Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 159: Perradat

Why is it you again?

Miss Dorothy, the leader of the Amazon Players, began to feel a headache coming on. Standing before her was Barto from the Alva Merchant Group, who was the support representative for the battle’s supplies.

She had known that the Alva Merchant Group would send someone. Compared to the logistics of the Homeward Saints, which were almost entirely managed by the Temple of Life, the neutrally positioned Amazon had far fewer options.

The Claw Scar Mountains were already close to Old Gemino, nearest to the city center. Even swapping for a local would have been better, yet the Alva Merchant Group had sent this troublesome guy over again. Perhaps they didn’t want to send their own people to the frontlines, betting on Players “not dying easily”, Dorothy thought helplessly.

Needless to say, Barto himself would definitely interpret it as “the Merchant Group has high hopes for me, letting me snag a rare quest on the side.”

“Happy cooperation.” Indeed, “Miss” Barto spoke with a subtly self-satisfied tone.

“Our Miss Dorothy is setting up camp again. It seems no matter how big the setup, women are just timid. Last time in the Brick Mountains, you didn’t dare go in to rescue anyone. What are you waiting for now? For the undead dragon to come out on its own?”

“You’re so proactive, you should join our investigation team.” Dorothy spoke with a smile. “The investigation team went to analyze the undead dragon’s behavior patterns. Given how brave you are, you can collect a lot of attack intelligence for us—surely you wouldn’t refuse, right?”

Barto choked up a bit, then stiffened his neck. “I’m not one of Amazon. Why should I listen to you? Besides, as a support, can I charge in by myself?”

Dorothy: “Oh, hearing how confidently you command, I thought you were an advisor to Amazon.”

Barto glared at her discontentedly.

“The logistics are settled. You’re not a member, so there’s no need for you to stay in my tent.” Dorothy’s voice was steady, pointing towards the tent entrance. “Please leave.”

Barto didn’t move. “Come on. You know why I’m here, and I know why the Saints have given the quest to you—you’ve brought ‘that thing’ here. I want to see it.”

Dorothy’s eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but her expression remained unchanged. “She doesn’t see visitors.”

“Name your price. I’m not saying I won’t pay,” Barto said. “It’s just a monster. I couldn’t kill it in front of you if I tried.”

Dorothy was strictly businesslike. “No.”

“Come on. We’re all modern people here. Are you playing feudal with me?” Barto’s beautiful face reddened with anger. “I just want to ask about my future. What’s wrong with that? Just because I said a few words to you before, do you have to be so obstructive?”

After saying that, as if he thought of something, he lifted the corner of his mouth. “Logistics is under my control, including your drinking water and food. Think it over before you reply.”

Alright, this person was worse than she thought.

Dorothy had no doubt that once a fight broke out, this person really would dare to tamper with the water supply. Since Players couldn’t die and could still level up, Barto wouldn’t feel guilty.

Directly attacking Barto would offend the Alva Merchant Group. She needed to find a legitimate way to control this person.

“You know the rules. Only one question.” Dorothy said, “If you don’t want your prophecy to be ‘spiced up’, keep a respectful attitude.”

“Do you have to say it?”

Dorothy walked to the tent’s entrance. She pulled out a brightly colored key that looked as if it had fallen into a paint palette. She thrust the key into the air, twisting it left and right, then immediately put it away into the system inventory.

The entrance to the tent was no longer the scene of Players coming and going, but another room.

The room was filled with candles of varying heights, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of burning incense. A silver platter was loaded with ham, bread, and fruit, and a large pile of silk cushions was stacked on the thick carpet.

Above the cushions, sleeping… was a monster.

Its lower body was that of a bright red serpent, with a long and powerful tail—the fine scales shimmering with a poisonous luminescence. Its upper body, however, was that of a young girl—

The girl’s face was beautiful, with long black hair that was soft and winding.

Her face had four eyes with dense yellow irises, characteristic of the vertical pupils of reptiles. The faint red skin of the human-like part still reflected the light pattern of snake scales.

If Nol were here, he would recognize this rare monster at a glance—the Priest Serpent Clan.

The common serpents in Tahe were mainly the Lena Serpent Clan. Like other beastmen, the Lena Serpent Clan was known for powerful venom and physical attacks, but there was nothing else special about it.

The Priest Serpent Clan was different, residing in the sparsely populated Endless Swamp. Its members were rare, all possessing terrifying magical talents.

The appearance of the Priest Serpent Clan in the inland areas only led to two scenarios. The serpent people either became priests at the altar’s side or rare magical materials on the altar.

This serpent seemed to be the former.

There was a heavy collar clasped around her neck. Bright red runes fluttered around it—undoubtedly a magic seal.

“Hm.” Noticing a visitor, she lazily propped herself up. “Another fool curiously prying into fate uninvited.”

“Good morning, Lilith.” Dorothy’s expression was serious.

“Good morning, Dorothy. So, it’s this one…” She glanced towards Barto, her four eyes narrowing. “This gentleman wishes to peer into fate?”

With his identity seen through, Barto’s posture instantly straightened up. “Yes, Miss Lilith.”

“Knowing your fate will not bring you peace.” Lilith’s voice was husky and sweet, and her pronunciation carried a strange rhythm. “You will only try to understand it and twist it, ultimately stepping onto the predetermined path—your various struggles and rebellions will only become the stairs leading to the road of fate.”

Barto’s facial muscles twitched.

It was all mumbling nonsense, in one ear and out the other. Considering he still needed something from this creature, Barto dared not to show his disdain too obviously.

Prophet Lilith, a bizarre creature born from the Priest Serpent Clan. She believed in an obscure god passed down within her clan for generations and possessed the talent to divine fate.

Currently, this creature was controlled by Amazon. This group of fastidious women worry about this and that all day, and it was said they use her very cautiously. Countless Players outside yearned to hear their own fate but couldn’t even get a chance.

If Barto wasn’t in charge of Amazon logistics by chance this time, he admitted he wouldn’t have caught this opportunity.

“I have made up my mind.” Barto coughed twice, trying to sound sincere. “Alright, you can go now, Dorothy.”

Dorothy crossed her arms and looked at him with a half-smile, without any intention of moving. Barto gritted his teeth, but he still didn’t dare force her out.

Serpent Lilith chuckled lightly, slithering off the cushion and circled around Barto. The snake scales brushed against the carpet, making an ominous rustling sound.

“Are you sure?” she asked again, with an inscrutable smile on her face.

Barto: “Sure. So how much do you want?”

“Knowing your own fate, that’s the price you have to pay.”

Lilith returned to the center of the room. She took a deep breath and opened her arms.

Those four bright eyes suddenly darkened, and something seemed to twist on the surface of her eyeballs. Just as Barto tried to take a closer look, his head felt as if it had been scooped out and hammered—the pain was unbearable.

“Perradat, I call upon you.”

She changed to the Priest Serpent Clan’s language, emitting a chilling hiss. The candles in the room suddenly brightened, and the flames elongated into something resembling a nightmare.

“Perradat, I call upon you. Please allow me to kiss the hem of your robe, to be imbued with your might, to witness the trajectory of this dust settling.”

Something quietly changed in the air. The temperature remained the same, but Barto felt a chill. His skin felt as if it’d been rubbed with sandpaper. Lilith and Dorothy’s mouths didn’t move, yet Barto heard a young girl’s light sigh.

Perradat, what kind of wild god is that?

Barto had only heard of the Goddess of Life, Tilia, and the Eternal Son, Anstis. Perhaps it was just a fictitious god of the Priest Serpent Clan—it was said that Shiva was filled with numerous beastmen, many of whom had “ancestral niche gods”. Such beliefs were entirely maintained through bloodlines, never amounting to much.

“I see your insignificant fate…”

Lilith’s hoarse voice carried a strange echo. “…A despicable villain, a puppet manipulated. You have abandoned a better possibility with your own hands and are destined never to have a good dream…”

…What is this?

…Anyway, it definitely doesn’t sound like a good thing.

Barto held his breath, waiting for the rest of the prophecy. The darkness in Lilith’s eyes dissipated, and she looked at Barto with her bright snake eyes, which held some vague cruelty in them.

“That’s it?” Barto couldn’t help but speak out. “What bullshit is this?”

A sense of unease began to flow through his veins. How could his fate be so negative when he has been climbing up all along?

“This is all you asked for.” Lilith smiled mysteriously. “Normally, prophecies are neutral. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this for such a… cough, someone like you.”

“Playing games with me? It’s all bullshit. Just you wait.”

Barto was in no mood to pay attention to that suspicious pause. He turned around and left, clearly not intending to accept his prophecy.

Dorothy watched Barto leave the tent space. After his figure disappears, she and Lilith both sigh in relief.

“That was close. I almost blurted out ‘loser’.” Lilith lost her mysterious demeanor, patting her chest and taking a long breath.

She casually pulled off the “collar” around her neck, twirling it with her fingers. “Sister, do you have anything tasty? It’s bread here every day. I want to eat dumplings… or fried dough sticks…”

Dorothy chuckled. “We’re preparing for battle now. We’ll make something when we get back.”

“Okay, call me if you need anything!”

