Chapter 908: Just a Trip to See the Local Customs of Another World
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 908: Just a Trip to See the Local Customs of Another World
"Hmm... low-cost world-crossing?"
"Yes. You've hit on a very crucial point," Sheryl said with a smile.
"Wait, how do they know so much? They're already using me to formulate their plans?" I asked, my brow furrowing.
"Listen to yourself. I know you don't socialize much or have much contact with the outside world, but don't take others for fools. What you're capable of, what you possess, and the methods and spells you've displayed—all of it has been analyzed by professionals. You've used that Reverse Summoning Spell so recklessly; did you really think people wouldn't notice?"
"Is that so... Alright then..." I responded in a low voice. I truly hadn't expected to be scrutinized to such a degree, to the point of having a dedicated think tank analyzing me.
As they say, the ones who know you best are your enemies.
However, even if they are enemies, they likely still don't understand the full extent of my capabilities.
After all... just the spells I've mastered and their derivations... I practically need a Great Spellbook just to serve as a table of contents.
"So, care to guess what they originally wanted to use you to transport?"
"The Great Glacial Throne Technique?" I ventured.
"A correct guess on the first try! They really do want that. Ever since they learned of the world-crossing power of the Reverse Summoning Spell, they've been dedicated to stealing it."
"Is it that serious?" I felt a lingering sense of dread. If that spell were to leak out, wouldn't that mean...
"Don't worry. I've consulted with Ji Niang about that spell. It originates from a [Transcendent Knowledge] Fragment, and its power is derived from that same [Transcendent Knowledge]. It's not something that can be replicated by ordinary means. It's somewhat similar to your Great Knowledge Seed—different principles, but similar concepts. That's the main reason why the Reverse Summoning Spellbook hasn't been widely circulated within the academy."
"So that's how it is..."
I nodded as the realization dawned on me. If such a low-cost method of world-crossing could be constantly replicated through conventional means, it would indeed be absurd.
"Since they can't steal it for themselves—as even an analysis of the spell's framework can't replicate such a miracle—it's actually less effective for them than the high-energy cross-void teleportation witchcraft they already possess. That's why they've set their sights on you. After all, you are currently the only non-transcendent being in possession of that spellbook."
"But they've clearly miscalculated, haven't they?"
"Exactly. Who told you to stay in the academy all the time? And now you've even gone to the Experimental Zone, a place where regular students can't even set foot. It's truly driven them to wit's end."
"I can almost empathize with them. It does sound frustrating."
"Right? And there's one more thing. They actually have another objective in wanting to send you to the game world."
"To ambush me?" I interjected.
"Yes! You're protected too well here; they have no chance to make a move. So, they plan to use another method to lure you out."
"Then why haven't they acted yet?"
"Because... you don't have all the fragments in your hands yet! It's a very simple logic!"
"..."
I took the tea and took a small sip to hide my embarrassment.
"Then what did you mean by giving me those fragments earlier?" I asked, stiffly shifting the topic and pointing the finger back at her.
"Because I wanted to give them a hand, so you could step onto your stage a bit sooner," Sheryl said with a smile, not hiding her intentions at all.
"You're certainly honest..." I grumbled.
"I told you I'm very sincere with you. At that time, I didn't know you well enough. I needed you to demonstrate sufficient value quickly, to see if you... had the bearing of a Truth Witch!"
"..."
"Xiao Han, you understand the situation of witches. With enough mana sources and a powerful enough spellbook, a witch becomes powerful. This convenience allows the witch race to master formidable combat strength at the fastest possible speed. Even a witch who only knows how to throw a Fireball Spell can be armed into the strongest output turret below the Saint Realm."
"Therefore, the strength of a witch is never judged by so-called combat power or output. Guess why the highest honor of the witch race is crowned with the name 'Truth'?"
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"Aren't you curious why I'm suddenly not in a hurry anymore?"
