The viewing had once again ended in silence, most people struggling to digest the new information. Others, however, remained quiet out of a growing fear.
Bernadette Gustav felt uncertain, and she didn't like it. She'd always done her best to be prepared in life, to face things head on without flinching, as Emperor Roselle would have done - as he had done. But now she was unsure in a way she hadn't been since finding her father on that primitive island. If Father really is a transmigrator, that would explain many things. But if his transmigration was also caused by the Celestial Worthy - no, the Lord of Mysteries - who may also be the one behind this viewing, if the Evernight Goddess is to be believed... Could Father have been corrupted from the moment he came to this world? Impossible! That should have instantly killed him. Even so, catching the attention of two separate Great Old Ones can't be a coincidence. She clenched her hands into fists. What's going on here?
Meanwhile, Audrey was considering her own theory, trying to convince herself that she was wrong. There could still be a chance for Zhou Mingrui to go home. The evidence is incredibly strong, but it's all circumstantial. In a bizarre world like this, there might be another explanation… Her hands fisted in her dress. No matter what, I need to be prepared for the truth.
5:00
Upon the appearance of the timer, "Arianna" began to speak softly.
"If we have nothing to discuss as a whole, take thirty seconds to form your discussion groups."
The crowd stirred. While the truth of transmigration was a huge discovery, there wasn't much else to say with the information they had - and the even more limited information that they could share. Nobody had any objections to breaking off into groups. People shuffled out of their seats and began heading to separate parts of the theater.
Roselle had started dragging Bernadette away the moment Amanises had started talking. "Please stop pulling my arm, Father," Queen Mystic said tiredly, voice quieter than usual.
"I'll stop when you tell me who your disciple is!" Roselle harrumphed.
Bernadette fixed her father with a flat look, but she sat down beside him without complaint. She had answers of her own that she wanted, after all.
Will kicked his feet back and forth, deep in thought. If there's anyone here that could confirm my theory, it would be Amanises, but 'She' is no pushover. I doubt I could get 'Her' to say anything. For now, I can only sit back and enjoy the show... With a sigh, he toddled to where Azik was standing and grabbed onto the man's trouser leg.
"Up," he said.
Azik laughed, eyes dancing with amusement, and obeyed the command. He hoisted up the infant and placed him carefully on his shoulders. "Is that alright?"
"Hm. It'll have to do."
"I'll do my best to improve in the future," the Death Consul said seriously. "Now, if you don't mind, there was a group I was planning joining..."
The Tarot Club had already been huddled together in their seats, so they'd simply moved a few rows away from everyone else. To their surprise, two other figures soon approached them.
"Would it be alright if we joined you?" Azik Eggers smiled amiably, managing to look dignified in spite of Will Auceptin beating on his head with babylike fists. The Angel of Death and the Angel of Mercury!
"O-of course, sirs," Alger rushed out, bowing to the pair. The rest of the Tarot Club quickly followed suit.
Meanwhile, Audrey was thinking to herself. Hm… Shall I have Susie conduct a therapy session with the Morettis? No, even though she's capable, normal people might be distracted by the fact that their therapist is a dog. Having her sit in on the Tarot Club Meeting isn't a good idea, either… Her lips twitched at the thought of Susie sitting dignified in a chair, seriously discussing with the other members. I'll have to use a Virtual Persona after all.
Using Psychological Invisibility to hide her actions, Audrey split off the identity of Miss Justice, who would attend the Tarot Club meeting as usual. She had no hopes of fooling the higher level Beyonders here; she just didn't want her family wondering why she had a clone!
…As for her family…
She could easily create another Virtual Persona to answer their questions, but confronting them was something she wanted to do as herself. And only as herself. Mother, Father, and her brothers deserved better than part of her attention, split between feedback from her other personas.
That's a valid justification, but it's also an excuse. At the rise of unease in her stomach, the experienced Psychiatrist naturally began to treat herself. I'm making excuses because I'm scared to face them.
Over the past four years, Audrey Hall had changed more than she'd ever thought possible. She had ordered assassinations, witnessed poverty and destruction, visited the front lines of war, and even survived a few life or death situations. Sometimes she was proud of her growth - of how far she'd come - but other times it scared and saddened her. There was no way to return to the innocent days of the past. The naïve noble girl living in the Hall Manor was a mere illusion now. How could her family come to accept that?
As things are now, the situation is manageable. My actions are fueled by emotion, but they still have a basis in logic. Audrey exhaled. Once the situation settles, I won't run away any longer.
Steeling herself, she stood up and began to walk, leaving Miss Justice with the Tarot Club.
Mother smiled at her. "Darling-"
But her daughter walked right past.
"Miss Melissa, Mr. Moretti." Audrey curtsied to the siblings, who were looking at the noble girl in shock. "May I please talk to you alone?"
Benson and Melissa exchanged a wide-eyed, confused look. "A-Alright," Benson said hesitantly.
"Thank you very much." Audrey curtsied again, then turned to face her family with an apologetic smile.
Although the Halls were shocked, they soon rationalized the situation. Of course they wanted answers, but there was only one of Audrey to go around - and the people who most needed her right now were undoubtedly the Morettis. As a Psychiatrist, Audrey would naturally prioritize those with more unstable mental states!
Earl Hall sighed and shook his head. Perhaps we raised her too well… It's unfortunate, but no matter. There will be other opportunities to talk privately.
Understanding her owner's intent, Susie left Derrick's side (causing him to frown) and bounded towards the Hall family, intending to keep them company.
"Hello," said the dog.
"..." The Halls didn't know how to respond to this.
At this family drama was occurring, Danitz was whirling around in desperation, searching for a group to take him in. Dogshit, please don't let me get stuck with that terrifying woman! Anyone will do! Just-
"It seems we're all ready," said the Evernight Goddess.
Everyone looked at the timer, which read:
4:30
Ah… Danitz wanted to fall to his knees and cry.
"I will make sure your conversations stay private. We will regroup with thirty seconds left." Amanises continued to speak in a cool voice, making everyone feel as if they were being lulled to sleep by 'Her', eyes falling closed-
When their eyes opened again, they were adrift in a sea of fog.