Lilith flopped onto the cushion. Her ghostly demeanor was gone, looking like a listless data cable. “I’ve been putting on this act for a while now, might as well make some cheats.”

Dorothy looked at the serpent stretching on the cushion, her lips pursing. “Have you really considered Paradise? It would definitely be more stable than with Amazon… As long as you’re willing, I can have someone escort you there anytime.”

“No thanks.” Lilith buried her face in the pillow, waving her hand nonchalantly. “You helped me a lot back then, sister. It would be wrong for me to just abandon you guys and escape on my own.”

“Adults have their own ways,” Dorothy said earnestly. “You’re still too young…”

Lilith turned a deaf ear. “If the prophecy given to me by our people wasn’t wrong, I would ‘get what I wish for through trials and tribulations.’ Sister, if I were to go to that Paradise, it wouldn’t come true.”

“Although I don’t believe in that Perradat or whatever, the prophecies It gives are frighteningly accurate. I feel safer running around with you guys…”

Dorothy couldn’t help but sigh again. This little girl was like a stubborn snake.

“Then take good care of yourself and don’t ever leave the tent. There are many like Barto out there, and they wouldn’t hesitate to turn you into material.” She continued earnestly, “Tell us if you need anything.”

“Oh, and I’ve finished reading the books you gave me last time. I was getting bored.” Lilith’s expression turned flattering. “Sister, give me some new ones, preferably something more exciting, you know—”

“You’re underage.”

“…Tch.”

Dorothy became serious. “Lilith, was that prophecy you told Barto made up to deceive him, or was it a real prophecy?”

Lilith pouted. “I was planning to concoct something to fool him, but his prophecy turned out to be just like that.”

“Anyway, I think ‘the despicable villain’ is definitely realistic, but from ‘the puppet being manipulated’, it’s hard to say. A puppet of the Alva Merchant Group? A puppet of some mastermind behind the scenes? …Or some chaotic puppet? It’s all possible.”

“As usual, don’t expect an accurate interpretation. These things are really hard to tell.”

Dorothy nodded. She casually tidied up the cushions on the floor, and before she could even look up, she heard a terrifying gasp from Lilith.

“Lilith?!” Dorothy broke out in a cold sweat.

This little girl had made many prophecies, but never had such a terrifying anomaly occurred!

Lilith fell to the ground, her body struggling nonstop and her throat emitting a whistling, sharp sound. Her four eyes and mouth were wide open, filled with bright light like white flames.

[Where dragons are born, where mistakes converge.]

[The Master of the world returns to the start of the dream, and He will grant you the way home.]

Lilith almost screamed out; her voice was so shrill that it didn’t sound like her own.

[Lost knowledge is reset, and pursued desires are fulfilled. You will receive the aid of fate and witness a noble sacrifice.]

A prophecy.

A prophecy that was triggered automatically, without anyone asking.

Before the prophecy was fully pronounced, Dorothy rushed over to Lilith, lifting the girl’s slender body. As the prophecy was uttered, the blinding white light in Lilith’s eyes and mouth gradually faded, leaving only the marks of burns. She fell into an exhausted slumber, her breath tinged with the chaos of magic depletion.

Thankfully, it wasn’t serious enough to have lasting consequences… Dorothy cast several healing spells in relief and wiped Lilith’s face.

…What exactly was that prophecy?

The same question echoed in Barto’s head.

Before leaving the tent, Barto had deliberately thrown an expensive eavesdropping button on the ground. Who would have thought that these Amazonians would be so difficult to deal with? The eavesdropping magic was suppressed by the protective magic in the tent, and Barto could only hear them speaking but not the content.

Until that roaring prophecy.

The power it carried was so immense, and the self-declaration of desire was so urgent. Through the barely functioning eavesdropping button, it drilled into Barto’s ears.

Even now, Barto’s ears were still aching.

It was mostly Dorothy and the snake woman fooling him together, but the real prophecy came knocking. Yes, this was more like his own prophecy—

Some benevolent existence would take them home!

As for the “lost knowledge” and “noble sacrifice”, Barto didn’t care, nor did he want to. Just being able to leave this damn place was enough.

Just wait a bit longer, to figure out the specifics, and he must become the important figure who “informs everyone they can go home”.

Thinking of this, Barto’s mood improved.

Well, first of all, he should sort out the remaining communication crystals.

…..

Lynn directed two puppets to layer soft cloth on the bed.

No choice, the living conditions in Paradise were too good. After going out and then facing this stone bed again… Just looking at it for a bit longer, Lynn’s lower back began to ache.

“Let’s think about the situation now.” Painter sat on his own stone bed, chewing jerky. “The four of us need to find a way to persuade Amazon to willingly give up the lucrative quest without letting them see the mistake… Great, another easy and pleasant day.”

If it weren’t for Teest showing off in front of the dragons, they might have had more room to maneuver—whether human or dragon, higher expectations were always placed on the strong.

“Sometimes, laying all your cards on the table isn’t a good idea.” Lynn looked at Nol, implying something.

Nol knew exactly what she meant.

For a second, Nol understood Kando’s feelings.

If he told Amazon, “Hello, this isn’t a game but reality. Everyone’s being played by a powerful False God, and we won’t know the way home until we defeat it but defeating it might not reveal the way home” …Not to mention whether the leader of Amazon would believe it, the subsequent proof and negotiations would still be difficult.

To this day, every time he made a move, he had to be prepared not to look back.

Unlike Kando, he didn’t have time to stay by the Amazon leader’s side to assess her character. What he faced wasn’t just the Amazon leader alone.

If the Player community became fragmented because of this and Star Stealer Sol noticed something amiss and interfered, the Players would quickly become scattered.

“I know. We need to think of a better way.”

Nol massaged his temples and spoke in a somewhat erratic tone. “It would be nice if killing Star Stealer Sol would directly drop a spell to return home.”

Teest: “How about making an example by sacrificing the leader of Amazon—”

Nol: “No.”

Test: “Sacrificing the high-ranking Amazons—”

Nol: “No.”

Teest: “You like me—”

Nol: “I do. So, can we think of other plans? Ones that don’t involve killing someone.”

Teest shifted his gaze away. “Honey, this is a war. You can’t expect there to be no sacrifices.”

“I’m being willful,” Nol calmly replied.

Teest hummed in his throat. “Alright, let me think…”

Then he ran out of words. Teest leaned on Nol’s shoulder, deep in thought. For a clever Mad Monk, “how to save people” was always a century-old problem.

During this time, Painter and Lynn looked at the sky and the ground, respectively. They turned their gaze back only when they were sure Teest was done muttering.

“From my experience, to entice others to act, you must offer a more tempting ‘compensation’.” Lynn cleared her throat.

“And a likable narrative.” Painter stroked his chin’s stubble. “Most of the time, people are willing to give up something for a good story… As far as This Villain knows, that kind of side quest that contradicts each other should exist, right?”

Package the [Expedition Against the Undead Dragon] as a side quest?

It seemed feasible, but the question was how to set up the stage and plot next.

Lynn was right. As long as a tempting guarantee was provided, the Amazon Players wouldn’t be unreasonable.

Fortunately, this was the Dragon’s Lair, and Nol knew all the quests and rewards. He had plenty of treasures that could match the system’s tasks.

More importantly, the story… He needed to make his story more credible. They must become representatives of “goodwill” and then offer a grand finale where humans and dragons coexist.

Nol mumbled to himself, suddenly hearing a light laugh. Teest was chuckling by his ear, his breath bringing a warm soft heat.

[What are you laughing at?] Nol was curious.

[You’ll definitely have no problem,] Teest said. [This is how you’ve come all this way.]

Nol’s heart skipped a beat. Indeed… Wonderful guarantees, representatives of goodwill, perfect ending. They were the foundation of Paradise, and the signposts of his journey so far.

Are you sure there are no lies buried underneath them?

That tiny voice echoed in Nol’s ears again. This time, you’re going to lie, aren’t you? You’re going to deceive your compatriots. Is this really the first time you’ve lied? You’re even less honest than Kando.

Bad guy, bad guy.

Bad guy.

Seeing Nol suddenly hold his head, Teest jolted in place. “Nol?”

“…I’m fine.” Seeing the worried expressions of his companions, Nol instinctively wiped his nose.

This time, he didn’t see blood. Strange. Should he have seen blood? Why did he think of that? Really strange.

Why would he see blood? What is blood?

Lots and lots of blood.

[I just got lost in thought. You’re right,] Seeing Teest tense up, Nol quickly said to reassure, [I’ll definitely have no problem. I’m best at this sort of thing.]

[It will go smoothly this time. I promise.]

Teest gave him a smile that could be described as radiant.

[I reserve my opinion,] he said.

The author has something to say:

I feel like some of my protagonists could double as horror movie leads (×

Nol: (Ambiguous mumbling)

Teest: Turns out I’m the most normal person in this family (CosmicCat.jpg)

Teest: But Nol is the best.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 158: Drama Stage

When they embraced, Nol often whispered in his ear. These whispers were mostly soft and gentle, like velvet brushing against the ear. This time, however, it was closer to an ice pick scraping the tip of the ear. Teest turned his head, unable to resist sniffing the air.

Fortunately, he didn’t smell any suspicious stench of decay.

