After the Great Smog incident, thanks to Emlyn's potions contributing to curing the plague, the Harvest Church had gained a few more believers compared to before. However, it still paled in comparison to the wheat fields of the Intis churches.
Yet Bishop Utravsky didn't seem particularly concerned. As he put it, everything was the arrangement of the Mother Goddess.
This wasn't entirely wrong - after all, Lilith often "descended" into the "Goddess of Beauty" residing in the church basement...
But this time, whether due to bad timing or unfinished business, Ebner didn't receive a summons for an "audience."
He wasn't too disappointed. After all, it wasn't realistic to expect an encounter with a deity every single visit... In fact, he even felt somewhat relieved, as if things had finally returned to "normal."
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Bishop Utravsky, Ebner approached Hazel, who was deep in prayer, and inquired about the aftermath of the incident where her family's estate had been dragged into the underworld.
"'The Nighthawks' didn't give you a hard time and accepted your explanation... And you even struck up a friendship with Ms. Daly?" Ebner summarized after hearing her account.
"Exactly. Ms. Daly even invited me to her wedding next Sunday," Hazel nodded.
"Next Sunday? If I'm free, I might drop by to join the celebration."
Just as their conversation was picking up, Aetris entered the church with the sisters Freya and Daisy. Spotting Ebner, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over. "Ebner! Long time no see! Weren't you in Intis?"
"I had to come back temporarily for some business..." Ebner brushed off the question before noticing faint traces of excess spirituality around Aetris - a sign of recent advancement.
"You've already become a 'Pyromaniac'?" Ebner asked, surprised.
—The corner they were in was shielded by spirituality, so there was no risk of being overheard by ordinary people.
"Ah, last time, near some park in the Bridge District, I ran into this terrifying weirdo out of nowhere... Later, I found a severed doll's finger in my pocket. After I slipped it into the donation box at the 'Church of Storms' along with some cash, the 'Provoker' potion suddenly digested itself..."
"This time, I managed to meet my mentor—Mr. Anderson—before he set sail. Passed his test, got the 'Pyromaniac' potion, and advanced," Aetris explained without holding back, recounting his recent experiences.
So Anderson has already set off on his "unlucky" voyage?
Also, if I'm not mistaken, that doll's finger was probably a lifesaving gift from your unborn "little sister"... And you just tossed it into the "Church of Storms"? That's practically provoking both an "Angel King" and the "Tyrant" at the same time...
No wonder your "Provoker" potion digested instantly...
Mentally吐槽ing, Ebner grew even more curious about the identity of the "weirdo" Aetris had encountered—someone significant enough to draw indirect intervention from a former "Angel King."
Seeing his friend's interest, Aetris thought for a moment, then used a ritual to sketch the strange man's likeness.
"Th-That's the 'Gatekeeper' who dragged my family's estate into the underworld!" Hazel exclaimed upon seeing the drawing.
Ebner had arrived late that day, by which time the man had already lost control and swollen to a size large enough to swallow the manor's main building, so he hadn't seen the "Gatekeeper's" original appearance. But Hazel had noticed him before his monstrous transformation.
Now, looking at the portrait, Ebner also found the man strikingly familiar. After a moment's recollection, he realized this was the very same "Gatekeeper" that "Saintess of White" Katarina had delivered to the "Red Angel" evil spirit!
No wonder the miniature underworld inside that man had expanded to such an extent—he was hosting an "Angel King"!
But why would the "Red Angel" abandon such a vessel? And how did that Tudor metal plate—the one that pairs with my "Mutant Emblem"—end up on him?
Was he injured by the "Spiritual Creature Angel's" doll finger, forcing the need for a new vessel?
Or did Katarina tamper with this "Gatekeeper," only to be discovered by the "Red Angel"?
As these questions flooded Ebner's mind, Aetris glanced around and asked, "Where's Emlyn? I came specifically to gloat about my promotion to him!"
"Now that we're both Sequence 7, let's see how he acts all high and mighty!"
Hazel, who had been mostly distracted by how charming Ebner looked even when frowning, responded indifferently:
"Emlyn took the day off."
"What a shame!" Aetris grumbled in disappointment.
Meanwhile, at the White residence...
Emlyn stared at the blood-red "gem" from "The Hanged Man" that had appeared on the altar, feeling as if his own blood resonated with it.
After thanking "The Fool," he picked up the gem, sensing the unique properties flowing within it. There was no doubt—this was the relic of a Vampire Baron.
"With the right inheritance ritual or supplementary potion ingredients—which aren't hard to obtain at this stage—I can become a Baron," Emlyn thought with eager anticipation. "In human terms, that would make me a Sequence 6, officially titled 'Potions Professor'!"
...
Monday arrived swiftly. On the Misty Sea, a fleet cut through thin fog and azure waters.
Their flagship was an enormous sailing vessel flying a distinctive banner: an eyelid-less eye encircled by ten stars.
"Admiral of the Stars" Cattleya stood by the captain's quarters window, quietly watching sunlight pierce the mist until the cuckoo clock on the wall announced the hour.
After checking the time and converting it to Loen standard, she drew the curtains and took her seat behind the desk, half-closing her eyes in wait for The Fool's summons.
Soon enough, surging crimson light flooded her vision, swallowing her prepared consciousness whole.
When her senses adjusted, the familiar sacred hall supported by stone pillars materialized before her, along with the ancient bronze table.
Following "Justice's" cheerful greeting, Cattleya also paid respects to "The Fool," still shrouded in gray-white fog.
Then, her deep violet-black eyes swept across the table—only to find "Temperance's" seat conspicuously empty.
Missing even a divine assembly... Has something happened to her? Or is it because...
"Justice" also noticed the absence and turned questioningly toward "The Fool."
Noticing their gazes, Klein—"The Fool"—chuckled lightly. "'Temperance' is preparing for her demigod advancement ritual. She will be absent for several upcoming Tarot gatherings..."
A demigod... So our Tarot gathering will finally have a true demigod?
(End of Chapter)