Chapter 394 Unexpected Change <TOC> Chapter 396 Butterfly
Translator: SumTLMan
The illusion, both fake and real, allowed her to catch a faint glimpse of the shadow of the Phantom Master.
However, that person was a notorious god of death in the entire Southern Region, and should have nothing to do with this young man, right?
As the woman in the black dress pondered, right across from her, a teenage girl was sitting on a soft blanket, a small table placed in front of her, filled with various strange ingredients. There were the panic-stricken Beauty Fruits, the sobbing Star Shell Clams, and the Sesame Ants carrying “bread shavings.”
Facing the horrifying array of ingredients, the girl ignited a flame in one hand and held seasonings in the other, occasionally sprinkling glowing powder, and in no time, the ingredients transformed into delicious-smelling food.
The girl drooled, stuffing her mouth with food, and the sweet taste of it made her close her eyes in delight.
The woman in the black dress was initially focused on the crystal ball, but upon hearing the sound of chewing coming from the other side, she looked up.
Seeing the girl across from her enjoying her meal, she rubbed her somewhat swollen temples.
Putting down the crystal ball, the woman in the black dress gracefully approached the girl: “Gloria, you’ve finally got a slim body, why do you have to make yourself so fat again?”
The woman’s words carried a hint of affection and disappointment.
However, Gloria opened her eyes in confusion: “Sister?”
The woman in the black dress sighed, took out a translucent glass bottle from her space ring. The bottle’s shape resembled a potbellied teapot, filled with sparkling green liquid.
The liquid was clear and bright, and with a slight shake, it seemed as if one could see the stars in the sky.
The woman in the black dress opened the bottle, and a rich, mysterious fragrance instantly diffused. Gloria looked at the glass bottle, her eyes filled with intense joy.
“Sister, can I have a sip?” Gloria swallowed her saliva while nibbling on the sobbing clam meat.
The woman in the black dress poured a little green liquid and handed it to the girl.
When the green liquid touched the air, an even richer fragrance penetrated the mist of space and time, spreading to an unknown location, attracting beams of light to pass through and swirl into the cup.
Gloria tasted it cautiously, the icy and refreshing sensation initially only exploded in her throat, but when the green liquid entered her stomach, a surge of intense magic energy suddenly enveloped her. With wave after wave of magic energy assaults like surging tides, her gaze became languid and bewildered, and she felt as if a pair of wings had grown on her back, taking her to a lush green meadow. White clouds floated leisurely above her head, flowers and grass danced in the wind, and even the fiercest sunlight became gentle.
It felt so comfortable and warm, like returning to a carefree childhood.
The woman in the black dress put away the glass bottle, waiting for Gloria to awaken from her intoxication.
After a while, Gloria opened her eyes, but this time her gaze was not as naive as before, but more mature and seductive: “Tsk tsk, what a jar of Immature Butterfly Dream Wine, so refreshing and enjoyable!”
Having said that, Gloria closed her eyes to enjoy the lingering sensation of the intoxicating wine, and then looked up at the woman in the black dress across from her.
Her eyes carried a hint of gratitude and playfulness: “Felicia, it’s just a little of your stock, why be so stingy?” Gloria’s voice had changed, from innocent to enchanting and captivating.
“I’m giving you advice. It’s rare for you to look pretty, don’t waste your good figure now.” said the woman in the black dress, Felicia, irritably.
“Wasn’t I pretty before?” Gloria raised her eyebrows seductively: “Besides, why should I lose weight? I’m not showing off for anyone. Moreover, I prefer having more flesh on my body to store more energy.” At this point, Gloria recalled her recent experience: “When I was caught in the Nightmare Plane, if it wasn’t for my fat and the energy reserves it provided, I don’t know if I could have lasted until the end.”
Speaking of her experience in the Nightmare Plane, Gloria still couldn’t help but shudder in fear.
“Even now, I don’t know whether you entered with your physical body or soul.” Since she had found Gloria, this was the first time Felicia had brought up the Nightmare Plane. Felicia asked, taking advantage of the rare moment when Gloria was willing to talk about it.
Gloria shook her head: “It should have been our physical bodies that entered, but later our bodies and souls were separated. Sigh, it’s hard to explain, and I don’t want to recall that experience. Moreover, I’ve lost many memories and don’t want to find them again. It’s too terrifying.”
Felicia comforted her: “Then don’t think about it.”
After Gloria had calmed down a bit, she continued: “Speaking of body shapes, ‘Bud’ was too skinny, and there was no supply of food there. In the end, she starved to death in the Nightmare Plane.”
“What about the Granny Deer Ape? I remember it was the three of you who were swept into the Nightmare Plane.”
Gloria shook her head, her eyes flashing with resentment: “That old woman, knowing that her mental power would be cut off once she left the Hante World, took advantage of the confusion when Bud and I entered the Nightmare Plane and ran off on her own. I don’t know if she’s dead or not.”
Felicia said: “Even if she’s not dead, she won’t be able to return to the Hante World. The entrance to the Hante World is now controlled by the Frost Moon Alliance. Her pursuit of Frost Moon’s ‘Bud’ has spread throughout the Wizarding World, and Frost Moon’s people will not let her go back.”
