Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 73: Time Reversion

Nol had once thought that after he achieved financial freedom and finished his work, he would meet someone he liked. He could invite them to travel through magnificent landscapes, forgetting the agony of all those years of overtime.

He would buy a good camera, capturing beautiful scenery and the face of the person he’d unexpectedly fallen for. He would change his profile picture on his social media, sharing travel insights daily… Probably living in this kind of free yet ordinary state.

Who could have imagined that this wish would be realized in such a twisted manner?

Nol formed a rectangular frame with his hands, aiming at Teest, who was biting into roasted cheese. At the intersection of the night and the lights, the Mad Monk was intently trying to kill a cheese ball.

“Hm?”

Teest, sharp as always, noticed Nol’s action and turned his face. A bit of sugar from the cheese ball still clung to the corner of his mouth, giving him the appearance of a typical good guy you’d see anywhere.

Click. Nol thought in his heart.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t really capture this moment.

Swallowing his cheese, Teest looked toward the framing eye. “What’s up?”

“I was just thinking, you seem very confident.”

Nol lowered his hands and took a roasted cheese stick from Teest’s paper bag—the roasted cheese here was a cheese ball mounted on the tip of a wooden stick, looking like an oversized lollipop.

Recently, the two had been on a deep tour in Grape Collar.

Being close by, Nol occasionally checked on the situation in “Paradise”. There was no issue on the side of the Lost Tower. Everything was going well—

Lynn’s workshop was initially open, and she was busy manufacturing the first batch of daily tools. With the efforts of the Armored Bear and the Centaur, tomatoes and eggplants were ready to be harvested, while Uncle Ma was considering pickling some sauerkraut… Rosen and the others brought back two neighbors, both of whom were injured a bit and were temporarily under the care of Dr. Zhu.

The person Nol was particularly concerned about, Granny Meng, hadn’t caused any trouble.

Thankfully, the old lady no longer scolded people early in the morning. She just squatted on the central statue decoration on the first floor, silently watching everyone. When the neighbors prepared meals, she would strut over to eat, and after eating, fly back to her original position—besides the occasional weird snickers, the old lady still didn’t talk to anyone.

However, since the succubi couldn’t detect any surveillance or control magic on anyone, everyone just let her be.

It seemed that even if he left the Tower for a long time, the impact wouldn’t be significant, and Nol felt much relieved.

……

Finally, time meandered to tonight. Today was the legendary auction day.

Grape Collar was a large city, and recently many merchant caravans had come to join the bustle, making the streets even livelier than usual. In comparison, the night in Whitebird City was as dull as a small town night market.

Amidst the bustling tourists and hidden by the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” concealment, Nol and Teest blended in just right. They seemed like two utterly ordinary tourists, simply enjoying a lovely personal time.

“You don’t have to worry about the potion. I can roughly guess who she’d commission.” Teest continued munching on his cheese, casually placing the cheese bag between them. “There aren’t many who can perfectly handle this job, and given her unnecessary curiosity about ‘Paradise’, she would only commission that guy.”

“You have more friends than I imagined,” Nol commented.

Teest chuckled. “What, honey, are you curious about me?”

“Yes,” Nol said matter-of-factly.

Teest: “……”

Teest smiled and adjusted his black hair. “No, he’s definitely not a friend. In fact, we can’t even be considered acquaintances. We’re just two wanted individuals. My opinion of him is just slightly better than that of a cockroach. However, I must admit, that guy is quite powerful.”

Just as Nol was all ears, eager to continue listening, Teest pointed ahead with the leftover stick from his snack. “There, that guy.”

Instinctively, Nol adjusted the brim of his hood, looking in the direction Teest pointed to.

A man in a loose-fitting cloth shirt was approaching them.

The man seemed to be in his forties, not much different in age from “Golden Sword” Billy. Unlike Billy’s neat appearance with a hint of rogueness, this man had a different kind of eccentricity—

He was about 1.9 meters tall, slim yet muscular. He had shoulder-length, deep wine-red curly hair, so rich it almost looked reddish-brown. His light green eyes, reminiscent of freshly peeled grapes, were filled with a wine-soaked mirth.

While he wasn’t extraordinarily handsome, his features were indeed well-proportioned and pleasing to the eye. Clean and tidy, he would look like the kind of well-liked upright priest.

On the other hand, his current attire made him look just like a street thief. The man stood barefoot on the street, his clothes ragged at the edges.

Nol noticed the only two valuable items on him—one was a regular short sword at his waist, and the other was a faceless silver figure hanging from his chest.

The silver figure looked incredibly rough, without any facial features, and was overall oxidized and dark, with the face being slightly brighter and even cruder in craft. Nol couldn’t recognize it from the game, nor could he detect any magical fluctuations from it.

As Nol was sizing the man up, the latter was also blatantly sizing up Nol.

“Good evening, both of you!”

After pausing briefly in front of Nol, the man greeted them warmly. “My name is Painter. I’m delighted to serve the two of you.”

With that, he casually flicked a tiny tin flask, which gracefully landed in Nol’s arms.

“All right, mission accomplished!” he announced with a sing-song tone.

Just after Painter’s words, a group of guards rushed from behind him. They pushed through the screaming crowd, scanning the area vigilantly—they appeared to be private guards, probably discovering the theft of the “Time Reversion”.

With the flask in his grasp, Nol was stunned.

…Just like that? Is this what it feels like to throw money and get things done?

…Was it this seemingly homeless guy in front of him who broke into one of the three major capitals’ underground auction and took out their most valuable item?

…What exactly is this guy’s profession?

Lost in his thoughts, Nol took another look at the stranger, trying to spot any clues he might have missed. But no matter how he looked, the man didn’t have any recognizable items from the game.

“Don’t leave yet. The commission details aren’t just this, right?” With chaos all around, Teest’s smile diminished, and it seemed he genuinely didn’t like this strange guest.

