Chapter 2799 Mutual Guessing <TOC> Chapter 2801 Delusion
Translator: SumTLMan
「A one-of-a-kind illusion? It should be more than just that, right? His ability to intervene in the mirror space is not something illusion alone can accomplish.」
Aedannis would not forget how Angel had ruined her oil painting before.
To this, the Sovereign of Wisdom spread his hands: 「As for the issue of his abilities, I can only observe, I have no reason at all to question him.」
Aedannis: 「From the looks of it, you are rather friendly toward them? What if, they are enemies?」
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「There is no what if, in my view, suspected guilt is no guilt.」
「Suspected guilt is no guilt?」Aedannis narrowed her eyes: 「That is not the 『Wise One』 I know.」
The Sovereign of Wisdom did not rebut either, and followed her words: 「Although suspected guilt is no guilt, cautious observation is still necessary. This is my attitude, so long as they have committed no mistakes, I will not use coercive methods.」
Moreover, coercive methods also depended on the person. After learning Angel’s identity, and the Black Count’s identity, the Sovereign of Wisdom had no intention of coercion at all. The current Noah family was no longer the wizard clan sheltered by Nightfall City ten thousand years ago, in this era, it had already stood at the pinnacle of the Southern Region.
And the Black Count, as the head of the Noah family, had a strength that was even more beyond doubt. With the Black Count in this team, even if it was only an avatar, the Sovereign of Wisdom did not dare act rashly. He did not wish for his ten-thousand-year vigil to be destroyed by the powerhouses of the current new generation.
Aedannis: 「So, the obstruction task I gave you, you have also been constantly going easy on them?」
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「Since I will not use coercive methods, then the obstruction task can only follow the tests that every descendant of Noah had to pass whenever they came before. And if they pass the tests by relying on their own abilities, how can that be called me going easy on them?」
「What is more, did not Your Highness the Goddess also personally take action?」The Sovereign of Wisdom pointed at Younus hidden in the shadows on the transparent screen.
Aedannis: 「There is disloyalty within, I could only let Younus act in my place.」
『Disloyalty』, the Sovereign of Wisdom smiled, gave no response, and did not intend to refute it either.
There had always been contradictions between him and Aedannis, they merely maintained a strained peace through an agreement. Therefore, to each of them, the other was disloyal.
But disloyal was disloyal, so long as they did not turn against the sewers, did not turn against Nightfall, they could still talk peacefully, just like they were now, trading barbs unceasingly, yet only arguing with their mouths, neither had any intention of making a move.
「Even if you did not question him, when you observed his abilities, did you not have any thoughts?」Aedannis asked.
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「Thoughts? I wonder whether Your Highness the Goddess has heard of Mirror Princess?」
When Aedannis heard the name Mirror Princess, her pupils contracted slightly, and her mind was greatly stirred, but she still said without changing expression: 「Mirror Princess, I have heard of her, what, is he connected to Mirror Princess?」
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「I do not know, I merely mentioned it casually. After all, in the Southern Region, there are only a handful of wizards who research the Mirror Realm, and wizards who can freely enter and leave the Mirror Realm are even rarer, among those I can think of, the most famous is this one.」
Aedannis: 「Mirror Princess is not a wizard.」
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「But she is inseparable from wizards, is she not?」
Aedannis frowned, and fell into thought.
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「I wonder whether Your Highness has any opinion of Mirror Princess?」
Aedannis frowned: 「No opinion at all.」
The Sovereign of Wisdom smiled: 「Your Highness has asked me so many questions, I have told you everything I know. Yet I have only asked one insignificant question, and Your Highness is already impatient?」
Although the Sovereign of Wisdom was speaking with a smiling face, Aedannis could sense that the Sovereign of Wisdom was actually also very dissatisfied with her consecutive inquiries…… or rather, interrogations.
After Aedannis was silent for a moment, she still replied: 「To the beings within the mirror, Mirror Princess and an entire Mirror Realm are no different.」
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「Your Highness thinks so as well?」
Aedannis: 「I do not entirely agree, but if that woman…… I mean Laplace, grows in the end, perhaps she will become an existence at about the same level as Mirror Princess.」
Mirror Princess’ strength in the material world aside for the moment, within the Mirror Realm, she was an awe-inspiring existence. The reason she had such a reputation was that Mirror Princess had once created an absolutely stable space within the Mirror Realm, one that had not been invaded by outside forces for thousands of years, sheltering a region’s beings within the mirror.
This kind of absolutely stable space was practically unheard of in the Mirror Realm, and having the courage to create such a space made Mirror Princess worthy of respect. And why was there also fear? Because the beings within that space worshipped Mirror Princess to the point that they even called themselves her subordinates. And the creatures within that space, after thousands of years of recuperation and growth, had become extremely powerful, sweeping across a stretch of the Mirror Realm would be no problem for them.
Even though Mirror Princess herself knew absolutely nothing of this group of beings’ worship of her…… because Mirror Princess almost never came to the Mirror Realm, to Mirror Princess, the Mirror Realm was not her 「home」, but another world, while the material world was where Mirror Princess stayed year-round.
