Chapter 596: 74. Mom
As the Demon God stepped out from behind the trees and introduced himself, Fisher, together with Jasmine and the recently arrived Death Lord, felt a heavy sense of dread, especially since Cidi was currently the partner of their nominal enemy, Barbatos.
However, Fisher squinted at the figure, raising a hand to stop Jasmine from raising her sword, as he discovered that Cidi’s rank was only thirteen, which meant that he was, like Eil, a soul projection and not the powerful entity released from the Base.
“Demon God Cidi, how did you escape from the seal within the Mother? If I’m not mistaken, you are not even your true self, and Baemon didn’t release you.”
Upon hearing this, Cidi smiled slightly, and from his delicate hand that was propping up the giant tree, a pink mist-like energy burst forth. The mist mingled with a soft “swoosh” sound, quickly seeping into the leaning trunk and filling the once wide-open crack.
Then, he raised his hand to straighten the giant tree, restoring it to its unbroken form, albeit just a giant tree that housed Barbatos’s residence, no longer a portal.
“This is a little spell of mine, able to make the weak strong again and bring life back to the damaged. You understand.”
He winked at Fisher while explaining and walked out from behind the tree, his movements carrying an ambiguous charm that seemed to hint at something enticing yet elusive.
Without the tree’s obstruction, his soft figure, outlined by a red robe, became apparent, swaying gracefully like aquatic plants in the water.
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“Sorry, sorry, I’ve been lonely for too long, so I tend to say irrelevant things. But kid, you’re right; it wasn’t Baemon who released me. The reason I am awake now is entirely because of you.”
Cidi pointed his finger at Fisher, causing Emhart to raise an eyebrow in confusion, seemingly wondering if Fisher’s charm had reached a level where it captivated both men and women.
Jasmine, however, raised her sword with an abstract expression, wishing she could dismantle this nonsensical figure.
“Because of me?”
Fisher’s expression was abstract, his initial line of thinking mirroring Jasmine’s. But upon reflection, Emhart’s words suggested that Cidi had not met anyone outside since he bonded with Barbatos.
Although this claim could still be seen as a rumor, even Eil had confirmed the depth of their feelings, leading Fisher to consider the credibility of this claim was fairly high.
So, what did this character mean by saying it was because of him?
“Yes, but to be precise, it’s not because of you as a person, but rather because of another person closely related to you. She is my friend. However, it’s normal for you kids to have misunderstandings about me, given my reputation is widely circulated, but I have reformed.” Cidi smiled and walked closer, suddenly reminded of something as he added, “Ah, that phrase is also my friend’s catchphrase.”
“A friend closely related to me? Are you talking about Eil?”
“While she is my friend too, that’s not quite what I mean. Eil wouldn’t say ‘I have reformed,’ would she? She’s more like a cat that sleeps all day, only occasionally revealing her desire to devour others.”
“Then who is this friend you’re referring to?”
Fisher’s mind went blank. A friend of Cidi’s would obviously be of great age and closely related to him. Thinking carefully about the refined ladies he knew, Tang Zeming Asuka, Hela, Renee, and Eil all fit the criteria, but none matched her catchphrase.
At this moment, Emhart, perched on Fisher’s shoulder, blurted out with an expression like a dead fish,
“This catchphrase sounds more like something you would say yourself.”
“Hahahaha, you’re right. I also noticed you both are quite similar; it’s all so strange.”
Hearing Emhart’s teasing, the charming Cidi couldn’t help but hold his stomach in laughter, but soon, the purple star-like light in his eyes shifted slightly, and he opened his hands towards Fisher, innocently saying,
“Don’t expend so much mental energy thinking about it. The friend I mentioned is someone you would not have met, but she indeed has a deep connection with you; our meeting today is all because of her.”
“Her?”
“Yes, Ying Zheng, Hong Zhong, Qin Shi Huang can all call her as they like, but I and every other person who knows her without exception love to call her the ‘Subhuman Girl Enthusiast.'”
“!”
Fisher’s pupils contracted slightly. At the moment that name was uttered by Cidi, he realized that the “friend” referred to was indeed the contributor of the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans, the one from another world known as Trans.
This existence largely shrouded in mystery and unknown even to the Creation Society now had another friend who knew her, the last being to know her was the Moon Princess who had long since died within the Frost Parasol Tree.
“Subhuman Girl Enthusiast? Fisher, who is that? Your mentor?”
“…No.”
Emhart turned to him in confusion, while Jasmine was shocked by this joke-like title and expressed a strong curiosity about the actual figure behind it.
Yet, the Death Lord stroked his chin, looking as though he knew who Cidi was talking about since Fisher had previously shown them the “Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans.”
Fisher himself opened his mouth in astonishment, left speechless.
The person the Moon Princess spoke of was undoubtedly correct. He realized that the connections of Subhuman Girl Enthusiast were indeed extensive. He remembered that when the Northern Region was on the verge of being invaded by the Chaos Race, she simply went to the Angels and asked for four sacred objects forged by others (the Phoenix King and the three swords of her children). Returning to the Holy Realm, Fisher knew that the precious sacred items crafted by the Angels wouldn’t be easily given away, which sufficiently proved her good relationship with the Angels.
