Chapter 6 : Tarot Club (2)
I shook my head and sighed.
« Simple ? » Audrey returned with a question in puzzlement.
I dicted (while The Fool was staring at me, amused) :
« An examination, just like an entrance-examination for college. Hold an exam that is open to the public. It can be split into two rounds or three rounds. Use the most objective method to select the elite. »
« But… » Audrey knew what sort of objection this would entail.
« After which, use these elites to fill the positions of the Cabinet, the county government, the city government, and the various towns. Yes, the positions that are directly handling matters, such as the Secretary of the Cabinet.
Different positions should be given different requirements. The second or third rounds can be tested based on locale and region. Professional matters should be left to the professionals.
As for political positions such as ministers, governors or mayors, they will be left to the parties that win the election. That is a slice of the pie they deserve.
There's no hurry in replacing everyone at once. The cabinet and various agencies in the civil service will be crippled if that happens. You can have an examination every year or every three years. They can be gradually replaced. Finally, in light of the kingdom's expansion and the salaried civil servants' resignations that will bring in vacancies, you can systematically allot spots.
Such a design can bring the kingdom's insightful elites into the government. Regardless of the party in power or who the minister is, the civil service will allow the kingdom to maintain its basic and effective operations. »
While considering the suggestion, Audrey asked doubtfully :
« Are you implying that even if those ministers become monkeys, the effects would be insignificant ? »
« No. » Alger interjected suddenly. « I believe that monkeys are a better choice than the present ministers. »
He paused before adding : « After all, monkeys only need to eat, sleep, and mate. They would not come up with foolish ideas and insist on brainless projects. »
Audrey ruminated over the suggestion Mr. Fool had offered and after a while, said in surprise :
« It sounds like it actually might work… It's a very simple but effective solution ! »
She looked at Mr. Fool and sincerely marveled :
« Mr. Fool, you must be an elderly person with outstanding intelligence who is very experienced in life ! »
Yes, he is very old !
(Wait, then me too… No ! I am forever young !)
The Fool shook his head and chuckled :
« No, I just repeated the words of someone. »
What "no" ? That was originally your idea !
And what do you mean by that ? The person who thought of this must be an elderly person very experienced in life so you'd rather say that that person is me ?
What a scumbag ! (just searching for an opportunity to insult Mr. Fool…)
Audrey nodded :
« Then that person must very skilled in politics. »
Thank you Miss Justice ! (but it is not the case…)
*very moved.jpg*
Well, in truth, politics is one of the subjects I am worst at… (If we studied monarchy, maybe it would have been better ?)
Miss High Priestess and Mr. Death had nothing to say so it was The World's turn :
« Recently, a new angel has joined the Evernight church. »
Pfft-
*choking for the second time today*
Why do I have the feeling that you are talking about me ?
At least I am not the only one shocked…
Wait, Klein, you just revealed your background. Leonard may not be smart but Pallez is.
Amanises, why are you looking this way ? I am invisible. No, I should not be here at all…
The Fool tapped on the table.
« Let us end today's gathering here. »
Phew, thankfully He didn't let them continue on this matter…
No then… let's do to part 2.
Everyone disappeared and only Mr. World was left in the gray fog. (+ The Fool and Xin Jian that are invisible)
« Huh ? »
I smiled.
Now that you are all alone, don't you want to explore a bit ?
While still being invisible, I made words appear in the air.
[You can use this space above the gray fog when it isn't the Tarot club. It can effectively remove interference when you make divinations.]
Of course, he would be suspicious if it is free :
[The price is that you have to recite the honorific of your goddess and translate pages of Roselle's diary to her.]
The Fool's smile twitched.
What ? Maybe gods are that bored.
[No, I mean, the price is that you have to believe in The Fool and pray to him before going to sleep every night.]
Klein : You definitely did not say that at first !
Ah ah ! Mr. Fool, I am sure that you will have trouble sleeping with prayers in the middle of the night ! (Author : Too bad Mr. Fool doesn't to sleep)
The World then began to explore the gray fog.
In that great, mighty and mysterious place above the spirit world (Author : that's Xin Jian that is making the descriptions, not me), also known as Sefirah castle, the future Mr. Fool, no, Lord of the mysteries, if he lives until then, (Author : cut to the chase Xin Jian !) began to distance himself from the long bronze mottled table where the secret and mysterious Tarot meetings were previously held.
