novelraw Chapter 596: Mom
Chapter 596: Mom
Watching the Demon God stepping out from behind the tree state his identity, Jasmine behind Fisher and the Lord of Souls who had just hurried over both faced him as if confronting a formidable enemy, especially since this Cidi was the partner of their current nominal enemy, Barbatos.
But Fisher narrowed his eyes and sized up the other party with a glance, yet raised his hand to stop the blade Jasmine had raised behind him. Because he realized the body of the Cidi hiding behind the tree was merely at the Thirteenth-Tier. In other words, just like Eliog, his soul had left his body; he wasn't the powerful true body released by the Base.
"Demon God Cidi, how did you escape from the Mother Goddess's seal? If I'm not mistaken, you aren't in your true body right now... it wasn't Baimon who released you."
Hearing this, Cidi only smiled faintly. From his fair and tender palm resting on the giant tree, a burst of pink energy resembling mist erupted forth. Accompanied by a soft "rustling" sound, the mist rapidly seeped into the toppling tree trunk, mending the originally gaping wide cracks.
Following this, he raised his hand to set the giant tree upright, restoring it to its appearance before it broke. It was just that now it was solely a giant tree carrying Barbatos's residence, rather than a Portal.
"This is a little magic trick of mine. It can make the limp hard, and the damaged radiate with vitality... You understand."
He smiled pleasantly and winked his right eye at Fisher, explaining as he walked out from behind the tree. His every gesture carried an implicit meaning of casting flirtatious glances, yet it wasn't so explicit, proving as elusive as a misunderstood illusion.
Without the tree's obstruction, his soft figure outlined by the red robe was entirely revealed, as captivating as water grass swaying in the water.
"You haven't answered my question."
"...Apologies, apologies. I've been lonely for too long, so I always like to say irrelevant things. But kid, you're right, it wasn't Baimon who released me. The reason I am awake now is entirely because of you."Cidi curled a finger, pointing it at Fisher, causing even Eimhart to involuntarily fly up to his shoulder and raise his eyebrows, seemingly wondering, "Could it be that Fisher's charm has reached such a bisexual extent?"
With an even more abstract expression, Jasmine raised her sword, wishing she could dismantle this nonsense-spouting fellow.
"Because of me?"
Fisher's expression was abstract, evidently starting with the same train of thought as Jasmine and the others. But thinking about it carefully, Eimhart had said that ever since this guy united with Barbatos, he had no longer met outsiders alone.
Although this claim could still be considered a rumor, even Eliog had proven the narrative of their deep affection for one another, so Fisher felt the credibility of this claim was still quite high.
Then, what exactly was the reasoning behind this guy saying it was because of him?
"Yes, but precisely speaking, not because of you personally, but rather another fellow closely related to you. She is my friend... though it's quite normal for you little kids to have some misunderstandings about me, considering the rumors surrounding my reputation out there... But I've already turned over a new leaf." Cidi smiled pleasantly and stepped forward. When he spoke up to here, he seemed to suddenly remember something and reminded, "Ah, this phrase is also that friend of mine's catchphrase."
"...A friend closely related to me? You mean Eliog?"
"Although she is also my friend, but you don't quite understand, would Eliog ever say phrases like 'I've already turned over a new leaf'? She's more like a cat that sleeps all day, only inadvertently displaying the desire to eat others."
"Then this friend you're referring to..."
A loss for clues immediately washed over Fisher's mind. A friend who could know Cidi would evidently be very old, and one who even shared an intimate relationship with him... thinking about it carefully, among his familiar ladies, Asuka Karasawa, Helaire, Renee, and Eliog all belonged in this category, but not a single one matched that catchphrase...
At this moment, Eimhart standing on his shoulder actually put on dead-fish eyes and muttered to Fisher,
"Instead, this catchphrase sounds more like something you yourself would say."
"Hahahaha, exactly. With you saying that, I also find that you are very similar to her, both so strange."
Hearing Eimhart's complaining that exposed the bottom line, the delicate and charming Cidi also couldn't help but laugh as he clutched his own stomach. But very soon, the light in his eyes resembling purple stars subtly shifted, and simultaneously he opened his hands toward Fisher, saying innocently,
"There's no need to rack your brains thinking about it like this. It's impossible for you to have ever met the friend I speak of, but she indeed shares a very deep connection with you. Even for our meeting today, it is all because of her..."
