"Since you say this is just a story, what do you plan to do next? Do you still intend to try and bee that wisp of wind? But the story itself isn’t very referential." Lady Laplace looked at Angel.
Angel: "A story is a story, research is research. As for the research direction on the Sweet Dream, I do have a bit of an idea... however, I need to make some preparations."
Lady Laplace: "Do you need me to avoid this?"
Angel shook his head: "No need to avoid it, rather, I hope Lady Laplace can cooperate with me a bit."
Lady Laplace looked at Angel: "How should I cooperate?"
Angel pondered for a moment: "I want to borrow something."
Lady Laplace didn’t speak, but gestured with her eyes for Angel to continue speaking.
"Specifically what, I don’t know yet."
There was confusion in Lady Laplace’s eyes. Didn’t even know what to borrow, yet offered? What did that mean?
Angel: "The item I want to borrow needs to meet the following conditions."
"First, this thing should preferably be a tangible entity, something that’s merely conceptual won’t do."
"Second, this item needs to e from your body, and it would be best if ’it’ could represent your body, or rather, be something that witnessed your body’s growth."
"Third, if possible, it would be best if this item could be somewhat related to the will of the Mirror World."
"Fourth, if possible, it would be best if this item had extremely powerful offensive capabilities."
The conditions Angel listed were fine at first, but from the second point onwards, they sounded more and more outrageous to Lady Laplace.
Something from her own body wasn’t an issue in itself, but for it to also represent her and preferably witness her growth—what kind of devilish conditions were those?
It wasn’t that Lady Laplace couldn’t find something that fit the conditions, but the thing that did was an absolute secret to her, practically impossible to lend out.
The second condition was already very strict; what Lady Laplace didn’t anticipate was that Angel’s third condition would be even more demanding; it wasn’t just demanding—it was outrageous!
Don’t look at how Angel casually mentioned World Will earlier, as if it were as ordinary as the old man by the door. In reality, the World Will typically only bees perceptible during events concerning the world’s survival or fate.
For example, events like plane fusion, world decay, overwhelming external force intervention, etc., would gather countless wills to collectively form a grand World Will to face the crisis.
Of course, it’s not that World Will only appears in times of great disaster. If a creature in the world does something in line with the Law of World Will—such as constructing a Witchcraft Garden—the World Will would also manifest; or if a creature in this world breaks through to a new realm, the World Will would bestow a blessing.
However, even so, the World Will is not something you can see just because you want to.
Angel wanted to borrow something from her that was related to the will of the Mirror World? Even if she had such a thing, it would be absolutely secret among secrets, how could it be lent out?
As for the fourth condition, Lady Laplace didn’t feel a ripple in her heart after seeing it.
Perhaps because the first three conditions were too outrageous, the fourth condition seemed rather simple in parison.
However... this item needed to be extremely powerful in attack. That should be sufficient, so why add "extremely" as a modifier—how powerful was "extremely" supposed to be?
Lady Laplace asked out of curiosity.
For the first three conditions, she didn’t even have the desire to ask because... they were unattainable.
But the fourth condition was perhaps doable, which is why she inquired.
But she didn’t expect Angel’s answer to once again exceed her imagination.
Angel’s eyes lit up: "The stronger, the better. Preferably strong enough to pierce the heavens."
Lady Laplace was still pondering, setting aside the first three conditions—what could satisfy the fourth one. Hearing Angel’s pletely unrealistic answer, her expression instantly turned cold: "No."
"Then not piercing the heavens, just something that..." Angel pondered for a moment, then thought of something and created an illusion.
Lady Laplace looked at it; wasn’t this illusion the mural from "The Beast and the Ancient City"?
Angel pointed to the towering beast and said to Lady Laplace: "Something capable of killing a beast at this level, do you have it?"
Lady Laplace: "...No."
Upon hearing the negative answer, Angel’s gaze dimmed a bit, and his expression showed some disappointment.
According to his plan, he might indeed encounter such a beast-level existence, but if he couldn’t handle it, his plan would be in vain.
"Then what’s the strongest it can be?" Angel hesitated for a moment, then asked.
Lady Laplace didn’t give an answer but said faintly: "Among the conditions you listed, I can only satisfy the first one for you, not the rest."
Angel: "Why? Are these conditions that harsh?"
Lady Laplace: "Don’t you find them harsh?"
Angel thought for a moment and said: "If it were me, I’d certainly find them harsh because I lack the strength and insight. But if it were someone like Lady Laplace, I believe it should be achievable, right?"
"Like the second condition, an item that acpanies one’s growth, nearly every Wizard has one."
"As for the third condition, having a connection with World Will isn’t that difficult either, is it? When I first joined the Witcher Organization, I witnessed my mentor refining a Witchcraft Garden, during which the World Will also appeared."
Angel muttered softly, it seemed to him that these things shouldn’t be that difficult for those who have lived long and possess great strength.
After hearing Angel’s words, Lady Laplace inexplicably felt... there seemed to be some sense in them?
