Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2495: Chapter 2496: On the Way

”Laksum Principality?” Angel recalled the geography of the Flourish Continent: ”That’s in a completely different direction from Winsbills.”

”Who told you that because Esos settled in Winsbills, his disciple must also be there?” Tree Spirit said, ”Moreover, if you really were in Winsbills, it would take you at least a month to go back and forth without using the Plane Corridor. But it’s different with Laksum Principality; it’s adjacent to the Gumman Kingdom, and you’ll make it back in time to go to the Tidal World with Lord Rhein.”

Angel thought it made sense; Laksum Principality wasn’t too far. Even if he just took the Gondola, he should be able to make the round trip in a week. And with the help of Speedy, it would save at least two or three days.

”Anything else?” Tree Spirit asked.

Angel shook his head, ”No.”

”Then you should prepare to leave,” Tree Spirit said, his figure slowly fading away.

Angel carefully tucked away the task envelope and turned to Greya beside him, ”What help did you say you needed from me earlier?”

Greya was idly feeding Toby her white bread arm. Hearing Angel’s query, she replied, ”It’s not a big deal, just hoping you could introduce me to someone.”

”Introduce someone?” Angel asked with confusion, ”Who?”

Greya opened her mouth to speak, but then seemed to think better of it and stopped, ”I’ll tell you in detail when you come back from your task.”

”So mysterious?”

”Not mysterious, I just need a slightly more complete plan.”

Angel cast a skeptical look at Greya. Wasn’t it just an introduction? Why did it require a plan?

Angel didn’t think too much of it and continued walking out of the Illusion Demon Island.

Greya was about to head back, but Toby seemed reluctant to part with Angel, so she escorted him a bit further.

On the way, Greya asked curiously, ”Just now, I heard Lord Tree Spirit mention you’re going with Lord Rhein to some Tidal World. What’s that place?”

Angel replied, ”You’ll find out after a while.”

Perhaps Greya considered it a secret of the Barbarian Cave and didn’t press further, instead mused to herself, ”It sounds like a new world. Does it have special ingredients?”

Angel thought for a moment, ”Some plants there I haven’t seen before, maybe some could be used in cooking.”

Greya’s eyes lit up. She had only asked in passing, but it turned out to be an undiscovered new world. The mention of a new world piqued her interest.

Throughout the journey, Greya kept pestering Angel, not to probe the location of the new world, but to learn about any unknown plants.

Unable to refuse, Angel continued walking while using Illusion Techniques to conjure some of the exotic flora and fauna he had seen in the Tidal World.

True to her title as a Gourmet Sorcerer, Greya could instantly tell whether these creatures and plants were edible or not.

At least three to four tenths of them were unfamiliar to Greya, which deepened her interest in the Tidal World. Unfortunately, Angel was tight-lipped, and Greya had to trust that perhaps soon, the coordinates of the Tidal World would be made public.

At the edge of the Illusion Demon Island, Greya finally bid farewell to Angel with the reluctant Toby in tow.

Angel also prepared to take off with the Gondola.

Just as Angel was about to take flight, he suddenly noticed a naked man had appeared on the ship.

”Lord Tree Spirit, do you have further instructions?” The newcomer was indeed Tree Spirit, leisurely sitting on the boat’s rail, his legs dangling, with key areas decently covered with leaves, thankfully preventing an eyeful.

Tree Spirit replied, ”Nothing special, just letting you know I plan to stay on the Illusion Demon Island for a while.”

Angel said, ”...You should inform my mentor about this.”

Tree Spirit said, ”I just came online and asked Sanders. He said that when he’s not around, you have full authority over the Illusion Demon Island. So, I’m just informing you in advance.”

Angel gave Tree Spirit a deep look. His plan to stay permanently on the Illusion Demon Island was clearly to get back at Toby.

Angel couldn’t refuse. After all, Toby indeed caused trouble. If Angel were in Tree Spirit’s position, he’d also feel pained.

After pondering for a moment, Angel said, ”If Lord Tree Spirit wishes to reside on the Illusion Demon Island, you’re naturally welcome. Butler Good will arrange your accommodation.”

”...But since the Illusion Demon Island is my mentor’s territory, I hope you won’t cause too much disturbance; I’d have a hard time explaining to my mentor.”

Tree Spirit chuckled, ”No problem, I’ll be responsible for restoring the island. Trust in the land-healing abilities of a Spirit of Nature.”

Angel: ”...”

Subtly hinting led to Tree Spirit circling back. Angel had no choice but to state directly, ”Lord, if you must punish Toby, please be merciful.”

Tree Spirit smiled so widely his eyes turned into crescent moons. ”Why would I punish Toby? I merely agreed with Greya that since Toby is your assistant, it shouldn’t be too weak compared to you. So, in the next few days, Greya and I will train it properly.”

Tree Spirit patted Angel on the shoulder, ”Don’t worry, when you return, I’ll return you a Toby as good as new.”

As good as new. Why did Angel feel that Tree Spirit spoke through gritted teeth when he said it?

Assured that Toby’s life was safe, Angel managed a reluctant smile, ”Then I’ll leave it to you, Lord Tree Spirit.”