The Tarot Club blinked and looked around. They were seated in high-backed chairs around a long, rectangular table - it was almost identical to the place they were pulled to every first Monday of the month!
Does this mean that the Evernight Goddess knows the secrets of our gathering? Alger's thoughts raced. Or did 'She' simply base this place off of Rose Redemption? No, perhaps Mr. Fool was the one who originally took inspiration from that ancient organization…
Aside from the perpetually stressed Mr. Hanged Man, the rest of the Tarot Club instantly felt more at ease. This familiar environment was refreshing: a bastion of normalcy in the midst of a truly mysterious and troubling situation. Of course, the only difference from usual meetings was that they could see each other clearly, as well as their two additional members.
"We don't want to intrude." Azik smiled as he settled into his seat. Will remained seated on his shoulders. "I was just a little curious to see what kind of people he's collected."
The Angel of Death didn't refer to Mr. Fool as a 'Him'? The club was in shock. They're close enough to forgo honorifics?! Well, 'He' is the angel longest to follow the Fool, after all...
"It's an honor to have you here." Derrick piously lowered his head. "May I ask how you wish to be addressed?"
The Death Consul laughed. "Just Azik is fine. I don't have any preferences."
What a surprisingly mellow angel. Gehrman Sparrow could learn a thing or two from 'Him'! There's no need to go around scaring people! The lazy Fors' thoughts were unusually fierce.
"I see." Derrick nodded, expression earnest. "What about you, Mr. Mercury?"
From on top of Azik's shoulders, the three year-old sniffed and raised his chin. "You may address me as Lord Mercury," he said in a lofty tone.
Little Sun gawked as he turned several degrees paler, rushing into a bow. "U-Understood, Lord Mercury! Please forgive my disrespect!"
"I suppose I could allow you to atone. Of course, you'd have to do a favor for my Blessed," Will said haughtily.
"Yes, anything! Thank you so much for your generosity, Lord Mercury!"
...He's being taken advantage of... The Tarot Club watched with mixed feelings.
Mr. Hanged Man coughed into his hand. "Anyway, we should begin our discussion. I have a theory I'd like to test." He turned to Leonard. "Mr. Star, you know Mr. World's true identity, don't you?"
"Of course. Everyone knows that Mr. World is Gehrman Sparrow," Mr. Star said easily.
The Hanged Man leaned forward. "But you know Gehrman Sparrow's true identity, don't you?"
Everyone straightened in their seats, intrigued.
Leonard's eyes widened a fraction before he narrowed them. He began to speak cautiously. "What are you getting at?"
Alger leaned forward even further, his gaze scanning everyone across the table. The Tarot Club members instinctively leaned forward as well. Everyone took a breath-
"Get on with it," Will Auceptin complained, breaking the dramatic moment.
"…" Alger coughed awkwardly, then leaned back. "I believe that Gehrman Sparrow is another identity of Zhou Mingrui, or Klein Moretti."
A shock went through the group as Alger's words sank in. Even the experienced members had to hold back gasps. Besides his unusual level of adaptability, Zhou Mingrui was unassuming, clueless, and ordinary - he probably wasn't even a Beyonder yet. Associating him with Gehrman Sparrow, the most feared adventurer in all the high seas, seemed far more ridiculous than the idea of other worlds! Cattleya and Xio furrowed their brows, considering the idea, while Fors gaped silently. T-There's no way. No way, right?!
Meanwhile, Miss Justice bit the inside of her cheek, keeping her expression smooth.
"Even as a theory, isn't it a bit outlandish?" Mr. Moon scoffed. "A mysticism amateur like Zhou Mingrui getting to that level so quickly-"
He was interrupted by Leonard's dazed voice. "You were actually able to say it…"
Huh?
Everyone whipped around to look at Mr. Star.
Huh?!
Alger crossed his arms with a chuckle. "My theory was correct. We can't state 'spoilers' that we know for a fact, but sharing guesses and gauging the reactions of others - that's perfectly fine, isn't it?"
Mr. Hanged Man! Everyone praised the senior Tarot Club member in their hearts.
"What an interesting method." Azik chuckled to himself. Zhou Mingrui has certainly collected a clever group of people. Ah, how nostalgic - back in the day, I joined a few Beyonder gatherings of my own, before I remembered that I was an angel and didn't need them…
"A-As I was saying," Emlyn rushed in an effort to save face, "Zhou Mingrui getting to that level so quickly is very impressive. So impressive that it's outlandish."
But nobody was paying him much attention at this point, too wrapped up in the newfound progress they'd made. Each member was desperately trying to fit Zhou Mingrui into their image of Gehrman Sparrow. Even with practically direct confirmation, the two seemed as different as the sun and the moon; associating that dangerous fellow with the ordinary Zhou Mingrui felt almost blasphemous.
Even though he started out so helpless, to think he'd go on to become an ancient god's Blessed! Despite his surprise, Derrick felt his respect for Mr. World grow. He must be a truly incredible person to grow so fast!
"I can't believe this." Xio shook her head, still in shock. "Zhou Mingrui looks like he's never held a gun in his life! I always thought Mr. World had to be from a noble family, or perhaps a school of assassins..."
The Hermit placed her head on her fist, thinking. To think that cold and taciturn man had such origins... How remarkable! if not for this viewing, I never would have guessed. Is Gehrman Sparrow just a persona, or did something happen to induce a severe change in personality?
"Mr. Hanged Man, how did you figure out Mr. World's identity?" Little Sun asked.
"At first it was just a baseless guess," Alger admitted. "Unless Mr. Fool has another Blessed that we aren't aware of, Zhou Mingrui - rather, Klein Moretti - being the World was the most sensible way to explain the presence of the Moretti siblings here. His transmigration might be the reason he became a Blessed in the first place. Of course, I wasn't sure until Mr. Star's reaction confirmed it for me."
…So I fell into his trap… Leonard cursed himself for being so easily fooled. It worked out for the best, but Mr. Hanged Man really is a wily old fox!