“Oh, you mean the method of use.” Painter rubbed his hands, stepped closer, and flashed a bright smile at Nol. “I see, I see. I’ll need to explain it to both of you personally.”

“If it’s convenient for you,” Nol replied, sounding slightly stiff. He wasn’t too fond of such overly familiar individuals.

“It’s convenient, of course. Our Drifting Mercenary Group always provides impeccable service,” Painter exclaimed with wide-open eyes and a firm nod. “But it’s too noisy here. We need to find another place!”

Nol’s gaze had just drifted towards the dark alley when he heard a snapping sound next to his ear. Everything went dark before his eyes, and all surrounding noises instantly faded away.

The chaotic, bustling street vanished, and the night sky adorned with four moons disappeared.

Underneath him was a flawless white marble floor, spanning around 50 to 60 square meters with damaged edges and suspended at an angle in midair.

Above them, around them, and below them, large chunks of ruins resembling those of a cathedral floated, with tiny fragments dancing near the debris, reminiscent of stars at first glance.

Beyond the ruins was an abyss of utter darkness, deep as the universe itself.

The game skill [Mercy Countdown], a unique skill of the rare profession “Sage”.

Recognizing this skill instantly raised all the hairs on Nol’s back.

It was an incredibly potent divine skill, allowing the caster to pull a specified target into an alternate space. Half an hour later, this space would self-destruct, taking both parties with it.

Nol quickly reached for his magic staff, but Teest pressed down on his hand first.

[It’s okay,] Teest reassured. [Relax. He’s not quite right in the head.]

Huh?

Nol paused, unsure how to respond. Even Teest, the Mad Monk, was commenting on someone else’s sanity…

[What’s this man’s background?] After a few seconds of regaining his composure, Nol decided to get straight to the point.

[Oh, I mentioned him to you once before.] Teest’s own hand was also dangling next to the “Betrayer” and there was a hint of mockery creeping into his thoughts. [The apostate and former Pope of the Temple of Life is him, Painter—Lord Godfrey Painter.]

Nol looked at the small tin flask in his hand. [……]

‘Oh, so it’s the former Pope. No wonder he could steal it,’ Nol thought numbly.

It makes sense for the former Pope of the Temple of Life to cause trouble for the Eternal Church. But considering that it was Teest who hired him, the whole situation felt a bit delicate—what was really wrong with this Painter guy?

“Don’t be scared. This place is my magical space,” Painter said, sitting down cross-legged on the ground. “It’s very private. As long as we leave within thirty minutes, we’ll be fine.”

Indeed, after thirty minutes, the place would explode. Most people use [Mercy Countdown] as a sacrificial technique, but this man was using it as a soundproof room.

‘He’s truly insane,’ Nol thought without uttering a word.

“Alright, let’s get started,” Painter said nonchalantly, picking at his toenails. “The legendary Mad Monk, the Master of Paradise… Turns out neither of you know how it works!”

“We have 27 minutes left,” Nol said dryly.

“Alright, alright, I’ll get straight to it—‘Time Reversion’ is taken orally. I heard it tastes awful, so I suggest you mix it with other liquids before drinking, like wine, juice, milk, anything,” Painter explained with a smile, sounding like a street vendor pitching his wares. “After drinking it, you’ll be able to go back in time temporarily. This dosage… let me think… should let you go back about a week within the last fifty years.”

“Do you mean ‘observe the past’ or truly ‘return to the past’?”

Nol immediately asked the question he was most concerned about. Ever since hearing the name “Time Reversion”, he had been pondering this.

Simply observing the past would be fine. But if they genuinely returned to the past, they would face issues like the grandfather paradox, butterfly effect, and parallel universes. Their actions might have significant consequences.

Painter stared at Nol with his emerald eyes for a moment, his smile deepening. “Wow, sir, that’s an excellent question. Strictly speaking, they’re the same.”

He pulled out a wand resembling a paintbrush from his pocket, spun it in his hand, and a crooked human figure appeared in the air.

“Fate has its flow, sir. A little interference from the future can’t change much—changing a vendor’s breakfast from bread to sweet porridge won’t alter the course of events,” Painter added, drawing some red on the figure. “In other words, you can imagine ‘fate’ as a robust young man, and your arrival would only inflict minor scratches, which are insignificant and will heal on their own.”

“What if we choose to ‘kill’ this ‘fate’?” Teest asked nonchalantly.

“Ha ha ha!” Painter laughed out loud. “Don’t underestimate fate, Mad Monk. What you can’t do, no one can truly change the past.”

“When you return to the past, the only people you can influence are those who aren’t important in the first place—those who, in the grand scheme of the world, whether they live or die, are but insignificant dust. Regardless of their laughter or cries, whether they die in the heat of summer or the cold of winter, they cannot leave any ‘scuffs’ on that grand flow.”

Nol couldn’t help but frown, instinctively disliking this assertion.

Painter paused for a long moment before continuing, “As for those significant beings, your instincts will tell you not to approach or take action against them. It feels like standing on the edge of a precipice. You won’t mistake it.”

Teest raised an eyebrow. “What if I must take action?”

“The instant before you act, you’ll be obliterated by the laws of the universe. In the end, you won’t have changed anything. Just like a fruit will fall from a height, the moon revolves around the world. Sirs, the will of nature cannot be resisted.”

Painter gestured meaningfully, and the little human drawing in front of him exploded like fireworks. “Even if a dragon were to fall off a grand cliff, it would still die.”

‘I see.’ Nol gazed at the small bottle in his hand.

There was no such thing as the butterfly effect. Drinking this suspicious substance, they would truly return to the past, but they couldn’t change any “major events”, even if they risked their lives.

That was fine. It sounded like there wouldn’t be too much psychological pressure and moral dilemma.

Nol sighed in relief. “Is there anything else we need to know?”

“Oh…”

Painter put away his magic wand, grinning, his tone rising towards the end. “Well, it’s like this. To minimize the impact on the past, after users return to the past, cough, there will be a slight change in their body… It’s okay! It’s not important! It won’t affect your abilities—just a minor appearance change…”

Nol’s heart jumped. “What change?”

