f

all

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

The apocalypse has come, and the Tarot Club has truly failed. They were powerless— the Outer Gods were simply too strong. Even though they had ascended to the ranks of angels, their strength was meaningless in the face of absolute power. One by one, the gods fell. The True Gods sacrificed themselves to create a barrier to protect the Earth. Then, their families, their friends—gone, without even knowing what had happened.

This was the apocalypse. A catastrophe they could never hope to stop.

Leonard used all his strength to protect the people within the shelter—this was the only thing he could do in this apocalypse.

Most of the Sequence 0 True Gods had already fallen. Only the angels remained, along with the last three deities on the Sequence 0 list: The Fool, Evernight Goddess, and the True Creator. Alongside them, Lumian stood as one of the few remaining gods.

In Backlund—a city once filled with smoke, bustling horse-drawn carriages, and endless pollution from factory chimneys, the capital of Loen, the so-called "City of Hope"—silence now reigned. Once noisy and vibrant, it had become nothing more than a desolate ruin.

Leonard struggled to protect the followers of the Evernight Goddess and The Fool, clinging to the fragile hope that the apocalypse would end, that he could return to his ordinary life.

Beside him stood Miss Justice. Her beauty remained the same, but the smile that once adorned her lips was gone. She had started as a naive girl, eager to explore the mysteries of the occult, yet now, as a mighty Sequence 2 powerhouse, she still carried a warmth that comforted those around her. But the girl filled with passion and curiosity had vanished—what remained was Miss Justice, with cold, emotionless eyes.

In the fight to protect the believers, to safeguard the anchors of the gods, her family had been attacked by the corrupted ones. Her trusted companion, her battle comrade—Susie—had perished in the onslaught.

Once, she had everything. Now, she had lost it all.

Miss Justice did not complain, nor did she hypnotize herself to forget what had happened. She simply remained silent.

She knew that the other members of the Tarot Club were also fighting desperately to protect the believers of their gods.

This was her lesson—a lesson that would tear her heart apart a thousand times over. But still, she had to stand up.

At the very least, she would try to save as many people as possible.

On the Rorsted Archipelago near Bayam, the Pope of the Church of The Fool, a member of the six-member Council of Cardinals, and a Tarot Club member—The Sun, Derrick Berg—stood guarding The Fool's cathedral and its believers.

As he purified the corrupted citizens, he suddenly heard the hurried footsteps of many people. A messenger rushed over and reported, "Sir, Waite has been seriously injured! We need your support immediately!"

Derrick quickly prepared himself. Waite was an angel—if even he had fallen, what could he possibly do?

His mind drifted to his two former comrades, Lovia and Colin. A bitter thought surfaced:

"What should I do? We escaped the City of Silver, but now… I don't know what to do."

But as soon as the words left his lips, he slapped both hands against his face and steadied himself.

"Even if I die, I will protect The Fool's cathedral. I will protect the people of the City of Silver."

"Watch me, Colin. Lovia."

With his simple white cloak draped over his shoulders, Derrick Berg stepped outside and came face-to-face with Mr. Hanged Man in the shelter.

Alger was visibly exhausted—a rare sight for an angel, yet an all-too-common one in the apocalypse. Outwardly, he bore only a few minor injuries, but the weight on his mind was far heavier. Their therapist, Audrey, was still tending to countless others, while Derrick could only heal external wounds with the power of The Sun.

Derrick looked at Alger and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Don't worry about me," Alger replied. "What matters now is protecting The Fool's believers and mending the barrier around Earth. To achieve that, the life of a mere angel like me is insignificant."

Emlyn and Cattleya were in Trier.

While Cattleya focused on protecting the wounded and guiding them into the shelter alongside members of the crew, Emlyn took on the task of treating each individual. He could only rely on young Sanguines—those who had yet to gain divinity—to distribute medicine and tend to the high-sequence Sanguines.

He had matured, grown sharper and more resolute. If this were his past self, he would have undoubtedly puffed up with pride, boasting that he was chosen by Lilith, the Progenitor, as one of the world's saviors.

But after Lilith's sacrifice to reinforce the barrier, after more than half of the Sanguines had been turned into monsters, and after the remaining members no longer dared to advance to a higher sequence, the weight of their power and responsibility now rested heavily on his shoulders.

His past interests and hobbies had faded away, leaving only a singular focus—protecting the Sanguines.

Cattleya wasn't faring much better. As she worked tirelessly to help others, fear gnawed at her heart.

What had happened to Bernadette?

Was she safe? Why wasn't she replying to her letters?

What had gone wrong?

As for Fors, she wasn't doing much better. Alongside the God of Deception, Amon, and Xio, she was defending humanity's last remaining shelter. This was the first time in her life she had ever worked so hard.

"You know, Xio," she sighed. "I've never done this much in my entire life. If I had the choice, I'd just go back to being an ordinary person—writing novels, living my days in peace, and relying on your protection."

