Chapter 2068 Heart Sigh Descent <TOC> Chapter 2070 Magical Mushrooms
Translator: SumTLMan
Menavarro continued to explain the progress at the Crossroads, also mentioning some major and minor events that occurred during the construction.
Among these, he specifically mentioned the spotted puppy.
Menavarro’s eyes grew somewhat awkward when speaking of the spotted puppy, probably the most absurd thing to have happened since he started guarding the Crossroads.
——A stowaway from the Nightmare Plane.
And this stowaway was the spotted puppy!
To Menavarro, this seemed quite unbelievable.
Because creatures from the Nightmare Plane generally dislike descending to the Wizarding World, lacking the aura of the Nightmare Plane. Even in a half-plane, their power diminishes significantly. Menavarro himself wouldn’t have thought of coming here, if not for following Lord Nooka’s steps.
Thus, the “smuggling” of the spotted puppy was indeed baffling.
Most importantly, the spotted puppy was Minister Dim’s most cherished pet. Why would it sneak into the Wizarding World?
While discussing the spotted puppy, Menavarro voiced his doubts.
Upon hearing Menavarro’s question, Nooka, stroking his beard, glanced at the spotted puppy in Angel’s arms. His eyes hid deep emotions: “Before descending here, I met with Minister Dim. He mentioned that the spotted puppy was too unrestrained, running around in the inner region. Why it sneaked here, I do not know, you’d have to ask it. Or perhaps…”
Nooka looked towards Angel: “Maybe Highness Shava knows the answer.”
Menavarro also looked at Angel, not voicing his query, but his eyes brimmed with curiosity.
After slipping out from the Nightmare Plane passage, the spotted puppy dashed out of the Crossroads like an arrow. Menavarro couldn’t catch up, and after searching in the Land of Heart Sigh, he found the puppy comfortably nestled in Highness Shava’s embrace.
Timewise, it hadn’t gone anywhere else after escaping from the Crossroads, heading straight for the Doreen Flower Garden, seemingly just for Highness Shava.
Watching the spotted puppy, lazily pampered by Highness Shava like a little piglet, Menavarro thought: It wasn’t seemingly; the puppy came specifically for Highness Shava.
So, perhaps Highness Shava really knew the reason.
Angel, who had been covertly gathering information about the Crossroads, suddenly became the center of attention, with everyone’s gaze upon him.
Although they had seen the spotted puppy with Angel earlier and didn’t comment much; that was out of respect for Highness Shava’s status. However, they harbored questions internally, and now that Lord Nooka initiated the inquiry, they naturally hoped for clarification. After all, the spotted puppy was the primary weapon in Minister Dim’s arsenal.
Feeling everyone’s scrutinizing gaze, Angel, suppressing a slightly anxious heart, calmly spoke: “Its appearance was also beyond my expectations.”
Angel’s answer naturally couldn’t satisfy the others, but with Highness Shava’s status, his willingness to respond was commendable. They couldn’t press further, guessing there might be more to the story that Highness Shava preferred not to disclose.
Menavarro: “Lord, that is the current situation at the Crossroads.”
Nooka nodded. Despite the incident with the spotted puppy, the Crossroads, on the whole, pleased Nooka, as it’s a critical area, responsible for the core work of Heart Sigh Descent.
After everyone finished speaking, Nooka turned to Angel: “Highness Shava, do you have any suggestions for the construction progress in the Land of Heart Sigh?”
“The construction in the Land of Heart Sigh is proceeding in an orderly manner, and it’s not good to suggest blindly,” Angel paused, then added, “And from what I’ve heard, everyone is doing their duty well; at least I haven’t found anything to suggest otherwise.”
Actually, Angel was eager to find some flaws, even hoping that the Heart Sigh Descent wouldn’t happen. But he knew this was impossible. Previously, Nooka mentioned that the Heart Sigh Descent had the Queen’s approval. Even with his confidence in “Shava’s” identity, Angel knew his status couldn’t compare to the Queen’s. Since the Queen had agreed, if Shava opposed, he guessed he would become a laughingstock.