The corners of Painter’s mouth kept rising, his face filled with a barely suppressed smile. “Well, actually, it’s quite fun when you think about it. I suggest keeping this little suspense…”

……

The long night was full of dreams. After leaving the illusion, Teest ordered two glasses of grape juice. They entered the alley and drank the “Time Reversion” that very day, not forgetting to let Shadow Wolf Ben have a lick.

Nol poured some on the candle, praying it would take effect smoothly.

However, according to Painter, once the “Time Reversion” ended, they would automatically return to the second after they drank the potion. So, even if the candle was left behind, in theory, there shouldn’t be any danger.

Before drinking the potion, Teest filled his waist bag with food and cast about a dozen detection spells on that potion bottle. It turned out Painter was a trustworthy counterpart. Everything he said was accurate—including the part about the potion tasting terribly.

Even Nol, who had tasted all sorts of strange things, felt like he was tasting the soup from a garbage can in midsummer.

The moment the potion entered his throat, Nol choked and opened his eyes.

Just a moment ago, he hadn’t felt any change, but now he saw the midday sun.

Night turned to day. They seemed to still be on the same street, but the scenery outside the alley had subtly shifted. The world had silently reset, and Nol stared in shock at everything in front of him.

After a few seconds, Nol slowly turned to look at Teest beside him.

Forget the “slight change in appearance”… At this moment, everything around them seemed massive. No, to be precise, they had shrunk.

A leaf flew by, nearly knocking Nol over. He struggled to regain his balance and compared the size of the leaf to himself.

The good news was that they hadn’t shrunk to the size of Thumbelina*. Their belongings, including the “Betrayer” and Kando, had been proportionally scaled down, so they weren’t left bare.

*A tiny young girl in the literary novel fairy tale of the same name written by Hans Christian Andersen.

The bad news was that they were just a little longer than a middle finger…

The two stood silently in the alley, watching the feet of pedestrians stomping outside. Those soiled soles lifted and fell, like some chaotic dodging game.

After a glance around, Teest broke the silence. “Hey, honey, I think we’re quite lucky.”

“What?” Nol doubted if their definitions of “lucky” matched.

“According to Painter, I thought we might become insects or dolls.” Teest stretched and began to limber up. “Just shrinking is much better than I imagined.”

Nol looked at the shadows on the ground and swallowed. “Are you sure?”

Behind them, silently, a large shadow appeared. The shadow had a round head and two pointed ears.

Nol smelled a cat.

He used to bury his face in the soft belly of a cat and deliberately inhale this scent. But when one became smaller than a mouse, this scent was… not so attractive anymore.

Teest didn’t turn around but called directly, “Ben!”

The shadow wolf jumped out of Nol’s shadow in an instant, with its fur standing on end. Though the action was supposed to be imposing, it seemed weak now that the wolf had become a mini-version—like a little black puffball, barely bigger than a Pomeranian.

Before Ben could even snarl, it was smacked by a cat’s paw. With a whimper, it zoomed back into Teest’s shadow, all within five seconds.

Teest: “…”

Nol: “…”

Well, theoretically, its power should still be intact, but it seemed it didn’t dare to try. Indeed, worthy of a creature whose defining characteristic was cherishing its life.

Teest drew the “Betrayer”, but Nol held back his hand.

In the end, they used a luxury combination of spells: aura elimination, invisibility, and presence elimination, until the white fluffy-tailed cat finally looked up and hopped back onto the wall.

Even the Lord of Whitebird City didn’t receive such treatment. Nol gravely deactivated the magic.

“Mama!” The next second, a childish voice echoed from the alley entrance. “Mama, look! There are fairies here!”

Forget it. Nol adjusted the effect of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” again.

The Time Reversion was indeed dangerous, but the danger was… well, not quite what he had expected.

The author has something to say:

The great adventure of our two mini protagonists (…

All the characters of the supporting cast are finally assembled!

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 72: Snickering

When Teest returned, Nol was on his second cup of frozen grapes.

It was a shady place. All the guests in the tavern wore dark clothing, like crows that had landed in the fields. Even with the distracting effect of the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Teest spotted Nol immediately.

‘Perhaps this was the power of our marriage contract,’ he thought.

Half of Nol’s face was visible from under his hood, his eyes completely hidden in the shadows. He chewed slowly on the frozen grapes, looking immensely satisfied. After all, these grapes were only eight coppers a cup—his Mr. Lich was easily pleased.

“They’re really good.” Nol spoke first before Teest had even settled in his seat.

Using a clean silver fork, Nol picked a plump grape from the cup and naturally offered it to Teest’s lips. “I used a freezing spell, so the texture should be intact.”

Teest took the grape in one bite, raising an eyebrow. “Is this how you treat ‘married folks’?”

“Because I need both of your twisted affections. Whoever falters first, I don’t lose out,” Nol joked, handing Teest a full cup of grapes.

“Well, okay. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something…”

“I agree.”

“I haven’t even told you what it’s about!” Across from Nol, Teest gripped his fork.

[Let me guess, the General must have relayed some news from your end. The value of Paradise, the reasons you’d want to follow me… Things like that.]

A dwarven waiter, holding a plate of roast piglet, wobbled over to their table. Amidst the aroma of the steaming meat, Nol switched their conversation to telepathy.

[She got the answers she wanted, and you got the intel you were looking for, such as how to locate the “Eclipse Shield”—which is probably tricky. So, you want us to go find it together.]

Nol took a crispy piece of pig skin and dipped it in sour fruit sauce.

“Two green grape sodas, no ice,” Teest ordered from the dwarf.

Since he didn’t order any alcohol, the dwarven waiter sneered, cursing audibly, “Pair of wimps.”

