Chapter 2134: Chapter 2134
"Please, leave this to us."
From within the ancient legion that had descended, a middle-aged elf clad in heavy silver armor, appearing to be their commander, removed his helmet and spoke softly to Jenkins. The young flower seller, the old elf, Professor Burns, and Sigrid leaped down from the table as well. Sigrid even quietly reminded the little girl with the basket to be more ladylike.
"You should go now. We'll handle things here."
Jenkins then turned to his companion, the elf Miss Silf, who had journeyed with him through two Mysterious Realms. She gave him a regretful nod, but a smile graced her lips.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to help you on the road ahead."
The Mysterious Realm was far too dangerous; it was no longer suitable for the elf to continue alongside Jenkins. Now that the ancient elven legion had arrived, she would be much safer among her own people. Though she had been a help in the wax museum, in a real battle, the others would only be a burden. Thus, the elven lady did not ask to press on with Jenkins.
"Keep going, Jenkins."
She embraced him, and Jenkins then introduced Miss Silf to the others. The elf picked up the one unused card from the table, the Star-Forged Magic Sword. With a gentle pinch, the card exploded, and the black longsword, glittering with specks of starlight, landed in her hand.
"Please, take this with you on your journey."
It was a weapon produced within the Mysterious Realm itself, which meant he could take it with him. The elven legion, however, had appeared through an irregular means. Because of this, Jenkins couldn't receive any other items from them, or the white gate of light would not welcome his entry.
"The spatial barrier of this tower has been weakened," the old elf said. "I don't know what you did in the Mysterious Realm, but after that violent tremor just now, the price to enter this place has been significantly reduced. Whatever help you seek from the outside world, I imagine it will become much easier to obtain."
Jenkins thought for a moment. The intense shaking of the Mysterious Realm seemed to have occurred when he was trying to extract some rather... inappropriate knowledge.
"I understand," Jenkins replied, and was immediately pulled into an embrace by Sigrid's ethereal form.
"I can't go on with you, but you must come back as soon as you can. Everyone is waiting for you."
"Don't worry. We're already on the fifth floor. I think I'll reach the ninth and see the Difference Engine very soon."
Jenkins hugged Sigrid back before she gently pushed him away.
"Go on, now. Leave the rest to us."
Wiping her eyes, Sigrid placed a kiss on Jenkins's cheek—an eternal blessing for the journey he was about to undertake once more.
Jenkins glanced around, first nodding to Professor Burns, who was watching him with a smile, then turning his gaze to the ancient legion behind him. The middle-aged elf spoke again.
"You need not worry about us. We can handle everything here completely."
Neither the Blossoms nor the World Tree had manifested here, but their power was undoubtedly shining upon this place. The Filth of Man was surely no match for them.
"Be careful. Don't let a single drop of the Filth of Man escape."
Jenkins made sure to remind them.
"As you command, World Tree."
The commander placed his left hand on his right shoulder and gave a slight bow.
Jenkins looked at the people around him one last time, his eyes finally resting on the young flower seller, whose face was still beaming with a brilliant smile.
"Sir, I finally managed to help you. I told you I would come and help you!"
"Yes, you were a tremendous help this time."
The old elf, Professor Burns, and Sigrid alone would not have been enough to summon the elven legion. Only a being like the young flower seller possessed sufficient power to resonate with the Prosperous Forest and open a passage into this Mysterious Realm.
"When this is all over, you're welcome to be a guest at my home," he said in a low voice. The little girl, holding her small basket with both hands, nodded with delight.
"I'll definitely come! But you have to keep a close eye on your big cat. It's very fierce."
Jenkins chuckled, then let out a sharp whistle, summoning his unicorn. Normally, this ability was difficult to use within a Mysterious Realm; its spatial barrier was exceptionally unique, making it hard for the unicorn to break through. But since the elves could enter, the unicorn could naturally appear through their passage as well.
"Well then, I'm off."
He picked up his backpack again, wrapped the Star-Forged Magic Sword in one of the two remaining metallic cocoons, and slung it over his back. He held the backpack and the other cocoon in his hands. The unicorn knelt before Jenkins, allowing him to mount with ease.
"Please, keep going. Leave this to us."