Xio, standing beside her, responded with a smirk. "If we could turn back time, I know you'd never actually do that."

Amon, adjusting his single monocle, interjected with amusement. "You write novels? I didn't expect that."

Even as a Sequence 1, Fors still felt a chill run down her spine at Amon's eerie grin. In contrast, Xio seemed unbothered by the lunatic.

"She's a bit lazy, but sometimes she says really cool things," Xio remarked. "Like what she told Lumian—"

Fors scowled. "If you have the energy to talk, then go deal with those Outer Deity worshippers instead."

Xio chuckled. "Look who's getting worked up."

Before Fors could retort, the world around them suddenly shifted. Their vision vanished, replaced by a thick, gray fog.

"It's The Fool!"

But the fog was too thick—Fors couldn't see anything.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the silence.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool. Could you tell me... what has happened?"

It was Audrey's voice. She seemed to be safe.

Fors felt a bit less afraid—no matter the situation, Audrey's voice always had a way of putting people at ease.

"So, it's already 3 PM on a Monday..." Fors thought to herself. Ever since the apocalypse began, she had lost track of time. But why had Mr. Fool called them up here in such a critical moment?

Not making them wait any longer, Mr. Fool finally spoke to Audrey.

"We have failed. The Outer Deities are breaking through, one by one. The dense gray fog exists to protect you."

The revelation struck them like a bolt of lightning.

Despite all their preparations, they had still lost.

Mr. Fool spoke in a calm and gentle tone.

"I have a task for you. Can you return to the past and prepare once more for this apocalypse?"

This news was like a ray of light at the end of a dark tunnel.

Derrick could no longer hold back and immediately responded.

"We will take any chance we can get—please!"

Sensing Derrick's urgency, Mr. Fool's voice remained steady.

"There is no need to be so tense. You should all take a moment to calm yourselves. Go home, gather everything you need. In one hour, I will send you all back."

Silence engulfed the gray fog.

"Your will is our will!" Everyone responded in unison.

Upon returning from the gray fog, each of them made their preparations—perhaps a Card of Blasphemy or some important formulas. One hour had never felt so short.

Everyone was ready.

Within the gray fog, Mr. Fool spoke once more.

"This is a difficult task. I hope you will do well."

In that moment, everyone immediately grasped the key point—Mr. Fool would not be going with them.

Mr. Fool spoke once more.

"I have sealed your memories of anything that could cause spiritual contamination. When the time comes, they will unlock on their own."

Suddenly, a brilliant light engulfed them, lifting all the members of the Tarot Club into the air.

But just then, a violent tremor shook the space—the Outer Deities were attacking Sefirah Castle.

However, a crescent-shaped blade cleaved through the assault, halting their advance.

It was the Evernight Goddess.

By her side stood the True Creator, both shielding the light that carried the Tarot Club away.

Mr. Fool slowly lifted his hat, revealing his mouth.

Three words escaped his lips—

"Save the Earth."Audrey had returned to the past.

She was trying her best to stay calm.

"My head hurts… Is this a side effect of time travel?"

Right—what about everyone else?

She had to find them immediately.

Just as she was about to enter the Sea of Subconscious like she always did, she suddenly realized something—

She was just a normal person now.

"Haha… I've been a Beyonder for so long that I forgot what it felt like to be ordinary."

She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, then called for the servants to prepare paper and a pen.

Without hesitation, she began writing down everything they needed.

Today was Saturday.

The day they would meet Mr. Fool was Monday.

The greatest advantage she and the current Tarot Club members had was knowledge—

Insights that wouldn't cause spiritual contamination, potion formulas, and detailed information about the future.

This time, they held far too many advantages.

Alright, I've gathered all the Sequence 9 potion formulas in my storage.

As she thought of this, her gaze fell upon her little dog—Susie.

That golden-furred companion of hers had yet to become a Beyonder.

Audrey gazed out the window at Backlund.

Sunlight poured through the glass, warm and golden.

The streets were bustling with people, their voices blending with the chatter of the servants inside.

She made her decision silently—

She would protect this place, family and human in here

Audrey had always been fascinated by mysticism, so it was no surprise that she owned several Tarot decks. After all, she was the one who had suggested the titles for the current members of the Tarot Club.

With a mix of curiosity and nostalgia, Audrey reached out and randomly drew a card from her Tarot deck.

On the card, a woman appeared—one hand holding a sharp sword, the other grasping a scale, as if she were judging all things in the world.

Audrey smiled softly as she lifted the card.

Miss Justice had returned.

Out on the sea, Captain Alger and his ship, the Blue Avenger, drifted along with the waves.

He had just endured a splitting headache—so intense that, combined with the rocking of the ocean, it left him feeling nauseous.

For the first time since reaching Sequence 7, he had actually thrown up from seasickness.

"Damn it… I hate this."

