NOVEL WEB Chapter 66: Opening Ceremony of the Reversal (End)
Anais lay on the couch, stretched out like a wet towel.
Her whole body felt heavy as if it was tied down with iron.
Even moving a single finger was difficult.
In her heart, she wished she could just close her eyes and fall asleep like this.
But she couldn’t do that.
There was a knot she had to untangle.
It wasn’t a problem that could be solved with the 24-hour massage service at the Metropol Hotel.
It was something that was embedded in her heart, not in her muscles.
“Did he reject me because of the difference in our status?” Anais cautiously spoke, being careful not to touch a sore spot.
Fortunately, there was no sign of that in Wonderstein’s face.
He seemed to be carefully considering something before slowly opening his mouth.
“Miss, I’ve put everything on the line to advance to the Circus Grand Prix main event. So, I don’t have the capacity to hold anything else in my heart. That’s why I rejected your feelings.”
Anais could intuitively sense that his words were sincere, but at the same time, he was hiding something.
“Is it really that important?”
Her voice sounded a bit irritated, and Wonderstein responded with a sly smile.
“To tell the truth, the Circus Grand Prix itself isn’t all that important. What’s important is the reward that comes with it.”
Anais raised her head.
She was a person who excelled in both wealth and honour.
She had displayed her wealth many times, but he had shown no interest at all.
He didn’t even entertain proposals that showcased her abilities on a grand scale.
What exactly did he hope to gain by putting everything he had at stake?
She sighed inwardly as she pondered this question.
She had a hunch about what it might be.
Among the acrobats advancing to the finals of Circus Grand Prix, various rights were promised in addition to prizes and trophies.
One of them was the citizenship of Sky City Hippodrome.
Contrary to its appealing name, Hippodrome citizenship was not a substantial reward.
Due to the constraints of the aerial city, real estate was scarce, and property prices were exorbitant, unlike most cities on the ground. Obtaining citizenship was practically just a decorative passport if you didn’t have a place to live.
Important rights, including voting, required residency in Hippodrome for a certain number of days each year.
However, if you made it to the finals, your reputation alone would allow you to make a living anywhere in the world without any hindrance.
For most acrobats, Hippodrome citizenship was just an extra, compared to other rewards.
But for someone, it could be more precious than money or fame.
For someone desperately seeking official recognition of themselves.
“I see…”
Only now did she understand.
Why he, who had been indifferent to money and fame, was so obsessed with the Circus Grand Prix.
Perhaps there were other acrobats in other circuses who also coveted citizenship.
Obtaining official status was an elusive goal for those like the wanderers.
Naturally, those born as wanderers couldn’t possibly achieve anything significant in the public eye. Street performances, crude carpentry, theft, and peddling were their entire repertoire of skills.
This competition might have unexpectedly become an opportunity for such people.
“Two and a half years from now, I can’t predict what will happen to me. I couldn’t make an uncertain promise.”
The Circus Grand Prix had returned after 17 years.
The date of the next competition was uncertain.
It might even be the last chance in their lifetime.
“Yes, I’m more of a coward than you might think. Huhu, surprised?”
The meeting between the nameless wanderer and the lord of a small domain.
The world did not view their meeting favourably.
He probably anticipated that revealing his identity would lead to a confrontation like the one today.
However, she couldn’t dare to call him a coward.
He was someone who would help others even at the risk of his own life.
There was probably some consideration for himself in his reason for rejecting her advances.
“No, it’s not like that. I am…”
“Lady Anais is a beautiful person. beautiful, capable, and attractive. I might not have realized it at first, but I do now. If I were in a different situation, I would have accepted your heart, but now… I can’t.”
Anais read the meaning hidden between his words. He wasn’t distancing himself from her because he disliked her. It was simply a matter of social status and circumstances. But at the same time, his words also carried hope. Could she wait for him?
Right now, it wasn’t possible, but in two and a half years, after he officially gained his status, things would be different.
But why did he have to go through all that trouble?
Anais bit her lip and hesitated, then spoke up.
“If what you desire is the official status, I could help you with that. If you become a resident of Vergsong estate, it’s enough. The master of Vergsong family is me. I can certainly arrange that. Moreover, didn’t you save my life? There’s enough reason for it, and there won’t be any downside.”
“Haha.”
But there was a faint sneer in his smile as he looked at her.
Ah, she realized that she had misunderstood something.
If he really wanted social status, he would have mentioned it when he treated her illness. He hadn’t asked for anything other than becoming a sponsor for Circus Grand prix.
Did I misunderstand something? Did I delude myself?
Anais asked with a trembling voice.
“What is it that you truly desire, Sir?”
“What do I truly desire? Well…”
He paused for a moment, then said, “I desire to walk on my own two feet and live my life.”
He said that and smiled at her.
“Was that a bit vague?”
Anais nodded her head. She understood what he meant.
He was talking to her. He didn’t want to live as someone’s possession.
She had been a fool.
