Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2509: Chapter 2510: Princess Castle

Arriving at the tavern’s front hall, Angel immediately spotted Dox and Abulei.

Abulei sat in a corner by the wall looking pitiful, while Dox was on the opposite end. The reason they sat so far apart was because Abulei was afraid Dox might slap the Crowned Parrot out of anger.

At this moment, the tavern’s front hall was bustling with activity.

Dox, after taking a few sips of small wine, felt emboldened and decided to start a war of words with the Crowned Parrot.

Dox thought happily that without Angel around to shield it, the Crowned Parrot might lose its nerve and lose its prestige.

But Dox was completely wrong; the Crowned Parrot had a fiery temper and would flare up at the slightest provocation.

Of course, the Crowned Parrot wasn’t reckless; it had carefully assessed the situation and judged that Dox definitely wouldn’t dare to harm it here, and even if he did, considering Angel, it wouldn’t actually be in lethal danger.

Since it wouldn’t die, what was there to fear?

At first, since Dox was prepared, he had some ready insults to throw in the verbal exchange, so there was some back and forth. But in a battle of words, just having prepared insults isn’t enough; it’s like combat—you have to respond to whatever move your opponent makes.

No matter what insult Dox prepared, the Crowned Parrot could catch it, and even continue along that line of thought, spewing beautiful sarcasm.

Dox managed to hold on for a few minutes before he started to falter.

Meanwhile, the Crowned Parrot was speaking non-stop. It rarely used curse words, mostly just calling out stupidity or foolishness, but its words were piercing.

Even an Official Wizard like Dox felt his anger rising upon hearing it.

This was why Abulei sat far away, trembling. She watched as Dox’s face turned red with anger, and several times she secretly wanted to pull the Crowned Parrot away, but the parrot would glare at her with fierce eyes each time, making her sit up straight and not daring to make a move.

It wasn’t until Angel appeared that Abulei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Previously, whenever Dox tried to lay hands on the Crowned Parrot, he was stopped by Angel, though she didn’t know why Angel treated this parrot differently.

The Crowned Parrot wasn’t bothered whether Angel came or not, as long as it wasn’t stopped, it continued its beautiful verbal assault on the world.

Angel didn’t stop the Crowned Parrot’s performance, leisurely leaning against the doorframe by the bar, watching this nearly one-sided verbal battle.

Eventually, Dox couldn’t take it anymore, leaving with a phrase like ”I’ll be back” as he hurried over to Angel.

”You’re out? Just in time, I’m in a great mood. Let’s get to business quickly. When we return, I’ll have another go with that parrot over a hundred rounds.”

Angel wasn’t sure where Dox got the confidence to say such things and lightly replied, ”A hundred rounds, I believe you can last that long.”

Dox’s expression froze, his lips trembled a bit, but he ultimately said nothing, somewhat dejectedly following Angel out of the tavern.

After they left, they didn’t head straight for the Princess Castle; instead, they wandered leisurely. Since the castle was at the center of the entire Princess Town and covered a vast area, no matter which way they wandered, they would eventually pass by some side of the Princess Castle.

So, there was no rush.

Upon leaving, Dox sidled up to Angel: ”Don’t you think Abulei’s Crowned Parrot is a bit strange?”

Angel dismissed it: ”Can’t win the war of words, so now you’re resorting to rumors and slander?”

Dox shook his head: ”Who says I can’t win? I just didn’t perform well. Next time, when I’m prepared, I’ll show you what...”

”A vanquished foe.” Angel chimed in.

Dox retorted, frustrated: ”What defeated foe, I’ll surely win next time. Anyway, what I mean is, I really think that Crowned Parrot is a bit off. I might not be from the Summoning System, but I’ve dealt with and studied summoned creatures, and no other Crowned Parrot I’ve known is like this one.”

What Dox mentioned, Angel was also aware of.

A normal Crowned Parrot has abilities like controlling wind, mimicry, and can be summoned to become the eyes and ears of the summoner, much like Eulica’s Owl magic pet.

Because of its mimicry, the Crowned Parrot is one of the few summoned creatures that can speak. If well trained, it can communicate normally with its owner.

But it’s merely normal communication.