His hand instinctively reached into his pocket.

It was still there—the thing he needed.

The Card of Blasphemy.

There was no need to say it—having this card in his possession filled him with joy.

But the world had changed, and that meant the Tyrant Card in his hand was nothing more than a relic from the old timeline.

It no longer belonged to this era.

And because of that, it had lost its ability to resist divination.

The Card of Blasphemy had lost its ability to resist divination, but I never intended to rely on it for long.

I just needed to ascend to Sequence 3 of the Tyrant pathway, and after that—

I would advance to Sequence 2 of the Hanged Man pathway.

Standing on the ship, Alger gazed out at the vast ocean, lost in thought.

"Has the sea always been this beautiful?" he muttered to himself.

During the apocalypse, the ocean had been polluted beyond recognition. Countless monsters had emerged from its depths, making it so that people no longer dared to approach—let alone set sail.

With rare sincerity in his voice, Alger whispered, "I never thought I would miss you this much… my sea."

Seagulls soared across the sky, their cries blending with the lively chatter of the crew playing cards on deck. It was a scene Alger once believed he would only remember, never witness again.

The captain of the Blue Avenger reached out and took a tarot card from a sailor's hand.

He flipped it over—

A man hung upside down.

Mr. Hanged Man had returned.

At the Church of Evernight Goddess, someone was being reprimanded by their captain.

"I know you're a reckless person, but why did you change our gesture of reverence from the Crimson Moon to that of the Star?"

Just after going through that headache, how could I forget such a basic thing? Just wait, in the future, everyone will do the same as me.

Leonard thought to himself as he listened to Captain Dunn's complaints.

As he was listening to Captain Dunn's complaints, a Tarot card suddenly fell from the sky. He quickly caught it—it was The Star.

Even though the captain he deeply respected was reprimanding him, he still took a moment to look at the card in his hand.

The Star of the Tarot Club has returned.Audrey sat in her room, at her familiar dressing table. Thanks to the memories of her past life, she had easily created a Sequence 9 potion and had become a Spectator. Naturally, her little companion, Susie, had also advanced to Sequence 9.

"Susie, go outside and stand guard for me, okay? If anything happens, let me know immediately."

Understanding a few key words, Susie obediently left the room and sat in front of the door, keeping watch.

Audrey let out a small sigh.

"Back when she was Sequence 9, Susie was so obedient... Why does she get more argumentative the higher her Sequence becomes?"

As that thought crossed her mind, Audrey suddenly realized—her eyes had already turned red.

Right now, she was still just a Sequence 9. Her humanity was still intact, still strong.

And so, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the tears from falling as memories of the past came rushing back.

Out at sea, Alger had instructed his sailors to stay vigilant and watch over the ship carefully. He told them that he needed some rest.

Inside his cabin, Alger sat silently, waiting.

Suddenly, a familiar gray fog appeared before him.

This was the Gray Fog that had helped him countless times—the place where he had met the people he now considered his comrades. It was here that he had witnessed not only his own progress but also the growth of everyone around him.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw that Miss Justice was already there.

Her face was still obscured by the shifting layers of mist, but even so, that sight alone was enough to give him a sense of reassurance.

Only he and Miss Justice were here.

It was different from before—this place had once been much livelier.

Alger's gaze shifted toward his benefactor, Mr. Fool, yet he chose to remain silent.

This was the right decision.

No matter how much he had tried to assist Mr. Fool, he had only managed to advance to Sequence 2. If he were to reveal everything he knew now, not only would Mr. Fool stop trusting him, but he might never organize the Tarot Club again.

So, he decided to let things unfold as they had before.

With a voice carefully masked in respect, though he knew he couldn't deceive Miss Justice, Alger asked,

" could you tell me where this place is?"

Mr. Fool spoke mysteriously:

"This is merely an experiment."

As soon as he finished speaking, a long bronze table appeared before them.

Mr. Fool sat at the highest seat, with Alger and Audrey positioned around him.

Even though Alger had seen this table countless times, it still made his heart race with excitement.

At this very moment, he could clearly hear the pounding of his own heartbeat.

If not for the memories of his past life, who would have ever guessed that Mr. Fool—the enigmatic figure before them—was once someone completely ignorant of Mysticism?

Audrey, who had now become Sequence 9, quickly realized that this was a lie.

But why would Mr. Hanged Man lie?

Clearly, this couldn't escape her notice.

No, wait—when we went back in time, we didn't discuss everything thoroughly…

This must be Hanged Man's intention.

He wants me to understand that:

—We can only help Mr. Fool from the shadows.

—We cannot act openly, as Mr. Fool did for us.

—We cannot merge the identities of Klein and Mr. Fool into one.

Doing so would affect the number of his followers and his anchor in the future.

I see now…

Wait!

Where is everyone?

Why is it just me and Hanged Man?

At that moment, she suddenly recalled—Mr. Fool wasn't even Sequence 9 yet.

