Chapter 49: The Other Side of Being Aloof

In the deepest part of the darkness, in a place unknowable to outsiders, there exists such a space.

Inside, it teems with stitched-together monstrosities, twisted limbs, and mutated flesh and blood.

In this space that can only be described as fallen, corrupted, and sinister, two figures who clashed with the surrounding scene strolled leisurely through it.

If anyone were to witness this scene, they would surely feel a sense of unreality.

The white-haired youth with a gentle smile was faintly cloaked in a layer of white-gauze-like radiant light; any profane thing could not approach his body.

The putrid mist before him automatically parted to both sides, the filthy black blood automatically avoided where his foot fell, and only returned to its original state after he had passed through.

And the dark elf gave off an entirely different feeling.

She was clearly the originator of all this, yet her very existence clashed with this place.

This feeling was very strange.

Extreme purity.

Even a transcendent, otherworldly air.

Those creations could not leave any trace upon her body.

She wore no protection whatsoever, walking straight through the mist, stepping barefoot into chunks of corpses, into pools of blood—untouched by a single speck.

The corrosive mist could not destroy her skin, behaving like ordinary water vapor.

Her bare feet stepped directly upon rotting flesh mingled with bone fragments, yet not a drop of blood or shred of pulp clung to her tender soles.

Emerging from the mud yet unstained, washed in clear ripples yet not bewitching.

Like a white lotus… mm, a black lotus.

Right.

That appearance was just like a lotus born from mutated flesh and blood.

Though clearly situated in a scene that could be called a hell on earth, the two present appeared very calm.

They conversed at ease, treating everything around them as if it did not exist.

"You are different from most humans I have met."

"Most humans see me as an evil monster, and even mages, once they learn of my research, treat me as an extreme madman."

Sifanni walked ahead leading the way, speaking with some feeling: "No, not just humans—you are different from everyone I have ever met."

"Even in the Underdark, most dark creatures see me as a terrifying existence."

"Even within my own family, those fellows who normally take pleasure in tormenting others cannot comprehend my ideas, and only treat my research as a ritual to please Miss Xie Shen."

Tch!

The dark elf archmage let out a disdainful snort: "Such thinking is simply too foolish; I can't even be bothered to explain it to them."

"No matter who it is—even those fellows who superficially pretend to agree with me—fundamentally cannot understand my research."

"I purchased all these materials with money. Even if I didn't buy them, someone else would; they would also organize adventurers to hunt. Why is it that only I am considered evil?"

"Just because I am a dark elf?"

Sifanni's expression cooled slightly, and she gave a light snort:

"I understand."

"My methods and thinking were destined not to be accepted or understood by many, and I don't care about their opinions."

"Nor do I need their approval."

"I don't need it!"

Perhaps because it had been too long since she had spoken with anyone, or perhaps because Herbert's attitude touched something in Sifanni.

This archmage, who had always displayed an attitude of resisting communication, was unexpectedly talkative at this moment, talking on and on to herself for quite a while.

And Herbert, at this moment, played the part of a good listener, quietly hearing her out, and from time to time giving some reactions to guide her to continue pouring out her thoughts.

"Mm-hmm, I understand you. The path of seeking knowledge has always been a lonely one."

"Not being understood is the fate of genius."

"As long as you know it clearly in your heart, why must you seek others' approval?"

Mm, just keep ladling out the chicken soup for the soul.

Herbert had figured it out: this archmage's heart was not actually as cold and aloof as her outward appearance suggested.

Was Sifanni really "not caring about others' evaluations" as she claimed?

The answer was, of course, no.

If she truly didn't care, Sifanni wouldn't have needed to bring it up repeatedly.

People, that's just how they are.

The more they care about something in their hearts, the more they want to pretend on the surface that they don't care at all.

That way, even if in the end they truly don't get it, they can put on a casual front and say—"Me? I actually never cared about this in the first place."

In Sifanni's heart there burned a fire of boundless passion for research, only it had long been denied and treated with hostility by others.

Her long-standing experiences had made her somewhat withdrawn; she secretly hid her flame away, no longer willing to share or speak of it with others.

And his appearance, along with the perfectly fitting attitude of understanding, happened to give Sifanni an outlet for release.

It was like adding a bundle of dry firewood to a campfire about to go out, and then, as if that weren't enough, dousing it with a bucket of gasoline.

Blazing flames, erupting with a roar!

Becoming uncontrollable.

Herbert looked at Sifanni's profile and nodded slightly to himself.

Though her features were equally cool and aloof, her true body's expressions were far richer than her avatar's, and the rise and fall of her emotions could be read in the subtleties.

A cool, aloof lotus?

This was clearly a ball of fierce fire wrapped in paper.

"Before this, no one has ever validated my research the way you did upon our first meeting…"

Swani spoke at length, her passionate emotions gradually calming. She stopped walking and turned her head to look at the youth beside her.

"…"

She seemed to realize what she had just done, and after a long silence, she continued: "Lord Herbert, thank you for listening to me say so much."

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing."

Herbert chuckled and shook his head, saying sincerely: "Lady Swani, you really don't need to thank me. I myself am very interested in your past."

Even setting aside the matter of trying to win over Swani, Herbert himself was full of curiosity about this dark elf.

He really wanted to know what kind of experiences could have led her down this rather extreme path of flesh and blood.

If there are those who believe that flesh is weak and suffering, and that one can only ascend through machinery, then Swani is their extreme opposite.

She firmly believes that as long as the body keeps breaking through, it will surely surpass its original limits and reach a state comparable to the gods.

Yes.

In Herbert's eyes, this fallen elf, forbidden scholar, and shadow archmage that outsiders saw was simply not that complicated.

Don't overthink it.

To put it bluntly, isn't she just a grand master of body cultivation…

A dignified archmage with an indestructible golden body, who also knows a bit of fist and leg techniques—wouldn't that be perfectly reasonable?

Reasonable.

Far too reasonable!

And after this long chat, Herbert felt that his relationship with Swani had successfully dropped from "hostile" to "above neutral, not yet friendly."

"By the way, Lady Swani, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

So, when the timing was about right, Herbert proactively raised his request:

"Regarding their wanting to help you break out of prison—could you agree to it?"

?

Swani: Huh?

(End of chapter)