Tree Spirit cheerfully said, ”It’s no trouble, no trouble at all. This is the most motivated I’ve been in the past five hundred years.”

Tree Spirit’s smile sent an inexplicable chill down Angel’s spine.

Angel stuttered slightly, ”Then, Lord Tree Spirit, please proceed. I’m, I’m going now. Laksum Principality is quite far, yes, quite far.”

With that, Angel prepared to initiate the Gondola.

Tree Spirit, however, waved his hand, ”Hold on, there’s one more thing I forgot to mention.”

Angel looked over.

”On your way to Laksum Principality, you’ll likely pass through the Gumman Kingdom. There’s an apprentice from the Task Hall who took on a job to go to White Shell Sea Market but has no means of teleportation. Since you’re passing by, could you give them a lift? Just stop at Gumman Kingdom, and they’ll have other means to reach White Shell Sea Market,” Tree Spirit explained.

Angel thought it over; it was no trouble at all. Since he was going that way, he agreed to it.

Tree Spirit said, ”Alright, I’ll notify them now, so you can wait for them outside the barrier.”

With those words, Tree Spirit lightly leaped off the Gondola onto the Illusion Demon Island beside them. Gazing at the lush greenery of the island, a mischievous smile played on his lips as he strolled into the depths of the island.

Angel silently prayed for Toby... It wasn’t that he lacked integrity, but that his integrity couldn’t withstand Tree Spirit’s might.

To avoid witnessing Toby’s ordeal, Angel summoned Speedy, ”Full speed ahead, leave the Mirror World as fast as possible!”

...

Pamiji Plateau, beside the Sky Barrier.

Angel leaned against the Gondola, waiting for the apprentice whom Lord Tree Spirit had mentioned.

Feeling bored, Angel took Dangross out of his bracelet.

Dangross hadn’t woken since falling asleep in the Life Pool. Even now, when Angel took it out, it remained inactive.

However, overall, it seemed fine; the flame within it circulated vigorously, and according to Lord Tree Spirit, it was still digesting the life aura.

Would Dangross mature after digestion?

Probably not. According to the growth pattern of Elemental Sprites, Dangross was just a baby; maturing instantly was impossible.

But it should grow a little after absorbing so much life aura, shouldn’t it?

As Angel pondered this, he noticed that the stub of Dangross’s severed wrist seemed to be lengthening slightly.

Is it an illusion?

Recalling the past location of Dangross’s severed wrist and comparing it to now, it seems like it really grew by one or two centimeters!

Angel’s eyes lit up, could it be that Dangross’s growth would eventually turn the broken hand into a complete arm? Or, would it directly turn into a human form of flame?

This growth pattern is quite intriguing.

Angel fiddled with Dangross for a while, and seeing no sign of awakening, he tossed it back into the bracelet.

And at this moment, there was finally some movement below the abyss.

A shadow riding a broomstick, swaying leisurely, flew up from below. The visitor seemed to have also seen the gondola and desperately tried to steer the broom towards the gondola.

However, her control over the flying broomstick was truly atrocious; the fact she managed to fly up from below the abyss probably exhausted all her luck.

As she flew towards the gondola, a cold wind carrying snowflakes blew by, causing her to tilt. She then fell from mid-air.

Angel faintly rubbed his forehead and said softly, ”Speedy, go bring her over.”

The silhouette that nearly fell to the ground was enveloped by a gentle breeze, then dragged by this invisible wind onto the gondola.

Once she was on the gondola, feeling a bit embarrassed, she wanted to bury her head like an ostrich. But suddenly, she remembered something: ”Ah, my broomstick!”

Although the flying broomstick is a standard flying tool from the Barbarian Cave, it also costs money, and it’s quite valuable for an apprentice.

Angel sighed, gestured to Speedy to grab the flying broomstick darting in the sky and tossed it to the opposite little apprentice.

The apprentice hugged her beloved flying broomstick, then blushed and lowered her head: ”Th-thank you, sir.”

Angel looked at her helplessly: ”No need for thanks, Tree Spirit is the one who asked you to go to the White Shell Sea Market?”

The apprentice nodded vigorously: ”Yes, it’s really thanks to you, sir, for taking me a part of the way, otherwise, I would have had to take the Black Demon Country’s underground train to get there, which would probably take over a month to reach White Shell Sea Market.”

Angel nodded indifferently. Since he had confirmed her identity, he didn’t linger. He patted Speedy, who instantly understood and began to propel the gondola forward.

With Speedy, Angel no longer has to control the gondola himself; Speedy far surpasses Angel in direction and speed, making it an excellent travel companion.

The gondola raced through the sky for dozens of minutes, passing through the heavy snow into a clear sky.

They had now reached the border of the Laksum Principality.

Angel glanced at the little apprentice who still had her head down and was clutching her flying broomstick tightly, looking very nervous.

This behavior was normal, but what attracted Angel’s attention was not the apprentice’s nervousness, but the familiar-looking doll in her backpack.

”Abulei, I remember you had a Tricolor Deer, why did you still buy this broom?” Angel thought for a moment before asking in a slightly soothing tone.

