“Did you finally find that lake?” Xia De asked, and Professor Drake, flipping through the red photo album, nodded gently: “Yes, actually that lake is called ‘Lake of Wisdom,’ or ‘Lake Cherub.’ The famous fairy tale ‘Water of Wisdom’ was actually adapted from our local legend, or at least related to it. But young man, I cannot provide you with more details. Look at my legs; I only remember finding a way to that lake and then secretly going to search for it, hiding it from everyone. When I was discovered again, I was already in this state.”
Xia De frowned slightly: “You don’t remember anything?”
“Yes, I don’t remember anything. I have no idea what happened, and I’m not even sure if I really found the Lake Goddess, but something strange definitely happened back then.”
The Professor sighed deeply: “You can have someone copy my research materials and take them with you. I only hope, Mr. Watson, if you can truly find that ‘Lake Goddess’ again, could you please ask her what wish I made back then?”
“Is that very important? I thought you had already let it go.”
“I used to feel like I had let it go, but…”
Professor Drake looked at the sunlight outside: “I’m so old; I might die in a few years. Before I die, I really want to know what wish I exchanged for my legs. I really want to know.”
Xia De could feel his wistfulness and nodded: “If I can find her and it doesn’t cost me anything, I am willing to help you ask. Also, may I look at your legs? I’m just a little suspicious about the condition of your legs.”
The Professor was silent for a moment: “I hope it doesn’t scare you.”
The maid pushed the Professor out from behind the desk, and the Professor removed the red blanket. Under the blanket were a pair of legs that were only half-length, with the trouser legs tied up at the knees, and the part below the knees completely absent.
Xia De was a little surprised and wanted to apologize for his rash action. But unexpectedly, the Professor proactively had the servant untie his trouser legs and roll them up, revealing the clean break at the knees.
The break was very smooth, as if the human body was naturally supposed to be that way.
“Is there any pain?” Xia De knelt on the carpet on one knee, asking with surprise as he looked at the cross-section.
“No, when I was found unconscious in the countryside east of the City, my legs were already like this, with no pain whatsoever.”
“How long were you missing back then?”
“I left on a Wednesday in autumn and was found on Thursday afternoon.”
In just one day, the wound couldn't have healed so quickly, not to mention that the neat cross-section didn't look like a natural recovery.
Xia De suddenly reached out, touched the Professor’s leg, and then quickly stood up.
“You touched a Miracle. A very faint Miracle.”
“Miracle… it seems I’ve really found the right target this time.”
Thinking to himself, he said to the Professor: “I understand. If I can find the Lake Goddess, I will try to find out what you experienced back then.”
He took out his wallet from his pocket and pulled out five one-pound notes: “I’ll take this photo.”
Saying that, he picked up the lake view photo on the table: “Tomorrow, Viscount Bernhardt will send someone to copy the materials. These five pounds are for the material fee and copying fee.”
The Professor silently allowed the servant to re-tie his trouser cuffs. Just as Xia De was about to bid farewell, he suddenly asked: “Young man, you said you were mainly here for research material, but I think you just want to find something, don’t you? What exactly are you trying to find?”
Xia De, tightly clutching the cursed photo in his right hand, whispered: “That is my lifelong pursuit.”
The photo Professor Drake obtained many years ago was not a relic; otherwise, it wouldn't have been kept by the Professor for so many years without problems. However, this photo did record the appearance of a terrifying humanoid cursed relic, and today, many years later, because Xia De “saw” its entirety, this curse was transmitted to Xia De.
Different curses have different manifestations, and in the current form of this curse’s effect, the spiritual pollution and physical decay are temporarily suppressed by the fiercely burning First Fire. However, the woman with only half her body visible continues to appear at the edge of Xia De’s vision.
After Xia De left Old Professor Drake’s house, as long as there was a suitable cover at the edge of his vision, that woman, more terrifying than a malevolent spirit, would appear with her upper body and head, looking at Xia De with a malicious face from places including but not limited to alley corners, behind carriages, and behind open shop doors.
Even when a fluttering newspaper accidentally passed in front of Xia De, the woman appeared from behind the newspaper, almost pressing her face against Xia De’s. Even though Xia De had witnessed a wide variety of malevolent spirits in Mi Fort, he was still startled and took two steps back at that moment.
According to “her” judgment, this was, of course, a hallucination caused by the curse and would not cause actual harm to Xia De.
The environment that could cause actual impact was relatively enclosed spaces like narrow alleys. When Xia De walked into an alley, the terrifying long-haired woman would try to extend her body and approach Xia De.
