Chapter 1 : The Error Uniqueness (1)

"..." are thoughts

« ... » are spoken out loud

Original female character's point of view :

When I woke up, I felt like something was trying to suppress me.

I couldn't feel anything around me so I struggled to open my eyes to see what was happening.

My view was a little blurry and I felt that I was more and more suppressed by what was in front of me.

I tried to rub my eyes but stopped when I noticed a thick gray fog surrounding me.

Then, I raised my head, and I saw Him.

He was looking at me silently, without moving, and I couldn't even see his face...

Then, why did I feel like he was surprised ?

It was as if I could read his mind.

"...Tianzun... resurrect ? Did I fail ?"

He didn't even open His mouth but I heard theses sentences in my mind. I don't think it was his intention to let me hear it, though...

But where am I ?

Who is Tianzun ?

Why did you fail ?

Then, drowsiness instantly overwhelmed me and I lost consciousness.

—————— I am the dividing line~

Our dear Mr. Fool's point of view :

I was leisurely sleeping in Sefirah Castle when I felt the gray fog begin to boil.

Something was moving inside of me.

"Strange, it shouldn't be my Beyonder characteristics since they are all in the curtain in the abandoned land of the gods... Then, what is it ?"

Did I unknowingly get corrupted by the mother tree of desire ???

I lazily opened my eyes and pulled out of my body whatever there was there and three objects appeared in front of me.

Relieved that I wouldn't give birth to something unknown, I cautiously began to look at them and became surprised.

And, believe me, when you have lived as long as I did, and know as much secret knowledge as I do, you hardly get surprised.

"Are these... the uniquesses to become the lord of mysteries ?!"

No, that shouldn't be that. They are still in the real world after all...

"Is it an illusion ?"

Well, I would have continued thinking that if one of the uniquesses didn't move. I instinctively used the gray fog to suppress what was in front of me.

I tried to use my clown abilities to prevent myself from flinching and recalled that I didn't have any Beyonder characteristics.

I sighed.

"It's so troublesome."

If these objects weren't illusions, were they projections of the uniquesses that were currently in the real world ?

But, why ? Was it Amon ? Or...

I continued to suppress the thing that was awakening in front of me as hard as I could.

"Did Tianzun find a way to successfully resurrect ? Did I fail ?"

The Error uniqueness finally stopped moving and I calmed down.

Then, what ? What if Tianzun finally found a way to resurrect ?

I sighed.

I don't care. Please, just let me end this cycle...

I looked at the Error uniqueness and began to study it in detail.

As I remembered, it was a little silver key, with a clover-shaped end.

It is the first time this has happened.

I put it down and closed my eyes.

Whether the world ends, whether Tianzun resurrects, I don't care anymore.

I'm tired. Tired of living an infinite life...

After all, Lilith predicted that Mr. Fool could make a difference in the apocalypse. But what if Mr. Fool doesn't act up ? Well, it's not his business anymore anyway...

—————— I am the dividing line~

Original female character's point of view :

The same thing happened a few more times then He finally gave up suppressing me. Then, I stood up-

Well, that was until I realized that I didn't have legs...

What the-

So I imagined that I had legs and legs magically appeared...

What the-

My brain just gave up thinking at this point.

Seeing that He was ignoring me, I went to his side and looked at what He was looking at.

There was a red star where a man with a cold expression was killing what seemed to be pirates.

Huh...

Is this a movie ?

Is that man, just, watching a movie ? All alone ? In this gray fog ? What the hell is happening ???

What's more, the pirates are dying just like that ! But, that's true that the protagonist is cool.

I nodded at myself with a stoic face.

Wait, no ! That's not the point ! First, I don't even know where I am nor who the stranger next to me is. Second, I don't remember my name either. Third, I always had a bad memory anyway... Still, I never forgot things to this point.

So, I am in an unknown place with an unknown person for unknown reasons and my memory went overboard for forgetting things. Well, that's not a big deal.

That's how I decided to just watch a movie with a stranger through a red star. There doesn't seem to be anything better to do anyway.

—————— I am the dividing line~

Mr. Fool's/Zhou Mingrui's point of view :

Watching the Error uniqueness moving for the nth time. I finally figured out what was happening.

