Chapter 31: Glorious Old Memories

The scene before me shifted once more, and Vilyric’s consciousness appeared in another place.

It was night.

A city’s night.

This city was quite bustling.

Even at night, a throng of people continuously flowed through the streets and night market, magic lamps and candlelight illuminating the entire city.

Just like a glorious daytime.

Yes, this place is called the Glorious City.

From a few details and the words on the street, Vilyric easily deduced this point.

She attempted to raise her hand, but her body moved on its own, her gaze seemed somewhat lower than usual; Vilyric’s consciousness felt more like an observer.

The Glorious City had long since become dust in history three hundred years ago; this was likely a memory preserved by someone.

Vilyric could still sense her true self’s existence. If she wanted to, she could probably tear apart this illusion at any moment, but she did not do so.

If this is a memory residing in that brooch, then everything before her must be the cause and truth of the calamity that befell the Glorious City three hundred years ago.

After experiencing this, Vilyric was eager to know what had transpired back then and who had set this trap.

“Self” began to move.

First, it entered a fruit shop, selected some fresh fruits, and then bought a few skewers of grilled meat at a night market stall, eating as it continued to stroll through the streets.

These were very ordinary actions, akin to mundane daily life, making it hard to imagine that this person would be involved in a grand and mysterious conspiracy.

In conversations between “Self” and the residents of the Glorious City, Vilyric learned the name of this body.

Afra Constance, a being with a “surname.”

According to the information revealed when Afra spoke, she seemed to publicly claim that she was a descendant of a fallen noble family, and aside from having a surname, she was no different from commoners.

But Vilyric understood that things were definitely not as simple as she claimed.

Afra continued moving down the street, and although Vilyric couldn’t see “Self’s” appearance, she could gather from certain physical features and the townspeople’s compliments that this body was likely a very beautiful young girl.

Holding fruits, snacks, and a beautifully wrapped outfit in one hand, while gripping a skewer of grilled meat in the other, Afra ate as she walked, eventually arriving in front of a huge building.

The City Lord’s mansion of the Glorious City.

“Miss Afra, you’ve arrived. The City Lord has been waiting for you; please proceed inside.”

The guard said so, seemingly familiar with the girl before him.

“Gal, you’re on duty today; you must be tired. Here, try one of these; they’re the freshest!”

Saying this, Afra opened the bag of fruits in her hand toward the guard who had addressed her. Though Vilyric couldn’t see the expression on her face, judging by the tone and Gal’s response, she was probably smiling.

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Afra, but I’m still on duty. If the captain sees, I’ll be in trouble again. Please spare me…”

“Pfft, hahaha~ Look at you being so timid.”

Afra let out a light laugh like silver bells but refrained from teasing the earnest young guard any further and continued inside.

The large, heavily guarded City Lord’s mansion seemed to her like her own backyard, with passing guards, servants, and maids mostly greeting her or at least nodding with smiles.

It was clear that this girl named Afra had considerable prestige in the Glorious City, or in other words, was loved by the people.

Finally, Afra handed over her purchases to a maid, turned around, and entered an area that was extremely well guarded.

The comings and goings of people here gave Vilyric a strong sense of déjà vu.

All of them were wearing protective suits.

Yes, they were the special types that the Priestess had seen in Flame Dragon City while treating Dragon Blood Disease.

Though the details seemed a bit different due to the three-hundred-year gap, the overall style and protective principles were the same; there was no doubt that dangerous activities with potential for infection were underway here.

Afra did not act arrogantly like some priestess but obediently donned the protective suit handed to her, wrapping herself tightly like a sticky rice dumpling, before pushing the door into a room.

Inside, there was a mirror that was quite familiar to Vilyric.

Then, Afra stepped through it.

Not into the current world’s Forgotten Land, but rather to an entirely different place connected through the mirror.

“What!!?”

Vilyric’s consciousness emitted an unheard gasp of shock; the scene before her was completely overturning everything she had seen since entering this world!

Here, was a modern laboratory filled with a sense of technology!

White walls constructed of unknown metal, odd instruments that this modern individual could hardly comprehend, test tubes floating various liquids bubbling with gas, and even in the center of the room, a projection screen and input panel that she was too familiar with!

But no matter how puzzled and confused Vilyric felt, the memory’s imagery continued to advance steadily.

“Afra, you’ve arrived.”

Apart from those busy in white protective suits, standing beside the projection board was a robust man also wrapped in a “dumpling,” hands clasped behind him as he gazed at the sky, appearing to do nothing.

From his demeanor and the composed aura he exuded, this man must have been the last City Lord of the Glorious City; Vilyric had seen his name in books.

“…”

The girl suddenly froze; her gaze shifted to a projection screen high above, filled with dense and complex parameters.

“Ulysses Fred! I seem to have emphasized that the activity level must not exceed fifty percent, right? Are you insane!!”

Afra seemed to have discovered something astounding and, in an unusual turn of events, angrily rushed up to grab Ulysses by the neck.

Despite her petite figure only reaching his chest, her strength was shockingly great; she managed to lift a nearly two-meter-tall man dressed in heavy protective gear effortlessly!

Seeing this unexpected turn of events, the previously noisy and busy laboratory suddenly fell silent; the researchers instinctively turned their gazes toward the central dispute between the man and woman, yet no one dared to intervene.

It seemed that the girl named Afra held a position in their hearts not unlike Ulysses, the City Lord.

“Ahem, let… let go…”

The girl’s delicate fingers tightened like iron pincers around Ulysses’ throat, restricting his breathing, causing him to inhale rapidly like a drowning person.

Yet even so, this obviously powerful man did not retaliate or shout in anger; instead, he pleaded with a tone and gaze as if he were appealing to the furious girl.

“Tsk.”

Soon, Afra managed to break free from her chaotic emotions, irritably tossing Ulysses to the ground, yet her gaze remained fixed on the display screen above as her arms crossed, quickly tapping her fingers against the protective suit’s exterior.

The sound of rapid taps echoed, like a frantic countdown.

In the midst of this memory, Vilyric could feel that Afra’s breath was very unstable; her mind was filled with anger, anxiety, and… a hint of fear.

“I need an explanation, Ulysses Fred, your actions have already crossed the agreed threshold.”

“Depending on the subsequent response, I will consider whether to revoke or even seal this divine relic’s【Sanctum】and the【Profane Seed】.”

   

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