Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2662: Chapter 2663: You Nu

A corner of the Underground Labyrinth.

Deep in the dim and profound tunnels, a series of sputtering noises roared and echoed, accompanied by a dark gust blowing from the depths of the tunnel, resembling some giant beast roaring in anger while exhaling long breaths.

The roaring sound wasn’t too terrifying, but this long ”breath”... carried an exceptionally foul odor.

Moreover, it spread over a great distance, even reaching outside from the depths of the tunnel.

Any living being that could smell the foul gust would never choose to enter, as this stench defied biological comprehension—even creatures accustomed to living in the stench of sewers would avoid it.

However, in the face of the foul gust, a shadow swiftly skimmed over the wall and dashed into the tunnel.

It passed over the wall, not the ground, because this shadow was integrated into the wall, appearing as a flat square shadow but actually being a hole on the wall.

This ”hole,” however, could move freely on the wall and even adjust its depth to avoid the Magical Energy Array within the wall.

If Angel and the others were present, they would likely recognize this hole immediately; it was the same ”doghole” in the wall they had encountered several times before—responsible for swallowing the Black Merchant, leaving him half-dead in its mysterious presence.

The doghole flew swiftly across the wall, soon reaching the depths of the tunnel.

The scene deep within the tunnel unfolded.

A ”cliff.”

Below the cliff lay an Earth Cavern. Vast yet enclosed, the only visible entry was the tunnel atop the cliff.

If you stood on the ”cliff” and gazed over, you’d see the Earth Cavern resembling an inverted bowl—rounded dome above with a pockmarked ground below.

The ground was pockmarked due to the green corrosive liquid prevalent everywhere. Though its acidity wasn’t strong, years of accumulation had corroded most of the ground.

All around the Earth Cavern, white bones were haphazardly piled. Various kinds of bones lay there, but the majority belonged to Magical Creatures.

In the center of the Earth Cavern was a high pile of mud.

More accurately, it was a massive, ten meters tall monster entirely made of mud.

This Mud Monster continuously emitted mucus from its top—most of the mucus kept the creature wet, but some turned into a black gust, blowing in all directions.

This black gust was the foul wind that filled the entire tunnel.

The previous sputtering sound was made as the mucus spewed out, rolling down the body.

The ”doghole” did not enter the Earth Cavern but stopped at the tunnel’s end. Meanwhile, a thin voice emerged from the doghole: ”Sovereign Lord, are you there? Are you there? Are you there?”

”Sovereign Lord! Sovereign Lord!”

Though small, the voice repeated insistently, seeming resolute not to stop until the so-called ”Sovereign Lord” was summoned.

After countless calls, a response echoed from the Earth Cavern.

”Enough.” It was a tender voice, akin to a teenager in transition, indistinguishable by gender. The voice wasn’t loud or imposing, yet upon hearing it, the ”doghole” obediently fell silent.

Notably, this voice came from within the Mud Monster’s belly.

The silence lasted about two minutes, then suddenly, an oval light shield floated out from the Mud Monster’s mouth, continuously spewing foul gusts.

The light shield was thick, with a faint shadow visible inside, though specific details were obscured.

”You Nu, get rid of it. Its secretion glands are thoroughly extracted and hold no further use.” The tender voice came from within the light shield.

Upon the words’ conclusion, a soft-toned voice immediately chimed: ”The Sovereign’s will is the Goddess’s will; I obey the Sovereign’s command.”

The voice sourced out of thin air, clear yet not resonant, as if emanating from every corner of the Earth Cavern or perhaps from outside the tunnel.

”However, Sovereign, I may not digest this foul Mud Monster. May I banish it to a deeper aqueduct?”

”Do as you see fit,” the immature voice inside the light shield replied to You Nu, slowly flying out of the Earth Cavern to stand beside the ”doghole.”

Yet, the ”Sovereign” within the light shield did not pay attention to the doghole, instead observing the happenings below in the Earth Cavern.

Seconds later, a chasm appeared in the Earth Cavern’s center, into which the Mud Monster fell directly.

