Chapter 123: A Confrontation "Don’t jest with me like that," Xin reproached, his tone carrying a touch of wry amusement.
Midnight Duchess’s laughter filled the chamber, her mirth evident. "Did you genuinely think I was planning to pilfer your items?"
Xin found himself at a loss for words. What else could have motivated her sudden interest in his actions, given her initial disinterest in foraging?
"Why do you say that?" Midnight Duchess asked back, her voice twinkling with mischief.
"Is there something of significant value in your inventory?"
Without a moment’s hesitation, Xin swiftly secured all his items within the confines of his inventory, ensuring their safety in the virtual bank storage.
"I’m just a novice player," Xin replied nonchalantly, though he was keenly aware of her penetrating gaze. "I started playing this game only a few weeks ago. I possess nothing of substantial worth."
A pregnant silence hung in the air, and Xin felt a peculiar discomfort under Midnight Duchess’s scrutiny.
"Crafters like you often hold rare items in their inventories as part of their skill," she noted, her words heavy with implication.
Xin swallowed hard, his unease mounting.
However, Midnight Duchess’s subsequent chuckle served to dispel some of the tension that had settled in the room.
"But rest assured," she added, rising to her feet, "your items were never my target to begin with."
Confusion gnawed at Xin as he watched her depart, her cryptic words lingering in the air.
"It appears that my presence makes you uneasy, so I shall keep my distance," she declared before disappearing from sight.
Only once Midnight Duchess had left did Xin release a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Her presence had been undeniably imposing, a force that kept him on edge.
Shaking off the encounter, Xin refocused on his task, determined to complete it without dwelling on what she said.
Midnight Duchess and her unsettling words were pushed to the periphery of his thoughts as he resumed his foraging.
Amidst the lush, tranquil scene, Victor stewed in silent frustration as he observed the conversation between Midnight Duchess and Xin.
His teeth gritted, and his irritation found a target in the hapless mushrooms he clenched in his hand, squishing them mercilessly.
"You truly are oblivious," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with vexation.
When Midnight Duchess eventually withdrew from her conversation with Xin, Victor wasted no time in intercepting her path. He approached her with a determined, confrontational air.
"Why are you getting so close to Lord Schrodinger?" he demanded, his eyes locked onto Midnight Duchess.
She regarded him with a look and a knowing smile though Victor couldn’t see beyond her cloak.
"Am I not allowed to interact with my fellow players?"
"Don’t play games with me," Victor retorted, his frustration palpable. "I’ve known you for years. You’ve never been one to form close bonds with anyone. Why now?"
Midnight Duchess merely tilted her head, her concealed expression a source of intrigue. "You think you know everything about me?"
Victor crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes as suspicion gnawed at him. "Oh, I know more than you think," he replied, studying Midnight Duchess intently. "Do you know who Lord Schrodinger is in real life, perhaps?"
Midnight Duchess offered no direct response, her smile curved beneath her cloak.
Turning the tables, she inquired, "And what about you, Grey Smoke? Why this protectiveness towards Lord Schrodinger?"
Victor’s furrowed brow betrayed a momentary shift from frustration to genuine concern, but he remained composed. "Isn’t it natural to be protective of a friend?"
Midnight Duchess couldn’t resist a teasing tone. "Really now? Is that truly the extent of Grey Smoke’s motivations? Or should I address you as . . . Victor?"
The color drained from Victor’s face, but he swiftly regained his composure. He maintained a stoic silence, neither confirming nor denying Midnight Duchess’s revelation.
"Does Lord Schrodinger know?" she pressed with feigned innocence, her words hanging heavy in the air. "About your true . . ."
A surge of anger coursed through Victor, and in a flash of aggression, he seized Midnight Duchess’s cloak, his fists clenching around the fabric.
It was a fleeting act, as he quickly released her, concealing his actions from the watchful eyes of Xin and the others.
Midnight Duchess couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. "Unlike you, I’ve guarded my true identity well. Perhaps you should have done the same if you didn’t want your vulnerability exposed."
Victor remained silent, refusing to dignify her remarks with a response.
Midnight Duchess offered a fleeting tap on his shoulder before whispering a final, cryptic warning, "I don’t care about you or your secrets, but don’t obstruct my path."
She gracefully retreated from Victor’s presence, his smoldering anger barely contained beneath clenched fists and scathing glares. His frustration simmered, an unspoken tension lingering in the air.
Meanwhile, Xin remained blissfully unaware of the brewing drama, his attention fully dedicated to foraging in various spots where the promise of valuable materials beckoned.
He scoured the area diligently for several minutes, his efforts yielding a meager harvest of one exceptionally rare mushroom, a prized find in this abandoned fortress.
ǁ R E V E R I E R E V E R S A L
F U N G U S ǁ
The Reverie Reversal Fungus is an exceedingly rare and mystical mushroom that can dispel even the most potent of enchantments, spells, and curses.
It is known for its unique appearance, with a cap that shimmers in a mesmerizing shade of deep amethyst and a stem that radiates a faint, ethereal glow.
These mushrooms are typically found in secluded, enchanted groves deep within ancient forests, where the boundaries between the magical and natural worlds blur.
The Reverie Reversal Fungus is a solitary specimen, often growing in isolation, as if guarding its powerful properties from unworthy hands.
Legend has it that consuming or even holding a Reverie Reversal Fungus can awaken one from the deepest slumber of spells and curses.
Its magical essence is said to cleanse the mind, dispelling illusions, breaking enchantments, and unraveling even the most intricate magical entanglements.
Harvesting the Reverie Reversal Fungus can only be harvested using a golden or higher level tool.
Wizards, alchemists, and seekers of lost knowledge all covet this elusive treasure for its potential to rewrite fate and reverse the darkest of enchantments.
Those fortunate enough to acquire a Reverie Reversal Fungus must wield it with great care, for its power is not to be taken lightly. It serves as a beacon of hope and liberation for those ensnared by magical bonds, a symbol of nature’s enduring ability to counter the most profound sorcery.
ǁ E N D ǁ