The Gamer's POV

After a bit of walking, both brothers reached the Black Diamonds Club.

The massive gray building, which had lots of glass walls, was located not too far from the Patrician’s Keep, and entry into this club was permitted only to the Gold Tiers in Crimson and Silver.

Upon their approach, the doorman stationed at the entrance did not bother to ask for identification and just bowed respectfully before gesturing them inside. He could recognize Leon, and he could see the badge on Cedric’s lapel.

After stepping into the large foyer, a steward quietly stepped forward to receive them.

The black-haired and blue-eyed steward smiled and said smoothly, "Welcome back, Young Master Leon. And welcome to the club, sir. May I take your coats and umbrellas?"

Cedric smiled as he offered his damp umbrella and heavy jacquard coat. Leon did the same too, handing over his things with an easy familiarity.

"What do you gentlemen have a mind for tonight?" the steward asked, keeping his tone perfectly attentive.

There were lots of things that could be done in this club, ranging from drinking at the obsidian bar to joining the high-stakes card tables in the inner lounges.

Right now, however, Cedric needed a quiet place to unwind and speak without being overheard.

"Take us to a private billiards parlor," he instructed. "One with mufflers."

"Alright, sir," the steward replied, offering a nod. "Right this way."

He then turned to lead the two brothers deeper into the establishment. On the way, he handed over the coats and umbrellas to a maid that had approached him.

After leading them upstairs and through the long, carpeted corridor, he stopped in front of a heavy mahogany door inlaid with gold trim.

The door was then opened to reveal a spacious room centered around a pristine slate pool table draped in deep crimson cloth. Plush leather armchairs lined the dark wood walls, while a small, private bar stocked with crystal decanters stood in the corner under the soft glow of a low-hanging brass chandelier.

Right before the brothers stepped inside, the steward turned to them with a reassuring smile. "The mufflers are always active, so no one outside will be able to hear a word of your conversation."

"That’s good then," Cedric smiled back and gave a curt nod before turning and walking into the quiet room. Leon, who had been giving Cedric a curious look, followed closely behind, shutting the door behind them.

Cedric then made his way to the center of the room. As he folded the sleeve of his white shirt, Leon walked over to the opposite side of the table, while letting go of his white cat.

Uriel leaped down, climbing onto one of the plush leather armchairs and curling into a tight, fluffy ball.

"Should we place a bet?" Leon asked with a faint smirk.

’I feel like that’s a trap,’ Cedric thought as he picked up one of the cues from the wall rack, then he began rubbing the tip of the cue with a block of blue chalk.

"Nope. I’m not that great at this... yet," he finally said aloud.

Leon clicked his tongue imperceptibly before smiling. "Fair enough. You take the break, then."

Cedric smiled as he moved to the head of the table. He lined up his cue ball, leaning down until his chin nearly brushed the wood. Then, with a sharp, measured stroke, the cue struck true, sending the white ball streaking across the crimson cloth. It cracked loudly into the neat triangle of balls, scattering them across the slate surface.

One of the solid colors rolled smoothly into the corner pocket with a soft thud.

"Beginner’s luck?" Leon teased as he rested his chin right on top of his cue stick, leaning his weight onto it like a cane. Then he suddenly began tapping his fingers rhythmically against the polished wood.

As he watched Cedric move around the table to eye his next shot, he began a different conversation.

"So, the other day, I was reading The Valeroche Chronicle newspaper and I came across a very fascinating piece of news." He narrowed his eyes, watching Cedric’s body language. "A certain Cedric Mortimer would be named a Count."

Cedric didn’t react and just leaned down again, bringing his eyes level with the cue.

Seeing that, Leon smiled and continued, "Since there was no image of this ’Mortimer,’~ I grew curious and tried to check for myself just who would be receiving such an honor. But for some strange reason, I couldn’t find anything on this person. It was as if such a person does not exist."

Click.

A two-ball rolled straight down the rail and disappeared into the side pocket.

’Ah, that reminds me. I’ve yet to change my name on the Bastion’s records,’ Cedric thought as he stood back up to eye his next shot. ’I should do that sometime soon.’

There was no reason to not make that official.

Now that his parents had worked their way up and had been promoted to Marquis and Marchioness, when people saw him, they would immediately connect him to that grand name.

But Cedric had been sold. And so, he didn’t like the idea of being associated with them any longer, nor did he want to ride the coattails of that family.

"Come to think of it," Leon mused, his fingers stopping their rhythmic tapping on the cue. "There’s only one person who I cannot see at all with my eyes. And this fellow’s name also starts with Cedric."

He smirked and leaned forward, "Are you, by any chance, Cedric Mortimer?"

Cedric leaned down over the table once more, aligning the shot.

Click.