There was no way he had the strength to summon more people.\

"Sir, may I ask how we should address you?"

Alger spoke up, repeating the very question Audrey had asked before—while she was still lost in thought.

"You may call me 'The Fool.'"

Those words were spoken once again, as if a new chapter of history had been written—a great chapter about Mr. Fool coming to life once more.

Hearing this, Audrey felt more at ease, and she immediately spoke up, "May we hold a gathering? It will take place here at 3 PM."

She asked this question, knowing full well that Mr. Fool would never refuse. Clearly, Mr. Fool knew nothing about mysticism yet—so rather than wandering aimlessly in the dark, it was better to find a guiding staff.

Hearing this, Klein felt delighted inside but did not show it. He simply said, "I allow it."

Audrey, standing beside him, then proposed another idea. "Since this is a mystical organization, why don't we give ourselves code names? Since you have called yourself 'The Fool,' which sounds like a card from the Tarot deck, I would like to do the same. Would that be possible, Mr. Fool?"

Clearly, Klein didn't care much about this matter. He replied in his usual tone, "Do as you wish."

Receiving permission, Audrey chose Justice as her code name. Alger, in turn, said briefly, "The Hanged Man."

He then continued, "I will be heading to the mainland in a few days. I need to buy some Devil Shark blood. Do you have any?"

While his main intention was indeed to acquire the blood, his hidden message was to inform Audrey that he would be in the city soon and had something to discuss privately.

Audrey, understanding the underlying meaning, did not refuse. "No problem. I will prepare it. When the time comes, I will have Mr. Fool hand it over to you."

Klein, listening to their conversation, felt a little strange. He thought to himself, "Have I met these people before? Why do they act like it's completely natural for me to deliver things for them? Even a courier would at least get paid for this. Wait… do all gods do this? No wonder they all ask me for things without hesitation."

Alger also spoke to Audrey, but his main purpose was to teach the basics to The Fool:

"I know this might be presumptuous, but you are a Sequence 9 of the Visionary Pathway, correct? Its Sequence 9 is called Spectator. Since this is our first meeting, I'd like to show some sincerity. I am a Sequence 7 of the Tyrant Pathway, and its Sequence 7 is called Seafarer."

Klein, eavesdropping on the side, didn't show much emotion, but deep down, he was quite excited. The Hanged Man looks like a cunning fox, but he's actually this kind-hearted?

Alger continued, "If you need any materials, just let me know. I can get them for you, and we'll negotiate the price. I trust you won't go back on your word in front of The Fool."

"That would be great," Audrey responded. "I need two important materials—two rainbow lizards to advance to Sequence 8."

Alger pondered for a moment before speaking in a neutral tone, "Rainbow lizards are nearly extinct. Only a few islands still have them, and their price is around 4,000 pounds."

Audrey was startled upon hearing that. Is he raising the price? It used to be much cheaper than this!

Alger remained silent for a moment, thinking to himself: I'm sorry. I also need some Beyonder materials, so this price might seem high to you, but it's not unattainable. Since I know who you are, I adjusted the price accordingly. I hope you can understand, Miss Justice.

A deep sense of guilt welled up within him. Charging such a high price, despite no longer needing to purchase Beyonder materials himself—since he had already memorized everything—left him feeling somewhat ashamed.

At this point, Klein requested to stop, as his spirituality had been completely drained. Both of the others immediately stood up in unison and declared, "Your will is our command."

Upon returning from the gray fog, Klein went straight to sleep. However, he was abruptly awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of knocking on his door. He was about to ask who it was when a voice spoke first:

"Police. Open the door for an investigation."

A wave of panic surged through him. He quickly tossed his revolver into the coal stove beside him before opening the door.

"Apologies, I just woke up. May I ask what this is about?"

Outside the door stood three men. One was the police chief whom Klein often saw. The second had deep, perceptive eyes, as if he could see into the spiritual world. His light brown hair framed a face that carefully observed the room.

Beside the mature-looking officer stood a very young man. His emerald-green eyes were striking, and his entire presence exuded just two words—handsome elegance.

"Excuse us, we are the police. May we ask, are you Klein Moretti? Do you know that your two friends, Welch and Naya, have already passed away?"

The policeman, who seemed to be the leader of the group, spoke in a stern tone, as if trying to detect even a hint of fear in the suspect's voice, making future interrogations easier.

Klein, though initially panicked, quickly regained his composure. "I'm sorry, I'm just a bit shocked to hear that they've died. They were dear friends of mine. Could you tell me what happened to them?"

The man, who appeared to be the captain, replied firmly, "We can't disclose that information due to the nature of the case. However, I hope you'll cooperate. May we search your home for a while?"

Klein thought to himself, Why now, of all times? I haven't even gotten rid of the gun yet. If they find it, there's no way I can talk my way out of this.

