Chapter 2658 Diverging Paths <TOC> Chapter 2660 Gourmet Food
Translator: SumTLMan
Strangely enough, after Angel parted ways with the others, the path of the Hanging Prison Stairs began to grow increasingly normal, no longer appearing with all kinds of bizarre inverted or looping stairs. Instead, it turned into a 45-degree stairway slanting upward. Still, the visible length of the stairs remained solely within the area illuminated by the red mark’s glow.
All Angel could see were the next two or three steps ahead and the single step behind him. Whether it would keep slanting upward until the end was still an unknown.
Everything in front was unknown, the surroundings were cloaked in darkness and emptiness, and hidden in the void lurked unpredictable dangers. He could only move forward alone under the protection and guidance of the red glow.
This scene was actually rather interesting.
If Mr. Feng were to see this spectacle, perhaps he could create a painting of a solitary traveler stepping alone onto the stairway bathed in crimson light, surrounded by the flailing darkness of void monsters.
If such a painting truly existed, it would surely carry a grand, epic feeling.
While Angel was busy envisioning these different scenarios, some reminiscent, some imaginary, he found it a small source of amusement in the blackness.
Then again, it was not Angel’s first time traversing the gloomy stairway suspended in the void.
When he had not yet become a wizard apprentice, he had inadvertently strayed onto the Hanging Prison Stairs in the Nightmare Plane.
In the eyes of most, any place in the Nightmare Plane would be far more terrifying and dangerous than reality. But for Angel, his journey to Nightfall City in the Nightmare Plane was nearly danger-free; in fact, he received quite a bit of help, such as from the Demon Eater Flower King, who assisted him greatly. By contrast, while in the real world’s underground sewers, Angel felt he actually encountered more peril.
Of course, this was merely Angel’s personal experience. If he were to relay his thoughts to Sanders, he would likely receive only an indifferent expression. But in the days or months following, he would almost certainly be bombarded by all sorts of difficult tasks and trials assigned by Sanders. That was how the man’s quietly envious nature tended to work.
As Angel let his mind wander off in tangents, he kept following the red mark forward.
Though he walked alone, it wasn’t as solitary as one might imagine. Firstly, Angel’s imagination galloped along at will. Secondly, the clamor in the mental connection was so overwhelming it was impossible to feel lonely.
The mental connection had never truly been quiet. Daus was once again demonstrating how exceptionally loud he could be; Vai, for some reason, was excited for no apparent cause and could respond to anyone’s attempt at conversation with a remark or two; even Kael, who normally said little in the mental connection, occasionally chimed in to prove he was still alive.
Only the Black Count remained as silent as ever, but that was merely on the surface. Although he spoke nothing in the mental connection, he privately reached out to Angel.
The Black Count: “How are things going on your side?”
It seemed like a caring inquiry, yet was wholly uninformative, and Angel was convinced the Black Count had some other motive for contacting him out of the blue.
Angel said: “So far, I haven’t encountered any danger. I’m still climbing the stairs. Oh, right, after we parted ways, the stairs changed a bit, there are no more strange loops or upside-down steps; now, it’s a regular stairway that extends continuously.” Though Angel fully expected the Black Count to have another reason for reaching out, he answered earnestly, as a junior should. He then politely asked in return: “Everything all right with you, Lord Black Count?”
After a moment’s pause, the Black Count responded slowly: “I’ve already caught sight of that statue of the little boy peeing.”
A statue of a peeing boy? At first, Angel did not react. But then, with a jolt, he remembered that the statue of the peeing boy stood right at the entrance to the Hanging Prison Stairs.
Could it be that the Black Count had already left the alternate dimension space?
Angel: “? ? ?” So soon! He was already out?
Before Angel could speak, the Black Count must have sensed his astonishment and continued: “More precisely, after we separated, I walked a few steps and immediately found the exit. But I’m still within the alternate dimension space, I merely sent out an avatar. I confirmed that the outside is just what you described: the statue of the peeing boy.”
As for why the Black Count had dispatched an avatar instead of going out himself, it had nothing to do with caution and everything to do with ensuring that, once he left the alternate dimension space, the mental connection would not be severed.
Angel asked: “What about everyone else?”
The Black Count: “So far, I’m the only one who has found the exit. The others are still on the stairs.”
Angel: “So that implies not only did the paths diverge, but the lengths of these separate routes also differ?”
“Likely so. Perhaps it’s some unique mechanism here,” the Black Count said, then paused: “However, that’s not the main reason I sought you out. I had my avatar enter the Hanging Prison Stairs just now. What I saw inside was beyond my expectations.”
Angel was puzzled and asked: “Lord, what did you find?” He had been inside the Hanging Prison Stairs in the Nightmare Plane before, and there was nothing too unusual in the early levels.
“It’s Shattered.”
