Chapter 2660 Gourmet Food <TOC> Chapter 2662 Reunion
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel’s decision to enter the Wilderness of Dreams this time was made on a whim, primarily to obtain a definite answer from Cecia’s mouth. He had gotten that answer now, but Angel still did not choose to return to reality immediately.
He frowned slightly, his index finger unconsciously tapping back and forth on the tabletop, as though he were pondering something.
After a while, Angel’s figure gradually became transparent and vanished, until he disappeared entirely. By the time he reappeared, he had already left Pat Manor and arrived at the distant New City.
More precisely, he was now in the Sky Rose Garden of New City’s Sky Street.
Iron Armor Granny was the same as before, sitting at the white, lacquered table with carved floral patterns amid the rose garden, enjoying flowers, sipping tea, and watching the ever-changing construction of New City.
However, unlike before, there was now a hunched, scrawny figure across from Iron Armor Granny.
Without using the godly perspective, Angel merely glanced at the cane placed beside that stooped figure and instantly recognized who she was.
——“Measure the Stars,” Maya. Currently the only formal witch of the prophecy branch in the Savage Grottoes.
“Iron Armor Granny, Witch Maya.” Angel inclined his head in a light bow toward both witches as a gesture of courtesy.
Iron Armor Granny savored her tea, nodding faintly to Angel. Witch Maya, meanwhile, slowly stood, supporting herself on her staff, and looked at Angel: “Good day.”
Once she spoke, Witch Maya glanced at Iron Armor Granny: “Angel must have something to discuss with you, so I’ll leave first. Granny, do consider what I said.”
Iron Armor Granny smiled and nodded: “I will consider it. And don’t keep shutting yourself away on Star Island, come visit the Wilderness of Dreams more often. Perhaps you’ll find some inspiration here.”
Witch Maya was silent for a moment, then nodded: “I know.”
After that, Witch Maya leaned on her cane, passed Angel by, and vanished down the end of Sky Street.
Once Witch Maya had departed, Iron Armor Granny motioned for Angel to have a seat so they could talk.
Angel glanced back at the spot where Witch Maya had disappeared and spoke softly: “Witch Maya seems troubled.”
“Your perception is quite keen,” Iron Armor Granny said, maintaining her graceful composure even when praising him.
As the core holder of Dream Power in the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel’s body initially started from about the same baseline as everyone else’s, but his ethereal, emotional perception was not weakened in the slightest here.
Previously, Witch Maya had merely given him the impression of being stooped and thin, yet still quite spirited. But today, her stoop seemed caused by heavy pressure bearing down on her. As they passed each other, Angel felt a suffocating weight.
That was why Angel had taken the initiative to inquire about Witch Maya’s situation.
Iron Armor Granny took another sip of tea and continued: “Since you sensed her distress, what do you think is troubling her?”
Angel said: “Granny, by tossing this question to me, you’re implying that her trouble is either linked to me, or that it’s something within my frame of reference…or maybe there was a hint in your conversation with Witch Maya earlier.”
“And your answer?”
Angel pondered seriously for a moment before speaking: “I haven’t had any recent interaction with Witch Maya, so it shouldn’t be me. If it were related to me, perhaps it might be…Totoro?”
Iron Armor Granny was about to respond, but Angel went on:
“It could be about Totoro, but I feel the heaviness of Witch Maya’s steps suggests her primary worries are her own affairs. You mentioned letting Witch Maya visit the Wilderness of Dreams more, to seek inspiration… Could it be that Witch Maya has reached a bottleneck and is looking for a breakthrough?”
Iron Armor Granny waited a few seconds, confirming Angel had finished speaking before replying: “Your sensitivity to details is even better than I imagined.”
Since Iron Armor Granny began her explanation with praise, Angel’s guess was naturally close to the truth.
Which indeed turned out to be the case.
“Maya visited me for three reasons; you got one and a half of them correct.”
“One and…a half?” Angel paused, a bit puzzled by the fraction.
