Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 166: Possibilities

Previously, Nol had been quietly listening.

Star Stealer Sol blatantly ignored him, perhaps convinced that his mind was muddled beyond communication. What a logical arrangement… The creator entered the cruel otherworld he crafted, witnessing the twisted fates of many, watching his compatriots crumble before his eyes.

He still remembered the guilt, wandering, and exhaustion from those early days.

Now, having finally grown stronger, he was greeted by a state of chaotic thought shrouded in dark unknowns… Such a path could crush any sane person.

Then someone appeared, offering him the sweet release of death and cutting through the tangled morass.

With his original level of mental disarray, Star Stealer Sol’s stance was like asking a feverish elementary student to solve a world-class math problem. Not to mention the “divine oracle” stirring things up.

Nol was sure that, facing the pain and torment he had endured, he would likely accept.

Not for anything else, but for a justified release.

Unfortunately, Nol had never been so clear-headed.

There were minor flaws in the whole event.

The so-called “prophecy of fate” felt slightly off from the start… When the remains of Perradat provided the “prophecy”, it borrowed the corpse of the Eternal Pope.

But just a short while ago, it had delivered a prophecy in another form right in front of them, so why suddenly change the method?

Was a prophecy appearing before the remains of Perradat necessarily given by “Perradat”?

The “Master” of the Eternal Pope was Star Stealer Sol from the start, not Perradat.

Coincidentally, Star Stealer Sol specifically lured him, a “suspected Demon King’s minion”, to Amazon.

Amazon held the prophecy, “He will grant you the way home”… Clearly, this wasn’t a prophecy the Popes would receive. And even if the situation was still unclear, would the coward Perradat suddenly intervene in the battle?

Prophecies could be forged, both in content and outcome.

The monster-transformed Nol stood calmly, hearing the creaking of his thoughts. Strangely, his mind became clearer after calming down.

Behind the monster, the crack-like wings gradually became transparent, as if the world itself was healing.

Nol tried to hide his wings, continuing to ponder amidst Star Stealer Sol’s buzzing nonsense.

Following this line of thought… Star Stealer Sol used some means to discover the old pope’s death, then immediately dropped a divine oracle, luring the attacker to the Dragon’s Lair.

At the same time, he spread “prophecies” among the nearby Players, dangling the bait of “a way home”. This way, Star Stealer Sol could stir up opposition and even eliminate him, the “unknown attacker”.

“The way home” was too vague. “Sending people back to Earth” was a way home. “Unlocking the sealed area of this quest” was also a way home.

Similarly, “noble sacrifice”. This was easier to handle. If the hat couldn’t be passed on, Star Stealer Sol just needed to ensure someone died.

If Nol were to write this script, “Players suffered heavy losses, a prophet jumps out to sacrifice himself summoning the projection of the Goddess, and the Goddess protects the Players with her power”… This situation could serve as a “guarantee for fulfilling the prophecy”.

This would significantly increase the Players’ trust in the goddess.

Whether the “attacker” was a minion of the Demon King or the Demon King himself, this setup had too much room for manipulation. At worst, Star Stealer Sol could gain information about the attacker and the trust of the Players, which would be a sure win.

It seemed that from the moment they crossed the oracle’s transmission formation, Star Stealer Sol began its scheme.

For instance, the sudden appearance of Enbillick Alva. Could he be in the same situation as the prophet in front of them?

The dark, sticky malice pushed them step by step towards destruction, offering an irresistible reason. This thing worked hard to create such a situation. No matter how beautiful its words were, Nol didn’t believe a single bit.

After all, for him, “giving up the future” was never an option.

He and his knight had made a promise.

Nol’s gaze shifted to Teest.

[…Will that soft-hearted Demon King betray everything it protects for you? …You are the “price” that can be sacrificed.]

Star Stealer Sol whispered softly to Teest, every word a stab to the heart.

Nol could see a hint of disarray in Teest’s silhouette. The Mad Monk hid it well, but Nol could see. Perhaps along the way, facing the torments that could crush him, he always looked to Teest.

[…I am willing to do my best to preserve a piece of its soul, to accompany you in a new shell… a shell at your disposal…]

If it were the Mad Monk he first met, he would definitely agree quickly. After all, his knight was a control freak who liked to hang people with golden threads. He would be happy to put a collar on the victim.

But Nol knew that Teest wouldn’t choose this now. He just knew.

Not long ago, Teest said he would offer loyalty. In fact, Teest offered far more than life and loyalty… But his knight hadn’t realized it yet.

[The Demon King will not resist. Everything is destined…]

[No, the Demon King will resist.]

Nol teleported behind Teest, soothingly covering Teest’s eyes. Don’t be tempted by that false light. His chest gently leaned against Teest’s back.

[Even if it’s destined,] Nol said.

[Do you feel shaken when you hear “a shell at your disposal”?]

At the same time, Nol sent a telepathic message to Teest in a light, almost teasing, tone. [Wasn’t I enough at your disposal before? I said, you just need to ask me.]

[Honey, you really are becoming more… um, open,] Teest responded, his thoughts carrying a sense of relief.

Star Stealer Sol fell silent for a few seconds. Nol didn’t know if this thing could parse their telepathic message. Never mind. It didn’t matter to him.

[You are stronger than I imagined.]

After a few seconds, Star Stealer Sol still maintained that annoyingly holy tone. [You have unnecessary caution towards me… I admit, I’ve done some things, but that was just for self-preservation. My respect for you hasn’t changed.]

[Regardless of what happened before, the conditions I offer now are genuine. If you have doubts, you can fill in any details you want.]

Her tone was almost sincere. [I understand your concerns. After all, they are your compatriots.]

“Compatriots!” Barto raised his voice. “Damn, I knew it…”

“God has spoken to this extent. I think you just want to live cowardly—”

[Yes,] Nol said.

He released a part of the False God’s pressure.

Barto was choked up on the spot, Lynn moved slightly in surprise, while Dorothy stood like a stone statue, expressionless. Painter stepped back two steps with the corners of his mouth curved upwards.

[The past is just the past.] For the first time, uncertainty appeared in Star Stealer Sol’s tone. [I sincerely offer you a deal—]

[No,] Nol said again.

The huge monster covered Teest’s eyes, bowing its faceless head.

“Tilia’s” smile faded a bit.

[So you choose to be enemies with your compatriots, and I will give them new rewards—your corpse, your power, will guarantee their way home.]

She looked sadly at the monster in front of her and the white-haired knight it enveloped.

[Is this the path you choose…]

[Yes,] Nol answered without hesitation.

Putting aside the other party’s insidious intentions, even if Star Stealer Sol’s offer was a true escape, he would never become a compliant pawn.

He would forge a new path, a better one—this was his world, and even if such a path didn’t exist, he would create it.

Because he promised someone an ending.

“From this second onwards, every person who dies will be on your head!” Barto roared. “No wonder the main quest is to subdue the Demon King. We will tell everyone the truth—that a Player has obtained the Demon King class! You wait…ugh…”

Before he could finish, the anger on Barto’s face suddenly froze.

His beautiful face gradually stiffened, and outlines of doll joints faintly appeared on his fingers and arms. Barto’s eyes widened as if he wanted to say something, but only a clacking noise came from his throat.

Lynn extended her hands, as if controlling a puppet, her fingertips glowing with a dim light.

The ability of the Supreme Domination Witch, [Living Puppet]—

Turns beings of lower strength into puppets to serve as subordinates. The controlled are fully conscious but unable to do anything, essentially making them sentient vegetables.

Unless the spell is actively lifted by the Supreme Domination Witch, the controlled will remain in a puppet state forever.

“I knew this trick would come in handy someday.” Lynn’s expression was complicated. “Don’t worry. You won’t die. I won’t send you to the battlefield—I’ll let you find a quiet corner to gather dust. If our leader is in a good mood, he might mercifully seal you away.”

“Why… Why…” Barto struggled to ask.

“Because I’m not a bullshit saint. I only care about family and friends, not the end of the world.”

Lynn’s expression remained complicated, but her tone was firm. “I support my own people who have helped me, rather than someone who jumps out halfway and speaks pretty words.”

She said this while looking towards Dorothy not far away.

“Even if I make the wrong choice and suffer for it, it just proves I misjudged someone. After all, I’m still young and only understand simple truths—like, if Mr. Demon King truly had no choice, Lady Goddess wouldn’t be in such a hurry to make a deal.”

Dorothy’s expression remained unchanged.

Lynn smiled slightly. “Even the Demon King doesn’t know how to send people back, yet Lady Goddess does. So, who brought the poor Players here in the first place?”

“Now Lady Goddess wants to make a deal with the Players… In a world without oversight, what kind of ‘fair’ contract can be made between two parties of absolutely unequal power? I’m really curious.”

“Pfft.” Painter couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry, please continue.”

Dorothy’s expression gradually changed, and she looked at Nol with complicated eyes.

The smile on Star Stealer Sol’s face slowly faded. Nol believed that if it weren’t for the Players watching outside the sound barrier, she would have killed Lynn immediately.

What to do next?

Nol subconsciously pulled Teest closer to him.

There were still many Players outside. They needed a foolproof plan. Maybe they should just leave on the undead dragon. As for the problem of Dorothy possibly leaking the situation…

[What are you doing? You, this—] Suddenly, “Tilia’s” friendly and beautiful face twisted. [You blasphemous—]

A mighty magical fluctuation came from Painter’s direction, and Nol immediately realized it was a meticulously prepared ritual magic. No wonder Painter had been mostly silent. This guy…

“As a mere mage, I happen to have studied various magics,” Painter said with a smile. He looked at the struggling “Tilia” with eyes devoid of humor. “My power may not be enough to confront a god, but it’s sufficient to dispel a projection spell.”

“I don’t like your negotiation attitude. Life isn’t something to be bargained with. If you insist on doing so, remember to change your face next time.”

