Secret: I can play two paths

Chapter 29 Star
Star, who prides himself on being rational, smart and wise, had some panicked thoughts flashing through his mind for a moment, but he quickly took them back.

After all, his experience as a "gambler" told him that the passive debuff of "Tampering with the Path" was not that bad, it just made him behave in a style closer to the name of this sequence.

For example, when Star suffered a "big failure" on the Clover, he had an idea and borrowed Nast's knife to get rid of the witch Tris; after the dice roll was successful, he confessed to Xiao Ke before the Nighthawk arrived; when he saw Old Neil, he tried to persuade him...

Although these behaviors carried some of the speculative mentality of gamblers, they did not affect Star's sanity or interfere with his decision-making.

Star claims that he also plans before taking action.

Every time I was well prepared, using the real and fake to help him clear some obstacles.

And these choices can be said to be from his heart.

On the Clover, he was dissatisfied with the murder caused by Tris; at the Klein family, he shared the suffering of his fellow villagers and promoted their growth, and if he was stabbed, at least he had been there; in the underground market, he felt compassion for a poor man who had not let go of his worries...

If he had to make these choices again, Star asked himself that he would do almost the same thing as if he had not been influenced by "The Gambler".

Could it be that he just has a tendency to take risks?
Moreover, after those things were done after comprehensive consideration, the final results were not bad.

"So, I am still very wise, hehe."

Star couldn't help laughing.

Then he realized something and slapped himself.

Uh……

Even if the passive role-playing of the "tampering" method does not distort people's minds and make them do things that reduce their intelligence.

But I always feel that it sometimes makes people "brainless".

For example, now, Star has clearly felt what it means that "mental patients have broad thinking, and mentally retarded children are happier."

My mind has started to have some random thoughts, and my mouth wants to say some nonsense. I don't know why, but I'm starting to think and talk like Patrick.

Fortunately, these thoughts are generally under my control, at least they are not too erratic.

Could it be that he just has neurotic tendencies?
By the way, what did he say when he prayed to Xiao Ke just now?

Star recalled carefully:

"It seems so - dear Xiao Ke, everything is fine here, you don't have to worry about me."

It's so weird, it seems a little awkward.

Isn't the tone here somewhat different from usual?

Star thought rationally for a while and finally came to a conclusion:
Okay, I have to admit that I have become more neurotic.

In the past, even if I wanted to have some fun, I wouldn't do it like this.

Fortunately, Xiao Ke doesn't care much.

and……

It's okay, as long as I'm not embarrassed, others will be embarrassed.

At worst, we can give him some compensation for mental damage.

……

On the other side, Klein and Benson parted ways at the street corner while Melissa boarded the public carriage and arrived at the Night Watchman's office.

As soon as he stepped through the door, he saw Old Neil and Roxanne chatting at the reception desk. The former was still wearing a classic black robe, not caring about other people's eyes at all, while the latter changed into a light yellow dress.

Klein didn't know why Old Neil was dressed like that. He hesitated for a moment, wondering how to treat this old man who was suspected to be contaminated by the evil god. In the end, he took off his hat and saluted without leaving any trace.

"Good morning, Mr. Neil, Miss Roxanne."

Old Neil gave him a sly look:
"Good morning. Did you hear anything you shouldn't have heard last night?"

"No, I slept well."

Even though Klein was in a bad mood, he still forced himself to answer.

Just as Klein was thinking, he suddenly heard illusory layers of praying voices.

A male voice? It must be Star-senpai.

And he is the only one I have ever told my name to.

Maybe I could consult with him about Old Neil?
Klein cast his gaze towards his right hand. Sure enough, four black spots appeared again on the back of his hand at some point.

He glanced at the two of them, said goodbye in a hurry, and walked into the bathroom next door. He locked the door, walked four steps backwards, and came to the top of the gray fog.

The constant screams and whispers, the constant madness and pain, he tried his best to control himself, and endured the most difficult and dangerous stage in a nearly semi-conscious state.

The gray fog was endless, the crimson "stars" were near and far, and the towering temple stood like a dead giant.

Everything in front of Klein was the same as before, and the silence that had accumulated over thousands and tens of thousands of years was overwhelming.

No, there are still changes!

Klein muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on a crimson "star" nearby.

That is the star that symbolizes the "Wheel of Fortune"!

The deep red color of this "star" kept shrinking and expanding, not much, but persistently.

I wonder what Senior Star wants?

Klein expanded his spirituality and spread it toward the deep red.

