r18novel Page 279
Page 279
Beside him, some of Syl's curiosity was piqued:
"What kind of device is that, Prince Hearst?"
Hearst adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "It's a very simple technique, far more rudimentary than the one used by Cuiyin."
"The essence of Cuiyin is to infinitely approach the existence of a real person from a virtual existence."
"The other technology is simpler: it transforms real people into beings with a 'dimensional' art style—"
"Dimensional style, art style?"
“Yes.” Hearst nodded. “In short, it’s about turning people into ‘paper doll’ figures.”
“I specifically matched Ota’s mental wavelength. If the device is activated, the existence of that technology will only appear as a paper doll in Ota’s eyes.”
"I call that feature 'dimensional filter'."
“So,” Syl said, somewhat puzzled, “wouldn’t using the dimensional filter be a better first option? Among the assassins we’ve trained, there are quite a few women who meet the criteria. If any one of them were to gain Prince Ota’s favor, wouldn’t they be able to easily assassinate him?”
“It’s not that simple.” Hearst shook his head.
"Whether it's Emerald Sound or Dimensional Filter, they are both technologies developed by the Border Demon Clan, requiring the support of magic stones or magic power."
"The only drawback of the dimensional filter is that it consumes an astonishing amount of magic power: it may be negligible for the great demons of the Demon Realm, but if you want to wear it regularly, the number of magic stones required is astronomical."
"It's fine that the container carrying Cuiyin won't be easily inspected, but a living human who frequently enters and exits the palace, carrying a large number of magic stones, do you think those paladins are blind or have a faulty nose?"
"This is also why I eventually gave up using the dimensional filter. Apart from the demons with abundant magic power, I don't think anyone can perfectly adapt to that spell."
Syl was speechless for a moment.
"Sounds like... a really useless feature, doesn't it?"
Chapter 401 No one can replace Cuiyin! No one!!!
“Ha, it worked!”
Astrid gently placed her hand on the tombstone, a look of joy on her face.
The lingering soul essence within the mechanical fragments beneath the soil is being gradually reclaimed by itself.
Now, the perfect crime has been accomplished, and no one will suspect her! — With her head swaying, Astrid felt she could write a great mystery novel based on her own experience, titled "The Murder Without a Victim!"
"Ouch!" Suddenly, Astrid's fingertips trembled, as if she had been electrocuted.
Startled, Astrid stood up and looked around as if she had been attacked. She looked around the empty garden in a daze, and finally sensed her own body.
Apart from a slight decrease in magic power... it seems that nothing has changed?
"Astrid Scholar?"
The voice of Minister Tus calling out came from deep within the garden.
"They're here!" With a sudden surge of excitement, Astrid quickly banished the fleeting illusion, knowing that true success wouldn't come until she was out of the garden.
Touching her head, Astrid felt a strange, sticky sensation all over her body, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
It's like being dressed in the Emperor's New Clothes.
……
"Your Highness, look who has come to visit you?"
Tus knelt before Ota, who was seated on a chair, trying once again to rouse Prince Ota from his reverie.
Ota did not respond, still looking dejected, his dry lips uttering sounds of self-destruction:
"Tus... don't worry about me anymore... I don't want to deal with politics or the Queen anymore..."
"I'm so tired... so tired..."
"Your Highness," Tus said helplessly.
"No one will urge you to appoint a queen anymore. After witnessing the demons' ruthless actions, I believe the people understand your will. Don't get stuck in a dead end—"
"It's such a pity about Consort Cuiyin... but we have to look forward, don't we... you'll find a more suitable queen sooner or later..."
At this moment, Ota shook his head stubbornly, his eyes filled with sorrow: "No, it won't happen again, you don't understand, Tus."
"No one can replace Cuiyin, no one!"
Raising her head, Ota's eyes flashed with tenderness, as if she had drifted into a beautiful memory:
"Her eyes were like the most beautiful spring of fairies; her hands were like the purest white jade in the world; her appearance was like the most exquisite figurine; her heart was like that of the purest and most innocent maiden... I will be forever trapped in the night I lost Cuiyin, forever unable to break free—"
"Alright, alright, I understand." Tus sighed softly, and could only continue following Ota's train of thought:
"In any case, you should also say a few words to Scholar Astrid. She is very worried about your health, Your Highness."
Ota lowered his gaze to the ground and saw Tus step aside, then step into his field of vision with trembling feet like a fawn.
Ota raised his head, his face ashen, as if trying to drive the newcomer away:
"I've already told you, Tus, whoever comes, I don't want to... Ga!"
The sound suddenly caught in his throat.
Ota's eyes were suddenly illuminated by a splash of emerald green.
Ota's pupils dilated slightly, and his breath hitched.
In his eyes, the rules of the world seemed to have been rewritten silently.
Sunlight streamed down from the shade of the garden trees, illuminating the shadows of the people in front of them and outlining them with a white line.