Moreover, she also called upon a Whale Folk doctor from the depths of the sea to heal the Moon Princess’s stillborn, and Fisher suspected that the doctor was most likely Gouwen, whom he had previously met.
From reaching the Holy Realm above to the Deep Sea below, and now even including the Demon God within the Demon Abyss, her network could not be called anything less than broad.
However, Fisher could roughly guess the reason for her extensive connections. Although the title “Subhuman Girl Enthusiast” sounded perverse, it was surprising that the Moon Princess had only met her a few times, and she was able to provide so much assistance without asking for anything in return. It was no wonder the Moon Princess held such a profound impression of her.
Mythical Beings are indeed high-level creatures, but they are not heartless; otherwise, Gabriel and Michael wouldn’t have such feelings toward other beings.
Thus, Subhuman Girl Enthusiast, being so sincere and having so many friends wasn’t unexpected.
“It seems you already know a lot about her; otherwise, your expression wouldn’t have changed so oddly.”
With this thought, Fisher gradually relaxed his guard and shook his head, saying,
“I don’t know much; in fact, I know far more about her deeds than she does.”
“Her deeds are her essence; it’s hard to judge her heart, focusing on her actions is sufficient.”
“So, as her friend, she entrusted you with something important regarding me before you fell asleep?”
Cidi smiled, covering his mouth and nodded, saying,
“That’s indeed the case, and it is very important, so important that I didn’t know who else could handle it back then. So, I might have misspoken earlier; technically, I am not just her friend but also her sworn sister.”
“…”
Hearing this, Fisher couldn’t help but swallow hard, not knowing what to say.
Looking at the beautiful Demon God gazing at him with the gentle eyes reminiscent of a doting relative, he began to feel uncomfortable even.
Such a kind gaze had only been seen in Lady Martha from the rented house in Saint Nali since he reached adulthood. At that time, she worried daily about him, a nearly thirty-year-old still unmarried Fisher, fearing he would be unable to find a wife and waste his life away until his soul dried up.
“I’ve known Subhuman Girl Enthusiast for a very long time, it was five thousand years ago. At that time, I was still guided by my nature, indulging in debauchery and pleasure. She not only helped show me the way to liberation and pursue my partner but also assisted me with many other things. Over the years, she has never asked for a single favor in return, but then… hmm, several decades ago? I can’t quite remember, she suddenly arrived in the Abyss and gave me her soul power, asking me to help her at the right moment.”
Several decades ago?
So recent?
Having once crossed back ten thousand years, Fisher now encounters many things that align with Mythical Beings and their long eras, resulting in a subtle shift in his perception of time.
The ideal nation erupted; the Demon Race was born around ten thousand years ago; the Spirit Realm was polluted, and the Chaos Race invaded about six thousand years ago; the Mythical War occurred around three to four thousand years ago.
Many events are calculated in millennia, occasionally making Fisher momentarily forget that he is just a human who hasn’t even lived for thirty years.
Yet, that Subhuman Girl Enthusiast could still seek out Cidi just a few decades ago, which meant she was possibly one of the few original Trans individuals that have survived from ancient times into the present alongside the Fate Lord.
Fisher found it hard to believe and murmured to Cidi,
“A few decades ago, then she…”
“She should be gone now.”
Fisher looked up at him but saw Cidi shrug his shoulders and say,
“She may have died in some unknown place; no one can be sure. It’s normal for her to have faced such an ending, especially since she has been enduring such pain for so long and has been driven mad. But kid, I didn’t come to introduce you to my sister; what I just said was only to prove my identity and that I mean you no harm, so you could trust me sufficiently.”
Cidi’s charming smile gradually faded, then he added seriously,
“What I am about to say is very important, and only you can hear it. The book beside you, the one who was deprived of death, and your little Whale Folk girlfriend must not hear a single word.”
Jasmine and Emhart exchanged glances at Fisher, seeing his serious profile indicated that the “Subhuman Girl Enthusiast” mentioned by Cidi might be of very high significance.
Jasmine pursed her lips, and before Fisher could speak, she had already understood and carefully pulled Emhart off his shoulder, saying to the surging lava in the distance,
“Teacher Fisher, let’s go wait for you at the Performance Gate. The Demon God Eil should have completed her part, so let’s meet with her first to avoid her coming looking for us.”
Fisher pondered for a moment, then nodded and said to Jasmine,
“Thanks, when you see Eil, explain this to her, but don’t rush into Baemon’s palace; wait for me to arrive.”
“I’ll come with her then, don’t worry, I won’t let your man get eaten.”
Cidi flicked his red hair and then beckoned to Fisher, leading the way behind the trees. Jasmine puffed out her cheeks, then squeezed Fisher’s hand and walked with Emhart toward the distant lava.
As they walked, they could still hear Emhart’s mumbling voice coming in bits and pieces,
“Wow, Subhuman Girl Enthusiast… if that guy were here, I’d think he was insulting Fisher; I almost said ‘what an insult,’ and it would have been best to add ‘Subhuman Girl Enthusiast scumbag’.”
