~3414 words
Monday, November 5, 1349
After doing his breakfast that was prepared by Liv, Kiyotaka stayed in his study room, planning for various things. His first import from Paz would arrive next week, if nothing happened during the sea travel.
In the meantime, Freya stayed inside her room, not coming outside. Of course, the attitude of Liv had changed considerably towards him, however, she repudiated from letting it show in her demeanor.
Once she had cleaned after him, Kiyotaka went upstairs and told Liv to not let anyone disturb him. She agreed and went back down where she saw Ada teaching Daisy how to cook as well.
The bony old woman who once used to be the wife of a small noble was surprisingly good at cooking.
Liv's heart was restless, and hence she climbed up the stairs and stood in front of Freya's room. It was the smallest of the four rooms, but it was still much bigger than her entire place. Knocking softly on the door, Liv called out.
"Freya? Are you ok?"
She waited for a reply, but when none came, she sighed and hung her head. Just as she was about to turn back in dejection, the door to her room suddenly flew open.
On the other hand was a girl she could barely recognize. The vitality to her skin had returned, her long brown eyes shone brightly, and her hair looked silky and long. Instead of being deathly pale, her skin felt ivory and she seemed overall more charming, even though she looked as if she had just woken up.
"Freya?"
The girl beamed at her mother, flashing her pearls. "Good morning!"
Liv stared at her and then reached out, lowering her collar. She had a complicated look on her face as she stepped back.
"Are you ok?"
"I am!"
"Did..."
"It all went very well."
Seeing the jocundity in Freya's eyes — something she had not seen in forever — Liv's teeth sank into her lip involuntarily, and she essayed a smile. Placing a hand on Freya's cheek, she cosseted it and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Good then. Also, it's afternoon already. Get changed into your uniform and come down."
Freya's eyes dilated as panic overcame her, and she ran back into her room, snatching her maid's habiliments before precipitately rushing to the washroom.
Liv let out a susurrus and retroceded a step. Resting her forearms upon the balustrade, Liv gazed downward and her eyes fell on Kiyotaka's chamber. Her lips pursed into a moue, and somehow, the faint grievance she had harbored seemed to evanesce after meeting Freya who looked so full of vitality.
'He is a man, but a good man.'
*****
Meanwhile, inside the master bedroom, Kiyotaka rested on his soft bed and was soon pulled in the space above the grey fog.
As of now, no one had arrived yet. The Black Emperor Card of Blasphemy was still laying in the middle of the mottled, bronze table.
Klein willed the grey fog and moved it towards him. Smiling, he crossed his fingers and placed his chin over it. "Good afternoon. How are you?"
"Good afternoon." Looking across the table, Kiyotaka noticed that Klein was in a good mood. "I am alright. Still recovering, but it's not as bad as it looks."
"Oh, I see. Well, that's good to hear. You know, when he was whipping you, it looked really painful." Klein suppressed the urge to make a somewhat vulgar joke and continued. "I was going to save you but you looked like in the middle of... pff, something, so I avoided doing that."
Kiyotaka, who didn't get the joke, nodded. "Thank you."
'So he understood that I was trying to digest my potion.'
Normally Kiyotaka would've been able to tell of Klein is joking or is being serious, however, since he was hidden behind the fog of mystery, it was impossible for a mere Sequence 8 to tell.
Right after that, Kiyotaka leaned back. "Congratulations on advancing."
Klein settled down and cleared his throat. "Thanks. Well, do you want to prepare anything beforehand?"
"Not really."
"Alright. Then..." Klein paused and touched the stars one by one as the figures of Mr. Hanged Man Alger, Miss Justice Audrey, Little Sun Derrick Berg and Miss Magician Fors Wall appeared one by one. Amidst the blinding crimson flashes, the gloomy figure of Mr. World also materialized out of nowhere.
'How odd.' Kiyotaka thought.
Miss Justice looked at the head of the table and bowed. "Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~" She chirped in her usual cheerful tone. One by one, all of the others greeted Mr. Fool as well.
To blend in, Kiyotaka had also stood up and bowed before greeting Mr. Fool.
Once all of them sat down, Miss Justice and Miss Magician both seemed to steal glances at Mr. Emperor. Mr. Hanged Man seemed to notice this and connected the dots since Capim's death was also published in the newspapers on the colonial islands in a small section.
It was mostly guesswork but Mr. Hanged Man also suspected after seeing the two members' reaction that it might have something to do with Mr. Emperor.