"She?"
"Mm, Ying Zheng, Red Middle, Qin Shi Huang... any name will do. But I, as well as others who know her, without exception... prefer to call her [Demi-Human Girl Con]."
"!"
Fisher's pupils shrank slightly. The moment this name came out of Cidi's mouth, Fisher realized the "friend" he meant was actually the contributor to the Demi-Human Completion Handbook, that transferred person from another world.
That existence shrouded in mist who was unknown to the Creator's Society now had another friend who knew her, and the previous one who knew her was none other than the Moon Princess who had been dead for a long time within the Frostwood Sycamore Tree.
"Demi-Human Girl Con? Fisher, who is this? Your respected teacher?"
"...No."
Eimhart turned his head to look at him in confusion, while Jasmine was also shocked by this joke-like title, subsequently developing an intense curiosity towards the true owner of this name as well.
Instead, the Lord of Souls rubbed his chin, seemingly knowing who Cidi was talking about, because Fisher had previously shown that "Demi-Human Completion Handbook" to them.
As for Fisher himself, he opened his mouth, appearing utterly dumbfounded.
What the Moon Princess said was genuinely true in every respect. He discovered that the connections of that fellow "Demi-Human Girl Con" were truly incredibly vast. He still remembered that when the Northern Border was about to be invaded by the Chaos Breed, she just dusted her buttocks and went to find the angels, requesting four Holy Artifacts personally forged by someone else back (the swords of the Phoenix King and her three children). As someone who had returned to the Sanctuary, Fisher knew that the precious Holy Artifacts forged by the angels would absolutely never be given away easily; this sufficiently proved her relationship with that angel was also good.
And from the bottom of the sea, she was even able to call up a doctor of the Whale-kin out to treat the Moon Princess's stillbirth. Fisher felt there was a high probability that doctor was the Gou Wen he had known previously.
Above, she could reach the Sanctuary, and below, she could arrive at the Deep Sea. Mm, now they even had to add the Demon Gods in the Demon Abyss; it couldn't be described as anything but vast.
However, Fisher could generally guess the reason for her vastly extensive network. Although the title "Demi-Human Girl Con" sounded a bit perverted, at the time, the Moon Princess only had a few brief encounters with her... Yet she was astonishingly able to soar to the heavens and dive into the seas to provide the Moon Princess with so much help without even asking for any return. No wonder the Moon Princess's impression of her was so profound...
Mythical Species were higher beings, true, but they weren't heartless. Otherwise, the likes of Gabriel and Michael wouldn't hold such feelings towards other existences.
Therefore, with the Demi-Human Girl Con being so sincere and speaking from the heart, having so many friends wasn't exactly a surprise.
"It seems you already know many things about her; otherwise, your expression wouldn't have become so strange."
Thinking of this, the guard on Fisher's body slowly relaxed. He shook his head and said,
"Not many. In fact, my knowledge of her deeds far surpasses my knowledge of the person herself."
"Her deeds are the person herself. It's difficult to judge her by her heart; judging by her deeds is enough."
"In that case, as her friend, before your slumber, did she entrust you with some matters... concerning me?"
Cidi smiled and covered his mouth, nodding as he said,
"Indeed, and it's... an extraordinarily important matter, so important that she didn't know who else she could entrust it to back then. Which is why there was a sentence I said earlier that was actually wrong. In a strict sense, I am not merely her friend, but also her sworn oath-bound sister."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Fisher couldn't help but swallow a gulp of saliva, yet at a loss for what to say.
Looking at this beautiful red-haired male Demon God staring at him with a gentle gaze akin to a seven aunts and eight aunts type elder, even he began to feel uncomfortable.
Since coming of age, he had only ever seen this kind of loving gaze on Ms. Martha in the Saint-Nazareth rental house. Back then, she worried day in and day out for Fisher, who was nearing thirty and still unmarried, fearing he couldn't find a wife and would constantly act uninhibitedly outside until his soul dried up...
"The Demi-Human Girl Con and I knew each other from a very, very long time ago. That's a matter of five thousand years ago. Back then, I was still guided by my fundamental nature, wallowing in debauchery and pleasure. Not only did she help point out the path to liberation and aid me in pursuing my partner, but she also helped me with many other favors... In all these years, she's never asked for a single return from me. However, right at... hmm, a few decades ago? I can't quite remember clearly. She suddenly came to the Abyss, giving me soul power and asking me to help her with something at the right time..."