"S-So Zhou Mingrui… the man in the viewing… is Gehrman Sparrow?" Fors could barely get the words out her through her shock. She felt like she was about to faint. Him? That scrawny bookworm? He looked like he'd be knocked over by a strong breeze! That pathetic guy is Mr. World?!
"I believe so as well." Miss Justice's voice was unusually smooth. "I've worked with Klein Moretti's sister, Melissa, at my charity foundation, and I am also Mr. World's personal psychologist. I believe they are the same person."
Xio and Alger frowned. The senior Spectator sounded colder than usual, and her face was a flat mask, betraying nothing. They were unable to reconcile her demeanor with the innocent and cheerful girl they'd first met.
So Zhou Mingrui is Mr. World after all. I'd hoped to be wrong, but I can't honestly say I expected to be wrong… A hollow pit filled Miss Justice's stomach. What she was feeling now was not horror but resignation, and she hated herself for it.
At that time, from the other side of the confessional door, Gehrman Sparrow had sounded like he'd been crying.
I understand now. She let her eyes flutter closed, communicating that she would say nothing more. Your mental crutch was taken away…
The rest of the Tarot Club eyed her curiously. There was obviously something she wasn't telling them, but their time was limited, and they trusted Miss Justice to not hide important information for no reason. Maybe it's the spoiler policy coming into effect once again?
"For all intents and purposes, Zhou Mingrui, Klein Moretti, and Gehrman Sparrow are all the same person." Miss Judgment got the conversation back on track. "Klein is suspected to have joined a Beyonder organization… is that where you came into contact with him, Mr. Star?"
If Mr. Hanged Man managed to find a loophole, I should be able to as well! Leonard opened his mouth, thinking of a way to indirectly confirm the question-
But no words came out.
"Did you think it was going to be that easy?" a young voice said.
The Tarot Club turned to Will Auceptin and immediately tensed. 'He' was staring back with an intensity that sat unnaturally on 'His' infantile face, unfathomable eyes threatening to devour those who looked too long. A bone-deep shudder ran through their bodies, as if they were being pinned down by a terrible predator wearing the façade of a child. This was the aura of a true Sequence 1 angel!
"Mysteries is watching, you know," the Angel of Mercury said casually. "And 'He' is very good with loopholes. 'He' won't leave anything behind for you to exploit."
Mysteries can still see and hear us? The club members felt their blood run cold. 'He' can override the the Evernight Goddess' concealment?! Even though a true god is believed to be the pinnacle of existence!
Suddenly a memory hit Leonard with a jolt: Old Man's voice, unusually solemn, describing a myth he'd never heard before.
Nine entities left behind by the original creator… Old Man called them 'sefirot'. He even said that this place above the gray fog might be one of them. Leonard's heartbeat thumped in his ears. Is this the authority of Sefirah Castle?
Seeing their grim and terrified faces, Will waved a casual hand. "Don't worry. Just talk like you usually would. There's nothing you could say that 'He' wouldn't already know."
...Isn't that even worse? thought the Tarot Club.
"You didn't have to scare them like that," Azik chided gently.
Will scowled. "It's payback for making me explain everything. Adults should take care of children, not the other way around! Honestly." With a heavy sigh, he put his thumb in his mouth, muffling his voice. "Anyway, you won't be able to share anything 'He' doesn't want you to. As for what that means…" He shrugged. "Who knows how that guy's mind works?"
"So that's how it is. I might have caused Mysteries to pay special attention to us with this incident. I'm sorry, everyone." Gritting his teeth in frustration, Alger bowed his head.
"Don't feel bad, Mr. Hanged Man," reassured Little Sun. "This would have happened eventually. At least we got information out of it."
Miss Judgment nodded. "Exactly. And it was valuable information, too."
"So it's really confirmed? Zhou Mingrui is Gehrman Sparrow?!" Poor Fors, still a step behind everyone else, felt the world crumbling beneath her feet. The crazy adventurer who's haunted my nightmares… no... no way…
"Yes, they're the same person." Azik chuckled, then turned thoughtful. "It seems it's no longer considered a spoiler if everyone in the group already knows it."
Miss Magician buried her head in her hands.
Another realization struck Leonard, and he frowned. Actually, this situation doesn't fit what Dwayne Dantés told me. He said that Klein joined the Tarot Club for revenge, which supported my theory of him coming into contact with Mr. Fool after his own "death"… of course, looking back, that doesn't make sense. Klein already had some sort of secret long before he died: the method that allowed him to kill the Secret Order's clown. And at that time, he was already Zhou Mingrui, who might have drawn Mr. Fool's attention the moment he arrived in this world! He held back the urge to rub his temples. Did Mr. Dantés lie to me, then? To protect the secret of transmigration? Secret organizations sure are frustrating…
"Anyway, seeing as we've hit a temporary dead end with Mr. World," Alger said, "may I propose a change of topic? I have a theory - well, a guess - about Emperor Roselle."
The Tarot Club looked at him with interest - particularly Cattleya, who was eager for any information to pass onto Queen Mystic. Being new to the outside world, Derrick still didn't fully understand Roselle's importance, but he looked at Alger with respect anyway. Mr. Hanged Man is on a roll today! he thought with awe.
"We're all interested. Go ahead," prompted Ma'am Hermit.
"Once again, this isn't a concrete theory. I don't have proper evidence to back it up." Mr. Hanged Man began with a warning. "But I believe Roselle Gustav may also be a transmigrator."
Once again, the club froze in shock. They sucked in a collective breath, heads spinning. First Zhou Mingrui was Gehrman Sparrow, and now Roselle Gustav was a transmigrator? It all felt too ridiculous!
Will Auceptin narrowed his eyes and said nothing.
Mr. Moon had learned his lesson from earlier in the meeting and didn't jump to criticism. "What's your reasoning?" he asked primly.
Alger began to explain. "I have two main points. The first is that Mr. Fool deemed Roselle important enough to gather information on in the first place. The second is the unusual language used in Roselle's diary. It's unlike any language seen before." He emphasized this last sentence meaningfully.
