Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 96: Lost Last Wish

Nol felt relieved to find that, after an intensely stressful day, he no longer needed to put on an act in front of the king.

The temporary knights—referred to as “devout warriors” by the Temple—represented more than one person. For this audience with the king, Eugene specifically selected six temporary knights, all of whom had decent appearances and well-proportioned figures that were pleasant to look at.

Of course, the palace was no comparison to Whitebird City, and Nol, being a commoner, couldn’t catch a glimpse of the king at all. These six representatives were seated at the very end of the banquet, their view partially obstructed by the bustling servants.

Nol quietly surveyed the hall.

The palace here couldn’t be said to be particularly luxurious. Its interior was mostly built of white stone. The ceiling was high, supported by thick stone columns, with the decor consisting only of lush green plants, brightly colored tapestries, and small fountain fixtures.

The windows in the royal palace were smaller than any Nol had seen before, and there were fewer of them. They had large panes of glass and could be closed with wood panels wrapped in white leather. The material of the curtains was a bit odd, and beside each windowsill stood a jar filled with water.

[That’s used to seal the windows,] Teest, who was leisurely eating food from Nol’s plate, explained. [When the White Night comes, the servants will close the wooden panels and dampen the curtains with water—they’re made of silk from swamp spiders. When touched by water, the fabric becomes sticky and gelatinous, just like jelly.]

[You seem to know quite a bit.] Nol quickly rescued a piece of cheese.

[There was a high-ranking official from the Eternal Church in the court of New Gemino,] the Mad Monk expressed with a smile.

Well, it turned out to be experience gained from a past murder. Nol silently ate the piece of cheese—now bearing the imprint of someone’s teeth.

Eternal Day City had been at a standoff with The Manor for a long time, and resources within the city were scarce. One couldn’t find such good food in the taverns outside—rich goat cheese, fresh fish that hadn’t been cured, exceptionally tender roasted quail and braised lamb chops, as well as fruits and vegetables that were neither shriveled nor spoiled.

The royal chefs weren’t stingy with spices—their touch rather heavy, giving the stew a unique flavor.

Compared to other civilian representatives, Nol ate with relative elegance.

“I heard they recruited sixty people.”

To Nol’s left, a young man with dark brown skin and a cheerful face began speaking. He was still busily chewing on fish making his voice a bit muffled.

“Yes, it’s a tradition of the Temple. In every city, they recruit ‘temporary knights’ locally. It’s a favor, and also makes it convenient for the locals to understand the course of events.”

The young man to Nol’s right responded seriously. He was the most refined eater at the table. He wore a light-colored robe and appeared to be either a mage or a healer.

His tone was quite devout. Nol picked a ripe sweet apple and cut a half for Teest. He remained silent, pretending to be just a puff of air.

[Hypocrisy.] Teest crunched on the apple. [They recruit followers of the Goddess of Life, and they still talk bad about the Investigation Knights?]

Nol shrugged.

If it were him personally, it would be difficult to speak ill of the Temple of Life—

According to the contract, half of the temporary knights patrolled the city with the local Temple knights, while the other half joined the front lines with the Investigation Knights. If the battle dragged on too long, they would rest and rotate personnel every seven days, with compensation paid again at each rotation.

What was this concept equivalent to? It was like earning a weekly salary of twenty thousand in City A, with room and board included… The Temple of Life really spared no expense in winning people’s hearts.

Thinking of this, Nol lost his appetite somewhat. Along the way, he and Teest’s “little family” had no worries about expenses. But to support the large family back in Paradise, he still needed to work hard to earn money.

[What are you thinking about?] Teest immediately noticed Nol’s distraction.

[It’s hard to provide for a family.] Nol sipped his milk stout glumly, his toes idly flicking the shadow wolf’s mouth under the tablecloth. [Just taking care of a dog is stressful enough…]

Teest: [……]

“Speaking of which, this brother here saved someone from the Blanco family last night.” The man with brown skin clapped Nol on the back familiarly. “I heard about it. One person against a group of monsters, and he came back in one piece!”

“What a pity not a single monster was left behind,” the young man in the long robe said indifferently.

Nol put down his knife and fork and spoke the truth. “I wanted to pursue them, but they seemed to vanish into thin air. Do you think The Manor might have some sort of teleportation magic item?”

“Impossible.” The young man in the robe snorted. “Reusable teleportation magic items are very rare. The monster manor wouldn’t have such treasures. According to the records we have, only the Temple of Life and the Eternalists have such items.”

Nol shifted uncomfortably, adjusting his posture to prevent Kando from bulging out in his arms.

“Maybe The Manor found it washed up from the sea!” The brown-skinned man guessed cheerfully. “When the Dragonblood Hero set out with his fleet to defeat the Demon King, they never returned. They prepared so many magical items. Maybe one or two washed up on shore…”

The young man in the robe rebuked, “I don’t think they would be stupid enough to sink their ship midway. It’s more likely they were all killed by the Demon King.”

After speaking, he paused. “Drake’s failure was inevitable. His faith in the Goddess was never devout. He couldn’t even be considered a nominal believer.”

Ah, my fists are itching.

Nol was about to interrupt when he saw the Mad Monk scoop up some pepper and blow it towards the nose of the young man in the robe. The latter’s face stiffened rapidly, and he hurriedly covered his face with his sleeve, sneezing incessantly.

Nol stretched out comfortably with a smile and gently touched Teest’s arm, who curved his eye at him.

“I heard your name is also Drake.”

The brown-skinned man, obviously the type who would die if he didn’t talk, turned to Nol with enthusiasm. “Do you have a girlfriend? My sister is especially beautiful, and she likes your type of look the most…”

“I’m married,” Nol said, pulling a bit of his wedding ring out from his chest.

“Oh, oh, sorry, I didn’t see you wearing it.” The brown-skinned man hurriedly raised his hands. “Is your wife also in Eternal Day City?”

The more one spoke, the more mistakes one made. Nol pondered for a moment. “My lover will always be by my side.”

The brown-skinned man looked at the still sneezing young man in the robe and shook his head first, then his expression became sad as he looked at Nol.

“Condolences. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have brought this up… May the Goddess bless her. She must always be watching over you.”

Teest: [……Such a heartless husband!]

Nol: [I’m telling the truth.]

[You’re too bad.]

[Likewise.]

The young man in the robe finally finished sneezing. Perhaps feeling it was undignified, he rubbed his red nose and changed the subject. “You two seem like nominal believers. Are there other reasons for joining?”

“Hey, I want to make more money. Business has been bad recently. I need to support my family,” the brown-skinned young man said with a grin.

“A person I know was taken by The Manor,” Nol said succinctly. “What about you—purely out of devotion?”

“……” The young man in the robe had a wooden expression. “I used to be a healer for the Kesh family.”

The brown-skinned young man’s expression shifted slightly. “Ah…”

“My entire family were servants of the Kesh household. Recently, when the Grimm house was attacked, Mr. Kesh had me go and treat the wounded mercenaries.” The young man in the robe looked more haggard. “Now it seems the Goddess blessed only me.”

Nol’s heart sank. He remembered that the Kesh house was attacked at the same time as the Blanco house, and not a single survivor was left.

[So, it turns out to be an avenger,] Teest murmured.

“So, I will apply to be in the first group to go to the front lines,” the young man in the robe said.

“Me too.” Nol picked up his knife and fork again.

“I plan to do the same! I heard there’s an extra reward for going to the front line.” The brown-skinned man said, “Then we’ll be comrades-in-arms. I’m Damori. I know you’re called Drake… What’s your name, healer?”