"So, the Error uniqueness created a bug and grabbed a soul from somewhere which is now above Sefirah Castle ?"

I seriously thought about it and then laughed. Or maybe, that is just something that I imagined...

I looked at the sleeping girl which constantly appeared and disappeared from the Error uniqueness.

At the beginning, I decided to not care about it. After all, it could very well be something created by my imagination because I didn't want to be alone.

However, a few rounds later, that soul, no, that illusion appeared again.

It was very brief so I didn't pay much attention to it but it appeared again a few rounds later.

Every few rounds, it would appear.

Well, for me, it means at least a decade so of course I ignored it and forgot about it every time. Nevertheless, the frequency of its appearance increased until it appeared every round and kept conscious for longer and longer periods of time. That's why I decided to speak to that "illusion" that no member of the Tarot Club could see and that was probably created by my tired and lonely mind.

—————— I am the dividing line~

So, Klein defeated Tianzun at the price of his own life. However, instead of dying, he returned to Sefirah Castle and saw his past self wake up in Klein Moretti. He tried to help his past self by acting as Mr. Fool but, every time Klein died (I mean, used up all his resurrection chances), he would return to the beginning, back to Sefirah Castle, and see his past self redo everything from the beginning. Innocent Zhou Mingrui that doesn't know anything and wakes in Klein's body (like the canon) will be called Klein and regressor Zhou Mingrui will be called Mr. Fool.

Also, Mr. Fool doesn't always act as The Fool to help Klein and often stay inconspicuous to let Klein act as The Fool, as if He didn't exist. In that case everything just happens the same way as the cannon and nothing changes while Mr. Fool watches everything while eating popcorn, his existence unknown to all...

One day, Mr. Fool was tired of everything and decided to just watch from the sidelines instead of trying to save people. Mr. Fool is tired and just wants to rest !

That's it for the explanations.

Original character's point of view :

After waking up and falling asleep a few times, that man turned his head to look at me.

He then seemed to awkwardly organize his words. Right, we never talked until now, did we ? Was I just literally squatting the "house" of a stranger until now ? I tried to search for something to say but, after all this time, it was too late to ask who he was, wasn't it ? Great, now I am embarrassed too. The mood is so awkward...

I think I already said it but, I have a really bad memory. That must the reason why I think bullshit at the strangest of times (I think I'm just finding excuses for myself), and also the reason why, at that moment, I just thought : let's crack a joke.

Because, you know, when the atmosphere is awkward, you can make jokes to relax it ! (But my brain strangely didn't recall that it would also make it worse for me !) So, while we were silently continuing our staring contest, I was racking my brain to find a good joke.

Then recalled that I didn't have any humor.

Huh.

Let's just dig a hole and die !

Thankfully, I was always a person with an emotionless face so none of my thoughts could be guessed by staring at my face. (Which the person in front of me was currently doing, you know...)

I prefer to think that it's because I'm an honest person and I don't like to put on a mask but the truth must be that I'm just too lazy to smile all day for no reason. I tried though. Of course, I was alone or else someone would have thought that there is something wrong with my head. But I am always alone and there is indeed something wrong with my head. And we're going off topic too.

So, 15 seconds after that person turned to face me, (because, even if I'm a salted fish, I'm still a quick thinker, and thinking of a lot of bullshit in a short time is helpful because you don't have the time to say any of it out loud except when you don't find any topic of conversation...), He said :

(wait, He ? What if it's a girl with short hair ? It's not that I'm particularly curious about it, it's just that it would be awkward if this stranger heard me calling them with the wrong pronoun...)

« What is your name ? »

Then, I realized that even if I could break this awful mood (that lasted 15 seconds !), I was doomed.

Now, let's do it !

Then I said the wrong thing and thought that it would have been better if I had played mute.

Let's stop thinking, I'm very good at this too !

—————— I am the dividing line~

Mr. Fool's point of view :

I only asked : « What is your name ? ».

Just what went wrong ?

The answer I got from that girl was :

« Are you a girl or a boy ? »

The moment I heard this question, my mind blanked out.

