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.

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

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.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 70: Grape Collar Holiday

For breakfast the next day, Nol didn’t eat anything.

The piece of pie sat in his stomach like an ever-lasting piece of ice, dissolving very slowly in his stomach acid. It made him lose his appetite, and Nol just had a glass of milk before hastily finishing.

It was a pity about the special grilled meat Aunt Sophie made specifically. It all went into Teest’s stomach. Aunt Sophie looked at him with a stern and disappointed gaze, her expression saying, “Just as I expected.”

Avoiding Aunt Sophie’s scrutiny, Nol slowly sipped a cup of hot water. The cold feeling in his stomach made him frown. Fortunately, he transferred the gold wheel from Teest to a space within his body. Otherwise, his stomach would feel even more uncomfortable now.

Nol couldn’t resist keeping that inexplicable [Lament of the Weak]. When seeing special things, even if it’s just a bottle cap, he decided not to fight against his gamer’s heart. Now in his skill bar, he had the skills [Bloodline Suppression], [Lament of the Weak], and [Smelling]. He hoped that the next time his skills evolved, he would get more skill slots…

Nol used a wooden spoon to stir the milk in his hand while lost in thought.

Teest leisurely finished the grilled meat and thin pancakes and was tasting a few purplish-red figs. Seeing Nol lost in thought, he quickly swallowed the fruit in his mouth and asked, “What’s your plan for today?”

“What’s your plan for today?” Nol echoed the question back at him. “I’m not in a hurry.”

Teest tilted his head in confusion. As long as conditions allowed, Nol was always in a hurry. This was the first time Teest associated the phrase “not in a hurry” with Nol.

“Well then, let me tell you.” Teest drank his milk and cleared his throat. “A date in the morning, make some money in the afternoon, and as for the evening… well, let’s see. Grape Collar has lots of good wine, and the night is long.”

The look of disapproval was evident on Aunt Sophie’s face. Such a lack of ambition; the typical schedule of a loafer.

She looked at Nol, hoping that this seemingly redeemable young man would decline. But without hesitation, Nol nodded rapidly.

“Then it’s settled,” Nol said.

‘They’re both hopeless,’ Aunt Sophie thought.

……

Even though autumn had arrived, the sunlight was blindingly intense. It illuminated the rooftops in Grape Collar, making them shimmer brightly. The clothing of the pedestrians on the street was similarly radiant, and everything was enveloped in a warm glow. Only the grapes—whether juicy purple or green—appeared even more vibrant. They were piled in large wicker baskets, placed in smaller baskets lined with grape leaves, and finally ended up on either soft or parched lips, leaving behind a few drops of sweet nectar.

Previously, whenever Nol arrived at a place, he would subconsciously search for similarities with the game, only to then briefly admire the views.

But now, he walked slowly, taking in the entire city. He saw grape seeds covered in mud and clearly observed the grapevine patterns on the tower’s enormous bell. The city was no longer just a conceptual representation. It seemed alive, as if it was breathing.

Teest led him through the market, through crowded streets and alleys, towards dark lanes where the sunlight couldn’t reach, until they could no longer detect the sour-sweet aroma of grape juice.

The stone walls around them were crumbling, and the surroundings grew dimmer. Earlier, they could step over a vagabond or two, but now not even a few rats could be seen. Teest walked half a step ahead, leaving Nol with only a view of a color-disguised black braid and an unguarded silhouette.

Several days had passed, and Teest hadn’t mentioned the gold wheel kept with him, nor did Nol feel like returning it proactively.

It was a fragile yet sweet connection, and he cherished this feeling.

After walking for almost another half hour, Nol couldn’t hold back any longer. “…Is this what you call a date?”

“Did you really want to go on a date with me?” Teest said with a playful grin, without turning his head. He casually fiddled with a young grapevine twig—god knows where he plucked it from.

“I’m just curious about our destination,” Nol said. “Tell me. I won’t run away.”

“I’m a bit curious too,” Teest responded, with his habit of answering evasively. “I’ve taken such a roundabout route, and you seem to harbor no ill intentions.”

“What are you talking about?” Nol said, puzzled.

