Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 241: Earth – An Ordinary Day

Nol couldn’t remember the last time he had stayed overnight at his parents’ home.

It must have been during the last winter break of university.

His room was still set up like it was during his university days, with the standard desk, wardrobe, and bed layout, all meticulously maintained by his parents. Nol was quite tall, so his family had specially prepared a one-and-a-half-meter bed that now just managed to squeeze in both him and Teest.

At the moment, Teest was lying beside him, an arm draped over Nol’s waist. The room was dim, lit only by the silver moonlight seeping in through the window.

The only sound was the ticking of the second hand of the clock. The faint snoring of his father from the next room didn’t arise—Nol reflexively remembered that his father snored at night.

[It seems the impact was quite significant.] Teest seemed to read his thoughts.

Not just significant, Nol couldn’t help but fall into reminiscence—

Before entering the house, Teest had proposed other options.

After finding out about the acceptance of same-sex partners on Earth, he had suggested ideas like: “You can use ‘reversion’ on me. I don’t mind pretending to be Teesti, honey,” “I could turn into a cat and follow you, and you can say it was a joke,” “You could also make an excuse that I’m busy elsewhere and go back alone,” “You wouldn’t use mind magic on them, would you?” …and so on.

Perhaps a gradual approach was a better idea, Nol thought.

But he couldn’t bear the thought of Teest waiting outside alone while he staged a heartwarming reunion at home—Nol still remembered the subtle emotions on Teest’s face after he returned from his solo reversion.

“I trust my parents,” Nol had replied. “And only if I introduce you seriously will they understand how determined I am.”

…But even a god felt nervous in front of his own parents!

The moment Nol and Teest stepped in, his parents instinctively looked behind them, trying to spot a non-existent girl. After a few seconds, it finally dawned on them, and they froze in place.

Nol stood ramrod straight. He hadn’t even been this tense during the divine war.

He had always been the proverbial “child from someone else’s home”.

The best high school, the best university. If not for Star Stealer Sol whisking him away right after graduation, he would surely have landed a job at the best company. During that time, let alone clashes with classmates or romance in school, he didn’t even go through a rebellious phase. If there was a “Most Worry-Free Children List” in City A, Nol would definitely rank in the top three.

And so, the family continued their bland daily life.

But the good son who had just graduated brought home a foreign man, seemingly intent on settling down.

Father Xu was so shocked that he belched twice, nearly fainting. Mother Xu kept exclaiming, “Oh dear, oh dear,” and didn’t know where to put her hands.

“Dad, Mom, I’m back.” Nol took a deep breath and spoke formally.

As he entered, he deliberately grabbed Teest’s hand, pulling his knight inside.

Father Xu was still in a daze, and Mother Xu responded somewhat vacantly, “Sit. Everyone sit.”

“How did you two, uh, how did you…”

As soon as they sat on the sofa, Mother Xu started stammering.

“I went on an internship during university and met him there.” Nol managed to fib without changing his expression. “He is indeed a foreigner and plans to settle in City A.”

“You’ve decided to settle down already?”

Father Xu finally snapped out of his dazed state, his face tensing up. “What about his parents?”

Nol: “He—”

Teest offered his trademark harmless smile, interrupting Nol. “I’m an orphan, sir. My parents passed away when I was seven, and I have no other relatives. I can live anywhere.”

Father Xu, Mother Xu: “……”

Mother Xu gave Father Xu a slightly reproachful look, her attitude softened considerably. Father Xu muttered an apology, somewhat deflated, and sat down.

“I met your son at work, and we went through some minor accidents together, developing feelings,” Teest continued politely. “He is the most remarkable person I’ve ever met… Believe me, I have questioned my feelings many times, but I am now very sure that I want to spend my life with him.”

His tone was particularly sincere toward the end. Combined with that face, his persuasiveness was undeniable.

Mother Xu couldn’t help but look at her son.

“I’m serious, Mom.” Nol nodded at her. “You all know me. I’ve never been one to act on impulse.”

Mother Xu sighed and was silent for a long while.

“You look much better than last time,” she said, finally smiling again. “There’s light in your eyes, your face is bright, and you look sturdy.”

Nol: “……” Sorry, Mom, that’s probably because I became a god.

“And you seem very happy.” Mother Xu cleared her throat with some difficulty. “Son, you’ve grown up so much, and I’ve never seen you this happy… Actually, your dad and I have always been quite worried, thinking you lived too rigidly to have any taste of life.”

“You’re an adult now, and who you spend your life with is your business. It’s good this way. Now you both are in City A, and we can see you anytime, which spares us unnecessary worry.”

“Right, right, it’s just all so sudden,” Father Xu muttered. “Your mom and I need some time to adjust, and don’t take it to heart and just live your lives.”

Nol opened his mouth several times, sighing heavily, before he could finally make a sound.

“I—I will visit you every week.” His voice was slightly hoarse. “I really am doing very well.”

Teest didn’t speak further, just silently observed. His hand remained tightly clasped around Nol’s, never letting go.

……

[The cakes here are really good.] Teest’s thoughts broke the memory, as he snuggled deeper into the bedding. [I didn’t expect your family to prepare a cake.]

Nol: “That’s just how we celebrate in our family. Seeing my mom’s reaction, she actually likes you quite a bit. They just don’t know you yet, but they will after we meet every week.”

[Are you sure you want them to know me?] Teest exclaimed in shock.

[…Just remember to keep up the disguise.] Nol broke into a cold sweat, thinking of his parents’ well-being.

[You’ll see.]

Suddenly, Nol’s phone vibrated. He casually opened the notification and immediately saw a new message from his mother.

Mom: [You two live well, work well. If anyone talks nonsense, don’t take it to heart.]

Mom: [Don’t overthink it. Your dad and I definitely support you.]

Mom: [Go to sleep early.]

Nol turned off his phone and buried his face into Teest’s chest.

“What’s wrong?” This time, Teest asked aloud.

“I was just thinking, my life plan hasn’t really changed that much,” Nol responded in a muffled voice. “I now have vast wealth, a stable job, parents who love me, and someone I love.”

Over the past year, although events had shattered all his plans, he had never felt more content.

Nol knew that at this very moment, another version of himself was imprisoned in Joy Garden, taking his first steps toward hardship. He couldn’t interfere with that inevitable tragedy—just as he couldn’t prevent Teest from falling into darkness in his reversion.

But that didn’t matter.

Because they both knew they would have an ending far beyond their imaginations.

“Good night, Teest.”

“Good night, Nol.”

……

In the ruins of Bissus City, Tahe.

A dirty cat paw scratched around, finally managing to clear the debris. With a rustling sound, a dusty white cat emerged from the rubble. The current Eternal Pope, Fischer, licked his paw, suddenly realizing a huge problem.

His God seemed to be absent. How was he supposed to revert to his original form?

What was the Eternal Church’s plan for him next? Lord Teest?

The white cat sat dumbfounded atop the ruins, eyes following the passersby.

“Lady Tilia has issued an oracle. The first time that Her Ladyship has directly done so!” a temple knight said jubilantly. “Thanks to the heroes who eradicated the Demon King, Lady Tilia was able to regain her power.”