He raised his hand smoothly.

In the dazzling white light, the image of the Goddess of Life melted away. Teest instinctively acted, and the False God level power isolated all surrounding influences, ensuring the serpentman prophet wouldn’t be affected again.

Not just Star Stealer Sol, but Teest and Nol hadn’t expected it either.

In a standoff with a False God, the human Painter dared to pull such a move—regardless of whether the process was pleasant, they genuinely needed to negotiate with Star Stealer Sol. Abruptly interrupting this conversation could potentially offend three False Gods at once.

But Painter still made his move without a moment’s hesitation.

The incident happened so suddenly that Star Stealer Sol didn’t have time to take the sword called the “Dominator” with it. It stood upright in the soil, emitting an intimidating glow.

This wasn’t over.

After the light faded, in front of many Players, the serpentman prophet still had the appearance of the Goddess of Life. In contrast, Painter himself disappeared into the shadows, nowhere to be seen.

The “Goddess” gently raised her palm, and the sound barrier set up by Teest slowly disappeared. While casting, the “Goddess” sneakily winked at Nol and Teest.

Nol: “…”

Teest: “…”

Lynn muttered. “You really like cross-dressing.”

“This Villain admires Mr. Nol. He’s not ready to be troubled by ‘rumors’.” The “Goddess”—Painter muttered back. “And I had something I wanted to verify.”

[My children.]

Then, Painter resumed “Tilia’s” gentle and sacred voice. [Remember my words. The strife here has been resolved, and the evil here has been purified.]

Nol quickly transformed back into human form, shadows forming a wide cloak. He “weakly” fell, and Teest caught him in a reversal.

[Your courage and perseverance allowed the hero Drake to awaken me.]

Painter spoke convincingly. [This subjugation was actually a ruse. The Demon King wanted to stir up strife between you and the dragon race. Remember, God loves order and peace.]

[Please think for yourselves, discern for yourselves, and follow your own path. Do not be misled by bloody rumors. Life and goodwill are always worth praising.]

It must be said, Painter looked more like the “Goddess Tilia” than Star Stealer Sol did.

Nol’s speechlessness from within his cloak gradually overcame his fatigue. It was a great sight to see everyone working together…if only the method wasn’t so strange.

But what exactly was Painter trying to verify with such a grand gesture…?

[I have come here at the cost of the precious life of the flesh I inhabit. I will not easily descend again. Drake is my absolute envoy.]

[Warriors, may the truth illuminate your way home.]

Costing a precious life? This serpentman isn’t dead, is she?!

Lynn looked at Painter with an indescribable gaze, then glanced sympathetically at Barto. A real “Saint” indeed spared no possible evil deed, clearly intending to make the serpentman exit from the Players’ side.

The Players cared not for NPC specifics; many moved eyes looked towards the “Goddess”, hope kindling faintly in their gaze.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Painter raised the “Dominator” sword high into the sky. Then, with an illusion…he sneakily slipped it into his magical pocket.

Nol couldn’t help but whisper, “We can all see that.”

Painter whispered even softer, “A little reward is due for This Villain who helped you two wrap things up beautifully.”

Teest whispered with a tinge of pity, “What does a mage need with a sword?”

That was a sword capable of slaying gods! But remembering that Star Stealer Sol wanted him to use it to kill Nol, Teest didn’t really want it.

Painter: “There’s always a time when it’ll be useful. Besides, it looks very valuable. See, Star Stealer Sol would never expect me to take the sword. It will only chase after you, so we can successfully deceive it—since it’s already tracking you, one more reason won’t matter.”

Teest: “How astonishingly shameless. You actually manage to sound so righteous.”

As they spoke, his hand still tightly held Nol’s. If not for being careful, his nails would have dug into Nol’s flesh.

Watching these three secretly muttering, Lynn felt a headache coming on. She snapped her fingers, and the controlled Barto walked over to Dorothy, clutching her wrist tightly.

“We have things to discuss, Miss Dorothy.” In front of many Players, Lynn spoke through Barto’s mouth.

Dorothy nodded imperceptibly, sighing.

Amidst the bustling chaos, a system popup suddenly appeared in front of everyone.

[You have completed the time-limited area quest: Divine Revelation.]

[You have met the conditions for completing the quest “Divine Revelation”: Listening to the words of God alongside the hero Drake.]

[Quest rewards: Will be settled in subsequent events.]

The smile on “Tilia’s” face suddenly became meaningful.

She turned towards Nol, pointing to her chest, where Painter wore the Faceless God amulet.

Nol’s mood, which was just relaxed, became heavy again. He understood what Painter wanted to verify—a problem that had always troubled them, a definition filled with mysteries.

“Look.”

Turning away from the Players, Painter silently mouthed.

“A joke-like ‘God’ like myself can actually satisfy the system’s literal judgment.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, fate still holds infinite possibilities.”

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The author has something to say:

Let’s see how many were fooled by Star Stealer Sol’s fake oracle in the previous chapters, huh?

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Kinky Thoughts:

Just for some clarity, there are two terms being used throughout the novel to refer to “prophecy”. The first is “oracle” (神谕). This is a specific term that still refers to a “prophecy” but it’s directly from a God/deity. You can think of it as “God’s decree”. It carries a religious/divine subtext.

The second term “prophecy” (预言) is a more general term that encompasses “oracle” but doesn’t necessarily have to have the implication of a religious or divine undertone (for instance, it can come from a fortune teller).

Note, in this novel’s context, oracles are specifically applied to “Chosen Ones” (like Painter, Eugene, etc.).

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 165: The Perfect Option

The sudden change in the quest left the Players a bit dazed. Dorothy frowned and gestured subconsciously for the Players to form a defensive formation.

Teest was the most aware of the system’s changes.

Behind him, the remains of Perradat began to lose control. Dark runes emerged from the void, once again densely entangling that body. A soft white light covered the body’s convulsions and tremors, and within ten seconds, the body disappeared into the light.

As he expected, Star Stealer Sol’s first reaction was to drop everything and come to reclaim the remains.

The enemy’s personality traits became clearer. Teest curled his lips, not forcibly fighting for control of the remains—there was no point in fighting over it at this juncture. It was necessary to hide his skills.

In the distance, Nol, after brewing for a long time, took control of his thoughts.

It was like escaping from a hot, stuffy room and suddenly breathing fresh air. Nol almost wanted to sigh. In an instant, he knew how to return to human form—those pieces of knowledge were like remnants of a dream, leaving shallow imprints in his mind.

He chose not to revert immediately—the moment seemed likely for Star Stealer Sol to “appear”, and it was necessary to hide his abilities.

Nol tried to appear unchanged, only sneaking a few glances at Teest. Teest squinted at him, showing a sort of “waiting for praise” smug smile.

Together with the bewildered Players, they quietly waited.

The soft white light lit up again, and greenery sprouted from the barren, cracked land around them. Centered on Teest, a lush lawn slowly spread out. Bushes unfolded like peacock feathers, and climbing vines blossomed with fragrant flowers. Life spread like wildfire, creating a scene very fitting for a “Hero”.

Lynn felt a lightness on her wrist, and Lilith suddenly disappeared.

Along with her disappearance, Painter’s Holy Light Lock also vanished.

An image of a beautiful woman appeared three or four steps away from Teest, floating in the air, dressed in a classic robe with loose braids adorned with flowers and fruits. This stranger had a gentle look in her eyes and radiated a warm glow, giving an immense sense of comfort.

It was the image of Tilia, the Goddess of Life.

She was about the same height as Lilith. Lynn frowned imperceptibly.

Next to Lynn, Painter’s expression turned even uglier. “There’s residual fluctuation from the Holy Light Lock. She used the body of the serpentman prophet.”

“Possession?” Lynn asked quietly.

“More like domination plus projection.” Painter barely moved his lips. “The serpentmen’s talent in the realm of inspiration is naturally high, especially a prophet. The price of being spiritually close to a god is being more easily ‘seen’ and ‘influenced’ by a god.”

“If she has made a prophecy recently, the probability of being discovered would be quite high.”

No wonder Lilith insisted on coming with them. When exactly had she been influenced by Star Stealer Sol?

A chill ran down Lynn’s back. Luckily, she and Painter were tight-lipped, never discussing Teest and Nol’s matters in front of Lilith. As the most powerful False God at present, this guy’s methods were… very real and dark.

“Is She strong?” she continued to probe quietly.

“No, that’s just a projection.” Painter stared at the goddess’s image not far away. “Even if you destroy it, you’ll only kill the innocent prophet.”

[My Hero, I’ve always wanted to see you.]

“Tilia” spoke, her voice ethereal with divinity, completely different from Lilith.

[I’ve also always wanted to see you,] Teest said with a smile, his tone gentle, but with a subtle hint of bloodthirst. [You¹ can’t imagine how much I’ve wanted to, Tilia.]

[Your awakening was earlier than I thought,] “Tilia” said softly, ignoring Teest’s disrespect¹ and also ignoring Nol behind her. [You will become the pointer of the new world, my brave child…]

¹He used the informal form of you.

Her attitude was like that of a true god.

Teest glanced at Amazon and saw that many were relaxed, showing hopeful expressions on their faces.

Before Tilia could say the next sentence, Teest suddenly extended his hand, creating a huge soundproof barrier that covered nearby. It just covered Painter, Lynn, and Dorothy—and Barto, who, unluckily, walked towards the god and was just caught by the edge of the barrier.

But that was just a small insect.

Teest glanced at Barto, not intending to recast the spell for such a person. At worst, he’d erase the guy’s memory afterward, not caring if it damaged his brain.

Tilia smiled. [It seems our Hero wants more.]

“I just want to talk to you.” Teest maintained a hero-like gentleness on his face. “After all, this is just a damned projection. Even if I turn you into pulp, it’s useless.”