"Not really. And besides, don't you look quite hurried to me?" I continued to retort.
"Do I? Well then..." Sheryl paused, then picked up her tea and took a sip to cover her own awkwardness.
"In any case, I have plenty of time now to respect your wishes, because you've displayed talent and methods that satisfy me beyond measure. Those alone are enough to cover any of your other deficiencies. That is my evaluation."
"..."
"Think I'm being too hyperbolic?"
"Yes."
"I'm not. I'm just telling you that it's time you recognized your own worth. You can actually be much more willful than you imagine. So... when, where, and in what manner do you plan to do something 'willful'?"
"The way you say it makes it sound like I could head over there whenever I want."
"While it's not quite that simple... it's close enough," Sheryl said with immense confidence.
It was as if that game world truly was just a game to her.
Sheryl knew very well that although transcendents could not interfere there, it didn't mean her will was absent.
There were many conflicts and contradictions within the game world—for instance, the Real Protection Association, which had been labeled as anti-human and anti-social. And that was just one of them.
Furthermore... as a veteran Rebel Witch herself, how would other Rebel Witches view the little witch she had acknowledged?
"That's quite the confident statement."
"Why wouldn't I be? So, Xiao Han, you just need to give me the word. I'll arrange the rest. Don't you think doing this behind Dean Mei's back is actually quite thrilling?"
"Fine... I'll just treat it as... a trip to see the local customs of another world."
"You agree?"
"I agree."
* * *
Glacial Throne Secret Realm.
"Ugh... pfft... this wind and snow will be the death of me..." Shi Ruizhi grumbled as she crawled out from the snow.
She had just taken a tumble in the drifts, a sign that her physical stamina was starting to flag.
After all, she had been searching for research ruins beneath the ice with Tan Han and the others for days.
Though they had found some temporary experimental sites, none of them were the actual main laboratory.
Moreover, they couldn't understand the data they had found. Even after sharing it through the Great Knowledge Seed, there had been no response.
Clearly, Xiao Han couldn't provide any valuable information on short notice.
After another day of this grueling search, Tan Han and the others finally chose to take a break.
"We've been in this ice hole for days, haven't we?" Shi Ruizhi lightly hammered the ice wall with her fist. Aside from a dull thud, there was no reaction.
Tan Han and the others were looking for buildings buried under the ice. Searching on the surface was naturally fruitless, so with the help of the Ancient Remnant Ice, they chose to search underground. This allowed them to avoid the blizzard calamities above and stay safer.
It was just a bit hard on the Ancient Remnant Ice creatures that were carving out the tunnels.
"Yes. It's fine; at least it's better than eating snow up there. When using the underground ice as a medium for detection spells, the efficiency is quite good. There's a large-scale detection barrier zone ahead of us that matches the feedback from the observation station buildings we found earlier."
"Then why are we resting here? Why not just push through in one go?" Shi Ruizhi asked, puzzled.
"Only after we've rested can we deal with whatever variables come next..."
Just as Tan Han was about to finish her sentence, they suddenly felt the icy ground vibrate!
The entire underground ice mass emitted a terrifying, bone-chilling sound of structural failure.
"Holy— wait, what's going on? Did the Ancient Remnant Ice above go on a rampage?"
Shi Ruizhi spoke with a hint of lingering fear. Once she realized they weren't about to be buried alive, her courage returned. She moved to the side of an Ancient Remnant Ice creature that had curled into a ball.
The creature beside them wasn't particularly large, but compared to the mobs they had encountered before, it possessed a certain "refinement."
This was because this individual was one of the royalty of the Ancient Remnant Ice, and the witness and signatory of the covenant alliance between Tan Han's group and their race.
Lie.
That was the name of this Ancient Remnant Ice King.
Only the royalty among them possessed their own names.
"Lie, do you know what's happening up there?"
"The aura of my kin... hmm..."
