Chapter 2235 Cupid’s Obsession <TOC> Chapter 2237 Dulmatin
Previous page password is bold portion: trivld=e?L7T
Translator: SumTLMan
Upon hearing Cupid’s response, all sentient beings aboard the ship were dumbstruck.
This included Lobert and Speedling, who had transformed into the wind and were lurking beside the Gondola; they were also taken aback by this answer.
It wasn’t that the answer was horrifying; in itself, the answer was quite mundane. Their astonishment stemmed from the implications behind the answer.
According to Cupid, Camus’ true form was identical to its own, only significantly larger.
——This meant that Camus’ true form was also a flying pig.
This was intriguing, for while elemental creatures often exhibit “form collisions,” even across different elemental attributes, it was impossible for them to be exactly alike.
“Are there truly identical elemental creatures in this world?” Dangros mused quietly.
“There are not.” Angel and Lobert simultaneously shook their heads in agreement.
Even humans, with generally similar physical features, cannot find an exact match amongst themselves, let alone elemental creatures with vastly different appearances.
Yet Cupid asserted with certainty that “apart from the size, the rest is completely the same,” sparking curiosity and speculation among the group.
Dangros: “If identical elemental creatures do not exist, then this is rather peculiar. Could it be a coincidence?”
Angel, internally shaking his head, was certain it was no coincidence. Piecing together some behaviors of Sage Camus, he had already formed a hypothesis but chose not to voice it, instead turning his gaze outside the Gondola.
“Lobert.” Angel called softly.
Following his voice, a three-headed lion dog gradually materialized from the wind.
“My lord.” The buzzing voice, emanating simultaneously from all three heads, varied in tone; the main head, despite using a respectful title, clearly displayed impatience; the deputy heads’ tones was more moderate, yet the sense of being reluctantly engaged was still present; only the tail head’s tone was genuinely calm, both respectful and distant.
Angel was aware of Lobert’s three distinct personalities. The main and deputy heads’ impatience was of no concern to him.
For Angel, the value of the main and deputy heads was negligible. He addressed Lobert, but his attention was focused solely on the tail head. This deliberate disregard made the main and deputy heads harbor their thoughts, with the main head furious but impotently so, and the deputy head, having reached some understanding, gradually calming down.
Angel, indifferent to the emotional shifts of the main and deputy heads and uninterested in them, focused solely on the calm and collected tail head: “What are your Thoughts on the True Form of Sage Camus?”
Considering everyone, including Camus, claimed that Lobert’s tail head possessed the demeanor of a sage, Angel was keen to hear its perspective on the matter.
In response to Angel’s inquiry, the tail head, without challenging the binding power of the Merck Soul Source Oath, calmly shared its thoughts.
“In this world, completely identical creatures do not exist. Even if they did, it’s highly improbable they would emerge in the same location. Therefore, the scenario where Mr. Camus and Cupid not only resemble each other but also met and were raised together does not seem coincidental to me.”
Angel: “If it’s not a coincidence, then what do you suppose is the underlying reason?”
The response provided by tail head was always straightforward, enabling Dangros and Cupid to understand and subtly agree. Upon hearing Angel’s second question, they exhibited keen interest, eagerly anticipating tail head’s explanation.
After hesitating for two seconds, tail head began, “I’m unaware of the specifics. However, based on the assumption that ‘no two elemental creatures are exactly alike’ in this world, it’s highly probable that the so-called true form Cupid saw was merely an illusion intentionally created by Camus.”
Cupid inquired, “Are you suggesting that Camus’ true form isn’t like mine, and what I saw was fake?”
Tail head nodded affirmatively, “Yes, that’s the only explanation for why you two appear identical; one of you must be an illusion.”
Both Cupid and Dangros pondered over tail head’s explanation, considering the possibility of its truth.
However, Angel, after listening to tail head, wasn’t particularly concerned with the conclusion drawn but rather focused on the premise of using conventional thinking to deduce it.
What if conventional thinking isn’t the truth?
This line of thought arose because, according to the tail head, several logical inconsistencies existed. For instance, was there truly a need for Camus to conceal his true form from Cupid? Even if there was a need for concealment, why create an illusion identical to Cupid?
The underlying logic of concealment aims to eliminate any ‘special’ connections pointing towards oneself. However, creating a true form identical to Cupid’s, if discovered by other creatures, wouldn’t clarify but rather draw more attention to the concealed truth. This wouldn’t be concealment but rather deliberate misdirection or, upon deeper contemplation, a diversion.
Yet, this reasoning is flawed. What is being misdirected? Whose attention is being diverted? So far, no antagonistic entity has been introduced.
Thus, the speculation returns to its origin: Camus indeed intended to conceal his true form.
Angel looked at the tail head again, “What if we don’t rely on conventional thinking? Do you have any other thoughts?”
Tail head responded, “If we discard conventional thinking, we must acknowledge a subtle fact: Camus and Cupid are indeed identical.”
Angel asked, “Under this premise, what would be your judgment?”
Tail head shook his head, “I cannot judge. If they truly look alike, all I can say is that there might be a special connection between Camus and Cupid.”
Dangros and Cupid, unable to grasp tail head’s answer, didn’t give it much thought, dismissing it as improbable. After all, the premise that elemental creatures can be identical contradicts the accepted wisdom of their world.
Yet, Angel internally agreed with tail head’s vague conclusion, suspecting it to be closer to the truth than the initial deduction.
While the tail head didn’t specify the nature of the special relationship between Camus and Cupid, the possibilities are few.
