Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2580: Chapter 2581: Mirror Demon God

At the moment when the contract backlash appeared, the Black Earl withdrew the contract light shield.

However, the power of the contract did not dissipate and continued to tightly surround Dox.

It’s like signing a contract on parchment, even if you tear that parchment, the contract will still take effect if you breach it.

Dox was the same, his screams lasted a full two minutes.

For Dox, these two minutes were probably the longest two minutes of his life. For others, it was also a reminder and a warning.

The horror of contract backlash power.

And the contract light shield is just the weakest form of contract backlash. If it were a formal contract signed under the witness of the World Will, the backlash power would be at least a hundred times, a thousand times stronger.

After two minutes, the contract backlash power finally dissipated completely. When the glow faded, everyone saw Dox again.

Dox looked unchanged on the outside, just lying on the ground, a tear sliding from the corner of his eye, with a look of utter despair.

”Is he... okay?” It was Vay, who had vowed not to speak recklessly a moment ago, who broke the silence.

As an old friend of Dox, Vay was seeing Dox like this for the first time. Clearly uninjured, but looking as if he were about to die.

”If you two little guys had encountered a contract backlash, you’d probably be beyond saving by now. But Dox won’t die.” The Black Earl referred to the two little guys, Vay and Kaier.

Vay: ”But he looks like...”

The Black Earl said indifferently: ”His bloodline-side physique completely withstood the contract backlash power, not even his clothes are torn, which shows he’s fine.”

Vay still wanted to ask, then why was Dox lying on the ground?

However, before he could ask, the Black Earl, as if with foreknowledge, said: ”As for why he’s still lying on the ground, it’s probably because... he’s embarrassed.”

The Black Earl’s answer stunned everyone, including Angel, who thought Dox’s Spirit Sea or Mind Space was injured, but the Black Earl seemed to imply he was actually fine?

”After all, the pain was real, he screamed for so long, even shed tears, he’s probably lost all face. It’s a pity you didn’t use the Photostone to capture that moment.” After a pause, the Black Earl turned to Angel: ”Your illusion technique should be able to recreate the scene, right? How about you recreate it now, and I’ll have Vay prepare the Photostone.”

Before Angel could respond, Dox jumped up from the ground and rushed in front of Angel: ”No!”

”I’m fine, I’m fine. I just suddenly felt homesick and missed my dear old mother. I don’t know how she is now, but once this exploration of the ruins is over, I’ll go see her.” Dox said to Angel with a sincere expression.

As for when he turned to Vay and Kaier, he said the same thing, but with a fierce look in his eyes, as if to say, ”Believe it or not, you have to believe.”

Vay and Kaier could only awkwardly respond with a nod.

The Black Earl actually wanted to mock him a bit: missing his mother? You’re over eighty, if your mother were mortal, would she still be alive? But after thinking it over, it’s possible Dox might have forcibly awakened her as a Talented One, so she could still be alive. So, in the end, he said nothing.

Angel watched Dox’s performance and began to believe the Black Earl’s judgment. This guy, the injuries from the contract backlash should exist but aren’t serious; the greater wound is to his pride.

Always the one watching from the sidelines, now he’s the main act, how could he accept that?

”Angel, my dear good friend, please don’t listen to the slander of strangers. The power of illusion should be used against enemies, only then is it the right path. If you use it to bully your already pathetic friend, won’t your heart ache?”

Dox was still worried Angel might actually follow the Black Earl’s suggestion, so he clung to Angel tightly.

”I’ll give you two choices.” Angel looked at Dox: ”First, under the contract light shield, repeat the two sentences you just said. If you don’t invoke the contract power, I’ll believe you.”

Dox: ”...”

After a moment of silence, Dox asked: ”What’s the second choice?”

Angel looked down at his tightly gripped wrist: ”Second, let go of my hand, and stay five meters away from me, and I’ll pretend nothing happened.”

Dox immediately released his hand and quickly retreated to the corner.

”You easily let it go. He was planning on tricking you inside the contract light shield earlier.” The Black Earl said calmly.