"A language from another world?" Leonard stroked his chin. "That would explain why nobody has been able to read it. Still, without more evidence...."
"There's nothing strongly supporting this theory yet," Alger responded graciously. "Still, I think it's worth keeping in mind."
Miss Justice continued to remain silent. I'm sorry, Mr. Hanged Man, but I hope you're wrong this time. The Angel of Mercury seems to have also noticed something, but I can't read the thoughts of angels, nor do I dare to try... She suppressed a heavy exhale. I wonder if Emperor Roselle would have tried to go home, too.
"Also, if that's the case, how is Mr. Fool able to read this language?" Cattleya asked before her brow furrowed. "Could it be... the true reason Mr. Fool took Zhou Mingrui as a Blessed was to have him translate Roselle's diary?"
"That would require the two transmigrators to be from the same world and speak the same language, but it's possible," Alger agreed. "And the reason Mr. Fool didn't turn the emperor himself into a Blessed must be that 'He' was still sleeping at that time."
The more they discussed, the more the club felt that this theory made sense. More than that, it was exciting. The mere idea of otherworldly knowledge was enough to make their hearts beat faster, chests swelling with elation and pride. Collecting knowledge from another world was perfectly suited for a god as lofty and mysterious as their Mr. Fool!
"No wonder Mr. Fool has been collecting the emperor's diary pages!" Derrick exclaimed, already fully believing in Mr. Hanged Man's guess.
"They must contain incredible wisdom," Cattleya said with a hint of longing.
"Zhou Mingrui... Mr. World..." Fors mumbled in a daze.
Xio cleared her throat awkwardly. "Miss Magician, we've moved past that topic already."
Mood improving slightly, Miss Justice finally took pity on Fors and cast Placate. The fog dissipated from Fors' eyes until the horror set in anew - thankfully, Xio pinched her friend's arm before she could spiral into shock once again.
Now approaching the end of the meeting, the Hermit brought up a new topic. "We're almost out of time, but there's one more thing I'd like to discuss. How should we treat each other outside of private gatherings?"
Leonard shrugged. "It's obvious to everyone that we already know each other. I don't think it's worth hiding that fact now when we could be having important conversations instead."
"I agree," Alger said with a sigh. "A few of us have already referred to each other by code name anyway."
Mr. Moon, Miss Magician, and Miss Justice - who had all publicly referred to Derrick as the Sun - looked away innocently.
"We should use code names if absolutely necessary to address each other, but avoid it otherwise," suggested Xio. "There's no harm holding our cards close to our chest while we can."
Emlyn snorted, causing the other members to look at him.
"Cards close to our chest." Emlyn repeated Miss Judgment's words. His smirk wobbled at the blank looks he received. "You know, since we're all named after tarot cards?"
...Ah.
There was a momentary awkward silence.
"U-Um, I thought it was funny, Mr. Moon," Derrick volunteered. The blatancy of his lie only served to rub salt in the wound.
"I don't need your pity," Emlyn snapped before gathering himself and sniffing in a dignified manner. "Hmph. As I thought, the humor of a Sanguine is simply too advanced for you all..."
Immediately after saying this, Mr. Moon turned away to hide his burning cheeks.
"...Ahem." Cattleya spoke up in an awkward voice. "I believe that adjourns today's meeting."
The members of the Tarot Club all nodded mutely, feeling an inexplicable guilt in their hearts.
The Morettis fidgeted nervously in their seats (courtesy of the Evernight Goddess), not meeting Audrey's gaze.
As expected, they're nervous... The senior Spectator smiled reassuringly, analyzing her patients' mental states. In addition, there are feelings of confusion, despair, frustration, and resignation. A rift between Zhou Mingrui and Klein Moretti has already begun to appear in their minds. I should tread carefully.
She began with an initial Placate to dispel Benson and Melissa's accumulated negative emotions. The siblings instantly relaxed into their chairs, tension leaving their shoulders. Satisfied, Audrey did nothing more; it was best to let the Morettis make the first move once they got comfortable.
After a few seconds of silence, Benson had the courage to look Audrey in the eye, expression clearer than before. "Is there a reason you wanted to talk to us?" His voice held an edge of wariness.
"There is. Did you two know?" Audrey asked casually. "Sequence 7 of the Spectator Pathway is called Psychiatrist, or Psyche Analyst. Among other things, it specializes in treating psychological problems."
Benson blinked. "You... want to treat us?"
"With your permission, yes. I understand this must be a very difficult situation for you." Audrey smiled again, expression gentle and calming. "It may be helpful to have someone to talk to."
"Why are you doing this?" Melissa asked flatly.
"M-Melissa! That's rude!" Benson hissed as he looked over with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, she's just - we're both..." He trailed off, staring at the ground blankly for a moment before sighing. "We're a little frazzled."
"Please don't apologize. She's right to be suspicious." Audrey chuckled slightly. "It's my duty as a Psychiatrist to help anyone in need, especially if that person is my friend. That's my only reason. Of course, considering the situation, I understand if you don't trust me. You don't have to say anything you don't want to."
"Friend..." Melissa repeated in a daze. She looked down, hands balling up the fabric of her skirt. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Miss Audrey. I do trust you, it's just... this is all so strange."
She's beginning to open up! Audrey encouraged her friend with a prompt. "It's alright. You haven't done anything wrong. Would you like to talk about it?"
The Morettis exchanged an uncertain look. There was fear there, hesitation - but also a temptation to speak. While everyone was doing their best to be mindful of the siblings' predicament, there was no way to slow things down and let them process anything. Now they had a chance to speak freely in a safer environment. Years of experience as both a Psychiatrist and a human being had taught Audrey this for a fact: one of man's deepest desires was the desire to be heard by others.
After another stretch of silence, Melissa spoke up.
"I'm not sure what there even is to say," she began. "Mr. Fool, this strange gathering... it's confusing, but none of it really matters. Klein is still gone. He just died earlier than we thought. In the end, nothing really changed..."
"But that time held meaning to you, didn't it?" Audrey asked gently.
