the mysterious person walked inside, their figure was slowly illuminated by the lamp's light.
Audrey's actions stiffened as she met the man's gaze, his brown eyes locking onto her beautiful emerald green eyes.
How could she not recognize this face?
"Klein?"
This face was unmistakably Klein's!
Klein slowly approached her, his black coat fluttering in the air as if it were being pushed back by the wind. Totally not being done on purpose by Klein himself.
He stood in front of her, leaned slightly forward, and extended his right arm as if inviting her to dance.
"Why the surprised face?" he smirked. "I thought we both agreed on a date on this beautiful evening."
"B-but I—" Audrey was completely puzzled. She tried to reason how all of this was possible.
Klein? But how? Why? He's supposed to be in The Forsaken Land of the Gods, right? Did he finally escape? That's unlikely—It would be a total miracle if he did escape so quickly... but with Mr. Fool's help then... Audrey focus!
If he's here, then that means he either escaped thanks to Mr. Fool's blessing or he was summoned by someone else. But who else?... Miss Magician, right? Right, she's the owner of Leymano's Travels, though others could've also borrowed it to summon Klein here...
Is he here on a mission? No, he said it's our date, but then—
"Audrey?"
She was immediately snapped back to reality at the mention of her name. She blinked a few times, her cheeks flushing slightly as she realized she had been staring, lost in her own analysis.
"Ah, my apologies, Klein. I was just..." She trailed off, glancing at the hand he still had extended. "How are you here? I didn't summon you. Did Miss Magician...?"
Klein's smirk remained, and he lowered his arm. "Miss Magician? Now, why would she need to summon me anymore when I can simply appear here at will?"
At will? Audrey thought. Wait, what?!
"D-do you mean, you've escaped the Forsaken Land of the Gods?!"
"Mmm, more like: I returned it to the present era." A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face, as if he were sharing an inside joke that only he understood. "I'm planning on reporting it in tomorrow's meeting."
"Wh-what?! How?! I mean, how did you manage to do all that? You're really here?!" She reached in and put both of her hands on Klein's cheeks, feeling up every inch of his face as if to verify if he was the real deal.
He grabbed her wrists. "Yes, I'm here. I'll explain it all tomorrow at 3 pm, but as of right now, don't worry about it." He pulled her closer. "Today it's just us."
Audrey's face turned slightly pink. "Y-you're right, what do you have in mind?"
"It's better if I just show you. Are you ready to go now?"
"Ah, yes." She grabbed the coat that was neatly placed on her bed and wore it. "Where are we going? Should I call for a carriage—"
Klein, still holding her close, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her even closer than before, their bodies basically touching.
"!?"
"That won't be necessary."
Before Audrey could react, her surroundings turned blurry. The color of the world seemed to swirl around, mixing with other colors, as if it were a watercolor painting. By the time she processed what had happened, the colors returned to their normal state, and her vision became clear once again.
They were now in the middle of a crowded street. Nobles and their families were walking around with carefree expressions—clearly distracting themselves from the war. On the other side of the street, there was a high-end restaurant. The perfect restaurant for a romantic date.
The nobles on the street paid no attention to Klein and Audrey—it was as if they were invisible.
"Let's go inside, Audrey," Klein said, leading her by the hand.
As they entered the establishment, Klein dispelled the illusion he had conjured, and both he and Audrey became visible again. Why an illusion? He couldn't just teleport to a busy street and expect no one to bat an eye!
After they were seated, the waiter took their order and left.
In the corner, a pianist played a slow, quiet song. The peaceful music drifted through the room, making it easy for everyone to talk privately. The other guests spoke in quiet, low voices, and their soft talking was mixed with the gentle sounds of forks and plates. Each table was covered with a thick white tablecloth and a candle in the middle. It felt like every table was its own cozy, private space. This allowed Klein and Audrey to feel utterly alone together.
This... this is one of the places I noted down in the notebook that I gave Klein. Did he take me here because of the notebook? Aww, how cute~!
Oblivious to Audrey having seen right through him, Klein remained composed even when his nervous heart palpitated so loudly that others could hear it.
