Free Web NovelChapter 2036: Chapter 2036: New Clues and the Key Reawakened
Shard once asked Long-Haired Luvia in a dream about the Karas Mountain Tower, but unfortunately, she refused to talk.
"So, the clues from Randall Valley - Night Shrine and Karas Mountain - Ancient Tower, both have been interrupted."
Shard concluded, but immediately added:
"Although the Sun, Moon, and Stars ritual circle cannot be further investigated, it might involve Laplace Klein’s exploration and manipulation of time. However, in his notes, I found other clues. Look at that black notebook; yes, that one is the only original, which I directly brought here."
Miss Danester then pulled out the notebook buried at the very bottom, and upon opening it, her eyes widened with surprise:
"Is this the teacher’s handwriting?"
"Yes, I’m quite accustomed to Laplace Klein’s handwriting. When I flipped through this notebook recording the mysteries of space-time, I was curious about its origin. Later, I found other materials and letters—those are in that folder. Only then did I realize that about 30 years ago, that Diviner met your teacher."
Shard was quite surprised upon discovering this point last week while organizing the notebook. Later, while searching through the letters placed together with the notebook, he found that although the letters and notebook did not mention any names, they clearly stated that the lady he met was a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer from Saint Byrons.
"The teacher... probably went missing 20 years ago."
Miss Danester murmured to herself, not noticing that Shard was already calculating her age:
"Before visiting the ancient tower on Karas Mountain, the teacher met with a traitor from the Prophet’s Society?"
"Laplace Howard destroyed many materials during his lifetime, so it is now impossible to verify who initiated contact. These notebooks and letters were scattered in a secret cave laboratory on Green Island, perhaps due to Laplace Howard’s oversight when destroying materials... or intentionally left for the God Summoner."
"What did they discuss?"
Miss Danester asked again, reaching for the folder containing photos of the notes and letters to prevent transcription errors that might omit important clues.
"Matters related to the Ancient God, but the specific details are unclear. It is certain that the island’s Diviner gained significant insight from that meeting and completely perfected Edwards’ Ascension Technique’s entire concept. Indeed, the night of the Battle of Green Island witnessed traces of rituals borrowing the power of the Blood Moon. Your teacher inquired about some matters regarding the Moon. Unfortunately, no more precise content was found, but although the conversation’s content remains unknown, the last identifiable note relating to this mentions that Laplace Howard recommended another person to that Saint Byrons’ Professor, who might be able to help her."
"Who?"
"No specific name was mentioned, only a piano piece called ’Moonlight Sonata’."
Shard had already asked Luvia and Miss Galina, thus knowing who it was.
Sure enough, Miss Danester also figured out the answer:
"The Old God of Music, or called the ’Weaver of Harmony,’ who may have departed in the Fifth Era, but the order still exists, passed down to this day. It is a neutral circle sorcerer group, and the majority of members have a musical background. ’Moonlight Sonata’ is the titular work of the group’s current leader. It looks like I need to visit them. I’ve not heard much of their whereabouts in recent years, but they may be along the Eastern Old Continent Coast in Carsonrick, or in the New World."
Shard nodded, previously thinking the other party would be in the West Coast Moon Bay Area, where he was about to head. It seems fate does not always like to play tricks on him:
"Then I’ll leave the next investigation to you."
"Alright, as long as there is further investigative insight... What’s this?"
Under those notebooks was a red jewelry box. Miss Danester curiously opened it to find a rose-red headband inside:
"A gift."
Shard said, having taken this week’s gift from the "God’s Gift Box" after returning home earlier today. It’s just an ordinary item. The Outlander still finds it hard to differentiate between various shades of red but has realized this color of headband does not match any girl he knows.
He wanted to tie it on the cat’s tail to see, but the cat cleverly avoided him. Thinking about coming to meet Miss Danester, he brought it along. As for this week’s task, it was to properly manage his hair. This is simple for Shard; his short hair only requires daily washing and combing before going out.
"Is this a gift for me?"
She smiled at the headband in the box:
"This reminds me of the fountain pen I once gave to the teacher. Very nice, though I’m unclear why you suddenly thought about giving me a gift, but thank you."
She took the headband adorned with ruby decoration from the box:
"What will you do next? This past month, you’ve been reporting your progress weekly and earnestly attending the elective classes I teach, also submitting various end-of-term papers for the upcoming summer exams. I’ve even heard students from the Academy discussing your major case handled in Tobesk... but you wouldn’t continue to stay at home this diligently, right?"