“Sean,” the young man in the robe said.

The brown-skinned man—Damori—smiled and picked up his glass as if to toast with them. Just at that moment, a loud bell rang out from the palace.

The sound was deep and resonant, numbing the viscera of anyone who heard it. The floor trembled non-stop as if an earthquake were occurring. The attendants immediately quickened their pace, rushing towards the windows.

They saw wooden boards falling and water bottles overturning. The window curtains, like spider webs, sprawled across the window frames, with every window sealed tight.

“A White Night?” Damori’s smile vanished. “It just happened a few days ago, and now again?!”

“The Demon King is about to awaken. Disaster is imminent,” Sean murmured. “The Manor must be an outpost for these demons… Tomorrow, there will be a lot of work in the city. It won’t be any easier than being on the front line.”

[The army and the Temple knights will execute creatures corrupted by the Demon King. Otherwise, they will turn into deformed monsters. Honey, you’ve seen those Thousand-Hands Nightmares.]

Teest explained thoughtfully. [It’s kind of giving them a quick end, but it’s always their relatives who will try their best to obstruct, and that’s the difficult part.]

The tip of Nol’s fork touched the silver plate, and he completely lost his appetite.

[…Eternal Day City is very experienced in handling these matters. In my opinion, it’s mostly homeless people and stray animals that end up dead,] Teest added after a light cough.

After that, even the talkative Damori said no more. At the far end of the room, Eugene finished communicating with the king, and the group silently returned to the Evergreen Church.

The White Night was over. The buildings on the street themselves had no color to fade, seemingly unchanged as always.

In the hazy moonlight, Nol spotted someone… No, that wasn’t a “person”.

That thing still vaguely maintained the shape of a person, with blue-black skin, an extra pair of arms extending from its chest and waist, and a foot protruding from its face as if someone had forcibly mashed several different people into one body.

It made a sound between a groan and a cry, struggling on the ground like a wild beast. Sensing the approach of the Investigation Knights, the creature let out a shrill scream and hurried over.

Tears and hope filled its skewed eyes, but what it met was a burst of holy fire.

Within the white flames, it twisted silently, turning to dust in an instant. A series of purifying spells then blasted through the area, scattering the dim black miasma in the air.

From the moment Nol saw it to the complete disappearance of the Demon King’s corruption, the whole process took no more than ten seconds.

Sean lowered his head and made a gesture of prayer.

“Do you think, if God really is omnipotent, why doesn’t He just destroy the Demon King?” Damori whispered to Nol. “…Or is this the trial that God has given to humanity?”

“This isn’t a trial.” Nol looked at the place where the person had vanished. “I guess, maybe God is not all-powerful.”

For some reason, this scene reminded Nol of the novice village.

That gigantic headless girl, who had also destroyed every living being in the novice village in the same way. It was an event from just a few months ago, yet it felt as distant as if it had happened generations past.

“Forget it. Let’s not talk about God. People like us won’t see the Demon King in our lifetime,” Damori sighed. “Better to just live our own lives.”

“Yeah,” Nol said.

……

“So this is your way of ‘living a good life’,” Teest said through a yawn in the dark of the night. “Do you really like to work late into the night? My evening prayers…”

“I want to see the different states of the Demon King’s corruption. After all, I have only encountered the Nightmares,” Nol said.

They were going to leave the city with Eugene tomorrow, and Nol didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“Oh,” Teest responded listlessly. “Here, White Nights aren’t so rare. You really didn’t have to rush… Ah!”

Nol moved closer to Teest and planted a kiss on his forehead.

“Helping you complete your evening prayers,” Nol said.

Teest instantly perked up. “That’s the form for morning prayers. Evening prayers need to be more formal.” After saying this, he quickly kissed Nol’s cheek while Nol was still close. “That’s more like it.”

“Where do you come up with all these rules?”

Teest declared with righteous indignation, “I’m your only believer, which means I’m your pope, and I have the right to interpret all forms of prayer.”

“……” Nol was speechless.

He sped up in the darkness and soon found his target—a dying old woman.

The old lady huddled in a ruined, abandoned house, trying to wrap herself with cloth and leather but still failing miserably. A faceless torso protruded from her chest, like a deformed conjoined twin.

She sat silently against the wall, occasionally twitching, her chest heaving faster than a heartbeat, the half-body trembling incessantly.

“Ah… Ah…”

Although Nol had activated the effect of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, she seemed to see him, stretching out her hand straight towards him, her eyes pure black.

Nol quickly stepped forward to inspect her condition of corruption. The power of the Demon King was even more sinister than he had imagined—if it existed alone, it could be destroyed by a purification spell. But attached to a living being, its effect was like unknown radiation, continuously rewriting the original life form of the creature, which would then mutate and perish due to this unreasonable rewriting.

Nol tried to remove the corruption, but it seemed to have become a part of her, utterly inseparable. He also tried to heal the old woman, but to no avail.

The mutation had destroyed her heart and lung functions. Her death was just a matter of time.

“Ah…” she reached out to Nol in despair.

They had encountered the Thousand-Hands Nightmares before. Touching shouldn’t be an issue. Nol reached out a hand and touched the old woman’s wrinkled, darkened skin.

The moment they touched, the old lady grabbed Nol’s wrist tightly, and Teest grabbed the “Betrayer”.

“Don’t move!” Nol called out to stop him.

He was shocked to find that the skill [Lost Last Wish] had become usable at the moment of their touch.

…Right, [Lost Last Wish] was born from the Demon King’s corruption, and its description didn’t include “not usable”!

Nol immediately activated the skill.

The old woman’s body shuddered strangely, and a sign of life appeared on her blue-black skin. She trembled, barely able to articulate her words.

“I… am afraid…”

“Save… me…”

Nol shook his head at Teest. He moved forward and embraced the old woman—despite the deformed humanoid on her chest, which made the action particularly difficult.

He held the old woman tightly and cast a pain-relieving spell on her. Her body relaxed, light and dry, like a cracked pine branch.

“I… am afraid…”

She stuttered as if her tongue wasn’t under her control. “I don’t want… to die like this…”

“My family… my family…”

“I’m sorry,” Nol said gently, patting her back.

“Save me…”

“I’m sorry…”

She murmured these words over and over until, gradually, she became silent and still. The old woman leaned on Nol’s shoulder, slowly closing her eyes.

She gradually grew cold.

Finally, Nol released the old woman. She collapsed on the ground, lifeless, her contamination stilled alongside her.

No miracles occurred.

Even as a Creator, he was unable to remove the Demon King’s corruption, nor could he understand exactly what effect [Lost Last Wish] had.

…It had been a long time since Nol felt such a sense of powerlessness. He slowly stood up.

“Although I’d really like to ask what you just did, I suppose you’re not in the mood to explain,” Teest whispered. “You go and be alone. I’ll take care of the body.”

“Thank you, Teest.”

“God is not all-powerful. That’s what you said, and you should remember it well,” Teest said from behind him as Nol turned away.

“I’m fine.” Nol’s tone was unexpectedly calm.

“If I were all-powerful, I wouldn’t be acting together with you… Shall we make up for evening prayers later?”

“Let me guess, a hug?”

“Yes, the lady’s body temperature was too low. I’m a bit cold.”

“My pleasure.”

For the next while, Nol seriously took several samples of the corrupted flesh and hid them in Teest’s belt pouch. Afterwards, they decided to sneak back to the church unnoticed and fall asleep in each other’s arms.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as smoothly as they had hoped.