Kinship is highly unlikely, as even blood relatives don’t share identical appearances, not to mention elemental creatures lack the concept of blood kinship.
The likelihood of Cupid being an avatar is higher. Since they appear identical, only an avatar could explain this phenomenon.
If Camus is indeed the primary entity controlling the avatar, then Cupid should not act independently or betray Camus’ true form.
Unless Cupid lied.
However, after evaluating Cupid, Angel concluded that Cupid hadn’t lied and seemed unaware of being an avatar of Camus.
This situation is intriguing. Angel considered various possibilities, concluding that Cupid might indeed be an avatar with an unintended independent consciousness, with Camus as the primary entity.
Only in this way can many things be explained logically. However, if this is indeed the case, Angel can only say that Camus is truly carefree. There is a subtle connection between an avatar and its original, and even some powerful beings can curse the original through the avatar. Camus’ avatar has developed consciousness, not only did it not get destroyed, but it was also carefully nurtured to grow, which is somewhat eerie.
“Cupid, can you talk about your birth?” Suddenly, Lobert asked Cupid.
Angel glanced at Lobert, realizing from this question that Lobert and Angel were on the same page.
Cupid did not hide anything and briefly described the circumstances of his birth.
After listening, Angel became even more convinced of his speculation about the avatar.
Because Cupid was born right beside Camus. There had already been too many coincidences, and now there was one more: a flying pig that looked exactly like Camus was born right next to Camus.
So many coincidences clearly indicated some issues.
Cupid’s original words were: “Mr. Camus was surprised to see me born beside him. Noticing our resemblance and that I was fortuitously born by his side, Mr. Camus said it was destiny and thus adopted me.”
This is from Cupid’s perspective, but in Angel’s view, Camus’ surprise upon seeing Cupid was not because Cupid was born next to him, but because the avatar had developed its own independent consciousness?
This explanation makes many things understandable.
However, this alone does not solve another issue: why would Camus hide his true form?
After some thought, Angel felt that this matter might need to be viewed separately.
Cupid’s birth occurred much later, while Camus had started hiding his true form much earlier. It is said that from its birth, Camus did not like others to see his true form.
Therefore, Cupid’s birth and Camus’ hiding of his true form are two separate matters.
Now, knowing Camus’ true form is also a tender pink flying pig… Angel seems to understand why Camus would hide it.
Perhaps it’s some form of pride or self-esteem?
After all, being a flying pig is one thing, but to also be so tender and pink. This might have caused the younger Camus to feel some subtle emotions, leading him to hide his true form?
With this, Angel has mostly pieced together what he believes to be the truth.
As for whether it is accurate, Angel does not care much. He originally inquired about Camus’ true form to change the subject. Knowing it or not does not matter much.
If he really wants to confirm the gossip in the future, he could simply ask Camus directly. By then, using his deductions as a reason, he might actually be able to get Camus to open up.
After gossiping about Camus’ secret, although there was hardly any useful information for him, it reaffirmed Angel’s decision not to consider Cupid as an elemental companion. After all, the “avatar” theory he deduced still has some inconsistencies that can’t be logically explained. Unless Camus provides a clear explanation, Angel would not even consider letting other wizards take Cupid as an elemental companion.
…
The Gondola continued to fly, heading forward along the Gentle Waves Sea.
Even with Speedling as propulsion, reaching the Marlaya Ice Mountain still requires some time.
The sea views are beautiful, but looking at the same scenery constantly can become tiring.
As Angel was idly passing the time, a movement came from his bracelet.
With a wave of his hand, a miniature church adorned with gold inscriptions and built of bones was placed on the table.
Dangros commonly witnessed such scenes during this period, so there was no surprise; however, Lobert and Cupid looked over with eyes full of wonder, not knowing from whence Angel had conjured this peculiar structure.
Angel offered no explanation, for he knew, given Dangros’ nature, that if Angel did not forbid it, Dangros would surely explain on his behalf later. Even if they did not ask, Dangros would take the initiative to speak, for the thin sense of superiority from knowing something they did not was enough to boast about throughout an otherwise dull journey.
After Angel took out the Cathedral of the Dead and caressed it, a humanoid soul wearing a horned helmet emerged from the cathedral.
Without waiting for Tulas to speak, Angel directly asked, “Has it disappeared from Nisi’s side again?”
“Yes,” Tulas replied, and with Angel’s permission, hurried back to the Wilderness of Dreams he yearned for.
Angel sighed, retracted the Cathedral of the Dead into his bracelet, and then took out the Dream Conch and a stone slab…
Through the Dream Conch, he sent the stone slab’s location to Nisi.
Having done all this, Angel already heard Dangros explaining to Cupid what space was and what spatial items were.
While explaining, Dangros occasionally looked at Angel, seeking confirmation with his eyes that he was explaining correctly.
Angel couldn’t be bothered to respond, yawned, and said to Toby, “I’ll go in for a bit; call me if you need anything.”
With that, Angel leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and his consciousness already stepped onto the Bridge of Dreams.
The outside world was somewhat boring; Angel planned to take a stroll in the Wilderness of Dreams.
His appearance was still in the same place: the top of Azure Tower.
He planned to first check on Freud’s situation, whether it was the sacrificial rituals of the Silvercloud Duchy or the strange altar inside the mountain, both of which were of considerable interest to Angel. He wondered if there had been any progress in the few days since his last visit.
Angel directly opened the door from the balcony and entered Freud’s office.
Before entering the Wilderness of Dreams, he sensed that Freud was in the office. What Angel did not expect was that, besides Freud, there was another person in the office.