Lie's voice was crisp, carrying a brittle quality like clashing ice crystals. They indeed spoke the language of the Main World.
"No way? Someone actually found this place? We were here first! Maybe we shouldn't rest after all!" Shi Ruizhi said urgently.
She instinctively felt that it wasn't a coincidence that someone else had found this spot; those people must have discovered the laboratory as well.
"Don't panic yet. The battle is quite far from us and doesn't seem to be over. Besides, even we haven't confirmed that it's the laboratory. How would others have locked onto it?" Tan Han said, calming her down.
"What... what if?"
"If it comes to that, it'll be a joint development. Or do you think the three of us, plus a member of the Ancient Remnant Ice royalty, can't beat them? Don't forget, there's a battle going on up there. If we can't even handle them after they've already fought, we should just head back."
"That... actually makes sense." With that reminder, Shi Ruizhi nodded, her urgency fading.
"Let's wait quietly," Tan Han said.
"Alright..." Shi Ruizhi had no better option and could only agree.
As for Xiao You, she remained a ghost whenever she wasn't speaking. Now that she no longer had her Ancient Remnant Ice transformation, she had suddenly become the one holding the team back in terms of combat.
However... during that trade, Xiao You had willingly given up the transformation. To her, it felt more like a spiritual liberation.
The long wait was a silent torment. They heard the battle move from the distance to nearby, then head off in another direction until the sounds gradually faded.
Finally, it was Shi Ruizhi who broke the silence.
"Do you think... we should go up and check the situation?"
"Maybe we shouldn't go looking for trouble?" Xiao You spoke up, a rare occurrence.
Since they were so close to their destination, she naturally didn't want any more accidents.
"This..." Tan Han was actually hesitant. According to her original plan, she shared Xiao You's attitude. Regardless of the outcome, the Ancient Remnant Ice would handle everything; there was no need for them to worry.
But she felt a sudden throb of intuition, a desire to go and see.
She was no longer the ignorant freshman she once was. Usually, this kind of feeling originated from a hint given to her by her Luck.
She had learned to analyze such motivations from the perspective of higher-level influences.
Luck would always push for the most important developments and turning points at critical moments, but that didn't mean it was always a good thing for her.
This was a pure gamble.
"What do you think is the worst-case scenario we could face this time?" Tan Han asked after a moment of hesitation.
"Why ask that all of a sudden? Are you afraid of an accident?"
"Yes. I just want to know if you're afraid of something going wrong."
"I'm certainly not afraid. I've already come here against my own will to accompany you; what could be worse than that?" Shi Ruizhi said.
"I... I'm sorry, I'm being a bit selfish. I really don't want anything to go wrong, but I don't want my thoughts to sway the group's decision. Sister Tan Han, do what you think is best. If something really happens, at least I won't be a burden to you."
"Let's go see. We've gambled everything on this trip, and we've placed our bets on a higher-level game. An accident at our level ultimately won't affect Xiao Han... ahem... the higher levels."
With Tan Han's words settling the matter, no one objected.
Tan Han then looked at Lie.
"I'll have to trouble you."
"It is no trouble."
With that polite response, Lie moved straight upward. The hard ice formed from accumulated snow was as fragile as sand to him.
As masters of ice and snow, they were the darlings of this world, and the depths beneath the ice were their playground.
Tan Han and the others quickly moved out of the way, but aside from some initial falling ice chips, the expected scene of crashing ice crystals didn't occur.
Meanwhile, on the surface.
Accompanied by a tremor, a spray of snow erupted from the ground. But soon, these shattered ice crystals merged into the blizzard and scattered across the land.
Then, a massive figure shimmering with a crystalline luster leapt out along with the shattered ice, finally landing on the loose upper layers of snow.
The wind and snow howled through the long ice tunnel, carrying the blizzard into the underground area.
"Let's go. Time to take a look," Tan Han said, catching a falling snowflake before speaking to the two beside her.