https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-783-Lanchi-and-Shubelian-s-Memories/12585509/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-784-Lanchi-s-Black-Day-Lord-Experience-Card-Part-2-/12585511/
Chapter 784: Lanchi's Black Day Lord Experience Card (Part 1)
Chapter 784: Lanchi's Black Day Lord Experience Card (Part 1)
In the depths of the floating fortress of Purgatory City, known as Pasquale, a corridor lay shrouded in darkness. The carpeted floor, adorned with intricate patterns of demonic flora, muffled footsteps, while sparse lights flickered intermittently on either side, casting an enigmatic glow upon the golden motifs of the marble tiles. Gracing the walls at regular intervals were portraits and mirrors, creating a captivating display.
This was the very heart of the Purgatory Corridor Academy, leading to the Inverted Mirror Corridor, a structure that supported the foundation of the towering edifice.
"Lanchi, would you like to sleep a little more?" Talia's voice echoed in Lanchi's mind, a unique form of telepathic communication. She had returned to Lanchi's side early that morning.
While Sigil and Hyberian were still asleep in the resting area assigned to them by Lisandra within the academy, Lanchi was already awake and ready to embark on the day's tasks, with only a few hours of rest under his belt. Talia, accustomed to early mornings, decided to accompany him, ever-vigilant and concerned for his well-being.
As Lanchi's soul-bound card, Talia could remain by his side unobtrusively, even in the Shadow Realm, a testament to their profound connection.
"No need, we only have a little over five days left in the Purgatory Corridor. I want to get some important things done before they become urgent," Lanchi replied, referencing the school's motto.
At that moment, nestled within his coat pocket, was a tiny gray kitten, no larger than the palm of his hand, and in his other hand, he held a multilayered bento box.
Crafted from the finest cherry wood, the box boasted a natural grain polished to perfection by traditional demonic craftsmanship and enchanted with preservation magic. The lid and body fit together seamlessly, divided into four layers, each holding a moderate portion of food—a main course, side dishes, and a dessert.
Given the distance from the teaching and resting areas, Lanchi had opted to bring his lunch from the Demon King's restaurant, anticipating a lengthy stay in the central area of the academy.
"Alright then, but do make sure to get enough rest," Talia gently reminded him.
In their current state of unity, akin to a dual soul inhabiting one body, taking care of Lanchi's physical well-being was essential for both of them.
"Yes, mom," Lanchi replied concisely, as if humoring his mother.
To continue his exploration of the Shadow Realm, Lanchi needed to follow up on one of his mission objectives—finding the gift that Kaliyra had left behind in the Purgatory Corridor.
He halted before a restricted door, the entryway to the negative first floor corridor. Ancient demonic engravings adorned the door, barring passage to ordinary demons, ensuring they could not traverse this threshold to reach the Inverted Mirror Corridor.
The Purgatory Corridor Academy, suspended above the depths of Purgatory, was connected to the infernal realm below through the Inverted Mirror Corridor, a magical conduit that drew and harnessed the energy from Purgatory itself, providing the academy with an abundant and endless power source.
Due to its direct link to the heart of Purgatory, even the successive principals of the academy were not permitted entry to the Inverted Mirror Corridor. Only with the highest-level authorization from the Demon King's city could one hope to unlock its mysteries.
Recently, there had been incidents of staff and students losing consciousness near the Inverted Mirror Corridor, leading to its blockade. However, the true cause was Kaliyra's magic—a potent allure that lulled those without resistance into a deep slumber.
Lanchi pushed the door gently, and a resounding hum filled the corridor, accompanied by the scent of candles.
Stepping into the grand transitional corridor, they beheld a forest of inverted statues, towering several meters high on either side, bathed in silvery light.
Lanchi glanced down at the gray kitten in his pocket. Ever since he had taken her back from Lisandra that morning, she had remained silent, neither meowing nor responding to demonic language.
At that moment, Tamisha, the little gray cat, gazed around the corridor with curiosity, seemingly unaffected by the allure of the Falling Gentle Village that permeated the area. Perhaps she sensed the familiar magic of Kaliyra, and her inquisitive nature wondered about this strange new place.
As they ventured further, their eyes were greeted by a dazzling array of flickering lights and refracted beams. The walls, floor, and ceiling were adorned with countless prisms of various shapes and sizes, each one a masterpiece of craftsmanship, causing the temperature to drop several degrees.
Their diamond-like surfaces, some clear as water and others tinged with milky or pastel hues, reflected and refracted the light, filling the surrounding air with a mist of rainbow frost. The lamps, strategically positioned, created a mesmerizing display of dancing lights that seemed to flow and shift with every step they took.
As they progressed along the winding corridor, the light and shadows danced in unison, sometimes converging and sometimes dispersing, casting ethereal patterns on the smooth stone floor, making them feel as though they were treading upon a river of stars.
The corridor twisted and turned endlessly, revealing arched vaults and alcoves on either side, each offering a unique perspective. A brief pause allowed one to admire the wondrous Inverted Mirror Corridor and experience the illusion of infinite space and time, as if they had stepped into a different dimension.
