Free Web NovelChapter 2035: Chapter 2035: Exotic Races of Saint Byrons
Old Man John finished the story and watched as Shard absorbed the broken blade into the card.
Thus, in Tobesk, Coldwater Port, Midshire Fort, Huntington City, Randall Valley, and Green Lake Region, Shard had collected a "Butterfly Card" from each area. Each location seemed a bit coincidental, but it didn’t matter for now, considering the vastness of the world, and the six cards were currently enough for the girls of the Six Rings.
After completing the relatively inexpensive antique exchange, Shard moved on to the "lucky" items he desired. Actually, the "Golden Apple" he gifted to Iluna last month could increase luck, and it would do so for a long period without side effects. But Shard would never take back a gift he had given, especially since Iluna’s eighteenth birthday present needed to be special.
Thus far, Shard had come across several items that could enhance luck through Old Man John, such as the "Golden Rabbit Leg" from John’s friend and the "Oak’s Luck Potion" from the Forest Hermit Order. But this time, what he presented was truly astonishing—a metal rod.
"I really can’t imagine how this thing relates to luck... Relic?"
"Yes, a relic."
Old John nodded.
"Keeper of Secrets Level Relic ’Sudden Fate.’
Getting hit on the head with this thing can temporarily increase one’s luck. Of course, you need to confirm that your skull is tough enough to use it; ordinary people certainly couldn’t withstand it. The first time the relic works, it will surely bring luck. However, as the usage frequency on the same individual increases, the probability of misfortune entangling them will grow. Therefore, I don’t recommend using it a second time. Also, be cautious, for aside from the misfortune I mentioned, it could also lead to incurable and persistent headaches, so use it wisely."
"Sudden Fate..."
Shard had previously come across relics that were activated by hitting people on the head. It was when he first met Iluna, she used her team’s Scribe Level Relic "Beast Tamer’s Memory Erasure Rod."
"If I hadn’t known you for so long, I’d certainly think this relic is just you pulling my leg. Old Man John, how much is this relic?"
"Sell? Of course not, but it can be rented."
The old man showed a shrewd expression, and Shard nodded in agreement.
"Of course, name your price. I won’t take it now; I’ll come for it when I need it."
"It’s peculiar. I’ve noticed that over the past month, you’ve hardly bargained when you’ve come to me. Did you inherit a massive fortune, or are you living off the Duchess’s generosity?"
He asked curiously, and Shard thought for a moment.
"Then I guess I should haggle a bit; indeed, money shouldn’t be squandered lightly. How about 1 pound for the rent?"
"Detective, are you here just to joke with me?"
Shard didn’t plan on immediately attempting to go to Moon Bay Region, naturally because there were still some unfinished matters. The standard Time Key could be used normally; this month’s Black Time Key he had been keeping, and once used, he could meet Long-Haired Luvia again, who he truly missed.
But the most important thing was to report to Miss Danester about the clues he found in Laplace Klein Howard’s book.
However, when Shard returned home with Mia, the first thing he saw was a pile of gift boxes stacked in the entryway:
"Oh, they’re gifts from them."
The program last night, allegedly gifts for Shard, were actually tokens no one would forget. Shard checked and found gifts not only from the girls who could come to him but also from Miss Benanis, Miss Aphrola, Miss Sylvia, Granny Cassandra, and even Sister Delphine far away in the New World.
He even saw gifts from Miss Rita Swift and Margaret; upon opening, he found a tie and a coat.
[Look at the very bottom.]
Following the prompt, Shard cleared the boxes and found an unmarked envelope on the carpet. Inside was a color photo, a black and white photo colored with paint. Tifa, dressed in a maid’s long dress, stood by the window, smiling outside the photo. The sun was bright, time was serene, and the beauty remained unchanged.
Shard blinked his eyes and flipped it over, seeing the cursive writing — [Happy Birthday, Shard].
He couldn’t help but smile, and the voice beside his ear sighed:
[This is the true power of a witch. If Angelina Cavendish is indeed one of the Chosen Ones of the witch, then she may have to compete with your maid.]
"I can’t see how Angelina could surpass Tifa in any area; it’s not about undervaluing Angelina... Hold on, since when did Tifa become my maid?"
[When you considered Mia your cat.]
The gentle smile remained the same as always.
Because he had scheduled an appointment with Miss Danester in advance, Shard projected himself to Saint Byrons at two o’clock in the afternoon.
