Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"You are very perceptive; I also think that is the eye of a Dragon Beast. So the truth seems to be clear: the Dragon Feast Cult is collaborating with local nobles to breed or experimentally create some type of Dragon Beast in the sewers. Due to an accident, the death of that prostitute occurred, and they weren’t even able to handle the corpse on time. Could it be that the dragon in the legend that will destroy Moon Bay isn’t a mighty dragon but a horrifying and grotesque experimental Dragon Beast?"

The Witch took a deep breath; this was her hometown and the land where her family had resided for generations. She couldn’t just sit and watch the city be destroyed.

Shard understood her thoughts:

"We need to keep investigating to get a clear picture. Next, I will investigate that sewage area. Even if they’ve moved that secretive place that looked like an experimental site, I don’t think they would have left without leaving any traces. Miss Belindel, you go ahead and track their diviner; I am not good at divination."

"No problem."

The Witch nodded and then asked Shard:

"Can the memory stored in the relic be released again?"

Shard aimed at the wall and pulled the trigger again, watching the familiar light and shadow reappear:

"It can, but you see, the image has become even blurrier. Oh, the vertical pupil didn’t appear at the end; the memory’s counterattack seems to be a one-time deal... I understand, I will have Ciris help deal with this memory. Too many crucial clues are being obscured; if we can fully restore this hidden memory, I believe we will gain much more."

Even though they still didn’t know the truth, this was still a significant gain. But seeing that it wasn’t early anymore, Shard didn’t stay long at the Belindel Estate. Although Miss Belindel seemed like she wanted to discuss tonight’s findings further with him, Shard politely took his leave. Regarding investigating the sewer, the Belindel Family needs to find a map of the local sewer, otherwise, even with "Enhanced Spatial Awareness," Shard didn’t think he could find what he was looking for in the intricate underground.

The Witch did not personally see Shard off but instructed Miss Matilda to escort Shard to the estate gate — Shard declined the carriage.

Once the sound of footsteps had entered the stairs, the Blonde Witch, who had been sitting on the sofa, immediately stood up, walked to the window, and hid behind the curtain, watching Shard conversing with Miss Matilda while being led through the snow-covered estate courtyard by the maids holding oil lamps to the estate gate:

"What is Matilda saying to him?"

The Witch pinched the curtain, pondering, and then she saw the man politely say goodbye to the Blonde Maid, who also bowed to see him off. The man who walked out from the gate soon blended into the night, no longer visible. Still very curious about where "John Watson" was staying in the city, Bella Belindel, knowing she wouldn’t get any results, took out her own Divination Card Set:

"Where will he go?"

The divination cards were laid open, and the card was the "Diviner." The doubtful Witch somewhat suspected that "John Watson" might be residing at the local Prophet’s Society, yet she didn’t know that because of this divination, she would dream of strange purple eyes again tonight. Meanwhile, Shard, having tossed the crystal shoes in the dark alley, had already returned to the warm and comfortable home.

"Luviya is already here."

This time, the location was the first-floor kitchen. When he walked to the hallway intending to go upstairs, he indeed saw Luviya’s shoes. Then he noticed a pair of women’s shoes next to them, recognizing them as Miss Writer’s black leather shoes:

"Dorothy’s feet are a bit smaller than Luviya’s, and Lecia’s feet are the smallest. Their ages and height/weight differences aren’t big, so why are their foot sizes different?"

Thinking about such a peculiar question that would be considered "perverted" if spoken aloud, Shard first encountered the cheerful Mia coming to greet him on the stairs, then, holding the cat, he saw the purple-eyed Diviner and the Blonde Miss Writer in the second-floor living room.

Luviya was sitting on the sofa, and Dorothy appeared to be performing magic for her.

Three cups were overturned on the coffee table; Luviya pointed at the middle cup, and after opening it, there was a button inside. After covering the cup again, Luviya pointed at the left cup, and after opening it, there was still a button. Covering the cups once more, Luviya pointed to the right cup, and the button was still there.

After covering the right cup as well, Dorothy simultaneously opened all the cups, but there was nothing under them.

"So where is the button?"

Luviya smiled and asked. Dorothy stood up and hugged Shard, who was walking over, giving him a light peck. Shard blinked and spat out the button-like candy from his mouth:

"Dorothy, you can perform Spatial Movement all by yourself now?"

"Yes, although I’ve learned Lagre’s Leap, when it comes to transferring items that aren’t my body, I can still only manage small objects. I’m still practicing."