He may be a wanderer, but he is not a slave.
Excited by the thought that she could make him her property, she couldn’t help but utter words that hurt his feelings again.
“I’m sorry. I said something stupid.”
If she had been a cold, calculating, she could have used any means necessary to get what she wanted, to have him in her possession.
But she couldn’t do that now.
She suddenly remembered something that happened in a mining town ten years ago.
Negotiating with a man is somewhat similar to this. You need the skill to push and pull, to grasp and shake your opponent.
Her uncle had said that.
Would following his teachings completely put her in control of him?
“I’ll support you.”
But her uncle had also said something else.
“Whatever you need, just tell me. I’ll help with anything.”
Shouldn’t one say that there’s no choice when it comes to something you desperately want? It’s worth losing everything else.
For her uncle, it was his wife and daughter who were such beings.
Something he desperately wanted.
It’s worth losing everything else.
In one word: love.
That’s what’s pounding in her heart right now.
“I’ll pray that you get what you desire.”
Wonderstein must have realized her feelings because he smiled the brightest smile he had ever smiled and nodded.
“Thank you, Lady Vergsong.”
They smiled at each other like that.
They felt the misunderstandings that had built up between them melting away.
“Lady Vergsong, the carriage has arrived.”
Porsche Grape, who had been guarding outside the door, entered.
Behind him, Ella and Maya stood.
“They told the staff to come this way,” Ella said, avoiding the gaze of Anais and Wonderstein.
Maya also glanced at the two and then quickly turned her head.
What could have happened between the two of them?
For some reason, it felt like their relationship was better than before.
“Wonderstein, and this is…”
Porsche Grape took out a small note from his pocket and handed it to Anais.
The note was folded in the shape of a personal letter.
“Once again, you came and went without a word.”
Anais said this and tucked the note into her bosom.
Wonderstein knew what it was but pretended not to. It would seem very strange if he acted like he knew.
“Shall we go back to the lodging…”
As she was about to take a step, her body suddenly buckled forward.
Wonderstein instinctively reached out to support her.
Porsche Grape hurried over in surprise.
Examining the master’s condition, he let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness. She is just tired.”
She closed her eyes and fell asleep as if she had fainted.
She had exhausted herself too much today.
Both mentally and physically.
Wonderstein held her in his arms and was about to take her to the carriage.
“Shall I escort you to the bedroom?”
Seeing his master holding tightly and smiling, Porsche Grape looked troubled.
As he was about to stop Wonderstein, Ella and Maya blocked his way.
They glared at him with a somewhat hostile attitude.
“Are you out of your mind? Carrying someone all the way to the bedroom?”
“Please put her down, Wonderstein.”
They pulled Anais out of Wonderstein’s arms and supported her.
Porsche Grape nodded as if everything was fine, but Wonderstein raised his eyebrows.
Why are they so angry?
***
Title: TT3 Prologue Stage – Complete Walkthrough
Publisher: Torch Dancer
Hello.
This is Torch Dancer.
Before you know it, the TT series has reached TT3.
The prologue is not very long, so I think we can finish it in just one episode.
Now, let’s take a look at the table of contents first.
- Overall Map and Item Locations
- Main Quest
- Mansion Cleanup
- Defeat Airdra
- Defeat Anais Vergsong’s
- Sub Quests
- Collecting Diary
- The Maid’s Final Meal
- The Man Who Couldn’t Leave Prison
- Birthday Gift for Daughter
- Support Characters
- Porsche Grape
- Hound Mars
- Endings
- If you didn’t receive the Kill Switch
- If you received the Kill Switch
4-2) Hound Mars
One of the two supporters you can collect in the tutorial stage is Hound Mars.
Hound Mars is, of course, a supporter that experienced players don’t use, but there’s no better friend for beginners.
This character has been a bit controversial since its release.
They even created an official add-on for the Trill Trill series to explore each aspect.
Still, thanks to Hound Mars, even beginners can easily progress through the story. Isn’t that an advantage?
Oh, and one thing to note!
Remember that items discovered through Mars do not count toward challenge achievements!
Name: Mars
Age: 40
Affection: 100
Title: Hound
Occupation: Resolver
Recruitment Condition: Discover the “Dog-Shaped Paper Folding” at Vergsong Mansion.
Attributes:
- [Map Exploration]: Displays the locations of NPCs and monsters on the map.
- [Information Gathering]: Bright light appears around the heads of NPCs with clues.
- [Collecting]: Automatically collects coins or items near the ground.
- [Item Discovery]: Hidden or buried items float in the air when approached.
- [Weakness Detection]: Emphasizes the weak points of enemies.
- [Investigation]: Can check all character profiles without doing any affection work.
Hound Mars had worked for over ten years for the Vergsong company.
However, very few people within the company knew of his existence.
Even those who did know mostly called him the “Hound.”
Only the Chairman and Vice Chairman knew his real name.
He served, Cinepecus, who loved rumours, reputation, and gossip.