But even if Mirror Princess did not often come to the Mirror Realm, her reputation there was still quite illustrious, so much so that even Aedannis had heard of her.
「I did not expect Laplace to have such potential.」The Sovereign of Wisdom let out a soft laugh.
「……Do you really think he is connected to Mirror Princess?」After hesitating for a moment, Aedannis still asked this question.
Sovereign of Wisdom: 「I have never seen Mirror Princess, how could I be certain?」
The Sovereign of Wisdom paused, and looked at Aedannis: 「In any case, his goal is also the Ruin Site, why not have Your Highness personally ask him then?」
Aedannis paused for a moment, snorted coldly, and said: 「He will not come to the Ruin Site, even if he truly is connected to Mirror Princess, in the end…… he will also die here.」
The Sovereign of Wisdom said nothing, but raised his head to look at the transparent screen on the wall: 「Then let us simply watch their abilities.」
Aedannis also stopped speaking, and focused her gaze upon Angel’s group, she did not believe Angel could pass Younus’ test.
At this moment, within the wall screen, the presented perspective was continuously changing.
The Sovereign of Wisdom had encountered the holographic livestream Angel created on the Hanging Prison Stairs, it did not seem difficult, but when actually performed, it was very difficult. Therefore, this time, what he chose was a 「flat」 livestream, modified from the authority of monitoring the magic formation.
At first the Sovereign of Wisdom had felt it was very simple, but after a while he discovered that something was wrong.
This kind of flat presentation was, in fact, completely different from the immersive perception obtained after extending mental power into the magic formation. There were many urgent problems waiting to be solved. For example, how should the perspective be presented, so that when the audience watched the picture, it would be more intuitive, and more comfortable?
To put this question more profoundly, it involved a whole series of issues, such as visual aesthetics, continuous geometry, and montage. If handed to Angel, he would surely resolve it very quickly. But this was the Sovereign of Wisdom’s first time encountering it, although alchemy also required contact with questions of aesthetics, there were still differences between one kind of aesthetics and another, and wanting to grasp it immediately was not so simple.
Moreover, properly switching the picture was the issue that required the most attention in a flat livestream.
But at this moment, the Sovereign of Wisdom still did not have the concept of this lens language called 「switching」, so he could only keep changing the perspective, trying to find a single position with the best visible angle.
In the end, what was presented on the screen was an overlooking angle.
That is to say, in the picture, a corridor was still a corridor, a branching path was still a branching path, but when viewed from above at an overlooking angle, it looked like a miniature maze.
And Angel and the others could basically only be seen by the tops of their heads, and a small portion of their figures.
And in the center of the branching path was a patch of black shadow, meaning that Younus was there, and Angel’s group was slowly stepping into this patch of shadowed area.
「……You might as well have done as you did just now, and aimed at their faces.」
When Aedannis saw the Sovereign of Wisdom constantly changing the perspective, she had already guessed what he was doing.
Rather than hand over the monitoring authority to her, the Sovereign of Wisdom would rather stage such an absurd farce, Aedannis felt speechless in her heart, but there was nothing she could do.
The main control authority over the magic formation was held by the Sovereign of Wisdom, whether to transfer the authority or not was for the Sovereign of Wisdom to decide, she had no way to force it.
The Sovereign of Wisdom was going through such difficulty to search for an angle, it was even somewhat making a fool of himself in nature, yet he still would not transfer the authority, from this his attitude was clear.
「But with this overlooking angle, one can see the environment, and everyone, including Younus.」The Sovereign of Wisdom’s thought was that, although the current picture looked a bit uncomfortable, this way it was clearer and more intuitive.
But Aedannis did not think so, she only needed to see Angel and the others be swallowed up, and preferably be able to clearly see the miserable expressions on their faces when they were swallowed up, that would be the best.
When overlooking from above, their expressions definitely could not be seen, all that could be seen were different hairstyles and hair colors.
「Then I will make him the main perspective.」The Sovereign of Wisdom pointed at Angel in the picture.
At first, they had in fact used Angel as the 「protagonist」 of the picture, it was only that when Angel was the protagonist of the picture, Younus’ situation, as well as the rough surrounding environment, could not be seen, which was why the Sovereign of Wisdom had changed the perspective.
Aedannis nodded, the one she cared about most in the first place was only Angel.
The Sovereign of Wisdom also did not hesitate, and directly through the magic formation, began to switch the perspective once again.
The picture became briefly blurred, for about two seconds, the picture reappeared, and at this time it had already switched to Angel as the protagonist.
Only, the picture the Sovereign of Wisdom adjusted was too close to the face…… the instant the picture appeared, it was directly shoved into the face.
The Sovereign of Wisdom began fine-tuning again, pulling the 「lens」 farther away, but as he adjusted and adjusted, he increasingly felt that something was not right.
How did Angel and the others’ position seem not to be in the corridor anymore?
