were always in front of us. We just didn't want to consider the worst. We didn't want to admit that we could never return home again until the very last second...

"Parallel worlds? Things like that really exist?" Hibbert Hall was unable to get over his shock.

Azik chuckled sheepishly. "The universe is a much more mysterious place than we know. And people always have more secrets than we know."

The excited chatter continued for a short while, but the Death Consul soon sobered. He understood, better than most here, what it meant to be unmoored from the place that you called home. It wasn't a fate he'd wish upon anyone - let alone his cherished student and friend. But if Klein had gone to sleep, fully committing himself to fighting against the apocalypse... Was it not possible for him to return anymore? Or had he just given up? Either way, Azik didn't think he was going to like the answer.

Will Auceptin said nothing, listening to the exchange in silence. Something isn't right here. He put his thumb back in his mouth. Why is the Celestial Worthy making moves so suddenly after thousands of years of inaction? A person from modern times finding a ritual that should have vanished in the First Epoch? The timeline just doesn't match up. Hm, unless-

Will's eyes widened. His thumb fell out of his mouth, and a single tear slipped from his eye.

If my guess is correct... Zhou Mingrui, you really do have the worst luck in the whole world. 

As for the splitting of days, it was a result of religion. This was because Northern Continent had seven orthodox gods—the Eternal Blazing Sun, the Lord of Storms, the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, the Evernight Goddess, Mother Earth, the God of War, and the God of Steam and Machinery.

Watching his sister close the door and leave, Zhou Mingrui suddenly sighed. Soon, his thoughts focused onto the luck enhancement ritual.

"Idiot." Melissa's voice shook, and she bit back the rest of her words. You can't just call me like your sister and act like it's nothing. What kind of idiot are you...?

Sorry, I really wish to return home… 

"Ah." The sound Benson made was almost too quiet to hear.

This was the final nail in the coffin - in Klein's coffin - for the Morettis. Klein had really, truly been replaced by a stranger. An innocent, hapless stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. And that stranger (intruder, an angrier part of Melissa thought) had continued to act as their brother, harboring thoughts of escape all the while. Beyond even the confusion and frustration that the siblings felt was a deep, all-encompassing despair. The shock had worn off, leaving nothing but the crushing weight of the realization and the coldness of the way it slid down their throats, like bitter medicine.

They understood it. This person's home was not with them.

Leonard watched the pair helplessly. He had only ever known Klein as Zhou Mingrui, so although he was shocked and confused, he couldn't imagine the turmoil the Morettis were going through. Still, he knew that no matter who inhabited that body - whether it was Zhou Mingrui or Klein - they loved Melissa and Benson like family. Leonard had never seen Klein smile more fondly than when he was talking about his siblings.

He grit his teeth. But I'm not able to say anything...

"So you wanted to return, too," Azik said softly. There was a growing sense of understanding in his chest, and he hated it - he hated the fact that this pain would be inflicted on someone like Klein, on someone like Zhou Mingrui, on anyone. He closed his eyes. I hope there is still a place for you to return to after all of this is over.

Meanwhile, Zhou Mingrui's thoughts had caused a familiar voice to echo in Audrey's mind:

“There’s one such person who also entered a deep sleep until he suddenly woke up one day… He believes that his family is still around, and he works hard to improve himself, hoping that he can one day find them. This becomes his main driving force in life."

Miss Justice tensed in her seat. She still remembered those hoarse, numb words - how could she forget? That day, when Mr. World had approached her for treatment in the worst state she'd ever seen him in, was still burned in her memories. 

'"Finally, he realized that he has slept for at least three hundred years, or even more than a thousand years, perhaps even longer. He can never find anything that he once had any more…”

Audrey held back a gasp, dread pooling in her stomach. Now more than ever before, she wanted to be proven wrong. She hoped against hope that Mr. World was a poor soul but alone in his predicament, that Zhou Mingrui was not the same person as Gehrman Sparrow, so that at least one person could find their way home - no matter how the evidence aligned, no matter how much sense it made, because if she was right... if she was right--

Home. Roselle and Amanises shared a resigned smile.

--That wish would never come true.

Chapter Text

The viewing had once again ended in silence, most people struggling to digest the new information. Others, however, remained quiet out of a growing fear.

Bernadette Gustav felt uncertain, and she didn't like it. She'd always done her best to be prepared in life, to face things head on without flinching, as Emperor Roselle would have done - as he had done. But now she was unsure in a way she hadn't been since finding her father on that primitive island. If Father really is a transmigrator, that would explain many things. But if his transmigration was also caused by the Celestial Worthy - no, the Lord of Mysteries - who may also be the one behind this viewing, if the Evernight Goddess is to be believed... Could Father have been corrupted from the moment he came to this world? Impossible! That should have instantly killed him. Even so, catching the attention of two separate Great Old Ones can't be a coincidence. She clenched her hands into fists. What's going on here?

Meanwhile, Audrey was considering her own theory, trying to convince herself that she was wrong. There could still be a chance for Zhou Mingrui to go home. The evidence is incredibly strong, but it’s all circumstantial. In a bizarre world like this, there might be another explanation… Her hands fisted in her dress. No matter what, I need to be prepared for the truth.

5:00

Upon the appearance of the timer, “Arianna” began to speak softly.

"If we have nothing to discuss as a whole, take thirty seconds to form your discussion groups."

The crowd stirred. While the truth of transmigration was a huge discovery, there wasn't much else to say with the information they had - and the even more limited information that they could share. Nobody had any objections to breaking off into groups. People shuffled out of their seats and began heading to separate parts of the theater.

Roselle had started dragging Bernadette away the moment Amanises had started talking. "Please stop pulling my arm, Father," Queen Mystic said tiredly, voice quieter than usual.

"I'll stop when you tell me who your disciple is!" Roselle harrumphed.

Bernadette fixed her father with a flat look, but she sat down beside him without complaint. She had answers of her own that she wanted, after all.

Will kicked his feet back and forth, deep in thought. If there's anyone here that could confirm my theory, it would be Amanises, but 'She' is no pushover. I doubt I could get 'Her' to say anything. For now, I can only sit back and enjoy the show... With a sigh, he toddled to where Azik was standing and grabbed onto the man's trouser leg.

"Up," he said.

Azik laughed, eyes dancing with amusement, and obeyed the command. He hoisted up the infant and placed him carefully on his shoulders. "Is that alright?"

"Hm. It'll have to do."

"I'll do my best to improve in the future," the Death Consul said seriously. "Now, if you don't mind, there was a group I was planning joining..."

The Tarot Club had already been huddled together in their seats, so they'd simply moved a few rows away from everyone else. To their surprise, two other figures soon approached them.

”Would it be alright if we joined you?” Azik Eggers smiled amiably, managing to look dignified in spite of Will Auceptin beating on his head with babylike fists. The Angel of Death and the Angel of Mercury!

”O-of course, sirs,” Alger rushed out, bowing to the pair. The rest of the Tarot Club quickly followed suit.

Meanwhile, Audrey was thinking to herself. Hm… Shall I have Susie conduct a therapy session with the Morettis? No, even though she’s capable, normal people might be distracted by the fact that their therapist is a dog. Having her sit in on the Tarot Club Meeting isn’t a good idea, either… Her lips twitched at the thought of Susie sitting dignified in a chair, seriously discussing with the other members. I’ll have to use a Virtual Persona after all.

Using Psychological Invisibility to hide her actions, Audrey split off the identity of Miss Justice, who would attend the Tarot Club meeting as usual. She had no hopes of fooling the higher level Beyonders here; she just didn’t want her family wondering why she had a clone!

…As for her family…

She could easily create another Virtual Persona to answer their questions, but confronting them was something she wanted to do as herself. And only as herself. Mother, Father, and her brothers deserved better than part of her attention, split between feedback from her other personas.

That’s a valid justification, but it’s also an excuse. At the rise of unease in her stomach, the experienced Psychiatrist naturally began to treat herself. I’m making excuses because I’m scared to face them.

Over the past four years, Audrey Hall had changed more than she’d ever thought possible. She had ordered assassinations, witnessed poverty and destruction, visited the front lines of war, and even survived a few life or death situations. Sometimes she was proud of her growth - of how far she’d come - but other times it scared and saddened her. There was no way to return to the innocent days of the past. The naïve noble girl living in the Hall Manor was a mere illusion now. How could her family come to accept that?

As things are now, the situation is manageable. My actions are fueled by emotion, but they still have a basis in logic. Audrey exhaled. Once the situation settles, I won’t run away any longer.

Steeling herself, she stood up and began to walk, leaving Miss Justice with the Tarot Club.

Mother smiled at her. “Darling-“

But her daughter walked right past.

”Miss Melissa, Mr. Moretti.” Audrey curtsied to the siblings, who were looking at the noble girl in shock. “May I please talk to you alone?”

Benson and Melissa exchanged a wide-eyed, confused look. “A-Alright,” Benson said hesitantly.

”Thank you very much.” Audrey curtsied again, then turned to face her family with an apologetic smile.

Although the Halls were shocked, they soon rationalized the situation. Of course they wanted answers, but there was only one of Audrey to go around - and the people who most needed her right now were undoubtedly the Morettis. As a Psychiatrist, Audrey would naturally prioritize those with more unstable mental states!

Earl Hall sighed and shook his head. Perhaps we raised her too well… It’s unfortunate, but no matter. There will be other opportunities to talk privately.

Understanding her owner's intent, Susie left Derrick's side (causing him to frown) and bounded towards the Hall family, intending to keep them company. 

"Hello," said the dog.

"..." The Halls didn't know how to respond to this.

At this family drama was occurring, Danitz was whirling around in desperation, searching for a group to take him in. Dogshit, please don’t let me get stuck with that terrifying woman! Anyone will do! Just-

”It seems we’re all ready,” said the Evernight Goddess.

Everyone looked at the timer, which read: 

4:30

Ah… Danitz wanted to fall to his knees and cry.

"I will make sure your conversations stay private. We will regroup with thirty seconds left.” Amanises continued to speak in a cool voice, making everyone feel as if they were being lulled to sleep by ‘Her’, eyes falling closed-

When their eyes opened again, they were adrift in a sea of fog.

The Tarot Club blinked and looked around. They were seated in high-backed chairs around a long, rectangular table - it was almost identical to the place they were pulled to every first Monday of the month!

Does this mean that the Evernight Goddess knows the secrets of our gathering? Alger’s thoughts raced. Or did 'She' simply base this place off of Rose Redemption? No, perhaps Mr. Fool was the one who originally took inspiration from that ancient organization…

Aside from the perpetually stressed Mr. Hanged Man, the rest of the Tarot Club instantly felt more at ease. This familiar environment was refreshing: a bastion of normalcy in the midst of a truly mysterious and troubling situation. Of course, the only difference from usual meetings was that they could see each other clearly, as well as their two additional members.

”We don’t want to intrude.” Azik smiled as he settled into his seat. Will remained seated on his shoulders. “I was just a little curious to see what kind of people he’s collected.”

The Angel of Death didn’t refer to Mr. Fool as a ‘Him'? The club was in shock. They‘re close enough to forgo honorifics?! Well, 'He' is the angel longest to follow the Fool, after all...

"It’s an honor to have you here.” Derrick piously lowered his head. “May I ask how you wish to be addressed?"

The Death Consul laughed. "Just Azik is fine. I don't have any preferences."

What a surprisingly mellow angel. Gehrman Sparrow could learn a thing or two from ‘Him’! There's no need to go around scaring people! The lazy Fors' thoughts were unusually fierce.

"I see." Derrick nodded, expression earnest. "What about you, Mr. Mercury?"

From on top of Azik's shoulders, the three year-old sniffed and raised his chin. "You may address me as Lord Mercury," he said in a lofty tone.

Little Sun gawked as he turned several degrees paler, rushing into a bow. "U-Understood, Lord Mercury! Please forgive my disrespect!"

"I suppose I could allow you to atone. Of course, you'd have to do a favor for my Blessed," Will said haughtily. 

"Yes, anything! Thank you so much for your generosity, Lord Mercury!"

...He's being taken advantage of... The Tarot Club watched with mixed feelings.

Mr. Hanged Man coughed into his hand. “Anyway, we should begin our discussion. I have a theory I’d like to test.” He turned to Leonard. “Mr. Star, you know Mr. World’s true identity, don’t you?”

“Of course. Everyone knows that Mr. World is Gehrman Sparrow,” Mr. Star said easily.

The Hanged Man leaned forward. ”But you know Gehrman Sparrow’s true identity, don’t you?”

Everyone straightened in their seats, intrigued.

Leonard’s eyes widened a fraction before he narrowed them. He began to speak cautiously. “What are you getting at?”

Alger leaned forward even further, his gaze scanning everyone across the table. The Tarot Club members instinctively leaned forward as well. Everyone took a breath-

”Get on with it,” Will Auceptin complained, breaking the dramatic moment.

“…” Alger coughed awkwardly, then leaned back. “I believe that Gehrman Sparrow is another identity of Zhou Mingrui, or Klein Moretti.”

A shock went through the group as Alger’s words sank in. Even the experienced members had to hold back gasps. Besides his unusual level of adaptability, Zhou Mingrui was unassuming, clueless, and ordinary - he probably wasn’t even a Beyonder yet. Associating him with Gehrman Sparrow, the most feared adventurer in all the high seas, seemed far more ridiculous than the idea of other worlds! Cattleya and Xio furrowed their brows, considering the idea, while Fors gaped silently. T-There’s no way. No way, right?!

Meanwhile, Miss Justice bit the inside of her cheek, keeping her expression smooth.

“Even as a theory, isn’t it a bit outlandish?” Mr. Moon scoffed. “A mysticism amateur like Zhou Mingrui getting to that level so quickly-“

He was interrupted by Leonard’s dazed voice. “You were actually able to say it…”

Huh?

Everyone whipped around to look at Mr. Star.

Huh?!

Alger crossed his arms with a chuckle. “My theory was correct. We can’t state ‘spoilers’ that we know for a fact, but sharing guesses and gauging the reactions of others - that’s perfectly fine, isn’t it?”

Mr. Hanged Man! Everyone praised the senior Tarot Club member in their hearts.

“What an interesting method.” Azik chuckled to himself. Zhou Mingrui has certainly collected a clever group of people. Ah, how nostalgic - back in the day, I joined a few Beyonder gatherings of my own, before I remembered that I was an angel and didn’t need them…

”A-As I was saying,” Emlyn rushed in an effort to save face, “Zhou Mingrui getting to that level so quickly is very impressive. So impressive that it’s outlandish.”

But nobody was paying him much attention at this point, too wrapped up in the newfound progress they’d made. Each member was desperately trying to fit Zhou Mingrui into their image of Gehrman Sparrow. Even with practically direct confirmation, the two seemed as different as the sun and the moon; associating that dangerous fellow with the ordinary Zhou Mingrui felt almost blasphemous.

Even though he started out so helpless, to think he'd go on to become an ancient god's Blessed! Despite his surprise, Derrick felt his respect for Mr. World grow. He must be a truly incredible person to grow so fast!

“I can't believe this." Xio shook her head, still in shock. "Zhou Mingrui looks like he’s never held a gun in his life! I always thought Mr. World had to be from a noble family, or perhaps a school of assassins..."

The Hermit placed her head on her fist, thinking. To think that cold and taciturn man had such origins... How remarkable! if not for this viewing, I never would have guessed. Is Gehrman Sparrow just a persona, or did something happen to induce a severe change in personality?

“Mr. Hanged Man, how did you figure out Mr. World’s identity?” Little Sun asked.

”At first it was just a baseless guess,” Alger admitted. “Unless Mr. Fool has another Blessed that we aren’t aware of, Zhou Mingrui - rather, Klein Moretti - being the World was the most sensible way to explain the presence of the Moretti siblings here. His transmigration might be the reason he became a Blessed in the first place. Of course, I wasn’t sure until Mr. Star’s reaction confirmed it for me.”

…So I fell into his trap… Leonard cursed himself for being so easily fooled. It worked out for the best, but Mr. Hanged Man really is a wily old fox!

”S-So Zhou Mingrui… the man in the viewing… is Gehrman Sparrow?” Fors could barely get the words out her through her shock. She felt like she was about to faint. Him? That scrawny bookworm? He looked like he’d be knocked over by a strong breeze! That pathetic guy is Mr. World?!

“I believe so as well.” Miss Justice’s voice was unusually smooth. “I’ve worked with Klein Moretti’s sister, Melissa, at my charity foundation, and I am also Mr. World’s personal psychologist. I believe they are the same person.”

Xio and Alger frowned. The senior Spectator sounded colder than usual, and her face was a flat mask, betraying nothing. They were unable to reconcile her demeanor with the innocent and cheerful girl they’d first met. 

So Zhou Mingrui is Mr. World after all. I’d hoped to be wrong, but I can’t honestly say I expected to be wrong… A hollow pit filled Miss Justice's stomach. What she was feeling now was not horror but resignation, and she hated herself for it.  

At that time, from the other side of the confessional door, Gehrman Sparrow had sounded like he’d been crying.

I understand now. She let her eyes flutter closed, communicating that she would say nothing more. Your mental crutch was taken away…

The rest of the Tarot Club eyed her curiously. There was obviously something she wasn’t telling them, but their time was limited, and they trusted Miss Justice to not hide important information for no reason. Maybe it’s the spoiler policy coming into effect once again?

”For all intents and purposes, Zhou Mingrui, Klein Moretti, and Gehrman Sparrow are all the same person.” Miss Judgment got the conversation back on track. “Klein is suspected to have joined a Beyonder organization… is that where you came into contact with him, Mr. Star?”

If Mr. Hanged Man managed to find a loophole, I should be able to as well! Leonard opened his mouth, thinking of a way to indirectly confirm the question-

But no words came out. 

"Did you think it was going to be that easy?" a young voice said.

The Tarot Club turned to Will Auceptin and immediately tensed. ’He’ was staring back with an intensity that sat unnaturally on ’His’ infantile face, unfathomable eyes threatening to devour those who looked too long. A bone-deep shudder ran through their bodies, as if they were being pinned down by a terrible predator wearing the façade of a child.  This was the aura of a true Sequence 1 angel!

"Mysteries is watching, you know," the Angel of Mercury said casually. "And 'He' is very good with loopholes. 'He' won't leave anything behind for you to exploit."

Mysteries can still see and hear us? The club members felt their blood run cold. ‘He’ can override the the Evernight Goddess’ concealment?! Even though a true god is believed to be the pinnacle of existence! 

Suddenly a memory hit Leonard with a jolt: Old Man’s voice, unusually solemn, describing a myth he’d never heard before.

Nine entities left behind by the original creator… Old Man called them ‘sefirot’. He even said that this place above the gray fog might be one of them. Leonard’s heartbeat thumped in his ears. Is this the authority of Sefirah Castle?

Seeing their grim and terrified faces, Will waved a casual hand. "Don't worry. Just talk like you usually would. There's nothing you could say that 'He' wouldn't already know."

...Isn't that even worse? thought the Tarot Club.

”You didn’t have to scare them like that,” Azik chided gently.

Will scowled. “It’s payback for making me explain everything. Adults should take care of children, not the other way around! Honestly.” With a heavy sigh, he put his thumb in his mouth, muffling his voice. “Anyway, you won’t be able to share anything ‘He’ doesn’t want you to. As for what that means…” He shrugged. “Who knows how that guy’s mind works?”

”So that’s how it is. I might have caused Mysteries to pay special attention to us with this incident. I’m sorry, everyone.” Gritting his teeth in frustration, Alger bowed his head.

”Don’t feel bad, Mr. Hanged Man,” reassured Little Sun. “This would have happened eventually. At least we got information out of it.”

Miss Judgment nodded. ”Exactly. And it was valuable information, too.”

”So it’s really confirmed? Zhou Mingrui is Gehrman Sparrow?!” Poor Fors, still a step behind everyone else, felt the world crumbling beneath her feet. The crazy adventurer who’s haunted my nightmares… no... no way…

”Yes, they’re the same person.” Azik chuckled, then turned thoughtful. “It seems it’s no longer considered a spoiler if everyone in the group already knows it.”

Miss Magician buried her head in her hands.

Another realization struck Leonard, and he frowned. Actually, this situation doesn’t fit what Dwayne Dantés told me. He said that Klein joined the Tarot Club for revenge, which supported my theory of him coming into contact with Mr. Fool after his own “death”… of course, looking back, that doesn’t make sense. Klein already had some sort of secret long before he died: the method that allowed him to kill the Secret Order’s clown. And at that time, he was already Zhou Mingrui, who might have drawn Mr. Fool’s attention the moment he arrived in this world! He held back the urge to rub his temples. Did Mr. Dantés lie to me, then? To protect the secret of transmigration? Secret organizations sure are frustrating…

”Anyway, seeing as we’ve hit a temporary dead end with Mr. World,” Alger said, “may I propose a change of topic? I have a theory - well, a guess - about Emperor Roselle.”

The Tarot Club looked at him with interest - particularly Cattleya, who was eager for any information to pass onto Queen Mystic. Being new to the outside world, Derrick still didn't fully understand Roselle's importance, but he looked at Alger with respect anyway. Mr. Hanged Man is on a roll today! he thought with awe.

"We're all interested. Go ahead," prompted Ma'am Hermit.

"Once again, this isn't a concrete theory. I don't have proper evidence to back it up." Mr. Hanged Man began with a warning. "But I believe Roselle Gustav may also be a transmigrator."

Once again, the club froze in shock. They sucked in a collective breath, heads spinning. First Zhou Mingrui was Gehrman Sparrow, and now Roselle Gustav was a transmigrator? It all felt too ridiculous!

Will Auceptin narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

Mr. Moon had learned his lesson from earlier in the meeting and didn't jump to criticism. "What's your reasoning?" he asked primly.

Alger began to explain. "I have two main points. The first is that Mr. Fool deemed Roselle important enough to gather information on in the first place. The second is the unusual language used in Roselle's diary. It's unlike any language seen before." He emphasized this last sentence meaningfully.

"A language from another world?" Leonard stroked his chin. "That would explain why nobody has been able to read it. Still, without more evidence...."

"There's nothing strongly supporting this theory yet," Alger responded graciously. "Still, I think it's worth keeping in mind."

Miss Justice continued to remain silent. I'm sorry, Mr. Hanged Man, but I hope you're wrong this time. The Angel of Mercury seems to have also noticed something, but I can't read the thoughts of angels, nor do I dare to try... She suppressed a heavy exhale. I wonder if Emperor Roselle would have tried to go home, too.

"Also, if that's the case, how is Mr. Fool able to read this language?" Cattleya asked before her brow furrowed. "Could it be... the true reason Mr. Fool took Zhou Mingrui as a Blessed was to have him translate Roselle's diary?"

"That would require the two transmigrators to be from the same world and speak the same language, but it's possible," Alger agreed. "And the reason Mr. Fool didn't turn the emperor himself into a Blessed must be that 'He' was still sleeping at that time."

The more they discussed, the more the club felt that this theory made sense. More than that, it was exciting. The mere idea of otherworldly knowledge was enough to make their hearts beat faster, chests swelling with elation and pride. Collecting knowledge from another world was perfectly suited for a god as lofty and mysterious as their Mr. Fool!

"No wonder Mr. Fool has been collecting the emperor's diary pages!" Derrick exclaimed, already fully believing in Mr. Hanged Man's guess.

"They must contain incredible wisdom," Cattleya said with a hint of longing.

"Zhou Mingrui... Mr. World..." Fors mumbled in a daze.

Xio cleared her throat awkwardly. "Miss Magician, we've moved past that topic already."

Mood improving slightly, Miss Justice finally took pity on Fors and cast Placate. The fog dissipated from Fors' eyes until the horror set in anew - thankfully, Xio pinched her friend's arm before she could spiral into shock once again.

Now approaching the end of the meeting, the Hermit brought up a new topic. "We're almost out of time, but there's one more thing I'd like to discuss. How should we treat each other outside of private gatherings?"

Leonard shrugged. "It's obvious to everyone that we already know each other. I don't think it's worth hiding that fact now when we could be having important conversations instead."

"I agree," Alger said with a sigh. "A few of us have already referred to each other by code name anyway."

Mr. Moon, Miss Magician, and Miss Justice - who had all publicly referred to Derrick as the Sun - looked away innocently.

"We should use code names if absolutely necessary to address each other, but avoid it otherwise," suggested Xio. "There's no harm holding our cards close to our chest while we can."

Emlyn snorted, causing the other members to look at him.

"Cards close to our chest." Emlyn repeated Miss Judgment's words. His smirk wobbled at the blank looks he received. "You know, since we're all named after tarot cards?" 

...Ah.

There was a momentary awkward silence.

"U-Um, I thought it was funny, Mr. Moon," Derrick volunteered. The blatancy of his lie only served to rub salt in the wound.

"I don't need your pity," Emlyn snapped before gathering himself and sniffing in a dignified manner. "Hmph. As I thought, the humor of a Sanguine is simply too advanced for you all..." 

Immediately after saying this, Mr. Moon turned away to hide his burning cheeks. 

"...Ahem." Cattleya spoke up in an awkward voice. "I believe that adjourns today's meeting."

The members of the Tarot Club all nodded mutely, feeling an inexplicable guilt in their hearts.

The Morettis fidgeted nervously in their seats (courtesy of the Evernight Goddess), not meeting Audrey’s gaze.

As expected, they're nervous... The senior Spectator smiled reassuringly, analyzing her patients' mental states. In addition, there are feelings of confusion, despair, frustration, and resignation. A rift between Zhou Mingrui and Klein Moretti has already begun to appear in their minds. I should tread carefully.

She began with an initial Placate to dispel Benson and Melissa's accumulated negative emotions. The siblings instantly relaxed into their chairs, tension leaving their shoulders. Satisfied, Audrey did nothing more; it was best to let the Morettis make the first move once they got comfortable.

After a few seconds of silence, Benson had the courage to look Audrey in the eye, expression clearer than before. "Is there a reason you wanted to talk to us?" His voice held an edge of wariness.

"There is. Did you two know?" Audrey asked casually. "Sequence 7 of the Spectator Pathway is called Psychiatrist, or Psyche Analyst. Among other things, it specializes in treating psychological problems."

Benson blinked. "You... want to treat us?"

"With your permission, yes. I understand this must be a very difficult situation for you." Audrey smiled again, expression gentle and calming. "It may be helpful to have someone to talk to."

"Why are you doing this?" Melissa asked flatly.

"M-Melissa! That's rude!" Benson hissed as he looked over with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, she's just - we're both..." He trailed off, staring at the ground blankly for a moment before sighing. "We're a little frazzled."

"Please don't apologize. She's right to be suspicious." Audrey chuckled slightly. "It's my duty as a Psychiatrist to help anyone in need, especially if that person is my friend. That's my only reason. Of course, considering the situation, I understand if you don't trust me. You don't have to say anything you don't want to."

"Friend..." Melissa repeated in a daze. She looked down, hands balling up the fabric of her skirt. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Miss Audrey. I do trust you, it's just... this is all so strange."

She's beginning to open up! Audrey encouraged her friend with a prompt. "It's alright. You haven't done anything wrong. Would you like to talk about it?" 

The Morettis exchanged an uncertain look. There was fear there, hesitation - but also a temptation to speak. While everyone was doing their best to be mindful of the siblings' predicament, there was no way to slow things down and let them process anything. Now they had a chance to speak freely in a safer environment. Years of experience as both a Psychiatrist and a human being had taught Audrey this for a fact: one of man's deepest desires was the desire to be heard by others.

After another stretch of silence, Melissa spoke up.

"I'm not sure what there even is to say," she began. "Mr. Fool, this strange gathering... it's confusing, but none of it really matters. Klein is still gone. He just died earlier than we thought. In the end, nothing really changed..."

"But that time held meaning to you, didn't it?" Audrey asked gently.

Melissa's hands shook, and she blinked away tears. "Of course it did." Her voice was hoarse. "But that was when we thought that he - that it was our brother."

Pursing his lips, Benson put a hand on his sister's shaking back. His own eyes were turning red at the corners. Mr. Moretti is also in pain, but he's reluctant to talk, lest he break down in front of his sister... The senior Spectator made a quick judgment. She was about to open her mouth to begin treatment in earnest when information flashed into her mind: feedback from her Virtual Persona, who was currently attending the Tarot Club.

...So Zhou Mingrui is Mr. World after all... Audrey's heart sank. She fought back her urge to sigh, maintaining a calm and relaxed aura in front of her patients despite the turmoil in her heart. Zhou Mingrui will never be able to return to his friends and family. The Morettis are all he has left, and technically, they aren't even his own relatives. Still, he's a kind man at heart and has likely come to care for them deeply - they might be some of his strongest tethers to humanity. What should I do...?

Taking this information into stride, it was critical that Benson and Melissa came to accept Zhou Mingrui as their brother. Not only would this give the Moretti family emotional closure, it would ensure that Mr. World maintained his humanity - a strength necessary for him to endure the trials he faced as an angel and a god's Blessed. Because of this, Audrey's natural instinct was to guide the Morettis into accepting Zhou Mingrui; however, it was imperative to not let one’s own emotions and goals interfere with treatment. This was an important part of acting as a Psychiatrist.

On the other hand, Sequence 4 of the Visionary Pathway was called Manipulator for a reason…

Audrey shook her head, ridding herself of the idea. The closer to godhood you climbed, the more important it was to cling to humanity and maintain your principles. It would be incredibly easy to cue the Morettis into accepting Zhou Mingrui and becoming loyal anchors, but not only would this be dishonest, it would be immoral and deeply unfair. She didn’t want to disrespect Benson and Melissa’s feelings by simply erasing them.

True nobility came from not status, but character, she reminded herself - and Audrey Hall wanted to be a noble through and through.

This entire mental debate had happened within the span of a few seconds. The senior Spectator took a deep breath, readied herself, and faced her patients once again.

"It's natural that you'd have to re-evaluate your impressions." Audrey spoke in a calming lull that magnetized others towards her words. "You might find it difficult to separate the emotions you felt towards Zhou Mingrui himself from the emotions you felt under the assumption that he was your brother. You might even blame yourself for not being able to tell the difference. But it's important to remember that all of these emotions have meaning. Even if you were lied to, the things you felt were not lies."

"But if they came from lies, then what's the point? It sounds terrible, but..." Benson hesitated, glancing towards his sister, before continuing to speak in a heavy tone. "I almost wish I hadn't found out. About Zhou Mingrui, I mean. If nothing changes, then why did we have to learn something like this..."

"I understand that feeling," Melissa said quietly. "Don't feel bad, Benson."

The pain in their faces made Audrey's heart lurch. That's not true, she wanted to tell them. Things have changed! There's someone who wants to return to you! But the words could only languish in her throat uselessly, leaving behind the taste of rust. After coming such a long way and improving so much, she was still unable to help those in front of her. So I was still capable of feeling this weak... this feeling of humanity can slip right out of your fingers if you don't hold onto it with everything you have. But holding onto it also means you'll encounter situations like this, where you're not strong enough to do anything! Perhaps advancing to Sequence 3 made me too cocky. Will it always be like this below the level of angel...? She raised her head. No, I can't give up. I'm a saint and a loyal servant to Mr. Fool! I refuse to be shaken so easily!

Steeling herself once more, she regarded her patients with limpid green eyes. "Even if the outcome is the same, the journey still matters. After all, life is just one long journey towards an inevitable outcome. Does that mean that, since we all die, we should disregard all the experiences leading up to our death?" Her gaze sharpened. "Of course not. The things that come before the end are the things we treasure most, aren't they?"

Benson and Melissa slumped in their seats.

"I suppose you're right." Benson looked down. "It's just... hard to know what to feel."

"There is no correct thing to feel," Audrey said gently. "Whatever emotions you have aren't incorrect or wrong at all. You just need time to sort your thoughts out."

"Is it - is it okay to be mad?" Melissa's voice was almost too soft to hear.

The pit in Audrey's stomach deepened even as she smiled. "Of course it is. You're allowed to feel angry and betrayed. You were hurt, even if it wasn't on purpose. Who wouldn't be mad?"

Melissa nodded slightly, then lowered her gaze, lower lip trembling. Benson's jaw was set in a grim line. The siblings fell silent, lost in their thoughts, and Audrey allowed them this time to process.

"He really did act like our brother," Benson said finally. "Even if he was just trying to get home, while he was with us, he treated us like siblings. I can't decide if that's better or worse."

"You'll have time to think about it. And as the viewing goes on, you'll have more information to take into account. However, please remember this." Audrey kept her voice firm, a pillar of support for the crumbling people in front of her. "Forget about how long or short of a time Zhou Mingrui spent with you. Forget about whether he's alive or dead. Those are factors for the mind to consider. They may help you make a well-informed decision, but the only thing that can truly decide is your heart." She fixed the Morettis with a serious look. "You are the only ones who can decide what Zhou Mingrui means to you. Don't forget that."

Benson and Melissa stared at her for a second, speechless, before nodding.

"Very good. That's enough for this session." Audrey dispelled the somber mood with another Placate and a bright smile. "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss while I'm here?"

"There are a lot of things we want to ask." Benson chuckled helplessly, taking the happier atmosphere in stride. "But I'm sure you couldn't tell us most of the answers, right?"

The senior Spectator let out a lighthearted sigh. "I'm afraid we all have to do our best with what we have." 

Melissa nudged Benson's foot, and he leaned forward. "In that case... that man calling himself Roselle isn't actually Roselle, is he?"

"No, that's the real Roselle."

Benson scoffed. "But he's been dead for two hundred years!"

"The Beyonder world is a strange place," Audrey said loftily, then turned sheepish. "Actually, I don't know the details of it myself. But that person is definitely the emperor who ruled over Intis centuries ago."

"How do you know for sure?" Melissa asked, eyes alight with curiosity. She had begun to emerge from the shadow of her grief.

Audrey only answered with a mysterious smile.

"Right. Spoilers." Benson leaned back, disappointed. Then he seemed to recall something and lowered his voice. "Actually, there's one more thing. I'm a bit worried about the young man who approached Melissa earlier. It seemed like he was just making up an excuse to gain our sympathy and talk to us. You know him, don't you? Is he someone suspicious?"

Melissa nodded, seconding her brother's doubts.

"..." In the face of the Moretti siblings' caution, senior Spectator Audrey was rendered speechless. The smile froze on her face.

“This is your warning.”

An ethereal female voice echoed in Roselle’s ears before the theater vanished, leaving behind only himself and his daughter.

In response to this, he promptly gave Amanises the middle finger. “Madwoman,” he muttered, then rounded on Bernadette. "But who cares about her! As your father, I need to know! Who is your disciple?!"

“Calm down.” Queen Mystic sighed, exasperated, before responding. "Her name is Cattleya. I took her in when she was young. She was the Admiral of Stars for many years, but recently she advanced to the position of a Pirate King." She allowed herself to smile. "That girl is almost my equal now."

Seeing his daughter's happiness, Roselle smiled with her. "You must treasure her a lot."

"I do." Bernadette dipped her head. "She's become independent, but she's still a little girl at heart. Luckily, as an angel, I will always be around to guide her..."

My little princess, you've really grown up. Roselle felt a sudden lump in his throat. He felt a sudden urge to break the mood.

"What's she look like?"

His question was met with a disgusted expression.

"Not like that!" Roselle screeched. "How am I supposed to greet my honorary granddaughter if I don't even know how to find her in a crowd?! Why do you have such little faith in me?!"

"I do have faith in you. Just not with such matters."

"What?!"

Bernadette raised an eyebrow. "You had a bit of a reputation as a womanizer, you know. Even by Intisian standards."

How is this possible?! How am I experiencing social death even before my diary is revealed...?! The former emperor of Intis wanted to curl into a ball and hide away. Fuck, how could the world be this cruel!

Seeing her father's despair, Bernadette's lips twitched. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you. I'm sorry for messing with you. I just wanted a little revenge for being abandoned."

With those words, the mood fell again, and the pair's expressions grew somber.

Roselle grimaced. "How much do you know?"

"Everything," Bernadette said quietly. "After I found your mausoleum, Mr. Fool had Orange Light Hilarion explain the situation me. The cosmos, the true threat causing the apocalypse, and... why you changed in your later years, too."

The emperor let out a heavy sigh. "That makes things easier then.”

“I’m sorry.”

”Hm? What do you have to be sorry for?”

”I abandoned you. I gave up on my own father so easily, not having any trust in you…”

”Don’t talk like that, baobei." Roselle laughed. "I wasn't myself back then - literally. If I’d been in your shoes, I would have abandoned me, too!"

"Yes, but..."

Bernadette trailed off. Logically, she knew there was nothing she could have done at the time. Even now, she didn’t know of any existence that could fully dispel her father's corruption - no friendly existence, at least. But the feeling of helplessness still stung her heart deeply.

Roselle, who could read the usually stern-faced pirate's expression, held back a scowl. He wouldn't have Bernadette blaming herself for this; her foolish father had caused her more than enough pain already. What could I tell her to make her feel better, or at least distract her... ah, there's no use acting coy. There's something I was planning on saying in the first place, wasn't there?

It was only a matter of time before Zhou Mingrui, that traitorous bastard, ran into one of his many glorious inventions and degraded them with oversimplified labels such as "plagiaristic” and "shameless". Well, Roselle Gustav would not be caught off guard! From the very beginning, he had planned to reveal his transmigrator status to his daughter before anyone else could!

It's just like those scenes in the movies. Roselle snickered to himself. You can't fire me, because I quit... Hey, where's my Oscar? Do I have to "invent" them just to give one to myself?

As for Mysteries’ annoying spoiler policy, he wasn’t too worried. When he had lived as Huang Tao, Roselle had been a master at sneaking spoilers past censorship!

"Bernadette," he began. "Listen."

His daughter looked up at him earnestly.

Roselle's mind emptied.

Ah, this is so stupid. I have no idea what to say. He wanted to laugh at himself. I’ve fantasized about admitting this to somebody so many times. I even rehearsed it in my head… and now, when my daughter needs me, I can’t get a word out.

There was so much he needed to tell her - where could he even start? Out of the millions of people who had looked to him as emperor, she was still his most important and valuable anchor, more so than all those millions combined. When nothing else had felt real, there was his daughter, asking for a bedtime story. What words could express the enormity of that feeling?

“Uh,” he said. “The thing is, I…”

Spoilers weren't the problem. It wasn’t even the public death of his reputation, later to come, that was making him hesitate; it would hurt like hell, but even if he was scorned and hated, he'd take it with a smile if it meant Bernadette would look at him the same way she had before.

He wasn't sure he could survive his daughter abandoning him again.

"Father." Bernadette's voice was gentle. "Have you perhaps also 'transmigrated'?"

For a moment, Roselle froze.

Then he shook his head and sighed. He shouldn't have been surprised, really. His little princess had always been too smart for her own good. And anyway, he hadn’t exactly been subtle.

"...If I had," he began, "what would you think?"

Bernadette paused in thought, considering her father's question seriously. Under the weight of that earnestness, Roselle felt a strange surge of guilt. He'd never felt all that bad about the things he'd done in this world - it felt like a game, he told himself, they had it coming, it wasn't like the original inventors were around to be butthurt by it, too late for regrets now - but the possibility of his daughter's judgement made him recall every sin he'd ever committed.

After an eternity, Bernadette spoke.

"I'd think that you must have been very lonely."

Roselle's eyes widened. Bernadette looked at him without flinching.

He began to laugh.

He laughed harder than he had in a hundred years. He laughed so hard he doubled over, clutching at his stomach and wheezing for breath. He laughed so hard he cried and then he cried a little, too, just a little, before he finally straightened to meet his daughter's gaze.

He grinned at her. "You have no idea how long I've wanted someone to say that to me."

Bernadette smiled back, slightly shaky, like she still couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. "There are many other things I want to ask you. Things I want to tell you, and things I'm worried about, too..." Her expression darkened, and she lowered her voice like a reluctant child. "But just for a few minutes, I'd like to forget those bad things. Do you think that would be alright?"

"Of course it's alright." 

Roselle had spoken with such certainty, no trace of the hesitation from moments earlier, that Bernadette looked up in surprise. She found her father looking back at her with his usual smile. Everything about him was warm.

...I'd forgotten. Bernadette closed her eyes for a fleeting second. In that moment, she felt as if all her doubts and worries had been swept away. Whenever I was unsure, you'd always look at me like that and speak so confidently. I'd forgotten... how reassuring it was.

Emboldened by her long-lost sense of security, she added, "I'd also ask what that charm you gave me meant."

"That?" Roselle's grin widened. "You still remember it?"

"Of course I still remember it." The hundred year-old angel's voice was slightly petulant.