Lady Laplace pondered for a moment and responded: "That’s true; individually, each condition isn’t that demanding, but put together, it’s very hard to achieve."
Angel: "Is that so... So, Lady Laplace, you can’t achieve it?"
Lady Laplace: "Even if I had something that met these conditions, what reason do I have to lend it to you? The mysteries you solved with these murals don’t warrant such a price."
"You’re suggesting that there is something like this?" Angel’s previously dim eyes brightened once more.
"There is, but I cannot lend it to you." Even though Lady Laplace’s voice remained calm, her tone was firm.
Angel thought for a moment and continued: "Then if I don’t touch it and it’s in your possession the entire time, would you be willing to lend it to me?"
Lady Laplace was bewildered by Angel’s question.
You don’t touch it, and you call that ’borrowing?’ Well, let’s assume it’s ’borrowing,’ but since you won’t touch it, why borrow it in the first place?
Lady Laplace voiced her doubts.
This time, Angel didn’t hold back and directly revealed his plan... well, part of it.
"Actually, I also have a Mysterious Object. This Mysterious Object is somewhat similar to the Sweet Dream—it has a bit of a connection with the Dream Realm." Angel: "That’s also why I am interested in the Sweet Dream. Because I have primarily researched my own Mysterious Object in the past, I’m looking to find a similar Mysterious Object to conduct deeper research."
Lady Laplace wasn’t surprised to hear that Angel possessed a Mysterious Object. She already knew Angel had e into contact with the mysterious realm, and given Angel’s background, acquiring a Mysterious Object for research wouldn’t be difficult.
However, Lady Laplace couldn’t understand: "What does this have to do with the item you’re borrowing from me?"
Angel: "It does. And it’s deeply related."
"Setting aside the additional effects of the Sweet Dream, returning to its essence, the Sweet Dream is about forcefully bringing life into the Dream Realm."
"And the Mysterious Object I possess doesn’t have any special effects, but it can forcibly bring non-living objects into the Dream Realm."
Lady Laplace was momentarily stunned, seemingly thinking of something: "The Mysterious Object you have is the Dream Conch from Moonlit Coast?"
Angel: "Have you heard of it?"
Laplace nodded: "Luigi, in order to create better poetry, occasionally borrows books from the Sage for inspiration. He has seen quite a few external journals from the Sage, and for a period, the topic of the Dream Conch at the Moonlit Coast was very popular."
Because its usefulness is really too limited, the topic became very hot...
Angel: "Yes, I do have a Dream Conch."
Laplace’s eyes showed some peculiarity, and he glanced deeply at Angel before saying, "You want to use the Dream Conch to pull the thing you borrowed from me into the Dream Realm?"
Angel nodded.
"What’s the point in that?" Laplace asked in confusion.
Angel: "There is a point. Perhaps it will open a new pathway between the Dream Realm and the Mirror World..."
Angel spoke with seriousness, but Laplace did not believe it at all.
Angel could understand Laplace because what he mentioned was just a very small part of the plan, and the real plan had not been revealed yet, so it was normal for Laplace not to understand.
"Even if you do not believe, it’s no matter. I’m just following my own thinking to experiment once. I can assure you that I will not touch your things, but merely use the Dream Conch to try to draw it into the Dream Realm. And this incurs no loss to you."
"This is just a small attempt. I don’t think there will be immediate changes, it might even have no effect, but conducting research often involves futile endeavors."
"I wonder if Lady Laplace is willing?"
Laplace was actually tempted upon hearing Angel’s words; it indeed bore no loss to her. However, even if she were to lend to Angel, she hoped that Angel would clarify things.
Especially why Angel had specifically listed these few conditions.
"I can lend it to you, but before that, I want to know the basis of the conditions you listed," Laplace looked at Angel.
Without hesitation, Angel promptly said, "The first condition doesn’t need an explanation, right? The second and third conditions are actually connected. The reason why I want the items from you is because in my ’story,’ Lady Laplace is not an outsider."
"You gained the Sweet Dream, which means you have bee the connection point between the two worlds. Moreover, the Dream Realm Will entrusted the Sweet Dream to you, which seems like trust towards you from an outsider’s perspective."
"Since the Dream Realm values you, perhaps you can bee the key for reconciliation between the two worlds."
Angel’s words were seventy percent true and thirty percent false. The choice of Laplace was not solely because she was a participant in the "story," but also due to an important reason —
Whether from the mouth of the Wise Sovereign or Adanis, Laplace is a very special existence.
If a Child of Destiny exists in this Mirror Domain, she might be that destined individual.
And Angel’s plan to implement is —
To create a new Wilderness of Dreams!
Or rather, a Wilderness of Dreams that is attached to the Mirror World.
This is not Angel daydreaming; he had tried before.
Back then, not long after creating the Wilderness of Dreams in reality, Angel went to the Abyss to find Sanders, and it was in the Abyss that Angel made a second attempt.
By activating the Dream Conch through the Power of Nightmare Illusion, he drew an item from the Abyss into the dream.