[Why is everyone so skeptical about love?] Teest thought, ignoring the dwarf’s disdain. [Can’t it be that she was moved by our beautiful marriage, and I was so elated, I decided to confess to you right away…]

[Get to the point,] Nol cut him off.

[I’d like to invite you on a quest,] Teest said. [The method to find the Eclipse Shield is extremely complicated, and I need your knowledge and brains.]

[No problem,] Nol replied succinctly.

He was at ease—no one set a deadline, so there was no rush. Now that the stronghold matter was settled, it was time to help Teest fulfill his wish.

Nol knew little about the “Eclipse Shield” as it wasn’t a default system weapon. But if the Mad Monk wanted it, there must be a good reason.

Teest clicked his tongue. [We need a potion called “Time Reversion” to go back to before the church was burnt down and find the shield’s storage location from the records.]

[Time Reversion?] Nol paused in his chewing.

Such an oddity wasn’t in his system. The best he could offer Players was a flashback.

[Yes. It’s available at Grape Collar’s secret auction,] Teest explained. [That Billy came to Grape Collar specifically for the auction. Maybe he wants it too.]

“Are we going to the auction?” Nol asked excitedly.

Here it comes, a classic fantasy adventure trope. Maybe they could buy something valuable from the auction. However, they’d need to prepare the money for the potion bid, and time might be short…

“We aren’t attending the auction,” Teest said with a smile, bursting Nol’s bubble. “There are too many skilled individuals there, and it’s easy to leave traces.”

Deflated like a punctured balloon, Nol inquired, [Then what do we do? That potion sounds precious, not like something someone would just give away.]

[We steal it,] Teest said matter-of-factly.

[……?] Nol almost dropped his fork.

[I’m good at killing, not stealing. Normally, my targets don’t lock themselves behind three layers of vaults.] Teest shook his head. [For professional tasks, you need professionals. The General will figure it out.]

Is that really a good idea? Nol was conflicted. Even if it was an underground auction, stealing from someone’s vault still felt…

[The “Time Reversion” potion is a specialty of the Eternal Church. They make a fortune off it each time and manage to woo influential figures in need of it,] Teest added, looking at Nol leisurely.

Nol’s tone immediately softened. [Do we have enough money to hire someone? Do you want me to add some?]

Teest almost choked on his meat laughing, taking two sips of grape soda to calm his cough.

“You drank my drink too…” Nol pointed out discontentedly.

“That’s right, honey. I’m that cruel.”

Meanwhile, in the General’s reception room.

The General emptied the last drop of wine from the bottle, sighing deeply.

There were two types of businessmen: Those who prospered in chaos and those who thrived in peace. Unfortunately, the General belonged to the latter. And the Mad Monk was like a living omen. His every appearance signaled blood and disaster.

As expected, the intelligence on “Paradise” should no longer be pursued. She didn’t want to risk angering the sharp-witted lunatic.

Their last conversation seemed to linger in the air with the scent of blood.

“Do you really want to show him something ‘unpredictable’? Like, for instance, the church that was burned down all those years ago by you?” She had asked not long ago.

“No, no, the point isn’t the church… To have someone solve the riddle, you have to present it,” Teest said nonchalantly. “I just want to show him what I can’t understand.”

“Oh, I thought you were introducing him to your parents. Nearly brought him home.” The General said sarcastically, imitating a boy’s voice, “Daddy, Mommy, this is my boyfriend! …Oh sorry, I remembered, your parents have been long dead.”

Teest’s face remained impassive, as if he had just heard someone say, “The sun rises in the east.”

The General wasn’t surprised. She tapped impatiently on the table. “Seriously, are you sure he’s willing to act with you…”

“Yes, he’s quite interested in me,” Teest confidently declared.

“You truly are the most ruthless bastard in the world.”

“Glad we agree.” Teest stood up with ease. “Guess what? I still have that coin from back then.”

The General’s lipless mouth fell open. Half a minute later, she managed to speak.

“Do you really just want to solve the riddle?”

“I don’t know.”

Teest walked to the exit without looking back.

From that moment, the General had been frowning, and the creases still remained on her rough skin.

She knew that the “lunatic” in her words and the “lunatic” in the public’s eyes weren’t the same. Teest’s mind was indeed not normal, but he was far from the “crazy blasphemer” or “twisted religious artist” in people’s minds. If she had to define him, Teest was more of a pragmatic killer with clear objectives.

Teest always knew exactly what he was doing and understood the consequences of every step.

Yet now he said, “He doesn’t know.”

“’Paradise’ has some means. It seems something big is about to happen,” the General muttered, leaning back in her armchair. “How ominous…”

With that, she shook her head, activating a communication crystal.

“Contact the ‘Drifting Mercenary Group’. I have a commission related to the auction.” She paused, her voice becoming grave. “I want to hire the leader, Painter, personally.”

……

Nol looked over the supplies piled in the small warehouse, feeling unusually pleased.

The vegetables and fruits were fresh and plump, seasonings of all sorts were available, and high-quality crop seeds were included. Fresh meat, smoked meat, sausages, and other meat products were separately packed. The General’s men had even prepared live livestock and an abundance of candies and desserts per his request.

Mountains of potion ingredients stood beside stacks of various books and stationery. The finest phonographs and records were chosen, and the General thoughtfully included popular board games.

Though they said they would deliver a cartload of supplies, the goods in front of him could fill five carts.

“Please convey my gratitude,” he thanked the guide politely.

“If you need, we can provide transport,” the guide, a hunched young man with empty sockets, said, his head bowed very low.

“No need this time. You may leave,” Nol replied.

He intended to give the “General” a bit of a shock.

“You’re not thinking of putting all this into my pouch, are you?” Teest said alertly as the guide left. “My pouch can’t fit all this.”

Nol smiled at him and removed the top of his staff, revealing the blinking Kando.

“Good, you’re all dressed up.” The black candle looked around the warehouse with a discerning eye and began chattering. “This place is quite hidden. So, you two are finally getting serious?”

