Chapter 945 - 5: If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them?

Chapter 945: Chapter 5: If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them?

If you really want to collect living sample data from the Demon Hunter World—

Then, among the intelligence Gu Mo has gathered, the Shadow Elder and Mirror Master are naturally on the list.

The former is because high-level vampires in the Demon Hunter World already have commendable features. In terms of performance alone, they are more perfect than vampires in most worlds...

As for the latter, naturally, it’s because he is a demon from a different dimension, both cunning and brutal, considered the combat power ceiling among the characters. Spells like stopping time are merely a clap for him.

If it were in the past, Gu Mo would never actively provoke such an existence.

But now...

He really wants to see what is different about demons of this level, and what position they hold on the Tree of Life? It seems demons are not a single species or race, but a general term for creatures with common traits, because among them, each individual is significantly different.

He is curious about the origin of such life, curious about the secrets of the demon’s life essence, and can’t help but want to explore the ecological environment of the spatial plane or world that nurtures demons.

——These are all the knowledge he wants to understand, and he also thinks he can gain this precious sample information.

It might even be easy because the Shadow Elder is short-tempered, needing to be persuaded reasonably. The Mirror Master is quite crafty and clever, like a merchant, he would "rationally" judge the situation, perhaps only needing a reasonable trade to get his data.

"Gante Odium? Peddler of mirrors? I’ll be sure to keep an eye out..."

Hiri nodded thoughtfully, indicating she remembered the name and planned to investigate it after returning.

"You could ask your adoptive father, Geralt of Livia, who should have already dealt with the Mirror Master..." Gu Mo provided another clue, the Mirror Master trades everywhere, signing contracts with all kinds of people, trading souls, so of course, Geralt, as the main character, has encountered him.

From the perspective of the story, it is indeed true.

So following this clue should yield some results.

"Alright, I got it." Hiri agreed without issue.

She wasn’t surprised or curious, as this person being able to foresee and understand these things is a very normal phenomenon.

"That’s good... now, take a look at this."

The young man in white and black hair thought for a moment, concluding there was nothing else to explain, casually pushed the Magic Guidebook in front of him, letting those around him take a look. Everyone at the table immediately sat down, curiously gathering around.

"What is this? Is this book for me?"

The Demon Hunter Girl felt the same. After all, about the emergence of this book, the idea came after she temporarily left the team to start a business in her world, so she wasn’t aware of it. Seeing this book, feeling the powerful enchantment of spells within it, she instinctively asked.

Because she naturally thought so—

Coming all the way to specifically call her back, putting this thing in front of her, couldn’t it be to provide more support?

Such a solemn event, could it be some kind of powerful weapon? But it’s unnecessary, or has he foreseen she’ll encounter some tricky crisis, so he prepared this? Hiri couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild.

However, at the same time—

"...!!"

The face of a certain blond maiden who had been silent on the side instantly darkened, instinctively hugging the Magic Guidebook in her hand tighter while gazing at the book on the table.

It indeed seemed to be identical in craftsmanship, including the spell enchantments, one could see a familiar practice. The maker did not intentionally hide their spellcasting habits. That means this Magic Guidebook also comes from the hand of a certain person.

Alice’s pupils slightly contracted, and her gaze turned complex.

Because now she knows the origin of the Magic Guidebook in her hand.

Once thought it was an innovative gift from her mother, which puzzled her at the time because her mother wasn’t too skilled in illusion techniques, so why would she have such a masterpiece from a top illusion expert? But the still young Alice didn’t think much of it back then, instead felt particularly touched.

——The fact that it’s not a specialty yet done so well doesn’t it show the effort and love devoted to it?

——Alice loves mom the most!

Within the domain of the Magic Guidebook lies a collection of fairy tale concepts and fantasy creatures, creating a self-contained closed space, a book containing the entirety of the Fairy Tale Realm, also imbued with "Fragment Magic" manifested from excerpts of fairy tale stories.

A dreamy fairy-tale world...

Many blessings and protection...

It’s tailored perfectly...

For Alice who just embarked on the path of magic, it was naturally her favorite gift, dream traveling in the Immortal Realm before sleep every night, never tired of it.

Even now, it remains her favorite gift—

The only difference is that she now knows it wasn’t her mother’s work, but... a gift from the person in front of her.

Gently biting her lower lip, the blond maiden bowed her head, struggling to calm down and not care, yet anxiety and inexplicable emotions continued to surge within her... well, maybe not inexplicable, she actually knows exactly where her emotions stem from, just reluctant to admit it.