“You were right about Totoro. Maya has worried herself sick over that disciple who shone brilliantly on the Star Observing Day, while Totoro himself lives each day with great discipline. The external pressure all falls on Maya’s shoulders. So the first thing she did when she visited me was gripe about it.”
Angel also knew that Totoro’s exceptionally dazzling performance on the Star Observing Day was bound to draw attention, but he hadn’t expected Witch Maya to still feel such intense pressure, especially considering the Savage Grottoes were backing her. Clearly, Totoro’s prominence must have been incredibly disruptive.
“As for the second matter, it indeed concerns Witch Maya herself. She does need a breakthrough, and that’s something you correctly surmised. However, it’s not because she’s at a bottleneck that she chose to break through.”
Angel asked: “If not because of a bottleneck, why would she need a breakthrough?”
Seeing Angel’s earnest demeanor, Iron Armor Granny suddenly felt a mixture of emotions. Probably only someone like Angel would think, ‘you reach a bottleneck, so you break through… If you don’t break through, are you just going to sit there wasting time?’
Angel had his own cultivation path, but that path was not something that could be generally referenced. Other people, or, more accurately, ninety-nine percent of wizards, would not rush a breakthrough upon hitting a bottleneck; they would instead take time to build a solid foundation and accumulate knowledge, then select the most opportune moment to attempt a breakthrough. Abruptly forcing a breakthrough might well result in severe injuries or even death, which was the norm.
And the process of building a foundation is absolutely measured in years. A few decades would be considered fast; a century would be normal.
Only Angel, who breaks through soon after reaching a bottleneck, and for whom the act of breaking through is relatively simple, would first break through, then go back and cultivate his foundation. This stands in stark contrast to everyone else.
Hence Angel’s offhand remark sounded foolish to outsiders, but those who knew the truth could only sigh.
“Maya has indeed lingered in her bottleneck for centuries. On top of that, a few years ago, she received guidance from your mentor, so she recently felt that the time was ripe for a breakthrough. This is why she’s experiencing anxiety.”
“And that’s why I say you only got half of it right. She is preparing for a breakthrough, but not because of the bottleneck. For the vast majority of wizards, a bottleneck is actually a good thing, signaling that if they rush a breakthrough with insufficient foundation, they’ll come to a tragic end.”
Iron Armor Granny tactfully highlighted the fact that Angel’s situation differed from everyone else’s. Angel wasn’t slow; he caught on quickly. He also felt secretly relieved that it was Iron Armor Granny, not someone else. If it were someone else, they might have smacked him for his remark.
To avoid further foot-in-mouth moments, Angel swiftly changed the subject: “So what’s the third thing?”
“You didn’t guess the third matter, so I won’t reveal it. However, it’s also a vexing issue, one that combines with the first matter to trouble Maya. Together, they weigh on her mind as though specifically timed to challenge her before her breakthrough.”
Angel wore a look of realization. No wonder she had seemed so burdened, to the point of suffocating. Presumably, all these confounded problems besieged her at once, and even Maya was struggling under their weight.
“So you suggested that Witch Maya visit the Wilderness of Dreams more often because you think her opportunity for a breakthrough lies here?”
Iron Armor Granny shook her head: “Certainly not.”
She set her teacup down, gazing toward the ongoing construction in the distance.
“I just hope she can take in more of these vibrant scenes.”
“Any new creation emerges with a wonderful rhythm, like how this city is steadily becoming more complete. Merely sitting here and observing it quietly allows me to sense its joyful pulse, as if the city’s soul is singing in celebration of its own birth.”
“Perhaps these harmonies can serve as an outlet for Maya to ease her pressure. So I suggested that she come here and watch the city’s construction, to feel this gradually perfected…world.”
Iron Armor Granny’s words were full of sentiment. Angel more or less understood her meaning, but if he himself were to attempt such observation, he’d never be able to articulate it so eloquently, even if he gained some insight.