”Couldn’t succeed, I would only choose silence to any of his questions.” Angel paused and added silently in his heart: Besides, his little gold isn’t in hand yet, Dox had better not be in trouble.

”Alright, back to the point. Since the Black Earl has already explained, the appearance of the Uysu language here is both coincidental and expected.” Angel: ”Dox and Kaier, you shouldn’t have any objections, right?”

Kaier was surprised Angel pointed him out specifically, because even if the Black Earl had ulterior motives, he had no right to object. Now that the Black Earl had proven it was a coincidence, albeit not entirely, he certainly had no objections. So he nodded without hesitation.

As for Dox, having just experienced the contract backlash, didn’t want to argue anymore, so he murmured an acknowledgment to pass the issue.

Once it was confirmed that a temporary consensus had been reached within the team, Angel turned to the Black Earl: ”My lord, can you translate this Uysu language now?”

The Black Earl nodded and once again used the contract light shield.

This was also a gesture of sincerity; under the witness of the contract, his translation would have to be correct.

As soon as the contract light shield appeared, Dox shuddered and slowly retreated to the edge of the shield before slipping out entirely.

It seemed that Dox had been truly frightened by the contract light shield.

Vay followed him out, not out of friendship, but because he too feared saying something wrong and invoking the contract backlash.

But Kaier showed no concern for the contract light shield, which showed, just like Dox had described, that Kaier was indeed quite a pure person.

The Black Earl wasn’t bothered by Dox and Vay’s departure, instead he looked at Angel: ”Where should I start the translation?”

Angel: ”My lord, why don’t you take a look first, and if you can piece together the overall idea, just tell us in general. This way, we won’t need to translate it sentence by sentence.”

The Black Earl’s use of the contract light shield was a display of sincerity, and Angel reciprocated with trust in this way.

The Black Earl gave Angel a deep glance: ”Now I think you are much more pleasing to the eye than your foolish mentor.”

Angel said nothing, as long as the Black Earl didn’t use ”nostrils” as his expression, he’d take it as a compliment.

The Black Earl refocused on the table, studying the complex and chaotic characters on it.

Since he only had a nose, it was impossible to discern the Black Earl’s expression, but Angel, as a master of emotion perception, could sense the emotional fluctuations in the Black Earl as he read different texts.

This was something the Black Earl probably did not anticipate.

Throughout the process, the Black Earl’s emotions fluctuated wildly, indicating that there must be many secrets hidden within these characters.

After ”reading” all the words, the Black Earl fell into deep thought, seemingly integrating the information he obtained.

After a long time, the Black Earl spoke: ”You guessed correctly, this does count as a religious organization. However, the deity they worship is quite strange; even I have never heard of it. I don’t know where it came from or whether it is real.”

After hesitating for a moment, the Black Earl mentioned the name of the deity: ”Mirror Demon God.”

A few seconds later, Black Earl: ”I didn’t feel any probing.”

When mentioning Demon Gods, the first thought that comes to mind must be the Abyssal Demon Gods, whose basic capability is to respond to ”followers.” Even across countless worlds, when you call on their name, the Demon God will vaguely sense it. If you are ”lucky,” the Demon God might turn its gaze to you.

Therefore, the Black Earl was hesitant and explained immediately that he wasn’t being probed.

Angel: ”Sounds like an Abyssal Demon God?”

Black Earl: ”I don’t know, that wasn’t mentioned in the text. All mentions of this deity are mere meaningless praises.”

”By the way, there’s another thing. These characters seem to have been carved by different people—some as preaching prompts, others purely as records. Like praising the deity, it’s merely a record.”

”The characters are quite fragmented, nearly impossible to find a single logical chain. It’s difficult to integrate, but if you don’t mind, I can use speculation to fill in some logical gaps, although I can’t guarantee accuracy.”

Angel nodded: ”I understand. Do go ahead, my lord.”

The Black Earl pondered for a moment and began his narrative.

It was probably when Naraku City had not yet been abandoned that a group of followers faithful to the Mirror Demon God were guided by ”someone” to Naraku City.

