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TheTarotCaf
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheTarotCafisamanhwabyParkSangsun
()beingpublishedbySigongsainKorea,
anddistributedbyTokyopopintheUnitedStates.
SevenvolumeshavebeenpublishedinKorea,all
ofwhichhavebeentranslatedintoEnglish.Each
chapterstartsorendswithamodifiedtarotcard
oftenrelatingtothestory,featuringwellknown
commercialtarotdecksreplacedwithstory
characters.

TheTarotCaf

Contents
1Plot
2Characters
3Release
3.1VolumeList
4References
5Externallinks

Plot

Cover,TheTarotCafvolume1(Tokyopopedition)

Genre
Author
Publisher

Horror,romance
Mythologyincomics
ParkSangsun
Sigongsa

IncontemporaryGreatBritain,Pamelaisthe
Englishpublisher

MadmanEntertainment
ownerofamysteriousTarotCafe.After

Tokyopop
midnight,shereceivessupernaturalclientswho
cometoherforadvicethroughtarotreadings.
Fromcatstofairiestovampires,theytellhertheir OtherPublishers
storiesevenassheunravelstheirpast,presentand Volumes
7
futurethroughhercards.Inexchangeforher
advice,theypayherwithbeadsofBerial'sNecklace,whichPamelagathersforherownsecretends.