“Now, back to you.” With that sigh, Iron Armor Granny turned to Angel again: “You don’t look anxious, and your movements are unhurried. You even have time to worry about Maya, so presumably, nothing major happened in the ruins you were exploring. So why did you come to see me this time, do you wish to share your adventure with me?”
Once the conversation returned to the main topic, Angel’s expression grew serious: “If Granny wants to hear stories, she might have to wait. We’re probably still at the opening of that story.”
“The opening? Then your progress in that ruin is slower than I expected,” Iron Armor Granny teased: “So you’ve hit a puzzle you can’t solve and decided to consult an outside source?”
Angel flushed but nodded: “Though it’s not exactly a puzzle, I did come to seek Granny’s help.”
“Tell me about it.”
Angel offered a succinct account of his experiences in the underground sewer, then, with an illusion, re-created the four silvery metal pieces bearing the Iguro family crest that he had collected in those subterranean canals.
Afterward, he assembled the pieces into a single whole and attached a wooden rod to the lower part, transforming it into a refined, ornate cane.
“This is it.”
Iron Armor Granny examined it carefully: “It’s indeed engraved with the Iguro family crest. Is this your mentor’s cane?”
Angel grimaced: “I don’t know either. I just came here to ask if Granny had ever seen my mentor using such a cane.”
Iron Armor Granny gently shook her head: “He may have used that cane while he was still an apprentice. Back then, I never paid special attention to him, so I’m not too sure. However, you can contact Canter and have him relay the message to Sanders.”
Angel let out a small sigh: “I had that same thought, but Lord Canter isn’t online right now. Nemeti is also not someone I want to bother unnecessarily. Besides, my mentor hasn’t been online for a long time, likely preoccupied with matters in the Tidal Realm. It feels a bit like making a fuss over nothing if I pester him over such a small matter.”
“That’s true; it’s not really that important.” Iron Armor Granny mulled it over for a moment: “All right. Since you’re afraid of disturbing Sanders, I can find someone else to help you identify it.”
With that, Iron Armor Granny took out her Mother Tree Network connector. After contacting someone unknown, she set the device aside.
“Just wait for a bit. He’s nearby, so he should be here soon.”
Angel was still guessing who “he” might be when a familiar figure appeared before him.
“Butler Goode?!”
The newcomer was, indeed, the butler of Phantom Island, wearing his usual attire and mask, Goode.
“I’m delighted to see you here, Master Pat. Wimbledon often speaks of you, and if he were here, he would definitely be even more excited than me.”
Angel said: “Wimbledon misses me? Most likely it’s not me he longs for, but the Drama Shadow Box with the story of Peter Pan…”
The laughter was discernible in Butler Goode’s voice: “Master Pat certainly knows Wimbledon well.”
Angel sighed but did not continue the banter. Those casual topics could wait, he had more pressing things to ask.
Iron Armor Granny explained: “Goode has served Sanders for a long time and has even assisted him with matters regarding the Iguro family. You can direct your questions to Goode.”
Butler Goode stood quietly to the side, so professional that he did not even ask what Angel’s inquiry was, simply waiting in silence for Angel to speak.
Angel tapped lightly on the tabletop with his index finger, and a refined cane materialized in front of Butler Goode.
“Butler Goode, have you ever seen my mentor use a cane like this?”
Butler Goode studied it closely, as though recalling something. After a moment, he said: “I remember a long time ago, I went with Master Sanders to the Iguro family estate to handle a few affairs. Later on, in a recently constructed basement gallery displaying the portraits of successive Iguro family patriarchs, we discovered something new.”
“In that gallery was a single painting that did not depict a family patriarch: a portrait of Master Sanders. They placed it in the most conspicuous spot.”
No explanation was needed, Sanders was an extraordinary wizard, so the Iguro family had essentially ‘enshrined’ him, much like the Monne family had done with Morrow.
