Alice stared at Klein without saying a word.
She really couldn't remember when her real birthday was, but theoretically speaking, her current body should have a birth date.
So...
"I'll figure out the birthday of this body once I get back!" To set the mood, Alice slapped the table.
Klein, used to Alice's dramatic antics, didn't comment on it. Instead, he asked curiously:
"Why did it look like you were being so... cautious when you slapped the table?"
Alice's hand paused mid-air before she pulled it back, sighed deeply in mock solemnity, and looked straight ahead as she said:
"The gifts of fate never come without a price. I've already paid a terrible cost. I hope you learn from my mistakes and act with caution."
"Speak human," Klein said succinctly.
Alice instantly dropped her serious act, pouting in dissatisfaction. "I accidentally cracked a table at the inn."
Klein reached out and held his forehead.
"But I discovered," Alice quickly perked up again, "that 'Reset' is really useful—I don't have to worry about overeating anymore! Though... it is kind of wasteful with food..."
Klein opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but recalling the yet-to-be-named Sequence 4 he was aiming for, he ultimately chose to stay quiet.
He was deeply worried that the conversation would turn toward whether his higher-sequence powers would be suitable for a circus act.
But at certain moments, Alice didn't need anyone to respond—like now:
"But there's one thing that really confuses me...
"The low-sequence powers of Beyonders seem to reflect the authority of their path's true deity.
"Klein, what kind of divine authority would manifest as circus-performing abilities in the lower sequences?"
Klein didn't want to answer that.
Alice had no intention of waiting for him to reply and continued musing aloud:
"But it's not even a full circus set with you, right? After all, the 'Beast Tamer' is on the Apothecary's side... Why is that?"
"Alice," Klein said expressionlessly, "have you said this to anyone else?"
"No," Alice shook her head decisively. "After all, we're the Tarot Club, not the Tarot Circus..."
"?" Klein stared at Alice.
Alice blinked twice, eyes full of innocence.
Klein gave up on reasoning with her and tactfully suggested, "If you're really bored, I could introduce you to your teacher."
"Hmm..." Alice didn't resist as she had before. Instead, she frowned and rubbed her chin. "Do you think she could tell me where to find the main ingredients for my potion?"
After a pause, she added, "I haven't heard of the monster listed in the potion formula..."
Klein was stunned for a moment, then asked curiously, "Which Sequence's potion formula?"
Alice pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "Actually, I've barely heard of any of the ingredients for the later ones... But I'm asking about Sequence 4."
"No, what I meant was... do you still need to take potions the usual way?" Klein shook his head and asked his real question.
Alice rubbed her chin and said:
"The Beyonder characteristic is definitely necessary, but whether I need to follow the standard process... I'm not too sure. Still, I want to try doing it that way.
"Mainly because I want to know how much of the potion knowledge I altered in the past...
"I keep feeling like He's being way too gentle toward the lower sequences—He just deleted a few warnings...
"Why not throw in some fake info?"
Klein was shocked, his mouth agape. He stared at Alice for over ten seconds before saying with deep concern:
"I hope the high sequences of the Seer pathway don't have people like you."
Alice quietly lowered her head.
Klein looked at her helplessly and said gently:
"Sometimes, I'm really grateful that the Church doesn't have a potion formula for 'Monster', and that I chose the Seer path because of Roselle's diary..."
Alice suddenly fell silent. She stared at Klein and asked in an uncertain tone, "Are you sure that was really your decision?"
Klein froze.
Alice lowered her head and said softly:
"Do you know what the high-sequence abilities of the 'Fate' path are?
"Immense computational power and control over the probability of every event... Do you know, even drawing lots—what lot you pick—can be determined.
"I can even decide whether people believe the words I say...
"Do you know what that means? It means I can shape a person's entire life, from birth to death. Every coincidence, every accident, all within my plan.
"I can make them never question it. Or I can, on a whim, one day let them sit here like us, wondering whether their life is under someone else's control...
"Or maybe, even my current thoughts... are being controlled?
"After all, I feel like... my memories might be fake."
Klein said nothing. He just quietly looked at Alice. For a moment, he suddenly recalled the joke between them—maybe they were living in a book.
It was a terrifying thought, one he instinctively avoided. But at this moment, Alice gave him a new possibility.
Maybe their reluctance to think deeply about it was also... arranged?
Maybe even thinking of the question now was...
"Don't think about it," Alice's voice snapped Klein out of his thoughts. "The answer isn't actually that important. After all..."
Alice paused. She looked deeply at Klein before softly saying:
"If even our awareness of it is arranged by someone else, then it means we have no power to resist at all.
"What's the point of knowing the answer? The process and result won't change—it'll just bring unnecessary worry.
"If it's fate's arrangement, all we can do is follow its direction... and wait for the opportunity..."
Alice's words trailed off. Her spirituality suddenly stirred, and she thought of her advancement ritual.
Finding a turning point within misfortune created by a powerhouse above demi-god level... And after finding the turning point? Run away, or seize the opportunity and strike back?
The ritual didn't say explicitly, but suddenly, Alice had a realization.
Maybe the key to the ritual wasn't the misfortune, but the turning point—find the opportunity, then take control of everything.
A transformation from being fate's "chosen winner" to becoming a " Misfortune Mage" who could actually grasp part of their own fate.