“Shattered?” Angel hesitated for a moment: “You mean the interior of the Hanging Prison Stairs is shattered, my lord?”
The Black Count: “Yes, the entire interior space is in fragments. Certain unanchored areas hover in the black void.”
Angel remembered that Cecia had claimed the higher levels were disconnected, so why was it already shattered on the lower levels? He quickly asked: “What about the stairway itself?”
The Black Count: “Though parts of the stairway are damaged, it still basically exists, and you should be able to climb up.”
At this, Angel relaxed slightly. If even the stairway had been destroyed, there would be no point in searching for the Wood Spirit. A shattered stairway meant the lower levels were unsafe, and given the Wood Spirit’s timid nature, it definitely would not still be there in the Hanging Prison Stairs.
However, even if the stairs were still intact, the lower levels were evidently broken. With the Wood Spirit’s fear of danger, would it really still remain within the Hanging Prison Stairs?
Now Angel was somewhat regretful. Previously, because he had relied on his own trip to the Hanging Prison Stairs in the Nightmare Plane, he had not questioned Cecia thoroughly for details about it.
Moreover, he had completely overlooked one key point:
——Cecia’s intelligence was outdated!
Everything she knew came from the Sovereign of Wisdom after its arrival. The last time the Sovereign visited might have been years or decades ago. During this interval, it was entirely possible the Hanging Prison Stairs changed, or the Wood Spirit relocated.
Angel asked: “Is the shattering on the lower levels serious?”
The Black Count: “It’s severe near the edges. Close to the stairway, there appears to be a magic formation, so the damage is less extensive. However…it’s not absolutely safe.”
Angel was well aware of the significance behind the Black Count’s final remark.
The Black Count had reached the same conclusion: there was a possibility the Wood Spirit might have already left.
“I see. Let’s discuss the details when we meet again,” Angel said.
“Mm.” The Black Count paused, then continued: “Appealing to the Sovereign of Wisdom by going through the Wood Spirit was Day’s idea. It might not work, and if it doesn’t, we can always find another way.”
Although his tone was quite indifferent, Angel felt the Black Count’s concern behind it.
Truthfully, Angel did feel a bit down. If the Wood Spirit had indeed left, they would have come all this way for nothing, and everyone would have lost their meaningful personal items…
Angel kept quiet for a moment, contemplating, and then said: “If it really turns out to be problematic, I’ll prepare another plan. That aside, whether or not we find the Wood Spirit, I do believe that approaching the Sovereign of Wisdom through the Wood Spirit must have an impact.”
The Black Count: “Oh? You’re that certain?”
Angel said: “Day is just a guardian, so perhaps his words alone hold insufficient weight. But Cecia is special in status and rank. Her words should be more credible. And it was Cecia’s idea to use the Wood Spirit to gain the Sovereign of Wisdom’s favor. I therefore believe it’ll work.”
The Black Count’s response came quickly, though he shifted the focus to Cecia: “You say Cecia’s status and rank are special? You know what she is?”
Angel: “I don’t. But Cecia herself hinted many times that she was once transcendent. Before her change into a box, she claimed to stand on equal footing with the Sovereign of Wisdom. Whether that’s true or not, the fact that she wields authority over this alternate dimension space shows that her rank is higher than Day’s, at least.”
After Angel spoke, the Black Count fell silent for quite a while before saying: “Then we can hope her advice will truly be useful.”
Angel said: “And we can hope the news she shared isn’t out of date…”
The Black Count let out a short laugh, then ended the private communication.
…
Listening to the high spirits in the mental connection and seeing they were all quite optimistic about the way forward, Angel felt a pang of guilt.
If the Wood Spirit really had left, this trip would be for naught, and everyone had forfeited objects of meaning…
Angel grew silent for a moment, then accelerated, determined to reach the exit sooner and confirm the truth at the Hanging Prison Stairs.
He had hardly quickened his pace for more than a few seconds before coming to a sudden halt.
From the depths of his mind, he sensed the signal that a particular individual had just entered the Wilderness of Dreams.
Previously, the only ones configured to trigger a notice from the Gate of Dreams were Sanders, Rhine, Tree Spirit…Nemeti, and the Enforcer.
Not long ago, Angel added one more person who would actively prompt a message from the Dream Power if they entered: Cecia!
Cecia’s identity was highly unusual, having existed as a Laudsourcian from ten thousand years ago. Angel had prepared for her to teach Totoro about the ancient abilities of the Laudsourcian bloodline, guiding him to better develop his own power. Yet Cecia’s ambitions remained unclear, and Angel worried she might brainwash Totoro… He needed to keep observing. Hence, he set Cecia as a “special individual.”
And just moments before, he received the notice that Cecia had entered the Wilderness of Dreams.
This was Cecia’s first time voluntarily entering the Wilderness of Dreams.