As soon as Nol returned to the large communal room, he saw Sean sitting by his own bed.

“Drake, where did you go?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Just took a walk,” Nol said, with Teest standing beside him, wrinkling his nose at Sean.

“Lies,” Sean said hoarsely. “You have the smell of a dead person on you.”

“Couldn’t sleep, just took a walk and incidentally killed some monsters.” Nol didn’t need to act sullen. It was genuinely how he felt. “Do I need to report my actions to you?”

“Private outings at night are forbidden.” Sean said, “Since you’ve joined the knights’ group, you should follow the rules.”

“That’s the Temple’s rule, not God’s.” Nol sat back on his bed. “Rather than lying around doing nothing, I’d prefer the corruption to disappear sooner.”

“You…”

“Well said.” A pair of boots stopped not far from Nol. He turned his head and saw Eugene’s eyes brimming with smiles.

“The will of the Goddess is above mundane rules. If indeed you acted for the will of God, then it is justified.”

He said warmly, “Just to be safe, please hand over the location of the kill so we can verify the status of the corruption clean-up. How about that?”

Sean’s expression stiffened. “No objections, Sir.”

“I don’t mind either,” Nol said.

“Very good.” Eugene smiled. “Drake, I have something to discuss with you—please come with me.”

The author has something to say:

Q: How to play a cold character.

Nol: Just naturally act after working crazy overtime as a modern worker.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 95: Temporary Knight

To re-enter the Blanco mansion, Nol had several choices—

He had carefully memorized the interior of the mansion, allowing him to use Kando to teleport into it. Alternatively, he could opt for a classic approach, disguising himself and pretending to be another visitor.

Nol personally preferred the first method. After the commotion in the dining room, he didn’t want to face the unfortunate staff again for a while.

Teest didn’t intend to influence his choice, but Kando disagreed.

“They say the Fifth Brigade is coming. I’ve overheard that they will arrive the day after tomorrow morning,” the candle murmured from beneath the cloak. “Considering the modus operandi of the Temple of Life—especially that of Captain Eugene—they will surely hasten their troops to suppress The Manor.”

While gracefully eating a piece of orange-marinated chicken, Teest raised an eyebrow, seemingly understanding the candle’s insinuations—

“They will surely gather some young, robust believers from the city to temporarily reinforce their ranks. Since you both need to save people, why not make a scene and infiltrate the Fifth Brigade temporary team?”

Kando prattled on. “This way, you won’t have to bother collecting intel or finding a path. Let the Fifth Brigade handle it all.”

“Wow,” Nol muttered as he prodded a meatball overloaded with potatoes. “I’ve finally discovered who’s the most shameless among us.”

“Thank you. I’m all face and no substance,” Kando humbly responded.

Teest chuckled. “Playing the hero? It does suit you better than attempting to be a rogue.”

Frustrated, Nol stuffed a meatball into Teest’s mouth. As Teest bit down, his mouth was filled with mashed potatoes, and he froze with a look of sadness.

“Let’s be real, the guards will notice my face,” Nol said.

The Mad Monk managed to swallow the meatball. “How do you think I traveled through various countries? A bit of minor disguise magic, and no one will recognize you. I guarantee it.”

“But you can’t guarantee that The Manor will attack the Blanco family again tomorrow,” Nol fretted, dreading the high-intensity role-playing. “What if The Manor gives up…”

“There’s no harm in applying to join regardless,” Kando interjected. “You’re young and strong. Unless Eugene is blind, he won’t overlook such a valuable asset.”

Wanting to save the hostages quickly, this did seem like a more rational plan. Nol slumped in his chair, attempting to escape reality by lowering his gaze.

Laughing, Teest teased. “It’s too late now. Tomorrow, you will follow my instructions fully and get a more decent outfit.”

“Right, you need to come up with a credible alias. I bet that won’t be a problem for you.”

Nol let out a small groan.

That night, they found a dilapidated house to sleep in. Compared to their previous “evening prayers”, Teest held Nol even tighter. The two sat in a corner, covered in thick blankets, with Teest almost leaning into Nol’s embrace.

Despite the fear and chaos below, the stars in the sky remained clear and pure. Nol found himself getting used to the sight of four moons.

He gazed at the sky, contemplating his “character design”. This time, it wasn’t as simple as impromptu roles like “Master of Paradise” or “foolish bandit”; he had to refine his character.

The piece of sky visible through the broken ceiling transformed from starry night to morning twilight, then to the pale blue of dawn. Nol stayed awake all night, occasionally brushing Teest’s hair.

When the Mad Monk woke up, the first thing he did was lean into his god and stretch himself.

“Have you decided on your alias?” he asked curiously.

“Yes. The name is Drake. A magic swordsman of above-average skill,” Nol replied. “I can mimic swordsmanship using certain skills. I have a way.”

“Drake? The Dragonblood Hero Drake?” Teest inquired.

“After him, many named their children Drake. It’s a common name,” Nol explained. “If needed, I’ll claim to be a descendant of Drake—I happen to know the ‘Dragon Bloodline Suppression’, so it’s a gimmick.”

“I thought Drake had no descendants?” Kando interjected from Nol’s embrace.

Nol shrugged. “Distant relatives count, just like Teest’s connection to the Alva family. Since Drake himself wasn’t devout, if I pretend to be a generic believer of the Temple of Life, Eugene won’t nitpick.”

Laying on Nol’s lap, Teest gave a meaningful smile. “So you wish to be a swordsman. I get it now.”

……

In Nol’s original imagination, they should be running towards the truth rather than lingering on the commercial street. Nol wore a hood, bought several sets of second-hand equipment from the bar, and modified several of Teest’s outfits.

Teest paid out of his own pocket, choosing a relatively high-quality sword for him and claimed it was an offering to god.

‘How wonderful,’ Nol thought, holding all the assorted items he had bought, his head spinning—

Intimately looking at childhood photos, having little quarrels, sleeping snuggled up to each other, shopping together. All these things had appeared in his previous “love expectations”, so why did they come to pass in such a twisted way?

When they arrived at the old abandoned house, Teest rolled up his sleeves and specially took out two small wooden stools from his bag. There were suspicious blood stains on the stools, and Nol tried not to think about their original use.

“Sit tight and don’t move later.”

Teest excitedly opened a small wooden box. To Nol’s astonishment, it was filled with all kinds of makeup tools.

“Do you have any special image requirements, honey?”

“My eye color is special. It needs to be changed. Drake has light golden hair and blue eyes. Just choose something similar,” Nol said. “…Is this really okay? I thought you would use magic.”

Teest looked serious and professional. “Using magic is fine normally. But when facing the Investigation Knights, magic to change appearance will be detected in a second. I can only change the color of your hair and eyes thoroughly.”

“A little makeup can subtly change one’s impression. If you can also adjust your facial bones slightly, it will be seamless. I’ll tell you how to do it later.”

Nol didn’t really care. Whatever modifications Teest made, he could “refresh” his body afterward. So he closed his eyes and tilted his head, allowing Teest to work.

Teest’s warm fingertips touched his eyelids. He murmured something under his breath and then dropped a cool liquid on his eyelids, smoothing it out gently.

Then came the scalp—a moist substance brushed against Nol’s scalp and hair, giving off a strong medicinal smell. Nol felt a slight tingling on his scalp, as if sandpaper had been rubbed against it.

