Chapter 51: The Devil’s Currency and the Abyssal Path

Levi nodded in understanding. “Mad Hatter,” she began, “would it be acceptable if I set aside my role as an assistant to the Starry Night Queen for a moment and asked you some questions purely on my own behalf?”

“Ask away, my friend! Tea time is precisely for a good, long chat,” the Mad Hatter replied expansively.

“Is the Tea Party an organization that you founded and lead?”

“Indeed, I was the one who first breathed life into it. However, I’m not fond of the term ‘leader’; I merely organize the activities.” The Mad Hatter waved a dismissive finger. “I have no patience for rigid hierarchies.”

“When you helped me in the Rabbit Hole Dungeon, was that also because of the ‘Tea Party’s’ ideals?” Levi asked earnestly.

“You could say that, to an extent. You were oppressed at the time, and empowering you to resist that oppression aligned with the ‘Tea Party’s’ philosophy.” The Mad Hatter grinned. “Though, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t thinking that deeply back then. I just found it rather amusing.”

“Then, do you truly believe the grand objective of your ideals can be achieved?” Levi pressed.

She wished to understand the ‘Tea Party’s’ philosophy as deeply as possible. In the future that ‘Alice’ had glimpsed, it seemed highly probable that Levi herself would become a member of this organization.

“Do you find it too unrealistic?” the Mad Hatter countered.

“I simply feel the goal is too distant,” Levi admitted.

In her view, striving only for the liberation of one’s own people and nation, like Queen Isola, was a more tangible pursuit. The notion of forming an organization to save all oppressed people sounded far too idealistic.

“It is indeed distant; perhaps only a madman would be so ambitiously visionary. But this very madness is the only viable long-term path. Unless the idea that the weak should unite is rooted in every corner, the exploitation of the weak by the strong will never be eradicated.”

“Liberating just one group will always leave another suffering at the bottom. This rigidly hierarchical world will never truly change.” The Mad Hatter finished with a smile, draining the tea from his cup.

Levi observed the Mad Hatter, lost in thought. As he spoke of his ideals, his face held a smile that was somewhat naive, even tinged with a touch of wild fervor.

Undoubtedly, he believed in his chosen path with unwavering conviction and maintained an optimistic outlook.

Levi couldn’t help but feel a contagion of that spirit, not merely from the Mad Hatter’s impassioned words, but also from her own experiences. Strictly speaking, she was a beneficiary of the Tea Party’s ideals; she too had once been deeply oppressed by nobles.

It was fate that had arranged for the Mad Hatter and Queen Isola to grant her the opportunity for revenge.

“May I join the ‘Tea Party’ in a personal capacity?” Levi voiced the thought that had taken root in her mind.

Before the Mad Hatter could speak, the March Hare frowned and interjected, “What foolishness are you spouting? You’re with the Witch Cult now, aren’t you?”

“Strictly speaking, my relationship with them is one of fair trade. I assist them, and they, in turn, aid my objectives. My desire to join the ‘Tea Party’ is a personal decision,” Levi clarified.

“Hehehe, well, that’s perfectly fine! The more people drinking tea together, the merrier, wouldn’t you agree?” The Mad Hatter chuckled strangely. “However, the Tea Party isn’t something you can just join on a whim.”

“Do I need to endorse your ideals?” Levi asked. “Or perhaps pass some kind of test? I actually find your philosophy quite compelling.”

“Dormouse will confirm that,” the Mad Hatter waved a hand. “He can discern whether someone is lying…”

Mid-sentence, the Dormouse suddenly mumbled in a dreamlike voice, “He speaks the truth.”

“Don’t steal my thunder!” The Mad Hatter playfully pressed the Dormouse’s head onto the tea table. “What I mean is, the ‘Tea Party’ is a free organization. Simply joining won’t restrict your thoughts—we’re not some salvation cult. Even if you don’t fully agree with my ideals, I won’t force your mind to align with mine. We can all sit down, drink tea, and exchange ideas, can’t we?”

