Agung's heart gave a heavy thump against his ribs. The familiarity of Igor's gaze, the esoteric language of the Arcana, the impossible reality of the moment—it pulled him completely into the fantasy he had always only observed.
He looked down at his own slightly obese hands, hands currently stained with curry spice but capable of creating comfort. He was a 35-year-old otaku, a simple chef, and a reluctant servant to a bored Djin. But in his youth, in the safe confines of his bedroom, he had indeed always seen himself as the protagonist, the one charting the course.
He chuckled, a slightly nervous, self-deprecating sound.
"You know, Igor-san," Agung began, meeting the yellow eyes with a deep seriousness. "In my youth, I played the game. I followed the journeys of the third Minato and the fourth Yu... and I remember that path. It was always chaotic, always risky, always starting from zero with nothing but potential."
Agung straightened his apron, letting a genuine, albeit slightly weary, smile touch his lips.
"And as I remember my own character builds and choices within those worlds, I've always perceived myself as the Fool."
He gestured to the humble restaurant, the residual blue glow fighting the warm yellow light.
"I am starting a new life, a new journey, with no map and facing impossible beings. I am, fundamentally, a novice facing the unknown. I am the idiot who risks provoking a Tailed Beast to protect a kid he just met. I am the Fool, Igor-san. I accept the Arcana."
Agung's declaration was quiet but firm. "I will not just be the servant who provides comfort; I will be the one who seeks to change the journey for the better, even if it brings me face-to-face with my own Shadow."
The Manifestation of the Pact
Igor's smile finally broadened into something truly pleased—a deep, ancient satisfaction that resonated with the sound of destiny shifting.
"Excellent, Host. Or should I say... Fool."
He extended a white-gloved hand over the table, not for a handshake, but for a gesture of acknowledgment.
"The role of the Fool is dangerous, Agung Wibowo. It entails risks, trials, and confrontation with truths that may shatter your perception of reality. But it also grants you infinite potential. Do not expect easy answers or simple favors."
Igor slowly retrieved his hand, picking up his spoon once more.
"Your choice is noted in the registry of the multidimensional sea. You have chosen the path of challenge over comfort. Now, let me finish this excellent Gulai Kambing, which speaks volumes of the battle you have just embraced."
As Igor returned to his meal, the uncanny blue light began to subtly coalesce around Agung. It wasn't painful, but it felt like a cold, clarifying energy washing over him, affirming his new status.
Agung knew the rules of the hub had just fundamentally changed for him. He was no longer just the cook for the Djin; he was now the Wild Card, the protagonist of his own cosmic game, still bound by his apron and his Indonesian kitchen, but now armed with the Arcana of the Fool.