At the Hall mansion, Audrey was in her room, reading a book with Susie.
Then, thanks to the sharp senses of a Spectator, she heard the sound of people at the door, then voices talking.
'Do we have visitors?'
After a while, someone seemed to be headed in her direction, then a servant knocked at her door.
"Miss Audrey, your father is asking for you. He is waiting in the drawing room."
Was it related to their unknown visitor?
Judging from the servant's body language, the servant was also unaware of the reason she was called.
"I see. Thank you for telling me, I will get ready right away."
Susie nodded at Audrey, showing she would wait here for her to come back because she found the book she was reading interesting.
Afterwards, Audrey was helped out of her indoor clothes by her maid, making sure to appear presentable. Then, she traversed the long corridor of the Hall manor, heading toward the drawing room.
Her eyes caught onto a frame. In it, her family was standing together, harmoniously smiling. It had been made for her birthday and hung on the wall.
Her lips curled up softly as she passed by it.
Reaching her destination, a servant opened the door for her. However, Backlund's Most Dazzling Gem was greeted by an unexpected sight.
Inside the drawing room, in addition to Earl Hall, the rest of her family was present. Her mother sent her a worried look while her two brothers silently stared at her.
'When did they come back?'
Originally delighted to see them again, Audrey also realized that the atmosphere was somewhat strange.
As a Sequence 4 demigod of the Spectator Pathway, it was blatantly obvious.
'…Was I discovered? Do they know I'm a demigod?'
Not showing anything, the Spectator's gaze turned toward the other people in the room.
The 'visitors' she had heard earlier were four people, most likely Beyonders, and more importantly…
'…The Evernight Church?'
"Our apologies for coming so late, Miss Hall. This was an urgent matter."
The one who stepped forward was Anthony Stevenson, the person in charge of Saint Samuel Cathedral and the Backlund diocese.
An Archbishop.
The Spectator curtsied, greeting them with the elegance of a noble of her stature, before sending her father an inquisitive look. However, her father didn't answer her unspoken question, instead continuing to stare at her coldly.
"Audrey, I heard something. Could you explain?"
That tone made her anxious.
'Relax, Audrey. Even if they found out I was hiding things, I am a demigod now. In the worst case scenario, I can erase their memories and ask Mr. Fool for help.'
Reassuring herself like this, Audrey tried to calm down her uneasiness. Of course, she hoped the situation did not really come to this.
"Yes, father," Audrey inquired.
Her father's face did not soften. He looked as if he were addressing other nobles instead of his own daughter.
"What is your current Sequence?"
Audrey momentarily looked away.
Ah, was this really the problem?
Should she lie, or…?
Seeing the Evernight Church members out of the corner of her eyes, Audrey internally debated on what to do. Considering the diverse Beyonder abilities that existed, who knows if they could tell she was lying. In this situation, it would be better to come clean. At the same time, saying that she was a demigod would make them suspicious…
She settled on a half-truth.
"Father, I'm sorry I hid it from you."
Judging from her brothers' gazes, they seemed to be aware that her Sequence was higher than they thought as well.
"I am Sequence 5."
The atmosphere froze, as if a bomb had fallen over the family.
Hearing the confirmation, her brothers looked at her in astonishment. Despite not believing it before, they now had no choice but to face the reality that they little sister was so strong now.
Audrey felt a momentary sense of pride.
However, although she had confessed, her mother gazed at her with horror. She appeared even more worried than before.
Her father's gaze had also hardened.
'No…'
Audrey's Spectator abilities were warning her—there was something very wrong with this situation.
She placated herself once more.
Then, Archbishop Anthony stepped forward.
As her family was wealthy and devout believers of the Evernight Goddess, the Halls sometimes donated to the Church. Thus, it wasn't the first time she had met the Archbishop.
"Miss Hall, I apologize, please put this on."
Handcuffs?
Holding a pair of rusted handcuffs, his attitude told her that it wasn't a simple request. She did not have the right to refuse.
He seemed on guard.
Audrey looked toward her father, who nodded at her.
Trusting him, she let the Archbishop put on the handcuffs. Anyway, with her strength, she should be able to break metal easily. What bothered her was that it was most likely a Beyonder item.
Wearing it, a weird sensation enveloped her.
"We kindly ask you to follow us. If you don't cooperate, we will need to use force."
He seemed guarded.
"…May I ask why?"
