I can actually see the entire town map! It feels just like opening a map in a game.
Being able to see myself and others' positions—isn't that basically the same as pressing 'M' to open a map?
Since the map isn't fully detailed, it only marks Taylor Mian and the surrounding mountains. In the Taylor Mian area, the town is just a cluster of houses lumped together, without showing every street in detail.
But the map in my field of vision can display the entire street. Due to the map's limitations, the town is shown in great detail, while the mountains are just a mountain-shaped symbol.
The shadows almost reach the edge of the parchment, meaning that area probably isn't as detailed.
The cold wind outside blows, making my body shiver...
Just as Sean was about to step out the front door, Luke hurried up behind him, holding Sean's usual coat.
"Sir, where are you going?" Luke thought I was heading out and followed with the coat.
"Nothing, just taking a walk."
Noticing that I kept staring at the map, Luke figured it was still about the ancient tomb and continued.
"This was left behind or forgotten by the 'recorder' back then. But in his notes, he never mentioned any treasures in the tomb—just some useless junk."
It's been so long that even everyday items would have weathered and decayed. Most of what remains is worthless.
Unless it has research value or is a piece of evidence from a certain era that academia is searching for, those recorders wouldn't bother taking such junk. So each generation of archaeologists comes expecting to find something, only to leave disappointed.
"Maybe I'll search again; there might be new discoveries." Luke saw that his master still hadn't spoken, his eyes fixed on the map.
Could the master really be interested in archaeology?
Was that not a lie the other day?
But I've lived in Taylor Mian for so long, knowing this young heir since the previous Baron Viger's time, and I've never heard him ask about archaeology before.
"No need!" Sean finally spoke, but it was a brief reply.
"Do we have any other types of maps here?"
"Maps... I think so. There's a most detailed map of the entire Taylor Mian area in the study," Luke said.
"Quick, bring it to me. Right now!"
Luke couldn't fathom his master's sudden whim but followed the order anyway.
In the cabinet behind the hall table, this map was one I brought back from Koga City. In the early days, I used it to present ideas to the previous Baron Viger, planning development schemes. But after getting used to living here, I never took it out again.
After all, Taylor Mian is a small, secluded town that minds its own business. There's only one road out of town, and many would rather live their whole lives here than leave. Why would they need other maps?
As a scholar, Luke managed things meticulously. Even with boxes unopened for years, he knew exactly what was inside!
"This is the box."
Sean watched as Luke pulled out several boxes of various sizes from the cabinet, finally stopping at a slightly larger one.
Opening it,
Dust had gathered around the edges, but inside still emitted that unique smell of books and leather.
It looked quite new. From the edge, Luke fished out a larger leather scroll and handed it to Sean...
"Sir, here's this map."
Sean eagerly spread it on the table. About one and a half meters long and one meter wide, this map was more detailed—the entire Taylor Mian town, surrounding mountains, wheat fields, simple road names at the borders, and place names in other spots.
This one is much more detailed...
Sean shook his head and closed his eyes slightly.
He focused his mind on this map. Slowly, naturally, the image before him rippled slightly.
Like a heatwave, the map before him began to change... as if playing an empire-building game, peaks rose from the horizon, uneven roads appeared, and building models emerged above the town.
Because the map was larger, he could see more clearly this time.
Especially around his own baron's residence—even the snow on the rooftops was visible. Since it was snowing, the map quickly became covered in a layer of white snow, including the roofs.
Sean reached out and ran his hand over the map again, leaving Luke beside him utterly confused.
Can't touch it! His hand could even pass through the buildings and touch the map directly... It was like a projection, overlooking the entire Taylor Mian area from above, in 3D.
When Sean crouched down, he could see the servants busy inside their homes at eye level. They were too small to make out facial features, just blobs of color.
"Sir? What are you looking at?" Luke crouched down beside him.
"Uh... just looking around. Don't mind me," Sean said with a smile.
Damn,
This is even harder to explain now. I thought being able to see character attributes was impressive, but I never expected this kind of use.
Glancing at the oblivious Luke, Sean had a sudden thought.
If I looked at the house I'm in, could I see myself?
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
He instinctively looked toward the window...
He lowered his head to look again, this time focusing on his own location—the central building of the baron's residence.
The window was closed!
"Luke, open the window."
"Oh~" Though puzzled by his master's strange behavior today, Luke complied.
Creak!
A cold wind blew in, and in the projected model, the window of the house suddenly opened too.
Everything updated in real time, almost synchronized with the real world.
Looking inside slowly, he could see a figure in a gray-black coat near the window—that was Luke... He could actually see him!
Deep breath~
Leaning in a bit closer, though it was small.
Squinting, he could make out some details: red—that was the red bearskin on the floor, with a table beside it.
And near the table, he saw a figure crouching there!
Sean quickly turned to look out the window!
Nothing.
He let out a long breath. No one was watching.
Just a normal clear day...
Sean looked at the two maps on the table. The smaller one, being incomplete, didn't show character models—everyone was just a white dot. The more detailed map was more realistic; crouching down revealed character models, while standing view turned them back into dots representing people.
Sean stared at the large map...
This projected map showed a better position.
His home was always slightly east of the town center, so this time the triangular marker was in the middle.
He could move in all directions...
He could see routes, but only within the baron's residence did movement appear. Beyond that was shadow—streets and areas were visible but grayed out, showing no living creatures.
At the back of the baron's residence, near the stables, he could see someone feeding the horses.
"Come on, Luke. Come with me for a walk..."