Evil Gods Don’t Save People

Do you know how it feels?

When you desperately want to do something while knowing that you shouldn't.

When you reach out for something while knowing that everything will be destroyed as a consequence.

When you try to get closer to your believers while knowing they could die-

"…Mr. Fool?"

The Fool snapped out of his thoughts and saw Miss Magician staring at him helplessly.

"I apologize, I wasn't listening."

Fors repeated, "…Do you prefer Desi pie or would you like to try other food?"

It was now the Full Moon.

The Fool thought about it for a moment.

"Both are fine."

That didn't answer her question.

Fors pushed this matter aside and changed the subject.

"Do gods need to eat?"

The Fool shook his head.

"No."

The Magician then recalled something that preoccupied her before and hesitated.

Was this too personal?

"What do you want to ask?"

Fors was embarrassed. She was seen through.

"…Mr. Fool, where are the objects people sacrifice to you?"

Oh.

Mr. Fool resigned himself to his fate and made the gray fog under the table thinner. Trying to hide it before was useless.

Fors saw the junk pile and felt like she had discovered a great secret.

"…"

***

After the Sun finished explaining the latest situation in the City of Silver, Audrey could see that he was still uneasy, as if he were hesitating to add something.

"Mr. Sun, is there still something preoccupying you?"

The Sun was caught off guard by her remark before a glimmer of determination flashed in his eyes, seemingly having made up his mind about something.

"Yes. Actually, Elder Lovia told me something."

At that, he glanced at the Fool sitting at the top of the long table, as if asking for permission. Seeing that the Fool didn't stop him, he continued, "She told me that, when the creator still answered our prayers, there was an evil god called Mysteries that turned mad, dragging down all his believers into madness and killing them during sacrifices."

Derrick looked at the Fool, determined to trust the only deity that answered his prayers after God disappeared, regardless of what he heard about Him.

"That evil god also had a less common name—the Fool."

The atmosphere suddenly became colder.

Until now, the fact that the Fool was an evil god still seemed distant due to His apparent kindness and the absence of any

tangible proof.

Now faced with concrete evidence of that fact for the first time, the Tarot Club members had goosebumps.

***

Not that long after the True Creator tried to descend onto Tingen, another incident happened.

"Mr. Zangwill, nothing happened here."

"Then let me be frank with you. I am a Demoness!"

"Mr. A, are you ready?"

An incident that would kill thousands of people in Backlund.

"We've done certain things and left behind clear traces. Before we're discovered by the Churches of Evernight, Storm, and Steam, as well as the military, we must do the corresponding cleanup, and this requires your help. Yes, it seems like you don't really understand what I mean, so let me give you an example. Imagine—Imagine you performed a heinous crime like murder in a house, so what's the best way of eliminating any evidence and clues?"

"There's no need for that. It's our goal to have others witness such an act," Mr. A said indifferently.

"… Suppose it were me, not you." The clear, soft female voice had a faint wheezing sound.

After a second, Mr. A replied, "Burn that house and bury all the clues there."

The clear and gentle female voice had a smiling tone.

"That's exactly what we planned. I'm in charge of 'committing arson', while you can use this opportunity to go with this development to create a passageway or vessel, so as to allow your Lord to descend upon this world. And the only price you guys have to pay is to bear all the infamy and gain the most enmity from the military and the three Churches. But I don't think you would mind that."

"As long as we can welcome the return of the Lord, even if we're abhorred by every single force, we won't show any sign of cowardice." Mr. A's tone no longer appeared indifferent and distant.

"It appears like you have no other questions," said the gentle female voice. "This place is sufficiently well-hidden and can be used for the required set-up. You can do your ritual here at ease and won't need to worry that it'll be interrupted before you succeed. As for the things outside, we've already finished our preparations a long time ago. It's just waiting for the ignition of a 'spark'. If you still have doubts, then you can make another round of checks."

As another branch in fate came around the corner, it was time for the Fool to make a choice.

The fog began to grow thicker. The cathedral's clock tower that was still relatively clear in the distance was gradually swallowed by a mixture of iron-black and pale yellow colors. Even the pedestrians were reduced to blurry shadows once they were ten steps away.

"Why does the fog smell so bad today?"

Someone fell, gasping for breath, mustering up their last bit of strength to leave their last word as they died right when their life was back on track.

"…Why?"

A woman broke into a violent coughing fit as her face flushed red, with every joint in her body experiencing an unbearable ache.

In East Borough, the dock area, and the factory district, the old or those with latent ailments collapsed in the fog in succession like felled trees, while those who came into contact with them felt as if they had been infected by the plague. They died quickly, and even the able-bodied adults and children also felt slightly unwell.

In their eyes, the light yellow and iron-black fog was like the descent of Death.

On the Tuesday of the last week in 1349, Backlund was shrouded in haze.

'Has it officially begun?'

The Fool leaned back in his chair, looking toward another place.

Inside the solarium of Red Rose Manor, a demoness and a prince were speaking.

"What about you?"

Edessak didn't turn his head, but he continued to stare out of the full-length windows as if searching for the shadows of his past.

He smiled and said, "Me? Let me live in this beautiful story and welcome its final end⁠—good or bad."

The Fool closed his eyes, thinking back to everything that happened since he touched these crimson stars.

"You may address me as… The Fool. An evil god."

"Then, are you not going to send us back?"

"…Ah. I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I have a bit of difficulty focusing."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~!"

"It was a very common system in my hometown."

"If I may ask, what was your favorite dish? Knowing your tastes would help me know what to sacrifice next time."

"Mr. Fool, have you considered adding more members?"

"I am an evil god. Evil gods don't save people."

"In that case, you don't have to intervene yourself. Don't you have followers who could kill him in your stead?"

It's too late for you.

"But you haven't won, Adam. I am going to live."

It didn't cross Leonard's mind that the god had voluntarily decided to not help him. How would he react if he knew?

'Well, after all, whether it's 4 or 6, there's not much difference…'

The deception was over, He could have never truly been human.

"I'd like to read your novel. Could you sacrifice one book to me so that I can read it?"

'Should I give her a blessing?'

What would he choose now?

The Fool opened his eyes.

"Me? Let me live in this beautiful story and welcome its final end⁠—good or bad."

Then, his lips curled up into a bitter smile, like a clown.

He had made a decision.