No matter what language one spoke, could everyone understand each other? Klein's attention completely bypassed the first sentence of «Iceberg» Edwina and lingered on the second, which seemed perfectly unremarkable.
Although this was a created world from *
What Klein cared about wasn't the fact that they could understand each other, but the means by which this understanding was achieved.
Had this world solidified a rule similar to comprehending all languages, or was there a consciousness high above everyone, assisting in simultaneous interpretation, just like what I do in the
Danitz froze for a second, then recollected: «It sounded a bit familiar yet strange, but I could understand every word of it.»
The supernatural language he had completely mastered was Ancient
Mmm, a rule similar to being able to comprehend all languages... understanding at the spiritual level... This meant that the underlying rules of the entire book world could be different from the outside, originating from its own setting, but the changes couldn't seem to exceed a certain limit. This point was debatable and remained to be verified. After all, one couldn't rule out the possibility that there was an existence like «The Fool» using mental communication to complete the translation... Edwina was indeed sharp and observant. The problem she had discovered directly pointed to the essence of this book world... As these thoughts ran through his mind, Klein entered the pitch-black large cave at a leisurely pace.
As for the slightly strange historical accounts shared by the members of the protagonist team, he wasn't surprised in the slightest. In fact, he was waiting for such specific details to emerge.
Klein had long known that the major churches and the countries of the Northern Continent were consciously destroying or hiding historical records, obscuring the true history of the Fourth Epoch, the Third Epoch, and even the Second Epoch. The stories circulating in the outside world naturally differed from what the members of the protagonist team, who had actually lived through those eras, knew.
And this was one of the reasons Klein had risked entering this book world!
Inside the wide, well-ventilated cave, three humanoid figures were scattered around a campfire that emanated light and heat.
One of them wore an extremely simple white robe. He was sitting with his back to the fire, facing the stone wall, his eyes closed in fervent prayer. He was a middle-aged man with wrinkles, but not exactly old. He had short brown hair, and his shoulders, arms, calves, and feet were bare, covered in various old scars.
Beside him, a young man slept with a stone under his head. He wore a heavy, tough, full suit of black armor. At his hand lay a black straight sword that glinted coldly. His features were well-defined, with obvious Loen characteristics.
Sitting opposite these two was a strangely dressed man in his thirties, whose appearance made everyone feel uncomfortable. He wore a pointed, stiff black hat. The buttons of his coat were fastened one up, one down in a messy, uneven pattern—neither symmetrical nor coordinated.
Furthermore, the toes of his leather boots curled high upwards, quite similar to a clown in a circus.
This gentleman had a decently handsome face, with flaxen hair, deep brown eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips. Even while seated, he gave off an arrogant vibe.
Edwina pointed at him and said, «Viscount
«No need to be so euphemistic. Hello, I'm Sequence 5 of the Thief pathway, 'Dream Stealer'.» Mobet chuckled, his demeanor not at all as arrogant as his appearance suggested.
A member of the
At this moment, Anderson had already greeted the other party with a warm smile. «To be honest, this is the first time I've heard of a 'Dream Stealer'. I only know 'Thief' and 'Swindler'. There are two sequences in between.»
«The Beyonders of this pathway have become this scarce? Didn't Edwina know? Sequence 7, 'Cryptologist'. Sequence 6, 'Prometheus'. Haha, let me help with introductions.» Mobet enthusiastically pointed at the praying man with his back to the crowd. «The pious ascetic,
Unanswered, Mobet smiled wryly and rubbed his chin. «This is the treatment I often receive. You might find it hard to imagine, but when I first entered here, I was a proud, reserved, and cultured noble. But the long years have changed all that. Hah, when your companion is a giant who only knows how to grin and shout slogans…»
As he said this, Groselle, who was sitting on a rock, gave a simple, honest smile and reached up to scratch the back of his head. There was none of the fierceness and brutality relentlessly portrayed in various giant legends in his single, vertical eye.
Mobet shook his head, then turned to point at the ascetic Snowman. «And he might not speak a single word for years, or even decades. As for Shatras, she is a very violent woman. As long as she has an emotional fluctuation, she'll punch me. Sigh, the more I adored her back then, the more I… ah, fear her now. So I have to take the initiative to talk, to talk to them, or else I'll definitely go crazy!
«Luckily, later on, Cuzzler arrived. He's quite talkative. Hey, Cuzzler! Wake up! We have new companions!»
The sleeping black-armored knight slowly woke up, opened his eyes, and looked at Klein and the others.
Suddenly, amidst the clanking of metal, he shot to his feet and stared intently at Klein. «A Loenese?»
«Yes.» Klein nodded calmly. He noticed that this former Loen soldier, who had been missing for over 165 years, showed not the slightest sign of age. His black hair fell loosely, and his sharp blue eyes involuntarily made one want to obey.