Miss Magician, who was the closest to Mr. Emperor, kept stealing glances at him. As she was about to look at him again, Mr. Emperor turned his head and looked directly where her eyes would've been.
A cold shiver ran down her spine as she turned away, not daring to look back.
'Is Fors suspicious of me? Miss Justice would make sense but Fors... Hmm, if it proves dangerous in the future, I can just break her neck. It's not like she has any means of stopping me.'
Kiyotaka thought and planned ahead of time.
Meanwhile, Audrey looked around and observed the states of the other members.
'Eh, The Sun appears very anxious. Did something happen to the previous exploration team captain? Did he encounter Amon? In addition, Fors is in an indecisive state of wanting to ask but not daring to... She must've seen the papers and guessed from the tarot cards that Mr. Emperor might be involved in the death of Capim.
She also feels quite... scared. Is she intimidated by Mr. Emperor that much? Well, he was previously supposedly just a Blessed, if this was his work, then it's definitely something to afraid of. No... Not afraid, something to be proud of.
Our Tarot Club is making waves! Mr. Hanged Man seems to be in a very good mood. He's finished digesting his potion... He seems to be anticipating something...
Mr. World is still as gloomy and reserved as before, and it's hard to read his thoughts. He really is the nemesis of the Spectator pathway...
Mr. Emperor is... like he always is. In a sense, he does feel like The Emperor we were used to be in the company of. Regardless, he has a rather strange disposition today and looks to be in some kind of pain. Is it the after-effect of fighting Capim and potentially his Beyonder friends?
That seems to the case... He is so cool! I wish I could be like him some day!'
Alger looked up and humbly said, "Honorable Mr. Fool, I've found three new pages of Roselle's diary."
'Diary? Roselle's diary?' Fors, who was, for some odd reason, terrified to her bones, pricked up her ears.
*****
The diary pages were written before Emperor Roselle took the throne, describing a sea voyage he undertook with two companions, Edwards and Grimm.
Roselle's stated goal was to confirm that the world was a sphere and to search for undiscovered continents beyond the known Northern and Southern landmasses, reasoning that they couldn't account for most of the planet's surface.
The voyage went off course, leading the group to a primitive island inhabited by Beyonder creatures. Grimm grew increasingly unsettled afterward and eventually died in the Fog Sea.
Later entries connected the search to old legends about a Western Continent tied to elves and an ancient god Soniathrym, and speculated that an Eastern Continent might correspond to the mysterious "Forsaken Land of the Gods" that other factions were also hunting for.
Just as the diary suggested Roselle and his crew were nearing real land, the final entries claimed that Emperor Roselle "saw the Abyss" — which Klein suspected might refer to the metaphysical Abyss he knew from his own studies.
At that point, though, the diary degraded into garbled nonsense, revealing that this last page was a corrupted or fabricated continuation rather than Roselle's genuine writing, leaving Klein without an answer to what the emperor actually encountered.
Once Klein was done reading the diary, alone, he calmed down and let the diary entries disappear from his hands. "You can begin." Sitting at the head of the long bronze table, he chuckled.
Alger turned his head immediately towards The Sun, asking indifferently, "Have you gotten anything from the former captain of that exploration team?"
Derrick was originally anxious to ask about the Fallen Creator, but when he heard The Hanged Man's question, he answered honestly, "He's dead."
"He's dead?" Justice, The Hanged Man, and The Magician expressed their surprise at the same time, while Mr. World and Mr. Emperor stayed indifferent to the revelation. The three of them really didn't expect this turn of events.
After all, the former captain of the exploration team had been locked up for decades without any problems. Who would've thought that he would die right after they discussed about him?!
Derrick nodded and said, "Yes. After I returned to the City of Silver, I wanted to glean more information from the former captain using Mr. Emperor's suggestions, but he suddenly appeared behind me, asking me if I was looking for him."
Upon hearing this, Audrey suddenly drew a short breath. Although The Sun obviously lacked the ability to tell a good story, his simple descriptions still gave her the feeling of reading horror novels late into the night.
It was as if someone was standing behind her, also asking, "Are you looking for me?"
Fors was as frightened as she was excited, having found the feeling she had as a child listening to her mother's recount of a ghost story. Despite covering her ears in fear, it felt like someone had possessed her and pried open the gaps between her fingers, allowing the voice to be transmitted into her brain.
