Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3070: Chapter 3071: Enjoyment

After the Black Earl and Vay left, Angel let out a long sigh of relief.

He had originally prepared a set of explanations to describe why the Indestructible Heart Mirror only had the attribute of "sturdiness." Fortunately, the Black Earl didn’t inquire about the effects of the Indestructible Heart Mirror, which made Angel feel much more at ease.

Because the explanations he prepared were not very well-developed, if the Black Earl had pressed for details, Angel might have had to reveal some truths.

To this end, he even specially asked Laplace to prepare a little, blocking out the mirror space... If the Black Earl had the means to penetrate the mirror space, he could prevent surveillance.

Now, it seems there’s no need to worry.

However, even though the Black Earl left, Dox did not follow.

Dox did not have the same "consideration" as the Black Earl. After the Black Earl left, he immediately sidled up to Angel with a mysterious tone, saying: "The outsiders have left, now you can tell me. What is the effect of this mirror? Surely it’s not just sturdiness, right?"

Angel noticed that just a second ago, Dox was sitting deeply on the sofa with a solemn expression, and the next moment he changed expressions and moved closer as if what he said was indeed true—waiting for the outsiders to leave.

Angel really wanted to say: "You too are an outsider."

But thinking that he still needed to coax Dox into being a tool for Dororo, Angel held back.

"Are you certain, it’s not just the sturdiness effect?" Angel raised an eyebrow: "Why don’t you use a truth spell on me and see whether what I say is true?"

"There are many loopholes in the truth spell, which you know well..." Dox muttered, "Besides, using a truth spell on you is impolite, isn’t it?"

... You know manners, huh? If you know manners, why ask?

After a moment of silence, Angel responded calmly: "I haven’t fully researched it yet. So far, I’ve only discovered the trait of sturdiness. Once I’ve thoroughly researched it, I’ll let you know."

"You’re the refiner and don’t know the trait?" Dox looked incredulous.

Angel said, "Before a witchcraft garden is built, who knows what kind of garden it will be?"

Pausing, Angel added: "Also, don’t underestimate the trait of sturdiness. Not every mysterious object’s effect is immediately dazzling; once sturdiness surpasses a certain level, it may adopt a mysterious attribute."

Dox pondered for a moment: "That’s true. If it’s sturdy to the point that all forces are unbreakable, becoming the hardest mirror, then..."

Before Dox could finish, Angel said: "Don’t think of everything in terms of ’most,’ and besides, this is not yet a mysterious object. It’s still far from the level of a mysterious object. In terms of sturdiness, I can only say it has reached the limit the material couldn’t attain."

Dox: "That’s a general concept... Let me put it this way: if I swing my sword with full force, can it withstand it?"

Angel looked at Dox with suspicion: "What do you mean?"

Dox: "Just looking for a reference point."

Angel thought about it and said, "Most likely, yes. But even so, don’t entertain any thoughts of trying."

"I was just asking, and never intended to try." After Dox finished speaking, he had an excited expression: "If it really could withstand my sword, I’d believe in its sturdiness... If my sword could also be this sturdy, that would be great."

The true intentions were revealed.

Angel had wondered why Dox mentioned using a sword to cut the mirror; the mirror isn’t a shield, why cut it? It’s clear now, it was laying groundwork, and a rather heavy one.

Dox looked at Angel with hopeful eyes, blinking as if to say: you had promised before, don’t forget.

After pondering for two minutes, Angel said, "I can help you reforge the Red Sword."

Dox’s eyes lit up.

Angel quickly added: "Don’t be too quick to rejoice. I currently have two options for you: the first option is for you to give me the sword and materials now, and I’ll spend a day helping you reforge; the second option is for me to think it over well before helping you reforge."

"Which one do you choose?"

Dox unhesitatingly said, "The second option."

"The second option, huh? Good, I got it."

On the surface, Angel nodded calmly; but inwardly, he had the expression of "I had expected this."

The two options he provided were actually the same.

Just a difference between refining sooner or later. As for... thinking it over?