However, refusing would only make them more suspicious. The youngest officer in the group stepped forward and began inspecting every corner of the room while the other two stood outside, as if guarding a criminal.

Damn it, I haven't hidden my journal either. How am I supposed to explain this? But contrary to his fears, the young officer merely glanced at the journal without showing any interest.

Is he really a policeman? Klein cursed internally. Wait… maybe he ignored it because he thinks it's just the ramblings of some loser venting his frustrations. Yeah, I'm just overthinking this.

Suddenly, the young officer checked the coal furnace—the very place where Klein had hidden his gun. Panic surged through him. It's over. I'm going to prison before I even get started in this city.

But once again, things didn't go as he expected. The officer seemed to notice the gun yet deliberately chose to ignore it. Instead, he walked back and reported to his superior, "There's nothing here."

The captain removed his hat, gave Klein a polite bow, and apologized for the disturbance.

As they left, the young officer shot Klein a warning glance and muttered, "There won't be a next time."

"Why did he let me go? My head hurts too much. Never mind—I'll just keep sleeping."

Leonard stood outside with Captain Dunn as they got into the carriage. Dunn asked, "Are you sure you didn't find anything, Leonard?"

Leonard replied frankly, "He's very suspicious, possibly connected to supernatural elements. I think we should investigate again."

Meanwhile, in his mind, Leonard thought to himself, So that's where he hid the gun. No wonder I couldn't find it before.In the Queen District of Backlund, Audrey woke up from a long sleep on her soft bed. It wasn't that she couldn't sleep outdoors—she had been on many journeys as Miss Justice. During those travels, she often had to sleep on ship decks, rundown inns, or anywhere she felt safe enough to rest. With her little dog by her side, she had grown used to it.

However, returning as Audrey and being with her family once more filled her with happiness. Yet, she knew that if she did nothing, everything would eventually fade away. The most crucial thing now was to restore her status as an Angel, unlock the sealed knowledge of her past, and prepare for the apocalypse.

To achieve this, she had made careful preparations before her journey. She had brought back a few Beyonder items, including the one currently on her hand—a sealed artifact that allowed her to split into two personas, similar to the ability of a Sequence 3.

Observing nobles was indeed helpful for digesting her potion, but it wasn't enough. She needed a method that was both faster and more precise. She planned to divide herself into two personalities—one would attend noble social gatherings to gather information, while the other would roam the streets of Backlund, learning about the lives of the common people.

Fortunately, she had originally purchased this item for her Minor Arcana so that he could ascend more quickly. Although this sealed artifact was powerful, if she failed to reunite with her true self within four hours, both personas would disappear. Moreover, prolonged use of the ring would make her prone to negative emotions. This drawback could only be resolved once she advanced to Sequence 7.

After successfully splitting herself, she instructed her other persona to socialize with the nobles outside, observing every expression and gaze they made, but without speaking. Audrey carefully reminded her other self, "Remember, you are just a Spectator. You can show emotions, but you are never the main character in the story."

With that, she dressed in a servant's outfit, applied makeup to make herself look more unremarkable, and stepped outside with her little dog, Susie. She had already decided what she would do—become a reporter, someone who would go everywhere, interviewing the people she met. She would observe their expressions and form thoughts in her mind, but she would never voice them. She would only be an ordinary listener.

When she was out, she took on the alias "J.A," symbolizing the reunion of Audrey and Justice.

On an island in the sea, whose coordinates were known only to pirates, Alger had paid a hefty price to learn its location and gain access. The island had a peculiar shape, covered in thick vines, and upon entering, each visitor was given a silver mask to conceal their identity while conducting trades. This was one of the most reputable trading hubs, established by Sea King Nast himself, ensuring that no one dared to engage in dishonest dealings—after all, no one wanted to make an enemy of one of the Four Sea Kings.

Alger had no intention of making any purchases here. In the past, he would have sought potion formulas, but this time, he had come to meet someone—someone who, in the future, would become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea: Admiral of the Stars, Cattleya. However, that future would only come to pass after Qilangos was hunted down by the Blessed of The Fool.

Yes, his current purpose for coming here was to meet Cattleya, the one who would one day be called the Queen of the Stars. As he stepped deeper inside, wearing his iron mask, a figure dressed in a purple mage-like robe silently dropped a small pouch of seeds at his feet before quickly disappearing.

This was exactly what he needed—a bag of seeds to grow a special type of mushroom. In the outside world, it was nothing more than a chewy, meat-like fungus, but for the people of the City of Silver and the City of Moon, it was a luxury beyond their wildest dreams, something they had never seen before.

Yes, these were Frank Lee's mushrooms. It seemed that the Admiral of the Stars had given the mad scientist a patent, making them easy to produce. Who knew just how disastrous things had become since then?

In a place where there was no night and no sunlight, the people here could only distinguish between day and night by counting the number of lightning bolts streaking across the sky.