Unable to prevent the Heart Sigh Descent, Angel naturally couldn’t offer suggestions. Even if he did hear something improper, he’d just secretly approve, rather than speaking out to give them a chance to change.
Besides, he truly hadn’t heard any significant flaws.
“It seems Highness Shava acknowledges the descent in the Land of Heart Sigh, which reassures me. After all, Highness Shava is more familiar with the descent,” Nooka said, stretching his narrow mouth in what seemed to be a smile, but it looked rather eerie.
Shava is familiar with the descent? Angel didn’t know if Nooka was probing or if Shava truly knew about the descent.
His only response was to smile silently, neither denying nor confirming.
“The fact that Highness Shava approves of the construction in the Land of Heart Sigh pleases me. However, there’s now a scarcity in the descent, and if Highness Shava could assist…”
Angel gazed at the flickering flames on the candelabrum, his expression calm, but he pondered:
Here it comes.
He was at this banquet passively. So far, he still didn’t know why he was here.
But undoubtedly, Nooka knew everything.
Nooka’s invitation had a reason; was it due to suspicion about his identity or some other purpose?
So far, Nooka hadn’t probed much about his identity. It seemed he accepted him as Shava. Thus, excluding identity suspicions, maybe Nooka’s banquet aimed to extract some benefit from “Shava” to achieve its own goals?
So, when Nooka mentioned needing Shava’s help, Angel immediately understood.
Why did Nooka invite him to the banquet? The answer would probably be revealed soon.
Angel’s eyebrows slightly raised, and his right eye shimmered with a faint green light: “Need my help? Let’s hear it.”
Nooka: “As you might have heard, Menavarro mentioned the upcoming Mysterious Palace of Arcana descent…”
Nooka didn’t hide anything and, with the fluctuating candlelight, slowly revealed its request.
Before Nooka revealed the answer, various guesses flashed in Angel’s mind: “Shava” was close to humans, and creatures from the Nightmare Plane should have known this, whether the past fox harpist or today’s Mademoiselle Goldilocks and Boil Gentleman. They must have seen Shava with humans. Thus, Angel even speculated if Nooka wanted him to be a traitor.
But after hearing Nooka’s words, Angel was stunned.
What Nooka asked was beyond imagination——
“The Mysterious Palace of Arcana is about to descend. But as you know, I don’t have many people to manage the Palace of Arcana region, so…” Nooka’s gaze slowly settled on Angel.
“So, you want me to guard the Mysterious Palace of Arcana?” Angel’s expression was a mix of amusement and sarcasm.
Even though Angel may be foolish, he knows that Shava’s status is definitely much higher than that of a so-called Minister of Agriculture. Now, Nooka has asked him to guard the Mysterious Palace of Arcana, which is absolutely inappropriate from the perspective of hierarchy. In fact, it’s an insult to Shava.
Since Angel has to play the role of Shava, even if he has other thoughts in his mind, he at least needs to show anger on his face.
But mere anger seems somewhat inappropriate. It’s more fitting to use sarcasm.
Nooka: “Please do not be angry, Highness Shava. I do not mean to ask you to guard the Mysterious Palace of Arcana. The main reason is that I am short of staff and hope to get some of your subordinates to take on this important task.”
Upon hearing this, Angel’s expression softened slightly.
However, for his subordinates to take over the Mysterious Palace of Arcana… Angel also wished for it. If he could station someone there, he would have the opportunity to cause destruction.
But where could he find subordinates? Perhaps he could find many human subordinates, but Angel was very clear that what Nooka wanted were not humans, but Shava’s subordinates from the Nightmare Plane.
So far, Angel still doesn’t clearly know who Shava is, let alone understand Shava’s subordinates.
Moreover, if Shava’s real subordinates saw him, his identity would likely be quickly exposed. After all, he is not the real Shava.