“There’s been no word from the Eternal Church, and Anstis hasn’t recovered. It’s embarrassing how they promoted that false god—all these years it was clearly Lady Tilia who suppressed the Demon King!”

“The trees near Bissus that were charred are sprouting leaves again. It’s a miracle…”

The white cat bristled, hissing.

You fools. The true gods are clearly Lord Teest and Lord Nol, whom he follows! What is this Tilia in comparison?

Unfortunately, the two temple knights had moved on, and now several bishops approached.

“Lord Eugene is truly blessed by God. He had just assumed the papacy when our God issued an oracle. Did you hear—” one bishop whispered. “Lady Tilia said there are two Gods above Her.”

“Isn’t Lady Tilia the highest god? Could it be, um, someone impersonating…”

“Lady Tilia’s words are beyond doubt!” another bishop raised his sparse-haired head. “Her words are so merciful… You all saw that vibrant divine power. Such blessings have never appeared before at the altar!”

The white cat’s bristling fur settled a bit. Speaking the truth, it seems this Goddess of Life is one of us… Huh?

A hand gripped the scruff of his neck mercilessly and lifted him.

“Fischer Reginald.”

Eugene—the current Pope of Life, spoke in an icy tone that came from his hood. “What are you doing here?”

“Meow!”

Fischer was on the verge of tears, never imagining his historic encounter between the Eternal Church and the Temple of Life would be so dismal.

Eugene: “…”

Desperately, Fischer waved his paws. “Meow! Meow!”

Eugene’s face under the hood twisted briefly as he deftly cast a dispelling spell. The next second, a dusty Fischer lay sprawled on the ground.

Swish!

The imposing “Dominator” landed next to Fischer. Instinctively trying to retaliate with dark magic, Fischer then remembered he was in the stronghold of the Temple of Life.

The Eternal Pope wisely retracted his hand, continuing to feign death.

“Answer me, where is the Lost Tower?” Eugene asked, enunciating each word.

---

The author has a word to say:

Nol: They just don’t understand you yet.

Nol:

Nol: Please, don’t let them really understand you. (Pupils quaking)

Teest: ☆-∑(>ω0)b

---

Kinky Thoughts:

With this, we’ve reached the conclusion. Next comes the epilogue and extras. To recap the entire story in case there are some who are still confused:

Nol was developing what he thought was a game called “Tahe World”. When the game launched, he suddenly found he had transmigrated into the game as one of the monsters, along with all his neighbors in Joy Garden.

In order to figure out what’s going on, he sets out on an adventure, meeting Teest along the way. Through each arc where they accomplish quests set by the system, they manage to piece together clues about the reality of this “game” and unanswered questions Teest was looking for.

The truth behind the world is that Tahe is actually a real world, not just a game. The people who “transmigrated” into the game are, in a sense, sort of transmigration but not.

Star Stealer Sol, an alien entity, is the mastermind behind everything. He kidnapped Nol, brainwashed him, and manipulated him into creating “Tahe World”. By infusing him with flesh from many alien “gods” Nol gained the power of Creation, creating what he thought was a game but an actual real world.

Star Stealer Sol’s goal was, once the world Nol created was complete, to take control of the world and the world’s authority (the system) and become ruler of that world. He had failed three times before this (the ancient Demon King, which was made up of three other earthlings) as the world they created wasn’t viable and collapsed.

Once Nol had successfully created “Tahe World” (game launch), Star Stealer Sol destroyed the entire community so there would be no evidence of his meddling. However, before he got a chance to kill Nol, Nol received power from the Pillar of the World. It was one of the god flesh he was infused with.

Using its power, Nol managed to circumvent Star Stealer Sol’s overtaking of the system and save his neighbors (by basically cutting off their heads before they die, preserving their memories, and incorporating it into the bodies of monsters in Tahe).

However, this circumvention didn’t stop Star Stealer Sol. He still gained partial administrator rights to the system, and using it, he used the “Players” from Earth, who thought they were play-testing a game, and basically prevented them from logging out. Manipulating the system to issue quests, he hoped to use the Players to kill the ancient Demon King (failed creators) and the newly born Demon King (Nol) so he could finally gain full rights to the system.

When Nol landed in Tahe after saving and transferring the data of all his neighbors into monsters, he was met with a group of people. A woman begged him to save her child, to which he gave up the flesh of the Pillar of the World (and immortality). The child was ultimately saved, and their people began worshiping him as a god. Their people eventually passed on the Pillar of the World gene into Tahe, which spawned the birth of the White Demons.

These are essentially people of Tahe but had the ability of “reload” once, like Players who are immortal and can’t die in the “game”, marked by their silver hair, and we come to find that this is the ancestry origin of Teest.

Meanwhile, Nol abandoned his “true body” that’s sewn with a bunch of god corpses as he was going to devolve into endless madness and be killed by Star Stealer Sol and created an avatar for himself. This avatar became the will-o’-wisp we saw in chapter 1 to trick Star Stealer Sol into thinking he had killed Nol’s true body (and thus Nol, the creator of Tahe). As a reminder, true death can only come when both the avatar or the true body of the god is destroyed. In Nol’s case, he abandoned his true body and let that die and push his consciousness into his avatar. In the case of Star Stealer Sol, when Billy found out his true body was under attack, he abandoned his avatar and push his consciousness back into his true body. Unaware that Nol did this, Star Stealer Sol thought he had killed Nol’s true body (which is why he didn’t target Nol when they first met, since he didn’t think that was the God of Creation).

Not only did Star Stealer Sol manipulate the Players, he also manipulated the inhabitants of Tahe, becoming the pillars of two of the of the strongest good and evil religions in Tahe. Using “oracles” that he stole after defeating another “god”, Perradat, he started his “domestication” plan to shackle all people in Tahe under a power system that could never reach “godhood” so he would go unopposed.

Unfortunately, Teest had an oracle bestowed upon him by the Eternal Church, which resulted in the massacre of his family. Captured by the Eternalist, he went through a forced transformation into a Supplement Demon, which we later find out is a potion extracted from Nol himself by Star Stealer Sol, who was infused with countless bodies of gods.

With the mystery uncovered, Nol and Teest, along with the group of people they met along the way, set out to destroy Star Stealer Sol. They had to both kill its “true body” and its avatar, which was revealed to be Enbillick Alva.

A divine war ensued, resulting in the defeat of Star Stealer Sol. Nol regained his full authority over the system as the God of Creation (aka the system administrator) and using that power, he was able to log out the Players and send back his neighbors to earth.

Teest became the God of Destruction, rivaling Nol’s power, and together they set up two pantheons where they recruited other gods to serve under them (mainly to manage Tahe because it wasn’t Nol’s strongpoint and Teest was too lazy and not interested to bother).

All in all, a happy ending. I’ve glossed over many points and probably missed some, but there’s so much to summarize in a 200+ chapter novel. Which is quite a shame because there’re so many minor points that get brought back after everything comes full circle (like how Teest choose the ring color and his profession).

You’re welcome to join my Discord server to discuss or leave a comment if you’re still confused about some concepts or plot points that didn’t make sense to you.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 240: Earth – Returning Home

City A.