A boy, only 13-14 years old yet nearly 2 meters tall, was mentally breaking down. Now, he was about to commit the act he wished the most to forget from his past life—the act of killing his own parents. This was the curse that had clung to him and the people here for generations.

That boy was Derrick Berg. No matter how solemn he became as the Pope of the Church of The Fool, no matter how many people he saved in the future, there was one thing he could never save—his own parents.

He couldn't ask for Lord Fool's help, as the Fool was still too weak. And if he didn't kill his parents, they would turn into monsters and be hunted down. He didn't want them to die that way. At the very least, he wanted them to die as humans.

This was something he had to do.

Amidst his mental turmoil, a gentle voice whispered beside his ear—it was his mother's voice.

"My dear child, your father and I will never hate you. This is something we must do. Now, come here and let us hold you one last time."

Derrick buried himself in his mother's embrace like a child, hearing his father's reassuring words one last time. He steeled his resolve, gripping the Blessed Dagger he had prepared from a previous timeline—to grant them a painless death.

As his parents passed with smiles on their faces, he broke down and cried like a child.

He decided to cremate them. To the people here, this was madness—according to their beliefs, the dead must return to the earth. But no one stopped him, for these were his parents, and he had just been forced to kill them with his own hands.

As he watched the flames consume the bodies of his parents, he spoke softly:

"Father, Mother, when I leave this place, I will take you to see the vast ocean, to taste the foods we've never tried before, and to witness the world's beauty together. Until then… stay with me."

As his words faded, a Tarot card, seemingly trapped in time from his past life, fell before him—the Sun card.

Nothing could stop the Sun from shining, not even an endless night.

The Sun of the Tarot Club had returned, shining brighter than ever.Damn it, I can't escape..."

Klein jolted awake from his nightmare—or at least, he thought he had. No, he couldn't tell whether this was a dream or reality. Every time he believed he had woken up, he found himself trapped in the same scenario again, repeating like an endless loop.

He didn't know what he was experiencing, but one thing remained constant—every dream featured the same face of that brown-haired police officer. No matter how many times he tried to run or barricade himself inside his home, that man always found him.

*Knock, knock.*

The sound of knocking echoed once more, signaling the officer's return.

**I can't beat him right now, no matter what I try. Might as well surrender and take a gamble.**

With that thought, Klein opened the door. The same stern face greeted him, the officer's cold eyes seemingly piercing straight into his soul.

Unlike in previous nightmares, where fear paralyzed him, this time, Klein remained calm. He gestured for the officer to enter, acting as if everything was normal.

The officer stepped inside but did not lower his guard. He ignored the chair Klein had prepared and instead spoke in a cold, concise tone:

*"What did you do to Welch and Naya?"*

It was the same question every time.

This was the question the captain had wanted to ask from the beginning, but the Klein in his past dreams had either tried to flee or grabbed a weapon, making things worse for himself. Wouldn't it be faster if he simply sat still this time?

Klein wasn't surprised. He simply responded, *"I don't know. It seems I lost my memory from that moment on."*

The officer frowned slightly. If this weren't a dream—where people revealed their true nature—he would have thought the man in front of him was blatantly lying. Honestly, it would be more believable if Klein had just claimed he never met Welch and Naya that night.

The officer's voice remained low and steady. *"A witness saw you with them. Shortly after, both of them committed suicide under mysterious circumstances, yet you returned home unharmed. At the crime scene, we discovered that a firearm was missing. If we find that gun in your possession, that alone would be enough to convict you."*

Klein simply replied, *"I hid it. It's under my bed."*

The officer didn't seem surprised. *"Should I take that as a confession, or do you truly not remember?"*

Klein feigned panic, shaking his head. *"No! I just woke up and found it beside me... There were bullet marks on the wall, and after that, I lost all my memories."*

The officer nodded as if he had expected this answer. *"That aligns with what I've been thinking."*

*"So... you believe me? That means I can go now, right?"* Klein asked cautiously.

*"Not so fast. You still need to be evaluated by an expert. However, for now, you have my temporary trust."*

This time, with a snap of the captain's fingers, Klein once again woke up in his best friend's bed. After a brief moment of silence, a knocking sound echoed again. He got up and opened the door, where the captain stood and said briefly, "Follow me."

"Alright, I'm coming right away," Klein responded.

Outside, a carriage was already waiting. Klein climbed in along with the police officer.

"Put this on," the officer said, handing him a pair of iron handcuffs.

"Didn't you say you trusted me?" Klein asked after seeing the cuffs.

"It's just a necessary procedure. If we confirm that you really have no issues, you'll be released immediately."

As the iron cuffs clicked shut around his wrists, Klein sighed inwardly, "Sigh... Before I transmigrated here, I had never been involved with the law. The worst was getting fined for a traffic violation."

He turned to the man sitting across from him. "Officer, could you tell me where we're going?"

