"The divine war is approaching."
The Evernight Goddess didn't answer, quietly drinking tea.
A war would indeed soon sweep through the continent, weakening the gods' anchors until they came out to fight each other.
"Let's prepare an action plan against the Ancient Sun God."
With the Evernight Goddess's concealment, the person in question—Adam—wouldn't notice their preparations.
Moreover, they were currently in Sefirah Castle, a place even Adam couldn't reach.
"We will strike during the future divine war," The Fool declared.
Allies, enemies, countermeasures—the two gods thus started discussing the details of their plan.
The time to kill the Ancient Sun God was coming closer.
The Evernight Goddess watched the Fool's clown-like smile but didn't comment on it.
They didn't have much time left.
***
Reaching the free-exchange segment, the Hanged Man glanced toward the Fool.
"All around the world, Beyonders from the Seer, Apprentice and Marauder Pathways have been reported to have experienced ravings at the same time; many of them also lost control in the process."
Although, with the current attacks announcing the beginning of a war, this event was less noticeable.
Fors lowered her head slightly.
Some, like Little Sun and Mr. Moon, didn't make the connection with the Fool and thought that the news had nothing to do with them.
However, Alger knew. Considering the Fool's recent attitude; the fact that the Seer, Marauder and Apprentice Pathways were interchangeable; that gods could also lose control; and the existence at the top of these Pathways was…
'Mr. Hanged Man's body language is different from his usual probing. He doesn't want to question the Fool about why it's happening, but is seeking confirmation for his own guess. There's also a bit of fear…' Understanding the implication of his words, Audrey looked toward the Fool as well.
Being knowledgeable in mysticism, Cattleya had similar suspicions but didn't let it show.
At that moment, the Fool erupted into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
The Tarot Club members were startled. Mr. Hanged Man had stilled, bowing his head in reverence and horror, while the Sun appeared worried. Mr. Tower's smile was frozen, Mr. Moon seemed to wonder what was happening but felt uneasy, the Hermit was trying to keep calm but was actually intimidated, Miss Temperance didn't move, Miss Magician was gloomily looking down since earlier, and Mr. Star wasn't reacting, his arms crossed.
Miss Justice silently observed the scene.
The laughter sounded disturbing, grating the ears. It was unhinged, crazy, mocking, self-deprecating, happy… like a clown's.
Under the table, Fors clenched her hands into fists.
'Should I have not brought up this topic?' The Hanged Man started to overthink.
Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the Fool's laughter ceased.
"It happened because of me."
The Tarot Club members had chills.
Regardless of the atmosphere, the Fool continued, "I lost control, so my ravings affected the three Pathways under me."
With his doubts confirmed, Alger was shaking.
The Fool didn't stop talking, His words making their hearts sink more and more. Anderson was currently trying his hardest to keep up his fake smile—although his expression was visibly very stiff.
Fors wondered if being talkative was a side effect of madness.
Meanwhile, Derrick made up his mind.
To assist the Fool, he would help spread the god's faith in the City of Silver. They couldn't lose their only source of hope.
Afterwards, other Tarot Club members mentioned what was happening around them and the free-exchange segment ended.
Later, Audrey wasn't surprised when the Fool summoned her alone to Sefirah Castle.
Bowing gracefully, she put on a calm smile.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool. Is there anything I could do for you?"
The Fool nodded, and Miss Justice took it as her cue to sit down.
"My apologies for summoning you all of a sudden, Miss Justice."
Audrey waited for his words to continue.
"As you know, my state hasn't been well recently. For this reason, I need your abilities."
Miss Justice nodded determinedly. As long as she could be of help, she would do her best.
"I need you to subtly spread my faith in the real world. You see, as an unknown existence, I lack anchors, and having more anchors would stabilize my state."
The Spectator Pathway was the best fit for such a task.
"Of course, I am not asking you to do so for free, you can request for anything you want in exchange."
Happy to be of help, Audrey already started to think of ways to use their charity and contact influential nobles to spread the Fool's faith from behind the scenes.
She curtsied once more, a brighter smile gracing her features.
"As you wish, Mr. Fool."
She would do her best.