Nol smelled of herbs, mild soap, and sun-warmed linen. He looked at Teest honestly, again having no idea what he had done… Or did he really have no idea?

Whenever Teest thought he had grasped this person, the Nol between his fingers would become ethereal again. He had accompanied Nol all this way, and upon reflection, it seemed that no one in Paradise had truly seen him.

…Maybe Nol sealed the harmful knowledge within himself, which allowed him to live normally.

…Maybe Nol is fake, just a puppet of some existence. This image is its tool, and “self” is just part of the disguise.

…Maybe all the events were arranged by Nol, such as neutralizing the concept of the “Demon King”, such as gathering forces to fight against Star Stealer Sol. Maybe Star Stealer Sol is the “hero” who painstakingly domesticates humans and suppresses the Demon King with all his might. Who knows?

Everything was ambiguous.

Teest’s mouth tasted bitterness. He couldn’t help but sigh, his fingers brushing through Nol’s slightly long black hair. Nol, oblivious, smiled at him, a smile Nol always liked, as if to say, “It’s okay. The difficulties will pass.”

Surrounded by many possibilities, Teest could only be sure of one thing. In his life, he would never again encounter such an enchanting and heart-wrenching mystery—

A delicious and soft god, seasoned with the bitter spices of fear and danger. Maybe with added alcohol. Otherwise, the burning sensation in his chest, like frostbite, couldn’t be explained.

“It’s not a big deal.” Teest kissed the tip of Nol’s nose. “I believe you are aware of your anomalies. The dragon has already proposed a solution, and it won’t delay the important matters.”

Nol breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

To be honest, the back of his head was still a bit numb, and his heartbeat was a bit irregular. He knew he had forgotten something but couldn’t remember what.

What was it?

“In the worst case—if you were to destroy the world, I would still be with you, so there’s no need to worry.” Teest offered a rare sincere comfort.

Nol: “……” It was so considerate, he almost agreed.

And judging by the expressions of Painter and Lynn not far away, his anxiety might have transferred to them.

Miraculously, his irregular heartbeat gradually calmed down.

……

The next day, in the Dragon Council Chamber.

This was the largest cave in the entire Dragon’s Lair. It was located at the highest point of the Dragon’s Lair, with three-quarters of it open to the outside, supported by smooth stone pillars, offering a vast expanse of blue sky.

As promised, Red Dragon Granatum brought them in front of Subelbot.

Subelbot was the oldest dragon in the entire Dragon’s Lair.

He was twice the size of a typical adult dragon, with a snow-white body, and his scales shone as beautifully as pearls. Surging magical power flowed along those scales, creating dream-like halos. He had a pair of silver-white eyes like moonlight, with dragon horn tips nearly transparent, as if they glowed on their own.

At this moment, it lowered its head, looking down at the four unexpected guests.

This white dragon was as beautiful as Nol remembered.

[I recognize this head.] Teest’s very anticlimactic comment came through. [Haven’t seen it in half a year. Kinda miss it.]

[You better not mention this.]

Nol was on high alert. Back then, he had jammed the white dragon’s head to beat the Lord of Whitebird City. Fearing that Subelbot would recognize him, he didn’t dare bring Kando with him.

[Alright, I’ll just laugh secretly.] Teest cooperated, showing no sign of last night’s low spirits.

“State your name, Dracolich.”

Subelbot ‘s voice was deep, with no emotion in his vertical pupils. From the moment they entered, he only stared at Nol and Teest, as if the others were just insignificant dust.

At the same time, Red Dragon Granatum also looked over curiously. It was evident that he had wanted to ask earlier but didn’t due to hierarchy.

Good. His bet was right.

“Nolerwin.” Nol confidently said.

One of the oldest members of the Black Dragon clan, the author of the foundational theories of dragon magic, one of the few dragons Subelbot respected. Its ending was disappearance, leaving behind an unknown last work—a side quest of the Dragon’s Lair.

Sure enough, Subelbot narrowed his eyes, silent for two seconds.

The Red Dragon stepped forward with understanding. “That’s great. If I had known it was you, I would have proposed a knowledge exchange yesterday. This generation has a child of mixed red and blue dragon lineage, and their magic system is quite…”

“If the parents are of the same tier, their powers negate each other. It’s possible to remove one side’s magic through medication before the baptism. Since they’ve undergone the baptism, the only option is to destroy the core of both magic systems and manually forge a new circuit.”

“If you can’t perform such a surgery now, I’ll do it myself—I guess that’s what you want to hear.”

Nolerwin did indeed exist, but in the end, all of this was his creation. Of course, he could replicate it perfectly.

Nol raised his head, releasing a bit of his aura at the right moment.

“As a bargaining chip, I can also tell you the location of the last work.”

Strictly speaking, this world seemed to have a lifespan of only about 200 years, but to these dragons, Nolerwin indeed disappeared over 600 years ago. No matter how strong a dragon was, being separated from the clan for more than 500 years was considered abandoning the clan. Even if he claimed the title of dragon ancestor, an “outcast” trying to command the current leader with seniority was absolutely impossible.

Moreover, he was essentially different from the giant dragons, being a Dracolich.

Nol’s only goal was to make the arrogant Subelbot willingly and equally cooperate with him.

“The legacy of the Dragon’s Lair originally belongs to the Dragon’s Lair.” As expected, Subelbot didn’t compromise immediately, his pupils narrowing to a slit. “We have hundreds of years to continue searching. The dragons will not lower their heads for such small favors, outcast.” The other giant dragons stood silently by his side, unmoving.

“Bringing these humans here specially is because of the matter with the White Dragon Telistam. I can’t smell the scent of revengeful liquor… Offering treatment, pointing out the legacy, you want to excuse humans, outcast.”

Subsequently, Subelbot continued with a determined tone.

“They killed Telistam, they must pay the price. The dragons will not ignore the death of their kin.”

Damn. Nol’s back tensed with nervousness, yet he had to force a profound smile on his face. Even knowing Subelbot’s character, this guy was indeed not easy to deal with. The dragon leader wasn’t like the Red Dragon Sage, who had desires that were easy to grasp.

“I see.” Lynn timely took over the conversation.

“Silence, little worm.” Subelbot moved his huge head. “This is a conversation between dragons.”

“I am Mr. Nol—Nolerwin apprentice.” Lynn bowed respectfully. “Your stubbornness has greatly disappointed my mentor, who prefers not to converse with the obstinate. Hence, I shall speak on his behalf.”

Nol watched Lynn excitedly. To be this unflustered, truly a strong person refined by traditional big corporations!

“May I ask Lord Subelbot, which is more important: Telistam, who has been an outcast for over 200 years, or a newly born dragon?”

Anger tinged the White Dragon’s tone. “You dare to compare the lives of dragons…”

“Please answer me directly, to prove my foolishness,” Lynn said with a smile.

“No thing can measure the life of a dragon.” Subelbot proudly lifted his head. “Nor can anything buy the glory of the dragons.”

“I understand. Anyone who dares to harm an innocent dragon must be properly punished,” Lynn firmly agreed. “Those who uphold the glory of the dragons also deserve the best rewards.”

Subelbot: “Yes.”

“What kind of punishment, and what kind of reward?” Lynn asked.

“Those who harm the innocent must pay with blood. Those who uphold the glory will have their kindness remembered by the dragons and receive a fitting reward.”

Lynn’s pale red eyes narrowed. “Then please, make your blood payment.”

“…What?”

“Half a year ago, you ordered the Red Dragon Granatum to execute an innocent. You were convinced he was influenced by the False God, showing aberrations—that was a Chosen One of our God, and you executed him without giving him a chance to defend himself.”

Lynn bowed slightly. “My mentor and I come from Paradise. I believe you are aware of its existence. Not long ago, Paradise eliminated the Demon King, dispersing the ominous shadows over this land.”

“A Chosen One?” Subelbot’s head lowered slightly. “You have no proof.”

Lynn stepped forward, intentionally allowing the other giant dragons to see her clearly. She slightly opened her arms, raising her voice. “The False God only chooses humans from other worlds as their weapons, our God chooses beings from this land. Those chosen by the False God as aberrations can’t be killed. The chosen of our God still obey the cycle of life and death.”

“He even chose two from the dragon race. My mentor and that black dragon. They symbolize death and rebirth, yet you rejected the grace of God and destroyed one of them… You tell me, does this not warrant punishment?”

Subelbot remained silent, still full of skepticism.

Lynn changed the subject. “Just a few days ago, a Chosen One of our God awakened Telistam, allowing it to personally destroy the human tribe that murdered it. If you do not believe, you can let us contact Telistam at any time—it remembers the grace of God. Otherwise, it would have torn us to pieces.”

“Paradise has upheld the dignity of the dragons. What kind of reward do you think is appropriate?”

While Subelbot pondered, Lynn gave Nol an “OK” sign with one hand behind her back.

Nol caught on immediately.

He quietly released the aura of a False God, adding some light effects to the environment with [Creator].

The dim cave suddenly became exceptionally bright. Under the suppression of a False God-level aura, Subelbot’s gaze gradually grew solemn. The giant dragons became somewhat restless, with hundreds of eyes turning towards Subelbot.