As soon as the two came into contact, his mind suddenly buzzed, and he saw a blurry and distorted picture and heard an illusory and overlapping prayer:
"You are a fool who does not belong to this age;"

"You are the mysterious master above the gray fog;"

"You are the yellow and black king of good luck."

"Xiao Ke, I'm about to be promoted. If I don't pray again later, I will lose control and become a monster."

"Then report me to the church! Don't let me harm people in the city."

“…This is my address.”

"There is a tree five meters away from the window. I buried a book under the tree for you after I failed to get promoted."

"A book that records all the occult knowledge you know so far and some of my notes."

"Of course, there was a note next to the book with the account number and password of my anonymous account."

"It's only a few thousand pounds. It's a bargain for you."

"But I'm telling you, don't be so greedy for those few gold pounds. The book that records the knowledge of occultism is the most valuable."

"There are more than a dozen formulas. I can say that your future as a fortune teller has been paved for me."

"How's it going? Are you surprised or surprised?"

"Actually, I have something else I want to ask you. Although most of it is written in that book."

"But let me mention it solemnly."

"Klein, what do you think of this era?"

"Towering chimneys, dirty streets, ragged poor people, starving children..."

“Such a social ecology——”

“It’s a really strange scene for modern people.”

“At the same time, it’s really frustrating.”

"Emperor Roselle once said: The industrial revolution that I started with my own hands, the steam and mechanical age that I created with my own hands, will become the breeding ground for the birth of the evil god."

“Yes, this is the best of times and the worst of times.”

"But I think the world shouldn't be like this. Time shouldn't stop here, right?"

"So, the above, if anything unexpected happens, will be my last words."

"If you miss me, don't let me down and change the world for me."

“We are the same kind of people.”

"After I leave, you have to keep going."

"Xiao Ke, remember: we are the guardians, but also a group of poor fellows who are always fighting against danger and madness."

……

"We are guardians, and we are also a group of wretches who are always fighting against danger and madness."

……

"We are guardians, and we are also a group of wretches who are always fighting against danger and madness."

……

Star's voice continued to echo, interweaving layer by layer.

No, is this a last will?

Senior Star, what are you doing?
Klein panicked immediately, not to mention that he was worried about his colleague Old Neil being contaminated and possibly losing control.

The risk of losing control mentioned by Senior Star made Klein feel as if he had been taught a lesson by the dark side of the extraordinary world.

It turns out that this power also has its dark and dangerous side...

He couldn't tell why, and his heart felt a little blocked.

What a joke, Star, I'm just an ordinary fellow villager, do you trust me so much?

No, that's not right, no, this is impossible!
After confirming that there were no more prayers, Klein's expression froze on his face, and his deep eyes lost their luster in an instant.

Wait, isn’t Star a senior?

Shouldn't he be much more powerful than me?
I just received a box lunch like this, are you kidding me?

Klein's thoughts were in a mess. He seemed to want to question fate, or to confide his doubts to someone.

But there was no one else above the eternal gray fog.

This place has been shrouded in silence and loneliness for tens of millions of years. The only person who is silent is Klein, who is sitting alone in the bronze hall. Yes, there is no one else...

Klein shuddered uncontrollably, shuddering in front of the ancient and solemn long table.

Is there no one else?
At this time, Klein looked at both sides of the long table.

Once, he wanted to keep his secrets.

Only now did he understand how difficult it was to have someone to whom he could confide without reservation.

The unprecedented coolness made Klein's hands and body feel heavy.

Is he going to walk the future alone?
It seems that it will be like this from the beginning.

Klein smiled, with an emotion that was difficult to express.

Seems a little tired?

This isn’t right. My new life here is just beginning. How could this happen?

Yes, how can this be?

Klein felt somewhat confused, like a traveler who had just discovered a ray of light in the darkness, only to see it suddenly go out.

Is it depression? Or melancholy?
It seems more than...

Or pain and despair?

That's too much...

Then he finally understood his emotions:
It is loneliness;
And fear...

In this dangerous world, he is not a real "fool", but just an ordinary person in a foreign land.

What lies ahead?

Klein smiled. It turned out that he still felt confused when faced with such an unknown situation.

At this moment, he seemed to be shaking uncontrollably inside.

He wanted to use meditation to quickly calm his emotions, but found that he could no longer control himself, and his hands began to tremble uncontrollably above the empty gray fog.

No way, Senior Star, are you really out of control?

Klein raised the corners of his mouth, his nose felt sore, and he leaned forward towards the crimson star belonging to the Wheel of Fortune.

He felt that all this was more like a dream and couldn't believe that it happened and ended like this.