Melissa's hands shook, and she blinked away tears. "Of course it did." Her voice was hoarse. "But that was when we thought that he - that it was our brother."
Pursing his lips, Benson put a hand on his sister's shaking back. His own eyes were turning red at the corners. Mr. Moretti is also in pain, but he's reluctant to talk, lest he break down in front of his sister... The senior Spectator made a quick judgment. She was about to open her mouth to begin treatment in earnest when information flashed into her mind: feedback from her Virtual Persona, who was currently attending the Tarot Club.
...So Zhou Mingrui is Mr. World after all... Audrey's heart sank. She fought back her urge to sigh, maintaining a calm and relaxed aura in front of her patients despite the turmoil in her heart. Zhou Mingrui will never be able to return to his friends and family. The Morettis are all he has left, and technically, they aren't even his own relatives. Still, he's a kind man at heart and has likely come to care for them deeply - they might be some of his strongest tethers to humanity. What should I do...?
Taking this information into stride, it was critical that Benson and Melissa came to accept Zhou Mingrui as their brother. Not only would this give the Moretti family emotional closure, it would ensure that Mr. World maintained his humanity - a strength necessary for him to endure the trials he faced as an angel and a god's Blessed. Because of this, Audrey's natural instinct was to guide the Morettis into accepting Zhou Mingrui; however, it was imperative to not let one's own emotions and goals interfere with treatment. This was an important part of acting as a Psychiatrist.
On the other hand, Sequence 4 of the Visionary Pathway was called Manipulator for a reason…
Audrey shook her head, ridding herself of the idea. The closer to godhood you climbed, the more important it was to cling to humanity and maintain your principles. It would be incredibly easy to cue the Morettis into accepting Zhou Mingrui and becoming loyal anchors, but not only would this be dishonest, it would be immoral and deeply unfair. She didn't want to disrespect Benson and Melissa's feelings by simply erasing them.
True nobility came from not status, but character, she reminded herself - and Audrey Hall wanted to be a noble through and through.
This entire mental debate had happened within the span of a few seconds. The senior Spectator took a deep breath, readied herself, and faced her patients once again.
"It's natural that you'd have to re-evaluate your impressions." Audrey spoke in a calming lull that magnetized others towards her words. "You might find it difficult to separate the emotions you felt towards Zhou Mingrui himself from the emotions you felt under the assumption that he was your brother. You might even blame yourself for not being able to tell the difference. But it's important to remember that all of these emotions have meaning. Even if you were lied to, the things you felt were not lies."
"But if they came from lies, then what's the point? It sounds terrible, but..." Benson hesitated, glancing towards his sister, before continuing to speak in a heavy tone. "I almost wish I hadn't found out. About Zhou Mingrui, I mean. If nothing changes, then why did we have to learn something like this..."
"I understand that feeling," Melissa said quietly. "Don't feel bad, Benson."
The pain in their faces made Audrey's heart lurch. That's not true, she wanted to tell them. Things have changed! There's someone who wants to return to you! But the words could only languish in her throat uselessly, leaving behind the taste of rust. After coming such a long way and improving so much, she was still unable to help those in front of her. So I was still capable of feeling this weak... this feeling of humanity can slip right out of your fingers if you don't hold onto it with everything you have. But holding onto it also means you'll encounter situations like this, where you're not strong enough to do anything! Perhaps advancing to Sequence 3 made me too cocky. Will it always be like this below the level of angel...? She raised her head. No, I can't give up. I'm a saint and a loyal servant to Mr. Fool! I refuse to be shaken so easily!
Steeling herself once more, she regarded her patients with limpid green eyes. "Even if the outcome is the same, the journey still matters. After all, life is just one long journey towards an inevitable outcome. Does that mean that, since we all die, we should disregard all the experiences leading up to our death?" Her gaze sharpened. "Of course not. The things that come before the end are the things we treasure most, aren't they?"
Benson and Melissa slumped in their seats.
"I suppose you're right." Benson looked down. "It's just... hard to know what to feel."
"There is no correct thing to feel," Audrey said gently. "Whatever emotions you have aren't incorrect or wrong at all. You just need time to sort your thoughts out."
"Is it - is it okay to be mad?" Melissa's voice was almost too soft to hear.
The pit in Audrey's stomach deepened even as she smiled. "Of course it is. You're allowed to feel angry and betrayed. You were hurt, even if it wasn't on purpose. Who wouldn't be mad?"
Melissa nodded slightly, then lowered her gaze, lower lip trembling. Benson's jaw was set in a grim line. The siblings fell silent, lost in their thoughts, and Audrey allowed them this time to process.
"He really did act like our brother," Benson said finally. "Even if he was just trying to get home, while he was with us, he treated us like siblings. I can't decide if that's better or worse."
"You'll have time to think about it. And as the viewing goes on, you'll have more information to take into account. However, please remember this." Audrey kept her voice firm, a pillar of support for the crumbling people in front of her. "Forget about how long or short of a time Zhou Mingrui spent with you. Forget about whether he's alive or dead. Those are factors for the mind to consider. They may help you make a well-informed decision, but the only thing that can truly decide is your heart." She fixed the Morettis with a serious look. "You are the only ones who can decide what Zhou Mingrui means to you. Don't forget that."
Benson and Melissa stared at her for a second, speechless, before nodding.
"Very good. That's enough for this session." Audrey dispelled the somber mood with another Placate and a bright smile. "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss while I'm here?"
"There are a lot of things we want to ask." Benson chuckled helplessly, taking the happier atmosphere in stride. "But I'm sure you couldn't tell us most of the answers, right?"
The senior Spectator let out a lighthearted sigh. "I'm afraid we all have to do our best with what we have."
Melissa nudged Benson's foot, and he leaned forward. "In that case... that man calling himself Roselle isn't actually Roselle, is he?"
"No, that's the real Roselle."
Benson scoffed. "But he's been dead for two hundred years!"
"The Beyonder world is a strange place," Audrey said loftily, then turned sheepish. "Actually, I don't know the details of it myself. But that person is definitely the emperor who ruled over Intis centuries ago."
