Chapter 21 : You won’t leave, right ? (2)

« Later… later, we built a castle on our fief. We had children, a boy. He grew up very quickly, and I could tell that he would grow up to be tall and stout.

He enjoyed combat, often running around while dragging a broadsword, claiming that he wanted to become a knight.

I thought it was just child's talk that wouldn't last. However, even if he broke his leg or hurt his head, he didn't abandon his training. He thought that I wouldn't be able to see him if he hid in his room grimacing while tending to his wound. Heh heh, he underestimated his father. All the spirits in the fief were secretly under my service.

Year after year passed. I recovered more and more of my memories. My wife often grumbled that the castle was too cold and dark and that she wished to go somewhere with sunlight and warmth. I satisfied her request, but it was only much later that I realized that it wasn't because she disliked staying in the castle, but that she was afraid of the changes happening to me. She was afraid of the colder me who was becoming a stranger.

She never told me these things, spending time with me like she always did. We spent a beautiful time by the seaside in the south, and we even thought of having a second child, but unfortunately, we didn't succeed.

It was only when I sensed that my next death was approaching did I return to the fief, to my castle.

My son, that boy told me that he wished to head to Backlund to become an attendant to viscounts or earls and begin his journey as a knight.

I asked him why he had made such a choice when he was only around ten. He told me that I was his idol and role model. He wished to become a noble by being a knight like me without the help of his parents.

Back then, I had already recovered most of my memories. Faced with that child, I always felt a little awkward, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable. But when I heard his answer, I still felt an indescribable joy, satisfaction, and pride. He was my son, completely different from the children I had back when I was in the Balam Empire. »

Azik's gaze went adrift for a moment.

« I died once again and woke up in a groggy manner. I instinctively left my fief and followed my prior arrangements to wander elsewhere. Every incarnation, I had a different life in the beginning. At times, I met with the sweetest love ; at other times I received the most adorable daughter. The love, helplessness, and satisfaction left me taken aback, puzzled, and stumped again and again as I gradually recovered my memories.

There was once a time where I was a filial son. I gave my parents pride, a beautiful life, adorable grandsons and granddaughters. But when I 'awoke' and found myself, I recalled that in my previous incarnation, I had coldly watched their real son die on the battlefield and had seized his identity. On the one hand, I felt pain and guilt, and on the other hand, I felt it was nothing, something trivial. My inner heart seemed to dissociate into two. »

Azik stopped speaking and there was a short silence.

« …Mr. Azik, didn't you also have a mask that could change your appearance ? »

Azik looked at me and shook his head.

« Someone asked me to give it to Them a long time ago. Now that I think about it, at the beginning, I was wary of you since you knew so much about me, my memory loss and my past, but I think I know why you knew it… »

He chuckled.

I tilted my head.

So, what did you deduce ?!

At least that's good that he made up a reason in his mind, I don't need to explain anything…

« You know, someone once said that your memory loss is your anchor to resist madness and you were originally kind, you just became colder because of the divinity in your Beyonder characteristics. »

Azik smiled warmly.

« Are you trying to cheer me up ? »

Er, I know that even if I try, it wouldn't work anyway…

« I'm just saying the truth, that's all. Well, I've told you why you die and revive again and again so you don't need to in there. Are you sure you want to continue ? »

I just wanted you to show us the mausoleum's location to find the uniqueness. That way, I can help Amanises and Azik at the same time.

But Azik answered that he still wanted to go inside the mausoleum, so I just glanced in the direction of Sefirah Castle and followed him.

We walked forward, following the flights of stairs as we headed for the deep depths of the mausoleum.

The wafting black fog slowly scattered into its surroundings, accentuating the illusory object that was coiled at the bottom.

It was a massive feathered serpent that seemed to occupy an entire island.

Its face had bronze skin and had soft facial features, it looked exactly like Azik.

Upon seeing this coiling feathered serpent deep inside the black fog, and a face at the top of the towering figure, Azik was first taken aback. Following that, the corner of his forehead throbbed as though he had been struck in the temple, splitting his head in two.

Amidst the excruciating pain, several scenes flashed in his mind.

I lowered my head and waited for Amanises while Azik gradually fell to his knees.

I closed my eyes and continued to wait.

« No… » Azik muttered in pain, unwilling to raise his head or reach out his right hand.

