Inside the crystalline icicle, faint wisps of azure blue seeped, like fish swimming within.
The bound book frozen inside the icicle was about the size of an ordinary door panel.
In the center was embedded a fiery red bead. Along the edges of the cover were fire-like patterns resembling swimming dragons.
Additionally, below the fiery red bead was a string of unknown characters.
Compared to the fire patterns and the bead, this string of characters was small and inconspicuous. Through the ice layer, without careful looking, one might actually miss them.
Surrounding the icicle was a gradually downward-sloping curved layer of transparent ice. Further out, there was fairly thick accumulated snow.
The snowflakes falling from the overcast sky, before reaching the icicle's height, were pushed further away, then fell onto the snowpack.
It was as if an unseen whirlwind continuously pushed the snowflakes away, preventing them from touching the icicle holding the book.
As a result, not a single snowflake could be seen in the local area around the icicle.
Standing here, one only needed to look down to see azure ice water below the ice layer.
Seeing so clearly usually meant the ice layer was thin, but that was not the case.
The ice layer was thick, conservatively estimated to be over one meter thick. Yet, for some reason, the ice layer was as clear as transparent glass, allowing clear views through it.
In the azure ice water, quite a few rather ferocious-looking creatures of various forms swam quickly, pressed against the ice layer.
There were strange fish with trident-like heads and jagged teeth that formed half a face mask...
Other strange fish had long, pointed bodies with dense axe-blade-like fins on their sides...
There were round-bodied creatures covered almost entirely in suckers. With each breath, they would bulge their suckers, shooting out icicle-like spikes.
With just a single glance, even the most unobservant person could instantly distinguish dozens of species.
The reason was that these aquatic creatures were so distinctly shaped that anyone with normal vision could tell them apart.
So many different species of aquatic creatures mixed in the same waters, yet they coexisted peacefully, never fighting over food or territory.
At the same time, as they swam against the ice layer, they never bumped their heads against the ice less than a finger's breadth above.
This strange phenomenon felt disjointed in every way, as if the information captured by their vision and senses was altered or deleted before reaching their brains, making them ignore the existence of the ice layer.
But no matter what, for every creature with eyes, as they swam, their gaze passed through the ice layer and fell upon Beyond and his group standing before the icicle.
Standing on the ice layer, one could clearly see the conditions in the water below.
Likewise, from within the water, one could clearly see the conditions above the ice.
Beyond and his group could, from time to time, see the grotesque creatures beneath the ice. Although, for now, these creatures never attempted to ram the ice layer, the visual impact of them being so close still carried a sense of danger.
It was like an ordinary person walking onto a high-altitude glass bridge, feeling fear and worrying that the glass might suddenly shatter.
However, Beyond and his group completely averted their gaze from the menacing aquatic creatures below the ice, focusing intently on the book inside the icicle.
Why was there a book inside the icicle?
Why did the book emanate Nen?
What was the origin of this book?
Numerous questions overshadowed the potential threat posed by the aquatic creatures below the ice, as well as the strange phenomenon of snowflakes not landing on the icicle.
Beyond's laughter, savoring the unexpected delight, echoed over the snowy mountain.
Having confirmed that all living creatures in the snowy mountain region were in the water below the ice, Beyond felt confident laughing so freely without fear of attracting dangerous creatures.
Though laughing would not bring potential risk, Pariston somewhat wanted to remind Beyond to restrain himself.
However, seeing that Beyond was in high spirits, any reminder would likely be ignored. So Pariston put the thought aside and instead closely observed the book inside the icicle.
The azure wisps of Aura swimming around the book emanated an indescribable charm.
'So this was the radiance of Nen, capable of being so beautiful and mysterious.'
The azure wisps swam continuously in front of Pariston's dark pupils, flickering with crystalline sparkles.
"There is a line of text here."
Curly, wearing mosquito-repellent-patterned glasses, leaned in, producing a magnifying glass from somewhere and holding it over the characters on the book's cover.
"Oh? If you had not said so, I really would not have noticed."
Hornby, wearing a chef's tall hat, looked surprised. Following Curly's reminder, he finally noticed that line of small, unknown characters.
As for the others observing the icicle, they too had not noticed this line of text.
Their gazes were mostly drawn by the fire patterns and the fiery bead on the cover, hence the oversight.
Typically, Pariston would notice such details, but the azure wisps of Aura had drawn most of his attention.
"Text, huh?"
Beyond stopped laughing and, like the others, leaned in to observe the line of characters with unknown meaning.
"Hey, Curly, translate this line of text quickly."
Curiosity flickered in Beyond's eyes, eager to know the meaning of the words, prompting Curly.
"I am not a universal translation machine. This kind of work cannot be rushed. Also, stop calling me Curly."
Curly sighed softly, though he was used to Beyond's impatience.
"Oh, I see, Curly."
Smack.
Curly raised his hand and slapped his forehead, murmuring helplessly, "I am so tired of this conversational pattern."
"These characters look oddly shaped. Translating them will probably be quite an ordeal. As they say, slow work yields fine results, so take your time, Curly."
Usamen, with a sweatband tied around his head, moved his broad chin, then raised his hand and patted Curly on the shoulder.
Curly's temples twitched slightly. He could only sigh inwardly a few times, then focused on scanning the characters on the cover, etching every stroke deep into his mind.
No clues, no reference points.
To translate an unfamiliar script, one had to imprint its specific structure deeply into one's mind, then use a vast sea of knowledge to collide with the framework of these characters.
The impact of that collision was a process of seeking common ground.
Few could do this, and this method of translation was extremely mentally taxing.
"How about we just dig out the book first?"
Beyond pinched his chin, thinking the order could be adjusted: Take the book first, then have Curly translate it.
Hearing Beyond's words, Curly, who had just entered a translation state, stumbled, nearly falling against the icicle.
He looked at Beyond with eyes that said "so tired of this," but was ignored by the latter.
At this moment, having made a decision, Beyond was considering how to excavate the book.
"Excavate it? So then, do we excavate it hard, or soft?"
"What is the difference?"
"The difference is huge."
"Huh? What difference?"
"One is digging hard, the other is digging soft."
"..."
The Machine Girl Marione silently watched the deadpan Usamen. Feeling her gaze, Usamen felt a twinge of guilt and let out a 'hehe' to pass it off.
"It would be best not to touch it."
Just then, a voice, weathered and deep, came through the wind and snow.