Another laugh. "Relax, baobei, I'm just joking! It means-"

Home.

Roselle paused.

"故乡." He spoke the characters aloud for her, just as he had two hundred years ago. "It's how you say 'Bernadette' in the language of my homeland."

Queen Mystic blinked slowly.

She had long since learned the meaning of the charm from Mr. Fool, but it had been a lifelong dream to hear it from her father’s lips. She hadn’t expected a contradictory answer.

"You taught me to say my own name?" she asked in disbelief.

"Are you surprised?" 

"No." Bernadette sighed. Perhaps Mr. Fool was wrong and could only make a guess, or ’He’ didn’t want to give me such an obnoxious answer. Naturally, she believed the words of her father over a hidden existence. "That's exactly the kind of thing you would do."

"I know, right?" Roselle waggled his eyebrows.

Bernadette snorted, but her eyes were soft and amused. "故乡," she tried. Decades of practice had perfected her accent and inflection, so she formed the unfamiliar sounds easily. “故乡. Bernadette."

A gentle smile spread across the emperor's face.

"Yes. Exactly."

Meanwhile, a pirate, a goddess, a talking dog, and a very confused noble family sat in painful silence. 

...It's so awkward...!

Danitz was leaning as far away from the Evernight Goddess as his chair would allow him. The Halls were huddled together, looking around nervously. Amanises was still and unbothered. Susie sat by the goddess' side, watching in silence.

Even being eaten by Creeping Hunger would be better than this... Danitz could feel his soul leaving his body.

"So." Earl Hall cleared his throat, forehead beading with sweat. "What should we discuss?"

Nobody spoke.

After ten more seconds of silence, Alfred let out a frustrated exhale. "Let's not avoid the elephant in the room. We should talk about Audrey."

Hibbert's eyes darted meaningfully to where the others sat. "Right now?"

"There's no point hiding anything from a god's oracle or an ally of the Evernight Church." Alfred nodded towards Danitz and "Arianna" respectively. "I think it's more important to have an open conversation right now."

"Alfred is right," Caitlyn said decisively. "I'm worried about my daughter."

The Hall family fell quiet again, grim expressions on their faces. Audrey was a smart girl; they had all trusted her enough to not interfere when she'd started behaving suspiciously. Then she had openly admitted to being a Beyonder, cementing that trust. But now the situation was more complex than any of the Halls had expected, and only Audrey seemed to have an idea of what was going on.

Caitlyn continued to speak, frowning in thought. "Audrey did say she'd joined an academic secret organization, didn't she? One that didn't worship evil gods. Presumably, this Mr. Fool is the subject of their worship, but it's unclear if 'He' is a trustworthy existence. With all due respect, Lord Danitz."

Danitz wanted to take this opportunity to posture, but he was scared to act out under the watchful gaze of "Arianna". It was all he could do to cross his arms and close his eyes, dignified.

"Now that I think about it..." Earl Hall's brow furrowed as he dug through his memories. As a noble, he made it a point to keep up to date with the developments of Backlund's churches and various organizations. "I think I might recognize a few people in that group. The short young woman with the blonde hair is an up-and-coming colonel in MI9. Furthermore, that green-eyed fellow and that Sanguine - they're high-ranking deacons in the Evernight and Earth Mother churches respectively."

Such high-ranking positions?! Caitlyn covered her mouth, while Hibbert and Alfred narrowed their eyes. 

"To reach those ranks, it's likely that they're Sequence 5, or even Sequence 4. Not to mention, the Queen of Stars was with them, too... a true Pirate King and demigod..." Alfred muttered.

Danitz glanced towards Amanises before leaning back and laughing. "It's only natural that an ancient god such as Mr. Fool would be served by the best." Like myself, he added on smugly.

These words from Mr. Fool's oracle caused Alfred's heart to beat faster. He didn't like the picture that was beginning to form. Despite being confused, he and his relatives weren't stupid; such people coming into contact with one another could no longer be written off as an innocent Beyonder gathering, focused purely on academia. The weight of Audrey's words had finally sunken in. A group of elite individuals who had infiltrated the upper ranks of Loen's most powerful organizations, all for the purpose of serving an unknown existence - this was a bona fide secret organization! 

Wait... Another spike of dread ran through Alfred as he came to a realization. "Ma'am Arianna, you're one of the highest figures in the Church of Evernight, aren't you? Does the church know the true identity of that deacon? That he's a double agent?"

The veil shifted slightly.

The movement was miniscule. Barely there at all. It was as if the face beneath it had merely raised an eyebrow - but just the implication of the action, the soft rustle of fabric, turned everyone's blood to ice.

"The situation is known to those who need to know about it," the Evernight Goddess said.

"O-Of course. Praise the Lady." Feeling unnaturally cold, Alfred hurriedly drew the crimson moon across his chest, causing the others to follow suit. Talking back to an angel like that, he felt as if he'd just courted death! Hibbert's recklessness must be rubbing off on me! I have to remember my place from now on!

Still, the danger had been worth it for the information he'd gotten. He and his family exchanged serious looks, having all come to the same understanding: if that traitorous deacon was allowed to keep his position, then Mr. Fool and 'His' secret organization had obtained tacit acceptance - or at least tolerance - from the Evernight Church!

Either that, or he's been planted as a spy in that secret organization and is biding his time to strike... But the Church of Evernight is incredibly powerful in Loen. Is there an enemy that could make them hesitate so much? Alfred shuddered. A secret organization that worships the Fool...

That sounds familiar, doesn't it?

At the same time, Earl Hall spoke up.

"I've recalled something else. A briefing I received some time ago from the church."

The usually jovial man's voice was grave. Everyone gulped against the unease weighing down on them.

"There is a secret organization that's appeared in the last few years. They serve a god known as the Fool and are suspected to have code names based on tarot cards." The earl's eyes sharpened. "Such as the Sun."

The Halls' eyes widened. The tall boy within Audrey's group had been called "Sun" by several people, including Audrey herself! 

Tarot! Alfred stiffened, struggling to keep his expression blank. That secret organization who worships the Fool and uses tarot cards as code names... could it be, Audrey-?!

"Lord Danitz!" Caitlyn turned to the pirate, struggling to hide her desperation. "Is this true? That organization that's been known to target terrorists? Has Audrey been...?"

Dogshit, how am I supposed to know?! The conversation had long left Danitz's level of understanding. He chuckled loftily and simply said, "Spoilers."

"That's not possible!" Hibbert protested. "Audrey could never hurt anybody! How could she join an organization like that?!"

Earl Hall pinched his temples, sighing deeply. "I don't believe it either. But we have to consider every possibility. It's possible that she was lied to, or she's being taken advantage of somehow. She's a smart girl, but there's always someone smarter..."

"Everyone here is trustworthy."

The entire Hall family tensed at the sound of Susie's voice.

"Everyone here is trustworthy," the dog repeated, nipping their growing unrest in the bud. "They don't have any harmful intentions towards you or Audrey."

"I-Is that so? How can you tell?" Caitlyn asked.

"I'm also of the Spectator pathway. I've been observing the others since we arrived here, and nobody seems like a bad person." Susie tilted her head. "Also, as a dog, I have very good instincts."

The Halls stared at the golden retriever blankly. Something about this situation feels really wrong...

As the others were lost in thought, Hibbert took the opportunity to interrogate Susie. "How long have you been able to talk, anyway?"

"For four years now. I can also read and write. I'm very grateful to Audrey for teaching me."

"..." Is that so? everyone thought.

"But please don't get distracted," Susie said in a surprisingly firm tone. "There's no need to be so nervous; Audrey isn't being manipulated at all. She's perfectly safe."

"Thank goodness." The Halls breathed a sigh of relief before the implication of those words sunk in, and suddenly they were more fearful than ever before. But doesn't that mean... doesn't that mean that all this time, she's been aligned with such a dangerous group out of her own free will?

Alfred's stomach turned. "I have to talk to my sister."

"Then you're just in time," came the ethereal voice of the Evernight Goddess. The group looked up at the timer, which indeed read:

0:30

The Hall family tensed - Danitz let out a lofty chuckle - Amanises inclined 'Her' head slightly, and the world reformed.

I survived! Free from the terrifying watch of "Arianna", Danitz breathed a sigh of relief.

The Tarot Club (except for Miss Justice, whose Virtual Persona had been dispelled) also exhaled, glad to be rid of the awkward atmosphere. However, the Hermit Cattleya soon felt someone watching her. She turned to see - Emperor Roselle?! Cattleya's eyes widened. Emperor Roselle is looking at me? Have I done something to catch his attention? D-Did Queen Mystic mention me? What did she say?!

Noticing her looking over, Roselle winked and waved.

The Hermit's jaw almost dropped. Huh? What does that mean? How terrifying! 

Sending one last smile in the Morettis' direction, Audrey went to join her fellow Tarot Club members, who greeted her discreetly. Nobody had been surprised to see Miss Justice vanish from their midst, assuming the use of a Virtual Persona. Soon everyone was settled.

"Now that we're all here, should we share our findings?" Azik smiled politely. 

Alfred grit his teeth. "Actually, sir, could that wait until later? I have something I'd like to ask."

Several people looked towards him, and a faint alarm bell began to ring in Audrey's mind. A confrontation? Right now? I've left my family alone for too long... I guess it's my own fault.

"Son," Caitlyn said softly, but she was ignored.

"There's an organization that has been active in Backlund recently." Alfred pressed on, expression hard. "They use tarot cards as code names and worship a god named the Fool."

He looked at his sister.

"Who are you all, really?"

The crowd froze. Several Beyonders perked up with interest, eager to have their theories confirmed. Azik's smile widened, and he dipped his head. Other people were simply left confused.

"Do you know what they're talking about?" Benson whispered to his sister.

Melissa shook her head in response. Whatever it was, it had caused a huge stir, especially in the group Audrey was standing with. For just a moment, she and the others had tensed, sensing some invisible danger, eyes flashing like a knife under moonlight - but the moment soon passed, and they relaxed, looking at each other.

Alger pinched his temples, exasperated. "This must be the least secret secret organization to ever exist."

"It would have happened eventually, Mr. Hanged Man. The viewing is about Mr. Fool, after all." Derrick tried to comfort his mentor. "At least now we won't have to tiptoe around."

"Such behavior never suited a group of messiahs anyway," sniffed Emlyn. "I, for one, wouldn't mind a bit of acknowledgment."

They're not denying it?! The Hall family watched with thumping hearts. They really are...?!

"In that case, shall we introduce ourselves?"

Audrey spoke in a clear and calm voice. As she stood, the rest of her comrades stood with her, faint smiles on their faces. A tanned man with seaweed-like hair; a giant boy with an earnest face; a fashionable woman in a simple dress; a crimson-eyed Sanguine with a noble expression; a mature black-haired woman wearing glasses; a man with a poet's air; a short, determined-looking woman. 

Together, they swept into a deep bow.

Miss Justice looked up and smiled.

"We are the Tarot Club. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Chapter Text

The Tarot Club...

A shiver ran through the audience. Everyone felt as if they had witnessed something very important, although they didn't quite understand it. 

Audrey's family stared at her in disbelief. Each and every one of the Halls had been instilled with noble etiquette from a young age; if anyone saw the prestigious and poised Earl of East Chester gaping like a fish, they wouldn't have believed their eyes. But the shock had simply become too much. Hearing that name, which they'd been too scared to even speak aloud, made the situation seem infinitely more real. The Tarot Club.

A secretive organization that had left several corpses in its wake!

Audrey? Their Audrey? The most dazzling gem of Backlund, innocent and sweet, involved in a group like that? It was nonsensical. So why did she fit in so perfectly here?

"I'm afraid that's all we have time to explain." The senior Spectator smiled and gestured towards the timer, still ticking down. "The viewing will start soon. Please forgive our discourtesy."

Speechless, the Halls could only watch as the group sat down in silence. They were all exchanging glances, backs straighter and eyes brighter than before - this group of fugitives, double agents, and High Sequence Beyonders - and there was their daughter, their sister, among them. As natural as she was around her own family. As if she'd always been there.

Miss Justice suppressed a wince, sensing her family's distress - but still, she couldn't find it in herself to regret her actions. Not when everyone's gazes were on them, filled with shock and fear and awe; not when mystery hung thick in the air like the fantasy she'd always been chasing; and especially not when the Tarot Club's hearts were all bursting with pride.

This was what it meant to be a power emerging from the shadows!

"Miss Justice, are you really okay with this?" Fors whispered into her friend's ear.

Audrey nodded, eyes glinting wickedly. "What's important is that we made an impressive public debut." 

Of course, I plan to properly explain everything to my family later... she added on silently. Still, the opportunity was simply too perfect! Just like a novel! I guess I'm still pretty immature, after all. I'll have to take things slowly and reassure them from now on...

While most of the audience had quickly calmed down, being experienced Beyonders, Melissa and Benson felt more lost than ever. Despite not fully understanding the situation, or perhaps because of their lack of understanding, they felt a chill run down their spines. Tarot Club? Miss Audrey and Kle - Zhou Mingrui's old coworker, and even Zhou Mingrui himself - part of a secret organization? Just what kind of person was masquerading as our brother?!

0:10

"Tarot Club, eh? Quite the flair for drama. I like it." Roselle laughed, breaking the Morettis and the Halls out of their trance. "So? Are you guys sitting or what?"

There was no time to think. The timer was still counting.

"S-Sister-" Alfred had begun speaking without realizing it. The calm and collected military veteran was now totally lost. Even a battlefield might have been easier to navigate than this; at least they were familiar.

Miss Justice looked at him apologetically. She put a finger to her lips.

...Ah... 

What else could they do? The two families sat down. They felt as if the truth had become more distant than ever before.

Audrey... Caitlyn Hall felt tears rise to her eyes.

Klein... Melissa and Benson stared at the screen solemnly.

...What happened to you?

0:05

"Seems like everyone's having fun." Will Auceptin's thumb had once again entered his mouth.

"Yes, they're all very lively." Azik closed his eyes. "Except for you."

"Hmph. Infants get sleepy, you know." Will puffed out his cheeks. His gaze momentarily drifted towards Roselle. Well... nothing is for certain yet. We'll see.

0:01

The Morettis braced themselves. The Halls were still unable to look away from Audrey, barely paying attention to the screen until it began to glow once more.

Against their will, the viewing resumed.

0:00

Returning to his chair again, he heard the faraway cathedral’s bells chime again. It continued seven times before Zhou Mingrui slowly stood up. He went up front to the cupboard and took out his clothes...

Thankfully, this was a slower start. The audience had time to decompress as Zhou Mingrui picked out clothes, allowing them to get their thoughts in order.

Alfred Hall grit his teeth. He dug his nails into his palms as he studied the screen intensely, unwilling to miss a single detail. I have no idea what's going on, but if this viewing can tell me anything, then-!

Surprisingly, Danitz was having similar thoughts, although his train of thought had stopped at: I have no idea what's going on!

These were all the savings Benson had at the moment. It even included the living expenses for the next three days. Two of them were five-soli notes and the remaining were one-soli notes…

This is the family's savings... Including living expenses...? Everyone finally understood how precarious the Moretti family's situation was.

Danitz's jaw dropped. Dogshit, that's not even enough for a single night at the Red Theater!

Will Auceptin tugged on Azik's sleeve and whispered, "How much ice cream could that buy?"

The Death Consul considered this question seriously before whispering back. "More than a young boy like you should be eating."

Will pouted.

Melissa and Benson, however, only exchanged tired glances. Although they'd been given a short reprieve, the viewing had immediately gone on to dredge up memories of the past. The sympathetic glances they were getting didn't help much, either. The siblings held their tongues and continued to face forward, hoping for the scene to change quickly. 

Zhou Mingrui spread a note and caught a whiff of the faint unique ink.

This was the smell of money.

Perhaps a result of Klein’s memory fragments or his constant desire for money, Zhou Mingrui felt like he had instantly fallen in love with these notes.

”…” Isn’t that a little far? everyone thought.

Melissa, Benson, and Audrey twitched slightly, but tried to refocus themselves. Klein's memory fragments? They really did influence him? Well, uh, I'm not so sure about the love part...

Look, their designs are so beautiful. It makes the stern and old-fashioned George III and his two mustaches appear especially adorable…

”What’s that supposed to mean?” Roselle scowled, touching his own mustache self-consciously.

…Sir, please restrain yourself, that’s the man who will attempt to become a god in a few years… Audrey watched with mixed feelings.

Adorable?! That?! Emlyn, the doll fanatic, seethed in silent anger. He wanted to march into the screen and teach Zhou Mingrui what “adorable” truly meant!

Look, the watermark that can be seen when the note is placed against sunlight is so alluring. The exquisite design for the anti-counterfeit label makes it completely different from those fake fancy schlocks!

“A-Alluring?” Fors muttered. To love money this much, he must be Gehrman Sparrow after all! Nobody else could be so deranged!

Danitz also felt a shocking familiarity, which was enough to make him shudder. If I didn't know any better, I might have believed those thoughts belonged to t-that madman... No! Even thinking that might get me killed! Comparing that cold-blooded monster to such a wimpy guy, he'd shoot me on the spot!

Wouldn't it be great if my Blessed could stop embarrassing himself? Amanises coughed into 'Her' hand. 

Zhou Mingrui admired it for nearly a minute before pulling out two one-soli notes. He then rolled up the remaining notes and stuffed them back into the cushion’s concealed layer…

Zhou Mingrui stood by the door and was unsure when he had already begun to frown.

Klein’s suicide was fraught with peculiarities. Would he encounter any ‘accidents’ if he were to leave just like that?

"Caution is a good thing, but I'm not sure anything he can do will help." Leonard sighed.

After some deep thought, Zhou Mingrui returned to his desk and pulled open the drawer. He then took out the shimmering brass revolver.

This was the only defensive weapon he could think of, and it was the only weapon with sufficient power!

The majority of people in the theater, who could brush off bullet wounds easily, stared at the screen with flat expressions.

Although he had never practiced shooting, just pulling such a revolver out would definitely daunt anyone!

"Any normal person," Xio said. "A gun might work against a Sequence 8 or 9, but against an existence strong enough to transplant souls, it's worse than useless."

“He doesn't seem to be aware of that danger.“ Emlyn sighed, looking down and pinching his nose as if Zhou Mingrui’s incompetence was painful to him. “Really, what an amateur…”

Brave words for someone who managed to get himself locked up in the basements of two different churches, Leonard thought.

He caressed the revolver’s cold metal before stuffing his revolver into the pocket where his notes were. He clasped the money in his palm as his fingers pressed onto the gun’s handle. It was perfectly concealed.

“He used the notes to hide the bulge of the gun?” Alger's brow furrowed. “Rudimentary, but it would avoid closer inspection. What does he plan to do after he spends the money?”

”You think he’s thought that far ahead?” Roselle said dryly.

Mr. Hanged Man felt his body stiffen. E-Emperor Roselle addressed me! That man whose diary was collected by Mr. Fool, and who must possess incredible knowledge! No, calm down, you met under the watch of an ancient god every week for three years...!

Feeling secure, he who knew a little of everything suddenly had a worry.

Would I end up misfiring?

Roselle snickered before being silenced by a raised eyebrow from Bernadette.

Being deluged with such a thought, Zhou Mingrui quickly thought of a solution. He drew the revolver and released the cylinder. He then aligned the empty chamber which was a result of the ‘suicide’ along the gun’s hammer before closing it.

This way, even if there was a misfire, he would discharge an ’empty round!’

Several people nodded in approval of Zhou Mingrui's preparedness. Even if it would take him longer to be able to use the gun to defend himself, considering that bullets were useless against his enemy anyway, it was best to avoid any unnecessary accidents.

H-He's already becoming so comfortable with guns? Leonard and Fors shivered, feeling as if they were witnessing the birth of a certain crazy adventurer.

... Although it was almost July, it was still considered the middle of summer. However, Tingen was situated north of the Loen Kingdom, so it had unique climate characteristics. The highest annual temperature was not even 30°C on Earth, with even cooler mornings. However, the streets were awash with filthy water and strewn junk. From Klein’s memories, this was not a rare sight in low-income communities, even if there were sewers. After all, there were just too many people and people needed to survive.

Right. Miss Justice sighed. Even before the war, even outside big cities like Backlund, things have always been like this.

Derrick took in this information intently. Overpopulation? The City of Silver had the opposite problem. We even had to impose forced marriage at adulthood to overcome this. The outside world is a very different place and has its own issues...

“Come and try our delicious roasted fish!”

“Hot and fresh oyster soup. Drink a bowl in the morning and feel invigorated all day!”

“Fresh fish from the port for just five pence apiece!”

“Muffins and eel soup make the perfect combination!”

“Conch! Conch! Conch!”

“Vegetables freshly plucked from the farms outside the city. Cheap and fresh!”

Little Sun stared at the city in awe. Even after a year in the outside world, the chaos and expansiveness of it all could still catch him offguard. So this is Tingen City… The people dress differently and have foreign accents, but the scenery is a little familiar. He smiled. I hope I'll be able to visit this place some day.

Roselle also watched with interest. The marketplace setting was unexpectedly nostalgic. This is the world two hundred years after I died, huh?  I guess people do the same things no matter how much time passes.

Of course, to Leonard, Benson, and Melissa, the sight in front of them held a different weight. They closed their eyes in reminiscence. Tingen held some of their best memories - those had been simpler times, before grief, before war. Before they'd learned how much it was possible to lose and still keep on living.

The scene in their memories was gone now.

The mobile hawkers who sold vegetables, fruits, and hot food shouted along the streets as they beckoned the rushing pedestrians. Some of them would stop and carefully compare before purchasing. Others would impatiently wave their hands as they had yet to find work for the day…

As Leonard and the Morettis took in the familiarity with greedy eyes, Miss Justice naturally took note. It's expected for Melissa and Benson to feel attached to this place, but Mr. Star, too? He must have served as a Nighthawk here for quite some time. Then, the grief in his expression...?

There was bound to be thieves in populated areas. Furthermore, this street had no lack of poor citizens who were working part time after losing their previous jobs. There were also starving children that were exploited by adults to do their bidding.

Xio frowned, remembering her time in East Borough. She had helped people whenever she could, but her own finances had never been in the best shape. To think I used to be an East Borough informant for MI9, when now I'm sitting at the other side of the desk with a cushy colonel job... Time really does change things. Still, I shouldn't become alienated from my past experiences.

He proceeded forward until he reached a point where the crowdedness around him restored to normal. He straightened his back and raised his head to look down the street.

There was a vagrant accordionist busking. The melody was sometimes pleasant, sometimes fervent.

Beside him were several children in ragged clothes with sallow complexions due to malnutrition.

They listened to the music and moved to the beat, dancing self-made choreographies. Their faces were filled with joy as though they were a prince or an angel.

"Life is difficult, but happiness can be found anywhere." Azik's smile held a tinge of sadness. Although, ironically, the life of an angel rarely holds much joy...

Something stirred faintly in Amanises' chest. 'She' had been a true god for many thousands of years now; 'She' could only see such human sights from the astral world. 'She' still tried to protect 'Her' remaining humanity, of course, but it just wasn't the same - and the past few decades had been so busy with preparations for the apocalypse... 

It's been a very long time, 'She' thought, since I've seen something as unremarkable as this.

A deadpan woman passed by; her skirt was dirty and her skin was dull.

Her gaze appeared dull and sluggish. Only when she looked at the bunch of children did a faint glow flash. It was as though she had seen herself from three decades ago.

The smiles dropped off the audience's faces. This was the likely future awaiting those children.

Zhou Mingrui overtook her and turned into another street before stopping at Smyrin Bakery.

The owner of the bakery was a seventy-plus year old granny named Wendy Smyrin. Her hair was completely grayish-white and she always wore a genial smile. From the beginning of Klein’s memories, she had been here selling bread and pastries.

Oh, the Tingen biscuits and lemon cakes she bakes are very delicious…

So the original Klein liked sweets as well? Leonard chuckled to himself weakly.

A sweet tooth? Mr. World?! Fors perked up, smiling shakily. H-Ha! See if I'm scared of you now, Gehrman Sparrow! I know all your embarrassing secrets! She was just beginning to regain confidence in herself when suddenly, a voice whispered in her ear-

"Guess?"

Fors barely suppressed her scream. She turned to glare at Xio, who was innocently facing ahead as if nothing had happened. 

"Tingen biscuits... lemon cakes..." Oblivious to the rest of the world, Derrick repeated the names of these unfamiliar foods as if committing them to memory. I think I might have heard someone in Bayam mention lemon cake before, but I've never tried it. I've definitely never had a Tingen biscuit, either. They even sound delicious!

Seeing Little Sun's attentive expression, Alger tapped Fors' shoulder - causing her to jump again - and muttered something to her.

"To make sure he's not distracted in discussions trying to remember everything, of course," Alger added seriously.

Mr. Hanged Man is so unsubtle... Miss Magician's face twitched, but she obeyed his request. "Little Sun," she called, then took out a small notebook and pen - things she always kept on her as an author - and handed them to the boy. "Why don't you make a list of everything you want to eat? That way you won't forget."

"A list? Yes, that's a good idea." Immediately taking off the pen cap and beginning to write, Derrick broke into a smile. "Thank you, Miss Magician!'

B-Bright! Fors fought the urge to cover her eyes.

Alger, watching this interaction, felt his lips curl up. He felt an inexplicable urge to buy a lemon cake and give it to Little Sun. Even though there are no bakeries at sea... I mean, even though this would be of no benefit to me!

Unfortunately, Alfred Hall was also watching. Magician... Sun... Fool... They really are tarot cards. My sister must have a code name as well... The idea felt too strange to even think about. How could Audrey have become involved with these people?

Zhou Mingrui gulped a mouthful of saliva and smiled.

“Mrs. Smyrin, eight pounds of rye bread.”

“Oh. Dear Klein, where’s Benson? Is he not back?” Wendy asked smilingly.

“In a few more days,” answered Zhou Mingrui vaguely.

As Wendy took the rye bread, she sighed. “He sure is a hardworking lad. He will have a good wife.”

Benson smiled bitterly. He had found a good wife - a wonderful woman who he loved dearly - and Klein would never know.

Melissa squeezed his hand a little tighter, and he sent her a grateful smile.

Upon saying this, the corners of her lips curled up as she said playfully, “All is good now. You have already graduated. You are a history graduate of our Khoy University~ Oh, you will soon be able to earn money. You should not be staying in the apartment you are currently living in. At the very least, you should have a bathroom you can call your own.”

"Having your own bathroom is a basic human right," Fors said seriously. Xio and Audrey nodded their solemn agreement.

“Mrs. Smyrin, you seem to be a young and energetic woman today.” All Zhou Mingrui could do was respond with a dry smile.

If Klein were to successfully pass his interview and become a lecturer at Tingen University, it was true that his family would immediately be pushed up to a higher socioeconomic status!

In his memory fragments, he had once fantasized about renting a bungalow in the suburbs. There would be five or six rooms, two bathrooms, a huge balcony upstairs, two rooms, a dining room, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an underground storage room on the first floor.

"That's it? Not even a mansion or something?" Danitz said in shock. "Why are his fantasies such a drag?!"

"After living downtrodden in poverty your whole life, something like that might as well be a mansion," Melissa said quietly.

Dogshit! I was plenty poor growing up, and I never dreamed of anything this lame! Danitz wanted to say that, but seeing the girl's forlorn expression, he had the good sense to stay quiet.

... However, all of this was under the premise that he passed either the Tingen University or Backlund University interviews.

There were not many other opportunities. People without any connections were unable to get recommendations to become a public servant. And those who studied history were more limited in job opportunities. There was not much demand for private consultants from the aristocrats, banks, or industrial magnates.

Taking into account that the knowledge Klein grasped were fragmented and incomplete, Zhou Mingrui felt awkward and guilty towards Mrs. Smyrin’s expectations of him.

The Morettis looked down. This situation wasn't exactly ideal for Zhou Mingrui, either; he must have also struggled. But... Benson and Melissa sighed with hollow hearts. Even though nothing was his fault, it's hard to feel sympathy.

“No, I have always been this young,” answered Wendy humorously.

As she spoke, she packed the sixteen rye bread she had weighed into the brown paper bag that Zhou Mingrui had brought. She stretched out her right hand and said, “Nine pence.”

… “Nine pence? Wasn’t it eleven pence two days ago?” Zhou Mingrui asked subconsciously.

Subconsciously? Audrey leaned forward. It's confirmed beyond a doubt now. Zhou Mingrui's personality has been affected by Klein's. Luckily, although the original Klein's memories are fragmented, the combination of their wills seems to have gone smoothly. There are no present negative side effects.

Of course, Melissa and Benson were unable to think so clinically. It was strange to think that Zhou Mingrui carried pieces of their brother inside him - especially when he was undeniably a separate person from Klein. Should they be glad that even a part of Klein had survived? Disturbed? Indifferent? The Morettis had no idea how to react.

It cost 15 pence the month before the previous month.

“You have to thank the people who protested on the streets for the repeal of the Grain Act,” said Wendy as she shrugged.

Zhou Mingrui nodded in vague acknowledgment. Klein’s memories regarding this was incomplete. All he remembered was that the core tenet of the Grain Act was to protect the prices of domestic agriculture products. Once the prices rose to a certain level, grain imports from Southern nations like Feynapotter, Masin, and Lenburg were stopped.

Why would people protest the act?

…Huh. Roselle narrowed his eyes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that was a very nonsensical rule, denying all normality…

King George III, huh? I’ll keep an eye on him.

Amanises remained still, but 'Her' thoughts were directed towards a certain zealot. I wonder what you'll think of this situation, Adam. Or was it all within your calculations?

Bernadette’s hands closed into fists, and she took a deep breath to calm down. Not being able to stop the Great Smog of Backlund was still one of her greatest regrets. Had George III's plan been allowed to come to fruition...

It’s not like you to dwell on the past, she reminded herself, fixing her mental state with Cogitation.

Sensing Bernadette’s turmoil, Roselle sent his daughter a concerned look, frowning.

Meanwhile, the Morettis watched Zhou Mingrui walk down the bustling street in silence. Everything about the sight felt so familiar, and yet…

There was a municipal square at the intersection of Iron Cross Street and Daffodil Street. Many tents were erected there, and clowns dressed in odd and funny attires were distributing fliers.

“There’s a circus performance tomorrow night?” Zhou Mingrui glanced at the fliers in the hands of others as he read their contents under his breath.

Melissa would definitely like it. However, how much is the entrance fee?

...and yet it wasn't the same.

Why? Melissa swallowed around the lump in her throat. If you don’t want to stay with us, then why bother even thinking of us? Is it Klein's influence? That just makes accepting the truth more painful...

With that thought, Zhou Mingrui went closer.

Just as he was about to ask a clown with a red and yellow painted face, a hoarse woman’s voice sounded from beside him.

“Would you like to try a divination?”

Zhou Mingrui subconsciously turned his head and saw a woman wearing a pointed hat and a long black dress standing in front of a short tent.

Her face was smeared with red and yellow paint and her eyes were a profound grayish-blue.

"A clown." Leonard let out a disbelieving laugh. A clown of all things, when he hasn't even chosen his pathway... Is this fate? Or divine intervention?

Benson and Melissa's eyes glazed over. At that time, when they'd been shambling through a haze of grief, one such painted face had pierced through the fog. A golden flower, a ridiculous smile, so exaggerated it seemed painful. Both siblings blinked away the memory. Klein is gone now.

“No,” Zhou Mingrui shook his head in response. He did not have the spare cash for divination.

The woman laughed and said, “My tarot divination is very accurate.”

The Tarot Club narrowed their eyes in suspicion. While gathering materials for the luck enhancement ritual, Zhou Mingrui had just so happened to receive an offer for a divination? And a tarot divination, no less - the institution that they drew their code names from!

Could this be Mr. Fool's doing? they thought to themselves excitedly.

Meanwhile, Roselle began to acutely sense his oncoming doom.

“Tarot…” Zhou Mingrui was instantly dumbfounded.

Damn it! Roselle slumped in his seat, wanting to bury his head in his hands. This early?! Zhou Mingrui, you son of a bitch! Why are you so proactive?!

This pronunciation was almost identical to the tarot cards on Earth!

"Earth?" Caitlyn Hall didn't hide her surprise. "There are also tarot cards on Earth? Even though Emperor Roselle invented them?"

Several people sent the emperor in question suspicious looks. Bernadette raised an eyebrow at her father, who sunk even further into his seat. Unbeknownst to anyone, Amanises had a rather smug smile on 'Her' lips.

The Tarot Club stiffened in their seats. If Mr. Hanged Man's theory was correct, and Roselle really was a fellow transmigrator, even from the same world as Zhou Mingrui... No, that's impossible, they thought. He's the Son of Steam, of course he wouldn't be a plagiarist...

And tarot cards from Earth were a set of cards used for divination. They just had graphics that represented different omens.

Wait… He suddenly recalled the origins of tarot divination in this world.

It did not originate from the seven orthodox gods nor was it an ancient legacy. Instead, it was created by the Intis Republic’s Consul of that era, Roselle Gustav, more than 170 years ago...

Bernadette's expression went blank. Father, what did you do? She resisted the urge to rub her temples.

Roselle also invented tarot divination. He also established the contemporary system of paper-based cards and their playstyles. There were many familiar styles that Zhou Mingrui was familiar with, such as Upgrade, Fighting the Landlord, Texas Poker, and Quint…

With every familiar "invention" that Zhou Mingrui listed, the faces of the Tarot Club grew darker and darker. Ah...

"That's Emperor Caesar for you! The best ruler Intis ever had!" Danitz grinned proudly, oblivious to both the club's suffering and the venomous glare that his beloved emperor was giving him.

Do you want to make things worse for me, punk?! Roselle complained. Damn Provokers!

Unfortunately, he was betrayed in his old age. In the year 1198 of the Fifth Epoch, he was assassinated by the combined forces of the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, the former Intis royal family—the Sauron family, and other aristocrats. He eventually died in the White Maple Palace.

Bernadette controlled her expression carefully, but grief still flashed in her eyes.

This… To recall such general knowledge suddenly made him facepalm.

Could this be a transmigration senior?

Silence. Everyone's mouths fell open, and for a moment, they could do nothing but blink at the screen.

Roselle whistled innocently.

This, it appeared, was the final straw.

"You're a fraud?!" Emlyn pointed to Roselle in shock. "The great emperor who ushered in the Age of Steam is a fraud?!"

"Haha, well," the emperor began, "fraud is a bit of a strong word-"

"I can't believe this. Was everything fake? All those groundbreaking innovations we read about in textbooks?" Xio pressed her hands to her head.

"And the poetry and plays he wrote?" Leonard asked in a daze, looking like he wanted to tear his hair out. The poems I spent so long memorizing were all stolen...? 

This caused Fors, an experienced author, to bubble up with righteous anger. "You plagiarist! Does anything published under your name actually belong to you?!" she yelled. Do my years of late manuscripts and missed deadlines mean nothing to you? All the times Gehrman Sparrow could have killed me because I wasn't writing fast enough?! Well?!

Roselle's eyes darted around as he looked for an escape. He met his daughter's gaze with his best pleading look, but unfortunately, Queen Mystic only shrugged. Sorry, Father. You got yourself into this mess.

Fuck, what kind of unfilial daughter have I raised! The emperor didn't dare to look at Amanises; the last thing he wanted to see right now was 'Her' self-satisfied smirk. He could only make a desperate attempt to save himself! "H-hey, can we talk about transmigration?! Pretty surprising, right-"

"Wait... if Emperor Caesar came from a different world, and those inventions... existed on..." Danitz took a second to put the pieces together, but when he did, the proud citizen of Intis naturally burst out in shock. "What?! You?! You were a fake all along?!"

...You just figured that out? thought the crowd.

"Well, good talk, everyone! I'm glad we cleared things up!" Roselle chuckled nervously, "S-So if we're all ready to move on-"

"Dogshit, no way!" Danitz spat. "You were my idol growing up!"

"I've never met you in my life!'

"You son of a bitch!"

Reaching his limit, Roselle began to shout. "Oh, leave me alone! Any of you would have done the same in my shoes! And if you say otherwise, you’re a big fat liar!”

”I don’t recall Zhou Mingrui ever applying for any patents,” the Evernight Goddess said coolly.

Roselle’s responding smile was smug. “Only because I didn’t leave anything for him to steal.”

This bastard, why is he so proud of himself?! Everyone fumed.

I was right, but... why don't I feel happy at all... Alger stared ahead with a blank face, feeling slightly dizzy. Little Sun pat him on the back.

In the midst of this chaos, Will Auceptin sat, unusually silent. His whisper was swallowed by the clamor, unheard by anyone.

"Earth... huh."

Meanwhile, the yelling was continuing, and Danitz's hands had begun to catch fire in a worrying way. At this point, Audrey decided to step in and Placate the group. The commotion calmed to upset grumblings, causing Amanises to suppress a frown. Tch. I'd been waiting to see that happen for centuries.

"I can't believe this," Leonard muttered. "I'm burning my collection of Roselle's poetry when I get home."

"Please burn mine as well," Fors said somberly.

Audrey pursed her lips together as people began to settle. I don't like what Emperor Roselle did, but knowing what his future has in store, I'll cut him this much slack. Because you, too, must have wanted to return to that place...

"You saved my life! Thank you, my second honorary granddaughter!" Roselle turned to the senior Spectator with a tear-filled smile.

...What? Audrey's smile froze.

Finally, Bernadette took pity on her father. "As shocking as this is, we should move on. We can save further discussion for after the viewing."

The audience continued to grumble, sending dirty looks towards Roselle - who glared right back - but everyone turned back to the screen reluctantly. Melissa and Benson looked at each other, severely confused. That's not actually the former emperor of Intis, right? ...Right?

With this in mind, Zhou Mingrui was intrigued to see what tarot cards looked like. Therefore, he nodded at the pointy hat woman with the painted face and said, “If the… well… price is reasonable, I’ll give it a try.”

The woman immediately said with a laugh, “Sir, you are the first one here today, so it’s on the house.”

Roselle immediately latched onto this change of topic. "H-Hey, on the house? That's weird, right? Isn't that pretty weird?"

"Stop acting like nothing happened!" Danitz snapped. Don't think this is over, you son of a bitch! Once this viewing ends, I swear I'm gonna-

"We did agree to move on for now." Cattleya came to Queen Mystic's defense. "Still, this is a little strange. It seems like Zhou Mingrui is being targeted."

Everyone furrowed their brows; now it wasn't just the Tarot Club who was on alert. Being approached while preparing for the luck enhancement ritual was alarming enough, but a free divination out of nowhere?

This was undoubtedly suspicious!

Chapter Text

Deep within the gray fog, a certain “ancient god” was on the verge of losing control due to sheer embarrassment.

Shit! Klein Moretti refused to bury his head in his hands, if only to avoid giving the Celestial Worthy any satisfaction. His struggle with the previous Lord of the Mysteries had left him at a temporary disadvantage, and now things had spiraled out of control. But to think things would get this bad… The usually calm and collected Klein, who had only become more composed after reaching godhood, thought he was allowed to complain a little. Shit! This really sucks! I’m too weak to stop the viewing, but if I try and intervene now, it’ll just look like I’m trying to save face…! Why is my life like this! I hate it here!

"If I had known this would work so well, I would have done it earlier."

An odd, layered voice echoed through the mist, breaking Klein out of his misery. He sobered with a sigh.

Hey, can't a guy sulk in peace? Are all Outer Deities this rude? he lampooned before replying seriously, "Apparently you don't understand me as well as you think you do."

He could hear the smirk in the Celestial Worthy's voice. "Don't I?"

"Isn't it a little pathetic for a Great Old One to be struggling so much with a normal human like me?" Klein returned with a brilliant smile of his own.

"Even after seeing all of your memories, the source of your arrogance remains a mystery."

"A man must have his secrets."

"You're afraid, aren't you?"

Klein fell silent.

"You humans are all so simple," the previous Lord of the Mysteries continued. "It's unbearably boring. You act above your place, clinging to your lies even when confronted with an enemy you cannot win against - don't you ever get tired of it? Smile all you like, but I can sense the fear in your heart."

These words reverberated through the mists and settled into them, the fog seeming to solidify with their coldness. For a moment, the Fool said nothing. His shoulders trembled slightly.

Then he tipped his head back and laughed.

It was a ridiculous kind of laughter: joyful but not happy, self-assured but not confident. It was laughter at a cosmic joke that you were the punchline of.

"Afraid?" Merlin Hermes said through his chuckles. "Of course I'm afraid. I'm the most terrified I've ever been in my life! Is it such a big achievement to notice what I've made no effort to hide? Should I congratulate you? Would you like a round of applause?"