[I can grant you power, power beyond your imagination.] Tilia, as if not possessing the emotion “anger”, continued softly, [I can establish an unbreakable absolute contract with you. You will become my subordinate god, enjoying infinite life and absolute power. As long as…]

[As long as I kill the Demon King for you.] Teest scoffed. [I thought you’d be a bit more original, like ‘domesticating’ me, just like how you ‘domesticated’ the Eternal Pope.]

Tilia’s expression softened. [That was not domestication, but asceticism. Suffering is the best path to realizing one’s true nature, and you are already mature, my child.]

She extended her hands, and a glimmering golden longsword appeared in her grasp. It was a remarkably beautiful sword, its semi-transparent blade reminiscent of sunlight itself.

[This is my first gift to you, the “Dominator”… Go. The new Demon King is right here. I won’t mistake this power.]

Her tone was almost sincere.

Nol was exposed, as expected.

‘It’s just the exposure of his monster form. Not a big problem,’ Teest thought. He would stay with Nol afterward, not giving Star Stealer Sol a chance to spy on them.

This time, they were spying on Star Stealer Sol.

Its style and tactics could be analyzed through its language and actions.

Teest’s gaze quickly moved away from the longsword, crossing his arms, obviously not intending to take the sword. Tilia just smiled, still steadily holding the longsword.

Is this guy so shameless? Lynn was somewhat surprised. Going straight for Teest, Star Stealer Sol really didn’t take Nol into account.

As if hearing her thoughts, Tilia raised her head, smiling sweetly at her.

[The Demon King will not resist,] Tilia said to her in a seductive voice, as if wrapping around the organs. [I’m just choosing the most dignified way for it—being killed by the strongest Hero present, becoming part of legend.]

She smiled, tossing out a terrifying chip.

[…Its sacrifice can be exchanged for your return home. Whether you’re part of the group or stranded outside, you will have a chance to return home.]

[Similarly, I’m willing to pledge all my power as collateral for this absolute contract.]

Both Dorothy and Barto froze inside the barrier. A chill seized Lynn again, as if a snake were wrapped around her ankles.

What does that mean?

Nol’s death can be exchanged for their return home? Even knowing Nol for so long, Lynn’s heart still skipped a beat.

No wonder this guy dared to throw a weak projection in front of them.

Even if forced out by Teest, the cruel game of chess still continues.

“That prophecy!” Barto screamed. “He will grant you the way home!”

Dorothy remained silent, her expression somewhat distant. For a moment, she instinctively reached for her weapon, but then hesitated in her movements. In the end, she released her grip on the weapon, pressing hard on her temples.

Going home.

Setting aside conflicts of interest and moral differences, this was nearly every Player’s goal.

They had been in this mad world for too long. Not to mention killing a monster, even if it meant killing a fellow human as a pass, there would definitely be plenty of people who could do it.

Nol stopped caressing the undead dragon, remaining silent. He slightly lifted his head, looking towards the so-called “Goddess of Life” behind him.

[The Demon King will not resist.]

As if Tilia had eyes on the back, she repeated it softly again. [Because its nature is not evil. Unfortunately, it cannot withstand its own power. I believe, it must have realized—what kind of danger is hidden within itself.]

[It has only two choices—lose its sanity or become a source of disaster alone. Or, with my help, use that power to open a distant space, personally becoming the path home for everyone.]

“Why should we believe you?” Lynn couldn’t help but speak out.

She tried not to think about her possibly stranded sister. No, she couldn’t be swayed by these words. She must say something. She absolutely couldn’t follow this guy’s narrative.

[You may have misunderstood me.]

Tilia’s smile remained unchanged. [Long ago, I was the Demon King’s companion. Together, we created this world.]

[No matter what rumors you’ve heard, they are from the perspective of an invader. No matter what ruins you’ve seen, I did not destroy them.]

[I’m just here to end the suffering of an old friend, to award the Hero with glory, and to guard the peace of this world. Dear Painter, my rebellious envoy… you know this is a weak projection. I allow you to verify the truth of these words.]

Painter took a deep breath. “I refuse.”

“What the fuck are you doing?” Barto cursed loudly. “Isn’t this a great opportunity to prove it?”

Painter laughed. “Then you do it yourself.”

Immediately, his sharp gaze turned towards the “Goddess of Life” with a thoughtful expression on his face.

Damn, Lynn was really confused for a few seconds.

They only knew that three worlds had been destroyed, unclear about why they came to be. The situation with Nol remained a mystery, and everything they knew about Star Stealer Sol was indeed told by “Perradat”, an outsider.

However… Nol’s situation wasn’t right was an undeniable reality. Star Stealer Sol’s willingness to mortgage power in exchange to give Teest glory and allowing Players to go home was also a reality.

Stepping back ten thousand steps, regardless of the relationship between Star Stealer Sol and Nol, it had nothing to do with the Players involved. Even if the Star Stealer Sol had wronged Nol, the vast majority of Players wouldn’t care.

Star Stealer Sol was well aware of this.

Even if Nol was unwilling to give up here, once such a fact spread… what awaited them was only hell. They could erase the memories of others present, but they couldn’t stop a False God from spreading the news personally.

…The meaning of the prophecy gradually surfaced. Everything was developing in the direction the prophecy indicated. They would know the answer—they were about to return home.

…Is fate truly inescapable?

The people present—except for Barto—were relatively friendly. Star Stealer Sol only threw out a few words, and everyone fell into silence, with a tendency to split emerging.

Before, Lynn thought Perradat lost too easily. Now it seemed, they underestimated Star Stealer Sol…

Teest still stared intently at the false goddess’ face, while Star Stealer Sol also looked at him with a smile.

[Ah, you’re unwilling to kill the Demon King. I know that look. You care too much. Admiration? Obsession? Lust… or love?]

At the same time Star Stealer Sol spoke softly, those false eyes were seemingly trying to penetrate Teest. [Naughty boy, bringing down a god isn’t your victory. It’s your biggest mistake…]

Teest was expressionless.

[You care about it, care enough to give up this glory. Who domesticated you?]

Star Stealer Sol continued softly, its voice as light as a demon whispering in the night. [Child, think about it. Will that soft-hearted Demon King betray everything it protects for you? You’re decisive, but it hesitates.]

[You are the “price” that can be sacrificed.]

Teest’s hand holding the “Betrayer” tightened its grip.

[I will give you fairer treatment, child. I know everything in the world. You can ask for everything you want to know, everything you own. If you wish, I am willing to do my best to preserve a piece of its soul, to accompany you in a new shell… a shell at your disposal…]

[I will give you a wonderful ending far beyond your imagination…]

“What are you dawdling for?” Barto couldn’t help it, striding towards Tilia. “Give me the sword. Can I do it?!”

Dorothy frowned tightly, but ultimately didn’t stop Barto.

Barto stumbled to Tilia’s side, his cheeks flushed with abnormal excitement. However, the moment Barto reached out to grab the sword, he was instantly blown away by Teest’s breath.

“Fine, fine, I won’t touch it. Just hurry up and kill it!”

Barto rolled around on the ground a few times, not even bothering to cry out in pain. He eagerly stared at the sword, as if it would evaporate on the spot the next second.

“I don’t get your hesitation. One life in exchange for so many families—do you know how hard we’ve had it?! Not to mention those who’ve committed suicide, I’ve seen at least a dozen people break down mentally!”

Damn. Nol could hear all this.

Teest immediately raised his head, looking in Nol’s direction. The monster’s face was a void of black, emotionless.

“You too, Dorothy! What’s with the pretense? People have sacrificed themselves to save a child plenty of times! It’s a monster. What secrets could it have? Are you worried about the ‘noble sacrifice’?”

Barto continued to spray spit in his urgency. “In the worst-case scenario, if it’s one of our own—then it should understand the reason even more! Does it want to live a good life while so many people continue to live in hell? If it’s such scum, then killing it is no loss!”

“Shut up.” Dorothy finally spoke up, unable to bear it any longer.

Barto: “Then why don’t you do it? Goddess, that sword isn’t reserved for Drake, is it?”

[Of course not, child.]

Tilia raised her voice, her gaze shifting away from Teest with a smile. [This is the glory bestowed upon the brave, equal in opportunity for everyone.]

[I promise, the power and flesh of the Demon King are enough to create a spatial pathway. I promise, I won’t harm you, and will send you back to your homeland. I promise, I will ensure the world of Tahe lasts forever… I promise, I will fulfill the wishes of the Hero.]

Her gaze swept over Barto, Lynn, Painter, and Teest. Then she lifted her head, and countless shimmering words appeared out of nowhere, forming a radiant contract.

Below the contract, a beautiful Goddess held the sword, waiting for her Hero.

Throughout, she never looked at Nol.

[Come, children.]

Her voice was soft and sweet, filled with a holy aura.

[The Demon King will not resist. Everything is destined…]

Teest had envisioned many scenarios. In each one, he wouldn’t waver in front of Star Stealer Sol.

Star Stealer Sol discovering his relationship with Nol wasn’t a big deal. It wouldn’t let them go either way. Star Stealer Sol taking away the remnants of Perradat didn’t matter, he never planned to use it. Even if Star Stealer Sol was the righteous side… he didn’t care which side held the “greater good”.

He only needed to do two things: observe Star Stealer Sol as much as possible and stand with his God.

But Teest hadn’t anticipated this.

Star Stealer Sol had never communicated directly with Nol, yet every word was meant for Nol to hear. It surely knew something about Nol—knew Nol was from a foreign world, knew Nol was kind-hearted, knew what Nol… most desired.

Nol created Paradise. In addition to his good nature, he must also have the guilt of “being the creator, inextricably linked to everything.” Teest had seen it in his eyes, felt it in his words.

Nol pursuit for the truth, beyond wanting to confront Star Stealer Sol, also harbored unease about his own anomalies. Nol’s unusual loss of control this time, Teest could taste his confusion and fear.