"This corridor doesn't seem to welcome me; I can't sense the direction," Lanchi remarked as he stopped, less out of admiration and more out of a realization that he had been walking in circles.
Within the Inverted Mirror Corridor, both space and time seemed to lose their meaning. Getting lost was not a physical predicament but rather a consequence of being ensnared in the corridor's cyclical nature.
Despite his awe for the ancient demonic craftsman, Tebiriuss, the creator of this marvel, Lanchi's immediate priority was to navigate through this maze and reach the place where Kaliyra's magic was the strongest—the legendary central energy chamber of the Purgatory Corridor Academy.
According to the backdrop of the Shadow Realm, the magic of Kaliyra that lingered within him was likely left behind many years ago, while the permissions here were set up more recently, explaining why his key didn't match.
Lanchi glanced down at the kitten in his pocket. As a fellow recipient of Kaliyra's magic, if the key wasn't with him, it had to be with the little gray cat.
He couldn't fathom why Kaliyra had guided this little cat to meet him. However, given Kaliyra's reliability, he knew that this cat's purpose likely extended beyond merely opening doors.
"Tamisha, can you sense which direction we should go in?" Lanchi asked softly.
"..." Tamisha looked up at him but remained silent.
"This fellow demon of Kaliyra's probably saved her yesterday. She probably guessed that Kaliyra left something behind here, and this demon really wants it. Since Kaliyra gave the key to her and not directly to this demon, it shows that Kaliyra wanted her to decide whether or not to open it."
"This little one seems a bit distrustful of you; she's observing you," Talia explained to Lanchi through their mental connection.
It wasn't necessarily distrust, though; Little Gray Cat simply didn't know Lanchi at all yet.
After all, Little Gray Cat had only known Lanchi for a few hours, and now she was expected to help him open the treasure Kaliyra had left behind.
"She's just like a little gray cat I used to feed by the walls of the South Van Tina Territory. When I first met her, she was also very wary and aloof, and she seemed like she'd be difficult to befriend." Lanchi reminisced.
Talia thought about this as well.
South Van Tina Territory, the walls, wariness, and aloofness...
"Are you talking about me? You're the gray cat! Your whole family is gray cats!" Talia exclaimed, realizing who Lanchi was referring to.
So, when he mentioned feeding cats by the wall, he had included her in that!
"So, if it were you, how would you quickly gain your trust?" Lanchi asked Talia for guidance.
Tamisha was a bit of an introvert; she never spoke.
No matter how one tried to communicate with her, it was of no use.
Even though Hyberian had grown closer to her during their journey, she still wouldn't utter a single word to him.
"Well... there's no shortcut to it, but if you keep spending time with her, perhaps over time, she'll open up to you... But, if it's about gaining the trust of this little gray cat right now, I can help with that." Talia replied, and with a confident flourish, she materialized.
The fairy-like gray-haired witch appeared in the corridor.
"Tamisha, I'm right here," she said, crouching down and speaking softly to the little gray kitten in Lanchi's pocket.
Now that the real Kaliyra had appeared, the problem should be solved, right?
"..."
Little Gray Cat stared at Talia, looking perplexed.
The day before, she had seen someone who looked like Kaliyra.
But that Kaliyra had been unusually weak and had lost to Merogass.
"Why don't we eat something first? Otherwise, if we fall asleep in the Inverted Mirror Corridor, we might stay hungry for a long time," Talia suggested, her gaze drifting to the four-layered bento box Lanchi was holding.
Although she couldn't identify the specific dishes by name, Lanchi's meal included dishes like charcoal-grilled potato balls and smoked eel, with sauces that resembled smoked onion sauce and eel clear soup, accented with fresh dill.
There was also a black chocolate egg custard souffle, which looked like a warm, fluffy chocolate egg custard with a custard cream sauce that resembled ice crystals.
Just thinking about it made Talia's mouth water.
The previous night, Talia had taken Sigure to the Demon King's restaurant for a late-night snack, but these limited-time dishes had already sold out, and today was their first day on the menu.
She wondered what kind of mental interference effects there would be in an area infused with the magic of the Inverted Mirror and the Falling Gentle Village.
Lanchi would probably be fine.
But Tamisha might not be.
When it came to building a good relationship with children, offering delicious food was always a timeless strategy.
"..."
Little Gray Cat turned her head away in disappointment.
Her favorability had decreased.
At a glance, she could tell this was a fake Kaliyra.
Although this fake Kaliyra didn't seem bad, she disliked the fact that this demon was trying to care for her out of goodwill. She didn't need the pity of other demons; she could take care of herself and wasn't lonely at all.
"Ugh..."
Talia looked up at Lanchi, bewildered.
Lanchi spread his hands helplessly.
As someone who had been raised by Kaliyra for nearly three years, Tamisha might have a unique way of sensing her, and even though Talia looked exactly like Kaliyra at that moment, Tamisha saw through the difference.
"I'm sorry, Lanchi..." Talia said, feeling a bit dejected and discouraged.