Could that sentence be, by any chance, your name ?

No, is that not obvious ?

Then, she seemed to recall something and continued :

« You can choose not to answer if that's a sensitive question. »

No, no ! That's not the problem ! Your eyes are the problem !

I sighed inwardly and replied before she could speak any further :

« I am a man. »

Having cleared any doubts about my gender (well, I hope because she was giving me a strange look), I repeated my previous question :

« So, what is your name ? »

Is it so hard to ask for a name ?

With a blank look, she replied :

« I don't know. »

Huh ?

Dazed, I processed her answer.

It's confirmed, there is indeed a problem with your head !

And, what was it with your previous question ? Did you want me to ask the same thing ? Are you not a girl ??? Huh, that doesn't seem possible.

Then I realized something that I didn't notice until now.

After advancing above the sequences, my human nature weakened and I felt less and less emotions.

Did her presence strengthen my human nature ?

I studied her face closely.

It was emotionless and didn't reveal any thoughts of its owner.

Wait, did she just say all that bullshit with a straight face ???

(Meanwhile, the girl who only said two sentences, felt all the emotional fluctuations of Mr. Fool and thought that he must be currently criticizing her, which is true...)

Well, maybe her presence is not that bad if she can strengthen my human nature... but that's useless now, it's too late.

« So... Who are you ? »

While I lampooned in my heart, I answered the girl-who-doesn't-remember-her-own-name (wait, that's too long...) :

« You can call me... Mr. Fool. »

—————— I am the dividing line~ (as you know, it's just a change of point of views~)

My first reaction was to have rude thoughts.

What the heck ? Mr. Fool as in a "stupid" person ? A "fool" taste ? No, I guess the spelling isn't the same... It should be a "foul" taste. Mister, why are you insulting yourself ? I don't know what silly things you did but that's not a reason to call yourself stupid. And, if that's really your name, you can change it, you know. I'm a stranger, I don't know you. I won't know it if you give me the wrong name... Wait, that means that I could have created myself a false name instead of passing for an idiot ? Why do I always recall these things too late ? Better late than never is a wrong saying ! Ignorance is bliss !

My second reaction was to recall that I made a vow to stop thinking.

Well, vows are made to be broken.

However, my third reaction was to recall that not thinking doesn't help to advance the conversation.

« Then, Miss, do you want to take a seat ? The Tarot Club's meeting will begin soon. »

Interested, my mind returned to reality to see him close a portable watch.

Huh, that's true that there is a long table with... 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 22 seats.

« Really ? Can I ? » Oops, my voice sounded unusually excited.

« Yes, you can choose a card from the major Arcana cards. » He nodded.

I cut him off.

« What cards are left ? »

Even if I have a bad memory, I'm pretty sure that I have never seen a set of Arcana cards in my entire life. Not that I would remember what cards there are anyway...

« Now, only The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, The Wheel of Fortune, The Death, The Temperance, The Strength, The Devil and The Tower are left. »

Hm-m... First question : what is a hierophant ?

Well, let's not mind it. So, I'm hesitating between The Empress, Death and The Devil... Making a choice is hard...

Well, I quite like the Death card but... Then, I remembered an existential question.

« Imagining that I choose the Empress card, who is the most suited to be the emperor ? »

Hearing this, I felt that Mr. Fool had mixed feelings. It is quite easy to make him lose his composure, huh.

Mr. Fool answered : « A guy named Roselle that likes to fool around with other people's wives, went somewhere he shouldn't have twice, became corrupted and ended up asking his own daughter to seal him. »

Respect.

« I choose "The Devil" card. »

« Welcome to the Tarot Club, Miss Devil. » concluded Mr. Fool

You're saying that but I'm sure that you're still thinking that I have a loose screw.

Seeing that he was ready to touch a red star, I interrupted him.

« Wait. » I said while raising my hand.

« Do you have something to say ? » He said.

At the same time, I heard a sentence in my head for the second time since I met him.

"What ? Will she change her Tarot Card ?"

