Chapter 2064 Dining <TOC> Chapter 2066 The Major Regions
Translator: SumTLMan
“Praise the Moonlight, praise the Queen, praise Shava.” After the atmosphere at the banquet gradually thawed, Nooka, the Minister of Agriculture sitting opposite Angel, initiated the conversation: “Today’s banquet, graced by the night patrol of Shava, is also a test for the recent descent in the Land of Heart Sigh.”
Nooka’s voice was sharp, with a lingering tail sound, causing vibrations that dimmed the flames of every candle in the hall; fortunately, the candleholders constantly replenished the oil and manipulated the flames to maintain a certain brightness. Nevertheless, the light in the hall flickered with Nooka’s voice.
This was the result of Nooka not restraining his energy.
The other guests seemed accustomed to this and showed no surprise. Angel, of course, wouldn’t point it out, casually feeding the spotted puppy and appearing indifferent to what Nooka said.
But that was just the appearance.
In reality, Angel paid close attention to every word Nooka spoke, analyzing the possible meanings behind them.
He was particularly interested in the so-called “Descent of Heart Sigh.” He had a feeling that these Nightmare Plane creatures occupied this ruin probably because of this.
“With Shava here, why don’t we share our progress to let Shava see the achievements of your outpost construction this time?”
As Nooka finished, Angel simply raised his eyebrows and looked at the guests but said nothing. Inside, however, he was somewhat excited.
He was eager to understand the situation in the ruins, and Nooka had just steered the conversation in that direction.
The Nightmare Plane creatures present were leaders of various regions in the ruins. For instance, Mademoiselle Goldilocks, the master of the Doreen Flower Garden, would surely know the most about it. The same was true for other regions; the words of these leaders were almost definitive, greatly aiding Angel in understanding the situation in the ruins.
Though Angel appeared nonchalant, he was already looking forward to what they would say.
Nooka first looked at the people beside him. Sitting next to him were the White Maid and Mademoiselle Goldilocks. After some thought, Nooka turned to Mademoiselle Goldilocks, shrouded in darkness: “Since we are in the Doreen Flower Garden, Mademoiselle Goldilocks, you begin.”
There was a long silence after these words.
Just as Angel wondered if Mademoiselle Goldilocks had fainted in the darkness, she finally spoke hesitantly: “I… My progress, Mad knows. Let Mad speak.”
Mademoiselle Goldilocks’ deferral didn’t surprise Nooka. He twirled the long whiskers on his cheek: “I thought you would try to impress Shava.”
Mademoiselle Goldilocks: “I…”
Unable to complete her sentence, Nooka waved his hand: “Fine, let’s do as you said, let Mad speak on your behalf.”
Book Mad, which had retreated to a display stand at the back of the hall at the beginning of the banquet, pretending to be an inconspicuous book, now reluctantly floated up and fluttered its pages to the table.
Mad first fluttered towards Angel: “Respected Shava, please forgive Mademoiselle Goldilocks. She doesn’t mean to be silent in front of you; she’s just a bit shy.”
While stroking the spotted puppy, Angel nodded: “I understand.”
Angel expressed understanding but did not reveal his stance, whether to forgive or not.
Mad paused, seeing no further response from Angel, glanced at the darkness surrounding Mademoiselle Goldilocks in the distance, and noticed a slight ripple in the darkness.
Mad sighed, indicating that Mademoiselle Goldilocks’s attitude genuinely displeased Highness Shava.
Mad found it futile to elaborate further. After averting his gaze, he reported the latest progress of the Doreen Flower Garden as per Lord Nooka’s request.
“Currently, the Doreen Flower Garden has reached a quarter of the Source. Based on the current pace, only 153 more encounters with Moonlight are needed for a successful integration with the Source.”
Before Mad could finish, a sharp, mocking laughter erupted from the Black Maid.
“The Mystlight Forest and the Demon Flower Sea occupy half of the Doreen Flower Garden. I’ve personally overlooked it; neither the Mystlight Forest nor the Demon Flower Sea has begun construction. How is it possible to integrate with the Source after just 153 Moonlight encounters?”
In response to the mockery, Mad remained composed: “The Black Maid is unaware; these two domains cannot descend.”
“Why can’t they descend?” asked the Black Maid.
“This is true,” interjected the White Maid, answering the persistent inquiries of the Black Maid instead of Mad. “Indeed, the Mystlight Forest and the Demon Flower Sea are not part of this descent.”
Other guests’ opinions might not sway the Black Maid, but she heeded the White Maid’s words. However, she still didn’t understand: “Why can’t these two domains descend?”
“Although Heart Sigh’s descent was approved by the Queen, as you know, this approval was only a verbal promise, hence no forced omen can be enacted. The masters of the Mystlight Forest and the Demon Flower Sea do not wish to descend onto human territories. Therefore, this iteration of the Doreen Flower Garden does not include the Mystlight Forest and the Demon Flower Sea.”
Unaware of this, the Black Maid realized she had wrongly blamed Mad upon hearing the White Maid’s explanation. But she didn’t intend to admit her mistake; her status was much higher than Mad’s, and she saw no reason to apologize.
Mad, unaware of the Black Maid’s change of heart and seeing her less aggressive stance, breathed a sigh of relief and continued: “Furthermore, the Doreen Flower Garden…”
Mad spoke mainly about the basic overview of the Doreen Flower Garden. Angel, having witnessed it personally, didn’t gain any useful information. However, the previous conversation between Mad and the Black Maid allowed Angel to pick up some key insights.
Firstly, Heart Sigh’s descent was approved by the Queen. Secondly, the Doreen Flower Garden apparently hasn’t reached its area limit yet; according to Mad, it has just completed a quarter of its expansion. Thirdly, from Mad’s tone, Angel vaguely concluded that the Source of the Doreen Flower Garden lies in the Nightmare Plane, and its expansion is a process of connecting with this Source, which seems to imply the concept of “descent”?
Suddenly, Angel feels a sense of strangeness. Could this “descent” mean projecting a part of the Nightmare Plane directly into reality?
But how would this differ from the dome of Sleepless City? In Angel’s view, there’s no difference. If the descent is as he understands it, it seems redundant.
Or, is there a situation here that he doesn’t understand?