Previously, the Phantom had also removed the mask, but it was more like creating a spectacle—only taking off half of it, leaving room for imagination, and then putting it back on. The atmosphere was maximized, but it had no real effect.
But as for this one, the removal of the mask was genuinely thorough, revealing the true face. Beneath the mask was a young man who wasn’t particularly handsome but exuded a gentle and elegant demeanor that matched his overall aura.
After he removed the Sheep Demon mask, it automatically shrank and was pinned to his waist.
Only then did he raise his eyes to look at Kaier. With a slight twist of the short flute in his hand, he elegantly bowed: "Shepherd, pleased to make your acquaintance."
Kaier pondered for a moment and softly responded, "Traveler."
The Shepherd was slightly taken aback, then smiled warmly: "You call yourself Traveler? We share quite a connection with our names."
Kaier furrowed his brow, wondering how the names Traveler and Shepherd could possibly be related. Though he was frustrated internally, he maintained his silence outwardly.
Seeing Kaier not responding, the Shepherd wasn’t annoyed, and still warmly said, "Our hearts are not in place."
Kaier hadn’t yet grasped the Shepherd’s meaning when the Shepherd went on to explain: "The heart of the Traveler is in distant lands. And the heart of the Shepherd is also far away, in the forest where the wind caresses, on the coast with white sands and lapping waves, in the fertile lands where water plants flourish, and... upon the stars that flicker with endless brilliance."
Kaier was momentarily stunned by this series of parallels and exclamations, taking a while to regain his senses: "You don’t seem like a Shepherd; you’re more like a bard."
The Shepherd laughed: "Actually, they’re the same. A Shepherd tends to the sheep he holds; a Poet tends to the sheep racing within his heart."
Every word the Shepherd spoke, if uttered by someone else, would likely feel awkward. Yet, inexplicably, when spoken by the Shepherd, it carried an elegant rhythm, as if these words were meant to be from his mouth, causing no discomfort, only nobility and melodiousness.
If on a moonlit night, cradling a harp, strolling leisurely, the lovestruck girl hears the Shepherd’s eloquence, she would likely fall immediately.
Faced with such an eloquent opponent, Kaier suddenly felt a bit flustered, unsure of what would be appropriate to say.
Remaining silent felt as though he was inferior. But speaking, and possibly saying something inappropriate, might make him seem disadvantaged by comparison.
This sudden mental conundrum made Kaier feel increasingly uneasy.
It seemed the Shepherd could read Kaier’s mind, as he smiled gently and alleviated the situation: "The Traveler’s steps never stop; you’ve surely seen many landscapes, haven’t you?"
Kaier instinctively replied, "I like exploring relics."
The Shepherd: "Indeed, every Traveler has their own hobbies and goals, and continuously presses forward for them. Truly enviable, though my heart is far away, my body remains in place."
Kaier: "Why?"
The Shepherd paused for a second before smiling and saying, "Because I have to tend to the sheep."
As the Shepherd finished speaking, the voice of the Wise Sovereign timely interrupted: "Idle chatter can cease, let the duel commence."
Though the Wise Sovereign had announced the duel’s start, neither the Shepherd nor Kaier moved immediately.
The Shepherd spun his flute, then grasped it firmly: "I don’t really enjoy fighting, I much prefer playing the flute. Do you have any melody you’d like to hear?"
Kaier didn’t respond, but instead extended his hand to lightly draw a spatial fissure beside him.
The fissure gradually enlarged until it could accommodate a person. Then, from the fissure—which should now be called a rift—emerged a towering figure.
The newcomer was bathed in a metallic luster, exuding a mechanical beauty from head to toe.
"Alchemy Golem," the Shepherd raised an eyebrow.
Kaier said nothing, nor did he let the Alchemy Golem advance, keeping a wary eye on the Shepherd.
The Shepherd shrugged: "Since you didn’t answer, I’ll just play whatever comes to mind... Do you like the sound of the wind?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Shepherd lifted the flute to his lips, and a melodious tune began to play.
Accompanying the melody was a gentle wind that enveloped the Shepherd.
Riding the wind, the Shepherd ascended, hovering mid-air.
At this point, the Shepherd lowered the short flute and looked at Kaier: "The Rhythm of Wind is a hymn played for the Traveler."
While Kaier was still puzzled, the Shepherd’s tune resumed, and this time the surrounding wind was no longer gentle, gradually becoming dense.
It seemed as if thin strands of mist and interwoven rain clouds appeared, with thick clouds turning to a somber hue under the dense wind, twisting constantly.
Meanwhile, before Kaier’s eyes appeared a long road filled with thunder, storms, and dark clouds.
Now Kaier seemed to somewhat understand what the Shepherd meant by ’hymn played for the Traveler.’
This was an epic of the Traveler’s journey, a long-song played for the Traveler.
Every traveler encounters ups and downs on their journey—the road is a path of thorns, shrouded by torrential rain and fierce winds.
The Shepherd’s role at this moment was that of the storm and gale hindering the Traveler. Passing through meant reaching the hymn; falling here meant the death knell!
Needless to say, the Shepherd’s "imposition" surpassed that of the Phantom by leaps and bounds.
If "imposition" is divided into inherent and overt, the Phantom had only a superficial overt while the Shepherd had both inherent and overt.
Under such imposition, even Kaier almost "succumbed."
—Being treated with such regard by the Shepherd, Kaier suddenly felt an urge to forsake the Out of Discussion strategies, abandon the Alchemy Golem. He wanted to fight using his own abilities, like Vay, to attain victory.
However, that was but a fleeting thought.
Kaier recognized the reality; if he truly gave up the Out of Discussion strategies, his chances of winning wouldn’t be great. At this critical juncture, if he lost the duel due to impulsiveness, he himself would feel guilt.
Moreover, beyond any "real battle," Kaier looked forward more to exploring the relics after achieving victory.
Relic exploration far surpasses everything else in interest.
With that thought, Kaier refrained from further spiraling thoughts and focused on this crucial battle that must not be lost.