Spring in this city was always accompanied by continuous drizzle. Lin En walked into a convenience store, folded her umbrella, and glanced at her cellphone. At this time, her sister, Lin Li, hadn’t yet finished school. As the phone screen dimmed, it reflected her own face—a face she had grown unfamiliar with, accustomed as she was to the face belonging to the Supreme Domination Witch.

The phone lit up again, and her reflection vanished in the light. Lin En habitually opened her social media app, where people were still avidly discussing those events—

In recent times, City A had been filled with explosive news. Less than two months ago, many people—primarily from the gaming community and some criminals with records—had suddenly vanished, leading to a proliferation of missing persons reports and wild conspiracy theories.

Just days ago, most of the missing persons suddenly reappeared at their places of disappearance, with no memory of what had happened during their absence.

Lin En, of course, knew what had happened. Aside from allies like Anakin, Solo, and Dorothy, who knew the truth about Tahe, all other Players had their memories related to Tahe erased.

Not all Players returned safely, however. Thanks to some Demon Players, several Players were forcibly “logged out”, dying in that distant world.

As punishment, those Demon Players weren’t allowed to return. They likely became the prey to the Mad Monk.

Lin En bought a bottle of warm grapefruit tea in the convenience store and sat near the store’s glass window. The clouds churned, and rain gently pelted the puddles. She tapped the search bar on her phone, typing in “Joy Garden”.

The bizarre story of Joy Garden was even more discussed than the “mass disappearance”.

On a late July night, an unexplained explosion occurred in Joy Garden, a high-end residential area in City A. At the time, several young people from nearby districts had captured the sky turning red and the explosion of the neighborhood.

Following the disaster, Joy Garden was leveled to the ground, leaving only a huge crater and charred debris, not even the remnants of buildings remained intact. The rescue operation lasted a long time, but only a few human tissue fragments were found. The remains were too few and fragmented for forensic scientists to reconstruct a relatively complete body.

However, shortly after the return of the missing persons, the residents of Joy Garden also reappeared. They collectively emerged in a forest on the outskirts of City A, with the returning population comprising over half of Joy Garden’s residents.

Regrettably, they also had no memory of what occurred during their disappearance. Except for a few who had served as administrators in the Lost Tower.

Officer Luo was one of the first to return to his unit, privately reporting the true details of the incident to the authorities. Dr. Zhu also decided to continue working and, along with Lin En and Lin Li, served as witnesses for Officer Luo.

To ensure the credibility of Officer Luo’s testimony, Xu Yue considerately left them with some monster abilities—for example, Officer Luo’s fire magic, Dr. Zhu’s top-tier strength as a werewolf, and Lin En’s ability to manipulate dolls.

The situation was much as Xu Yue had predicted: there had never been a game called “Tahe World” on Earth. Their human witnesses in the story all tacitly omitted this point.

They simply honestly described the situation of Joy Garden’s residents and Players, not mentioning Xu Yue’s identity as the “God of Creation”. They were inexplicably pulled into an unknown world, achieved victory, and successfully returned—it was that simple.

Everything was ready. Now they were just waiting for an “official” explanation from the authorities.

Lin En propped her cheek, sighing.

Officer Luo and Dr. Zhu were fine. Given the special nature of their work, they could easily return to the workforce with a little attention from the higher ups. Her situation was more complicated… Her original position was neither high nor low and had already been replaced. And frankly, she didn’t like that kind of work environment.

Once things settled down, the officials would likely arrange a job for her, but she always felt something was missing.

Most neighbors chose to return because they had relatives on Earth. To completely sever any lingering attachment to Tahe, they also chose to give up their memories.

But Lin En only had her sister Lin Li. She had never been particularly fixated on “going home”.

Lin En opened the original homeowners’ group chat, accurately locating “7-1-701-Xu”.

[5-2-302-Lin: You were right. I really do prefer my old job.]

[5-2-302-Lin: But my sister has to finish university first.]

This was the code Lin En and Xu Yue had agreed on, indicating her willingness to return to the Lost Tower.

Xu Yue had promised her that if she was willing to work in the Lost Tower, she could use their world-crossing capability. This way, she could regularly make purchases on Earth and check on her sister’s academic progress.

It might be tiring, but at least she could earn gold as a salary, Lin En thought seriously. Besides, with most neighbors gone, the job shouldn’t be as hectic as before.

After sending the message, she smiled, turning off her phone and looking outside the convenience store. A few kids, having bought snacks, were passing by, chattering. The dolls on their backpacks all turned their heads to wave at Lin En.

“Those two are probably going to have a honeymoon lasting several years. Someone has to manage the Lost Tower.”

She waved back at the dolls, cheerfully saying goodbye.

……

Outside a health complex in the suburbs of City A.

“It’s bright.” Teest marveled, poking Nol’s phone screen repeatedly. “Our Supreme Domination Witch is willing to come back and do the hard work.”

“Just work,” Nol corrected seriously. “This time, I’ll make sure to properly agree on a labor contract with her.”

“Alright, work.” Teest continued to curiously poke the phone.

Nol sighed nervously, biting into his bun.

Before their return, he had specially accessed the neighbors’ memories, reconstructing their bodies for them. His own dangerous memories, however, had been mostly destroyed by Teest, leaving him with no reference.

Thus, he used his own appearance from Tahe, only changing his blue eyes to black.

To avoid drawing attention, Teest turned his long hair black and specifically wore a hoodie to cover up. Even though a face mask hid his face, his unusual physique was still eye-catching in a peaceful society.

Plus, with his curiosity about every corner of Earth, Nol had to stay close to Teest at all times, even buying a bunch of Earth’s specialties to distract him, fearing he might lose his knight accidentally.

After returning to Earth, there were simply too many things to verify. The emotion of returning home was quickly overwhelmed by the ensuing busyness.

Nol first ensured that the neighbors were discovered by the police, quietly observing the entire process. Only after confirming that Officer Luo’s report went smoothly did he leave with Teest.

Now, he had to face the issue that had been making him anxious—

He was going home.

Nol’s situation was a bit different from the other neighbors. Before the destruction of Joy Garden, he had been under the control of Star Stealer Sol for several years. He specifically asked Officer Luo to help with the search, and no missing person case related to “Xu Yue” was found.

Indeed, since Star Stealer Sol remembered to have him speak in the Joy Garden homeowners’ group, he likely maintained contact with his family. The problem was, how did that guy communicate?

Nol also checked his call logs with his family over the years and found nothing. His phone had been destroyed in the Joy Garden explosion, and without backup for his chat logs, there was no way to trace them.

“Haa…” His parents’ home was just a stone’s throw away, yet Nol didn’t know how to properly appear before them.

“You seem very troubled,” Teest said as he unwrapped a lollipop, crinkling the plastic wrapper noisily.

“I can’t be as composed as you. I really miss them,” Nol murmured. “I know nothing about those blank years, and I also want to properly introduce you to them…”

A son who hadn’t been seen for years and had zero romantic experiences suddenly bringing home a foreign man—there was no way that was going to start off smoothly.

“I indeed find it difficult to understand,” Teest commented, sucking on the lollipop. “Honey, you seem to easily overthink your own issues.”

“What?”

