note: before we continue this is my style of writing i read too much, and if it doesn't fit your taste that's unfortunate. I've gotten this style by reading a lot of manhwa light novels. this style is extremely direct. and it's completely mine since this is just the normal style i writing in these days. when I'm on the phone writing as I make my drafts of a chapter usually 500-900 word on my phone first. in 2 months, I will start releasing the rewrites of older stories for now though this is what I'm going to do to occupy my time, any actions of this Mc Of the story i do not condone, this is all fictional and a story only to be told. there will be gore, unsettling actions, and etc. so I can get my mind on other projects I'll release 4 Chapters every week.
Creak—!!
The wood groaned beneath his weight.
The real question was... where was I?
This place wasn't my house.
I didn't even have a job...
And...
I wouldn't even work under these conditions.
He stared at the walls that surrounded him.
Bang—!!!
He froze. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Did the roof just collapse?
The surrounding walls looked as if they had been constantly punched in by a maniac.
Was it me?
Why don't I remember doing it?
Do I have amnesia?
He moved toward a switch on the wall.
It looked old-fashioned.
And...
European.
Instead of an up-and-down switch, it was a knob. He turned it slowly.
Click—!!
The lights turned on.
He stared ahead.
In front of him was a square mirror.
Is that me?
Short black hair with a small amount of curl. Almost like he had just gotten a perm.
His face was pale as chalk. This face alone screamed K-pop idol.
When did I become a looker...?
He moved his hand swiftly.
Looking for something that wasn't there. A habit he had.
His hands traced along his side.
He found a knife holster.
So I even have it here...?
But did I Isekai with it?
But... did I just get isekai'd?
Are there smoking babes here too...?
If so, there better be blondes... after all, they're my type...
His fingers traced upward.
Like he was trying to stroke his beard.
"Ah, dammit. Where's my beard?"
—
Time passed...
Don Rong.
Couldn't help but lie down.
The pitch-blackness of night enveloped him.
A night sky covered his expanse.
Slowly...
Black became grey.
A chair of sorts...
Was now in front of him.
But... who was that being?
His mere presence felt like that of an almighty god.
Like this entity possessed unfathomable information and power.
Klein stared at him.
He couldn't move.
He froze in that moment.
Breathing became difficult.
This entity felt like an omniscient being. The aura he gave off felt like that of someone who had killed many before.
Was that killing intent?
Why are his eyes like that?
And what was he covered in?
A grey fog?
Don Rong couldn't make out the appearance of this being. His entire face and body were covered in a greyish fog.
But those eyes...
He can't be human.
As he stared at the being, he froze up again.
Then.
Instead of me and the being, there were three of us.
From the silhouettes, one looked to be a woman, and the other looked to be a man with broad shoulders.
In that mere moment of me looking at them... did he bring them here too?
The woman, covered in grey fog, looked around. Her head scanned left and right, searching for what was around her.
A man walked slowly forward...
There wasn't even a sound of a footstep... was that normal here?
They both looked up to see him.
The being that struck terror into my very being.
He stood at the top of the fog.
There wasn't anything supporting him. He floated in the air as if he held authority.
Then she began to speak.
"Uh... Sir, pardon me, but where am I?"
Her anxiety was evident in her voice, and I couldn't blame her; I was in the same situation.
"May I ask... are you the owner of this divine kingdom?"
Thud...
Bang...
She had asked that one question.
Pillars fell from the sky.
Or were they structuring themselves to meet his will?
They were being brought together.
A long table appeared out of nowhere.
"Sir, not to be rude, but where are we? And who are you?"
The man's voice was slightly hoarse as he spoke.
He couldn't help but demand answers.
I knew if I intervened to ask him as well, it wouldn't accomplish anything... I knew this situation all too well from being around dweebs.
Isn't this what they call a final boss...?
"If you wish to address me, call me the Fool..."
His voice...
Sounded so cool.
Did he lower his voice, or is it normally like that?
Wait, why am I fanboying over this dude? Wait... is it a woman?
Then chairs appeared.
We sat down.
Surprisingly, the chairs were comfortable.
Are these Herman Millers?
Why does an ancient-looking god have better furniture than me?
"The Fool...?"
The woman's voice came out shaken.
But...
It was also kinda hot.
Please say she's blonde too?
"Mr. Fool, please, what is this?"
The man that was next to me spoke out.
I didn't know what to even do. Did they even notice my presence?
They had to have, right?
"Consider it an attempt."
The Fool spoke. His voice was low.
Was he trying to impress us?
"An attempt?"
The woman across the table responded as quickly as those words came out of the Fool's mouth.
"Mr. Fool, sir, it seems a success, so are we free to leave now?"
Her voice reeked of innocence.
Was she a chaebol or a heiress of some sort?
"Of course. All you have to do is ask. I can send you home as soon as you wish."
"This is genuinely wonderful. Hmm... I've wished to experience such things, mysteries and miracles. Mr. Fool, please tell me how to become a Beyonder...?!"
"What a timeless question. This gentleman here can provide you with the exact answer."
Mr. Fool responded without a care in the world.
But what exactly is a Beyonder?
It certainly piqued my interest.
If I do say so myself...