Miss Writer said, rather regretfully:

"It’s been a month since the Green Lake incident ended. Although Lecia and I have Spatial Talent now, the progress isn’t very obvious."

"If that’s considered slow progress, then what about everyone else?"

Luviya laughed, taking Shard’s coat to hang on the rack while Dorothy went to the kitchen to bring the teapot:

"Seeing how busy Shard is, Lecia and I also want to help him. We know we can’t trouble him, so we at least need to master moving people through space before we can convince him to let us help."

Green eyes looked at Shard with a rather plaintive expression:

"Even if he treats us like Miss Sylvia, tools to conveniently open a Space Gate, it’s better than just waiting for his message."

"First of all, I won’t treat anyone as a tool; saying such things would make Miss Sylvia sad. Secondly, isn’t it good for you all to wait at home for my good news?"

Shard said immediately, and Luviya then grabbed him by the shoulders to make him sit down:

"I understand Dorothy’s thoughts very well; she just wants to do everything she can to help you. We’ve come this far with help from many people, so let Dorothy continue to improve. None of us are a burden to you."

"I need to emphasize again, I won’t treat anyone as..."

"Alright, alright, we know."

The Golden-haired Girl said with a smile, sitting beside Shard:

"Aren’t you curious why I’m here so late? Luviya said she agreed with you to experience the power of Stellar Transference together recently, but I didn’t ’make an appointment’ to visit."

"No. 6, Saint Delan Square is not only the home of Mia and me, but also your home. You can appear here anytime."

"See, our Knight is always so eloquent, and always assumes other people’s cats as his own."

Luviya teased and explained to Shard:

"Dorothy didn’t know I was here tonight. When she came after seven, seeing the lights on, she thought you were home. She was about to leave when she saw me upstairs, but I made her stay; she came at just the right time."

Her hand grasped Shard’s hand and gently squeezed, with a hint of a different kind of smile in her purple eyes.

Shard almost immediately understood her meaning. Looking at Miss Writer again, Dorothy’s face was slightly red as she poured tea while complaining that the Witch from Moon Bay made Shard do tasks so late. Lecia often said this too.

"Don’t think too much, at least tonight we still have to go stargazing."

Luviya lightly scratched Shard’s palm:

"Go change your clothes; the three of us will go to the roof to watch the stars."

She then laughed and said to Dorothy:

"Speaking of which, though I’ve been to No. 6, Saint Delan Square so many times, I really haven’t been to the roof that often."

"I also have hardly been to the roof, but tonight’s weather is good, the view there should be nice."

Dorothy said as well, and Shard nodded, though he didn’t say what he was thinking at that moment.

Long-haired Luviya always appeared on the roof, but now, the short-haired girl was finally going there too. At least today’s era is relatively peaceful, and she is certainly not alone.

Shard only learned on that night that Dorothy was also quite knowledgeable about astronomy. The two girls pulled him along, watching the stars on the roof late into the night, until the impatient cat in the attic meowed urging Shard to go to sleep. That’s when they ended the stargazing gathering for the night.

Although it was called a gathering, Shard did learn something. Experiencing Stellar Transference wouldn’t yield results within a few hours, but even though he couldn’t use "Adel’s Principle of Return," he was quite sure he had definitely grasped part of the power.

Gradually understanding Stellar Return, Energy Bounce, and Time Reversal requires time. But if he used the "Philosopher’s Stone" from Green Island, Shard was confident he could perfectly use the Arcane Technique once.

Of course, this is quite wasteful.

That night, Mia again slept in the wardrobe, and Luviya thoughtfully made a soft nest using Shard’s clothes. But seeing the cat’s expression, Shard suspected whether it would hold a grudge against Luviya.

As for outside the wardrobe, Luviya was eager to experiment, wondering if with the help of tonight’s two Female Sorcerers, she could defeat the never-defeated Knight without using the "Ever-Youth Leaf."

And so, on this night, the Diviner and Writer collaborated, but unfortunately still reached towards the bedside table to find the box holding the leaf. As for Shard, he compared the size and softness of the two girls’ feet out of experimental spirit.

Of course, Shard was certain that tonight’s seemingly three-person game definitely involved five participants. Needless to say the Red-Haired Princess; at the moments Luviya felt confused, he sensed the long-haired girl might have briefly controlled her body.

"So I’ve always believed that this world’s Circle Sorcerer system is truly... enchanting."