"Mr. Temperance, so you're saying all of this was caused by that being called Ouroboros?"
The Sun, Derrick, asked.
As a Sequence 5 Shepherd of the pathway to which the Secrets Suppliant belonged, Silas's words carried considerable weight when it came to matters related to the True Creator.
"Yes. The abilities He wields include the looping of fate."
Silas nodded.
"Then how should I resolve this?"
"Break the loop."
Silas said.
"The problem should lie with that little boy, Jack. The fact that he's survived so long in such a dangerous temple is suspicious in itself."
"But every time we kill him, it causes us to return to the beginning?"
The Sun, Derrick, was confused.
"It's precisely because of your killing him that the loop keeps repeating."
Silas shook his head.
"If I had to guess, he probably became tainted with Ouroboros's residual aura in the temple and gained corresponding abilities.
When he's killed, it instinctively triggers, causing fate to loop until an outcome emerges where he doesn't die."
His words gave everyone food for thought.
"Indeed, that makes sense."
The Hanged Man, Alger, said after consideration. "So the key to breaking the situation is eliminating that little boy's connection to Ouroboros's aura?"
"Yes."
Silas agreed.
"Your Silver City's Chief should have a way to do it, provided you can get him to notice these things. As for how to guide him to do so, that's not my strong suit."
Justice, suspected to be of the Spectator pathway, and the brooding, calculating Hanged Man were both experts in this area.
So, with everyone pooling their ideas, a reasonable plan quickly took shape. As long as The Sun followed it, he should be able to break free from the loop.
"Thank you all so much..."
The Sun, Derrick, said from the bottom of his heart.
Without these members of the Tarot Club, he didn't know how much longer he would have remained trapped in the loop.
"Especially you, Mr. Temperance... As thanks, I'll ask the Chief about the Black Knight potion for you."
With that promise, this favor was worth giving.
"thanks."
Silas said mildly.
After The Sun's matter was resolved, the Tarot Club finally returned to its normal routine.
Justice, Audrey, offered several pages of Roselle's diary as compensation for what she'd previously owed.
The contents included Roselle's early complaints about aristocratic life and his considerations about switching pathways at Sequence 4.
The most important page recorded his communication with the mysterious Zaratul. Zaratul had told Roselle:
"What is a miracle?"
"Resurrection from death is a miracle!"
Resurrection from death...
Klein couldn't help but think of what had happened to him, and to his fellow transmigrator seated at the side of the long table.
Both had been killed, both had revived after death.
Was this a miracle?
That miracles happened to us might prove that our very existence is extremely special.
Klein expended considerable willpower to keep from shifting his gaze to Silas.
The reason I came back to life is most likely this gray fog. But what about him? Is it because of that sound of ocean waves?
What exactly are these two things? Could they be so-called Uniqueness?
The Black Emperor card contained the potion formulas and rituals for an entire sequence.
In the Sequence 0 formula, that of a true god, the most important beyonder characteristic wasn't all the Sequence 1 characteristics, but rather a special thing called "Uniqueness."
Each pathway had only one.
A true god is unique.
No, that's not right.
That sound of ocean waves is at least on the same level as my gray fog, but the true god of the Secrets Suppliant pathway already exists... It couldn't have been stripped away and ended up in his hands... I can find an opportunity to tell Silas this information.
Klein pondered, but didn't think too long, lest Justice and the others notice something off.
"You may begin."
He made the parchment in his hand disappear and said to everyone with a smile.
Silas immediately looked at The Hanged Man, who didn't hesitate to speak.
"The item made from the Psychologist characteristic is complete. The one for the Magistrate is still being made."
"How much?"
Audrey asked eagerly.
"2,100 pounds. A very reasonable price."
The Hanged Man, Alger, said.
"That's a bit steep. 2,000 pounds."
Justice, Audrey, had attended extraordinary gatherings before. She tried hard to appear shrewd.
Alger looked at Silas.
The characteristic came from him. Alger only handled communication with the craftsman and suggested a selling price.
Whether to lower the price was up to him. Of course, the higher it sold, the more commission he'd receive.
"That's fine."
Silas didn't mind, then looked at The Hanged Man, Alger. "After the gathering ends, we'll ask Mr. Fool to facilitate the exchange of money and items."
"The craftsman's labor fee is 200 pounds. My cut is one-eighth, 250 pounds."
The Hanged Man, Alger, added.
"Then I'll transfer 450 pounds to you afterward."
Silas nodded, then added, "Also, the Wind-blessed formula and potion are available to you anytime, as long as you pay."
That's 4,500 pounds...
The corner of The Hanged Man Alger's mouth twitched involuntarily. "I will."
I've worked so hard during this time and only earned 250 pounds in commission, while he's made ten times what I have...
After finishing with The Hanged Man, Silas looked toward the gloomy man at the far end of the long table, The World.
This member of the Tarot Club was always silent and taciturn, with an inorganic coldness about him.
"I've made contact with that Beyonder. We're planning to explore the Fourth Epoch noble's tomb soon."
This tomb contained the Human-skin Shadow characteristic that The World needed.
"Good."
The World said calmly.
I already knew that.
Klein added mentally.
He had been right there when Silas and Sharron discussed this matter.
Mr. Temperance has made so much money. I'm really envious...
The Magician, Fors, thought to herself, then looked at Audrey and told her she had already obtained the Mirror Dragon's eye from her teacher and was selling it for the high price of 1,000 pounds.
"Alright, deal!"
Justice, Audrey, agreed without hesitation.
Her straightforward attitude left Fors both delighted and flustered.
After the trading segment ended, everyone began the free exchange portion.
"Mr. Sun, could you show us those murals again?"
Justice, Audrey, asked.
Her request was supported by the others.
When they'd been shown earlier, they had mainly focused on solving The Sun's problem. Though curious about the murals, they hadn't examined them carefully.
"No problem."
The Sun, Derrick, naturally wouldn't refuse.
He manifested those murals again. The mottled, ancient murals appeared just like that in the eternal castle, adding much historical gravitas.
"I'm very interested in this mural."
Justice, Audrey, said, pointing to the image of the True Creator supporting the world. "Who are those evil gods surrounding Him?"
"I think I can explain these."
At that moment, the usually silent World suddenly spoke.