The Fool's Wandering Mind

"Mr. Fool, I've collected two more pages of Emperor Roselle's Diary."

The voice of Audrey, Miss Justice, echoed through the empty hall.

As she spoke, she quietly entered her Spectator state and joined Alger, the Hanged Man, who sat silently beside her, in examining the new member, the Sun.

Both keenly sensed that the Sun was even more mysterious than they had expected.

His wording and his way of thinking were completely different from theirs, as though he came from another world. It showed just how far the Fool's power reached.

As expected of Mr. Fool, Audrey marveled once again.

Strangely, though, Mr. Fool did not seem to have heard her.

Audrey instinctively shifted her gaze to the head of the Bronze Long Table, and her heart jolted.

Mr. Fool... seems to be spacing out?

The discovery startled her at first, and then a chilling sense of fear washed over her.

She had actually used her Spectator ability to observe Mr. Fool. How foolish!

She suddenly recalled a line from Quotations of Emperor Roselle: "When you gaze into the Abyss, the Abyss also gazes into you."

A being like Mr. Fool could never be spacing out.

He must have been pondering matters beyond her reach, just like the many terms Mr. Stars had mentioned, which she could not understand either.

Benevolent beings always had things in common, but that did not mean someone as weak as her was worthy of Their prolonged attention.

Audrey quickly reined in her emotions, suppressing every trace of her momentary lapse, and spoke again as usual. "Mr. Fool, I've collected two more pages of Emperor Roselle's Diary. Would you like to look at them now?"

In fact, Klein had merely been calculating how many pounds he could get from Mr. Stars in exchange for the Roselle's Notes he had.

The condition was that he had to carefully control how much he gave him, enough to carry weight without revealing crucial information.

He could exchange the new Roselle's Diary pages for another two pounds.

Hearing Audrey's voice, Klein's spirits lifted. Only then did he remember that Miss Justice had mentioned last time that she would bring new notes.

She had prepared thoroughly. Instead of exchanging the notes she had collected directly with Mr. Stars, she had first presented them at the Tarot Club, which showed that her position was closer to the Tarot Club.

Klein was very pleased. Though he already knew the answer, he smiled and asked, "Very good, Miss Justice. What would you like in return?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he had a sudden impulse to imitate Mr. Stars's style. Without waiting for Audrey to finish, he added another sentence.

"Let me guess? You've already digested the Spectator Potion and want to get the Telepathist formula as soon as possible so you can prepare the ingredients in advance?"

"You saw my condition, just as I thought!" Audrey's eyes lit up, and her tone grew even more reverent.

And so, Klein marveled at how imitating Mr. Stars seemed to demonstrate power more effectively than maintaining an inscrutable air. After reading Roselle's Diary, he had everyone proceed to the usual exchange.

Audrey was the first to share several matters she had mentioned before.

The progress of the public examinations for selecting civil servants, which she had been promoting in secret. The kingdom's upper echelons had recently abandoned their plans for retaliation against the Feysac Empire in East Balam.

Next, she mentioned several secret gatherings she had recently come into contact with: a trading gathering organized by a being named Mr. A, the Psychology Alchemists, and the Roundtable Hold.

When she came to the Roundtable Hold, she did not name it directly, instead asking to speak with the Fool alone.

Without revealing Mr. Stars or the Roundtable Hold, she gave a general account of what kind of organization it was and asked whether she could continue attending, as well as whether she could exchange the Roselle's Notes she had collected earlier for information.

In return, she was willing to share the information she obtained for free.

When she finished, Audrey looked anxiously at the silent Fool. She knew full well that he was unlikely to agree.

The outcome was just the opposite. Mr. Fool agreed.

He allowed her to continue attending the gatherings, but forbade her from using the notes in exchange.

Audrey, who had been prepared for failure, was overjoyed by the outcome. She promptly said aloud, "Praise the Fool."

If you don't attend, it'll be hard to manage with me playing every part alone, Klein thought helplessly.

After that, the exchange continued.

Alger gave Audrey a commission, asking her to find clues about a great pirate named Qilingus, who called himself Vice Admiral Hurricane.

He had already secretly infiltrated Backlund, the capital of Loen, though his purpose remained unclear.

When Alger gave a detailed account of the Mystical Item Qilingus possessed, Creeping Hunger, Mr. Sun indicated that he was familiar with that kind of ability.

Klein quickly recalled the Shepherd's abilities.

It was Sequence 5 of the Secrets Suppliant Pathway, and its abilities were very powerful.

From the Sun's subsequent description, he also learned more details.

Beyonders of this Sequence could devour the souls of those from other Pathways and command the abilities they had possessed in life, as though grazing lambs on behalf of a god.

When Alger mentioned the possibility of having the Fool's Blessed provide help at a critical moment.

That was only an excuse to collect payment, Klein thought, wishing he could help but unable to do so. Suddenly, he realized that perhaps he could ask Leon for help.

The following afternoon, in the underground armory of the Blackthorn Security Company.

The lead-gray walls were hung with all manner of melee weapons and firearm maintenance tools. The dim gaslight cast alternating patches of light and shadow across the metal.

Leon was bent over a report concerning Madam Sharon when his fingers suddenly stopped moving. He turned his head to look at Klein, who was sitting on a wooden crate.

"Klein? Are you all right?"

"I'm here!" Klein jerked his back straight, as though pricked by a needle.

"That's the sixth time you've spaced out today."

Leon sighed, put away the fountain pen in his hand, and tucked it back inside his coat before turning around.

Klein sat there with his fingers interlaced on his lap, his gaze wandering who knew where.

He had been like this ever since returning from Councilor Maynard's home yesterday.

He had gone to the Seer Club that morning, and Leon had thought he might be a little better when he returned, but he was still the same.

"Is it because of that matter at the club? Some young lady affected by the Beyonder power in Lamud Town? And she happens to be a friend of your sister's?"

"Haven't you already reported it to the captain?"

Leon walked over and leaned against the edge of the workbench opposite Klein, studying his listless colleague.

"Could it be that you like her?" Leon guessed with a chuckle.

"How could I?" Klein shuddered. "She's still a child!"

"Then what else is it? Are you worried about the Holy Cathedral's attitude toward your advancement?"

Klein raised his eyes, and his lips moved. In the end, he only managed to squeeze out, "It's all of that, and none of it."

"People really hate vague conversations like this, Klein." Leon twitched the corner of his mouth. He was now beginning to wonder whether Klein's puberty had arrived late.

This time, however, Leon did not press him as usual. Instead, he swiped the pen from Klein's desk and continued writing his report.

That left Klein, who had already prepared what to say, feeling a little unaccustomed.

"Uh... I know this sounds awkward, but why do I get the feeling you have something on your mind too?"

Klein turned to look at Leon.

"You guessed right," Leon said, writing his report without looking up.

"I asked the captain for a short leave, and he agreed," Leon said. "I'm going away for a little while, so whatever it is, you'll have to find a way to deal with it yourself during that time."