Evil Gods Don’t Save People

"Mr. Fool…"

Another Full Moon night above Sefirah Castle.

"Yes?"

Miss Magician looked at the Fool's face, the thin fog surrounding Him showing His smile as He answered her call.

Losing her courage, she shakily stuttered out, "I-it's nothing."

She also put on a smile, hoping it was enough to convince the god, before dropping her gaze to the long bronze table.

Although the fog could be thicker at times during Tarot Club gatherings, she must not be the only one who had noticed it. Especially with a Spectator among them.

The Fool…

Fors let out a silent sigh.

Her hand supporting her head as she lazily leaned on the table, the salted fish recalled the events that occurred since she entered the Tarot Club.

The Tarot Club meetings, the awkward Full Moon nights, the outings, visiting Backlund, writing letters together, meeting her teacher, studying mysticism, traveling to digest her potion, all the help she received from the Fool.

Without the god, she wouldn't be alive here now.

So, even if the Fool's condition worsened, even if His personality changed, whatever may happen in the future…

Miss Magician made up her mind.

'Even if you become a real evil god, I'll believe in you.'

After that silent oath, Fors erased the sad look on her face, continuing the conversation.

As if everything was back to being 'normal'.

Then, the god seemed to remember something.

"Oh, can you take this mirror? I feel like it'll be more useful if it stayed in the real world instead of here."

That 'feeling' was the spiritual intuition of a god from the Seer Pathway who previously occupied the position of Lord of Mysteries, and still had the corresponding strength inside Sefirah Castle.

Fors, who was actually wondering why a mirror was put on the long bronze table since earlier, got the answer to her question.

"This is Arrodes, my servant. If you ask it a question, you will have to answer one in exchange, but you may suffer social death."

"Social death?"

"Don't worry, I told it to control its impulses with you. The questions should be moderate."

Fors was thus tasked with keeping Arrodes.

The writer stopped reminiscing, briefly glancing at the Spectator.

At that moment, Miss Justice spoke up.

"Mr. Fool, is there anything you want to eat?"

The Fool tilted His head, a gesture humans made when they wondered something.

Usually, He received 'food' in exchange for information, or as compensation for something. Now, there was no reason to.

To His silent question, Audrey explained, "It has been a while since we last sacrificed food to you. I'd like to do something to help."

'Do something to help.' There should be no reason to use these words here. Although it could be interpreted as the naive words of an enthusiastic naive noble lady who was eager to make contributions for the organization, Fors was the only one to grasp the subtle meaning hidden behind her words. 

'As expected.'

Audrey faced the Fool, keeping her usual bright and cheerful expression, and inquired again, "I would like to sacrifice you a meal, is there anything in particular that you wish to try?"

The subtle highs and lows in His state, the strange moments, the change in atmosphere at each Tarot Club meeting… How could the Spectator not notice?

Would 'food', something that gods did not need to survive, yet that the god had asked for in the first Tarot Club meetings and had seemed to appreciate, help the Fool? Would it make Him feel better?

Audrey did not know much about humanity and divinity, yet she vaguely grasped the source of the problem thanks to her intuition as a Sequence 5 Beyonder from the Spectator Pathway.

Due to a lack of knowledge, she could only make deductions and attempts based on what she had experienced until now.

"Exalted Great Master, your puny, loyal, and humble servant, Arrodes, answers your summoning! Did you know? Dr. Aaron Ceres's child was born the night before the last."

Dr. Aaron Ceres's child. According to the words He had heard from Arrodes's historical projection, it was the President of the Life School of Thought who had indirectly given Him that arm and was said to love ice cream.

The Fool, who remembered something, was silent for a moment before giving an answer.

"Ice cream."

It was time to visit a certain Snake of Mercury who had just been born.

"Alright. I will sacrifice it to you after the gathering is over," Miss Justice replied.

***

Concealed by illusions, Zhou Mingrui stepped into Aaron Ceres's home, approaching a stroller.

Then, His eyes met the gaze of the baby inside. The baby instantly began crying.

"…"

Zhou Mingrui waited for the Snake of Fate to stop. Soon after, the baby in question realized his wails weren't heard by anyone and began pouting.

Given Will's first reaction seeing Him, the Fool thought it was a good thing that a baby's vocal chords were not developed enough to talk. Though, He knew the Snake of Fate could still find a way to communicate if He really wanted to.

"I've come to make a proposal."

Despite the baby having stopped screaming, tears were still flowing from his eyes. Zhou Mingrui decided to simply ignore it.

"I'll steal your childhood and youth and allow you to instantly grow up. Then, by relying on a level of Above the Sequences but below that of a Great Old One, I'll forcefully help you to accommodate the Die of Probability."

The tears that Will Auceptin dripped down suddenly stopped.

"Of course, that alone won't be enough. It will require an additional 'Fooling' and use of a 'Bug'."

Then, the baby began to cry even harder. Zhou Mingrui remembered to hand him the ice cream He had to shut him up.

However, Will, who was too young to be able to eat ice cream, could only stare at the sweet on his stroller, touching it—it was so close yet unreachable due to boundaries of age.

"Normally, with your luck, the Die of Probability should already be by your side. What do you say?"

Will's expression turned serious for a moment.

He looked at the Fool for a long time, maybe looking at a distant fate, and finally made a choice.

With difficulty, the newborn bobbed his head up and down, nodding.