No, Star, can you please not lose control?

What you have to do, you have to do it yourself.

I was clearly still waiting to discuss Old Neil's matter with him.

I was still thinking about building the Tarot Club with him.

Klein carefully identified the blurry image emerging from the crimson star.

It was a man in a gray robe. He was standing in front of several flickering flames, as if looking at Klein.

From the distorted image, Klein barely recognized that this was Star who was about to take the potion.

Klein stared blankly, his vision blurring for some reason. He vaguely recalled that day, when he saw Star burst into laughter and said in his unique voice:
"So you really are that person."

Star... Klein shouted silently.

He sat in the empty bronze palace like a statue for several minutes, then suddenly smiled and said:

"Star, you suddenly showed up that day and really scared me. But you are really something, you just casually told me your secret. Well, what if I am not a time traveler? What if I am jealous of your golden finger? You have been here for so long, how can you be so frank...

"You didn't ask me about the details of the gray fog at that time. Did you trust me or did you know it through your own golden finger? But you must have guessed some of it...

“If only I were a god like the Fool, I could help you get promoted…”

Having said this, Klein paused, shook his head and sighed:
"I don't know what I'm mumbling about now. Maybe I'm just a clown fooled by fate, or a poor guy..."

"So, there really are such sincere fellow villagers..."

As he was speaking, he suddenly couldn't continue, tears streamed down his face, and finally, he choked and cried out:

"Mingming, I finally have a companion..."

Drops of tears unconsciously slid down Klein's cheeks, and his vision blurred.

Why, why did it turn out like this?

We clearly agreed to join forces and face this world of extraordinary power together...

After a long while, Klein barely stopped crying and said in a deep voice as if talking to himself:
"Star, don't worry."

"How can I be stagnant here?"

"I also want to become a god, and become a fool myself. Then you will be my first follower forever."

He looked at the last scene of Star's life and suddenly bent his back.

"Hahaha, hahaha."

"Hahahahahaha."

He laughed crazily in a low voice, his face as if wearing a mask, just like the smiling face when Star came to his door that day to confess to him.

When Star revealed it, the bastard laughed so happily.

He laughed like that, too.

“Haha, haha…hahahaha…” Klein laughed until he was out of breath. His laughter was uglier than crying.

After a few seconds, he finally calmed down, slowly straightened up, bowed to the star representing the "Wheel of Fortune", then raised the corners of his mouth and said with a smile:
"Star..."

"Look, together we will change the world..."

Drop after drop of liquid slid quietly and fell on his collar.

At this moment, he felt that he had a sense of belonging to this world, even if this sense of belonging came from a person who had passed away.

fellow.

companion.

tutor.

……

After an unknown amount of time, his expression disappeared and he slowly leaned back against the chair.

Below him, the endless gray fog rose and fell silently as if it had never changed.

Just when Klein was completely discouraged and wanted to stay above the gray fog until his spiritual power was exhausted, the deep red star representing the "Wheel of Fortune" began to shrink and expand again.

Klein raised his right hand tremblingly, spreading his spirituality, and touched the star that symbolized Star.

There was a loud bang, and the scene in front of his eyes suddenly became blurry and distorted. He saw a man in a gray robe sitting in front of the window, facing the morning light.

Klein suddenly tensed up, listening to the other person's words with a look of anticipation and solemnity.

"You are a fool who does not belong to this age;"

"You are the mysterious master above the gray fog;"

"You are the yellow and black king of good luck."

"Dear Xiao Ke, everything is fine here, you don't have to worry about me."

……

"You don't have to worry about me."

……

"You don't have to worry about me."

……

So you succeeded in your promotion... Klein's mood improved, and he felt that the prayers that were hovering around his ears like flies became acceptable.

So what was I doing just now? Well, luckily there was no one else in the gray fog.

Klein couldn't help but grab his collar, trying to use something to divert his attention.

By the way, Star’s tone is a bit strange.

Klein's expression turned strange.

Then he finally relaxed, and with a thought in his mind, he tried to pass the "answer" in his mind to the "deep red" star through that subtle connection:
"It's okay."

……

As layers of fog appeared before his eyes, a distorted and blurry figure suddenly appeared in the deepest part of Sta's vision.

There was a deep red glow in the places where his eyes were, and his voice kept echoing in the empty world:

"It's okay."

"It's okay."

"It's okay."

……

When Star heard Xiao Ke's response, he smiled knowingly.

"What could possibly happen to me?"

"It's more interesting for me to do something like tampering with the world myself."

(End of Volume 1)

(End of this chapter)