“You know you were imprisoned in the Joy Garden neighborhood, and none of those people have ever seen you,” Teest pointed out. “Your past few years are a blank, and there are no missing persons cases… Do you need me to continue?”

“You already gave me a good plan. You forgot again—you are the god of Tahe. ‘Reversion’ now belongs to your powers.”

Nol stared at Teest, his eyes growing brighter and the bun in his mouth nearly falling out.

One summer, several years ago.

Father Xu was picking vegetables in front of the TV, his mobile phone on the coffee table. Suddenly, a new friend request popped up.

[Xu Yue: Dad, I’m not using my old number anymore. I’ll contact you with this one from now on.]

[Xu Yue: [Voice message 60′]]

[Xu Yue: I’ll come home for dinner tonight.]

“Our son changed his number,” Father Xu said a bit louder.

“I saw,” Mother Xu replied, looking up as she wiped the table. “That’s our son. Xiao Yue said he found a good job, because of which he needed to change his number. He even asked me to delete the previous one.”

Father Xu nodded seriously. “As long as it’s not a scammer.”

“The kid has changed a bit.” Mother Xu felt somewhat emotional. “He rented an apartment right after graduation. I thought he didn’t want to live with us. Less than a month later, he says he’ll come home to stay once a week.”

“Let him cancel the lease and come back,” Father Xu instantly responded. “That way, he can save on rent. I told him, but he wouldn’t listen at the time.”

“That might not be feasible.” Mother Xu chuckled. “He said he’s bringing his partner home tonight to meet us. He must be sharing the place with someone.”

Father Xu’s hand that was picking vegetables froze mid-air. “Partner? When did he get a partner?!”

“I was also shocked… But our son’s tone wasn’t as rigid as before. The girl must be quite gentle,” Mother Xu said. “Let’s go out and buy some more groceries this afternoon. We’ll prepare well.”

“Let’s celebrate our child finding a job and having a successful relationship.”

Father Xu pondered for a long while. “Should we buy a cake?”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Then it’s settled.”

---

The author has something to say:

Parents’ guess: A gentle young lady.

In reality: The God of Destruction from Tahe ♂

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 239: Homecoming Plan

Nighttime.

Nol returned to his residence in the Lost Tower first. The room’s decor remained unchanged, and the blue roses in the vase were still in bloom. Although everything was very familiar, Nol felt something was different.

He rubbed his wedding ring and turned on the magic lamp in the room. In the warm glow, the fireplace automatically lit up, the flames gently flickering. The window was open, and the evening breeze from the forest stirred the curtains, already carrying the warmth of spring.

Teest hadn’t returned yet, and Ben was temporarily with Teest, so Nol was alone in the room. However, there were traces of their life together everywhere.

On the desk was the book he hadn’t finished last time. Teest’s winter cloak was draped over the bed. Next to the fruit basket on the small round table, there was a shiny fruit knife—because Nol adamantly opposed him using the “Betrayer” that had stabbed monsters to peel fruit.

Nol walked over to the desk and found several cookbooks that Teest had impulsively bought. The guy was very interested in the slaughter and processing of livestock and fish and had made many notes in the blank spaces.

He picked up a book called “Tips for a Clean Kitchen” and randomly flipped through two pages. He noticed that Teest seemed to be analyzing dissection knowledge and contemplating tricks for dealing with large monsters.

Nol: “……”

He continued flipping through, and in the larger blank spaces, Teest had added many fierce illustrations in red ink. The illustrations were dense, one layer upon another, like the graffiti of a psychopath in a horror movie, which was rather frightening to look at.

But amidst those dark red scary drawings, a golden trace meandered.

At the top of the page, the gold line sketched out a round dragon, looking very much like Nol’s small black dragon transformation. Compared to those curse-like graffiti, the lines of this drawing were fine and soft.

Nol pursed his lips, suppressing the corners of his mouth that were trying to curl up. He reached out a finger, blue ink flowing on the paper. Next to the dragon doodle, a fluffy-tailed cat quickly appeared.

The two little animals squeezed together, making the dark red become just a background, and the whole picture became a lot less ominous.

After doing this, Nol carefully put the book “Tips for a Clean Kitchen” back in its place.

Then Nol sat on the sofa, feeling a surreal sense of disorientation as well as belated tension. Everything was over. He really had married Teest… not for convenience, but a purely secular marriage.

Nol knew that the Mad Monk hadn’t turned into some true, good, and beautiful sweetheart because of him. He also knew that Teest like this wouldn’t fake his feelings.

Teest wasn’t good at it, nor did he deign to—in a sense, Teest was perhaps the most honest person in the world when it came to emotions.

Snapping back to reality, Nol felt a warm satisfaction, as if he had soaked in hot water, though the water was gradually heating up.

Even though they had done everything they should, Nol still felt his skin burn and urgently downed two glasses of iced fruit juice.

It wouldn’t work. He still needed to divert his attention.

He skillfully opened the system interface and began to officially modify the system. “Tahe World” was finally facing its first update. Nol clicked his tongue and stretched out his hands.

First, there was the issue of the Players return.

Before he began, he needed to confirm one thing—how much time had passed on Earth since the destruction of Joy Garden?

Nol calculated calmly.

Originally, he had defined a time ratio for “Tahe World”: ten minutes on Earth was equivalent to one hour inside Tahe. According to this formula, the two hundred years in Tahe were roughly thirty years on Earth.

But this calculation was contingent on the game being live. If it was just in the internal testing phase, the time ratio could be adjusted at will, without any restrictions.

The destruction of Joy Garden occurred at the end of July. According to the Players, the game officially went live at the beginning of August. During this period, over two hundred years had passed in Tahe.

This also made sense. Before he completely took over the system, Star Stealer Sol surely didn’t want too big a disruption on Earth, the “sample”, like a civilization-destroying war.

But once the Players truly logged in, the system’s ratio of “one hour in Tahe to ten minutes on Earth” couldn’t be changed. Nearly a year that Players had been here translated to just under two months back on Earth.

There was still time.

Nol specifically pulled up the system’s time-related data to confirm his deductions.

With the critical issue of time resolved… then there were the people.

Regularly logged-in Players were easy to handle. They could exit the game through the system and revert to their true appearances. For the Players deployed in Three Forks Road, Nol decided to let them return.

Of course, without his permission, they couldn’t “log in again”.

Nol typed away at the virtual keyboard, cautiously tweaking the system settings. The keyboard reflected characters not found on Earth, shimmering with Nol’s touch.

As for those Demon Players at the crossroads… since Mentor wasn’t planning to return to Earth, he’d ask him to screen and investigate them. If they were serious offenders harmful to Earth, he would revoke their Player rights and deal with them accordingly.

Nol wasn’t sure if Teest was interested in those people. He took another sip of his juice.

For the neighbors, he would let everyone choose freely.

During his time in the Lost Tower, he had talked with them quite a few times. The young people tended to want to return home, while some of the elderly had different ideas. Rather than returning to endure illness and loneliness, they preferred to stay in Tahe as powerful monsters, hoping to maybe luck into developing human forms.

Nol’s hands paused on the keyboard.

He had considered whether to keep a portion of the Player login system, allowing some to freely travel between Tahe and Earth.