In other words, he was a warlock.
This term distinguished him from the magicians who unravelled the mysteries of magical powers. Anyone who borrowed the power of the Cinépécus was also considered a warlolck. Even an acrobat who had mastered Inspira could be called a warlolck in principle.
He excelled in tracking and gathering information, living up to his role as a follower of Cinépécus.
In the Abyss, Cinépécus’ domain was known as the “Garden of Whispers,” where echoes of gossip collected from all corners of the world resided.
Mars could briefly visit the Garden of Whispers with his mind to collect information. About three weeks ago, while tracking Pierre, he discovered that periodic information about the master was being transmitted to him.
“Who is the one in Luz passing on her whereabouts to Pierre?”
Like smoke, a snake living in the Garden of Whispers twisted its body and picked up something. Mars opened his eyes. He had identified the target.
About two weeks ago, he had come across rumours of the master’s love affair circulating around Pierre’s faction. He asked a different question this time.
“Who is actively spreading this rumour in Luz?”
Again, the snake in the Garden of Whispers picked up something, revealing the same target as before.
About a week ago, while pursuing the trail of Pierre’s faction, he discovered the conspiracy behind the upcoming “trial.” A young police lieutenant led the investigation, and other nobles were at the forefront of forming the faction. However, someone was orchestrating the situation from behind.
“Who orchestrated this conspiracy?”
The snake once again seized the same target.
The hound had arrived in the city of Luz today.
It was to aid his master, who had become entangled in the conspiracy.
However, his master had brilliantly overcome the crisis on her own.
She didn’t need assistance.
The hound conveyed a brief greeting to his master via a note and left the cabaret. He returned to the Garden of Whispers and posed another question.
“Who hid the autopsy report of the ghost’s body, and who delayed its release until the situation demanded it?”
In response to the question, the smoky snake lifted the target’s shoulders into the air.
The target remained the same as before.
The hound had a knack for uncovering hidden or buried targets.
This was another application of his ability.
“Ah!”
The head of the Luz police department was lifted into the air.
He was the one who had been working behind the scenes in this city, conveying Anais’s movements to Pierre, spreading rumours of their affair, and sabotaging this investigation.
He had done many things, but the most critical one was delaying the report on the unidentified body’s autopsy as long as possible.
If the defence in today’s temporary trial couldn’t quickly counter it and was drawn out, he would have kept the report hidden until it was reported in the morning news.
“Are you doing this again? W-who on earth are you?”
The hound had already sent records and ledgers containing his misdeeds to various newspapers.
With this, the threat to his master in this city would be eliminated for a while.
The hound turned around when he heard the man’s cry and saw the police officers who had arrived to pull him down from the air.
He pondered on who his next prey would be.
In the garden of whispers, there were voices that couldn’t be heard.
First, it was when he truly didn’t want his name to be mentioned by people.
Most of the followers of Cinepecus entered here. They were accustomed to hiding their true names and moving in the shadows. Many of the invincible ones who operated in the underworld were also included here.
Secondly, they were high-ranking priests of the Holy Church. They had the power to exclude the authority of the demons dwelling in the Abyss. By the time they became bishops, there was hardly any information that could be collected about them other than their names or brief profiles. The Pope, inquisitors, or saints were as blank as a white page.
Lastly, they were the ones referred to as “apostles” among the worshippers of other demons.
Apostles represented the will of the respective demon in this world.
They could be considered as performing a role similar to that of the “priests” of religion.
The power of Cinepecus was not absorbed by the abilities of the other demons within the body of the apostle.
The hound sniffed the air.
Since the rumour of the affair had spread, he had been thoroughly investigating the man beside his master.
He even utilized the whispers in the garden.
But not a single name came to mind.
The second one was definitely not the one.
The first or the third were undoubtedly the right ones.
If the hound had come to Loose today and the status as the wanderer had not been revealed, he didn’t know if he would have left a warning to his master to be cautious of him.
The notion that a magician was an unholy being was a deliberate propaganda spread by the Holy Church, but there was no way that an apostle, a being of the same status, would have even a drop of blood on his hands while representing the will of the demon.
He hesitated for a moment and then headed in the direction of the Caribbean.
He provisionally concluded that the man beside his master was harmless.
What was important now was to thoroughly investigate for who Mars was serving.
The Whispering Garden was still buzzing with whispers even after Mars came out.
The Whispering Garden had accumulated a wealth of information.
For hundreds, even thousands of years, all the rumours and conversations that had travelled the world were buried deep beneath the garden.
Among them, there was a fragment of a conversation that had taken place ten years ago between an uncle and his niece.
“No, remember this. If you’re wandering in the desert and someone suddenly appears in front of you holding water that you desperately want, it might contain poison.”
The long-buried whispers rose like dust and then disappeared.
The girl in the dream denied her uncle’s words.
What she had discovered was truly sweet and warm.
A smile formed on her sleeping lips.
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