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Klein moved his gaze where the sound of the footsteps resided, as it grew closer.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of heavy leather boots on the ground could be heard, "We meet again." The voice of the person in question said.
The lady had chestnut hair that fell to her waist, and she had a perfectly proportioned figure. She was neither fat nor thin.
She wore a lace dress which had the vibes of a young girl, but she wore a black, out-of-fashion bonnet, and a fishnet veil hung down, concealing her face.
For a moment, Klein felt as if he was being doused by cold water. He immediately squashed the momentary panic in his chest and calmed down.
Klein felt bothered at how she spoke with such familiarity. 'how? have I ever met this woman before?' Klein's mind quickly searched throughout his memory.
No, a lady with such a distinct clothing style would make her memorable. And that air.. that air of someone who has lived for hundreds of years.
Such a striking individual should have been able to make Klein recall her the moment he saw her, unless he was under the influence of a magical item, which if that were the case, why would someone deliberately use a precious magical item to make him forget them, only to introduce themselves like they had met before?
It simply wasn't adding up.
It was only then, that he suddenly became fixated on her black leather boots, ..could it be?
The person from when he retrieved the Black Emperor card?!
At the time, Mr.Fool had assigned him the task of retrieving the Black Emperor card which took the form of a bookmark and was in the Royal Museum since it belonged to Emperor Roselle. Due to this he had to secretly infiltrate the Royal Museum through using his spiritual body. He could vividly recall a pair of leather black boots dangling in the air back then.
As a beyonder advances, it naturally heightens your sense. Including your memory. Klein knew with absolute certainty these were the same pairs of boots!
'But even so, why would she say that? I'm Gehrman Sparrow right now.' Klein rationalized, he narrowed his eyes coldy. "We haven't met before."
The lady lifted her chin and observed him, "Is that so, Mr.Hero Bandit?"
Klein turned his head to face the lady and quickly replied with a slight hint of agitation. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Klein's mind quickly went to analyze the situation. A sudden beyonder, who was present in backlund back when he was still active and knew of his identity as the Hero Bandit Black Emperor.
"Your identity as Gehrman Sparrow was provided by me." The lady in black leather boots said firmly.
'As expected.'
In the past, Miss Sharron had previously told him in passing comment that someone in her circles was investigating the identity of the Hero Bandit Black Emperor and had promised to fufill any reasonable request in exchange.
Klein smiled politely, but his fierce eyes said otherwise, "Ma'am, I don't know you."
The lady calmly said, "You can call me the Queen Mystic."
The Queen Mystic, a bounty over 650,000 pounds with just loen currency alone and a deep connection with Cattleya, Madame Hermit. Klein's thinking was rudely interrupted as Queen Mystic continued speaking.
"While you were in Rorsted Archipelago, Nast Solomon's Black Emperor also appeared in those waters."
"I believe you know what that means, Mr. Hero Bandit."
The clogs in his brain turned. So Queen Mystic wasn't exposing his identity, but rather providing him with clues and evidence? However.. she could also be doing this as a ploy to get him to confess. In a world where Klein was alone and forced to fight for himself, he could never remain relaxed.
"I believe I don't. Would you be able to enlighten me?"
"As expected all, you seers are very cunning are you?"
'That tone..' It implied that she was well versed in knowledge when it came to seers.
"Are you the person on the Future that has been spying on me?" Klein decided to ask directly. Ever since he had boarded the ship, he had felt the eyes of a mysterious person on him.
"Yes, Cattleya doesn't know that I secretly boarded the Future, but you actually discovered it...A clown's sense of danger?" She raised her chin and didn't say any more, however Klein quickly caught a direct hint.
She had specifically entered the ship to meet him!
He tilted his head to the side a bit, "Queen Mystic, what is it that you want?" Klein questioned her outright.
The lady's face softened as her lips curled into a smile, "So you indeed are the Hero Bandit Black Emperor?"
Klein smiled, it was almost mocking in a way, "If I am, how much does it matter to you?"
Queen Mystic didn't speak for a moment. "I wish for you to share the method of interpreting the language created by Emperor Roselle. For that, I will best satisfy most of your requests."
