Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2622: Chapter 2623: Scent and Dreamweaving

As the scent was inhaled by Angel, the ”server” dormant in the depths of his mind immediately started operating.

Information about the fragrance quickly appeared in Angel’s mind in the form of percentage data.

”The probability of a mixed fragrance exceeds seventy percent.”

Angel sensed the data with the largest proportion and furrowed his brows slightly. The appearance of fragrance in a prison was already unusual, and there seemed to be more than one type of fragrance.

Normally, those who use fragrance are men and women who pay attention to etiquette. How could a Ghosteye Witch, whose self-awareness is so sparse, pay attention to etiquette?

Even a highly intelligent Ghosteye Witch with self-awareness doesn’t necessarily pay attention to such ”etiquette,” unless it’s a Ghosteye Witch with aesthetic ability and self-management awareness, and a deep pursuit of ”charm.”

Angel had only seen one such Ghosteye Witch since entering the Hanging Jail Stairway.

It was the one outside, covered in various adornments, using the base of a fountain statue as a ”stage,” constantly striking poses.

”Could it be that the Ghosteye Witch stayed here?”

Angel thought for a moment and opened the Mind Ribbon he had blocked.

The Mind Ribbon was quite lively, with Dox almost like a commentator, making various guesses and explanations about what methods Angel might use and from which direction to steal the ornaments.

Kaier and Vay were the audience of this ”commentary.”

”So, Lord Chaowei, is he already next to that Ghosteye Witch now?” Vay asked.

”Of course, maybe he’s already mingled with the Ghosteye Witches.” Dox answered confidently.

Hearing this, Angel couldn’t help but shake his head. It seemed Dox’s inspiration wasn’t that enlightening.

Just as Angel was about to speak, Dox preemptively said, ”From what I know about Angel, he has high standards for himself.”

”In simple terms, he’s the kind of person who likes to confine himself on a moral high ground. Of course, I’m not saying he’s very moral, but rather that he’s exceedingly obsessed with a sense of responsibility.”

”For example, when he takes on the role of a leader, he feels he should shoulder the responsibility of that role. Since, as a leader, his demand is for others not to waste time on Magical Creatures, he will naturally hold himself to even stricter standards.”

”Now you understand, Angel won’t waste too much time on this minor issue, so he’s inevitably already next to that Ghosteye Witch!”

Angel was stunned after hearing Dox’s comments.

Although the conclusion was wrong, Dox’s analysis of some parts of his character was remarkably accurate.

It must be said, even without relying on inspiration, Dox himself had quite a keen sense of awareness.

If nothing unexpected happened, Dox’s inference might actually take place. However, sometimes, no matter how precise or well-reasoned an analysis is, it can’t resist unexpected turns of events.

And this building that Angel casually chose was the source of such an unexpected turn. The building’s architecture was incredibly peculiar, and it housed a large number of Ghosteye Witches. Even with clear objectives, Angel wasted too much time in exploration and searching.

This also caused events not to unfold as Dox’s reasoning predicted, arriving as scheduled.

Unfortunately, this splendid piece of reasoning was relentlessly washed away by the harsh reality.

Meanwhile, after expressing his personal opinion, Dox was ready to enjoy the admiring gazes of Vay and Kaier. But at this moment, Angel, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke.

”Lord Black Earl, may I ask you a favor?”

With Angel’s words, the previously lively Mind Ribbon immediately quieted down.

Dox fell silent, and Vay stopped asking questions.

After a brief silence, the voice of the Black Earl sounded in the Mind Ribbon: ”What kind of favor?”

”I would like to ask you to smell if there is any fragrance on that Ghosteye Witch.” Angel added, ”This request might be somewhat discourteous, so if you are unwilling, it’s alright.”

Angel’s request, in fact, already responded to Dox’s speculation on a certain level.

He was not beside that Ghosteye Witch, and might even be quite far away. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be asking Black Earl for help.

Black Earl: ”Did you find the nesting place of that Ghosteye Witch?”

As always sharp, the Black Earl roughly guessed some of the situation with just one sentence from Angel.

Angel: ”Possibly, but I can’t be certain right now.”

Black Earl: ”I can help you, but I’m curious why you’re going to its nest when what you want is that silver ornament?”

Angel: ”...”

Dox: ”My god, are you secretly exploring on your own? Did you find some treasures?!”

Angel murmured, ”I just stumbled upon it by accident and wasn’t specifically looking for anything.”

