Whether it is one of the pastoral god’s armors, I don’t know.
Whose memories are currently inside, I don’t know.
Because they are memory fragments casually captured by Laplace in the Sea of Void Mirror, possibly containing countless creatures’ memories. The "inheritance" Dox covets is basically out of the question.
These two masks, in terms of effects, are currently almost useless.
The only value might be in the recycling of materials.
However, even if just using the masks as demonic materials, it’s still quite good. Because even with Angel’s knowledge, he has never seen old stone elsewhere; this was his first encounter.
When everyone was sighing with disappointment, the Black Earl suddenly said in the Mind Ribbon: "Indeed, there are masks among the pastoral god’s armors, and as I understand, there are indeed two masks."
"Do you mean..." Dox’s eyes lit up.
"Nothing in particular, just stating a fact. I’ve seen the pastoral god’s mask, but never seen the original form of the pastoral god’s mask, so I can’t confirm whether these two masks are from the pastoral god’s armors."
Just like Kavoline could freely change clothing styles while wearing pastoral god’s outfit, the pastoral god’s masks can also freely change mask styles.
The Black Earl has seen the pastoral god’s armors with his own eyes, but what he saw were also just different forms worn by the pastoral god; he also hasn’t seen the original form of the pastoral god’s armors.
On this point, Angel empathized.
He has encountered Kavoline, also saw Kavoline’s pastoral god’s outfit, but he also can’t confirm whether the armor Kavoline usually wore is the original form of the pastoral god’s outfit.
However, when the Black Earl suddenly mentioned this, even though he said he wasn’t sure, he probably has a leaning in his heart.
Judging from the Black Earl’s words and the masks themselves, Angel personally feels there’s a chance these two masks could be part of the pastoral god’s armors.
The pastoral god’s armor has two masks, and the masks in their hands, according to the memories read by Laplace, are called "the pastoral god’s dual faces," so it’s hard to call it a coincidence.
Moreover, the material used for the pastoral god’s dual faces is "old stone," a mystical material that even the Black Earl hasn’t heard of. These masks were undoubtedly extraordinary once, there’s no question about it. Currently, probably only the pastoral god’s armors can live up to such materials and titles.
Aside from the above speculations, Angel has another guess:
"If these are truly the masks from the pastoral god’s armors, then what is the stubborn shadow that Laplace mentioned inside the masks?"
The way Angel posed the question already presupposed an answer. The Black Earl immediately guessed his meaning: "You mean that rumor."
Angel nodded: "Yes. When I was at the Research and Development Institute, I once heard Director Muse mention this rumor, but the director didn’t know if the rumor was true. However, he said that during the Demon God’s calamity in the dwarf grave plane, the pastoral god family was indeed one of the orchestrators behind the scenes."
The Black Earl rocked the slate up and down: "Indeed, the Demon God’s calamity has a bit of a connection with the pastoral god family."
"Then what about the shadow inside the masks..."
The Black Earl pondered for a moment: "Anything is possible."
The short conversation ended here, and both Angel and the Black Earl understood each other’s meaning. However, the listeners were completely puzzled.
"What do you mean by what you’re saying? Why all the secrecy?" Dox’s voice timely chimed in.
Angel was initially reluctant to explain but seeing Dox’s eager eyes, he thought for a moment and said: "There is a rumor about the pastoral god’s armor, saying a sliver of the Demon God’s true intent is blended into it."
"But this rumor has been rampant for a long time without any confirmation. Whether it’s true or not, only the pastoral god’s family members could answer."
Dox paused for a second, then suddenly realized: "So, the shadow you just mentioned inside the mask... could it possibly be the Demon God’s true intent?"
Angel said irritably: "If it’s the Demon God’s true intent, wouldn’t you be able to sense it?"
Dox said honestly: "I really can’t sense it. I’ve never seen a Demon God..."
Angel was taken aback.
Indeed, how could ordinary wizards have seen a true Demon God? And the Demon God’s true intent is the core power of the Demon God, usually only vaguely emerging when the Demon God uses their abilities.
Wizards like Angel, who have seen more than one Demon God and even fought against a Demon God, are probably fewer than a handful in the Southern Domain.
He assumed it was common knowledge, but for Dox, it was an entirely unknown area of knowledge.
Angel gently coughed and glossed over the topic vaguely: "Anyway, as long as you know that even if this mask is one of the pastoral god’s armors, the shadow inside isn’t the Demon God’s true intent."
"Indeed, the shadow inside isn’t the Demon God’s true intent," the Black Earl also spoke up to give a conclusion.
The Black Earl had heard some rumors about Angel, alleging Angel had close encounters with a Demon God in Lassudral... Previously, the Black Earl just took a listen, but now it seems the rumor is probably true.
The Black Earl can naturally judge the Demon God’s true intent, but that’s due to his accumulated experience, which is somewhat different from Angel’s real confrontation with the Demon God.
The Black Earl: "However, although it isn’t the Demon God’s true intent, the shadow that even the Sea of Void Mirror that Laplace spoke of can’t wash away is very likely belonging to... the Demon God’s memory."
This was a tacit understanding previously reached by the Black Earl and Angel.
Only the Demon God’s memory could remain as robust as ever. Even the power of the Sea of Void Mirror can’t completely wash it away.
"Of course, all this is predicated on the pastoral god’s dual faces being part of the pastoral god’s armors," Angel added.
If it’s not one of the pastoral god’s armors, then all their current speculations are empty.
After saying this, Angel stopped speaking in the Mind Ribbon and instead looked up at Laplace behind the mirror.
Angel: "Are you aware of the previous effects of these masks?"
Laplace shook her head: "When I obtained it, it was located near a Sea Eye in the Sea of Void Mirror. The Sea Eye had washed away its past glory, leaving only the most essential core."
Angel was stunned for a moment: "Sea Eye?"
Previously, hadn’t Laplace said the Sea of Void Mirror was just a conceptual ocean? How is there a Sea Eye now?
Laplace: "The Sea Eye of the Sea of Void Mirror is one of the most dangerous places in the Sea of Void Mirror. Being in the Sea Eye not only washes away memories but also cleanses all cluttered energies, leaving only the most primitive state."