The Celestial Worthy remained unimpressed. "Your jokes are ineffective. They will not change anything to come."

"Of course I know that." Sherlock Moriarty laughed again. "Lies always catch up with you in the end."

And Klein Moretti was, make no mistake, a liar. He had lied, cheated, and stolen to get to where he was today - a place he’d never even wanted to be in - and now he would have to face the consequences. After finding out who I am, Melissa and Benson must be feeling like they’ve lost their brother all over again… Klein felt the familiar sting he always did thinking of his siblings, but it was duller than he was used to, reduced to a mere prickle in his chest. His emotions seemed to be as implacable and murky as the gray fog filling this castle.

That scared him. 

He smiled brighter.

"You're a true pest." The Celestial Worthy sighed. "I will enjoy crushing your anchors."

Gehrman Sparrow glared with a crazy expression. Dwayne Dantès' eyes twinkled, lending him a mysterious air. Zhou Mingrui stared into the fog, where something unimaginable lurked.

"Try it." He smiled, brighter, brighter, brighter. "If you think you can."

And so, in a different part of Sefirah Castle, the wheels continued to be set into motion.

Before the discussion of Zhou Mingrui's unusual encounter even had a chance to begin, Danitz was cracking his knuckles ominously, glaring at Roselle. "Now, should we continue our talk?"

The emperor immediately balked. As if to mock him, the timer appeared in midair:

5:00

At this rate, I might not even survive that long! Roselle smiled nervously. "C-Come on now, I thought we'd all moved on from this! Water under the bridge, am I right? Anyway, that divination offer sure is suspicious, haha..."

He trailed off under the weight of the combined malice in everyone's stares. 

"..." Queen Mystic didn't know how to feel. Lips twitching, she said, "There's no use fighting anymore. As shocking as it is that Emperor Roselle is a transmigrator, getting angry won't give us any new information."

My little princess! Roselle almost burst into tears at his daughter's display of filial piety. 

Of course, Cattleya was just as quick to back up her mentor. "Now, if we're all ready to move on, we should discuss Zhou Mingrui's anomaly."

"Before that."

The crowd tensed at the sound of a childlike voice reverberating through the theater. The Snake of Mercury, Will Auceptin, had appeared by Roselle's slide and was tugging on his sleeve gently.

"Mr. Emperor. Can I talk to you?"

A private gathering?! Everyone perked up.

The Tarot Club exchanged glances and immediately began to theorize. Mr. Fool's angel has asked for a private gathering with Emperor Roselle? What high-level matters could they be discussing? Transmigration, perhaps...?

Even more importantly, Alger reasoned to himself, this sets a precedent of being able to ask for private conversations! It would be blasphemous for a mere saint such as myself to make requests of a true god, but an angel can ask for things on slightly more equal terms. If the Evernight Goddess allows this, communication may become much easier in the future!

Little Will noticed something after all? Azik put his hand on his chin thoughtfully. He did seem quiet earlier... I want to be hopeful, but I doubt his discovery is anything positive. Could transmigration hold some insidious secret behind it?

Who is this small child again? Ironically, Emperor Roselle was more confused than anyone.

The others in the crowd looked on with suspicion, but said nothing. Although Will Auceptin looked like an infant, he had been referred to as the Angel of Mercury; even those who didn't know the meaning of that title could sense danger from the word "angel"! Who would dare to stand up to a 'Him'?! All the audience could do was stay silent, collectively gritting their teeth against the strained atmosphere.

Will Auceptin turned from the emperor towards Amanises. He widened his eyes and stuck out his quivering lower lip.

"Let me talk to him? Pwetty pwetty pwease?"

"..." No, 'He' is an angel, even though 'He' acts like that... several people had to remind themselves.

T-To treat a true god in such a manner! The pious Derrick respected this gutsiness from the bottom of his heart. This must be even more impressive than the time Mr. World used a nickname for the True Creator in front of Elder Lovia, 'His' believer - at least it wasn't straight to the god's face! Mr. Fool's followers are all incredibly bold!

The Evernight Goddess tilted 'Her' head as if studying the angel in front of her. The brief levity that Will had brought was quickly dampened as 'He' met the goddess' gaze unflinchingly. A few tense seconds passed.

He truly does fit the description of a snake, that one... Amanises sighed to 'Herself'. Nevertheless, he isn't untrustworthy. The more supporters who can help the Fool's anchors through this crisis, the better.

Of course, it won't be pleasant for Roselle. 'She' consciously and honestly reminded 'Herself' of this fact, attempting to preserve the emotions eroded by godhood. Amanises had done things, performed miracles and committed atrocities, on a scale unimaginable to anyone else; on 'Her' hands was the blood of hundreds of thousands. Even so, 'She' refused to let 'Her' connection with her homeland fade, and 'She' had no doubt that Roselle felt the same. Why else would he have written those diaries?

He was a comrade. An insufferable lech and braggart, but nonetheless, a comrade in a suffering belonging to them only. Thinking of the genuine pain this confrontation would put Roselle through, Amanises searched 'Her' heart for even the tiniest sliver of guilt - but the feeling was a mere dwindling spark, a smoking coal about to go out.

Of course. It was difficult to maintain any fire for so long, for thousands of years, especially when all that fire did was burn you. Easier to just let it go out. A world like this would not tolerate too much warmth.

And yet…

Amanises closed 'Her' eyes and thought of home.

"You may discuss," 'She' said after a long pause. "I will lend you my concealment."

'She' agreed! The tension leaked from everyone's shoulders; they had already accepted "Arianna" as their de facto leader. Does that mean that we can also ask for private conversations in the future?

This revelation made the Hall family particularly antsy. They had been itching to have a proper conversation with Audrey ever since they'd arrived here, but now the urge was stronger than ever. Their minds were in extreme disarray, unable to reconcile the playful yet innocent noble daughter who had grown up so well under their protection with the sharpness they'd glimpsed in Audrey's face.

But asking now would be inappropriate, making too many demands... Are we even at a level that would allow us to request such things? Alfred's fingers dug into his palms, stomach tightening unpleasantly. Damn it. To think that I'd be so helpless at a time like this! What's the point of having this power if I can't use it to protect my family and their happiness...?

"Thanks, Miss Arianna!" Will cheered, face bright like a child who'd just been handed an ice cream cone. He tugged on the emperor's sleeve again. "This is gonna be so much fun!"

...What about me?! Emperor Roselle, whose opinion had never once been asked for during this process, fumed in silence. But one glance towards the scowl on Danitz's face, as well as the surprisingly vitriolic glare from Fors ("That bastard's never written an original word in his life," the mild-mannered author was muttering continuously), made him much more amenable to the idea of being away from everyone else. 

At this thought, the emperor grinned smugly. "Yeah, super fun!" It's gonna be super fun not getting lynched!

4:00

"You have three minutes," the Evernight Goddess informed them in a cool tone. After that, the fog shifted, and Roselle and Will Auceptin both disappeared - but not before Roselle blew a raspberry at Danitz, the shit-eating grin on his face remaining until the moment he vanished. 

H-He's even more childish than the literal toddler! The shattered remains of the Son of Steam's powerful and lofty image were now being crushed into dust.

"THAT SON OF A-" Danitz's voice was soon muffled by an unimpressed Amanises' concealment, but he was so consumed by rage that he barely noticed, continuing to move his lips soundlessly. That damn guy! I hope you offend Gehrman Sparrow someday! He spat at the ground, not noticing that within his own mind, wishing Gehrman Sparrow upon a person had already become a fate worse than death.

...Father really would have been better off as a Provoker... Bernadette stared ahead blankly.

Cattleya, remembering the odd behavior the emperor had shown towards her earlier, suppressed another shiver and cleared her throat. "Now, should we begin the discussion?"

As soon as they were alone, Roselle heaved a deep sigh of relief. Last time I had that much bloodlust directed at me, I was assassinated in my own palace!

"Phew! I really owe you one, kid." The emperor laughed with a carefree expression, wiping sweat off his brow, and looked down at the child in front of him. "So, what did you want to talk about? Unless you helped out of the goodness of your heart?"

"Goodness of my heart. That's something people say when they're trying to take advantage of you! Guess who I learned that from!" Will Auceptin crossed his arms - a strange pose for a baby - and began talking without so much as an explanation. "I've had to run so many errands for that guy all the time, I haven't even gotten the chance to learn how to read! Would you believe, one time he had me-"

U-Uh, I activated his trap card... As the baby continued to talk, Roselle suddenly felt nostalgic for his days listening to his friends complain at the bar. Even for angels, this one is pretty strange. Everyone has their own ways of anchoring humanity, I guess.

"...the nerve of some people!" Will finished his tirade with a huff. "Anyway, thanks for listening. I'll cash in my favor now."

Roselle raised an eyebrow. "Listening to you complain wasn't the favor?"

The Snake of Mercury looked at him with that particular expression of a child who thought an adult was being exceptionally stupid. "No. It's an honor to hear the wisdom of an angel."

…Hey, I’m an angel, too, you know…? Almost a true god…

"Sure," Roselle said flatly, too tired to fight. "Fire away."

"Okay, then! What was your original world like?"

At these words, the emperor stiffened like he’d been slapped in the face. He looked back at Will Auceptin, who was blinking up at him innocently, as if he'd never said a word.

...This brat... Roselle grimaced. I figured it had something to do with transmigration, but catching me offguard with a question like that is just cruel! However, the experienced emperor was able to keep his anger in check. That Melissa girl had once called this kid "the Fool's most cherished angel"; there was probably a reason behind this question. He decided to trust Zhou Mingrui's judgment this time.

Still. Angel or not, Will Auceptin was currently three years old, and Roselle was not taking that kind of disrespect from somebody who still wore diapers! "You needed the authority of concealment just to ask me that?" he asked condescendingly.

The boy stuck out his lower lip in a pout. "I was too embarrassed to ask in front of the others."

"But you weren't embarrassed enough to ask for a private meeting?" Roselle countered, scowling. Then he sighed. The brat was irritating, but... Zhou Mingrui, you better know what you're doing! "Fine. I'll answer your question if you never make that face at me again."

"This face?" Will stuck his lip out further.

"Stop it already!"

The Sequence 1 angel giggled. Then he looked up expectantly, face attentive.

Fuck, I have a soft spot for kids... Who knows what he'll extort me into doing if I'm not careful... Roselle looked away and cleared his throat. "We were a lot more technologically advanced. Medicine, communications, infrastructure - everything. We also had a lot more options for entertainment," he grumbled before his voice lowered to something gentler, reminiscent. "Some of the biggest cities had tens of millions of people. I lived in a place like that. I couldn't tell you how incredible it was. You felt like you were never alone, never lonely, and there was something new everywhere you looked..."

"Sounds like a nice place."

"It was," Roselle said softly.

"You've wanted to talk about it for a very long time, haven't you?"

The emperor laughed. "That obvious? I always thought my daughter would be the first person I told. Not some weird brat like you."

"Brat... I'm a brat...?" Will's eyes welled up menacingly.

Shit! I forgot he could cry on command! After raising three kids, Roselle was used to dealing with tantrums, but a century or two of sleep had left him rusty. "L-Look, I'll talk about whatever you want, so just stop, okay?!"

"Then, what about the buildings?"

"Huh?"

"What did the buildings look like?" Will prompted as he wiped away his tears.

Roselle narrowed his eyes at the strange question but answered anyway. "They'd look pretty weird to you. Some were made of brick, but a lot of them were made of glass and metal. And some of them were so tall we called them 'skyscrapers'."

"Hm. Say, have you ever been to the easternmost front of the Sonia Sea?"

"...No." A seed of unease took root in the emperor's chest.

"That area is filled with ruins, you know. From a battle between gods," Will began casually. "And near the entrance of the ruins, there are some strange buildings. They appear to be incredibly old, and their architecture does not belong to any known epoch."

Roselle's heart sank into his stomach.

"What are you trying to do," he asked, voice flat.

The Angel of Mercury shrugged. "I'm just testing a silly thought I had. I'd believed I had no way to act on it, but with you here, everything is much easier. I guess I should thank you for that, huh?" He looked up at the emperor with steely eyes. "Why don't you draw me a map? Of your own world."

Huang Tao stared ahead in silence.

"The silent treatment? Only kids like me are supposed to do that, you know." Despite saying this, Will's demeanor no longer held any trace of youth.

"I don't see why I should listen to you," the emperor said stiffly.

Will continued to meet his gaze. "You don't have to. But I won't have you take me for a fool, either. Zhou Mingrui, in modern day, happened across a ritual belonging to the Celestial Worthy - do you think that's reasonable? Ah, you don't even know what that name means, is that it? Do you expect me to believe that an existence powerful enough to steal souls would only bother targeting a single planet? Or should I believe that of the infinite worlds out there, you and Zhou Mingrui just happened to come from the same one?" The angel's voice became sharper and sharper. "Isn't that too coincidental? Isn't that too strange?"

"How am I supposed to know?!" Huang Tao spat. "I still have no idea why I was forced into this body!"

"I don't expect you to know," Will said levelly. "I expect you to draw the map."

For a moment, the only sound was Roselle's labored breathing. Finally, he let out a shaking exhale.

"I don't have anything to draw with," he said, voice hoarse.

The Angel of Mercury laughed and looked up. "Well, Mysteries?"

Another moment of quiet. Then-

A deep, gravelly chuckle. At the emperor's feet, a paper and pencil materialized.

Will shrugged. "Looks like 'He' has given 'His' verdict."

"You're some piece of work, you know that?" Roselle muttered in a shaky voice. He couldn't even bother to be surprised that Mysteries was watching. That's the power of a suspected Great Old One for you, he thought blankly, staring at the ground for a moment before shaking himself and beginning to draw. Thirty seconds later, he pushed the paper forward and looked away from Will.

The Snake of Mercury was unbothered by this, picking the paper up to study it.

"..."

Will's face darkened. The longer he looked, the more grim his expression became until finally, he dropped the paper. It glided down to the floor and settled, still.

"When did you find out?" he said, terribly quiet.

"After I went to the moon and saw this world from space. Only took me a few decades to figure it out." Roselle laughed bleakly. "Happy now?"

The Angel of Mercury let out a sigh.

Roselle was used to small children throwing tantrums. He was used to sobbing, and flailing, and lots of loud noise. He was not used to the three year-old child standing in front of him, quiet and solemn, tears falling down his face with an almost unbearable gentleness.

"No," Will Auceptin said softly. "I'm not happy at all."

Meanwhile, the main group had finally begun their discussion in earnest (much to Danitz's frustration).

"Ah, excuse me..." Benson hesitantly spoke up. Having helped to raise his two siblings from a young age, he considered himself independent and street-smart; being used to explaining things to others, it was strange to be the one asking for an explanation. "I understand that the situation is a little strange, but it could still be a coincidence, right? Why is everyone acting like something has definitely happened?"

Coincidence... This familiar word brought up an old pain for Leonard, and his thoughts began to turn. C-Could this encounter somehow have been part of 0-08's plan? Zhou Mingrui - well, Klein - would have already been on its radar after coming into contact with the notebook… it’s possible, but it's just as possible that this is Mr. Fool's intervention. Leonard swallowed and sincerely prayed for the latter to be true.

Azik reacted similarly, a dark look crossing the face at the thought of Ince Zangwill. When I first met Zhou Mingrui - probably only a few days after this tarot divination - his fate hadn’t been tampered with. This incident probably isn’t due to 0-08, then. But that doesn’t mean that Zhou Mingrui hadn’t already caught 0-08’s notice in some other way… 

"Mr. Moretti, there's no such thing as a coincidence in the Beyonder world," Audrey said seriously. "At the very least, they’re exceedingly rare, and it’s best to operate with caution. We have to assume that this divination is targeted towards Zhou Mingrui.”

Benson gave a mute nod, already growing lost in thought. No such thing as a coincidence? It’s really that extreme… What kind of terrifying world has Melissa just stepped into? He felt his stomach swirl with a long-forgotten helplessness. And just what did Klein encounter there?

”Well, it’s a tarot divination. Isn’t your group the most likely cause behind this?” Hibbert asked the Tarot Club, unable to keep bitterness from leaking into his voice. Earl Hall put a hand on his son's shoulder, half reassuring and half warning.

Audrey suppressed a sigh. While she sympathized with her brother - a lot of this situation was her own fault, after all - she couldn't help but feel slightly exasperated. I understand how you must be feeling, but now is not the time to be making enemies…

Luckily, Mr. Hanged Man responded with a level head, used to such behavior from his irascible superiors in the Church of Storms. “The presence of tarot doesn’t necessarily confirm that we’re involved. Besides, we aren’t so blasphemous as to meddle in every one of our god’s matters. If Mr. Fool was truly behind this, then we were never made aware of it.”

This served not only as a reminder of the Fool’s greatness, but a gentle warning: do not pry into the secrets of God!

…Well, not that we have much choice now, the Tarot Club appended, feeling slightly awkward. Then they were overcome by a sense of alarm.

Wasn’t this viewing an act of blasphemy?!

Their patron god was a particularly mysterious one, hailing from unknown origins and forming a church in the short time of only three years. ‘His’ every goal and motive seemed to be shrouded in the same fog that flowed through their monthly meeting place. Clearly ‘He’ valued his privacy dearly - and now ‘His’ very own secret organization was breaching this trust!

P-Please forgive us, honorable Mr. Fool! We didn’t want to look! We had no choice! The club resisted the urge to bow down for forgiveness, desperate to maintain their lofty image. It wasn’t our fault, really! I don’t want to get smited…!

Seeing the group go unusually stiff, Azik had an idea of what had just occurred to them. Lips twitching, he said, “Well, if the Tarot Club doesn’t know, then there’s probably no way to be sure. They have the authority on matters relating to Mr. Fool, after all.”

“R-Right. Thank you, Mr. Azik.” Alger cleared his throat. Mr. Fool would consider our circumstances before passing divine judgment, wouldn’t ‘He’? Perhaps I could beg for my life? At least until I become an angel! Mr. Hanged Man began to seriously write out a plea speech in his mind.

"It is highly likely that Mr. Fool is responsible for this," Xio pointed out. "The use of tarot, the convenient timing, the target being Zhou Mingrui - it all adds up."

"I'm not sure we should be discussing this at all." The Hermit Cattleya raised her chin. She still vividly recalled the punishment she'd once suffered at the hands of the Fool for her insolence; she had no desire for a repeat incident. "If this truly was Mr. Fool's doing, 'He' purposefully hid this act from us and kept Zhou Mingrui a secret. We may have no choice but to sit through this viewing, but should we really unnecessarily meddle?" Her eyes narrowed. "In the secrets of an ancient god?"

Ancient god... The crowd shifted uncomfortably. The Fool... just what kind of existence is 'He'?

The Hall family set their jaws, a chill filling their bodies. From the ongoing discussion, they had begun to understand that even among secret organizations, the Tarot Club was not ordinary. They did not worship some distant figure, content to admire from afar; the Fool was an active figure in their lives and their gatherings. Even to Alfred Hall, an experienced Beyonder who had handled many different cults, such a concept was unheard of. Gods simply functioned on a different plane of existence than humanity; 'They' hadn't walked the land of man since the Fourth Epoch!

So why? Alfred felt cold sweat bead on his forehead. Why is a deity interacting so directly with 'His' followers? With Audrey? What does he want? The secrets that must lie in the answers to those questions... is it safe for me to know them?

Benson and Melissa felt faint, reality once again setting in. Just hours ago, life had been made up of such simple things: work, school, money, the next bill to pay, the next errand to run. But these shallow waters in which they had lived their entire lives, barely managing to keep their heads above water, were a mere drop in the expanse of a deep and unfathomable sea. They had always been vaguely aware of this, content to ignore it; turning a blind eye to the shadows was easy when it was all you could do just to stay afloat. Now the currents were rising, and Benson and Melissa could feel that they were caught in the tides, being pulled into a world far surpassing their imagination.

Ancient god? The Beyonder world is really a place where such words can be said so easily? Melissa looked down at her hands: the hands of a Sequence 9 who had consumed the potion mere days ago. Barely fit to stand in a workshop, let alone a battlefield. Her mouth felt dry. Did I make the right choice...?

A deep unease had settled over the audience. The less experienced Beyonders had been plunged into the fear of the unknown, while the high-level Beyonders knew full well what the consequences could be for such a transgression against a hidden existence. The discussion had temporarily ground to a halt.

Seeing this, Amanises decided to step in. "This is an incredibly unique situation. There's no point trying to play by normal rules."

Everyone whipped around to look at the Evernight Goddess, trying to decode 'Her' true meaning. I-Isn't she basically saying that all bets are off, and we might as well do whatever we want...?

"Even so... Mr. Fool..." Derrick frowned. While he was naturally curious about the Fool, he had no desire to disrespect the wishes of his patron and savior. Is it really okay to ignore privacy like this? For Mr. World, too!

"Ma'am Arianna is right." Azik picked up on Amanises' goal and stepped in to help. "Your god is not an unkind one; doesn't he encourage you to discuss everything thoroughly? You're only trying to get to the bottom of this situation, aren't you? Mr. Fool will understand that."

"But are these secrets even safe for us to learn? Certain knowledge can lead to corruption," Bernadette pointed out. Her eyes narrowed at the thought of the cosmos. To think that if Mr. Fool hadn't made sure I was informed, I might have never found out... Would I have discovered the truth before the apocalypse? Or would I have just died without ever knowing why?

"We discussed this issue before. If Mysteries' goal was to corrupt us with knowledge, ‘He’ could have done so easily. Why take such an indirect method?" Alger countered, crossing his arms. Forcing us to pry into the mysteries of our own god? Is this 'His' way of turning us against each other?

"Maybe it's not ‘His’ motive to corrupt us, but 'He' wouldn't mind it as a convenient side effect," Fors said cynically, trying to hide her grimace. She wanted to write horror plots, not live in one!

Things were veering off the rails once again. Why do I feel like a babysitter... Suppressing a sigh, Amanises regained control of the situation. "Don't you think existences like Mr. Fool and his allies would have the means to shield you from corruption?"

Only a Great Old One can face a Great Old One. Even with the authority of concealment as a true god, Amanises could only do so much against the cosmos - but a Half-Lord of the Mysteries, one of the four pillars of the universe, could easily manage some shielding. Of course, considering Klein's state, it would take a considerable amount of effort. This meant that the stability of Klein's anchors was more important than ever.   

The Evernight Goddess' words caused most people to perk up, some of the tension dissipating. Of course a lofty figure like Mr. Fool would have ways around these problems!

But if we really do learn about the cosmos - to be able to resist that… Bernadette’s brow furrowed, and her blood ran cold. Is ‘She’ implying that Mr. Fool is also Above the Sequence?

"And if Mr. Fool decides not to shield us? Do we have no choice but to blindly follow this hidden existence without knowing what 'His' motives are?" Hibbert Hall grit his teeth, struggling to keep his voice polite. As a rising politician, he could see the obvious fallacy in "Arianna's" statement; this protection depended solely on whether the Fool was willing to provide it! "Burdened with knowledge that we don't want, then forced into obedience just to mitigate the consequences of that knowledge? Forgive me, but that doesn't seem fair."

"I'm afraid it isn't very fair for any of us." Azik smiled reassuringly. "Mr. Fool will also be having his secrets revealed against his will. You could argue that this is equivalent. We're all victims of circumstance here."

So what you're saying is we're all miserable? The crowd deadpanned.

"The situation is unfortunate, but we have to do our best to adapt," Audrey said with a smile to match Azik's. The Evernight Goddess and the Angel of Death are trying to move things in a specific direction? Well, it's not surprising that 'They' know something we don't. I can only do my best to help things along!

Despite his frustration, Hibbert was unable to speak out against his own sister. He fell silent, slumping in his seat.

"Sorry," he muttered to Earl Hall, who was giving him a stern look. When will my son learn to hold his tongue, especially in a place like this...

The prospect of learning Mr. Fool's secrets still made the Tarot Club - especially Alger and Cattleya - nervous, but the endorsements of a goddess and one of Mr. Fool's own angels were enough to placate them. They studied the gray fog pooling around their feet, feeling a guilty pang in their chests. Mr. Fool had been asleep for a year now. If there was some hidden piece of knowledge here that could help their god awaken faster...

...For 'His' sake. The Tarot Club raised their heads. For the honorable Mr. Fool's sake, we have to face this head-on!

With new determination, Cattleya lowered her chin respectfully. "I apologize for causing a fuss. Let's proceed with an open discussion."

"Speaking of which..." Amanises turned towards the timer.

1:00

The private meeting is over. Some of Bernadette’s unease melted away, and she suppressed her relieved smile, still in disbelief at being able to talk to her father for the first time in centuries. Roselle seemed to know something about Mr. Fool; if they could find another opportunity to talk alone, surely they could sort this all out…

But when the emperor reappeared by her side, Will Auceptin now some distance away, her heart immediately sank. Roselle's expression had gone hollow in a way she was becoming frighteningly used to seeing. 

Again? What happened? Father…

Roselle looked up to meet Bernadette's gaze, offered a tired smile, and turned away. He didn't trust himself to look his daughter in the face right now.

"Thanks for the meeting.” Will’s voice was casual, if slightly more muted than normal. "I found out what I needed to know."

He got the information he wanted? Then why is the atmosphere so terrible? Everyone in the crowd could sense the odd tension that had formed between the Angel of Mercury and Roselle. What in the world did they talk about?

The Tarot Club racked their brains, trying to remember if Will Auceptin had behaved suspiciously during their gathering. The only thing that's changed between this viewing and the last is the knowledge of the emperor's transmigration. Surely that must be what they were talking about... but why would things turn out so terribly? Does transmigration hide some awful secret?

Even Danitz, who had planned on having a "chat" with Roselle upon his return, didn't have the heart to bully the emperor after seeing his haggard expression. "So we're all together. What now?" The pirate scowled and crossed his arms.

Not like it matters to me, anyway. I barely understand a fucking word they're saying! Danitz felt a strong sense of regret for not paying more attention during the captain's mysticism lessons.

“Well…” Fors began uncertainly. “We were saying that Mr. Fool is likely the one behind this tarot divination.”

”The question is, what about transmigration is important enough to catch Mr. Fool’s attention so quickly? Or even instantly grant Zhou Mingrui the status of a Blessed?” Alger leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful expression. He looked towards Roselle to gauge the man’s reaction.

”You’re not subtle, you know.” Roselle’s voice was unusually hoarse. He stared, unblinking, into the mist surrounding them. “Look. I don’t feel like being interrogated right now. And even if I did, there’s nothing I could tell you.”

”Nothing?” several people echoed in surprise.

“You mean you still don’t know why you transmigrated?” Miss Judgment asked, eyebrows raised.

Roselle wordlessly shook his head. Though… His vision was filled with a familiar gray fog - a fog he himself had seen, just once. If this scheme goes as far up as I think it does, I’m sure I won’t like the answer.

This response caused the audience to fall into shock - especially the Tarot Club, who had absorbed the endless wisdom of Roselle’s diaries for years. The Son of Steam was a well-respected figure in the mysticism world; he was someone on the cusp of godhood. What could there be that he didn’t know? Transmigration holds mysteries that deep? 

Benson and Melissa felt their hearts stir slightly. What does that mean for Zhou Mingrui, then…? No, he probably died before he could discover anything. He was only here for two months, after all.

“Whatever is going on here, transmigration must be the key,” Cattleya said firmly, then softened her tone. “Emperor, are you sure there’s nothing that you know?”

”Spoilers,” Roselle said with a shrug, still looking off into the distance.

“Who cares?!” Danitz scowled. “Just find a loophole or something! You’re our biggest lead!”

”There is no loophole!” Roselle snapped back, voice sharp. “I couldn’t say anything even if I wanted to! And I don’t!”

“This isn’t going anywhere,” Bernadette intervened, brow furrowing. “We can’t let the discussion devolve into meaningless arguments.”

”Queen Mystic is right. I apologize for bringing up the subject, Emperor Roselle.” Cattleya quickly latched onto this opportunity to deescalate the situation. If Roselle heard her, he gave no acknowledgment.

Trying to move the conversation further, Little Sun spoke up. “I have a question. If there's now a precedent of two transmigrators, is it possible that there are other transmigrators that we don’t know about?”

Perhaps some other important figure isn’t who we think they are! Derrick was recalling Earth Mother, who he had once believed to be the giant queen Omebella - only for it to be revealed that Omebella’s corpse had actually been sustaining the City of Silver for thousands of years as a Sealed Artifact. The truth of the city’s bloodline curse had shaken Derrick to his core, making him more cautious with such things.

Little Sun’s words sent a tremor through the crowd as their eyes widened. Other transmigrators? Is that possible? Who else could be hiding in plain sight?

"..." Amanises, the third transmigrator, looked ahead in silence.

“That’s certainly something worth considering,” said Alger, stroking his chin. “It's true that we have no way of knowing how many other transmigrators there are, or if there are any.”

I’ve been downgraded from a suspicious person to not existing at all? The goddess’ face remained blank.

Roselle’s lips twitched. This conversation was improving his mood a little. He glanced towards Amanises out of the corner of his eye, but ‘She’ was as implacable as ever. Tch. C’mon, give me something to work with here… I don’t want to think about anything right now.

"Well, if there were other transmigrators, they were certainly more subtle about it," Emlyn said acidly, jutting out his chin. Hmph! To think a human paragon of wisdom and invention would stoop to plagiarism... a Sanguine would never dishonor themselves in such a manner!

”Not necessarily,” Miss Judgment countered. “Without knowing their identities, we have no idea how they'd act. They could live quietly, or they could become incredibly important figures while simply keeping their otherworldly knowledge a secret. And of course, their existence is still hypothetical.”

”Most of these questions could probably be answered by the reason behind transmigration.” Miss Magician’s voice grew wistful. “And that answer seems to lie with Mr. Fool.”

“If ‘He’ really is the one behind this situation, then hopefully we’ll get some clues in this next viewing,” Alger said, looking at the timer. 

0:10

The show was about to resume; with that, the group discussion had come to a close. People got comfortable in their seats, sending the occasional glance towards Roselle, who was still sitting quietly.

Bernadette pursed her lips. After a second of hesitation, she opened her mouth to speak:

"故乡."

She formed the Mandarin syllables with a slight waver. She felt like a young girl again, nervously presenting a gift to her father. Yes, she'd always been so anxious in the moments before, as if he wouldn't love anything that came from her; she'd often been tempted to leave the trinket or drawing on his desk and slink away. But once she worked up the courage to hand over her gift in person, she never regretted it - because when she did, his eyes would always soften, and he would ruffle her hair, and all would be right with the world.

Roselle flinched.

Bernadette's heart dropped into her stomach, all the fear of a disappointed parent rushing back centuries out of childhood as she watched her father’s face crumple. But then his eyes softened the way they always had - even if there was pain there, too, a great pain that Bernadette could understand - and he reached over and ruffled her hair.

”Thank you. I’ll be fine, baobei.” Roselle smiled at her, his expression lightening.

0:01

The words died in Bernadette’s mouth before she could say them: But why do you look like you’re even lonelier than before? 

0:00

Free? Free things cost the most!

"Ain't that the truth." Roselle sighed over-dramatically, hoping to soothe his daughter with his usual antics.

Zhou Mingrui silently mumbled and decided that he would not purchase any additional services whatever they were. He would firmly refuse them all.

”…” The emperor’s amusement was more genuine now. Are you okay, man? Should I lend you some money?

If you are really that capable, try divining that I transmigrated here!

S-So petty! The audience felt their faces twitch.

With this in mind, Zhou Mingrui followed behind the woman whose face was painted red and yellow, stooping low to enter the low tent...

The dim yellow light flickered, causing the inside of the tent to appear bright and dark at the same time. It instantly added a much more mysterious feel to the atmosphere.

“How exciting!” Audrey whispered. She purposefully indulged herself in this ambience, taking the chance to adjust her humanity. Yes, this is certainly the kind of scene I wanted to see when I entered the world of mysticism!

Zhou Mingrui sat down quietly, his gaze sweeping over the tarot cards on the table where he discovered familiar cards like “The Magician,” “The Emperor,” “The Hanged Man,” and “Temperance,” etc.

Hanged Man? Derrick's eyes lit up, but he managed to keep his expression flat as he avoided looking at his mentor. 

Alger himself had no reaction whatsoever. Well, at least Little Sun has gotten better at hiding himself. He was still calling me Mr. Hanged Man in the real world before I left for the Western continent... Despite his exasperated thoughts, he found that he wasn't really all that annoyed. Huh. I suppose I've gotten used to it.

Benson frowned. "Excuse me, but does tarot divination really work? I'd always dismissed things like that as a charlatan's cheap tricks, but if Beyonders really exist..."

"No, they're all charlatans," Roselle replied in dead seriousness. "Cheats, every single one of them. Don't let them fool you."

"..." The Hermit coughed into her hand awkwardly. "Such divination methods work by receiving information from the spirit world. Sometimes even non-Beyonders can get accurate results with the right techniques."

"I see. Thank you." Benson bowed his head politely, not acknowledging the fact that Roselle had spoken at all.

I was ignored?! The emperor's jaw dropped.

Could Roselle have been a ‘senior’… I wonder if he was also a fellow countryman of mine… Zhou Mingrui mumbled to himself subconsciously.

The Tarot Club considered this seriously. If Zhou Mingrui really was translating Roselle's journals for Mr. Fool, then it's possible that they're from the same country, right? Or they at least understand the same language.

Roselle was still annoyed at being rebuffed, but the reminder of his and Zhou Mingrui's shared nationality only deepened his scowl. "They're called private journals for a reason," he grumbled in Mandarin. "Nobody else is supposed to read them, damnit!"

Before he could finish looking at the opened cards on the table, the woman who claimed to have accurate divinations had already reached out her hands to gather all of the cards together. She stacked them into a deck and pushed it in front of him.

“Shuffle the cards first and cut the deck,” the circus fortune-teller said in a muted voice.

“Me? Shuffle?” Zhou Mingrui asked reflexively.

The Tarot Club blinked, holding back grimaces. Someone so timid and unsure of himself was really that crazy but dependable Mr. World? He must have changed a lot after becoming a Blessed…

Fors, however, shook her head. I can't accept it, I just can’t! This kind of thing should only happen in novels!

The yellow and red paint on the fortune-teller’s face squirmed together as she revealed a slight smile, saying, “Of course, everyone’s destiny can only be unraveled by themselves. I only serve as a reader of it.”

"Damn Seers," Roselle muttered.

Melissa squinted at the screen. Shuffling the cards doesn’t cost extra, does it?

Zhou Mingrui immediately questioned her warily, “This reading does not require additional fees, right?”

So cheap! The congregation's faces went blank, but Xio only sighed. "Well, I can't blame him. In that kind of financial situation, I'd probably be even cheaper."

Huh? Melissa's eyes widened, and she looked away. She felt an inexplicable embarrassment at sharing Zhou Mingrui's thoughts.

Noticing this, Benson smiled fondly at his sister - but grief still prickled at his chest, hearing his brother's voice speak a stranger's words. He's a little more outspoken than the Klein I knew... I thought university had finally helped him out of his shell. If I'd just looked a little harder, if I'd spent more time at home instead of working... He took a deep breath. It's all in the past now.

As a keyboard folklorist, I’ve already seen too many of such tricks!

"A keyboard what?" Danitz scowled. "He keeps saying keyboard this, keyboard that. What the hell is he talking about?"

Seeing a chance to slander Zhou Mingrui, Roselle's eyes lit up. "A keyboard is like a typewriter, except for..." The emperor paused. "Well, it's complicated. Anyway, all it means is that Zhou Mingrui is a loser who spends all his time getting into arguments with strangers."

...I-Is that how it is... The Tarot Club could see Mr. World's cold and disaffected image crumbling before their very eyes.

Aren't you supposed to be helping stabilize the Fool's anchors? Not destabilize them further? Amanises felt a sudden urge to give Roselle a nice, long vacation in a certain foggy town.

The fortune-teller was visibly taken aback before finally saying muffledly, “It’s free.”

Zhou Mingrui, relieved, stuffed the revolver further back into his pocket. Thereafter, he calmly reached out his two hands to shuffle and cut the deck skillfully.

"R-Revolver?!" The crowd's mouths fell open. What was he planning to do with that?!

Fors stiffened, holding back a squeak of fear. No! This is Mr. World, this is definitely Mr. World!

Um... maybe the persona of Gehrman Sparrow is less fake than I thought... Leonard's eyebrow twitched.

Meanwhile, Danitz shivered in fear without knowing why.

“It’s done.” He placed the already shuffled tarot cards in the middle of the table.

The fortune-teller clasped the cards with both her hands and carefully looked at cards for a while. Then, she suddenly opened her mouth and said, “I’m sorry, I forgot to ask, but what would you like to ask about?”

Back when he was wooing his first love, Zhou Mingrui had also done research on tarot cards. He asked unhesitatingly, “Past, present, and future.”

"First love?" A slow smile was spreading across Audrey's lips, and her eyes were alight with the flames of juicy gossip. "How interesting." 

As Mr. World's psychiatrist, I have a duty to be aware of these things! It's not just because I'm curious! she told herself.

Beside her, Fors stiffened even further, gaping in wordless shock. I knew it, this can't be Gehrman Sparrow after all! That guy, trying to woo somebody?! What kind of extreme personality change is this?! Feeling faint once again, she pressed a hand to her head. After learning the true identities of Mr. World and Emperor Roselle, nothing can surprise me anymore! Nothing! Really!

Leonard, surprisingly, was also in disbelief. Klein had never expressed any interest in romance before! Maybe because he didn't want to leave relationships behind when he returned home? But he befriended the Nighthawks so easily! Actually... A new question occurred to him. Until now, he really hasn't found a way to return? Or did he decide not to? But he’d never leave his original friends and family behind like that - not without some sort of message, at least.

This line of thought made Leonard surprisingly uneasy. Even if they both managed to survive the apocalypse, would Zhou Mingrui still return to his own world and leave Leonard behind?

Even though you’ve already left me twice now… that would just be too cruel.

This was a type of divination as part of tarot card interpretation—three cards when opened sequentially symbolized one’s past, present, and future.

The fortune-teller nodded first, then curled her lips to reveal a smile and said, “Then please reshuffle the deck. You can only truly get the cards you want if you know what you would like to ask about.”

"Is that... does it work like that?" Benson asked slowly.

Cattleya let out an awkward cough. "No."

"..." Nobody in the audience knew what to say to this. So they're both equally petty?

Were you fooling me just now? Do you have to be this petty? Didn’t I only ask a few times if this would be a free service? Zhou Mingrui’s cheeks twitched a little. He took a deep breath and took the tarot deck back to reshuffle and cut it.

“There won’t be any problems this time, right?” He placed the already cut deck back onto the table.

“No problem.” The fortune-teller reached out her fingers and picked a card from the top of the deck. Then she placed it on the left side of Zhou Mingrui. Her voice was going lower and lower as she spoke, “This card symbolizes your past.”

Finally! This is how it’s supposed to go! People settled back in their seats, reimmersing themselves in the mysterious atmosphere. 

“This card symbolizes your present.” The fortune-teller placed the second card right in front of Zhou Mingrui.

Then, she picked the third card and put it on the right side of Zhou Mingrui.

The theater was now completely still, filled with a breathless hush. A strange sense of anticipation simmered in the air.

“This card symbolizes the future.”

“Alright, which card would you like to see first?” The fortune-teller raised her head up after completing her placement of the cards and gazed deeply at Zhou Mingrui with her grayish-blue eyes.

Something is about to happen. Whether through spiritual intuition or simple human instinct, everyone realized this in the span of a single heartbeat, the realization thudding through their veins like electricity.

”Which one do you think he’ll pick, Mr. Hanged Man?” Derrick asked in a whisper, as if afraid to break the sacred silence.

Alger chuckled. “Why don’t you try and figure it out?”

Little Sun straightened and nodded as if he’d been entrusted with an important task. “Let’s see… the past isn’t as important, unless he’s trying to figure out the circumstances behind his transmigration. The future might be tempting, but… I think he’s most concerned with his current predicament. He’ll choose the present card,” Derrick declared.

”Well, let’s see,” replied Alger.

“I’ll have a look at the ‘present’ first,” Zhou Mingrui said after giving it some thought.

The Hanged Man nodded approvingly, causing Derrick’s face to brighten.

The present, huh… Will Auceptin’s mouth pressed into a flat line. Why do I get the feeling that no matter what card he picks, it’s going to be the same?

The fortune-teller nodded slowly and flipped over the tarot card that was directly in front of Zhou Mingrui.

Everyone leaned forward in anticipation, especially the Tarot Club. The World! It must be the World card! they declared in their hearts, pulses racing.

