Chapter 976 Nielgard Winter Palace <TOC> Chapter 978 The Snowstorm Banshee
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel, standing to the side, remained oblivious to the sudden prickliness that seemed to have infiltrated the atmosphere between Madeline and Bruen. Instead, his attention was drawn to the far end of the palace entrance.
He noticed that not only had Bruen stayed behind, but Velite also seemed to have remained.
Could it be that Velite was also planning to head to Watchtower Fortress?
The snowfall increased in its intensity, visibly reducing visibility. Suddenly, a dazzling aurora of light appeared in the distance. The light, fluctuating between highs and lows, was accompanied by the crisp sound of a “trot,” growing ever closer.
Upon discerning the unexpected visitor through the blizzard, Angel’s expression betrayed his astonishment.
This was yet another Phantom Beast, but compared to the largest Unicorn Red Scorpion Loganathan he had previously encountered, this one was significantly larger. This particular beast bore the form of a moose.
However, interwoven among the complex, entangled antlers of this moose, there was a nebulous multicolored mist floating. Within this mist, the silhouette of a city could be discerned.
“That is the largest Phantom Beast nurtured within the alliance — the Gigantic Spirit Moose of the Illusory City, Cassone,” explained Bruen calmly.
“Are we to…ride on…it?” inquired Angel.
Before Bruen could answer, a Frost Moon guard emerged from the mystical fog amidst Cassone’s antlers, “All those destined for Sky Island, embark upon the Illusory City!”
As these words resonated, a multitude of people began to take flight, heading towards the sky.
This was the largest migration of people that Angel had ever witnessed. Nearly all the apprentices were mobilizing.
Bruen: “The Sky Island suspended above the Upside-down Waterfall Cluster is currently the largest, most concealed, and safest frontline. The headquarters of the Frost Moon frontline is also situated there.”
“That being the case, you should join them and leave,” Madeline retorted icily.
However, Bruen chose to ignore this comment: “Cassone has arrived, it seems. Then, Duchess Bel must be the last one. Fitting, she’s always been rather languid.”
“Is Duchess Bel the Phantom Beast heading towards Watchtower Fortress?” asked Angel, filled with curiosity.
Bruen nodded, “Duchess Bel is the most formidable among all our tamed phantom beasts. Unfortunately, it is also the laziest. A day’s journey always seems to stretch into three or four when led by it. Fortunately, this time it should be Lady Sineva who will be guiding it, which might spur it into being a little more diligent.”
Apprentices began ascending the behemoth named Cassone, followed by the wizards.
Those venturing to Sky Island were always numerous. After all, it served as the safest haven.
As Cassone moved away gracefully, in a blink of an eye, the entrance of Winter Palace was left with only a few figures.
Among the apprentices, including Angel, barely a dozen remained. As for the official wizards, besides Bruen and Madeline, only… Velite was left.
Under the guidance of a round sand rat, Velite hobbled towards their location, leaning on his staff.
With just the three of them remaining as official wizards, Velite joining their ranks made sense. However, Angel couldn’t help but let out a sigh of resignation. The two wizards he was most wary of in the entire supply team — Bruen and Velite — were both heading for Watchtower Fortress.
“Velite, I didn’t expect you to also be heading to Watchtower Fortress?” Bruen queried, looking at Velite with curiosity.
Velite lowered his brow, “My target is the inner layers of the Abyss, so technically, I could go anywhere.”
“You’re venturing into the inner layers? Then why choose Watchtower Fortress, when any outpost would be safer?” Bruen seemed puzzled. While there was no real ‘safe’ place in the inner layers of the Abyss, the part beyond Downfallen Forest, near the Demon City, was definitely more perilous than most other regions.
“There are reasons for choosing Watchtower Fortress,” Velite replied with a twinkling smile. His gaze swept across Angel, lingering on him for a moment before he continued, “Angel…”
Angel looked up at Velite.
Yet Velite shifted his focus, “…your mentor, Phantom Master, is also in Watchtower Fortress. Last time, when I wanted to inquire about the changes in Eternal Night Kingdom from Angel, he refused. Now I have no choice but to consult Phantom Master. After all, the disturbances in Eternal Night Kingdom have begun to spread towards the Fertile Kingdom, and Western Demos certainly can’t afford to turn a blind eye.”
“The changes in Eternal Night Kingdom?” Bruen looked dubiously at Velite and Angel, feeling that Velite might be concealing something.
However, he did not probe further. His own decision to head to Watchtower Fortress was partly to find ‘that person’, but it also catered to his own desires.
Much like Madeline and Sineva, their choice of destination, Watchtower Fortress, held their own deeper implications.
As long as they do not interfere with one another, there’s no need to delve deeply into it.
Two hours after Cassone’s departure, when the snow gradually began to cease, the earth trembled as a series of deep, rumbling sounds echoed from afar.
“It seems Duchess Bel has finally arrived,” Bruen sighed, recognizing the familiar footfalls.
Saying she had arrived, they had to wait another good five minutes before a massive silhouette vaguely emerged from the edge of the snowfield.
