The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 279

“While the ‘Listener’s’ ability indeed has a slight connection to dreams, it essentially modifies the mind and subconscious directly through different methods.”

Avena said, pointing to the “Nightmare” path. She continued:

“The Tier 3 ‘Soul Walker’s’ reconstitution ritual and materials all correspond with the previous ones. The formula and ritual are both very reasonable… But the Tier 4 ‘Nightmare,’ disregarding the reconstitution ritual and materials, doesn’t even match the ‘Listener’ in name.”

Ciel listened to Avena’s explanation. After pondering for a moment, she said, “Do you think it’s more like a continuation of ‘Subverter’ instead?”

“Instigator,” “Dream Thief,” “Subverter,” “Nightmare”… this sequence seemed to have no sense of incongruity.

“Yes.” Avena nodded and asked doubtfully, “Is this truly the subsequent Tier 4 path for ‘Listener’? Where did you get this information?”

Avena’s question made Ciel also start to seriously consider the issue.

Ciel could deduce from what the Pure White Armor said previously that Tier 3 of “Detective” might not necessarily be “Crown Guard”… all transcendents on this path took the wrong way… but why did this path still work? And why did it turn back again at Tier 4 “Eye of Judgement”?

“Detective” and “Assassin” paths were the only ones that could truly convert between each other… and “Crown Guard,” being a righteous path, certainly couldn’t be a Tier 3 of the “Assassin” path.

Information on “Listener” was already scarce. Is it possible that what Imogen gave her was not the correct path at all… or rather, what Imogen herself believed to be the correct path…

At least for now, it seemed that there weren’t only two paths that could convert between each other… Perhaps there were more, unverified, lost paths that were incorrectly used and stitched onto these existing but incomplete paths.

Why did the stitched paths all succeed?

Because those who failed died, and only the successful ones survived and passed down the method.

“‘Nightmare’ indeed needs further investigation…” Ciel shook her head and asked, “But ‘Soul Walker’ should be correct, right?”

“Mm, a few of the materials overlap with ‘Listener’ and ‘Psychologist.’ The reconstitution ritual is also just an upgraded variant of the previous two paths. It should be correct.” Avena nodded.

“Alright… you can prepare the reconstitution ritual and potion, but don’t drink it yourself,” Ciel stood up and turned to Avena. “When you’re about to perform the reconstitution ritual or drink the potion, you must call me, understood?”

Ciel’s tone this time was unusually firm, unlike her usual gentleness with Avena. It seemed as if she would not allow any rebuttal from Avena.

If Avena were to advance, Ciel would have to spend 10 Fate Points to simulate in advance and see if Avena could successfully advance… Ciel felt that 10 Fate Points to confirm Avena’s safety was very worthwhile.

“What about you? Do you need any more potions?” Avena looked at Ciel and asked, “Now Charles practically controls most of the high-ranking members of the Royal Orchestra. ‘Musician’ potions are easy to get… In fact, after Forte’s death, ‘Musician’ potions have already appeared at the Deton Auction House.”

Ciel had previously asked Avena about buying a peerage to obtain the “Musician” potion when she was in Berren City. Avena still remembered this.

Now that Charles’s power was growing, and the Queen trusted Charles greatly, buying a peerage was effortless. Ciel wouldn’t even need to buy a peerage; it would just take a word from Charles to the Queen.

Hearing Avena’s question, Ciel also began to think about the paths she still lacked.

She had now collected 13, and needed 3 more paths to reach the 16 required to unlock Old Days.

These were “Ascetic,” “Listener,” and one mysterious path that she still didn’t know about.

At this point, Ciel had experienced too much. Especially her various experiences in simulations had made her able to drink almost any Tier 1 potion without pressure. Although “Ascetic” and “Listener” wouldn’t instantly dissolve upon consumption, they certainly wouldn’t fail.

Now, for Ciel, the only difficulty was that mysterious, missing path…

“Only one more needed?” Avena looked at Ciel, who had been thinking for a bit too long, and seemed to have already guessed which path’s potion Ciel was lacking.

“Basically.” Ciel looked at Avena and nodded lightly, “Other paths are easily obtainable. Only that path corresponding to ‘Butcher’ currently has no clues.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for you.” Avena said, “If I hear anything, I’ll let you know immediately.”

Avena only said she would keep an eye out for Ciel, but she seemed to have already decided to use every means possible to help Ciel find out what that path was called.

Just as Ciel was about to continue planning, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

Knock knock knock——

This weak and powerless knock, with its force coming from relatively low down, sounded exactly like Tara’s knock.

“Come in.” Ciel looked towards the door and said.

Did Tara have something else to report?

The door slowly opened. Tara’s figure appeared in the doorway. She bowed slightly to Avena, then walked to Ciel and said with her head down, “Lord Ciel, Miss Adele requests an audience.”

Adele?

Ciel blinked.

Why was she here?

Perfect. Ciel also wanted to ask Adele if she had any thoughts on advancing to “Reborn.”

Their strength had to be increased so Ciel could feel more at ease.

As for Amy… although she had only recently become a transcendent, she had the protection of a Divine Servant on her. So, she was the least worried among her friends.

As long as she didn’t provoke a Tier 4, other transcendents would probably only kneel when they saw a Divine Servant.

“Bring her over.” Ciel nodded at Tara.

Avena didn’t rush to continue the discussion. Instead, she walked to the sofa and sat down, waiting for Adele’s arrival.

About half a minute later, a knock sounded at the door again, then the door opened, and Tara led in a tall figure completely shrouded in a white robe.

The figure wore a thick cotton gauze mask on her face, and her eyes were covered by cloth-wrapped goggles, concealing all exposed skin.