Chapter 622: The Anomaly of the Abyss

"Could some parts of this legend about devils in the notebook be true?" Lu Mi took the notebook with its yellowed cover and aged pages, flipping through a few pages briefly.

Franca murmured, "Hmm."

"In a world where supernatural powers exist, where real 'devils' and 'demons' are real, many related legends must be true—or at least based on real prototypes. Tell me, Napo—no, that former creature who claimed to be an ancient devil—could he be the protagonist of one such legend, and the devil of Hant Island his mortal enemy, disguised as a human living in the real world, falsely calling the other a devil's descendant to lure us into danger for some hidden purpose?"

"Maybe." Lu Mi laughed. "Let's not guess blindly about matters involving high-rank entities. Let's just write a letter to the 'Magician' and report it."

Franca glanced at Lu Mi and chuckled.

"You really are an expert at upward management."

"Still, it makes sense. We know almost nothing about real 'devils.' Speculating blindly is just a waste of time."

She pointed at the notebook.

"The handwriting here differs from the note with the 'love spell'—not the same author."

Lu Mi had already sat at the desk, spreading out paper to write to the 'Magician.' As he weighed his words, he replied to Franca:

"Does the notebook contain the word used in the 'love spell'?"

"I flipped through quickly—no, I didn't see it," Franca confirmed.

Lu Mi pondered and said:

"Two possibilities: First, the devil used someone under its control to slip the 'love spell' into this notebook recording demon and devil legends, hoping it would spread secretly and influence more people. Second, someone who read this notebook unknowingly fell under the devil's influence, received a so-called 'revelation,' and wrote down this 'love spell' with a note."

"Occultism is truly dangerous…" Franca sighed with genuine awe.

Lu Mi finished the letter quickly and mailed the ancient notebook and the 'love spell' note together to the 'Magician.'

While waiting for a reply, Franca and Lu Mi briefly discussed the devil legend of Hant Island in the Furious Sea:

Thirty years after Emperor Luo Saier discovered a safe sea route to the Southern Continent, Hant Island—now a colony—witnessed multiple mysterious deaths among colonists and natives, with witnesses claiming to have seen valleys burning with sulfurous flames within the island's forests, and at night, a pitch-black devil with goat horns circling and flying above them.

After official intervention, the mysterious deaths ceased. The notebook's owner even ventured into the forest several times to search for the sulfurous valleys—but found nothing.

As they chatted, time passed second by second. The 'Doll' messenger delivered the 'Magician's' reply, along with the returned ancient notebook and the 'love spell' note.

By the glow of the lit gas wall lamp, Lu Mi began reading immediately. Franca, unbothered, leaned her head close.

"Just because the name 'Napo Redisli' can repel that thing doesn't mean it's its true name."

"Because it briefly admitted that was its true name—even if it lied—sometimes, under certain conditions, an admission becomes true, establishing a corresponding occult link. That's one of the 'Fool's' powers; even the former Amon could do it."

"Since you directly petitioned the 'Fool' and used his power to expel 'Napo Redisli,' whether it's the true name no longer matters—it won't affect the final outcome."

"Understood? Theremipolos was right: even false promises must be handled with caution."

"If it truly is a devil, and its true name really is 'Napo Redisli,' the situation becomes more complicated. Since the Fifth Era, devils active among humans either exist as sealed artifacts or bear one of the three surnames: Andrelad, Belia, or Nos. Devils without any surname are usually ancient—or from the Abyss, where devils and demons dwell. And what is the current state of the Abyss? Emperor Luo Saier's diary mentioned something about it."

At this point, Lu Mi turned his head toward Franca.

He often saw others trading Emperor Luo Saier's diary at the 'Curly Baboon Research Society.' When the 'Fools' Day' members were still active, they even recited the more comedic entries aloud. But he'd only joined the transmigrant organization in recent months and had no access to earlier translations—he couldn't know what the Emperor had recorded about the Abyss.

Franca said solemnly:

"Emperor Luo Saier found an entrance to the Abyss and explored it deeply."

"No wonder he's Emperor Luo Saier," Lu Mi said instinctively, sincerely.

He had few idols—almost none—and Emperor Luo Saier was one of them.

After learning this Emperor was a transmigrant like his sister, he felt even closer to him.

Franca continued:

"The part of the Abyss Emperor Luo Saier explored? All demons and devils were already dead—not one remained."

"What he saw wasn't corpses—it was silence."

"That state terrified even him. He fled without completing his exploration."

"All dead?" Lu Mi frowned slightly. "So the 'love spell' creature either isn't a devil—or it's an ancient devil from the Abyss's core?"

He paused, then added:

"If it truly is ancient, it likely knows why the Abyss underwent such a transformation."