(Summary : Mr. World began to explore the gray fog.)
Somewhere within the gray fog, he found steps that lead to a door of light with a bluish-black luster. (pasted from the wiki)
However, Mr. Fool hid the top stairs that appeared due to His sequence and made the door of light seem illusory so that I could successfully continue to scam Klein.
I wrote :
[Think about it. You came here with a ritual last time and now we are giving you permission to come here whenever you want. Don't you want to discover the secrets behind your transmigration ? Only by completely advancing to sequence 4 can you reach this door of light (can you see the cocoons hanging). Anyway, don't be so nervous. If I really wanted to hurt you and had that strength, wouldn't you be dead already ?]
That's true. I am just a weak ordinary person who somehow knows some gods… and old days… and isn't dead… and lived for centuries… Was I dead then ? How can an ordinary person live for centuries ?
At this moment, Klein interrupted my thoughts :
« But, you said that I needed to recite an honorific name to have this place. Isn't it dangerous to recite an unknown honorific name ? »
No, that was just a joke…
I asked Mr. Fool next to me :
« What were my exact words ? »
The Fool answered, deadpanned :
« "The price is that you have to believe in The Fool and pray to him before going to sleep every night." »
Damn, your memory is better than mine, are you sure you were a nighthawk ? That's a joke, of course you always had a good memory. But since it is the case, why did you forget me…
Well, I found the loophole in my previous words (it is called multi-threaded thinking !, it is my secret technique number 3, the first with a decent name ! I can complain and think up of smart things at the same time !)
[That's because you don't know which honorific name it is yet.
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era;
The Mysterious Ruler above the gray fog;
The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
Even if it doesn't point to you, I said to pray every night only to wake up the person it points to. Of course, you don't have to do it if you don't want to.
However, if you take over this place as "The Fool", as the new owner, doesn't it point to you and this gray fog ? In short, I am asking you to answer prayers from members of the Tarot club in my stead.]
Mr. Fool read what I was writing to Klein and said :
« I didn't know that you were that lazy. »
Well, isn't it the only second time we meet in your memory ?
« As an mentally unstable and contradicting person, breathing is already tiring enough. »
Mr. Fool nodded, thoughtful.
Hey, why are you nodding ?!
(Mentally unstable : a lot of thoughts are rampaging in my head, maybe I am not sane anymore ? Because if you told me I was bipolar I could believe you. I think I am in depression too… Also, talking to people is so tiring and mentally challenging that usually I lock myself in my room for the rest of the day (no it's not to skip work, I leave only the afternoon…)
Contradicting : Well, what can I do ? My acting skills are so good… I mean, who could imagine that there is so much drama in my head with such a stoic face ? Also, my actions can change depending on my mood and I cry for everything when I am not even sad, is that not contradicting enough ? Also, I'm sure you thought I was an idiot, right ? But in truth, I am smart ! My memory is contradicting too… ToT To finish with, even after I lived with Mr. Fool for so long, I am still not used to people, but I also can't bear being alone for too long…)
To return to Mr. World, I think he will continue being cautious but the temptation to go into Sefirah castle will be too strong… (and there's the law of convergence of Beyonder characteristics helping me, I know that Klein will be subconsciously "attracted" here anyway).
So now, my job is done~.
[Since now you have the authority to control the fog, just let your spirit fall if you want to leave.]
So he left…
Mr. Fool then said :
« Wait, why are you so skilled at convincing people ? »
Obviously I read a lot of book on psychology…
« So, everyone is always agreeing to everything I ask since the beginning and you are only reacting now ?! »
(While answering, my thoughts were going somewhere else.)
For example, Amanises is weak-willed to cute things so it was very easy to convince Her. Goddess of sleepy flowers~. Seriously, what is the real word ?
As for Mr. Fool, he is weak-willed to… people, in general. Especially the innocent, and if I committed a big crime then I am not aware of it. No, seriously, with His cautious personality I still don't understand why He acts like that toward me.