After all, a Crowned Parrot is a low-level summoned creature, with intelligence on par with a Heart-devouring Ghost—it has some wits, but not too high.

However, the Crowned Parrot that Abulei summoned was quick-witted, not only having no barriers to language, but its words could serve as weapons, thoroughly overwhelming Dox, a Wandering Wizard well-versed in worldly affairs.

”Moreover, not only does this Crowned Parrot have a sharp tongue, it references many Wizards’ Realm classics during our verbal duel. Some I know, but some secrets I couldn’t even understand. Its understanding of the Wizards’ Realm seems even greater than mine.”

Dox summed up these peculiarities one by one: ”Strong insight, aloof personality, likes to call the summoner a servant, and knows the intricacies of the Wizards’ Realm...”

Angel internally added: It also has a deep understanding of spell techniques. At least when Angel used the Art of Fear on it before, the Crowned Parrot clearly saw something was off.

Dox: ”Putting all these together, I can’t help but feel a sense of familiarity.”

Angel followed Dox’s train of thought: ”Since it feels familiar, perhaps, its former owner was someone famous.”

Undoubtedly, this Crowned Parrot must have had a former owner; otherwise, how would it be so well-versed in matters of the Wizards’ Realm?

Dox nodded: ”That must be it, maybe it’s the former summoned creature of some renowned wizard. Who could it be?”

Dox thought about it the whole way, but still couldn’t come up with anything.

”I haven’t had much exposure to official records outside; you must have come across more references. Do you know?” Dox looked at Angel.

Without hesitation, Angel replied: ”I have no idea.”

He had only been cultivating for a few years and was still accumulating fundamental knowledge. He simply didn’t have the time to keep up with such tales and anecdotes.

Seeing Angel, Dox seemed to have realized something and mumbled something under his breath before shaking his head: ”I can’t remember; maybe it’s just my imagination.”

After this, Dox didn’t continue on the topic of the Crowned Parrot, preferring to stay silent as they went along.

It wasn’t until they were near the Princess Castle that Dox, after some hesitation, asked Angel: ”You... are you really that Pat?”

Angel: ”Which Pat?”

”The Pat that Abulei mentioned. Don’t you have any other Pat in the Barbarian Cave?”

Angel: ”As far as I know, I’m the only one with the last name Pat in the Barbarian Cave.”

Dox: ”So you really are that... Music Box Alchemist?”

Music Box Alchemist, the next stop mysterious, Lionheart Thorns, and Illusion Master, were all titles various magazines had attributed to Angel.

Later, after Angel himself settled on ”Transcendental” as his name, there were fewer of these casual nicknames.

For some reason, he used to find it annoying, but now Angel kind of misses those bygone titles.

”Although I think Music Box Alchemist sounds pretty nice, I still prefer people calling me Transcendental Wizard.”

Dox: ”Yes, yes, Transcendental Wizard. I just heard from a friend about your music box, and my subconscious slipped.”

At that time, through the music box, Dox saw an unparalleled illusionary realm; it was the first time he witnessed such an immersive spectacle full of blanks and implications, especially the remnants on the floating island which resembled history.

That experience was very valuable for Dox. It even influenced some of his thoughts.

Of course, it wasn’t the music box’s power itself; it was that kind of blank space where everyone who looked at it had different thoughts. Just like interpreting a book, where different people have different insights. Some will grow clearer, while others become increasingly obsessed.

For Dox, some of his ideas changed, yet his thoughts became clearer.

That’s why his memory of the music box was too profound, so much so that he mixed up Angel’s official title.

”Did you like it?”

Dox was stunned, not understanding Angel’s meaning.

”I mean, after you listened to that music box, how did you feel?” Angel rarely wanted to hear customer feedback.

”Not bad, or rather, very good.” Dox didn’t want to omit that the music box changed some of his ideas, but he didn’t want to go against his true feelings either. So, he emphasized the word ”very” to express that he genuinely thought the music box was excellent.

”Music boxes, I haven’t refined one in a long time.” Angel’s gaze became somewhat distant: ”Those auctioned music boxes were refined when I was an apprentice.”

”Since you think it’s good, I can find time to refine one for you again,” Angel said.