“This is a formula improved by Ms. Lynn, so you don’t need to worry,” Teest said in a timely manner. “Next, can you make your skull a bit softer? I’d like to adjust your facial features a bit.”

Nol curled up apprehensively but eventually straightened up and said, “Alright.”

Teest’s touch was gentle, like a craftsman shaping his favorite clay statue. First, there was a light application of the medicine, followed by molding. After about two hours, a gentle kiss landed on Nol’s forehead.

“It’s done,” Teest said.

Nol opened his eyes, and Teest handed him a mirror. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face in the mirror, Nol was stunned for a good half minute before saying reluctantly, “You… “

“Is there a problem?” Teest asked with a playful smile.

“No, it’s perfect,” Nol replied, patting his cheeks.

……

The weather was astonishingly beautiful on the day Eugene arrived at Eternal Day City. However, the captain of the knight brigade seemed uninterested in the scenery. He sniffed the air.

“Fires and corpses,” he said gravely.

The knights of the Fifth Brigade didn’t even station themselves in the city. They temporarily rested at the local Temple of Life.

According to Knight Eugene’s request, once they understood the situation in the city, they would immediately go out to investigate The Manor, so there was really no need to settle in.

Within a day, the Investigation Knights were to complete three tasks: gather information, resupply, and recruit local fighters.

On the streets of Eternal Day City, the knights moved briskly; their deep green cloaks never seemed to rest. It must be said that their swift and decisive actions greatly reassured the local residents.

Eugene himself wasn’t idle either.

From the moment he arrived at Eternal Day City, he sent a meeting request to the king of New Gemino. His schedule was packed, moving from one task to the next with frightening efficiency.

For example, now, while waiting for the king’s summons, he was reviewing the temporary recruits.

The young and middle-aged men of Eternal Day City lined up, their faces filled with anger or fanaticism, waiting for the brigade leader to review them one by one. Initially, many in the line hoped to earn some reward, but after a few “interview” screenings, only the strong and robust remained.

The situation in the city was worse than Eugene had imagined, and he looked over the lineup with a frown.

Eternal Day City had been harassed by The Manor for a long time, and most capable young men had already fled with their families, leaving behind mediocre candidates.

“My name is Tru, sir. I am very familiar with the Brick Mountains,” said the middle-aged man in front of Eugene, trembling.

Eugene looked up and gave him a faint smile, exuding a slight aura of intimidation. The middle-aged man shouted in fear and wet his pants.

This one wouldn’t hold up on the battlefield.

“I’m sorry for wasting your time. May your life be full of vitality,” Eugene said, shaking his head. A young knight beside him handed over a silver coin.

“Next,” Eugene said.

Next, next, next… None seemed fit for the battlefield.

Eugene didn’t want to just fill numbers. If he haphazardly chose people, they would surely not return alive. The Goddess of Life was merciful, and he couldn’t do such a wicked thing.

“Next,” Eugene said, rubbing his temples.

If he really couldn’t select anyone, he would have to propose to the king to borrow some soldiers. However, this approach was very sensitive. One wrong move, and the king might think the Temple of Life was overstepping its boundaries. He needed a foolproof plan.

When he saw the next candidate, Eugene’s thoughts paused for a few seconds.

The young man wore a cloak and was lean. He carried a small bag on his back and a decent long sword on his waist. Both his leather armor and clothes were modified, making him look more like a swordsman, with evident wear and tear.

“Please remove your hood,” Eugene said gently. “We need to see your face. And your left ear.”

The man silently nodded and removed his hood. The moment Eugene saw his face, his eyes narrowed.

The man was incredibly handsome, almost out of place in this lineup, more fitting to stand before God. His features seemed familiar to Eugene, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen him.

Perhaps he was mistaken. If he had truly met this person, he wouldn’t have forgotten—

The young man had a pale complexion, no earrings, and almost white golden hair that reached his chest. His eyes were pure gold, making him look as if he’d melt in the daylight.

“Specialty?”

“Scout,” the man succinctly replied, his voice soft and deep. “I’m proficient in magic and swordsmanship, good at gathering intelligence, and dealing with small to medium-sized monsters.”

“Weakness of the giant five-eyed raven?”

“The second eye from the left and the joints of both legs. Water magic attacks are particularly effective.”

Eugene nodded. “How does the harpy attack?”

“Mainly with screams, clawing, and a curse that makes one feel heavy.”

“How to deal with lizardmen?”

“Fire attack. Flames make them slow and injure their organs,” the young magic swordsman answered fluently.

“It seems the rumors are true. Just last night, you single-handedly fought and helped the Blanco family repel the invading ogres and lizardmen… The guards have been praising your bravery.”

Eugene smiled and looked to the knight on his right, who poured a suspicious-looking tea and handed it to the swordsman.

“This is the final step,” Eugene said. “Just in case, you need to drink this potion. It will negate any facial altering potions.”

The man nodded, gave a salute of the Temple of Life, and drank the potion without hesitation.

“Do you remember every heretic of the Eternal Church?” After drinking the bitter potion, the swordsman didn’t even flinch.

The swordsman’s appearance remained unchanged, and Eugene sighed in relief. “Yes, I remember every face I’ve seen.”

For instance, this man’s eye color was exactly like that of Teest from Whitebird City.

“Thank you for your loyalty to the Goddess. Please tell me your name and identity.”

This time, there was a hint of laughter in Eugene’s voice. The knight to his left made a move, but this time, he presented not a silver hook but a gold wheel.

“This is the deposit. If all goes well, after the battle, you will receive nineteen more gold wheels. If you unfortunately fall, we will give forty gold wheels to the person you designate.”

“No need to designate. I won’t die.” The swordsman performed a standard prayer gesture. “The Goddess says we must save those lambs lost in panic. I’m willing to illuminate the fate of Eternal Day City with this sword. The Goddess will surely bless me.”

“Such confidence. Your being here today must be the will of the Goddess.” Eugene stood up and respectfully returned the gesture.

“My name is Drake.” The swordsman revealed a faint smile. “Just a regular mercenary, happened to pass by. To avoid complications, I used a fake identity when entering the city. Please understand.”

“It’s a good name.” Eugene’s smile seemed a bit more genuine.

Across from Knight Eugene, the magic swordsman Drake—Nol, had been internally screaming countless times. He didn’t intend to appear so “haughty”, but his face was stiff with tension.

Fortunately, in terms of personality, he modeled himself after the real Dragonblood Knight Drake. Apart from the embarrassment, the portrayal went much smoother than he imagined.

Having dealt with Eugene, Nol couldn’t help but glance at Teest, who was hidden by his side.

The Mad Monk truly knew the Temple of Life inside out. His predictions were spot on.

Eugene’s potion only works on active magical elixirs. Nol’s hair and eyes had been permanently dyed by regular herbs, and his facial bone structure was slightly adjusted.

Now it seemed, not only did the guards of Eternal Day City have no defenses against a Lich, Knight Eugene also didn’t anticipate a Lich who could “adjust bone structure” would apply for the position.

“We just lost an excellent knight not long ago,” Eugene said to Nol. “I’ll be keeping a close eye on you, Mr. Drake.”

[Heh.] Teest smirked internally. [This kid does have a good eye.]

[Support my back,] Nol thought. [I’m so nervous, my heels are tingling.]

Teest slipped behind Nol, supporting his shoulders and even adjusting his posture.

On the surface, Nol nodded calmly. He of course understood Eugene’s hint but didn’t show overly enthusiastic reactions—this response was genuine.

This was the third time he had met Eugene, Nol thought helplessly.