Klein could only chuckle. "Apologies, I refuse." He said frankly, "Even if I wanted to, I do not know how to interpret it."
It was the truth. He had only ever started collecting Emperor Roselle's diaries because of 'Him'.
He had no such interest in deciphering it himself, perhaps he would have, however that was the past when he was still the recent college student and nighthawk, 'Klein Moretti'. However 'Klein Moretti' in the eyes of the entire world, had long since died under the hands of Ince Zangwill. And even then, the only person in the world who could possibly understand it would be 'Him'.
Queen Mystic didn't respond. Then she sighed, "It seems like you're tougher than I thought." She suddenly stood straight, she turned her body and walked to the vast library filled with books, each step she took she slowly faded and eventually vanished.
"Let us meet again, Gehrman Sparrow."
The library collapsed, and Klein found himself in a hall of beautiful murals.
'..She referred to me as Gehrman Sparrow by the end.. but it looks like she's hung up on the fact that I can interpret Emperor Roselle's diary.'
Cattleya sat on the ground. Curling her body and hugging her knees while she stared at the beautiful sunset.
Klein, who was standing near her, asked in a seemingly normal manner, "At Nas, you showcased the star bridge to connect the dock to the ship. Were there any hidden motives in that?"
Unexpectedly, Cattleya leaned her head to the other side and huffed childishly, "I'm not telling you!"
"...?..."
Klein was stunned.
He blinked for a few seconds. He changed his questions and decided to bluff instead. "You chose this method in order to inform someone that I am worthy of attention?"
Cattleya remained in a fetus-like position, "Pretty much. It was mainly to tell others that if something serious happens or if I show obvious abnormalities, you will be the first clue."
Klein eye twitched. 'As I thought..'
Madame Hermit really did such a cheap trick towards the tarot club and Mr.Fool!
For the first time in a while he felt himself getting a bit heated. Indirectly informing others about Mr.Fool and the tarot club existence felt almost no different than being a traitor to him.
After months of being alone, at some point he unknowingly developed a sense of belonging in the tarot club. Not only to them, but to 'Him' as well.
Because after all, it was 'He' who had saved him - given him a second chance. Even through his loneliest times, the feeling of 'His' gaze on him at all times, that often made him tense at the same time felt almost comforting. The feeling of having someone by your side, watching you, made life (If you could even consider this living) feel a little less lonely.
He felt fear consume him for a moment - He would have been caught dead if he did the same as Madame Hermit. No, he would receive a fate worse than death.
He had seen Mr.Fool's power before, and as 'His' blessed , knew better than anyone how terrifying 'He' was.
Klein couldn't help but inadvertently clenched his fist tightly. He tried his best to hold back his emotions. "Rumor has it that you and Queen Mystic had a falling out, is that true?"
"What right do I have to fall out with her? I was just banished."
Just as Klein was about to ask more, a bright blinding white light suddenly hit his eyes as he woke up from the dream.
He immediately straightened his back and clasped his hands together and prayed to Mr.Fool.
"The Fool that doesn’t belong to this era;
The Mysterious Ruler above the gray fog;
The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck...”
He would definitely make Madame Hermit regret her daring actions.
Atop the endless gray fog, 'He' sat silently on 'His' chair. similar to a great ruler looking down at his subjects.
'His' hand was lightly tapping 'His' armchair, seemingly in thought. Soon 'His' other hand reached to a bright red star that flickered non-stop.
As 'He' listened to 'His' beloved blessed prayers, the sound of 'Him' lightly tapping 'His' armchair had stopped.
Mr.Fool's gaze had long turned cold, into something inhumane and indescribable, and 'He' had a small frown - so small that no one below the level of a demigod could probably see it if they tried.
The gray fog surrounding 'Him' began to rise deeply, like an unstoppable torrent was about to occur.
"Good afternoon Mr.Fool~" Audrey cheerfully greeted Mr.Fool once again as her voice resounded through the quiet space held up by majestic stone columns.
Just as Audrey greeted 'Him', she quickly felt that something was amiss.
While the other members followed Miss Justice with their own greetings, she could feel a hint of reluctance to Madame Hermit's behavior, as if she was thinking deeply about something and slight hint of anticipation from Mr.World's demeanor.