Amanises and Will closed ‘Their’ eyes, resigned.

A colorfully dressed character was depicted on this card, wearing ragged headgear with a stick over his shoulder. There was a bundle hanging on the end of the stick and a puppy was following behind him. It was numbered “0.”

“The Fool,” the fortune-teller lightly read out the name of the card with her grayish-blue eyes affixed on Zhou Mingrui.

H-Huh…? 

The Tarot Club stared at the screen, stunned. Everyone else sucked in a collective breath, feeling a strange rush of adrenaline.

N-No, of course it would be like this! the club reasoned to themselves. This symbolizes the fact that Mr. Fool has taken notice of Klein Moretti. As expected of an ancient god, being able to influence a tarot reading while still in the process of awakening! Then his future card must be the World card, symbolizing his future status as a Blessed…

To those outside of the Tarot Club who didn’t know of Mr. World’s true identity, this revelation made more sense. This was a sure sign of the Fool’s intervention!

Melissa and Benson sat frozen, taking in the sight before them. Zhou Mingrui really has caught the eye of an ancient god? Does Klein's unusual death have something to do with it?

No surprises there, right, “Mr. Fool”? Roselle chuckled. Hell, maybe he even choose the Seer pathway because of me... Honestly! Having all of the endgame knowledge in my diary and a sefirah from the start?! Isn't that a little too broken?!

Will Auceptin, however, sat unnervingly still in his seat. The manipulation of his fate has already begun, huh? Caught in the spider's web with no chance of escape, and he doesn't even realize he's been trapped... the Celestial Worthy's methods are just too distasteful.

Able to predict the Snake of Mercury's thoughts, Amanises closed 'Her' eyes.

Ever since being reborn into this world, 'She' and 'Her' fellow transmigrators had indeed suffered many distortions of their fates. Amanises 'Herself' had been a subsidiary god of Flegrea, who possessed authority over the Fool pathway; Roselle had transmigrated into the country of Intis, where the Secret Order operated, and quickly crossed paths with Zaratul; the original Klein had been killed by the Antigonius family notebook, and Zhou Mingrui had continued to encounter cases related to Seers at a rate exceeding even the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Convergence.

Over time, Amanises had become better at sensing these distortions in destiny. 'She' had spent long years poring over every detail, every occurrence that could have led 'Her' or the others astray. But for all the changes and contrivances, this chance encounter had simply been that - a chance encounter. Zhou Mingrui had been set on this path by one single true coincidence.

Fate truly is inescapable. ‘She’ smiled bitterly.

The Fool? The “0” card of tarot? A start? A fresh beginning with all kinds of possibilities? Zhou Mingrui was not even considered an amateur enthusiast of tarot, so he could only make a rough interpretation based on his own impressions of tarot.

Finally, the audience began to overcome their awe.  "That's basically confirmation, isn't it?" said Alfred Hall tersely. "That your Mr. Fool did this?"

"It's incredibly strong evidence, yes." Audrey maintained a cool demeanor, but her eyes were brighter than before, and the whole Tarot Club felt their chests swell with pride. What a stylish way to recruit someone! Getting the VIP treatment like that, Zhou Mingrui sure is lucky! And of course, it's perfectly reasonable that he would become Mr. World, represented by the last of the Major Arcana cards, in service of the first card!

"If I may, what does the Fool represent in tarot?" Caitlyn Hall asked hesitantly. Although she considered herself an intelligent and adaptable noblewoman, she was struggling to keep up with the constant stream of information.

The knowledgeable Ma'am Hermit responded, "Beginnings, innocence, risk, spontaneity - a new story and a new cycle. Some readings of tarot interpret the Fool as the protagonist of a story, and the Major Arcana his path through the great mysteries of life. In cartomancy, this is known as the 'Fool's Journey'."

The Fool's Journey... we really are watching 'His' journey! Everyone straightened as if they had been struck by lightning. Just what kind of things are we going to see?

(Amanises studied the tarot card in silence. Just like the design 'She' had known from Earth, the Fool's arms were open wide, face turned up to meet the sun. He knew nothing, yet desired everything. He set out on the path he had yet to learn would never end. He walked into the unknown with bravery and ignorance, so much ignorance, oblivious to the cliff's edge awaiting him.

"Unlimited potential," Amanises added quietly, too soft for anyone to hear. "The Fool also represents unlimited potential.")

Just as the fortune-teller was about to say something, the cloth curtains of the tent was suddenly lifted open. The ray of sunlight that shone in was so blinding that it caused the back-facing Zhou Mingrui to instinctively narrow his eyes.

“Why are you impersonating me again! It’s my job to handle the divination for people!” a woman’s voice growled angrily. “Return to your post quickly! You must remember that you’re just an animal trainer!”

”…”

A completely different kind of silence had fallen on the theater: one of extreme embarrassment, only broken by Danitz’s raucous laughter. Everyone else felt a little ashamed of themselves for having gotten so excited.

“W-Well, just because the source is… unorthodox… doesn’t mean the results are wrong,” Cattleya said. “As Emperor Roselle said, ‘out of the mouths of babes’-” 

She paused, her face going incredibly flat. When she resumed, her voice was uncertain.

“Um… Emperor Roselle. You - you did say that, didn’t you?”

“…Ahaha.” Roselle rubbed the back of his neck, laughing nervously.

”…” The audience’s faces darkened.

”Don’t ahaha me! Who’d you steal that quote from, huh?!” Fors spat. 

“W-Well, you know, it’s all blurred together over the years!”

“You don’t even have the decency to remember who you’re plagiarizing from?” Emlyn fixed him with a gaze of disgust. “Truly disgraceful.”

Roselle crossed his arms. "Your mom is disgraceful." 

"My mother is a perfectly respectable-"

"Don't encourage him," Bernadette said with a sigh.

…The woman who was seating in front of him immediately stood up and said disgruntledly, “Don’t mind this, it’s just that I like doing this. But I have to say, my divination and interpretation can be really accurate sometimes. I’m serious…”

"Ma’am, you’re not helping your case," Mr. Star said dryly.

She spoke and lifted up her dress to go around from the side of the table before quickly trotting away from the tent.

“Sir, would you like me to interpret your cards for you?” the real fortune-teller looked at Zhou Mingrui and asked with a smile.

Zhou Mingrui’s lips twitched and asked her sincerely, “Is it free? ”

...Why is this not surprising... the crowd deadpanned.

“…No,” the real fortune-teller answered.

“Then forget it.” Zhou Mingrui pulled his hands back and put them into his pockets. He clutched his revolver and money before stooping again to exit the tent.

”So he never saw his past and future cards?” Xio frowned. “What a convenient interruption.”

"Perhaps the present card was the only one he needed to see. They might have all been the same card, even," Leonard suggested. Now that Zhou Mingrui's card had been revealed, he was more certain that this was Mr. Fool's intervention, not 0-08's "convenience". Something similar happened when I first joined the Tarot Club, after all. I pulled the Star card twice in a row... Does Mr. Fool perhaps enjoy card tricks?

Damn! He actually got an animal trainer to be his fortune-teller?

"Heh. Free things really do cost the most," Danitz said, letting out a low chuckle.

Another one trying to act cool? The Tarot Club's eyes traveled to Mr. Moon (who bristled with offense), then to where Danitz stood, smirking to himself. Actually, who even is this person...?

"Well, at this point, it's safe to say that Mr. Fool is the one behind this." Cattleya moved the conversation onward, ignoring her fellow pirate. "We can assume that for now."

Melissa frowned. "But what was the point of this? Just to send a message?"

"Gods do enjoy their drama," Azik said with a smile, but his eyes were thoughtful. Though... Zhou Mingrui had yet to become the Fool at this time. Was this truly a message sent to him by someone, then? Or fate...?

… “There is really not enough to go around for spending. Poor Benson…” Not only had Zhou Mingrui spent the two notes that he had brought with him, but it was also necessary for him top it up with the one penny he had in his pocket.

Benson grimaced. We really were poor in those days, until Zhou Mingrui got that job... official Beyonder organizations must pay well, he thought with some bitterness.

He just sighed and did not think further about it as he hurried back home.

With the staple food, he could now carry out the luck enhancement ritual!

Of course! The crowd leaned forward. The luck enhancement ritual was what Zhou Mingrui had left the house for, after all. Clearly something important would happen when he carried it out!

"It won't work, will it?" Melissa stared at her lap. "He obviously didn't return to his own world."

"I'd be very surprised if it did work," Cattleya said, her brows knitting together in realization. "If I remember the ritual he described correctly, then from a mysticism point of view, it makes no sense. Nothing in that ritual pointed to his goal of improving his luck; the answering deity would have no idea what was being asked for. Anyone with even basic knowledge of ritualistic magic could recognize this."

"But if the ritual is ineffective, then why did it cause Zhou Mingrui to transmigrate the first time?" Mr. Moon pointed out.

"It's not totally ineffective," Ma'am Hermit clarified. "It would succeed in establishing a connection with whatever existence answers the prayer, but that's it. At that point, the answering deity could basically do whatever it wants."

Whatever it wants! Everyone felt their hair stand on end. Is he walking right into a trap?

"So if this Zhou guy couldn't figure that out, then that means he has no knowledge of ritualistic magic at all?" Danitz asked, as if he had any knowledge to speak of himself. D-Dogshit, why didn't I notice that! Captain, I'm sorry for slacking off in lessons!

"Probably, yes. That would also mean he doesn't know the dangers of conducting random rituals," Xio concluded grimly. 

Zhou Mingrui really did such a dangerous thing? Melissa broke into a cold sweat, and she searched her memories for signs of anything suspicious she'd noticed about "Klein" after getting home that day. Besides his personality change, he seemed normal. Like nothing had happened... maybe the ritual didn't go wrong, after all? N-No, why does it even matter... this person is basically a stranger to me.

"Perhaps this is where Mr. Fool intervenes to save him?" Derrick suggested. Was Mr. World also saved by 'Him'? I suppose even a man as impressive as the World needs help to get to that level of strength.

"But if that's true... what is Mr. Fool saving Zhou Mingrui from?" Fors asked with a tight voice.

Nobody answered, but their minds all turned to the same place:

Who is the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth...?

...After readying everything, he finally took out the four loaves of rye bread. He placed one in the corner where the coal stove was originally, one at the bottom inner side of the dress mirror, one at the top of the cupboard where two walls met, and one at the right side of the study table where miscellaneous items were kept.

“I don’t think this is going to end well,” Benson said with a grimace.

Watching Zhou Mingrui prepare the ritual, Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man suddenly had another revelation. Four staple foods... isn't this similar to the first ritual Mr. Fool had us perform? Indeed, all that ritual seemed to do was establish a connection with 'Him'. Is this how Zhou Mingrui makes contact with Mr. Fool after all? Their hearts sped up. C-Could it be... could the Celestial Worthy be the Fool's honorific name from before 'He' went to sleep?

Lost in thought, Miss Justice let her mind wander to a particular therapy session. Mr. Fool’s sleep… I once theorized that Mr. World was from the same ancient epoch as Mr. Fool, which led to him becoming a Blessed. However, Mr. World - Zhou Mingrui - is now confirmed to be a transmigrator. Him being from an ancient epoch should translate to him being from a different world… perhaps having slept for a long time as well? After all, he did compare himself to “Sleeping Beauty”. This could also justify his connection to Mr. Fool in terms of time. But what caused Zhou Mingrui to sleep? The Celestial Worthy? Transmigration?

She sighed. The circumstances are different from what I imagined, but the end result is the same. Even if Zhou Mingrui could find a way back, everyone he knows is already gone…

With a deep breath, Zhou Mingrui came to the center of the room and spent a few minutes to calm himself. Then, he took a solemn step forward and went in a counter-clockwise direction in the shape of a square.

Counterclockwise! Leonard perked up. Didn't he do something similar when fighting the Secret Order's clown? Does this mean that he sought Mr. Fool's help through this ritual? Although he obviously couldn't have chanted or prepared any staple foods... but again, this doesn't match what Dwayne Dantès told me: that Klein joined the Tarot Club for revenge. Even if it was to protect the secret of transmigration, couldn't he have picked a lie that was harder to disprove? Or perhaps he was telling the truth, and Zhou Mingrui became a Blessed before he even joined the gathering formally, seeking vengeance? Maybe the "revenge" Dwayne Dantès referred to wasn't Klein Moretti avenging Captain, but Zhou Mingrui seeking out the entity that caused him to transmigrate...?

Whatever the answer is, I think I'm about to find out. Leonard dug his nails into his palms.

When he took the first step, he chanted in a low whisper, “Blessings Stem From The Immortal Lord of Heaven and Earth.”

"He's starting," Fors muttered. Yes, this would make an excellent introduction for a novel: a clueless amateur just trying to get home, conducting a mysterious ritual, only for something unimaginable to happen! T-The question is, what's going to happen?!

Several people in the audience gulped, feeling their throats go dry. Benson and Melissa looked at the screen with anxiety.

The second step, he sincerely chanted, “Blessings Stem From The Sky Lord of Heaven and Earth.”

Amanises perched 'Her' chin on 'Her' hand, savoring the last moments of peace.

The third step, Zhou Mingrui breathed out a whisper. “Blessings Stem From The Exalted Thearch of Heaven and Earth.”

Azik leaned forward in his seat, face creased with a mix of curiosity and concern. Will Auceptin grit his teeth.

At the fourth step, he spat out a breath and meditated in concentration. “Blessings Stem From The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth.”

Silence. Everyone let out a shaky sigh, as if some tension had been released.

"He really did it," Danitz said, almost in awe. "He really finished the ritual. Is he crazy or just stupid?"

Cattleya's voice was grim. "That remains to be seen." 

Well, my friend, if you didn't have the attention of a Great Old One before, you certainly do now. Roselle sighed. The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth... huh.

When he returned back to the original spot, Zhou Mingrui closed his eyes and waited in his place for an outcome. He had some anticipation in him, some unease, some hope, and some fear.

Could he make it back?

Audrey pursed her lips, keeping her face smooth.

Was there going to be any effect?

Could there be some unexpected situation?

"Is there any expected situation in this scenario?" Emlyn muttered, jaw tight with nervousness.

The unknown in front of him was tainted with the crimson light of hope. Zhou Mingrui’s thoughts were swirling in his head and was finding it difficult to quell it.

Crimson light of hope, eh? Roselle smiled bleakly. We really didn't know anything in the beginning.

It was at this time that he suddenly felt the surrounding air seem to stop, becoming thick and mysterious.

Immediately after, a low whisper could be heard beside his ears that sounded at times real, at times sharp, at times imaginary, at times alluring, at times maniacal, and at times crazy.

It's starting! The crowd tensed. 

"W-Why is he hearing ravings?!" Leonard cried. "He's not even a Beyonder yet!" 

Alger shook his head with a solemn expression. "Nothing like this has ever happened while attempting Mr. Fool's rituals."

So something did go wrong?! Melissa's heart raced. Even though I didn't notice anything amiss! Could Zhou Mingrui have been replaced by yet another person - some evil entity?!

He clearly did not understand the murmuring that went on, but Zhou Mingrui still couldn’t help himself from wanting to listen to it and distinguish what it was saying...

He knew that something was wrong and tried to open his eyes. However, he wasn’t even able to complete such a simple action.

"Klein..." Leonard was unable to suppress his voice, seeing his best friend in agony. "What's happening?"

His entire body was getting tighter and tighter and it felt like he could just break apart at any time. At this time, a self-mocking thought came up in Zhou Mingrui’s mind:

“If you didn’t court death, you wouldn’t die…”

Courting death... Azik's smile was wry, but tight with worry. Yes, that's something you'll get very good at in the future. And who knows how much trouble you've gotten into that I don't even know about?

He could no longer bear with it. Just as his mind was going to break, the murmuring of voices faded away and his surroundings became very quiet. The mood was an erratic one.

It was not only the mood; Zhou Mingrui felt his own body going through the same sensations as well.

He tried once more to open his eyes, an extremely easy task this time.

The audience slumped in relief, and Leonard felt the tension drain out of his body. Thank the Goddess...

A gray fog appeared over his eyes—haziness, vague, and endless.

“Praise the Foo!” Several voices rang out in unison as the Tarot Club couldn't help but smile in relief. It was ‘His’ work after all!

Alger worked to dissect this piece of information. So did Mr. Fool hijack this ritual, or did it always point to 'Him', and 'He' has simply changed 'His' honorific name since? If so, then why? Hopefully the first meeting between Mr. Fool and Mr. World will provide some answers.

"What is this?" Caitlyn Hall asked in a daze. Never in her life had she seen something so mysterious. "The same fog we're in right now? The Fool's divine kingdom?"

"The very same." Danitz grinned. Heh, but don't get too cocky, Zhou Mingrui! You may be getting special treatment, but I'm still the Fool's one and only Oracle!

Meanwhile, a word popped into Azik's mind: sefirah.

...Why can't I remember what that means? Azik frowned.

“What’s with this situation?” Zhou Mingrui suddenly looked around him and then lowered his head down to discover that he was floating at the edge of an endless fog.

The fog was flowing like water and was dotted with a lot of crimson ‘stars.’ Some of them were enormous while others were tiny. There was a sense of them being hidden in the deep depths, while others floated over the surface of this water-like fog.

"...Hm?" The Tarot Club's elation began to fade. Crimson stars? None of them had ever seen such a scene upon being summoned to the gray fog. Why was it different for Zhou Mingrui? Perhaps because he was already marked out as a Blessed, he was allowed to see more deeply into Mr. Fool's domain...? What we have seen only scratches the surface of this mysterious place... what could those stars represent?

"Where is Mr. Fool?" Derrick asked, confused. Even for a Blessed's special treatment - to just let an ordinary person wander around a divine kingdom without intervention? Why would 'He' do such a thing?

"'He' should be here any second now," Fors said confidently, wearing a relieved smile. "Maybe 'He' just wanted to scare Zhou Mingrui a bit by showing him something strange, and then extend a helping hand."

...Are you implying that Mr. Fool is the type to play pranks? The rest of the Tarot Club felt that their comrade was a little silly.

Despite this jovial mood, Bernadette narrowed her eyes. Are those prayer lights?

Looking at the seemingly holographic sight, Zhou Mingrui reached out his right hand in a half-confused, half-exploring manner to try to touch the crimson ‘star’ that was seemingly floating on the surface. He was trying to find a way to leave this place.

"..." The experienced Beyonders of the group stared ahead in disappointed silence. In the realm of mysticism, such reckless action could lead to death - or worse!

"He touched it?" Xio said in disbelief. "An unidentified object in an unknown place? Without even knowing what it would do?"

Cattleya pushed her glasses up her nose, sighing. "It's stupid enough to do in the real world, but in a god's divine kingdom, it could warrant... well... divine punishment."

Everyone shuddered slightly at these words.

"Perhaps he was supposed to touch it," suggested Alger. "Mr. Fool wouldn't let something like this happen unless 'He' wanted it to happen."

"Mr. Fool is far too cautious to let Zhou Mingrui roam unattended." Derrick nodded, backing up his mentor. After all, 'He' was always giving us warnings when 'He' was awake, steering us out of danger... His chest tightened with a sudden pang of grief, but he kept his head held high. No - there's no time to be sad when we could be attempting to awaken 'Him'! If we could just find out the truth of this viewing...!

Still, this clueless guy... he really goes on to become Mr. World? The Tarot Club suppressed sighs. The difference is just too great!

When his hand touched the surface of that star, a water mark suddenly appeared from within his body and agitated the stars into a “crimson” burst. It looked like a dreamlike burning of flames.

What in the...? The crowd watched in confusion.

"At least it didn't kill him immediately," Danitz muttered.

Zhou Mingrui got a fright from it. He retracted his right hand in a panic, but accidentally touched yet another crimson star.

As a result, this star burst with splendid light as well.

In turn, Zhou Mingrui felt his mind empty and his spirit dissipated.

He touched two stars... two people summoned to the first gathering... Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man, the founding members of the Tarot Club, thought in unison. That can't be a coincidence. But why would Zhou Mingrui be the one who triggered this? Obviously Mr. Fool was the one who summoned us!

…

In the Loen Kingdom’s capital, Backlund. Inside a luxurious looking villa at the royal district.

Audrey Hall sat in front of a dresser. The markings on it were antiquated and there was a cracked bronze mirror on the surface.

"What?!" The Hall family's mouths fell open.

“We’re seeing other memories aside from Zhou Mingrui’s?” Xio said in disbelief.

"Is this my perspective?" Even the senior Spectator Audrey was surprised. This is going to be even worse than the Hall of Truth!

"T-This is an invasion of privacy!" Hibbert protested. "You can't just intrude in someone's life like this!"

Emlyn scoffed. "But it's fine when it's just Zhou Mingrui whose privacy is being breached? Please keep your hypocrisy to yourself."

”But... how did Mysteries gain access to my memories?" Audrey pressed a hand to her forehead, as if feeling for a place where her consciousness could have leaked out onto the screen. "Could 'He' see them from the moment we entered this space? Or even before?"

This thought caused a shiver to run down Audrey's spine. As a Dream Weaver, it had been a long time since she'd encountered someone superior to her in the mind domain - and yet now, her consciousness had been infiltrated without her so much as noticing. T-This is the power of an angel or a god! Advancing to Sequence 3 really did make me too cocky... Once again, fear and respect of the mysticism world was deeply engraved into her heart.

More than that... Even as her family gaped at the screen in worry, something else occurred to Audrey. The way I acted back then was so embarrassing…!

No! Don't think about it or you'll lose control! Trying to distract herself, she stood from her seat and faced the crowd with an elegant curtsy.

“Well, now a formal introduction shouldn't hurt. My name is Audrey Hall. Good afternoon~”

Curtsying once again to the Tarot Club, she sat down with a smile. 

Audrey Hall? That noble family in Backlund? Those who hadn't already realized this made the connection.

Meanwhile, the other members of the noble Hall family felt bile rise in their throats. That mirror? Didn't it shatter...? T-This must be the moment where Audrey was pulled into that secret organization!

“Mirror, mirror, awaken…

“In the name of the Hall family, I command you to awaken!”

”…”

No, no, no! I wanted to forget that I was like this! Audrey's face froze. Her Spectator powers were the only thing preventing her face from burning in humiliation. Begone, my shameful past…! 

The serious mood was instantly dispelled as people cracked smiles. The Tarot Club cleared their throats, trying to not embarrass their fellow member, but were unable to hide the amusement in their eyes. Audrey determinedly refused to meet their gazes.

Of course, Mr. Star made no effort to conceal himself and laughed without reservation. "Which mysticism circle did you learn that incantation from? Or perhaps you took it from a fairytale?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Miss Justice replied brightly. Ugh... now I know how Mr. World felt in the Hall of Truth... this is awful!

Even the usually stoic Queen Mystic wasn't immune to this display, her eyes softening just a fraction as she thought of Cattleya's younger days. Roselle nudged his daughter and grinned. “You know, you were like that too once.”

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Queen Mystic had gone stone-faced once again.

The Hall family muffled laughter behind their hands. This was the Audrey they'd always known - clever, yes, but innocent and gentle, too. This was the way things should be. 

So what changed? 

Their mirth quickly faded; they knew the answer to that question.

The Tarot Club...

She switched between many different sayings, but there was no reaction from the mirror at all.

After more than 10 minutes, she finally chose to give up and pouted her lips in grievance. She said in a soft murmur, “Father was indeed lying to me. He always tells me that this mirror was the treasure of the Solomon Empire’s Dark Emperor, and that it is an extraordinary item…”

"Extraordinary item?" Alger muttered. I had a similar item that shattered after this first meeting... are these artifacts how Mr. Fool establishes connections to us? Derrick and Cattleya, whose connections had also been established through artifacts, had similar thoughts.

Her voice trailed off. The bronze mirror which rested on the dresser suddenly glowed with a crimson light that shrouded her completely.

"W-What just happened?" Melissa asked urgently. "Why did it start glowing?"

"The mirror was the thing that established the connection, it seems," Azik said, stroking his chin.

"Wait - you were just pulled in like that without warning?" Hibbert asked. "Your recruitment was just a coincidence because of the mirror?"

"Yes," Audrey admitted. "I didn't know what was happening at first. But I wasn't forced into anything."

"So it was an extraordinary item after all," Earl Hall said with a bitter laugh. If only I hadn't given my daughter that silly thing, then this never would have happened. I thought I was harmlessly indulging her interest in mysticism. For things to turn out like this... is it my fault?

"You couldn't have known," Caitlyn told him quietly. "We have to accept things as they are now."

Hearing this conversation, Audrey continued to look ahead, saying nothing.

It's not their fault. I really have changed. Such a shocking thing is difficult to accept all at once. That's why I hid it from them: so they could continue protecting their daughter like they always wanted to... no. Whether I made the wrong choice or not, the past is in the past. Like Mother said, we have to accept things as they are now. Miss Justice steeled herself.

…

In the Sonia Sea, a three-masted sailboat that looked like an obvious relic was navigating through a storm.

"Another perspective change?" Leonard asked, intrigued. "Who's the unlucky winner this time, I wonder."

Meanwhile, Mr. Hanged Man felt a terrible sense of foreboding.

Alger Wilson stood on deck, his body undulating with the currents at sea, maintaining his balance easily.

"Alger Wilson," several people muttered, repeating this unfamiliar name. Unlike Audrey Hall, a famous noble, hardly anybody here know who Alger Wilson was.

Of course, the Tarot Club could easily identify him as the Hanged Man - but out of respect for their fellow member’s privacy, they kept their gazes firmly ahead. Derrick resisted the urge to look at Alger, not wanting to give his mentor away - but secretly, he felt a little proud. He had already learned Mr. Hanged Man’s name in the real world!

Alger Wilson… He smiled. As I thought, Mr. Hanged Man suits him better.

Ugh, I knew it! The man himself resisted the urge to sink into his seat. Years of experience as a Beyonder were currently ringing every possible alarm in his mind, but no matter how hard he scrambled to find some way to maintain his anonymity, he always came up short. The Tarot Club was one thing, but is there no way out of exposing my identity to everyone here? The naturally cautious and distrustful Mr. Hanged Man felt this to be the worst case scenario.

It'll have to happen eventually, most likely very soon. If there's no other choice, I'd rather be introduced on my own terms! Swallowing his reservations, Alger stood out of his seat. “That’s my name, I’m afraid,” he said with a sigh that made it clear how he felt about the whole situation.

The crowd looked to him in surprise. Audrey Hall had been one thing, but nobody had expected members of a secret organization to be so open about their identities, even under duress.

He decided to take action himself before things spiraled out of control for him? Well, how could I let my comrade face this alone? Audrey smiled and extended her hand like a proper noble girl. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wilson.”

Miss Justice is truly able to put one’s mind at ease. With a chuckle, Alger took her hand and, rather than obeying noble etiquette, settled for a firm handshake. This was a gesture not of subservience, but of respect for an equal. ”Likewise, Miss Hall.”

Audrey indulged herself in the thrill of pride bursting in her chest. I was acknowledged by Mr. Hanged Man!

After letting go of the girl's hand, Mr. Hanged Man turned and bowed to the Tarot Club. “A pleasure to meet you.”

Even though he obviously didn't want to be introduced, he changed his tune so easily! The club members felt their lips curling up as they nodded back at Mr. Hanged Man. Really, what a wily old fox...

Alfred Hall watched this interaction carefully. They don't know each other's identities, but they do seem close. That, and their god being so present within their gatherings - isn't it all too strange? What's going on here? He grit his teeth. Audrey, do you really think you can trust these people?

He wore a robe embroidered with lightning patterns, and in his hand was a quirky-shaped glass bottle. Bubbles billowed inside the bottle at times, frost turned into snow at times, and signs of gusting wind could be seen at times.

“Still short on the Ghost Shark’s blood…” Alger murmured.

As expected, he's of the Sailor pathway, many Beyonders thought, looking at Alger critically.

Emlyn laughed. "Collecting potion ingredients, Mr. Wilson?"

"..." Alger grit his teeth and didn't respond. Mr. Moon, are you sure you're not a Provoker?

Then at this moment, a crimson burst appeared in the space between the glass bottle and the surface of his palm. In an instant, it enveloped the surroundings as well.

"So you also had your connection established by an artifact." Cattleya stroked her chin, thinking of her own celestial globe that had shattered upon her first being pulled into the gray fog. "Could those crimson stars represent connections to these artifacts?"

"I think so too," Derrick agreed. The crystal ball my parents left me also seemed to glow crimson at that time.

"How exactly are these connections formed? A link straight to a god's domain - even in the mysticism world, this kind of thing is unusual," Miss Magician said thoughtfully.

"Isn't there a bigger problem here? Why does it seem like Zhou Mingrui is the one who summoned you?" Mr. Moon pointed out.

Nobody could answer him.

"This is Mr. Fool's domain. Perhaps 'He' was able to exert some influence over Zhou Mingrui and make him act in a certain way?" Mr. Star suggested.

"Is 'He' able to do that?" Xio asked, but once again, nobody could answer. The Tarot Club felt a strange sense of shame. In the end, we really don't know much about Mr. Fool...

"I-I'm sure everything will make sense if we keep watching," said Cattleya.

…

In the fog of gray mist, Audrey Hall regained her sight. She started reckoning the situation in a state of horror and confusion when she noticed the blurry image of a man on the opposite side of her doing the same as well.

"Two stars touched and two people summoned," Bernadette said softly. Don't tell me, those really were prayer lights? But that would mean...

Immediately after, the both of them discovered another mystery person standing not far from them who was shrouded in a gray mist.

The ‘mysterious person’ was none other than Zhou Mingrui. He was similarly dumbfounded.

W-What...?

Melissa and Benson's eyes widened. He really was summoned to a secret organization! Or, no, was he the one who did the summoning? What does this mean?

"Is this the first Tarot Club meeting?" Alfred Hall asked quietly. 

"Huh? But..." Derrick scrunched up his nose in thought. But when I joined the Tarot Club, there were only two other members: Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man. Mr. World didn't join until after! Confused, he looked towards his mentor for guidance, only to find Mr. Hanged Man - always strong, wise, and dependable - looking more confused than Derrick had ever seen him before. The sight caused him a jolt of panic.

This... Audrey and Alger were suddenly overcome with dread. They were unable to accept the sight in front of them. This isn't right. In our first gathering, the only one there besides us was Mr. Fool 'Himself'... no, there must be some sort of explanation...!

Watching the beginning of the descent into madness, Roselle had to suppress his cackles. Finally! Revenge will be mine, Zhou Mingrui!

“Sir, where is this?”

Audrey braced against her apprehension. "Ma'am Arianna, I apologize for my disrespect, but are the contents of this viewing accurate?"

Even I can't know what goes on inside Sefirah Castle. Of course, I'm sure I know what she's doubting. "It's real," Amanises said in a gentle tone.

"...I see. Thank you." Audrey bowed her head, swallowing around the lump in her throat. She exchanged a nervous look with Mr. Hanged Man. There's a reason for this! There must be! Mr. Fool will show up any second now-!

Audrey and Alger were startled at first, falling silent in the process. Then, they immediately started speaking in unison.

Amanises let 'Her' eyes flutter closed. There's no going back now, is there, Mr. Fool?

The next question asked was something everyone had in mind:

“What are you planning on doing?”

Chapter Text

Without fanfare, the timer appeared and began to count down. 

5:00

Unfortunately, the crowd was too distracted to notice it. They were busy scanning the room, eyes darting around as they tried to make sense of what they’d just seen, all while a miasma of unease begun to spread. It had originated from Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man, who felt disturbed for obvious reasons. In the eyes of others, however, their reactions were inexplicable, causing a growth in tension and confusion. What could have caused members of the Tarot Club, who held authority on matters relating to the Fool, to react this way?

Audrey and Alger exchanged a wary look, finding themselves equally lost. That fated summoning by Mr. Fool had been forever engraved into their minds: even four years later, they remembered it as if it had happened yesterday. Surely they couldn't have both missed a detail as big as an additional person being present! But the alternatives to that made even less sense! What's happening...?

I-It must be that our thoughts are simply too limited! We could never hope to understand the methods of gods! It's still not unreasonable for Mr. Fool to show up, even if Zhou Mingrui's presence is unexplained! As the two tried to soothe their worries, they felt a shiver run down their spines. Even so... these gatherings have held mysteries from the very beginning. There was really so much we didn't know... Mr. Fool is an existence with countless secrets!

The Tarot Club easily noticed the abnormality in their fellow members, but were unable to pinpoint a reason, making them anxious. For Miss Justice to call the authenticity of the viewing into question, and for Mr. Hanged Man to let his poker face crack like that - just what could they have noticed? Seeing the awe and fear that the two had regarded Zhou Mingrui with in the viewing, and the unexplained absence of Mr. Fool, they had no clue what to think.

This really is strange... It's almost like... Fors rubbed her temples in an effort to make sense of the situation. All of a sudden, a strange and terrible idea flitted through her mind-

But she quickly shook it off, laughing to herself. Zhou Mingrui - that lunatic, Gehrman Sparrow, the Fool? Now isn’t the time for jokes like that! Heh, I've been writing too much lately, to come up with such a silly idea! 

Those outside of the Tarot Club had no way of knowing the true significance of what they'd just seen. Still, something was very obviously unusual! There were too many questions that they had yet to receive answers to, so they could only sit quietly, trying to put the pieces together.

Benson and Melissa were particularly affected. They had no idea what to feel - Klein's death was already shrouded in mystery, but the truth of Zhou Mingrui's circumstances was growing murkier by the minute. How had he summoned people to the gray fog like that, in the same way they themselves had been summoned? Why was the Tarot Club acting so strangely? How did Mr. Fool play into this? And how had Klein and Zhou Mingrui really died? The siblings wanted to bury their heads in their hands, overwhelmed with a helpless confusion. 

Klein... if only we could talk to you one more time. Just once...

The Hall family certainly wasn't immune to the atmosphere, either, all biting their lips in worry. What had happened to Audrey? What had she seen to provoke such a response? Had their dear dazzling gem been taken in and lied to by a cult after all? Hearts swirling with confusion and concern, the Earl, Alfred, Hibbert, and even the usually calm Caitlyn were ready to go on the warpath if need be.

Who knows what those people could have forced her to do...! Alfred grit his teeth in fury. The sight of his sister's blank expression had sent him spiraling back into denial. Even if Susie claims that nobody here holds ill intent, she's still an animal that can be easily tricked! How could I trust a dog over my own sister?! Yes, it must be only now that Audrey is discovering the true nature of this group, and perhaps Mr. Fool 'Himself'. To pull the wool over a Spectator's eyes for so long, that hidden existence must truly be a threat. 'He' will pay for this!

Amanises, Azik, and Will Auceptin - the only ones who knew Mr. Fool's true identity - took in this declining mood with a grim acceptance. Here was where things would start to get difficult. Difficult, but necessary: after all, a wound that hadn't closed properly sometimes had to be ripped open in order to heal. And if Zhou Mingrui's three years in this world could be described as anything, well, "a painful wound" would be as accurate a description as any.

Still, the healing process would not be painless.

To think that it would come to this... For now the trio stayed silent, allowing people time to think.

4:50

Finally, Alfred Hall broke the silence to ask what was on everyone's minds.

"This was supposed to be Mr. Fool's intervention to save Zhou Mingrui, wasn't it? Why has it turned into... into what looks like the first Tarot Club meeting?" Alfred held back his scowl, trying to appear civil. Nothing would come of giving into anger; it would just make getting an answer that much harder. But despite his efforts, after a moment of thought, his collected and analytical demeanor was thrown into disarray. Wait - if this is the first meeting, wouldn't that make Audrey a founding member of that secret organization?! A founding member...?!

"First we should try and make a confirmation." Cattleya turned towards Audrey and Alger. "Is this really the first Tarot Club meeting? Is this what you remember?"

The sequence of events lines up to be the first gathering, but as for what comes after this… even I’m not sure anymore. The Hanged Man opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Holding back a sigh, he shrugged helplessly.

Spoilers... damn! The audience couldn't help but curse in annoyance.

"I don't think it could be anything else. Why else would two Tarot Club members be summoned for the first time?" Mr. Star asked before turning towards the pair. "But judging by your reactions, what we've seen doesn't match up with your memories, does it?" 

This is the message that Miss Justice sent by asking about the viewing's authenticity: there's a discrepancy here! Leonard smiled to himself, proud to have caught on. Once again, Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man were unable to so much as nod, but they met Leonard's gaze intently.

"Well, whether this is an intervention, a Tarot Club meeting, or both, Mr. Fool should be here." Fors began uncertainly. "So... why hasn't 'He' shown up?"

There was a pregnant pause. Miss Magician had gotten straight to the roots of the matter, forcing the biggest question of all to the surface: in this viewing, supposedly centered around Mr. Fool ‘Himself’-

Where in the world is Mr. Fool?

“It’s true that hidden existences often take indirect approaches in recruitment, but for ‘Him’ to not show up at such a pivotal time is strange.” Judgment Xio crossed her arms. “Perhaps this viewing ended the moment before ‘He’ appeared, and we’re only being misled by the cutoff point?”

…So ‘He’ waited in order to make a dramatic entrance? Nobody dared to speak this thought aloud.

Nevertheless, Audrey and Alger were inclined to agree with this theory. The “mysterious figure” had only been confirmed to be Zhou Mingrui up to this point. Perhaps some sort of switch happened at this very moment, with Mr. Fool taking the place of Zhou Mingrui, or ‘He’ used some other obscure method - for an existence as powerful and secretive as the honorable Mr. Fool, the possibilities were endless.

There must be an explanation for everything! Although their hearts were still plagued with fear and uncertainty, the two Tarot Club members felt slightly comforted. We just have to have faith in Mr. Fool!

”This possibility also supports Mysteries’ motives.” Alger, having regained his footing, spoke up in agreement with Xio. “He’s trying to mislead us into doubting Mr. Fool, thus destabilizing ‘His’ anchors.”

Seeing Mr. Hanged Man confidently analyze the situation instilled Derrick with a sense of security. He felt as if things had returned to normal. “But what’s the point of misleading us if the misunderstanding is resolved in the next viewing anyway?”

Miss Justice had similarly recovered and responded with a gentle smile. “Once a seed of doubt is planted, it’s very difficult to completely eradicate, even once the doubt has been resolved. The possibility has already been planted in your minds, you see. Even if this case was a misunderstanding, what about the next case? And the one after that? Are they all so easily explained away? Just one instance of suspicion can paint a person’s future actions in a much more dubious light. This might be what Mysteries is trying to accomplish.”

”Question someone once, and you’re likely to question them again,” Cattleya mused. “To think that phrase could be applied here… what a strange world we live in.”

”Of course, we’d never doubt Mr. Fool in the first place,” Little Sun said earnestly.

Roselle, who had been cackling under his breath the entire time, muffled a burst of laughter behind his hand.

”…” The conversation trailed off. Nobody knew how to react to their earnest discussion being mocked by the Son of Steam himself.

”Sorry, sorry, it’s just-“ Roselle grinned, but before he could finish his sentence, he doubled over in another cackling fit. Even Amanises and Bernadette’s combined unimpressed stares had no effect on him. The audience could only look on in mortified silence as the emperor slowly collected himself, shoulders still shaking with laughter. 

Zhou Mingrui, this is what you get for scamming my honorary granddaughter, my dear Bernadette’s disciple! Damn, it’s just too good! Roselle wiped a mirthful tear from his eye. “Okay, I’m fine now. Keep going.”

This guy… he doesn’t add anything to the discussion, then he makes fun of us? The crowd felt as if they had been Provoked. Who said we needed your permission to keep going?!

Meanwhile, Queen Mystic's doubts only grew deeper. Father must know something, after all. With the way he behaves so closely to Zhou Mingrui, as well as the crimson prayer lights, it’s almost as if… She shook her head. No, that’s impossible. Mr. Fool is someone who can command the Seven Pure Lights ’Themselves’. That isn't an authority that you can fake or gain easily. But the direction this seems to be going is... something so unthinkable that the Fool’s followers wouldn't dare consider it.

“U-Um, as for Mr. Fool’s absence, there’s another possibility.” In a desperate bid to get things back on track, Leonard’s thoughts had turned to 0-17, currently kept in the Backlund diocese. His stomach turned as he spoke. “Could it be that Zhou Mingrui is Mr. Fool’s descension vessel in some capacity?”

Descension vessel? The crowd was stunned into silence by the boldness, or perhaps the stupidity, of this theory. Descension vessel, my foot! Zhou Mingrui would turn to ash if Mr. Fool so much as looked at him wrong!

”Zhou Mingrui isn’t even a Beyonder yet, so he probably couldn't withstand such a method,” Mr. Hanged Man pointed out tactfully. “Also, this theory doesn't explain the World's presence."