The first time was in Whitebird City, the second time as the Master of Paradise, and now as a descendant of a hero… They say things come in three. Hopefully, he wouldn’t give himself away in front of Mr. Eugene this time.

“If there’s nothing else…” Nol hinted.

“Ah.”

Eugene tapped his forehead. “Next, you need to sign the contract. Your accommodation and meals will be taken care of by the Temple of Life. If you’re dissatisfied with your current equipment, you can also apply to use the temple’s equipment.”

“Thank you for your generosity.” Nol nodded.

“There’s one more thing,” Eugene said. “Tonight, I will lead the knights and the representatives of the ‘temporary knights’ to meet the king. Please prepare yourself.”

Nol, who had just relaxed, tensed up again like fresh meat in a freezer. The good news, Eugene was very satisfied with him. The bad news, Eugene was a bit too satisfied with him.

[Why didn’t you make me look more ordinary!] Nol shouted internally.

[You’re already handsome. Changing too much could give us away,] Teest muttered defensively. [Besides, I like your face. Who could have thought that changing the color scheme would have such a striking effect—I even altered your facial features to make you look fiercer!]

…Never mind.

Pretending to be calm, Nol took a step forward to follow the leading knight to sign the contract.

[I’ve been meaning to ask.] Teest quickly changed the topic. [How do you plan to deal with the contract issue? This is the Temple of Life’s temporary knight contract. They’re sure to verify your true name.]

[Haven’t you forged this kind of thing before?] Nol raised an eyebrow.

[I prefer to forge the entire contract,] Teest declared confidently.

Nol chuckled. [Come, let your False God teach you how to exploit loopholes.]

Facing the contract, shining with magical radiance, and Teest’s equally sparkling eyes, Nol picked up the quill, and with a flourish—

He did sign as “Nol”, but the handwriting was so flamboyant and winding that it resembled “Drake”.

[Sloppy handwriting isn’t illegal,] Nol remarked. [Magic contracts can’t be deceived, but the people reading them can.]

Teest: [………]

He covered his mouth, laughing so hard beside Nol that his shoulders shook.

Nol put down the quill without changing his expression. It was no wonder Teest hadn’t thought of this. After all, this world didn’t have doctors hastily writing prescriptions, nor did it have brash individuals challenging Investigation Knights to their faces.

[You’re really mischievous.]

[Who made me your god?]

The author has something to say:

Showing no reverence for any god in the world, the absolute advantage of the True Creator(?

Actually, thinking about it, Nol truly seems to be the most suitable deity for the Mad Monk(???

Buy one get one free. Two strong combatants! Mr. Eugene, why aren’t you smiling anymore…?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 94: A Small Quarrel

The force with which Teest leaned in was neither light nor heavy. His head rested on Nol’s shoulder, holding back just a bit of his strength. His long hair cascaded down Nol’s chest, like a hand both light and soft.

Nol’s heart skipped a beat.

In the future he dreamt of, there was probably this scene—his lover leaning on him, both of them flipping through a photo album, browsing through the times before they knew each other.

…Is this some kind of temptation? Nol wasn’t quite sure.

Mrs. Flama was as beautiful as he had imagined, with remnants of her features in Teest’s eyes and brows. His eyes were especially similar to hers.

Mr. Flama was tall and well-built, with a gentle handsomeness on his face. He looked gracious and of good temper. Only Teest’s physique resembled his father’s.

Their pair of adolescent children were also good-looking.

…No wonder the guard relaxed his vigilance on his appearance upon hearing he was from the Blanco family, Nol thought. The genes of the Blanco family were truly remarkable. None of the portraits in this room were unattractive.

Nol turned his gaze back to the photo of Teest.

A young Teest wore a child’s robe and didn’t hug his mother. His chocolate-colored hair softly hung down to his shoulders, and his honey-like eyes opened wide. He looked round and adorable, but lacked the innocence and dependency a child should have.

His mother once held him so tightly. She smiled radiantly, as if she was about to dance. What a happy family. This picture seemed to never relate to the term “Mad Monk”.

Nol couldn’t look away, and he couldn’t help but think of his own parents. If he remembered correctly, there was a similar album in his parents’ house. If only he had taken it home…

“There are many branches in the Blanco family, and the distant relatives are as numerous as the stars in the sky,” Teest whispered, leaning on his shoulder.

Nol stroked the cheerful picture and listened silently.

“The ancestors of the Blanco family were one of the nobles in Gemino. It used to be a family of magic craftsmen with a long history.”

“Over two hundred years ago, the family produced a genius craftsman named Wilma Farren. Thanks to her, the numerous Farren family was ennobled by the emperor—look, that’s Wilma Farren Blanco.”

Teest’s eyes shifted to the beautiful woman holding an empty vase. On the aged canvas, she appeared to be in her fifties, with a slight downward gaze, smiling with elegance and confidence.

“A century ago, Wilma’s niece married into the Alva family, giving birth to the current Duke Alva.”

“My mother is a descendant of Wilma’s nephew, and my father was a jeweler who once served the Blanco family. In fact, the Flama family jewelry store was run by my mother, while my father was mainly responsible for crafting the jewelry.”

Nol waited for the astounding secret of this family, but Teest just shut his mouth.

“What happened next?” Nol couldn’t help but ask.

“I told you, I just wanted to reintroduce my family,” Teest said. “Your first meeting with them wasn’t exactly… um, formal?”

“Most of the members of the Blanco family are non-believers, with a few casual believers popping up now and then. They aren’t deeply connected to the Temple of Life. After the Flama family incident, I guess they wouldn’t easily destroy the photos.” He adjusted his head to a more comfortable angle as he spoke languidly.

So, Teest’s intention of guiding him to visit the Blanco family was truly just for a photograph.

Nol looked at the family frozen in time and couldn’t help but ask the burning question–

“How do you see them?” Nol got straight to the point.

Teest remained silent for a full three or four minutes.

“Their love for me is very peculiar.” After a long time, the Mad Monk once again avoided the question. “Their emotions are strong and unwavering, as if they inherently know ‘what to do’. Everyone in the house, except for me, seems to overflow with emotions every day.”

“You’re the same. Whether it’s towards me, your neighbors, or the natives… I’ve always been curious about what that feels like. How do you all determine when you ‘love’ something?”

“Is there an obvious hint? A ‘ding’ sound in the head?” Teest mumbled.

“…How do you view your family?” This time, Nol didn’t let him sidetrack.

Teest tilted his head slightly, gazing at Nol’s lips and chin.

“I don’t know. I never thought about it before.” He whispered, “I never thought they would leave me. I thought they would always be there, in my domain.”

“I thought that when I grew up, I could ensure they would always be around. In exchange, I was willing to become a knight in charge of executions, only killing those who broke the law… but I guess that’s not love.”

But Teest didn’t have the chance to grow up. His family left him, leaving only a complete gold wheel behind.

Nol hesitated for a moment, then reached out and touched Teest’s hair.

“I don’t know what your home is like, but I think there’s no standard answer to this and no notification sound,” Nol said, placing his palm on the old photograph. “My family has a more reserved way of getting along. The emotional bonds in my family are more like ‘ailments’.”

“Ailments?”

“When you’re healthy, everything feels mundane. But when something goes wrong, the pain and the feeling of its presence become particularly pronounced.” Nol continued, “If any one of them is lost, the rest would be in great pain.”

When Teest spoke again, his voice was less passionate. “So that’s why you’re so fixated on ‘going home’.”