Dox’s face lit up with surprise: ”Really?”

Angel nodded: ”Of course it’s true. Next time you bring Little Gold, I will give the music box to you.”

Dox: ”...” He really believed Angel was giving him one for free, but it turned out to be a veiled reminder not to forget Little Gold.

Still, even like this, Dox was quite lucky. After all, Little Gold was something Dox had promised to give Angel.

”My Little Gold has already entered the gestation period; once the energy is sufficient this time, it won’t be long before it gives birth. At that time, I’ll choose the best cub for you.” Dox promised.

Since Dox said it like this, he definitely wouldn’t give him a subpar one. This was indeed a pleasant surprise.

Perhaps because Dox expressed his love for the music box, they chatted much more casually than before. However, Angel noticed that Dox occasionally looked at him with complex eyes.

Especially when talking about things King Gumman had done.

Angel said: ”I haven’t studied King Gumman much.”

Instantly making Dox speechless.

The reason for his speechlessness wasn’t Angel’s lack of knowledge, but his realization of this statement’s underlying reason... Angel was still an actual young man, no, a teenager.

A prodigious talent crucial to cultivation in the Southern Domain.

Previously, Dox had always assumed Angel was at least a thousand-year-old monster. Now, knowing the other’s cultivation time didn’t even compare to him, this was the reason for his complex thoughts and emotions.

Despite being a wizard in his youth, at eighty years old, facing Angel made him feel... weathered.

Angel had no idea Dox had been overthinking from Sandworm Market till now, so this complex gaze of Dox was also beyond Angel’s comprehension.

Yet, Angel noticed no malice in Dox, so he didn’t mind.

Moreover, Princess Castle had already arrived.

...

The location they found themselves in was the right fence of Princess Castle, a low fence but with magical patterns flickering, showing its formidable defense.

Through the fence carved with birds, they could clearly see the lush woods behind the fence and the castle vaguely visible deeper in the forest.

It seemed peculiar to see a forest at Princess Castle, but actually, it wasn’t. That forest wasn’t the focus. The focus was the phantasmal beasts and magical beasts raised inside.

Angel: ”According to the map given by Old Porter, we are on the right side of Princess Castle; this side is the Phantasmal Beast Forest. Correspondingly, the left side is the amusement park.”

Dox frowned slightly: ”Are we really going to infiltrate from the Phantasmal Beast Forest side? Wouldn’t it be easier to remain unnoticed from the amusement park side?”

Angel: ”It’s the same wherever we go, but if we choose the amusement park, we might run into the Grand Princess’s daughter. According to Old Porter, she goes to the amusement park sporadically, and the amusement park faces her room’s window.”

Angel wasn’t afraid to meet this so-called Princess; he had made up his mind to rescue people without meddling in King Gumman’s royal affairs, so if he could avoid meeting the Princess, he would.

This was why he opted to enter through the Phantasmal Beast Forest.

Seeing Dox hesitating, Angel said: ”Don’t worry, these phantasmal beasts won’t notice us. Don’t forget, I am a wizard from the Illusion Series.”

Dox: ”I’m not worried about the phantasmal beasts, as I have concealing capabilities, but rather about how to break through these magical patterns without being detected.”

”Oh, magical patterns, don’t forget, I am an Alchemist from Enchantment Studies.”

Angel repeated the same phrasing twice.

It was merely stating the key points, yet it inexplicably hit Dox’s sore spot. Indeed, not only was Angel’s cultivation time shorter than his, but his illusion techniques were astonishing, and he’s an Alchemy Master from the Research and Development Institute!

This comparison made Dox feel worthless... Even though he spent a lot of time, why was his efficiency several times lower than Angel’s?

Silently nursing his wounded soul, Dox momentarily didn’t want to speak with Angel or walk alongside him.

Dox did as he said.

Once Angel quietly lifted a corner of the magical patterns, they entered the Phantasmal Beast Forest, and Dox indicated to Angel that he wished to go separate ways.

Angel thought about it and didn’t mind.

Dox prepared to watch exciting scenes, like near the Princess’s area.

Meanwhile, he planned to head to the dungeon to rescue people; indeed, they were going separate ways.