But that approach was likely to cause complications. Not to mention that someone might slip up, even if perfectly secure, no system was without flaws. If a creature from Tahe accidentally ended up on Earth, or if an Earthling unwittingly stumbled into Tahe, the consequences would be disastrous.

Better to eat one bite at a time. For now, it was best to retain only the “highest administrator rights”, Nol thought as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

……

Unconsciously, Nol straightened up and entered a deeply focused work mode. He continued until a familiar face crossed the screen and approached him.

Nol jolted on the spot, his heart skipping a beat, uncertain whether it was from joy or shock.

“Good evening, honey.” Teest’s eyes curved with a smile, still carrying the cold air from outside. “It’s the first day after the war. Don’t you know the word ‘rest’?”

“Ah, um, good evening.” Nol squeezed onto the sofa. “I just wanted to fix a few issues.”

Teest raised an eyebrow.

“You see, the classification of gods is very chaotic right now.”

Nol gestured. “The system calls all beings near or beyond its limits ‘False Gods’, and only the highest system administrator is called a ‘God’… Such classifications are too primitive. Even if you’re not an administrator, Teest, you are a very powerful god…”

“Mm—” Teest drew out a long note, which probably meant “keep the compliments coming”, Nol thought.

Given the “Destruction” power borne from the ancient Demon King, and the “Vow” power that Teest himself had created, both were powerful enough to surpass the system.

If it weren’t for the fact that there could only be one highest administrator, Nol wouldn’t mind sharing half of the authority with Teest. Unfortunately, he could only offer the kind of “regular administrator” rights that Painter had, which Teest didn’t really need.

“For ease of management, I’ll have the system regularly scan Tahe to find creatures nearing full level. Such beings don’t yet have powers and are defined as ‘False Gods’.” Nol said solemnly, “If there are individuals of poor character, eliminate them early or impose restrictions… If there are outstanding talents, I will lend them part of the system permissions to help them become true ‘gods’.”

“How does that sound?”

“Not bad.” Teest casually sat next to Nol. “If they choose to fall after becoming gods, can I kill them?”

“If necessary,” Nol answered cautiously.

“Good.” Teest lazily lay on the couch, resting his head on Nol’s thigh. His left hand rested on his chest, the moonstone on his wedding ring emitting a soft glow.

Nol noticed he was warming up again and quickly touched Teest’s cool, smooth hair.

“Nol.” Teest reached out, covering the floating system window. “Let me guess… Before considering the classification of gods, you surely handled something more urgent.”

This time, he didn’t use honorifics.

“You mean the matter of returning to Earth.”

Nol looked down at those golden eyes, knowing what Teest was asking. “That went very smoothly. No problems at the moment.”

Teest: “Oh.”

After that, the two fell silent for a while. Suddenly, a soft light flashed, and the person on Nol’s knee disappeared, leaving only a fluffy, big white cat. The cat firmly pressed down the fallen wedding ring, as if it would vanish on the spot.

After Teest turned into a cat, Nol found it hard to read his expression. The cat stared at him intensely, as if trying to dig holes in his face with its gaze.

“To come and go freely, a very precise design is needed.”

Nol couldn’t help but reach out, pinching the cat’s ear tips. “In theory, only Player accounts can freely ‘log in and out’. To create an account, valid identification from Earth is needed.”

“This is the most basic system logic, not easily changed in a short time. Everything has rules. Even I can’t just make whatever I want happen.”

The cat’s whiskers twitched, and its tail drooped.

Nol couldn’t hold back a chuckle. He picked up the heavy white cat and kissed the cat’s nose.

“But you’ve given me some inspiration, honey.” Nol unnecessarily looked around, lowering his voice. “I could also get you a fake ID.”

“As long as you have an account, I can take you back and forth… if you’re interested in Earth.”

“I will always stay by your side,” he said.

The white cat leapt agilely, and the moment its paws hit the ground, Teest was back in human form.

The Mad Monk looked calm, with a demeanor of “this is how it should be”. Unfortunately, his rapidly beating heart betrayed him. At this distance, Nol could hear it clearly.

“Good. I don’t have to accuse you of neglecting your newlywed husband.” Teest cheerfully headed to the kitchen. “So, to celebrate our first night of marriage, what would you like to eat?”

At this, he clapped his fist into his palm. “How about spicy roasted Star Stealer Sol with bewilderment dew? I kept some extra meat.”

Nol: “……”

Nol: “…I don’t have [Fallen Death] anymore. Just ordinary lamb is fine, thanks.”

“What a pity.” Teest pouted. “By the way, I’ve always been curious. Where exactly does the name [Fallen Death] come from?”

The system’s skill names were usually straightforward or metaphorical of the skill’s characteristics. Only [Fallen Death], with a name seemingly unrelated to its content.

“I thought it was strange at first too.”

Nol couldn’t help but summon the system window again, this time intending to ask the system directly.

The system quickly responded—

[“Fallen Death” name is a direct translation of “Fallen Leavers”, which originates from “Fallen Leaves”. Explanation complete.]

“Its name comes from ‘fallen leaves’,” Nol muttered.

“Fallen leaves? Sounds like it still has nothing to do with the skill.” Teest casually spun a kitchen knife.

“…Teest, in the future, we will travel many times between Earth and Tahe.” Nol’s voice thickened. “Trust me, you will understand.”

Whether in Tahe or on Earth.

Fallen leaves would return to their roots.

---

The author has something to say:

Everyone’s going home!!!

It feels like Teest can’t kick his habit of picking up strange meats for Nol to eat…

Uninformed people: The horrifying Mad Monk is collecting terrifying souvenirs again!

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 238: God’s Divine Code

Painter saw the familiar ceiling.

He woke up inside the Lost Tower, and it was still dark outside. Judging by the angle of the sunlight entering through the window, it was evening, and he had been unconscious for at least a day.

Painter took a deep breath and was surprised to find that his internal organs were still functioning normally, and his body felt lighter than before.

He hadn’t only escaped death, but even the chronic injuries from years of drifting and battling had disappeared, and a powerful life force surged within him.

A miracle.

As the former pope of the Temple of Life, Painter quickly concluded. He looked around the room and soon noticed Nol dozing off in a rocking chair. On the left hand of the God of Creation was a beautiful antique silver wedding ring.

Painter instinctively smiled. It seemed he had missed a significant event.

“Lord Nol.” Painter sat up from the bed, propping himself up with two pillows behind him.

Nol jolted in the rocking chair, slapping his face awake. “I’m here!”

“Thank you for saving me,” Painter sincerely said. “I feel very good now. You don’t need to personally watch over me.”

Hearing “you saved me”, Nol’s face twitched, and he coughed twice. “It was Teest who saved you.”

Painter: “…Ah.”

“You seem unsurprised,” Nol hesitantly said.

“You have a very positive influence on Mr. Teest, and Mr. Teest can complement the areas you are not good at. You two are a perfect match,” Painter responded with a smile, looking like a true priest. “Happy marriage, Lord Nol.”

“Thank you.” Nol sounded a bit embarrassed, but his face brightened considerably.

Painter smiled as he watched Nol.