What exactly am I supposed to do on a date?! I've read countless romance webnovels back home, but most of them were explicit ones! How did the main characters manage to get through their dates? Why were those parts always skipped?! Klein, having no romantic experience, felt ridiculously nervous. He had experience inviting and dancing with nobles, but an actual date was a first for him. His knowledge from the webnovels back home was limited to the awkward hand-holding, the dramatic first kiss, and then abruptly skipping straight to the scenes that required a premium membership.
None of that was helpful for the actual conversation part of the date.
He felt Audrey's gaze on him, her emerald eyes soft in the candlelight. She was smiling, clearly waiting for him to speak.
Klein cleared his throat, forcing his Clown powers to plaster a relaxed, steady smile onto his face to hide his panic. "The pianist is quite skilled," he offered, grasping at the most obvious, safest topic.
Damn it, Klein, that's the best you can do? He inwardly lampooned.
Audrey's smile widened, her Spectator abilities easily picking up the nervousness he was trying so hard to hide beneath his calm facade. She found the contrast between the Sequence 2 Angel, who had just achieved a miracle to bring her here, and the nervous man struggling with small talk utterly endearing.
"He is," she agreed softly, deciding to help him out. "But I'm much more impressed by the restaurant choice, Klein. It's almost as if you had access to a specialized guide detailing all of Backlund's most romantic locations," she teased.
"..."
Oh Klein~ how cute~!
Before Klein could retaliate from the teasing, the waiter came back with their meal.
Their conversation faded, replaced by the simple, shared comfort of the meal. The serene piano music continued to play, wrapping their table in an intimate, quiet bubble. Klein, finally relaxed, found himself simply enjoying the sight of Audrey across from him in the candlelight, watching the way her eyes lit up when she smiled. He forgot entirely about how one "should" act during a date and instead just remained present.
Audrey, likewise, simply enjoyed his company, appreciating the rare moment of peace they were sharing.
As the waiter cleared the last of their plates, Klein met Audrey's gaze. He stood and offered her his hand.
"Would you like to go for a walk?"
Audrey smiled and took it.
Klein left the payment on the table. The moment they stepped past the restaurant's threshold, he reactivated the illusion around himself and Audrey. To the nobles on the street, they were invisible ghosts, allowing them to walk unseen, alone together under the setting sun's light.
The warmth of the restaurant faded, replaced by the damp chill of the evening, but Klein did not let go of her hand.
Audrey kept stealing glances at Klein's profile, and as a Spectator, she easily noticed he was doing the same.
Eventually, their timing matched perfectly. Their eyes met, and after a moment of surprised silence, both of them broke into a soft laugh.
It was in these moments that Klein truly realized just how much of a blessing Audrey was. She was the girl who had been there for him since the very start, providing support wholeheartedly.
She's one of my biggest anchors... He thought as his fingers intertwined with Audrey's.
He could feel the coldness of his godhood being repelled by his humanity, thanks to Audrey's presence.
They stopped at a bridge and admired the view for a few minutes before Klein finally broke the silence.
"I must admit, Audrey," he began, his voice laced with the playful confidence of Dwayne Dantès, "you are full of surprises."
Audrey tilted her head. "Oh? How so?"
"Back at the party, my invitation was merely for a dance. I don't recall the engagement being part of the program," he teased. "Fiancé, wasn't it? That escalated rather quickly." A smirk made its way to his face.
Audrey's cheeks flushed brightly.
"That was for a reason!" she protested."My Aunt Cassandra was ambushing me. She was lining up suitors. It was... a ruse! The fastest way to stop the interrogation."
"A ruse?" Klein placed a hand over his heart in disappointment. "And here I was, preparing myself to ask your father for your hand. I suppose I should cancel my appointment at the tailor, right?"
"Klein!" she said, lightly swatting his arm. "You know perfectly well that part was a ruse. But..."
Her expression softened as she lifted her gaze to look at Klein. "What we said in the garden... just before your time ran out. That wasn't a ruse."
Klein's playful smirk melted away, replaced by a genuine, earnest expression. He took her hand again, his thumb brushing lightly over her glove.