“I’m just thinking, since you’ve taken the stage, there are more suitable partners for you,” Teest turned around and said almost reproachfully. “You could’ve ambushed me with that letter opener, end our fake engagement, then secretly meet the leaders of the other Players. I’m sure some would be eager to team up with you—there’s no particular reason it has to be me, honey.”

Nol tried to look serious but couldn’t help but smile. The implication was too reminiscent of a jealous lover! It didn’t match the Mad Monk’s image at all.

“I can get the information without teaming up with them,” Nol said with a smile. “I prefer working with you.”

It felt freer, more discreet, and sometimes he genuinely needed a touch of wicked guidance and comfort.

Teest discarded the grapevine twig and examined Nol carefully.

Alright, the guy seemed honest. Nol gazed directly into his eyes, and the blue irises appeared even more pure and beautiful than before. Teest could sense affection in them.

For the sake of hunting, the Mad Monk occasionally lured his targets deliberately. He was fortunate to possess a body that most found aesthetically pleasing and was adept at making others feel “loved”.

He had seen similar looks on the faces of his targets, but they never had the clarity Nol possessed.

Even in his wildest moments, Nol remembered his motives. It was rather uninteresting, like performing magic for an audience who knew the tricks—Magician Teest felt somewhat frustrated.

“You said you liked working with me.” The Mad Monk leaned in, their noses almost touching. “What do you think of me right now, honey?”

He was genuinely curious.

“…A married man?” Nol pondered and replied earnestly.

“I was always a married man.”

“No, no, I mean in a more general sense.” Nol explained with a smile. “It’s like being attracted to someone you’ve just met, only to discover they’re married. The attraction is real, but the decision not to pursue is also genuine. You don’t have to worry about me pressing you for any responses.”

“Oh?” Teest continued, his tone more relaxed and sweeter. “In your view, what am I ‘married’ to?”

“Yourself and your twisted psyche?” Nol responded uncertainly.

Teest: “……”

Teest: “Indeed, that’s hard to separate from.”

“See?” Nol nodded gravely.

Teest shook his head, amused, and resumed walking. After a short distance, he opened an inconspicuous wooden door. Had Teest not specifically stopped, Nol would’ve mistaken it for a rotting board.

“The Black Glove Tavern!” Teest sidestepped, revealing a narrow passage behind the door and a hint of light at the end of it. “This place has the best grapes and roasted suckling pig in the whole city.”

“A decent date spot.” Muffled chatter and music wafted out with the warm breeze. Nol caught the scent of roasted meat and spices.

“No, the sweet date segment was just now.” Teest shrugged. “Now, it’s time to make some money.”

……

Teest activated the effect of the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” slightly. Even when he bumped into a drunkard who smelled like vinegar, the drunk just looked around in confusion, cursing at the ground.

Another “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was dangling from Nol’s right earlobe. The two squeezed through the crowd, heading towards the bar.

The surrounding air was far from fresh. Nol detected the stench of abscesses, fresh wounds, and disease. The area was filled with oddly shaped humanoid creatures. Five customers together wouldn’t make up one set of clean clothing.

The wooden pillars were plastered with wanted posters, recruitment papers, trade notices, and a few withered fingers. The wood was marked with crude graffiti, and various fluids stained the base. Nol decided not to investigate further.

“Two glasses of ‘Golden Grape Leaf’.” Teest smiled as they squeezed up to the bar. “The usual, no ice. The good grapes from Silver Windmill. Put it on the ‘Doctor’s’ tab.”

The bartender was a short, middle-aged man. Only when Teest spoke did he raise his mismatched eyes. Nol was startled. The man looked like he had been torn apart by a beast and hastily pieced back together.

“What grade of grape? What kind of grape leaf?” His gaze swiftly swept over Teest and Nol, quick as a lizard’s tongue.

“The best grapes. Add two dark green grape leaves, the kind with dew on them.”

After scrutinizing Teest for several moments, the bartender grunted. “Fine, pick them yourself.”

Anticipating trouble, Nol tightened his grip on the staff disguised as a cane and followed Teest through a broken door behind the bar. As soon as he entered, he nearly dropped the staff—the space beyond was vast, making the previous tavern seem merely like an entrance hall.

Seeing Nol’s surprise, Teest smirked contentedly, [Come back to reality, Mr. Lich.]