“By the way, Star Stealer Sol’s true body is dead. I’ve completely regained system control. No one died in this battle—the Players in the city can’t die anyway, and only a few dragons were seriously injured. With the strength of the Lost Tower, it’s more than enough to handle the monsters outside the city.”

Nol detailed carefully, guessing what Painter cared about the most.

“There are quite a few seriously injured people on the civilian side, but fortunately, we’re not short of clergy here, and the knights guard was apt. Everyone received treatment immediately.”

“Finally, just in case, Lynn and the others will do some more investigations to prevent Star Stealer Sol from leaving any bizarre traps.”

“Praise your mercy.” Painter bowed his head, giving a salute. “It’s just… this side of the Lost Tower…”

Investigating traces of Star Stealer Sol was necessary. But with such a big Lost Tower disappearing, wouldn’t the Players still look for it everywhere?

“Don’t worry.”

Nol gently shook his head. “For the Players, they preemptively killed the final boss and ended the main quest. There’s no need to look for the Lost Tower anymore.”

99% of Players still treated this as a game. The Lost Tower was part of the “main storyline”, and since the main line was over, the disappearance of the Lost Tower also made sense.

Painter’s shoulders relaxed a lot. “It seems you know how to send them back.”

He couldn’t help but glance at Nol’s ring.

Long ago, he had witnessed the Mad Monk breaking into the General’s office, cluelessly undergoing relationship counseling. Teest said Nol would return to his homeland after solving the problem, which Teest found displeasing.

Now…

“It seems you and Mr. Teest will have a very interesting journey.” Painter smiled.

“Many times.” Nol laughed along. “We’ll plan it well.”

Painter: “Since everything is going so smoothly, why did you specifically stay with me?”

The divine war ended perfectly, the overall situation was still controllable, and the Lost Tower was safe. As a newlywed God of Creation, Nol had no need to stay here—he could easily arrange for a neighbor to watch over him until he woke up.

Something unusual must be amiss. Lord Creator was surely hiding something.

Painter interlaced his fingers, continuing to smile and watch Nol.

Nol: “……”

Nol’s gaze started to drift.

He hummed for a while, and eventually summoned a system popup. He made it visible and translated it into a common language before showing it to Painter.

[GM: Godfrey Painter]

[God of Life – System Authority “Life” Steward]

Painter’s smile gradually stiffened, and it melted away like snow. For the first time, Nol saw so many question marks on Godfrey Painter’s face.

“In order to, uh, save your life, I granted you access to the system authority ‘Life’.”

Nol tried to gesture. “Simply put, I’ve opened a part of the authority to you. You can borrow it anytime… This way, you can directly intervene in ‘life’ related rules, definitely qualifying as ‘False God’ level.”

Painter: “Can’t you take it back?”

Thinking of the title of the Temple of Life, holding this power really burned.

“I can,” Nol whispered, “but the ‘death status’ on you is also given by the system. I can’t eliminate it. It’s just infinitely postponed by the ‘life’ permission.”

“If I take the power back, you’re likely to die on the spot.”

Painter: “……”

Nol: “……”

Painter said solemnly, “Did you know? I thought before, if the divine war ends and the False God disappears, I would travel around with the Drifting Mercenaries.”

“Without the Temple’s persecution, we could have a lot of easy and pleasant times. That life would be beautiful like a dream.”

Painter’s expression was like an employee scheduled for overtime right before a holiday. Nol hadn’t said anything yet, and this old fox had already guessed the future duties.

“I’m not good at managing.”

Nol could only bring out the sincerest tone. “I’m not suited to take a divine posture to rule Tahe, and I might not be here often… I need someone who truly cares about Tahe to help me look after this place.”

Painter nodded meaningfully. “Without Star Stealer Sol’s persecution, you and Teest can travel around, having many easy and pleasant times.”

Nol’s gaze drifted again. He really couldn’t argue.

Although he was the supreme god of Tahe and had been the team leader in the production team in his dreams… he was really not good at forcibly arranging work for others.

“Hahaha!”

Seeing Nol’s wandering gaze, Painter couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Just kidding, Lord Nol. You saved Tahe, saved my life, and gave me great power. I am very willing to serve you.”

Saying this, his gaze softened. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reorganize the Temple’s atmosphere. I couldn’t ask for a better assignment.”

Nol heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s good… Oh, one more thing. The old Pope announced his resignation due to injuries sustained in the divine war, and Eugene is about to take over as the Pope of Life.”

“It looks like that child wasn’t badly hurt,” Painter said cheerfully.

Nol brutally continued, “Currently, Mr. Eugene firmly believes you are the incarnation of the Goddess of Life Tilia. I think you should know this.”

Painter slowly lay back on the bed, his smile disappearing again. “Before taking up the divine post, can I take a vacation for eighty years?”

“Can’t.” Nol expressed sympathetically.

……

At the top of the Lost Tower.

Perradat stretched her limbs in the fresh air—with the death of Star Stealer Sol, her headless corpse was no longer bound. Perradat reclaimed her power the moment it happened. Her avatar was whole again.

The slender girl spread her arms, her golden hair fluttering with the spring breeze. That unrealistically beautiful face regained its color, looking vibrant with life.

Her avatar was restored, and her core was back in place. Her power was swiftly recovering. In time, her original form would regain vitality and return to the skies. She would once again be a god with formidable power.

Her corpse would no longer be treated as a cleaning tool. She would no longer have to cower in a corner, at the mercy of other gods… Eh?

A long sword rested on her shoulder from behind.

That sword looked familiar. It definitely seemed like Teest’s thing. Perradat froze in the air, and it took a moment to turn her head as if her neck was rusty.

“Ah.” She greeted the wedding ring with an enthusiastic smile. “Newlyweds shouldn’t be here, Mr. Teest.”

“Drake adamantly follows you, unwilling to revert to being one of Nol’s kin, which has always annoyed me.” Teest didn’t withdraw his sword. “Now I understand what that kid was thinking.”

“Because we’ve known each other longer?”

Perradat cautiously eyed the blade, sniffing the scent of destruction from it.

“Because Nol is soft-hearted and easily attached. Drake knows if he firmly follows you, I can’t quietly get rid of you.”

Teest smiled. “After all, I don’t want to upset my husband.”

Everyone knows, to kill a knight’s master, you must first eliminate the knight.

“Ah? …You’re too heartless. I thought we’re comrades-in-arms.” Perradat slowly retracted her neck, twisting her beautiful features.

“I’m not interested in managing Tahe, nor do I want Nol to waste time on such troubles.”

Teest continued on his own. “So I’m fine with him training demigods—after all, those demigods would be restricted by the system. They can’t stir up much trouble. But you are different, Perradat. You know what I’m talking about.”

An utter outsider, an otherworldly god with her own powers. Not to mention, she once competed for ownership of the system.

A potential threat to Nol.

Teest narrowed his eyes. The hand holding the sword became itchy again. Damn, if only Drake hadn’t insisted on saving this guy…

In the end, he reluctantly sheathed his sword. Perradat, meanwhile, clutched her neck, her feet honestly remaining in place.

“What do you plan to do with me?” Now that she had come all this way, she didn’t believe Teest would leave without doing anything. The Mad Monk wasn’t so reckless.

“I guess I’ll also have to take a few demigods.”