This was an issue only known to those within the Tarot Club. After all, Zhou Mingrui himself had eventually joined the gathering as Mr. World. How could he act as both a Tarot Club member and a vessel for the convener?

The World? Everyone else perked up at the mention of another tarot card. This would seem to signify another member... but nobody in that organization reacted as if their name had been called. Which one of them is the World? Or is the member bearing that code name not here for some reason? Could it be Zhou Mingrui...?

“Well, not a vessel in the traditional sense. A full descension would kill a human being.” Leonard was quick to defend himself. Even a partial descension could do much worse than killing, he thought darkly, recalling Megose’s unfortunate fate. “But that much wouldn’t be necessary in order for Mr. Fool to communicate. Besides, this would only be a temporary measure until 'He' fully awakened."

Alger considered this information, then nodded. “We do suspect that Mr. Fool was still awakening at this time. That would explain ‘His’ need for a human mouthpiece. It’s unlikely, but possible.”

”Anything is possible within a god’s domain,” Cattleya added seriously.

Emlyn naturally took this opportunity to boast. "High-level Sanguines do possess some obscure methods that allow them to interfere with the world while in slumber. Mr. Fool may possess the same methods, having acknowledged Sanguine wisdom in 'His' infinite grace."

Hearing this, Miss Justice perked up. "It may also be that Mr. Fool has a Spectator Blessed who could mold Zhou Mingrui into a... hm, a false descension vessel of sorts. Not a true descension, but manipulating Zhou Mingrui into acting in accordance with Mr. Fool's will. As a temporary measure, of course."

Actually, I don't think any of this would be necessary... doesn't the Seer pathway possess an ability to make "marionettes"? Cattleya recalled. No, perhaps Mr. Fool wasn't awake enough to do this 'Himself'. Besides, marionettes are made through death, and Mr. Fool isn't the kind of god to use that method on an innocent person, unless 'He' was out of options... still, is this fate that much better than death?

Benson could feel his head starting to spin. Spectator? Descension? God's domain? Human mouthpiece... you can control a person like that? How...? Dear Goddess, I haven't been this overwhelmed by information since I studied for the civil service exam! He looked towards his sister, a lost expression on his face, but Melissa appeared no better. Having only been a Beyonder for a few days and with no plans to advance, she had received nothing but the basics of education. Still, she couldn't help but frown. Audrey, who Melissa had always seen as cheerful and naïve, seemed unsuited for such a manipulative-sounding pathway.

Spectators are capable of such things? This realization caused Earl Hall to bite the inside of his cheek. Although he had at least a basic understanding of the Beyonder world, and had even done some research into the Spectator pathway to support his daughter, hearing words such as "false descension vessel" thrown around so casually forced him to rethink how much he knew. It's true that even the lower sequences have aspects of manipulation, but... was it always so insidious?

However, those more educated in mysticism regarded this theory with doubt. Even Judgment Xio, who preferred to take action over studying concepts and theory, had a frown on her face. Isn’t that… a bit too outlandish? The Beyonder world may be a strange place, but this theory has obvious holes. If Mr. Fool had a Spectator Blessed from the beginning, why would 'He' keep Miss Justice around? And if 'He' was awake enough to command a Blessed, shouldn't 'He' be able to hold a simple gathering? Why are the wise Mr. Hanged Man and Ma’am Hermit being so unquestioning? The intuitive Xio, wits having sharpened during her time at MI9, sensed that something was wrong. It was a phenomenon she had seen time and time again: people rationalized anything they refused to accept. 

But what is it that they’re refusing to accept? Xio felt an inexplicable nervousness that stopped her from speaking.

A few seats away, the Evernight Goddess put ‘Her’ hand on ‘Her’ chin, watching in silence. 

3:00

“Perhaps we aren’t thinking on a wide enough scale,” Bernadette volunteered, deciding to voice her suspicions. “The problem is bigger than this one incident. Mr. Fool has been strangely absent this whole time, hasn’t ‘He’? This viewing is supposed to be about Mr. Fool’s secrets, so why is it from the perspective of ‘His’ Blessed and believers? Even if they share a close connection, do you really think Mr. Fool would share his deepest secrets with a mere devotee?”

Upon saying this, her eyes darted subtly to Roselle, trying to gauge his reaction. Unfortunately, her father revealed nothing and only winked back at her. Bernadette held back a sigh of frustration. He wasn’t such a good politician for no reason… his poker face is unbreakable when he wants it to be. 

In the midst of this silent exchange, the audience was coming to terms with Queen Mystic’s words and kicking themselves. How could they have overlooked the abnormalities within the viewing itself?

“There’s a simple explanation for this. It’s one thing to pry into our memories, but the memories of a god?” Emlyn shook his head. “Perhaps this was the best Mysteries could manage.”

“Besides, Mr. Wo - Zhou Mingrui does hold a very unique position. If anybody knew Mr. Fool’s secrets, it would be him,” Derrick said thoughtfully.

“Zhou Mingrui was really someone so important?” Benson didn’t hide his surprise. He had managed to somewhat infer the meaning of a Blessed, but the way the Tarot Club acted implied that Zhou Mingrui’s position was even higher. “A god’s most valued believer? Why was he given such significance?”

He still refers to Klein in the past tense… Leonard noted with a guilty wince.

Audrey hummed in thought, creating a theory in her mind. Perhaps Mr. Fool is also a transmigrator, and ‘He’ feels a sense of kinship with Mr. World, even sharing ‘His’ own secrets as a result? If they’re both from an ancient epoch, it’s not impossible that they share a homeworld, too! In fact, it’s more likely that Zhou Mingrui caught Mr. Fool’s attention this way! Though I doubt Mr. Fool would divulge the confidential matters of godhood for a reason like that…

Well, maybe it’s possible; after all, towards the end, Mr. Fool did seem much more human. Perhaps it was in this stage that ‘He’ revealed everything to Mr. World… Sadness danced in Audrey’s eyes. It’s unfortunate. Just as Mr. Fool’s humanity grew richer, Mr. World’s humanity grew more distant as an angel, before he even had to go to sleep alongside Mr. Fool…

Alongside… Mr. Fool… The image of Zhou Mingrui’s fog-shrouded figure reappeared in her mind.

Honestly, Audrey! How could you be so blasphemous? You’re an experienced Beyonder and founding member of the Tarot Club! Stop thinking such outlandish things! Miss Justice shook her head and forced herself to focus on the ongoing discussion.

“Transmigration is a likely factor,” Cattleya told Benson. “There are probably other reasons that we have yet to find out - reasons why Mr. Fool would share ‘His’ secrets. After all, if we’re seeing Zhou Mingrui’s memories in the first place, they must contain at least some information that Mysteries wants us to know.”

"But Zhou Mingrui has been dead for a long time now." Melissa's voice was completely flat. "I'm sure mysticism has methods of channeling spirits, but surely those have time limits, don't they? His soul shouldn't be accessible anymore."

...Mr. World... Only thanks to their rich experience could the members of the Tarot Club stop themselves from reacting. His family truly thinks he's gone. He must have faked his death very convincingly for this to happen, completely abandoning his own brother and sister. Or perhaps he really did die and was resurrected by Mr. Fool - such things aren't impossible in the Beyonder world. Either way, as an ancient god's Blessed, it was probably too dangerous for him to stay with his family... The more sympathetic members felt their hearts squeeze, suppressing sighs. How unfortunate.

"It's not impossible that Zhou Mingrui's memories were extracted immediately after his death, when his soul was still able to be channeled," offered Mr. Hanged Man, sidestepping the heart of the matter entirely. "This would imply that whatever enemy summoned us here, 'They' have been preparing for this situation for quite a while."

Earl Hall took a page from the Spectator's playbook and observed in silence, narrowing his eyes at Alger. Whatever kind of entity Mysteries is, 'He' obviously has malicious intentions, so all of us here are somewhat being forced to band against 'Him'. This fellow is obviously trying to exacerbate the situation: increasing the threat level of Mysteries in our minds so we unify against that common enemy. By extension, we're more likely to turn our suspicions away from Mr. Fool and even support 'Him', if only to have Mysteries lose. Alger Wilson... he's a crafty one. As expected of an experienced member of a terrorist organization. With someone like him around, it's no wonder Audrey was fooled. Before she took the potion, at least.

Mysteries... how terrifying... Miss Magician, barely hiding the tremor in her voice, spoke up with some hesitation. “Anyway, just the fact that Mysteries was able to call us here implies that ‘He’ is stronger than Mr. Fool, or at least able to overpower ‘Him’ temporarily. Why would Mysteries be unable to access Mr. Fool’s memories?”

Not to mention that Mysteries was able to summon the Evernight Goddess ‘Herself'! A true, orthodox god! Fors sent a nervous look towards Amanises. What kind of enemy are we facing here?!

This question caused everyone to shuffle uncomfortably, searching for an answer.

”Perhaps the Fool is stronger in the domain of memory specifically?” Alfred Hall suggested, leaning forward in his seat. Having concluded that talking to his sister was temporarily impossible, he had thrown himself into analyzing the viewing. The sooner they got through this farce Mysteries was putting on, the sooner he could clear the air with Audrey. 

The Tarot Club fell silent. As far as they knew, Gehrman Sparrow and Mr. Fool were both of the Seer pathway, which had no authority over the mind; nor had Mr. Fool ever done or said anything significant related to memory. Such matters were usually handled by Miss Justice. However, they had no idea what authorities Mr. Fool had outside of 'His' pathway, or even if the Seer pathway was the only one 'He' had control over. In the minds of the Tarot Club, Mr. Fool was like a still lake of deep water: reflecting to them just a bare inkling of itself, only what they were allowed to see, while beneath the surface there lurked a deep and unfathomable abyss. Now their heads were being forced beneath the surface of that lake, glimpsing the murky depths beneath.

It was true that as far as they knew, Mr. Fool had no authority relating to the mind. But that was only as far as they knew. It was completely possible - almost expected - that someone as lofty as Mr. Fool would possess a way to manipulate and safeguard memory!

Or perhaps...

Bernadette straightened in her seat. In the back of her mind, a quiet voice whispered the nonsensical thought she didn’t dare to voice:

Perhaps we’re viewing Mr. Fool’s memories right now.

Oblivious to Queen Mystic’s plight, Alger forged ahead with his own theory. “It’s also possible that Mr. Fool’s point of view has simply yet to come up. The viewing has revealed itself as able to switch perspectives at any time.”

“If that’s the case, we’ve been tricked by the cut-off point again.” Judgment Xio sighed. “Well, no matter the circumstances, I don’t think it would be right to describe Mysteries as weak. ‘He’ is most likely as strong as Mr. Fool, if not stronger."

Stronger than Mr. Fool... The Tarot Club shifted uncomfortably at this thought.

”Do you think Mysteries…” Fors stopped and looked around, as if afraid someone was watching, and lowered her voice. “Do you think ‘He’ could be what Mr. Fool warned us about?”

Warned? People began to exchange confused looks. Mr. Fool warned 'His' organization about something or someone? Why are they being so secretive about it? This strange behavior from the Tarot Club only put the Morettis and Halls further on edge.

Of course, the angels present could easily guess what Mr. Fool's warning had been about, as most of them were aware of 'His' conflict with the Celestial Worthy. The newly advanced Bernadette, however, felt her head beginning to pound. Do they suspect Mysteries of being an Outer Deity? Mr. Fool must have discreetly warned them about the apocalypse's true nature. Frowning, she tried to organize her current information. The Lord of the Mysteries, the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth... for some unknown reason, this being caused Zhou Mingrui - and possibly also Father - to transmigrate. But why? Furthermore, 'His' animosity towards Mr. Fool seems to go beyond that of the Outer Deities' innate hostility. 'He' has some issue with Mr. Fool in particular... is it related to transmigration? If only I had more knowledge of Mysteries, this would be easier, but even the Seven Pure Lights didn't seem to know much. At least, they didn't want to tell me much.

(Meanwhile, Danitz suppressed a scowl. The Fool's divine oracle, my ass... I never received any warning before 'He' went to sleep! Shouldn't I be kept in the loop about these things?! Dogshit!)

To those within the Tarot Club, however, Fors' question needed no explanation. That final meeting with Mr. Fool had burned itself into the heart of every member. For the past year, the terrifying words 'He' had left them had lurked in the recesses of their minds:

Above the Sequence.

What could it mean? What could surpass Sequence 0, a true god, the supposed pinnacle of existence? Despite puzzling over this term, nobody had been able to find a concrete answer, and nobody was sure they wanted to. After all, Mr. Fool had warned them not to pry too deeply until they became angels. 

This was the exact same warning that the Evernight Goddess had delivered regarding Mysteries!

...After the last proper Tarot Club meeting, Old Man told me something strange... Leonard frowned, sweat beading at his temple. Mr. Fool had become a "half-Lord of the Mysteries." Is this some sort of title for an Above the Sequence existence? Then Mysteries, the one who called us here, is the other half that Mr. Fool is fighting against? Could 'He' be the reason Mr. Fool had to go to sleep? The reason Klein had to go to sleep...?! 

“Mr. Fool wouldn't issue such a warning for no reason. 'He' must have foreseen that we would have to deal with such matters and wanted to prepare us," Alger said with a grim expression. "I agree that 'His' warning seems to apply here. Either way, we should be prepared for the worst."

"The worst? What does that mean? What's the worst-case scenario?" Melissa's quiet and slightly hoarse voice echoed through the theater. She grit her teeth. I'm so tired of not knowing what's going on...! 

Amanises, Azik, and Will Auceptin exchanged subtle looks before nodding. It was time to break their silence.

1:30

What a trainwreck this is... Will Auceptin sighed to himself before speaking. "The worst-case scenario is that you all drive yourselves crazy before you even learn anything. Calm down a bit, will you?"

Everyone in the crowd tensed, hearts skipping a beat. The strange inactivity of the higher-level existences in this discussion had not gone unnoticed - but now the stalemate had ended! One of Mr. Fool's angels had spoken up! 

Really, how did I not think to calm everyone down before? I'm a Sequence 3 Beyonder, but I'm still so inexperienced. I suppose this is a risk of advancing too quickly. Audrey took this opportunity to Placate everyone, embarrassed at having been so shaken. Then she cleared her throat. "Lord Mercury is right. A reaction like this is exactly what Mysteries wants. It's important to gather information and theorize, but there's no point in scaring ourselves."

Unfortunately, the possibility you're scaring yourself with is probably the correct answer... hm, did I always think in such a teasing manner? Perhaps Zhou Mingrui has influenced me too much. Azik laughed to himself. Though he never did tell me how "Mr. Fool" came to be. Was he too embarrassed to say that he started out as a fraud?

…Well, even if that's the case, it doesn't matter now. The fond amusement in his chest was soon tainted by sadness. Zhou Mingrui has already gained more divinity than he ever wanted.

Feeling a sense of melancholy, the Angel of Death smiled politely. "I'm sure Mr. Fool would want us all to stay calm and approach the situation as best we can. Since this approach isn't working, we can try something else. Ah, that's right - we never did share our findings from the private discussions, did we?"

”…”

Everyone avoided Azik’s gaze, shuffling in discomfort. Although the official excuse for the private gatherings had been “to investigate the mechanics of the spoiler policy”, well… nobody had actually done that. They’d all been too busy catching up with allies and hadn’t spared their so-called goal a second thought.

’His’ face is so expectant, like ‘He’ never doubted our intentions… It feels like forgetting to do homework for a teacher who really believes in you… The crowd felt strangely guilty.

”We weren’t able to determine anything,” Bernadette said with the slightest hint of awkwardness.

“Nothing on our end, either.” Danitz crossed his arms. Or if there was something, I didn’t understand a word of it… he complained.

Benson and Melissa simply shook their heads, not willing to divulge the details of their therapy session.

“That’s alright. I’m sure you all had a lot to talk about.” Seeing this display, Azik only chuckled, having expected as much.

”As for us, we were able to discover something,” announced Ma’am Hermit. “Information is not considered a spoiler if everyone within a discussion group knows it. But that same information cannot be shared if someone present doesn’t already know it.“ She pushed up her glasses. “It seems there are things that we will only be able to talk about within private meetings.”

Nobody reacted strongly: this was about what they had expected to happen, and they certainly weren’t opposed to future private discussions.

“There are also ways to hint towards information,” Mr. Hanged Man added. “Even if we can’t share certain things outright, we can try to guide each other in the right direction.”

Miss Justice smiled. Luckily, this is what a Spectator excels at! Still… She glanced at Roselle. I’m not sure the information I have is mine to share.

The moment Zhou Mingrui had arrived in this world, it was too late for him to ever go back. Audrey knew that much. The same went for Emperor Roselle, and she suspected that like Zhou Mingrui, he’d never stopped wanting to return home. Why else would the charm he’d given Bernadette, according to Mr. Fool, translate to “the homeland for one’s soul”?

Despite this, Roselle seemed to have no intention of hinting towards the transmigrators’ plight, and Audrey had no wish to disrespect him. The life of a transmigrator was punishment enough. Exposing the truth against the emperor's will just seemed too cruel.

Perhaps I can ask for his blessing to share this information later… no, it depends on… She pursed her lips, then spoke up. “If I may ask, how long do you think this viewing will last? How much are we going to see?”

If the truth of transmigration was never revealed during the viewing, Audrey would have to find a way to reveal it herself. But if the truth would come out eventually on its own, then the end result would be the same without her interference.

”That’s a good question.” Cattleya frowned. “The answer might connect back to whose memories we’re witnessing. We all know how important Zhou Mingrui is, but what knowledge of Mr. Fool he possesses is unclear…”

Actually, none of us know how important he is! You’re the only ones who know anything! The rest of the crowd, yet to learn the true identity of Gehrman Sparrow, deadpanned.

Meanwhile, Amanises considered this question. If it were just the Celestial Worthy in play, ‘She’ could say with some confidence that the viewing would end shortly after Mr. Fool’s identity was revealed, leaving Klein no time to display himself in a positive light. Perhaps 'He' might also corrupt them with memories containing knowledge of the Great Old Ones, forcing 'His' opponent to waste energy on shielding those below Sequence 2. If it were just Mr. Fool in play, the viewing never would have happened in the first place. However, their current situation was the result of a careful balance in power.

This was what Amanises normally would have thought. All logic pointed towards that conclusion. But ’Her’ spirituality, and perhaps ‘Her’ long-forgotten human instinct, told ‘Her’ something else entirely:

If it was too late to stop this, they might as well see everything.

Klein Moretti was, after all, a liar who did not enjoy lying. If the Celestial Worthy insisted on having things ‘His’ way, forcibly exposing the truth, then Klein would defeat ‘Him’ by exposing even more of the truth. He would tell everything there was to tell, rolling the dice in one last gamble, one final performance - and if there was one thing Mr. Fool knew how to do, it was put on a performance.

Crazy bastard.

Hm. That was interesting. ‘She’ couldn’t remember the last time ‘She’ had sworn - not for a few hundred years, at least. Klein just seemed to have that effect on people… well. If ‘She’ could call ‘Herself’ a person. Looking into the deep gray fog, ‘She’ thought that being called human might be a privilege 'She' had lost as soon as 'She' came to this world.

If this is what you want, then…

Amanises’ veil lifted ever so slightly. 

…I’m in too deep to back out now.

”Mr. Fool has made his choice,” ‘She’ said in a lilting voice. “I suspect you’ll see everything there is to know.”

0:30

Choice… everything…? The implications of these simple words were enough to send shivers down everyone’s spines.

We’ll find out everything? What led ‘Her’ to that conclusion?! The Tarot Club could barely hold back their curiosity, tempered only by fear. ‘She’ isn’t like Mr. Fool; we can’t simply ask! No, more than that-!

”By choice, could you mean that…” Alger’s throat was dry. “Mr. Fool has willingly opened up ‘His’ memories?”

The audience sucked in sharp breaths, eyes widening in surprise. Nobody bothered to hide their shock. A god willingly revealing 'Their' secrets wasn’t just practically unheard of - it was unheard of. Whether out of distrust, paranoia, necessity, or the desire for a trump card, it simply wasn’t done. Especially not to a god’s own believers, 'Their' invaluable anchors!

”I believe so.” Amanises nodded curtly, causing everyone to fall into disbelief once again.

"Wha - why would ‘He’ do that?" Danitz asked, open-mouthed. "No way…"

”To reveal things on his own terms.” Will Auceptin popped his thumb in his mouth. “In for a penny, in for a pound, right? Or something like that. What a crazy guy.” His laughter came out slightly muffled.

Willingly? Bernadette put a hand over her mouth. Even when forced into a corner, to think ‘He’ would take such drastic action… just to “reveal things on his own terms”? I don’t believe that. There must be a reason, something that Mr. Fool wants us to see in ‘His’ memories - something that could counteract Mysteries’ assault. But what?

…It doesn’t makes sense. It doesn’t make sense, and yet I keep going back to it. There should be no way for an ordinary person to... to pretend to be a god without some outside help. The mere thought made her blood run cold. But if somehow, Zhou Mingrui really is the Fool, he wouldn’t reveal his identity of his own will… unless Mysteries is forcing him to, and he believes that showing more of his memories will win his anchors back-!

"Mr. Fool is trusting us."

Derrick’s voice was soft and awed, breaking Queen Mystic out of her thoughts and causing several people to look at him.

"Mr. Fool is placing ‘His’ trust in us," he repeated, eyes shining, every word like a prayer. “‘He’ believes in us so much that ‘He’ can open ‘His’ mind to us… how incredible.”

In that moment, he was overcome with powerful joy, a sense of closeness to his god. He felt that joining the Tarot Club and devoting himself to Mr. Fool had truly been the best decision of his life.

…He’s right… The other members of the Tarot Club felt their hearts squeeze as Little Sun’s words sank in. Even if Mr. Fool had ulterior motives for revealing ‘Himself’, and was even being forced to, the immense amount of faith ‘He’ had placed on their shoulders was nothing short of miraculous. Mr. Fool truly believed that the Tarot Club could weather this storm for ‘Him’. 

Finding themselves strangely choked up, they bowed their heads and offered a simple prayer: “Praise the Fool!”

Then they looked up, resolves steeled. No matter what came next, with Mr. Fool's blessing, they felt sure that they could overcome it. If their god was asking for help, putting everything on the line - if this was their god's wish, well, how could they dare to fail 'Him?

In a few short minutes, the atmosphere had swerved from tense and unsure to determined and hopeful. Of course, there were some exceptions to this, such as the Morettis and the Halls. (Is he a fanatic? Benson wondered, sending a wary glance towards Derrick and pulling his sister closer. Extremists all have a screw loose, don't they...) The two families had barely spoken during the discussion and understood little of what was going on; still, even they could tell that the situation had improved from before. For the most part, damage control had been executed successfully. 

For now. Roselle grinned evilly, excited for what was to come.  

”No wonder he was able to fake it for so long,” Will muttered under his breath so that only Amanises and Azik could hear. “These dupes practically convince themselves.”

"Isn’t it easier for you that way?" The Death Consul chuckled, only to receive a kick to the shin - which, since it came from a three year-old child, didn’t hurt at all. Azik winced for a few seconds to be polite, then let his expression melt into a fond smile. Yes, Zhou Mingrui had chosen some excellent people to trust.

Now things could only be left in their hands.

0:05

Eyeing the timer, the Moretti siblings shifted nervously. They knew that whatever they saw in the next viewing could change their perception of Zhou Mingrui, and maybe even Klein, forever. All the same, they couldn't back down here; nor was there anywhere to run to. For their brother's sake, they had to uncover everything in his stead!

Audrey sent a fleeting look their way, eyes flashing with something unidentifiable, before straightening and facing the screen. Mr. World's identity was a problem for another time - one she could handle when appropriate. I'm sorry, Zhou Mingrui, but please wait a little longer. I'll reconcile you and your family soon enough. As a Blessed, you of all people must understand prioritizing your god above all else - and right now, Mr. Fool needs us!

Zhou Mingrui... Klein... no matter whose soul it is, he's the same person I've always known. He's my friend, Klein Moretti. That makes him dear to me. Leonard looked down at his hands - at the red gloves he had worked so hard to attain. Although I've been making efforts of my own, I still can't understand a thing. How you became involved in this; how Mr. Fool came to show you such favor; how much you must have struggled. Gloved fingers curled into fists. But even if I can't understand, I want to do my best to help you!

It looks like we'll be getting answers whether we want them or not. Breaking herself out of her thoughts, Bernadette bit the inside of her lip as she tried (and failed) to puzzle out the meaning behind her father's gleeful expression.

"Take heart," Mr. Moon declared confidently. He raised his head with no signs of worry or hesitation. "Everything will make sense soon. The truth will unveil itself before us messiahs."

...The wording is... strange, but the sentiment is there! The members of the Tarot Club clenched their hands into fists, determined. We'll discover what's going on! And then we'll awaken Mr. Fool! Definitely!

0:01

"Unfortunately...." Amanises' voice was so deathly quiet that even without concealment, not a soul would have heard 'Her'. "Not every truth is one you want to hear."

0:00

The screen came to life, filling with gray fog.

Chapter Text

Not only did they speak the same Loen language, they also shared the same grim and tense vibes.

The audience echoed this atmosphere, staring at the screen with steely eyes. They were ready to pick apart the situation to its fullest in search of answers.

Mr. Fool will show up any second now! The Tarot Club leaned forward in anticipation.

Where am I? What do I plan to do here? I would like to know too… Calming himself down, Zhou Mingrui silently repeated the questions posed by the two.

"So would we," Danitz complained.

"He really is clueless..." Fors' eyes were wide as she ran a hand across her face. Really, how is he Mr. World?! That doesn't make sense at all! Explain it to me, damnit!

Leonard felt his lips twitch, his mood lifting ever so slightly. I don't understand anything, but neither does Klein - not yet, at least. Yes, he really seems to have no idea what he's doing. To think such a hapless person could become the fearsome Gehrman Sparrow, and even a god's vessel... it's a bit refreshing to see him like this.

Cattleya looked ahead intently. "Anyway, it seems that we still haven't gotten to Mr. Fool's memories. This viewing is clearly from Zhou Mingrui's perspective. I wonder, will there be some sort of trigger for 'His' memories, or have we simply not reached them yet?"

Don't laugh! Don't laugh! Don't laugh! Emperor Roselle was continuing to do his best.

Azik could already see where this was going and let out a soft sigh. Ah, if only his anchors weren't in such danger, I'm sure Zhou Mingrui and I could share a laugh over this...

What left the deepest impression on him were neither the sentences formed by words nor the meanings behind them, but the display of bewilderment, vigilance, panic, and reverence by the couple!

"Well, of course." Emlyn crossed his arms. "Any normal human in such a situation would certainly lack the grace of a Sanguine and act dumbfounded."

This guy... Xio's lips twitched. "In fact, it's a normal reaction, and probably the safest. Situations like these require caution."

For some baffling reason, two people had been mysteriously dragged into this world surrounded by gray fog. As the perpetrator, Zhou Mingrui was already feeling abnormally dumbfounded and startled, let alone the couple who was pulled into this mess completely passively!

The Moretti and Hall families sympathized with this sentiment, having just experienced a similar event themselves.

Perpetrator... This word caused Audrey and Alger some discomfort, as it seemed to point out the apparent impossibility of Mr. Fool's involvement. No! They shook their heads. 'He' will show up any second now, or show some sign of involvement! It's just up to us to find it!

Seeing the pair's behavior, Will Auceptin sniffled in annoyance. Oh, great. They went right back into denial. It's kind of funny to watch, but I'd rather just tell them and get this over with... His eyes darted towards the Evernight Goddess, who remained as silent and imposing as ever. Unfortunately, I don't think 'She' or Mysteries would like that. Whatever. Just let everyone come to their own conclusions for a while...

...Anyway, I wasn't supposed to be doing so much work in the first place! I was going to spend my day napping! Damn you, Klein Moretti! Will tightened one baby-sized fist and shook it at the screen.

This caused Azik to smile and whisper to him, "Are you impatient?" 

"I'm not impatient," Will huffed. "I just have better things to do. I left behind an ice cre - I mean, some very pressing business just to be here, you know."

The Angel of Death chuckled as he ruffled Will's hair. "Mr. Fool appreciates your efforts."

"I better be getting overtime pay for this," the baby grumbled in response.

For them, such events and encounters might already be beyond their imaginations, right?

"Certainly." Caitlyn Hall suppressed a shiver. Although she had passing knowledge of the Beyonder world, seeing such events up close was a new experience for her. Still, she had no intention of looking away from it; this was the world that two of her precious children navigated daily, after all.

Zhou Mingrui has a point, but... it feels like this is heading in a strange direction... The Tarot Club shifted in their seats.

Everyone's already pretty nervous. Danitz knew almost nothing about the Tarot Club, but he could at least read the room. Well, whatever's happening, it can't be too bad, right? Mr. Fool has always been a respectable existence who responds to followers! 'He' can even keep someone like Gehrman Sparrow in check! Besides, Gehrman is quite the lofty fellow himself; he should know something about all of this. If he still decided to recruit me despite... uh, whatever is happening here, then the situation must be within the bounds of what I'm able to handle! Danitz puffed out his chest, rather proud of his reasoning.

 ...Wait. W-What did I just think? "Within the bounds of what I'm able to handle"...? Since when has that crazy son of a bitch ever cared about things like that?! A newfound clarity setting in, the pirate with a bounty of over ten thousand pounds felt every hair on his body stand on end. He was instantly moved to the verge of tears. Dogshit! What the hell did that guy drag me into! Captain, I want to return to the Golden Dream...!

Momentarily, Zhou Mingrui thought of two options: The first option was feigning victimhood to hide his true identity, and in turn gain a considerable amount of trust. He could then take a wait-and-see approach and take advantage of his circumstances where necessary. The other option was to maintain his mysterious identity in the eyes of the couple. He could then affect the subsequent development while gleaning valuable information from them.

This is... Mr. Hanged Man narrowed his eyes. "For a 'normal person', Zhou Mingrui's reasoning is unnaturally calm. This could point to outside manipulation."

Praising his thinking, then saying it's impossible for him to think so clearly on his own... Is that an insult or a compliment to Zhou Mingrui? Azik felt his lips twitch as he considered the question. If Zhou Mingrui himself were here, Azik was sure that he would be wondering something similar, covering his thoughts with a polite smile. Oh, dear. My beloved student has influenced me quite a bit.

"A Spectator would certainly be capable of such things." Miss Justice nodded. "If Zhou Mingrui truly is a false descension vessel, then he'll continue to act-" an almost unnoticeable pause- "suspiciously from now on. However, this is part of Mr. Fool's plan."

The words she couldn't quite bring herself to say died in her throat: He will continue to act like Mr. Fool.

It just... sounded too accusatory. That was the only reason she'd changed her wording. Zhou Mingrui was simply being made to carry out Mr. Fool's will, leading to his becoming a Blessed, that was all... Biting her lip, she kept her worries to herself.

"We should keep in mind that Zhou Mingrui has shown himself to be unnaturally adaptable from the beginning," Judgment Xio said quietly. Although she was still unsure where her doubts were pointing her to - or perhaps too afraid to examine them deeply - her unease had finally bubbled over enough for her to speak up. "This behavior didn't just start when he entered Mr. Fool's domain."

"Mr. Fool could extend 'His' influence into the real world even when 'He' was still awakening," Derrick pointed out. "This was proven earlier by the tarot divination."

Danitz, happy to have finally (partially) understood something, spoke up with eagerness. "Besides, what normal person would decide to impersonate a god on their own? You'd have to be crazy to even think of something like that!"

(Soon, though, he shuddered. Crazy... Gehrman Sparrow levels of crazy, at least! Maybe everyone who follows Mr. Fool is just that insane? Dogshit, why am I stuck babysitting a bunch of lunatics?!)

Impersonating a god...?! Unbeknownst to the frustrated pirate, this thoughtless comment caused many people to stiffen, the words they'd been dancing around now shoved into their faces. Whether through Mr. Fool's will or not, it was growing more and more likely that Zhou Mingrui was doing just that: impersonating a god! A normal person, not even a Beyonder, pretending to be a true Sequence 0! No matter how ridiculous it seemed, the audience had no choice but to face this possibility.

...It's true that anyone from this world, raised with faith in the seven deities, would certainly believe such impersonation to be blasphemy. Sharing the same thoughts, Audrey and Bernadette felt their hearts race. But someone from a different world, who doesn't even know to fear gods, might lack this mental barrier even without an outside push.

Unlike Bernadette, Audrey immediately scolded herself for her blasphemous thoughts. Still, just because it's possible doesn't mean it's true! Mr. Fool has proved 'His' might over and over again; I would never doubt 'Him'!

Suddenly, Benson jerked forward as if he'd realized something, then turned to Xio. "You said that Zhou Mingrui's behavior hadn't changed upon entering this gray fog. Does that mean that he was always being controlled, even in the real world?"

Is that why? Did he only treat us as siblings because he was manipulated to? Having a possible explanation for Zhou Mingrui's actions should have reassured him, but to his own surprise, Benson only felt his heart sink.

"It shouldn't be what you're thinking." Leonard spoke up before Xio had the chance, recalling what Dwayne Dantès had told him. "Mr. Fool would only interfere in matters relating to 'Him'. Outside of this, 'His' believers' lives are their own. 'He' would have no reason to affect Zhou Mingrui's feelings and actions towards you."

"So that's how it is..." Benson nodded slowly. While he wasn't sure he believed those words, they undeniably lightened the weight on his chest. It's not like it was actually Klein. It shouldn't matter so much. That time with Zhou Mingrui was only precious because it was based on a lie. It shouldn't matter so much... He pressed a hand to his head, trying to stave off the incoming migraine. For the first time in recent memory, the capable and responsible eldest brother found himself desperately wishing for a parent to guide him.

Still... The Tarot Club collectively frowned. Benson's question had caused them to recall the fanatical devotion that Gehrman Sparrow had often displayed towards Mr. Fool. Mr. World being influenced would explain a lot. It's almost like he's not even a person - just an extension of Mr. Fool's will. They had always assumed that Mr. Fool had done something for Gehrman to invoke such dedication - perhaps saved him from some terrible fate - but was that truly the case? Was he serving his god out of his own will or had he simply been forced into the life of a puppet?

The Mr. Fool they knew was not cruel by any means, but 'He' was still a god who would not shirk away from ruthlessness. Such an act was not impossible for 'Him'. Mr. World's circumstances are getting more and more complicated... 

Without the luxury of time to deliberate over the situation, he grasped hold of the thought that flashed across his mind. He made an immediate decision to try out the second idea.

Everyone sucked in a breath, feeling as if a theory had been confirmed. This did nothing to combat the dread pooling in their stomachs.

"It seems that Zhou Mingrui's status is greater than any of us imagined," Cattleya murmured. "To be chosen as a god's mouthpiece..."

"But why?" Alfred Hall frowned. "No matter what meaning transmigration holds, to entrust such a critical task to a totally ordinary person... why not have another Blessed play the role? Why does it have to be Zhou Mingrui?"

The Hanged Man crossed his arms. "Perhaps something about transmigration makes him the best candidate, or even the only possible candidate. There's just too much missing information."

In the end, everything comes back to transmigration... Everyone sighed. But does it really? Or does our lack of knowledge cause us to pin everything we don't know onto the mystery of transmigration...? How troublesome.

"Hm." Emlyn tapped his chin and spoke up after a moment of thought. "If Mr. Fool really does have authority over transmigration - and, by extension, transmigrators - 'He' could simply influence Zhou Mingrui using that authority. That would explain why Zhou Mingrui was chosen as a vessel despite being a terrible candidate. Such a method wouldn't even require the involvement of a Spectator."

...This fellow actually said something smart for once! The Tarot Club silently marveled at the progress of their Sanguine comrade. In any case, it’s no wonder Zhou Mingrui himself ended up joining the Tarot Club. Someone with a role like that must be kept close, among the upper echelons! 

"Still, though, it feels a bit strange," Xio said. "What is Zhou Mingrui supposed to make of this situation? Even if he's being manipulated, he's still conscious of his actions. It seems unusual to let him be so aware of what's going on."

"The privileges of a Blessed, perhaps?" Emlyn shrugged.

Leonard listened in silence, heart sinking uncontrollably. His vision was darkened by the memory of the closed eyes and serene smile he'd glimpsed behind Chanis Gate. So Klein was always this important... I was the one to first suggest the theory, but to be honest, I didn't really believe it. I didn't want to believe it. Those favored by the gods often meet tragic ends. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. From the second he ended up in this world, things were always going to end up this way…?

Honestly! Watching the discussion go in circles, Will Auceptin didn't bother to suppress his yawn. Making an infant like me sit through this charade is plain cruelty! Just what kind of attention span do you think an average three year-old has?

Exploit the psychological state of the others to gain the greatest advantage for himself!

"Would someone being manipulated show so much free will?" Melissa asked, clutching at her skirt. "When the method was described, I thought it would be like being hypnotized..."

Audrey's responding smile betrayed none of her true feelings. "Not quite. The Spectator pathway in particular excels in guiding others to take action without realizing they've been guided. Even while doing something harmful to themselves, they would truly believe that they're acting in their own best interest. This is similar to what Zhou Mingrui is doing now."

"I see..." Melissa looked back towards the screen and felt, once again, that such a pathway didn't suit the noble girl in front of her. But more than that... for Klein to die of possible supernatural influence, and for Zhou Mingrui to take over his body, only to immediately become entangled with an ancient god - this is just too strange! How could this happen? Why would this happen...? She swallowed around the growing lump in her throat. Was Klein killed by the Fool just to make room for a pliant descension vessel...?!

After a few seconds of silence in the fog, Zhou Mingrui chuckled. With a low but not heavy tone, he calmly spoke as though he was replying to the polite greetings from the visitors, “An attempt.”

Now the real fun begins! Roselle cackled, rubbing his hands together. I'm too happy to even be upset at this charlatan behavior! Zhou Mingrui, you're going to regret collecting my diaries!

As expected, this all started from a fraud... Even to someone as jaded as Amanises, this situation seemed flat-out ridiculous. After all, it wasn't every millennium that someone managed to scam their way into becoming a true god - and on the Fool pathway, ironically enough. Anyway, 'She' had survived fifty long years of watching Roselle make a fool out of himself; this much second-hand embarrassment would be nothing. Still, 'She' felt a sudden urge to sigh. Maybe I should have supported Amon as a candidate instead. I'm sure it would have been much less trouble.

At the same time, Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man tensed, throats growing dry. Zhou Mingrui's suspicious thoughts were one thing; having their theory confirmed by tangible actions, actions they could confirm, was something else entirely. These words were something that the Mr. Fool they knew had undeniably said.

This was a point of no return!

The on-edge Tarot Club members picked up on this change immediately, and Mr. Star steeled himself to ask, "Is this what you remember?"

"Yes." Alger's voice was slightly hoarse. "These are the first words Mr. Fool said to us."

The temperature seemed to drop a few degrees as the crowd fell into a hush. Nobody was sure what to say. The gray fog seemed to thicken and swirl around them, obscuring their vision momentarily.

H-Heh... If I didn't know any better, I'd think Zhou Mingrui really was Mr. Fool... wouldn't that be a strange plot twist... Fors suppressed a nervous laugh. No, for Mr. World and Mr. Fool to be the same person - that's beyond strange, it's terrifying! To think Gehrman Sparrow was giving the orders all along...! I have to rebel! I'd rather die than live in servitude to a madman! She shuddered, quickly becoming lost in her delusions.

"Then, doesn't this support the idea of Zhou Mingrui being a false descension vessel?" Leonard asked carefully.

"It does, yes." Despite saying this, Cattleya felt an inexplicable nervousness. "The exact circumstances are unclear, but I'm sure Mr. Fool's memories will shed some light on the situation."

"It's just so incredible," Derrick muttered in awe. "To think something like this happened and we didn't know anything about it... and such a unique method, too... gods are truly beyond our understanding."

Audrey didn't dare look away from the screen. "As strange as it is, there's no other option that makes sense. Once you eliminate the impossible, what remains must be the truth."

Watching this discussion, Queen Mystic's eyes grew steely. But there is another option, isn't there? Unwittingly becoming a descension vessel, or unwittingly impersonating a god... both theories are equally absurd, yet nobody seems willing to consider the second one. Fear is a powerful thing, after all. Still, if you look at this situation without any preconceived notions, doesn't it seem to lead to that answer? That absurd, nonsensical answer, fitting one bearing the name of "Fool"? Even if I'm wrong, I should at least try to broaden the discussion. She opened her mouth to speak-

-and felt a light tap on her arm. She turned to meet the eyes of none other than Roselle Gustav, whose eyes were twinkling with amusement. Grinning widely, he pressed a finger to his lips.