Characters
Pamela:Pamelawasorphanedatageelevenwhenhermotherwasburnedatthestakeforwitchcraft.As
aresultofhermother'sbegging,shewasspared,despitehavingtheabilitytoforeseethefuture.Led
awayfromthevillagebyapriest,Pamelawasabandonedintheforest.Afterachanceencounter,she
wasraisedbyadragonnamedAsh,whoultimatelybecamebothherloverandhermentor.Yearslater,
Ashwasmurdered,andwhilstdyinginPamela'sarms,inadvertentlygavePamelahisimmortallife
throughadropofbloodfromhisheart,whichmanifestedasamarkonherforehead.Aftertrying
unsuccessfullytoendherlifebymanymeans,shemakesapactwithBelus.Inexchangeforcollecting
thebeadsofBerial'snecklace,hehasagreedtokillher.Now,hundredsofyearslater,sheisthewise
proprietoroftheTarotCaf.Sheisbothkindandsternwithhermanycustomers,particularlyher
"special"ones.Inherownwords,shedoesn'tprofesstoknowthefuturebutinsteaddependson
examiningherclientstofullyunderstandtheirmotivationsandproblems.Alsotoaidherisavaststore
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ofesotericknowledge,particularlyidentificationofmagicalcreatures,andhercompanionBelus.Pamela
isakindheartedyoungwoman,shownwhenshetakesintheyoungwerewolfAaronafterhecomesto
herforatarotreading,butattimescynicalabouthumanity(thoughnotquitetotheextentofBelus).She
hasacomplicatedrelationshipwithBelus,whosheisboundtobyapact.Whiletheyoutwardlyappear
todislikeeachotherandviolentlydenyanysortofromanticrelationshipwithoneanother,theytolerate
andultimatelydependononeanotherforstrength(oragoodshoveinonedirectionoranother).
However,heissimplyanaspectofBelial,andbeingadevilhetoyswithher,revealinghistrueformand
forcinghertochoosebetweenseeinghermotherinheavenbykillingAsh,andlivingforever.Whenshe
issaved,sheremainsclosetoAaronandNeribos,sayinggoodbyetohimwhenhedies.WhenBelus
returns,heattemptsindesperationtoreestablishtheiroldcontract.However,sherevealsshehas
decidedtolive,andtentatavelyletshimbackintoherlifeafterheadmitsthathe'slonely.Itisimplied
theystaytogetherandbegintheirrelationshipanew.
Belus:AmysteriousyoungmanwithanintimatetiewithPamela,Belusisalwaysathershoptoannoy
heroroffercynicalremarksabouthumanityandherclients.Whentheyfirst"meet"heclaimstobe
PrinceofPandemonium.Aftersheisthrowninabodyofwaterasawitch,herescuesherfromamob.
Heisoftenshownsmokingasmallopiumpipe.Mercurialandflippant,heneverthelessshowsaserious
side,particularlywhenPamelaisthreatened,slaughteringmanytosaveherlife.Thismaybebecausehe
hasmadeapactwithherinexchangeforhergatheringallthepiecesofthemystic'Belial'sNecklace',
hewillendherimmortallife.HealsohasastrangeconnectionwithAshandNebiros,andseemsto
knoweithereverythingornothingatallaboutanygivensubject.Heisoftenfoundtobeinvolvedin
differentepisodeswhereonemightnotexpecthimtobe.AccordingtoAsh,whohatesPamelabecause
Belushisonlyfriendasachild,helefttofindherbecauseshemadehimhappierthananyoneelse.
Despitehisnormalappearance,heexhibitsseveralsupernaturaltraitshisstamina,strength,speedand
damageresistanceareallfarabovehumans,survivingfallsandinjuriesthatwouldkillhumansandmost
immortals,andabletostrangleaferalwerewolftoneardeathwithoutstraininghimself.Laterinthe
seriesitisrevealedheiscapableofgreatmagicalfeats.Eventually,hecomestobenearlykilled
defendingPamela,butappearsinHellwhereheandPamelasleeptogetherafterhesavesherlife.Inthe
end,itisrevealedthatBelusisjustanotherformofBelial,whogenuinelylovesPamela,butbeinga
Devilandnotknowinganythingelse,hehasbeenplayingacruelgamewithherbecausesheistheonly
thingthatamuseshim.Heattemptstoforcehertochoosebetweenlivingfortherestofeternity,or
killingAshanddying.WhensheissavedbyGod,hegoesintoisolationfor60years,onlyadmittinghis
feelingswhenNeribosvisitshimtotaunthimaboutlove.Attheend,hegoesbacktofindPamelaafter
receivingahandkerchiefsoakedwithhertearsfromNebiros,andsheletshimin.Thetwoofthem
decidetospendtherestofeternitytogetherwithneitheronedying,thoughitisunclearwhattheir
relationshipbecomes.
Aaron:Abusedandultimatelysoldbyhisalcoholicfather,Aaronisayoungboywhooncewasthe
companionofademonnamedNebiros,whograntedhiseverywish.Heultimatelygrewdissatisfiedin
Nebiros'scastle,andisluredbytheenticingcompanyofayoungshepherdgirlwhopersuadedhimto
runawaywithher.Onceheleftthecastle,however,sheturnedintoawerewolfandbithimwiththe
intentionofdevouringhim.AlthoughNebirosarrivedintimetosavehim,Nebiroswasstungbyhis
youngcharge'sbetrayalandabandonedhim.Withabitewoundfromthefemalewerewolf,Aaronisnow
cursedtoturnintoawerewolfeveryfullmoon.AfterPamelatakeshimfromthestreetsandreadshis
cards,shehireshimashercafeemployee.Heisaflightybutgoodheartedboy(describedbyPamelaas
having'thenoseofadogandthebrainofabird')whoishauntedbythehorrificchangethatcomesover
himeverymonthandwiththememoryofthemanwhowaslikeatruefathertohim.Heiskidnapped
andrescuedbyNebirosandsixtyyearslaterattheendofthestory,heisseendyingasaneightyyear
oldmanafterNebirosandhefinallyreconciledwitheachother,withNebirospromisingAaronthatthey
wouldseeeachotheragainonceNebirosreturnedtotherankofanangel.

