Chapter 1328 Shampoo Shore’s Pirate Ship <TOC> Chapter 1330 Follow-Up to the Sample Publication
Translator: SumTLMan
Guided by the magnetic compass of intuition, Reynolds, with Nausica by his side, journeyed northward, skirting the aromatic coasts of Shampoo Shore.
Upon reaching the Elephant Trunk Sea Rock, a stone monolith jutting defiantly from the ocean’s embrace, Reynolds cast a contemplative gaze toward a grove of trees guarding the beach’s rear. “That’s likely the entrance,” he surmised.
Nausica, her eyebrows knitting in puzzlement, shot him a skeptical glance. “Likely? Haven’t you been there before?”
After disembarking, Nausica’s keen senses had immediately honed in on Reynolds. He appeared injured, an unsettling aura of blood emanating from him — a scent foreign to any human. Yet, Reynolds was unmistakably human. Connecting the dots, Nausica surmised that Reynolds had integrated some otherworldly bloodline into his own.
His identity was clear as day — Reynolds was no ordinary man but an extraordinary being. And for such a being, how could he have not visited the nearby wizard market?
“I’m not from around here,” Reynolds began, choosing his words carefully. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I found refuge in a fishing village nearby, healing my wounds. I had plans to scout the market today, never anticipating our paths would cross, Miss Nausica.” He added after a pause, “The Fath Gap is the local name for this wizard market, symbolized by that very Elephant Trunk Sea Rock.”
With each step towards the grove, he continued, “The entrance? It’s right where the first pair of palm trees stand side by side, in the forest that mirrors the sea rock.”
A few more strides brought him to a halt, face-to-face with two palm trees, spaced two meters apart, like gatekeepers to a secret world.
Nausica followed his gaze, and sure enough, she sensed a familiar oscillation between them.
It was the unmistakable pulse of an Alternate Dimensional Space!
When dusk’s embrace was captured by the lens, Nausica had ventured into Twilight Deep Well, a space of an alternate dimension, its entrance concealed behind a stark white wall of the Enchanting Fragrance Grand Theatre.
The fluctuations emanating then were identical to the fluctuations now being released by the two palm trees before her.
“If this truly leads to the wizard market in an Alternate Dimension…” Nausica extended her hand and gently brushed the surface. The air rippled like water disturbed by a pebble, her hand seemingly penetrating to the other side.
Her suspicions were confirmed. Witnessing this, Nausica harbored no further doubts. Typically, if the wizard market was set within an Alternate Dimension, it would be rendered intangible and inaccessible to the average person, yet those transcending the ordinary could venture in.
Taking a step forward, Nausica vanished from her original spot.
Reynolds, after casting a glance, followed suit.
What met their gaze was a long, narrow street, flanked by metal buildings of varying heights. A myriad of wondrous floating decorations gave the locale a blend of steampunk allure intertwined with an eerie mystery.
Above them, the sky was overcast, a stark contrast to the azure firmament outside. Chimneys from every establishment spewed thin white smoke, its composition unknown.
Aerial ships tasked with clearing the fog cruised back and forth.
In the distance, Nausica faintly heard the melancholic whistle of a steam train.
“Is this… Fath Gap?” Nausica observed the surroundings with keen interest. The style was intriguing: it was less rigid than Sky Mechanical City, yet boasted more mechanical nuances than the purely fantastical Savage Grottoes.
It straddled the line between the two, yet there wasn’t an ounce of discordance.
As Nausica made her way forward, the bustling crowd around her seemed preoccupied, rendering her virtually invisible. In this place, a majority of the extraordinary individuals donned eccentric attire, so much so that one’s unique ensemble hardly drew a second glance, let alone the relatively subdued garb of Nausica.
Nausica found comfort in this atmosphere. Having been detached from the Wizarding World for some time, reconnecting with this transcendental dimension now felt surprisingly natural.
The only thing that piqued Nausica’s curiosity was——
She turned her head slightly to address Reynolds who was accompanying her, “Is there something on your mind?”
Reynolds shook his head, “Not particularly. However, I thought I overheard you mention earlier about participating in the Novastar Competition?”
Nausica responded with a non-committal nod. The buzz about the Novastar Competition was now the talk of the town among apprentices, and many were aware of it.
“I’ve been thinking of joining the Novastar Competition as well. How about teaming up?”
…
A short while later, Nausica found herself in front of a green building with an owl mailbox by the entrance.
To Nausica’s astonishment, the exterior of the building was swarming with eager patrons, each clamoring for attention, “Reserve one for me! Stop jostling, everyone!”
“Shopkeeper, I need a copy! I’ve placed the magic crystal here!”
“That one’s mine! Remove your hand, or you’ll regret it!”
The cacophony emanated from within the establishment, spilling outwards until a thunderous roar silenced the masses, “Enough! No more shouting, no fighting, and absolutely no commotion! If this continues, I’ll have you all thrown out!”
The horde momentarily subdued their clamor, but their frantic motions persisted unabated.
The shopkeeper, at his wit’s end, reiterated, “We’ve printed plenty of copies of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— this time, ensuring ample stock for everyone here. So, please, queue in an orderly manner. I promise that you’ll get a copy! And should we run out, I’ll promptly restock from Genoa!”
Hearing the shopkeeper’s assurance, the crowd began to form an orderly line.
Nausica, with a look of astonishment in her eyes, had rushed over upon hearing that this shop had the new issue of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper—. But who would’ve thought it would be such a sensation?
