With great difficulty, a crow passed through Norland's magic barrier and landed atop a three-story building on Norland's commercial street. It spit out the feather it was holding in its mouth and then crooked its head sideways to look at the street.
"I feel like I'm being watched."
Walking on the street with Joshua, Ciri lifted her head to look at the surrounding buildings.
She tightened her grip on her staff. She seemed to be prepared to unleash magic to take on incoming enemies.
"It might be the Nation of the Holy Church. But, we're not out to do anything shameful. Thus, you can just ignore them."
Joshua could also sense that they were being watched.
If Joshua's plan was to establish a teleportation portal to summon the demon legion, then he might take care of the people tailing them. But, his purpose in going out was not that. He was going to enjoy afternoon tea at a noble's residence.
"The Nation of the Holy Church's Heresy Tribunal is not as easy to talk to as those Ecclesiastical Templars."
When Ciri went to bed last night, she had pondered about what Joshua did. She realized that he had, as a demon, openly provoked the Nation of the Holy Church.
If what he did happened in the Nation of the Holy Church, the Weissenasche Theater would most likely be completely burned to the ground by the followers of the Holy Church. As for that pitiful Sir Weissenasche, he would also be hanged on the spot.
"Ciri, could it be that you're afraid?"
"Afraid? Of course not. However, whether or not this is a battle that could be won is something else."
Ciri raised her staff. The tip of the originium crystal on her spear-like staff started emitting a white light. It made her staff appear very... sharp.
It would appear that this female mage was truly devoid of fear after undergoing 'survival in the wilderness' by herself. After all, she was someone who had fought against bears and tigers.
Perhaps only dragons would be able to make Ciri cower.
Unfortunately, no assassin seeking for Joshua's life appeared on their journey to the residence of the Nation of Art's Grand Duke.
Joshua and Ciri chatted casually with each other the entire journey.
According to the map on the letter sent by Sir Weissenasche, the Grand Duke of Farucci's residence was located in Norland's wealthy district.
The site for the World Expo was also in the wealthy district. It was to be held in a building called the 'Crystal Palace.'
If Joshua was able to create the game of 'Civilization' in this world, then Norland's 'Crystal Palace' and 'Sage Tower' would definitely be qualified to become 'Wonders.'
The residence of this Grand Duke from Farucci was quite inharmonious with the other buildings of Norland. The base of the building was a four-story tall mansion. The walls of the mansion were covered in all sorts of climbing vines. It gave off the feeling of a building that has been abandoned for over a dozen years.
Joshua placed away the letter he was holding and walked over to the entrance of the mansion. He knocked on the door. Soon, a middle-aged fellow dressed like a butler walked out from the mansion.
"Hello mages, may I know what business might have brought you to the residence of the Grand Duke of Blackwood?"
The middle-aged butler determined Ciri's identity from her attire.
Different from other countries, the city of magic Norland was filled with outstanding mages. All the people that were able to attend Norland's Magic University and successfully graduate from the advanced classes were all talented mages welcomed by all the other countries in the entire world.
"I've reached an invitation from the Grand Duke of Blackwood."
Joshua revealed the black tree emblem to the butler. The emblem was inscribed with a special rune and practically impossible to forge.
After the butler had guards come over to confirm that Joshua and Ciri were not carrying lethal weapons, he made a welcoming gesture to instruct the two of them to proceed inside.
To Joshua's confusion, Ciri's staff was not considered a lethal weapon.
"Please follow me this way."
The butler was properly leading Joshua and Ciri. The interior of this mansion was completely different from its vine-covered exterior. Different kinds of statues filled the two sides of the corridor. Those statues made Ciri feel uneasy. She was afraid that her staff would knock over those statues.
Those were statues in a Grand Duke's home. Ciri suspected that a single status would cost as much as an entire month's worth of income for her.
"Please excuse my presumptuous behavior, may I ask if the two of you might be performers in 'Beauty and the Demon?'"
The butler leading Joshua and Ciri suddenly asked that question.
The Grand Duke of Blackwood and his wife would frequently invite popular performers from all around the world to stay as guests in their mansion. Not long ago, the owners of this mansion had informed the servants that it was very possible that the performers from 'Beauty and the Demon' might pay a visit.
"You're an audience of 'Beauty and the Demon?'"
Joshua did not expect to encounter a fan of the movie here.
"Regretfully, I've not yet seen that performance. However, my daughter has seen it," The middle-aged butler shook his head with a smile on his face.
"She kept insisting that I buy her a cat and a golden princess skirt after watching the performance. Unfortunately, Madam Schroder is allergic to cats…"
"Perhaps you can give her a stuffed cat doll."
Joshua did not expect for Zenarth to arouse girls' desire to raise cats. It would appear that the image of the Demon Prince was already far from that of Zenarth himself.
"Apart from that, I'm sorry but this lady mage and I are merely people that played supporting roles in 'Beauty and the Demon.'"
"Even if it's supporting roles, that's still fine. If you possess extra time, please meet my daughter and the other female servants of this mansion. Like Madam Schroder, the female servants were all discussing 'Beauty and the Demon' not long ago."
The butler was a passionate fellow. Perhaps the people from Farucci were all people that appreciated art. After learning that Joshua was a performer, he became very enthusiastic toward them.
"Regarding that… I don't think they'd want to know what role I was playing."
Joshua took a glance at Ciri and discovered that she was covering her mouth and holding back her laughter.
The reason for that was because the character Joshua played in the movie was Gaston. Even though he was wearing a ring that could change his appearance, it remains that Joshua was the number one villain in 'Beauty and the Demon,' the main culprit behind the killing of the Demon Prince.
If this butler's daughter and those female servants were to learn about that, they not only will not approach Joshua enthusiastically with flowers of appreciation in their hands, they would most definitely pick up flower vases with the intention of smashing them at Joshua. And even that would be considered to be having a lot of restraint.
"But, if I have the time, I will go and meet them."
Helplessly, Joshua nodded his head and agreed to the butler's request. As for the lady mage following Joshua, she was able to act with self-restraint today. At least, she didn't burst out laughing.
As the butler led Joshua toward the interior of the mansion, carpet had long disappeared from the floor. Instead, they were replaced with verdant grass.
An indoor garden? These nobles were truly extravagant.
"Allow me to inform Madam Schroder. Two guests, please wait here."
After saying those words, the butler rushed toward the other side of the garden.
Not long after the butler left, the sound of a harp playing started being heard in the garden. Following the melody provided by the harp, singing voices began to slowly echo through the garden.
Joshua was familiar with the song. It was the song Ynor sang in the Weissenasche Theater last evening, 'Let It Go.' Only, it has been slowed down.
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