{T/N: A shout out to ShadowPlayz for recommending this fic...}
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~Unit 51 Henry Street, West Borough, Backlund~
In the evening...
Having just finished a busy day, Odis Gale reclined in his armchair to rest.
*Ding-a-ling*
The bell hanging on the door chimed. At this late hour, an unexpected guest had arrived.
Under the bright glow of the gas lamp, Odis lazily glanced up, then he immediately sat upright.
The visitor was a woman with chestnut hair cascading down to her waist and striking eyebrows that lent her a heroic air.
Her figure was impeccable, neither too plump nor too thin, and her deep blue eyes resembled the condensed beauty of the ocean.
Her chestnut hair, beautiful features, and the rare yet aesthetically pleasing combination of a white shirt, trousers, and black leather boots reminded Odis of a prominent figure in the mystical world...
Bernadette Gustav, the Queen Mystic...
[Image Here...]
The association didn't come from legends about the Queen Mystic, but rather from Odis' identity as a transmigrator... one who remembered the hair color and unique fashion sense of the eldest daughter of the Great Emperor Roselle.
Three years ago, Odis had crossed over into this world...
And due to an Extraordinary incident that was triggered by a 'Sefirah', he became a 'Mystery Pryer'...
Merely by recalling fragments of the original story, his 'Mystery Pryer' Potion had digested completely.
Because of this incident, Odis had drawn intense scrutiny from the 'Machinery Hivemind' and was closely monitored for a long time.
At one point, he even suspected that the 'God of Steam and Machinery' had turned 'His' gaze upon him.
Fortunately, they couldn't confirm his connection to the 'Sefirah', so he wasn't dragged away for dissection like some alien specimen. {T/N: Sefirah (Singular) >> Sefirot (Plural)... Not to be confused with 'Sefirah Castle'...}
Recently, Odis had finally found an opportunity for advancement... though for now, he remained a 'Mystery Pryer'.
Returning to the present moment in his herbal shop, Odis quickly put on a smile and stood up, "Hello, how may I assist you?"
The visitor was indeed Bernadette...
As she stepped inside, she also studied Odis... a young man of about twenty-three or twenty-four, with dark slightly curly hair and pitch-black pupils.
His features were handsome: thin lips, a high nose bridge, and bright, piercing eyes.
He wore a linen shirt, a loose coat, and cloth shoes... an outfit far from gentlemanly but undoubtedly comfortable.
The shop's counters and cabinets were lined with various common herbs, making it seem like an utterly ordinary establishment.
Finally, Bernadette's gaze settled on Odis, "There's something I'd like you to examine." She started.
Odis blinked... 'Is she here to fence stolen goods?'
Due to his herbal business and the Extraordinary incident that had brought him to this world, Odis had developed connections in the Mystical underworld.
Some Beyonders used his channels to offload illicit items.
But the illustrious Queen Mystic surely had her own avenues for such dealings...
As he pondered, Odis moved to hang the «Closed» sign, then he drew the curtains over the door and windows.
Once done, he stood behind the counter and gestured politely, "Please..."
Bernadette retrieved a small wooden box from her pocket, placed it on the counter, and slid it toward Odis.
The herbal shop owner opened it to find dozens of oddly shaped block-like metal pieces.
On one side of these fragments were fluorescent etchings which faintly glowed in a dim crimson hue.
At the sight, Odis' pupils contracted... but he swiftly masked his surprise and feigned confusion, " And this is...?"
"You should recognize it." Bernadette offered a polite smile.
Odis maintained an expression of blank ignorance, "My apologies, but this doesn't look familiar..." He then switched to a professional tone, "Our shop's scope is limited, so we can't purchase such... Unique items... Perhaps you could try elsewhere?"
"Then, let me refresh your memory," Bernadette's expression said she expected this, "Pete. Unit 116 Michel Street."
Being familiar with the area, Odis knew exactly who lived at Unit 116 Michel Street... Pete, a renowned master thief...
And the contents of the box? They were Odis' stolen weapon from yesterday...
A divination had already confirmed Pete as the culprit, and Odis had just sent someone to negotiate with the thief that very afternoon.
Odis' smile vanished, "Since your information network is so thorough, then you must know who my 'backer' is..."
"Of course. I also know the nature of your relationship with said 'backer'..." Bernadette rested a hand on the counter, her tone firm, "And yet here I am."
Odis sighed inwardly...
Even in Backlund, short of direct intervention by a Royal Family member or a Church affiliated Angel, no one could do much against the woman before him...
In fact, even against an Angel-tier foe, Bernadette wouldn't flinch... after all, she possessed three Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts...
"Are you perhaps interested in the weapon's mystical applications?" Odis ventured.
Bernadette nodded, "A sharp deduction. First, I want to know who crafted this extraordinary weapon and its underlying principles. Then, I'll reassemble it."
Odis smiled, "As you can see, I'm no Artisan. This was a failed prototype from the 'Church of Steam and Machinery' which was entrusted to me for disposal." Then he pivoted, "Though I am curious... how did you disassemble it?"
"Liar," Unswayed, the Queen Mystic narrowed her eyes, "Even failed prototypes wouldn't be released like this by the Church. As for how I dismantled it... that's my business."
Interpretation... ~She had taken it apart but couldn't put it back together...~
Bernadette placed both hands on the counter, "You'd best tell the truth. Don't force me to resort to... persuasive measures."
In reality, Odis had crafted this weapon... it also concealed his greatest secret...
Upon arriving in this world, he had gained a peculiar ability: Every Sunday night, upon falling asleep, he would enter a mysterious realm.
This space was structured in layers of luminous Knowledge that encompassed virtually every subject imaginable... So long as Odis could think of it, corresponding information existed within.
However, each visit required completing a research thesis before he could wake. Even if he spent an entire year inside, only a single night would pass in reality.
Initially, Odis had treated it lightly. But as the Knowledge he gained grew more profound, so too did the complexity of his required theses.
This extraordinary weapon was the product of one such research project... an innovative application of spiritual materials.
Just as Odis prepared to invoke the 'Church of Steam and Machinery' again, Bernadette suddenly raised a hand, signaling silence. She seemed to be intently listening to something.
A second later, "First, you're coming with me somewhere." she suddenly said.
Before Odis could ask "Where?", a veil of illusory feathers enveloped his vision...
When they dissipated, he found himself standing before the Royal Museum on King's Avenue...
Odis froze.
He distinctly remembered that the museum was currently hosting the 'Roselle Commemorative Exhibition'...
...
{T/N: The hardest part of any TRANSLATION is always the first chapter... That's because I rarely have any underlying context to work with, and because of this, the TRANSLATION may contain some errors initially...
I usually avoid this by reading the first 10 Chapters to scout some info before I attempt to TRANSLATE. But I couldn't do this for this fic... mainly because of Time...
I'm currently working on numerous other TRANSLATIONS on top of trying to maintain my daily life... So time is a luxury for me...
What I'm trying to get at is... I'm going in blind for this one. So don't blame me for any mistakes that you might come across...
The TRANSLATION speed will be slow for this fic, that is unless I pause my other projects... Which is highly unlikely...}