226 The Terrified Xio (1/2)
Cherwood Borough. 15 Minsk Street.
A satiated Klein sat in a reclining chair in the living room, beside a fireplace burning with charcoal.
In a warm environment akin to summer, Klein wore a white shirt, a black vest, and thin trousers, while having a newspaper spread open in front of him as he flipped through the section with the most ads.
A new type of transportation vehicle is in urgent need for investments. Details to be discussed in person… Klein read the advertisement twice before picking up a pencil from a small, dark red table to his side and circled the message.
If there were no commissions tomorrow or the day after, he planned on seeing if this so-called new type of transportation vehicle had any investment value—such matters were impossible to divine since there was a lack of sufficient information.
I hope it's a product similar to a bicycle… Klein mumbled to himself before suddenly hearing an illusory prayer echo in his ears.
Who is it? Miss Justice? Mr. Hanged Man? The Sun? Or some clerk at the Backlund Bank is copying my passcode? Thoughts flashed through Klein's mind as he put down the newspaper, returned to his bedroom, and locked the door behind him.
Taking four steps counterclockwise, he entered the world above the gray fog. He saw that to the side of The Fool's seat and by the edge of the ancient mottled bronze table was a clear and bright brilliance that emitted waves of radiance.
The experienced Klein calmly sat down and emanated his spirituality, touching the light ripples of light in response to the prayer.
The scene in front of his eyes suddenly changed. It was a blurry sofa with a petite woman in a knight's trainee uniform curled up on it.
She's not copying my passcode… She's reading a piece of paper… Klein suddenly realized the reason for this.
She should be one of the two Beyonders that Miss Justice mentioned that requires my vetting…
After nearly twenty seconds of silence, Klein didn't give any form of formal response. He planned on taking the next step deep at night. He would then test her reaction, attitude, and way of handling things to test her personality and abilities.
Of course, he would absolutely not force others to join the Tarot Club.
…
”The Fool that doesn't belong to this era…” Xio, who had just finished chanting the ancient Hermes sentence, froze for a few seconds. Then, she suddenly straightened her back and sat up straight.
This seems to be the honorary name of a hidden existence! She realized this in horror.
Furthermore, her knowledge in mysticism and the various rumors she had heard told her that once someone recited the full honorary name of a hidden existence, it would often attract the attention of said existence!
The consequences of such attention was mostly misfortune or could even be described as tragic!
Quite a few of those hidden beings were the incarnations of the evil gods and devils!
Furthermore, I recited it in ancient Hermes, completely unprotected… I'm so dumb. Why did I focus so much effort in identifying the sentence and actually read it in my head… Xio looked around in horror, terrified that an indescribable monster would suddenly appear in her house.
The sofa, tea table, cupboard, dining table, chairs, oil painting, and other items were all reflected in her eyes, without any changes.
After nearly a minute of heightened vigilance, Xio relaxed a little and comforted herself, ”Don't worry, don't be afraid. I just said the honorable name and didn't follow up with a prayer.
”This is an incomplete ceremony, so it shouldn't attract any attention.
”Moreover, there's a good chance that the name might've been translated by the owner of the paper based on the special symbols left behind by Emperor Roselle. It might not be correct.”
But, but I heard that if the evil gods and devils generate interest, they would still provide a response even if the ceremony is incomplete… I'm so stupid, really… As she thought over the matter, Xio's face scrunched up into a grimace. She felt that she had made a grave mistake.
After waiting for a few more minutes, she slowly exhaled as she puffed out her cheeks when she realized that there was no obvious response.
She stuffed the piece of paper back into the ”History of the Loen Kingdom's Aristocracy” as she entered the bathroom with a heavy heart. She turned on the faucet and tried to use the cold water to clear her head.
Splash!
As nearly transparent water flowed down, Xio hunched her back and reached out her palms to cup some water.
Just as she was about to dab the cold water onto her face, she spotted a long, slightly curly brown hair in the mirror through the corner of her eye.
As for her, she had shoulder-length, unkempt yellow hair.
Suddenly, Xio's hair stood on end.
She stomped on the ground and, with a push of her hands, she shot backwards, turning her body halfway around and slamming the entity with her elbow.
Pow!
She leaned against a warm body, causing the other party to let out a familiar scream before falling to the ground.
Xio stopped any subsequent actions and looked at her good friend who was hugging her stomach in pain, tears in her eyes.
The corner of her mouth twitched without her realizing it as she said, ”Fors, when did you get back?”
Fors didn't reply immediately. It took her quite a while to get over the pain. As she slowly stood up, using the wall as a support, she grumbled, ”I j-just got back. Xio, are you nuts!? Why did you attack me without even looking clearly! And you hit me so hard!”
”Where did you come in from?” Xio asked awkwardly.
”Through the bathroom window. Why? Is there a problem? As an Apprentice, it's normal to not bring a key with me,” Fors replied matter-of-factly.
Xio straightened her back and pushed away all responsibility.
”Then why didn't you go through the door? You really gave me a fright just now!”