Father... doesn't want me to speak? Bernadette blinked, but her father only smirked and turned away, saying nothing more. She looked at him in confusion. Could he tell what I was going to say? Yes... he knows the truth of this matter after all! Mr. Fool must have made contact with him on that island through me! It must not be my place to say anything yet! Although Bernadette had matured greatly, becoming wise and pragmatic, she still had a habit of idolizing her father. Nodding to herself, she swallowed her doubts and remained silent. I still have a lot to learn. Father always thinks so far ahead...

Sorry, Bernadette, but I don't want you ruining this for me yet! Roselle was willing to dabble in the ways of the charlatan if it meant he could enjoy this situation for a bit longer. He could barely restrain his maniacal laughter. This is the best entertainment I've had in centuries! It's just like a soap opera - damn, I should have invented popcorn in this world...

Meanwhile, a certain golden retriever looked on with intelligent eyes.

An attempt… an attempt? Audrey Hall looked at the mysterious guy veiled in the grayish-white fog, and the only thought was that whatever was happening was absurd, funny, horrifying, and weird.

”Absurd, funny, horrifying, and weird?” Will Auceptin snorted. “Welcome to the Beyonder world.”

Audrey herself could only purse her lips, watching her thoughts be displayed on-screen. Yes, even after deepening my understanding, the Beyonder world is a mysterious place. I never would have thought of using memory powers in such a manner... as if emulating a novel. It's truly bizarre.

Danitz shivered, remembering the first time he'd received a response from Mr. Fool. It was still one of the most terrifying and memorable experiences of his life! To actually be summoned with no warning must be a thousand times more terrifying!

She was at the dressing table inside her bedroom only moments ago. But just by turning around, she had “come” into this place that was filled with gray fog!

How inconceivable!

"Such things can really happen without any warning..." Although he had vaguely known of mysticism's perils, Earl Hall felt that he was only now beginning to understand them. "This is truly a world where one could die for any reason."

And his daughter, through no fault of her own, had been sucked into it all. Who knows what lies they've been feeding her all these years...! The experienced nobleman, who Backlund high society knew to fear from the other end of a negotiation table, could only helplessly grit his teeth.

"The longer you live, the more you discover your own helplessness." As if in response to the noble, Benson let out a heavy sigh. He had begun to think such things after braving countless air raids during the war - when life or death was up to mere chance, decided by faceless generals moving pieces on a map. Perhaps if some curly-haired baboon had placed his hand a little further to the right, a bomb would have fallen directly onto my home. He stared down at his hands blankly. In that way, the Beyonder world isn't so different from the normal world... it's just something else I'm powerless against.

Audrey took a breath, revealing an impeccable, courteous smile. She asked in a somewhat perturbed way, “Sir, is the attempt over? Might you permit our return?”

"You asked just like that?" Alfred was similarly disturbed as he interrogated his sister, worried for her wellbeing. Although Zhou Mingrui didn't seem to pose a threat, and Mr. Fool was still nowhere to be found, speaking so casually in a situation like this was highly dangerous!

"I was rash." Audrey dipped her head in acknowledgement. "Thankfully Mr. Fool turned out to be a benign god, or the consequences would have been unimaginable."

...No, that's wrong. He wouldn't have been able to do anything, nor would he have wanted to... Azik felt his lips twitch slightly. In a way, weren't our situations opposite of each other? I was a high-level existence, but no one was aware of it - not even myself. Meanwhile, Zhou Mingrui pretended to be a high-level existence, leaving everyone else unaware. Heh, fate sure is a funny thing.

"Anyway, this is a pivotal moment." Xio redirected the conversation. "How will Zhou Mingrui respond or be compelled to this question?" 

Alger Wilson also had the intentions to probe Zhou Mingrui in a similar fashion, but his rich experience made him statelier. He held back his impulse and only took on the role of a silent onlooker.

The Hall family narrowed their eyes upon seeing Alger. From the beginning, this fellow had always been crafty during group discussions, careful to shift the blame away from Mr. Fool whenever possible. None of them liked the idea of such a man hanging around Audrey. At the very least, as a Spectator, she should be able to avoid being taken advantage of by someone like him... but as for the Fool 'Himself'... The Earl and Caitlyn looked at each other with solemn expressions.

Zhou Mingrui looked at the questioner. Looking through the hazy mist, he could roughly see the silhouette of the person in question. It was a tall girl with smooth blond hair, but her exact countenance could not be seen clearly.

Audrey smiled, barely keeping herself from slumping with relief. Yes, this is the same thing we experienced...! Even if his circumstances were more unusual, Zhou Mingrui really was only pulled into it! Just like us! Her joy slipped away with an involuntary shudder, and she set her jaw. N-No, there's no need to act so surprised... this should have been obvious from the beginning... is my faith simply too weak? Even when Mr. Fool is trusting us so much! For shame, Audrey!

"So he can’t see their faces either…" Cattleya's expression eased. "The master of this gray fog would surely be able to manipulate it to their will. Mr. Fool is obviously capable of this - the fact that Zhou Mingrui isn't provides another degree of separation between the two. "

Mr. Moon finished Ma'am Hermit's train of thought. "In the end, Zhou Mingrui is only a vessel. No matter how suspicious his behavior is, he can't actually do anything!"

"Though it's still strange that Zhou Mingrui managed to summon you two," Fors muttered, glancing towards Mr. Hanged Man and Miss Justice. "Surely that has to count as doing something, doesn't it?"

"It's probably not that he actually summoned us; the situation has just been arranged by Mr. Fool or Mysteries to look like that." Alger quickly shut this argument down. "Remember that the one hosting this viewing is not our ally."

But... how else do you explain what we saw... perhaps I'm not imaginative enough as an author... Fors didn't reply. (Hearing this, Queen Mystic also grit her teeth.)

"Mysteries" this, "Mr. Fool" that - they keep throwing all these names around! Who knows how many other hidden existences could be involved! Hibbert Hall frowned to himself. Such a situation has too many convenient scapegoats - too many ways to brush the unexplained parts under the rug. It's all so strange. Just what is the Fool's true nature, anyway? Why go to such lengths to not reveal 'Himself'?

I wonder why Mr. Fool would let Zhou Mingrui access those crimson summoning lights but not see the others' faces. Why draw the line there? Derrick's brow furrowed. I suppose that even if Mr. World is a Blessed, he's still a future Tarot Club member who must obey the rules of the gathering... still, for Mr. Fool rely so heavily on an avatar... 'He' must have woken up from a terrible condition. Perhaps 'He' never fully recovered.

He did not rush to reply the girl’s question but turned around to look at the man. He had messy dark-blue hair, as well as a medium stature that was not considered stout.

Zhou Mingrui suddenly realized something. Once he became stronger or had a deeper understanding of the foggy world, perhaps it was possible for him to see through the fog and discern the girl and the man.

The slight boost in mood was instantly deflated.

"W-Well, of course he would think that," Emlyn mumbled. "He doesn't realize the reality of his own situation."

To think this delusional fellow would be the one to bring up "the reality of one's situation"... Leonard blinked, unconsciously slandering his comrade. Even though he's the one that usually needs a reality check?

A deeper understanding? Queen Mystic narrowed her eyes. From the way he was able to summon people here, it really seems as if he's the owner of this place...

...The owner...?

-!

Bernadette felt as if she had been struck by lightning. All at once, several puzzle pieces fell into place with blazing clarity, and it was all she could to to keep her breathing even. Of course. Authority over the Seven Pure Lights is impossible to emulate or fake - unless you're the owner of a sefirah! The sefirah that sits atop the spirit world! Sefirah Castle! Such a thing would allow someone to even play god! 

The conclusion had hit her with such intensity that she felt dizzy. She tightened her grip on the chair's armrests to stabilize herself. The Seven Lights didn't say much about this topic, perhaps unwilling to reveal Mr. Fool's secrets. How in the world would a ritual take Zhou Mingrui to a sefirah of all places...? No. The answer is obvious. The only way for such a thing to happen would be if the responding entity allowed it! Her fingers, ever so slightly, began to tremble. Perhaps Zhou Mingrui, just like Klein Moretti, is already dead, and the thing in his body is someone - no, something else entirely. 

Unable to help herself, Queen Mystic looked to her father, desperate for guidance. Roselle was still looking at the screen, completely relaxed - but when he sensed his daughter's gaze and saw her pale face, he smiled reassuringly and pat her hand.

"Zhou Mingrui..." she began in a low voice.

"Is my friend." Roselle finished her sentence with a grin, but his eyes were serious. "A comrade."

...He's telling the truth. Letting out a breath, Bernadette nodded. 

Surely Father should be able to tell if Zhou Mingrui had been corrupted or possessed, having experienced something similar himself, she thought as she turned to face the screen. If he's so calm, then my theory is probably wrong... I have to think about this rationally. There's another explanation for why the Seven Lights told me so little about the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth: 'He' simply has been inactive for a long time, or has even died, and the enemy who called us here is someone completely different. This sefirah once belonged to the Celestial Worthy, and the luck enhancement ritual automatically leads there as part of some scheme 'He' set up long ago. This is also a possibility. And if that's the case, then Zhou Mingrui has essentially been handed a sefirah, the perfect tool to play god with... while his followers are none the wiser...

Father would find such a thing hilarious, wouldn't he?! Overcome with a different kind of horror, Bernadette once again whipped around to face Roselle.

The emperor looked back at her and winked.

As Bernadette's mind temporarily shut off, Roselle cackled smugly to himself. Heh, I was wondering how long it would take somebody to figure it out! As expected of my dear daughter, she's inherited my smarts!

In this situation, they are the visitors, and I’m the master!

Despite trying to maintain poker faces, the Tarot Club felt their expressions darken. Ugh... even if he's being manipulated to think this way, it's... They collectively swallowed. It's unsettling.

Will Auceptin raised an eyebrow in Amanises' direction, but the Evernight Goddess gave no response. Still nothing, eh? 'She' really is committed to the silent treatment. I guess it's quicker to get it over with at once instead of stopping to explain things every few seconds. He let out a satisfied "hmph". Way less work for me, too!

Mr. Fool's angels are keeping a close watch on things, but aside from 'Their' silence, 'They' aren't acting like anything is amiss, Miss Justice noted, studying the interaction she'd witnessed. The situation must be within 'Their' expectations. That's right, nothing is wrong... I'm overthinking, that's all.

After changing his mindset, Zhou Mingrui instantly noticed details that he had neglected earlier on.

The girl with a melodious voice and the mature, withdrawn man both looked considerably incorporeal. Tainted by a faint crimson red, they resembled a projected image of the two crimson red “stars” beyond the gray fog.

We really are pulled up here through our Spirit Bodies. Alfred's brow furrowed. So this is how the Tarot Club is able to meet without being aware of each other's identities. Their faces were hidden! Why are we allowed to see each other's faces now, I wonder?

The Tarot Club, however, straightened in their seats. Although they were all familiar with the gray fog that hid their faces and identities, they had never observed these crimson stars before and had no idea how to react.

"Red projections," Cattleya muttered. "Did you two experience the same thing?"

...No. This word died in Alger and Audrey's throats. Even without the spoiler policy, they would have been unable to speak it.

Their lack of response was enough of an answer. For a moment, nobody dared to speak as they tried to make sense of the scene in front of them.

"Perhaps this is something unique to the first meeting - some slight mishap in the process that Mr. Fool straightened out afterwards," Mr. Moon suggested. "'He' was still awakening, after all."

Little Sun was quick to offer a counterargument. "This seems to connect directly to those strange crimson stars from earlier, though. I think it's more likely that the abnormality is localized to Zhou Mingrui and how he apparently summoned you, not the meeting in general."

"So this is something else unique to Zhou Mingrui." The Star tried for a casual shrug. "At this point, what's one more abnormality?"

There's only so many times you can make those excuses before you're forced to acknowledge the pattern. Bernadette's mind was furiously whirling with the desire to speak. Unfortunately, Roselle was still smiling widely, paying her no mind. Is it still not time to say something? What could Father be waiting for? Don't tell me, he's just having fun watching us all squirm...?

Melissa could sense by the room's atmosphere that something was wrong, but she had no idea how to identify the source of the problem. She hadn't felt such keen powerlessness since the war - and before that, Klein's death. The feeling roiled unpleasantly in her gut. But she knew becoming overwhelmed wouldn't fix anything, so she took a deep breath and began to organize her thoughts. It makes sense for the so-called "Tarot Club" - no, for everybody here to be on edge, given the situation. But that organization in particular seems to know something about Zhou Mingrui. They even called him a Blessed earlier... still, he was only alive in this world for two months. How could he become such an impressive figure to them in that short amount of time?

Actually... A strange, choking feeling began to spread from her chest to her throat. When I told the Tarot Club about Zhou Mingrui's death earlier, they acted like it was new information... even though they didn't seem surprised at all! That's right, if he's so important, they probably would have known about his death before I said anything! Did something about the way he died turn him into a martyr, someone revered in their god's canon? No, the way they talk about him implies that he's still active. They think he's still active, at least. Perhaps some other Blessed has taken on Zhou Mingrui's identity and continued to work in the Fool's name, carrying on the legend.

Then, with a hint of bitterness: It would be fitting, for his own life to be stolen like that. The same way Klein was stolen from us.

...There was no point thinking this way. Melissa knew that. Zhou Mingrui was just another unfortunate victim, caught up in this mess; Klein's death wasn't his fault. That was the logical conclusion to make, and Melissa usually prided herself on her logic - but anything besides anger still stung too much to consider. For just a moment, she didn't want to think about how little she knew.

Besides, she thought with a grimace, from how they're reacting to the viewing, the Tarot Club obviously doesn't know everything either.

This projection was based on the connection between the crimson red and himself, an intangible connection that only he himself could realistically grasp hold of.

"This... doesn't it imply that Zhou Mingrui could both summon you and send you back?" Miss Magician asked tentatively.

"Again, he doesn't understand his own situation," Emlyn defended. "Just because he thinks he can do it doesn't mean he can actually do it."

"There's no way a mere human, who isn't even a Beyonder, could actually control this space." The Hermit nodded, taking Mr. Moon's side. After all, this is a sefirah! An item left behind by the Original Creator! It's not something just anyone could control!

As a Spectator, Miss Justice found it hard not to analyze the situation. But in a situation like this... you wouldn't necessarily have to do anything. When faced with bizarre situations, people often react with fear and latch onto to anyone who seems to understand what's going on. That principle demonstrated is through my very first Tarot Club meeting, when we first witnessed the might of Mr. Fool. Feeling herself heading in an unpleasant direction, she tried to Cogitate, but her mind was already barreling forward. However, as Zhou Mingrui himself pointed out earlier... this tactic is often used to trick people. If we simply believed he was capable of something, and he could perform certain acts with this gray fog to lend credit to himself, such as summoning and dismissing us at will, then would he even have to-!

A burst of pain, the taste of iron. Audrey bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to draw blood, cutting off her traitorous thoughts.

What am I thinking?! Blaspheming like this, let alone when Mr. Fool needs us the most, is completely unacceptable! Anyway, my idea of a false descension vessel is perfectly reasonable! She took a deep breath, using the metallic taste inside her mouth to anchor herself. But - the more I think about it, and the more is revealed... it's true that this theory seems to have problems I didn't notice before... No, I did notice; I just ignored the inconvenient details to fit my vision of things. A Spectator relying too much on their own conclusions is indeed very dangerous. I must be more careful to avoid confirmation bias in the future.

She kept her expression smooth. Still, this is only a sign of my own incompetence. Even if my theory is wrong, Mr. Fool must have methods beyond my imagination, capable of resolving my worries. Everything will make sense once we see 'His' memories!

The projection would disappear once the connection was cut, and the couple would then return… Zhou Mingrui nodded mildly and looked at the blond, chuckling. “Of course, if you make a formal request, you can return this very moment.”

Roselle smacked his fist onto his seat's armrest, wheezing with laugher. Several people shot him dirty looks. Azik coughed into his hand, hiding a slight chuckle of his own.

Audrey and Alger weren't nearly so relaxed, hiding their winces at once again hearing Mr. Fool's words from Zhou Mingrui's mouth. This must be how the Moretti siblings felt, seeing "Klein" earlier, they thought with racing hearts. But this - this just feels blasphemous!

Picking up on the pair's unease, Little Sun spoke up hesitantly. "Zhou Mingrui is a vessel, isn't he? It feels unnatural, but the fact that this matches your experience is actually a good sign."

"...You're right." Alger cleared his throat, trying to recover, though a noticeable tension remained in his jaw.

Despite having mostly reconstructed his poker face, Mr. Hanged Man was finding it difficult to concentrate. But... seeing this, just how am I supposed to react... If I hadn't followed Mr. Fool for so long and witnessed so many of 'His' feats, I'm sure I'd be coming to some very strange conclusions. He swallowed heavily. What's most important is that I don't question the might of God. The rest will be revealed in time.

What a good actor. Or is that just Mr. Fool's manipulation? Benson didn't know how to react and could only sit quietly. He also acted around us, but his attitude was a little different. How much was real and how much was fake? It's almost as if Zhou Mingrui was a person made up entirely of lies... He pinched at the bridge of his nose, trying to press away the slight burn of tears.

When she did not identify any ill intention from his tone, Audrey heaved a sigh of relief. She believed that since a gentleman who was capable of such miraculous things had given his word, he would definitely abide by it stringently.

With her mind somewhat mollified, she surprisingly was in no hurry to request her leave. She rolled her virid eyes left and right, which sparkled with an abnormal radiance.

Isn't she relaxing far too quickly? Alfred's fists were clenched tightly. She didn't have much of a sense of danger back then, even though she's grown in the past few years - I suppose the Tarot Club might be behind that, too. They could have molded her into anything while she was vulnerable, and we would have been none the wiser...!

"At least someone is having fun," Will Auceptin said with a shrug, as if he'd read Alfred's thoughts.

She said in an anxious, anticipative and tempted manner, “This is such a wonderful experience… Yes, I have always been hoping that something like this would happen. I mean—I like mysteries and supernatural miracles. No, my point is—what I mean is that, Sir, what can I do to become a Beyonder?”

"Beyonder, huh," Benson muttered. This is the term for people with supernatural powers - people like Melissa. Most of the people here are probably powerful Beyonders, possessing powers beyond my imagination... If a fight were to break out, how could I protect Melissa and myself?

Miss Magician smiled at the sight of her friend, who had long outgrown such naivety, and relaxed a bit. "You used to be pretty reckless."

Audrey barely registered this comment. She gave Fors a small smile, then refocused on the screen with feverish intensity, causing the Hall family to wince. They had never seen their dear gem act this way before; in that moment, they wanted nothing more than to leave this place that was making her so uncomfortable. And then get some answers, of course.

She got more excited as she spoke, so much so she was fumbling over her words. The dream that sprouted in her as a result of listening to thrilling fantasies as told by her elders finally saw the possibility of being materialized.

If only I hadn't indulged her so much, could this have been avoided? Earl Hall looked at his daughter's sparking eyes, then sighed at the sight of the real Audrey's unwavering gaze. The contrast induced a strong sense of regret. His heart squeezed painfully. My innocent little girl, roped into a terrorist organization... moreover, the god they worship seems to have some serious abnormalities, going so far as to drag all of us into this. As soon as we get out of here, I need to do something about this.

However, with just a few words, she had already forgotten all her previous fears and horrors.

The Halls couldn't help but relax slightly, sighing with a mix of fondness and exasperation. Although such carelessness was dangerous, they couldn't deny how comforting it was to see their precious gem acting like herself again, even if only in memories. Still, one look at the current Audrey's flat expression undid any stress release they may have had.

Good question! I would also like to know the answer… Zhou Mingrui complained inwardly.

This sardonic comment was not taken with the slight humor it had been before.

"Heh, looks like nobody knows what's going on." Mr. Star tried and failed to ease the strain in the air. He didn't get any response, but he was too distracted to care; his attempt had been half-hearted anyway, most of his attention occupied elsewhere. 

Leonard had seen 0-17 only once. Just before leaving for the Southern Continent, he'd been pulled aside by Archbishop Anthony Stevenson and taken behind Chanis Gate, where he came face to face with... it. No. 'Her'. According to the archbishop, a mere high-ranking deacon such as himself would never have the security clearance to know of 'Her' existence. Leonard was special. (Funnily enough, he never seemed to enjoy being called that the same way he used to.)

He'd always suspected that this was the Goddess' way of expressing 'Her' awareness of his involvement in the Tarot Club, as well as 'Her' tacit approval; showing him 0-17, an ace up 'Her' sleeve, was a show of goodwill... well, Old Man had suspected, anyway. Leonard had taken one look at the woman's serene expression, as if simply sleeping, and lost all capacity for thought. The wound of Klein's slumber had been too fresh back then.

Now the wound was opening up before his eyes.

Was Klein always being groomed into a full-fledged descension vessel, like 0-17? Was this always Mr. Fool's plan... even though 'He' never seemed unkind and favored Klein greatly... Leonard's heart swooped into his stomach. Blood running cold, he felt as if he finally understood the warning Pallez had always given him: "Trust in the might of deities, but not in 'Their' benevolence!"

Damn it! Klein has always been struggling with this, while I... Is there even anything I can do for him? Especially when it might involve going against Mr. Fool 'Himself'? Although Leonard was eternally grateful to Mr. Fool for allowing him to reunite with Klein, the choice between his god and his best friend was an easy one - especially when that god was the one hurting his friend. The problem was that he didn't have a choice. He had long accepted that his life belonged to Mr. Fool, and he'd been fine with that if it meant getting avenging Captain. He'd always believed Klein had felt the same way, choosing to walk his own path towards revenge; they were bound through their loss, and by the deity they'd sold their souls to.

In a strange way, that shared servitude had been a point of pride for Leonard. Now it was clear that he'd forgotten his place. Mr. Fool had a chain around both of their necks that 'He' would not hesitate to use. How could he fight against that?

At the very least, I thought we were connected by our choice to serve Mr. Fool, but now it's possible that I was the only one with any say in the matter? Klein didn't even know what was going on... Leonard felt his eyes start to burn. And now I'm too trapped to do a thing!  

Unbeknownst to him, however, a certain gaze was lingering on his back. The gaze soon moved from him and continued to rove around the room. Susie licked a paw absently, disguising her intelligent stare from others. This might be a good time to use Placate, but... There was a serene presence behind her, one that should have been soothing but instead made every one of her animal instincts scream danger. She blinked and shook her fur out. Seems that's not a good idea right now. 'She' wants them to vent out all their emotions without interruptions. I shouldn't do too much, anyway... after all, I'm just a dog.

Yes, even at Sequence 5, I'm just a dog! Susie let out a soft woof, catching the notice of Derrick, who relaxed slightly as he scratched her behind the ears.

He started to ponder on an answer to the question to maintain his unfathomable image.

Azik smiled. He's predigesting his Seer potion without even realizing it.

Danitz, who had long since given up on contributing meaningfully to the discussion, held back a snort of surprise. Wait, no way... I've also found myself thinking like that while acting as an oracle... am I being influenced too?! Dogshit, to think I'd share similarities with a god's vessel! Or, uh, whatever the hell it was that they were talking about. He scowled. I understand the basics of descension thanks to Captain's mysticism lessons, but this is beyond me! An oracle shouldn't have to do anything but deliver messages, damnit! Why am I here?!

...Anyway, this guy's kind of a loser, isn't he... Despite comparing himself to Zhou Mingrui just seconds earlier, Danitz was still able to think so ruthlessly. Heh. A god's vessel, indeed! Imagine if the one the high and mighty Gehrman Sparrow has been reporting to all this time was actually this chump! If that son of a bitch ever found out, he'd lose control on the spot! Now wearing a giddy smile, the pirate entertained himself with gleeful fantasies of Gehrman falling to his knees in shock, completely tuned out from the world.

H-He's faking it! He has to be! It's the only way Father would be having so much fun! Bernadette was now beyond convinced, especially by the way Roselle was refusing to meet her eyes. I knew it...! Father is enjoying this! I should just speak up then, shouldn't I? No, it's best to wait for even more evidence to make my case all at once. If I'm right, then proof will naturally come.

But even if I am right, not all of the Fool’s feats can be explained away with Sefirah Castle. For instance, George III’s advancement ritual and the newly established church under his command. He might very well be a ‘He’ after all! Still, for everything to happen so quickly… even if 'He' is just barely a 'He' at Sequence 2, that would require an impossible advancement speed, not to mention powerful backers. That explains the Evernight Goddess' presence here, but what reason does 'She' have to support Zhou Mingrui? Besides, Death and Mercury are bona fide angels who couldn't be tricked into following a false deity. Unless Sefirah Castle had something to do with it, like in the case of the Seven Pure Lights... Now committed to her theory, Queen Mystic tried to sort out the details, shocked at how quickly the Fool had made a name for ‘Himself’.

At the same time, he felt that it was quite unbecoming of him to talk while standing. Shouldn’t he be in a palace, sitting at the head of a long table, and on a mysterious high-back chair engraved with ancient patterns, while silently observing his visitors?

"Someone's read too many novels," Roselle sneered in Mandarin. This time, he smacked his fist onto the armrest in annoyance. "Damnit! How come you got to lead a cool secret organization with a sefirah while I got stuck with politics! How is that fair, huh, you bastard?! Answer me!"

What is he screaming about that's got him so excited... The rest of the crowd, now used to the emperor's mumblings and random bursts of laughter, had more or less started treating him like a senile old beggar. Perhaps this is what that strange alphabet in his diary sounds like when it's spoken aloud? A language from another world... but why does it have to be spoken by this guy... 

...Wait a second. Refocusing themselves on the viewing, the Tarot Club felt a collective spike of dread. Isn't Zhou Mingrui’s description awfully familiar? 

Miss Justice and Mr. Hanged Man exchanged yet another grim look, hearts in their throats. That's right! Soon after we arrived in this place, what happened next was-

As soon as this thought surfaced, the gray fog started to churn, giving both Audrey and Alger a shock.

In an instant, they saw a number of towering stone pillars around them. Above them was a vast dome that encapsulated them.

Sefirah Castle... A faint recollection resurfaced in Azik's mind, causing him to blink. Yes, I remember now. But why would that ritual grant him control over such a place? Could it be that the Celestial Worthy-

His train of thought was cut off by another memory forcing its way to the surface. But this one was incomplete, only a single image flashing across his mind, accompanied by a blaring warning from his spiritual intuition. As if trying to warn him away. Him, a Sequence 2 - a weaker one, yes, due the fracture in his soul, but an angel nonetheless. What could he have just remembered? No matter the danger, he had to know; if it had to do with the Celestial Worthy, it could hold a key to helping Klein. Brow furrowed, Azik closed his eyes and tried to recall the image he'd seen--

--It was his father's face, eyes filled with fear.

...What? Azik felt himself break into a cold sweat. That memory didn't make sense. In all of his memories, Salinger had been cold and brutal, ruthless enough to turn his own son into a revival plan. Salinger existed at a level beyond the gods and inspired terror in others, but Azik was not sure that the deity 'Himself' had ever felt such helplessness in the face of another.

I remember now. My father... was scared of the Celestial Worthy.

An existence powerful enough to strike fear into Death 'Himself'. And now that existence had set 'His' sights on Klein. What in the world had his student become involved in?

This entire edifice looked magnificent, grand and lofty, just like a legendary palace for giants.

"Miracle Invoker powers so early? Ugh! A expected of Sefirah Castle!" Roselle fumed in Mandarin. "A fucking god-level item drop at the beginning of the game! Damn, it’s just too unfair!"

Nobody paid the emperor any mind this time; the sight in front of them had rendered everyone deathly silent, causing the atmosphere in the theater to tank. Words and well-timed summonings were one thing - this was actual, physical change!

"What in the world..." Despite the overwhelming tension, as a person completely uninvolved in the mysticism world, Benson couldn't help his awe. "A palace like that, appearing out of thin air? it's like a miracle."

...This...! The Tarot Club members didn't share his sentiments, immediately recognizing their monthly meeting place. Their hearts collectively dropped into their stomachs. This is...?! 

"Did Zhou Mingrui..." Xio trailed off, catching herself before she could finish her sentence. 

"O-Of course not," Ma'am Hermit said quickly. "Don't be ridiculous. This was obviously Mr. Fool's doing, perhaps to deepen the connection between 'Himself' and 'His' vessel-"

"Is there a reason 'He' would have to do that?"

Cattleya stiffened, her racing thoughts coming to a halt at the sound of a familiar voice. The one who had spoken was none other than her mentor, the one she respected most out of anyone: Queen Mystic.

Looks like someone figured it out... Will Auceptin, who had been taking a short nap, cracked an eye open to look at Amanises. Hmph. No reaction yet. True gods sure are patient, huh? He closed his eyes again.

Finally, Bernadette had her proof, and she could wait no longer. "There's no reason why Mr. Fool would bother to exert changes in this domain simply to align with the the thoughts of 'His' Blessed. The only thing this would accomplish is increasing Zhou Mingrui's belief that he is the owner and convener of this space. What reason does Mr. Fool have to do such a thing?"

”There are certain rituals that have to do with swapping fates," the Hermit protested, recalling the information she'd learned from analyzing the Snake of Mercury's blood. She looked towards the angel in question, hoping for some support - but Will Auceptin had his eyes closed, sucking on his thumb silently.

Why... is the Angel of Mercury staying silent? Cattleya gulped. Surely 'He' should know much more than me about such matters and would want to defend 'His' lord! Even considering the spoiler policy, there's no reason to stay quiet when the situation is so dire...! Is he so committed to acting like an infant?!

"It's possible that Mr. Fool is attempting such a ritual." Bernadette fixed her student with a steely gaze. "But don't you think there's a simpler answer to all of this?" 

She’s not saying-! The Tarot Club members tensed up.

Alfred narrowed his eyes. What, that Zhou Mingrui - no, how could that be possible? Beyonders aren't so easy to trick...

"What are you implying?" Mr. Hanged Man's voice was cold.

But Queen Mystic's was colder. "You know exactly what I'm implying, Alger Wilson. As someone who's survived at sea for so long, you should be smarter than this. If Mr. Fool is awake enough to exert so much influence over the gathering, why couldn't 'He' simply host it himself, or turn Zhou Mingrui into a marionette? Do you think 'He' would hand so much control over to a normal person, who 'He' has only just taken in as 'His' Blessed? First an accidental summoning, then some overlap in dialogue, but now this?" Bernadette shook her head. "Once is happenstance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern."

Our thought processes are quite similar! Xio straightened in shock, remembering her own doubts that she'd been hesitant to voice. I questioned many of the same things - the others must have, too, even if they refuse to admit or even recognize it! But the conclusion she's leading to is just... that road is far too thorny to travel down! The seasoned Judgment shook her head, still refusing to make the connection in her own thoughts.

Queen Mystic speaks as if 'She' has been harboring these doubts for a long time. Does 'She' know something we don't? Or is it just arrogance? Head spinning, only Alger's vast experience stopped him from losing himself to panic. Such insolence will sure incur Mr. Fool's wrath! Even thinking something like... like that - it's completely ridiculous! Mr. Fool's might and accomplishments should speak for themselves; 'He' has a church, for crying out loud! No matter how suspicious this situation is, why can't 'She' recognize that...?

'She' really said it! Audrey's back was very stiff. She wasn't sure what was scarier: Queen Mystic's thoughts, or how much of them she agreed with. Still, it's...! Such a thing is obviously impossible! There has to be something we're missing - something that will make all of this make sense!

...What? Why would she suggest that? Melissa's hands balled into fists, crumpling up the fabric of her skirt. Haven't I already told everyone? Zhou Mingrui is dead and buried! Are they just assuming they faked his death? For a terrifying second, her heart stuttered in his chest. ...It's true that it would make sense for him to do that, since his aim was to return home, which would mean abandoning us eventually. But still, I saw his corpse! His heart wasn't beating! How could someone like that, who impersonated my brother and always wore that stupid sheepish smile on his face - how could he-!

Wait, but what was she implying? Unlike Alger, Danitz's question was completely genuine. What was Queen Mystic implying?! Somebody tell me! Dogshit!

My daughter quoted me! Roselle failed to meet even Danitz's bare minimum of topicality. Uh, she quoted whoever I stole that quote from... whatever! Close enough!

Huh...? The pieces clicked a little later for Leonard, but when they did, he felt as if he'd been doused in ice water. No, that's not-

"Not possible," he blurted out.

"Not possible? Why not?" The Star was next to fall under Queen Mystic's heavy gaze. "Do you have proof to the contrary? Or do you just not want to accept it?"

Of course I don't! Of course I don't want to accept it! An irrational anger flooded through Leonard, throat constricting with the remembered stench of blood, the ache of an old absence. How could you tell me to accept a thing like that?! Because if I even consider what you're saying, then - then what would that mean for Klein?!

Mr. Star is quite upset... Seeing this, Mr. Moon inexplicably felt a little angrier. He spoke with a slight scowl. "You can talk all you want, but you haven't been able to disprove our theories, have you? Where's your damning evidence? Don't you know about presumption of guilt?"

Queen Mystic crossed her arms. "I may not be able to disprove your theories, but you can't disprove mine, either. Just consider it."

Just consider it! Emlyn mocked the centuries-old angel in his mind with a high-pitched voice. His indignance helped to distract from the growing nervousness he felt. I received a revelation from the Ancestor 'Herself' to join the Tarot Club and follow Mr. Fool! I-Is she saying that revelation is fake too?! Hmph! How insolent can someone be?! Besides, Zhou Mingrui is already the World - there's your proof! Damn spoiler policy...

Her Majesty is saying something blasphemous...! Cattleya was caught in the middle of the crossfire, unsure whose side to take. Mr. Fool and Queen Mystic were both valuable benefactors to her: on one hand, she truly believed in Mr. Fool, but on the other, how could she disappoint Bernadette, who had raised her? But if she said nothing, wouldn't that be the same thing as abandoning both of them?

Trying to suppress her growing nausea, Ma'am Hermit chose her words carefully. "Since... we don't have proof for any of our ideas yet, we can't say anything for certain." 

"That may be true." Bernadette shook her head. "But between both of our answers to this question, one requires much less bending backwards to explain, don't you think? Denying that is just an excuse. The mysticism world is strange, but nevertheless, when you hear hooves, think zebras."

(Despite the veil obscuring 'Her' face, Amanises' expression as 'She' turned to Roselle undoubtably asked, "Where did you steal that quote from?" In response, Roselle flipped the Evernight Goddess off.)

"But can't that assumption also be used as a trick?" Cattleya's voice was tinged with the slightest hint of desperation. "Simply accepting the easiest explanation and not digging any further can often lead to falling into a trap. This might be a precaution that Mr. Fool has set!"

"Do you really believe what you're saying?" Bernadette said calmly, testing her disciple. 

"I..."

Cattleya paused for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was steady.

"I want to believe in Mr. Fool."

...So that's her choice? Bernadette's gaze softened a fraction. This was the first time in Bernadette's memory that her disciple had opposed her so directly. She's grown up well while I wasn't looking.

But she still has much to learn. "If that's what you want," Queen Mystic said firmly, "then keep your promise and face the truth head-on. Don't look away."

Face the truth... Many people shifted uncomfortably.

Cattleya pursed her lips. Her Majesty may say that, but this theory makes no sense! When I first observed Mr. Fool with my Eyes of Mystery Prying, 'His' aura was undoubtably that of a strange and ancient existence! Not to mention the many accomplishments under 'His' belt - from these past few years alone, no less - and the angels under 'His' command! How could a normal human perform such feats and order around angels? The answer is that they couldn't! The more Cattleya considered the issue, the surer she felt. It's true that there are many unexplained things in this situation, but it's not as if that theory explains anything either! It just raises more questions!

All this talk about "facing the truth", but aren't they forgetting something? In all these ideas they have - playing god, descension vessels -...what happens after Zhou Mingrui dies? Mellissa's fists were clenched so tightly, she felt like her nails were about to break through skin. Why are they just ignoring that fact? Why are they pretending like nothing would change... they can't really believe he's alive somehow? No! Klein and Zhou Mingrui, they're both gone, and there's no proof otherwise!

"Excuse me, Queen Mystic? According to your theory, how do you explain Mr. Fool's many feats?" Derrick asked with an earnest expression.

"I don't know yet," Bernadette replied honestly.

"There's no need to engage with her," Alger whispered. "Some people just want to cause trouble."

"I don't believe the theory, but shouldn't we listen to the reasoning behind it?" Derrick was slightly confused by his mentor's words. He turned around and asked, "Also, isn't Mr. Fool opening up 'His' memories willingly? Why would 'He' do that if the truth was... um, something like that?"

"I don't know that for sure, either. I suspect there's something in 'His' memories that will be able to restabilize 'His' anchors."

"Just a suspicion. You see?" Alger sighed, causing Derrick to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment. He then addressed Queen Mystic coldly. "Do you have any more proof? If not, I don't think that idea is even worth taking into consideration. Even suggesting it is a grave insult to Mr. Fool."

Bernadette stood her ground. "I have plenty of proof. You just interpret it differently than I do. But the longer this viewing goes on, the clearer things will become, one way or another."

"Yes. Mr. Fool's power will become more apparent than ever."

"Is that so."

Alger and Bernadette maintained eye contact for a moment, both refusing to look away first.

Miss Justice observed with interest, trying to distract herself from the pit in her stomach. Mr. Hanged Man is quite aggressive, considering his opponent is an angel; he tends to defer to those more powerful than him, most likely as some self-defense mechanism. To think that he's been pushed this far... it just goes to show how much his dedication towards Mr. Fool, or perhaps his fear, has grown. Or that he's very desperate to avoid the idea Queen Mystic brought up - no, not good! My thoughts have circled back in this direction...!

Derrick's brow furrowed slightly. What a strange idea... I can see how Mr. Hanged Man would take it as an insult to Mr. Fool, but we're all just looking for the truth in our own way, right? Still, it does make me wonder what Mr. Fool's true nature is. Could it really be connected to Mr. World, Zhou Mingrui? In the world of mysticism, I suppose nothing is impossible. Although confused and uncertain, Little Sun was surprisingly the calmest out of everyone.

Outside of Roselle, who had never had a care in the first place. This was fun at first, but now I feel like I'm in a bureaucratic conference... The emperor rested his head on his fist with a sigh. Teaching Bernadette so much about politics, perhaps I raised her too well.

Directly under the dome where the gray fog gathered, a long, bronze table appeared with ten high-back chairs on either side in a symmetrical arrangement. The back of each chair dazzled and shone faintly with crimson red, drawing the outlines of weird constellations that differed from reality.

How nostalgic. Amanises closed 'Her' eyes, remembering 'Her' time in Rose Redemption.

"So this is where the Tarot Club meets..." Face to face with the grand palace, the experienced Alfred felt like he only now understood the might of an organization backed by a god. No wonder investigations never turned up a single hint about their meeting place. This place must exist somewhere in the spirit world, outside of normal reality!

Audrey and Alger sat face-to-face, sitting next to the Seat of Honor.

The girl looked to her sides, and could not help but mumble, “How fascinating…”

"Fascinating? It's terrifying," Fors grumbled. This whole situation is just weird! Not to mention what Queen Mystic was saying earlier - wait, no, I wasn't thinking about it! Please don't kill me, Mr. World! 

It is certainly fascinating… Zhou Mingrui extended his right hand and caressed the edge of the bronze table a little while maintaining an unperturbed expression.

That's... one of Mr. Fool's habits... The sight caused the Tarot Club to freeze. Compared to everything else, it was a small piece of evidence, but somehow infinitely more damning.

Noticing the reaction, Bernadette raised an eyebrow in their direction.

Alger frowned at this and was quick to come up with a retort. "Zhou Mingrui is abnormally calm. Nobody should be such a good actor without prior experience. This must be due to Mr. Fool controlling him!"

...Ugh... Even to Alger, that argument sounded like he was just trying to convince himself. I remember thinking that Mr. Fool looked very menacing at this time, as if this type of question was completely below 'Him'... was this what actually happened? Wait, of course not! Why am I treating Zhou Mingrui as if he's actually-

His focus was broken by Emlyn's laughter, which was slightly more shrill than usual. "Exactly! Heh, we won't be fooled by something like this!"

Bernadette said nothing, only staring at the Tarot Club as if her point had already been proven. Hearing his comrade's shaky declaration, Alger could only pinch his temples, trying to push back the oncoming headache. 

Listening to the discussion, a thought hit Audrey with sickening clarity:

We're grasping at straws, aren't we?