« No… » Azik's throat squeezed out the same word again. Irresistibly, he raised his neck bit by bit as pitch-black and gloomy scales appeared.

Azik, whose hands were on the ground, struggled to stand up with a warped expression. Slowly, he walked to the feathered serpent known as Artificial Death.

The surroundings suddenly quietened. There was no longer any sound.

I opened my eyes.

A slender, fair female palm appeared out of nowhere and pressed down on the golden bird-shaped accessory that appeared on Azik's forehead.

A figure then materialized between Azik and the towering illusory feathered serpent, stopping the two's approach.

With the help of this external force, Azik finally held back that desire and the irresistible calling to fuse together. The pale-white flames in his eyes "reflected" the floating figure in midair.

It was a beautiful lady wearing an ancient robe. She wore a black hood. Her face was deadpan, and her black eyes were deep and dark, devoid of spirituality.

With tears in my eyes, I exclaimed silently.

Amanises !

Azik spoke with a somewhat hoarse and uncertain tone :

« It's you… »

Following that, an unperturbed voice that was clearly female sounded :

« You have three choices.

First, continue proceeding forward to seek completeness. Allow Salinger to revive within your body.

The second is to have me help you extract that half soul, allowing you to take it with you. You will think of a way to stitch it back together, but this will make you transform back to your original form. You will stop repeatedly dying and reviving, but it will not be the present you. Your past incarnations will truly recede into being dreams.

Third, it's to give up everything and directly leave. You will forever be stuck at your current level. You will have no way of advancing further. You will still die again and again, waking up with no memories, and repeatedly search for your past experiences. »

Azik looked at the beautiful hooded lady in front of him without saying a word.

Amidst the unsettling silence, Azik raised his right hand and rubbed his temples. Calmly, he said with a laugh :

« Perhaps I'm accustomed to my present life. I choose the third choice. »

Amanises did something and then he seemed to be in pain.

« Thank you for your help. »

He bowed towards the beautiful hooded lady, turned around and floated up the staircase.

Azik grabbed my shoulder and brought me back to a street in Backlund.

He released his grip and pinched his forehead. With a gentle smile, he said :

« I'll need to sleep for an unknown length of time in order to recover. »

He chuckled, seemingly talking to himself.

« Sleep isn't a bad thing. At least I'll have dreams. In my dreams, I never left, accompanying her while taking in the sun while guiding that stubborn son of mine to use the broadsword. I'll also make a swing for that little kid that loves to wheedle… »

He threw out the copper whistle and said with a gentle smile :

« Remember to write to me.

But before I awaken, I will not reply to you. »

Just as I reached out to receive the ancient and intricate copper whistle, Azik vanished from the room ; his whereabouts unknown.

I stood still, silently, unmoving.

(I just wanted to help Azik, why did he have to leave me too ?)

It's cold.

At… At least, Mr. Azik will wake up earlier, since he went to sleep earlier…

(Why are people all leaving one by one ?)

I held my arm.

…It's really a cold feeling.

Azik left, but that's fine… there is still Mr. Fool, Amanises, Lilith… Will…

(But if they all leave, who will be left ?)

I am fine…

A tear dripped down my cheek.

I must be too tired.

I wiped it, then wiped it again and again but it just wouldn't stop.

My shoulders began shaking and I let myself fall on my knees.

I just cried silently.

It is said that you don't know what you have until you lose it.

In my ear, I heard Mr. Fool's voice.

« Amanises left to accommodate the Death uniqueness, we won't be able to see Her for a while… We successfully sealed Ourobouros and took away His sequence 1 Beyonder characteristics. Unfortunately, Will had to reincarnate before that. He said that he wouldn't be able to attend the Tarot Club for a while too… »

That day, 3 people had to leave the Tarot Club.

「Only two people were left by Xin Jian's side.」

…What if you leave me too ?

—————— I am the dividing line~

3rd point of view :

(Xin Jian : Still, I should tell Klein that he can't contact Mr. Azik for the time being…)

After waking up, Klein found a paper on the table.

He was surprised because his spirituality hadn't warned him that someone came here.

He divined whether it was dangerous to touch it then read it.

"Klein, you won't be able to get Mr. Azik's help in the future since he is plunged into a long slumber. Just to say that if you have means to contact him and try to reach out to him when you're in danger, it's useless.