In the end, Angel found this item in a new area. The nature and law of this area were just like the Wilderness of Dreams, only the ground was very barren, and the sky was dim as the Abyss. Therefore, the world created by Angel attached to the Abyss was named: Wilderness of Dreams.
The Wilderness of Dreams and the Wilderness of Desolation are essentially the same. The former is attached to the Wizards’ Realm, while the latter is attached to the Abyss.
However, not long after the Wilderness of Desolation was born, it was attacked by a terrifying giant creature of the Dream Realm.
Angel had not yet had time to explore further before the Wilderness of Desolation was already shattered.
Similarly, at the beginning of the Wilderness of Dreams’ birth, it also encountered an attack from a giant creature of the Dream Realm, but with Shava present back then, she repelled the other side, leading to the current prosperity of the Wilderness of Dreams.
So, after these two experiences, Angel summarized some key points:
First, every world should be able to create a corresponding ’Wilderness of Dreams.’
Second, once the ’Wilderness of Dreams’ appears, it is highly likely to be attacked by Dream Realm creatures, which may be a protective mechanism. Like the extreme sects in the Wizards’ Realm, those giant Dream Realm creatures are the ’Eliminator’ of the Dream Realm. Existences like the Wilderness of Dreams, possessing ’Dream Realm traits yet beyond Dream Realm control,’ are certainly detested by the Dream Realm Will, hence sending Dream Realm creatures to snipe it.
Third, only by successfully repelling these ’Eliminators’ can the ’Wilderness of Dreams’ possibly develop.
Based on these three points, even knowing it is possible to creatively expand the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel had never truly aimed in this direction before. He just silently managed the Wilderness of Dreams, without any plans for expansion.
Because he didn’t think he had the ability to repel the Dream Realm’s Eliminators.
This time, the reason Angel made such a choice is actually after walking, observing, listening, and contemplating.
First, he was very curious if the Sweet Dream could be integrated into the Wilderness of Dreams. And since the Mirror World, where the Sweet Dream resides, cannot connect with the Wizards’ Realm’s Wilderness of Dreams, he seems to have only one option: to create a new Wilderness of Dreams.
Secondly, the Dream Realm and Mirror World happen to be in a state of disconnection. Most importantly, the Dream Realm seems not to want to disconnect from the Mirror World. If Angel intervenes at this moment and builds a new "Wilderness of Dreams," it would equate to being a buffer zone among the Dream Realm, Mirror World, and the Nightmare Realm.
The Nightmare Realm is temporarily set aside because wherever a Wilderness of Dreams is constructed, it cannot escape the association with the Nightmare Realm.
Since the Dream Realm doesn’t want to disconnect from the Mirror World, Angel’s Wilderness of Dreams might be understood and acknowledged by the Dream Realm, thus reducing the likelihood of the Dream Realm dispatching Eliminators.
That is to say, the timing and circumstances favor him.
Thirdly, apart from timing and circumstances, the human factor also stands by Angel’s side. Laplace is the so-called "human factor."
Tackling the Dream Realm’s Eliminator alone is not enough. He also needs to address the subsequent threats from the Mirror World.
Although the presence of the Wilderness of Dreams is beneficial to the Mirror World, the Mirror World might not support the emergence of the Wilderness of Dreams because it means the Mirror World and the Dream Realm will find it difficult to pletely disconnect.
To address this threat, Angel thought of letting Laplace act as a buffer.
That analogy might be slightly inaccurate, yet Laplace’s role is indeed to act as a braking buffer when the Mirror World confronts Angel.
Laplace seems very favored by the Mirror World, and if she’s willing to stand by Angel’s side, the success rate of constructing the Wilderness of Dreams would significantly increase.
The above enpasses Angel’s plan and thoughts.
Of course, many are merely presumptions by Angel. For example, the Dream Realm Will might not understand Angel and still dispatch Eliminators. In such a case, Angel has no choice, so he considers having Laplace craft something powerful for bat to attempt dealing with Eliminators.
Moreover, whether Laplace is truly favored by the Mirror World is unknown to Angel; these were informed by the Wise Sovereign and Adanis.
Even if favored, the Mirror World’s Will is ultimately not human, doesn’t possess human emotions, and might not promise on principled issues.
Thus, Angel’s plan and thoughts are, honestly, overly "idealistic."
Whether it will materialize remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, Angel is aware of this; creating a new Wilderness of Dreams is inherently a spur-of-the-moment decision, and even if it cannot be constructed, it wouldn’t result in any loss.
Just an attempt.
It’s rare to have an opportunity where "the time, place, and people align," and if he didn’t attempt, it would be a pity.
Moreover, even if the attempt fails, it doesn’t matter.
At worst, just like when building the ’Wilderness of Desolation’ in the Abyss, if sensing the adverse wind direction, he would immediately retreat with his tail tucked... Facing the Dream Realm’s Eliminators, running away is not shameful.
Angel has considered all aspects and even planned the retreat; now the only thing lacking is... Laplace’s nod.
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