[What is this place?] Nol wondered as he looked around. It resembled the lobby of a five-star luxury hotel. Though not as expansive as the Lost Tower, its design was intricate, and its decorations were dim yet luxurious.

Except, where one might expect to see mounted deer or wolf heads, there were human heads with their eyes and mouths sewn shut.

[The “General” Black Glove trading post. It’s best if we sell our items here,] Teest explained. [That door leads to multiple entrances, and any ordinary unlucky person who ventures in will only see a dimly lit storage room.]

Nol caught on quickly.

Days ago, he and Teest had looted several treasures from the dungeon of the Black Forest. The rewards were mainly jewelry and gems, and the dungeons themselves were hardly challenging.

But as the saying goes, money can be a hero’s downfall*. If he wanted to support the neighbors in the Lost Tower, he couldn’t keep taking money from Teest’s pocket. Nol had planned to contact Anakin and her group to sell the spoils, but evidently, Teest had other ideas.

*A single coin can stump a hero (一文钱难倒英雄汉) Idiom referring to even a hero can be troubled if he has no money.

[The lovely siblings were conspicuous enough; better not add any more risks for them.] Teest nodded towards the reception desk in front of them. [Selling stolen goods here is the safest. Trust me, not even a god can trace it back.]

[Got it. Thanks for the heads-up,] Nol thought. [What brought you here?]

He doubted that the Mad Monk would kindly navigate and provide a guided tour with a smile.

[Half of the money in there is mine. I want to use it to buy some information.] Teest blinked. [Since you’re not in a hurry, there’s something I want to get my hands on.]

[The “Eclipse Shield”, a small round shield made from the skulls of the Demon King’s Guards. The “Demon King’s Guards” might sound intimidating, but they’re just particularly powerful Demon King’s minions.]

Before Nol could inquire further, Teest thoughtfully explained.

The shield was originally in the custody of the Immortal Church in Grape Collar, stored in various secret locations. Over a decade ago, that particular Immortal Church was razed to the ground, and the location of the Eclipse Shield became unknown. The Mad Monk had kept an eye out for related news but always came up empty.

[I can help you find a better shield,] Nol thought internally.

[But you’re the only one who could nibble on this shield.] Teest stretched his shoulders and said, [Let’s go. Today’s a good day to spend lavishly.]

Nol shook his head, about to follow, when his gaze suddenly fixed on a familiar figure about ten steps to their left.

Mr. Billy from the Alva Merchant Group was walking towards the same reception desk with a smile.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 69: A Lovely Midnight Snack

Crimson had no desire to take on this task. It sounded like a nanny’s job, devoid of any excitement.

Listen, God’s Chosen One sounds like the delusions of those rich old men after they’ve had too much.

The black candle was stolen, and Crimson shifted the blame to Jack, who couldn’t refute the accusation. But the Church’s opinion of him had significantly decreased. His partner was dead, precious items were lost in large numbers, and the Eternal Church seemed to have no intention of replenishing them anytime soon.

After arriving in a world filled with blood and violence, how could he not be excited?

So, he had no choice but to agree to this deal. Just like in his previous world, he needed to work diligently in between his killings to pay off his credit cards.

“Bring back the Chosen One. Of course, it would be my honor.” Crimson repeated without any emotion. “But I fail to see how this relates to ‘Paradise’.”

“Twenty-one years ago, the Chosen One appeared in Grape Collar. But those fools misinterpreted God’s will and didn’t find the real Chosen One,” the old priest said with an annoyingly dramatic tone. “Now, God has given another oracle. ‘Following the river of fate, returning to the land of Grape Collar, his soul remains in darkness’.”

“Oh, alright,” Crimson said. “Tell me the physical features of this dark soul, and I’ll find him as soon as possible.”

The old priest remained silent.

“…Is that all you’ve got?” Crimson’s eyebrows shot up.

He despised these vague prophecies. His God wouldn’t entertain believers with riddles. Based on these vague clues, any male over twenty-one in Grape Collar could be his target.

No wonder they got it wrong the last time! He cursed internally.

“The first prophecy was more precise.”

The old priest paused for a few minutes before adding slowly, “The prophecy was once stored in the Immortal Church in Grape Collar, which was burned down twelve years ago. You need to get the original prophecy and bring back the true Chosen One.”