The cue ball struck, sending the three-ball cutting sharply across the slate and dropping cleanly into the opposite corner pocket. He stood back up, checking the new layout of the table, and without looking up, he chalked his cue.

"Yes, I am."

Leon’s jaw dropped in sheer disbelief.

"Are you serious? How does something like that even happen?" He suddenly paused, his eyes widening. "Ah! Wait, let me guess," he snapped his fingers, pointing the tip of his cue stick directly at Cedric. "You met up with the king and negotiated a reward for your contribution to the empire?"

"Nice job," Cedric said in a completely casual tone as he placed the chalk back down and leaned over the slate for his next shot.

"Wow..."

Despite having guessed correctly, Leon was still visibly reeling from the reality of it. Hearing that Cedric had bargained a peerage out of the King was absurd.

And the fact that it was a Count was even more bizarre.

Meanwhile, the game continued on for a few minutes. Cedric had cleared almost the entire table without giving up the turn, but at the end, he rattled a difficult cut shot on his last solid. Leon then stepped up to the table, cleared his stripes, and managed to sink the final eight-ball to take the win.

’Thank goodness I didn’t place the bet,’ Cedric thought with a bitter expression.

"You were not bad..." Leon said, leaning heavily against his cue stick with a smug grin.

"Tsk." Cedric turned and began walking to the bar. "I’ll grab a drink."

Leon chuckled quietly as he walked to sit beside his cat. As he watched Cedric retrieve two glasses from the counter, the smile on his face suddenly vanished and a serious expression took its place.

"By the way," he called out in a low, serious manner. "I know you did not bring me here to play pool."

Cedric reached out and took a bottle of whiskey from the top shelf behind the bar. While he was studying the elegant, gold-embossed label which read Castelnuovo 14-Year, Leon added, "Mind telling me why you requested to meet here?"

Cedric turned and began walking back toward the lounge area, carrying the bottle and the two glasses over to the table.

"So many things happened during the last eclipse. Strange and really terrifying things," he said smoothly as he set the glasses down.

"After those events of the First Ring, I’m sure you have a lot of questions. Because the majority of the misfortune that befell the first year cadets happened because of us, brother."

Leon arched a brow as he watched Cedric uncork the heavy crystal decanter. He gave Cedric a look that said: "obviously."

"I’m sure your need to know must be killing you to find the answers," Cedric added casually.

When he finished pouring the dark amber liquid into the two glasses, he picked up one and sat down in the high-backed armchair opposite him, casually crossing his legs and resting an arm along the cushioned armrest.

"I’m here to answer some of those questions."

Hearing that, Leon glanced at the glass on the table before shifting his gaze back to Cedric.

"Well," he began, hesitating slightly. "You are right, yes. But I’m not sure you have the answers to the questions I actually need to ask."

Cedric took a slow, measured sip of his drink, then swirled the liquid in his glass. "Try me."

Leon looked skeptical.

He narrowed his eyes, studying Cedric for a long moment. Eventually, he exhaled and said, "The main issue I have is why the both of us in particular are being targeted by a God. It makes no sense no matter how I think about it, and my need to know that is driving me insane." He arched a brow in doubt. "Tell me... do you have an answer to that?"

Cedric smiled slightly.

"I do. But you might want to take a drink first."

"I don’t drink," Leon countered flatly.

Cedric stared at him for a moment, his smile fading into something more serious. Eventually, he exhaled and said, "Leon. The reason we are being targeted by a God is because we too were once Gods."

***

"Huh?"

Leon blinked, staring at Cedric as if the man had just spoken in a completely different language.

That was the most absurd thing he had ever heard in his entire life. And he had certainly heard plenty of ridiculous things before.

"Did you already drink before getting here?" he asked in a somewhat concerned voice.

But instead of replying, Cedric pulled a pendant from his pocket. It was crafted of dark gold and greenish black.

...Before this, Cedric had decided to tell Leon the truth and some of the details of what he knew. After all, the entire plan that resulted in them becoming mortals had been orchestrated by both of them.

Now that the God of Unearned Misfortune knew they were both alive as mortals, he would never stop trying to kill them.

It wouldn’t be fair to keep Leon in the dark any longer.

However, to ensure that Leon could withstand the weight of the information, he needed Seo-yeon’s pendant.

He had confirmed that despite Seo-yeon no longer being around, the Narrative Privileges function of it were still somewhat active. It was how he had been able to let Aika take a look into his memories of what happened that night without suffering a lot.

He sighed and threw the pendant onto the table.

When Leon tilted his head, leaning over to study it, Cedric muttered in a quiet, weary voice, "We were not just Gods. We are family."

He lifted his gaze into Leon’s widening green eyes and added, "I know this might sound absurd. But... Leon. You and I are brothers."

"...!!!"

Leon froze.

The room went dead silent until he couldn’t help but blurt out in disbelief.

"W-what....?!"