HPxLOTM: A Wizard's Path to Divinity

Bernadette's voice was flat as she said, "You saw him just a few days ago, Edward."

Though technically, that didn't really count as "seeing," did it?

"Hello, Mr. Sparrow."

Bornova offered a polite smile, but it was clearly just for show. Not a single real emotion stirred behind those calm, ocean-blue eyes.

No wonder the Great Emperor eventually fell out with the God of Steam—if his own son turned out like this, anyone would snap!

Also…why was he still calling me "Mr. Sparrow"?

"Greetings, Prince Bornova."

After the brief exchange of pleasantries, the three of them sat down on the sofa, only for silence to settle between them like a heavy fog.

Lilith tilted her head this way and that, curious as always. She looked at each of them in turn, but she knew instinctively that these two weren't ordinary guests—so she sensibly held her tongue.

After a long pause, Edward finally broke the silence. "Your Majesty, may I ask…what brings Prince Bornova here this time?"

"To see you," Bernadette answered casually.

"Uh…and?"

"That's it."

Her tone was utterly natural, as if this whole affair wasn't the least bit strange.

What am I, an endangered species? And this angel of a man came all the way here just to take a look?

Edward didn't know what to say.

Thankfully, Bernadette turned to Bornova and asked, "Do you feel anything?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Did anything come to mind?"

"I never forgot him," Bornova replied calmly.

Bernadette stared at him for a long moment before finally sighing. "Alright. You can go."

"Okay."

Bornova stood up. "Goodbye, sister. Goodbye, Mr. Sparrow."

He walked toward the door at a measured pace. Before stepping out, he added, "No need to waste your energy—I haven't lost any memories."

With that, he stepped out and disappeared down the corridor.

"I thought…seeing you might trigger something in him. Like the effect you once had on..."

Edward hesitated. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help."

"No, it was my own wishful thinking," Bernadette said quietly. "Even from a young age, he was never very emotional. And after being influenced by the gods…it only got worse. Now, aside from his faith in the God of Steam and Machinery, he has nothing left."

She gave a bitter, self-mocking smile. "The fact that he agreed to come to Backlund at all was already a surprise."

…Come to think of it, that might've been the God of Steam's will, too.

At this point, Bernadette took out a few pages of a diary and placed them on the coffee table. "Help me translate these."

"Of course."

Edward picked up the pages and began reading from the first entry. Lilith quickly scampered onto his shoulder, peering at the text with wide, curious eyes:

—May 20th—

Last night was supposed to be a birthday celebration for my little angel, and somehow…I woke up in Lady Orsaya's bed again. Damn it! Must've gotten drunk—again.

This seemed to be a continuation of the previous diary entries. Honestly, they had clearly overestimated the Great Emperor's moral boundaries. Celebrating his daughter's birthday, only to end up in someone else's bed?

—June 1st—

Children's Day. Of course, this world doesn't have such a holiday, but that doesn't stop me from giving my little angel another gift.

She's been sneaking around with Bornova lately—not a bad thing. Looks like my previous methods are working. Bornova is slowly, ever so slowly, regaining a sense of humanity.

In the afternoon, I attended another one of those nameless gatherings. Unlike the earlier times, I wasn't a total noob this round. Thanks to the diary of that predecessor transmigrator, I had plenty of mystical knowledge ahead of time.

Edward blinked.

Hold up. That sounds...familiar?

Wait a minute.

So from Roselle to Klein, using the diary of a senior transmigrator to flex was a tradition?

Which meant Roselle had found more of that senior's writings—and they contained quite a bit of mystical knowledge.

—June 2nd—

Zaratul came to me again. He asked how I came across all that secret knowledge. Clearly, yesterday's "enlightenment" made him suspicious.

Damn, I got a little carried away. With that old man's divination ability, he's bound to find out something eventually.

So I burned the senior's diary.

What? You think I've been writing my own diary too? A few more pages in Chinese—what harm could that do?

Well, you're underestimating Zaratul! That guy's a scheming old bastard!

Divination in this world is disgusting. One day, I swear, I'll invent something that can't be divined!

—June 6th—

Ever since my last conversation with Mr. Door, I've felt like someone's watching me in secret.

I asked Green and Edwards—they saw nothing.

Could it be Zaratul again? Still suspicious?

No way. I don't do anything intimate with women while under surveillance.

I need to confirm whether this feeling is real.

—June 7th—

Set up an inescapable trap to catch the guy spying on me.

Result? Nothing all day.

Damn it! Was it just my imagination?

Or did Mr. Door mess with me somehow during our last chat?

Ugh, these mysterious folks—each one sketchier than the last.

Gotta go to church and have them purge me just to be safe.

—June 12th—

Edwards discovered a ship carrying gold, jewellery, and all kinds of treasures—gifts from East Balam to Loen.

Heh. I now declare that ship mine.

This ship...why does it sound so familiar?

Wait. Could it be the sunken Laurel?