Teest exhaled. “There will still be outsiders like you in the future who can’t see clearly, and native scoundrels—those who are useful—I’ll recruit. Those who aren’t will be dealt with.”

“Look on the bright side. Your powers are still somewhat useful.”

It seemed the Mad Monk hunting targets were going up a grade. He really wasn’t planning to retire. Perradat’s face fell, watching as Teest reached out.

What is this—a handshake to start cooperation? Speaking of which, since Teest can’t use system powers, how will he ensure the loyalty of demigods…?

Teest didn’t reach out to shake Perradat’s hand but instead grabbed her wrist. Golden flames burned around them in a circle, like leaping gold.

Countless burning chains shot out of the flames, entwining like snakes around Perradat’s feet. The skin gripped by Teest sizzled, fortunately without any pain.

Cold power squeezed from all directions, and Perradat, “freshly recovered” from her illness, dared not move.

In the midst of the flames, Teest’s eyes emitted a frightening glow.

“Do not attack Nol. Do not attack me. Do not attack Tahe. The definition of ‘attack’ will be determined by Nol.”

“Under the condition that it does not threaten your own life, obey me unconditionally. In exchange, I will spare your life.”

“Mutual agreement. The contract is established. The violator will pay with their life.”

Perradat: “……”

This contract seems incredibly unfair!

But, looking at it another way, the definition of “attack” was determined by the good-natured Nol. As long as she had the intention to coexist peacefully, Teest definitely wouldn’t kill her.

She originally just wanted to scrape by, with no ambitions of dominance or conquest… This contract truly provided a sense of security.

“I agree,” after a moment of thought, Perradat said solemnly.

“I agree.” Teest absentmindedly followed suit, releasing his grip.

The surrounding predatory chains vanished, and a ring of burning gold appeared on Perradat’s wrist. Seconds later, it quietly sank into the skin as if it had never appeared.

That was the moment the God of Fate, the first demigod of the God of Destruction, assumed her position.

---

The author has something to say:

Workers one and two are in position.

Perradat: Happy for three seconds before (crying loudly).

Don’t worry, Perradat, at least your knight is normal. Look at that Painter…

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Just a note regarding Painter’s oracle (His existence brings glory to God, and his disappearance will fulfill divinity).

It’s a bit tricky to translate the latter half. For a literal translation (他的消逝将成就神), it would be “his disappearance will achieve God”… Smoothing it out it would be “through his disappearance, he will attain God(hood)… which is what has happened. 

The word in question is (成就) which means to achieve, accomplish, attain.

However, from the perspective of the Temple of Life that would be blasphemous. Again, oracles are vague and don’t have direct interpretations. So the way they see it, Painter’s death doesn’t lead to his ascension but more of a fulfillment (an accomplishment) for God(dess). So the oracle was correct… It was just misinterpreted.

Hope that makes sense.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 237: Life

Eugene hadn’t yet come to terms with his location when he dragged his painfully aching body to its feet, assuming a defensive posture. His body felt heavier than before, and his limbs and bones still harbored a vague pain as well as a pin-pricking chill.

Knight Eugene knew this was proof that he had come perilously close to death.

“You’re awake,” said an ethereal female voice.

Eugene clenched the hilt of his sword and turned sharply, facing Miss Anakin, who sported a professional smile.

“Your physical condition is very poor. It’s best not to move too abruptly,” Anakin advised politely. “That curse was too powerful, and even with our full treatment, your body still suffered considerable damage.”

“Don’t worry, these injuries aren’t permanent. You just need about half a month of rest,” she added thoughtfully.

The curse.

Memories gradually emerged from the stillness of Eugene’s mind.

After beheading the False God, that horrifying red shadow relentlessly charged at him. It was fast, but just within Eugene’s ability to evade.

It was purely torture.

It didn’t immediately take his life but gave him the illusion of a chance to fight back, causing him to flee tirelessly, waiting for him to be completely exhausted and in utter despair.

As the leader of the Investigation Knights, Eugene had dealt with thousands of curses. Compared to this curse, those were merely child’s play—the curse’s shadow emitted pure malice, and Eugene knew that if it caught him, he would face an agonizing death.

Eugene ran through the burning church, the shadow following at a measured pace. It ignored the nearby Anakin and others, focusing solely on chasing Eugene.

What about asking for help from the Saints?

But the curse was too powerful, and he wasn’t sure if the Players’ “immortality” could withstand it. If the Saints were to sacrifice themselves for God, it would be commendable. But to die in his stead… Eugene couldn’t bring himself to do something so against the Goddess’ will.

Or should he just give up?

Fighting to the end, he was sure to die a messy and ugly death. But simply giving up—how was that different from admitting defeat?

He ran, his ears filled with the sound of the wind, the flames, and a soft sigh.

Just as Eugene once again evaded the curse’s red shadow, a hand grabbed his wrist. The hand wasn’t particularly strong, but the magical runes that followed pinned Eugene firmly in place.

[Time of Farewell]

It was one of the unique skills of the rare “Saint” class. It could, and only could, let the caster take on the target’s “death”.

Given that it couldn’t transfer the target’s injuries or negative statuses, it was a rather useless and unpopular skill in regular combat. But all high-ranking clergy knew that in special circumstances, this skill could be the only solution—

For instance, when the target “encounters a curse that ensures death”.

The skill activated, and a gentle new green light illuminated. Countless runes flickered with light, moving across their skin.

This skill looked as pleasant as a spring breeze, but it nearly made Eugene scream. It felt as if it was peeling the nerves inside his body, something being uprooted and pulled out of his flesh, gradually leaving his body.

A few steps away, the curse’s red shadow hesitated, seemingly confused.

Anakin recognized this curse and turned pale. “Wait, there must be another way—”

“…If it’s just about keeping distance, I can use spatial teleportation to delay time,” Drake said with a hint of urgency in his usually calm voice.

‘Useless,’ Eugene thought.

Everyone knew that this situation was utterly unsolvable. This wasn’t a regular False God curse. He could feel the “absolute” power of the system in it.

Trying to save him through other means was like trying to transfuse blood to someone who had lost half their body. Moreover, Anakin and Drake looked extremely tired. [Time of Farewell] was the most suitable solution, but—

Eugene struggled to stay conscious, staring fixedly at the nearby Painter. Under the intense pain of the skill’s activation, neither had the strength to stand and could only sit disgracefully among the ruins.

The curse’s red shadow slowed down, approaching step by step. Painter’s hand holding his was steady and warm, not trembling at all.

That guy still had a smile on his face.

“There are places that need you more.” Painter said to the two, sounding like he was assigning cleaning tasks. “And the skill has already started. If we interrupt it now, we both die here.”

Die.

No, that’s not acceptable.

Eugene struggled violently, trying to shake off Painter’s hand. Unfortunately, the Saint’s magic wouldn’t be interrupted by such a trivial refusal. Painter’s palm seemed soldered to his wrist.

My oracle is fulfilled. I can disappear now. But you…

Eugene suddenly stopped moving.

Was Painter’s death meant to achieve fulfill God? Should he just let it happen naturally?