I ignored him and hurriedly asked (before I forgot, because yes, forgetting your question after interrupting someone is possible and it already happened to me many times, that's also why I'm so skilled at improvising bullshit !, the right verb is bullshitting) : « Can I have a pen and paper ? »

While I felt like question marks were appearing above his head, he still did as I asked and these objects materialized before me.

He still stared at me for three good seconds while obviously thinking : "Why ?" before turning his attention back to the stars.

That's obviously before I won't remember anything if I don't write it down ! Paper is a portable memory !

Then, the members of the Tarot Club appeared.

Remember... Even if you weren't able to see me, I was always there.

—————— I am the dividing line~

Audrey Hall's point of view :

Monday, at 3 pm, we were summoned as usual above the gray fog.

I prepared to greet everyone when Mr. Fool pointed to a direction and said :

« Here is a new member of The Tarot Club. Everyone, this is Miss Devil. »

Everyone looked at that direction and there was only silence for a moment.

There wasn't anyone on that chair.

In the corner of my eyes, I saw Mr. Hanged Man turn back to the top of the long mottled table then looking around. Mr. Star and Mr. Moon were obviously thinking that Mr. Fool was crazy and Mr. World didn't seem to be surprised.

While observing the reactions of everyone present, I still smiled and curtsied before greeting the others in the order which they came to the Tarot Club and turned in their direction one by one to show the new member who was who.

« Good afternoon Mr. Fool~.

Good afternoon Mr. Hanged Man.

Good afternoon Mr. Sun.

Good afternoon Mr. World.

Good afternoon Miss Magician.

Good afternoon Mr. Moon.

Good afternoon Madam Hermit.

Good afternoon Mr. Star.

Good afternoon Miss Judgement.

Good afternoon Miss Devil.

I am Miss Justice. »

I then sat down and heard a female voice.

« Good afternoon. »

A few members seemed surprised that there was really someone there while little Sun nodded his head as if it was obvious.

Then, the meeting began.

—————— I am the dividing line~

Mr. Fool's point of view :

As I thought, nobody can see or hear Miss Devil.

I had to use the power of the gray fog to pass on her greeting. The meeting soon ended and I returned to watching Klein in the real world.

« That "Mr. World", is he the one you're observing right now ? »

I turned around to face the girl behind me and nodded.

« Then, is he starring in a movie ? »

I furrowed my eyebrows.

Miss Devil continued :

« Because, you know, how can his life appear in there if he is not starring in a movie ? »

Was that "bug" influenced by my memories ? No additional cocoon is empty so there is no way that she can know what a movie is. As expected, she really comes from my imagination...

I ignored her.

Wait, if she doesn't disappear anymore, maybe there is a way to get rid of her.

« Do you want to see something fun ? » I asked.

—————— I am the dividing line~

Miss Devil's point of view :

« Do you want to see something fun ? »

Do you know that ominous feeling ?

It's like someone is asking : Do you trust me ?

And instinctively you want to answer : No.

If I answer back, "You watching someone kill pirates while being all alone all day is already fun enough.", now, will I be beaten ?

And what are you, a neet ?

An otaku ?

Oh, I seem to be wrong, one time Mr. World was kidnapped in the movie, so he is not killing pirates all day.

Mr. Fool didn't let me any more time to think (which is a wise decision) and used the gray fog to create me a physical body before sending me somewhere.

Somewhere is the key word here.

Like, in a garden full of flowers ?! Is teleporting normal here ? Ah, I'm sleepy.

I yawned.

It's not because I'm suppressed by the gray fog as usual but instead it's this place that is making me sleepy.

And, what's with these flowers ? What are even the names of these flowers ? And, what's with this sweet smell ? Can you eat them ? Wait, I can smell ? That's amazing ! That's useless, too !

While I began a staring contest with the flowers (because, when you have nothing to do, you have nothing to do), a person appeared to greet me.

It was a woman who was calm, collected... in short, strangely not surprised to see someone made of gray fog literally materialize in her garden.

She was wearing a dress which... I could not describe. I don't have much vocabulary about clothes anyway...

And so, I decided to ask this stranger the first question that was on my mind... What are the name of these flowers. Wait, no ! Priorities !

With the same stoic face as always, I said :

« Excuse me, who are you ? »