A few decades ago?
So recent?
Having once travelled back to ten thousand years ago, many of the matters Fisher faced presently matched the Mythical Species alongside their accompanying long eons, causing his perception of time to undergo a subtle shift.
The outbreak of the Ideal State, the birth of the Demon-kin happened ten thousand years ago; the emergence of the Spirit World Contamination, the invasion of the Chaos-kin were around six thousand years ago; the Mythical Wars were roughly three to four thousand years ago...
Many events were calculated by the distant past of thousands of years. This would sometimes make Fisher suddenly forget that he was just a human who had lived for less than thirty years.
Yet, if the Demi-Human Girl Con was still able to find Cidi a few decades ago, this meant that the Demi-Human Girl Con, like the Lord of Fate, might very well be part of the rare few first-generation transferred persons who had survived from the distant ancient times up to the present completely unharmed.
Fisher was somewhat in disbelief, murmuring a sentence to Cidi,
"A few decades ago... then where is she now?"
"She probably isn't around anymore."
Fisher raised his eyes to look at him, but saw Cidi shrug his shoulders as he said,
"Maybe she died in some unknown place; no one can determine this. No matter what kind of ending she meets, it would be normal, especially considering she's endured such torment for so long, and been mad for so long... But kid, I didn't come looking for you this time to introduce this sister of mine. The words I said just now were purely to prove my identity and to show I bear no malice towards you, so that you can trust me enough for what comes next..."
Cidi's charming smile faded bit by bit, subsequently adding solemnly,
"The things I'm about to say next are very important. Only you alone can hear them. That book beside you, the Completion Handbook owner stripped of his death, and your little Whale-kin girlfriend cannot listen. Not a single word."
Jasmine and Eimhart both shot a glance at Fisher. Seeing his side profile also turn serious, they could tell that the "Demi-Human Girl Con" Cidi spoke of might be an extremely important existence.
Jasmine pursed her lips. Without waiting for Fisher to speak, she had already sensibly reached out and grabbed Eimhart off his shoulder. Following that, she looked towards the surging magma in the distance and said,
"Professor Fisher, we will go wait for you at the Gate of Knowledge side first. Demon God Eliog should have also finished by now. We'll rendezvous with her first lest she comes looking for us."
Fisher thought for a moment before nodding, telling Jasmine,
"Sorry for the trouble. Once you see Eliog, explain it to her, but do not rashly go to Baimon's palace. Wait until I come over."
"When the time comes, I'll go over together with him. Rest assured, I won't eat your man."
Cidi pushed back his flowing red hair, curled a finger at Fisher, and took the lead to walk to the back of the tree. Meanwhile, Jasmine puffed out her cheeks, then gave Fisher's palm a squeeze before taking Eimhart away towards the distant magma.
As they walked, Eimhart's mutters could be heard drifting over intermittently,
"Ho, Demi-Human Girl Con... if it was that guy I'd almost thought someone was scolding Fisher... I was just about to say 'Good scolding,' and it'd be best to add a 'Scum Demi-Human Girl Con' too."
"Then isn't it quite normal for Professor Fisher to like other races? What's... there to make a fuss about?"
"Yeah yeah, you've just enjoyed your climax, your rosy complexion looks oh so nourished. Doesn't even think about how that human Empress over in Saint-Nazareth is about to look like a withered stick... Ouch!"
He must have been punched by Jasmine; Eimhart was prone to getting injured anywhere.
"Don't mention Elizabeth."
"..."
Fisher shook his head helplessly, walking towards the back of that tree where Demon God Cidi went.
It was only when he walked behind it that he found out Cidi had already climbed the tree, standing at the door of Barbatos's room above and signaling for him to come up.
"..."
Speechless, he inhaled a breath before stepping foot and launching up the tree, arriving in front of the wooden cabin entwined and wrapped up by the giant tree. He watched as Cidi reached out his hand and placed it on the doorknob choked by branches, undoing them one by one.
Seeing this, Fisher couldn't help but ask,
"Going in like this... won't Barbatos know?"
Cidi turned his head around and shot him a sideways glance before saying with a smile,
"At such a young age, why do you only spout these words that invite misunderstanding... Rest assured, not this way. Although I understand your meaning, seeing as you guys have even destroyed his Portal, do you really still worry he will know? It's only a matter of time before the matters here are exposed; otherwise, you guys wouldn't have been smart enough to destroy his Portal... This was a pretty good idea, did Eliog think of it?"