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Ash(past):AshisthenameoftwovirtuallyidenticalmenwithintimateconnectionstoPamela:oneher
formerteacherandloverandtheotheramysteriousyoungmanwhosuddenlyappearsonPamela's
doorstep.ThepastAshwasadragonofgreatrank,thoughakind,slightlyscatterbrainedrecluse,in
comparisontohisclosestfriend,theseriousandbelligerent,thoughdutiful,EmperorAlecto.Thisisa
deceptionhowever,thoughhedoeslovePamela,headmitstolovinghimselfmore,andisdescribedby
Belialhimselfas"thecoldestperson"heknows.HediscoveredPamelaafterhermotherwasexecuted,
andraisedher,ultimatelyfallinginlovewithheragainstthemisgivingsofAlecto.Pamela'sandAsh's
idyllicexistencesoonwasshattereduponAsh'sdeathandthepassingofhisimmortalitytoherwiththe
firstdropofbloodfromhisheart.DespitehisloveforPamelaandhisgenuineaffectionforAlecto,he
trulydetestedlife,describinghisheartasstoneandwantednothingmoretodie,unleashingatragic
seriesofeventsthatresultedinPamela'sanguishedinheritanceofhisimmortality.
Ash(present):ThepresentdayAshappearstohavenomemoriesofhispastandyetseemstoattractthe
worstsortofcompany.Despitehissweet,almostinnocentdemeanor,heisinrealityacruelsociopath
whohasnotroubletorturingandseducingothersformereamusement.Hewasapparentlyraisedbythe
curiousfortunetellerCorasincechildhoodthoughheshowshernorealaffection.Hehasasimilarly
tumultuousrelationshipwithBelus,abletothreatentheothermanwithoutrepercussions,thoughdueto
Belus'struenatureitisunsurehowmuchofthisisBelushumouringhimforhisownends.Accordingto
him,Beluswashisteacherandfriend,butabandonedhimforPamela,causinghimtohateher.
EventuallyhecomestobekidnappedbyaconfusedAlectoandafterafailedseductionattempt,faintsat
thespeakingofthePastAsh'sfullname.Onceheisreturned,hecomestohauntbothPamelaandCora's
stepsoncemore,culminatinginadevastatingrevelationabouthispastandpurpose.AlectotellstheAsh
thatheisonlyadollcreatedbyBelialandgivenlifebyagemstoneofBelial'snecklace.Eventually,itis
revealedthatheisactuallytherealAsh,whohadsignedacontractwithBelialforanewlifeinwhich
onemaydie,bereborn,andhaveanend.After60yearspassedattheendoftheseries,Ashisseenasa
youngstudentamongagroupoffriendswalkingpastPamela.Bothofthemsharealongstare,before
lookingaway.Whenquestionedbyoneofhisfriendswhetherheknowsher,Ashanswers"no."
Alecto:AnotherdragonfromthedaysofDarkEngland,apparentlytheEmperorofDragons,withagrim
prophecyhangingoverhim:thedayhefallsinlovewithahumanfemalewouldbethedaydeathtakes
him.ThoughfriendswithAsh,hetreatshimwithopencontemptandagruffconcern,particularly
regardingAshraisingPamela.HiscallousnessextendstothepointthathecallsAshauselessdragon,
andwereheafemaleAlectowouldimpregnatetheothertopropagatethespecies.Belatedlyfindingof
Ash'sdeathfromaloyalwindservant,hewasunabletofindanythingatthesiteofthedeath.Hehas
sincehuntedPamela,insistentshekilledAsh,whetherinmaliceorcarelessness.Sowhenhefinally
findsher,andproceedstoattackher,whoshouldwalkintothecafebutAshhimself.Confused,Alecto
questionshimfiercely,onlytobetoldthatthiswasnottherealAsh.Refusingtoacceptthefact,helater
kidnapsAshandchainshiminhisbedchamber.AfternearlybeingtakeninbyAsh'scharms,heflees
andlaterreturnstoexplaintothenewAshabouthispast.WhenhespeaksthepastDragon'sname,heis
thenthrownbackbyamysteriousforcelaterrevealedtobeBelialandobliterated.Later,itisrevealedhe
wassenttoHellandspokewithathreeheadedcronewhotoldhimhisfate.Itislaterrevealedthat
AlectowasalsoinlovewithPamelasincehefirstsawherandthathewishestokillhertoendhispain.
HeisinfectedbyaMindWorm,causinghimtogoinsane,andiseventuallykilledinhisdragonformby
Belus.
Nebiros:NebirosisamysteriousfigureandthefosterfatherofAaron.Heclaimstobeademonthough
heismorecommonlyassociatedwithwerewolves,whofearandadorehim.Sometimebefore,hehad
"purchased"Aaronfromhisdrunkenfatherandluredhimintoasecludedcastle.Heprovidestheboy
witheverythinghedesiresandsoontakeshimasaconfidant.Cursedby"forcesoflight,"(possiblyfor
