Chapter 2553 The Black Count’s Secret <TOC> Chapter 2555 The Noah’s Secret
Next page password is bold portion:
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel had encountered perhaps the strangest alchemy omen ever.
Other alchemy omens mostly carried obvious risks, but at least no danger was evident in the current one.
However, Angel suddenly thought of a possibility. If the solution to this odes to romance is to compose poems that satisfy a man, what if no poem could please him?
Angel remembered a type of alchemy omen that carried no direct risk, but if no solution was found, one would be utterly lost in the omen.
Could it be that he had encountered such an omen this time?
If that were the case, it would be difficult to resolve.
Regardless, Angel decided to give it a try.
“Love Poems… love poems…” Angel quickly flipped through his memory box.
Though he had never written love poems himself, his childhood, which included very few forms of entertainment, did involve listening to the chants of minstrels.
Reciting epic poetry was the bread and butter of minstrels, but since the epic stories of the Golden Finch Empire were hardly commendable, and the past was tightly controlled by the royalty, they dared not touch it lightly. Thus, the minstrels’ job was left to singing of heroes or love.
As a child, Angel enjoyed poems about heroes, but that did not mean he hadn’t heard love poems.
In his memory, there were quite a few love poems he had heard from the minstrels.
However, Angel quickly reviewed them, these poems either had specific individuals in mind or were as tasteless as chewing wax.
Even Angel himself found these poems cringeworthy; could they pass the test of the man before him?
After some thought, Angel decided not to choose these poems but instead opted for a short poem he had once seen on the holographic tablet—— —The Kiss—.
I run up to the doorway/
open up the stairs/
say night in my pajamas/
begin my prayers/
shut the light/
crawl into my bed/
everything, just because of/
the kiss you gave me/
while saying goodnight.
Earth’s literature was advanced, and naturally, there were more famous poems, even those that remained admired for centuries. Still, Angel decided to first try out a short poem to test whether this was indeed an omen from which one could never escape if the man was unsatisfied.
With a cough to attract the man’s attention, Angel gently recited the poem. His earlier actions seemed strange, and the man listened with furrowed brows, but finally, the truth was revealed. It was because of a lover’s kiss that chaos ensued, and the man’s brows relaxed.
The man did not immediately comment on the poem but repeated it to himself, savoring it for a moment before saying to Angel: “Although this poem is short, it’s quite intriguing. If she saw it, she would surely smile as well. I really like it.”
“However, it’s unfortunate that I have never received her kiss. Just handing it over like this, she would surely think it’s not from my heart. So, could we try another poem?”
“After considering my fondness for this poem, I will spare you from descending into a nightmare, and I will await your new poem.”
After speaking, the man gazed intensely at Angel.
Angel now understood that this was indeed the type of omen an alchemist least wanted to encounter. Alchemists prefer direct omens, no matter how complex, like a complicated mathematical problem that ultimately has a single solution; however, this omen, with its great variability, could be said to be both the simplest and most troublesome.
This is because the answer depends on the other person’s conviction.
And convictions, these mental constructs, can change at any moment, making it very difficult to satisfy someone else’s tastes.
Most importantly, the man’s final statement: “After considering my fondness for this poem, I will spare you from descending into a nightmare.”
This meant that Angel had limited attempts to interpret the omen successfully, as the man’s preferences dictated the outcome of this omen.
Although aware of the troublesome nature of this alchemy omen, Angel did not panic. Under the man’s scrutiny, Angel recited another love poem.
This love poem, too, was something Angel had seen on the holographic tablet, a very famous poem that, in some ways, had transcended the genre of love poetry to become something that could resonate with most people.
From Zhao Zhaos’ —When You Are Old—.
Indeed, this poem was likely to resonate easily. As Angel recited the second line, the man’s eyes began to blur, seemingly lost in the emotional landscape woven by the poem.
Two minutes later, Angel finished the poem passionately, and the man was slow to recover.
After a long while, the man finally spoke: “I believe no one would find this poem unsatisfactory, and I feel the same. The beauty of this poem and the intense, sincere emotions it contains have moved me as well.”
The man’s reflections lasted several minutes, and he analyzed each line of the poem.
At first, Angel thought this was a sure success, but as the man continued analyzing the poem, Angel sensed potential trouble.
Indeed, after analyzing the last line, the man said: “I am very satisfied with this poem, but at my level, I cannot write a poem like this for my dear Margaret. Perhaps it’s sincere, and Margaret would love this poem, but she might love the emotions in the poem, not my emotions.”
At this, the man looked at Angel: “So, I hope you can think of another poem for me, one that matches my ability.”
Angel: …Who the hell knows what your level is.
Thus, this type of alchemy omen without a standard answer is truly despised by all.
However, this time, the man said nothing more about leading Angel into a nightmare. Clearly, —When You Are Old—, even if it didn’t meet the man’s criteria, had conquered him.
In any case, since it was not up to standard, Angel would simply have to try again. He still had many poems in reserve.
Angel asked about the man’s level in a tactful tone.
However, the other party replied: “I don’t even know what my level is.”
Angel helplessly thought, if you don’t know your own level, how am I to choose?
Angel remained silent for a moment, not opting for a barrage of poetry to get through, but instead began analyzing the various events since entering the omen.
Man, painting, beloved girl, writing love poems…
After careful analysis, Angel realized that, in fact, after each poem, the man had provided some information, or clues.
After the first poem, —The Kiss—, Angel knew that if his recited love poems displeased the other, he would fall into a nightmare, failing the challenge of the omen.
After the second poem, —When You Are Old—, Angel learned a name, that of the man’s most beloved girl, named Margaret.
So, perhaps Margaret could be incorporated into the poems?
