Lilith tilted her head up to look at the two of them, her voice crisp and clear, "That's right! To Miss Lilith, the most important thing is that Edward is still alive!"
Edward immediately gave her head a firm pat.
"CoughCough! Aren't I alive and well? Don't you dare jinx me like that!"
——
By 2:30 in the afternoon, the two of them had returned to the same house they'd stayed in the previous night.
"I'm going to rest for a bit. Once I wake up, I'll decide whether we're pressing on…and entering the Giant King's Court."
Bernadette nodded, lit a small bonfire at the entrance of the tent, and sat beside the warm flames, lost in thought.
Inside the tent, as the time drew closer and closer to three o'clock, Edward grew more and more restless. Finally, with only three minutes remaining—
A familiar voice echoed in his ear:
"Prepare for the gathering."
A greyish-white mist rose before his eyes, followed by a tide of crimson light. Edward found himself once again in the palace above the grey fog—the Sefirah Castle.
Only this time, the long bronze table was still mostly empty. Of all the chairs, only the Fool's throne was occupied, its familiar and indistinct figure seated calmly.
At that moment, Edward finally truly confirmed it—Amon had really been sealed inside the Box of the Great Old Ones. If he hadn't, Klein would have noticed the moment Edward entered the palace.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool."
Edward bowed in greeting.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Tower," Klein replied, reclining comfortably in his bronze seat. His voice was calm and composed as he asked, "Are you still in the Forsaken Land of the Gods?"
"Yes."
"You encountered the True Creator?"
"…Yes."
Klein's temples throbbed.
Edward, oh Edward…I haven't even recovered from the shock of you provoking an angel, and now you're telling me you went to see the True Creator?
Should I just hand over the title of Mr. Fool to you?!
"…I see."
Though his mind was screaming, Klein maintained an impassive expression.
As for the two-day gap in communication, Klein offered no explanation. In fact, he didn't even mention it. After all, it was beneath a god to explain such things—especially when maintaining divine mystique.
Yes. That's how I should behave from now on.
Klein silently reminded himself.
But then another thought wormed its way in:
But what if they really did have something important to tell me…?
Just then, one by one, familiar figures began to appear on both sides of the long bronze table. The Tarot Club had begun on schedule.
The moment Audrey appeared, she looked across at Edward's seat. When she saw him sitting there unharmed, she finally let out a breath of relief.
They locked eyes. Edward gave her a slight nod. Audrey quickly stifled the joy in her heart, gripped her skirt, and cheerfully greeted the room:
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~~
Good afternoon, Mr. Tower~
Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man…"
Because in this version of events, Klein (Mr. Fool's avatar) had been trapped in the book world during the smog disaster, he hadn't been able to report it, deliver warnings, or stop the True Creator's ritual. And so, Audrey's iconic line from the original timeline—"Mr. Fool, you've saved Backlund once again!"—was notably absent.
Looking at the familiar faces, Klein couldn't help but reveal a slight smile. He recalled how, during his time trapped in that strange world, it had been these very people who helped pull him back, allowing him to awaken into deeper understanding.
Right…at that time, I suddenly made them all pray to me non-stop without any explanation. Would that make them suspicious?
Should I…make up a story about battling an evil god?
No!
Why should I explain? A god doesn't owe his followers explanations!
Nothing happened. Let's keep it that way.
At that moment, The Sun Derrick spoke first, offering thanks, "Mr. Fool, thank you for sending your angel to purify the entity that had latched onto me."
Edward was surprised by this.
Wait, the way Derrick described it…that really sounds like Amon? But he went on this mission with Lovia. How did he encounter Amon again?
Angel?
Audrey reacted instantly.
Before attending the Psychology Alchemists gathering, she'd prayed for Mr. Fool's blessing at Edward's suggestion. During the ritual, she had seen a black-winged angel embrace her—and afterwards, she'd found herself immune to the Spectator pathway's hypnosis and influence.
At the time, she assumed it had just been some kind of divine blessing.
But now, hearing The Sun mention an angel…Could it have been a real, actual angel?
Only a god could command angels!
Even though she had long believed Mr. Fool to be a true deity, that belief had always come second-hand—from Edward's mouth.
But now? Hearing it confirmed by another member gave her the surreal sensation of mythology stepping into reality.
A real angel…Mr. Fool really does have angels under him!
The Hanged Man Alger, meanwhile, was trembling ever so slightly in excitement.
He'd previously speculated that Mr. Fool was a god who, for unknown reasons, couldn't yet interfere directly with the physical world—that "He: needed to gradually reclaim "His" authority.
But now, if "He" could already command an angel, didn't that mean "He" was rapidly approaching full restoration?
When that moment came, "He" would be a true god in every sense—and those present at this table would become "His" earliest and most trusted followers!
Alger fought to suppress his excitement, carefully avoiding any fawning or praise. Instead, he glanced around at the rest of the Tarot members.
Aside from Miss Justice showing a flicker of surprise, no one else seemed particularly moved.