The gift that was supposed to be solely mine and unique now seems to have a second, and it’s being given to someone else?

So, will there be a third, a fourth next, making what I have suddenly not special anymore, turning it ordinary.

"This is..."

Gu Mo was about to answer directly, but he noticeably paused. He sensed something vaguely, glanced to the side, then quickly retracted his gaze without leaving a trace. He pondered for a short while, then promptly settled on his wording, ready to speak.

"It’s not for you, Hiri."

An alluring voice rang out first, directly answering the previous question.

Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively turned towards the sound and found that, unbeknownst to them, the golden-haired Demon Sage was already standing in the pavilion. She raised a fan to cover the lower half of her beautiful face, smilingly looked at everyone, and elegantly lifted her hand to adjust her gorgeous long hair.

Her gaze next lingered slightly on the only unfamiliar black-haired girl present, although just for a fleeting moment before she moved away nonchalantly. Nonetheless, the latter’s perception was extremely sharp, able to distinctly confirm this.

Why is there another one...

Moreover, the atmosphere feels somewhat off!

Yatsugaya Miko’s expression was slightly rigid, feeling somewhat uneasy as she marveled at another such beautiful maiden appearing and simultaneously wondered what exactly was going on, always vaguely feeling as though she was being swept into a whirlpool that humans shouldn’t be a part of.

Moreover, within her, there was a clearer, more multi-dimensional understanding developing about her teacher.

Well, how should I put it? There’s a bit of an image-shattering sense of disillusionment.

"I just stepped away for a little while, and everyone gathered, not even calling me..." the Demon Sage murmured softly, seemingly complaining, unabashedly squeezing in to find a seat. Strangely, despite the pavilion being small—

The table was also small, with the surrounding square stone stools initially seeming to number only four.

However, as people arrived one by one, they weirdly managed to fit, exhibiting an odd absurdity and subversion.

At this time, no one paid attention to this aspect, and the air seemed to fall silent again. Hiri found it quite troublesome, sighing bitterly, yet there was no choice. In these circumstances, she could only continue to help the other party out of a tight spot; after all, it wasn’t much different from before.

From another perspective, perhaps this was likewise a mutual benefit of sorts?

With quirky thoughts swirling in her mind, the Demon Hunter Girl earnestly asked, "Miss Yagumo is here too, what you just said..."

"This, of course—is," Yakumo Zi interrupted her, lowering her fan to answer first, "prepared for Alice."

"..."

"..."

"Eh?" Stunned for a moment, Alice raised her head; she heard her name, taking a moment to comprehend what she had heard.

"Is this... for me?" she asked uncertainly.

"Of course, it is. This guy has put quite a bit of thought into it, been busy with this all along..."

Yakumo Zi pouted slightly, glanced at someone nearby, seeming a bit jealous, and spoke sourly. Yet precisely because of this, her statement seemed very genuine, with a convincingly earnest tone.

Beside her, Gu Mo blinked; this turn of events didn’t feel quite right.

On the other side, Shenqi raised an eyebrow gently, seeming to suspect something was off, but not really certain what it was. As for Miss Tamamo no Mae, her expression remained unchanged, feeling very mixed inside—Tamamo’s devoted wife radar was on full alert, emitting warnings!

A formidable rival!

Indeed, another troublesome adversary!

She initially intended to enjoy watching someone make a fool of themselves, yet hadn’t expected the Boundary Demon to take action completely beyond her prediction, dismissing everything to tactfully lend a hand instead... Darn it! Didn’t this both increase Master’s favorability and Alice’s favorability?

Enraged, she clenched her fist under the table, Miss Fox Spirit’s eyes darkly shifting—

Staring at Alice.

Across from her, a reminder was given; she told herself she should pay more attention to this girl... No matter what, she was Master’s daughter.

Rejecting or resisting Alice’s existence was the worst tactic, also unfeasible.

But from another angle, could one indirectly win Alice over? Opposition would only lead to mutual destruction; if you can’t beat them, join them, while quietly smoothing out discrepancies with that conniving cat and turning her advantages into shared advantages... Fathoming this, Miss Fox Spirit’s eyes brightened up.

"?"

At this time, across the way, the silver-haired, silver-eyed girl suddenly furrowed her brow and pouted.

She suddenly had an unpleasant premonition, feeling someone perhaps maliciously intended to snatch something of hers.