Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2804: Chapter 2805: The Changing of the Poetry Chamber’s Master

Angel remembered the man possessed by the Void Unicorn Whale saying to him:

”Don’t confront it directly; find a way to enter the Hidden Meeting Room... I’ll be waiting for you there.”

The ”it” referred to by the man was the Otherworldly Infant Spirit, the formidable enemy that Angel and his companions would face shortly after leaving the Hall of Wisdom.

However, when Angel recalled this sentence, the highlight wasn’t the Otherworldly Infant Spirit but rather the ”Hidden Meeting Room.”

There’s no doubt that the Hidden Meeting Room is in the relic site, namely the Qingkong Poetry Room. Yet, on the layout provided by the Wise Sovereign, Angel didn’t see a Hidden Meeting Room.

This implies that the Wise Sovereign’s speculation is correct, and indeed there exists a hidden chamber in the Qingkong Poetry Room?

”Hey, what’s with the serious look on your face?” Dox suddenly spoke up, looking at Angel.

Angel didn’t want to pay any attention to Dox, but he had no choice, as he was still within the scope of the True Words Tome, and had to answer whenever someone asked him a question.

”I was just wondering, if Margaret and Augustine arranged to meet in the Qingkong Poetry Room, where would they meet?” Angel said softly.

”Where would they meet?” Dox pondered for a moment, his expression suddenly becoming a bit lewd, accompanied by a ”hee-hee-hee” laughter.

”If you dare to say what you’re thinking, I promise my master won’t let you off.” Vay’s voice quietly reached Dox’s ears.

Dox followed Vay’s voice to look at the Black Earl, who showed no reaction, just had his nostrils aimed at him, like two dark black cannons, ready to fire shells and blow him to smithereens at any moment.

Originally entertaining a string of imaginative thoughts, Dox’s mind was suddenly censored. Nervously swallowing, he coughed twice to alleviate the awkwardness, then subtly turned to Angel: ”I guess maybe they would meet in the hall; the study might also be possible... Hmm, the poetry collection room seems possible too, after all, the name is a poetry society.”

Angel said blandly: ”You mean, they meet in the hall, then go to the study to discuss some business matters, and later to the poetry collection room to search for love poems... Also, you missed a step, let me fill it in for you.”

”After finding the love poems, they finally head to the recital room to recite poetry. When tired of reciting, they ask the kitchen to send over some refreshments.”

Angel: ”That’s quite a fulfilling day.”

Dox: ”Isn’t that the flow of a date, spending time in every place and creating beautiful memories everywhere?”

Angel turned to the Wise Sovereign: ”Is that really how they spend their time together?”

While chewing some unknown food, the Wise Sovereign said: ”I can’t be sure about that. When I was around, they were just having normal exchanges, exchanging knowledge. As for what happens when I’m not there, I have no idea.”

”Where do they usually have their exchanges?”

The Wise Sovereign thought for a moment: ”It seems like I’ve seen them everywhere... No fixed place. Are you curious about this question?”

Angel nodded: ”A bit curious, because looking at the scale and layout of the Qingkong Poetry Room, it doesn’t seem like a place for romantic meetings.”

Dox: ”Do romantic meetings need a specific place? Maybe you’re overthinking it.”

Angel: ”What I mean is, the Qingkong Poetry Room doesn’t seem like a place for two people to be alone. For example, there would need to be a cook in the kitchen, someone to maintain the poetry collection room, and maybe receptionists in the hall?”

”Those places are surrounded by people and gossip; romantic meetings wouldn’t choose these places.”

Angel turned to the Wise Sovereign again: ”Or, was the Qingkong Poetry Room built without any servants, without outsiders from the beginning?”

In Angel’s view, since it’s called a poetry room, it resembles more of a limited open venue. If it’s an open venue, wasn’t it visited by outsiders?

The Wise Sovereign looked at Angel, somewhat surprised: ”You’re correct on this point. The Qingkong Poetry Room did open for one or two months after its establishment, inviting some servants and a group of ’guests’ invited as cover by Margaret and Augustine. After all, the initial location of the Qingkong Poetry Room wasn’t secretive. There was even a direct passage leading to the ground nearby—though that passage has since collapsed.”

”However, only for those one or two months, afterward they hung a sign saying they were closed for renovations and not receiving guests anymore.”