Sacrificing himself, a dangerous individual, for everyone to return home… a perfect option, tailor-made for Nol.

All Nol had to do was abandon Teest.

To abandon a lunatic who had yet to offer love, a relationship that was distant from the start.

Teest found he no longer wanted to look in Nol’s direction. He didn’t want to take that risk. He didn’t want Nol to make that choice… He didn’t want to hear that answer.

You said you wouldn’t leave me.

You said you’d always stay by my side.

Those flimsy promises, like sweet nothings whispered in bed, could they weigh more than the lives of so many of Nol’s compatriots?

Teest wasn’t sure—he couldn’t be sure. No, he knew the answer. He just didn’t want to admit it…

In Star Stealer Sol’s hand, the sword “Dominator” shone brightly, too dazzling for Teest’s liking. He couldn’t afford to be distracted and hesitate any longer. He had to think immediately, think about the next step—

Suddenly, darkness enveloped Teest’s vision.

A pair of monstrous hands covered his eyes. Nol had appeared behind him at some point.

[No, the Demon King will resist.]

In the midst of the cruel conversation, Nol’s voice sounded for the first time. His voice was calm and decisive, with a certain determination.

[Even if it’s destined.]

---

The author has something to say:

Realizing that without their significant other, neither can achieve a perfect ending…

If Teest wasn’t here, Nol might have really agreed (.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 164: In God’s Name

The assault on the undead dragon was about to begin and Teest was still absent.

Lynn was almost getting used to this—without Nol, Teest was like a gust of wind, not expected to stay by their side for long. When she brought back the serpentman who claimed to be Lilith, as expected, only Painter was in the tent.

“A prophet from the Priest Serpent Clan? At this time?” Painter raised his eyebrows.

“It’s a bit complicated.” Lynn sighed, explaining the situation as succinctly as possible.

After hearing it, the real “Saint” also showed a hint of confusion. “An innocent being suspected of imprisonment—it is indeed necessary to clarify the situation. But isn’t this too rushed?”

“I’ve considered it. Her strength lies in prophecy, and her own level isn’t high. We can handle it. If Barto has ulterior motives, it could be more troublesome,” Lynn said. “Let’s take her with us for now.”

The serpentman girl timidly hid behind Lynn, glancing at Painter with her four eyes, a flash of white light circling her pupils. Painter unconsciously frowned, examining the serpentman for a while. “I can set up a Holy Light Prison. During the battle, let’s temporarily keep her here.”

“No!” Lilith screamed sharply. “I don’t want to be locked up again. Please, take me with you. I’m a prophet. I can serve you—didn’t this sister just say, my abilities pose no threat to you?”

Lynn and Painter exchanged glances.

It sounded reasonable, yet suspicious. The reality was, if they left her behind forcefully, they wouldn’t learn more. Normally it might be okay, but in this event full of unknowns, this girl might become a clue, or with some luck, a key.

“You can follow, but I will cast a Holy Light Lock on you.” Painter said softly, “Your hands will be locked, and you won’t be able to cast spells. If you harbor ill intentions towards us, it will immediately bind you completely. Sorry, child, we have our concerns.”

“No problem!” Lilith puffed out her chest, full of reassurance. “Ah… wait.”

She snapped her fingers, and a mist seemed to envelop her, making her indistinct. When the mist dissipated, only a small snake, about the length of a forearm, remained. The small snake’s head bore two devil-like horns, and its four yellow eyes gleamed.

It flicked its tongue, shaking its head. “Now you can put the Holy Light Lock on me. This form is less threatening, right?”

After being locked by magic, Lilith climbed up Lynn’s arm and into her sleeve.

Lynn wasn’t very worried—she evolved from a Puppet Witch, and her original form was inanimate. Even if Lilith bit her, she would only break a few teeth.

“Let’s go.” She picked up Nol’s staff. “I guess that one won’t come back just to fetch us.”

She was right.

When the Amazon troops appeared on the battlefield, Teest was already there.

In the distance, the monster and the undead dragon seemed to freeze. The undead dragon lay quietly with the monster’s hand on its nose, like a bizarre and benevolent statue.

A fog spread around the monster, obscuring its true form from everyone. But the outline reflected in the mist was terrifying enough. The pressure felt like a razor blade scraping across one’s nerves.

…Is that Nol? Lynn gasped.

She knew Nol’s situation was complicated, but becoming this kind of monster? Why? No matter how you looked at it, that thing didn’t resemble a variant of a Dracolich, but something… something entirely new.

According to the dragon, Nol bore a knowledge seal.

But as the creator of “Tahe”, Nol possessed all the knowledge of the Tahe continent. His past had traces to follow, and his present was flawless, so what exactly was the “knowledge” sealed in his mind? Lynn couldn’t understand at all.

A kind of terrifying intuition made her reluctant to investigate further.

Lilith coiled around her wrist, tightening her constriction.

Dorothy herself stepped forward to command. In the shadows, she took a deep breath. “I’ll repeat once more—magic team, control your casting time, physical team, get ready to throw. Aim at the undead dragon. Do not attack the thing beside it. Retreat immediately if something goes wrong. Don’t be greedy.”

“The rest, flexibly support Drake’s team. Prioritize the lives of the team members. Prepare the short-distance teleportation items. Don’t hesitate. This is not the time to spare your items.”

Everyone silently responded, nodding like waves.

Lynn couldn’t help but look at Teest’s silhouette. This man hadn’t communicated with them before the battle—she guessed their strength was insufficient to partake in that plan—she was uncertain about Teest’s intentions.

This pair, hmm, each more mysterious than the other.

However, being hammered by reality over the years, Lynn was adept at dealing with “colleagues who don’t talk.” No matter, since they didn’t mind bearing the consequences of bringing her along, she would act according to her own thoughts.

Lynn’s fingertips lit up with a dim light again. Her two magic puppets, “Tom” and “Jerry”, twitched, and their movements suddenly became more agile than real people.

The undead dragon was Nol’s creation, so she would stand on Nol’s side. Regardless of Teest’s intentions, she wouldn’t just watch the dragon die.

“Charge—!” Dorothy commanded softly.

At the same time, Lynn heard Teest’s low chuckle.

“Respond, honey.” He stood still, murmuring almost inaudibly.

Lynn was about to act, then realized there was no need—countless heavy spells exploded in front of the undead dragon, completely dissolved by a thick magical barrier.

Within the barrier, the undead dragon curiously raised its head, its fleshless face showing a subtle curiosity like, “What are you guys doing?”

The outcome of physical attacks was even more desperate. The closer the spears and arrows got to the undead dragon, the slower they flew, eventually stopping mid-air and then clattering to the ground. After two waves of full-strength initial attacks, not even the tips of the undead dragon’s claws were scratched.

“So gentle.” Teest whispered, “I knew it would be like this.”

He casually beckoned with his finger.

The earth surged, and countless skeletons emerged from the ground, picking up the weapons that fell on the battlefield, turning towards Amazon’s side. Their decayed throats made hissing sounds, and their dark eye sockets were devoid of fire.

They were adorned with rotten armor and decayed clothes. Saddles hung on horse ribs, and hand axes were stuck to their spines… Among them, there were even a lot of fresh corpses. Although they looked more like clumps of meat sauce, Lynn still recognized the Eternal Church’s holy symbol among them.

The scent of death drifted across the battlefield.

This was Teest’s doing, Lynn was very certain.

After becoming the Supreme Domination Witch, she was very sensitive to all kinds of dominion magic.

In her memory, Nol only summoned pure undead monsters, while these in front… She couldn’t say for sure. They seemed like corpses being forcefully controlled—thoroughly dead things—but also carried a hint of the Mad Monk’s unique magical fluctuations.

The Mad Monk stood at the front line, his long sword pointing forward, his minions facing the “companions” at their backs.

…What a sinful commander.

“The first counterattack!” As expected, Dorothy misunderstood. “Destroy these monsters!”

After the initial attacks were thwarted, Amazon’s morale wasn’t high. However, their formation was very efficient. With Dorothy’s words barely falling for two seconds, magical radiance turned towards the approaching army of corpses.

But these were different from the undead monsters they had encountered before.

Destroying a skeleton’s head, the remnants would stand up again with scorched marks. Exploding the skeleton horses into pieces, the pieces would just move towards the people like a swarm of insects. The monster’s vicinity became a thorough no-life zone, with various forms of death dancing within.

The monster’s silhouette slightly lifted its head, as if focusing intently on enjoying all this.

In the midst of this magical bombardment, Teest charged towards Nol, his long sword “Betrayer” wrapped in pure platinum firelight, and his eyes seemed to be burning. The corpses that touched the long sword ignited, falling down, never to crawl around in their incomplete forms again.

Golden hair fluttered, while the blade blazed like the sun. If Lynn didn’t know the truth, even she would believe there was only a hero, as handsome as a god, before her.

Such a good performance.

Lynn raised her hand, casting several grand spells for visual effect. Painter also did his duty, bombarding with holy spells, with equal showmanship.

Nol’s protective barrier buzzed, and the fight seemed intense. But they all knew it would be okay.

With the Players’ firepower suppression, the army of corpses soon turned to dust. Even so, they didn’t disperse but clawed near the protective barrier, forming a gray-white “living” fog.

The scene was grand, but it couldn’t end this way.

The quest didn’t give a deadline. As long as Nol and the undead dragon weren’t “subdued,” the Players would be stuck here. A rough quest design. The designer didn’t care about “bottlenecks”—it obviously preferred Players to collapse, only wanting the war itself.

Lynn glanced at Teest from the corner of her eye.

The atmosphere is about right. What do you plan to do?

On her wrist, the cold Lilith tightened again.

Drake stopped.

The tip of his flaming sword lowered, and his hair was lifted up by the mist containing ashes, leaving several bloody marks on his cheeks.