The group spoke in unison. The unicorn rose to its feet, bearing Jenkins on its back. He gave its back a light pat, and the shining silver armor materialized upon the unicorn's body—the power of the God of Lies, which had once triggered a special evolution in the creature. Only a mount such as this could carry Jenkins across the ocean of black fluid and find the submerged door on the other side.
Before departing, Jenkins's unicorn couldn't resist turning in a circle, showing off to the other unicorns in the army behind them. The elven knights had to struggle to control their own mounts, preventing them from getting angered by their young kinsman's childish display.
"I'm off, then," Jenkins announced one last time, and soared into the sky. Behind him, tens of thousands of emerald arrows rained down upon the surging black tide across the table. Beams of light from elven spells and divine arts shot past Jenkins, helping him suppress the flying monsters of the Filth of Man. The knights and their flying elven drakes couldn't match his speed, but they could hold back any enemies that might try to ambush him from behind.
And so, he crossed half the kingdom of cards, saw the walls of the wax museum, and saw the unstable, white-glowing door of the Mysterious Realm.
"You probably can't go through that door with me. After I leave, go find them," Jenkins said, pointing behind him. The small beast beneath him let out a mournful whimper but still carried him to a spot just above the door. Follow current novels on novel·fire.net
"Don't be like that. Once this is all over, you can live with me, instead of only appearing when I need you."
He patted his loyal mount. The little beast nuzzled its furry cheek against Jenkins's hand before watching him leap down, falling into the door that led to the next level of the Mysterious Realm.
(Chocolate is on the move...)
The red-haired girl with Chocolate perched on her head stood by the window, reading a letter. The cat on her head peeked out quietly to read along with her. It was a letter from Sigrid, explaining what she was doing and telling Hathaway, who was still in the church, not to worry.
"Honestly. We all agreed to wait for Jenkins to come back together, but everyone ran off to help him, leaving me here with nothing to do," Hathaway grumbled under her breath. But that wasn't entirely true. She had just realized how resourceful Sigrid and Alexia were, while she herself could only serve as a glorified cat tree for the time being, which left her feeling a little dejected.
"But I think Mr. Williamette would consider you taking care of his cat to be the greatest help of all."
They were in the same room Jenkins had returned to, so Miss Bernreuter was still present. Miss Harms, however, was gone; someone had to attend the ongoing meeting. It was clear the three ladies here were now somewhat wary of Miss Stevel.
Besides Miss Bernreuter, Princess Sophia was also in the room. With the silver dragon gone to help Jenkins, she had originally intended to join Dolores at the meeting, but after some thought, she decided to stay with Hathaway, making it easier to wait for Anathasia's return.
"In Jenkins's eyes, Chocolate's well-being is probably more important than even helping him," Princess Sophia added in agreement.
"And it's not as if you've done nothing," Miss Bernreuter, ever the skilled comforter, chimed in, echoing the princess to help lift Hathaway's spirits. "Receiving Mr. Pisco, helping arrange for a train to be delivered to St. George Avenue—didn't you do all of that for him?"
"But those are small things anyone could have done. What Sigrid and Alexia are doing, only they can do," Hathaway muttered again. She folded the letter and tucked it into the pocket of her long dress. For some reason, she recalled the family photo from yesterday, how she had been the one sitting right next to Jenkins, and her mood suddenly improved considerably.
Turning away from the window, she joined Miss Bernreuter and Princess Sophia at the table.
The princess was still reading the *Detective Knight Biography*, though she was now on the fifth volume. The title page bore the author's signature, a gift received just a few hours ago when they visited the writer from Cheslan.
Miss Bernreuter was also reading a book—a musical score. Ordinarily, Hathaway would have been eager to offer her own thoughts on it, but right now, she wasn't in the mood.
"Speaking of which, what is that train for?" Princess Sophia asked again. "I've never heard of a ritual that uses an entire train as a material component. Is it some kind of modern ritual?"
Miss Bernreuter was curious as well, but Hathaway didn't know either. Resting her pretty chin on her arms, which were propped on the table, she mused, "Our friend Magic Miss is incredibly skilled. Though her Enchanter level isn't exceptionally high, that woman has extraordinary methods in mysticism, ritualism, and alchemy. I'm sure that train will find its use somehow..."
She sighed and reached up to pet the cat on her head. This time, Chocolate didn't immediately stop her, allowing two strokes before gently pushing her hand away with a soft little paw.