Edward conjured a chair with a Transfiguration spell and sat down in front of the massive sealed door.
"I told you the last time I came here, Lord Medici."
The words etched in dust shifted rapidly:
"Who exactly are you? Someone who knows Lilith and Amon, and also knows that I've been sealed here…there's no way I shouldn't recognise you."
Edward didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Lord Medici, could you tell me why and how Amon, Cheek, and Adam joined forces back then to kill Lilith?"
"…"
Medici fell silent for a moment before the dust letters reformed, "Adam believed that Lilith's ascension to godhood did not align with the tide of His era. Amon and Cheek reached a certain deal of mutual interest. As for Cheek…naturally, She wanted to seize the opportunity to become a god Herself."
"As for how She was killed…heh. Three Sequence 1s, two of them Kings of Angels—do you really think it would be difficult for them to slay another Sequence 1?"
Edward's brow furrowed tightly. He truly didn't want to regard Adam as an enemy, yet if Medici's words were true, then Adam could only be his foe, not his ally.
"If Lilith hadn't died, where do you think she would be hiding?"
"Heh, how could I possibly know?"
The dust-text distorted as Medici answered.
"Not long after that, I was sealed here."
The letters wavered as if lost in thought.
"Do you really believe Lilith is still alive?"
"I don't know."
The words quickly reformed themselves, "Why are you so concerned about Lilith?"
"You can consider me…a friend of hers."
"Friend? Then you must be someone I know! Why won't you face me with your true identity?"
"Secret."
"You wretched fellow!"
Strange. Why hadn't the Secrets Sorcerer Potion digested this time?
So it really wasn't possible to "win the world with a single trick."
Or perhaps…his act had been too shallow, too superficial?
After pondering a bit, Edward leaned back in his chair.
"Eh, seems I really can't get any more useful information from you this time. Well then, till we meet again, Lord Medici."
"Wait! What will it take for you to lift this seal and release me?"
"Releasing you is absolutely impossible."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "But perhaps there's a way to let you leave here occasionally—just to stretch your legs a little. The question is…do you dare?"
"Ahahahahaha!"
The underground world shook once again.
"You think there's anything I wouldn't dare?"
Edward stared at the colossal gate that sealed three Angels, and spoke in Hermes:
"The Eternal Soverign above dimensions,
The Deconstructor of Endless Stories,
The Transcender of Past and Future."
He smiled faintly. "Then recite these three lines—to prove there's nothing you wouldn't dare."
His figure gradually blurred and disappeared.
"I look forward to seeing you again."
As he left, the lantern he had transfigured reverted into fragments of stone that clattered to the ground, leaving only Medici, sealed behind the door, in prolonged silence.
"You…who exactly are you?"
———
Eh?
The moment Edward returned to the villa, he was surprised to discover that the Spiritcaster Potion had digested a bit.
It had happened once before, after he'd interacted with Reinette, but he hadn't been able to analyse the cause. Now it had happened again.
Why? I went to squeeze information from Medici for the sake of digesting the Secrets Sorcerer potion, yet it didn't move at all. Instead, Spiritcaster digested again?
What exactly had he done just now that triggered the Spiritcaster's digestion?
Edward carefully retraced his actions—yet found nothing unusual.
And if the Spiritcaster's digestion really was connected to Medici, then why had it only digested so little?…Could it be due to an incompatibility with his status as a King of Angels?
He pondered and pondered, but no clear pattern emerged.
"If Medici never recites my three-fold honorific, I'll still have to visit him often in the future. At the very least, I need to figure out why the Spiritcaster potion digested."
Hmph, as expected of Medici—truly useful.
For my future self, my past self…and for Klein.
———
Future, Year 1349.
In the Aurora Order's Backlund branch, Medici lay sprawled on a sofa, arms crossed.
He seemed to be asleep, yet as a Sequence 1 Evil Spirit, he had long since transcended the bodily needs of ordinary humans.
All of a sudden, he opened his crimson eyes. A flicker of light flashed across their depths.
Stretching lazily, he turned his gaze toward the girl curled up on the opposite sofa—Priscilla.
His brows furrowed. "Why isn't it over yet?"
Medici had long grown used to Priscilla's weekly participation in the gatherings of that "mysterious existence's" organisation. What truly irked him, however, was the feeling of being deliberately excluded every time she went—that nagging sense of being kept in the dark, manipulated.
He lifted a glass of strong liquor and downed it in one gulp. "Damn it. That woman Lilith is probably out there collecting another Conqueror's Beyonder characteristic and the uniqueness of the Red Priest, while I'm stuck here babysitting a child playing house."
"If this keeps up, I'll be forced to watch as others snatch the last remaining characteristic from me and ascend to Sequence 0 instead."
"What then? Spend eternity as a bitter cripple?"
His mind drifted back to what Edward had said not long ago. "Adam…is that guy really dead? But why would he die? He clearly orchestrated so much, yet suddenly fell…This is far too abnormal."
"It must be…just another one of his schemes."
"Bastard!"
He was still cursing when his expression shifted. Sensing something, he flung the wineglass aside and strode into a dim alley.
A few meters away stood a middle-aged man in a pure black priest's robe and a soft cap pulled low over his head, his posture hunched, an aura of death lingering around him.
"Why call me out here?" Medici asked coldly.
"Lord Medici."
The man bowed slightly. "I wish to make a deal with you."