Her mind raced, searching for the possible reason. What had she done wrong? Why was she handcuffed like this?
Out of the corner of her eye, she read her family members' expressions and found a clue. Her advancement speed.
It was unnaturally fast.
She continued to think, trying to decipher the current situation. Thanks to her experience as a Tarot Club member, she quickly found the answer.
Her smile faded.
They probably attributed this fast advancement to something negative like having made a deal with unknown existences. They thought she managed to obtain the necessary materials to become a demigod due to… having made contact with an evil god…?
Then, another question arose.
'Why do they seem so certain?'
Shouldn't they hear her out? Shouldn't her family question her about it separately?
Confirming her doubts, her father asked, "Audrey, do you have anything to do with a secret existence called 'the Fool'? Or a 'Tarot Club'?"
They knew everything.
Her mother desperately looked at her, as if pleading for her to deny it.
Her parents wished to believe that it wasn't true.
However, if she were indeed corrupted by an evil god…
Meanwhile, Audrey was shocked.
How did they know?
Her reaction was enough to erase all doubts.
Her mother begged, "No, this isn't possible. My daughter, my daughter would never do this. You must be wrong. Right, Audrey?"
Audrey knew that she wouldn't be able to explain where her Beyonder characteristics came from if she lied.
"Audrey, how did you become Sequence 5?"
The question came faster than expected.
"I-it's due to the antique mirror father gifted me. I came into contact with Mr. Fool, and He helped me advance."
But He isn't an evil god.
Earl Hall held his forehead, showing a look of regret.
The gazes of her family members hurt.
"Don't blame yourself, father. Fortunately, Mr. Fool isn't a malevolent existence. I'm thankful it was Mr. Fool who answered me."
Despite trying to keep calm, her emotions were in turmoil.
Strangely, it was hard to keep her composure. Was it because the ones facing her were her family?
[Sealed Artifact: Rusted Handcuffs]
[Caution: Its side effect is to amplify the emotions of the wearer, making them act more impulsively. When confronting Beyonders, it is recommended for a Sleepless Pathway Beyonder to be present to reduce the risk of enemies going on a rampage.]
But it was also an excellent way to bring out the truth from people.
"Audrey, that existence is an evil god."
'Why do you look at me like this?'
As if she were corrupted by an evil existence.
"Mr. Fool is actually generous and kind," she defended.
"You were fooled, Audrey!"
Audrey was startled. Her father had raised his voice at her?
She felt hurt.
Why don't you believe me?
Her voice shook as she retorted, "I wasn't fooled. Mr. Fool didn't force me to do anything."
She was angry as well. It was unfair.
"No, you must have been forced," her mother insisted.
"Mother, I'm one of the founding members of the Tarot Club."
Her mother was shocked. However, Audrey stood her ground.
With conviction, Audrey looked into her mother's eyes.
"I am not the naive and sheltered little girl I once was. I gained enough experience to make my own judgements, and I firmly believe I wasn't influenced to do anything."
Her father glared at her, signaling for her to shut up.
"Audrey, that existence held human sacrifices."
Mr. Fool wasn't like that.
"There must have been a good reason."
She had faith in Him. From the behaviors she had observed, there was no way He would do something so cruel.
Even if there wasn't any reason, she knew His mental state was unstable at the moment.
"The behavior you saw until now was probably fabricated—it is easy for some Pathways to manipulate their own mannerisms and fool a weak Spectator. Moreover, it is highly doubtful that gods would want to mingle with Low-Sequence Beyonders," Anthony gently warned.
But He is a humane god.
No matter what she said, Audrey understood that the people around her wouldn't believe her words. The barrier in perception was too big, and their preconceived notions of hidden existences were blinding them.
"Miss Hall, please follow us with your own will. We are doing it to protect you."
They were going to detain her in the cathedral's basement.
Audrey used her Beyonder abilities, trying to hypnotize the Beyonder facing her.
"Release me."
Then, she could erase their memories and everything would go back to before.
At least, she attempted to. However, despite being at the demigod level instead of a mere Sequence 5, the handcuffs she was wearing firmly restrained her abilities.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
'How did I fail to notice this before?'
These handcuffs were sealing her Beyonder powers.
Meanwhile, her Sequence 5 brother had no choice but to recognize the display of strength that was above what she had told them.
"Audrey…!"
"Indeed, you are Sequence 4," Anthony calmly stated.