“My God is merciful.” Nol bit the bullet and started boasting about himself. “God won’t ask you to give up your hatred. You need to apologize to those innocent departed and leave the upcoming war to the care of Paradise—I will not let the blood of my brethren be spilled in vain, and I am confident in converting those followers of the False God.”

“Since Telistam has been recalled to the living world by Paradise, I will protect it until the end.”

In any case, first talk nonsense to prevent the dragons from meeting the Players!

The leaders of the Players weren’t fools. As long as there was no conflict, there would still be room for redemption.

Subelbot scrutinized the few people before him and didn’t immediately agree. “You seem to know a lot about gods.”

“Oh, do you even need to mention it?” Teest said with a smile. “He was secretly killed by the False God and fell, leading to the Demon King’s loss of control, and magic becoming twisted… To counter the Demon King, Star Stealer Sol brought a group of outsiders from another world, causing chaos in this land.”

“My God only wants to reclaim His world and restore the balance of all things. Over the years, He has always been protecting you. How could the dragon race not have His Chosen Ones?”

“I deserted the Temple precisely because I discovered the true face of the False God,” Painter timely interjected. “Even if, in your eyes, I’m just an insignificant pope.”

Nol was surprised to find that he was the least capable of making up stories among the four present.

Before the stage was even set, this group was fabricating grand tales. Nol doubted that given another half-hour, they could concoct an entire scripture of the God of Paradise on the spot.

“Language is just language,” Subelbot said slowly. The stubborn old dragon refused to yield. “Then you handle the matter of Telistam and prove your words are true—if you really can convert those followers of the False God, in the upcoming battle, the dragons will hear the voice of Paradise.”

“Of course.” Lynn smiled and bowed.

“Um, I have a personal request.” Teest raised his hand. “Nol—I mean, Nolerwin is experiencing some abnormalities in his body, and I need your assistance to investigate.”

“You’ve got one thing wrong, worm.” Subelbot turned his eyes towards him. “We do not entrust the war with humans to you out of cowardice. This is merely an opportunity to prove yourselves—not a transaction. Dragons don’t entrust tasks to the weak.”

It wasn’t yet time. Nol shook his head gently at Teest. Teest smiled at him, touching his lips with his fingertip.

The next second, the light in the Dragon’s Lair vanished.

The blue sky that should have existed turned into a vast void of darkness. The temperature dropped rapidly, and the breath turned frosty instantly. Shadows spread, and an ominous black corruption crawled over the dry stone surface. Accompanied by Teest’s nearly brutal aura, a faint smell of blood spread.

A wild provocation.

Subelbot’s silver eyes filled with anger. He instinctively wanted to shatter this aura but was brutally suppressed in place.

“I need your assistance.” Teest looked at Subelbot, repeating with a smile. “Of course, after the war—if you really can’t think of anything you need help with, this wish can be put on credit.”

His tone was incredibly light.

For the first time, Subelbot’s gaze showed wariness. “I only negotiate with allies,” it stated firmly, ultimately leaving some leeway.

“Good.” Teest bowed, not too respectfully.

[What are you doing?!] Nol was shocked and angry.

He was shocked because Teest had gone to such lengths—even if his own condition was strange, it shouldn’t have been such a high priority.

Angry because Teest’s current strength wasn’t enough to completely suppress Subelbot. To reach this point, he must have overdrawn his body—Nol had already smelled an abnormal scent of blood.

[Let’s go quickly. Be careful not to let that dragon notice any flaws.]

Teest, with bloodshot eyes, looked over and tilted his head.

[I just wanted to get to know you a little better, honey.]

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 157: Phantom

Teest barely knew what “fear” was.

The Mad Monk truly lived in the shadows, yet up until now, his way of life was simpler and more straightforward than most—identify a problem, solve it, or abandon it. From moving to an unknown street from his preferred butcher shop to rooting out the False God hiding behind the veil of the world, his approach to solutions was no different.

As for those moments of joy and dissatisfaction, they were just fleeting bonuses. He would move past their outcomes, as he always did.

Even when Nol wanted to choose a different path, Teest never panicked. Because Nol knew what he was doing, and he understood Nol.

Regardless of whether Nol admitted it or not, Nol was a born master. As for Teest himself—everything was within the reach of his golden thread and just needed to be solved as usual.

But this time, Teest’s mind went blank.

He looked at Nol, whose figure seemed frozen, and his time stopped with him. For the first time in his life, his thoughts were like gears that had snapped and stuck, unable to logically find a solution. The hair on his back stood up and cold sweat dripped from his palms.

Strangely, his heart felt as if it was caught by a golden thread, unable to find its rhythm with each beat.

When he came back to his senses, he found himself standing in front of Nol. Nol looked up at him gently, as usual, his pupils as clear and beautiful as ever.

“If you have no questions, let’s go back,” Nol said in his usual tone.

“Can’t you hear it?”

Teest held Nol’s face with both hands, stubbornly saying, “There are other seals in your head, knowledge seals, or made by the system—you must have forgotten something, Nol!”

“Let’s go back,” Nol just repeated, seemingly unable to comprehend Teest’s words.

Painter’s expression turned grave. “Enough. This seal is obviously more powerful than we understand.”

It could even suppress Nol, a False God. There was an eight or nine out of ten chance it was related to the system.

“…The cost,” Teest said hoarsely.

Painter: “What?”

Teest turned around to face the Red Dragon Sage directly. His tone was as calm as before. Previously, it was like a breeze over calm waters, but now it was closer to the sea before a storm.

“Dragon, to figure out this seal, what’s your price?”

“Calm down, little boy.” Red Dragon Granatum grinned, baring his too-sharp teeth. “I told you, it’s impossible to undo it. But to merely explore its surface… with a bit of dream magic, Lord Subelbot might be able to do it.”

“Unfortunately, Lord Subelbot isn’t interested in the knowledge of outsiders. You’ll have to propose a more satisfying trade for him. Hmm, with your strength, there might be a sliver of hope.”

Teest laughed briefly. “Trust me, there’s plenty of hope.”

Granatum ignored Teest’s sarcasm. “How arrogant. Are you sure you want to explore? Such a strong seal isn’t set up just for fun.”

“Just a few minutes ago, I told you, some knowledge is poisonous—I see this guy is in good shape, healthy, and mentally sound. What else do you expect?”

Painter stopped joking and adopted the most solemn expression he’s ever had. “Teest, be careful.”

After the initial panic subsided, Teest found some footing again. He ignored the inexplicable numbness in his chest. “Just a few sentences ago, you also said you can’t undo the seal, only explore—that’s exactly what I want. Understanding is enough.”

“Or are you saying, the dragons will give up when they see the slightest bit of danger? Then I have to question their determination to confront the False God.”

Granatum’s leisurely expression vanished, and he frowned slightly in displeasure.

“I’ll report to Subelbot, of course, including what you just said. So, the knowledge as a price—”

“Star Stealer Sol.” Teest laid down a piece of truth. “Those four moons in the sky is the False God ‘Star Stealer Sol’. Abilities unknown, true name unknown.”

……

That night.

Nol was somewhat puzzled. He thought their conversation with the Red Dragon went fairly smoothly.

The Red Dragon Sage, under Subelbot’s instruction, killed one of his neighbors. Saying Nol didn’t care would be false, but with a great enemy ahead, any power that could restrain Star Stealer Sol was crucial. He wouldn’t stir up conflict with the dragons for it.

As the Master of Paradise, he now had even more compatriots to protect behind him.

Thus, Nol suppressed his emotions and exchanged information as calmly as possible. For some reason, Teest’s mood seemed even more downcast than his.

Upon returning, Teest just quietly prepared food, behaving somewhat abnormally. Painter no longer joked around but looked thoughtfully at them.

“I’ve heard everything.” Lynn attempted to break the eerie atmosphere. “The dragons are on our side. That’s good news. Since Nol claims to be Ye Meng’s teacher, we can bring her back to Paradise.”

With an additional dragon in the Lost Tower, its safety would surely increase significantly. Compared to the native dragons here, Ye Meng would definitely prefer to stay with her real compatriots.

“I’ll take Ye Meng away. According to Subelbot’s temperament, just saying ‘I’ll take her out for a journey’ should suffice. This won’t be too difficult.” Nol picked up the conversation. “The hard part is getting it to give up on targeting humans. The White Dragon Telistam is its kin. In its view, humans provoked first, and the provocations continue.”

Being provoked over and over again, even the Border Collie village chief would get angry, let alone the noble dragon leader.

After speaking, Nol looked expectantly at Teest, waiting for his knight to continue. But Teest just looked back, clearly distracted.

“Nol.” A few seconds later, he said seriously, “Let’s sleep together tonight.”

What’s Teest saying? Haven’t they been sleeping together for the past half year? Nol glanced quickly at Lynn, his face heating up. “Okay.”

Painter’s eyebrows twitched. “You’re not going to—”

“I have my ways. If I can figure it out myself, there’s no need to owe those dragons any favors.” Teest said, “Just tonight, I need you and Lynn to lend a hand.”

“You’re crazy,” Painter said tiredly.