Originally, if Cecia decided on her own to enter, Angel had no intention of seeing her. He would rather let her explore and adapt in a gentler way, allowing her to better integrate into the Wilderness of Dreams.
But now, Angel couldn’t avoid meeting her.
He needed more concrete answers from Cecia regarding matters he had failed to clarify earlier. Under his current circumstances, with no retreat available, the only way to see Cecia was within the Wilderness of Dreams.
Moreover, at present he was on his own, so entering the Wilderness of Dreams would not be noticed by anyone.
With this in mind, Angel made his decision.
He stopped progressing up the stairway and sat down on a step.
Because Angel was no longer moving, the red mark simply drifted beside him, sprinkling flickers of shimmering light.
Though Cecia had said that as long as he followed the red mark, he would remain safe, Angel wasn’t about to entrust his life to an unknown entity. After all, the darkness beyond teemed with unimaginable horrors, Daus had almost been swallowed by a lurking shadow before.
Angel was ready to enter the Wilderness of Dreams, but he intended to do so fully prepared.
He was set with favorable “human and timing” conditions. Only “terrain” remained.
For Angel, securing advantageous “terrain” was the simplest part. If the location was “unfavorable,” he could simply alter it to become “favorable.”
And how would he alter it? As an illusionist and an alchemist, Angel could accomplish it with ease.
Before long, the crimson glow gradually faded from sight in the darkness.
The red mark did not vanish. Rather, Angel had layered a succession of illusions around the vicinity. At the innermost layer stood the Opulent Nightmare Domain.
The red mark hovered at the top of the Opulent Nightmare Domain, like a crimson lantern casting a deep-red hue over it.
Once he was sure the illusions were fully in place and all surrounding auras had been suppressed, Angel settled down on a sofa within the Nightmare Domain and gently closed his eyes.
…
Cecia herself had not expected she would return to the Wilderness of Dreams again so soon.
But for a woman who had spent ten thousand years in isolation, the Wilderness of Dreams was irresistible.
Previously, she had only chatted briefly with Popoca and gone offline without basking in the sunshine or savoring the smell of earth… For ordinary people, those things are as ubiquitous as air, so commonplace as to go unnoticed.
But for Cecia, whether it be sunlight, raindrops, soil, fresh grass, or even a single withered bloom, all radiated the force of “life.”
It was a life-force she had not felt in her ten thousand years of existence as a box.
Thus, once Angel and the others departed, Cecia had found herself restless on her throne. One moment she removed the adornment on her forehead; the next, she replaced it. She repeated this several times before admitting defeat. She could suppress it, but her heart had already succumbed.
The beauty of life, having a physical body, was a temptation she could not resist.
If her heart yearned so powerfully for the Wilderness of Dreams, then she had no reason not to go.
Cecia reactivated her forehead chain and took one step at a time across the Dream Bridge. When she opened her eyes once more, she found herself again in the great hall of the Pat Manor castle.
“Ah!” came a startled exclamation from nearby.
Instinctively, Cecia turned, adopting a guarded posture, only to see a plump, middle-aged woman staring back.
“Oh, it’s Miss Cecia. You appeared out of nowhere and nearly gave me a fright.” After her initial exclamation, the woman, who wore a warm, motherly expression, broke into a gentle smile on recognizing her.
“You must be…Head Maid Mana?” Cecia recalled that, earlier, Mana had brought a variety of delicious foods when she was conversing with Popoca.
Having not eaten for ten thousand years, Cecia, despite her efforts at composure, had shown a fleeting expression of bliss upon tasting the creamy mushroom soup. Mana, standing by, had seen it and was overjoyed that her cooking had been so well-received. Hence, Cecia kept Mana’s name in mind.
“Miss Cecia, I’m so delighted you remembered my name after meeting me just once,” Mana said before clasping Cecia’s hand in hers: “By the way, Mister Jon just ordered a bowl of scrambled egg fried rice with chives. I made several servings, so you must come taste it.”
Before Cecia even fully processed what was happening, Mana was already towing her toward the kitchen.
Of course, with Cecia’s strength, she could have easily shrugged off Mana’s grip. Yet she sensed no malice in the head maid’s heart. Instead, Mana’s sincerity and open fondness shone like a beacon.
Cecia truly found it difficult to refuse such warmth.
She had gone far too long without experiencing such genuine enthusiasm.
In fact, Mana did feel genuine affection for this young lady, even secretly wondering whether this was the first girl the young master had ever brought home, could she be the young master’s sweetheart?
Fueled by that theory, Mana’s care and benevolence flowed to Cecia even more naturally. After all, both Master Angel and his brother Leon had been raised under Mana’s watchful eye. She would be thrilled to see either one of them finally settle down.
Then again, if Mana knew Cecia’s real age, she likely would no longer think along those lines…
Chapter 2658 Diverging Paths <TOC> Chapter 2660 Gourmet Food