“Yes, I need to open a spatial passage.”

“Oh?” Kando’s blue eye turned to him. “What terrifying creature are you summoning this time?”

Nol shook his head. He stuck the staff diagonally into a pumpkin, causing Kando’s pupil to tremble. “Wait, wait, what are you—”

Nol began imagining the first floor of the Lost Tower.

“—doing?” Kando screeched just as its flame enlarged into a circle.

Beyond the fire ring was the hall of the Lost Tower. The setting sun bathed the Tower’s top in a splendid glow. Uncle Ma, who was strolling around, exclaimed in surprise and hurried over to see what was happening.

However, he didn’t dare cross the fire ring, stopping two steps away. Uncle Ma still looked thin, but he appeared healthier than a few days ago.

“This thing is impressive,” he said in awe. “Hey, are those potatoes? Is there any cabbage? Get some bacon!”

“Everyone will get a share.” Even though succubi couldn’t survive on this kind of food, Nol believed Uncle Ma would take some. He wondered if he’d even get to taste kimchi.

“How’s the warehouse preparation?” His tone lightened.

“It was done this morning by Xiao Lin. There’s a huge icehouse. It’s very cold,” Uncle Ma replied. As they talked, more neighbors gathered, and Nol spotted some new faces.

The Luo and Zhu couple weren’t present, probably out on patrol. Witch Lynn was likely busy with her infrastructure. Besides that trio, there was a giant Armored Bear over two meters tall, a Harpy with a human-like head, and a maroon Centaur with a face longer than a horse.

“By the way, let me tell you. These few recently joined us.”

Uncle Ma pointed at the three monsters. “They were originally from the Black Forest and started looking for the Tower after seeing the notification. They were discovered by Xiao Luo and Xiao Zhu. The Bear is Elder Wang, who looks after children in the countryside. The Centaur is Mr. Wu, who works at a bank… Remember the Harpy? It’s Granny Meng from your corridor, the one who likes to stand by the door at 4 or 5 in the morning and scold people.”

Uncle Ma spoke quite directly, oblivious to the presence of the subjects of his comments.

Elder Wang and Mr. Wu nodded at Nol, trying to look grateful with their unfamiliar faces.

The Harpy, with her ugly face, showed no expression, acting as if she hadn’t heard Uncle Ma’s comments.

Creatures of this kind were giant birds with the heads of women—their very form being somewhat terrifying. At this moment, her eyes were wide open, slightly bulging, and as lifeless as those of a corpse. With these dead-fish eyes, Granny Meng stared at Nol, without uttering a word, making him somewhat uneasy.

“Everyone’s here. Help me move some stuff.” Nol’s good mood was dampened a bit as he tried to steer the conversation back on track.

To be honest, he was somewhat scared of Granny Meng. She had been yelling at people early in the morning in the staircase for several years, never missing a day, more punctual than a rooster’s crow. Thanks to her, Nol had never needed to set an alarm in the morning.

The content of Granny Meng’s rebukes typically revolved around trivial matters. For example, noises from the ceiling in the middle of the night, strange smells in the corridor, or water leaks from the floor above. The property management had inspected these issues many times but never found any evidence. Some neighbors even called the police because of her, but since she was almost eighty, the officers were at a loss.

She also behaved strangely on regular days, often squatting in corners and staring at people intently without responding to anyone. As a result, everyone assumed she had some mental issues and kept their distance from her. This fear of Granny Meng carried over into Tahe World.

“So, just move it directly like this.” Teest spoke, pulling Nol from his memories. Teest easily lifted a bag of fresh meat and stepped over the blue flame circle. “Move what you can and be quick about it. We have other things to do!”

Granny Meng, who had been blocking the entrance, spread her wings and flew to a statue on the first floor. She cocked her head, still silently staring at Nol.

“You’re just using me for this… This is mule work…” As Nol caught up, he heard the indignant mutterings of Kando. “You’re just using me for this… What am I even here for…”

“It’s a huge favor,” Nol said. “I promise, just this once!”

“You swear!” The candle screamed softly.

“Uh…”

“I knew you were lying to me!” Anger laced the candle’s screams.

“I’ll find you a cooler task,” Nol whispered, trying to appease the upset candle. “I swear, okay?”

Thanks to Kando’s distraction, Nol’s attention was pulled away from the eerie Granny Meng.

As night fell, the last bag of supplies from the warehouse was moved. Bags of different sizes piled up on the first floor of the Lost Tower, exuding a simple beauty of abundance.

“Leave the seeds to me.” Armored Bear Elder Wang assured. “I have a vegetable garden at home and have raised livestock before. These three floors are perfect for farming.”

“I don’t know much about it, but I know growth magic.” The Centaur, clearly nervous, stood stiffly as if Nol could dismiss him on a whim. “I’ll help, really. I learn really fast.”

“Just work it out amongst yourselves. Don’t be so nervous,” Nol quickly assured. “Contact me if you need anything else. Let’s call it a day.”

He didn’t like feeling like a leader. It would be better to leave these interpersonal interactions to Lynn and the others.

As the fire circle closed, Nol sat on the empty cart, gazing at the dim walls. A sense of satisfaction gradually filled him.

The supply issue was resolved, ten neighbors had been found, and he hoped things would continue to go smoothly…

“From now on, all my time is yours.” Nol looked up at Teest, who was standing on the edge of the cart. “That ‘Time Reversion’ potion—”

“Don’t worry about it. The general will have it delivered,” Teest said, hopping playfully on the edge of the cart, looking in good spirits. “All we need to do is wait patiently.”

“Sounds good.”

“Right?”

……

Inside the Lost Tower, the two newcomers sighed in relief.

“Xiao Xu has a good temperament,” Elder Wang said, standing straight and gently patting his chest with his bear paw. “When you first said he was the White Bone Demon, it scared the daylights out of me.”

