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Audrey stood by the window, watching the interwoven pale-yellow and iron-black fog rapidly disperse and the torrential rain, so out of place in winter, pour down. Her mood steadied considerably.
After an unknown amount of time, she and Susie finally saw Earl Hall return home.
"Papa, how did it go?" Audrey asked with concern.
Earl Hall handed his coat and hat to an attendant, wearing a gentle smile.
"It's been resolved, though the exact details are still unclear. My little princess, you were an enormous help this time. You deserve a medal weighing a ton!"
That's good, that's good... Thank goodness Mr. Fool warned us, and thank goodness his Believer risked investigating... Our Tarot Club stopped an Evil God's descent again and saved the world again! Audrey's heart filled with pride.
Earl Hall took a towel from a maid, wiped his face, and sighed.
"But there were still fairly serious casualties this time. To think Backlund's smog could become so deadly... The figures aren't in yet, but I estimate that over ten thousand people in the East Borough, Harbor Borough, and Factory District died because of it. And the plague is still spreading. Try not to go out for the time being."
Over ten thousand? It was a number Audrey could understand but could not imagine. Only during the float parades on the kingdom's founding anniversary each year did she see thousands upon thousands of people gathered together.
But that did not stop her heart from growing heavy and her spirits abruptly sinking.
Daisy stood outside the apartment building, watching doctors and nurses in white coats and large masks enter and carry out bodies, one after another.
She already knew the outcome. Her expression numb and her eyes hollow, she unconsciously drew closer to the entrance.
Just then,