Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1839 - 1838: Kiss and the Golden Apple

"Butterfly? Old God - Butterfly God ’Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly,’ related to the power of Earth and Nature, not Space. But the Holy Emblem of the Old God - Twin Gods is also a butterfly. Are you saying the Church suspects that The Chosen One might be associated with that Old God?"

Shard asked, and Iluna nodded:

"We all know, Grace and Helen sisters will inevitably be involved this time."

"I understand...I’ll be ready."

Iluna suddenly asked:

"Speaking of which, did Sister Delphine come with Granny Cassandra? I have some personal matters I wish to discuss with her."

"She came with Granny, but Sister Delphine has an official identity. To liaise with the Church, the ’Spiritual Practice Order’ she leads likely won’t appear together with Granny Cassandra, but you can see her over the weekend."

The two descended the stairs together, Iluna looked around, ensuring there was indeed no one, and then asked:

"One more question, Shard, do you know what can represent ’Space-Time’?"

Shard found this a peculiar question:

"You mean symbolizing the power of space-time? Are you looking for a Deity?"

"Most likely not."

Iluna shook her head:

"It might be an Unclassified Level Relic, or it could be something else."

Shard pondered closely:

"I don’t know much about Unclassified Level Relics, but if it’s not a relic, one thing comes to mind—the World Tree."

While descending the stairs with Iluna, he explained:

"You see, the World Tree itself signifies bearing the world, it represents Space; and the World Tree apparently is that Tree Father, which stands for Time."

"The World Tree seems to have withered at the end of the First Era, beginning of the Second Era. What the elves, who worship the Ancient God, planted now are just saplings transplanted from branches fallen before the World Tree’s death, lacking the power of the true tree."

Iluna shook her head, Shard proposed another idea:

"Then you would need to see Shadow of the Tree Father. This Ancient God of Time is the most unique among all ancient gods, He may have departed, but His trunk links all of space-time, hence the concept of Time Keys. Unlike other departed ancient gods, the Tree Father’s power more clearly impacts our world. Upon completing tasks with Time Keys or illicitly traversing time, one might encounter that shadow linking heaven and earth... What do you want to know, I’ll ask for you, my key is almost completed."

But Iluna refused, she already had a plan. Just like she wanted to meet the ’Lake Goddess’ in ’If Game,’ she just needed to know the way without actually doing it. Now, having found the method, she only needed to verify its validity.

"Indeed, there are other ways. Since you’re the Guardian of Time and Space, breaking the space-time rules might likely lead you to those coming to apprehend you."

Shard smiled while saying this, jokingly, but Iluna considered it reasonable too. Since it’s in a game, the seventeen-year-old girl was quite adept at utilizing rules:

"Time Keys are easy to find... But whether legal or illegal traversal, I need the ’Time’ Spirit Rune... Regarding breaking space-time rules, Shard mentioned ’Time of Retrospection’ in Dawn Chapel... Although that Sixth Era didn’t have Shard, since Tobesk exists in the game, it indicates that relic once reset Tobesk Region and revealed by Shard without discussion about Luviya, is indeed contained."

She pondered, then asked the final question:

"Shard, one more thing I’d like your advice on. If, I mean if, if I encounter a relic related to storytelling, every story told is an adventure based on reality, only the world in the story is vastly different, full of danger, even opening a familiar door might be fatal, do you have any good suggestions?"

Those ’if’ statements typically imply actuality. Shard was somewhat concerned, but seeing Iluna’s expression was very relaxed:

"According to your description, wouldn’t there be danger from the start of the story?"

"No, no, the story’s start, the scenario and my situation in reality are completely consistent, only after I start moving do things... "

The brown-haired girl was startled, then suddenly understood, the first time was executing warehouse search tasks, the second time was just getting off the train, but the games matched reality entirely, definitely not coincidence. The start of ’If’ game is part of reality, rather than a vanished space-time:

"I understand!"

Too excited, she couldn’t control her voice:

"It’s quite right thinking! Detective, it’s absolutely correct asking you for help!"

She kissed Shard’s face on the step below her, realizing only after doing so what she had done. Her face reddened, she stammered thanks to Shard and settled the code for their next meeting, then laughed and covered her face as she left.

Shard found today’s Iluna very odd.

"Young girl’s emotions, always this way."

"Hmm... That’s not like something you’d usually say."

Turning to ascend the stairs to meet the witches, Shard saw Ms. Helena Green behind the counter, who had seen Iluna kiss Shard at the stairway earlier and wore an ’youth is wonderful’ expression.

