Chapter 39 : Let’s kill George III !

While the gods were in their emotive phase (ah, puberty…), Klein prepared himself for the Tarot Club.

(Author : What puberty ???)

When the Tarot Club began, Audrey wasn't there anymore to lead the members to greet Mr. Fool. The atmosphere wasn't as cheerful as usual.

After the usual routine, they finished trading items and entered the free communication's part.

Gehrman began.

« Recently, as you all know, there was a war. Miss Devil, do you know why it started ? »

If the gods had agreed on it, then maybe Miss Devil could know why ? After all, she looked like a high Sequence Beyonder, who knows, maybe she was an angel…

Gehrman looked at the mysterious Miss Devil and waited for her answer.

Xin Jian's lips twitched.

"What will you do if I say that I don't know and turn to The Fool's seat for the answer ?"

Xin Jian held back the urge to persecute Klein and said seriously :

« First, the king needed a war to advance to a true god. Second, the gods needed a war to start a divine war too and kill the God of War. Third, Adam needed a war for the development of the times to advance to a true god as well. Lastly, a war is very conducive to advancement. You can't know the details until you are at least an angel or you will be polluted. »

"Wait, Klein is already an angel… Well, he doesn't remember it with Mr. Fool's hypnosis anyway." Xin Jian pushed aside her thoughts and got distracted as if she did not just drop a bomb.

Meanwhile, the others were shocked by all the information revealed in her words.

Xin Jian particularly avoided looking in Mr. Hanged Man's way, who was shaking (?) while looking at The Fool Klein with awe and speculating about Miss Devil's Sequence.

She added :

« This war was indeed started by Angel Xin Jian as said in the newspaper. Thankfully, there were nearly no casualties. The king was also responsible for the great smog of Backlund. »

Xin Jian glanced at Miss Justice's empty seat then retracted her gaze.

Klein noticed it and looked down.

Ah, right, Miss Justice isn't there to ask more details in Gehrman's stead…

The World asked :

« But why did the king do that ? »

The other club members were surprised that Gehrman asked a question. He seemed interested in this matter.

Miss Devil shrugged.

« Ask Medici. »

"I'm too lazy to explain, what can I do about it ?"

The World Gehrman turned to Medici's seat.

Medici sneered.

« This information costs 20 000 pounds. »

Klein froze.

Then he bought the information and mourned for his wallet (as usual).

—————— I am the dividing line~

Klein was lost in his thoughts.

If the war was inevitable, then why did Xin Jian start it ?

Was it to lessen the casualties ?

But why ?

She had said that there were only two deaths.

If it was really the case, then it was a miracle.

(Xin Jian, Miracle Invoker, at your service.)

In other words, maybe Xin Jian had started this war for a good reason.

But why didn't She just try to stop it ?

If there wasn't a war, wouldn't it be simpler ?

And why did the orthodox gods agree on the king's and Adam's advancements anyway ? Why would They need to kill the God of War ?

Maybe Xin Jian wasn't as wicked as he thought…

(Xin Jian : This conclusion is questionable.)

Then why did She orchestrate the fight in the underground ruins ?

(Xin Jian : To have fun.)

Why didn't She avenge the captain ?

(Xin Jian : I didn't try because I thought I was weak.)

Klein remembered the contents of the paper She had sent before.

"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 any means to contact him and try to reach out to him when you're in danger, it's useless.

From Xin Jian."

He recalled what led to this conflict.

[« How do you think I came out of these ruins ? »

Klein didn't answer so Medici pointed to Xin Jian's room with His chin.

« Of course, it's your colleague right there who freed me. So, in all of my generosity, I came to warn you. »

« There was a saying in the fourth epoch. It was : trust in the power of the gods, but not in their kindness. Do you know why ? »

« The more you ascend in sequence, the more you will be affected by the influence of Beyonder characteristics, it is particularly the case after sequence 4. It is called divinity. For an angel, divinity should also far surpass humanity. »

« Look, I have no reason to lie to you here. I just came to warn you. »

Klein asked :

« But why would She do that ? »

Medici still looked as relaxed as before.

« Right, why would She do that ? Maybe the church asked Her to approach you ? But I don't think She'd be the type to be loyal to a church. »]

Could he really trust the words of an evil spirit ?

But what reason would he have to lie ? If Xin Jian really freed Him then Medici shouldn't be hostile to Her.

And why didn't Xin Jian refute it ?

She isn't the type to be loyal to a Church… So She did everything out of Her own free will ?