“In the painting, Master Sanders appeared as a teenager, wearing a star and moon wizard’s robe, holding a beautifully crafted cane in his hand, apparently in the midst of casting a spell. His expression was quite, how should I put it…passionate, like a young hero battling an evil dragon, roaring and dueling.”
“This scene was the painter’s imagining, of course. Master Pat surely knows that ordinary people often have all sorts of odd fantasies about the world of extraordinary individuals.”
At this point, Butler Goode’s lips likely curled beneath the mask, but his excellent etiquette kept any hint of amusement out of his voice.
Still, his small movements would probably have gone unnoticed in reality. In the Wilderness of Dreams, however, both Angel and the worldly-wise Iron Armor Granny could easily pick up on his subtle emotional changes.
That scene was indeed quite…amusing.
Just imagining the expression on Sanders’ face when he saw that painting made Angel want to chuckle.
He was certain Sanders’ face had turned black as the darkness proceeding thunder.
After pausing briefly to collect himself, Butler Goode went on: “And in that portrait, the cane that Master Sanders held is precisely the one before us.”
Angel asked: “So that cane truly exists? And is it my mentor’s?”
Butler Goode shook his head: “I wouldn’t know. I never asked Master Sanders about it. But for the Iguro family painter to imagine a spellcasting scene is one thing; imagining a specific cane engraved with a distinct family crest is quite another, which seems less likely. So, in all probability, this cane does exist. Whether it genuinely belongs to Master Sanders, however, I can’t say.”
His statement was cautious, but Angel felt the likelihood was strong that it was indeed Sanders’ cane.
“All right, I understand. Thank you for your trouble, Butler Goode.”
Butler Goode bowed respectfully: “It is an honor to serve you, Master Pat.”
With that, he prepared to leave.
Angel, however, called out to him: “Hold on. Is that painting still in the Iguro family’s possession?”
Butler Goode thought for a moment: “It should still be there.”
Angel mused on that. Sanders hadn’t torn it up? He left it?
Trying a probing question, Angel asked: “Does my mentor…like that painting?”
Butler Goode shook his head: “I doubt it. Back then, Master Sanders had wanted to burn it, but in the end, he did not.”
Angel pressed: “Why not?”
Butler Goode explained: “Because it wasn’t just one painting. That series depicted a young wizard fighting an evil dragon. The basement gallery contained only one piece from the series, while the other installments were in the hands of various Iguro family branches.”
“Oh, and not only paintings. The Iguro family also erected a sculpture atop the mountain behind their castle, modeled after that painting. Reportedly, they placed it at the highest point to highlight the Iguro family’s legacy.”
“There were simply too many of them, so destroying them all would have been far too time-consuming. Master Sanders decided not to bother. However, from that day onward, he never returned to the Iguro family estate…maybe because he didn’t want to see those paintings and statues again.”
After speaking, Butler Goode withdrew.
Angel lingered, silent for a while. He could understand why Sanders never went back. A young, impassioned version of himself was on display everywhere, made into public sculptures, no less. That was practically a recipe for social death.
“What an amusing story,” Iron Armor Granny remarked with a light laugh.
Angel said: “It’s a pity it can’t be casually shared.”
Iron Armor Granny replied: “So long as you understand. By the way, when Sanders comes online, should I tell him about the cane?”
Angel shook his head: “No, I have a feeling nothing good would come of letting him know.”
“Since I now have a rough idea about the cane, I’ll log off for the time being.” Angel waved goodbye to Iron Armor Granny.
“Go ahead. I’ll be here, always waiting to hear the story of your journey.”
Angel felt a surge of gratitude, his figure slowly fading from sight.
Iron Armor Granny took another sip of floral tea, closed her eyes, and savored her leisurely moment.
After a short while, she abruptly opened her eyes.
During her brief repose, a sudden flash of insight crossed her mind, prompting a recollection.
“I recall Angel mentioning someone’s name just now… Cecia?”
“That name sounds awfully familiar. Where have I heard it before?”