Chapter 73: The Tarot Club's Worry

Derrick would have happily continued talking about his future expedition if it hadn't been because the way everyone looked at him had suddenly changed.

It was as if they were watching a poor idiot walking to his death.

Faced with such a look, the young boy couldn't help but shrink back a little.

A little embarrassed, he looked uncertainly at the rest of the Tarot Club, "Did I say something wrong?"

'Can't I go at least three days without something happening?' Adryan held his forehead with two fingers, the headache of a few days rearing its ugly head.

After trying to calm down a little, the redhead broke the uncomfortable silence that had fallen over the Tarot Club.

"It's not that Little Sun, it's just that... What you just said is not as reassuring as we thought."

'That's an understatement!' Fors thought horrified as she looked worriedly at the young man sitting in front of her. Who seemed even more lost than before.

'Sheperd is Sequence 5 of the Secret Suppliant Pathway. A path controlled by the Aurora Order!' Audrey pressed her lips together as she looked at the Sun.

From the information she had bought from the Hanged Man and the Chariot a long time ago, the young Hall knew that each and every member of that organization was crazy.

One of the reasons for this was that from Sequence 8 of that pathway, those who belonged to it would begin to hear secrets and whispers of hidden and evil existences.

Being an organization that follows an Evil God, most of those whispers and secrets came from the True Creator!

'How come Sun doesn't know this? We already discussed that that pathway belonged to the Aurora Order in front of him!'

With that fleeting thought, Audrey came to a horrible realization. A realization that the older members of the club shared.

'While we discussed that the Aurora Order controls the pathway, we never discussed that the organization was evil.' Alger frowned slightly as he looked at the young man next to him.

That small oversight now proved to be a huge mistake that had come back to bite them on the ass.

'Luckily Sun brought up the subject, otherwise who knows what would have happened if he had accompanied Elder Lovia without knowing it and a problem had arisen...' Klein controlled his body and maintained his impassive image.

He didn't believe for a second that the woman's situation was 'better'. If she started acting normally after acting strangely for so long, that was a horrible sign!

'It doesn't matter how sane they look on the outside... They're lunatics on the inside...'

Remembering the Nighthawk document he had read as soon as he had become an official one, Klein was quick to control The World.

"That she shows any sign of 'improvement' could be a bad sign."

Frowning, Alger glanced at The World for a moment, before turning his attention back to a stunned Sun.

"I agree with Mr. World, that a Beyonder of the Secret Suppliant pathway begins to 'act normal' is always a sign that they are losing control or have lost themselves.

"How long ago did she start acting normally? That can tell us how serious the situation is and whether it can be fixed."

"Um. Almost a week ago, although it may have been much earlier. It was a gradual change so I wouldn't know how to give a specific time..." Somewhat out of it, Derrick replied confusedly before his expression broke into concern.

"Is there something wrong with Elder Lovia? What's happening to her? Is it serious?" The young man asked quickly, each question coming with increasing anxiety and fear.

Listening to his answer, Alger frowned slightly.

When a member of that organization began to act normal, the change was immediate, which made it easy to notice; it was not a gradual and small change as Sun said.

Is there something different in this case?

With so many questions unanswered, the danger of Sun participating in this expedition had gone from controlled to unknown.

The solution to that was immediately given.

"Is there any way you can ask not to participate in the expedition with Elder Lovia? Switch to another group and go with someone else?"

The resources and information that Sun could offer were invaluable, they couldn't risk losing them.

"With the expedition so close it is very difficult for me to do so. Several groups have already completed their planning and preparations, requesting a change now would only endanger the rest and would not be well received." Derrick explained honestly, his brow furrowed in confusion at what he was being told.

"Wouldn't it be possible for you to fall ill? That you suddenly get a stomach ache and can't go with them?" Magician Fors tried to chip in but the young man shook his head.

"We have doctors who could cure me if I say I have an ailment, it wouldn't matter if I wait until the last minute to do so. A minute with them and I'd be completely cured."

Having said that, the young man looked around him with extreme concern, "Could you explain what this is about? Why shouldn't I go on the expedition with Elder Lovia? What's wrong with her?"

Klein considered carefully whether the answer should be given by The World or The Fool, but after a few seconds' consideration he opted for the former.

This information had already been partially revealed by Chariot, so it could damage his image as a mysterious ancient existence.

"That's because that pathway is controlled by the Aurora Order. An organization that follows and believes in the True Creator, an evil deity." The World explained calmly and hoarsely.

"The True Creator is the one who controls that path. That's why all the Beyonders on it are either lunatics or have some strange quality."

With Chariot's revelation of the existence of Sequence 0, Klein finally understood why the Aurora Order was so strange.

With his experiences with Old Neil with the Hidden Sage and seeing how Leonard reacted to Crestet Cesimir when he met him, he knew that high-sequence Beyonders could have a certain suppressive influence on those of a lower sequence on the same path and even pass on certain effects to them.

Being the God of that pathway, the effect of the True Creator would be to spread 'His' madness to the members of the path no matter who they are.

'True Creator? Evil God?' Derrick muttered under his breath, trembling with utter bewilderment.

He couldn't help but relate the name of the True Creator to the god the people of the City of Silver believed in, 'The Creator who Created everything'.