Margaret…
As Angel silently whispered this name, he suddenly remembered something.
If nothing went wrong, it seemed that in the Nightmare Plane of Nightfall City, he had seen this name, even visiting this Margaret’s boudoir. In her boudoir, Angel found nothing of value, but did see many… love poems.
Thinking of this, Angel suddenly raised his head and examined the man’s face closely, but the misty haze made it difficult to discern his features.
Angel thought for a moment and decided to ask directly: “May I know your name, sir?”
The man responded: “If you can write a poem that satisfies me, as a reward, I will tell you my name.”
Angel was about to blurt out the name on the tip of his tongue, but after a moment’s thought, he held back.
“Then I shall begin reciting the poem, this poem… nameless.”
Angel took a deep breath, turned away from the man, and began to recite aloud: “Oh dear Margaret, I miss you so deeply, even if the forest is filled with miasma, even if the city is covered with guards, even if the path to find you is fraught with sin, nothing can stop my longing for you. When I miss you, the flowers sway, the birds sing, the wind caresses, and my heart throbs. Oh, Margaret, you are so beautiful, beautiful like the bright moon of the latter days of the month, illuminating my humble heart; beautiful like…”
Corny, tacky, straightforward.
Even though Angel recited this poem with a varying intonation, he still felt cheesy, his arms covered with goosebumps.
The reason he turned his back, facing away as he recited, was also because he didn’t want anyone to see his expression while reading this poem. Just imagining it, Angel felt it was a disaster.
This poem, unlike the previous two, was completely different in style, yet, it was the poem Angel found in Margaret’s room.
If the man before him was truly that person, perhaps this poem would pass his test.
After two more minutes, Angel finished reading and exhaled a long, turbid breath. Meanwhile, applause broke out behind him. Turning, Angel saw a man gazing at him appreciatively.
“It’s no surprise that you, a poet capable of reciting —The Kiss— and —When You Are Old—, handle my style of poetry with such ease,” the man remarked, easing Angel’s tension.
This was the man’s way of signaling that even if Angel didn’t pass this time, at least there would be no punishment, and he had discerned the desired romantic poetry route.
“This poem is truly wonderful; Margaret would definitely feel my fiery love if she saw it!” he exclaimed.
“Thank you for your poetry; I am very, very satisfied with this one. I must write it on a painting so my dear Margaret can see it!” With that, the man began to swiftly scribble the poem onto a canvas.
Seeing this, Angel completely relaxed, realizing that this alchemy omen had been successfully navigated.
Since the romantic poem had been accepted, it proved one thing, the man might really be that person.
As Angel pondered, the man quickly finished writing the poem and turned to Angel: “I am very satisfied with all three of your poems, especially the second one. Even though it doesn’t match my style, its elegance cannot be hidden.”
“Therefore, I’ve decided to reward you.”
Angel was startled; characters within omens giving rewards was unexpected. Could this guy be masquerading as the Time Thief, or had he transcended the omen?
While Angel speculated, the man approached, took Angel’s hand, and announced loudly: “My reward is to acknowledge you as a distinguished poet! In my eyes, you are a reciter bathed in moonlight!”
After speaking, the man waved his other hand and slapped it down heavily.
Angel felt a sharp pain.
Then the man let go, and Angel quickly covered his slapped hand, which was red but showed no other mark.
Seeing Angel’s pained expression, the man apologized: “Distinguished poet, I forgot my own strength; are you alright?”
Angel feigned indifference and shook his head: “It’s fine. So, this is the reward?”
The man scratched the back of his head sheepishly: “Yes, I don’t have much to offer, so I can only give you a compliment.”
Well, a compliment could be considered a reward, after all.
Angel managed a strained smile: “To receive such praise from you, sir, is indeed an honor for me.”
The man immediately accepted the compliment without hesitation: “You are right, it is an honor. After all, you are the first person to pass my poetry test.”
“I must go now; Margaret has been waiting for me for a long time, and I believe she will adore this poem.”
As he spoke, the man’s form began to slowly disintegrate, separating into a mist that formed a door.
And this door, evidently, was the exit from this alchemy omen.
At the moment the door took shape, a voice faintly whispered in Angel’s ear: “Oh, I almost forgot the promise I made to you, my name is Augustine…”
…
Emerging from the alchemy omen, Angel looked at the dagger, now completely tamed, and fell into a silence.
It was indeed Augustine.
The love poem he saw in the Nightmare Plane’s Nightfall City was written by Augustine for Margaret.
And because Angel recited the poem that was actually written by Augustine, he had passed the alchemy test.
As for the reward Augustine mentioned…
Angel looked down at his hand, which had been hurt earlier… Okay, there were no marks, indeed it was just a compliment.
A compliment it was, as he hadn’t expected any reward.
However, having gone through this alchemy event, Angel was filled with many questions. Why, in making this dagger, did he encounter Augustine in the alchemy omen?
Whether there is a connection between the alchemy omen and the object being crafted is a topic without a definite answer within the alchemy circles, but most alchemists believe that even if it’s not apparent, there is some inherent connection.
If there really is a connection, does that imply that the “door” opened by the dagger is related to Augustine?
Also, was the wall in the Nightmare Plane’s Nightfall City also Augustine’s doing?
Beyond these doubts, Angel had an even greater question.
Though the man had said his name was Augustine, from the love poem in the Nightmare Plane’s Nightfall City, Angel confirmed one thing.
Augustine’s full name was——Augustine Noah.
The surname was Noah.
Then, was he related to the Noah family?
Was the Black Count’s instructions to Vai, as Rhine had said, merely out of curiosity?
Chapter 2553 The Black Count’s Secret <TOC> Chapter 2555 The Noah’s Secret