Songwood?

The information feedback from [Greedy Original Sin] has already proved that Ronald and his team were looking in the right direction.

However, Ronald’s furrowed brow did not relax.

The critical issue before them was how to find and enter Saint City; the information itself provided very limited help.

To put it more seriously,

The information given by [Greedy Original Sin] could not advance the actual situation.

"Songwood, Songwood..."

Ronald muttered the message he had just received.

On the giant tree in front of him perched birds; these adorable little creatures had bright green and deep blue feathers, appearing stunningly beautiful under a hint of moonlight, like gemstones adorning ribbons.

They were startled awake by the two people at night, but they didn’t seem afraid. Some quietly watched Costate in the sky, while others groomed their feathers with their beaks, keeping their attention on Ronald below.

The birds’ attention caught Ronald’s gaze, prompting him to speak to these little fellows:

"You’ve lived here for generations; you must know something, if only..."

"Haha—"

As soon as he spoke, Ronald found the thought amusing, shaking his head and thinking to himself—it was a pity that this universal language ability couldn’t translate the birds’ songs, ultimately leaving him to figure it out himself.

The birds were without human worries, quietly watching from surrounding trees, even jostling each other for optimal viewing branches.

Ronald then began considering ways to solve the predicament.

But before he could act, new Magic Fluctuations appeared on Costate in the sky. The maid’s spell did not create any unnecessary scenes; instead, the magic was drawn back into her body as the light shifted.

A few seconds later, traces of the spell completely disappeared in the air.

Costate landed lightly on the ground, seeming slightly fatigued but immediately looking towards Ronald ahead:

"Sir, I attempted to utilize the information carried by the trees; these giant trees hold mysterious anomalies, but the hidden forms are very special, and I can’t uncover their details."

Under the premise of not having a spell like [Greedy Original Sin], the degree of information Costate obtained was indeed impressive.

Ronald naturally had no qualms, encouraging the maid a few words before sharing his intelligence:

"Costate, this place is called Songwood."

"According to the spell’s feedback, it should be a place established on music-based original powers. Do you have any thoughts on this?"

"Songwood?" Costate immediately fell into deep thought.

In her centuries-long life, Costate had encountered a certain number of music-based originals, but the term Songwood...

Unfortunately, she had no relevant harvest in her mind.

Costate’s brow furrowed tightly.

Although her thinking mode differed significantly from before, when the maid searched her memory, all she fed back was a blank slate.

—she couldn’t meet her master’s needs.

Affirming this reality, Costate’s expression naturally began to darken.

Watching the maid’s reaction, Ronald immediately understood what was happening in her mind. Concerned that Costate might feel psychological pressure due to a perceived ’dereliction of duty,’ potentially affecting her newly developed personality, he quickly comforted her:

"Costate, this is not the time to be anxious."

"The goal is right in front; being overly hasty might only waste time. Calmly think, analyze intelligence, and organize past information—these are the actions needed on the path to the correct solution."

"I understand, sir," Costate complied with Ronald’s words.

"Chirp—"

The sound of a bird suddenly arose.

Among the birds observing Ronald and Costate from the trees, an inconspicuous brown female sparrow descended. Striving to rise during her descent, she then soared high, chirping towards her companions as if recounting something.

"..."

Watching this scene, Ronald suddenly froze.

The birds’ movements and sounds seemed to unlock a hidden door for him, revealing a secret through its song-like chirping.

A secret he should have realized earlier.

Moments ago, his murmuring to the birds might have been prophetic.

So Ronald looked at Costate with joy and anticipation:

"Costate, do you remember the song just sung by Nade?"

Without hesitation, the maid replied:

"Sir, of course."

Ronald immediately commanded:

"Then sing it—sing it in Nade’s voice; perhaps this is the key for us to continue forward!"

Ronald actually remembered the lyrics of that folk song.

However, he deemed himself with ordinary musical talent, so he more trusted Costate’s abilities in this regard.

The maid, of course, wouldn’t refuse her master’s command.

With a brief recall, Nade’s lyrics appeared perfectly in her mind, including the force of every breath taken while singing.

Thus, Costate began to sing:

"On a night when the sun sets,

The old sage will imprison the land in the dark city.

Cold mist, devouring life,

The river flows, wearing out Wisdom,

If it asks your name, remember not to answer.

..."

Under the moonlight, within the song.

The earth stood firm, and the towering canopies shifted their green.

Accompanied by Costate’s vividly perfect singing, Songwood revealed its true form to the two guests.

Rippling, swirling green spread through the vast forest, wavering like light and shadow. One by one, the overlapping fragments interwove, swiftly forming countless rings.

Finally, this scene occupied and lingered around Ronald and Costate.

Through the constantly changing light and shadows, Ronald thought he could hear the joyous chirping of the birds, evoking gratitude in his heart.

Ronald knew he had guessed correctly.

The key to entering Songwood naturally lay in the song.

People who once knew the secrets chose to warn future generations with the sealing song not to contact this terrifyingly ancient place.

If there were those with sinister intentions who came,

Without understanding Songwood’s details, how could they possibly use this kind of warning transmission to enter it?

In the midst of joy, the endlessly changing light and shadow began to disperse. As the melody of the climax song diminished, Ronald could also faintly recognize the forest appearing in front of him.

With the beginning and end of the song, this wondrous process had its complete cycle.

Several breaths passed.

As the green finally faded, the environment around the two stabilized, and they saw the scenes of the forest again.

Costate’s singing switched to a question that rang in Ronald’s ear:

"Sir, are we... inside now?"

"Right!" Ronald nodded slightly, his tone filled with joy and encouragement towards the maid, "Costate, you did perfectly; we successfully got inside!"