"No," he said softly. "That wasn't a ruse at all."No," he said softly. "That wasn't a ruse at all."
He didn't let go of her hand. Instead, his other hand lifted slowly, hesitating for only a fraction of a second before gently cupping her cheek. His touch was surprisingly warm against her fair skin.
The cold indifference of his godhood felt miles away, held back entirely by the anchor standing right in front of him.
Audrey leaned into his hand. Her heart started racing, messing up her usual Spectator calm. Her green eyes looked right into his brown eyes.
The world seemed to shrink until it was only the two of them.
Klein leaned down, his gaze dropping from her eyes to her lips. The space between them closed. One inch. Then less. He could feel the soft, warm air from her breath, almost touching his own.
Just as their lips were about to meet—
HONK HONK
A deep, deafening horn blast from a steamship on the Tussock River below shattered the air. The sudden, ugly noise ripped right through their quiet, intimate bubble.
Klein flinched, the sound pulling him instantly out of the moment.
Audrey startled, her eyes flying wide open, her cheeks flushing brightly as she realized just how close they had been. Uuuu~, we were so close... she thought.
The moment was broken, replaced by the awkward silence.
Klein pulled back slightly, clearing his throat, his Clown powers working overtime to put a calm smile back on his face.
"...Backlund steamships," he said, trying to make a joke. "They really have terrible timing."
I'll use a Wish to make these ships disappear next time! Klein joked inwardly.
"Yes, yes they do," she replied, a hint of disappointment being heard in her voice.
"Let's, uh, go somewhere else, shall we?"
Audrey agreed, they both left the bridge, and continued their peaceful walk around the streets of Backlund.
8 minutes until sunset... Klein thought as he glanced at the watch on his wrist.
As they walked, they entered a street dedicated to just stores, mainly clothing stores meant for high-end nobles.
"Wow~! Look at that dress, Klein!" Audrey pointed at the window of one of these clothing stores.
Klein glanced over, and his eyes met the dress that Audrey was talking about.
Isn't that dress a little too...
Klein looked at Audrey, then back at the dress on the mannequin. It was... revealing. It was a dark green dress with quite a revealing cleavage. Its fabric was thin and clung tightly to the body, accentuating the wearer's curves. Its length reached down halfway between the hips and knees, revealing a lot of the wearer's legs. There was also a large opening on the side, revealing the thigh.
This dress reminded Klein of a qipao, a type of Chinese dress. The only difference was that this one was... way more revealing, especially in the chest area.
If she wore that... Klein felt his face turn pink again. Pure thoughts! Pure thoughts! Klein had to resort to cogitating to rein in his thoughts.
Wasn't Loen supposed to be modest? Although Audrey's notebook reports did mention that the young ladies started experimenting with more revealing outfits... but what kinda of lunatic would open up a store here that sells this kind of stuff? This is too much!
Klein then looked at the notice that was placed on the store's front entrance.
"Authentic Intis outfits! Inspired by the newly discovered designs made over 200 years ago by the great Emperor Roselle!"
"..." Klein was left speechless. Roselle, when I find you!... He wasn't sure if he should beat up or thank the emperor for introducing Chinese dresses.
"I wish I could try it on!" Audrey said. "I'll have to come back another day with my maids to check it out," her voice sounded slightly wistful. After all, she wasn't just any noble. She was required to be escorted by her maids whenever she wanted to try on clothes, and it was also impossible to do it now since they were both invisible to the outside world thanks to Klein's illusions.
"...You," he asked, "really want to try it on that badly?"
Audrey looked down, a slight blush rising on her cheeks. "Oh, well, yes," she admitted. "It's beautifully made, but even if my maids were here, I could never actually wear it outside. Can you imagine Aun—Count Cassandra's reaction?" She sighed lightly. "My father would probably lock me in my room. It's just... fun to look at, I suppose."
Klein watched the disappointment in her expression. This was their date, the one they had promised each other. He was a Sequence 2 Miracle Invoker now. What was the point of achieving miracles if he couldn't grant such a small wish?
He leaned in to her ear and whispered, "Close your eyes."