“Yes,” Nol replied earnestly. “Most people in Paradise probably feel the same.”

For a moment, Teest seemed a bit discontented and a bit aggrieved. He swallowed, as if holding back words that almost escaped.

“Dinner is ready.”

Old Dill from before knocked and entered after five seconds. “I’m here to take you to the dining room… What are you looking at?”

“Sorry, I was looking for a photograph of the Aquina family,” Nol replied smoothly. “My aunt mentioned that the Blanco family’s lounge has a family album.”

Old Dill glanced at the gold vase in the room, ensuring the gold on top was still there. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not blaming you. It’s just a guest album. If you see a relative who is no longer in this world, feel free to take it.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“Thank you for your generosity,” Nol said, looking at his retreating figure.

He didn’t touch the Aquina family photo but took the Flama family’s photo into his pocket. In order to hide this, Nol made a duplicate in the empty spot.

Finishing all this smoothly, Nol handed the photo to Teest. [Take it. If the quest fails, we won’t be able to come to Eternal Day City again.]

[You keep it for me,] Teest said.

Nol followed the old servant to the dining room. [I’ve already taken your gold wheel.]

[I like to keep treasures together, as I’ve said.] Teest seemed a bit frantic in his thoughts.

Nol: [……]

Nol: [What’s wrong with you?]

[Why?] Teest walked alongside Nol, occasionally brushing against Nol’s hand.

[…What do you mean ‘why’?]

[If you really think I’m beyond redemption, why do you ask me how I feel about my family?] Teest paused for a moment, then continued, [Do you want me to realize that I still possess something called ‘love’?]

Nol looked at Teest, somewhat puzzled, trying to figure out what had upset him. [Recently, you don’t seem like the kind who likes being alone. If you think about it, you might make some friends in the future… That’s what I think.]

Teest’s family had tried so hard to teach him to love, and he didn’t want their efforts to turn to ash with the flames.

…Selfishly, he also hoped that Teest could see a better world.

[Yes, you’ve always been fighting for a better ending for everyone.] Beside Nol, Teest’s thoughts were still slightly resentful. [For yourself, for your peers, for strangers, and of course, for the future me.]

[But why did you decide our ending from the start?]

Nol’s hand stiffened as Teest caught him.

[I don’t like this,] Teest said. [At times like this, you seem like a real god.]

“…Mr. Ross…”

[You said you would believe in me,] Nol couldn’t help but retort. [Isn’t this appropriate?]

“Mr. Ross.”

[The gods I’ve known are all cold-hearted bastards, but you’re not!] Teest glared at him.

Does that mean he’s saying he acted like a “real cold-hearted bastard” just now?

Having been toyed with by the unpredictable Mad Monk for days, Nol felt like he was about to explode with anger. And here he thought they were having a nice moment.

[If you can’t figure out your own feelings, don’t drag me down with you!] Nol gritted his teeth, his mind racing. [I have a lot of other things to deal with. I can’t participate in the guessing game of whether the “Mad Monk will fall in love” or not. By the way, you were the one who first said there won’t be “love”. Have you thought about how I feel?]

Teest looked at Nol in shock, as if Nol had just smashed ten vases in front of him.

[Anyway, I don’t like this ending,] After a while, Teest said with a hint of guilt.

Nol stared back sternly.

[But I don’t want to pretend with you,] Teest continued cautiously, his thoughts faint. [If I pretend to love you like a normal person, you’d see right through it… wouldn’t you?]

Nol glared at him even more intensely.

Teest muttered and quickly turned his head away.

“Mr. Ross!” Old Dill finally intervened, grabbing Nol’s shoulder. “If you’ve had enough of the fresh air, come and eat—the turnip soup is getting cold!”

Nol jumped and quickly sat down at the table.

The servants’ dinner was made from ordinary ingredients but of excellent quality.

The preserved meat was substantial, with the right amount of fat and saltiness, served with a half-cooked egg. The turnip soup had delicious beans, potatoes, and leftover preserved meat. The accompanying bread was freshly baked, emitting a quality buttery aroma.

Including Nol, there were eight people at the table. Everyone was silent, just focusing on their soup.

It wasn’t the best time to gather information, so as Nol ate distractedly, he pondered the questions he’d need to ask later. Teest, however, kept pacing behind him, not even asking for his share of the meat and egg, making it hard for Nol to concentrate.

Suddenly, Teest stopped.

He grabbed the back of Nol’s collar. The force was so strong that it pulled the chair back by five centimeters, making a particularly harsh scraping sound.

Caught off guard, Nol almost spilled his soup—Teest’s action seemed like he wanted to drag him away, but for some reason, he stopped.

[There are ten lizardmen and five ogres beneath the mansion, likely invading from the basement, including two flame snakes that can specifically detect temperature.]

Teest still clutched the back of Nol’s collar. [If it were humans, this would be the Eternal Church’s hunting configuration—anything with body heat can’t escape.]

Nol gripped his spoon tighter. [I don’t sense their presence, nor do I smell them.]

[You can’t rely only on those two senses alone,] Teest replied quickly. [I heard them advancing. We need to leave, and fast.]

With that, he glanced over the other seven servants, then fixed his gaze back on Nol.

Nol paused for a moment, then smiled.

Suddenly, he stood up, grabbing the tablecloth and yanking it forward. The unfinished food splattered on the ground, plates shattering everywhere.

“Thanks for the hospitality!” Nol spread his arms, recalling the Teest he remembered from the burning church, trying to give a sweet smile.

“Now I’m full, and the dinner was delicious. It’s wonderful that the master of this place isn’t here. This place is mine now, get out!”

Nol went to a corner, lifting a heavy marble vase with one hand. “Everyone out!”

Old Dill took a dining knife and charged at Nol. Internally apologizing, Nol threw him out of a window—the one facing the street, of course. He also didn’t forget to cast a protective spell on the old man.

Immediately after, he used the tip of his foot to hook the tablecloth, pretending to accidentally brush it against the fireplace. The flames from the fireplace quickly crawled up the cloth, setting the nearby dining cabinet on fire. Nol swung the heavy vase around, making it whoosh through the air, all the while shouting “Get lost!” at intervals.

Seeing the deranged intruder, three young servants screamed and jumped out of the window. The remaining older servants were thrown out, just like Old Dill.

With the room empty, Teest deactivated his earring and looked at Nol with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

“Your ‘madness’ act was… rough,” he commented, making an unbearable look on his face.

“If you tried playing the role of a ‘loving partner’, you’d be just as rough,” Nol retorted with a grin.

“The creatures below have stopped, probably confused by what’s happening up here.” Teest quickly changed the topic. “We need to get out.”

“Alright,” Nol agreed, activating his earring.

They would leave the rest to the city guards. Even if they hadn’t gathered any information here, a meal and a photograph for the lives of seven people was a good trade.

“Thank you,” Nol suddenly said as they prepared to leave the beautiful building.

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for letting me choose this time, Teest.”

Teest snorted. “There weren’t any anti-magic crystals this time, so it wasn’t as dire.”

“Oh.” Nol glanced at him sideways.

“We also took the photograph,” Teest added, avoiding Nol’s gaze. “Consider it a small compensation.”

Nol nodded with a straight face. “I see. I misunderstood. I thought you were trying to care about how I felt.”

“……” Teest remained silent.

“You’re welcome.” After a few seconds, he responded in an unprecedentedly serious tone.