The little apprentice raised her head in surprise: ”You remember me, sir?”

Angel smiled and nodded: ”Of course, you were the one who first introduced us to everything in the Mirror World when I came to the Barbarian Cave.”

The apprentice, Abulei, shyly scratched her ear: ”Your cultivation speed is incredibly fast and you’re always the apprentice everyone’s looking up to. I... cough cough. Anyway, everyone really admires you, but you rarely appear in the Barbarian Cave, so I thought you had forgotten me... I even embarrassed myself in front of you then, and now I’ve embarrassed myself again this time.”

When Abulei first met Angel, she had taken on a newcomer introduction task and arrived on a Tricolor Deer, only to fall flat on her face when dismounting. Luckily, the newcomers at the time were Talented Ones, and none laughed at her, merely thinking it was an eccentricity.

Angel chuckled without saying anything. Continuing this topic would only make Abulei more embarrassed, so he chose not to speak.

Abulei: ”You asked about the Tricolor Deer... sigh, it was my first summoned creature. Everyone said it was useless, but I genuinely liked it. I poured a lot of resources into nurturing it, and eventually, it grew Rainbow Antlers, boosting its combat power significantly.”

Angel: ”Then you must have turned the tables!”

Abulei pulled a face: ”I actually dreamed of that too, but later, a good friend went to explore ruins and borrowed the Tricolor Deer. When she returned, the Rainbow Antlers were gone, and two of the deer’s legs were broken. So, I could only temporarily return it to the original world and will summon it again once its injuries have healed.”

”Without the Tricolor Deer to ride, I had to buy a flying broom.”

After hearing this, Angel revealed an insightful expression: ”I see... Is the friend you’re talking about Gu Yina?”

Abulei’s face showed surprise: ”How did you know, sir?”

”I previously saw you carrying Gu Yina in your backpack,” Angel said.

Abulei looked at her backpack, showing a sympathetic expression: ”Gu Yina had a rough childhood, not only being abused by her family but also being sold to a hideous noble, who eventually cut off all her limbs. Thankfully, she was rescued by the Guide who gave her a new life.”

”She’s kind and understanding, and I really sympathize with her experiences, so we became close friends.”

Abulei spoke lightly about Gu Yina, clearly fond of her.

Angel raised an eyebrow: ”Is this how Gu Yina told it to you?”

Abulei nodded: ”Yes, is there something wrong?”

Angel sneered internally, everything is wrong. Gu Yina is not the naive lily in Abulei’s words; her heart is already corrupted.

He had suspected that Gu Yina mingling with Abulei had ulterior motives. Now, hearing the story Gu Yina concocted and seeing Abulei’s belief, Angel was certain that Gu Yina had other intentions in befriending Abulei.

Abulei said she lent the evolved Tricolor Deer to Gu Yina, and its Rainbow Antlers were cut—probably part of Gu Yina’s scheme, as the antlers are highly valuable to some wizards.

Looking at Abulei’s puzzled expression, Angel softly said, ”Nothing wrong, just thought that perhaps you’ve been sheltered too much in the Barbarian Cave, it’s time to go out and see the world.”

Abulei felt slightly dejected and lowered her head: ”Do you think so too, sir? Sigh, Gu Yina also said so, which is why I accepted this mission to meet with Boro at the White Shell Sea Market and take over the Barbarian Cave’s branch there.”

Meet with Boro? Taking over the White Shell Sea Market branch?

Angel was surprised Abulei’s mission was this. He had visited White Shell Sea Market, and it was quite desolate; going there meant either self-exile or retirement.

What could Abulei experience there, anyway?

Right, Gu Yina suggested she go.

The White Shell Sea Market is so far from the Barbarian Cave; if Gu Yina wanted to stir trouble there, who would know?

Angel seemed to grasp Gu Yina’s intentions.

”Is Gu Yina going with you?” Angel asked.

Abulei shook her head: ”Gu Yina has things to do, so she can’t go with me. But she gifted me a doll she made herself, saying I could look at it when I miss her.”

Abulei spoke while taking her backpack down and pulling out the doll Angel had been focusing on.

When the doll was placed on the table, Angel finally saw it fully.

It was a slender little boy about 20 centimeters tall, with a pale complexion and slightly reddish cheeks—like blood vessels spreading. His mouth formed a smile, a very innocent smile, but prolonged observation revealed it growing increasingly eerie.

”This is the doll Gu Yina gave me.” Abulei introduced excitedly, ”She said she made it in the likeness of her brother, and always kept it with her. It’s because I’m traveling that she’s lending it to me.”

Angel stayed silent, quietly observing the doll.

Gu Yina wasn’t lying; this doll did resemble her brother. And Angel had seen this brother before, the one who killed the kindly Nini for a morsel of food and was subsequently avenged and killed by Nini’s mother. Chaila, his name was.

The reason this doll was always carried by Gu Yina was that its skin was painstakingly stripped from Chaila’s corpse.

And now, this human-skin doll was given to Abulei.

Gu Yina absolutely harbored sinister intentions.