"If you’re trying to reach the Deep World through the mirror tunnel carved by Adanis, without a mark, you will be forever lost."
This was a voice Angel had never heard before, similar in tone to the ’Mediocre’ Muse, both being a lazy young man’s voice. However, compared to Muse, the other person’s tone was clearer and more... serious?
Seriousness might just be due to the current situation’s gravity. It couldn’t be used as a regular indicator, but whatever the case, Angel could be certain it was a completely unfamiliar voice.
Angel didn’t know who the other party was but judging from the source of the voice, he guessed it should be the owner of that abnormal emotion attached to the whale-like magical creature.
This is a male voice. So it should not be the "she" mentioned by the Wise Sovereign.
The Adanis he mentioned, who could that be?
Angel wanted to reply, but he couldn’t find the other party’s "opening," unable to connect through spiritual power.
At this moment, his voice once again reached Angel’s ears: "Actually, I didn’t expect you to discover me. But now isn’t the time for us to meet. Just wait, wait."
"Remember what I said, you can take that fragmented mirror, but do not enter any mirror tunnel carved by Adanis, and do not allow yourself to be captured into the mirror by You Nu."
"These outsiders are not your greatest crisis. Adanis has released a powerful Otherworld Infant Spirit, which will obstruct you in the remnant territory..."
"Do not confront it head-on. Find a way to enter the secret meeting room... which is what you call the remnant territory. I will be waiting for you there."
"Do not let the Wise Sovereign help you against the Infant Spirits unless absolutely necessary. He’s not a bad person, but what he seeks, no one can afford to pay."
"Lastly, please definitely come to the remnant territory... I’ve waited too long."
The voice gradually became weaker until it completely disappeared.
As his voice fell silent, Angel could clearly sense the benevolent emotion emanating from that whale-shaped magical creature fading away.
Before, it was just a guess, but now it’s almost certain that the speaker was indeed the owner of that benevolent emotion.
But what Angel was unsure of is, who exactly was this suddenly appearing male voice, and what was his purpose? Should his warning be trusted?
From the implications in his words, he seems to be in the remnant territory. However, the Wise Sovereign never mentioned that aside from "her," there was also "him" in the remnant territory?
Nevertheless, although the Wise Sovereign didn’t mention it, Angel and the others had speculated. After all, the Mirror Demon God’s emblem was half female and half male.
Since "she" has appeared, it’s possible that the male in the emblem exists as well.
Could it be the male wearing a hat symbolized in the emblem that just spoke to him?
Without evidence, Angel couldn’t confirm it.
But the consistent reference to Adanis, coupled with the context, perhaps corresponds to the "she" mentioned by the Wise Sovereign?
Moreover, from the tone of voice, it’s clear that Adanis bears ill will towards this group, even devising a... Infant Spirit to hinder them?
Angel naturally knew what an Infant Spirit was. However, in Angel’s impression, Infant Spirits were merely low-level undead, but according to the other party, the Infant Spirit coming this time is very strong?
Setting aside these difficult obstacles for a moment, solely from the malice Adanis showed towards them, this aligns perfectly with the abnormal emotions emanating from the Grey Merchant.
To sum it up, the Mirror Demon God is divided by gender, the female harbors ill intent, and the male holds benevolent intent. The female wishes to prevent them from reaching the remnant territory, while the male hopes they can go there.
Angel didn’t know whether his conjecture was correct, but it is certain that there are at least two differing consciousnesses in the remnant territory.
Truly—divided yet contradictory.
...
Angel’s contemplation was abruptly interrupted by a sudden surge of feedback from Earl Mi.
Amidst the return to consciousness, Angel discovered that Earl Mi had continuously sent him several messages. Initially, they were mere statements, but later escalated into warnings.
The root of everything was the discovery of the "severed hand" on the Grey Merchant.
Currently, the Grey Merchant is merely caught in spatial disorientation, not entirely unaware. When the severed hand wantonly searched the Grey Merchant’s body, he still felt it.
It’s just that to the Grey Merchant, who transformed into a lesser dragon, the severed hand was exceedingly small, like an ant.
Initially, the Grey Merchant was distracted by the external "Earl Mi," not minding the anomaly on his body. But after continuous failed attacks and mounting self-doubt, he finally turned his focus onto himself.
Then, one by one, the severed hands were found and destroyed by the Grey Merchant.
Currently, only two severed hands remained.
One touched the "mirror surface," while the other was attracting the Grey Merchant’s attention for the former, almost about to be found by the Grey Merchant, prompting Earl Mi to incessantly issue feedback.
This meant Angel must make a decision: abandon the mirror piece, or have the severed hand leave with the mirror piece immediately.
Earlier, Angel’s decision was to abandon the mirror piece due to the Wise Sovereign’s implication.
But now, hearing the explanation from the entity in the void, Angel roughly discerned the Wise Sovereign’s intent. Perhaps he feared Angel would completely lose himself within the world inside the mirror?
If it was merely this concern, Angel felt the Wise Sovereign was overthinking.
Angel appears reckless but is actually very prudent. All his ventures are based on having a trump card, backing, and an escape route. When he knows little about what’s ahead, he becomes exceedingly cautious, even if he were to enter the Mirror World, he’d first investigate diligently, probing the path repeatedly until confirming there’s no danger before proceeding.
The Wise Sovereign probably considered Angel to be an extremely radical adventurer, seeing that Angel would "risk death to proceed" even when there seemed no benefit to reaching the remnant territory. That’s why he subtly implied, hoping Angel wouldn’t acquire the mirror fragment, only to carry out "reckless adventure" fueled by passion.
Upon realizing this, Angel made a new decision.
He still wanted to get that mirror fragment.
Since the entity in the void said he could take the broken mirror piece, as long as he didn’t explore the mirror tunnel constructed by Adanis... why shouldn’t he take it?
As long as he doesn’t enter the mirror, using it as a research subject for experimental purposes, why not?
Moreover, Angel himself had been researching mirror spaces lately. Solely relying on Mirror Grudge for studies was progressing slowly; perhaps this fragmented mirror could bring him some surprises?