Seeing more and more people flocking to the bookstore, Nausica quickly joined the queue.
“It must be due to the upcoming Novastar Competition,” Reynolds whispered, “This edition of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— features a special section on it, which explains the frenzy.”
—City Firefly’s Night Whisper— is renowned for its deep insights on the budding talents in the Wizarding World. Regardless of participation, this is a golden opportunity to stay abreast of current events.
Nausica found herself nodding in agreement with Reynolds’s perspective.
Reynolds continued, “I reckon the book delves into profiles of some of the supernova contenders, like the ‘Child of the Ocean — Jiebo, the ‘Philosopher Scholar — Suyatutai’, ‘Divine Dress Maiden — Carvelyn’, and ‘Food Spirit’, to name a few. Such high-profile figures naturally have a vast following, so this craze is to be expected.”
Nausica was impressed by the depth of Reynolds’s knowledge of the contenders. From his words, it was evident that he too was keenly following the Novastar Competition. Perhaps, as he had hinted, he intended to compete.
Teaming up with Reynolds was shaping up to be a wise choice for Nausica. After all, they were both headed to Sky Mechanical City for the Novastar Competition and would likely use the transport. The more people they had, the lower the transport cost per person.
However, as Reynolds showcased his insights, a girl standing behind him remarked sarcastically, “I don’t see your Cross Badge, though?”
The Cross Badge is a symbol of the wandering wizard. While the emblem itself isn’t necessarily negative, her remark implied she was mocking Reynolds as a country bumpkin, inexperienced and unsophisticated.
Both Reynolds and Nausica frowned, yet the girl remained oblivious to their reactions, continuing, “Who told you we came to buy —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— for the Novastar Competition? The Special Issue for the competition comes out next week! This week’s edition is a special feature on the Abyss War in which the Frost Moon Alliance participated.”
“The Abyss War?” Nausica and Reynolds exchanged puzzled glances.
Nausica was aware that the Frost Moon Alliance had some plans regarding the Abyss, but she wasn’t privy to the details. As for Reynold, having drifted at sea for more than half a year, he was out of the loop with recent events.
“I don’t have the patience to explain. It’s unrelated to the Novastar Competition anyway. If you want the competition’s edition, come back next week,” the girl said, attempting to usher Reynolds out so she could make her purchase promptly.
Reynolds didn’t resist and exited the queue smoothly.
The Abyss War sounded like an event on a magnitude far beyond their current understanding. It might be worth exploring later, but there was no need to ponder over it now.
Upon hearing that —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— didn’t feature the Novastar Competition, Nausica had also decided to leave. However, at that moment, several individuals who had purchased magazines exited the shop.
They held newly bought copies of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper—. Nausica accidentally caught a glimpse of the magazine cover.
It featured a portrait.
Upon recognizing the face concealed by the cloak, Nausica’s expression changed dramatically.
“Is that… Angel? How can that be?” Nausica murmured in disbelief.
To confirm, she repeatedly tried to get a clearer view of the magazine in their hands. The few extraordinary individuals, mistaking Nausica’s intent as an attempt to snatch the magazine, quickly tucked it away and hurried off.
“Could my eyes be deceiving me?” Nausica furrowed her brow.
“Did you just mention Lord Pat?” The girl who had earlier shown disdain for Reynolds inquired of Nausica, interrupting her introspection.
“Lord Pat?” Nausica clarified, “You mean Angel Pat?”
She nodded enthusiastically, a string of adoring glimmers illuminating her eyes, “Yes, him. He’s the aspiration I’ll chase in the future!”
Nausica was visibly taken aback: ? ? ?
“Not only is he incredibly handsome,” the girl continued with rising excitement, “but he also manages situations with remarkable poise. Even when confronted by powerful entities, he remains unflustered! Most significantly, he’s an alchemist who has touched upon the arcane arts!”
Nausica was aware of Angel’s rising fame after the incident in the Purification Garden, where he had become the proverbial ‘arch-enemy’ of Jiebo, setting the world aflame with his reputation.
However, she hadn’t anticipated running into a fervent admirer here.
“He truly is exceptional,” Nausica agreed, nodding in response. Her assent was genuine.
Nausica had intended to inquire about the magazine cover, but before she could broach the topic, the girl, who introduced herself as “Luana”, began an endless monologue about Angel. Every drop of information she had was spilled eagerly.
“… The reason for this magazine’s special edition,” she continued, almost out of breath, “is due to the monumental feat Lord Pat accomplished in the Abyss. It’s what prompted the —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— to release it!”
Hearing this, even though Nausica was still uncertain about Angel’s specific actions, a look of astonishment was unmistakable on her face.
After years of meticulous scheming by Lord Mengke, could it be that Angel has audaciously interjected himself into the fray? To add insult to injury, he’s even graced the cover of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper—!
Nausica’s composure seemed to waver. Having successfully integrated her bloodline, she had hoped her connection with Angel might have deepened. Yet, it appears the chasm between them has only widened further.
Indescribable emotions swirled within Nausica.
At that moment, Reynolds stepped forward and inquired, “Are you planning to purchase this issue of the magazine?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Nausica affirmed, “Buy? Of course.”
She is indeed curious to uncover what earth-shattering endeavors Angel has embarked upon.
Chapter 1328 Shampoo Shore’s Pirate Ship <TOC> Chapter 1330 Follow-Up to the Sample Publication