The Great Library of the Academy always seemed to maintain its tranquility. The red-haired sorceress sat on the sofa in the clearing beneath the massive astrolabe at the center of the library, sipping tea. The coffee table in front of her was piled with various documents that seemed endless.
The two students who were helping set up the ritual rose to leave. Miss Danester noticed Shard’s gaze on one of them and laughed:
"What’s up, are you interested in male students too?"
"Of course not, the one just now is..."
Shard turned his head away, no longer looking at the student with a tail trailing behind him.
"Yes, Dragonborn, lineage from the Green Dragon. Why are you curious about Dragonborn when you’ve already seen the elves of the Academy?"
She casually divulged important information about the Academy:
"Currently, in the student body at the Academy, pure humans make up only forty-three percent, while pure alien species students account for eighteen percent, such as that Moon Creek Clan elf, Miss Emilia, whom you’re acquainted with. The remainder are mixed-blood students, at thirty-nine-percent, slightly less than the pure humans. As for the Academy professors, those like me—human—are actually the minority. Professor Garcia from the History Academy, whom you’re familiar with, is a mixed-blood elf, isn’t he?"
She pondered for a moment and added:
"In fact, my great-grandmother was also a mixed-blood elf; it’s just that by my generation, there’s no visible trace in the lineage."
"Maybe the power of the Red Moon is a manifestation of elven lineage."
Shard speculated, but the sorceress shook her head regretfully:
"My great-grandmother was from the Clan of the Wind Pursuers. Like most elves, they revered the Ancient God, ’Father of the Infinite Tree’, rather than the minority who revered the Ancient God, ’Sage of Silvermoon’. However, after advancing to Thirteen Rings and becoming the Academy Librarian, those distant elven relatives seemed eager to establish connections with me... Oh well, I’ve gone off topic."
She shook her head, yet Shard was still keen to continue the topic:
"You know, I have encountered the second principal of Saint Byrons in the past, Miss Fiona Drago, who is a Dragonborn."
"Yes, this principal, while not as famous in this era as our Academy founder, Miss Mana Feliana, Miss Drago made significant contributions to the establishment and stable operation of the Academy. According to Academy records, the very land we stand upon was secured due to her efforts."
She suddenly recalled Shard had submitted a report about that principal and had frequently inquired about the land’s origins early this year. Remembering the report now deemed highly valuable and the ancient witch who once appeared beside the "God Summoner", the red-haired sorceress pursed her lips, and her left leg beneath her skirt rubbed against her right leg:
"Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on that Dragonborn principal?"
Shard instantly understood the true intent behind the question:
"Hmm..."
He blinked, ultimately choosing not to feign ignorance or lie, but also not mentioning anything related to past events:
"Her perfume smells very nice."
Miss Danester burst into laughter:
"That’s such a typical response from you. Well, now that your curiosity is satisfied, shall we return to today’s main topic? My elective course has ended, and the practical incantation report you submitted on the mixed application of March’s power, I gave a high score. So what’s the matter this time?"
"From what, I mean, the God Summoner briefly glanced at the notes left by Laplace Howard and discovered some valuable clues."
"Oh?"
She shifted from her relaxed posture on the sofa to sitting upright, while Shard requested using a manuscript page to directly send over some hand-copied notes.
Thus, Miss Danester sent a student to the Student Affairs Office to fetch the notebooks Shard had just transmitted. The one responsible for this "task" was the elf, Miss Emilia, whom Shard occasionally saw at Miss Danester’s place. She smiled and winked at Shard when delivering the notebooks.
As Miss Danester reviewed the notebook contents, she listened to Shard’s introduction:
"The intelligence provided by the God Summoner last month was correct; the complex Ritual Array of Sun, Moon, and Stars at the core of ’Edwards’ Ascension Technique’ was indeed created by himself based on the pattern on the back of the Roder Card. The idea emerged before the Diviner defected from the Prophet’s Society, but the ritual pattern was fully constructed and refined around 1803 to 1805, approximately fifty years ago."
"That’s interesting, the ritual arrays on the ground at the Night Shrine in Randall Valley and the ones I discovered in the Karas Mountains formed well before fifty years ago."
Miss Danester commented, to which Shard nodded, affirming that the symbols remaining on those ancient ruins are all related to Long-Haired Luviya and the "Bygone Era." Since the Night Shrine could allow him to illegally traverse time, theoretically, the high tower in the Karas Mountains should also be a contingency left by Long-Haired Luviya for his future Sixth Era self.