"How do you know for sure?" Melissa asked, eyes alight with curiosity. She had begun to emerge from the shadow of her grief.
Audrey only answered with a mysterious smile.
"Right. Spoilers." Benson leaned back, disappointed. Then he seemed to recall something and lowered his voice. "Actually, there's one more thing. I'm a bit worried about the young man who approached Melissa earlier. It seemed like he was just making up an excuse to gain our sympathy and talk to us. You know him, don't you? Is he someone suspicious?"
Melissa nodded, seconding her brother's doubts.
"..." In the face of the Moretti siblings' caution, senior Spectator Audrey was rendered speechless. The smile froze on her face.
"This is your warning."
An ethereal female voice echoed in Roselle's ears before the theater vanished, leaving behind only himself and his daughter.
In response to this, he promptly gave Amanises the middle finger. "Madwoman," he muttered, then rounded on Bernadette. "But who cares about her! As your father, I need to know! Who is your disciple?!"
"Calm down." Queen Mystic sighed, exasperated, before responding. "Her name is Cattleya. I took her in when she was young. She was the Admiral of Stars for many years, but recently she advanced to the position of a Pirate King." She allowed herself to smile. "That girl is almost my equal now."
Seeing his daughter's happiness, Roselle smiled with her. "You must treasure her a lot."
"I do." Bernadette dipped her head. "She's become independent, but she's still a little girl at heart. Luckily, as an angel, I will always be around to guide her..."
My little princess, you've really grown up. Roselle felt a sudden lump in his throat. He felt a sudden urge to break the mood.
"What's she look like?"
His question was met with a disgusted expression.
"Not like that!" Roselle screeched. "How am I supposed to greet my honorary granddaughter if I don't even know how to find her in a crowd?! Why do you have such little faith in me?!"
"I do have faith in you. Just not with such matters."
"What?!"
Bernadette raised an eyebrow. "You had a bit of a reputation as a womanizer, you know. Even by Intisian standards."
How is this possible?! How am I experiencing social death even before my diary is revealed...?! The former emperor of Intis wanted to curl into a ball and hide away. Fuck, how could the world be this cruel!
Seeing her father's despair, Bernadette's lips twitched. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you. I'm sorry for messing with you. I just wanted a little revenge for being abandoned."
With those words, the mood fell again, and the pair's expressions grew somber.
Roselle grimaced. "How much do you know?"
"Everything," Bernadette said quietly. "After I found your mausoleum, Mr. Fool had Orange Light Hilarion explain the situation me. The cosmos, the true threat causing the apocalypse, and... why you changed in your later years, too."
The emperor let out a heavy sigh. "That makes things easier then."
"I'm sorry."
"Hm? What do you have to be sorry for?"
"I abandoned you. I gave up on my own father so easily, not having any trust in you…"
"Don't talk like that, baobei." Roselle laughed. "I wasn't myself back then - literally. If I'd been in your shoes, I would have abandoned me, too!"
"Yes, but..."
Bernadette trailed off. Logically, she knew there was nothing she could have done at the time. Even now, she didn't know of any existence that could fully dispel her father's corruption - no friendly existence, at least. But the feeling of helplessness still stung her heart deeply.
Roselle, who could read the usually stern-faced pirate's expression, held back a scowl. He wouldn't have Bernadette blaming herself for this; her foolish father had caused her more than enough pain already. What could I tell her to make her feel better, or at least distract her... ah, there's no use acting coy. There's something I was planning on saying in the first place, wasn't there?
It was only a matter of time before Zhou Mingrui, that traitorous bastard, ran into one of his many glorious inventions and degraded them with oversimplified labels such as "plagiaristic" and "shameless". Well, Roselle Gustav would not be caught off guard! From the very beginning, he had planned to reveal his transmigrator status to his daughter before anyone else could!
It's just like those scenes in the movies. Roselle snickered to himself. You can't fire me, because I quit... Hey, where's my Oscar? Do I have to "invent" them just to give one to myself?
As for Mysteries' annoying spoiler policy, he wasn't too worried. When he had lived as Huang Tao, Roselle had been a master at sneaking spoilers past censorship!
"Bernadette," he began. "Listen."
His daughter looked up at him earnestly.
Roselle's mind emptied.
Ah, this is so stupid. I have no idea what to say. He wanted to laugh at himself. I've fantasized about admitting this to somebody so many times. I even rehearsed it in my head… and now, when my daughter needs me, I can't get a word out.
There was so much he needed to tell her - where could he even start? Out of the millions of people who had looked to him as emperor, she was still his most important and valuable anchor, more so than all those millions combined. When nothing else had felt real, there was his daughter, asking for a bedtime story. What words could express the enormity of that feeling?
"Uh," he said. "The thing is, I…"
Spoilers weren't the problem. It wasn't even the public death of his reputation, later to come, that was making him hesitate; it would hurt like hell, but even if he was scorned and hated, he'd take it with a smile if it meant Bernadette would look at him the same way she had before.
He wasn't sure he could survive his daughter abandoning him again.
"Father." Bernadette's voice was gentle. "Have you perhaps also 'transmigrated'?"
For a moment, Roselle froze.
Then he shook his head and sighed. He shouldn't have been surprised, really. His little princess had always been too smart for her own good. And anyway, he hadn't exactly been subtle.
"...If I had," he began, "what would you think?"
Bernadette paused in thought, considering her father's question seriously. Under the weight of that earnestness, Roselle felt a strange surge of guilt. He'd never felt all that bad about the things he'd done in this world - it felt like a game, he told himself, they had it coming, it wasn't like the original inventors were around to be butthurt by it, too late for regrets now - but the possibility of his daughter's judgement made him recall every sin he'd ever committed.
After an eternity, Bernadette spoke.
"I'd think that you must have been very lonely."
Roselle's eyes widened. Bernadette looked at him without flinching.
He began to laugh.
He laughed harder than he had in a hundred years. He laughed so hard he doubled over, clutching at his stomach and wheezing for breath. He laughed so hard he cried and then he cried a little, too, just a little, before he finally straightened to meet his daughter's gaze.