Mentioning the “Frost Moon Alliance.” Gloria’s face darkened again: “I heard that the Frost Moon Alliance captured all the employees in my restaurant and sold them as slaves?”
Upon hearing this topic, Felicia also revealed a hint of hatred.
In a situation where alchemists were scarce, the price of alchemical potions skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for many wizards. They turned their attention to the gourmet wizards instead. This is the current predicament of gourmet wizards in the Southern Region.
If there had been a gourmet wizard capable of taking the lead, their fate wouldn’t have been so dire. Unfortunately, gourmet wizards were too weak, and even Gloria, who aspired to be the leader, could only protect her Barbie Restaurant.
After her “fall.” her “protection” also vanished, leading to the current state of her restaurant staff being displaced.
Felicia’s face darkened as she whispered: “Only a few managed to escape back to the Candy House; most of them were captured.”
Gloria’s temples bulged with anger, and her eyes blazed with fury: “Damn these scoundrels! Before I went to the Hante World, they promised to take good care of my restaurant, but this is how they did it!”
Felicia patted Gloria’s shoulder reassuringly: “Don’t be angry. This is our current situation, and it’s not just the Frost Moon Alliance, but many other wizarding organizations are involved. You need to recover your strength as soon as possible, as the future of gourmet wizards still needs you to take the lead.”
Although Felicia felt sympathetic toward the gourmet apprentices who hadn’t yet become full-fledged wizards, she didn’t really care about them. Otherwise, with her power, rescuing them wouldn’t be difficult.
Felicia’s consolation didn’t make Gloria feel better. She understood Felicia’s position, but she had a deep emotional connection with her old companions, who she had spent decades with. Now that this had happened, she was genuinely upset.
Seeing Gloria still in a gloomy mood, Felicia thought for a moment and said to Gloria: “The chubby little guy you introduced last time is doing quite well now. His grilled meat is delicious. I let him stay at my tavern for now, and his grilled meat paired with the tavern’s wine has become quite famous. I reckon his current wealth surpasses that of his fellow apprentices, and perhaps even some full-fledged wizards.”
Gloria paused for a moment before recalling who Felicia was talking about: “You’re talking about Alan, huh? I didn’t expect him to be so capable.”
Alan was a budding gourmet wizard she had discovered by chance on the Bohemia Ship. When she was about to leave the Wizarding World to seek a breakthrough opportunity, she introduced him to the Candy House.
Mentioning Alan made Gloria think of another person – the lovely young boy she had entrusted her most cherished treasure to. She wondered how he was doing now.
After a moment of silence, Felicia took out a small box: “The effect of the Butterfly Dreaming Wine is about to wear off. Eat these Soul Beads and see how well you’ve merged now?”
Gloria opened the box and sighed as she looked at the transparent Soul Beads inside: “Have you thought about what to do with this girl’s soul when I return to the main world?”
“Why not give her a new body?” Felicia suggested.
Gloria shook her head: “I guess that’s the only option. Actually, this body’s quality isn’t that great, and I don’t know how long it will take to regain my peak condition. I would rather find my own body back. But it’s lost in the Nightmare Plane, and I don’t dare to venture there again. Besides, how to get there is another problem…”
Gloria was speaking as she swallowed the Soul Bead.
Although she had escaped from the Nightmare Plane, her physical body remained there, and her soul was greatly damaged… Only by relying on the Soul Beads produced by the Living Soul Garden could her soul slowly heal. That’s why Felicia brought Gloria to stay temporarily at Black Castle.
After swallowing the Soul Bead, Gloria felt her fragmented soul being replenished and gently lay down.
Soon, the rightful soul of this body would slowly awaken.
Just as Gloria was about to fall asleep, she suddenly asked: “I noticed earlier that you used the power of the Butterfly Spirit; have your enemies chased you to Black Castle?”
Felicia shook her head: “No, it’s not an enemy, but a young apprentice who intruded into the territory of Black Castle. His invisibility ability is quite interesting, and I sensed someone invading when the teleportation formation fluctuated. However, I couldn’t find the intruder using various methods until I utilized the Butterfly Spirit.”
“An apprentice? Someone dares to come to Black Castle? Aren’t they afraid of being drained of blood for a bath?” As Gloria said this, her eyes showed obvious disdain.
“Judging by the apprentice’s age, he should be a young child, but unfortunately, he’s a boy. I think nobody would use male virgin blood for bathing.” Felicia paused and continued: “He must have come to save Diavolo. His abilities are good, but it’s a shame that he’s a puppet master.”
As Felicia spoke, she didn’t notice that Gloria’s eyes had once again changed from mature to childish.
“But his illusions and invisibility spells are interesting. His illusions remind me of the Phantom Master. I heard you’re quite familiar with the Phantom Master, so why don’t you take a look…” Felicia turned her head, wanting Gloria to check the images in the crystal ball, but found Gloria staring at her with innocent eyes.
“Sister, is there any more green wine? I want to drink more.”
Felicia: “…”