“Then… there are other conditions?” Levi was somewhat surprised.

“Actually, it’s not that complicated. Just pay a membership fee, and we’ll let you join the Tea Party!” The Mad Hatter clapped his hands.

“Huh?” Levi blinked. Her first thought was whether this ‘membership fee’ was some kind of metaphor. “Could you be more specific? What exactly is this ‘membership fee’?”

“Money, of course! What else could it be?” The Mad Hatter raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.

“I just have to pay!?” Levi’s astonishment was genuine.

For an underground organization that secretly operated, evading the Church’s surveillance, to admit members simply for a fee, like a club, seemed far too whimsical.

“After all, running an organization costs money, you know,” the Mad Hatter laughed heartily.

“You’re joking, right?” Levi felt as if she were dreaming.

Though, strictly speaking, she *was* dreaming.

“No joke. Hey, how much should we charge for the membership fee?” The Mad Hatter turned to his two companions.

“I’m so sleepy. You decide,” the Dormouse said, completely uninterested.

“Five silver coins should do for a token amount,” the March Hare suggested.

“There’s no standard at all! You’re clearly making this up on the spot, aren’t you? You’re not even trying to hide it!” Levi exclaimed, pointing at the Mad Hatter.

“We charge according to the season,” the Mad Hatter said, sticking out his tongue.

“This isn’t selling crabs!” Levi couldn’t help but frown. “Aren’t you afraid of spies infiltrating the organization if you’re so lax? The Church certainly doesn’t lack funds.”

After all, five silver coins were hardly a large sum, barely a few days’ wages for an ordinary clerical job.

“It’s fine. Dormouse can identify problematic people, and March Hare can deal with them.” The Mad Hatter began to chuckle strangely again, pouring himself more tea. “Hehe, if a few more spies pay to get in, that’s not bad either. Taking membership fees from the Church—now that’s a good deal!”

Levi realized this truly was the core of the organization. The Mad Hatter was the decision-maker, with the Dormouse and March Hare as his right and left hands. The Dormouse handled administrative tasks and the Tea Party’s arrangements, while the March Hare was responsible for security, eliminating threats to the organization.

She recalled the future she had seen when divining the outcome of her revenge—in that future, the Mad Hatter seemed to be holding a strange object, telling her she had passed some test.

‘I should hint at it and see,’ Levi thought.

“Just paying money is enough? Shouldn’t there be some kind of trial or process?” Levi probed cautiously. “Like finding a grayish-white coin-shaped object or something?”

“Hmm?” The Mad Hatter, who had just been about to bring his cup to his lips, suddenly froze. He looked up, scrutinizing Levi carefully. “You… why do you know about such a thing?”

“It was the result of my divination,” Levi stated directly. “I’ll be honest, Mad Hatter. The Starry Night Queen’s side is indeed a little curious about the organization behind you, but coming to find you specifically was my personal decision. Witches have the ability to foresee the future, and I’ve unexpectedly seen you twice in my visions. It was to understand the connection that I went around inquiring about your whereabouts.”

“Ugh…” The Mad Hatter stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Alright, let me tell you something first. The grayish-white coin-shaped object you saw is most likely a ‘Devil’s Currency,’ which is the crystallization of human souls.”

“Souls?”

“That’s right, have you forgotten? I am a ‘Devil’!” The Mad Hatter grinned. “You haven’t forgotten the legends of devils harvesting human souls, have you? The Abyss, which devils represent, is actually one of the ten class pathways.”

“The crystallized human souls harvested with Abyssal power are precisely the condition for a blessed one of the ‘Abyss’ to advance themselves—this soul must be harvested by the blessed one’s own hands.”

“So that means…” Levi’s eyes widened.

“What you saw was probably not the process of joining the Tea Party, but rather the process of passing my trial and joining the Abyssal Cult,” the Mad Hatter said, holding up a single finger.