In the wind, he gracefully raised the sword tip.

Dorothy sharply sensed something was off, raising a palm to signal a ceasefire.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t an enemy that can be dealt with from a distance.”

Drake’s voice was firm and clear. “The Demon King loves sacrifices. It seems someone must step forward, Miss Dorothy.”

‘So keeping distance doesn’t work? Players ultimately have to face death.’ Dorothy thought calmly.

“I’ll be the first to step forward and break through this detestable barrier for everyone,” Drake said. “Please direct your team to focus on healing me. Thank you.”

“If it doesn’t work out, retreat first.” Dorothy clenched her teeth. “You don’t need to make such a sacrifice. We can try a few more times—”

“Don’t worry. I won’t die, nor will I suffer irreparable consequences.”

Drake flashed an… overly sweet smile. “He’s watching over me. How could I possibly die?”

“……” Dorothy was silent for a few seconds. “All healing professions, focus on healing formation!”

“And you.” Teest turned to Painter, mouthing, “Playtime is over, Pope.”

Painter narrowed his eyes, ultimately nodding.

“Drake.” Lynn couldn’t help but speak out.

“Don’t worry, miss.” Teest turned his head, leaving the back of his head expressionless to everyone. “We all know, to break the Demon King’s defense, only the power of a god can do it.”

We know quite a few gods, but which one are you referring to? That was what Lynn really wanted to ask.

At the same time, she had a bad feeling. On her wrist, Lilith moved restlessly. Lynn glanced over the battlefield and, as expected, spotted Barto in the most securely defended area.

That bad feeling intensified.

“Drake—”

Before she could finish, Teest’s sword tip emitted a blinding light. The ground shook, and dark clouds quickly covered the sky. A terrifying power spread out, nearly knocking several lower-level fighters off their feet.

The ashy mist seemed to sense something, violently churning.

“Here, I summon my Lord, the Subordination God Perradat.”

Teest’s voice was clear and loud. “Please grant me the power to resist fate.”

…What?

Lynn’s heart skipped a beat while Lilith froze on her wrist.

This was definitely made up on the spot! They had just learned the name of Loser. Perradat was miserably hiding in some dark corner, unable to grant even a ball of yarn.

What the hell is going through the Mad Monk’s mind…

“Here, I summon my Lord, the Subordination God Perradat.”

Unfortunately, Teest repeated it. “Break free from your chains.”

Bloodstains began to appear on his body, a curse madly corroding his flesh. Under the top Players’ healing spells, those bloody wounds opened, healed, then opened again, like a blood-red flower about to bloom.

This time, even Painter’s composed expression faltered. In the midst of the storm, he widened his eyes at Teest.

“Here, I summon my Lord, the Subordination God Perradat.”

Ignoring the bloody mess on his body, Teest cheerfully repeated for the third time.

“…Please come to my side.”

Above and behind Teest, the air made a terrifying, booming sound. Numerous bizarre cursed chains emerged from the void, twisting and struggling, snapping one by one, turning into shadows.

As the cursed chains diminished, the silhouette in the air became more solid.

The gray-white, ashy mist flew over, wrapping around the figure. Its outline resembled a huge… uh, girl’s “head” topped with a white veil. The veil was decorated with lush vines and flowers, and her hands were gently hanging down.

Lynn internally cursed in standard Chinese.

She didn’t know if Painter could recognize it, but as a Supreme Domination Witch, she would never misjudge—this wasn’t any blood sacrifice to please a god. Teest was dominating the thing behind him!

Teest was dominating the remnants of Perradat.

What the hell is going on?

Lynn had never thought so quickly in her life—

Right, Star Stealer Sol forcibly intervened in the system, modifying the quest. Focusing its energy on suppressing the system would inevitably weaken its control elsewhere, making the remnants of Perradat easier to manipulate.

It wasn’t that there was an oversight in Star Stealer Sol’s plan—simply breaking free the shackles of Perradat’s remnants actually had no meaning. Just bringing this dangerous thing out of the Dragon’s Lair would require figuring out how to deal with the entire dragon race.

The problem was, this was Teest.

Possessing [King of Eternal Sleep], capable of granting the concept of death and then controlling it, Teest.

The headless girl they encountered initially had the ability to teleport. The Dragon’s Lair wasn’t far from here. Teest just needed to withstand Star Stealer Sol’s cursed chains, dominate the remnants, and command it to come out on its own.

Aside from the over-the-top crazy angle, the plan was actually quite feasible.

After all this, Teest never intended to complete the quest. He aimed to overturn the tables at the level of gods!

Perradat’s remnants were one of the heavyweight artifacts left in the world by Star Stealer Sol. Should this thing show any tendency of being abducted, Star Stealer Sol would definitely not just watch quietly.

Teest responded to Star Stealer Sol’s cruel opening move, but in a way that was even more… forceful and brutal.

“Praise my God.”

The smile on Teest’s face grew bigger, radiant to the point of not resembling “Drake” at all.

Behind him, the figure of the girl slowly opened her arms, emitting an even more terrifying aura. Teest’s power, combined with the power of Perradat’s remnants, caused Nol’s protective barrier to gradually crack.

Inside the barrier, Nol sat quietly, his face without features always facing Teest.

Behind Teest, the power of Perradat became increasingly tumultuous and dangerous. Dorothy hurriedly led the team to retreat by a dozen meters. In this bizarre atmosphere, she actually gained a bit of reassurance.

That such a monster was an ally and not an enemy was indeed a relief.

“Continue healing!” Under the oppressive force that felt like it could crush people into meat paste, she ordered hoarsely, “Assault the barrier. The target remains the same!”

Within the Player camp, magical lights lit up again. The light wasn’t as splendid as before, but it was several times fiercer.

Crack, crack. The magical barrier gradually peeled off, turning into scattered light.

The monster didn’t struggle or resist. Even though it had no eyes, a kind of gentle gaze seemed to brush over like feathers.

Choose, following the direction of the sword tip. Teest looked up at the sky, full of malice.

He would never harm Nol, but Star Stealer Sol didn’t know about their relationship. What’s more delightful was that, protected by “God’s Forsaken”, Star Stealer Sol never paid attention to him. It was too busy targeting the Demon King, unaware of him, a hidden opponent.

The only one capable of stealing the remnants of a False God was another False God.

If he really made a move to kill Nol, taking away Perradat’s remnants… in the eyes of Star Stealer Sol, he would be an extremely threatening, completely unknown target.

I know you’re watching Star Stealer Sol. Do you dare to gamble with your own safety?

Come out.

Within five seconds, a familiar quest pop-up appeared in front of Teest.

[Significant Changes to Area Environment.]

[Necromancer’s Curse [Hell Mode] forcibly terminated.]

[You have triggered a time-limited area quest: Divine Revelation.]

[Quest Completion Condition: Listen to the words of God together with the hero Drake.]

[Quest Reward: Issued by the hero Drake.]

[※Quest Introduction: Brave warriors, congratulations to you all. The special event of Hero Drake has been triggered ahead of schedule. The main storyline “Divine Revelation” has begun, and all current area quests are terminated.]

[※Area restrictions will be lifted after the mission ends.]

Teest hid his mocking smile.

He knew it would be like this—once he took to the stage, Star Stealer Sol would definitely spare Nol to “balance”.

The game now truly began.

---

The author has something to say:

Nol: My Teest being a desktop cleanup master is pretty normal, right?

Teest: Laughing to death. Who wants to play by your rules? Come out (reaching for the trash can)

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 163: Message

Prophecy.

Hearing the familiar word, Lynn’s heart skipped a beat. Their trip to the Dragon’s Lair coincidentally matched a prophecy. Now another one appeared, making it hard to believe it was just a coincidence.

She kept her expression unchanged. “Uh, weren’t the Priest Serpent Clan extinct? And I’ve heard that prophets are rare…”

“Amazon locked one up with a magic collar and hid it in a private space. This isn’t the usual treatment for serpentmen, and I was present at the prophecy.” Barto slightly lifted his chin.

Lynn waited for him to blurt out the prophecy, but instead, Barto stopped there. It seemed he wasn’t as foolish as she thought, which Lynn found somewhat disappointing.

“Thank you for the information. I’ll discuss it with my companions. Such important information, Miss Dorothy probably wouldn’t intentionally hide it.” Lynn nodded as if obediently, pretending to leave.

Playing the long game to catch the big fish. Against such people, one must not appear too eager.

Barto’s face showed disappointment, and after a few seconds, he couldn’t contain himself. “What do you think about this?”

Lynn put on an innocently puzzled face. “Which matter?”

“Amazon imprisoning an innocent serpentman.” Barto deliberately made his voice sound naive and sweet. “The Priest Serpents aren’t bad. Capturing their prophet to use as a prophecy puppet is too much.”

“It is a bit, but the priority now is to eliminate monsters…” Lynn responded, her interest piqued as she returned his gaze.

In the face of war, what exactly does this guy want to do?

Thinking such thoughts openly in front of someone he just met, Barto probably thought she was the “Saint” of the team. Holy professions indeed couldn’t stand the enslavement of the weak… Unfortunately, the ability of the “Supreme Domination Witch” was pretty much as it sounded—destined to enslave the weak.

However, this misunderstanding was interesting, and Lynn chose to quietly watch Barto perform.

“The prophecy of war is already completed. Amazon is fully focused on the enemy.” Barto lowered his voice. “I can steal the key, and we can free the serpentman in the chaos. Given the current situation, Amazon won’t have the energy to look for her… She’ll be free!”

After saying this, Barto sighed deliberately. “I’m a bit unconfident on my own. It would be great if you could help me.”

He was seeking a declaration of comradeship*; Lynn saw through his purpose at a glance.