This ”someone,” whom the Black Earl also doesn’t know, is speculated to be related to the Mirror Demon God, perhaps an alleged divine servant or possibly the god himself.

After these followers arrived here, under ”someone’s” guidance, they constructed an underground church close to ”someplace.”

As for why they came to Naraku City and built an underground church here, their supposed purpose is an object called the ”Sacred Object.”

”Their goal is the Sacred Object, as I’ve speculated, since the texts repeatedly mention this Sacred Object, saying it was stolen by a certain thief and offered to one of the city’s rulers at the time. As for what the Sacred Object is, there hasn’t been a detailed description.”

After hearing this, Angel showed a peculiar expression: ”Sacred Object? Thief?”

If this was not said by the Black Earl, he would think it was a fantasy novel written by ordinary people with whimsical ideas.

Because in the real transcendent world, a thief wanting to break into a sect to steal a Sacred Object is virtually impossible. Unless the thief is a legendary level shadow-type Wizard who can face an entire sect and withstand the wrath of the Demon God, otherwise, it’s absolutely unfeasible.

”Yes, that’s how it’s recorded.” Black Earl: ”Moreover, this sentence was said by ’someone.”

”Did ’someone’ say it? Then the identity of this ’someone’ should not be the deity itself.” Angel speculated, otherwise, this Demon God would be ridiculously meddlesome, having to issue a divine edict personally for everything.

Black Earl thought for a moment and said: ”The text does not specify who ’someone’ is, but it’s strange... I felt that when reading information about ’someone,’ this ’someone’ seemed different from the other followers, somewhat alienated.”

Angel: ”What do you mean?”

Black Earl: ”I speculate that this ’someone’ might have never met these followers.”

Angel: ”This information is truly worth pondering; I’ve noted it. Are there any other messages? Is the name of the ruler who possesses the Sacred Object mentioned?”

Black Earl shook his head: ”No, but from scattered text, it appears that the ruler oversees some organization.”

Angel sorted his thoughts and said: ”In that case, the followers tried to infiltrate the organization presided over by the ruler. Earlier, my lord mentioned that the underground church is very close to ’someplace,’ so this place should be where the organization is located, or at least not far from it.”

Black Earl nodded: ”You could say that.”

Angel raised his eyes to the Black Earl: ”My lord, how is ’someplace’ referred to in the original text?”

Black Earl shook his head: ”It’s not stated, only referred to as ’there,’ a geographical placeholder.”

”I’ve integrated all the information I can,” said Black Earl, ”Do you have any more questions?”

Angel indeed had a question; when the Black Earl saw a segment of the text, he had a significant emotional fluctuation. Although the Black Earl tried to control it, Angel still noticed. He was considering whether to ask about the meaning of that text.

If asked... He could perceive the Black Earl’s emotions, and it might be hard to hide.

But if he didn’t ask, he would feel unsatisfied.

Angel thought for a while: ”My lord, aside from the information you mentioned, is there any other important information?”

Black Earl: ”How do you define important information?”

Angel: ”It’s not my definition but rather what my lord considers important information. Is there any?”

This time, the Black Earl remained silent.

”There must be something being withheld, otherwise why hesitate to answer? The contract shield is excellent, can’t escape now!” Indisputably, the only one who would dare jeer at the Black Earl in such a manner is Dox.

”You are healed and forgot the pain.” Angel glanced at Dox: ”Those standing outside should not speak. If you want to say something, come inside the shield.”

Dox chuckled and genuinely listened to Angel’s words, not speaking further.

Angel then looked at the Black Earl: ”It seems there is indeed important information, according to your perspective, my lord.”

With the contract shield in place, the Black Earl had to admit: ”There is information I wish not to disclose, but it should be irrelevant to the ruins we are heading to.”

”If you are certain this intelligence is unrelated to our upcoming exploration, then you don’t have to share it, my lord. But are you absolutely sure?”

Before this, the Black Earl used ambiguous terms like ”should” and ”perhaps” to respond, essentially taking advantage of loopholes in the contract shield.

Angel’s inquiry demanded a definitive answer from the Black Earl.