Angel was initially curious about Duchess Bel’s appearance, but before he could focus on the shadowy form, a buzzing sound filled his ears.
“I know, accelerate, I’m already at my limit, please stop rushing me…” The buzzing was accompanied by the delicate ringing of a bell.
“Is this your idea of acceleration? Listen for yourself, the frequency of the bell is too low!” Sineva’s voice, filled with anger, drowned the previous buzzing sound.
As Angel pondered the situation, the bell began to ring faster. Previously, it was as if a gentle breeze had stirred it, the bell sounding crisp and pleasing. Now, it transformed abruptly, as if a gusty wind was causing it to quiver chaotically, producing a bizarre frequency.
“I asked you to speed up, not blow into the bell!” Sineva’s voice brimmed with further frustration.
“Well, the result is that the frequency of the bell has increased,” the buzzing voice replied.
As the shadow approached, Angel finally saw “Duchess Bel” — a white bear, massive as a snow-capped mountain.
A frost-covered cathedral was mounted on the bear’s back, a bell swaying in the wind atop the cathedral spire.
At that moment, the bear was lifting its head, blowing mightily towards the bell. Sineva, standing at the cathedral’s entrance, was fervently scolding the bear.
Seeing this spectacle, Angel finally understood — the one who had been arguing with Sineva was this white bear, Duchess Bel!
“We’ve finally reached Nielgard Winter Palace!” The bear sighed with relief, sprawling onto the ground, stirring a cloud of snow. “Wonderful, time to rest.”
“Don’t even think about resting!” Sineva chastised, turning to address the people at the palace entrance. “Is it only those going to Watchtower Fortress who are left? Fine, all aboard, we leave immediately.”
“Get on quickly, or else once Duchess Bel falls asleep, she won’t wake up for at least two to three days,” Bruen advised, before swiftly ascending onto the cathedral mounted on the bear’s back.
Before Angel could muster a more meticulous examination of the white bear, Duchess Bel, he was escorted by Madeline to the entrance of the frost cathedral. Soon, as the last apprentice set foot on the bear’s back, the fiery aura surrounding Sineva echoed her words:
“If you dare doze off, I will blow your backdoor to smithereens.” Duchess Bel, who was initially drooping her eyes in an attempt to seize a slumber, shuddered at the outburst of Sineva’s anger.
After a brief hesitation, she straightened herself up, trudging begrudgingly towards the depths of the snowfield.
“Pick up the pace! If we fail to reach the Downfallen Forest within two days, I’ll treat you to a taste of fire and ice.”
Sineva’s threat caused Duchess Bel to whimper in sorrow.
Left to her own devices, she would have preferred to amble along leisurely, but to her dismay, Sineva was in charge of this resupply expedition, and she was bound for Watchtower Fortress!
The journey was marked by Duchess Bel’s silent shedding of tears.
Meanwhile, Angel, following Madeline’s instructions, took out a portion of Kunsha Floral Fragrance and applied it to himself.
This fragrance was impossible to smell—it was as scentless as clear water. Despite its name, many alchemically produced perfumes lacked a distinct odor. Their effect wasn’t necessarily aimed at the olfactory sense but more towards a mental influence.
Many witches coveted Salomon perfume; though the outward scent was crucial, the true impact was on the receiver’s psychological perception rather than their sense of smell.
The Kunsha Floral Fragrance was similar: while Angel himself couldn’t smell it, it could affect any demon or monster that ventured near him.
Once he had applied the Kunsha Floral Fragrance, Angel ventured into the cathedral.
The congregation heading to Watchtower Fortress was sparse, rendering the cathedral, constructed from frost, rather vast. Although the cathedral was not teeming with parishioners, Angel still sensed a palpable tension the moment he entered the sanctuary.
“Following this trajectory, after the snowy plains, we will have to pass through Silent Shore. However, Duchess Bel, who hastened from Brinkwood, mentioned that something unusual might have occurred on Silent Shore. Even though the demonic beasts there are scarce on a typical day, some still lurk. But during her recent visit, not a single creature crossed her path.” The voice belonged to Sineva, standing at the heart of the cathedral, surrounded by others.
“The usual beasts in the vicinity vanished? Has someone swept the area clean?”
“Duchess Bel found no evidence of a skirmish. Therefore, it’s highly likely that the beasts vacated voluntarily.” Sineva paused for a moment before continuing, “Beasts voluntarily leaving suggests two possibilities; either due to changes in the geographical conditions or habitual tendencies, or there might be… a far more formidable entity, potentially descending upon Silent Shore.”
“Considering the worst-case scenario, a powerful entity might have descended. Hence, when passing through the Silent Shore, we must exercise utmost caution.”
Madeline chimed in, “In that case, can we not choose a different route?”
“There are three detour options,” Sineva explained. “First, take a huge detour through the Desolate Ruins; this path will add at least two weeks to our journey. The longer the journey, the greater the uncertainties. Second, proceed forward to the Silent Dead Sea, which goes without saying—we cannot possibly traverse it. The third option is the branch of the Demon Monastery…”
Chapter 976 Nielgard Winter Palace <TOC> Chapter 978 The Snowstorm Banshee