620 Abnormality in the Abyss
âCould it be that some of the Demon legends in this notebook are true?â Lumian held the yellowed notebook and flipped through a few pages.
âPerhaps,â Lumian smiled. âLetâs not speculate about such matters involving high-level creatures. Iâll just write to Madam Magician and report it to her.â
Franca glanced at Lumian and chuckled.
âYouâre really proficient in dealing with management.
âHowever, it does make sense. We know very little about real Demons. Making wild guesses is a waste of time.â
She then pointed at the notebook and said, âThe handwriting differs from the note that wrote the Love Incantation. Itâs not the same author.â
Lumian had already sat at his desk, unfolded a piece of paper, and wrote to Madam Magician. As he deliberated over his words, he responded to Francaâs words, âDoes the notebook have the phrase that represents the Love Incantation?â
âI scanned through it. Nothing,â Franca replied affirmatively.
Lumian contemplated for a moment and said, âThere are two possibilities. The first is that the Demon used someone under its control to insert the Love Incantation into this notebook that records Devil and Demon legends, hoping that it could secretly spread and affect more people. The second possibility is that those who once read this notebook were unknowingly influenced by the demon and obtained a so-called revelation. They wrote this Love Incantation and provided commentary.â
âMysticism sure is dangerousâŠâ Franca sighed with emotion.
Lumian swiftly composed the letter and dispatched the ancient notebook and the note with the Love Incantation to Madam Magician.
While awaiting a response, Franca and Lumian briefly delved into the Demon legend of Hanth Island in the Berserk Sea.
Thirty years after Emperor Roselle discovered a safe sea route to the Southern Continent, numerous mysterious deaths of colonists and natives plagued the newly colonized Hanth Island. Witnesses claimed to have seen a valley ablaze with sulfur flames in the islandâs forest. At night, pitch-black Demons with goat horns were suspected of circling the area.
After the authorities intervened, the mysterious deaths ceased. The owner of the notebook that chronicled the legend even attempted to explore the forest, but he failed to locate the alleged valley burning with sulfur flames.
As they conversed, time passed. The doll messenger arrived with Madam Magicianâs reply, the ancient notebook, and the Love Incantation note.
Lumian illuminated the gas wall lamp and began reading. Franca didnât hesitate and leaned in.
âItâs impossible to determine its true name with just the fact that the name âNaboredisleyâ could expel that fellow.
âThis is because it admitted, in a short period of time, that it was its real name. Even if itâs lying, sometimes, under certain circumstances, admitting something makes it the truth. It possesses the corresponding mysticism connection. This is one of Mr. Foolâs authorities. Amon, too, could do it in the past.
âAs you prayed directly to Mr. Fool and used his power to exorcize Naboredisley, it doesnât matter if itâs its real name. It wonât affect the final outcome.
âDo you understand? Termiborosâs warning was correct. You have to be cautious even if itâs a false promise.
Upon reading this, Lumian turned to Franca.
Franca said with a solemn expression, âEmperor Roselle once found the entrance to the Abyss and conducted a thorough exploration.â
âAs expected of Emperor Roselle,â Lumian praised instinctively and sincerely.
There werenât many people he admiredâin fact, very fewâbut Emperor Roselle was one of them.
Knowing that this emperor was a transmigrator like his sister made him feel an affinity with him.
Franca continued, âIn the Abyss that Emperor Roselle explored, Devils and Demons had long perished. Not a single one remained.
âAll he saw before him were either corpses or silence.
âThis state made him feel fear. He left in a hurry without completing his exploration.â
âAll dead?â Lumian frowned slightly. âIs the Love Incantation fellow either not a Demon or an ancient Demon from the Abyssâs core?â
Pausing momentarily, he added, âIf itâs really an ancient Demon, it might know why the Abyss underwent such an abnormality.â
Franca nodded solemnly.
The duo cast their gazes at the back of Madam Magicianâs reply.
âI reckon youâve already grasped the gist of the Abyss from the Two of Cups, so I wonât dive deeper. Simply put, Naboredisley could be a potent Demon who slipped out of the Abyssâs anomaly, or it might have roamed the Northern Continent before the three major Devil clansâNois, Beria, and Andarielâheld sway. It didnât pledge allegiance to any ancient gods, whichever way you slice it. But dealing with an ancient Devil King whoâs fled back to the Abyss isnât something the two of you are capable of, let alone striking a bargain with it.