“We are too close to that black tower. The Master of Paradise has shown strong hostility towards us and might interfere. It’s God’s will for someone familiar with them, like you, to do this. We sincerely hope that the incident in Whitebird City won’t happen again, Lord Demon.”

Vague instructions, no information at all—what a nightmare of a task.

Crimson replied, “Even a Demon can’t turn back time. I can’t be expected to dig through charred garbage from over twenty years ago, can I?”

“But God can,” the old priest said, the warts on his face squeezing together, forming a horrifying grin.

This got a bit interesting. Crimson raised his eyebrows even higher. Back in Whitebird City, members of Paradise were the ones who stole the black candle. This time, he had to pray that Paradise’s people wouldn’t cause trouble again. Now that the news about the “Mad Monk” in Paradise had spread, he hoped that the Players of the Temple of Life would confront Paradise first.

……

Anakin and Solo sat in the first-floor restaurant. Anakin’s face ached from laughing so much, while Solo mechanically wielded his fork, succeeding in bringing food to his mouth only twice out of three attempts.

The long table around them was occupied by all sorts of monsters. It was the first time Anakin had seen so many creatures gathered in one place.

Nol and Teest sat at the head of the table. On one side were about a dozen old succubi, represented by Uncle Ma, and on the other… well, an ensemble of monsters.

Across from the succubi and closest to the main seats was a Puppet Witch. She delicately scooped pudding, exposing the ball-shaped joints of her fingers and elbow. A creepy doll sat beside her, occasionally fetching condiments or fruit for her.

Next to her sat an Elf and a gray Wolfkin. Further out was a bizarre family trio made up of a Crow, a Banshee, and a Ghost. The Banshee Mother was trying to feed berries to her translucent daughter—who for some reason, kept glancing towards the main seats, her young face tinged with fear.

‘Children have good instincts. Perhaps she senses the menacing aura of the Mad Monk,’ Anakin thought.

Nol seemed the most normal, but on his plate lay the tail of a poisonous jungle spider. Even roasted and drenched in sauce, its pungent smell was overpoweringly strong. After several glances, Anakin wasn’t so sure how to define “normal” anymore.

Such monsters were rare to see. Encountering just one in the wild was distressing enough. Now, facing a whole group of them felt like a boss meeting. Combined with the sporadic mentions of Country C, Anakin felt incredibly confused.

Nol easily cracked open the spider’s tail, revealing the purple-webbed meat inside. He scowled at it, took a while to cut a small piece, coated it in yellow sauce to hide its appearance, and hesitantly put it in his mouth.

His expression was much more animated than Anakin remembered.

After two chews, Nol’s face contorted, looking like he was about to vomit. Teest quickly grasped Nol’s shoulder, one hand firmly over his mouth, until his breathing steadied.

It looked as if he was trying to smother him.

“Here, honey.”

Once Teest let go, he handed Nol a cup of fragrant herbal tea. Nol murmured a thank you and drank hastily, almost downing the hot drink in one gulp.

‘…I don’t get it!’ Anakin thought in distress.

The silver lining was that the monster neighbors also seemed to fall into two camps: “Help, I don’t understand” and “I don’t understand, but I respect”. Suddenly, Anakin felt a bit closer to these creatures.

“Will we all be staying here from now on?”

Elf Rosen shifted on his seat, swinging his feet that didn’t touch the ground. “This place is awesome. It’s spacious enough for all of us—but the environment is too different. We can’t stay on our original floors.”

“We’d like a guest room, if possible,” the Banshee asked nervously. “Our baby is used to rooms, and I’m afraid she won’t adapt to the wild.”

“I’m in charge of the rooms here. Of course you can have one,” Uncle Ma declared. “We must prioritize the kids!”

The Puppet Witch, after finishing her tea, remarked, “I need a workshop to craft items for everyone. Uncle Ma also needs a guardroom. I’ll set up a magical surveillance screen for him.”

“Oh, right! We also need to install your surveillance… puppets soon. We’re bound to have other visitors to the Black Forest!” Rosen exclaimed, slapping his thigh.

“Miss Lynn, please also include footage from other areas so we can help you find your sister,” the Crow perched on the Banshee’s shoulder chimed in. “We, as parents, won’t wander far and need something to do.”