Once she closed her eyes, Klein raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.
Audrey felt something change. Hm? What was that—
"You can open them."
As she opened her eyes, she suddenly felt the sensation of something different touching her delicate skin. She looked down and saw the beautiful dark green dress neatly worn on her body.
"Wh— How? Huh?!" she exclaimed, puzzled, but also excited. "It's not an illusion? I can touch it and interact with it!"
"Of course, this is light work for an Angel," Klein said.
This was the work of a miracle from a Miracle Invoker!
The dress clung to her form exactly as Klein had imagined, making her live up to her nickname as Backlund's Most Dazzling Gem. She looked elegant, mature... and undeniably sexy.
I get to make her happy and on top of that I get to see this sight... Klein thought, a devious smirk forming. Wait! Audrey, don't twirl that's—Uuuu... I'll lose control just from a piece of fabric. This is definitely bad for my heart!
Turns out the sight of Audrey wearing such a sexy outfit was too much for his virgin mind.
He quickly forced his Clown powers to lock down his expression into one of calm appreciation.
She turned back to Klein, who was trying very hard to look only at her face. A nervous but excited smile bloomed.
"Well? What do you think, Klein?"
"Looks perfect," he replied calmly. Praise the Lady for this view!
Klein, still forcing himself not to look anywhere else but her face, checked his watch.
It's time... he thought.
He raised his arm in the form of an invitation. "There's another place I'd like us to go to," he said
She took his hand. "Alright~"
Klein pulled her closer, his right hand settling firmly around her thin and delicate waist, their bodies practically touching.
Technically, merely holding her hand would have been enough to teleport them both. But this felt... safer. More secure. Totally.
Yes, purely for safety... he silently lampooned, ignoring the way his heart sped up the moment he grabbed her waist.
The world dissolved into a swirl of colors before solidifying again. The shop was replaced by the desolate top of a hill. The hilltop grass swayed lightly around their feet. The light breeze felt refreshing—a noticeable change compared to the usual Backlund air.
In front of Klein and Audrey, there stood a tree overlooking the stunning view of Backlund. This hill, located on the outskirts of Backlund, had the perfect view for the sunset.
"Wow! This view is amazing!" said Audrey, sparkles practically forming in her eyes.
Klein stepped forward and extended his arm. He then pulled out a picnic blanket straight out of the Historical Void.
He then placed the blanket on the grass right in front of the tree. This way, they could get the best view of the sunset.
As Klein sat down, Audrey quickly followed.
The silence that settled between them wasn't awkward this time; it was comfortable, filled only by the wind whistling past the lone tree.
"When Miss Magician summoned you... You were scouting this spot, weren't you?"
Klein froze.
Damn Spectators, he silently lampooned.
He didn't answer, instead, he cleared his throat and reached out to the air beside him. And pulled out another item from the Historical Void: an ordinary wicker basket
"You brought food, too?" she asked curiously.
"A proper date requires refreshments," Klein replied, trying to sound cool as he opened the basket. Inside were two plates and several small boxes tied with ribbon. "I believe these are the Desi pies you mentioned in your notebook report."
Audrey's eyes lit up. "You remembered that?"
"My memory is quite good," he said, handing her a plate.
They sat together, quietly eating and enjoying the sunset view. These few minutes might've been short, but for them it felt like an eternity. An eternity that they wouldn't trade for anything else.
As beautiful as the sunset was, Klein found his attention drifting back to the woman beside him.
Audrey immediately noticed his gaze and turned around to look at him.
They kept silent.
"..."
"..."
"Klein..."
"Audrey..."
Their names hung in the air, a question and an answer all at once. The memory of the interrupted kiss on the bridge flickered in their minds for a second.
Klein reached out, gently cupping her cheek. Audrey's eyes fluttered as she leaned into his touch. He got closer and she reciprocated, both still maintaining eye contact.
They both wanted it.
This time, there were no interruptions to stop this moment.
Klein leaned in at last, brushing away the final inch between them. Their lips met in a kiss that felt like the world was holding its breath. He wrapped his other arm around her delicate waist, pulling her closer as the sun melted into twilight.