Edward hadn't expected to find a mention of that ship in the emperor's diary.

What came next?

He hurriedly turned to the next page—maybe he'd learn something about its secrets.

—June 15th—

Got lost. Dammit.

How did a whole ship full of Beyonders get lost? Ridiculous.

We finally found an island this afternoon—turns out to be the same mysterious one we discovered before.

This world really is round. No matter which way you go, you always end up back at the start.

…So you didn't even find the ship? Great. That was a waste of hype.

Edward rolled his eyes and looked at the final entry:

—June 25th—

That senior transmigrator…is still alive!!!

Edward instinctively flipped to the next page—but there was nothing.

What the—? You're ending it there?

He immediately looked up at Bernadette. "Where's the rest?"

Bernadette said, "It was lost."

"Really?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have seen something important…eager to know what came next?"

"…I suppose so."

She glanced at the diary. "Then start by reading me the translation of these pages."

"Alright."

As before, Edward filtered out the information related to the transmigrator before translating for Bernadette—of course, he also conveniently omitted the part about the emperor ending up in another woman's bed on her birthday.

No need to ruin the emperor's image in her mind, after all.

After listening, Bernadette pondered for a while. "I may not know this script, but I can tell the entries contain far more than what you just told me. Are you hiding something?"

Of course. You couldn't fool someone who'd lived for over a hundred years that easily.

"N-not at all…"

Edward hesitated for a long moment, then decided to admit a sliver of the truth. "I just…cut out a few irrelevant bits about the emperor's social outings. Nothing important, really."

"Is that so?"

Bernadette narrowed her eyes at him, as if she could see straight through his soul.

Hey!

I'm doing this to maintain the image of a great, loving father! Why does it feel like I'm the one being caught in a lie?

"Ahem…Your Majesty, I've used up all the recorded abilities from last time. So, would it be…"

She gave a slight nod. "Fine."

After a pause, she added, "Need help? If you're willing to accompany me to Intis, I'll assist you once."

Edward quickly waved his hand. "That…won't be necessary for now."

He had zero desire to go play house in the Intis royal palace with Bernadette.

"Alright," she didn't press. Once again, she used "Peach Blossom Spring" to carve out a pocket of space, where Edward recorded the following abilities: Spear of Longinus, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, The Emperor's New Clothes, and another Peach Blossom Spring.

Afterwards, Bernadette asked him to tell her the story of The Ugly Duckling, then quietly departed.

Edward checked the time—it was almost 1 p.m. With rest out of the question, he took Lilith out for a meal, then swung by the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery to consult Arrodes.

As expected, the events of the previous night were just as much of a mystery to Arrodes. Regarding the maid, all it could do was reproduce her appearance at the time—though it clearly stated that was not her true form.

After relaying this to Audrey, Edward returned home and patiently waited for the 3 p.m. appointment.

———

At exactly 3 o'clock, the echo of the chime still lingering in the air, Audrey appeared within the majestic, towering palace bathed in that deep crimson glow. She materialised beside the ancient long table.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she smiled and gracefully rose to bow toward the head seat.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"

Klein gave her a slight nod.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Tower. Good afternoon, Mr. Hanged Man."

She then greeted the others one by one.

Once the greetings were done, Mr. Fool casually placed two tarot cards on the table and said,

"Let's begin."

Almost instantly, Audrey, Death (Priscilla), Little Sun (Derrick), and the Hanged Man (Alger) all prepared to speak—but Audrey and Alger immediately noticed the overlap and wisely held back.

Derrick and Priscilla, however, spoke at the same time.

Derrick: "I think I'm in trouble."

Prisciya: "I'm looking for someone's help!"

They both looked at each other in surprise after speaking.

Klein silently observed them, a little astonished himself. This was the first time so many people had tried to speak at once in the history of the Tarot Club.

Propping up his chin, he entered bystander mode. "Don't rush. One at a time."

Derrick spoke urgently, "Miss Death, may I go first?"

His uncharacteristic forwardness surprised the veteran members—Derrick usually chose to yield the spotlight.

Priscilla shrugged. "Alright, Mr. Sun."

Derrick took a deep breath. "I…I've run into trouble."

Edward paused, recalling this part. Wasn't this the segment where Derrick didn't want to go on a mission with Lovia, so he faked a breakdown following the Hanged Man's advice?

Which meant…Amon's entrance must be coming up soon.

"Five days ago, Elder Lovia and I led a team to explore the ruins of the Fallen Creator's half-destroyed temple. We encountered multiple attacks along the way, but thanks to Mr. Tower's Hand of Glory, the team suffered no losses."

As he spoke, Edward froze.

That's not right!

Why was Derrick going on a mission with Lovia? Wasn't he supposed to be wary and suspicious of her? He was meant to be distancing himself from her, not following her into danger…

Damn it—could it be because he had told Derrick in advance that Lovia wouldn't betray City of Silver, and that influenced him to trust her?

———

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