Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 1164: Chapter 1163: Dinner at Riftstone Castle

Lady Ropeney listened intently to every detail Selena Gerfen was explaining, not daring to miss a single letter. After Selena finished discussing the precautions, she asked, ”What if these situations occur... what will happen?”

”Please rest assured, initial spiritual influence won’t establish a stable ’shackle’ like a mental Steel Stamp. We have many mature methods to clear the shallow pollution caused by gods,” Selena explained convincingly, ”These methods will not have any side-effects, Patty won’t even be aware of anything happening to her.”

Selena’s tone was sincere, yet Lady Ropeney couldn’t help but frown slightly with some concern, ”Are you sure there won’t be any side-effects?”

Looking at the worried mother, Selena suddenly laughed: ”Of course not—we’ve dealt with this power for hundreds of years, and shallow spiritual pollution isn’t as frightening as many people imagine. Moreover, Amon has already departed from divinity; his remaining divine pollution has dissipated for the most part over the past three thousand years. In our view, it’s a quite safe ’dose’.”

”... I decided to trust the judgment of professionals, Lady Selena,” Lady Ropeney said after a brief silence, gently sighing, ”Moreover, this is a choice we’ve made together.”

Selena nodded slightly, watching Ropeney as sunlight cast on her profile, her worried expression gradually easing, indicating that her reassurances had somewhat worked. After a brief thought, she broke the silence: ”When I first sought your opinion, I honestly didn’t expect you to agree... Although this project presents an opportunity for Patty, I know you’ve always been very anxious about your daughter.”

”To contact the God of Nature’s ’miracle’, to verify whether the great barrier system’s final safety border is effective, whether successful or not, Patty will gain health... from a rational perspective, I have no reason to refuse,” Ropeney shook her head, ”I am indeed worried, but I never let my worries affect rational judgment—if we lacked such judgment, my daughter and I wouldn’t have survived till today.”

Saying this, the lady glanced at Selena again and nodded slightly: ”Furthermore, I’m also aware that you helped Patty secure this opportunity out of goodwill—while it is a risky experiment, for Patty the benefits far outweigh the risks; you could have easily found other test subjects with lighter responsibilities and lesser risks but chose Patty, for which I’m very grateful.”

”I’m glad you think this way,” Selena breathed a sigh of relief, seeming a bit more relaxed, ”Truth is... I’ve always feared you’d hold grudges against us, stemming from our past identity and what we did to Patty...”

”I indeed held resentment against you because of your past identity, but regarding the matter with Patty, I’ve actually never held any dissatisfaction towards you,” Lady Ropeney suddenly interrupted before Selena could finish, ”No matter what, during Patty’s most painful times, it was your help that got her through those toughest of days, and in her not-so-good childhood, there were at least some moments that were bright and joyful. Her ’Sister Selena’, the hot-tempered but amusing Red-Haired Uncle, the melodious singing Sister Wendy... there are many I still can’t match names with, but I know your companionship meant greatly to Patty.”

”Our companionship...” Selena chuckled self-deprecatingly, ”Actually, we initially were conducting an experiment. We saw potential in Patty’s weakened bond between her soul and body post-injuries, and in her resilience far surpassing her peers after enduring repeated torments. We needed such an ’experimental subject’ to test neuro-connection technology, even compatibility with the sandbox system... that was our initial intent; none of us foresaw the direction things would take.

”Thinking back now, we probably weren’t anywhere near ’conscience’; although many of us treated Patty kindly, that was mainly out of an interest in observing an intriguing experiment subject. I don’t know exactly when the change occurred... it might have been your daughter subconsciously influencing some of us, or maybe the Supreme Narrator incident woke us, those reveling in savior fanaticism, to reality... who knows?

”Even those Eternal Sleepers skilled in mental manipulation find it hard to decipher the slight changes in their own minds.”

Lady Ropeney carefully absorbed every word this former Dark Archbishop spoke, only asking calmly after she finished: ”Has Patty been informed about these matters?”

”I told her everything,” Selena chuckled, ”Not long after the Imperial Computing Center was completed... I revealed the truth about the previous dream city and all of us.”

”Evidently, she chose to trust you afterward and quite happily took on the role of guide in New Dreamland City—she’s even very proud of it,” Lady Ropeney smiled, ”I wholeheartedly support her decision.”