It was clumsy and hesitant at first, but overwhelming. Klein's mind, usually racing with calculations and internal lampooning, went completely silent—his mind totally overwhelmed by all sorts of emotions and sensations.
Audrey's noble-like persona was shattered completely. She wasn't analyzing or observing like the usual Spectator she was. She was lost in the ecstasy of this moment.
The kiss deepened, losing its uncertainty and becoming sure and earnest. He shifted, pulling her even closer, until there was no space left between them, only the thin silk of the scandalous green dress and the warmth of their skin.
This... I... Klein's mind felt mushy, unable to form coherent thoughts.
Audrey's hand reached up and held onto Klein's firm chest.
Uuuu... Klein... Audrey's mind was no different.
Klein's hand, the one that had been gently cupping her cheek, slid down her neck, tracing the line of her shoulder before settling on her back. He pulled her tighter, his fingers pressing into the thin, clinging silk of the green dress.
His mind was on fire, all attempts at "pure thoughts" incinerated. The feel of the thin fabric over her soft curves was intoxicating.
Driven by pure instinct, his hand slid lower, tracing the curve of her body until his thumb brushed the edge of the large opening on the side of the dress, grazing the bare skin of her thigh.
That damn dress... Klein was blindly following his instincts, and this dress ignited them.
Audrey gasped into the kiss, her own mind short-circuiting. She had felt his hand spread wide on her back, no longer a gentle embrace but a possessive exploration
When Klein's hand reached her thigh, she suddenly became aware of something.
She was wearing this... this indecent outfit, and Klein was reacting to it... strongly.
But the hands holding her belonged to Klein... the man she loved. Disregarding the panic, she let herself melt once again into his embrace.AHH! What have I done?! AHHH!"
Klein found himself inside the Historical Void in the pre-epoch time, repeatedly banging his head against a skyscraper's concrete wall.
"Why?!" he screamed.
It was Monday, early morning, the day following Klein and Audrey's date.
"Why? Why? Why?! Why did I do that?!"
His actions from the previous day kept replaying over and over inside his head. Klein, now with a clear mind, wished he could travel back in time and slap the old him.
"A gentleman doesn't do that! A gentleman doesn't lose control like a wild animal! What would she think of me now?" he said as he stopped banging his head against the wall. "AHH! I'm no different from those webnovel main characters!"
The memory of the emerald green dress clinging to her body flashed in his mind, and he groaned, sinking to his knees.
Klein, the man who had faced demigods and escaped the God of Deceit Amon, was undone by a kiss. He had wanted to give her a perfect, romantic date to make her happy. Instead, he felt he had ruined it with his lack of control.
I've got to apologize...
Empress Borough, inside Audrey's room.
After yesterday's steamy moment on that one hill, Klein teleported Audrey back to her mansion and then left after saying goodbye.
She was left alone in her room, still wearing the dark green dress. She had realized just how scandalous her dress was during their kiss, but she had previously dismissed the thought. Now that she "sobered up," she realized her mistake.
Audrey had quickly taken off her dress, realizing just how revealing it was. She threw the silk dress onto a chair as if it were poison, her cheeks burning with a shame that completely overshadowed the passion from the previous night.
"What was I thinking?" she whispered to the empty room, pacing back and forth. "An outfit like that... It's completely unbefitting of a noble lady!" The memory of his intense kiss now felt less like a moment of shared romance and more like a direct result of her improper choice. "He must think I'm so... forward. Klein, I'm not like that!"
She then sat down on her bed, trying to make sense of what had happened yesterday. The seductive dress... the kiss... the touching... It all kept playing on loop inside her mind.
"Ah!" She slapped her cheeks with both her hands. With a groan, she thought, ...I need to apologize.
Inside Sefirah Castle, 3 pm Backlund time.
"You may talk amongst yourselves," said Mr. Fool. There were no diary entries this time.
"..."
None of the Tarot Club members seemed to have anything worth talking about.
After a few seconds of silence, The World spoke.
"Miss Justice, I require your assistance exploring the Hall of Truth again later today. I'll pay you for your troubles."