The officer, casually flipping through a newspaper, looked up at Klein and replied nonchalantly, "Just call me Dunn Smith. We're going to a place you're quite familiar with. You'll meet a specialist there."

Suspicion flickered in Klein's mind as he pondered their destination, but he didn't have to wait long. The carriage came to a halt.

Stepping outside, he was immediately struck by the sight of a large, old mansion with an expansive courtyard, easily capable of accommodating several more carriages.

"Isn't this Welch's house? Officer Smith, why are we here?"

Adjusting his black coat, Dunn Smith replied, "I already told you—we're meeting a specialist here. More precisely, we're meeting 'A True Medium.'"

"'A True Medium'?" Klein echoed, stepping into the mansion.

The moment he crossed the threshold, an eerie gaze swept over him from the darkness. A shiver ran down his spine, every hair standing on end as if warning him of imminent danger.

It was the gaze of a predator lurking in the shadows, watching its prey. Unable to control himself, Klein turned to Dunn Smith and whispered, "Something dangerous is here."

The officer, however, continued walking forward without concern. "Ignore it."

After knocking on the door, a mystical voice called out from within, "Come in, gentlemen."

Inside, Klein saw a woman lounging on a sofa. Dunn Smith wasted no time and asked, "Daly, did you find anything?"

Klein took in the sight before him. The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, but her makeup and attire made her look much older. She had deep blue eyes, matching blue eyeshadow, and lightly flushed cheeks. In her hand, she held a chain with a suspended gemstone.

Beside her stood a young, handsome police officer—the very same one who had searched his room. The scene before him was both eerie and strangely beautiful.

The woman, Daly, looked at Klein before turning back to Dunn. "Unfortunately, their souls have completely dissipated. I couldn't find any information."

Dunn did not seem surprised by this response. Without hesitation, he nudged Klein forward. "This is Klein Moretti. Try using your medium abilities to see if you can find anything."

Daly's eyes locked onto Klein's, sending a chill through him. His instincts made him avert his gaze.

With a teasing smile, she said, "You're not our enemy. Forcing you will only cause lasting trauma. Instead, perhaps a special fragrance, some gel, or a mild stimulant could awaken your emotions?"

Klein jolted in shock. As a man from the 21st century, he had encountered flirtatious women before, but seeing someone like this in the current setting felt downright bizarre.

Noticing his reaction, the woman burst into laughter. Even Dunn struggled to suppress a chuckle.

"You know, we aren't followers of the God of Storms. Women teasing men isn't exactly uncommon in our circles. But this is the first time I've seen someone so startled by it!"

After enjoying her moment of amusement, Daly added, "Don't worry. Compared to these two young men, I prefer the maturity of the officer behind you."

Dunn, clearly accustomed to her antics, replied smoothly, "I thought you preferred corpses."

Daly smirked. "Do you take me for a pervert?"

After a short period of preparation, the medium session began, but surprisingly, Daly found nothing.

"I couldn't detect anything. So, he's probably fine," she said as she packed up her tools, preparing to leave.

Dunn nodded. "Thank you for your help." Then he turned to Klein. "You're free to go."

Klein let out a sigh of relief, but a lingering thought surfaced in his mind. "What are the chances I'll get tangled up in something like this again?"

Dunn responded, "About 20%. Not low, right? But if you're too worried, there's one way to avoid it."

Before he could finish, the young officer beside him interjected, "You could join us. If anything happens, we'll be able to help you out."

Dunn lightly knocked the young officer on the head. "You've been talking a lot lately, Leonard."

"So that suspicious guy's name is Leonard," Klein noted.

Despite the odd circumstances, Leonard's suggestion didn't sound like a bad idea.

"Don't worry, you don't have to answer right away. Take a few days to think it over," Dunn said.

In a small room, a history teacher was reviewing the files of each candidate. The teacher had bronze-colored skin, a face marked with a few wrinkles, yet still retained a dignified appearance.

He skimmed through each file carefully until his eyes stopped at one name—**Klein Moretti**.Klein woke up from a short nap, the dark circles under his eyes growing even more pronounced. Who would have thought his work would be this overwhelming? He had planned to go to bed early last night, but a member of the Secret Order suddenly infiltrated his house. Fortunately, he had the presence of mind to use his unloaded gun to scare him off. He sighed. As a result, he had to report everything to Captain Dunn and didn't even go home, only leaving a message for Benson and Melissa that he had urgent work. Exhausting.

Suddenly, a cup of coffee was placed in front of him. It was that suspicious guy.

"You look really tired. Drink some coffee to wake up before you continue working."

How could Klein refuse such a kind offer? He took a sip of the coffee to relieve his fatigue. A hint of sweetness blended with the bitterness of the coffee. He couldn't help but marvel—this guy actually knew his preference. Was he being stalked or something? Damn, this is giving off some serious gay vibes! Sorry, man, but I'm 100% straight.