“Did you forget my nickname?” Teest sneered. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. In this room, the person he wants to harm the least is me—figuring this out is good for everyone. It’s a good thing, and if…”

He didn’t finish.

But Painter understood his implication. The whole thing was too strange, hard to distinguish between good and evil. If the seal was a ticking time bomb, they absolutely couldn’t ignore it.

Nol: “…?”

What are these people talking about? He couldn’t quite understand.

Soon after, Teest came over with a bowl of soup. The soup was thick, and Nol could smell a strong medicinal scent. It didn’t smell very appetizing, and he instinctively dodged.

Teest opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound.

He suddenly didn’t know what to say to Nol. With that knowledge seal in place, he couldn’t accurately explain the situation to Nol and could only unilaterally ask for Nol’s cooperation.

“Do you trust me?” This coming out of his mouth would sound more like a joke than reassurance. “You can entrust your life to me?” …But he had never offered loyalty.

The opportunity for the “ending” he wanted was here, yet Teest was somewhat reluctant. He didn’t want their ending to be so hasty.

…How could he express this delicate emotion?

Holding the cup of special deep sleep medicine, Teest fell into contemplation. Suddenly, there was added warmth on the back of his hand.

Nol’s hand covered his, looking still puzzled, but then, leaning on Teest’s hand, he lowered his head and slowly drank the entire cup of medicine.

He even specifically lifted his own resistance, allowing the magic in the medicine to spread throughout his body.

The next second, Nol slumped forward, caught by Teest. The Dracolich fell into the deepest sleep. He breathed evenly, his body relaxed, showing not a hint of guard.

Teest pursed his lips. “Let’s begin.”

Lynn sighed. “You’ll dive into his dream. If things go south, I’m responsible for physically separating you two. Lao Pain will handle the magical barrier… Is that right? Any details we need to add?”

“I was hoping to get some additional support.” Teest looked towards Kando in the corner.

Since entering the Dragon’s Lair, it had become eerily silent. Now as well, it watched them with its slit eye, saying nothing. Teest stared persistently at it for five minutes before it finally flickered its flame.

“My knowledge comes from Loser, but even it isn’t omniscient.” The candle’s voice was quieter than a mosquito’s, as if afraid of alarming any dragon hundreds of meters away. “It only lost the battle with Star Stealer Sol. What you seek, the answer, might be from even earlier—frankly, Loser chose to assist Nol because the situation’s benefits far outweigh emotions and understanding.”

Teest hummed, still staring. “You say you know nothing, but you don’t seem to be stopping us.”

“…The knowledge seal is truly a dreadful thing.” Kando continued bitterly, “I’m doing these absurd things just for those memories unrelated to power. What stance do I have to stop you?”

“Seems like you’re of no use again.”

Teest gently held Nol, placing him on a stone platform covered in a soft cloth. Nol slept deeply, his face showing nothing but calm.

Nol’s throat was thus exposed, open to him. For the first time in a long while, Teest somewhat detested their marriage contract. If not for that “absolute inability to harm each other”, maybe he could enjoy this moment more.

Teest couldn’t resist and touched Nol’s neck with his knuckles. “Nol wanted to come here, partly to explore your identity. I thought ‘Loser’ had arranged something too.”

After all, it gave them an oracle with all its might.

…Where dragons are born, where mistakes converge. This undoubtedly pointed to the Dragon’s Lair.

…The Master of the World returns to the start of the dream, and you will find what you have lost. Lost knowledge is reset, and pursued desires are fulfilled. You will receive the aid of fate, and you will find the answer you seek.

How wonderful it sounds. Was he part of this “aid of fate”? Teest couldn’t help but wonder.

The stone platform was narrow, only big enough for one person to lie down. Teest sat at the edge of the platform, holding one of Nol’s hands tightly, his head gently resting on it.

“We can start now,” he said to the two behind him without turning back.

If lost knowledge hid in the crevice between dream and reality, then [Dream Manipulation] at the False God level might allow him to find a clue. To ensure Nol’s consciousness remained stable, he specifically used the deep sleep medicine to disperse any meaningless, shallow dreams.

Teest closed his eyes, deeply diving into Nol’s spirit.

Even fully relaxed, Nol’s mental defenses were unimaginably strong. If others’ mental barriers were like paper soaked in rain for three days, Nol’s were like the three-meter pure gold walls of a dwarf’s vault.

Fortunately, Nol’s subconscious seemed to recognize Teest’s presence and didn’t resist his intrusion.

Without the messy fragments of shallow dreams, Teest walked in a void of nothingness. This place was like a land completely covered in snow. Everywhere was white—endless white.

There was no direction or path, and he could drift anywhere at will.

Where would the seal be?

Such a strong seal would definitely affect Nol’s dream world. Teest moved forward in the void, trying to find a flaw in this world.

This search lasted over five hours.

If not for Teest’s extraordinary sense of direction, he would definitely get lost in this void. Fortunately, his hard work paid off. Just when Teest’s spirit began to scatter, he finally found a speck of impurity in the white world.

A figure—his Nol.

Nol wore very unfamiliar clothes, and his skin wasn’t the overly pale of the dead. His pupils weren’t the bright blue typical of will-o’-wisps but a clear black.

This Nol sat in front of a strangely shaped chair, focused on an even stranger… magic screen? He sat very upright, his hands rapidly tapping on a rectangular magic tool.

The magic screen was filled with a heart-palpitating black. In this all-white world, it was unbearably conspicuous.

Teest approached quietly. This Nol was unaware of his presence, just clicking away at those square keys.

There was no hostility, not even an unusual aura. Was this really related to the seal? Teest held his breath, getting closer.

This time, Nol noticed him.

He turned his head in a manner… not quite like the living, expressionless, with only emptiness in his eyes and brows. Although his head turned, his hands kept clicking the keys, not stopping for half a second.

“Go back, back.” His voice was fragmented and chaotic; his face was sometimes clear, sometimes blurred.

“It’s me, honey.” Teest smiled, spreading his hands. “Your husband, your knight, your pope… Have you forgotten?”

“I mean no harm, and I cannot hurt you. I just want to understand your situation.” Teest quietly stepped closer, his voice even softer and sweeter.

“You don’t have the permission, permission, permission.” Nol was unyielding.

“I’ll say it again. I just want to understand the reason for your existence. I have no intention of prying into what you guard.” Teest’s voice became even lighter, soft like a demon’s whisper. “Once I understand, I’ll leave immediately. I promise.”

That “Nol” finally showed an expression, his features bizarrely twisting as if he was smiling.

“You don’t have the permission, permission, permission.” As he spoke, his entire left eye twitched exaggeratedly up and down, as if unsure where to stay on his face.

He pointed a finger at Teest. The extended index finger flickered between one and two fingers, with new fingers sprouting from the joints occasionally. Amidst his movements, Teest smelled a strange yet familiar scent… A scent that shouldn’t be here.

The stench of decay.

The next second, Teest felt as if he was stuffed into an oak barrel on a stormy ship. The dizziness was enough to cause him to faint. He tried to resist but couldn’t withstand that deadly repulsion.

The scene in front of him shattered abruptly, like a broken mirror. That “Nol” dispersed into the mirror fragments, and the faint stench of decay also faded away.

Teest clenched his fist, striking hard at his chest.

At the same time, in reality, Teest’s body twitched.

Painter and Lynn acted at once. Teest was instantly pulled away from the stone platform by Lynn’s puppet, while Painter’s holy light barrier activated in the same second.

Teest’s back hit the stone wall not far away. He found that his clothes were soaked with sweat at some point, and his nostrils were filled with the smell of blood. He wiped under his nose, and sure enough, it was blood.

The symptoms were similar to Nol’s.

Teest cast a cleansing spell on himself, removing the blood and sweat. Nol was still deeply asleep, no different from when he first dove in.

“How did it go?” Painter asked tensely.

“I found something, but I can’t understand it.” Teest took a sip of water. “All I can say is, I don’t think it’s anything good.”

Painter hummed. “‘Might explode at any moment’ kind of bad, or ‘should maintain the status quo’ kind of bad?”

“…I don’t know.”

It seemed that this time, he would have to make a deal with the dragon leader. To further understand the seal, he had to withstand that powerful “expulsion”—relying solely on his own strength, obviously, wasn’t enough.

Teest gently woke Nol up and handed him water to ease the medicine. He didn’t wish for the seal to take advantage of the situation, causing his husband to sleepwalk in the middle of the night again.

“Um…” After swallowing the cool and refreshing water, Nol gradually woke up.

“Is it over?”

“It’s over.” Teest finished the rest of the half cup of water.

“It seems the result isn’t very optimistic.” Nol moved closer, sniffing Teest. He smelled the residual scent of blood.

Looking at this peaceful scene, Painter couldn’t help but bitterly smile. “You really are at ease.”

“You guys wouldn’t knock me out and package me up to send to Star Stealer Sol… Since everyone agrees, it means that this matter really needs to be done. There must be a reason for keeping it from me.”

Nol sat up from the stone platform. His body was still a bit weak, and he could only lean on Teest.

At this point, he turned his head and rested his chin on Teest’s shoulder.

“…Moreover.”

After a brief pause, Nol continued in a voice that only Teest could hear, his breath suddenly becoming icy.