This passage can be written into a novel! As a best-selling writer, she had outstanding professional instincts!
'Hmm, so he encountered something strange when he pretended to lose control. This can be tied back to Amon as he was the one after whom all of the anomalies began.'
Alger, being experienced and knowledgeable, subconsciously asked, "Doesn't your City of Silver's dungeon have seals targeting Rampagers? Is there no barrier between them? I remember that last time you said that there was a very powerful and mysterious item at the core."
"Yes, but I don't know how or why he came to my room. He had completely lost control of himself—his head had split open in the middle and fluid kept flowing out. There were many cracks on his body, and each crack was a mouth," Derrick said, describing the scene in passing.
"Then, how did you survive? How did you escape from his, no—its jaws?" Fors felt immersed, and it was also a question which Audrey was concerned about.
Alger's reaction was very different from theirs. He thoughtfully murmured, "It doesn't make sense to put you—a person who only shows signs of losing control—next to such a dangerous fellow.
At that moment, Kiyotaka interjected. "Perhaps he was never dangerous." As all eyes turned towards him, Kiyotaka cleared his throat and continued. "It is highly possible that the man was entirely safe up until Little Sun went into the quarter next to him."
"Then how do you justify the man losing control?" Alger, who had always wanted to test the newcomer, immediately rebutted.
"Perhaps something that Little Sun did to trigger his condition. We are unaware about Amon's set of abilities, but assuming he is an Angel of the highest level, it would not be too far off for him to influence someone who has already come into contact with him in the past." Kiyotaka theorized. "If that is the case, then if Little Sun mentioned or thought about Mr. Fool's honorific name, it is possible that Amon reacted to it, for whatever reason it could be, and that resulted in the man's death.
Admittedly, it's only a theory, and valid counterarguments exist. But it's a plausible one nonetheless."
Alger fell into deep thought. "You are right..."
"That makes sense... Amon can make avatars out of people. According to Chief, that captain was turned into an avatar as well and it inadvertently tried to turn me into an avatar as well. Mr. Fool sent an Angel to purify it." Little Sun added more spine to Kiyotaka's theory.
Kiyotaka looked briefly in Klein's direction.
'Must be the power of this mysterious space. Otherwise, it is impossible for him to achieve something of this caliber. As for the Angel, Little Sun would've mistaken it for the anti-Divination Angel powered by the Card of Blasphemy. I suppose it can be used in this way as well.'
Derrick didn't quite understand the reactions of Mr. Hanged Man and Miss Justice. From his point of view, wasn't it normal that an angel served a god or a mighty existence? After pondering for a few seconds, he said, "After Amon's avatar was purified, I coughed out a worm that was exactly identical to the one in the dungeon. Do you know what it is?"
With the help of Klein's help, The Sun successfully conjured a projection of a translucent worm with twelve transparent rings. Audrey and Fors looked over curiously. At the same time, they shook their heads, indicating that they had never seen or heard of this kind of worm.
Kiyotaka who looked at it made a connection. "It's connected in a mystical sense to a clock and in extension, time. A clock has 12 hours on it and a day is comprised of 2 full circles of those 12 hours."
'Mr. Emperor really is so knowledgeable!' Audrey marveled.
'Is this the benefit of being a blessed?' Alger thought with envy.
"Thank you, the great Mr. Fool." Derrick got up halfway and bowed.
Following that, the topic steered towards the matter that threatened the existence of the City of Silver.
"The exploratory team is back. I'm referring to the team led by Shepherd Elder Lovia. They completed the exploration of the Fallen Creator's half-destroyed temple and have returned to the City of Silver. And I discovered that a few of the team members that I know have undergone a certain degree of change."
"They are corrupted." Alger said as a matter-of-factly.
"Really?"
Once again, Kiyotaka interjected. "You can test it if you want."
Sun, Justice, Magician and Hanged Man looked towards him, all carrying an expression that seemed to say: "How?"
Noticing this, Kiyotaka continued. "Since it's a matter connected to the Fallen Creator, you can simply use a corrupted Beyonder Characteristic. Something that has been corrupted by True Creator or his remnant imprint."
Since the conversation was going into his favor, he kept going. "I have a spare Beyonder Characteristic from a Sequence 7: Werewolf. If you can find a Beyonder Characteristic from a pathway corresponding to the Fallen Creator, you can effectively corrupt it and use it as a bait to lure their true natures out."