Previously, He transferred His memories of me to my spiritual body to mobilize a part of the gray fog and give my the corresponding authority. Then, the gods I knew in that timeline added a part of their authority to me which would automatically be filled by the spirituality of the gods from the new timeline at the moment Mr. Fool began a new round. These powers formed a fragile balance and created my current physical body. That's why when we began this round the Amanises of this timeline was suddenly too tired to separate the curtain from Klein's body, Klein should not have lost control because he was "destined" to survive and become the new Lord of the Mysteries (plot armor) and that is also why it is impossible for Mr. Fool to remember me. Because, if He still retained a memory of me, the balance in my body would be broken.
But, the main point wasn't that. It is that my knowledge is psychology is so profound that I can convince everyone to do everything I want (so that's no a plot hole) but I won't since it's a pain in the ass to use my brain too much.
Mr. Fool ordered :
« Don't dodge the question. »
I put up an apologizing expression :
« Sorry, I was trying to digest my Hunter potion so I thought that provoking a god would make it easier. »
And I already forgot what you asked.
Oh, I sense that Mr. Fool is frustrated.
« You didn't even drink potions ! »
I retorted :
« But I could have ! »
Next, I used my tiny authority over the gray fog to escape from Sefirah castle.
Does Sefirah castle belong to three persons now ? (Me, Mr. Fool and Klein. Wait, they are the same person, does that really count as two…?)
If I can escape by myself, it should mean that I don't need Mr. Fool to pull me into Sefirah castle…
—————— I am the dividing line~
Klein just went out of the gray fog and thought back to everything that happened since 3pm.
Of course, with his spiritual intuition as a sequence 1, he had recognized that it was Azik at the Tarot club just now.
Next, he thought about how to advance to sequence 4 because he wanted to discover the truth about his transmigration. First, he had to digest his sequence 9 to sequence 6 potions, then he had to do the corresponding rituals to unlock the above sequences.
Then, he thought about how to act as a Seer, a Clown, a Magician and a Faceless and considered whether he should enter a circus.
Next, Xin Jian appeared beside him :
« What are you thinking about ? »
Klein said :
« I'm considering whether I should join a circus to digest the potions. »
Xin Jian reacted :
« No, no. The church shouldn't give you missions during that time and I'm your caretaker. Also, I want to follow you while you act ! You can act in advance for the above sequences too, It'll be fun. » She said with a stoic expression.
« Are you bored ? I thought you didn't like to go out ? »
Xin Jian said :
« I don't have anything left to read. »
She then changed the subject :
« So, I think you can act well in the streets. Just sell your services as a Seer, a street magician, a fully automatic wishing machine… »
Klein deadpanned.
Tuesday, early morning, Xin Jian's point of view :
I was lying in my bed and woke up. However, I still kept my eyes closed.
I turned around and hugged my pillow.
I don't want to wake up, I want to sleep.
What hour is it ?
I don't know. I just want to sleep.
But, what if it is 12 o'clock ?
And what if it's early ? Just sleep.
What should I do today ?
Hmm… I have to gather potion formulas to recreate a blasphemy slate and ruin Klein… (because it is Klein that will pay the potion formulas, I have no money *shrugs shoulders*)
I have to ask Mr. Fool which ones he knows and fill in the Seer sequence only at the end in case Klein sees it… (we shouldn't reveal the rituals he has to do so easily, right ?)
No, let's just ask Mr. Fool to let it above the gray fog… but I don't trust Mr. Fool, what if he abandons me again ?
Well, I won't go anywhere with these doubts. After all, I have always done as if I didn't know anything when people intended to betray me. It's always less painful to act as if you don't know anything until the day it inevitably happens… 'Cause ignorance is bliss, and I have authority to go above the gray fog freely now anyway.
I also have to spread Mr. Fool's honorific name, I'd better do it in the slums first since they are more desperate. What's more, if they're really enticed to believe in an evil god later, it'd be better for them to believe in The Fool rather the true creator, right ?
For Xio and Fors, I will make them read the honorific name myself… I should make a plan. Fors will join because of the ravings, Xio will be worried for Fors, I should buy a Beyonder item that helps me scam people… The plan is made !
I should ask Arrodes about Will's location, and I should prepare the bargaining chips for him to join the Tarot club too…
Let's tell him that we will help him accommodate the uniqueness of the Fate pathway… and escape Ouroboros.
If we let Ouroboros join the Tarot club, will he stop purchasing Will ? Because, as a fake angel, I am not ready to confront a sequence 1 yet…
Wait, Klein is sequence 1.
But He can only use sequence 6 of fighting power...
I shook my head inwardly.