Thinking for a moment, Shard approached the counter, lowered his voice, and asked:

"Ms. Green, did you see the young lady who went downstairs with me just now? According to your thoughts, what would be a good birthday gift for such a girl?"

Iluna’s birthday was approaching, and he intended to seek opinions from others. Although he had given a broken-armed statue as a birthday gift to Angelina, he couldn’t simply replicate the statue again.

The woman behind the counter laughed, feeling that her aunt’s choice in men was indeed interesting:

"That’s an odd question. In my opinion, whatever you give, she’ll be very happy."

She could see Iluna’s thoughts; since her teenage years, Helena Green had helped her father manage the hotel and had seen too many stories, too many people... Everyone, except for Iluna herself, could see her feelings.

"Anything’s good?"

"However, if you could make the gift highlight her uniqueness, she might be happier. Put some thought into it; it’s best to express your goodwill towards her. Though some girls care more about the price of the gift, the young lady with brown hair seemed to care more about the meaning behind it."

Although speaking of her own aunts in this way was somewhat disheartening, the woman behind the counter felt she should help the shy girl just now, reminding her of her own youth.

Shard suddenly realized:

"Unique? Good impression... What do you think of a golden apple? Like the ones in stories."

"Not bad, not bad. Apples themselves have good symbolic meanings... But I didn’t tell you anything."

The woman raised an eyebrow, hoping Megan and Audrey would never find out it was her idea.

When Shard returned upstairs, the witches had already drafted an initial plan for the "Green Lake Hotel renovation project." According to the rituals set up beforehand by Megan and Audrey, they intended to reinforce the entire building, then address the doors, windows, and walls separately. Additionally, they planned to use Witch’s Secret Arts to set up the Ritual Core in the basement — the place Shard always appeared — to ensure that High Ring Sorcerers could use the building to resist Thirteen Rings or even stronger enemies in dire times.

This plan was primarily executed by Miss Galina, who was active on the north shore of Green Lake, and Megan Audrey, although Miss Sylvia and Miss Benanis would also send people to assist.

"So can’t you create a stable Space Gate between the City of Glass and Green Lake City?"

When Shard returned upstairs, the Grand Witches had already turned to this topic, and Miss Galina asked Miss Sylvia:

"Otherwise, traveling back and forth is quite troublesome."

"Galina, do you think we’re still in the Fifth Era? Besides, given the chaotic spatial condition of the Green Lake Region, who would dare create a Space Gate? It’s almost like flying by detonating a weapons warehouse."

Miss Sylvia, who was planning to ascend to the Eleventh Rank soon, pointed to herself:

"If it wasn’t for my innate talent, I couldn’t even manage long-distance Space Teleportation between the two cities. And even so, it’s not something that can be done anytime."

"Why do I feel like you’re bragging?"

Audrey asked, holding a porcelain teacup, while Miss Sylvia was rather proud:

"What’s wrong with a bit of self-praise? Besides, I’m indeed quite impressive."

Seeing Shard return, she added:

"Shard, tonight Margaret is attending an opera at the ’Glass Cask Opera House’ in the City of Glass. The performance is by the ’Golden Dawn Opera Group,’ and she invites you to join. This opera visit is officially an invitation to Audrey, but Margaret wants to create an impression of her connection to ’Paradise Island Pharmaceuticals.’

"I have already accepted the invitation,"

Audrey said, and Shard nodded:

"Alright. There’s not much happening today anyway."

Stating that not much was happening today was indeed true for Shard. Concerning how to obtain that half skull, he had no clues at present, so he decided to wait until Priest Augustus arrived tomorrow.

During the day, he wandered around Green Lake City, had lunch, then strolled through the town, chatted briefly with people who fell behind the parade, browsed through recently released cards at the local Prophet’s Society, and purchased some local souvenirs from the local shops. In the afternoon, he even encountered maids beside Miss Galina handling a parchment task in a porcelain shop.

But overall, not much interesting happened this day.

However, in the evening, after dining with Dorothy in Tobesk, the golden-haired girl, who looked after Mia, Shard came to the hotel’s main entrance just as the returning doctor arrived:

"This city is truly dangerous."

The doctor shook his head, saying:

"I should have returned by noon, but as I walked, I suddenly found myself trapped in an endlessly looping alley."

"That’s really dangerous. How did you get out?"

Without Spatial Power, dealing with such spatial disruptions would be quite troublesome even for High Ring Sorcerers.

"I activated a maze to reshape space, then encountered the imminent arrival of a relic intended to cover that alley. Thankfully, I brought that bottle with me when I went out; otherwise, it would have been a real problem."

This led Shard to doubt whether keeping the doctor in Green Lake was indeed the right decision.