Constant lightning could be seen illuminating the dark and cloudless sky. Thunder followed every streak of lightning, and it deafened the world.
This was the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
Klein had managed to escape the terrifying grasp of Amon and was now wandering this desolate land.
I've been walking in the darkness for a few weeks now, and it's starting to get boring... Oh, I think this might work... Klein paused and extended his arm. He opened his hand and closed it. He pulled out a small rectangular device from the Historical Void!
Klein pressed and held down a button on the top right of the small device and then waited. A few seconds went by... and then a few more...
Sigh... Why won't a handheld console work here... Disappointed, he let go of the Historical Projection of the console and resumed his journey inland, deeper into the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
I wish there were something fun to do. This is more boring than listening to rich people from the Backlund Quelaag Club... At least a Tarot Club meeting should be happening soon...
He continued walking forward with a steady pace. An army of hundreds of grotesque marionettes followed his footsteps, silently guarding their master.
...
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"
Miss Justice's kind greetings started off the Tarot Club Meeting as usual.
None of the members had any new diary entries, so the meeting moved on.
"You may talk," said Mr. Fool.
Everyone cast their gaze onto Mr. World with anticipation in their eyes. In the past few tarot gatherings, they've been keeping close track of the events that happened in the Forsaken Land of the Gods. The story that everyone knows is that Mr. World was cornered by Amon and taken to the Forsaken Land of the Gods. Mr. Fool had to descend to the real world inside the body of Mr. World to fight off Amon. The last they heard was that Mr. World had successfully escaped from the terrifying grasp of Amon.
As expected of a blessed of Mr. Fool. Would I also be protected like that if I were to become a blessed? Alger's thoughts seemed to be quite visible to Miss Justice.
I also want to be a blessed of Mr. Fool! At least the thing that matters the most is that Mr. World is safe now, thanks to "Him." Audrey quickly thanked The Fool in her heart and kept her gaze on The World.
"I'll be brief," Mr. World began, "These past few weeks have been quite uneventful, nothing much to see other than the few small ruins that are spread out throughout the Forsaken Land of the Gods."
Uneventful?! How?! He's in uncharted territory! Derrick then interrupted Mr. World and spoke his mind.
"Mr. World, what do you mean it's been uneventful?! Have you not encountered terrifying creatures in the dark? Have you not been in constant battles of life or death?"
The World scoffed. "Battles of life or death? My life isn't exactly in danger when I can turn those abominations into marionettes who follow my every command."
The thought of the terrifying pirate hunter Gehrman Sparrow controlling an army of disgusting, powerful creatures of the dark quickly made every member of the Tarot Club shrink back in fear.
Gulp. I should stop writing about Gerhman in my novels for my own safety. I don't want to end up like a lifeless marionette, too! Fors was visibly shaking, sweat rolling down her forehead.
"As I was saying, thanks to Mr. Fool's blessing, I've been able to remain safe, but it's starting to take a toll on my mental health."
Hm? Does Mr. World feel lonely? I guess anyone would if they were left alone in an unknown place. Poor Mr. World... Justice's thoughts also resonated with all the other members.
They could only imagine how much loneliness The World felt. Even Alger, who was constantly isolated at sea, had companions to talk with during those long and torturous sails, but The World had nobody.
"Mr. Fool, I would like a private meeting with Miss Justice."
The Fool nodded and then blinded the senses of all other members.
"Miss Justice, I want to ask for your help. Ever since the fight with Amon, my mental health has been deteriorating. I believe that my current isolated state is the reason why it's been getting worse instead of slowly healing."
"What can I do to help you, Mr. World?" Justice's question had a hint of worry, but also carried a hint of hope. Hope that Mr. World would open up to her. It wasn't every day that the crazy adventurer Gehrman Sparrow talked about their problems, much less their mental problems.
"I'd like to have a one-on-one conversation with you every day for at least 30 minutes. You were once a psychiatrist, after all."
Huh? Is that all I am to Mr. World? A psychiatrist to cure him? Hmph! She pouted in anger. Thankfully, The World couldn't see past the thick gray fog, or else she would've been extremely embarrassed for making such a childish expression.
"Well, I suppose I can spare half an hour of my time every day. At what time would we hold these private conversations? How will that happen?"
"I'll pray to Mr. Fool to allow us to meet each other in here. I'll also send a prayer to notify you about the meeting an hour before it happens. I'll do it whenever I feel like talking."
What? Justice was left stunned. There's no specific hour for the meetings? How selfish!
The World sensed something was off and asked Justice. "Is something wrong, Miss Justice?"
Justice met The World's gaze. They couldn't directly see each other, but The World's presence radiated a chilling aura. Flustered, she cleared her throat and quickly replied.
"Th-there is nothing wrong. We can proceed with such an arrangement".
Justice would never admit she felt too scared to talk back to the crazy adventurer. He had killed many dangerous pirates and even survived a fight with the blasphemer Amon! Who would be crazy enough to talk back to him?!
The World concluded the private meeting, and Mr. Fool returned the other Tarot Club members their senses.
Mr. World looks the same as ever, but... Why is Miss Justice looking down? Is she afraid? What could they have possibly have talked about? The Magician looked around, puzzled.
The Tarot Club gathering swiftly ended right after that, and Klein returned to the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
Sigh...
There were no cities, no people, and no creatures nearby—Klein had turned them all into marionettes, after all. Just Klein and a desolate, endless pasture for tens and tens of kilometers.
"..."
The Tarot Club gathering just ended, but I'll talk to Miss Justice now. I want to fix my mental health as soon as possible before it gets any worse
Klein went above the gray fog and sent a prayer of Mr. World to the red crimson star representing Justice.
...
"...in 30 minutes." The trailing last sentence of The World kept on playing over and over in Audrey Hall's mind.
She stood in her room in silence.
30 minutes?! The Tarot Club gathering just ended. Is he insane?! Uhm, actually, he is insane... never mind
Audrey then prepared herself to be summoned back to the world above the gray.
A while later, she was engulfed by a crimson light.