“You don’t have the permission.” His voice was like a murmur in a dream.

The author has something to say:

Hehe (?

“Mentally Balance”, the final Boss’s terrifying value ←

Teest’s fur exploded!

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 156: Knowledge Seal

Nol used the secret passage he first told the little black dragon about. This was his first time standing upright in the Dragon’s Lair, looking up at the blue sky.

A dozen giant dragons circled the peak of the mountain. Magic glows burst from time to time, and the dragon’s power scraped across the skin like a blade.

Nol felt somewhat emotional; this was still the custom he had personally set up—adult dragons conducting magic training for the not yet fully grown young dragons, exactly like the concept map they had planned at the time.

Two hundred years, for dragons, is roughly equivalent to two years—not enough time for a generational change, let alone to make any significant changes. However, according to the neighbors, changes still existed. The dragons were even more stubborn and conservative than Nol had initially set them to be, almost completely isolated from the world.

For such a strong and arrogant race, this abnormality must have its reasons.

The Dragon’s Lair—the place where he woke up.

The mystery of the bloodline of the Black Candle Kando.

The moon that stood alone above the sky.

The deeply buried Oracle Cave underground, and that meaningful prophecy…

No matter which one he was interested in, they would all lead him here. The Dragon’s Lair was like a point where thousands of clues and red threads converged, fate pushing him back to his “homeland”.

Nol extended his palm. What he saw wasn’t the void of blue fire, nor the pale bones. The sunshine was splendid, and the palm lines obediently nestled in his palm, with pale blue veins visible beneath his fair skin.

Now he would get his answers.

The Red Dragon Granatum lived on the second highest peak.

His cave didn’t have golden products, but heavy books with gold-stamped covers. They were written in different languages from various races, with many showing burn marks. Perhaps to facilitate reading or to show some sincerity, the host, Granatum, had taken on human form—

A man over two meters tall, with bulging muscles.

Flame-like curly red hair spread across his muscles, and his bronze skin was covered with scars of all sizes. His eyes were orange-yellow like burned charcoal, flickering with a light that normal humans shouldn’t possess, and his pupils were thin vertical slits.

Nol: “……” Truly a strong scholar. His arms could match the thickness of his legs.

Red Dragon Granatum was created under Nol’s leadership. In the setting of the “Tahe” team, it was a dragon obsessed with magic and knowledge. When the Dragon’s Lair instance was opened later, Players could exchange high-level spells with it using their rare magical items as bargaining chips.

It shouldn’t have so many scars, and its form should be more slender and weaker. Granatum’s appearance had changed too much. Nol didn’t recognize it at first sight when they first met in the Dragon Tomb Garden.

Fortunately, some things remained unchanged. Two hundred years later, the trade of knowledge for knowledge was still ongoing.

“Hello, wise Mr. Granatum. I am a friend of Godfrey Painter, specially coming to you with questions, hoping to add bricks to your tower of knowledge.”

With a strange sentiment, Nol took the lead in bowing.

This was a life he had personally set, not twisted by Star Stealer Sol. He knew too well how to deal with it.

Painter raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Should he say as expected of the “Newborn Demon King”? In front of this ancient red dragon, Nol had a confidence he couldn’t explain. He didn’t even use honorifics.

“Not bad. A bit of courage and politeness, much better than Painter’s first visit.” Red Dragon Granatum wasn’t angry. He crossed his arms, making his muscles bulge exaggeratedly.

His voice was so loud it didn’t sound human, creating a rumbling echo in the cave. “You pose the question, I set the price. If you don’t accept, leave. There’s no room for negotiation.”

Teest found a stack of books and leaned against them in a bored manner. ‘It’s starting,’ he thought. Nol would probably first ask about that candle…

“Why kill that innocent black dragonling?” Nol got straight to the point; his tone was neither humble nor arrogant.

Teest and Painter almost simultaneously turned their heads towards him, their eyes showing varying degrees of surprise.

Who could have thought that Nol’s first question would be so… sharp.

“Subelbot is indeed conservative, but it must be a rare exception for you. It promised you knowledge not of this world, and you have many methods to restrain it,” Nol continued calmly.

“Imprisonment, contracts, curses… You just need to ask Subelbot to let it live.”

When killing that college student neighbor, Red Dragon Granatum didn’t hesitate at all. It wouldn’t be surprising for another dragon, but this was the knowledge-obsessed Red Dragon Sage.

“Strange question.” The Red Dragon, atop a pile of books, narrowed his charcoal-like eyes, his expression unreadable. “What will you exchange for it?”

Nol: “The secret of that dead dragonling—a secret you definitely don’t know.”

“I’m afraid that’s not enough. I’m not interested in the secrets of the weak.” The Red Dragon laughed, but his voice lacked genuine amusement.

“Then, in addition, why I know this,” Nol answered without missing a beat. “Painter doesn’t know this, and Imnarka wouldn’t betray without reason. Aren’t you curious?”

The Red Dragon looked at Nol for a long time with those burning eyes.

“Not all knowledge is good.” After a few seconds, Granatum said indifferently, “Some knowledge is poisonous, so it’s better not to know. Since you know the secrets deep within the Dragon’s Lair, you should also know about the undead monster running rampant outside. Our enemies have brought disaster to this land. Any anomaly could be part of this calamity—we cannot tolerate the presence of the enemy’s spies within our lair.”

After speaking, Granatum looked towards Nol, slightly lifting his chin.

“That dragonling…” Nol pursed his lips. “I cannot bring that dragonling back from death. Its death is more absolute than other beings’ deaths.”

He had once seriously considered whether to turn the black dragon and Players who died in “Night of the Hunt” into undead monsters. Even if memories were damaged, even if there might be some ethical issues, Nol still hoped to gather them in Paradise and bring them home one day.

But they were completely dead, leaving nothing but hollow flesh.

Perhaps their souls didn’t belong to this land. However, Nol wasn’t too keen on such mystical and vague explanations. He was more inclined to believe that the “death” of Tahe creatures was defined by the system—this land has undead monsters, and to leave room for their birth, the “disappearance” of local beings of Tahe was more prolonged.

Knowing the enemy was Star Stealer Sol, by now, Nol no longer had naive fantasies like “perhaps the dead just wake up back on Earth”.

They were indeed dead, gone, never to return.

“As for why I know this, it perfectly answers your second question,” Nol continued.

His formal robe at the back tore open, and a pair of eerie and beautiful desiccated dragon wings spread out with a swish. Nol deliberately released a bit of the False God’s aura, causing his moonstone pendant to shake uncontrollably from the aura and rustling the pages in the entire cave wildly.

“I was there when it happened,” he said.

The Red Dragon showed a rare blank expression. “…Dracolich…”

The undead dragon was but a faint echo of the living, lacking a complete self. Dracoliches, however, were genuine dragon-blooded monsters, often ancient and powerful. Their strength was definitely considered the pinnacle among dragons.

“Now you know my bargaining chip.” Nol sounded like a real dragon. “The Dragon Tomb Garden is my domain. Imnarka is my student—I’ve slept too long and am very curious about the current situation, Granatum.”

It didn’t matter if the other party dug deeper. Nol was confident.

The Dragon Tomb Garden had removed the “Corpse Dragon” boss, but they kept its hidden map, planning to use it as an easter egg for Players. If the Red Dragon wanted confirmation, Nol would pretend that was his resting place.

“No wonder…” the Red Dragon Sage murmured.

No wonder this guy is so familiar with dragon customs and is even more arrogant than Painter; no wonder the black dragon Imnarka runs to the Dragon Tomb every now and then, able to come up with such vicious magic attacks.

If the one in front of him was a Dracolich born from dragons, long asleep, everything made sense.

“The first question is settled. Please continue with your questions.” The tone of Red Dragon Granatum became much more serious, and he lowered his head.

Teest ignored Painter’s complex gaze, looking at Nol with satisfaction.

Look at this boldness. Look at this deceit. His once naive Master has finally graduated.

“Who is your enemy?” For the second question, Nol still didn’t ask about the secrets of the dragon bloodline.

“The moon,” the Red Dragon said solemnly. This time, he was very sincere, not asking for a price.

Nol was slightly startled.

“There should only be one moon in the sky. Ill-intentioned voyeurs destroyed it and replaced it. Wherever the four fake moons shine, there exists a twisted aura that makes us very uncomfortable. In recent years, that distortion has grown stronger, truly unpleasant.” The Red Dragon said solemnly, “This land possesses a peculiar protection. It supports the nearby sky, keeping us away from prying eyes—the source of that power is the subject of my research.”

“Oh—” Teest couldn’t help but exclaim. “That means the power of this land can suppress the False Gods.” No wonder Star Stealer Sol left the Oracle Cave here. It turned out it was to add another shackle to that unfortunate, brainless fool.

“Silence!” Facing Teest, an outsider, the Red Dragon sternly rebuked without any politeness. Its breath formed a beam, striking directly towards Teest.

Nol raised his left hand and casually dissipated it.

“This is my person. Our conversation continues, Granatum. What is the source of the remaining power?”