From Xin Jian."

(Xin Jian's meaning : So he can't save you from the meteorite.

Klein's interpretation : Azik is in a bad state because of Xin Jian.)

Klein clenched his hand, anger surged inside of him.

Xin Jian had no reason to simply "inform" him after what had happened. The meaning of this paper was clear.

« Xin Jian ! Why did you harm people close to me !? Why did I do for you to hate me that much… ? »

Since Xin Jian also brought Azik to Backlund, Klein had talked and drunk tea quite a few times with him after Xin Jian's classes ended. They weren't that close but he was still his teacher.

With this new misunderstanding, Klein's complicated feelings for Xin Jian transformed into hate, and the previous doubts became certainties.

He would avenge the Captain, Mr. Azik, and himself, (and ask for an explanation by the way)…

—————— I am the dividing line~

Knock knock.

« Enter. »

Bernadette raised her head and looked at the person at the door.

« Have you finished investigating ? »

The man bowed his head.

« Yes, Your Excellency, here is the report . »

He handed her a folder.

« Alright, you can leave. »

Bernadette skirmed through the papers with a thoughtful expression.

"Klein Moretti.

Nighthawk.

Angel of the Evernight church.

Suddenly appeared at the church and died at the hands of Ince Zangwill.

…"

Bernadette narrowed her eyes.

He had told her that He was only Sequence 5, but His records at the church indicated that He was an angel.

(Author : In this chapter, we'll use "Him" because of Bernadette's perspective of Klein as an angel instead of an individual.)

What's more, resurrection from the dead is the ability of Sequence 2 Miracle Invoker, if He was really Klein Moretti and had resurrected, He had to be an angel, not a Sequence 5. And why would her eyes bleed only because of a measly Sequence 5 ? As expected, He was lying to her, at least about His Sequence.

Did He fake His death to run away from the church ? But why ? Or did He have another mission to do ?

At the time, she just brushed off His lie because she wanted to take the time to investigate Him. Now, she really wanted to visit and interrogate Him…

She also had to clarify something. Something about a secret her father told her a few days before He was assassinated…

She opened another folder.

"Sherlock Moriarty.

Detective.

Faith : Church of the God of Steam and Machinery."

Her eyebrow twitched.

« Why is an angel of the church of the Goddess pretending to believe in the God of Steam and Machinery… ? » She mumbled.

Did He switch His faith ?

—————— I am the dividing line~

Today, Klein's doorbell rang again.

Klein hesitantly opened the door to the lady who was supposedly a high Sequence Beyonder.

He smiled brightly.

« Can I do something for you ? »

Bernadette looked at Him and remarked that His mental state seemed to be not good.

Instead of answering, she entered and sat down on the sofa as if it was her home.

Seeing this, Klein stood there awkwardly before reacting.

« Tea or coffee ? »

She said :

« Coffee. »

Klein went to the kitchen to prepare it. Next to the coffee grains, He saw all the bottles of juice left after Xin Jian left. He clenched His hand and only smiled brighter.

Klein came back and put a cup of coffee in front of Bernadette before sitting down.

Bernadette took the initiative and spoke up first :

« Why did you say that you were only Sequence 5 when you're an angel ? »

Klein controlled His expression. He didn't expect that she would investigate Him.

« My Beyonder abilities are incomplete, I can only use my powers up to Sequence 5 and I don't have divinity. »

Bernadette raised an eyebrow. Then how did He resurrect if He could only use his powers up to Sequence 5 ?

Klein raised a point :

« Excuse me, how should I address you ? »

Bernadette remembered that she hadn't introduced herself.

She said one word.

« Bernadette. »

She then asked what she was the most curious about.

« Since when were you an angel ? »

Klein was surprised by her question.

« …I became a Beyonder in a Beyonder incident and directly became an angel. It happened only this year. »

Bernadette wasn't convinced by this answer. After all, who could believe that an ordinary person who became an angel in a Beyonder incident didn't lose control on the spot ?

However, she didn't point it out and began to talk about another thing.

« …A few days before being assassinated, I think my father foresaw His death. I still remember the last words He left me… »

(Klein, who had not yet realized that Bernadette was Roselle's daughter : What… ?)

She paused.