Fisher nodded without making a verbal response. By then, Cidi had already opened the door, revealing the not-too-spacious area inside.
As the door of the room opened, the fireplace inside automatically ignited with flames, illuminating the originally dim small cabin and exposing the neat two-person recliner and wooden table inside.
The surface of every item was sprinkled with warm firelight, adding specks of coziness to this cabin that had been devoid of vitality for so long.
"Hold on, change your shoes first..."
Upon entering the room, Cidi subconsciously extended his hand towards Fisher. However, Fisher swept his gaze over the dust that had grown all over the room due to the absence of residents for a long time. After pausing for a moment, Cidi turned his head to smile apologetically,
"Forget it, just come in like this. I'll clean it up later."
Entering the room, Fisher gave a rough glance at the decorations at the side. This place was different from Eliog's room; although that fellow loved to sleep, she also collected a whole lot of weapons and armor. In comparison, Barbatos's place could truly be said to have absolutely nothing, with only some furniture simple to the extreme.
Cidi waved his hand and explained briefly,
"The demons of the 'Gate of Expression' are mostly like this. They harbor the same 'love for pretending' across different domains. This is their fundamental nature, and my husband's virtuous reputation from the past largely arose from this. Up until now, this habit probably still hasn't completely changed..."
Fisher retracted his gaze, bringing them to the main topic in passing,
"What is the matter that the Demi-Human Girl Con wants to tell me?"
Cidi raised his hand, pulling a small box out from his embrace at the same time, and completely solemnly said,
"There are a few reminders and rules she hopes you take note of, as well as an item to give to you. What I am about to tell you are entirely her original words, with not a single word altered. I will let you know when it's my turn to speak..."
"One, both World-Ending Prophecies are true; Two, allies are fallacies, and fallacies are allies; Three, you are the key to resolving the World-Ending Prophecy; Four, there are one or six existences intending to destroy the world beyond the Barrier; Five, the Gods are Chaos; Six, be wary of the ocean; Seven, you must travel to the Spirit World, for all secrets are hidden there."
Every single word in Cidi's solemn speech rang like a resonant bell. The moment those sentences entered his heart, Fisher also firmly imprinted all these ambiguous statements into his mind.
But before he even had time to think about the specific meanings of these rules, Cidi had already opened the box before him, containing a parchment with a map engraved on it.
"I've left you some very important treasures right in Saint-Nazareth. Remember to follow the map's instructions to the designated location to retrieve these items. The gate to enter cannot be discovered by anyone but you. The gate to enter cannot be opened by anyone but you. When you discover that door, write down the incantation symbols I laid down and read it out loud. You will then be able to enter and see all the things I've left for you. This is the final gift I am leaving you."
Cidi's words came to an abrupt end. Subsequently, his expression also shifted slightly, becoming a tad more relaxed.
Simultaneously, dense pink energy swirled on his hand. He placed it upon the tabletop, using the energy to carve glowing symbols visible to others on the desk while speaking to Fisher,
"Those were all the words that fellow had for you, as well as the incantation symbols she left you. These are the characters she used in her world. It's written like this, remember it..."
Fisher looked down and saw Cidi writing down two symbols somewhat unfamiliarly,
"女" (Female), "马" (Horse).
Fisher rubbed his chin and asked,
"Just these two symbols?"
Cidi pondered for a moment and nodded,
"That's correct."
"Then, how should they be read correctly?"
"Strange as it is, these two symbols are only read with a single pronunciation in her language."
"A single one?"
"Mm, read after me..."
Cidi coughed lightly, then struggled to imitate the phonetic sound the Demi-Human Girl Con had said to him back then.
"ma"
Fisher furrowed his brows. This Translation Relic didn't turn the language she spoke into a freely translated Naris word he could perfectly understand, unlike when he heard the soul of Asuka Karasawa speaking near him. Instead, it became an entirely foreign vocabulary from another world whose exact meaning was unknown.
It was only now that he realized that in the country where the Demi-Human Girl Con lived, such two symbols were originally meant to pronounce two sounds.
Thus, receiving Cidi's guidance and following his trick for pronunciation, he attempted to chant a password left behind by the Demi-Human Girl Con decades ago for the first time,
"...Mom (Ma)?"