Next came Mr. World's time to perform. First, he traded secrets about the pathways for Miss Justice's information on Loen's impoverished nobles, then staged a question-and-answer exchange with the Fool, playing both sides himself. Knowing what was going on, Neph silently averted her gaze.
She waited until Klein finished his performance, then turned to Audrey with a smile. "I think I know the answer to your question."
"What?" Audrey was bewildered.
Neph tilted her head and answered:
"At high sequences, charm is a concept. It doesn't just work on men; it works on women too, and it should work on other species as well-after all, some people can make ships produce milk, which is enough to prove that species aren't an insurmountable divide.
"But at just Sequence 7, its scope is probably limited. As for becoming human... hmm, the top of a sequence pathway involves transforming into a mythical creature. If the top of that pathway defines its mythical creature form as humanoid, it might actually be possible, but it's still far too early for a Sequence 7.
"Incidentally, the mythical creature form of Demonesses is a beautiful woman with snakes for hair."
Audrey's mouth fell open in shock. Klein was surprised too, unable to help wondering which pathway-or who-could make ships produce milk. Even Alger looked astonished.
Faced with something he could actually understand for once, Derrick unsurprisingly looked taken aback as well, but he said nothing. Audrey, on the other hand, asked after a brief moment of shock:
"C-can I ask which pathway has the ability to make ships produce milk? Um, I'll pay for it, just like before..."
She looked nervously at Neph. After a moment's thought, Neph asked, "May I have a copy of your memories?"
"What?" Fear crept into Audrey's expression.
Neph shook her head and reassured her. "Don't be nervous. I just want to take a shortcut when it comes to learning languages."
She paused, then propped her chin on her hand and asked, "What languages do you know?"
"Loenese, Hermes, Ancient Hermes..." Audrey began nervously. "I've also studied Intisian and Ancient Feysac."
"Wonderful," Neph said, unstinting in her praise. "May I ask you for your memories of those languages in the future?"
Audrey froze for a moment, but Neph's request for a part of the Fool's body was still fresh in her mind. She asked nervously:
"How should I give you my memories?"
Recalling the Blank Canvas and the scenes within it, Neph said thoughtfully:
"You may have to wait a while. Until I... until I recover some more of my authority. Perhaps then you'll be able to sacrifice your memories to me, just as you would an offering.
"I don't think this will cause you to lose those memories, so please don't worry."
But I do seem to be able to erase your memories...
Neph watched Audrey expectantly. She couldn't remain in the Forsaken Land of the Gods forever, so learning the outside world's languages was a necessity. But rather than learning them bit by bit herself, it would be better to take the memories of someone who already knew them.
Authority...
Audrey's heart gave a sudden jolt. She had only ever heard that concept used in connection with gods, yet Miss Pure White had spoken the word so casually, seemingly thinking nothing of it. This involuntarily reminded her of the God of Winter the other woman had mentioned.
A completely unfamiliar god... could he be a god from the Forsaken Land of the Gods? What is her relationship with him? Could she be his subordinate deity? But Mr. Sun clearly hasn't heard that name...
Similar thoughts ran through Audrey's and Alger's minds when Neph abruptly asked, "Have you decided?"
Audrey didn't answer immediately. She instinctively glanced at the Fool, who sat upright, and only replied after seeing that he had said nothing:
"I'm willing to pay you with the corresponding memories."
Neph blinked. Before she could speak, Alger suddenly said, "I know Elvish."
"Hmm?" Neph turned toward him and smiled.
"...I know Jotun," Derrick added, joining the conversation.
"Oh, thank you, but I'm afraid I don't need Jotun..." Neph turned to glance at Derrick and shook her head. "I'm currently learning Jotun through immersion."
Then she turned back to Alger with a meaningful smile.
As a transmigrator, she knew better than anyone present just how rich this gentleman's inner monologues were. Moreover, he always managed to reach the right answer through a completely mistaken line of reasoning. Neph couldn't help admiring that talent. Curious about his thoughts, she nevertheless restrained herself and withdrew her gaze before answering:
"Planter.
"You can find this pathway in the Church of the Earth Mother."
That brought the trading segment to an end. Klein left only a few minutes for free discussion before severing the connection. Once the figures had faded away one after another, he also dismissed World's projection and asked Neph, who remained seated:
"You know about the existence of Sequence 0, don't you?"
Neph nodded, her expression perfectly normal.
Klein then asked his second question. "Has the Seer pathway's Sequence 0 not yet been born?"
"No." Neph gave Klein an inscrutable look and chuckled softly. "He has already been born, Mr. Fool."
"Hmm?" Klein frowned. "In Roselle's Diary, I read that he regretted not choosing Seer, Apprentice, or Marauder. Wasn't that because the Sequence 0s of those three pathways hadn't been born yet?"
Neph shook her head. "To be honest, there was another reason for his regret. However, those three pathways really don't have a Sequence 0 yet."
Klein froze briefly, then asked in confusion, "But you just said the Seer pathway's Sequence 0 had already been born?"
"That's right." Neph nodded with a smile. "The Fool has indeed been born, but the current Fool hasn't become a Sequence 0 yet."
Klein went blank. He stared at Neph, his voice growing somber. "What do you mean?"
Neph looked at him and said, enunciating every word, "The Seer pathway's Sequence 0 is called the Fool."
Klein's expression changed completely. He stared straight at Neph, who remained motionless. Several minutes passed before he asked, amid a silence so complete that a falling pin could have been heard:
"Has this already been decided?"
The smile left Neph's face. After a brief silence, she said softly, "A prophecy is the history of the future."
Klein opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't say anything. He pressed his lips together
and chose to change the subject:
"Do you know what your Sequence 0 is called?"
Neph paused, then chuckled softly:
"Of course I do. It's also where the title 'God of Winter' comes from.
"The Sequence 0 corresponding to Ghoul is called...
"Bitter Winter."
Before you continue