Dox kept mumbling, looking unconvinced, but in his heart, he understood that Angel was probably not lying... However, to avoid the awkwardness of his previous inference error, Dox decided to ignore his conscience.

Yet, Angel didn’t listen to Dox’s various musings but continued to wait silently for Black Earl’s response.

After a while, Black Earl finally spoke again: ”There is indeed a fragrance on that Ghosteye Witch, and it seems to be more than one. But even so, it cannot mask the underlying stench of the Ghosteye Witch.”

Black Earl’s voice carried evident disgust, indicating that this sniffing wasn’t much more pleasant for him than the previous search for an exit.

With an apologetic tone, Angel thanked him, then refocused on the matter at hand.

”There really is a mixed fragrance on it, so does this mean that room could indeed be the Ghosteye Witch’s nest?”

As Angel speculated internally, he turned his gaze to the end of the corridor.

The direction from which the scent came was precisely the room at the end of the corridor.

What might the nest of a self-managing Ghosteye Witch look like? Could it be filled with treasures as Dox chattered about in the Mind Ribbon?

Filled with curiosity, Angel quickly proceeded forward.

It’s worth mentioning that on this last stretch, there wasn’t a single Ghosteye Witch, and the cells on both sides were empty. Compared to the densely packed Ghosteye Witch groups in the middle of the corridor, it was significantly quieter here.

This probably isn’t a coincidence; could it be the territorial awareness of that Ghosteye Witch at play?

Soon, Angel reached the very end of the corridor.

When he looked at the lone cell at the end, his eyes suddenly froze.

Undoubtedly, it was the largest cell in the entire corridor, and more importantly, unlike the other dilapidated cells, it was a room where a normal person...or rather, a normal woman, might reside in.

There was a canopy bed, vases, a delicate dining table and tea set, and various decorations. Some of these decorations were originally not decoratives but building materials, like winding water pipes. However, after modification and the addition of post-applique embellishments, they turned into ornamental pieces.

The floor was paved with colorful stones, resembling Rain Flower Stones. Even if these colorful stones weren’t fixed, the gradation of colors in different sections showed that the ”being” arranging the floor was quite talented in terms of color sensitivity. In traditional nobility teaching, cultivating an appreciation of color was the top priority for developing aesthetic sensibility in their descendants.

If the floor and decorations here are arranged by that Ghosteye Witch, then it can only be said... they have extraordinary talent.

In the entire cell, aside from these valueless decorations, what drew Angel’s attention the most were the two armored knights embracing each other.

Yes, exactly armored knights. At least from appearance, it seemed so.

However, from the shadows coming through the helmets, it was evident that they were merely wearing the armored knight shells, and inside they were still Ghosteye Witches.

Moreover, the shadows coming from the two helmets were blending, which meant they were currently cultivating.

”Seems like my lucky moment has arrived.” Watching the scene unfold before him, Angel thought inwardly.

This place perfectly fit the location he had in mind, with just two Ghosteye Witches, a large compartment, and no other Ghosteye Witches nearby, there was no worry of being discovered.

Everything seemed perfect.

Angel currently did not wish to explore this cell, instead, he concealed himself within the illusionary realm, conveying the next tasks to Earl Mi.

Though Earl Mi’s mind had lost sense, making it difficult to understand many things, as long as the mission’s purpose and required outcome were explained, it never failed Angel.

Rejoined the key points of the task, ensuring Earl Mi understood, Angel then proceeded to do a general survey of the cell.

Primarily to check for traps and mechanisms.

After confirming all was safe, Angel signaled Earl Mi to proceed.

Without the slightest hesitation, Earl Mi, shrouded by Angel’s Nightmare Illusion, swiftly approached the two Ghosteye Witches engaged in shadow blending.

Under the cover of the Nightmare Illusion, Earl Mi successfully reached the side of the two Ghosteye Witches without being noticed.

Next, Earl Mi performed a trick, forming a shadow avatar from the ground, an avatar resembling a Ghosteye Witch.

This was somewhat beyond Angel’s expectations.

Angel merely instructed Earl Mi to blend among them, not to disguise as a Ghosteye Witch.

Was it Earl Mi’s mind awakening, or perhaps... was it a form of self-protection while performing the task?

Angel pondered for a moment without further investigation, as he could feel that the mind link between him and Earl Mi was functioning without abnormalities.