Selena remained silent for a few seconds, slowly nodded: ”I think I understand why Patty so effortlessly accepted the truth... She inherited your wisdom, your wisdom regarding ’judgment’.”

She then stood up, glancing at the slowly descending giant sun outside: ”It’s getting late... but I think you probably won’t adhere to your plan to inspect the factory, right?”

”I need to monitor Patty’s condition, factory inspection can be postponed till tomorrow—are you leaving?”

Selena hesitated, a slight smile tugging at her lips: ”Would you mind an extra ’ghost’ in the castle joining you and your daughter for dinner?”

”Certainly not,” Lady Ropeney promptly replied, her tone sounding quite pleased, ”Patty will surely be thrilled; it’s your first time staying in the real world to join her for dinner. Although, I do have a question... how will you eat?”

Selena’s expression froze for a moment, then after a while, she muttered almost to herself: ”Ah, that indeed... is a problem.”

...

Patty was exceptionally happy today because her seldom-seen Sister Selena in the real world visited her family’s castle, and even more so because Selena decided to stay for dinner—which had never happened before, its rarity exceeding even the ”mother not attending to official duties after night falls” and ”Uncle Magnum peacefully returning after teaching at the academy” events.

In the dining room, the bright glow from the magic crystal lamps illuminated the gradually darkening castle outside. The round dining table was covered with a white tablecloth, and it was set with a dinner that might not be luxurious but was certainly abundant, featuring the most famous spiced stew from the southern region and desserts and roasted pancakes from the Plains of the Holy Spirits. Patty merrily wheeled around the table, joyously exclaiming, ”These are all my favorites!”

”Patty, don’t run around the table,” Lady Ropeney promptly stopped her daughter’s slightly impulsive behavior, ”You might bump into someone—and we have guests today.”

”Oh,” Patty immediately halted beside the table, controlling her wheelchair to approach and look at Selena sitting nearby, ”But actually I wouldn’t crash into you, right Sister Selena?”

”Theoretically, you wouldn’t crash into me, but if I wanted, I could create an effect similar to a ’crash’,” Selena laughed, ”It’s a profound magic technique, would you like to learn it?”

Patty pondered for a moment, vigorously shook her head: ”... I’d rather not; solving puzzles before dinner might spoil the taste of the food.”

Meanwhile, Lady Ropeney showed a somewhat helpless expression: ”Patty, how many times have I told you, you should call her Aunt Selena—she is your elder...”

”No, I think her current title is just right,” Selena promptly interjected, ”For a ’ghost’ like me, my age stopped hundreds of years ago—besides, ’don’t discuss seniority with the immortals’ is a basic consensus within the extraordinary realm, isn’t it?”

Lady Ropeney opened her mouth and found herself momentarily speechless. Patty’s attention quickly returned to the dining table, and she was somewhat surprised to see Selena’s completely empty plate, asking, ”Sister Selena, why don’t you have any food in front of you?”

”I can’t eat in the real world like you can,” Selena smiled, gently stroking Patty’s hair, ”You know, although I appear to be sitting here, I’m actually just a ’projection’ formed within your perception.”

”But it feels weird...” Patty immediately frowned, ”Is the so-called dining together simply you sitting there watching us eat?”

Selena thought for a moment: ”How about I create some illusions of food and pretend to eat with you?”

In Patty’s mind, she immediately pictured the scenario, then quickly shook her head: ”Better not, it feels even stranger...”

Lady Ropeney watched the communication between her daughter and Selena. She didn’t speak, but a faint smile appeared on her face.

Though Patty has always been an optimistic child, Lady Ropeney had to admit... it had been a long time since she saw her daughter show such a genuinely happy smile. In the past, this ancient castle always seemed too empty, with only herself—a too-serious mother—keeping Patty company during dinner. The attendants and maids could not accompany Patty like family, and for too many years, the child hadn’t enjoyed such a joyful mealtime.

Perhaps Patty’s smile at this moment makes agreeing to this ”experiment” worthwhile.

The light and joyful times flowed by in this once cold, quiet, and somewhat moribund ancient castle. The warm light and sounds of easy laughter echoed once again. Patty talked to her mother about her interesting experiences in the neural network, and Selena occasionally mentioned some unknown ”little secrets” of seemingly stern and formal Node Scholars. Even Ropney Gran, usually stern at home, talked about a few amusing things she’d heard in the Administrative Office—which weren’t that amusing, but Patty still laughed heartily.