Franca nodded seriously.

Both turned their eyes to the latter part of the 'Magician's' reply:

"I assume you've already learned about the Abyss from 'The Two of Chalices.' I won't repeat it. In short: 'Napo Redisli' is either a powerful devil who survived the Abyss's transformation, or an ancient devil who remained on the surface before the Nos, Belia, and Andrelad families became active in the Northern Continent—someone who didn't follow one of the ancient gods, the Demon King, back into the Abyss. Either way, you're not equipped to handle it. Don't even think of making a pact with it."

"You may investigate the Hant Island devil legend on your way—but proceed with extreme caution."

"Remember: the Abyss's corruption is severe. It can make you fall without realizing it. Pay special attention to any changes in your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, or desires. If you sense anything odd, consult the 'Psychiatrist' for confirmation. If you've been tainted by the Abyss's aura from 'Napo Redisli,' write to me or the 'Judgment'—specialists skilled in purification will help. Don't keep troubling the 'Fool.'"

"Also: think carefully about the name 'Napo Redisli.' Don't write it. Don't speak it."

After reading the letter, Lu Mi muttered softly:

"The 'Magician' seems to lean toward it being a devil, not some other hidden entity."

"Yes," Franca agreed, puzzled. "If it's a devil, why didn't it sense danger? It let us complete all the preparations for the 'Exorcism Ritual.' But if it's not a devil, how did it generate disturbances and ignite our desires and emotions? I just guessed it might be some hidden entity possessing a Level 1 sealed artifact of the 'Devil' Path."

Lu Mi thought for a few seconds:

"Maybe the 'Magician' saw more."

"That creature didn't sense danger because its true body isn't here—only a trace of aura and power manifested. Or—the danger came from the 'Fool,' so it couldn't be sensed at all!"

"That makes sense," Franca agreed first, then said with a strange expression: "Don't you feel that since becoming Minor Arcana, we've been exposed more and more to the deeper layers of the occult world? The Witch Cult, the Mirror World, the 'War of the Four Emperors,' the 'Great Mother,' and now this Abyssal devil… When I read Emperor Luo Saier's diary before, I often thought, 'The world is really like this?' Now, his diary's contents are right beside us."

Before Lu Mi could respond, Franca added with self-deprecating humor:

"For example, witches taste pretty good."

Lu Mi chuckled:

"Think again—did you encounter all this after becoming a Minor Arcana, or after meeting me?"

"Uh…" Franca's lip twitched. "You've got self-awareness."

………

Two days later, Lu Mi boarded an ocean-going vessel bound for the Southern Continent's West Baylan, passing through Hant Island, accompanied by Ludwig and Lu Jianuo.

He wanted to investigate the devil legend and seek an opportunity to fully digest the 'Conspirator' elixir.

After deceiving Napo Redisli and driving it away with the 'Exorcism Ritual,' Lu Mi found his elixir digestion had advanced significantly.

One more good performance, and he could digest the elixir ahead of schedule—no longer needing the final Ascension Ritual to help. He could then plan his next moves more calmly.

Captain Pedro, with his eldest daughter Sara and several 'Divinely Favored' and 'Divinely Blessed,' sincerely thanked Lu Mi and watched as he ascended the gangway with his godson and servant.

Once the ship named 'Berry' set sail, one of the 'Divinely Blessed' seemed to exhale in relief:

"He's finally left Colia Port…"

Before Sara could ask why he felt that way, the 'Divinely Blessed' in brown clerical robes turned to her and Pedro:

"The scene of Flores's death confirms this involves a real, high-ranking devil. Miss Sara, you'd better stay in a convent for a year to avoid possible aftereffects."

Sara had long known from her father that her recovery was thanks to the great adventurer Louis Berry—but since she hadn't witnessed it firsthand or felt it herself, she lacked real experience. Only now did she ask in terrified disbelief:

"A year?"

"A real devil… what kind of devil is that?"

The 'Divinely Blessed' in brown clerical robes answered solemnly:

"The kind you've heard in legends. Even worse."

"This…" Sara turned to her father, face filled with fear, confusion, and disbelief.

You saved me from a devil like that?

Pedro was equally stunned.

He never imagined his daughter's case involved such a terrifying entity.

And Louis Berry had only charged twenty thousand Jin Lisuo!

No—he actually succeeded!

Pedro had seen the giant waves Louis Berry created and roughly guessed his power level—but nothing compared to this concrete example and contrast.

………

On the 'Berry,' in the first-class suite.

Lu Mi handed the ancient notebook and the 'love spell' note to Ludwig and asked with a smile:

"Can you eat this?"

(End of Chapter)