The Hall of Truth? The Star, Leonard, raised his eyebrow at the mention of this place. I thought we explored everything there. Did we miss something?
Miss Justice jolted slightly in surprise. "Th-the Hall of Truth?" She raised her head slowly to try to look at Mr. World, but then quickly cast her gaze down in embarrassment. Uuuu I can't even look at him! The shame she felt this morning was burning her up. "A-Alright, Mr. World. I'll be there." She immediately agreed. Her guilt and shame didn't even allow her to question the reason for this re-exploration
Her unusual behaviour was easily noticed by The Hanged Man Alger and The Hermit Cattleya, some of the most experienced Beyonders here.
Alger observed Miss Justice, who was trying very hard not to look at Mr. World. She looks very embarrassed... and Mr. World seems... quite composed? Could he just be hiding it behind a facade? Is this behavior related to how they have acted in the past meetings? This isn't just about exploring, is it?
The Hermit Cattleya remained quiet, having similar thoughts.
Suddenly, Miss Magician spoke, "Excuse me, Mr. World. May I also tag along?"
"No—"
"Sure. Isn't it fine, Mr. World?"
Miss Justice cut him off before he could deny Miss Magician's request. I need someone else there, too! I won't be able to stand being alone with him after yesterday's events! Audrey thought.
Going to the Hall of Truth was Klein's plan to apologize. What better place to apologize in than the place where she could hear the thoughts inside his head? This way, she would see he had nothing to hide and was truly apologizing from the heart.
Unfortunately for Klein, Miss Magician threw a wrench into his plans.
Is she not taking the hint?! I want it to be just the two of us so we can talk it out! Don't go around inviting others! he screamed inwardly.
With a mental sigh, he said, "No, there's no need for other people to tag along—"
"But Mr. World, I wish to record the Hall of Truth myself to trade the information with the Abraham family in exchange for mystical artifacts. I will pay 5,000 pounds for the trouble."
"..." Klein thought about it, 5,000 pounds? Does she really have that much money to throw around? Well... I can't exactly say no to that much money...
He cleared his throat and said, "Alright then."
A few hours after the meeting ended, Klein summoned Miss Justice and Miss Magician above the gray fog. The World was already waiting there.
Once they all gathered, they then entered Groselle's Travels and made their way to the Dragon of Imagination Ankewelt's City of Miracles, Liveseyd. Once inside the grand palace, they reached the Hall of Truth.
Once we step inside, they'll be able to hear my thoughts... Klein thought, if only Fors wasn't here, I could actually apologize properly...
"...apologize properly." Klein's thoughts echoed across the hall...
Audrey flinched and looked at Klein, currently disguised as Gehrman Sparrow. Wha—?!
Fors's thoughts also leaked out. Apologize? Did Mr. World do something wrong to Miss Jus—wait! No! Mr. World, I'm sorry! Don't listen to me! The hall betrayed her and earned her a glare from Gehrman.
"...why the hell does the hall's effect start from over here?"
A similar thought echoed out loud from Klein and Audrey—the only ones who have already been here.
With a sigh, Klein stepped forward. Audrey and Fors soon followed.
The great hall was deathly quiet, the only sound being the soft echo of their footsteps on the polished floor. The air was thick with awkwardness.
Just focus on the walls. The carvings are very old. I am here to work. I hear nothing. I think nothing. Fors's frantic thoughts leaked out again, betraying her desperate attempt to be invisible.
Audrey risked a glance at Gehrman Sparrow's back.
He wanted to apologize? she thought. For what? The ki—? Stop thinking! Stop thinking!
Klein let out another silent sigh. This is a mess. How can I explain anything with her listening to every thought?
As if hearing his frustration, Fors suddenly stopped. "I'll, uh, start recording this section over here!" she hurriedly announced, before practically scurrying away to the farthest corner, putting as much distance between herself and the other two as possible. She then began to memorize the content of the murals so she could write it down when she got back to the real world. Just do your work, Fors!
Seeing his chance, Klein stopped and turned to face Audrey. He knew there was a chance Fors could likely still hear him, but he had to finish what he started. He took a breath and sent out a clear, deliberate thought, no longer an accident.