*The term used here is (投名状) which is a certificate of investment. It refers to demonstrating loyalty through action towards an organization (a pledge of loyalty to join a group). || In this case, basically, by having both Lynn and him act together to “free” Lilith means they agree to join forces.

It was clear Barto really wanted to get close to “Drake” and his party, using Amazon as a stepping stone.

What a schemer.

“That’s not good, is it?” Lynn “innocently” asked back, “Aren’t the Alva Merchant Group and Amazon in long-term cooperation? If you do this, what about the Merchant Group…”

“Don’t worry. I’m confident I can handle it.” Barto patted his chest. “Anyway, I can’t bear to see that poor serpentman suffer. Ah, if you’re worried about the cooperation, just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

After saying this, Barto showed a dejected expression.

Lynn pondered for less than two seconds before showing a sympathetic face. “I understand. As long as it doesn’t affect the main quest, I’ll help you.”

“You’re as saintly as the rumors say,” Barto remarked.

Lynn: “…You flatter me.”

Wrong person, asshole. The real “saintly” one is still snoring in the tent.

Five minutes later.

“Thanks for the information. Let her be,” Dorothy said tiredly. “If possible, you can accompany her. With someone like you watching, at least there won’t be a big mess.”

“I’ve met many people. You don’t seem like the type to imprison the innocent,” Lynn explained properly. “Is this really okay?”

Due to the incident at the Brick Mountains, Lynn had a good impression of Dorothy. Imprisoning an innocent girl, she believed her fellow compatriots wouldn’t do such a heartless act; there must be a deeper reason.

Dorothy smiled bitterly. “It’s a bit complicated… Anyway, she won’t settle down unless she causes me some trouble. Rather than waiting for her to surprise me, it’s better to let her satisfy herself with this matter.”

Seeing Dorothy’s attitude, it seemed she was too lazy to bother with Barto.

‘Interesting,’ Lynn thought.

Judging by Dorothy’s demeanor, the serpentman wasn’t “strictly imprisoned”. It seemed there was some kind of understanding with Amazon… Anyway, she now owed her a favor.

“That lady mentioned, the serpentman gave a prophecy.” Lynn straightforwardly got to the point. “We’re very interested in this prophecy. Please name your price.”

……

Guest tent.

As the sun rose, Teest returned on time. He took out salted meat, cheese, and water from his pouch, devouring them not so much as eating but as if charging a magical device.

“So,” Painter said while stuffing salted meat into sliced bread. “You went to see Mr. Nol again last night.”

“Yeah.” Teest chewed the salted meat. “It’s normal for married people to sleep together. But you, leaving Lynn alone like that?”

“Given This Villain’s special identity, Barto not noticing doesn’t mean the Amazon leader won’t. Plus, Lynn knows them better than I do, so it’s more appropriate for her to negotiate.”

“Alright.” Teest shrugged indifferently.

Even though he had agreed to play the Hero, he still couldn’t find enthusiasm for these people. To be precise, without Nol nearby, everything else became 50% more boring.

Painter stared at him for a while. “You’re in better shape than a while ago.”

“Because I’ve had a great idea,” Teest said. “Don’t ask, you wouldn’t like it—just show off your ‘sly fox’ skills to keep those ‘Players’ happy.”

“It’s my honor.” Painter chuckled dryly, not pressing further.

On matters related to Nol, he trusted the Mad Monk wouldn’t lie. It was hard for things on the battlefield to go as planned. He just needed to keep a close eye.

Thinking this, Painter bit into the salted meat. Its flavor was rich and much more delicious than the bland varieties found in the market. He swallowed a piece of bread in two or three bites and reached for his plate again.

“This was all prepared for Nol.” Teest suddenly said, “Too bad, he won’t be able to eat it—catching thornworms is quite hard. This one will spoil if not eaten soon, and who knows when the next one will be caught.”

Painter’s fork trembled slightly, then steadied. Pretending to hear nothing, he took another large piece.

Teest: “Tsk.”

“Big news!” Lynn burst into the tent. “Amazon also has a prophecy… Hm? The salted meat smells good.”

Right after Lynn tasted a bite, Painter cheerfully said, “It’s thornworm salted meat.”

Lynn: “…”

Lynn: “…Blergh!”

“…Are you really a ‘Saint’?” After vomiting, Lynn wiped her mouth. “Tell me, how did you deceive the system?”

Painter chewed the salted meat unconcernedly. “By my honest virtues.”

Lynn looked like she wanted to smack him, but politely held back. “Anyway, let me tell you about Amazon’s prophecy…”

After the prophecy was recounted, the lively atmosphere once again turned solemn.

“It’s almost the same.” Teest narrowed his eyes.

Where dragons are born, where mistakes converge. The Master of the world returns to the start of the dream…

Next, on their side, it was “You will find what you have lost...” while on Amazon’s side, it was “He will grant you the way home.“

Lost knowledge is reset, and pursued desires are fulfilled. You/You* will receive the aid of fate…

*Clarity: Former is formal form of you, while latter is informal. In Nol’s prophecy, it’s the formal form.

Next, on their side, it was “You will find the answer you seek”, while on Amazon’s side, it was “You will witness a noble sacrifice.”

The content of the prophecies was highly similar, and the situations they presented were incredibly alike. It was almost like the same drama being explained to different characters by a certain being.

The lost things, the way home, the sought-after answers—these descriptions were rather ambiguous and hard to define. The problem was the “noble sacrifice”…

Both pairs of eyes simultaneously turned towards Painter.

Painter: “…”

Painter: “Thanks for the recognition, but the problem is I’m not dead yet.”

“How wonderful. You can think of your epitaph in advance,” Teest said. “It’s also not too late to leave a ten-thousand-word will now. Do you need paper and pen?”

“No thanks. I’ve written my will long ago.”

Lynn remained silent, only looking at the prophecy. The outcome of this battle seemed somewhat optimistic for now. But that “noble sacrifice” was really ominous. Could there be any chance of avoiding it?

Perhaps sacrificing something else…

Unfortunately, Perradat, who knew prophecies, wasn’t present, and they could only guess along the way. Now it was different. Now she truly had someone to consult. To better understand these prophecies, she must meet the serpentman prophet in person.

“Amazon has decided to attack the undead dragon tomorrow.” Lynn mused as she gnawed on bread.

Teest clapped his hands happily. “Great. I was worried we wouldn’t have enough time—this timing is good. I need to go out for a bit later.”

Painter: “Perfect, I can draw some more scrolls to have on hand.”

“I also have things to do.” Lynn made up her mind. “So we’ll act separately.”

“No problem.”

“Agreed.”

Luring Barto out turned out to be much easier than Lynn had imagined. With Dorothy’s tacit consent, Barto actually managed to steal the keys. Lynn watched Barto’s smug face, trying hard to suppress the pity in her heart.

While Dorothy was out of the tent for lunch, Barto led her into the serpentman prophet’s secret tent.

Sensing the presence of outsiders, the serpentman prophet straightened up instantly. A large magical collar hung around her neck, and her eyes… Her eyes were filled with white light?

When Lynn looked again, the white light was gone, leaving only the serpentman’s deep yellow pupils.

It watched them for a while, then slowly smiled.

“Do you seek to know your fate?”

Barto let out a short “eh” and then, glancing at Lynn, cleared his throat with pretense. “We’re here to free you, miss.”

‘Here it comes,’ Lynn thought. If the serpentman really had a secret agreement with Amazon, this was the best moment to refuse—claiming the collar couldn’t be opened, citing danger from the outside—such polite refusals weren’t hard to imagine.

The serpentman seemed briefly confused for two seconds, appearing dizzy. Lynn looked into her eyes, within the deep yellow pupils and around the black slit pupils, there was a thin, bright silver rim.

Is it a characteristic of the Priest Serpent Clan? This species’ survivors were too few, and none were in the Lost Tower, so she wasn’t sure.

“Free me…” the serpentman prophet chewed on the phrase, her pupils gradually focusing. “Yes, yes. Please save me. Take me away from here!”

Her attitude was very eager. “I don’t want to stay here anymore. Please protect me and take me away. Afterward, you can have as many prophecies as you want, please.”

Eh? Lynn’s brow twitched.

The serpentman prophet was in good shape and appeared well. Her environment was clean and comfortable, with no signs of rough treatment on her body.

That collar was also suspicious… Judging by the “Supreme Domination Witch’s” perception, it didn’t have strong domination magic. It seemed more like a decoration than a confinement tool. Not to mention, Dorothy didn’t object to her “rescuing”.

What’s going on with this prophet?

Lynn: “You—”

“My name is Lilith.” The serpentman prophet continued pitifully, slithering to Lynn’s feet and grabbing her skirt. “Save me, kind soul…!”

“See?” Barto turned around. “Those Amazons really are despicable.”

In fact, Barto was also confused about the serpentman prophet’s change in personality. Anyway, saying so had no downside.

Lynn pondered. “Amazons are all outside now. You can wait.”

She needed to investigate further.

“No—!”

Lilith clutched her skirt tighter, piercing the fabric with her sharp nails. “I have an invisibility potion. I can hide and come with you. Isn’t there going to be a fight outside? With me, I can help you avoid the worst outcome! If—if you don’t agree, I’ll trigger the alarm here, and we’ll all be done for!”

Her tone was full of despair, threatening them incoherently.

The situation became even stranger. Lynn looked down at the tearful serpentman. Regardless of the cost, she must leave today? Was it the prophet’s instinct warning her of a crisis, or… something else?

She looked up at Barto. “Miss, I think I should take her to Drake first—her condition doesn’t seem good, and it’s not safe outside. I worry you can’t take care of her alone.”

“Of course, thank you,” Barto said “earnestly”.

Being seen as a good person without needing to follow up, and even incidentally owing a favor, this was a win for him.

“Wuwu…” Lilith showed a relieved expression, tears streaming down her face.