But what was most especially surprising was the space of gray fog itself. If one looked closely, it swayed unevenly in the way that made Audrey tense. Like they had just encountered the aftermath of a great storm, and would again be faced with the consequences once more.
Soon when all the members had taken their respective seats, Mr.Fool chucked coldly and directed his gaze straight at Madame Hermit.
"It seems our newest member enjoyed her first meeting so much that she wished to share her experience with others." 'He' spoke in a warm voice. Similar to that of a teacher gently chiding a younger student to admit their bad behavior, however Mr.Fool's tone had a sinister and terrifying undertone to it that made everyone feel an uneasy feeling wash over them.
"My, please relax. Tell Bernadette that she can use certain items in exchange for some answer."
Cattleya immediately tensed and her eyes widened. 'He' knew everything! From her cheap tricks to her connection with Queen Mystic, it was as if she was stripped and laid bare of everything in front of Mr.Fool.
Her heart quickened and she felt her chest sink.
Mr.Fool was furious. No matter how one saw it, it was an undeniable fact that even a blind person could sense.
Everyone in the meeting felt a chill through their bones, in a way that seemed truly horrifying.
No one spoke a single word for a moment. Just as Cattleya opened her mouth to say something -
"hah..hah..hah..hah.."
Her breathing suddenly became erratic and she could not function properly under Mr.Fool's eyes.
It seemed to be a slow, but agonizing process before she suddenly gripped onto her armchair tightly and let out a loud cry.
She screamed loudly as white, enormous maggots began to squirm beneath her skin. They would quickly run through her body, eating her from the inside, visible to everyone from the cracks and areas that weren't concealed by her clothing.
Then, even her cries had come to halt as her mouth was no more. Her face had become unrecognizable. It had transformed into a grotesque faceless abomination of worms that scurried around hastily.
'I'm going to die!'
Such thoughts were in Cattleya's head as the blood-curling and depraved ravings roared through her ears, or what had become of it. Cattleya's current form could no longer even be called human, as it seemed closer to that of a monster.
None of the other tarot club members said a single word. It was such a disgusting sight that everyone had turned their heads away from her, straightening their backs.
It felt like the skin on her face was going to rip at any moment. Worms crawled under her cheek, eyelids, forehead, neck, - No place was spared.
Her arms moved away from the armchair and went to directly claw her nails at her face instead. Blood gushed out while she continuously thrashed and flailed in her seat, shaking tremendously as if having a seizure. It was shocking how she could even stay seated.
Fors, despite not directly facing her could see from the corner of her peripheral vision Cattleya's struggle due to the fact that she was seated right next to Madame Hermit.
She hurriedly closed her eyes. The revolting view caused fear to envelope her body and was enough to make her nauseous.
Emlyn, who sat right in front Madame Hermit was no different. He tried his best to avert his eyes as far as possible. Even though he was a skilled doctor and had seen many patients with hideous wounds, he could not help but feel uncomfortable.
'As the savior of the sanguine race, this much is nothing.' He desperately thought in order to comfort himself.
Cattleya's mind had long since stopped. Everything had become warped and distorted, from her childhood to now–it was like everything she had experienced had been tampered with, something no one should and could.
Except for the being, no, God. In front of her, could.
And after what felt like hours, Mr.Fool snapped 'His' fingers.
Cattleya's body trembled violently as the squirming maggots beneath her skin slowly dissipated and she was finally able to regain some sense of her sanity.
Closing her eyes, she lowered her head, not daring to even look into Mr.Fool's direction. The blood from her self-harming from earlier began to slowly heal, the blood that stained her fingers and clothes slowly returned into her body. She had recovered to the state she was in before 'His' punishment.
If it weren't for the heavy sweat rolling down her forehead, or her deep breaths. One could easily mistake what had conspired to be a repulsive nightmare instead.
But no. Her disheveled clothes and the sheer horror lingering beneath her very core was all too real.
At that moment, Mr.World shuffled in his seat and spoke in a solemn voice, "Do not pry into the mystery of God."
Klein's words echoed throughout each member's mind.
