Chapter 81: Alger's Anxiety (Part 4)

Chapter 81: Alger's Anxiety (Part 4)

Alice nearly blurted out that she wasn't an extraordinary person. 

Fortunately, the night watcher had put her on guard earlier. Otherwise, she would have either had to make up a reason for knowing about extraordinary people or reveal the truth about staying lucid in dreams, leaving them staring at each other awkwardly.

"What's an extraordinary person?" Alice feigned a puzzled expression.

...

On Tuesday, Klein contacted Alice.

"Next Tuesday to Friday, there's a Emperor Roselle Memorial Exhibition at the National Museum, hosted by the Church of Steam and Machinery. They say there will be original manuscripts of Roselle's inventions and various relics," Klein told Alice.

"You want to try to find the Blasphemy Card?" Alice immediately understood Klein's intention.

"Don't you want it?" Klein asked.

"I'm afraid the Blasphemy Card might attract unwanted attention," Alice replied self-aware. "Unless it's a card from the 'Fate' pathway, I don't want to keep that kind of thing on me... Ah, it would be nice to have a place to store things."

Seeing Alice's envious expression as she looked around the palace, Klein thought for a moment and said, "How about I let you have this place?"

"Then should I give you my luck?" Alice rolled her eyes. "So you can experience what it's like to have potion ingredients fall directly into your mouth?"

They looked at each other, then simultaneously moved away from each other.

...

Stepping into the legendary City of Generosity, Bayam, Alice clearly noticed the huge differences between here and Backlund or Tingen.

"Pirates..." As her gaze swept across the pirates in the tavern, Alice recalled the Hanged Man's description of pirates and the lives of Backlund's lower class, letting out a long sigh.

People living at sea - how many of them were truly seeking adventure and treasure? Most were simply those who couldn't survive on land.

Putting aside her thoughts, Alice entered the tavern where she had agreed to meet the "Hanged Man" Alger. She naturally noticed a rather conspicuous person.

...This guy really doesn't suit that wizard's robe at all, does he?

Alice looked at herself, then at him, falling into an awkward silence.

She adjusted her expression, trying to appear as polite as possible, before sitting down opposite "Hanged Man" Alger and tentatively saying, "Odd changes, even stays the same?"

"Symbol, look, image, limit." Unlike Alice's smooth delivery, "Hanged Man" Alger spoke each word slowly and deliberately, with a strange accent.

"Good afternoon, Mr. 'Hanged Man'?" Alice greeted cheerfully.

Alger glanced around at Alice's words, then corrected her, "Don't call me that in public."

"Then what should I call you? Captain?" Alice asked seriously.

"...Alger, just call me Alger." After exchanging a few words with Alice, Alger's expression management faltered.

"I'm Alice, Alice Kingsley," Alice introduced herself in return.

Hearing this name, Alger's pupils suddenly constricted and his body even trembled slightly. This obvious reaction didn't escape Alice's notice. She leaned forward curiously and asked, "Have you investigated me?"

Alger's body stiffened, and he didn't respond.

Looking at the rigid Alger, Alice asked in a puzzled voice, "Why are you so nervous? I don't think I could beat you in a fight, could I?"

"...I did investigate you," Alger answered without moving. "In the information I found, the only one who could be you was a night watcher of the Church of the Evernight Goddess. She became a 'Blessed' three years ago after accidentally swallowing a Sequence 7 characteristic, but..."

"But she already died in the Tingen Deity's Son incident, and her name was also Alice Kingsley," Alice finished his unspoken words.

"..." Alger didn't speak, just furrowed his brow as he looked at her.

"If you've seen Alice Kingsley's portrait, you'd realize..." Alice paused, and after seeing Alger focus his full attention on her words, she continued, "I really am the deceased Alice Kingsley."

Alice was satisfied to see Alger's expression crumble once again.

Alger... Alger was very confused now. He was a bit worried about whether he could leave this tavern alive... No, he would probably at least live until "Lady Fate" got her potion ingredients?

Alice was right, her inexperience as an extraordinary person was obvious, and the "Blessed" didn't sound like a combat-oriented sequence just from the name. At the same Sequence 7, on paper, Alice indeed couldn't beat him.

But... he couldn't forget Alice's seemingly joking words.

What if she really was a True God walking on earth?

After all, given "Lady Fate's" personality, doing something like this seemed... quite normal.

Moreover, she seemed to not belong to this era, and had an additional connection with Mr. Fool, a relatively equal relationship at that...

Alice rested her chin on her hand, watching Alger lost in thought for a while before suddenly asking, "What are you thinking about?"

Alger's thoughts were abruptly pulled back, though he still wasn't sure what he should say—perhaps he could learn to treat "Lady Fate" with the same attitude he had towards Mr. Fool? But if "Lady Fate" was enjoying an ordinary person's life, she probably wouldn't like being treated that way?

"Are you wondering about my relationship with Him?" Alice asked softly. She didn't use a name, only a pronoun, trusting Alger would understand who she meant.

"I am indeed very curious," Alger pondered for a moment before frankly admitting, based on his observations of Alice's personality.

"Do you know that feeling?" Alice gazed at Alger, recalling her state when she first woke up, her eyes somewhat distant. "That feeling of waking up in a completely unfamiliar place, where you don't even remember who you are?"

Alger was slightly taken aback, but Alice didn't seem to want his answer. She naturally continued:

"...It seems I had a very long dream. When I first woke up from the dream, I didn't remember who I was or where I came from. I only knew that the era in my memories bore no resemblance to the present.

"And... He was the only trace I could find of my past."