Leonard, sitting nearby, was also drinking a cup of coffee—not because he was sleepy but simply because he enjoyed it. He picked up a newspaper to see if there was anything interesting, only to notice Klein staring at him. In Leonard's mind, he was cursing at his former colleague, I know exactly what you're thinking, you bastard.

Casually, he asked, "Today is the day you become a Beyonder, right? Have you decided which path to take?"

"None of your business."

Klein bristled like a startled cat.

Just then, the door opened, and Captain Dunn stepped in.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Klein, are you ready?"

"I'm coming right away, Captain."

Leonard, still in the room, muttered under his breath, Follow them and keep an eye on things for me.

A grumpy, elderly voice responded in his head, How many times do I have to tell you? That guy isn't suspicious. Stop bothering me already.

It was the voice of Pallez Zoroast, the Angel of Time, currently parasitizing Leonard.

"You're living inside me, so can't you be a little more helpful? Just this once, okay? No next time, I promise."

Pallez grumbled, Ever since that captain scolded you, you've been acting differently. Could it be corruption? No, if you were corrupted, I'd be able to tell.

Thanks to his parasite, Leonard could hear what was happening inside the room.

It seemed the captain was letting Klein choose his path to becoming a Beyonder. Leonard relaxed—he was probably about to become a Seer. He took a sip of his coffee.

He chose the Darkness pathway.

Leonard spat out everything he had just drunk.

Shit! Why would he pick that?! He was supposed to become a Seer! Oh, right... This time, he hasn't visited Old Neil yet, so he hasn't read Roselle's diary.

"Pallez, can you use your power to scatter those documents around?"

"I can, but why?"

"Just do it! Don't ask!"

Then, Leonard sprinted toward the Church's underground chamber and knocked on the door.

"Captain, urgent matter! There's a Beyonder-related case in our work area!"

Inside, both men were startled. Dunn immediately placed a hand on Klein's shoulder.

"Stay here. I'll go check it out."

As soon as he opened the door, a bunch of papers flew into the room. Alarmed, Dunn rushed off to investigate while Klein absentmindedly picked up a piece of paper.

This... this is...

Outside, Leonard—having executed his perfect crime—acted innocent.

"I don't know what happened. I was just sitting here when all these papers started flying around. So I immediately reported it to you, Captain."

Dunn, fuming, growled, "You forgot to close the damn window, didn't you? Of course, the wind would blow everything everywhere! Not to mention the Church of the Lord of Storms is nearby—weather anomalies are bound to happen. You just wasted my time!"

Annoyed, he stormed back downstairs, only to find Klein engrossed in reading something.

Dunn glanced at it—it was Roselle's diary.

"That must be Old Neil's. It must've blown in here during the 'weather anomaly.' You okay?"

"I'm fine, Captain. What about you?"

"If it weren't for that idiot Leonard, this would've gone a lot smoother. Ugh, that guy's a menace."

Klein smirked slightly.

Dunn continued, "So, you're still becoming a Sleepless, right?"

"No. I want to become a Seer. Is that possible?"

Dunn frowned slightly.

"It's possible... but are you sure? We only have the Sequence 9 potion."

"I'm sure, Captain."

Hearing this, Leonard finally relaxed.

"If it weren't for me, the Tarot Club wouldn't have even been formed in this timeline!"

Alger had just arrived in Backlund when he noticed a shabbily dressed female reporter sitting still, watching every passerby. Beside her lay a golden-colored dog, also observing each person and carriage that passed.

The reporter was unfamiliar to him, but the dog wasn't. He stepped forward and greeted, "It's been a long time, Miss Justice."

She looked up and saw a tall man, around 32-33 years old, with the appearance of a pirate. Standing up, she adjusted her cloak and greeted him like a noble.

"Greetings, Mr. Hanged Man. It has indeed been a while."

Passersby glanced curiously at the scene of a pirate and a young reporter conversing. Alger, however, paid no mind and handed her a Sequence 8 material—the very thing Audrey needed the most at this moment.

"I've already paid you like before, but this time your price was too high," Audrey commented.

Alger, unfazed, casually responded, "Without your money, how else would I have gotten this?"

He took out a small pouch of seeds.

"That boy, the little Sun, will be thanking me profusely. If possible, I wouldn't mind if he could get me some Beyonder characteristics from the City of Silver."

Audrey gave a wry smile.

"You do realize that Sun is no longer as naive as before, right?"

Meanwhile, in the City of Silver, Derrick had just advanced to Sequence 9, thanks to the memories of the previous timeline. After his promotion, he felt drowsy but still prayed to the mysterious gemstone once more.

At that moment, The Fool still seemed skeptical. He had to wait until Derrick prayed repeatedly before finally allowing him in.

Derrick kept praying repeatedly and then thought to himself—he must be the most exhausted person ever just trying to get into the Tarot Club.