“I’ve said it before, Xiao Xu is a pretty good guy,” The Crow Father interjected. “Oh dear. Sisi, we forgot to ask him about the curtains again…”

“I thought he would be one of those elitist types. Turns out he doesn’t charge a fee,” the Centaur said, still a bit startled. “His race seems a bit better than ours. At least he looks quite human.”

“Officer Luo said he’s always looked like that,” the Banshee Mom, hugging her daughter, explained. “He probably transformed himself. We don’t know that kind of magic.”

“What?” Uncle Ma suddenly interjected.

“Ah, I said, he probably used magic to transform himself.” The Banshee Mom was a bit cautious, as it was her first time conversing with this stern gatekeeper.

“No, no, your previous sentence? He’s always looked like that?”

“Yes, that’s what Officer Luo and his group said…”

“That’s not right.” Uncle Ma frowned. “It’s been almost a year. How come I’ve never seen him?”

“It might be because you work the day shift.” The Crow Dad tilted his head and explained in a gruff voice. “You’re on duty from eight in the morning to eight in the evening, right? I’ve heard that Xu Yue and his team often work late hours, so you probably just missed him.”

Uncle Ma hummed. “That’s possible.”

“…Hee.”

Atop a statue, the head of the Harpy rotated ninety degrees. She let out a soft giggle, unheard by anyone below.

“Hee hee, hee hee.” She sneered at the people below without blinking.

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 71: The General

[Enbillick Alva is nearby.]

After the prompt, Nol’s fingers pressed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and his presence immediately diminished to its lowest. Teest’s reaction was just as fast, so “Golden Sword” Billy merely brushed past them.

Mr. Billy paused for a moment beside the two of them. He uttered a “Hm?” and scanned around with a glance as precise as a compass. Two seconds later, the prominent merchant shook his head and continued walking forward.

He looked different from the first time they met. Mr. Billy had shaved and was dressed like an aristocrat. His tall collar concealed the tattoo on his neck. Nol detected the scent of his expensive cologne.

Despite Nol and Teest’s neatly dressed coarse clothes, they seemed especially shabby in comparison.

The “Golden Sword” of the Alva merchant group walked openly in the underground marketplace, with his face exposed and waist straight. No one dared to stare at him for too long. Nearby pedestrians hid their faces and quickened their pace, as if they were the ones exposed.

“Thank you all for your hospitality,” Billy said to an empty reception desk. “I’ve come to retrieve my weapon.”

Behind the reception desk, the decorative armor—which Nol initially thought was just for decoration—came to life. It opened its empty helmet and took out the expensive sword from the hollow armor. Nol swore he heard the clanging of other weapons too.

“Serving you is my honor.” A delicate voice came from the armor, its gender indiscernible. “You’re welcome back anytime, esteemed sir.”

[A good harvest.] Teest watched Billy leave. [Dignified guests from the Alva Merchant Group typically wouldn’t come to such a place.]

As for what the good harvest was, Teest didn’t say. Turning back to the reception desk, he remarked—

“It seems the ‘General’ is here today.”

With one arm resting on the marble reception desk, he casually said, “Great, I want to see the ‘General’.”

The armor shook twice, its joints creaking loudly. It seemed as if multiple gazes pierced through the gaps of the armor, filled with astonishment, assessing Teest.

Nol was also among those who were stunned by Teest’s words.

The General.

During their recent adventures, Nol talked about this individual with Solo. Nol hoped that Solo would stay in the Lost Tower long-term. He wanted to know if Hermitage and the legendary “General” would notice anything amiss.

Solo reassured him that, as long as he successfully changed his profession to “Night Ranger”, he would rush back to be this honorary envoy. The young man, hearing that the Mad Monk wouldn’t stay in the Tower, became a hundred times more agreeable, nearly swearing to his ancestors in Country C.

Speaking of the “General”, as Solo said, he was the gang leader in Grape Collar. Grape Collar was, after all, the capital of Shidina, one of the three major countries. This wasn’t a territory to be trifled with.

The General was ruthless and elusive. Very few had seen him in person.

Solo assured that the General wasn’t too concerned about the activities of his subordinates. As long as they followed the rules, everything would be fine. But to become a subordinate of the General, while the rewards were rich, one must always be prepared for danger*—

*Living with one’s head tied to one’s belt. Idiom referring to living in constant danger or always being on high alert, as if at any moment you could lose your head.

After all, what the General valued most were “balance” and “secrecy”. Those who tried to break these principles wouldn’t even leave a corpse behind.

It sounded reasonable that the formidable gang leader would know the infamous Mad Monk. Now, including Nol, the newly minted representative of the lord of monsters, the atmosphere seemed consistent.

“Did you make an appointment beforehand?” After a long time, the armor finally responded slowly.

“Of course not,” Teest replied. “It’s a little surprise.”

“Then you can only go through the regular visitor’s path,” the armor cautiously replied. “Go straight ahead. Turn left at the second door. You can keep your weapons.”

Is that it? Can they really meet the mysterious gang leader this way? Nol blinked. Everything before him was brand new. It had been a long time since he felt such pure curiosity.

But upon stepping through that door, Nol immediately understood the implications of the “regular visitor’s path”—it was a long corridor filled with poisonous insects, monsters, and traps.

“Don’t make a move,” Teest said. “Someone is watching. Just follow behind me.”

……

“I hate you,” Nol said, wiping the gray-green slime from his face in anguish. “I just took a bath last night.”

“Just follow behind me.” Such knightly lines.

However, the reality was rather grim. As Teest rampaged ahead, slaughtering with zeal, Nol dodged from left to right, and all the splattered blood and viscera from Teest’s onslaught ended up on him—even though Nol had a moving shield, it couldn’t withstand the 360-degree spray.

“Don’t you know a cleansing spell?” As Teest struck down another creature, a half-human-high centipede’s legs twitched, its head flying far off. That deformed head ricocheted down the corridor, nearly brushing past Nol’s face.

The Mad Monk advanced like he was chopping vegetables. The air filled with the stench of monster innards.

