Fors was traveling around, only carrying an antique mirror in her arms with the rest of her luggage safely stored away.
She was now a Sequence 5 Traveler and trying to digest her potion.
After passing by yet another place, Miss Magician absentmindedly mumbled to herself, "Where should I go now…"
Suddenly, the mirror in her arms reacted.
Startled, Fors held Arrodes in front of her and saw letters form on the mirror's surface, surprisingly answering her question.
After mentioning a destination, the letters turned red like blood. The atmosphere also seemed chillier.
Fors started to have a bad feeling.
"According to the law of equivalent exchange, you should answer a question of mine."
Reading the question, Fors's face turned red.
That day, she learned the meaning of experiencing 'social death' the hard way.
Miss Magician made up her mind to never use the mirror again unless absolutely necessary.
However, she still headed toward the place Arrodes had advised her to go.
Looking around the pirates present, a familiar figure entered her sight.
"Huh? Mr. Hanged Man?"
Fors hurriedly covered her mouth while realizing it could be counted as a question.
Glancing at the mirror, it seemed to have not counted. Fors heaved a sigh of relief.
Then, she was surprised as the mirror lit up.
'Ah? Did it really count?'
Fors paled, resigning herself to her fate. Fortunately, the mirror didn't wake up to give her social death but had another purpose.
"Give my symbol to him."
An unfamiliar symbol was then outlined on Arrodes's surface.
After registering the request, Fors was embarrassed.
She had never met the Hanged Man in real life. The only reason she recognized him was due to having occasionally watched the Tarot Club members above the gray fog with the crimson stars.
Addressing him would mean revealing her identity.
Moreover, passing around the symbol of an unknown existence could be dangerous…
'Still, it's Mr. Fool's sealed artifact, so it should be fine…'
And she didn't know if she would face social death again if she didn't obey.
Fors decided to pray to the god just in case. After reciting His honorific name, she received confirmation.
Hesitantly, she walked toward Mr. Hanged Man.
Alger thus finished talking to someone when he saw a woman approach him.
She was about 1.65 meters in height, with slightly curly brown hair and pale blue eyes. However, what stood out was the antique mirror she was carrying in her arms.
He instantly raised his vigilance.
Fors turned the mirror toward him, praying for Mr. Hanged Man to rest in peace with the social death he would probably experience if he ever summoned that symbol's mirror.
In a low voice, she introduced herself, "I am Miss Magician. I was instructed by Mr. Fool's sealed artifact to show you this symbol."
The writer avoided his gaze.
Faced with a strange symbol and this bewildering situation, the Hanged Man was momentarily speechless.
The two fell into an awkward silence.
***
Dark red beams shot up, materializing into different figures on both sides of the long bronze table.
The unchanging silence above the gray fog was broken as the eternal palace seemed to have an additional, inexplicable sense of life to it.
After Miss Justice's greetings were over, Mr. Star spoke up first and requested to talk separately.
Curious, the other members could only wait as the fog shielded their senses, preventing them from overhearing the conversation.
"I would like to request your help in locating Ince Zangwill as agreed before."
Leonard tried to keep his voice calm.
Thanks to the Tarot Club, he was already Sequence 4. He judged it was strong enough.
He was finally so close to his goal.
After the Fool agreed, he also rented Leymano's Travels from Miss Magician.
Then, back to the real world, he calmly organized his belongings.
An aged voice resounded in his ears.
"Are you going to do it?"
Leonard nodded.
Hie eyes were burning with an eerie determination, as if no obstacle could ever stop him. That made Pallez a little uneasy.
"Yes."
Even if he had to sacrifice his life, he would kill Ince Zangwill.
Leonard's fist clenched as he put one of his gloves into the briefcase.
"I'm finally ready to take revenge."
He would avenge the captain.
Pallez remained silent.
Leonard forced down the rising anticipation and asked for leave. As he had rarely taken a vacation before, they allowed him to take a break without problems.
***
Leonard gritted his teeth.
"Ince Zangwill!"
With Mr. Fool's blessings, the battle went as planned.
Although Ince Zangwill had 008, Mr. Fool prevented the worst from happening.
Leonard faced Ince Zangwill, holding Leymano's Travels in his hand.
"I came, I saw, I recorded."
It was time to conclude this fight.
Using up a page, lightning came down from the sky and struck the already heavily injured Ince Zangwill.
It marked the end of the revenge he had prepared all this time.
"Ha."
It felt empty.
Blankly looking up at the sky, Leonard stood motionless.
"Captain, I finally avenged you."
The Star didn't move for a while, his feelings complicated.
Now that his main goal had been achieved, what should he do now?
Now that his anger had subsided.
He had come all this way, and now…
As if reading his mind, the Old Man spoke to him, "Continue to advance and protect more people. That way, no such tragedies will occur."
Leonard broke out of his thoughts, forcing himself to step toward Ince Zangwill's corpse.
He knew the Old Man was right.
Yet was it really possible?
The Star bent down and retrieved the demigod's Beyonder characteristics. He would return them to the Church when he came back.
Seeing Leymano's Travels in his hands, how could Leonard forget how such a revenge was possible?
'Protect people…'
He had already forsaken everything.
That existence's insane smile came to mind.
It was too late for him.
He had already somewhat betrayed the Goddess and the Church by reciting that honorific name, going against the Nighthawks' teachings. He was also too weak to get away.
'Still, I don't regret it.'
To take revenge, Leonard had sold his soul to an evil god.
'Whatever happens next—even if I die because of it, at least I could kill Ince Zangwill.'
Leonard clenched his hands.
But let's hope it doesn't come down to it.