Once the words appeared in her mind, she couldn't take them back. Miss Justice felt as if she was slowly falling into a bottomless pit, sinking even as she clawed at the walls, trying to escape. I don't understand. No, I don't want to understand. Just what is this...

Alger inspected the surroundings, and after a few seconds of silence, he suddenly opened his mouth, and answered Audrey’s question in place of Zhou Mingrui.

“Are you Loenese?

“If you want to become a Beyonder, join the Churches of either the Evernight Goddess, the Lord of Storms, or the God of Steam and Machinery.

Right, this was before the Church of Steam lost most of its power in Loen, Hibbert thought to himself. The Harvest Church would be a better option nowadays… is it a coincidence, then, that a deacon of the Harvest Church - which gained influence only recently - “just so happens” to be a Tarot Club member? Could this development be the work of a secret organization?

“The majority of us will not meet a Beyonder our entire lives. This has caused churches, and even some clergies within some of the biggest churches, to suspect the same. While this is the case, I am certain to tell you that Beyonders still exist in courts, tribunals, and execution agencies. They are still fighting against the dangers that grow in the dark, only that their numbers are much fewer as compared to before and during the early days of the Iron Age.”

Several high-level Beyonders smiled wryly. The Fifth Epoch was like the calm before the storm - but now, with the Original Creator's barrier fading and potions becoming easier to digest, the end was nigh. As the number of Beyonders skyrocketed, the world would continue to slide into chaos over the next decade or two, all leading up to that fateful year: 1368. The apocalypse that would take all the world's strength to overcome.

For that reason, Klein Moretti could absolutely not be allowed to lose control!

Of course, that's easier said than done. Will Auceptin sighed to himself as he took in the increasingly panicked aura of the Tarot Club.

Zhou Mingrui listened attentively, but he tried his best to present himself as paying little attention to Alger’s words, much like how young kids listened to stories.

Mr. Hanged Man's expression suddenly became quite ugly. Very seriously, he said, “Can someone pinch me?”

Miss Justice gave a heavy nod and pinched the man's hand with a solemn expression. Despite her slim figure, her grip was strong enough to leave a bruise. Alger looked at the mark with a mournful expression.

“Hm." He shook his head. "I haven’t woken up, and I still feel pain properly. Perhaps there's a Nightmare at work here."

H-He thinks it’s a dream? He’s gone into total denial?! the Tarot Club thought in alarm.

Mr. Hanged Man... Derrick frowned.

Relying on Klein’s fragmented general knowledge of history, Zhou Mingrui knew clearly that the “Iron Age” referred to the current epoch, which was the Fifth Epoch that began 1349 years ago.

Alger frowned, mind slightly clearer after the pinch. Really, though, why choose someone with less general knowledge than even an average citizen? Mr. Fool wouldn't do such a thing unless it was as a last resort. Furthermore, Queen Mystic expressed such a blasphemous sentiment, yet neither the Angel of Death nor the Angel of Mercury attempted to correct or punish 'Her'? Even if they wish to stay out of our discussions, isn't this a bit extreme? If only 'They' could at least hint to the truth somehow... but a mere Sequence 4 such as myself shouldn't act too rashly. Then again, if this isn't the time for action, then what is? 

Meanwhile, Amanises studied the room in silence, veiled face giving away nothing.

We're nearing the end of this viewing, but they're still unwilling to admit the truth... Which is it that's too strong, I wonder: their faith or their denial? The veil shifted slightly. It may be time to step in.

Audrey silently listened to Alger finish his sentence before sighing.

“Mister, I know all about what you just said; I even know more than that, including the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punishers, and the Machinery Hivemind, but I don’t want to lose my freedom.”

What? The what? What about freedom? Benson's head spun. He could deeply understand Zhou Mingrui's confusion. It was bad enough during the discussions, but now even the viewing has become full of incomprehensible jargon!

Was freedom what you were so worried about? Caitlyn Hall lowered her head. You know we'd give you anything. Why do something so dangerous? Why not just ask us and trust in your family...

Alger gave a low-sounding laugh, and said vaguely, “You can’t become a Beyonder without sacrifices. If you don’t consider joining churches and accepting their given challenges, you can only seek the royal families and the few nobles with family histories of more than a thousand years. If not, you can rely on your luck to search for clandestine evil organizations.”

"E-Evil organizations? No, wait, the royal family? Are they also involved in the mysticism world?" Benson rubbed his temples. "It makes sense for the king to be aware of such matters, but... how high up does this all go, anyway..."

"Sacrifices? What kind of sacrifices would it take?" Melissa asked tentatively. She was aware that her own situation was rather unique: not being an official Beyonder while still receiving a degree of support from a church. Most Beyonders couldn't enjoy such luxuries. Was Klein a victim of one of those sacrifices...?

"Oh, you know." Roselle waved a flippant hand. "Freedom, innocence, sanity, normalcy. Stuff like that."

Azik took pity on the girl and gave a serious explanation. "Life as a rogue Beyonder comes with many dangers. The lack of resources and connections offered by an organization can make advancing much harder, and you will often come into conflict with the law. On the other hand, becoming an official Beyonder under a church comes with many restrictions of movement, as well as the certainty of being monitored. As for evil organizations, well, I'm sure I don't have to explain why those are a bad idea. Each path offers its own perils."

I should know, since I've traversed them all over several lifetimes, the Death Consul added mentally.

"It seems like there's no good option, then. Why would anyone choose to become a Beyonder..." Melissa's voice trailed off. She felt that her decision to drink the Savant potion had been too hasty - too uninformed of the dangers that lurked within. Was my situation always this precarious?

"Everyone has their circumstances." Azik offered a gentle smile. "You, too, must have had your reasons for entering the mysticism world."

Melissa flinched, her throat going dry. She had told Benson that she'd become a Beyonder to improve her machinery skills, but this had only been a half-truth. She secretly harbored an additional motive: to investigate the circumstances of Klein's death. His occasional displays of strange behavior; suddenly ditching his professorship interview to start a mysterious, strangely well-paying job; and then, his abrupt demise; something about it all had bothered Melissa. She had tried to put it behind her, chalk it up to the general lack of closure she felt - until she was introduced to mysticism, and her old doubts came rushing back.

She'd spent days deliberating over her decision, but deep down, she'd always known what she was going to do. If there was any chance of finding answers, Melissa had to take it. 

Now she was getting what she wanted, and she felt more lost than ever. Avoiding Azik's gaze, she said nothing.

Alger was quick to analyze this interaction, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. So it's not that Mr. Fool's angels are completely unwilling to talk to us... if that's the case, why not step in when Queen Mystic made that - that suggestion too blasphemous to think about? Are 'They' avoiding subjects related to 'Him'? But why? His eyes darted around the room, from Azik and Will to Amanises, though he didn't dare to linger on any of 'Their' figures. What is it that they have in mind?

The suspicious silence had gotten to the point that even Emlyn could notice. Hm, how bizarre. To speak now, yet say nothing earlier - it's strange for the followers of an ancient god, who may even be old friends with Lilith 'Herself', to be so lax. Especially the angel who has followed Mr. Fool the longest, as well as 'His' most cherished angel! The Sanguine higher-ups would certainly never tolerate such disrespect! One mustn't slack off on their duties just because their superior is asleep! As a Sanguine, Emlyn was very experienced with such matters.

Audrey puffed her cheeks subconsciously and looked around in a fluster. After confirming that both the “mysterious man” and Audrey did not notice her tic, she pressed, “Are there no other solutions?”

Despite the mounting tension, the Hall family couldn't help but smile at Audrey's actions.

Alger sank into silence. About half a minute later, he turned around to look at the “mysterious man” who was watching the two of them in silence.

Please, we have enough awkward silence already! Don't make us watch more...! Danitz wanted to cry.

Realizing that Zhou Mingrui had no plans to make any comment, he looked back at Audrey and said with deliberation, “I have two sets of Sequence 9 Potion formulas.”

Sequence 9? Zhou Mingrui muttered to himself.

...Even I had more mysticism knowledge than him... Audrey felt faint.

”He doesn’t even know what a Sequence is? Typical of a human, I suppose.” Emlyn shook his head, as if deeply disappointed, and ignored the root of the issue. Sigh, have the standards for a god's Blessed really dropped so low... Zhou Mingrui, you're shaming the rest of us messiahs who work hard every day! He sighed. Well, if he eventually becomes Mr. World, there must be hope for him yet.

A-Anyway, a Sanguine should maintain their grace, even under duress! That last thought seemed to sneak in out of nowhere.

While Emlyn was in complete denial, committing himself to acting normally, Derrick was shocked at the culture difference regarding Beyonders. Although I've spent over a year in the outside world, this separation is still strange... He frowned thoughtfully. As customary in the City of Silver, he had received basic education about Beyonder matters growing up, including Sequences and the acting method. This bare minimum had been necessary to ensure the city's survival; knowledge of the supernatural was simply necessary when you fought against such threats every day.

In comparison, the outside world's separation of normal and Beyonder spheres had in turns confused and awed him. It must be a great privilege to be able to live peacefully, with no knowledge of such terrifying things. But as the apocalypse approaches, perhaps the whole world might become more and more similar to the Forsaken Land of the Gods, which took us so long to escape...

This thought was almost enough to paralyze him with fear. He bowed his head as if in prayer. No matter 'His' true nature, I'm sure Mr. Fool won't let such a thing happen.

“Really? Which two sets?” Audrey clearly knew what the Sequence 9 Potion formulas meant.

Alger leaned back slightly, and replied unhurriedly, “As you know, humanity can only depend on potions to become real Beyonders, while the names of potions come from the ‘Blasphemy Slate.’ After constant translations into Jotun, Elvish, ancient and modern Hermes, and ancient Feysac, they have undergone changes to match the day and age of that era. The essence is not in their names, but whether they portray the ‘core characteristics’ of the potions.

"Blasphemy Slate?" The Moretti and Hall families repeated this unfamiliar term, causing Roselle to scowl.

Potion names? Benson perked up, eager to distract himself from his confusion by analyzing something he somewhat understood. Then Spectator, Psychiatrist, and Savant - what Melissa is currently - should be potion names, right? For instance, having powers relating to the mental state is how the core characteristics of the Psychiatrist potion would manifest? he theorized, recalling his therapy session with Miss Audrey.

This isn't working. They're taking any chance they can get to distract themselves from the issue! Will Auceptin mocked the crowd silently. His eyes drilled into Amanises' back. If we want to accomplish anything, we'll need one more push. You know that, don't you?

...Alger did not pause and continued. “The second set of Sequence 9 Potions is called ‘Spectator,’ although I am not sure what it was called in the past. This set of potions enables you to have an exceptionally sharp mind with acute observational abilities. I believe you can understand by what ‘spectator’ means from watching operas and plays. Just like an audience, spectators judge the ‘actors’ in the secular world, catching a glimpse of the real thoughts of them through their emotions, conduct, and mantras.”

…Just like an audience… Danitz’s eyes glazed over with the memory of a gentle smile and a cross glinting in the sunlight. He blinked and shook himself. 

At this point, Alger emphasized, “You must remember, regardless of whether you are at an extravagant banquet or a crowded street, spectators can only be spectators forever.”

These ominous words, issued as a warning, left a pit in the Hall family’s stomachs. 

"Forever a spectator... even in their own life? Can that even be called living?" Hibbert muttered, face twisting. Audrey really chose such a path for herself...?

If Hibbert was looking for an answer, he didn't get one. The only response was Amanises tilting 'Her' head wordlessly, unnoticed by him.

Audrey’s eyes shone as she listened, and spoke after a long while, “Why? Alright, this is a follow-up question. I-I think I have fallen in love with this feeling—of being a ‘spectator.’ How can I get this potion’s formula? What can I use to trade with you for it?”

“As for promises, I think that both you and I can feel rest assured under the witness of the mysterious sir.”

Ugh...! It seemed like the viewing wouldn't be granting any respite.

It seems I was right. Bernadette bowed her head slightly. But there's no satisfaction in this. 

This sentence finally triggered a connection in Danitz's head, and before he could think, he let out a bark of nervous laughter. Mysterious sir? W-What?! Zhou Mingrui, Mr. Fool! No way, haha! There's no way Gehrman Sparrow would be tricked by a guy like this! He'd blow Zhou Mingrui's head open before the chump could get a word out! So! There's no way! Totally!

The mysterious sir... Zhou Mingrui? Him? The fog was beginning to clear from Benson and Melissa's minds, leaving them with nothing but the painful truth. Melissa grit her teeth so tightly her jaw ached. Have they been listening to me at all...?

There has to be something! Anything! If only we could see it! The Tarot Club felt themselves inching closer and closer towards losing control by the second. Mr. Fool, please give us some kind of sign...!

As he said this, he swept his eyes towards Zhou Mingrui who was sitting up straight at the Seat of Honor.

Not that kind of sign! the club screamed in their hearts.

“Sir, the fact that you brought us here shows that you have tremendous strength unimaginable to us. Neither one of us would dare violate a promise with you as witness.”

"We... well, we shouldn't forget the possibility of a false descension vessel," Miss Judgment suggested after a pause.

"A-And Mr. World's role is still unexplained!" Miss Magician said shakily.

"Yes... exactly!" Ma'am Hermit nodded so rapidly her glasses almost fell off. "There are just too many things left unexplained! There's no way Zhou Mingrui could... could be-"

"There's no way Zhou Mingrui could be anything." Melissa's words, quiet and shaky but with an undeniable edge of anger, cut through the din. She stood from her seat, her voice rising sharply as she spoke. "Because he's dead. He can't be a vessel, he can't be your god - nothing. He's a corpse in a box six feet underground. What's the point of talking about this?!"

Azik put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She shook it off, quivering. 

"Miss Moretti..." Leonard whispered hoarsely. Only seeing her reaction did he notice his own uncontrollable shaking. There was a growing hollowness in his chest, accommodating something he had already accepted as the truth deep down, and he couldn't bring himself to say another word. His mind was blank.

Melissa stood trembling in place for a moment, eyes shining with something between grief and rage. Only when an extremely haggard Benson gently tugged on her arm did she seem to snap out of her daze and fall back into her seat unceremoniously. She stared ahead with a numb expression before wiping her face, not responding when Benson squeezed her hand.

"It's impossible," she muttered. "Why won't they listen? It's impossible. Why won't they listen..."

I don't know what's going on either...! Benson suppressed the urge to cry.

“That’s right!” Audrey’s eyes sparkled and agreed with excitement.

"There's..." Alger spoke so quietly that his voice, usually calm and level, was almost unrecognizable. "There must be some other explanation."

Mr. Hanged Man... I don't think there is. Audrey said nothing.

From her perspective, the mysterious gentleman who had unimaginable abilities was definitely an “authoritative” witness.

...Wait a second. Danitz's face froze. If what they're saying is right, there's no way Gehrman Sparrow wouldn't know about it... but if he did know, this is exactly the kind of trick he would pull on me, isn't it?! Dogshit! The pirate's internal monologue became a long series of swears.

How could I or the guy opposite me dare trick him!

"You've got to me kidding me." Emlyn shook his head, unwilling to believe what he was seeing. He was even paler than usual. "This has - it's got to be some kind of joke-"

"Does it look like we're playing a joke?" Will Auceptin asked mildly. The Angel of Mercury had finally spoken.

"I - Lord Mercury, you're Mr. Fool's angel!" Cattleya struggled to keep calm. "Shouldn't you say something about this? Mr. Fool is being blasphemed against!"

Will shrugged. "Why should I do anything?"

"But..." Fors' breath hitched. "But not doing anything would suggest..."

"Honestly. How many times do you need the same thing told to you? A three year-old only has so much patience, you know." The Snake of Fate huffed. "Keep watching."

The Tarot Club had been told three times already. They looked as if they were awaiting their imminent execution, bodies tense, fists clenched, expressions drawn with poorly concealed desperation. The lofty Tarot Club had been reduced to a crowd of pallid, panicked faces.

...Huh? It really seems like... Alfred Hall had no idea how to react. He had never faced a situation like this before: a mysterious cult, a typically active but now absentee god, and heretical angels? It was all incredibly unusual. Is that Zhou Mingrui really the leader of this organization? A normal person, leading the Tarot Club? Is this what the evidence leads to?

Audrey half-turned her body and looked at Zhou Mingrui earnestly.

The present Miss Justice could only watch on helplessly, the opposite of her past self in almost every way. Mr. World... Mr. Fool... was reality right in front of us all along?

“Sir, please be the witness of our trade.”

At that moment, she then realized that she was all too impolite, having forgotten all along to ask a particular question. She asked hurriedly, “Sir, how should we address you?”

The Tarot Club sucked in a collective breath. Though logically they knew the situation was well past saving, this seemed like one last chance to rectify things. If Zhou Mingrui simply provided a different name - any other name - this whole problem would be solved, and they could go back to the drawing board and move on. Forget this had ever happened. A clean slate. This was their last hope!

Please...! Please don't say that name!

Alger nodded slightly, and echoed the same question in a serious manner, “Sir, how should we address you?”

"No way," Fors mumbled under her breath. "There's just no way...!"

Klein... Leonard closed his eyes.

Zhou Mingrui was taken aback. He gently rapped his fingers on the bronze table. The contents of the earlier divination flashed across his mind suddenly.

Fate, huh? Will Auceptin smiled bitterly. How laughable.

He leaned back, withdrew his right hand, and crossed his ten fingers, placing them below his chin. He gave the duo a faint smile.

Everyone in the theater suppressed an inexplicable shiver. It felt like something incredibly important had just begun.

“You can address me as…”

Upon saying this, he paused for a moment. He said amiably and calmly, “The Fool.”

Silently, the fog began to churn.

Chapter Text

Sefirah Castle was in chaos.

The gray fog stretching infinitely in every direction had remained silent and ineffable until now, as if it had gone undisturbed for millennia. Now it was swirling and churning with noticeable speed. The chairs of the theater buckled and swayed ever so slightly, caught in an ocean’s wave. The entire space seemed to be reconstructing itself even as it fell apart.

But this still couldn’t compare to the turmoil in the hearts of the audience, who took in this sight numbly.

In just a moment, the spell would break, crushed by the truth in all its damning weight - but for now, nobody dared to move. As much as the fog churned, they remained stock-still. The revelation they’d just witnessed had rendered them speechless. It wasn’t that they had nothing to say; there was so much to say, think about and recontextualize, thousands of little realizations that rushed through everyone’s minds like an unstoppable tidal wave, to the point where it was difficult to choose one thing to focus on. It seemed easier to do nothing at all.

Of course, that wasn’t what they were here for.

4:50

”O-Okay, nice prank.” Danitz chuckled nervously, sweat pouring down his face. “But it’s over now, so let’s stop joking around… it’s not funny anymore…”

”This isn’t a prank.” Audrey could hardly make herself speak, overcome with a strange fragility she hadn’t experienced since she’d first left home. No matter how much she wanted it to be, this was no joke - and if it was, they were the butt of it. The thought occurred to her out of nowhere: I wonder what my family must be thinking right now…

To think that stupid theory of mine was correct. It’s just… not even I can believe it. Bernadette shook herself and asked haltingly, “Is this what Mysteries wanted to show us?”

Amanises swept ‘Her’ calm gaze over everyone before sighing gently.

”Yes.”

With one word from the Evernight Goddess, the final nail in the coffin had been struck. Ridiculous as it seemed, it was impossible to deny now: Mr. Fool, the so-called ancient god, the mysterious and untouchable existence who the Tarot Club had so fervently worshipped, was none other than Zhou Mingrui - an ordinary person who had transmigrated into this world with no knowledge or power whatsoever.

Leonard's hands began to tremble in his lap.

That's not possible. Klein was... Klein was... Even in his mind, the protest was weak. But it couldn't be true. It just couldn't. The man he knew wouldn't... Leonard searched through his memories in desperation, trying to find something - anything to make this wrong, to make everything right again, but all he could see was Klein's gentle face. Smiling, frowning. Brows furrowed into his empty wallet. Cheerfully describing his sister's latest mechanical creation. Laying still, a corpse on a table. Somehow involving himself in every one of Backlund's major incidents alone, taking to sea alone, killing Ince Zangwill alone, feeding the birds alone, disappearing without a word, alone.

"I can't return anymore."

A nightmare, he thought desperately. Surely this is all just a nightmare.

”But…” Cattleya protested, almost too quiet to hear. No! When I dared to look at 'Him' directly...! And that ancient aura I sensed on ‘Him’ when we first met - how could my Eyes of Mystery Prying be fooled?! There’s no other explanation! Unless… Taking in the sight of the gray fog, a strange cold washed over her. Was it from Sefirah Castle all along? Disregarding how a normal person could manage to control a sefirah in the first place... isn't it possible?

There was no way to know for sure. But there was no way to rule out the idea, either. Even as Cattleya racked her mind desperately, she realized she had no irrefutable evidence. The words died on her lips.

Mr. Fool… that Mr. Fool… no, how can I question the might of God… but… Alger’s mind - usually bursting with theories - was working several thousand times slower than usual. It was only years of self-preservation instinct that stopped him from burying his head in his hands as a creeping horror came over him. Just what kind of god have I been worshipping all this time…?

Danitz began to splutter. "No way! There's absolutely no way! Queen Mystic, you're a pirate - you should know exactly who that crazy guy serves!" Due to his natural hesitancy to say Gehrman Sparrow's name aloud, as if invoking the name would summon the man himself, he encountered no resistance from the spoiler system. "You really think that lunatic could be fooled by a fraud who isn't even a Sequence 9?!"

”T-That’s right!” Emlyn stood up, unnerved by the silence of the club’s smartest members and encouraged by Danitz's foolhardiness. “Mr. Fool has accomplished many great feats in the past! Those certainly aren’t lies!” 

How could this be part of the Ancestor’s plan… n-no matter! As a Messiah, it must be me who stands alone to defend Mr. Fool’s honor! The Sanguine’s delusions of grandeur remained as strong as ever.

”Do you think godhood is necessary to accomplish great feats?” Bernadette suddenly felt exhausted. Although her theory had been confirmed, she felt no joy or satisfaction, aware of the uphill battle to come. “At the very least, this is Mr. Fool’s origin. 'He' has almost certainly grown more powerful since then. As for the man you mentioned, Lord Oracle..." She gently reminded Danitz of his position. "I have my own suspicions that I can't share right now. Regardless.. nobody knows what comes next.”

Danitz stiffened like he'd been struck down by Leodero himself. He opened his mouth, then closed it, sweat beginning to bead on his face. Suspicions? What suspicions?! Tch, she can only talk like that because she's never had to be his servant! No matter who his enemy is, that son of a bitch Gehrman would strike down anybody who dared to deceive him! He would even face a god! How could such a man - no, the devil himself - be taken in by this idiot?! Unless...! A terrifying idea occurred to Danitz, and he shuddered, growing lost in delusion. Unless he was in on it all along...!

”Yes, but…!” Emlyn tried to press on.

”Mr. Moon,” Xio said quietly, voice holding the faintest hint of reprimand. 

Emlyn blinked. He looked at his comrades, who were all staring into space with a mixture of shock and grim resignation. Looking as if he’d been slapped, Emlyn sank back into his seat mechanically. His illusions seemed doomed to shatter before his very eyes, and all he could do was watch the cracks spread, like a porcelain doll thrown to the ground in slow motion.

The Ancestor’s plan… what is it, anyway? 

”…A false god?” Alfred muttered to himself a few seats over, brow furrowing in deep thought. The situation seems… more complicated than I’d thought. Audrey really was tricked? No, not just her - an entire group of high-level Beyonders, of whom at least a few are confirmed demigods! It sounds like pure fiction! Surely Zhou Mingrui must have become a real Beyonder at some point; he had to, in order to keep the facade going. All with the goal of returning to his original world…? Who could have guessed something like this to be the truth behind that secretive organization? He shook his head. At the very least, his intentions seem benign. But the previous actions of the Tarot Club have made it clear that he’s not above harming others to get what he wants… he may still pose a threat.

Alfred looked up, ready to communicate his thoughts with his father to get a second opinion, when another voice echoed through the fog.

”Then, Zhou Mingrui…”

Benson Moretti cleared his throat, sounding incredibly haggard.

“…no. Klein. What does this mean for Klein?” the man asked feebly. He seemed to have aged a decade in the span of mere minutes.

A beat of silence. Nobody wanted to speak.

“Klein is dead.” Melissa was forced to answered her own brother’s question. “He’s been dead for a long time. But Zhou Mingrui…”

Her voice trailed off. She balled her skirts up in her hands with a violent tremble.

”…He’s alive, somewhere. Isn’t he?”

Benson and Leonard both flinched violently. But once again, nobody spoke. The fog roiled and writhed as it seemed to grow solid in the audience's throats, threatening to suffocate them in silence.

Melissa turned to the Evernight Goddess. “Ma’am Arianna. You said… Mr. Fool is alive. Just sleeping. But alive. You really meant Zhou Mingrui, right? Is that why…?”

Is that why you left? 

Melissa couldn’t speak another word. She ground her teeth together in order to stop a sob from escaping.

Is this what you’ve been using our brother’s body for…?

Alfred paused.

Melissa Moretti and Benson Moretti. Klein’s siblings. Alfred didn’t have to be a Spectator to tell that the two were barely holding themselves together. Audrey was looking away, face blank as ever, and yet Alfred couldn’t help but unreasonably think that she looked sad.

This is… cruel.

He looked back down and said nothing. 

Klein... Leonard only trembled once more. Then he grew still, very still, until even his thoughts came to a halt.

4:30

”Have you all calmed down?”

Still in a stupor, the audience dully turned to face Amanises. All at once, the serenity of a calm night came over them, and the haze cleared ever so slightly.

"Staying like this won't accomplish anything. I'm sure you all have things you need to discuss.” The Evernight Goddess spoke in a lilting tone, ‘Her’ composure completely unshaken. 

Discuss... what are we supposed to say now? The Tarot Club stared blankly, heads spinning. They could hardly stop themselves from sinking in their seats. The Morettis didn't bother trying, shrinking into themselves as if they wanted to be swallowed by the fog, overwhelmed by the idea of confronting what they'd just learned.

The Hall family exchanged looks with each other, intent on making sense of the latest viewing's revelations. But soon their gazes turned to Alfred, who had gone oddly still, and then, as always, to Audrey. Lady Caitlyn held back a sigh, eyes swimming with sadness. This is a trial my daughter needs to face on her own. This is the risk of living in the Beyonder world, where everybody hides their true nature... she has to learn this for herself.

Feeling her family's gazes on her, Audrey blinked as if coming out of a trance, temporarily regaining her wits. “Susie,” she whispered to her trusty companion, who nodded in response, immediately understanding. As much as Audrey wanted to be there for the Morettis herself, her mind was stretched thinner than usual by the situation, and sending out a Virtual Persona felt unwise. Even a demigod had limits, and Audrey knew hers well, as much as the fact frustrated her. She needed to conserve her energy for taking care of the Tarot Club and herself. They'll be in capable hands, Audrey thought as Susie padded over to the Morettis, who were too distraught to pay their new companion any mind. Or... well. Paws.

Amanises’ gaze followed the interaction, but ‘She’ said nothing.

“Well? Come on already.” Will Auceptin sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”

So calm... Xio made the observation numbly, then rubbed her temples. It can't be... Mr. Fool's angels were expecting this? What the hell has Fors gotten me into?

Gehrman… There’s no way Gehrman Sparrow didn’t know about this… That son of a bitch. This was all an elaborate plan to have me put my faith in a fraud… Completely disconnected from the atmosphere of the conversation around him, Danitz’s thousand-yard stare penetrated the fog. I wonder, will I be forgiven if I pray for mercy…

What's with the sudden grim mood? Roselle lampooned to himself. His gaze swept over the rows full of drawn, pale faces and softened ever so slightly as he closed his eyes, looking away. All these people here for him, and he still had the gall to look so miserable the one time we met. You wanted to go home that badly, huh?

Seeing her father’s expression, Bernadette took charge, having recovered slightly from her shock. ”Shall we split into groups again? Lady Arianna is right. We won’t accomplish anything by sitting here and gaping at each other.”

Earl Hall cleared his throat. “I agree with Queen Mystic. However, I can’t help but suspect that my family will be excluded from any meaningful discussion.”

“The situation is quite delicate right now.” Azik smiled apologetically. “I am sorry we cannot offer answers at the moment. There are… more pressing matters to attend to first.”

The members of the Tarot Club had gone silent, not even daring to meet each others’ gazes. The Moretti siblings were trembling and holding hands tightly, as if they would be ripped apart the second either one let go. Even Azik's wise countenance was showing signs of strain, and Danitz had begun to mumble incessantly under his breath (which everyone ignored).

….There’s nothing I can say to that. In the end, we are undeniably the outsiders here. Except for… The earl’s gaze shifted to Audrey for a moment, and he sighed. “I understand. We will take part in the general discussion.”

As if to copy the Morettis, Lady Caitlyn took her sons’ hands into her own and squeezed.

"I believe that would be best. As for myself, I would like to request another private audience with Emperor Roselle," Bernadette said with an elegant raise of her chin, causing Roselle to pump his fist.

Her Majesty has already recovered and resumed acting normally... Still lost in a haze, Cattleya felt a faint sting of shame. Every attempt at rational thought seemed to slip through her mind like sand through a sieve as she rubbed the bridge of her nose, causing her glasses to slip. She had never felt more like a child than in this moment. What's wrong with me? I... I have to pull myself together, or she'll think less of me... but I just don't know what to do. Your Majesty, please tell me what to do...!

Amanises acknowledged the pirate's request with a slight inclination of 'Her' head. When nobody else spoke, 'Her' silky voice crept into every corner of the fog. "If that is all, I will allow you to discuss now."

The truth had been exposed, and there was no running from it now. Another grim silence fell over the audience as people grit their teeth and tensed in their seats. The Tarot Club remained still, scanning the fog as if searching for answers.

What now? Mr. Fool... 

Amanises' veil shifted. As if by magic, everyone blinked at the same time. By the time they opened their eyes, the fog had already enveloped them.

Melissa and Benson opened their eyes to the sight of a golden retriever.

"Hello," the dog said.

A moment of silence.

Benson pinched himself. Nothing happened. He pinched himself again. Satisfied that it wasn't a hallucination, he laughed bleakly. "The stress must have gotten to me. I just heard that dog talk..."

"You've heard me talk before, you know," Susie said indignantly. "I mean, ahem. Hello. I'm a Psychiatrist, just like Audrey."

"..." After staring at the dog for a few seconds, Benson sunk into a crouch and placed his head in his hands with a long, deep exhale. In that moment, the man who hadn't even hit thirty seemed like an elder worn down by decades of hardship.

Biting her trembling lower lip, Melissa soon joined her brother on the ground, putting an arm around his shoulder. 

"...Alright. Let's sit down." Susie's voice became softer as she regained her professionalism. She sat to face the siblings. "I understand this is a lot to process. I'm sorry Audrey can't be here right now, but I'll do my best to help. Of course, you don't have to talk to me immediately."

Benson took another deep breath. Then he finally looked up, running his hands over his face. "This is really happening, isn't it? I'm not going insane?"

Susie smiled, as well as a dog could. "You're not insane. In fact, you're handling the situation remarkably well."

"There's no need to lie."

"I'm not." Susie's voice grew serious. "You're doing well."

Benson seemed to shrink back, face crumpling, and Melissa drew further into herself. The veneer of shock and disbelief was fading, and soon there would be nothing to hide behind.

“So Zhou Mingrui is..." Benson swallowed heavily, trying to unstick the words from his throat. "Is he really…?"

Susie sighed and adjusted her glasses before responding:

"Yes. Zhou Mingrui is alive."

The Moretti siblings flinched. Benson's breath caught in his throat as a powerful lightheadedness came over him, and he grit his teeth against it - if only this was some terrible dream he could just wake up from. Melissa barely had the energy to react further. It was probably strange, she considered numbly, that they were reacting so terribly to someone being alive. This was the kind of reaction one generally had to a death announcement. But wasn't that what this was, in the end? When Zhou Mingrui's survival meant Klein Moretti's death? It wasn't anybody's fault, but she was in too much pain to care. It was easier to watch the fog in silence and not think of anything at all.

“Alive..." Benson managed. "After all this time... How?"

Why does it matter? Melissa watched a strand of fog curl up and dissipate listlessly. It’s not Klein, anyway.

Susie began to explain with a somber demeanor. "Death in mysticism is a very complicated thing. There are many ways to fake it, or escape it entirely. I'm not aware of the specifics myself, but Klein must have found one of those ways, whether accidentally or on purpose."

"We saw his corpse," the man said weakly. "It was Klein. It was him."

"It might have been. Or it might have been a fake." Susie's eyes were impossibly gentle. "There's no way to know right now. Regardless, Zhou Mingrui is alive."

"I... can we talk to him?" Benson asked urgently. "Is there any way he could explain himself to us, or even just... show his face?"

What was that play we were going to watch together?  Melissa curled further into herself. "The Return of the Count"? I don't remember what it was supposed to be about, even... yes, that's how little it mattered. Why can't you see...

Susie shook her head somberly. "I'm not sure, but I doubt it. 'His' condition at the moment seems rather fragile. It's best to assume that we can only rely on the viewing for explanations." She adjusted her glasses with a paw. "But don't give up hope. It may be possible for 'Him' to establish communication, or for you to achieve closure through the viewing itself. As painful as this experience must be for you, it's also a chance to let an old wound heal properly."

"An old wound..." Benson muttered. His gaze dropped to the floor, and he fell silent for a moment. When he tried to speak again, his voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. "Why didn't he say anything? To let us know he was..."

"Why would he?"

Benson and Susie looked up. It was the first time Melissa had spoken in this gathering. Melissa herself tensed slightly, barely even realizing she had spoken until the others' gazes fell upon her.

"Why would he say anything?" she repeated, tone dull but eyes burning with acidic rage. "He's not actually our brother. He had no reason to."

"That's not... he stayed with us for two months, didn't he?" The usually mature and emotionally reserved Benson couldn't stop himself from talking under Susie's encouraging gaze. He swayed as if his soul had come unmoored. "We treated each other like family. If he was a stranger, it should have meant nothing, but was it really all... pointless?"

"I can't tell you that." Susie looked sympathetic. "You have to decide for yourself. Though... I think for Zhou Mingrui-"

"Miss Audrey knew, didn't she?" Melissa interrupted.

Expression pinched, Benson called out, "That's-"

"I'm not finished." She stood suddenly, propelled by the heat of a years-old fury bursting to the surface. "Miss Audrey knew Zhou Mingrui was alive and she didn't tell us. So did that man who told us about Klein's death years ago. Even Zhou Mingrui himself... how many other people kept this from us?"

Susie remained placid, letting her patient vent out her emotions. "I don't know the details myself, but those people had their reasons. Zhou Mingrui was involved in many strange and supernatural matters, and he most likely decided it was too dangerous to stay with you, for fear of implicating you." 

Melissa's fists began to tremble. "Too dangerous? What does danger mean to someone who would dare to blaspheme the gods? Anyway, he barely knew us, so why should he care about us? I don't believe you. He was just looking for an excuse to leave, wasn't he?"

"You’re looking for a specific answer for me," Susie said quietly. “But I’m afraid I can’t give it to you.”

"Liar!" The scream tore itself out of Melissa with a force that shocked everyone, most of all Melissa herself. Finally the dam had crumbled, and the words kept rushing out like water in the tides, filling her lungs with salt and iron. "Don't lie to me! Why does Zhou Mingrui get to live on when Klein died so easily? Where's the meaning in that?! Somewhere out there a stranger is walking around in our brother's body - pretending to be - a god! And we're supposed to accept it?! He-" Suddenly the air stung her throat, and she choked. "He didn't even say goodbye!"

A terrible silence fell over the fog. Susie regarded Melissa - now shaking and breathing heavily - with limpid eyes, waiting for her patient to calm down. Then her gaze caught something on the ground and she settled, content.

"...Melissa..." Benson reached out for his sister. His eyes caught sight of what Susie was looking at-

He froze.

At first, Melissa didn't react, eyes glazed over in grief. But as the quiet stretched on, she gathered herself and asked, softly, "Benson?"

Her brother said nothing in response. He continued to stare at the ground, wide-eyed. Melissa followed his gaze and she, too, froze in her tracks, a familiar knot tightening in her chest.

A flower. Its color was golden, symbolizing happiness. Somehow it had appeared at their feet without their notice, innocent petals swaying, swaying in an intangible wind - here, in this dead sea of fog where nothing grew.

It was a Seville chrysanthemum.

Robotically, Melissa bent to pick up the flower. The stem had weight in her hands. Nothing about it seemed like an illusion. Even as she held it, she began, against her will, to remember: a clown, a chrysanthemum, the smile that had never quite left - that had seemed to hide, if only to Melissa's grieving mind, some inexplicable sorrow to match her own. Oblivious to her thoughts, the petals continued to sway. Gently, as if smiling at her. The feeling was so familiar it was like no time had passed at all: as if she had never left that moment four years ago, and every part of her life from then on had been one very long dream. A dream that had reached its end.

”So it was you…” she murmured. When she closed her eyes, she could almost picture it: the sheepish expression on her brother’s face, same as always even buried beneath those layers of paint, shy but earnest as he handed over his peace offering.

”Melissa, I‘ll give this to you. So don’t be mad, alright?”

When she opened her eyes, the image was gone. The flower remained.

This had to be some sick joke. Still clutching the chrysanthemum's stem, she raised a trembling hand to her mouth, muffling the sob that escaped.

”Idiot,” she whispered harshly. “If you’re going to apologize, don’t leave in the first place…!”

Then, finally, she'd had enough. Beyond embarrassment, beyond pride, Melissa Moretti lowered her head and began to cry.

For a moment, Susie and Benson watched without a word. Then Benson pulled her to his chest, blinking against the burning in his own eyes as he stared at some point beyond the distance. Melissa only cried harder. She cried because she was sad; she cried because she was angry; she cried because there was nothing else she could do but cry, and that fact only made her sadder and angrier. Every long and lonely night had seemed to return to her all at once, and because she could do nothing more, she cried.

Gently, gently, the petals of the chrysanthemum swayed, brushing against her face as if to wipe her tears away.

The Tarot Club sat in heavy silence.

This is… Justice Audrey took in the sight, feeling shellshocked. Numbly, she wondered whether to Placate the group - more out of instinct than of conscious thought - but decided against it. Disregarding emergencies, this was a time when everyone needed to sort out their own thoughts.

She suspected that at this moment, these calm, respectable demigods were now frantically combing through their memories, looking for any possible piece of information to disprove the truth - only for the truth to become more obvious than before. She suspected because she was doing the exact same thing. Now that she’d been forced to acknowledge reality, the puzzle pieces she’d held all this time fell into place as easily as breathing, and she wasn’t sure she liked the picture that was forming.

Mr. Fool’s silence during Tarot Club meetings - not because ‘He’ thought the discussion was beneath ‘Him’, but because the discussion was too far above him. Whenever Mr. Fool had “regained” some strength, Mr. World had always advanced recently - in the past, she had written it off as part of the strange relationship between the pair, one that seemed to transcend a deity and ‘Their’ blessed. Even ‘His’ honorific name - “the Fool who does not belong to this era.” Suddenly it all made sense in the strangest possible way: the idea that had been in front of them all along, yet was too bizarre and terrible to ever consider.

If any of us had really thought about it, we could have figured this out for ourselves. Audrey sighed. But in the beginning, Mr. Hanged Man and I were too fearful and inexperienced. We were easily impressed by simple posturing, backed up by the power of this gray fog. And by the time more powerful members began to join, Mr. Fool’s image had already been cemented… what a perfect, self-made trap. It’s hard to believe it wasn’t planned this way. How could such a miraculous secret organization, influencing the world from the shadows along its meteoric rise to power, be something made out of a moment’s desperation…

And… what does this mean for Mr. World? Something terrible was growing clearer to her, and Audrey’s skull started to pound, the first echoes of a fearsome headache. Not knowing what to do, she could only fall back on instinct and do what she did best: spectate.

She sent a concerned glance to her fellow founding member, expecting the worst. Unsurprisingly, “Alger Wilson” seemed to be taking it worse than anyone. In an uncharacteristic display of something approaching vulnerability, he was rubbing his temples with his arms propped up on the table, face turned away from the others. She frowned imperceptibly. Mr. Hanged Man…

If Audrey’s mind as a mess, then Alger’s mind was in complete disarray. He’d been thrown overboard in the worst of storms, but the sea was no longer a refuge - the source of strength he had made for himself, had earned for himself. Instead it was a terrifying abyss trying to swallow him whole. He could only struggle in the water as if all his power had abandoned him, unable to even tell which way was up.

