Above the Gray Fog, in the ancient palace.
Klein's Spirit Body arrived and merged with the Worm of Spirit that had remained seated on the Fool's throne to receive and relay prayers from believers and blessed ones. He immediately looked toward the crimson star rippling ceaselessly with light.
It belonged to the Magician, Fors.
Since he had staggered the timing through interactions between the marionettes in Yarnam City, the real Judgment, Xio, had only just entered the restaurant with the marionette Fors. They had happened upon the Wandering Magician Merlin, who was waiting for his assistant, and had been invited to play a Magic Mirror Divination game.
The real Fors, meanwhile, had already finished her meal and discovered the secret hidden behind Yarnam City in a nearby bar. She had fled in panic, but dared not go too far, lest she abandon her missing friend and regret it for the rest of her life.
What delicious friendship... has it spoiled? Judging by the Magic Mirror Divination results, it should... Watching Miss Magician's somewhat panicked expression, as though she had forgotten she was a powerful High Sequence Beyonder, Klein felt a few dark thoughts take root within him.
During this time, as he controlled his marionettes and observed the "outsiders" who happened to enter Yarnam City from an almost godlike perspective, he had inexplicably begun to feel that he held complete control over other people's fates.
No, I really can control their fates. All it takes is a little trick... hiss—
Pain came from his waist. It was not intense, but it reached straight into his heart and the depths of his Spirit Body. That patch of soft flesh, pinched countless times already, began to twitch. Even though only his Spirit Body had ascended above the Gray Fog, he could not