"A deal?" Medici sneered. "And what mangy mutt are you supposed to be? You think you're worthy of striking a bargain with me?"
"The deal is simple: we grant you freedom, and in return, you help us with something."
The man slowly raised his head. His face was like a piece of classical sculpture, features sharp and prominent. Yet only a single eye stared back at Medici—
Ince Zangwill.
Medici narrowed his crimson gaze at the one-eyed man, leaning back against the wall.
"I'll repeat myself: who the hell are you to think you can make a deal with me?"
Ince Zangwill remained calm. "I may indeed be a pitiful stray dog…but my master possesses supreme power. Freeing you from this cage would hardly be difficult for Him."
"Your master? Who? Salinger is back from the dead?"
"Of course not."
"Fine. Let's assume your master truly has that ability. How exactly does He plan to free me?"
"All you need do," Ince said evenly, "is bring that girl with you and make a trip to St. Millom in the Feysac Empire. Once you arrive, you will understand."
"Feysac?"
Medici's eyes gleamed as he gave a low chuckle. "So that's the kennel you crawled out of. Interesting."
"Heh, just the thought of escaping the prison Adam and that one prepared for me makes me excited. But still…"
Medici suddenly flicked his fingers. Several flaming bullets imbued with lethal force shot toward Ince Zangwill.
With a flash, Ince retreated more than ten meters, narrowly escaping their range. Yet as soon as he steadied himself, he staggered, clutching at his left chest with a pained expression.
"I…will return."
Still gripping his chest, the ring on his finger shimmered, and in an instant, he vanished.
Medici made no move to stop him. Instead, he stood in silence, eyes thoughtful, before returning to the house.
———
Above the Grey Fog.
As the clock struck three in the afternoon, crimson light flared and one figure after another appeared within the timeless, changeless palace of mist.
Though she still worried about Edward's whereabouts, Audrey nonetheless greeted everyone as usual: "Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~ Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man…good afternoon, Mr. World."
Her gaze fell upon a new face at this week's Tarot Club gathering. His features were indistinct, but his attire and subtle mannerisms made her instantly recognise him—the vampire Emlyn, the very same who had attended Priscilla's gathering last time.
So he had indeed passed Mr. Fool's test and joined the Tarot Club.
Not only Audrey, but Fors and Priscilla also realised this, each of them struck with a peculiar feeling. After all, it had been the three of them together who indirectly paved the way for Emlyn's entrance.
Fors even let her thoughts spiral further: Since the Tarot Club allows entry through such recommendations…does that mean I can also introduce Xio?
But then again…everyone here seemed to have some rather distinctive traits. What did Xio have?
Wait!
What do I have?
Fors was suddenly struck by an existential doubt.
At that moment, Klein chuckled softly and made the introduction: "This is our new member, Mr. Moon.
"Mr. Moon, this is the gathering I mentioned to you earlier—the Tarot Club. The members present are…"
As Klein introduced them one by one, Emlyn studied each figure, wondering: was the "Hanged Man" human or some extraordinary creature? Which pathways did "Justice" and the others belong to? What Sequence? Which organisations? Were they friendly to the Sanguines?
Audrey tilted her head and asked, "Mr. Fool, have Mr. Tower and Miss Empress still not contacted you?"
Klein shook his head.
"No. But they remain safe."
"All right."
Though disappointed, Audrey quickly perked herself up again. "I'm sorry. Last week I focused on searching for Mr. Tower, so I didn't manage to acquire any of Emperor Roselle's diary pages. Please allow me another week."
"That's fine," Klein replied flatly, betraying no emotion.
Fors, startled by the exchange, hurriedly spoke up, addressing the head of the bronze table, "Honourable Mr. Fool, I've received three pages of Roselle's diary."
"Excellent."
Roselle's diary? Emlyn thought he had just stumbled onto something earth-shattering.
While he was still confused, Fors manifested the three pages and passed them to Mr. Fool.
Normally, this was when Miss Justice would enthusiastically explain for the benefit of new members, but she clearly wasn't in the mood today. Klein also offered no clarification. In any case, Emlyn would learn soon enough after a meeting or two.
Klein didn't immediately read the pages. Instead, he waited for the others—primarily Bernadette. She was, after all, a veritable fountain of diary pages; with her present, there was always a steady supply.
But to his surprise, Bernadette lowered her head slightly and said, "My apologies, Mr. Fool. I haven't obtained any new diary pages this week."
"…Understood."
Though disappointed, Klein's demeanour remained calm as he finally lowered his gaze to the three pages submitted by the Magician.
"February 11th.
Today I discovered a secret of the Sauron family. Hahaha, it nearly killed me with laughter…"
The first page described how Roselle had learned that in the Hunter pathway, Sequence 4 females would transform into men. Useless information, nothing valuable.
"May 5th.
That unspeakable organisation convened another gathering…An old gentleman smiled and introduced himself. He said his name was Hermes. Hermes? The very Hermes who created Ancient Hermes? The founding father of human mysticism?"
"But I don't know if that was his true identity, or merely a codename. After all, everyone in that organisation uses codenames. For instance, when I first attended, I chose the codename…Number Nine, because I seemed to be the ninth to join."
"Yet the member with the codename 'Hunter' burst into laughter, saying that a previous member had once chosen the codename Number Eight. He had disappeared, and then I appeared, becoming Number Nine."
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.