Audrey, I apologize for my actions yesterday. I got carried away, and I was worried I had made you uncomfortable or scared you. That was never my intention.
The mental apology was so clear and sincere that it made Audrey's heart ache.
No! You have nothing to be sorry for! It was my fault! I was the one who wore that improper dress! I was too forward. I'm the one who should be apologizing to you!
From the far corner of the hall, Fors, who had been trying very hard not to listen, heard the entire mental exchange.
Her jaw dropped.
A lover's quarrel! she thought in a mix of terror and utter delight. About a dress and getting 'carried away'?! This is great story material! I have to remember every detail! No! Bad Fors! Forget it all! For your own safety, forget everything! Wait... Gehrman Sparrow and Miss Justice are a thing?! No! Mr. World, Miss Justice, ignore what I'm saying! Ahh!
The misunderstanding was now completely out in the open. Klein and Audrey stared at each other with deep, mutual, red-faced embarrassment.
"...I might have to turn Miss Magician into a marionette now." Klein's inner thoughts echoed throughout the hall...
Fors felt a chill run down her spine.No! No! Please, Mr. World, I am so sorry! I didn't hear anything! I saw and heard nothing, I swear! Fors's mind screamed, and her thoughts soon echoed once again throughout the Hall of Truth.
She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for her imminent demise.
Suddenly, a gentle, soothing thought turned into an audible sentence that reached out to her, like a warm blanket. "He's not being serious, Miss Magician. He's just embarrassed. I think..."
It was Audrey, trying her best not to sound embarrassed, even when she wanted to disappear to the ends of the earth at this moment.
Klein let out a mental sigh, realizing his inner joke had gone way too far. He cleared his throat, fixed his gaze on Fors, and said, "Miss Magician, if any word of this gets out, you'll find that being a marionette is a kinder fate than what I have planned."
Fors froze, her face drained of all color.
He's going to kill me! He's really going to kill me! Her thoughts shrieked across the hall.
It was then that Audrey stepped in to defuse the situation.
"Mr. World, I believe Miss Magician understands the need for absolute discretion. There is no need for violence."
"..."
Klein remained silent. Truthfully, his harsh threat hadn't been a calculated warning, but a clumsy, panicked attempt to cover his own embarrassment.
Threats aside, he already completed his goal—apologizing to Audrey—and had no need to stay here any longer. The longer he remained here, the riskier it would become, since any stray thoughts could leak out.
The problem Klein faced was that Fors paid him a great sum of money to be here. It would be heartless to make her leave just as soon as they entered the Hall of Truth.
"Let's leave, I've already got what I wanted," Klein heartlessly announced.
Huh? B—But I'm still not done with the murals! Fors thought.
"It is a waste of time to linger," Klein said, his voice leaving no room for argument. He turned to the terrified author and sighed. "I've memorized every single mural here. Every single detail is perfectly stored in my mind. You can pray to Mr. Fool and he'll send you all of the information I have," he simply stated. "We are done here."
Fors found herself dumbfounded.
Then what the hell did I come here for?! This thought rightfully earned her another cold glare from the terrifying pirate hunter—after all, it was her idea to tag along without being invited in the first place. Eeek! I'm sorry, Mr. World! Fors screamed inwardly as she ran away to the entrance of the Hall of Truth.
Once she made it outside and confirmed that nobody could hear her own mind, she finally took a breather and gathered her thoughts.
The exchange between Miss Justice and Mr. World repeated in her mind...
...So Mr. World's name is Klein? That's quite... a normal name for the most famous bounty hunter... though it's kind of cute in a way... she thought, but that wasn't the only name that stood out. A hunch she'd had for a while—one she was ninety-nine percent sure of—had now become a certainty.
The World Klein... and Miss Justice Audrey?
Back in the real world, a day later—Tuesday.
Klein had just finished answering Fors's prayer with all of the information regarding the Hall of Truth's murals. He now found himself wondering what to do.