It was cut into a delicate illustration commonly seen on the cover of a comic book, or like vivid lines on the most exquisite and delicate acrylic sheet.
The sunlight seemed to transform into the brushstrokes of the most skilled painter, rapidly fading, peeling away, and reconstructing the rough texture of reality surrounding the girl... The light subtly outlined her contours, making the lines clear, smooth, and rounded, like the meticulously drawn ink lines on the most exquisite animation original artwork, with the edges even seemingly shimmering with a layer of extremely subtle and sacred soft light.
Her skin texture became as if it had been coated with a delicate, high-gloss finish. The fragility and paleness on her cheeks were softened by the loving brushstrokes on both sides. Her already striking green hair now exuded an indescribable vitality, with each strand seemingly endowed with its own independent radiance.
Eyes that should have been as unremarkable as a cat's eye gemstone appeared even clearer under the light, with star-like highlights shimmering in the pupils, as if condensed into the silhouette of a person.
Under a special light, the girl with green hair and a green dress is perfectly "reduced" from a three-dimensional, real person into a stunning, breathing dimensional scene.
Ota was stunned for a moment—
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely. Beautiful girls from comic books flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, and the images of figurines once imprinted in his heart emerged from his soul. All his wonderful fantasies about another dimension came alive at this moment, and then perfectly... landed on the "dimensional girl" in front of him.
"Um... Prince Ota... Good morning, goodbye?" Astrid's voice, tinged with fear, slowly rang out.
She really wanted to just say hello and leave.
But to everyone's surprise, this human king, who should have been "uninterested in anyone," did not respond at all. He just stared blankly at his own face, as if he were possessed.
“Prince Ota? Prince Ota?” Astrid hesitated and waved in front of Ota.
clack.
The next moment, her hand was grabbed tightly by a pair of strong hands!
"Huh?!" Astrid trembled all over, a surge of intense fear washing over her, and she almost instinctively wanted to kowtow and confess her sins.
Pfft!
Even faster than her was the human king before her, who gripped his right hand and knelt on one knee!
Tus stared in disbelief at Prince Ota, who suddenly seemed to have regained all his energy, as he knelt on the ground with his noble, kingly knees, performing a gesture of respect that only nobles would make when courting.
The king's eyes were filled with tenderness and amazement, his voice as solid as a bubble: "Ah, what a beautiful being—"
"Your eyes are like the most beautiful spring of fairies; your hands are like the purest white jade in the world; your appearance is like the most exquisite figurine; your heart is like the purest and most innocent maiden... I will forever be frozen in that day when I met you, forever and ever, I will never forget it—"
"Beautiful lady, please tell me your name."
The back garden fell silent for a moment.
Dewdrops slid down the white jade tombstone like beads of sweat.
Stunned, Astrid didn't react at first, until the unique human warmth slowly spread from her palm.
Astrid's emerald green pupils trembled to their maximum size in an instant:
"Eh~~~~~——?!!!! ...
Chapter 402 Become a King, Astrid Scholar!
A shocked and bewildered cry suddenly shattered the tranquility of the garden.
"Your Highness!" Tus exclaimed in surprise.
Looking at the situation in the arena that was spiraling out of control, and at the scholar Astrid standing in front of the prince, whose legs were trembling violently as if she were about to lose control of her bladder.
He quickly stepped between the two, blocking Ota's view: "Your Highness Ota, what are you saying—this is the great scholar Astrid, don't you recognize her?!"
"Ais...Tree?"
Slightly disoriented, Ota shuddered and finally managed to suppress the impulse that had just surged within him.
He leaned over again to look at the girl in front of him, whose "style" was completely different from the others.
Looking closely... that emerald green hair, the intellectual freckles, and the trembling lines constantly emerging from the edges of the body, do indeed resemble the scholar Astrid whom I know well.
Ota rubbed his eyes hard.
As the outside light gradually dimmed, the "dimensional girl" in front of him gradually overlapped with the familiar face that was so frightened that it was about to cry.
"Astrid, a great scholar?"
Ota rubbed his temples, finally snapping out of his daze. He could clearly feel that the last trace of influence from that corrupting spell had been completely eradicated at that moment.
Was what just happened just my imagination? Or am I still quite ill?
Touching the still-burning heartbeat in his chest, Ota looked at the terrified Astrid before him. In the dim light, he inexplicably overlapped with the girl who embodied all the beauty in the world once again.
"No, no—you can't look at her like that, you'll lose control!"
The last vestiges of reason immediately brought Ota back to his senses. He pressed his chest, still shaken, and his vision gradually cleared.
As always, the great scholar Astrid darted behind a pillar in the garden like a startled bird. She had no problem; the only one with a problem was herself.
For some reason, seeing Astrid's frightened expression, Otto felt a surge of emotions in his chest, and a few feelings of pity inexplicably arose within him.
Snapped!