“An ancient god, a god that belongs to us, is what I guess. This power is pure and stable, without any stench of distortion.” The Red Dragon choked up but eventually chose to suppress his anger. “We are the favored children of the God of Creation, who chose to protect us to the end. Repelling that malevolent invader will be the mission of the dragon lineage.”

The God of Creation himself was confused for a second.

Nol couldn’t remember intentionally protecting the dragons, but he could somewhat guess the source of the power. It was the highlight of the “Tahe” promotional video—the novice village filled with laughter and joy. Under the twinkling stars, Players on the hillside looked up to see the beautiful dragons flying under the moon.

The moonlight danced on the dragon scales, captivating everyone.

That was their most dedicated work and Nol’s personal favorite shot. During many nights close to breakdown from overtime, he would pull up this VR video to watch.

Standing in the cool night, he gazed at the dragons flying freely, imagining the joy of Players entering this beautiful world.

The system wasn’t fully infiltrated by Star Stealer Sol, so this obsession remained to this day. Perhaps the protection of the dragons wasn’t about favoritism but the creator’s love and blessings for this world.

A fragile, illusory sky.

A gentle moon.

It protected the land’s oldest and most powerful witnesses. It made the dragons very sensitive to the unknown outside, and they explored abnormalities with caution and vigilance.

Come to think of it, why didn’t Star Stealer Sol “domesticate” a dragon? It would have been more convenient to dominate other intelligent beings.

…Now Nol knew the answer.

Nol couldn’t help but lower his head again, looking at his own hands, feeling a subtle sourness in his eyes. Near the Dragon’s Lair, the system’s original power was strongest. Was it really just a coincidence that he would awaken in the Dragon’s Lair?

Painter also looked thoughtful.

After saying this, the Red Dragon Sage fell silent, quietly waiting for Nol’s knowledge exchange.

“Next to the bones of Elfric in the Dragon Tomb Garden, lies the seventh volume of ‘The Essence of Magic’ you’ve been searching for years. Under the water of the Broken Finger Waterfall, the ‘Starfire Sigh’ crystal that can enhance the magical power of dragons is sealed there. You can unlock that seal yourself.”

Why is there only one moon, and why is the dragon race secluded? 

Having answers to these two questions, Nol directly gave out two significant treasures on the Dragon’s Lair map in exchange.

Red Dragon Granatum showed joy. He cleared his throat vigorously, trying to suppress his happiness. “I will go to verify. Please continue—if you have any other questions.”

“No more,” Nol said. He needed time to digest the newly acquired information. And since he had successfully blended in as a senior among the dragons, it wasn’t appropriate to formally ask such bloodline idle talk. Nol decided to inquire later under the guise of “chatting about family matters”.

The Players wouldn’t come so soon. They would stay in the Dragon’s Lair for a while and there was plenty of time…

“No more questions? What a pity.” Granatum lifted his burning pupils. “Then may I ask a question? I will offer a price you’ll be satisfied with.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why is there a sealed aura on you?”

Granatum raised his hand, pointing towards Nol’s chest. “A beautiful, pure seal. That is the power of our God. I’ve studied it for over two hundred years, so I’m absolutely not mistaken.”

Nol was a bit stunned.

…A seal? What kind of “god” seal could be on him?

…Could it refer to the [Physical Destruction] that sealed his power?

“So, do you know how to unlock it?” Nol asked directly. With his strength, it wasn’t too bad to exchange information about the curse. “The source of the aura in exchange for the solution—a fair trade.”

“No, no, no.” Red Dragon Granatum shook his head desperately. “I haven’t reached that level, and I won’t in this lifetime. Noticing it is already my limit. The presence of the seal is very subtle, but it’s too similar to the protection here. That’s why I could find it…”

He scanned Nol with a curious gaze, obviously very interested in this mysterious Dracolich.

The aura of [Physical Destruction] is so friendly? Nol didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Moreover, being a system’s curse, Teest’s [God’s Forsaken] was even more significant, yet the Red Dragon didn’t mention it?

‘Well, it’s better to clarify the situation of the Dragon’s Lair first,’ Nol thought. His thinking was so smooth it seemed automatic—now his mind was full of the mysteries of the Dragon’s Lair. The matter of the curse could be put aside for now.

“Since you can’t unlock it, let’s not make a deal.” Nol said, “This is where…”

“Dragon.” Teest suddenly interrupted again, his tone no longer frivolous but rather solemn. “The seal you mentioned—what does it seal? Power?”

The Red Dragon wrinkled its nose. “Too rude, even if this one protects you—”

Before it could finish, Teest disappeared into the air. The next moment, he appeared behind the Red Dragon. A golden line strangled his throat, and the cold aura of the Demon King surged.

“I’m prepaying for your knowledge.” Teest’s voice softened, lacking the matching warmth. “‘I have the power to kill you.'”

The Red Dragon fell silent for a few seconds. “…Very interesting external information. It is indeed enough.”

“If I’m not mistaken, it seals knowledge,” the Red Dragon Granatum said. “Only knowledge—not power.”

“Explain clearly. What are the consequences of sealing knowledge?” Teest continued softly.

“Forget what one should know and cannot know again,” the Red Dragon continued willingly. Teest’s trade seemed to satisfy him. “In very rare moments, between the cracks of dreams and reality, a faint impression might appear. But they quickly disappear, no different from forgotten dreams.”

Teest looked up at Nol, who returned a gentle gaze. Even though this conversation was right in front of him, Nol seemed as if he didn’t hear it at all.

“Teest?” Nol called him with a smile, then just stood there, motionless.

Amidst towering stacks of books like some kind of plant, Nol stood silently in the shadows and pages of the forest. The long earring gift from Teest seemed to freeze in the air. His God was no longer even breathing.

Teest had seen Nol like this before.

It was long ago, on a moonlit night, at the door of Witch Lynn’s cabin. Nol stood just like a statue for a very long, long time.

…What exactly have you lost?

The author has something to say:

An unexpected gain! (In that tone)

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 155: The Red Dragon Sage

Nol and Teest turned their heads almost simultaneously and spoke almost at the same time.

“Is it okay to be so famous? Has Subelbot caused you any trouble?” Nol asked.

“I’ve been wanting to ask. Painter, you seem to know too much about the dragons from the inside,” Teest said.

Ye Meng—the black dragon Imnarka stuttered “uh” several times, seemingly uncertain where to start. The smile on Painter’s face grew softer. “Let me explain.”

When Godfrey Painter was Pope, he had a surprisingly good relationship with the dragon race. As a world-renowned magic genius, he was especially good at restoring lost ancient magic, which earned him the grudging recognition of Subelbot.

Those ancient magics were originally intended by the system for Players to gain favor with the dragons, but Painter ended up using them instead.

In particular, the Red Dragon “Sage” Granatum had a friendly relationship with Painter. Together, they created powerful communication crystals and occasionally exchanged some knowledge and theories about magic.

“We kept in touch once a week, and Granatum often mentioned this little black dragon. She’s quite famous among the new generation of young dragons.”

Painter curiously looked at the black dragon. “She chose water magic, which is generally unpopular, yet she developed tactics that combine water and poison magic with close combat support.”

According to Granatum, the little black dragon always disappeared in her free time. He tracked her down and finally caught her in the Dragon Tomb Garden—she said she was going to replenish corpse poison toxins. Out of curiosity about the new magic, Granatum allowed it.

The little black dragon was reclusive and rarely interacted with dragons her age, so she didn’t have good relations with them. When the new generation heard that the Red Dragon Sage granted her the privilege of roaming the Dragon Tomb, a few aggressive ones couldn’t hold back and went to trouble her.

“She fought one against five, beating those who came to provoke her until they were bruised and poisoned, taking a whole week to recover. What’s more terrifying is that this ‘Graveyard Ghost’ didn’t say a word after defeating her opponents and turned to walk towards the bones.”

“Granatum guessed that it was because he killed her sibling in front of her when she was just born, which led to the black dragon’s twisted personality… Now it seems…”

The little black dragon embarrassingly hid behind Nol, trying to use this normal sized adult male to cover her large body, her eyes full of embarrassment.

Painter thought that when she defeated five dragons of her age, the girl was probably just scared and eager to escape to calm down. Since she has Mr. Nol as a mentor, she must have won easily, and it’s not surprising that the defeated dragons demonized her.

…The Corpse Poison Black Dragon Imnarka, another creature chosen by Paradise.

Recently, Mr. Painter had been watching and eating in the Lost Tower, his mind never stopping.

After the oracle event, in exchange, Nol told him that “the ancient Demon King never confronted the two gods” and readily admitted his so-called “Demon King” identity.

As for why the ancient Demon King became a Demon King, Nol didn’t say. Even so, Painter still didn’t accept the legitimacy of the “Demon King” definition.

In his view, there were three god-level beings on the Tahe continent: Star Stealer Sol, Nol, and the Nameless Loser.

Having witnessed the situation in the Oracle Cave, Painter had a clear understanding.

The two gods were actually one, and the opposition was just a lie. Painter wasn’t shocked or devastated by this; instead, he felt it made more sense—God didn’t care about beings and had never cared. Everything was just a layout to gain power.

The fact that the two piles of garbage were actually one pile didn’t stir strong emotions in him.

