Chương 106: The World in the Painting

Tell me, what is the meaning of life?

"6 I don't know what the meaning of life is, but I know you are not human.

You are a painting!

Faced with the oil painting's inexplicable opening, Richard suppressed the urge to complain and began to talk in hushed tones.

Through his efforts, the oil painting quickly explained why it had just said that: I'm sorry, I'm being too pessimistic. I'm just seriously ill, feeling terrible all over, and I've lost all hope for living.

How can a painting become sick?

Are you moldy? Or have you been eaten by insects?

Richard squinted and looked around, not noticing anything unusual, but that didn't stop him from making empty promises: "I know some highly skilled friends who might have a way to cure your illness, but I always follow the principle of equivalent exchange. If you want me to help you, you have to give me some help first."

Okay, what kind of help do you need?

Richard, unconcerned about the gift package, only wanted to resolve Elsa's crisis quickly. He said directly, "I've noticed you don't seem to be an ordinary oil painting. Can you tell me what's special about you? Or, since you're hanging in the castle all day, have you seen any suspicious people?"

After a few seconds of silence, the oil painting replied: [Anything special about him or anyone suspicious? Hmm—I'm not sure, does having a bunch of vampires inside him count?]

"!"

Damn it, of course it counts! Nothing counts more than this!

"Richard, what are you doing?"

At this moment, Grace, who was standing nearby, noticed Richard's strange behavior and came over to ask him about it.

Richard, in no mood for further explanation, quickly pointed to the painting in front of him and said, "There's something wrong with this painting! Call Isabella and the others right now!"

Less than a minute.

The key figures inside the castle gathered in front of the oil painting.

As the sorcerer Jon chanted an incantation of unknown meaning, several faint blue lights flashed across the surface of the oil painting, and then the figures on it began to move!

This reminded Richard of the Harry Potter movies he watched as a child.

Jon swallowed hard, exclaiming in amazement, "So that's how it is! This is actually a world within a painting! I'd only ever heard of this kind of magic before, I never imagined I'd see it with my own eyes today!"

Marek's eyes widened as well: "Gods above, I bought this painting two years ago, and it's been perfectly fine ever since. I never expected this—" As he spoke, he began to feel a sense of lingering fear. After all, if the painting was indeed the work of a vampire—then, considering the timing, it was very likely intended to be used against him!

At this point, Isabella asked, "Jon, do you mean that there is a demiplane hidden behind this painting?"

"" Her tone clearly indicated disbelief.

As an imperial princess, she knew very well how difficult it was to maintain a demiplane, and she couldn't imagine that vampires had secretly carried out such a large-scale operation in Longspear Fortress.

Jon shook his head: "No, it's not that sophisticated. The world in the painting is not a real, complete world, but more like a dreamlike, illusory space. Although it has a large volume and people can go inside, everything inside is fake. Once you take the painting out, it will disintegrate into paint."

"Of course, even so, it's still quite remarkable. I can't imagine how vampires managed to do it—the drawing, the concealment, and most importantly, the supply of magic power—just thinking about it makes me realize how difficult it all is."

Isabella raised her hand, stopping Jon's long-winded explanation that only mages could understand, and pressed on, "In short, can we confirm that the source of the curse is hidden in this painting?"

Jon nodded: "We've searched everywhere else, this is the only place left."

"Is there any way we can get inside and eliminate the caster of the curse?"

"this----" Jon frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "It's troublesome because the world within this painting has been sealed off from the inside by the caster. I need time to decipher it, which may take three or four days, unless—"

"Unless what?"

"Unless someone can achieve a spiritual connection with the world within the painting, they can enter and leave freely. Illusory things have this kind of characteristic, like a fairy sword that chooses its own master—but the probability is too small, at least that's what the books I've read say—" Hearing this, Grace couldn't help but ask, "Could we try a different approach? Like, destroy the painting, or take it down and throw it out of the castle or something?"

"It's best not to."

This time, it wasn't Jon who spoke, but the high-ranking priest of the God of War.

Upon hearing that the source of the curse had been found, the latter simply had Jonia carry the unconscious Elsa to the scene with him, aiming to treat the sick and save lives while also fighting the enemy.

He gazed at the painting and said, "Part of this child's soul is in the painting. If something goes wrong in the world within the painting, or if it is isolated by the power of Longgun Fortress, she may permanently lose part of her soul, or even become demented."

Jon quickly added, "Furthermore, the world within the painting itself isn't so easy to move or destroy; it involves many profound magical issues—" Ok.

At this point, everyone understood.

Their best course of action now is to enter the painting and eliminate the unknown enemy.

However, they couldn't get in.

"Nice to meet you all."

Just as everyone was worrying, two hooded figures slowly approached from inside the painting, eventually standing at the edge of the frame and looking down at everyone.

One of them removed his hood, revealing an eyepatch-covered face that held an air of elegance masking a fierce edge. He smiled and said, "Now that you've discovered me, I suppose I should come and say hello."

Isabella narrowed her eyes: "Vispera von Noval? The vampire count from Ronia?"

"I never imagined Your Highness would recognize me; it is truly an honor for me."

The eyepatch-wearing vampire gave a gesture of respect to his chest, then raised his voice: "And the thought that I could personally kill the bastard child of the Conrad family, whom you went to so much trouble to find, right before your eyes fills me with unparalleled happiness!"

Isabella narrowed her eyes, her pupils flashing with murderous intent.

"Hmm? You're unhappy with what I said? Then come and stop me! The condition is—you can get in! Hahaha!"

The eyepatch vampire, or rather, Count Vespera, laughed and turned around, disappearing behind the frame of the painting with his companions.

The crowd remained seated, their faces grave.

Jon sighed softly, "Vispera, that high-ranking vampire who slaughtered the Birch Knights, is he really our opponent this time?!"

"This is troublesome—" the other side.

Born in the Gulf region, Richard was unfamiliar with vampires and had never heard of Vespera.

At this moment, his attention was still focused on the painting itself, or rather, on the dialogue between the painting and him.

So, are you enemies of these vampires?

The reason I'm sick is because these vampires are causing trouble inside me. If you can get rid of them, I'll be cured.

In short, I'd love to help you!

【Huh? You need to come in to solve the problem? Hmm, that's not impossible————】