âYou can explore the Demon legends on Hanth Island if itâs on your route, but stay cautious.
âRemember, the Abyssâs corruption is potent. It can corrupt people without their awareness. During this time, be vigilant for changes in your thoughts, concepts, emotions, and desires. If you notice anything unusual, consult a Psychiatrist for confirmation. If youâre genuinely affected by the Abyss aura from Naboredisley, contact me or Judgment. Experts skilled in purifying such influences will assist you. Avoid burdening Mr. Fool unnecessarily.
âThinking about the name âNaboredisleyâ is okay, but refrain from writing or reading it.â
After reading the letter, Lumian mumbled to himself, âMadam Magician seems more inclined to believe itâs a Demon and not some other hidden entity.â
âThatâs right,â Franca echoed, puzzled. âLetâs assume that fellow is a Demon, yet it doesnât even have Danger Premonition, allowing us to complete the preparations for the Exorcism Spell. If we say it isnât, it can create fluctuations and trigger our desires and emotions. I was just guessing that itâs a secret entity that possesses a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact of the Demon pathway.â
Lumian pondered for a few seconds and said, âPerhaps Madam Magician has seen more.
âThat fellow probably doesnât have Danger Premonition because its true form isnât here. It only descended with a sliver of its aura and power. Or perhaps, the danger originated from Mr. Fool, so it couldnât sense it!â
âThat makes sense,â Franca agreed before saying with a strange expression, âEver since we became Minor Arcana cards, weâve increasingly come into contact with the depths of the mystic world. The Demoness Sect, the mirror world, the War of the Four Emperors, the Great Mother, and a Demon of the Abyss this time⊠In the past, when I read Emperor Roselleâs diary, I often had the feeling that âthatâs just how the world is.â But now, the contents of his diary have truly come to us.â
Without waiting for Lumian to speak, Franca added in a self-
deprecating manner, âFor example, a Demoness does taste pretty good.â
Lumian chuckled and remarked, âThink about it carefully. Did you encounter these things after becoming a Minor Arcana card holder, or after getting to know me?â
âŠ
Two days later, Lumian, Ludwig, and Lugano boarded a long-
distance ship set to pass by Hanth Island, en route to the Southern Continentâs West Balam.
Lumian aimed to investigate the Demonâs legend and seize an opportunity to fully digest the Conspirer potion.
After outsmarting Naboredisley and banishing it with the Exorcism Spell, Lumian realized that his potion digestion had made significant progress.
With another decent performance, he could advance the digestion further. This would eliminate the need for the final advancement ritualâs aid, allowing him to plan the subsequent matters more calmly.
Captain Pedro, accompanied by his eldest daughter Salah, and a few Favored and Blessed, expressed sincere gratitude to Lumian. They watched as he ascended the gangway with his godson and servant, boarding the ship named âBerries.â
Once the ship set sail, one of the Blessed appeared to sigh in relief and commented, âHeâs finally left Port CollaâŠâ
Without waiting for Salah to inquire about the reason for the sigh, the Blessed, wearing a brown priestâs robe, turned to her and Pedro and advised,
âThe circumstances at the scene of Floresâs death indicate that this matter involved a true, high-ranking Demon. Miss Salah, itâs best if you stay in the cloister for a year to avoid any possible aftereffects.â
Salah, aware of her awakening thanks to the adventurer Louis Berryâs assistance, was horrified. However, lacking personal experience, she inquired, âA year? A real Demon⊠What kind of Demon is that?â
The Blessed, in a brown clergymanâs attire, responded solemnly, âItâs the Demons from the legends youâve heard of, or something even more powerful.â
âWhâŠâ Salah turned to her father with a face filled with fear, confusion, and disbelief.
Did you guys save me from such a Demon?
Pedro was equally surprised.
He had never imagined that his daughterâs situation would involve such a terrifying existence.
And Louis Berry had only received 20,000 gold risot!
No, he actually succeeded!
Pedro, having witnessed the adventurer Louis Berryâs strength through the colossal wave he created, could now grasp his power more vividly in this direct comparison.
âŠ
In the first-class cabin suite aboard the Berries.
Lumian handed the ancient notebook and the note with Love Incantation to Ludwig and asked with a smile, âIs it edible?â