Xia De didn't know what would happen if he came into contact with her. Although it was only a hallucination for now, if this experience, like being in a horror novel, continued, more uncontrollable things would inevitably happen.
He needed to find a way to solve the problem as soon as possible. For this kind of curse, the Orthodox Church had professional solutions, but Xia De was not convenient to go to the church now, so he could only return to Huntington City center, wanting to seek the Great Witch’s help. And because he couldn't enter enclosed spaces like sealed carriage compartments, Xia De finally managed to find an open-top taxi carriage.
This type of carriage was popular decades ago but is now very rare.
At this time, Miss Sylvia had already returned to Rothschild Manor where the Princess was staying. Xia De didn't have a very good reason to find her, so he could only pay someone to send a letter to the Manor, stating in the letter that the brand new books Miss Sylvia ordered had arrived at the Owl Library.
The Witch indeed guessed the meaning of the letter immediately and soon came to the Owl Library’s club to meet Xia De. Upon entering the room, she almost immediately noticed Xia De’s abnormality: “The whisper element on you… have you touched a relic?”
“It’s a relic’s curse.”
Xia De placed the photo face down on the table, briefly introducing the photo’s origin while rolling up the sleeve of his right arm. He had touched the photo with his right hand, so his right hand was the most severely affected.
Visibly, there was a faint black mark on Xia De’s right arm, like a birthmark, but upon closer inspection, it resembled a terrifying human face.
“Your skin is quite good,” the Great Witch said casually, reaching out a finger to rub Xia De’s arm: “It’s not a big problem, just the residual power of a relic curse. A simple ritual can clear it.”
“That’s great then. Right now, in my vision, that terrifying woman with her hair down is still looking at me,” Xia De said with some distress: “Right behind you.”
“It’s an illusion, no need to worry,” the Witch said easily, quite certain there was nothing behind her.
Xia De then put his sleeve back down and lightly tapped the photo: “So, do you know what kind of relic this is?”
“Yes, my teacher and I have very in-depth research on the relics of the Pantanal region. Although I can’t be certain, it is highly likely to be the sage-level relic 【Swamp Witch】.”
“It’s indeed a humanoid relic?”
“Yes, and the origin of this relic is extremely clear. It was originally an ordinary woman living in the fourth epoch, but you also know how dark and terrifying the fourth epoch was. After the relic’s body suffered extremely terrifying things that I don’t even want to describe while alive, her corpse was abandoned in the swamp. The chaotic environment and the resentment from her life caused the corpse to reanimate as an undead. This undead wandered in the swamp area, and as eras changed, it somehow became a relic.”
“What are its characteristics?”
“It will guide kind-hearted women who are lost in the swamp in the direction to leave, and may even protect them. But for women with impure hearts and any male, it will cast a curse similar to what you suffered. Of course, you haven’t seen it, but you are still cursed because anyone who records its existence in any way, and anyone who views that record, will be cursed, regardless of gender. Only special parchment scrolls can safely record this relic. According to the Council’s records, curses released by 【Swamp Witch】 will corrupt the soul and decay the corpse. In just a few minutes, a healthy living person can be turned into a controlled relic derivative. However, when the curse is incurred by viewing a record, the effect is greatly weakened. While Ring術士 have a certain resistance to such curses, they cannot be affected by it for long periods.”
At Miss Sylvia’s suggestion, Xia De burned the photo that recorded the relic’s appearance. Afterward, the Witch borrowed the Library’s basement and performed a ritual for Xia De, successfully freeing him from the terrifying woman’s illusion at the edge of his vision.
However, Miss Sylvia also warned Xia De that even if the curse was expelled, there were still residual traces of the curse on him. Therefore, Xia De would be more likely than a normal person to encounter the 【Swamp Witch】’s true form, and when Xia De truly encountered the relic’s true form, it would immediately realize that Xia De had escaped the curse, thus becoming more aggressive towards him.
“These residual curse traces will disappear within a few weeks, Xia De, you should not go near the western part of Huntington City recently.”
The Witch offered advice, but the bad news was that Xia De had to approach that area to determine the true location of the “Lake Goddess.”
The Ashen Remains of the burned photo were a special curse material. With Xia De’s consent, all the Ashen Remains were given to Miss Sylvia. Xia De also wanted to pay for this “treatment,” but the young Witch refused:
“Did Miss Jialinna mention my financial situation?” she asked suspiciously.
“Of course not.” Xia De immediately shook his head. Although he always disliked lying, sometimes some lies were very necessary.
“I’m not really short on money; I’m just planning for the future. Now that we’re friends, how could I possibly take your money?”
She turned to leave, and Xia De noticed that the lady’s ears were slightly red.