sidingwithLuciferandtherebelangelsintheWarofHeaven)hebecomeswrackedwithpainandmust
remaininisolation.Despitethiscurse,heisapowerfuldemon,abletoturnunderlingsintostonewith
onetouchofhissigilring.UponAaron'sbetrayal,heabandonstheboyandisolateshimself.Oddly
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enough,heseemstobeacquaintanceswithBelus,thoughheshowsnolikingfortheothermale.Itis
revealedattheendthatNebiroswasaformerangelwhowascastfromheavenandturnedintoademon
bytheAlmighty.HeisBelial'srival,explaininghisconnectionwithBelus(Belusisanotherformof
Belial).HelaterreturnsforAaronandleadsPamelatoBelialinHell,gettinghisrevengeonBelialashe
canwatchwhilstheunwittinglybetraysandcrushesthethinghelovesmost,Pamela,forcingBelialto
livewithouther.Attheend,hesomewhathelpsBelialtoreconcilewithPamelaknowingthetruthabout
hisseclusion,sayingBeluscan'thidethetruthofhisrealloveforPamelafromhimsincethey'rebrothers
afterall,andgiveshimatissuesoakedwithPamela'stears.HealsoreconcileswithAaronsixtyyears
laterinthestorylineandwaitstoreturntohisangelicstatussohecanbewithAaroninHeaven.
Cora:Amysteriousalbinofortuneteller.ShefoundthepresentdayAshwhenhewasjustachildand
raisedhim.WhenshegoestofindPamelalater,Pamelaisshockedattheresemblancebetweenher
motherandCora.Uponmeeting,CoradissolvesandleavesbehindagemstonefromBelial'snecklace,
indicatingthatshewasadolllikeAsh.
Victor:AwickedmonkfromPamela'spastwhowasinlovewithPamela.Aftersherefusedhim(onthe
groundsthatshewasinlovewithanotherandthatVictormustonlyloveGodasamonk),heattemptsto
rapeher.Hedeclareshewouldhaveherevenifhehadtomakeadealwiththedevil.Aftersheescapes,
hemakesacontractwithBelialtohavethestrengthtokillAsh,becomeimmortal,andwinPamela.
ThoughhesucceedsinkillingAsh,hedoesnotobtainhisotherdesires,asBelialonlypromisedtogive
himthemeans,thefacthefailedwashisfault.
Berial/Belial:Adevillikefigure.KnownastheKingofFearandDeceit,LordofFire,GreatPrince,
andNobleofMalice(amongothertitles)andhasgreatpowerinhell,rivaledonlybyNebiros.Itis
impliedthroughouttheseriesthatdespitebeingaDevil,heissimplyboredratherthanevil,thoughdue
tohispowerhehasnorespectformostpeopleandtreatsthemaspawnsinhisgamestoamusehimself.
Thesegamesareusuallycruelandmalicious,nomatterwhathefeelstowardstheindividuals
themselves.
Belialisfirstintroducedwiththeconceptofhisnecklace:Thenecklaceholdsimmensepowerbutwas
brokenapart.Thesepiecesgravitatetowardsmysticalbeingsbuthavenopowerbythemselves.Belus
chargedPamelawithcollectingthebeadinreturnforherdeath.ItislaterrevealedthatBelialdisguised
himselfasaSagewhogavebreadtothepoorwhenPamelawasachild.WhenPamelaandhermother
wenttohimforfood,thegirl'spowerletherseehistrueevilform,awingeddemonfeedingpeoplethe
dead.ThisimpressedandintriguedBelial,whothensetaboutmakingPamelaimmortalbygranting
Ash'swishtodie(hewantedPamelaaroundforeversothathecouldcontinueto"enjoy"her).Itis
furtherrevealedthathewasresponsibleforcreatingCoraandthepresentdayAshwithgemstonesfrom
hisnecklaceandthatthey,alongwithAlecto,Pamela,andBelus,werepawnsinhisgames.Attheend
oftheseries,itisrevealedthatBelialandBelusareoneandthesameandthatheactuallylovesPamela,
butbeingaDevilandnotknowinghowtodealwiththis,playsacruelgamewithherthatonlysucceeds
indrivingheraway.Hewasalsodisguisedasthefirstmonkwhodecreedthatthemothermustdiebut
thatPamelawasyoungenoughtopossiblyberedeemed.After60yearsinisolation,Belial/Belusis
gloatedoverbyNebiros,assinceheandBelialarebrothers,heknowsBelialtrulylovedPamela,
claimingheenjoyedwatchingBelialriphimselfapart,andleavesahandkerchiefPamelacriedinto.He
beginstohopehecanhavethislovereciprocatedthroughBelus,anaspectofhimselfthatPamelaloves,
andattemptstoreestablishhisoldcontractwithherjustforareasontocontacther.Whenshereveals
herdesiretolive,shetentativelyletshimin,anditisimpliedtheystaytogether,thoughitisunknown
whathappenstohisrealminHellafterheleaves.