Then why would She fake Her personality ?

Some old questions resurfaced in Klein's mind as he tried to make sense of what he knew.

He hated Xin Jian, but what if what he believed to be true wasn't ?

Maybe he wrongfully accused Her, but then, why didn't She refute it ?

However, the fact that She killed him showed that She was hostile towards him.

Klein shook his head.

Why did he doubt it after all ? Xin Jian indeed hated him. Or maybe She saw him as a bug ?

If She had truly considered him as a friend, then She wouldn't have killed him.

Klein felt a pang in his heart.

Ah, right, he doubted it because he wanted to be wrong. Seeing Xin Jian had made him remember Tingen's time.

Why did he still feel betrayed ? All of their interactions when they lived together were fake, that's all.

Subconsciously, Klein had hoped that Xin Jian would have an excuse, that he was wrong. But She had even killed him, that showed everything.

From now, Klein would stop meaninglessly hoping. Why should he need an explanation ? Villains never have good reasons to act.

So what if she started a war which had only two casualties ? She shouldn't have started a war.

From Medici's information, Xin Jian had cooperated with the king to start this war, but wasn't the Great Fog of Backlund orchestrated by the king ?

Klein clenched his hand.

Xin Jian was on the king's side.

Why did She do all this ? It was simple. She only sought fun things, She should have found it fun.

(Xin Jian : …And we're back to square one.

Author : No, we even went backwards. You cooperation with the king has been added to your list of crimes.)

Klein pulled himself out of his thoughts and declared the end of this Tarot Club.

However, Miss Devil didn't leave and stared at him, her head in her hand.

Klein wanted to ask why she was still here when she spoke up first.

« The Loen King, George III, has finally broken through the shackles. He's no longer worried that any of the seven deities will strongly object to his apotheosis. He can officially push for the various rituals needed of Black Emperor. What follows will depend on himself, or should I say Himself. As long as He can withstand the impact of the potion, and as long as He can maintain His rationality, He would be able to ascend to the divine throne and advance to Sequence 0.

Can you accept such an outcome ?

In the extremely thick, slightly pungent, cold, and moist smog which had permeated through the entirety of Backlund, there were the tramps who suffered from ailments, hunger, pain, and cold before being pushed to the brink of death. He was also struggling to survive.

For the sake of food, he pushed himself with all his might, not daring to slack off at all. Finally, he saw the light of life. He bought his long-awaited ham, but in the hazy smog, he fell to the ground and never got up again.

She was a hardworking widow. In order to survive, and to provide for her two children, she had abandoned all her dignity and made herself a shrew that spewed vulgarities. With pain-ridden joints that suffered repeatedly from the invasion of the humidity on a daily basis, she supported a roof that could block out the elements. However, the roof had collapsed in the Great Smog. The child she wanted to protect had died in her arms.

It was a young girl who yearned to study and fantasized about a bright future. She doted on her mother and her younger sister, working hard in the room that was filled with moisture, always carrying that tiny bit of hope. However, after the Great Smog, she was no longer able to see the future she longed for. »

Klein listened to Miss Devil's slow and monotonous voice, who calmly recited the struggles of the ones who suffered in the Great Fog of Backlund.

« It was a girl who desperately took in knowledge under the care of her mother and elder sister. She had gone through too much suffering, and she walked out of her predicament one step at a time, hoping to improve herself. She hoped that her mother and sister wouldn't tire themselves out anymore and that she would have a chance to let her family of three to live an ideal life. However, all of this ultimately shattered. In that terrifying smog, this girl was left alone. No matter how much pain or joy she felt, she was no longer able to share it with her mother and sister. That fantasy of her family life never appeared, nor would it ever appear again.

They were living beings that fell to the ground like straw, one family after another, one human after another. They would never be able to erase the pain in their bones.

They were children who returned home from school, only to suddenly realize that they had lost their parents and had become orphans.

It was the pain of writhing on the ground while crawling with great difficulty. He was an ordinary person who wanted to approach the future, but was powerless to swallow his last breath.

It was the people in the cemetery who were so silent that it made one's heart ache, or those who cried until they fainted several times.

And for the mastermind behind all of this, the greatest murderer, he would step up to the divine throne over piles of corpses, only to receive cheers and escape his mortal coils.

Can you accept such a development ?

Can you accept such an arrangement ?

Can you accept such an outcome ? »

After a moment of silence, Klein suddenly spoke with a deep voice :

« No, I can't. »

Miss Devil's lips curled up.