No signs of mental distraction.

No inexplicable prayer behaviors.

No sudden ear-listening, whispering with non-existent people, or softly chanting the names of gods.

Ropeney smiled, focusing on her daughter’s conversation with Selena, observing every subtle change in Patty’s expression, while also watching the mechanical clock hanging on the nearby wall.

Patty was reaching out, cautiously picking up a small dish of cake from the table. Her movements were slow and careful, yet remained steady. Ropeney’s gaze fell on her daughter’s arm, thoughtfully noting: ”Patty, your hand is very steady this time.”

”Huh?” Patty looked at her arm in surprise and moved her fingers slightly, ”Seems so... even my little finger isn’t twitching...”

At that moment, Selena’s voice suddenly came from the side, somewhat abruptly asking: ”Patty, have you heard of the name Amon?”

Having just answered her mother’s question, Patty couldn’t help but pause for a moment, instinctively responding: ”Huh? Who is that?”

The next second, a soft click sounded from the mechanical clock hanging on the nearby wall as gears and springs pushed the hammer to strike the internal steel plate, echoing a loud time signal throughout the dining room.

Ropeney had slightly left her seat but suddenly froze in the sound of the chime, staring across at Selena Gerfen. After a moment of thinking, she said: ”She indeed doesn’t know... that’s a name only relevant theology and history scholars would know. She hasn’t received education in this area...”

Immediately thereafter, she heard Selena’s voice directly in her mind: ”Well, all tests are complete, and the controllable Anti-Divine Barrier is indeed effective. Even ’miracles’ in direct contact can’t penetrate the defense formed by Non-directional Thought Trends—the first practical validation of the Non-directional Thought Trend ends here. Your daughter wasn’t affected.”

...

On the broad gray prairie shrouded by boundless mist and endless twilight, three figures sat on the ground, engaged in an intense card game.

”I don’t believe it this time!” The lady in a lavish, complex black court gown stared at the card game before her. Upon seeing her hand, a pleasant expression emerged as she glanced up challengingly at Amon, ”Seventeen cards, can you beat me? Can you defeat me instantly?! Today, can you use seventeen cards to...”

Before she finished speaking, Amon already sighed helplessly, casting the cards from his hand in order: ”Milmina, let’s be reasonable...”

”This...” Milmina instantly widened her eyes, looking in disbelief as the victory she thought was certain slipped away once again. The next moment, her shock turned to anger as she glared at Amon and Duvalt, ”There’s something wrong, definitely something wrong—we have to play again! Again...”

”Several rounds won’t change a thing. I regret dragging you into playing cards,” Amon said helplessly, ”This victory feels even more boring than sitting idle...”

”Is this the time to say that?” Milmina immediately tossed her cards aside, grumbling with dissatisfaction, ”Earlier, you’re the one who trapped me here!”

Amon shrugged: ”I didn’t trap you—you got caught by the Administrator for maliciously exploiting system loopholes, that’s your problem, not mine.”

Milmina’s fury was finally further ignited, and she suddenly stood up. However, before she could speak, a figure unexpectedly emerged from the nearby mist, interrupting her move.

”You’re still playing cards huh?” Nariteer, returning from the network’s upper level, was somewhat surprised to see the scene before her, shaking her head as she said, ”Well, I’m just here to inform—Mr. Amon, the ban is lifted, and Lady Milmina, you both can leave now...”

”Finally, it’s over,” Amon breathed a sigh of relief, showing a relaxed expression as he smiled and got up, ”Then we’ll just...”

Before he could finish speaking, Milmina exclaimed beside him: ”No way! It’s not over yet—Administrator, add another hour!”

”Is something wrong with your head?!” Amon stumbled, staring wide-eyed at the figure once known as the ”Goddess of Magic,” ”The ban is finally lifted, we can return to the normal network—why are you still voluntarily asking to extend the time?!”

”Say what you will, but I must win at least once today,” Milmina glared at him, speaking with righteous confidence, ”And don’t think about going easy on me—I might be bad at cards, but my perception is very sharp!”

Amon: ”...”

And so, the smoky divine card game continued today, fiercely battling in fields mortals cannot perceive...