For other alchemists, the planning period takes a very long time, even years, but Angel’s planning time during alchemy is very short, almost negligible.

Thus, Angel’s two options were essentially just one. But with unequal information and the art of language, Angel knew Dox would definitely choose the second one.

And Dox really did.

Of course, if Dox had chosen the first option, Angel wouldn’t stall.

If Dox’s weapon itself had suffered damage, Angel would also immediately help reforge it; but since there was no issue with Dox’s weapon, and to familiarize with a true reforge would take time, that’s why Angel set up a language trap for Dox to fall into.

"Once we return to the Barbarian Cave, I’ll help you reforge the longsword," Angel said softly, "If your sword is reforged, it will also take time to familiarize and master. Plus, the Barbarian Cave is quite safe, so you can relax and settle there."

Dox eagerly nodded, not thoroughly considering Angel’s words. He only had one thought in mind: Angel had set the timetable for the reforge! Moreover, it would be soon!

Looks like he must prepare the materials before heading to the Barbarian Cave.

Dox asked Angel in detail about the materials possibly needed for refining.

Once confirmed, Dox finally left Angel’s quiet room, feeling satisfied.

However, before leaving, Dox said: "Actually, earlier, I carefully observed, and indeed from the outside, the Indestructible Heart Mirror doesn’t show any special effects. But after some consideration, I suddenly thought of something."

"After you finished refining the heart mirror, Adanis went to the Qingkong Poetry Room... She went through the mirror."

"If the exterior doesn’t show obvious special effects, could the special effect be within the mirror?"

Dox left this last sentence and walked away.

Angel could see that he was indeed making guesses, but also probing.

But Dox didn’t probe much before leaving... This also indicates his attitude and position.

It must be said that the thinking of official wizards is often broad; most things, as long as there are details, can lead to conclusions. Dox really was right...

The twist isn’t outside the mirror but inside it.

As for Dox guessing right, Angel didn’t react much. Because Angel had already considered bringing Dox to Rabbit Mountain, into the Crystal Origin of Dreams as an intermediary.

After all, Dox knows about the existence of the Mirror Domain.

Although Angel didn’t care about Dox’s guesses, he did care about others... Given Dox could guess, maybe Black Earl might have realized too?

Angel pondered for a while, but ultimately decided not to think too deeply.

Let the Black Earl guess if he wants, anyway, in the future the Black Earl might also enter the Mirror Domain... Adanis is following the Black Earl.

If he doesn’t mention it, then Angel will pretend not to know.

When they "unexpectedly meet" in the Mirror Domain in the future, it won’t be too late to talk.

...

Once Dox also left, the quiet room once again only had Angel alone.

Angel meditated routinely for an hour and then stepped into the Indestructible Heart Mirror.

The form of the Buffer Zone is still the same as before, a thin mist covering the ground, while around it are the furniture created by Nightmare Illusion. It’s like a refined noble room.

When Angel left, Laplace was sitting on the sofa, eyes closed in Light Sleep — logging into the Wilderness of Dreams.

Presently, Laplace is still here, but her appearance has changed.

Laplace left the sofa, manipulating her silver hair into a shape like a "chair monster," not only can she sit on it, but she can also control the "chair monster" to move.

At first glance, it reminded Angel of Summer Witch, though Summer Witch sits on a bamboo basket, whereas Laplace sits on a hair chair.

As soon as Angel stepped into the mirror, the emotionless girl Laplace opened her eyes.

"Looks like you dealt with the Black Earl?"

Angel: "...Your words are quite ambiguous."

"It wasn’t me who dealt with this matter, but rather the Black Earl who actively avoided probing the Indestructible Heart Mirror."

Laplace didn’t ask why the Black Earl would actively avoid discussing the Indestructible Heart Mirror, she merely responded perfunctorily: "The Buffer Zone of Cha Cha Mirror is very important, before it is completely sturdy, it’s best not to let outsiders in."

Angel was already too lazy to correct Laplace’s terminology, nodding his head: "I understand."