“Isn’t it normal for Teacher Fisher to like other races? Why are you making such a big deal?”
“Exactly, you’re the one who enjoyed it, glowing red and all, while not thinking about how the human Empress in Saint Nali must be looking so haggard!”
He was probably hit by Jasmine; Emhart seemed to be someone who easily got hurt anywhere.
“Don’t mention Elizabeth.”
“…”
Fisher shook his head helplessly, heading towards the position where the Demon God Cidi had walked to behind the tree.
It was when he walked to the back that he discovered Cidi had already climbed the tree, standing at the entrance of Barbatos’s house, gesturing for him to come up.
“…”
He inhaled silently, then stepped onto the tree, arriving in front of the wooden cabin wrapped up by the giant tree. Watching Cidi extend his hand to the door handle entangled with branches, he began to release it one by one.
Seeing this, Fisher couldn’t help but ask,
“By entering like this, Barbatos won’t find out, right?”
Cidi turned his head and gave him a look, then smiled, saying,
“What’s with such suspicions coming from someone young? Don’t worry, this won’t be an issue. I understand what you mean, but you already destroyed his teleportation gate; do you still worry he would find out? It’s only a matter of time before what happens here is revealed; otherwise, you wouldn’t have smartly decided to destroy his teleportation gate. Good idea, was it Eil’s?”
Fisher nodded, not replying verbally. Meanwhile, Cidi had already opened the door, revealing a not overly spacious interior.
As the door swung open, flames ignited within the room’s shelves, lighting up the once gloomy cabin, revealing the neat double lounge chair and wooden table inside.
The surface of each item was adorned with warm firelight, adding a touch of warmth to the long-empty little house.
“Wait, swap your shoes first.”
Entering the room, Cidi instinctively reached out to Fisher, but Fisher glanced around the dust-covered room, which had not been inhabited for a long time. After a brief pause, Cidi turned back with an apologetic smile,
“Forget it, come in as you are; I’ll clean later.”
Once inside, Fisher swept a glance at the decorations nearby. This place was different from Eil’s home; she, though fond of sleep, had collected many, many weapons and armor, while Barbatos’s space was truly minimal, with only some exceedingly simple furniture.
Cidi waved his hand, explaining,
“The demons of the ‘Performance Gate’ are mostly like this; they have the same ‘love for decoration’ across different fields; it’s their nature. My husband’s virtuous name also largely comes from this, and I believe he hasn’t completely changed this habit yet.”
Fisher withdrew his gaze and got to the main topic,
“What did Subhuman Girl Enthusiast want to tell me?”
Cidi raised a finger and took out a small box from his chest, saying seriously,
“I have a few reminders and rules for you to pay attention to, plus something to give you. What I’m about to tell you are all her exact words, verbatim, and I will remind you when it’s my turn to speak.”
“One, the two Apocalypse Prophecies are true; two, allies are illusions, and illusions are allies; three, you are the key to resolving the Apocalypse Prophecies; four, there are one or six entities outside the Barrier that intend to destroy the world; five, the gods are chaos; six, beware of the ocean; seven, you must go to the Spirit Realm; all secrets are hidden there.”
Every word in Cidi’s solemn statement resonated like a great bell. At the moment those ambiguous phrases entered his heart, Fisher firmly impressed them into his mind.
Yet before he could contemplate the specific meanings of these rules, Cidi had already opened the box in front of him, revealing a scroll engraved with a map inside.
“I left you some very important treasures, right in Saint Nali. Remember to go to the designated location according to the map’s instructions to retrieve these items. The door leading to them cannot be found by anyone but you, and it cannot be opened by anyone else but you. When you discover that door, write the spell symbols I set and recite them; you will be able to enter and see everything I left for you. This is my final gift to you.”
Cidi’s words came to an abrupt stop, and his expression lightened slightly.
At the same time, pure pink energy began to swirl in his hand. He placed it on the table and began inscribing the luminous symbols on the desk, saying to Fisher,
“This is all the words that girl has said to you, along with the spell symbols she left for you. This is the writing from her world; it is written like this, so remember it.”
Fisher looked down and saw Cidi somewhat awkwardly write down two symbols,
“Lady,” “Horse.”
Fisher rubbed his chin and asked,
“Just these two symbols?”
Cidi thought for a moment and nodded,
“Indeed.”
“Then how do I correctly pronounce them?”
“Strangely enough, these two symbols are pronounced as one sound in her language.”
“One?”
“Yes, repeat after me.”
Cidi softly cleared his throat and then clumsily mimicked the sound that the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast made in front of her,
“ma.”
Fisher furrowed his brow; this translation charm did not convert the language into his comprehensible Nali language as when he heard Tang Zeming Asuka’s soul speaking nearby but instead transformed it into a completely unfamiliar term from another world with no clear meaning.
It was only now that he realized that in the kingdom where the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast lived, these two symbols were supposed to produce two sounds.
Thus, under Cidi’s guidance, he followed his pronunciation cue and attempted to recite the password left by the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast decades ago for the first time,
“…Mom?”