***
Possessing an historical projection of herself that was taken out by Mr. Fool, Fors took a step and entered Calderón City.
Although she wasn't told the exact details due to her low-level, she had received a request to retrieve some 'special water' and sacrifice it to the Evernight Goddess.
Fors felt nervous at the idea of bearing the expectations of two gods—the god of her faith, and a recognized Orthodox God.
Nonetheless, she steeled herself and focused on the task ahead.
If someone had told her she'd be fulfilling gods' requests a year ago, she would have thought it was a joke.
The first thing that entered her vision was a huge bottomless pit. All sorts of strange buildings circled the deep pit and extended downwards in circles, forming a grand city that was beyond the understanding of ordinary people.
Some of the buildings were standalone houses that stood atop pale-white stone pillars, while others were huge rectangular coffins. There were no windows, and the doors were on the roofs. Some of them were just tombs with gravestones at the entrance, while others were constructed from all kinds of bones, making them seem rather messy.
The closer to the bottom of the pit, the more intact the buildings were. The closer they got to the top, the more they collapsed, filled with the decay and ruin of time.
Continuing forward, monsters avoided her and she encountered no problems thanks to the Fool's assistance.
The deeper she went, the quieter her surroundings became. The strange buildings remained intact, but they seemed to be dead for years. Even their auras were cold, gloomy, and decadent.
After a while, fog expanded around Fors and she slightly heard a faint, illusory whooshing sound.
This seemed to indicate that a dark river was slowly flowing deep underground not far from her.
'This should be what I'm searching for.'
In the next second, she looked down at her feet.
At some point in time, there was a dark stream of incorporeal water surging out from somewhere.
Even light couldn't exist on its surface.
Fors continued down, Sefirah Castle protecting her.
At the end was a void. Amidst the emptiness flowed a straight, wide, illusory, colorless, dark river.
This river was so blurry that it was difficult to see it clearly. This was because its surroundings were covered with a swath of grayish-white like a thin layer of fog.
A golden bird-shaped accessory then appeared in Miss Magician's hand.
Not daring to look around in case she saw something she shouldn't, Fors focused on her task. She immediately bent down and used the accessory to get a bit of water before turning back, leaving and getting as far as possible from that place.
Fortunately, nothing happened even as she left Calderón City. She thus teleported to the hotel she was staying in, took some ritual materials, and prepared a sacrificial ritual for the Evernight Goddess as instructed before.
'Although I believe in the Fool, in public, I am a believer of the God of Steam and Machinery. Is this really okay…?'
Despite being doubtful, Fors decided to trust the Fool.
In the worst-case scenario, what wrong did she do? She was offering a gift to a god. She wouldn't receive divine punishment for this reason, would she…?
The plot of a novel where the main character was mistaken as believing in an evil god and taken away by the official Beyonders flashed through her mind.
The plot of a novel with a faith triangle also flashed through her mind.
Fors shook her head.
After sacrificing the brooch containing the water from the River of Eternal Darkness, Fors concluded the ritual and the historical projection summoned by the Fool dissipated.
She returned to her real body.
***
In the meantime, Alger drew the symbol he had received last time on a mirror.
Blood red letters formed on its surface.
"My name is Arrodes. In exchange for every question you ask, you will have to answer one question. If you lie or do not answer…"
The mirror paused, the room's temperature dropping.
"…You will be punished."
Alger gulped before finally questioning the Fool's Sealed Artifact.
"How can I help Mr. Fool?"
The Hanged Man wasn't as innocent and naive as other members, nor a good person. Sometimes, he knew, people needed to dirty their hands. Thus, there were some matters that other members wouldn't be able to help with.
Especially when the god they were serving was an evil god.
After a moment, the mirror showed an answer.
"You need to sacrifice living beings to please my Lord. The resulting spirituality will appease and support the Great Master. Sacrificing Beyonders is more efficient as they possess more spirituality than ordinary people."
As expected, the solution was something like this.
Mr. Hanged Man put his hand on his chest, as if bowing to the god staying in Sefirah Castle.
By stabilizing the Fool's state, maybe he could get the Fool's favor.
"According to the rule of equivalent exchange, you must now answer a question of mine."
As for the social death that ensued, that will remain a secret.