”While one or two months aren’t long, for couples who seldom meet, finding a quiet place for romantic meetings was indeed inconvenient.”

”So, I do agree with your observation that they surely need to find a more secluded place, thus the Qingkong Poetry Room likely holds secret locations, which aligns with my hypothesis too.”

The Wise Sovereign didn’t expect Angel would know about the Qingkong Poetry Room’s past openness. Did he actually infer this from the layout, or did he know about it beforehand?

Stop! When the Wise Sovereign’s thoughts began to drift, alarm bells rang in his mind, quickly reining in his wandering thoughts.

The peculiar aspects of Angel, let’s set those aside for now.

If he continues to delve into them at this moment, who knows how long it might take him to reach a conclusion. Besides, any conclusions drawn out could turn out to be false conjectures... After all, past confident conjectures were repeatedly debunked by Angel.

”Anyway, the actual layout is as it is. If you agree with my speculation, you can look for secret chambers yourselves once you reach the Qingkong Poetry Room.” The Wise Sovereign said this while looking at Angel: ”I trust your expertise in Magical Energy Arrays; if there is a secret chamber, you’ll certainly find it. That is, assuming you can enter the Qingkong Poetry Room.”

”However, Noah’s descendants are certainly able to enter. As for others, don’t ask me, I don’t know either...” The Wise Sovereign thought for a moment and then added: ”If the current owner of the Qingkong Poetry Room agrees to let you in, then you might have a chance.”

”The current owner of the Qingkong Poetry Room is the ’she’ from the mirror earlier, right?” Dox asked.

The Wise Sovereign: ”She counts as half an owner. The other half owner, I think if I don’t say it, you all should be able to guess.”

Black Earl: ”You mean the male figure on the Mirror Demon God’s emblem?”

The Wise Sovereign nods: ”That’s right, the second question I posed to you earlier, you should remember?”

The Black Earl slowly stated a name: ”...Olao.”

The Wise Sovereign: ”Yes, it’s Olao. He is the male figure on the emblem of the Mirror Demon God, and incidentally, the female figure is named Adanis.”

Everyone showed an expression of serious listening, but in truth, they already learned the name Adanis from Angel before.

”However, it’s best to address her as Goddess when you meet her. If you wish not to completely be her enemy, you could also add the suffix ’Your Majesty’.”

That the Wise Sovereign referred to ’Your Majesty’ as a suffix rather than a title shows that he actually has no respect for Adanis, and it’s merely superficial courtesy.

”Then must Olao be addressed as ’God’s Son’?” Dox quipped.

The Wise Sovereign shook his head: ”No need for him. Whether any of you will meet him is uncertain. At least, I haven’t seen him in millennia.”

”Speaking of which, the reason I advise you not to address her directly by name is that she is dissatisfied with her name.”

Dox: ”Eh, she...”

Wise Sovereign: ”I know you all are definitely going to ask again, why keep this name if it’s unsatisfactory, why not change it?”

Being edged out first, Dox blankly nodded: ”Yeah, why not change her name?”

Wise Sovereign shrugged: ”Unfortunately, I don’t know. Maybe it’s related to Olao? Anyway, it’s a mystery to me. Since you’re going to Qingkong Poetry Room, you might be able to find the answer yourselves. If you do, I sincerely hope you’ll share it with me.”

”A life where you don’t have leverage over others is quite empty.”

Everyone: ”...”

Wise Sovereign lazily leaned back on the sofa: ”Let’s set other questions aside for now, I’ll continue discussing the remaining matters. This concludes Augustine and Margaret’s topic for now. Now, let me talk about Olao and Adanis’s story.”

Dox: ”Wait a second, why not continue about Augustine and Margaret? I find these thousands-year-old gossips quite interesting, do go on.”

The Black Earl actually wanted to ask this as well, but Dox beat him to it, saving him from speaking. However, listening to Dox treat the ancestral stories of Noah as gossip was somewhat displeasing to the Black Earl. Since Dox asked in his stead, he chose to forgive him for now.

Wise Sovereign: ”There’s nothing more noteworthy. Because upheaval occurred in Naraku, as it unfolded, they each left. However, what I’ll discuss later may slightly touch upon their affairs before the Naraku upheaval.”