He had become a Sequence 2 Angel not so long ago, and he assumed a new persona—Merlin Hermes. He'd been wandering from place to place, fulfilling Wishes to digest his potion and accumulate enough Wishes for himself.
It is kinda lonely though...
It had only been a day since he had seen Audrey, and he still missed her. He could summon her to the gray fog to have another one-on-one talk, but he decided against it today. Why? Because Merlin Hermes was heading to Backlund.
Hmm... Yeah, that sounds like a good idea... Two birds with one stone! Klein thought as he teleported away from the small inn where he was staying and landed on a pirate-infested island in the Sonia Sea.
A few minutes later, he teleported once again, and the city of Backlund filled his view.
It was the same old city where he and Audrey had their first date. The air was thick with the familiar scent of coal smoke and damp earth, a smell Klein was very familiar with thanks to his days here as Sherlock Moriarty. As evening approached, gas lamps began to flicker to life, casting a hazy, golden glow on the wet streets and revealing the deep shadows that clung to every alley and archway.
Time to get started... Klein turned to the pirate marionette he had obtained a few minutes ago and smiled. "It's your lucky day. Mr. Merlin Hermes!" he said as he transferred a Worm of Spirit to the marionette, giving it part of his Beyonder powers.
The marionette's skin then squirmed and boiled. Translucent tendrils could be seen being rearranged around its body. Klein's body also started the same transformation process.
After a few more seconds of this grotesque scene, the marionette stood up straight.
It now wore the face of Merlin Hermes!
Klein, likewise, had changed his appearance as well. He had assumed the look of Klein Moretti once again.
As a Sequence 2 Miracle Invoker, he could control his marionettes from a tremendously far distance away—enough to cover a city. His senses could also be perfectly split between his main body and his marionettes, allowing him to feel, sense, smell, and hear everything that his marionettes found.
With this ability, he could "split" himself into two people. The Merlin Hermes persona would go around the city of Backlund fulfilling wishes as discreetly as possible to not get caught by the Beyonder teams here. Meanwhile, the Klein Moretti persona would get to spend time with Audrey Hall.
I'm a genius! he thought, a proud smirk forming on his face.
With a mental command, the Merlin Hermes marionette adjusted its collar and strode off into the bustling streets. The mysterious wandering magician was ready to listen to the city's whispers and wishes.
Klein, meanwhile, took a deep breath. The world around him warped, and in the next instant, he stood silently on the familiar balcony of the Hall family's mansion.
Audrey and her dog were leisurely strolling down the halls of her family's mansion.
"Audrey, you've been smelling... funny, recently," said Audrey's dog, Susie. "A few days ago you returned home out of nowhere. I didn't even see you enter through the front entrance. And worst of all, your room smelled... fishy. Yuck!"
Audrey, seemingly embarrassed, cleared her throat and said, "Susie, don't worry about that. I'm sure it was just the seafood the maids brought in for my lunch."
"Hmph. If you say so," Susie grumbled, giving her a final skeptical sniff. The maids haven't brought any food to your room in days, though... You also had the smell of a man on you...
Click, Swoosh.
As Audrey and Susie walked to Audrey's room, they both heard the sound of the balcony's glass door sliding.
Susie's ears perked up, a low growl rumbling in her chest as she looked toward the sound. Audrey turned to look at her bedroom door. She quietly approached the door and swung it wide open.
Her eyes widened.
Standing on her balcony, illuminated by the soft glow of the gaslights below, was Klein Moretti.
"Klein?" she asked, completely caught by his sudden appearance.
"Woof?" Susie looked at them both in confusion, as if asking, "You two know each other?"
"Good evening, Audrey," he said calmly. "Uh, I was hoping to be a bit more subtle."
A happy smile was already forming on Audrey's face. "You could have at least knocked."
Susie, however, was not smiling. The golden retriever made her way past Audrey and stopped directly in front of Klein. She lowered her head and began sniffing his pants and shoes with the focus of a seasoned detective.
A moment later, she looked back at Audrey and let out a single, triumphant bark. She then stuck out her tongue like an ordinary, innocent dog. Her expression told Audrey everything: So this man is the reason why you smell fishy~