Nol sat in the main seat, watching his neighbors converse with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

The succubi were baffled by this monster coalition, but they remained politely silent. It wasn’t until the end of dinner that Succubus Donni cautiously spoke up.

“Thank you both for resolving the conflicts within our tribe,” he said, addressing Nol and Teest with reverence as if speaking to a queen. “If you have any plans for us…”

Nol patted Teest’s shoulder, who produced a stack of parchment from his pouch.

“This is a recommendation for the training location of the succubi, evolution suggestions, and a map of the Lost Tower for the tribe,” Nol explained, handing a sheet to Uncle Ma. “You can arrange your hunting routes and times. That should suffice—oh, except for the queen, everyone must report to Malvina before heading out.”

Uncle Ma gave the paper in his hand a slight shake, his expression relaxing a bit.

“These are for everyone.”

With that said, Nol handed the stack of papers to Witch Lynn and then passed them on to the neighbors. “Please ensure that you train in teams as instructed. Don’t be negligent, and don’t initiate fights.”

“The Black Forest is a dangerous place. Always move in teams. If anyone wishes to leave the tower, you must report to Malvina and must carry Lynn’s communication puppet.”

Rosen flicked the paper. “My wife and I will take a trip further away. We need someone to patrol the outermost area. What about you, Nol…? Saying all this, do you not plan to stay long?”

As he said this, his face was turned to Nol, but his eyes were fixed on Teest.

Everyone else’s eyes were on Nol—the neighbors’, the succubi’s. When leaving the Dragon’s Lair, Nol had felt such gazes before. Compared to the anxiety and unease of the low-level Nol, the fully leveled-up Lich Nol seemed much more composed.

Nol looked towards the forest outside the tower.

Finding the Lost Tower, gathering the neighbors, then cautiously stationing, leveling up, and slowly accumulating intelligence through constant negotiations—he had thought this way before. But now… he was assisting them, not burdening them. He remained free.

“I need to go out and take a look to get a clearer picture faster.” He said with a smile, “This place is unfamiliar to me. To gain unexpected benefits, one must take risks.”

Relinquishing the pressure of being the creator, he was the most fitting “adventurer” in this world.

“When I’m not here, Lynn will manage this Tower for me,” Nol said, “I’ll contact the Tower weekly, and if needed, I can return anytime. You can always contact me if there’s an issue.”

Anakin held her breath, resisting the urge to exchange glances with Solo.

This meant that Nol had a permanent spatial transportation tool.

…Even the Temple of Life only had one such item, which was securely locked deep in their storeroom. Even one-time-use transportation tools were only available to mid- to high-level Players.

They did right by not offending this guy. Anakin’s smile softened. Suddenly, two sheets of parchment floated into her view.

“Sister, sister.” The little Ghost Girl maneuvered the parchment to float in front of Anakin. “This is for you.”

Not just for monsters? Anakin thanked her with a composed demeanor and took the paper with a look of confusion.

When she saw the first line, her shock was comparable to seeing the golden thread of the Mad Monk.

[Hidden job change for the Holy Priestess: “The Flawless” quest chain.]

[Hidden job change for the Rogue: “Night Ranger” quest chain.]

Both sheets of parchment contained a short sentence in Chinese—

[A gesture of goodwill. Burn after reading. This is just the beginning. Please remember to keep it a secret. ^_^]

……

“Ah, my little Landus, my little Ross, you’re finally back!”

A few days later, Aunt Sophie exclaimed loudly at the door.

In reality, Anakin and Solo were still following behind them. The two Players had donned the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” crown and necklace, minimizing their presence. As expected, Aunt Sophie didn’t notice them at all.

Hearing her shout now, Anakin felt differently—believing Aunt Sophie was only calling out for the neighbors to hear.

Lady, do you even realize one of them is the Mad Monk and the other is a newly minted monster boss?

Thankfully, Solo shared in this experience with her. If she was holding onto this secret alone, she’d surely develop some mental issues.

Before leaving, both Players turned to Nol, nodding solemnly. In a corner unseen by Aunt Sophie, Nol waved back.

The first group of residents in Paradise had been settled. The neighbors spontaneously started infrastructure work. Players friendly with them were returning to various factions… Hopefully, this would be a good start.