Hmph. Clearly, only I truly understand the significance of an angel appearing!
The Magician, Fors, was simply surprised and confused. Though she'd long suspected that Mr. Fool was a true god, it had only ever been a guess—she had never witnessed any real display of divine might.
But now…the ability to command an angel—that was irrefutable proof. As a mere Sequence 8 Beyonder, she couldn't help but tremble. At the same time, she couldn't help wondering what kind of threat The Sun had encountered to require Mr. Fool's intervention with an angel.
Only Miss Death Priscilla looked completely indifferent.
Angel? she thought. So what? What's the big deal?
Counting Azik, there were four angels around her on a regular basis, and they even told her bedtime stories to lull her to sleep.
Klein, naturally, noticed the Hanged Man's emotional response.
Wait…weren't they all already treating me as a god? Why does the appearance of an angel surprise them so much?
Hmm…I guess no amount of subtle implication can compare to the sheer impact of direct power.
Fine then! If any new members ever question my divinity, I'll prepare in advance—have the World suddenly appear and start preaching fanatically. Then I'll casually point a finger and obliterate him, just to make an example. Once the shock dies down, I'll just re-forge a new "World."
Wait…why does that sound like something a villain boss would do?
Klein quickly cleared his thoughts and nodded faintly.
"Mr. Fool," Derrick asked cautiously, "that shadow…what exactly was it? Why was it clinging to me?"
Since Derrick hadn't faked a near-losing control to avoid joining Lovia's expedition (thanks to the Hanged Man's advice), he had never been locked in the City of Silver's spire tower basement. Naturally, he didn't know about the previous team leader Amon had parasitised, nor had he heard the name Amon.
Klein silently grimaced.
How would I know?!
Still, the odds were high that the thing had been drawn to the grey fog…and maybe he could ask around as the World later to see if anyone knew more.
So he calmly replied, "That was an extremely dangerous being—at the very least, an angel."
He paused before adding, "However, I merely drove it away. It's still alive."
The Sun nodded and added, "After the shadow was purified, I coughed up a little worm. Do you know what this is?"
As he spoke, a small translucent worm materialised above his palm. It had twelve transparent rings along its body.
Fors and Audrey both leaned in curiously, but ultimately shook their heads.
Klein, however, recognised it at a glance—it was something recorded in the Book of Secrets, seemingly connected to time.
Alger thought for a moment and said, "In ancient mythology, there's a creature similar in appearance to that—bearing twelve clear rings. It's called a 'Worm of Time.' But no one's ever actually seen one. Some people believe it might just be the name of a certain Sequence potion."
Derrick tilted his head and asked, "What can it be used for? I mean, the dead one."
Alger shrugged. "No idea."
At that moment, Mr. Fool's serene voice echoed from the head of the bronze table, "It can be a main ingredient in certain rituals."
That was Klein's inference, based on what he'd read in the Book of Secrets. But he wasn't worried about being wrong—there was no easy way to disprove something like that. A vague, suggestive statement was enough to set everyone's imaginations running.
Then, Klein turned to Edward and asked, "Mr. Tower, you're still in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, correct?"
Even though he'd already asked this in private, Edward answered again, without hesitation, "Yes, Mr. Fool."
The rest of the Tarot members were stunned.
What?!
Mr. Tower is in the Forsaken Land of the Gods?!
Among them, Derrick was the most visibly shocked. He stared at Edward and stammered, "M-Mr. Tower…how did you get there?"
Edward sighed softly. "I was taken there by the Angel of Fate under the True Creator."
Taken by an angel?!
To the Forsaken Land of the Gods?!
Yes, Priscilla might have three angel wraiths attached to her, and Mr. Fool could command angels—but that didn't mean angels were commonplace.
Why would an angel suddenly decide to bring you to the Forsaken Land?!
Alger had been about to question him, but then he remembered all of Edward's previous "exploits"…and his apparent connection to the True Creator. He swallowed his questions, a terrifying guess forming in the back of his mind.
"I was taken," Edward added calmly, "to meet the True Creator in person."
He really did it…
"…You actually met…that Being?" Alger asked, unable to suppress the awe in his voice.
Edward nodded. "Yes. I even exchanged a few words face-to-face."
"!!!"
Direct conversation with a god?!
Yes, technically, they all conversed with a god weekly during the Tarot Gatherings…But the True Creator was a long-feared, notoriously evil deity!
You're supposed to be an undercover agent in the Aurora Order—how does that land you in front of the True Creator himself?!
Alger instinctively looked toward Mr. Fool, but the divine figure showed no reaction at all. He simply rested his chin on one hand, as if it were none of His concern.
A new theory began to bloom in Alger's mind.
Could it be…that Mr. Tower was acting under Mr. Fool's orders?
Did he go to the Forsaken Land as a messenger—to deliver a message to the True Creator on Mr. Fool's behalf?
Could it be…that Mr. Fool intends to establish some kind of cooperation with that evil god?!
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.