Rationally, he knew the truth. There was no way left to deny it; doing so at this point was just foolish. But knowing that did nothing to alleviate the suffocating pressure in his lungs. For the first time he could remember, logic and emotion were at complete odds in his mind. It shouldn’t have mattered: he’d never been a man ruled by impulse, priding himself on the clear head he kept despite the influence of his pathway. When he made decisions, they were informed and rational. That was how he had survived so long as a mixed-blood and a Beyonder, defending himself against violent superiors, traitorous allies, and cruel enemies. It shouldn’t have mattered, and yet when logic told him something he refused to accept, he found himself struggling to breathe.

Why? Why was he unable to accept it? The question filled him with a familiar terror. He felt as if he’d returned to the days of his childhood, in a squalid village terrorized by tides, where the ocean had seemed like the most terrifying thing in the world. Alger had worked too long and too hard to be reduced to that again. He’d conquered that fear. He hadn’t been content to languish in some seaside hellhole, controlled by the unpredictable whims of the tides and the clergy; he’d gone out into the world and bowed and scraped and made something more of himself. Whether it was the Lord of Storms or Mr. Fool he was serving, it made no difference. Get the job done, keep your head down, and never question anything - ever. He knew the rules well and he followed them always. So how could it all be falling apart in front of his eyes? Where had he gone wrong? He'd done everything he was supposed to. He'd been a model servant, obedient and loyal. He’d accomplished his duties without delay or complaint. Above all, surprising even himself, he’d had faith in his god…

But faith was also a form of trust.

Mankind was one thing. Their treachery was expected and could be guarded against. But a god's will was the mighty force of the sea. No point resisting -better to bend a knee willingly before you break. That was the philosophy he’d lived by, and it had saved his life on more than one occasion. And yet… when the one he had bent a knee to was a fraud, originally even more powerless than Alger himself, what was he supposed to think?

What was he supposed to do now?

”…” Audrey pursed her lips and tore herself away. She couldn't afford to focus on one person right now; she had to take stock of the situation. She swept her gaze over the remaining Tarot Club members, finding them in similar states of shock and confusion.

Mr. Fool is… that Mr. Fool, who saved my life… this is ‘His’ true nature? Cattleya couldn’t believe it. A non-Beyonder and a Sequence 8 or 9 being tricked is one thing, even if they're both quite clever, but I was at Sequence 5 when I joined! How could I not have noticed? No, I know the answer: I never looked! O-Of course I wouldn't! How could I dare to? I learned my lesson the first time, through God's punishment! And yet... Under the table, out of everyone's sight, her hands balled up the fabric of her skirts. Shame sat heavy and thick in her stomach. An experienced Beyonder, blinded by fear? It's pathetic! Queen Mystic must be so disappointed in me. She knew the truth, and I... I've completely failed!

Mr. Fool… Mr. World… Mr. Fool… Mr. World… Fors had fallen into the deepest pits of hell. She clutched her head in her hands. It’s fiction! It must be! B-But not even I could write something this crazy! Could this really be the truth?! Mr. Fool, a normal person… The one I talked to so casually every full moon was actually Gehrman Sparrow?! I dared to waste his time with my problems… it’s a miracle I wasn’t turned into a Beyonder characteristic on the spot! But now Gehrman Sparrow knows all my secrets, and that’s a fate worse than death! N-No… I can feel myself losing control… Mother, I may be joining you on the other side sooner than expected…

(…Miss, why does it seem like you fear Gehrman Sparrow more than the Fool… Audrey's lips twitched as she moved her focus away.)

This is the Mr. Fool we worshipped? The one that was part of the Ancestor's grand plan? Emlyn glared at the gray fog as if it had personally wronged him. What grand plan?! There was hardly a plan at all! Everything was just a half-baked attempt by Zhou Mingrui to save his own skin! I was accepting the help of someone like that? It's humiliating! Unbecoming of a savior! What's... He swallowed, throat suddenly very dry. What's going to happen to us Sanguines...?

So Mr. Fool and Mr. World were actually the same...? Derrick's head hurt trying to understand the sudden revelations, but aside from some disorientation, he was quite calm. For him, two idols he looked up to had simply been merged into one. All of 'Their' accomplishments were the work of one person? It's completely beyond my imagination... 'He' must be even more incredible than I had previously imagined! Suddenly a new thought occurred, almost moving the young boy to tears. Wait, does this mean that Mr. Fool came to personally escort us out of the Forsaken Land of the Gods?! W-What an unbelievable honor... for 'Him' to do something like that for 'His' believers...! Praise the Fool!

Honestly, what am I supposed to think... As a latecomer to the Tarot Club, Xio was more bewildered than anything. I mean, pretending to be a god? Who's ever heard of something like that? Even in my early days, I would have known better than to pull such a crazy stunt! Zhou Mingrui must be either crazy or fearless! Or perhaps wherever he's from has a different attitude towards gods entirely - who knows? I guess it doesn't matter much now, since it's all said and done. What's important is how he was able to keep the charade going for this long! Really, until he became a 'Him' and even formed a church... talk about "fake it 'til you make it'... She shook her head in disbelief.

Audrey looked away with a quiet exhale. There was only one member left to check up on, and it was the one she was most worried about: Mr. Star, who hadn’t spoken a word or moved a muscle since the last viewing. It was as if he’d gone completely catatonic. Apparently he and Mr. World - Klein - no, Mr. Fool…? Yes, Mr. Fool and Mr. World are the same person now, aren’t they… Sigh, it’s hard enough for an experienced Spectator like me. For someone who knew Klein in real life… She pursed her lips and observed. I can’t imagine the shock... 

Leonard was very, very still.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t move. If he did either of those things, he would have to think. And if he thought, he’d have to confront that truth too painful to be reality. It seemed easier to just be still, very still, and let the world wash over him.

"This hasn't happened in a while," Dunn Smith said.

He didn't speak. He didn't move. He didn't pay attention to the familiar silhouette lurking, like the shadow of death, in the corner of his eye.

"Especially at this level of severity," the dead man continued. "The first few months were difficult, but most of the time it was just visions. You could only hear me talk on the worst days. It's been a few years since we've had a conversation... I've missed it."

If Leonard turned, he knew he would see his captain smiling: a gentle smile of that spoke of sadness. Just as it had appeared on the corpse.

"You know what this means, don't you?"

I'm in danger of losing control. He had let himself think. Leonard suppressed a wince. It was more out of instinct than anything else; mostly, he felt nothing.

"Usually, you would be right. If anyone could recognize the signs of that, it would be me," the captain joked, voice tinged with sadness. "But this space, whatever it is, seems to have some protective influence. You're not in any real danger." A pair of lake-deep eyes flashed. "You're just in pain."

You'd know that too, wouldn't you? The memories began to return, unbidden. Bile rose in his throat. For a moment, Dunn said nothing, expression unreadable out of Leonard's peripheral vision, but he knew that smile like the back of his hand.

"Why isn't he here with me?" Dunn asked, growing serious.

Finally, a response: a flinch.

Please, he begged his own hallucination silently, please don't.

"Leonard." The silhouette grew closer, closer, its darkness fuzzing the edges of his vision. "Are you scared to face him?"

Zhou Mingrui. Mr. Fool. Klein.

He'd been chasing the image of that person's back for years now. After joining the Tarot Club, he'd thought he had caught up at least enough to put a hand on that person's shoulder, to support him from behind, to do something. For a glorious moment, he'd been able to dream of standing at that person's side. It had been ridiculous, he'd admit - a Sequence 4, beside a King of Angels - but it had been a dream, and it had been his. Now the mirage he’d been chasing all this time had finally turned to smoke beneath his hands. It had probably always been fated to turn out this way. From the beginning. From their first meeting. No, before that - from the very moment Leonard was born.

He was an orphan. He should have suffered, yet he'd grown up easily, surrounded by friendly peers and kind guardians of the church. Always, always, he realized too late the suffering that occurred around him, only thinking back years later to the dull-eyed children who sat in the corners of his memories, waiting for an extended hand that would never come. Then he was a Nighthawk. It was almost expected of him to become one, to want to become one, a child who was fed stories of valor and friendship with every meal and mass. What do you want to be when you grow up? A servant of the Evernight Goddess. And that was that. With a smile on his face, he walked the road laid out for him by others, never questioning a thing.

He met the Captain. He met Old Man. Then he was the protagonist of a beautiful dream, a prelude to every grand adventure epic he'd ever read. He had everything he'd ever been told to want; all he had to do was wait for the cogs of his future to be sent into motion. He lived with such brazenness in that pathetic manner, eyes fixed so firmly on the distance that he barely took in the shape of his own life in front of him.

Now he wanted nothing more than to return to that dream and never wake up.

Dunn's shadow hung over his shoulder, hand hovering closer, closer, closer. Leonard would have sobbed, if he cared enough to. It had all been a game. A fun story. He had passed his simple years in the orphanage and the church, just another faceless child in the pews, set aside only by his above-average looks. Every Sunday he had sat and clasped his hands together and let the sights and sounds embrace his mind for hours, praying to the goddess for the day the tides would finally sweep him away to grand adventure. Recalling it made him abruptly sick. The tides choked and stung of salt, and when they'd finally reached him, Leonard had drowned. Let alone making waves of his own, it was all he could do to keep his head above water as he was ensnared by the pull of that person - he who had always been the unfortunate epicenter, the eye of the storm. Leonard had only ever been a side character at best. A bystander. Someone who stood off to the side and let things happen, who let Captain die, who let Klein die, and now here he was, left behind once again.

But really - it was almost laughable, this farce, because who was he to complain? In the end, had he ever managed a single step on his own? It had all been a game; it had only been a game. Silly secrets that meant nothing, pitfalls easy to dance around in the gorgeous waltz he'd paced alone all his life, always spinning in someone else's palm. Now the stage had crumbled, the path beneath him lost to darkness. The only thing that had ever changed was the hand leading him along. 

Klein. He silently begged. Captain. Old Man. Anyone. Tell me what to do.

But there was no answer. So he remained still - very, very still, as he always had - and let the world wash over him.

"Are you alright?" Dunn asked, but the voice seemed off. Layered, somehow.

Silence.

"Mr. Star, are you alright?" Miss Justice repeated gently. Leonard felt his eyes open against his will. When had he closed them? It didn't matter. Dunn Smith was nowhere to be found. Dunn Smith had never been there in the first place.

"I... I'm sorry." Leonard's head spun, and he could barely get out the words. Who was he apologizing to? There was someone he needed to apologize to, very desperately. Who had he been talking to just now? Had he been talking to anyone at all? His eyes drifted to the World's empty seat.

"It's alright. Nobody has spoken yet." As if understanding his plight, the noble girl gently reminded him of reality, eyes swirling with unreadable emotions as she followed his gaze. "But... I believe Sir Death has something to say to us."

Leonard stared at her for a moment, mind still in a haze despite feeling the effects of a Placate wash over him. Nightmare... it must be a nightmare... Despite telling himself that over and over, he had yet to wake up. Blinking back tears, it was all he could do to direct his gaze to the head of the table, where the other Tarot Club members were looking with similarly lost eyes.

"It seems we have everyone's attention now." Azik Eggers smiled gently, the expression holding a strange undertone of regret. "I understand this is a lot to take in for you. I'm sorry this couldn't have happened under better circumstances... I'm sure this isn't what he wanted, either. Nevertheless, Will and I shall do our best to answer any questions you have."

"What he said," Will Auceptin said around a yawn.

Xio began to speak in a halting voice. "Sirs Death and Mercury - forgive my boldness, but... you were aware of this, weren't you?"

Mr. Fool's true identity... even now, it seemed blasphemous to speak of the topic out loud or address it directly. The Tarot Club could only watch the angels, hoping for answers. 

"Yes," Azik said placidly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He turned his attention towards Will Auceptin, a little curious himself about the other angel who had chosen to follow Klein.

"Of course I knew," the baby huffed. "I wasn't born yesterday." 

"Why?"

Everyone stiffened in their seats at the dull voice cutting through the fog, then turned to look at Alger, whose eyes were grim and distant. 

"Why follow a man without any power, if you knew?" he continued hoarsely.

What is he doing?! The Tarot Club looked at their comrade in shock and worry. Everybody knew that addressing an angel in such a manner was almost always an equivalent to suicide! How could Mr. Hanged Man, the most calm and collected out of any of them, be acting so recklessly? He must be completely out of it. The fact that he hasn't been killed yet is a miracle! Though, to be honest... I want to hear the answer to this question, too...

"Mr. Hanged Man..." Derrick whispered, heart clenching with concern. He'd never seen his mentor like this before. Maybe to him, this is something equivalent to discovering that the Ancient Sun God hadn't just abandoned the City of Silver, but died, and that there was never any hope... but that's not true! Mr. Fool is Mr. Fool, no matter what! 'He' has not abandoned us!

Well, he has a point... Privately, Emlyn agreed with Mr. Hanged Man's sentiment, though for once he had the good sense not to express this. It's not as if these angels are bound by race loyalty like Sanguines, either. What's the use in serving a fraud? If I should deign to serve anyone, it would only be someone powerful and deserving, such as the Ancestor or... Mr. Fool, so I thought... He slumped in his seat, feeling his heart deflate in his chest. What good is a Messiah who follows a false god, anyway...

Thankfully, neither the Angel of Death nor the Angel of Mercury seemed interested in smiting anyone today. Will Auceptin only responded with a sniff. "You should be nicer to me. Haven't you ever heard that children are the future?"

Still, the Tarot Club saw it for what it was: a gentle warning. Such disrespect won't always be tolerated. 

Audrey took the opportunity to Placate her fellow Tarot Club member before he could say anything else he'd come to regret. As soon as the Hanged Man's eyes cleared slightly, he sent her an appreciative - if still slightly dazed - nod. She smiled back.

"I apologize for my disrespect." Alger bowed his head deeply. His voice was still rough around the edges; everyone chose not to comment on this.

In response, Will Auceptin held back a yawn. 

"For me, at least, it was never about power." Seeing that the message had been understood, Azik began to speak. His mild expression melted into something softer, reminiscent. "Klein and Zhou Mingrui are both quite dear to me. I wanted to help them when I could. That's all."

"That heartfelt answer is making me look bad," Will complained. "Me, well... I took a gamble on him back when he was just a baby rookie." He smiled, displaying teeth unusually sharp for an infant. "I got lucky."

Luck, indeed... It fully struck Cattleya that she was in the presence of the Mythical Creature whose blood she had analyzed. Take a gamble? Why would 'He' do that? Because of this sefirah? Or something he glimpsed in Mr. Fool's... er, Klein's... fate? For an angel to take such a risk - just what could 'He' have seen?

Azik's voice took on a note of teasing. "A business decision? Was that all it was? I was quite upset when you beat me out for the title of 'the Lord's most cherished angel', you know."

"Clearly the Lord has an eye for these things," Will said smugly.

Sirs Death and Mercury are reacting so calmly, even joking at a time like this... not to mention brushing off my heretical question... Alger realized the consequences of what he'd done in hindsight and kicked himself, thoughts turning sour once again. Daring to ask something like that in the Church of Storms would have meant instant excommunication. I got off with not even a slap on the wrist! "Not about power"... How could a Sequence 2 Beyonder think that way? Do 'They' truly not care about Mr. Fool's identity? Were 'They' so content to entrust their fates to someone who had no idea what he was doing? N-No, I can't think of Mr. Fool like that - but it's the truth, isn't it? I don't know what to believe anymore...

Derrick's train of thought was much simpler. So Mr. Fool's angels knew all along... That means that in 'Their' eyes, Mr. Fool is truly someone following and putting 'Their' faith in! This realization ignited a warm glow in his chest. Praise the Fool!

Emlyn frowned. It's not surprising that 'They' knew the truth, but if mere angels knew, surely the Ancestor must have known, too! Why would 'She' have me join the Tarot Club despite this? Am I really supposed to believe that a false god - someone who was a normal person until recently - truly holds the key to weathering the apocalypse? I would never dare doubt the Ancestor, but something seems wrong here!

I wonder, do even 'His' angels truly know everything? Audrey's eyes narrowed slightly. To think Mr. Fool's identity was such a complicated thing... Zhou Mingrui, Klein Moretti, Gehrman Sparrow, Dwayne Dantes, Mr. World, and Mr. Fool, too? How many other layers are there that we're not even aware of yet? The mental burden must have been immense - how did I never pick up on it? As a psychiatrist, I've truly failed my patient. Then again, patients aren't supposed to keep secrets from you... She pursed her lips, that awful picture growing ever clearer. It seems like keeping secrets is all this person has ever done.

So there were people that knew the truth? Leonard resisted the urge to curl into a ball as he stared at the table blankly. Why didn't he tell me? Why? Why?

Taking in the Tarot Club's grim expressions, Azik chuckled. "Of course, our situations were quite different from yours. We knew from the beginning, while you all seem to have labored under false impressions for quite some time." His expression lost some of its levity. "I don't believe he meant to hurt anyone by lying, but it's natural for you to feel conflicted."

"...It's all just so bizarre," Xio admitted. "Mr. Fool has always seemed so strange and powerful. The idea of 'Him' being anything other than that is..."

"Is Mr. Fool even a 'Him'?" Emlyn couldn't help but ask incredulously. Is that the real reason 'His' angels don't use honorifics when referring to 'Him'? Despite wondering this, he couldn't help but use the same honorifics as always.

"There's no doubt about that," Audrey pointed out. "First of all, Ma'am Arianna herself told us that we were called here as part of an effort to destabilize Mr. Fool's anchors. Second, 'His' warning about 'Above the Sequence' can only be understood at Sequence 2 and above. And finally.." She took a deep breath as if bracing herself for the information. "We know for a fact that Zhou Mingrui, or Klein Moretti, is the World. Now we also know that... ahem, that Klein Moretti is the Fool. Therefore, the two must be equivalent to each other - and Mr. World was, at the very least, an angel before 'He' went to sleep."

At the very least? Having recovered slightly, Alger was able to catch this odd wording, but it only increased his feelings of discomfort and confusion. Is Miss Justice implying that Mr. World - ugh, Mr. Fool - could have reached an even higher level? Perhaps that of a King of Angels? Or... true godhood? Even though Mr. Fool's divinity shouldn't have ever had to come into question in the first place... you must not question the might of God, you must not question the might of God... The familiar chant echoing through his mind failed to calm him down.

"Mr. Fool... Mr. World... Mr. Fool..." Fors failed to be as subtle as her comrade, muttering under her breath as if she was going crazy.

Hearing this, Derrick straightened. "Actually, what about Mr. World? We've seen him and Mr. Fool together in gatherings. How can they be the same person?"

The Hermit adjusted her glasses and spoke in a heavy voice. "Starting at Sequence 5, the Seer pathway has the ability to control other people by making them into 'marionettes'. Even before that, the effect can easily be emulated with a Sealed Artifact or Beyonder Characteristic."

"A marionette..." Leonard croaked almost inaudibly. All this time... the real Klein was sitting at the head of the table all this time? I was looking for him so desperately during that last meeting, and he was right in front of me all along-! He bit back a sudden sob.

"And all the other godlike abilities Mr. Fool has demonstrated..." Xio started, hesitant.

"They can probably be attributed to this gray fog," Cattleya finished with a sigh. A sefirah - how could a normal person gain access to a sefirah? I can hardly be blamed for not thinking of such a nonsensical possibility! ...But that's a child's excuse, isn't it? She slumped in her seat, resisting the urge to hug her knees to her chest. All I can hope for is that Her Majesty isn't too disappointed.

"Then... what is this place, anyway..." Xio wondered. "I'd always assumed it was some sort of divine kingdom, but it must be an incomplete one. Reaching Sequence 2 in three years is ridiculous enough; reaching Sequence 0 in that time is just unbelievable."

Yeah, it sure is, thought Will Auceptin bitterly. The kind of thing that doesn't happen without divine intervention.

"What does it matter how that Zhou Mingrui fellow did it?" Emlyn grumbled, sour. Delusions ripped away like a toy from an unwilling child, the ugly truth he'd always looked away from now stared him in the face, uncanny as dolls' eyes. "We were tricked."

...After all, if the story of a Messiah isn't a grand adventure, it can only be a tragedy. Even as he scowled, the lump in Emlyn's throat grew larger. Mr. Fool and the Tarot Club had been the perfect backdrop for an exciting story, a lone hero rising to defend his people from the apocalypse. He had felt the weight of that responsibility in the past, as the illusion thinned in the heat of battle, but always, always, there had been Mr. Fool to pray to as a last resort. Mr. Fool, an ancient existence who could address Lilith by name, Mr. Fool who surely had great sway in all manners of things, Mr. Fool who could protect 'His' servants in ways beyond even their comprehensions. Now, even though the stage had come crashing down, Emlyn would still be expected to carry on the show alone. To advance alone, to save the Sanguines alone, to face the apocalypse alone... suddenly the word "Messiah" carried a horror that it never had before.

I never thought it would be like this...! A shiver ran down Emlyn's spine as his throat burned. He found himself missing his dolls more than he had all year.

Tricked... I fell for it... completely and utterly... Once again, Alger felt like he had been dropped into the middle of a storming sea. For some amateur's act? No, that mysterious gray fog, the situation... I couldn't take any risks. I was so afraid of being killed on the spot in that moment... could Mr. Fool have even hurt a Folk of Rage like me back then? Not even a Beyonder, with only the unknown power of this space? Could he have? Was it worth the risk? Did I do the right thing?

"B-But Mr. Fool still has many undeniable accomplishments," Derrick protested. "There was just more happening behind the scenes than we were aware of. I'm not entirely sure, but isn't that expected with such organizations, anyway?"

"You're right," Audrey told him quietly. "But people's hearts aren't quite so simple."

Logically, this revelation shouldn't have changed anything. The truth of the matter was that they were a secret organization: lying or concealing one's identity in such an environment was hardly an act of betrayal, but rather something normal and expected, even necessary at times. Naturally, the members of the Tarot Club were just as guilty of this as anyone else. Perhaps Mr. Fool might not be a god, but 'He' was still someone who had become tremendously powerful, and even helped them in the past. 'His' true nature, or their feelings towards ‘Him’, should never have factored into the equation.

And yet...

It wasn’t proper; there was no reason for it; frankly, it overstepped every boundary imaginable. Despite everything, the sinking feeling in their chests refused to go away. Before their fateful encounters, each member of the Tarot Club had been at a bottleneck: stuck in the lower Sequences or perhaps not even Beyonders at all, mired in the drudgeries and necessities of life all the same - even the mysterious could become mundane with enough exposure. Mr. Fool had changed that. Mr. Fool had changed everything. 'He' had broken through the ordinary and whisked them off to be the witnesses of a truly grand performance, the likes of which the world had never seen; 'He' had even offered them the chance to join 'Him' on stage, together realizing a fate that was thousands of years in the making. Now the stage curtain had been ripped away to reveal a one-man show, barely held together at the seams. The veil of mystique had been shredded to ribbons, the mystery gone, the magic dispelled. Somehow the world seemed a little duller than before.

The fact that we’re all so shaken… it’s undeniable. The Tarot Club is more than a business transaction for us. Audrey's hands dug into her skirts. Even members of a secret organization have their pride!

"Mr. Fool..." Derrick surveyed the expressions of the group, his brow furrowing. As shocking as this revelation was, he just didn't understand the devastation his comrades seemed to be experiencing. Mr. Fool was still Mr. Fool; Mr. World was still Mr. World. 'Their' relationship had changed, but the people - person - 'Themselves' had not. Was his lack of comprehension yet another way he lagged behind, compared to those who had been born in the outside world? The idea caused his chest to prickle. Just this once, he wanted to be the one giving the explanations to others. How can I make the others understand...?

Swallowing, he came to a decision.

"Um, excuse me." Little Sun raised his hand. "Is it alright if I speak for a moment?"

Several people raised eyebrows, vaguely curious, but nobody really felt like talking, so no objections were raised. The attention of the table turned to Derrick Berg, who straightened before starting to speak.

"Life was... difficult there. In the Forsaken Land." He shifted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Um, sorry, that wasn't a very good place to start. It's not that I'm asking for sympathy, either, it's just that... perhaps, because of this, I've always viewed Mr. Fool differently from the rest of you." With an exhale, he started again, shoulders hunched under the weight an old grief. "I think everyone was losing hope. So many of us had lived and died in the darkness that we couldn't imagine a future outside of it. With all the blood on our hands, it felt like anywhere we went, we'd just carry the curse with us. Many people chose to leave the city on their own rather than live in such a manner..."

The young boy paused. There was no need to elaborate on the fates of those who had left. Several Tarot Club members looked down, closing their eyes.

Derrick's voice, which had become almost inaudible, steadied again. "Mr. Fool was the one to lift us from that darkness. 'He' showed us light for the first time... 'He' gave us hope, but 'He' gave us so many other things, too. Views of the ocean, milk candy, sunrises, peaceful nights... we can enjoy these blessings because of 'His' grace. Perhaps it's different for people who have had always had these things. But for us wretches, they were miracles." He looked his comrades in the eyes, gaze burning. "Compared to my people's smiles when they see the sun, Mr. Fool's true nature is irrelevant. 'He' is kind, and that is all we have ever needed of 'Him'."

...Little Sun... The Tarot Club was taken aback by the boy's declaration and determined countenance. Their youngest member, naive and inexperienced, had begun to grow into a fine young man. Silence reigned over the table as the words sunk in, only to be broken by a hoarse voice, roughened by tears:

"Kind...."

Several members felt a small jolt of surprise. The Star had spoken without being prompted for the first time in the meeting. 

"Klein has... always been very kind," Leonard whispered, eyes unfocused. "I'm sure there's no kinder god than him. So why..." His voice cracked, and he fell into a daze once more, staring wordlessly into the distance.

Why... what? This unfinished question stirred unease within the hearts of the Tarot Club. Mr. Star and Mr. World had a strange relationship, one nobody knew the nature or extent of, and now Mr. Star struggled under the weight of a strange sorrow, one known only to him. What did he know about Mr. World - and by extension, Mr. Fool - that the rest of the club didn't? A mixture of curiosity and dread turned in their stomachs. Is it some terrible secret? Or perhaps, he's just betrayed to find out something like this about a friend...

Mr. Star... Audrey stared ahead with a heavy, numb heart. "Anyway," she said softly. "I think that the Sun raises an excellent point. We were tricked, yes, but everything actually promised to us was delivered promptly and without lies, in accordance with Mr. Fool's belief in equivalent exchange. The only thing wrong was our perception of 'Him'."

"Perception is still an issue," Emlyn grumbled. "It's the principle of the matter..."

"And anyway, Mr. Sun, you're wrong about one thing." Alger's words came out gravelly as he carefully tried to keep his voice steady, rubbing at his face. "Kindness and divinity are inherently opposite traits. It's good that you and your people have benefited from Mr. Fool's actions, but don't mistake that for goodwill."

Even now, Mr. Hanged Man is trying to teach me a lesson... Derrick's heart surged with gratitude. Still, he stood his ground, squaring his shoulders. "I understand, but that's not what I'm doing. Regardless of 'His' nature or intentions, Mr. Fool's actions have always been kind... that's what I meant to say."

"You can't afford to think that way." Alger's tone grew sharper. "If Mr. Fool's intentions were to change, so that 'His' actions no longer happened to align with kindness, what would you do then?"

Derrick remained firm but mellow. "I don't believe that will ever happen. But if it did, I would remain faithful to Mr. Fool no matter what." 

Right now, Little Sun almost seems more like the mentor than Mr. Hanged Man... The Tarot Club watched this exchange closely, gazes going from the unusually agitated man to the unusually knowledgeable boy. Sigh, it's like the whole world is turning upside down.

...Mr. Fool saved my life, when the full moon almost made me lose control... Finally, a rational thought broke through the cloud of hysteria in Fors' mind. I suppose that could have been a tactical move to gain a new ally, but letting me ramble to 'Him' about such unimportant things for every full moon after? What could 'He' possibly have gained from that, besides my trust? 'He' never did anything to abuse that trust, either. No matter how you look at it, this certainly seems like kindness... She shook her head madly, swallowing against the lump in her throat. How could a person like that be Gehrman Sparrow?!

Alger began again, eyes tired yet holding a hint of uncharacteristic wildness. "You..."

"We're getting off topic." Judgment Xio intervened. "In the first place, what is there to talk about? It's true that, as strange as this situation is... has anything really changed?"

"..." Alger fell silent, pinching the bridge of his nose.

For a moment, nobody spoke, a strange sense of shame washing over the table. What were they doing, sitting here and arguing like children? They had already established that yes, nothing had changed, and that their sense of shock and betrayal was mostly from their own selfishness. Although Mr. Fool had lied about being an ancient god, they were also at fault for believing the lie, and even feeding into it. And in the end, what did that matter? 'He' clearly possessed some divinity now, and the benefits reaped they'd all from the gatherings were undeniable. Mr. Fool was the leader of the gatherings before all else, so regardless of their feelings, they would continue to serve 'Him'. What more was there to discuss?

That should be it, but... No matter how childish their emotions were, the Tarot Club members couldn't simply erase them.

What's changed?! Leonard's hands curled into fists under the table, heart threatening to slam out of his ribcage. Everything's changed! Klein, Klein has-! But the words died even in his mind, long before they could ever escape his throat. He remained still. Always, always still.

"...Well, obviously, what's changed is that we're stuck here." Emlyn broke the tension with a sour sigh. "Hasn't Mysteries had enough yet?"

What a brazen way to address an Above the Sequence entity... The Tarot Club couldn't help but stop to admire their comrade's stupidity before the discussion resumed.

"It is... strange," Ma'am Hermit began slowly, still regaining her wits. "If Mysteries' goal is to destabilize Mr. Fool's anchors, now would be the perfect time to dismiss us from this space with no further explanation. We would be destabilized, lost in confusion, and unable to contact each other. But the maintenance of the timer implies that there will be more viewings to follow... is there some other motive at play?"

"I may have an idea, though I'm not sure if it's true," Azik offered placidly.

An angel has spoken! Everyone at the table whipped around to face Azik, faces eager. "Please, Sir Death," implored Xio, "anything would help."

"Of course." Azik nodded with a mild smile. "You recall what Ma’am Arianna said earlier, didn’t you? It's true that Mysteries retains control at the moment, but 'He' is weakened. Executing this plan and holding you all in this space is an exhausting endeavor while also having to fight against Mr. Fool. I believe Klein may be able to exert small amounts of resistance in this period of instability. For example, holding us here for additional viewings..."

…That’s right… The Tarot Club stiffened at the memory of the Evernight Goddess’ words; the entire conversation seemed to have taken place years ago. ‘She’ believed that Mr. Fool willingly opened up ‘His’ memories to fight back against Mysteries… but…

"Even after all that just happened, you still believe Mr. Fool is choosing to keep us here?" Mr. Moon asked in shock.

"Of course he is," Will Auceptin said with a shrug. "Letting you all go now would be a disaster. He has to at least try and make himself look good first."

...Shouldn't you, the Fool's most cherished angel, also be trying to make 'Him' look good? Nobody dared to ask this question aloud.

Who cares! I want to go home! Mother! Fors was close to tears.

"I... meant to ask back then. If Mr. Fool is able to resist in any capacity…” Cattleya asked tentatively. “Does that mean ‘He’ is awakening?"

A series of sharp breaths echoed through the fog. If Azik's theory was correct and Mr. Fool was putting up resistance, that implied that 'He' had some level of consciousness - even awareness. This was the most news they'd received regarding 'His' state ever since that last Tarot Club meeting a year ago, and despite the circumstances, the idea of Mr. Fool awakening still sent an electric jolt of euphoria through each member's veins.

Azik furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "Not exactly awake. Just... aware. His slumber has possibly grown shallower, allowing a part of his consciousness to surface."

"Even he can't completely sleep through a commotion like this," Will Auceptin added, crossing his pudgy arms.

”Can Mr. Fool hear us?” Derrick asked urgently.

”Obviously.” Will’s tone made it clear he thought the question was stupid. “He could hear everything from the beginning. This is still his domain, you know.”

…Ah… The Tarot Club felt a strong pang of guilt for putting on such a disgraceful show. But no - weren’t they the ones who were lied to? Should they have to feel guilty at all? Would having doubts like this end up hurting Mr. Fool’s anchors?

Azik smiled and shook his head, sensing their doubts. "For now, just take your time and try to understand. It seems that we'll be stuck here for the foreseeable future, anyway. Mr. Fool can wait for you all to settle yourselves.”

But can he? Audrey recalled the tiredness that had hung over Mr. Fool like the shadow of death during that last gathering. The two psychological profiles - her rather extensive one on Gehrman and an incredibly short one on Mr. Fool - were connecting in a way that filled several inexplicable gaps yet promised nothing good. She shelved the puzzle pieces in her mind, unwilling - unable - to fully connect them just yet. Can he really afford to wait?

"...Mysteries summoned us specifically for the purpose of destroying Mr. Fool's anchors,” Cattleya began haltingly, as a picture began to form in her own mind. "Of the twenty people summoned, eight - almost half - were us, Tarot Club members. I don't think I would be mistaken in assuming that we are...” She swallowed. "Quite important. To 'His' stability."

Azik's smile grew sadder.

Alger stiffened in his seat, hardly believing what he was hearing; Audrey held back a bitter smile. Fors, Xio, and Emlyn gaped slightly, while Derrick's eyes sparkled. Leonard's breath hitched as he fought back a fresh wave of tears. Filled with a whirlwind of bittersweet emotions, the truth settled over each of them like an unwelcome embrace: Mr. Fool is more than a mere leader to us… but we are more than mere subordinates to Mr. Fool.

"...There's nothing surprising in that." Alger offered a final, meager resistance. "Beings of higher sequences need anchors to stay sane, and seeing as... Mr. Fool is not actually an ancient god with countless followers, we are likely some of 'His' strongest allies and subordinates. Divinity is as contractual as anything else in this world."

"All human relationships are contractual to a degree," Audrey said softly. "Even those based on love."

Mr. Hanged Man's eyes narrowed. "Miss Justice, are you implying..."

He was crying. In the confessional booth, at that time, he had been crying. Audrey closed her eyes and said nothing more. 

...Love? Alger was rendered speechless once again. He stiffened in his chair as he was pulled back under by the tides, mind echoing only with the smell of sea spray, of the ocean he'd longed to walk into as a child.

"Mr. Fool..." Derrick's eyes shone bright with unshed joy. It would have been enough just to offer 'His' kindness, but to love us - to truly love us... Piously, he lowered his head and clasped his hands together in prayer, tears tracing down his cheeks. How lucky we are, to be loved by God!

"That's..." Cattleya's voice wobbled slightly, and she cleared her throat. "A very bold claim, Miss Justice."

He said something else to me, didn't he? Audrey only nodded mutely in response, eyes still half-closed as if lost in recollection. Yes... He told me: "If I wanted to give you my blessings, I would have said, I hope that you will still love your family and friends after seeing them as they are." Her gaze fixed on the fog. I wonder if he was thinking of himself in that moment.

"It's not impossible," Judgment Xio offered quietly. "Even in this gathering, there's a precedent. The Moretti siblings... they weren't aware of Mr. Fool in the slightest, and seemed to genuinely believe that their brother was dead. They can't be important anchors to Mr. Fool in the traditional sense of belief. The most reasonable explanation for their presence here is simply that..." The faces of Xio's own family flashed in her mind, and she found herself unable to finish her sentence.

...that he cares for them. Each Tarot Member thought this without saying a word.

Leonard grit his teeth against a fierce sob, burying his head in his hands. In this moment, he couldn't care less how the Tarot Club saw him, if they were watching at all. He just wanted to close his eyes and be swallowed by the fog. Maybe that would take him to where Klein was.

"Love? I-I mean... That doesn't..." Fors mumbled, quiet and shaky. Even for a novel plot, this would be too ridiculous... Yet every protest seemed to die in her throat as she recalled that last Tarot Club meeting, when Gehrman Sparrow had disappeared. Although she hadn't expected to feel anything at his absence - maybe even relief - she had instead felt a great sadness and terror, like the very foundations of the earth had shifted underneath her. Mr. World had been a pillar of their gathering, untouchable in the same way that Mr. Fool was untouchable. Outside of fiction, it was hard to imagine either one being capable of something like love or tenderness.

She pictured Mr. Fool's patient figure sitting across from her every full moon and fell silent again.

L-Love is great and all, but that won't save us from the apocalypse! Emlyn frowned at the table, oddly conflicted. Anyone who knows anything about gods knows 'They' don't really love... Still, I would rather have the god who can protect me, even without loving me! What's love matter if we all end up dying?! Though... Never until his dying day would he admit the fragile fluttering in his chest was relief. I suppose Mr. Fool has been watching over us all this time. So we aren't... on our own...

Surveying the table, Azik smiled gently, even as his heart ached. Klein had never discussed the Tarot Club in his letters, though towards the end Mr. Fool's identity had really been an open secret. Still, it didn't surprise Azik in the slightest that he had managed to touch these people's hearts through the thick and stifling mask of a deity. He only wished he could have seen it, in those last few months, for himself. The letters were his prize possessions, but as he had so often experienced, time and slumber remained impenetrable barriers between him and those he loved.

If only there was more I could do... Even as an angel, Azik felt powerless.

Will Auceptin caught his eye meaningfully, then gave a slight shake of his head before turning to address the group. "It's about time to reconvene now. You all know what you have to do, don't you?"

"Of course," Audrey said simply, though her expression was more detached than before. "We're here to help Mr. Fool."

Mr. World... Gehrman Sparrow, Klein Moretti, Zhou Mingrui, or whoever else... is my patient. If Mr. World is really Mr. Fool, then Mr. Fool will just have to become my patient, too. Miss Justice had achieved temporary stability. After all, no matter what name 'He' holds... that person hates being alone.

Still overcome with joy, the Sun Derrick nodded eagerly, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Yes... whatever I can do, it would be my honor! My life belongs to Mr. Fool!"

"...We cannot allow ourselves to lose composure again." The Hermit Cattleya pushed her glasses up her nose. Even as she spoke those mature words, she wanted to curl into a ball and hide under the table, overwhelmed by what she'd just learned. Divinity and love... Is this the truth you wanted me to face, Your Majesty...? 

"W-Well, we don't have a choice either way," The Magician Fors pointed out, hands trembling in her lap as she finally looked up to face the others. She could almost see Mr. Fool at the head of the table, listening patiently as always. "But... I want to help."

Besides, if I don't help, Gehrman Sparrow will d-definitely kill me! She shuddered and wrapped her arms around her sides.

"So do I," Judgment Xio added, patting her friend's hand comfortingly. I don't know what the hell is going on anymore, but at least Fors is here with me.

"I suppose I can be generous, since this gathering has helped me in the past." The Moon Emlyn sniffed with his usual magnanimousness. I would prefer the protection of a true god, but... surely the Ancestor knows what 'She' is doing. At the very least, this way, I... He harrumphed to himself and crossed his arms. W-Well, it's better than nothing!

"..." The Hanged Man Alger let out a long, slow exhale, trying to focus past the ringing of the tides in his ears. He put all the nonsense about "love" to the side and just thought logically. It should be too late for me to reconvert to the Storm Church now... I'm already the pope in a new church. Even if my failure was inexcusable, there's no more room for regret. I've thrown my lot in with Mr. Fool; now I can only hope for the best. Bracing himself, he spoke with a fraction of his usual authority and none of his inner hesitation. "Naturally, I will remain with Mr. Fool."

Finally, there was only one member left who hadn't responded.

"Mr. Star?" Derrick prompted gently as the table turned to face the poet. (Emlyn cleared his throat far less gently.)

"I..." Leonard didn't lift his face from his hands.

"It's only natural that you'd be the most affected out of all of us, Mr. Star," Miss Justice soothed, casting a Placate. "Which is why I'm so sorry to ask this of you. But right now, we must present a united front in the face of adversity. For Klein's sake, will you stand with us?"

"I don't..." Leonard's voice cracked in two. His hands tightened in his hair for a moment before he finally looked up, eyes red-rimmed but bright. "I don't want to stand still anymore."

The Tarot Club members let out small sighs of relief. Mr. Star was struggling, but he hadn't given up. That was all they needed to know.

"Because... there's something I have to ask him." Leonard continued hoarsely after a pause. He turned to look intently into the gray mist, tracing silhouettes nobody else could see. "I have to ask... if he has any regrets."

Silence fell over the Tarot Club once again. One by one, they also turned their gazes into the fog, as if by looking long enough they could glean some wisdom, understand some hidden truth about the man behind the curtain which had so haphazardly been ripped away. Perhaps, more than anything, they also wanted an answer to that question.

But the fog did not reply.