Chapter 84: The Infinite Sculpture and a Cruel Secret

Upon Qing Yu’s return to the Paleontology Museum, he found Aldoran and Roalsa, who had been waiting for him for a full hour. So engrossed were they in their discussion about Fafnir that they hadn’t even heard him call out from a distance.

“Aldoran, I’ve brought your lunch back. Give it a try.”

Qing Yu leaned against Aldoran’s back, then took the food from the bag and playfully dangled it before her eyes.

Aldoran accepted the food, offering a soft word of thanks.

“Oh, Qing Yu, while you were away, Roalsa and I talked things over. We’re about to seek out the Paleontology Museum’s curator to inquire about Fafnir. What are your plans?”

Having finished her meal, Aldoran discarded the refuse into a nearby bin, then reached a hand into her pocket, her fingers fumbling for something.

“Will you join us, or do you intend to continue exploring on your own?”

While Qing Yu naturally wished to accompany Aldoran, his temperament suggested he would soon grow bored. He reasoned it would be far more productive to continue wandering through the zoo, subtly gathering more information for them. This approach would not only pass the time but also yield valuable intelligence, truly killing two birds with one stone.

“I think I’ll skip it. You two focus on gathering information.”

Qing Yu accepted the ten silver coins Aldoran offered, and after agreeing upon a new meeting point, he cheerfully darted off to explore other exhibition areas of the Paleontology Museum, leaving only Aldoran and Roalsa behind.

“He truly is a lively one, Aldoran. I must say, I’m quite envious that you have such a wife.”

Watching Qing Yu’s retreating figure, Roalsa remarked with genuine heartfelt emotion.

“Oh, how I wish for such an adorable, flower-like young man myself~”

“Enough, this is hardly the time for sentiment. We should hasten to find the curator.”

Aldoran, long accustomed to Roalsa’s sudden outbursts of emotion, deftly steered the conversation back on track.

“My dear Aldoran, must you be so unromantic…”

“Come, let’s go.”

Aldoran cut short Roalsa’s monologue, then headed directly for the second floor of the exhibit hall.

****

Meanwhile, Qing Yu, continuing his solitary exploration, had now arrived before a grand sculpture, which he began to examine with great care.

In truth, Qing Yu held no particular interest in sculptures, often finding their colors too drab and unappealing. Yet, on this occasion, he found himself drawn by an unseen force, pausing to stand before this particular artwork.

The sculpture’s subject matter was deceptively simple: a woman depicted resting beneath a tree. However, as Qing Yu leaned in, scrutinizing the myriad minuscule details and intricate patterns etched into its surface, a gasp of surprise escaped him.

The precise age of the sculpture was impossible to ascertain, yet the meticulous details revealed to Qing Yu the carver’s extraordinary artistic prowess. The central figure of the woman was, of course, a masterpiece in itself. Her exquisite, jade-like legs lay gracefully, gently stacked, the white stone shimmering with an alluring luster despite the countless ages and the relentless wear of wind and rain. This radiance imbued her legs with a startling lifelike quality. Tracing upwards from her legs, one observed a sheer gauze skirt, rendered with such incredible delicacy that the stone appeared as thin as a cicada’s wing. It was as if a wisp of paper had settled upon her form, making her seem imbued with life, poised to lift her skirt and rise from the ground at any moment.

Higher still, the woman’s torso was flawlessly sculpted; Qing Yu could discern not a single imperfection. If forced to identify a unique feature, it would be her eyes. For reasons unknown, she possessed only one eye, a delicate pale green, while the other remained concealed beneath a bandage, a detail that stirred an involuntary torrent of speculation.

‘Who was this woman? What tragic events had befallen her? And why was only one eye visible?’

The woman, however, simply leaned against the tree, her gaze fixed upon the sky, one hand outstretched as if reaching for something unseen.

Setting aside his burgeoning questions for a moment, Qing Yu continued to scrutinize the sculpture. Behind the woman’s form, only the immense tree against which she gently leaned remained.

From the inscription on a nearby stone tablet, Qing Yu learned that the tree supporting the woman was renowned as “the zenith of Midgardian sculpture” and “an irreplaceable divine creation.”

The tree’s intricate and marvelous details were such that scholars had spent centuries studying it without ever fully comprehending its depths. Fashioned from a material known as ‘Starstone,’ its surface patterns resembled a cosmic tapestry, making the woman, as she leaned against its vast trunk, appear to be adrift in a mysterious and beautiful sea of stars.

Leaning in even closer, Qing Yu was astonished to discover that the tree’s main trunk was adorned with countless minuscule inscriptions and patterns. Their exquisite artistry and lifelike detail were unparalleled, unmatched by any other work throughout the entirety of Midgard.

Beyond the main trunk, an intricate network of branches extended, each one uniquely shaped and wonderfully bizarre. Even the foliage connected to these branches had been carved into myriad forms, with Qing Yu able to discern even the most delicate veins etched onto their surfaces.

The leaves, layered one upon another, were abundant yet orderly, creating a beautifully staggered sense of depth. Within the smallest veins on these leaves, an entire world seemed to unfold.