Barto stepped forward, gently patting her back, not forgetting to whisper softly for appearances. Lynn stood upright, watching the two with a flash of coldness in her eyes.

She silently moved her lips, muttering something. After a dozen seconds, she put on a pitying smile, bent down, and placed her hands on both their shoulders.

“It’s okay,” she said with a smile. “It’s all over.”

A dim glow flashed across her fingertips.

……

Last night, Nol sat under the night sky.

It took him a full three minutes to realize this.

For him at this moment, thinking was an incredibly difficult task. If a normal person’s thought process was a straight line, his brain was now filled with countless grains of sand.

Sand enough to obliterate reason.

Just the words “I” and “night sky” required a great effort for him to match the concepts.

…What is the night sky? What am I doing? What am I?

…Do I exist?

…What is existence?

A sandstorm spread over the parched soul while meaningless words flew everywhere. Even on the eve of a severe illness-induced coma, Nol’s thoughts had never been this faint.

His perspective seemed to shatter into a kaleidoscope, each piece pointing in different directions, occasionally spinning and splitting. The life on Earth, the life as a will-o’-wisp, Nol’s life… and many bizarre, unexplained fragments played in his head in disarray.

Fighting against this overwhelming chaos was like humans trying to resist a tsunami. Maintaining the last bit of clarity was as difficult as keeping a candle lit in a storm.

But he had a small, shining anchor.

In the boundless night, amid scattered and chaotic views, he saw Teest.

Teest was talking, Teest was smiling at him, Teest was lying on his legs, spreading out his body relaxedly. That silver hair flowed over strange flesh as if everything was normal.

Nol reached out his hand with difficulty, stroking those strands of hair and the knight’s warm cheek.

This is Teest, Nol’s spouse.

I am Nol.

This is Teest, Nol’s knight.

I am Nol.

This is Teest, the person I love.

I am Nol.

The hair slipped through his “hand”, but he could not feel its presence. His senses were a mess— cold, hot, pain, itchiness blossoming everywhere… but he wanted to touch that hair. How close it was.

If only he could regain a bit of sensation.

Fighting this omnipresent chaos, he had a small goal. His fingertips.

Nol desperately tried to organize his chaotic senses, searching for the familiar touch hidden among them—soft, smooth, slightly cool. Teest’s hair.

It always calmed him.

Finally, his fingertips regained some sensation, honestly conveying the texture of the strands.

‘Good,’ Nol thought. But he was a bit greedy… He wanted more warmth, to find his own palm…

For two whole hours, more difficult suppression and combing through. He touched warm skin and the scars and blood on it.

Teest was injured. Not good.

He wanted more. He wanted more clarity, enough to make him sober so he could systematically treat a wound…

The boundless chaos didn’t disappear, but he forcefully tore open a gap. His thoughts were no longer like fine sand scattered in a storm; they gradually settled, becoming solid and firm.

After the treatment, Nol stroked Teest’s hair over and over.

He stabilized his current feelings, trying to slowly gather his scattered thoughts.

Just when he was finally able to think normally, an extremely distorted pop-up window appeared in front of Nol.

[Warning! Warning! The knowledge seal is experiencing abnormal interference. Please remove the abnormal factors as soon as possible!]

[Warning! Warning! The knowledge seal is experiencing abnormal interference. Please remove the abnormal factors as soon as possible!]

[Warning! Warning! The knowledge seal is experiencing abnormal interference. Please remove the abnormal factors as soon as possible!]

After several pop-ups, a new window floated out.

[Condition met. You have received a message record…]

[Do not unlock the seal under any circumstances—!]

[From: Xu Yue]

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The author has something to say:

Healing is truly in the touch—!!!

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 162: Night Talk

Amazon campsite, guest tent.

“Did you go there all by yourself?” Painter glanced downward, frowning, unusually raising his tone.

Amazon wouldn’t hide such intelligence as “monster appearances” from guests. Right after Demon King Nol disappeared, a monster showed up near the undead dragon. It was blatantly obvious where that absurdly strong “monster” came from.

Teest was wiping the dirt off his feet with a wet towel, not bothering to look up. “Of course. I had to see him. Do I need to explain what ‘marriage’ means again?”

His tone was very matter-of-fact.

Painter’s mouth opened and then closed, after which he took a few deep breaths. “How is Mr. Nol doing?”

Teest was silent for a few seconds. “Not so well, I guess. Whatever that seal is suppressing, it’s already affecting him.” He paused, then continued, and Painter witnessed a scene he would never forget—

The Mad Monk averted his gaze. “’Wanted by Fate’ definitely couldn’t do this. Could it be because I touched the seal?” For the first time, Painter heard a hint of unease in Teest’s voice.

From what he knew about the Mad Monk, even if the guy accidentally killed someone, he would just say, “Sorry, my hand slipped.” Even if he was pointedly accused of making a mistake, Teest would readily admit it without fussing over the “mistake” itself.

At this moment, however, Painter saw in those golden eyes an emotion that shouldn’t exist… something close to “regret”.

“No.”

The former Pope answered honestly. “With my understanding of magic, if you broke something that day, there would definitely be a change in the magical fluctuations on Mr. Nol—this isn’t to comfort you, it’s an objective opinion from a mage.”

“The system suddenly changing the quest content—it must be Star Stealer Sol meddling.” Lynn was irritably running her fingers through her hair. “Let me think this through… First, it used the system’s power to draw Nol to the center of the battlefield, then trapped the nearby Players.”

“Second, didn’t the Red Dragon say Nol’s knowledge sealing power was very ‘pure’? If the seal is maintained by the system, and the system nearby is forcibly interfered with by Star Stealer Sol, the seal would also be affected, right?”

Painter stroked his chin. “This line of thinking is indeed interesting.”

Teest: “He had anomalies before, but none as severe as this time.”

“The anomalies of Mr. Nol before, compared to human interference, seemed more like natural triggers.” Painter gestured. “Encountering situations that touch on memories, or his own power increasing, could cause the seal to wobble briefly. As for this time, I agree with Miss Lynn’s speculation—the system being interfered with by Star Stealer Sol accidentally triggered Mr. Nol’s anomalies.”

“In terms of the outcome, it still benefits Star Stealer Sol.” Lynn’s face wrinkled in frustration. “It’s openly probing us.”

If Nol was lucid—this was a “trolley problem” of intelligence gathering. Through Nol’s choices, one could basically determine the true attitude of Paradise towards Players.

If Nol wasn’t lucid—it only made the probing all the more perfect and cruel.

Lynn couldn’t even force a bitter smile. Star Staler Sol had set up the bloody stage, whereas they—they were still guessing the cause of Nol’s anomalies, let alone finding a solution.

In this gamble, they had completely lost the initiative and couldn’t just restart as in a real game.

“Kando, with your power, can you open a spatial rift?” Teest suddenly asked.

The silent black candle spoke dispiritedly. “No. Loser can’t defy the system, let alone me, who made a deal with It.”

“Then, I’m a bit curious about how this ‘Loser’ failed.” Teest ignored the main topic at hand and pulled up a chair in front of the candle. “I know you’re bound by a contract, so speak what you can—I guess, your master wouldn’t want to see Nol fall here.”

The candle’s single eye rolled slightly, and after a moment, it said tiredly, “Loser’s real name is ‘Perradat’, belonging to a species called the Floating Cocoons… It’s okay if you don’t understand, you just need to know, He is an ‘outsider’ to this world.”

“Perradat accidentally discovered this world and wanted to nest here. Unfortunately, He found another outsider already here. Like two stray dogs fighting over a corpse, they began to confront each other.”

“Lower than I expected,” Teest said. “Then what? How did stray dog Perradat lose?”

Lynn looked at Teest with some confusion—she was puzzled by this person’s thought process. With a big issue at hand, why was Teest suddenly interested in a past divine war?

Painter slowly relaxed his brows, silently listening.

“Believe me, Perradat is the most cautious and life-valuing creature I’ve ever seen. He also possessed the gift of prophecy, so He’s definitely not an easy opponent.”

“The result was Star Stealer Sol was even more afraid of death. Star Stealer Sol never fights directly but only attacks in various forms of stealth and somehow always succeeds—to this day, Perradat doesn’t know how He lost. Even the name ‘Star Stealer Sol’ was heard from the opponent.”

Saying this, the candle laughed briefly. ” Perradat only knew that Star Stealer Sol suddenly understood Him very well. All His actions were accurately predicted. As you can guess, Perradat was struck down. He decided to play dead and lie low, waiting for a new force to cooperate with.”

Teest hummed, tapping his thigh intermittently.

As expected, there was no epic battle in Perladat’s fall. It was just a bleak reality.

“So, Star Stealer Sol’s real body isn’t strong.” He mused. “It specializes in gathering information and then crafting, uh, what’s the word, a ‘perfect strategy’?”

“If it was really powerful, it wouldn’t need such roundabout methods. Plus, if Loser really valued its life, as you say, it wouldn’t have hesitated to wage war on Star Stealer Sol.”

“According to what you said, Star Stealer Sol’s real strength should be similar to, or even lesser than, Loser’s.”

Star Stealer Sol didn’t dare to directly confront the ancient Demon King, possibly due to some special reason related to “creator authority”. But it also avoided confronting other outsiders directly, which was quite telling.

For the first time, appreciation appeared in the black candle’s gaze. “I won’t deny… Perradat did say, if faced with a being like ‘The Pillar of the World’, He wouldn’t dare make a move.”

“Then I have only one question left,” Teest said. “Compared to ‘Loser’ in His prime, what level is that headless corpse in the cave?”

“A tenth.” The candle answered crisply. “That is the remains of Perradat’s avatar. Star Stealer Sol’s real body isn’t there, unable to suppress more power.”

Teest lowered his gaze, slowly outlining the enemy’s form in his mind.

Star Stealer Sol excelled in scheming. Its abilities were unknown, and it was accustomed to gathering intelligence, manipulating behind the scenes.

