Work Text:
The First Monday of the month, 3:00 PM Backlund time.
After a series of exchanges, Fors raised her hand. “As you all know, I’m writing a biography on the life of the crazy adventurer, Gehrman Sparrow. I’ve already traveled to some places and interviewed some people, but I still don’t have enough information. If anyone could share what they know about him, even if it’s unimportant, it would help me a ton.” After saying this, she glanced surreptitiously at The Star.
However, Audrey was the first to speak. “Well, I won’t say much as this concerns the privacy of a client, but Gehrman Sparrow isn’t as cold as he appears. On the outside, he seems aloof and crazy, but truthfully he has a warm heart on the inside.”
At this, Fors nodded. Although she had found it hard to believe when she first encountered the two children of a merchant in Bayam, it was nonetheless true.
Several Tarot Club members then began to chime in with various bits of information or personality traits of Gehrman, while The Star remained silent.
Emlyn thought to himself for a moment, racking his brain for any way to contribute to the conversation. However, he truly didn’t interact with The World that much, until he suddenly recalled a certain moment: when discussing his love for dolls with him!
He raised his hand. “Once, I asked The World what his favorite things in the world were, and he responded with money…”
All of the Tarot Members present nodded their heads. This was as expected.
“And delicacies.”
Fors’ jaw dropped.
“You must’ve misheard him, right?” Even Alger was in disbelief. After all, no one could’ve associated the cold, crazy, and fanatic Gehrman Sparrow with a foodie!
“No, that’s what he said.” Emlyn honestly shook his head. “I even asked him if he would like a stack of edible gold pounds, and he said no.”
“How did he not pull a gun on you immediately?!” The shocked Fors was certain that if she pulled a similar stunt, she would immediately be sent to meet God!
However, the vampire- no, Sanguine only scratched his head in confusion. “Why are you so scared of The World? He’s pretty easy to get along with, if not a little thrifty at times.”
“How can this be…” The Magician slumped down in her chair, dejected. “Why is it only me who’s being threatened and frightened by Gehrman?? Is it because I look easy to bully?!”
“Perhaps,” Audrey interjected, analyzing the situation from the perspective of a Spectator. “The World has already been privately acquainted with Mr. Moon.”
“No, I haven’t-“ Emlyn started and paused. “Actually, that’s very likely. He mysteriously knows a lot of things about me, where I live, and who I know. When he wanted to borrow a specific item from me, I asked Gehrman how he knew I had it, and he even said that we ‘might have met before.’”
“But the strange thing is, I really haven’t met him before!” Emlyn finished.
“The World is known to be able to change his appearance.” Cattleya reminded. “Why don’t you try recalling any time he was mentioned to you in the outside world? Chances are, if he knows you personally through another identity, he will also know the people around you.”
Suddenly, The Star lightly tapped the table to get everyone’s attention. “I was debating whether or not to reveal this, as it’s rather personal, but it seems like everyone will figure it out sooner or later anyways…Plus, this will likely strengthen his anchors.”
Well, that’s just an excuse to get a little revenge on Klein. Leonard turned to The Moon with a slightly mischievous smile. “Mr. Moon, do you recall having a friend that is a mysterious and powerful Beyonder, who came out of nowhere and just as abruptly disappeared around the end of December, right before Gehrman Sparrow appeared for the first time in January? You might have also sold him some rare Beyonder materials.”
Emlyn sank into deep thought. To be honest, he didn’t have that many friends, especially with his reclusive nature in the past. Very quickly, he settled on a target.
“No way…” Emlyn muttered to himself. However, the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed! Sherlock Moriarty… and The World?! He leaped up to his feet, completely forgetting the dignity of a Sanguine in his shock. “No way! He and… and Gehrman Sparrow are the same person?! But their personalities are so different!”
Leonard smiled, seeing that Emlyn had finally got it.
In a daze, he continued. “I-I threatened to go to the police station and report that he’s a Beyonder, and he said he’d go with me and shout that I’m a vampire…When I asked him if he was afraid I’d run off with a deposit of a thousand pounds, he replied that he’d capture and sell me off for more than that…”
…Why does this still sound like something Gehrman would do? Fors’ eye twitched.
Emlyn sat down. “I called Mr. Fool an evil god in front of him…” He muttered to himself in disbelief. “He even warned me against praying to unknown existences. His acting really is superb!”
Several of the Tarot Club members coughed awkwardly. Evil God…
“I’ll remind you not to easily expose his identity to others, as it could jeopardize him and the people around him.” Leonard emphasized.
Emlyn nodded, thinking that he would have to pay a visit to the Rose School of Thought’s Temperance faction, as they were likely already aware that Sherlock and Gehrman were the same person.
Fors cleared her throat. “Um, is there any other information you have on Gehrman?” She asked tentatively, trying to keep the conversation on track.
Leonard shrugged. “Although I do know quite a bit about The World, I don’t know much about Gehrman Sparrow, so I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
After hearing The Star’s response, Emlyn also kept his mouth shut.
“But he really does like food. In fact, he seems to have a sharp preference for sweet things, although he claims he’s a lover of all flavors. I doubt this changed after he donned the identity of Gehrman Sparrow, although he probably hid it to align with the persona of a crazy adventurer.” Leonard continued.
“I also noticed this when interacting with Dwayne Dantes,” Audrey added helpfully.
Gehrman Sparrow has a sweet tooth! Fors quickly recorded this mentally. Hehe, the image of the terrifying hunter has been shattered! See if you can still scare me next time!
“Do you know what his favorite food is?” She asked The Star cautiously, pushing her luck. This wasn’t really for the biography, but rather just blackmail material!
“Hmm…” Leonard thought for a while. “Well, I’ve noticed that he seems to like sweet iced tea a lot.”
…The drink that’s for kids?
However, The Star simply had to add fuel to the flames. “I actually once asked him how he could eat so much and not get fat when he was in the Forsaken Land of Gods, but he said that he doesn’t have to worry about that with the Faceless powers.”
Everyone: …How convenient!
It was on this day that, mainly because of the thoughtless words of The Star, The World’s carefully upheld persona was smashed into smithereens.
…
Klein when he wakes up: …Leonard, you’re dead!