Beside the sculpture, several magnifying glasses lay available for visitors. Driven by an irresistible curiosity, Qing Yu picked one up and began to scrutinize the artwork with meticulous attention.

Qing Yu was stunned to discover that within those tiny veins, countless structures resembling miniature buildings had been carved. The intricate carvings on each individual leaf and every single vein were utterly distinct.

Veins teeming with black mire, veins intricately etched with temples, veins depicting only vast oceans, and veins bearing the image of three-headed dragons…

From the highest point to the lowest, not a single section of this sculpture was precisely identical.

Qing Yu even found Earth etched into the veins of one particular leaf. That tiny planet, appearing no more than a speck of dust amidst the dense foliage, was inexplicably easy for Qing Yu to spot.

And upon that Earth, the very emblem from Qing Yu’s own crest had been meticulously carved.

‘Surely, no single person could carve something like this, even if they dedicated their entire life to it…’

Even Qing Yu, who possessed no artistic inclination whatsoever, found a profound sense of admiration welling up from the depths of his heart.

“What do you think, my dear Qing Yu, of this sculpture?”

As Qing Yu marveled at this miraculous artwork, a hand suddenly clapped his shoulder. He instinctively turned to find Eden standing behind him, a wide smile gracing his face, happily waving. Beside Eden, the young woman in the black robe remained silently poised.

“Eden, what brings you here? Are you also visiting the museum?”

“Indeed, I am!” Eden bounded over to Qing Yu. “I make it a point to visit this sculpture every few weeks.”

“Every few weeks, you say?”

“Mhm!” Eden stepped towards the sculpture, then turned his head, flashing a smile at Qing Yu.

“Don’t you find it utterly marvelous? This sculpture—its secrets seem inexhaustible! Every time I visit, I always uncover something new!”

‘Marvelous?’

Upon reflection, Qing Yu conceded that it was, indeed, quite marvelous. The sculpture was brimming with such an abundance of intricate details and concealed elements that one could easily overlook its most captivating aspects without close examination.

“Oh, Qing Yu, I noticed you’ve been observing this for quite a while. What insights have you gained?”

Eden turned, picked up one of the magnifying glasses, and began to meticulously inspect the sculpture himself.

“Well, I haven’t really discovered anything particularly special, but it is genuinely breathtaking,” Qing Yu admitted, scratching his head.

“Oh, actually, I did notice something: a pattern identical to the one on the gem in the collar around my neck.”

As Qing Yu spoke, he gestured to his neck, prompting Eden to lean in with an eager curiosity, peering at Qing Yu’s neck from every angle and occasionally reaching out to touch it.

After a prolonged inspection, Eden finally stepped back a little, nodding at Qing Yu with an expression that betrayed not the slightest hint of surprise.

“Could you point out where it is for me, my dear Qing Yu?”

Qing Yu immediately extended a finger without hesitation, pointing to a specific cluster amidst the leaves. Eden promptly brought the magnifying glass closer, scrutinizing the area intently, occasionally glancing back at Qing Yu with a thoughtful nod.

However, after only a few minutes, Eden, seemingly struck by something he observed, abruptly ceased his movements and stood frozen in place.

Qing Yu sensed a subtle tremor in Eden’s posture. Just as he was about to approach, Eden suddenly straightened his back.

The young woman, too, registered Eden’s unusual behavior, yet she remained perfectly still, taking a quiet, deep breath.

“Indeed, it is quite marvelous, my dear Qing Yu.”

With his back to Qing Yu, Eden discreetly wiped the corner of his eye with a hand. Then, he extended his arm, gently touching the sculpture, and mumbled a few words under his breath.

“Lady Mimir, you are truly cruel. You are always this way to everyone—to Mother, to Lord Bragi…”

Qing Yu hadn’t quite caught Eden’s words and stepped closer, hoping to hear more clearly. However, Eden had already ceased his murmuring. He turned, his face breaking into a radiant smile, and deftly changed the subject.

It was as if he deliberately wished to prevent Qing Yu from discerning anything amiss.

“Oh, Qing Yu, regarding Fafnir, have you made any progress?”

“Not yet. Our purpose in coming today was precisely to unearth some clues.”

The young woman suddenly spoke up, to which Qing Yu offered an affirmative hum.

“I see! As it happens, I’ve conducted a bit of research into the Fafnir race myself,” Eden offered immediately, extending his help. Qing Yu, without a moment’s hesitation, readily accepted.

‘After all, such opportunities rarely present themselves.’

“Would you be able to elaborate for me?”

“Absolutely!”

Eden readily agreed, enveloping Qing Yu in a warm hug. “Shall we discuss it now? Where should we go? How should we proceed?”

Qing Yu, with a hint of exasperation, gently disentangled himself from Eden’s embrace, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Uh, we might need to wait until Aldoran returns.”

“No problem.” Eden glanced at the young woman, who nodded in agreement.

“Excellent! Then we shall all wait for dear Aldoran!”