With the Mud Monster gone, a torrent of Wind Dragon erupted from the chasm, whisking away and consuming the remaining black gust in the Earth Cavern.

Once the air was void of black gust, You Nu’s voice emanated from the chasm again.

”Sovereign, the current process can only mitigate pollution to the Second Level. Further treatment requires you to leave my body.”

”Even at the Second Level, the odor is intriguing after being diluted by this foul mud.” The voice inside the light shield murmured to itself.

Then, layer by layer, the thick light shield began to peel away until only two layers remained before stopping.

Second Level pollution meant the stench was still unpleasant, necessitating two layers of light shield.

The higher the pollution level, the more potent the odor.

Outside, most areas of the stench in the sewers are at Level 1, indicating how unbearably pungent it remains here.

Initially, pollution here was at Level 5, as referenced by the number of light shield layers on the ”Sovereign”—one layer didn’t equate to one level; exceeding a Second Level, shield layers increase exponentially.

Even the Second Level surpassed most of the stench outside; imagine the dreadfulness of Level 5 pollution. Had the Black Earl’s nose been here, he’d probably have fainted instantly.

With only two layers of light shield remaining, the appearance of the inner ”Sovereign” finally became visible.

A fitting look for the voice, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy wearing gold-framed glasses and clad in a black robe, subtly scholarly at first glance. Yet, he differed greatly from humans: his skin was blueish-green, and an additional eye adorned his forehead, requiring a triangular, three-framed mirror, rendering his appearance bizarre.

”Continue handling it; I’m leaving,” the boy, who seemed a bit weary, yawned, all three eyes drooping slightly as he headed out of the tunnel.

Before he got far, a soft voice emerged from the ”doghole”: ”Sovereign Lord, you forgot me!”

The tri-eyed boy halted, glancing at the doghole on the wall: ”You came to slack off and see your mother, right? Your excuses are always irrelevant; save time by skipping them.”

”This time, it’s genuine! Outsiders have somehow breached the Prison Front Path!”

Unbothered, the boy still inquired: ”A Merchant Organization?”

”Yes. The Black, White, and Gray Merchants all emerged, but now the Black and White Merchants have retreated, leaving only the Gray Merchant.”

”Don’t worry about them. They’re clearing the magical creatures from the sewers, preventing them from invading the mortals, which is beneficial to us.” His words suggest he has no ill intentions toward the Merchant Organization.

Too many magical creatures have bred in the sewers, and it indeed requires special personnel to handle them; firstly, to avoid disturbing the outside world, and secondly, the energy from the deceased creatures can be absorbed by the Magical Energy Array, aiding its perpetual operation.

So, although he hasn’t officially interacted with the Merchant Organization, he often discreetly arranges for their convenience in the underground aqueduct.

After all, they’re doing free labor.

”But it’s not just the Merchant Organization; several outsiders have also intruded. The people from the Merchant Organization seem to be chasing these outsiders.”

”Outsiders? What kind of people?”

A tiny voice described for a long time with not much information, only that the number of people was quite large and... always shrouded in an illusion.

”A moving illusion? Interesting.” The young man’s words said this, but his expression remained indifferent: ”Anything else?”

”No.” The small voice whispered.

”Alright, I admit you have a reason to report this time, but there’s still no value of attention.” The young man waved his hand: ”However, I agree you can stay here. You and your mother can clean up the pollution here. I don’t want to smell anything strange next time I return.”

A subtle voice came from the doghole: ”Clearly, the master said it was interesting...”

”I said it was interesting, but it doesn’t mean it requires attention. This place has become ruins; there’s nothing to explore. No matter who, they’ll leave eventually... or stay forever, no need to care.” The young man’s voice grew fainter, indicating he was getting farther from the Earth Cavern.

Once the young man’s figure disappeared, You Nu spoke gently: ”You should learn more from your brother and don’t always run to me.”

Despite her words, You Nu created an abyssal hole, surrounding the tiny entrance within it.