“You two finally decided to wander back.”

Once the door was closed, Aunt Sophie’s benevolent smile vanished like melting snow. “You’ve exceeded your time. You’ll have to pay again, boys!”

“I’ll have some honey cakes,” Teest said, counting out some gold wheels. “Oh, and I’ll need your kitchen tonight.”

Teest had finally shed his succubus outfit. Without that swaying tail, Nol felt like something was missing from Teest. Thankfully, Anakin had generously gifted them the outfit, so that tail would likely make a reappearance.

“Your last room is still under repair. Only a small room remains. Do you want to sleep separately?” Aunt Sophie casually mentioned.

Silence filled the room.

‘Maintain a calm, stable demeanor with a touch of nonchalance,’ Nol thought rapidly.

After their unexpected intimate moment, Teest acted as if nothing had happened, and they continued to share a room. Since the Mad Monk seemed unaffected, Nol also acted nonchalant—their relationship was as straight as when they first met.

He couldn’t exactly kick Teest out, saying, “I have ulterior motives towards you. I don’t want to like you more, so let’s sleep separately”… That sounded cringeworthy to even think about it.

They were both long past adulthood, not beasts that couldn’t control their primal urges. It’s just a hint of romantic interest. It’s too soon for anything more!

“I don’t mind,” Nol replied with utter calmness.

“But one room would be better,” he added equally placidly. “Don’t worry. We won’t do anything.”

The [Betrayal Overture] required them to stay within five meters of each other, after all.

Teest had also paused for a split second upon hearing Aunt Sophie’s suggestion.

Now, he said with an equally calm tone, “We definitely need one room. This way, you won’t charge us an extra cleaning fee.”

Aunt Sophie looked at them with disdain, clicking her tongue at Nol. “I’m making special roasted meat tomorrow morning. Whether you get to eat it depends on you.”

Nol smiled confidently. “I look forward to your culinary expertise.”

That night.

“This is your reason for ‘definitely needing one room’?” Nol’s tone was harder than the walls of the Lost Tower.

Before him was Teest’s special midnight snack—a pie made of the legs from the Demon King’s minions.

Cook Teest passionately described how it was made. He chose dry meat with fat from the legs of the Thousand-Hand Nightmare, smoked and roasted it, then seasoned with pepper, herbal seeds, and salt. He then mixed it with regular ham and cheese to make the pie.

It smelled surprisingly good.

However, Nol could still detect the unique taste of the Demon King’s minions underneath the aroma of flour and cheese.

“Your ‘Fallen Death’ should have refreshed by now.”

Teest sat on the edge of the bed, cheerfully handing over a fork. “Try it. It surely can’t be worse than that spider tail from the other day.”

“Are you trying to boost my stats or just conducting an experiment?” Nol asked skeptically as he took a bite of the pie.

“Both, I guess.” Teest thoughtfully handed over a barf bag, just in case.

Sleeping in one room was for easier rescue in case something went wrong, right? Got it, typical of you, Mad Monk.

Why did he even have feelings for such a guy?

Nol lamented as he bit into the pie.

…The pie was steaming hot but felt incredibly cold when bitten into, as if it had just been taken out of a freezer. Despite all the spices Teest added, the bizarre taste quickly filled Nol’s mouth.

It wasn’t a scent of decay. The taste was somewhat like mud, rust, and some unknown fungus. For a moment, Nol genuinely wondered if he was licking the lid of a coffin. The flavor was so intense and cold that it made his throat go numb, and it took him a while to swallow even a small bite.

His attributes increased as expected, with his attack power going up by 10, which was quite decent. As for his skill… Nol secretly hoped he’d acquire a useful ability from the Nightmare.

A few seconds later, an option for a new skill appeared on his skill list:

[Lament of the Weak: The despairing thoughts, the faint echoes, the complaints of the defeated against fate. This skill has no effect, holds no value, and cannot be used.]

…What is this?

The author has something to say:

Here we go! A new arc has started! I’ve divided it into chapters.

The succubus tail is gone, but no worries; it’s still in Teest’s bag and will be taken out on necessary occasions (maybe?).

Also, I haven’t forgotten about Teest’s coin! It will be mentioned later on.

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