As for where the god “Nol” came from and what the situation with the creatures of Paradise was, Painter hadn’t yet figured out. Once it came to key points, they communicated in a mysterious language.

Painter had some guesses in his heart, but to be honest, he wasn’t curious and had no intention of delving deeper. He only wanted to do one thing—

“Anyway, as the saying goes, friends in the Dragon’s Lair are always better than enemies.” The former Pope exclaimed loudly. “What wonderful order and peace.”

He just wanted this land to be free from the arrogant control of Star Stealer Sol.

“What a touching reunion.” Teest crossed his arms, eyeing Painter skeptically. “Now that we’re in the Dragon’s Lair, how do we talk to the other dragons? As far as I know, even humans wouldn’t like strangers suddenly appearing in their home.”

“If I remember correctly, someone said they would help introduce us.”

Upon hearing this, the little black dragon suddenly became nervous. “Don’t! The leader has been in a particularly bad mood recently, and he’s definitely not willing to meet anyone randomly… How about you guys run back the way you came? Hide for a while?”

“That dumb dragon is much more close-minded than Xiao Xu said, acting as if it’s always ready for war.” Elder Chen took the opportunity to complain.

This time, Grandma Li didn’t refute Elder Chen’s complaint.

Compared to the dangerous situation at hand, “Xiao Xu’s partner is a man” was trivial, like a speck of nasal mucus. Besides, that young man was really handsome. She couldn’t find anything to criticize.

“It’s okay, Subelbot can’t beat me.” Nol hurriedly reassured the three. “The problem now is how to set the right mood, to make him willing to talk to us.”

Little Black Dragon Ye Meng: “……”

The old couple: “……”

What terrifying thing are you talking about? The three vaguely remembered how pitifully indescribable Nol’s attributes were half a year ago. Having lived here for so long, they had some idea of just how strong the dragon leader Subelbot really was.

“Xiao Xu, during the time you were away, did you end up eating a dragon?” Grandma Li murmured.

Nol smiled sheepishly. “Sort of.”

Considering the effect of [Fallen Death], this wasn’t really wrong to say.

“If necessary, I can take you to meet Subelbot at any time.” After they finished their encrypted conversation in Country C’s language, Painter said leisurely, “But as you said, if you’re here to discuss the quest about the undead dragon, it’s better to wait until Subelbot is in a better mood.”

“Personally, I suggest meeting the Red Dragon Sage first, to complete your original commission—uncovering the secrets of the dragon race.”

……

To meet the Red Dragon Sage, Teest reluctantly put on a formal robe, and so did Nol—it was just a set of clothes to avoid a lot of trouble, so why not?

The elaborately made robe hid most of their muscular outlines. At a glance, the two really had a bit of a fragile, noble air about them.

They randomly chose a tomb chamber as a changing room, and Painter tactfully picked another. At the moment, only Nol and Teest were in the room.

Nol couldn’t help but reach out his hand, carefully styling Teest’s silver-white long hair, letting it cascade down like moonlight along the white robe.

Teest then took out a pair of moonstone earrings from the robe—God knows when he had prepared them—and gently clipped them onto Nol’s earlobes.

“It really suits you,” Teest said softly.

“You really do have everything.”

There was no mirror here. Nol raised his hand to touch the elegantly styled long earrings.

Teest didn’t say a word. He just looked at him, as if to engrave the scene in his mind—here the will-o’-wisps flickered, making the delicate and beautiful earrings shine with a beautiful cyan halo. It made those blue eyes even more captivating.

It was just an ordinary white formal robe, but with Nol wearing it, standing in the cyan firelight, he looked ethereally misty. He had a kind of… strange temperament that was neither living nor dead.

Nol didn’t think much about it. He turned his eyes to the drifting will-o’-wisps, reaching out to play with them. The will-o’-wisps smoothly slid over his fingertips. With a simple mental command, they would land on his fingers like butterflies.

It wasn’t hot, but rather had a strange warm and cool touch.

“…When I first came to this world, I was like this,” Nol reflected.

“White robe?” Teest still looked steadily at Nol.

“No, a will-o’-wisp.”

With a light movement of his fingers, a will-o’-wisp flew up from his fingertips, gently stopping in front of Teest. The bright cyan flame lit up Teest’s golden eyes, creating a subtle gray-white color.

Teest instinctively tried to grab it. But just by closing his fingers, the fragile will-o’-wisp dissipated in his palm.

The scattering fragments drifted in all directions. They fluttered, collided, merged, and spawned a few new small will-o’-wisps in the distance.

So fragile.

Fragile to the point Teest had never paid them much attention before.

In other words, when Nol met him, he had already evolved once, completely changing his appearance. Teest reached out his hand, gently scooping up the first will-o’-wisp. It burned in his palm, neither solid nor void, giving him a feeling that was hard to describe.

This time, he didn’t dare grab it. The will-o’-wisp stayed for a while, then drifted away. It hadn’t gone ten steps before it was hit by another, larger will-o’-wisp and was instantly devoured.

Was Nol really such a thing when he first awakened?

Star Stealer Sol had its reasons to fear the God of Creation. Just in half a year, Nol had become the absolute ruler of this graveyard, able to suppress the dragon leader Subelbot. If he were Star Stealer Sol, he would probably be even more wary.

Thinking this, Teest inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

Yeah, it’s all in the past. His Nol no longer needed to be troubled by fragility and powerlessness.

“This thing is too weak. It hasn’t been easy for you.” Teest casually played with a few more. He swung his arm, bringing up a breeze that blew the will-o’-wisps away. “Honey, how do we catch them?”

Nol laughed. He stretched out his fingers, and the drifting will-o’-wisp instantly stilled, all flying to Teest’s side. The originally dim environment was brightly lit. Countless will-o’-wisps floated around Teest, creating a spectacular, dreamlike scene.

“Don’t try to forcefully catch them,” Nol said. “You just need to ask me.”

The will-o’-wisps floated lightly, while Teest stared at Nol’s lips.

“Then you have to stay by my side,” he replied nonchalantly after a few seconds.

“Wow, this again. I haven’t heard it for so long. It feels somewhat fresh to hear again.” Nol savored the Mad Monk’s coquettishness for a while and couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry. I promised you, I won’t leave—”

“It’s not the same,” Teest said with a long sigh. “I feel ‘don’t leave me’ and what you just said aren’t the same thing.”

“How are they different?” Nol raised his eyebrows.

Teest was silent. A few seconds later, he waved away the will-o’-wisps and straightened the front of his collar.

“I don’t know. I can’t quite put it into words.” In the end, he answered softly, “But it’s definitely different, I think.”

Nol looked at him puzzled for a while. “Let’s go. Painter and the others must be getting anxious.”

Seeing they had no intention of negotiating with the leader, Lynn voluntarily stayed in the Dragon Tomb Garden, syncing up everything happening in the outside world with the neighbors. For the Supreme Domination Witch, this place full of skeletons was as warm and relaxing as home.

Nol: “What if…”

“Don’t worry. If you really start fighting outside, I’ll immediately run with the three of them and won’t wait even a second,” Lynn declared decisively.

Nol was choked up. How to put it… This was truly worthy of Miss Lynn—rational to the point of being upsetting. Although that was indeed his intention to entrust…

Teest then faced Painter with a stern face. “…So, in the end, you still missed the point. How are you going to explain ‘us suddenly appearing in the Dragon’s Lair’?”

“Subelbot knows I have two archbishops, so he allows me to bring two beings in and out of the Dragon’s Lair, no questions asked.” Painter explained calmly, “After I defected from the Temple, the dragon race didn’t care, and this rule has been extended. Strictly speaking, Mr. Nol doesn’t count as a being. I didn’t break the agreement.”

Not asking about the method, Nol felt helpless inside. He didn’t know if the dragons truly trusted Painter’s character, or if it was just their arrogance, believing that within Painter’s social circle, there couldn’t exist a being that could threaten the dragon race with just three people.

As a result, old Painter brought two False Gods. Nol felt somewhat sympathetic to Subelbot.

“The Red Dragon Sage is skilled in ancient magic analysis and historical research. He is absolutely loyal to Subelbot but also has a certain fondness for knowledgeable non-dragon beings who are wise.”

Painter’s tone was cheerful, obviously not realizing the horror of what he had done. “He will definitely appreciate you, Lord Nol. As long as you provide him with equivalent knowledge, he is willing to share secrets that are harmless to the race.”

“The things I want to ask will definitely not harm the interests of the dragon race,” Nol immediately assured.

“What about me?” Teest said.

“You better remain silent,” Painter expressed, not so tactfully. “Dragons have no interest in how to slaughter humans. To put it offensively, your understanding of religion is also not as rich as mine. The Red Dragon’s interest in you might not even be as much as a yellow mushroom growing on a tree stump.”

Teest chuckled, his tone carrying an indistinctly dangerous air. “You—”

“His questions will be paid for with my knowledge.” Nol’s tone was calm. “Teest’s thirst for truth is no less than mine. He always comes up with novel perspectives… You can ask freely, Teest.”

“Can I ask, ‘Why are you talking to a human like Godfrey Painter who lacks insight’?” Teest winked at Nol.

“…No. You can’t.”

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