Regardless of how Earl Mi achieved it, since it created an avatar in the form of a Ghosteye Witch, Angel promptly lent a hand.

Seeing Angel extend his right hand, lightly tapping, the green patterns around Earl Mi swiftly formed the shape of armor, in collaboration with the surrounding illusion nodes.

In both texture, appearance, and other details, it matched the attire of the two Ghosteye Witches perfectly.

Earl Mi did not disappoint Angel. Upon donning the armor, it imitated the two Ghosteye Witches, extending its shadow from the helm’s gap and gradually... gradually blended into the Ghostly Shadows of the two Ghosteye Witches.

Angel was prepared for a failure that might lead to confrontation.

But everything went remarkably smooth, the two Ghosteye Witches merely shivered initially, upon seeing Earl Mi dressed identically to them, they each extended an arm to embrace the Ghosteye Witch.

Now, creating a scene of three armored knights embracing.

After ensuring Earl Mi successfully integrated, Angel finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

However, upon glancing at the scene of the three armored knights up close, a subtle discomfort emerged.

If it were three Ghosteye Witches practicing without any attire, Angel would ignore any posture. But now, clad in armor and male attire at that, it seemed like three ”people,” three men, embracing each other.

The scene was somewhat too aesthetically overwhelming, Angel felt it hard to gaze directly.

Anyway, nothing seemed amiss with Earl Mi for the time being, so Angel simply looked away, pondering some inner queries while exploring the room.

The primary question centered evidently around the two armored knights.

Ghosteye Witches do have a tendency to wear clothing, but typically, it’s worn once for a lifetime. Outside Ghosteye Witches, even if clad, the garments are tattered.

They wouldn’t voluntarily wear such heavy shells.

It impedes movement and prevents exploiting the Ghosteye Witch’s inherent Shadow Transformation advantages.

Why did these two Ghosteye Witches choose to do so?

As Angel contemplated, examining this ”young girl’s boudoir,” a hypothesis began to form.

Wearing armor may not have been their intention, but rather a Ghosteye Witch’s personal aesthetic.

From the room’s arrangements, it was evident that the Ghosteye Witch’s aesthetic leaned toward human femininity. With such preference, it seems plausible that it would favor companions clad in towering, heavy armor.

On this note, were these armored Ghosteye Witches perhaps the Ghosteye Witch’s... lovers?

Were they seamlessly embracing Earl Mi, perhaps mistaking it for a new lover found by the Ghosteye Witch outside?

Angel dared not think further, the more he dwelt, the more it felt mismatched.

Setting aside the armored Ghosteye Witches’ question, Angel’s other enigma, currently the largest one, was that Ghosteye Witch with a girlish heart.

How did it become like this? Were the arrangements and appreciation for color and coordination taught by someone, or self-learned?

If taught by someone, who would it be? Perhaps some elder, or possibly those two Wizard Level Ghosteye Witches?

Carrying these questions, Angel began scrutinizing the room interwoven with creative thoughts.

It’s termed cleverness, as at a glance it appeared girlish and dreamlike, but when delving into details, it was intrinsically quite crude.

After all, finding intact and aesthetically pleasing decorations amid ruins is genuinely difficult.

Seeing how the Ghosteye Witch repurposed a water pipe into an ornament exemplified the house’s magnificent facade stacked upon cleverness.

The more Angel observed, the stronger he felt, if the Ghosteye Witch were human, they would likely be a skilled artisan proficient in lifestyle.

Because beyond the water pipes, Angel also noticed numerous decorations made from salvaged scrap metal.

Even the seemingly most exquisite set of tea utensils were initially broken, now adorned with beautifully intricate patterns crafted to disguise wear.

But this merely masked the exterior, a glance inside revealed walls full of holes.

Regardless of the interior’s condition, the outside was crafted to perfection, undoubtedly consuming the Ghosteye Witch considerable time. Such patience and attitude toward rebirth earned Angel’s admiration.

Upon realizing nearly eighty percent of the room’s decorations and furniture bore signs of modification, Angel’s movements instinctively became gentle to avoid intense collisions that could lead to breakage.

Whether the creator was human or magical, purely for these inventive thoughts, Angel deemed them deserving of earnest regard.

At least, before a confrontation arises with the two armored Ghosteye Witches, Angel would respect these creative thoughts, refraining from consciously destroying this illusory yet emblematic dream of beauty pursued by a special Ghosteye Witch.