Its real body was weak, unlikely to enter the fray now. Even the previous battle between the two gods couldn’t force it out of the shadows, let alone this little skirmish.

But It was definitely watching. Whether through the four moons, the eyes of Its followers, or some other means…

“Shouldn’t we first resolve Nol’s issue?” Lynn couldn’t help but speak out. “We can talk about these matters later. The important thing is—”

“The important thing is, the more the enemy likes underhanded tactics, the less we can afford to be passive.” Teest stared in the direction where Nol was, expressionless. “Nol’s anomaly is caused by system interference, so dragging Star Stealer Sol out to end the interference is the best solution.”

Painter grimaced as if in pain. “Drag it out…”

“It wants chaos, It wants war, It wants to probe our situation. Not giving It a good show would be too disappointing, wouldn’t it?” Teest bared his teeth, looking eager to tear something apart.

“Let me remind you, the people here are our compatriots.” Lynn pressed her temples. “Please, don’t even think about things like blood sacrifices.”

“I promised Nol, this time I’d play the hero,” Teest said softly/ “I won’t break the game rules.”

After saying that, he added, “…By the way, I’ll be going out again tonight. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be back on time at dawn.”

The night gradually deepened, then was diluted by the increasingly bright twilight.

The undead dragon lay quietly, and the alien monster sat motionless beside it. A soothing magic continuously flowed from its palm and… probably around its thigh. Teest calmly rested his leg, lying on his side.

The omnipresent pressure from all sides remained, but from another perspective, this was also a kind of embrace. The bluish-red skin was cold and moist, with a faint smell of decay, but no matter. He had already gotten used to it in the Eternal Church. How wonderful this touch was, like a cold kiss.

Nol occasionally uttered unintelligible murmurs, with the short syllable “Teest” mixed in. That sound, like bubbles rising and bursting, brought a strange sense of comfort.

Teest liked it here; he comfortably closed his eyes.

His body was covered in wounds of various sizes and depths. Blood soaked through Teest’s clothes, flowing down the stone platform. Wounds that could be healed with recovery magic, so Teest let them be, and the blood continued to flow out little by little.

Until the monster’s “hand” gently covered them, awkwardly healing those wounds.

[Teest,] it said. [Teest.]

“I’m ready, honey,” Teest said. “I don’t know if this will be a good story.”

“But it’s bound to be thrilling. I hope you’ll like it.”

……

“Redeploy the investigation team.” In the Amazon command tent, Dorothy hadn’t slept all night. “We can’t delay too long. The longer it takes, the more panicked everyone becomes.”

“First, find a way to kill the undead dragon, and immediately retreat after killing it. If its master becomes enraged, we can still gather some intelligence.”

“What if, without the undead dragon, that thing enters its second phase…” Assassin Sharp couldn’t help but shudder. The undead dragon was manageable, but its eerie master indeed left her with a psychological shadow.

“It’s better than dealing with both sides at the same time.”

Dorothy forced a smile. “We’ve brought plenty of light-based output this time, and the quality of Drake’s companions is high—Ruby has seen them. It seems like there’s a ‘Saint’ and a ‘Sorcerer’, and Drake himself is a magic swordsman—just suitable for this battle.”

“The mission given by the system can’t be an impossible situation. No one will die, and if there’s a permanent debuff from death, there will be a way to remove it. Don’t worry.”

“Understood. Then I’ll go find Bonnie Jie to draft the attack list.”

Dorothy nodded, hesitating for a moment. “I heard Mandela secretly made some buns? Are there any left? I’d like to eat some.”

“There should be some left…” Sharp replied, somewhat puzzled. Dorothy never cared about these things before.

“I see.”

Fifteen minutes later.

Dorothy, holding a stack of pan-fried buns, entered Lilith’s secret tent.

“Wow, pan-fried buns—!” The snake girl sprung up like a spring.

“No vinegar. I used some sour lemon juice instead.” Dorothy sighed. “Eat up.”

Lilith’s claws reached for the buns, then slowly stopped. “Sister, something’s off in your tone… This isn’t going to be my last supper, is it? I know the quest has changed. Is our opponent that scary?”

“Not optimistic.”

Dorothy shook her head. “Listen, Lilith… Lin Li. If something happens to me, I might not be able to look after you. Remember, don’t let anyone know your true situation. As long as your prophetic ability exists, they will protect you unconditionally.”

“I don’t understand. Can’t even Sharp Jie know?”

A sorrowful expression crossed Dorothy’s face. “If you were just ‘an exception’, that would be one thing. But if all the monsters in Paradise are like you… that means, this might not just be a ‘game’.”

If Paradise was full of people like Lilith, they would be all their compatriots, yet they hadn’t contacted the Players sooner. It could only mean that Paradise’s side had some intelligence—some negative information that was inconvenient to tell the Players.

Regarding the possible content of that intelligence, Dorothy had some guesses. But no matter what the answer was, it was bound to bring chaos to the Players.

Rather than betting on so many Players’ sentiments, Dorothy preferred to believe in the peaceful approach of the Master of Paradise.

The recent incident in the Brick Mountains had even shocked Hot Ash himself. With more and more strange events happening, the last thing Players needed now was chaos.

“The situation is special. I’ve removed the seal on the door, and there’s an invisibility potion in this small bag. If no one comes for you for more than twenty-four hours, remember to check the situation yourself.”

“Thank you, sister. I’ll remember.” Lilith finally took a bun and chewed it carefully. “If the situation gets too urgent, I’ll run away.”

Dorothy managed a strained smile.

“If you’re really uncomfortable, how about I make a prophecy for you?” Lilith offered. “Although I personally don’t like spoilers in life, given the circumstances…”

“No need.” Dorothy patted her head. “I only have one outcome—going home and having a good New Year with my parents. I don’t want to know about anything else.”

“Just like you only have one outcome. You’ll find your sister, and you both will go home.”

“Mm,” Lilith responded with a smile.

Not far from the command tent.

Barto was fuming, veins popping. He had just come for a logistics mission and ended up getting involved in something big—recently, he hadn’t leveled up at all, and he wasn’t fit for the battlefield! Now, with the system locking the dungeon and the quest incomplete, he couldn’t even leave.

If it weren’t for that damn scroll delivery mission, Barto wouldn’t want to deal with that bitch Dorothy ever again. He thought to himself, getting involved with these women never ends well, as he kicked the scroll box again.

Who’s in the mood to find the recipient? Let’s just get this cursed quest over with first.

Speaking of which, the snake woman had a prophecy.

Someone would grant them the way home, and they would witness a noble sacrifice. Barto originally thought “the way home” meant a way back to Earth, but now it seemed, it could also mean leaving this cursed place.

A noble sacrifice… Well, it certainly wouldn’t be his. As long as they survived until a specific character sacrificed themselves, they would have a chance…

Thinking this, Barto finally felt a bit calmer. It was almost dawn. It might be good to go out for a walk to clear his head.

As he stepped out, Barto immediately saw Lynn, carrying a basket of bread.

She didn’t look like one of the Amazons. A guest, perhaps… Last night, Dorothy threw out “Drake’s visit” as a pacifier for everyone. Could this be one of that Hero Drake’s companions?

This newcomer looked to be no more than eighteen, petite, with two flaxen braids, full of girlish charm. Her pale red eyes were round and beautiful, like a little girl who might appear in a fairy tale.

‘Quite cute,’ Barto thought. And being one of Drake’s companions, it wouldn’t hurt to get on good terms.

“Good morning.” Barto put on his trademark sweet smile, blocking Lynn’s path. “Guests are up so early, huh?”

Lynn struggled to suppress the subtle look in her eyes.

Well… At Lynn’s own request, Nol had shown her every Player he met through memory images, to enrich her “Paradise Intelligence Database”.

Hmm… this person, she remembered, was a man?

Hmm…

“Good morning, miss. I’m used to getting up early.” Lynn also put on a perfunctory smile. “Any new news from your side?”

She couldn’t say that the Mad Monk “Drake” had gone out in the middle of the night and hadn’t returned, and she was trying to summon him with fresh bread.

“Nothing new from the battlefield. Honestly, Amazons’ reaction is slower than you’d think.” Barto said with an air of importance, “I’m actually a representative of the Alva Merchant Group, not a member of Amazon.”

Good, the intelligence database can be enriched a bit.

“Oh my, a representative of the Alva Merchant Group?” Lynn feigned surprise. “You’re so young. That’s amazing! But if a representative is here, is something the matter…”

“Don’t worry. It’s just a secret merchandise transport.” Barto winked mysteriously. “There are plenty of secrets here.”

Lynn maintained a perfect smile with a hint of appropriate admiration in her eyes. “Wow, really? Is it a secret weapon?”

“Ah, just a person-finding tool, nothing exciting.”

Barto was completely unguarded around this “Hero’s companion”. Setting aside how prestigious the name Drake was, such a pure and cute girl must be the “Saint” mentioned in the intelligence—Saints had high moral standards.

That scruffy man must be the “Sorcerer”. That face did look a bit familiar. Had he seen him before? …Never mind. It wasn’t important.

Here stood a Saint Sister, seemingly very innocent, easily manipulated in minutes.

Securing this connection, leaving here would be another achievement. The Alva Merchant Group would surely value him even more.

“But we do have a secret weapon,” Barto said, beaming.

“Amazon have secretly hidden a prophet from the Priest Serpent Clan. It has prophesied about this crisis!”

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The author has something to say:

You think she’s a Saint.

Actually, it’s a Supreme Domination Witch (…

Teest is not only unflustered but also wants to rest his leg on someone.

And don’t get it wrong! This couldn’t possibly be the final battle (lol

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Kinky Thoughts:

Well… if you didn’t know what Loser was before, this chapter should really tell you who it is now. Anyway, no spoilers for those who haven’t read Stray.

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