……

Before the fire could spread outside the house, it was promptly extinguished by the quickly-arrived guards. The house was missing a few sets of inexpensive silverware. The guards concluded that this “Mr. Ross” was tempted by the sight of wealth, but fearing the spread of fire might endanger him, he hastily fled the scene.

Nol and Teest were accustomed to operating from the shadows, so shedding an identity was nothing new. In the end, the full-scale manhunt Nol anticipated never materialized.

Assured that the losses were minimal, the guards didn’t seem too concerned about the incident. They went about their business as usual. Even though it occurred in the capital and the victim was the prestigious Blanco family, the guards had no plans for further investigation. By the next morning, Nol understood why.

“The Kesh family on Emerald Street was attacked, right around the time the Blanco house caught fire.”

In the tavern, Nol overheard patrons whispering among themselves.

“Seems like all the well-known aristocrats have been targeted! The last time, the Grimm family was fine. They had a team of mercenaries at home, so no one was harmed.”

“I heard from my cousin, who’s a guard, that half of the Kesh children were eaten on the spot! All the magical tools and jewels in their house were cleared out!”

“It’s terrifying. Even with strict checks outside…”

“Exactly. They came without being detected and left without a trace!”

……

“Well, it’s okay to kill the rich…”

“What are you talking about? Are the servants of those houses also rich?”

“It must be the work of that Monster Manor. It’s only a matter of time before those monsters attack the palace—”

“The church said a new batch of Investigation Knights are on their way. The Fifth Brigade is coming!”

……

Pretending to drink, Nol’s frown deepened as he listened. He understood the conflict between monsters and humans. From the start, Nol never intended to believe the tales from the Temple of Life. He firmly believed there was a reason behind these so-called “monster disturbances”. However, committing acts like killing children was going too far.

What was the Lord of the Manor—if indeed it was his neighbor—thinking?

Suddenly, Kando, hidden in Nol’s robe, squirmed. Nol carefully lifted his robe to look at the candle tucked in the inner pocket.

“I have a suggestion,” it said, waving its dripping wax in a sneaky manner.

“So proactive?”

“Just doing my part occasionally, so you don’t see me as a heartless portal.” The candle chuckled. “I think you’ve realized it’s not the time to leisurely gather information. You need to speed things up.”

“Speed things up?” Nol raised an eyebrow.

“The Manor failed to attack the Blanco family so they might take action again,” the candle stated. “How about giving them a little surprise?”

The author has something to say:

The young couple’s first quarrel! Their relationship is moving forward with its ups and downs~

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 93: Old Photo

At dusk, a bonfire blazed on the vast grassland.

The sky gradually darkened, and the wind on the grassland was overwhelming, like incoming tidal waves. Sparks burst out like molten lava as Teest threw a pinecone into the flames, causing the fire to flicker in response to his action.

Fischer was currently situated at the border between Desolation Island and New Gemino.

To the west lay the Endless Sea, and to the east stood the desolate and treacherous Brick Mountain Range. Due to this mountain range running north to south, New Gemino was protected from direct corruption impact.

The corruption blocked by the mountains had accumulated in this narrow border area, spawning countless deformed monsters. This place was as dangerous as the center of the “Black Forest” and was called “Brick Shadow”.

Knowing Fischer’s location, their only remaining task was to hurry on their way.

Nol cheated using Kando, spatially jumping towards their destination several times. However, there were too few places on this long journey he could recall, so they had to complete the rest of their journey on skeleton horses.

With days and nights reversed, they traveled and slept during the day and galloped on horses at night. In a few minutes, when the sunlight disappeared completely, he could wake Nol.

At this moment, Nol was leaning on his shoulder, appearing to be deeply asleep.

Lately, Teest had been diligent in his morning and evening prayers, and Nol graciously accepted. Their relationship seemed unchanged, but Teest felt something was off.

Teest shared his “faith”, and Nol gently responded. It felt like wanting to eat roasted meat but filling the stomach with oilless potatoes and greens. Satisfied, yet still hungry.

A feeling both novel and vexing.

Teest couldn’t think of a solution for a while and decided to nudge Nol awake. When those gentle blue eyes gazed at him, the hunger slightly eased.

“Mm…” Nol rubbed his eyes. “Is it dark?”

“Yes. Would you like some hot soup? I’ve made some creamy mushroom soup in a cup.”

“Thank you,” Nol said politely.

Teest also sipped his soup. “Do you see those mountains? Those are the Brick Mountains… Ah, I forgot. You’d know better than me.”

“The Brick Mountains were indeed in the design.” Nol nodded. “There are some mid-level dungeons there. It’s actually a scenic spot… The sea view there used to be beautiful.”

He reminisced about the golden sea and pink twilight he saw during the test, and his expression softened.

Teest sighed. “Now, all that’s left are gray clouds and water. Such a pity.”

“Have you been to Brick Shadow?”

“No, no, there are almost no humans there. I wouldn’t go.” Teest shook his head quickly. “I’m in search of the truth of the world, not a tragic end—I’ve only been to Eternal Day City at the foot of the Brick Mountains.”

Eternal Day City, the capital of New Gemino, was located at the foot of the Brick Mountains.

Nol hadn’t designed this city. It likely rose in the past two hundred years. It was close to the Demon King yet far enough from Old Gemino—perfect for a king wanting to establish a clear stance.

“In the past centuries, the Demon King was quiet. Now with the Demon King active and the appearance of The Manor, Eternal Day City must be under pressure,” Teest lamented.

Nol paused. “You seem very familiar with Gemino.”

“When I was little, my parents took us to Eternal Day City a few times to visit distant relatives. I have some memories of that.” Teest smiled. “The Flama family ancestors were from Gemino. Honey, you created our nation.”

He just finished his soup, with some residue on his upper lip. Nol instinctively used a handkerchief to wipe away the “white beard”. As the soft cloth touched Teest’s lips, Nol hesitated.

Teest leaned in, brushing his cheek against Nol’s. Nol then continued to wipe off the foam.

“It’s time to move on,” Nol said, summoning two skeleton horses.

“Ah, these days, I haven’t been able to properly do my evening…”

“I don’t mind,” Nol chuckled, folding the handkerchief. “You’re a general believer, and I’m a temporary god. Missing a few times doesn’t matter.”

That empty feeling returned.

Teest watched as the handkerchief disappeared into Nol’s pocket before mounting his horse.

……

Eternal Day City was far more magnificent than what Nol had imagined. Roughly four or five times the size of Whitebird City, it rested against the grayish-yellow Brick Mountain Range. According to Teest’s description, the streets here were mostly made of light yellow and milky white stones.

The buildings were also white, with surfaces seamlessly joined, as if poured as a whole. As expected from a new city, there were hardly any stains, damage, or cracks on the walls, and the city walls were much taller than most cities.

This was the capital of New Gemino, a city that never existed before. Currently, an army was standing guard outside Eternal Day City. There was a sparse line of people waiting to enter the city, moving slower than at a public restroom in a tourist area.

Once they got closer to the crowd, Teest hastily changed back to his black hair appearance and used his earring to decrease his presence. Even though there weren’t many people around, he firmly held onto Nol’s wrist.

“I know you’re there,” Nol whispered.

“It’s safer this way,” Teest insisted, not letting go.

Nol sighed internally, feeling an awkwardness like that after an office romance had ended. Looking at the slow-moving queue, he gave Teest a new suggestion.

“Just max out the ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ effect, Teest,” Nol said. “It might look like I’m entering the city alone, making it easier for you to move around—without my hand holding you back.”