'For Mr.Fool's representative to say it themselves..' Mr.World was unanimously known to everyone to be Mr.Fools blessed and a representative of 'His' will. Alger didn't say a word as he felt a chill go down his spine. In the face of God, one could not act in such a way.
He recalled his and Miss Justice bold actions in the past and thanked Mr.Fool for 'His' kindness.
Emlyn inwardly clicked his tongue. Only an idiot would try to pry into the mystery of God and mocked Madame Hermit in his head. No matter what, no mortal could ever try to understand the thoughts of a God.
He then remembered the cries of Madame Hermit ringing in his ears, and Emlyn lowered his hands underneath the long table to hide his trembling fingers.
Fors mouth was agape. Her faith in Gods had always been shallow and what she felt to Mr.Fool was the closest thing she felt of worship in her life and that had only been solidified in todays meeting.
Derrick agreed with Mr.World. He had seen many people in the past lose control and turn into monsters so he was not much as disgusted as the rest of the members, but even he felt that it was unsightly.
He felt a tinge of pity for Madame Hermit however those thoughts were brushed away when he thought of Mr.Fools words at the start of the meeting. He was not that knowledgeable about the outside world as everyone or knew who Bernadette was, but by piecing the puzzles together, she must have done something to incite 'His' wrath deserving of punishment as cruel as that.
The gray fog was ghostly quiet. Mr.Worlds words had put them in a trance.
'No... Mr.World seemed quite fearful too?' Audrey thought before she pushed the idea away and subconsciously shrunk back into her seat. She was afraid if she found something she shouldn't, she would be punished in the same manner as Madame Hermit.
Even though Mr.Fool acted benevolent and kind, answering each question as best as 'He' could to them. Mr.Fool was, and is ultimately a God.
A God that was worshiped, a God that could not be questioned or pried to.
The Fool smiled 'His' usual gentle smile, "That shall be all."
Audrey shivered.
Klein trembled in his bed, laying down with a small sigh of relief.
'Nearing 5pm already..'
The Tarot Club meetings started at 3pm and would last for about an hour before ending however as Mr.Fools blessed he would be left behind while everyone else had been dismissed.
During the remaining time, he would report to Mr.Fool on his missions and his findings or if he acquired a new page of Emperor Roselles diary. For whatever reason Mr.Fool always had a keen interest in Emperor Roselle himself. Whether it was his diaries or not, 'He' seemed to always pay attention to manners relating to him.
Though he had to do daily reports after every meeting, he felt that he didn't need to. As he had a feeling that Mr.Fool already knew everything just by watching his every move.
After Madame Hermit's punishment, the meeting had resumed as per usual however the uneasiness had never once left.
At the time, Klein couldn't help but anticipate and snicker at the face of Madame Hermit's expression at being caught.
Klein, in the past was a gentle person that albeit could be clever and a bit cunning at times, had a good heart. But ever since the incident in tingen and becoming Mr.Fools blessed, his personality had become twisted, even being a little sadistic and overly paranoid and distrustful of others.
He always hid himself behind a perfect, contorted cold mask in front of others. It was his way in defending himself against this wretched world.
"We are guardians, but also a bunch of miserable wrenches that are constantly fighting against threats and madness."
Klein pursed his lips together. 'Captain..'
Klein had lost everything. He had lost the nighthawks, his family, and everything he had built his whole life, until along the way he lost himself, too.
Even then, Mr.Fool had kindly extended 'His' hands towards him and listened to his pleas of desperation. Klein no longer knew if 'His' favor was a blessing or a curse.
The image of Madame Hermit clutching to her seat, crying and tearing at her own face reappeared in his mind.
Next time, would it be him in that position instead?
Klein shuddered.
His feelings towards Mr.Fool were complex. A mix of gratitude and borderline fanaticism to his savior, his God that he had sworn to and found comfort in. Yet a part of him could not help but fear.
Fear that he would anger 'Him'. He feared that 'His' blessings were only temporary. That one day, that favor would lead him to his death before he could even exact his revenge, which was his only purpose in life.
Adjusting his back, he looked towards the sky as the sun started setting down and steeled himself.
Klein shook his head. This was the path he chose and there was no more going back.
Not that he even had a place he could go back to.
All he had was this worthless hatred and grief that fueled him to no end and an evil God's favor.