”But it’s so boring over at brother’s place; it’s more comfortable here with mother...”

Though the scene seemed odd, the mother-child, or rather mother-daughter bond was genuine.

After embracing for a while, You Nu softly said: ”I can feel it: the Dominator has left my body. Let’s begin; let’s clean up the filth here on behalf of the Dominator and the Goddess.”

...

Elsewhere, the young man emerged from the passageway, and it slowly closed behind him. This signified that You Nu had begun the Second Level pollution cleanup.

”Just a half month inside that Mud Monster, and I’m already so exhausted. The human form truly is frail.”

”A moving illusion... It’s rare for the underground aqueduct to be lively, but I need to sleep, sigh...”

Stretching lazily, the young man headed in another direction.

Not long after, he saw a magnificent hall.

Through the hall’s portal, a vast domed chamber was revealed.

The chamber was quite simple in decor, with circular walls lined with rows of books, resembling a library.

The young man casually picked a thick book and, dragging his weary body, passed through a small path beside the hall, entering a room slightly smaller than the outer library.

Eyeing the thick white carpet on the distant floor, the young man yawned: ”Finally, I can rest. The matter of making scents for that one... I’ll deal with it after I wake up.”

Murmuring, the youth’s form began to expand, soon morphing from a small human boy into a gigantic four-meter-tall Magic Monster.

——Triclops Blue Demon.

Yes, this young man is one of the several Dominators of the underground aqueduct, the very Wise Sovereign that Angel is destined to encounter.

Triclops Blue Demon stepped to a warm fireplace, the carpet’s texture providing comfort.

It slowly lay down, curling up, with its eyes gradually closing.

Yet, amid the onset of sleep, the three-framed glasses placed beside it suddenly flashed.

”Triclops.” A gentle female voice entered the Wise Sovereign’s ears.

Originally having closed all three eyes, the Sage immediately opened them, sitting upright from the carpet.

Sweeping its gaze around, it finally fixed on a round table with glasses.

On the glass lenses, a faint female silhouette appeared, but the glass’s transparency and reflection made it hard to discern distinct features.

The Wise Sovereign rose, transforming back to the form of a human boy, and slightly bowed toward the glasses: ”Oh, it’s the Goddess, greetings.”

”I know exactly what’s in your mind; there’s no need to feign respect.”

The Sage Sovereign spoke lightly: ”Respect is my duty before the Goddess, considering we have a contract.”

The feminine figure on the lens scoffed coldly: ”You know what the contract entails, so spare me the formalities. Our relationship is merely mutually beneficial.”

The Wise Sovereign chuckled, choosing not to pursue this thread but shifted the topic: ”Did you come here for the new batch of scents? If so, you might be disappointed as I’m currently searching for the main ingredients. There’s a lead, and I might start blending soon. Success isn’t guaranteed, and even if the blend goes smoothly, testing is necessary before offering it to Her Highness.”

”My purpose here isn’t related to scents.”

Wise Sovereign: ”Then are you asking me to convey a message to You Nu?”

”No.” The female voice paused: ”I felt descendants of Noah approaching nearby, drawing closer to where I am.”

”I need you to confirm this descendant’s purpose. If it’s unrelated to me, drive them out. But if they insist on seeking me, then... dash their hopes.”

Upon hearing this, the Wise Sovereign immediately recalled the intruders mentioned by the doghole earlier. If nothing unexpected, among these intruders should be Noah’s descendants.

Noah’s descendants, didn’t expect them to come again... they really are persistent.

Sage: ”I understand, I’ll investigate. But, does Her Highness intend to shatter his hopes or ’his’ hopes?”

Though the Sage used the same ’his’, it was clear the intended target was different.

”It’s best not to pry into matters unrelated to you... Also, do not forget our contract.”

After the words fell, the image on the glasses slowly dissipated, leaving no further sound.

The Sage squinted and stood in place, falling into contemplation.

After a moment, the Sage stretched lazily: ”Seems I have to delay my sleep. What a tough life...”