He grinned at her. "You have no idea how long I've wanted someone to say that to me."
Bernadette smiled back, slightly shaky, like she still couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. "There are many other things I want to ask you. Things I want to tell you, and things I'm worried about, too..." Her expression darkened, and she lowered her voice like a reluctant child. "But just for a few minutes, I'd like to forget those bad things. Do you think that would be alright?"
"Of course it's alright."
Roselle had spoken with such certainty, no trace of the hesitation from moments earlier, that Bernadette looked up in surprise. She found her father looking back at her with his usual smile. Everything about him was warm.
...I'd forgotten. Bernadette closed her eyes for a fleeting second. In that moment, she felt as if all her doubts and worries had been swept away. Whenever I was unsure, you'd always look at me like that and speak so confidently. I'd forgotten... how reassuring it was.
Emboldened by her long-lost sense of security, she added, "I'd also ask what that charm you gave me meant."
"That?" Roselle's grin widened. "You still remember it?"
"Of course I still remember it." The hundred year-old angel's voice was slightly petulant.
Another laugh. "Relax, baobei, I'm just joking! It means-"
Home.
Roselle paused.
"故乡." He spoke the characters aloud for her, just as he had two hundred years ago. "It's how you say 'Bernadette' in the language of my homeland."
Queen Mystic blinked slowly.
She had long since learned the meaning of the charm from Mr. Fool, but it had been a lifelong dream to hear it from her father's lips. She hadn't expected a contradictory answer.
"You taught me to say my own name?" she asked in disbelief.
"Are you surprised?"
"No." Bernadette sighed. Perhaps Mr. Fool was wrong and could only make a guess, or 'He' didn't want to give me such an obnoxious answer. Naturally, she believed the words of her father over a hidden existence. "That's exactly the kind of thing you would do."
"I know, right?" Roselle waggled his eyebrows.
Bernadette snorted, but her eyes were soft and amused. "故乡," she tried. Decades of practice had perfected her accent and inflection, so she formed the unfamiliar sounds easily. "故乡. Bernadette."
A gentle smile spread across the emperor's face.
"Yes. Exactly."
Meanwhile, a pirate, a goddess, a talking dog, and a very confused noble family sat in painful silence.
...It's so awkward...!
Danitz was leaning as far away from the Evernight Goddess as his chair would allow him. The Halls were huddled together, looking around nervously. Amanises was still and unbothered. Susie sat by the goddess' side, watching in silence.
Even being eaten by Creeping Hunger would be better than this... Danitz could feel his soul leaving his body.
"So." Earl Hall cleared his throat, forehead beading with sweat. "What should we discuss?"
Nobody spoke.
After ten more seconds of silence, Alfred let out a frustrated exhale. "Let's not avoid the elephant in the room. We should talk about Audrey."
Hibbert's eyes darted meaningfully to where the others sat. "Right now?"
"There's no point hiding anything from a god's oracle or an ally of the Evernight Church." Alfred nodded towards Danitz and "Arianna" respectively. "I think it's more important to have an open conversation right now."
"Alfred is right," Caitlyn said decisively. "I'm worried about my daughter."
The Hall family fell quiet again, grim expressions on their faces. Audrey was a smart girl; they had all trusted her enough to not interfere when she'd started behaving suspiciously. Then she had openly admitted to being a Beyonder, cementing that trust. But now the situation was more complex than any of the Halls had expected, and only Audrey seemed to have an idea of what was going on.
Caitlyn continued to speak, frowning in thought. "Audrey did say she'd joined an academic secret organization, didn't she? One that didn't worship evil gods. Presumably, this Mr. Fool is the subject of their worship, but it's unclear if 'He' is a trustworthy existence. With all due respect, Lord Danitz."
Danitz wanted to take this opportunity to posture, but he was scared to act out under the watchful gaze of "Arianna". It was all he could do to cross his arms and close his eyes, dignified.
"Now that I think about it..." Earl Hall's brow furrowed as he dug through his memories. As a noble, he made it a point to keep up to date with the developments of Backlund's churches and various organizations. "I think I might recognize a few people in that group. The short young woman with the blonde hair is an up-and-coming colonel in MI9. Furthermore, that green-eyed fellow and that Sanguine - they're high-ranking deacons in the Evernight and Earth Mother churches respectively."
Such high-ranking positions?! Caitlyn covered her mouth, while Hibbert and Alfred narrowed their eyes.
"To reach those ranks, it's likely that they're Sequence 5, or even Sequence 4. Not to mention, the Queen of Stars was with them, too... a true Pirate King and demigod..." Alfred muttered.
Danitz glanced towards Amanises before leaning back and laughing. "It's only natural that an ancient god such as Mr. Fool would be served by the best." Like myself, he added on smugly.
These words from Mr. Fool's oracle caused Alfred's heart to beat faster. He didn't like the picture that was beginning to form. Despite being confused, he and his relatives weren't stupid; such people coming into contact with one another could no longer be written off as an innocent Beyonder gathering, focused purely on academia. The weight of Audrey's words had finally sunken in. A group of elite individuals who had infiltrated the upper ranks of Loen's most powerful organizations, all for the purpose of serving an unknown existence - this was a bona fide secret organization!
Wait... Another spike of dread ran through Alfred as he came to a realization. "Ma'am Arianna, you're one of the highest figures in the Church of Evernight, aren't you? Does the church know the true identity of that deacon? That he's a double agent?"
The veil shifted slightly.
The movement was miniscule. Barely there at all. It was as if the face beneath it had merely raised an eyebrow - but just the implication of the action, the soft rustle of fabric, turned everyone's blood to ice.
"The situation is known to those who need to know about it," the Evernight Goddess said.
"O-Of course. Praise the Lady." Feeling unnaturally cold, Alfred hurriedly drew the crimson moon across his chest, causing the others to follow suit. Talking back to an angel like that, he felt as if he'd just courted death! Hibbert's recklessness must be rubbing off on me! I have to remember my place from now on!