“How is it the same?” Nol lifted his magical shield, pinching his nose tightly.

“How is it not?” Teest’s tone sounded like he was at a marketplace. “Which one do you want to eat? I can cut you some good parts. These monsters are rare. You should try some.”

Indeed rare, and hideously so.

Looking at the scattered deformed limbs, eyeballs, and innards, Nol suddenly thought that the morning leg meat pie looked especially appealing. Couldn’t the owner of this place bring out enhanced versions of pigs, cows, sheep, and chickens to attack them instead?

“How about that hydra over there?” Nol reluctantly pointed to a creature that looked somewhat formidable.

“Oh, that’s great for porridge!” Teest announced enthusiastically.

There was no door at the end of the corridor. Underneath an archway stood two muscular men, identical in stature.

Their muscles bulged. Their heads, which were too small for their bodies, were wrapped in blood-streaked burlap sacks. They wore minimal cloth around their waists, with metal collars around their necks adorned with magical prosthetic eyes, all staring intently at the two visitors.

For a moment, Nol wasn’t sure if they were humans or monsters. Seeing Teest didn’t immediately attack, Nol cleaned the slime and bits of innards from himself, though the sticky sensation still lingered on his skin.

“Everyone, stand down. There’s no need to be on guard.” A raspy voice echoed. “I was wondering which warriors had come, but it’s you… What a waste of my lovely pets.”

Upon seeing the voice’s owner, Nol was stunned—

The “General” was a young woman.

But he could only tell she was female.

She had a feminine figure, petite and slender, with no intact skin visible. She seemed to have survived severe burns. Yet, the scars that covered her were more grotesque than any burn scars.

The “General” had no hair. Her head was oddly misshapen, as if it had been crushed. Her face was like an abstract painting: eyes mismatched, a nose with only two holes, and no lips. Her crooked teeth were fully exposed—some of which didn’t look human at all.

This legendary gang leader wore a burgundy robe and black gloves adorned with purple jade and emeralds. She sat on a throne-like chair, with a half-drunk glass of wine before her.

The two monstrous-looking guards positioned themselves behind her chair, one on each side. The eyes on their collars were still fixed on the two visitors.

“Hello there,” Teest raised his hand and greeted nonchalantly.

The General ignored him. Her attention was focused solely on Nol ever since they entered this… office? Conference room? She studied him with her misaligned eyes, and Nol managed a polite smile in return.

“So,” she appraised Nol before turning her gaze away, her voice still flat, “what do you want from me, Mad Monk?”

Teest motioned for Nol to sit and took a seat himself. “I came to see an old friend.”

“We’re not friends,” the General replied.

“Alright, I have valuable items for sale.”

Teest continued on his own accord. “Exquisite jewelry from the system, flawless gemstones the size of fists, alchemical materials with magical effects—I’ll hand them directly to you, skipping the loss from converting to money. How about it? It’s a good deal.”

“It sounds like small business.”

The General’s gaze returned to Nol. Nol couldn’t read any emotion on her face. Using the prop given by Witch Lynn, Nol managed to keep a straight face.

“It’s not. This is the first step of a big deal. The vast, mysterious Black Forest holds many secrets and treasures. Instead of hiring those foolish mercenaries, why not hand this business over to—”

“Paradise,” the General finished his sentence as she looked at Nol with a burning gaze. “I presume he’s the Master of Paradise.”

Thanks to Witch Lynn’s prop, Nol managed to maintain his composure. He interlocked his fingers and placed them on his lap, waiting for Teest’s next blabbering.

However, Teest remained silent, merely smiling at him.

It seemed to be a situation where social niceties were unavoidable. With a sigh, Nol lifted his head. “The Mad Monk fights for Paradise. You’re indeed well-informed.”

He tried hard to sound confident.

“Yes, after all, you guys have been causing chaos right under my watch and even took away a young man from Hermitage.” The General’s voice still betrayed no emotion. “So, is this a formal negotiation?”

Nol’s mind raced. “No, it’s a transaction. Paradise needs a continuous supply of resources. I’ve heard you can even deceive the eyes of the gods.”

As the number of neighbors increased, they couldn’t always rely on the raw meat, fresh water, and wild fruits of the Black Forest. They needed salt, sugar, pepper, books, music, tools… and many more products of human society.

Having ample supplies could appease people’s hearts. This wasn’t a small matter. At this point, Nol deeply understood the horrors of mental stress.

“In exchange, we can provide items produced by the system and the skin and bones of rare monsters,” Nol said. “If you have a specific target, we can help, depending on the circumstances.”

It would just be a side job when the neighbors were leveling up. Compared to heaps of gems and furs, he guessed his neighbors would prefer a smartphone with internet access.

The General clasped her hands, covered with black gloves, revealing a smile that could be described as horrifying.

“All that you’re asking for, the Temple of Life can do better,” she said. “Their envoys haven’t approached you yet. Are you getting impatient?”

“No, that’s a different matter,” Nol replied without hesitation. “Concerning resources, Paradise doesn’t need faith—just a cooperative partner with mutual benefits.”

He signaled Teest to take out some of their loot. A large, perfectly cut ruby lay next to the General’s wine glass, its dazzling brilliance nearly unreal.

“A small token of appreciation,” Nol said.

‘This dungeon can be cleared once a month. When I go back, I’ll have to update the regeneration dungeon respawn list,’ Nol thought.

“What reason do I have to refuse?” The General narrowed her mismatched eyes and laughed. “The treasures deep in the Black Forest are worth more than gold. It’s my honor to have your affirmation.”

Teest rested his hand on the gem, smiling at the General.

“The person who deals with our contract will be prepared. The first batch of supplies is on the house and will be ready by sunset. Please, feel free to choose.” The General’s gaze was fixed on Teest’s hand. “It’s also a token of my sincerity.”

Only then did Teest gracefully retract his hand.