After briefly mentioning the matter of the Black Earl, Laplace spoke with an eager tone that Angel rarely saw: "I remember you’re now at the human market?"

Angel glanced at Laplace in confusion, not knowing why she suddenly brought up the Wizard Market: "Yes. I’m at Bilun Tree Court..."

Laplace: "Since it’s a human market, there should be bookstores there, right? Could you help me bring a book on how to catch fish?"

How to catch fish? A book?

Angel looked at Laplace trying to remain calm, yet couldn’t hide the urgent look in her eyes, and finally nodded: "It’s possible, but I don’t know if there’s any here."

Books related to fishing... at least Angel had never seen them.

Furthermore, even if there are such books, they likely wouldn’t be at the Transcendent Market.

After receiving Angel’s answer, it seemed Laplace let out a sigh of relief.

Angel saw this and hesitated before asking: "Fishing... is it really fun?"

Laplace’s expression paused: "It’s not a matter of being fun, it’s... very special."

Laplace didn’t admit that fishing is fun, she felt that her obsession with catching fish stemmed from a deep-seated discontent in her soul.

There are no fish in the Sea of Void Mirror, but there are many things from the outside world, and Laplace can easily obtain these things. But in the waters of the Wilderness of Dreams, she could see the fish with her own eyes, yet she just couldn’t catch them, which severely hurt her self-esteem.

Of course, she could go down and grab the fish, but for some reason, she just didn’t want to. It was as if fetching fish from the water destroyed a sense of "ceremony."

She simply wanted to catch a fish by herself.

Laplace felt that her discontent would be resolved as long as she caught a fish.

As long as she could catch a fish, even if it’s a small one, she wouldn’t be obsessed with that piece of water in the future!

The above describes Laplace’s internal activities.

Angel, not knowing what Laplace was thinking, couldn’t help but feel that Laplace’s current obsession reminded him a bit of Old Pat.

Old Pat’s favorite thing when he was alive was fishing. And unlike fishermen who fish for survival, Old Pat’s fishing was more like a pleasure.

He could secretly get up at midnight for fishing, staying from dawn till dusk.

When Angel was young and didn’t quite understand, he once asked Jon. Jon answered with a sigh: "Adults also need solitary time... And perhaps your father is also cherishing memories of your mother."

Back then, Angel couldn’t understand the phrase "adults need solitude," but he understood and truly believed the latter part.

Because his mother—Haiba Xia, once fell into a tributary of Mount Fear Waterfall, and though she was quickly rescued, due to being submerged in the water for too long, she developed health issues and shortly passed away.

Therefore, it was likely true that Old Pat was cherishing memories of his mother by being alone by the river.

Back then, Angel secretly shed tears for this.

Until one day, Jon was invited to fish with Old Pat. Jon, who had never fished before, became enthusiastic after catching his first fish, continuing to fish with Old Pat by the river. It was then that Angel realized the joke was on himself.

Adult solitude? Forget it.

Angel personally doesn’t have a hobby of fishing, but after the experiences of Old Pat and Jon, he could understand the allure of fishing... Currently, Laplace seems to have succumbed to this temptation.

Why is Laplace interested in fishing...Is it just because her form is fish-like?

Angel shook a bit, not daring to dwell further.

Fishing is just fishing, after all, it doesn’t require much effort...Moreover, perhaps he can even communicate this with Jon.

By the way, Jon doesn’t seem to know that fishing is available outside, maybe when visiting the Wilderness of Dreams next time, he can mention it to him.

Furthermore, the fishing techniques Laplace wants can be learned from Jon.

While Angel was thinking of this, Laplace on the side said: "Why do you have a peculiar smell about you..."

Angel snapped back to reality.

Laplace was sniffing something, and finally, her gaze landed on his hand...More accurately, it landed on a metal box in his hand.

Laplace could sense that the peculiar smell seemed to emanate from the box. Although she could determine the contents of the box through her perception, she chose not to.

Angel lowered his head for a glance and replied: "It’s probably the smell of the medicine box you’re talking about."