Let's let Him join only when Will is a king of angels to not scare Will away.
…and I should bring Klein to "threaten" Will to join too…
And bring ice cream, Klein will carry it.
I should make a list.
Wait, didn't I say I wanted to sleep ?
What clothes should I wear today ?
I feel like a battle is going on in my head. You know, there's the side that wants to sleep and the side that isn't sleeping…
Wait, the side that wants to sleep isn't sleeping either. Hmm…
I kept my eyes closed while the door was opened.
Since someone is there, it should be early morning…
I ignored the person that entered and continued on with my thoughts.
(Meanwhile, Leonard looked at Xin Jian stoic face that seemed to be sleeping. He couldn't have imagined all the drama that happening inside her head in contrary to that calm expression.)
« Xin Jian. »
I continued the debate in my head.
« Are you ignoring me because you want to continue sleeping ? »
If you know that please go away~.
« Xin Jian. »
« … »
I still didn't answer.
« Klein told me that you didn't have anything left to read ? I have the perfect book for you. »
No, thank you. I'm not interested and I am not bored enough to read whatever I have on hand. I'd rather choose my books myself.
« …go away. » I finally said.
He opened the curtains and put the book on the table near my bed.
I pulled my blanket above my head and kept my eyes closed.
Ugh. Before, my thoughts were preventing me from falling asleep and now I'm wide awake… You're so mean~. I swear, I'll take revenge. Don't ever hope of sleeping peacefully in the future, Leonard !
*Leonard getting goosebumps*
Leonard added :
« You should master this book entirely. Memorize it well, it will be useful in the future. »
I sighed and asked from under the blanket.
« Until when do I have to remember it ? »
Let me read it at the last minute and forget it after.
Leonard looked at the book and said :
« All your life. »
I deadpanned.
« Then it's impossible. »
Klein, who heard us talking so early in the morning and got up too, asked :
« What is it ? »
I answered (still under the blanket with my eyes closed) :
« He wants me to memorize a book for the rest of my life. »
Leonard pointed to the object in question.
Klein looked at the book and the corners of his mouth twitched. Speechless, he finally decided to go make breakfast. Leonard went out too and closed the door.
I went finally opened my eyes (ugh, the sun is too bright !) and took the book.
The title was : learn common sense for debutants.
What the… What exactly made you think that I had no common sense ?
I tried hard to think about it.
Is it because nicknaming a goddess is disrespectful ? Living with guys isn't appropriate ? Throwing a tantrum at my age isn't appropriate either ? Or…
Well, I thought that I had already told myself to not ask questions when there are so many answers… It makes me a little sad, too…
I casually flipped the pages. It was a children's book.
Wait, this thing is actually interesting. They're right, learning that seems useful to annoy people…
I smiled wickedly in my head and flipped
the pages more seriously
In less than two minutes, I went through the entire book then I dressed up and went to the kitchen with it.
Leonard and Klein were there.
« Hey, Leonard. You're right, it's so interesting. For example, it says that if you hear a voice in your head then it can be a parasite from the thief pathway. It usually makes you think that you are a protagonist and takes away a few years of your life… »
Leonard was shocked and his pupils constricted. (He didn't know that his Old man was a parasite, only that His name was Pallez Zoroast since I hinted about His presence before.)
« Really ? » asked Klein, interested.
Of course not. Why would they speak about Beyonders in a children's book ?
« It's… It's impossible. » denied Leonard that was still shocked by the news
I leaned against the wall and said leisurely :
« You're right. This book isn't that reliable… For example, it doesn't say that resurrecting from the dead is against common sense. »
I turned to Klein and saw that his lips twitched. That is still something that won't change even with his Clown's abilities…
Klein then looked at Leonard and saw that he seemed strange.
Klein thought : "Why are you so shocked ? Is it because of what Xin Jian said before ? Wait, could it be that…"
Klein, who had the honor of listening to Leonard talk about protagonists before, (and thought that Leonard seemed gay but it isn't relevant here…), pieced the pieces together and his intuition told him that he was right.
Satisfied, I looked at Klein whose lips twitched even more then at Leonard and concluded :
« Enough teasing, let's eat that breakfast. »
Author : Xin Jian is in charge of writing her viewpoint while I write the rest. So, I deny all responsibility for Xin Jian's actions, thoughts and words . Bye~.