“Forget about it, probably no one would be interested in this place.” After much hesitation, Angel still rejected this very tempting proposition. Although he wanted to ask if a Watcher could guard this place… Naturally, he was referring to Sanders, but Angel ultimately did not ask. Despite his schemes, he didn’t want to trick his own mentor. In Angel’s view, the strength of those present, even Mademoiselle Goldilocks, is probably comparable to Sanders. This place is simply a huge pitfall for anyone who comes.
“Ah, ah, Highness Shava is right, who would be interested in this place…” As soon as Angel finished speaking, Boil Gentleman, sitting to his right, chimed in.
Boil Gentleman’s words also led to nods of agreement from the other guests. Although the Black and White Maids and Menavarro did not nod, they actually agreed in their hearts.
——Everyone is doing well in the Nightmare Plane, who would want to come here?
For the creatures of the Nightmare Plane, any place outside of it is barren.
Nooka naturally understood everyone’s feelings. He had many subordinates in the Nightmare Plane, and the only ones willing to follow him were the Black and White Maids, Mademoiselle Goldilocks, and Menavarro.
“Since Highness Shava has said so, let’s put this matter aside for now.” Nooka sighed with regret. This matter was actually of great significance to him. If Highness Shava agreed, he would have had much more control over many things, but alas, Highness Shava refused.
However, Nooka was not discouraged. He had anticipated that Highness Shava might not agree, so he had a second plan.
“I once heard the Queen mention that Highness Shava often descends to the human world. I wonder, how long does Highness Shava plan to stay in this world this time?” Nooka, with his slender hands supporting his cheeks, beard swaying with the wind, looked curiously.
“Is Minister Nooka very interested in my whereabouts?” Angel asked calmly, while internally he was somewhat puzzled: Is what Nooka said true? If it is, does Shava often descend to the human world because of me?
Moreover, Shava’s abilities should far exceed the World Will’s warning line. If he descended to the human world, there should be some reaction. Or is it that Shava’s descent is actually another type of descent, like an avatar or puppet? Or similar to a devotee’s projection of a Demon God?
If that’s the case, it would explain why, despite seeing through his actual low strength, they still consider him to be Shava.
They recognize only the aura, not the strength. Because when Shava descended, it was not his true body.
“Highness Shava, please don’t misunderstand, I have no other intentions, I just mean to say, if you stay in this world for a long time. Perhaps, occasionally participate in the banquets of the Land of Heart Sigh.”
“Oh?” Angel did not refuse, nor did she agree, but looked at Nooka with an inquisitive gaze.
“It would be an honor for us to have your visit to the Land of Heart Sigh. If, in the future, the construction of the Heart Sigh Descent can benefit from your guidance, it would save us from taking the wrong paths.”
“Also, I hope that during your stay in this world, I can provide you with the utmost assistance.”
Angel looked closely at Nooka, seemingly trying to read from its eyes whether it was lying.
Of course, this was just a part of Angel’s performance. Given the gap in strength between him and Nooka, it was impossible to discern its true thoughts.
However, Angel did feel that Nooka’s urgency seemed somewhat sincere.
Angel certainly wouldn’t trust his intuition; behind Nooka’s sincerity, there must be other reasons.
Yet, Angel always had a feeling that Nooka truly hoped she would get involved in the construction of the Land of Heart Sigh… Why was that? Was it because of Shava’s identity, or did Shava truly have some role to play in the development of the Land of Heart Sigh?
What Angel didn’t know was that, as he pondered, Nooka was quite anxious inside.
He really hoped to get Angel’s consent.
The Heart Sigh Descent, although approved by the Queen, was never officially ordered by her; she merely did not object. If Shava joined, even just showing his face, it would be a tremendous help to him in the development of the Heart Sigh Descent.
“Every month on the day of the Moon Offering, we hold a banquet. If Highness Shava agrees, we would be delighted to dine with you then.” Seeing that Angel remained silent, Nooka once again spoke earnestly.
Angel, appearing distracted, glanced at Nooka, still not giving a direct answer, but vaguely said, “Let’s see how things go then.”
Chapter 2068 Heart Sigh Descent <TOC> Chapter 2070 Magical Mushrooms