Eying him playfully with rose-red eyes, Shard sheepishly nodded:
"I do have some matters to attend to abroad recently, but I won’t forget the summer exam week."
"Where are you headed then?"
Shard hesitated for a moment but felt there was no need to conceal:
"Moon Bay Area, I’m looking for a very important relic."
Miss Danester did not continue to ask what he was looking for:
"Staying busy is good too. You can’t become a better Circle Sorcerer by always sitting at a desk. If you encounter any trouble in the Moon Bay area, you can come to me for help. Later, I will first arrange for someone to find that believer of the God of Music, who should not be leaving the school in the short term."
Shard nodded, thinking about what kind of story he would once again encounter in the Moon Bay area this time.
He talked with Miss Danester until dinner time before ending the conversation, and then went out with the cat to have dinner.
On Monday, Luvia took a day off, so she had to work overtime tonight at the association to handle some matters, and probably wouldn’t arrive at Saint Delan Square until after eight o’clock.
So, after dinner, with some time at his disposal, Shard tidied up his desk and took out the black Time Key hanging around his neck. He sighed lightly, deciding not to delay any longer:
"After resting for a month, it’s time for some exercise. I wonder who I’ll encounter in Bygone Era this time, and what similarities and differences there will be."
Leaving Mia to wait on the desk, he placed the relics he had with him onto the desk as well, and then took the key to the study door:
"May the World Tree protect me in the infinite times."
With a click, the study door opened inward, revealing not the home living room, but endless white mist.
He reached out to touch the white mist—
[Outlander, please note. A message from the "Father of the Infinite Tree": You are allowed to carry two additional relics this time.]
"Two this time?"
He then turned around and picked up the Perfume Bottle of Desire, hesitated for a moment, chose not to take the Night Watchman, and instead picked up the silver crescent-shaped "Jade" known as the Stigmata of the Stars. This Sage-Level Relic, which he had only tried a few times since obtaining it on Green Island. Although he was not clear about what situation to face this time, the Yggdrasil’s Staff could be used as a lower substitute for the Night Watchman, so he brought this long-range weapon along.
"And this."
He also picked up the small silver pocket watch on the table, a gift from a Time Grand Witch in the Bygone Era, which might have a special effect in the Bygone Era.
The cat saw Shard waving to it and let out a "meow~" before watching him walk into the White Mist Gate.
[Outlander, you have stepped into the "Time Corridor."]
[Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":]
[Bygone Era: Sixth Era, Old Continent, Apocalypse City: Tobesk.]
[Event: Tobesk, The Last Era.]
[Duration: Any (3/∞).]
[You have obtained additional information.]
[You have stepped into non-existent history.]
[The shadow of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches over you.]
[Note, during this exploration, you cannot leave the confines of Saint Delan Square.]
[Note, you are allowed to bring any spellcasting materials into this time.]
[Note, using the Time Key to defeat any powerful enemy allows you to return to the "present" time.]
Shard stepped out of the mist and found himself indeed coming from the study into the living room. However, this was a home where the windows were sealed, and the walls and floor were full of mold and moss, looking utterly dilapidated.
He stumbled forward a few steps, then sat on the only sofa not covered by white cloth, clutching his head to endure the discomfort of the chaotic elements and spirits here, after transitioning from the normal world to the Apocalypse world.
After quite a while, he raised his head, looking at the dark fireplace in front of him. He did not immediately get up to go outside but instead fetched some wooden toys from his pocket, transforming them into firewood and tossing them into the fireplace, lighting them with a flame.
"Cough, cough, damn it, the place hasn’t been renovated, the chimney is blocked now."
The smoke rushing back into the room forced Shard to extinguish the flame, making his mood, already affected by the Apocalypse environment, even worse:
"I cannot let such a fate happen again."
He got up and walked to the higher levels along the stairs, but when passing the dim hallway on the third floor, he knocked five times rhythmically on the wall with his fingers, but unfortunately, no third door on the third floor appeared.
Initially intending to jump directly from the rooftop into Saint Delan Square as he did the previous two times, after knocking on the wall, he decided to try experiencing what it felt like to walk out from the door.
So he turned back downstairs, didn’t find the copperplate engraving he bought from Old John at the staircase landing, nor did he find the shoe rack and the cookie box for keys and change in the entrance hall, only to see the floor near the front door piled with yellow sand.