She felt like she had made things worse.
It was only because Hyberian and Sigure had been separated from Kaliyra for so long that they could be completely fooled by even the slightest resemblance, but for Tamisha, who had been with Kaliyra recently, this approach wouldn't work.
"It's okay, Master. Leave it to me," Lanchi reassured Talia.
After Talia's attempt, he had a better idea of how to interact with Tamisha.
"Okay, good luck," Talia said, lowering her head to avoid eye contact with Lanchi. She nodded and disappeared back into Lanchi's body.
When he was happy, he would say mean things to her, but when she felt down, he would suddenly become gentle.
It made her hesitate to look directly into his eyes.
She didn't understand why she felt this way.
Lanchi sat down on the floor of the Inverted Mirror Corridor, setting the bento box beside him.
The little gray kitten in his pocket jumped out and landed a few inches away on the ground.
She watched him with curiosity.
"I'm so tired and sleepy, Tamisha. Would you mind waiting here while I rest for a bit?" Lanchi asked, leaning against the mirror and turning his head to look at the little kitten.
His eyes were filled with fatigue, and now that the adrenaline of their adventure had worn off, he felt the weight of their journey through the corridors.
Tamisha remained silent, simply watching him.
Lanchi took her silence as agreement.
The cold corridor was filled with an icy chill.
And Lanchi fell asleep right there.
The little kitten curled up next to him.
Watching as he lay still.
Motionless.
Like a frozen corpse.
She hesitated for a moment, then slowly moved closer and extended a paw to nudge his nose gently.
Satisfied that he was still breathing, she relaxed a little.
This demon must have been truly exhausted to fall asleep so quickly.
She noticed that he seemed to be shivering from the cold.
After another half-minute of hesitation, she jumped onto his chest and snuggled down.
At least she could offer him some warmth, a small ball of fur to keep him from getting too chilled.
It was the least she could do to repay him for helping her the day before.
"..."
Although Lanchi had fallen asleep, Talia remained awake and alert.
She wasn't sure how tired Lanchi was or if he was truly asleep.
After all, his willpower was already superhuman.
In the Flower Capital, every slight movement from her would make him sleep for a long time. Yet here in the Shadow Realm, after an intense battle with Desecration Lord, Lanchi only slept for a few hours before resuming his work.
It wasn't until Lanchi dozed off for over ten minutes that he stirred awake, his spirits seemingly lifted as he propped himself up against the ground.
And with a nimble leap, Tamisha jumped down from his body.
She was keeping her distance again.
"Thank you, Tamisha," Lanchi said, acknowledging the warmth on his chest moments ago and expressing his gratitude to the little cat.
Tamisha remained silent.
"I'm so hungry, but I think I'm catching a cold. I have no energy left," Lanchi slumped against the wall, his eyelids half-closed as his entire being seemed to loosen up.
"Tamisha, you should go now. Go find Sister Hyberian. I don't think I can take care of you anymore," he mumbled, his eyes drooping as if he was about to fall asleep again.
"..."
For a long while, the little gray cat remained unseen, her whereabouts unknown.
She watched him, seeing the dazzling front he put up for other demons, as well as his loneliness and fragility when he was alone, hollow and weary, huddled here in a pitiful state.
She felt a strange emotion welling up within her, as if she were looking at a reflection of herself.
Perhaps this was why she had been willing to come closer to him earlier.
After several seconds, a gray-haired figure appeared, the misty aura around her indicating that it was Tamisha who had transformed.
The petite figure stood silently, her presence exuding an air of mystique.
In her human form, Tamisha looked to be around three or four years old, her skin as fair and translucent as finely crafted porcelain, her gaze cold and distant.
The little demon girl wore a puffy cloth skirt, her porcelain-doll-like appearance making her seem adorable and irresistible, yet giving others pause before daring to disturb her thoughts.
As she hadn't learned how to cast kinetic magic yet, she couldn't use her cat paws to bring him food.
So, she transformed back into a form that allowed her to move more easily.
Kneeling beside him, Tamisha opened the bento box and used the utensils to scoop a small portion of food, bringing it to Lanchi's mouth.
"Tamisha..."
Lanchi looked at her with a hint of surprise as she fed him, but he gratefully opened his mouth to accept the food.
Talia: "???"
"Are you kidding me, Lanchi? You're having a child take care of you now?" Talia was stunned.
She had thought Lanchi was truly exhausted when she saw him lying there, but it turned out he was just trying to evoke sympathy from Tamisha.
"This kid is quite stubborn. The more you treat her like a child, the less she'll listen to you. On the other hand, if you act like the child and treat her like an adult, she'll be more inclined to interact with you."
Lanchi explained his approach to Talia.
Tamisha had been a loner since she was young, preferring to be self-reliant and rarely trusting others.
However, she was adept at taking care of herself, and so she knew how to do many things.
As long as she perceived a kindred spirit in front of her, someone who reflected her own nature, she would have the impetus to lower her guard and draw closer.
(End of Chapter)
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