« My father knew a lot of secrets… »

(Bernadette : *nostalgic look on her face*

Klein : What is she talking about ? Why did she suddenly bring up her father ? Did I become a psychiatrist without knowing it ?)

« He told me to find the "forgotten angel". He didn't explain in detail who it was so I thought I could ask you if you knew Him ? »

Klein shook His head.

« I do know some angels but I don't know if They fit this description. »

Bernadette's eyes flickered.

« Could you describe Them ? »

Klein organized His words.

« There is Xin Jian, an angel of the Evernight Church which should belong to the Red Priest pathway. »

(Author : More like the "forgetting angel"…)

Bernadette had an unreadable expression.

An angel of the Hunter pathway in the Evernight Church ? What is this ? The Evernight Church doesn't even control the Hunter pathway. There is something wrong here.

« …Azik Eggers, a Death Consul who loses his memories every few decades. »

But isn't memory loss only a problem for the Sequence 4 of the Death pathway ? Are you sure this is an angel ?

Klein's most honest explanation was seen as the worst lie he said until now.

« …Medici, an evil spirit of the Red Priest pathway that fused with the angels Sauron and Einhorn… »

Bernadette's expression was even more unreadable.

But are Sauron and Einhorn females ? Is Medici a male or a female in the end ?

There is definitely something wrong with your acquaintances.

« …and Arianna, angel of the Evernight Church. »

Bernadette recognized the name of the Archbishop but this example corresponded the least to what she searching for. Angels of an official church had the least chance to be the forgotten angel since their identities were public.

Bernadette nodded and stood.

She gave Him a piece of paper.

« Here is the incantation to summon my messager. You can ask me for help if you ever have a problem. »

Klein wordlessly accepted it and watched Bernadette leave.

—————— I am the dividing line~

Monday, 3 p.m., figures appeared around the long mottled table.

Audrey greeted the Fool and noticed that 3 people were missing.

The Fool (Klein) explained :

« Mr. Death, Mr. Wheel of Fortune and Miss High Priestess won't be able to attend the next gatherings because of personal reasons. »

He had tried pulling their spirits above the gray fog but didn't succeed, he had to figure out the reason he couldn't pull them in. (Reason : Mr. Fool's interference)

Due to Amanises' absence, Xin Jian wasn't in the mood to play cards and stayed calmly in her seat.

With three people absent, the Tarot Club felt a little empty now…

Since they couldn't exchange personal information in the Tarot Club and Leonard didn't know that she was The Devil (she didn't want Klein to know either), she couldn't ask him where he lived now.

Audrey spoke up :

« Mr. Fool, I have two pages of Roselle's diary this time. »

Klein nodded.

« What do you want ? »

Audrey thought. There wasn't anything that she wanted for the moment so she decided to satisfy her immediate curiosity.

« I ask for a private exchange. »

Klein blocked the senses of the other members.

(Xin Jian : Lol, do you really think you have more authority over the gray fog than me ? I can hear everything~.)

« Mr. Fool, is this card a card of blasphemy ? From which pathway is it ? »

(The real Mr. Fool : *watching next to Klein with His senses not blocked either*

Klein : Are you sure this is a puppet and not a real person ?

Xin Jian : Well, I am sure that this is a real person but if you still believe that Mr. Fool is only a puppet then He must have used a sealed artifact to give you psychological hints…)

Klein, who was sure that Miss Justice would ask this question, returned it.

"Sequence 0 : Black Emperor"

Audrey looked at it and thanked him. Klein removed the gray fog blocking the others' senses and checked if anybody else had found pages of Roselle's diary.

Then, he began reading.

(Xin Jian : Too bad I'm not Chinese, I wanted to see Roselle's social execution too. I really should have asked Mr. Fool to teach Chinese to me…)

Seeing the two angels and one god's empty spots, Medici felt that the gathering was suddenly less intimidating (not that He showed it in the first place). His emotional colors showed that He became more relaxed while He leaned more on His chair, His feet on the table.

(Xin Jian : Hey, there are still two gods and one great old one left, what are you doing ? And Klein and me are also angels !)

Bonus :

Sharon, who got rid of the psychological hint : Why did I even enter this gathering… ?

So Sharon didn't make a commission to attack the Rose School of Thought and still planned to ask Sherlock Moriarty for help.

Meanwhile, Sherlock Moriarty : *pretending to be a revived ancient god at the same gathering*