The Sovereign of Wisdom stood stunned for a moment, as though he had thought of something, then suddenly turned his head and looked toward the entrance of the great hall.
He saw gust after gust of wild wind blowing into the great hall, and riding the wild wind were several figures. The foremost among them was precisely the red-haired…… Daus.
Daus was the first to appear, immediately after, the others also appeared one by one, while Angel was the last one to walk into the great hall from around the corner.
After they walked in, they immediately met eyes with the Sovereign of Wisdom.
The Sovereign of Wisdom turned his head back uncomfortably, and looked toward the wall screen, in the giant screen picture, Angel’s face was still being shoved forward, only Angel’s expression at this time was a little subtle.
Helplessness, speechlessness, plus a trace of disgust.
While the Sovereign of Wisdom was interpreting Angel’s expression, in the picture, Angel’s mouth opened slightly, and silently said one sentence: What are you doing?
At the same time, the Sovereign of Wisdom also heard footsteps coming from behind him.
The Sovereign of Wisdom sighed inwardly, raised his head, and wanted to see Aedannis’ expression now.
Yet he saw that Aedannis was staring fixedly at Angel and the others, while repeatedly muttering…… 「Impossible」.
Suddenly, Aedannis’ gaze met the Sovereign of Wisdom’s: 「You helped them?」
The Sovereign of Wisdom also felt somewhat wronged, but he could understand Aedannis’ thinking, because a second earlier, when viewed from above, Angel and the others had still been at the edge of the branching path, and the next second, after switching the picture, Angel and the others had entered the great hall, what had happened in the two seconds in the middle when the picture was blurred? Was the blurring intentional?
If the Sovereign of Wisdom were in Aedannis’ position, he would probably also harbor doubts.
The Sovereign of Wisdom also had no choice but to explain: 「If I had truly helped them, Younus could not possibly be obediently staying outside, it would already have come to look for you.」
「Then explain this, how did they get in?」
Naturally, the Sovereign of Wisdom could guess the way Angel and the others had entered, however, he could not say it directly: 「I was adjusting the picture just now, and paid absolutely no attention to their movements, this point, you should have seen with your own eyes. As for how they passed the test, should Younus not know more clearly than I do?」
Aedannis knew that at least at this moment the Sovereign of Wisdom would not lie to her.
Moreover, Younus had indeed also sent her a signal through the light and shadow within the mirror.
If Aedannis wanted to know the truth, she only had to pull Younus over and ask. However, she did not do so immediately, pulling Younus over here to question and rebuke it would only make her lose face.
She took a deep breath, moved her gaze away from the Sovereign of Wisdom…… and finally fixed it on Angel.
At this moment, no one spoke, they merely looked silently at everything before their eyes.
Angel also quietly gazed at Aedannis, previously, his encounters with Aedannis had basically all taken place in tangential forms, either it was the profile inside the Demon God emblem, or an oil painting that had already long been painted, or only a voice; and this time, it counted as his first formal meeting with Aedannis.
Up to now, Angel still did not know why Aedannis had 「favored」 him so much.
Before, Angel had thought it was because he had destroyed the oil painting on the Hanging Prison Stairs, causing Aedannis’ dissatisfaction, later, he felt perhaps that was not the case. Now it seemed, his guess had been correct.
When Aedannis looked at the others, there were not too many emotions in those eyes, nor too much hatred, they were cold and emotionless.
Only when she looked at Angel, her gaze was rather complicated.
Within this complicated emotion, there was hatred, but it was not the main part, there was more surprise, confusion, and…… inquiry.
Very clearly, what Aedannis was paying attention to was Angel the person, and not any particular matter.
「Tell me, your purpose in coming to the Ruin Site.」
Aedannis’ voice came out from the ancient bronze mirror above the fireplace.
Angel smiled: 「It is a long story, actually, I also have many questions I want answered, how about……」
Before Angel had finished speaking, Aedannis interrupted him: 「You do not have the qualifications to discuss any questions with me, and you also do not have the qualifications to step into the Ruin Site.」
Angel’s originally polite and gentle expression also slowly disappeared, the corners of his mouth curled up, and with mockery he said: 「So, noble as you are, are you planning to leave the Mirror Realm, come to the material world, and personally take action and kill me?」
「I am actually very much looking forward to it.」
「Do you think I do not dare?」Aedannis narrowed her eyes.
Angel: 「Yes, why not try it?」
Angel’s words frightened Daus and the two apprentices so much that their hearts pounded, but the Black Count had no reaction at all. If it had been him, there would not even have been any first courtesy then force, having been under interception and attempted killing all along, he would most likely have come up and taken action, smashing that bronze mirror into powder.
A person hiding in a mirror and not daring to show their face, and still they have the nerve to talk about superiority and qualifications?
However, the Black Count had such confidence, after all, his true body could descend at any time.
And the fact that Angel also dared to rebuke Aedannis like this made the Black Count once again certain that Angel definitely had a backup plan.
Being this fearless and self-assured, it would be strange if he had no backup move.