"What's a Beyonder? Could you enlighten me also?"
I finally spoke up for the first time in this meeting.
I was right. They did know I was here.
But were they ignoring me before?
"You're from Loen, right? The best way to become a Beyonder is to join a church. Try the Evernight Goddess or the Lord of Storms. Most people won't meet a Beyonder in their entire lives, but they do exist. They fight against the dangers growing in the darkness."
D-did this guy just ignore me?
Did I anger him?
"A church? But... I don't want to lose my freedom."
The woman across from me replied to him.
"Then beseech the royalty or the noble families that are over a millennium old."
"Are there no other options?"
Before the man next to me spoke, he put his index finger on his chin.
Was he an older man with a beard, or was it just a habit?
It was as if he was trying to stroke a beard...?
No, I'm imagining it.
"I do have... two sets of Sequence 9 potion formulas."
"Really... which two sets do you have...?!"
"The first is called Sailor, and the second is Spectator. It grants keen perception and allows one to judge 'actors in the secular world.'"
Am I truly that despicable in these guys' eyes?
Or am I just irrelevant to them...?
'He didn't even acknowledge me...'
As I was thinking, they continued.
The woman across from me...
I let her talk. She was extremely passionate about this stuff.
But the way she moved when she spoke...
Was kinda cute.
"I think I have fallen in love with this feeling of being a 'Spectator.' Would you be open to a trade...?"
"Hey...!!!"
Before they could continue, I had to interrupt.
'I couldn't be glossed over just because I didn't have knowledge of this world.!!!'
"Could you get another Spectator potion? I think I'm fascinated by it too."
I asked the man next to me.
My voice was monotone as I spoke.
'I couldn't give away what I normally speak like....'
"Hmm... I could fetch another... But that would cost extra. Are you fine with that?"
"W-wait... so we have struck a deal, right...?"
Audrey's voice was shaken as she spoke.
She needed confirmation.
"Yes..."
Screetch—!!
The chair groaned as she moved it back and stood up.
She stared at Mr. Fool.
"Mr. Fool, this gentleman and I have struck a deal. Considering your immense strength..."
She lowered her head, and her hands moved to pick up her dress a little.
She did a curtsy?
'That just makes it obvious she's a noble or heiress of some sort....'
"Can you witness and uphold our pact?"
"Consider it done."
Mr. Fool replied instantly...
Did this mean that this wasn't even an issue for him?
Was he that overwhelming, where even Beyonders were mere ants to him?
"Then would you mind arranging a few more gatherings?"
Her voice rang with excitement as she stared ahead at Mr. Fool.
"Mr. Fool... you have powers beyond our imagination; the lady is clearly of nobility. Well, the other... is... well, I will be rather useful. There must be some trivial matters you don't deal with."
"Hey, hey, hey... don't set me up to also be some sort of slave....!!!"
I was dissatisfied.
"But for you, young lady, feel free to request anything...!!"
I raised my hand toward her, like a gentleman.
Though I stopped.
The others' gazes were, well...
Unpleasant.
Audrey couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the situation.
"Ha-ha."
She let out a small cackle at my actions. The seriousness of the other person and the unseriousness of me.
It was funny, to say the least, to her.
But did he classify me as an unknown?
What did I do? I thought I was being a gentleman in this situation.
Did I anger him?
Surely he's not that sensitive, right?
"Per your request, on Mondays at three in the afternoon, try your best to be alone."
He raised his hand as he spoke.
The grey fog covered it like a veil.
Though I could see his features more. Instead of it being like a black curtain covering everything like a block, I could see more of him.
His hand looked to have a glove on it?
Wait, I'm staring at the one person....
"Now let's continue," Audrey said, her voice steady as she prepared to guide the discussion forward.
"Mhm... well, in that case, should we devise a code name?" she suggested, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
"You know, for anonymity?"
"Good idea."
Mr. Fool responded. His eyes held a glimmer of interest as he stared at her.
For some reason, he seemed to like this idea.
"Since Mr. Fool is derived from the Tarot... Hmmm."
Audrey was lost in thought. She paused for a moment, remaining standing as she contemplated the implications of Mr. Fool's connection to the Tarot.
'She must be a looker. Her body looks well balanced....'
A grin spread across my face as I watched her.
I found her actions utterly adorable. There was something irresistibly cute about the way she carried herself, and I couldn't help but admire it.
Her finger rested underneath her mouth as she stared into the grey fog.
"Oh... I've decided. My pseudonym is Justice."
"The Hanged Man."
"I'll be Chariot."
"Well then, I suppose we should call ourselves the Tarot Club!!"
I'm struggling to maintain the connection. I heard Emperor Roselle initially made a different deck of Tarot cards.
"Yes, that's right..."
"It's believed that Emperor Roselle had seen the Blasphemy Slate, which contains the profound mysteries of the 22 paths of the divine."
"Enough."
Mr. Fool spoke.
Diverging the conversation.
He sounded annoyed.
"Today's gathering ends here."
"By your will, Mr. Fool."
Justice spoke, and before I knew it, both of them bowed slightly.
Was I supposed to do that too?
"By your will," they said.
I lowered my head slightly and echoed their words.
"By your will."
I was the last to say it.