”Before I continue, here’s a question. Don’t worry, you don’t need to write it in the True Words Tome, you can answer at will.”

Wise Sovereign: ”Why do you think Olao and Adanis appeared in Qingkong Poetry Room, and what are their identities?”

The two apprentices both shook their heads directly, indicating they didn’t know.

However, the three Wizards each offered their speculation.

”Friends related to them? Apprentices? Or energy beings like elemental partners?” This was Dox’s guess.

The Black Earl pondered for a moment, then answered, ”Beings protecting the legacy.”

As for what legacy, there’s no need to mention, surely it’s the heritage left by Noah’s ancestors.

As for Angel, his answer was straightforward: ”Spirits.”

Wise Sovereign listened as the three provided their answers and smiled: ”Your answers are increasingly profound.”

”Especially you, Angel. If I didn’t know your identity, I’d suspect you might be Noah’s descendant.”

With everyone looking at Angel in confusion, Wise Sovereign calmly said: ”No need to overthink, all three of your answers are correct.”

”They both indeed are associated with Augustine, and to some degree, they are guardians of the legacy, even embodying the legacy themselves. Ultimately, their essence truly is... spirit.”

In other words, Angel and their group’s answers were progressive.

Dox, as an outsider, making such a speculation is normal. The Black Earl, as Noah’s descendant, speculating they protect the legacy is also normal. Instead, Angel, also an outsider, very clearly pointing out they are spirits, was somewhat unexpected for Wise Sovereign.

However, considering Angel’s past records, Wise Sovereign was at ease.

”You’ve probably met Cicia - she was also a good friend of Augustine’s, and her comment on Augustine is: ’A mysterious fellow.’” Wise Sovereign looked at Angel: ”This comment applies reasonably to you as well, you’re a mysterious little guy filled with enigmas.”

Angel shrugged: ”I’ll take it as a compliment. However, I think removing ’little’ would be better.”

Wise Sovereign chuckled: ”That is certainly a compliment.”

After a pause, Wise Sovereign continued: ”Returning to Olao and Adanis. What I’m about to share involves some personal conjectures based on various pieces of information. They may not be correct, and I’ll specifically note where I’m guessing. You can judge for yourselves.”

”Olao appeared before Adanis, approximately three months before Naraku’s downfall. I first met him outside my dwelling here, in that copper mirror you just saw...”

Indeed, the first time Wise Sovereign saw Olao, he was within the mirror.

Due to Olao, Wise Sovereign first learned about the peculiar Mirror Domain.

At the time, Olao used the copper mirror to send a message to Margaret, who was visiting the Hall of Wisdom. The message... essentially Augustine wished for Margaret to visit Qingkong Poetry Room, as he had written a poem that needed her appreciation.

When Margaret saw Olao, she wasn’t surprised at all, indicating she knew of Olao before Wise Sovereign did.

Margaret, with a flushed face, left the Hall of Wisdom to discuss poetry with Augustine.

Meanwhile, Wise Sovereign curiously chatted with Olao.

At that time, Olao was naive, knowing very little other than his duty to serve his creator, Augustine.

From this, it can be understood that Olao was created by Augustine.

Later, Olao appeared frequently, almost every time calling Margaret away from the Hall of Wisdom.

Wise Sovereign once suspected Augustine created Olao primarily to facilitate communication with Margaret.

Eventually, upheaval erupted in Naraku City overnight, and Augustine and Margaret hurriedly departed, leaving only Qingkong Poetry Room and Olao behind.

Wise Sovereign was busy handling the aftermath of Naraku and had no time to notice Olao or Qingkong Poetry Room.

Much later, when Naraku City had completely fallen, with its residents scattered, Dominators perished, entered slumber, or vanished... when the Underground Aqueduct was mostly destroyed and abandoned by explorers, Wise Sovereign remembered Olao.

At this point, Wise Sovereign discovered he no longer had access to Qingkong Poetry Room.

However, it was then that Wise Sovereign encountered Olao again, his final meeting with Olao.

By that time, Olao had adopted a very ”butler-like” appearance.

Standard tailcoat, hair neatly combed, and a hat and cane always in hand—not prepared for himself, presumably for Augustine, who had long since ceased returning.

Olao became the provisional master of Qingkong Poetry Room, handling its affairs as a butler.

It was then that Wise Sovereign first met Adanis.