Chapter 64: Epilogue

Chapter 64: Epilogue

"A potion that can turn men into women and make women more alluring - it sounds like something women would desire, doesn't it?" "World" didn't seem displeased, but rather smiled.

"...What are you trying to say?" Audrey suddenly had a bad feeling.

"The Sequence 6 corresponding to 'Witch' is 'Pleasure', also known as the Pleasure Witch. The acting requirements involve bringing pleasure to men and women, mainly in that aspect, and using it to control or influence them. Witches of this sequence are very skilled at using peculiar spider silk," "World" explained the next sequence name.

Audrey opened her pretty mouth slightly, then silently closed it tightly. She now deeply regretted ever having felt longing for this pathway.

"Moreover, men who become witches must maintain their male cognition throughout the acting process to avoid being influenced by the residual mental imprints on the potion," "World" continued. "As a result, the upper echelons of the Witch cult have twisted psyches and particularly enjoy capturing or tricking men into drinking the potion—I suspect part of the reason may be that the original witch was also a man."

Audrey took a deep breath. She felt she could suddenly understand why the "Witch cult" was considered an evil organization.

"Of course, in a sense, this also aligns with the acting principles of this pathway—spreading calamity, disease, and suffering," "World" added.

Spreading calamity, disease, and suffering... suffering... Audrey shuddered. To prevent "World" from saying anything more shocking, she hurriedly said, "Thank you for informing me. I'm satisfied with this compensation. Shall I give you the information you need at the next gathering?"

"World" pondered, "Could you do it sooner?"

"Then I'll offer it to Mr. Fool once I've finished collecting it, and ask Him to bestow it to you. Is that alright, Mr. Fool?" Audrey asked, turning her head.

Klein, in the thick gray fog, nodded in agreement.

Thus, this mutually satisfactory transaction came to an end.

Seeing the others again, Audrey felt a sense of familiarity from within. She looked at Alice, who had first told her about the witch potion causing gender change, and asked, "Miss 'Fate', I have a question for you."

—Her observation of Alice suggested that Alice might have genuinely considered similar questions.

"What question?" Alice asked curiously.

Audrey organized her thoughts and said, "If, and I mean if, an animal consumed the 'Witch' potion without dying or losing control, would its increased charm mean turning into a human, or enhancing its own species' attractiveness? For example, a female cat that all male cats and cat lovers go crazy for?"

Alice opened her mouth, involuntarily imagining certain figures with cat ears and tails. She struggled to suppress those images from her mind, then asked Audrey, "Did he tell you about the Witch pathway's knowledge?"

Audrey answered with a complex expression.

Alice remained silent for a moment, ultimately deciding not to pollute Audrey's thoughts with such things: "I haven't tried anything like that, so I can't be certain."

By this time, "World" had spoken again: "I have another question."

So everyone's attention was drawn back to "World" once more.

After everyone showed an attentive attitude, "World" said, "I want to know if the Sauron family of Intis still has any high-sequence powerhouses."

Why is he asking this?

Just as Alice was pondering this question, Klein's main body in the gray fog tapped the table lightly again and said, "I'll answer this question. What compensation can you offer?"

Before the words faded, "World" chimed in, "A formula, a Sequence 7 formula."

"Acceptable. It's a deal," Klein's main body agreed to the transaction, then blocked out the others.

...Can it be played like this? Alice, who had witnessed a self-directed and self-performed drama, was greatly shocked. She suddenly felt that Klein would be very popular if he appeared in a circus.

After the gray fog dispersed, Alice watched the second half of this drama with a very complex expression.

"World" bowed and said hoarsely, "Respected Mr. Fool, thank you for your answer. It's very helpful to me."

"This is an equal exchange. No need for thanks," Klein replied in a detached tone.

After "World" finally stopped asking questions, Alger looked at Alice and asked, "Miss 'Fate', is it convenient for you to go to Bayam?"

"I remember we agreed to meet in Pritz Port," Alice raised an eyebrow.

"It sounds like it's not convenient for you? Haven't you finished your business in Backlund?" Alger asked.

Alice was silent for a moment, not answering Alger's question, but instead asked, "What time?"

"Next Thursday. I'll tell you the secret phrase at the next Tarot gathering—of course, I don't mind if you want to come to decide, how about it?" Alger gave a precise time.

"Alright," Alice nodded.

After they exchanged a few more words briefly, Klein announced the end of this Tarot gathering.

...

Alice began to read Roselle's diary.

"February 9th, I had my third child. I named him ‎Bornova."

It seems Emperor Roselle has adapted very well in this world... This thought flashed through Alice's mind as she continued reading.

"My eldest daughter Bernadette is fortunate. Her mother and I were only low-sequence extraordinary beings at the time, so she can freely choose the path she wants to take."

"My eldest son Ciel is the most unfortunate. He inherited very few extraordinary characteristics, yet he has no choice but to follow my path. Perhaps he can make a change at Sequence 4, but high sequences are never easy to achieve."

Alice stared at these two paragraphs, recalling the comment from her memory that had always bothered her—"a born 'monster'".

Like fate, in the end, I became a "monster"...

Alice shook her head, shaking off her thoughts and continuing to read.

"My second son ‎Bornova is between Bernadette and Ciel. I gave him characteristics equivalent to a Sequence 5 extraordinary being, which lightened my burden, allowing me to digest potions faster and accelerate my advancement. Even as a newborn, he is already a 'Star Magician' capable of displaying various peculiarities."

"Zaratul came to congratulate me in secret, praising ‎Bornova as a lovely angel. I asked this divination master what achievements ‎Bornova would have in the future, but he just smiled without answering."

Alice pondered over the phrase "lovely angel". With her experience as a fortune-teller, she instinctively interpreted this sentence in the way of interpreting divinations, based on Zaratul's inexplicable attitude.

So, did that ‎Bornova eventually become an angel? No, it's not that simple...

At this moment, Alice did not yet know about the complex relationship between divinity and humanity.