Their names are similar. Perhaps they are related in some way?

'No... NO!' As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Derrick crushed it with fury and hatred, without mercy.

'According to Mr. World's words, the 'True Creator' is an Evil God! It is impossible that 'He' is related to our benevolent Lord!'

Refusing to think such a remote possibility, and even more visibly affected, he pressed his lips together and bowed his head.

'Could it be that Elder Lovia betrayed us and began to follow the True Creator, believing 'Him' to be the Creator? I always found it curious how she found the formula of that pathway on one of her explorations but I never thought it could be this...'

Opening his mouth, he murmured weakly, "We were betrayed... Elder Lovia betrayed the City of Silver..."

Although the whisper was incredibly faint, the silence at the table ensured that everyone heard him.

Audrey felt her heart tighten but she didn't know what to say to console the boy. This was completely beyond what she understood and dominated.

How do you console someone in Sun's situation?

"I wouldn't say she betrayed you, Little Sun."

At the sudden voice, the boy looked up, stunned, at the man who had been completely silent since it all began.

"What do you mean, Mr. Chariot?" Derrick asked weakly.

Lifting his cheek from his knuckles, Adryan crossed his arms and closed his eyes with a sigh, "I doubt that your Elder betrayed the City of Silver.

"Putting myself in her shoes, it's certain that she was just desperate."

The young boy frowned slightly; his head tilted in confusion.

"I don't understand…"

'I thought it was strange that he hadn't said anything... What have you found out?' Klein narrowed his eyes internally.

Chariot's words confused the rest of the club, who looked strangely at the man.

Adryan ignored the stares and opened his eyes, looking deeply at Sun.

"I want you to open your mind a little more, Little Sun.

"Since the cataclysm that struck your land, you have not received any answer to your prayers and supplications for more than 2000 years.

"With the enormous dangers lurking in the darkness along with the countless waves of monsters that seem to have no end, people, no matter how strong their faith, will end up breaking.

"At some point, Elder Lovia received an answer to her desperate prayers. It's just that the one who answered her isn't exactly someone we could call good."

"But Mr. Chariot, we're talking about the True Creator! An Evil God whose organization has committed countless crimes and caused great tragedies." Audrey stared at the robed man in astonishment.

Was he even listening to what he was saying?

"And what does that have to do with the situation that the City of Silver is going through?" Adryan countered calmly, his bored gaze piercing through the soul of the noblewoman, who was left speechless.

"Everything that happens on this side has nothing to do with the City of Silver, nor will it change the suffering they are going through.

"Besides, it's not like the True Creator did anything to you, is it?" Turning his attention back to Sun, Adryan repeated the question.

"Has Elder Lovia done anything to endanger the City of Silver or tried to get more people to believe in the True Creator? Being a God who answers your prayers, I'm sure the number has to be big then."

"..." Derrick was unable to look him in the eye, "She has never tried to spread the belief or put the City of Silver in danger, she has even helped to save it several times..."

"There's your answer then.' Adryan said softly, "Elder Lovia is just a desperate soul trying to do everything she can to help save her people...

"Even if that means selling her soul to an Evil God."

"Mr. Chariot, while I understand the point you are trying to make, the fact that nothing has happened yet with regard to Elder Lovia does not mean that nothing can happen in the future." Hanged Man Alger entered the conversation seriously.

"It is not only almost a fact that she believes in an Evil God and is following 'Him.' She has already shown abnormalities. It's only a matter of time before something happens.

"We can't risk something affecting Mr. Sun, too, just because she's sacrificing herself for her people."

The Chariot looked at the Hanged Man without saying anything, neither of them looking away.

Derrick watched what was happening, biting his lips.

'Please don't fight...' Unable to express his desire to stop this argument, the young man could only look on, unsure what to do.

'Is this what it feels like when two high-ranking members of a company fight?' Klein couldn't help but compare what he was seeing with something he used to think about occasionally.

After a while in tense silence, Adryan broke the silence and shook his head amused.

"You're giving your opinion without having all the facts, Mr. Hanged Man. Do you know that that's a horrible idea?"

Alger frowned in confusion, not having expected that answer.

Trying to de-escalate the situation, Audrey quickly entered the conversation, "Could you explain to us then what you know, Mr. Chariot? Maybe that way we can see this in the light in which you see it."

"Of course, Miss Justice." Giving a simple nod to the noble, the redhead's attention shifted to the head of the table.

Klein immediately tensed intently, and an enormous distrust shone in his eyes under the gray haze, 'What stupid thing are you going to do now that requires my permission to say?'

Sighing inwardly and seeing this as an opportunity to obtain more information about the True Creator, Klein gave a subtle nod, giving the man permission to speak.

The members noticed this movement and tensed, anxiety rising up their backs at what was about to be revealed.

'What kind of madness does that lunatic have now...' Fors narrowed her eyes in distrust.

Smiling at the group, Adryan spoke.

"The state of the True Creator has improved. It is very possible that in the future we will see the members of the Aurora Order acting more normally, although I doubt that they will be truly normal, their state will undoubtedly improve."

Saying that, the redhead laughed a little and added.

"He returned to the same state he was during the Fourth Epoch. When he was still sane and walking the world."