At that moment, Klein had decided to kill the king.

—————— I am the dividing line~

Although Klein had already made up his mind, he had no intention of doing it rashly. With his current level and status, no matter how hard he tried, it would be difficult for him to affect George Ill's matters. Other than throwing away his life, there wouldn't be any other outcome.

He decided to first ask for Bernadette's help and devise a plan.

While Klein was preparing to make a coup d'Etat, Xin Jian pretended to disappear and watched him return to the real world.

Then, she noticed movement from a certain crimson star, where the person in question was imitating Sleeping Beauty since a while.

Excited, she hurriedly clicked on the star and made that person come into the gray fog.

« Mr. Azik ! »

Azik blinked and saw that He was suddenly inside of Sefirah Castle.

« …Xin Jian ? »

Xin Jian came to Him with tears in her eyes.

« You're awake ! Are you fine ? »

Azik woke up earlier than expected.

He nodded.

« Then hurry up and find an excuse to show to your student that you're alive and clear up all these misunderstandings ! »

« What ? »

What happened ?

Azik understood that Xin Jian must have caused a mess (once again).

She cleared her throat.

« No, nothing. Did you sleep well ? »

« Yes. »

« Nice. »

Then, there was silence above the gray fog.

Azik glanced at Mr. Fool.

« I believe we weren't officially introduced. »

« Ah. This is the true Mr. Fool, the Lord of Mysteries, Zhou Mingrui~. »

And since a god's name holds power, everyone here received a blind fool.

Xin Jian's mind turned blank then she realized what had happened :

« Pfft- »

At least Azik could be sure that Mr. Fool was a true god now (even though in reality he was even a great old one).

—————— I am the dividing line~

Someone knocked on the door of Dwayne's manor.

It was a good-looking young man with a poet's romantic temperament. He had green pupils and his hair was combed very casually.

The butler opened the door.

« Could I know what you came here for ? »

He looked at the visitor but didn't recognize him.

« I need to talk to Mr. Dwayne Dantes, is he here ? »

The butler stepped back.

« I will tell him of your presence, could you wait a little ? »

The young man nodded.

« And who do I need to announce ? » The butler continued.

The young man smiled.

« My name is Leonard. Leonard Mitchell. »

(Author : Leonard, it's your turn to be mysterious !

Xin Jian : You just broke the mood…

Author : But what is truly mysterious is that he came by the door !

Xin Jian : Gasp. True !)

The butler went to Klein, I mean, Dwayne Dantes.

« Mr. Leonard Mitchell asks to see you. »

« Leonard ? »

Dwayne was surprised.

« I see. Where is he now ? »

« I made him wait in the living room. »

The butler led Dwayne to the living room where he saw his dear poet in front of a table, drinking tea (everyone drinks tea now…).

Leonard waved his hand.

He waited for the butler to leave before greeting him.

« Hi, Klein. Or should I say, Dwayne Dantes ? »

Klein's pupils constricted.

Leonard knew his identity ?!

Leonard, professional at picking up vests, at your service !

(Xin Jian, professional at delation, at your service !

Klein : So you were the culprit !

Xin Jian : Ahem.)

Klein regained his composure and sat down.

« How did you know ? »

Leonard made a surprised expression.

« So it was really you ? You look very different ! »

Klein : So you weren't even sure ?

Klein understood that it must be Xin Jian's fault.

(Xin Jian : Yes, but… How do you even view me ?!

*Your conclusion is right but your clues are doubtful.jpg*)

Klein shook his head.

« So, what do you want ? You didn't come here only to pick up my vest, right ? »

Leonard nodded.

He looked at Dwayne in the eyes.

« Klein, you're going to kill the king soon, right ? I want to help you, too. »

Klein's mind blanked out.

This time, he couldn't attribute everything to Xin Jian. How did he know this ?

« How did you know ??? »

Leonard said a name.

« Xin Jian. »

Ah, so it was still Xin Jian's fault.

Klein looked back into Leonard's eyes.

« It will be hard. »

Leonard nodded.

« …And the gods have agreed on the king becoming a true god. »

Leonard clenched his hand.

« Even if that doesn't change much, I will still do what I can. »

Klein smiled self-deprecatingly and reached out for a handshake.

« Welcome into the club. »

That's how Klein gained an unexpected helper, but let's go back in time a little.

So, how did Leonard know that Klein would want to kill the king ?

Do you remember that time when Xin Jian wanted to prove that she was smart ?

She found a random piece of paper in her pocket, folded it and scammed Leonard to take it.