Indeed, it was a great idea. Teest quickly activated his earring, then leaned forward from behind, hanging onto Nol’s shoulder like a thick and heavy cloak.

Nol: “……”

He flexed and relaxed his fingers, resisting the urge to touch Teest’s hair.

They queued from noon to evening, finally reaching the city gates. The guards looked at Nol with suspicion, as if they had already pegged him as an enemy.

“Proof of identity and reason for visit. Standard search.” The guard with a small mustache, after glancing at Nol’s face, frowned even more.

“I am Ross from Grape Collar, here to visit distant relatives.” Nol handed over a fake ID and calmly said, “It’s been many years since I visited. The defenses here have become much stricter, haven’t they?”

The guard snorted. “Do your distant relatives belong to a family?”

“The Blanco family.” Nol promptly borrowed Teest’s relative’s name.

Hearing this, the guard looked up and examined Nol more closely with a hint of relief in his eyes. “No wonder you look like this…”

With a wave of his hand and a softened tone, he ordered, “Search him.”

Two senior guards approached and began a thorough search—it felt more like pinching all over his body. The entire process took half an hour, and Nol’s discomfort grew.

Their focus was on potential vulnerabilities of humanoid monsters. If Nol was a shape-shifted creature like a siren, succubus, or fairy, the pain would have exposed him.

Was Eternal Day City always this cautious? Nol felt both relief and concern. He was lost in thought and didn’t notice Teest’s irritated gaze, who seemed ready to bite off the hands of the guards with just his glare.

“He’s human.” Finally, the guards returned to their position.

[It seems this city hasn’t encountered a Lich yet,] Teest commented sarcastically.

[Nor have they dealt with a Mad Monk with perfect invisibility.] Nol shrugged. [But you have to admit, they did their best.]

“Welcome to Eternal Day City, Mr. Ross.” The lead guard nodded coldly. “The Blanco family moved to Crystal Street last year. Please don’t get lost.”

“Thank you for the reminder.”

Nol massaged the pinched spots on his body as an old man behind him squealed when he was twisted.

The moment they crossed the city gate, a system notification eagerly popped up.

[Rare Area Quest: Monster Manor]

[Normal Completion: Help Eternal Day City deal with The Manor’s threat.]

[Perfect Completion: Help Eternal Day City deal with The Manor’s threat; Uncover the mystery behind The Lord of the Manor’s power.]

[Quest Rewards: Money [Normal]; Reputation in Eternal Day City [Normal]; Skill Enhancement Stone [Perfect]; Permanent Land Deed (Small) [Perfect].]

[Failure Penalty: Ban from entering Eternal Day City.]

Nol suddenly stopped, and Teest nearly bumped into his back.

…Why did a system quest involve his potential neighbor?

The system shouldn’t have a stance. If it was naturally on the side of humans, there wouldn’t be quests like “Save the succubus tribe”. And even if Players had to combat monsters, they should be predetermined monsters. But now, it clearly showed hostility toward “The Manor”. Nol wished he could access its code and logs.

There must be many secrets inside The Manor. This trip was truly worthwhile.

[Skill enhancement stone? Permanent land deed?] Teest’s voice brought Nol back to the present. [These don’t sound very valuable.]

[The skill enhancement stone is valuable, the land deed is average. I’ll explain it to you later.] Nol shook his head. [It’s not dark yet. Do you want to see your distant relatives?]

[Of course… Yes.]

Teest’s reply was unusually hesitant. He quickly glanced at Nol. [Remember not to mention any relation to the Flama family. Just say you’re from the Aquina branch.]

How suspicious.

Nol hummed in response and headed towards Crystal Street.

There were hardly any vendors selling vegetables or grains on both sides of the street. Occasionally, when one was spotted, the prices were shockingly high. Out of every ten pedestrians, barely one had a smile on their face, and three out of five shops had their doors firmly shut.

One could tell that the main street hadn’t been cleaned for a long time as Nol could smell rotting rats—a sight hard to imagine on the entrance street of Grape Collar.

Even in the upper town on Crystal Street, the situation wasn’t much better.

The Blanco family’s house was still quite grand, standing out immensely in the upper town. Its architectural style was a blend of Shiva and Gemino styles, full of vitality, but the vines and hedges on the fence had all died.

Upon seeing a “lone” young stranger, the old servant who came to the door looked stern.

“I am Ross from the Aquina family,” Nol quickly said. “I came to Eternal Day City for work and wanted to greet…”

“We have no jobs or money for you,” the old man said gruffly. “Only a dinner. Nothing more.”

[Old Dill’s temper is still so bad,] Teest thought. [Even in the wealthiest times of the Flama family, he couldn’t crack a smile.]

“Well, I apologize for the intrusion.” Nol bowed politely. “I actually just wanted to meet someone reliable to learn about the city… Of course, I’m willing to pay for any information.”

Old Dill gave him a skeptical look, from the not-so-fancy cloak to the mud-streaked shoes, and said, “Come in.”

Inside the house, the atmosphere was no different from the outside—gloomy and lifeless. All the vases were empty.

“A few months ago, the masters went to seek refuge,” Old Dill said with a hoarse voice. “Only a few servants remain to look after the mansion. We have the right to decide to let you stay. If you change your mind, you can still leave.”

It seemed he considered Nol as some poor relative coming to mooch.

“I just wanted some information,” Nol said, maintaining a polite smile.

“Then you can dine with us.” Old Dill paused briefly. “Dinner includes turnips, beans, pickled meat, and eggs. I’ll call you when it’s ready. Wait in the reception room for now.”

He pointed to a door and left without saying another word.

……

[Your idea isn’t bad. The information here should be more reliable than what’s out there.] Nol relaxed in an armchair in the reception room.

[It was your idea,] Teest grunted. [I just suggested we come and see.]

Things were getting awkward again. Recently, the reasons for the Mad Monk’s displeasure seemed more and more peculiar. After pondering for five minutes without any conclusion, Nol decided to observe his surroundings.

The reception room still retained its former spaciousness and splendor, but the vases remained empty.

Nol looked up. The room was adorned with numerous portraits of men, women, young, and old—likely notable members of the Blanco family.

His gaze rested on a portrait of a beautiful woman holding an empty vase, which seemed rather old with some peeling paint.

[Do the Blanco family have an obsession with empty vases?] Nol couldn’t help but ask.

Teest didn’t answer immediately. He was engrossed in browsing a bookshelf nearby. Soon, he came over excitedly with an old photo album.

Nol made space for him, placing the album on his lap. [What’s this?]

[The Flama family.] Teest pointed to a particular old photograph.

Nol was stunned.

Although the photo had faded slightly, the facial features were clear. At the time, Teest’s younger sister wasn’t born yet. Mr. and Mrs. Flama smiled radiantly at the camera, with a young boy and girl in front of them, also beaming with happiness.

The only one not smiling was an incredibly cute little boy held by Mrs. Flama. His gaze was directed outside the frame.

In the photo, the entire family had brown hair and golden eyes, showing some Wilder characteristics.

[That was me when I was young. Dad dyed my hair for me.] Teest pointed to the little boy who wasn’t smiling.

Nol gently ran his finger over the photo. It was strange. Beneath those radiant smiles, the tragic memories of severed heads faded in his mind.

Teest shifted his weight, leaning closer.

“I’d like to reintroduce my family,” he said softly.

The author has something to say:

Teest: (A bit unsure about what to do, so he snuggles.)

Nol: (Even though he knows exactly what to do, he can’t resist snuggling too.)

The young couple snuggles!

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