Release
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TheTarotCafislicensedforanEnglishlanguagereleaseinNorthAmericabyTokyopop,who
publishedthesevenvolumesfromMarch8,2005toJune10,2008.[1]Theseriesisalsolicensedin
BrazilbyNewPopEditora,[2]andinFrancebySoleilManga.

VolumeList

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No.

Koreanrelease
date

KoreanISBN

01

NorthAmerican NorthAmerican
releasedate
ISBN
March8,2005

ISBN9781
595325556

001."AWishFulfillingCat"
002."EternalBeauty"
003."AFairy"
004."AHeartlessPrincess,anAlchemist,andaJester(Part1)"
02

June7,2005

ISBN9781
595325563

005."AHeartlessPrincess,anAlchemistandaJester(Part2)"
006."TheWerewolfBoy"
007."TheWitchHunt"
03

September13,
2005

ISBN9781
595325570

December13,
2005

ISBN9781
595328144

June12,2007

ISBN9781
427803955

October9,2007

ISBN9781
427803962

June10,2008[3]

ISBN9781
427803979

008."TheStarofJealousy"
009."LadyoftheLake"
010."DragonHeart"
04

011."AButterflyinMyDreams"
012."Contract"
013."LeananSidhe(One)"
05

014."LeananSidhe(Two)"
015."Perfume"
016."TreeandLongHornedBeetle"
06

017."InvitationtoHell"

07

018."EndoftheJourney"

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References
1. "TarotCafe(Manga)"(http://www.madman.com.au/actions/periodicals.do?periodicalId=244&method=home).
MadmanEntertainment.Retrieved28November2009.
2. "TarotCaf7"(http://www.newpop.com.br/?p=436)(inPortuguese).NewPopEditora.RetrievedAugust3,
2015.
3. "Manga+Comics:BookCatalog"(http://www.tokyopop.com/manga/book_catalog/browse?alphabet=T).
Tokyopop.Retrieved28November2009.

Externallinks
Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Tarot_Caf&oldid=674435144"
Categories: Manhwatitles Tokyopoptitles Horrorcomics Mythologyincomics
Romancecomics Tarot
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