But what was on the piece of paper ? Xin Jian didn't know.

That's where it becomes funny.

Xin Jian had written the important events in the future that she remembered !

And "Klein kills the king" was one of them.

Now that Leonard had confirmed that it was true with the Great Fog of Backlund and the war, and that the king was a very bad person with the Tarot Club, he wanted to help Klein.

This is gay- friendship !

Let's kill the king !

—————— I am the dividing line~

Xin Jian's point of view :

Okay, this is becoming confusing…

Let's see who is in the Tarot Club.

There are Klein, Leonard, Mr. Azik, the Goddess of Sleepy Flowers, Mr. Hanged Man, Marilyn, Will, me, Mr. Fool (ah, no, not him), Mr. World (?), Lilith, Miss Salted Fish, Xio, Little Sun, Roselle, Leodoro, coincidence ptsd aka Adame (since He is considered as a girl), monocle ptsd, Miss Sharon, Cattleya, Tris(sy) and Medici !

« I really made a mess this time… »

Mr. Fool turned to me.

"You realized it only now ?"

I ignored his thoughts and looked at the crimson star.

« He is entering the mausoleum. »

Let's make a live commentary.

« Today, Saturday, December 3, 1350, Klein Moretti entered the mausoleum to disrupt George III's apotheosis ritual, accompanied by the Wheel of History who rolled down the stairs, I mean, Leonard Mitchell ; and the girl who still doesn't know that her father is alive and well, Bernadette Gustav ! »

Yeaaah !

« Meanwhile, fake George III is shamelessly making a speech in public. »

George III, so you had a clone too ?!

« Bernadette is fighting William I… »

At the same time, Klein entered the mausoleum in Awwa County and pulled out Medici's projection.

Then, he summoned Azik's and sent it to help Leonard, while Dlink Augustus came to fight him.

Trissy also entered ruins No. 1.

—————— I am the dividing line~

In the dark and majestic secret Ruins No. 1 in the outskirts of Backlund:

The real George III had already worn a black crown and consumed the potion.

His body was transforming towards the shadow of order, entering a magical state. As for the nine mausoleums, they were the islands in the sea of nothingness. They were the components of his entire rule. As for the people who were chanting "Emperor George III" at the same time during the ritual, they were like countless numbers of lighthouses. Together, they anchored this ruler of Loen, East Balam, and the Rorsted Archipelago, making Him completely transcend reality and become a part of the shadow of order.

Meanwhile, as Hermes and Miss Messenger entered the battle (they fought against each other), Abomination Suah also arrived as well as Zaratul, and Klein made Sefirah Castle tremble to create even more chaos.

—————— I am the dividing line~

In the outskirts of Backlund where Ruins No. 1 was, Demoness Trissy had been robbed of several powers and suffered serious injuries. She was on the brink of death.

Bang !

She slammed against the cliff, almost embedding herself into it. Blood was everywhere.

At this moment, she took out an item. It was a rectangular diamond-shaped charm.

Yesterday Once More !

Trissy took out the rectangular diamond-shaped charm and chanted :

« Yesterday ! »

This was something Klein had specially provided to the Demoness, so as to allow the damage from the three prongs to become the main assault point at any time.

Trissy immediately saw the grayish-white fog and realized that the scenes in the past were like stars, densely packed together.

There were scenes of the young him wandering the streets, coming under the control of the mafia, swindling, cheating, and stealing from others. He later joined the Theosophy Order and became an Assassin. There, he enjoyed ending lives and the bloodshed, instigating others to tear off their masks and reveal their true bestial nature. Due to various reasons, he had no choice but to become a Witch. She began creating catastrophes and it was arranged by the Demoness of Pleasure that she would become Prince Edessak's mistress. Realizing that she was becoming less and less like herself and that she was slowly losing herself to the pleasure, she felt extreme fear and yearned to escape. However, having fallen deeper into hell, she experienced immense pain and chose to be extreme.

With a thought, the scenes magnified and occupied her entire vision.

Under the light, the lawn outside the window was bright, and the horses were walking slowly. The holes of the golf course could still be vaguely seen, and inside the house, there was an antique cabinet blocking the view from the door.

The past Trissy stood at the edge and looked out, wearing a sapphire ring on her left hand.

At that time, she wasn't even a Sequence 5, and she didn't have the strength the current her needed to borrow. However, she had a ring from the Demoness Sect that was closely related to the Primordial Demoness.

This ring was the thing that Trissy wanted to borrow !