Chapter 246: Dekan’s Promise |
"Talomati... Talomati..."
Artis whispered "Talomati" twice, seemingly to memorize it.
"Talomati, go quickly to the fifth layer. I sincerely wish you can rescue the Saintess of Darkness and end this war."
Artis gave her blessing.
"Mm, I will."
Dekan waved his hand and finally walked towards the door without looking back.
Just as he was about to leave the study.
"Talomati...!"
Artis' voice suddenly came from behind.
Dekan paused slightly and turned his head sideways.
"If one day this war ends, can you save me and take me out?"
Artis asked with a tone hinting at pleading.
She seemed to realize herself that this request was unreasonable.
But she still mustered the courage to say it.
"I cannot guarantee such a thing."
Dekan answered very decisively.
This wasn't within the mission.
At least in this Shadow World, he couldn't do it.
And it was uncertain whether he could come to the Demon Realm Shadow World again later.
It was very possible that this Shadow World was the final chapter of his journey to the Demon Realm.
Even if he really could rescue Artis, it would be meaningless.
He couldn't change history.
Artis' ending was determined long ago.
Of course, Dekan could also choose to tell a lie to comfort Artis.
But he wasn't willing to do so.
Although this was the Shadow World, a projection of a certain period of history, and compared to reality, everything here was more like an illusion where Dekan could use and deceive the characters within at will.
But Dekan never lied to friends.
Even if she was a phantom, a friend was a friend.
After thinking, Dekan added:
"But I can promise, if one day we can meet again, at that time we will no longer be enemies; I will be your most trustworthy partner. If you are in deep danger, I will save you."
After speaking, Dekan walked out of Artis' study.
Hearing Dekan's words, Artis was first stunned, then nodded with a relieved smile.
"Thank you."
Watching Dekan's figure leaving the study, Artis didn't say goodbye until the very end.
...
In the Real World.
"Ice Snow Princess, what's wrong?"
Judith noticed that the emotions of Ice Snow Princess beside her seemed a bit low.
She stared blankly at the screen, looking as if she had just woken up from a dream.
"Hm? I was thinking, would Artis be very regretful that she couldn't leave with Dekan... no, leave with the person Dekan is playing."
Ice Snow Princess looked at Judith and said with some sadness between her brows.
She felt she could empathize with Artis.
She knew how much hope and loss that meeting, which seemed like an instant in Artis' long thousand-year life, would bring her.
Ice Snow Princess also inexplicably felt that even if the war could end, Artis would have almost no chance to return to her hometown.
But Artis sincerely hoped her hometown could remain forever beautiful as in her memories, so she risked punishment by the Demon King to help Dekan wholeheartedly.
"The Shadow World is just a projection of vanished history from thousands or ten thousand years ago; we don't even know which world it comes from. Everything Dekan and the others are enacting now is ultimately an illusion. There is no need to get emotionally involved with the characters inside; you know this too, don't you?"
Judith asked back.
"Sigh..."
Ice Snow Princess thought for a moment, and just sighed.
For some reason.
She felt an indescribable and irreparable regret in her heart.
...
Demon Realm Prison.
At the teleportation gate from the fourth layer to the fifth layer.
"Speaking of which, Morion, do you know who the last challenger is besides us?"
Dekan asked abruptly while activating the teleportation gate.
"I don't know; I didn't team up with anyone."
Morion hurriedly waved his hands and answered.
"I promised you I wouldn't trouble you in this Shadow World; don't have thoughts of pitting me, okay?"
Dekan suddenly turned his head to look at Morion, asking with an unusually serious expression.
This Shadow World had high requirements for coordination.
After learning the importance of time, Dekan didn't have the time to slowly mess with Morion.
Any scores could be settled when finding his real body in the real world.
After the Shadow World ended, everyone would only be teleported back to the place where they entered the Shadow World.
So there was no way to catch him directly from the Shadow World back to the Norton Kingdom.
"Don't worry, I know the severity of a Tier 7 Shadow World; I don't want to be wanted by the Kingdom Federation."
Morion sighed helplessly.
Being wanted by the Resurrection Church and his own father at a young age, Morion already felt very tired.
Being wanted by the Kingdom Federation again, he could only flee to the Empire.
And now the Kingdom Federation and the Empire had established diplomatic relations.
Fleeing to the Empire might also result in being caught and extradited.
So Morion now, no matter how much he courted death, dared not offend all major powers.
Seeing Dekan still staring at him with a suspicious look, Morion said feebly:
"Do you know how I got through this month? Their search intensity for me has already been raised to your treatment level. I've really had enough of the Resurrection Church; being wanted by the Kingdom Federation again, I completely can't handle it."
Dekan widened his eyes and asked:
"What do you mean by my treatment?"
Morion: "Don't mind these details. I really dare not cause trouble this time. Who can stand being the enemy of the whole world? Ruining a Tier 7 Shadow World in my situation is no different from running to become sworn brothers with the Lord of Calamity."
Dekan: "..."
Morion: "Why aren't you talking?"
Dekan: "I'll believe you for now; let's go to the next layer."
Seeing Morion's attitude, Dekan put down part of his worries for now.
Because Dekan didn't know whether the next layer would have Cornelia or Cloix, or that unknown challenger.
So before going down, he had to confirm Morion wouldn't cause trouble.
The two didn't say much more, stepped into the teleportation gate one after another, and soon arrived at the fifth layer.
In an instant, the cold air made Dekan shiver uncontrollably.
This layer was exceptionally spacious, seemingly a hell made of ice, snow, and steel.
And it looked very prison-style, returning to a feeling similar to the first layer.
But compared to the first layer, the fifth layer seemed harder to survive in.
Compared to a prison, it was more like a slaughterhouse cold storage.
This environment made Dekan frown in displeasure.
Having experienced the third and fourth layers, he almost took this prison for a large shopping mall.
The fifth layer made him clearly realize again that this was a cruel Demon Realm Prison.
So both he and Morion put on thick cotton coats and rubbed their hands.
Then they crossed their hands and tucked them into their sleeves.
"Oh my god, this weather is freaking cold."