Still, the danger had been worth it for the information he'd gotten. He and his family exchanged serious looks, having all come to the same understanding: if that traitorous deacon was allowed to keep his position, then Mr. Fool and 'His' secret organization had obtained tacit acceptance - or at least tolerance - from the Evernight Church!
Either that, or he's been planted as a spy in that secret organization and is biding his time to strike... But the Church of Evernight is incredibly powerful in Loen. Is there an enemy that could make them hesitate so much? Alfred shuddered. A secret organization that worships the Fool...
That sounds familiar, doesn't it?
At the same time, Earl Hall spoke up.
"I've recalled something else. A briefing I received some time ago from the church."
The usually jovial man's voice was grave. Everyone gulped against the unease weighing down on them.
"There is a secret organization that's appeared in the last few years. They serve a god known as the Fool and are suspected to have code names based on tarot cards." The earl's eyes sharpened. "Such as the Sun."
The Halls' eyes widened. The tall boy within Audrey's group had been called "Sun" by several people, including Audrey herself!
Tarot! Alfred stiffened, struggling to keep his expression blank. That secret organization who worships the Fool and uses tarot cards as code names... could it be, Audrey-?!
"Lord Danitz!" Caitlyn turned to the pirate, struggling to hide her desperation. "Is this true? That organization that's been known to target terrorists? Has Audrey been...?"
Dogshit, how am I supposed to know?! The conversation had long left Danitz's level of understanding. He chuckled loftily and simply said, "Spoilers."
"That's not possible!" Hibbert protested. "Audrey could never hurt anybody! How could she join an organization like that?!"
Earl Hall pinched his temples, sighing deeply. "I don't believe it either. But we have to consider every possibility. It's possible that she was lied to, or she's being taken advantage of somehow. She's a smart girl, but there's always someone smarter..."
"Everyone here is trustworthy."
The entire Hall family tensed at the sound of Susie's voice.
"Everyone here is trustworthy," the dog repeated, nipping their growing unrest in the bud. "They don't have any harmful intentions towards you or Audrey."
"I-Is that so? How can you tell?" Caitlyn asked.
"I'm also of the Spectator pathway. I've been observing the others since we arrived here, and nobody seems like a bad person." Susie tilted her head. "Also, as a dog, I have very good instincts."
The Halls stared at the golden retriever blankly. Something about this situation feels really wrong...
As the others were lost in thought, Hibbert took the opportunity to interrogate Susie. "How long have you been able to talk, anyway?"
"For four years now. I can also read and write. I'm very grateful to Audrey for teaching me."
"..." Is that so? everyone thought.
"But please don't get distracted," Susie said in a surprisingly firm tone. "There's no need to be so nervous; Audrey isn't being manipulated at all. She's perfectly safe."
"Thank goodness." The Halls breathed a sigh of relief before the implication of those words sunk in, and suddenly they were more fearful than ever before. But doesn't that mean... doesn't that mean that all this time, she's been aligned with such a dangerous group out of her own free will?
Alfred's stomach turned. "I have to talk to my sister."
"Then you're just in time," came the ethereal voice of the Evernight Goddess. The group looked up at the timer, which indeed read:
0:30
The Hall family tensed - Danitz let out a lofty chuckle - Amanises inclined 'Her' head slightly, and the world reformed.
I survived! Free from the terrifying watch of "Arianna", Danitz breathed a sigh of relief.
The Tarot Club (except for Miss Justice, whose Virtual Persona had been dispelled) also exhaled, glad to be rid of the awkward atmosphere. However, the Hermit Cattleya soon felt someone watching her. She turned to see - Emperor Roselle?! Cattleya's eyes widened. Emperor Roselle is looking at me? Have I done something to catch his attention? D-Did Queen Mystic mention me? What did she say?!
Noticing her looking over, Roselle winked and waved.
The Hermit's jaw almost dropped. Huh? What does that mean? How terrifying!
Sending one last smile in the Morettis' direction, Audrey went to join her fellow Tarot Club members, who greeted her discreetly. Nobody had been surprised to see Miss Justice vanish from their midst, assuming the use of a Virtual Persona. Soon everyone was settled.
"Now that we're all here, should we share our findings?" Azik smiled politely.
Alfred grit his teeth. "Actually, sir, could that wait until later? I have something I'd like to ask."
Several people looked towards him, and a faint alarm bell began to ring in Audrey's mind. A confrontation? Right now? I've left my family alone for too long... I guess it's my own fault.
"Son," Caitlyn said softly, but she was ignored.
"There's an organization that has been active in Backlund recently." Alfred pressed on, expression hard. "They use tarot cards as code names and worship a god named the Fool."
He looked at his sister.
"Who are you all, really?"
The crowd froze. Several Beyonders perked up with interest, eager to have their theories confirmed. Azik's smile widened, and he dipped his head. Other people were simply left confused.
"Do you know what they're talking about?" Benson whispered to his sister.
Melissa shook her head in response. Whatever it was, it had caused a huge stir, especially in the group Audrey was standing with. For just a moment, she and the others had tensed, sensing some invisible danger, eyes flashing like a knife under moonlight - but the moment soon passed, and they relaxed, looking at each other.
Alger pinched his temples, exasperated. "This must be the least secret secret organization to ever exist."
"It would have happened eventually, Mr. Hanged Man. The viewing is about Mr. Fool, after all." Derrick tried to comfort his mentor. "At least now we won't have to tiptoe around."
"Such behavior never suited a group of messiahs anyway," sniffed Emlyn. "I, for one, wouldn't mind a bit of acknowledgment."
They're not denying it?! The Hall family watched with thumping hearts. They really are...?!
"In that case, shall we introduce ourselves?"
Audrey spoke in a clear and calm voice. As she stood, the rest of her comrades stood with her, faint smiles on their faces. A tanned man with seaweed-like hair; a giant boy with an earnest face; a fashionable woman in a simple dress; a crimson-eyed Sanguine with a noble expression; a mature black-haired woman wearing glasses; a man with a poet's air; a short, determined-looking woman.
Together, they swept into a deep bow.
Miss Justice looked up and smiled.
"We are the Tarot Club. It's a pleasure to meet you."