“In two months, if all goes well, I’ll come back to negotiate more with you.” Nol nodded, feeling a bit uneasy. He hadn’t fully activated the effect of the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and wondered how much of his features the General could recall.

“Then there’s my personal request,” Teest continued smoothly. “I’d like to look for the Eclipse Shield of the Eternal Church. Half of this deal belongs to me. I believe the price should suffice.”

The General finally turned her face towards Teest.

Her smile diminished. “Indeed, it suffices. But we’ll follow my rules for this—it’s your personal business. We’ll have to discuss it separately.”

​[Honey, wait for me at the tavern. Remember to order the roasted piglet and iced grapes.] Teest sent his thoughts. [Don’t worry. She’s practically blind. She won’t reveal your appearance.]

Nol immediately deactivated the prop’s effect, feeling relaxed. He rubbed his face, getting up, maximizing the effect of the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” before retracing his steps.

Once he passed through the inconspicuous door of the tavern, Nol put on his hood and nestled in the darkest corner.

With Teest taking a while, Nol ordered iced grapes first while the piglet was being prepared in the kitchen.

The grapes of Grape Collar were indeed exceptional. Peeled and seeded in advance, they were placed in a stemmed glass. Iced, they tasted perfectly sweet, reminiscent of a unique ice cream.

‘The topics those two were discussing might not be so simple,’ Nol mused absentmindedly as he played with the cold fruit with his tongue.

On this occasion, Teest seemed more like he was introducing him to the gang leader rather than doing business. Nol found Teest’s motives rather unclear. If he was the Mad Monk Nol was familiar with…

“The Mad Monk I know would never expose this connection.” The General poured herself a glass of wine, swirling it in her glass as she spoke coldly. “You’d keep this channel a secret, ensuring he relies completely on you. So, what are you really after? Listen, you’re causing me problems. Unless you’re planning on hanging him up soon, wrap this up.”

“Are you considered a ‘connection’?” Teest lounged in the guest chair, his tone becoming more teasing. “Human? Are you serious?”

“You know full well that’s not the main point.” The General’s voice grew colder. “You even guided him during the negotiation. Don’t think I didn’t notice. Apart from a tragic death, you never teach anyone anything.”

“Alright, let’s be honest—he really is a very handsome young man, with a particularly attractive smile, especially his eyes. I really enjoy the feeling of kissing him. It’s a pity you can’t see it,” Teest said.

He glanced casually into the General’s eyes.

He knew those eyes were prosthetic, just like the decorative collars on the servants behind her. They watched every corner around her but couldn’t provide a clear picture.

She had long lost her vision, and now she could only see a distorted, blurred world.

The General scoffed. Her tone finally revealed anger, balancing on the edge of tolerance. “So, this is your so-called reason? Why not just behead that beautiful boy, preserve his head with magic, and kiss it from time to time—that sounds like the lunatic I know.”

How uncreative. Nol had already played that card. Remembering the skeleton in the dungeon who would swing its own head around, Teest couldn’t help but smirk.

“Alright, alright. Let’s talk business.”

Seeing that his old acquaintance was about to explode, Teest sat up straight in his chair. The laughter in his golden eyes disappeared.

“I want you to stop investigating Paradise and only sell insignificant trivial intelligence. Also, no investigating the Master of Paradise under any circumstances—the dogs from the Temple of Life are sniffing everywhere. I don’t want you assisting them.”

“Hey, are you really committing to Paradise?” the General rasped. “Is Sophie’s information true? You two are fucking like animals in heat—”

Teest shrugged. “Oh, we haven’t progressed that far yet… I just wanted to make it clear that he’s my personal property, and you know how much I dislike others encroaching on my territory.”

“Compensation.” The General shifted her gaze. “Paradise is the current hotspot. I would lose intel revenue.”

“The compensation is ‘I won’t kill you’. What a deal!”

“…” The General shook her head in disbelief. “I’ll give you a discount if you just tell me the truth about what’s going on between you and him. Don’t fob me off with some clichéd love and redemption story.”

“After all, I’ve known you long enough. We’ve been normal people, but you’ve been a lunatic from the beginning.”

“Fair enough.”

Teest looked through the lavishly decorated wall in the direction of the tavern.

“You discover a particularly beautiful raw gemstone, and you decide to sculpt it a bit. It becomes more and more perfect… It’s a peculiar feeling of possession, I guess. Even a lunatic would like to see the final product.”

“And?” the General continued.

“I love those eyes, but I don’t like the way they see through me. He’s unpredictable to me, and I’m predictable to him. It’s super frustrating.” Teest sighed. “So I want to do something he doesn’t expect. I don’t expect you to understand.”

The General remained silent for a while, then pressed on, “What else?”

“…He might have the answers I seek,” Teest whispered.

“Remarkable.” She stopped probing. “Now let’s talk business—real business.”

“You said you want the ‘Eclipse Shield’. Are you joking or serious?”

“Of course I’m serious!”

“The Temple of Life couldn’t find it, the Eternal Church couldn’t find it, and neither can I.” She gritted her teeth. “If you want to track down the long-lost clue, you know there’s only one way.”

“Ah, the ‘Time Reversion’ potion, an exclusive product of the Eternal Church. It’s rare, once in a decade, and very coveted.”

Teest interlocked his fingers, smiling innocently. “That’s why I came to see you, right?”

“Last year, I heard a little related rumor. There’s a secret auction in Grape Collar soon, and even Enbillick Alva is attending. There must be something extraordinary.”

“Alright. If you have it, great.”

The General weakly put down her goblet. “At the very least, please tell me you’re planning to drink it alone.”

“Of course I’d share it with my darling.”

“You’re done for.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Do you really want to show him something ‘unpredictable’?” The General pressed her temples hard. “Like, for instance, the church that was burned down all those years ago by you?”

The author has something to say:

Crimson: I wished for an interesting opponent.

So, after three arcs, his god still travels through time and space (really traveling through time and space) chasing and feeding him (…

Crimson: Fuck.

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