Kiyotaka leaned back. "As is the case with the Aurora Order members, madness is something intrinsic to the Secrets Supplicant Pathway. It is impossible to dismiss it."
At this moment, Klein controlled Mr. World. "I have a charm that corresponds to Sequence 8: Listener. It was turned into such after a rampager died. I can lend you that in return for a suitable price."
Kiyotaka was not going to let ho of his earning opportunity either. "I can lend you the spare characteristic, however, since it would be permanently corrupted, I would need some ingredients in exchange."
Alger couldn't find a moment to benefit himself, so instead he decided to speak in favor of the two Blessed. "This is a good idea. You can definitely do that."
Little Sun, who had nothing else to present, nodded. "Alright... What do you need?"
"1 Weeping Infant flower."
Derrick pondered over it. "I can find that during our next expedition." Then he turned towards Mr. World. "And you?"
"I am renting it to you for free, this time." Mr. World replied in a strangely benevolent manner.
'Mr. World sounds so cold at times, but there is warmth to him as well...' Audrey thought.
"But kid, you must pay me back for this later."
'Nevermind.'
'How is it for free if you are going to make him pay you back later?'
"Alright." Little Sun nodded his head.
The transaction segment quickly ended, and the gathering reached the stage where each of them could share information they had heard about.
Audrey slowly looked around and said with a slight smile, "Last week, an interesting case happened in Backlund. A man who was known to be a Human Trafficker was killed by someone."
She turned to look at Mr. Emperor. "That man left an Emperor Tarot Card after killing him."
'Finally!'
Fors who wanted to ask about from the start exclaimed in her heart, but still refrained from peeking at Kiyotaka at too much.
Mr. Fool, who mostly stayed silent, also looked ahead towards Kiyotaka.
'Throwing me under the bus, I see.'
"I wish to ask, and I am sorry if I am overstepping, but was it you?" She asked Kiyotaka directly.
Kiyotaka was about to think of something convincing to say, however, the demerits were too much. In the end, however, he simply parted his lips and said: "Yes."
After a moment of silence he added. "The reason was quite personal, so I would refrain from sharing it."
'Something personal... I suppose there is no reason for any of us to continue then. But that does mean one thing... Mr. Emperor is currently in Backlund... Perhaps he can help me.' Audrey thought with a solemnity.
'Awhh... That's such a bummer!' Fors, who wanted to take some inspiration, was equally dejected.
'To kill a big human trafficker like that... I think Mr. Emperor is at a much higher Sequence than he lets on. Being a Blessed of a God sure has it's own benefits...' Alger on the other hand was quite envious.
After that, the Tarot Club engaged in small talks. Just when the meeting was about to finish, Audrey spoke once again.
"I wished to know about the progress regarding the commission I had issued." She said as Klein almost giggled. "Regarding the investigation into a man called Williams Holmes."
Kiyotaka did not look directly at Audrey, since he knew that she could sense fluctuations in a person's mannerisms.
Everyone stayed silent.
'Hmm... Sherlock did not relay the message to me.'
After a moment, Kiyotaka spoke. "I will see what I can do."
Audrey beamed and nodded her head. "Thanks. But I just want information on him. We have no bad blood between us."
Kiyotaka nodded, realizing that Audrey was worried that he might kill "Williams Holmes" while gathering information on him.
"I will try to not harm him." He replied and then crossed his fingers. "What exactly are you looking for?"
"Anything detrimental. Is he a Beyonder? If so, then which Pathway? And where does he come from? As you might've guessed by now, he is the man behind Prometheus Motors, but he rose to fame too quickly and too easily. I wish to know more about him."
'I know which Pathway he's from! Can I really exchange that for £500?' Fors thought. She was tight on money as she wanted to advance further.
"Ok." Kiyotaka nodded.
After a short exchange, Klein said in a gentle tone, "Let us end today's gathering here."
"By your will." Audrey, Alger, and the others stood up at the same time and bowed. The crimson rays of light dissipated, and the ancient palace above the gray fog returned to its former tranquility.
Only Klein was left sitting alone on the high-back chair belonging to The Fool. After a while, he chuckled to himself.
"I hope he isn't mad at me." He held the bridge of his nose and focused on the task at hand. He had to bestow Kiyotaka's Werewolf Beyonder characteristic and the corrupted charm to Derrick, while also telling the Roselle's Diary entries later on to Kiyotaka.