No, that wasn’t right. Even if it was to die, that person should have sacrificed himself in a grander, more sacred manner. Godfrey Painter shouldn’t die quietly in the rubble, not for saving himself…

“I really like this ending.” Painter turned those green eyes towards Eugene and said deliberately. “I chose it soberly, calmly. I must say, saving Mr. Eugene personally is much more pleasant than being a stepping stone for a god.”

“Well, it’s a little better than saving cats and dogs,” he added silently.

“Godfrey Painter!”

Eugene couldn’t tell if his tone was more fearful or angry, or both.

Right, right. He could still cut off his arm.

Eugene’s left hand reached for his sword but was caught by Painter’s binding magic. As the damned red shadow approached, Eugene’s vision grew dimmer, his head ached as if it would split, and his eardrums throbbed.

This can’t be.

His mind was filled with chaotic thoughts.

Why? …I don’t know, but it can’t be like this…

“…It’s almost over.”

In his gradually fading vision, Painter’s voice sounded as if through a layer of water, vague and fluctuating.

“…I’m sorry, Eugene…”

Why apologize?

Why apologize at a time like this?

Eugene wanted to question, but he had lost control of his tongue and vocal cords. In his vision filled with flashing stars, that damned red shadow slowly embraced Painter, who didn’t resist, merely smiling and patting its head.

……

“No…”

Memories gradually fell into place, and Eugene squeezed out a voice from his dry throat.

Godfrey Painter was gone, he thought. He hadn’t managed to drag that guy back to the Temple, hadn’t managed to hear Painter’s confession. Until the end, he died desecrated and unremarkable.

Eugene slowly raised his hands to cover his face.

“Um.” Anakin didn’t know how to continue the conversation.

Say Painter was alright?

That really wasn’t certain. Painter had been casually taken away by Teest. Teest certainly didn’t have a mission to “save the innocent”. She was sure that when he took Painter away, the Mad Monk’s expression was like—to use a very inappropriate metaphor—like someone numbly picking up shit while walking their dog.

Even if Teest accidentally dropped Painter and killed him while looking for Nol, she wouldn’t be particularly surprised.

After all, that was the system’s highest-level curse. Even if Nol fully controlled the system, he would still need to handle it within logical rules. It was as if Painter had been thrown into an operating room with the “in surgery” light still on.

Anyway, Eugene wasn’t one of their companions, so Miss Anakin quickly decided to leave this unfortunate problem to someone else.

“That False God has disappeared.” She decided to give Mr. Eugene some good news. “Its entity has been completely annihilated, and now everyone can see the real moon… There’s only one moon, and it’s especially beautiful.”

She selectively omitted the fact that the False God had impersonated the Goddess of Life and the Eternal Son.

Eugene hung his head in silence, his shoulders shaking slightly. He still covered his face, his hands submerged in the deepening shadows.

This guy isn’t about to cry, is he?

Too awkward. Miss Anakin felt a chill in her heart and began desperately thinking of a dignified excuse to leave.

“…Ha.” Eugene finally made a sound.

Anakin stiffened beside him. Wait, that sounded a bit off?

“Ha ha ha—!”

Eugene laughed out loud, even seeming a bit relieved.

Anakin quietly clenched her wand. Great, the guy’s been so traumatized he might have just gone crazy…

“Thank you, Miss Anakin. I understand now.” Eugene lowered his hands, his eyes unnaturally bright.

“No wonder he so easily apostatized back then… No wonder he anonymously guided those monks and nuns… No wonder that in the end, he was without any confusion and didn’t repent to God…”

“No wonder I could never bring myself to act against him and could never forget his words…”

“Why?” Anakin braced herself to continue the conversation.

“I believe in him.” Eugene spoke fervently. “So he is the incarnate of the Goddess of Life.”

Knowing the truth, Anakin felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, deciding not to comment on this bizarre causal deduction. Stimulating the patient was generally a bad idea, she thought painfully.

“He saved me because I was his most favored believer. He apologized to me because he initially told me he was merely an envoy of God.”

“He can only be Tilia. He must be Tilia.”

Eugene smiled, his words carrying an irrefutable certainty.

“That’s really… well, an interesting conclusion.” Anakin struggled to maintain a smile. “You seem to be in good spirits. I’ll check the next tent.”

Eugene nodded joyfully, giving a proper knightly salute.

“Kind miss, may your life be full of vitality.”

Anakin took off running.

……

In the next tent.

Teest looked dissatisfied at Nol, while Nol anxiously looked at Painter.

Nol had just released Painter from the seal and used the freshly baked “reversion” power to stop time, maintaining Painter in a half-dead state.

Nol knew this wasn’t exactly a sweet honeymoon activity.

But the Lost Tower was still clearing up outside the city, and Drake was helping the Players, trying to fabricate a believable identity. Nol was still immersed in the chaos of their rushed marriage, and he needed to find some proper work for himself.

So Nol remembered the living creature he had urgently sealed. When he realized it was Painter, he was shocked.

“Ah, I should have let him die.” Teest rested his face on his hands. “Then we could have done a reversion, and I could have taken you to meet my family…”

“You did well.” Nol hurried to reassure. “Don’t worry. Once you get along with your family, we can invite them to the wedding—you know, do a standard ceremony. Exchange rings and vows to each other.”

“And a kiss after the vows.” Teest fantasized for a moment, satisfied with a hum. “Okay, then let him live. Come to think of it, I thought you could heal this guy with a snap of your fingers.”

“Even I can’t just alter the system’s logic.”

Although his Tahe and the shit of problems weren’t related, blind changes could still pose issues. Painter had normally used [Time of Farewell], thus he must endure the death outcome. Nol really couldn’t adjust that.

Unless…

Nol glanced at Teest, who was yawning beside him, and vaguely had an idea. He carefully took Painter’s right hand and slowly exhaled.

[Welcome, Nol.]

[You are applying for “Administrator Assistance Permissions”.]

[A “Standard Administrator” identity has been created, with specific system permissions available.]

‘This is it,’ Nol thought. A system could only have one highest administrator, but he could designate GMs to help manage. Translated to Tahe terms, a god could have relatively weaker demigods.

His Teest was a genuine god. Although Teest always claimed to be Nol’s pope, Nol would never truly let him be a subordinate.

Painter was different. His power was still hovering at the threshold of a False God, and he was filled with love for Tahe. As long as they negotiated, Painter could become an excellent assistant manager.

[You will grant the target Godfrey Painter “Standard Administrator” status.]

[Please select “Standard Administrator” Godfrey Painter’s callable system permissions.]

Nol checked through the dizzying array of permissions, finally finding his target—

[You have designated the system permission “Life”.]

[“Standard Administrator” Godfrey Painter will be allowed to borrow the system permission “Life”.]

This way, Mr. Painter could use the life permission to counteract the death outcome. Full system permissions were definitely stronger than the effects brought by skills.

Before confirming the operation, Nol looked at the “Standard Administrator” name, which seemed too plain. He hesitated for a moment and then reactivated the system.

[You are requesting to rename Godfrey Painter’s “Standard Administrator” status.]

[“Standard Administrator” → “God of Life”.]

[Name change completed.]

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The author has something to say:

Mr. Eugene, through a completely wrong process, got the right result.

How is this not a kind of fate?

The God of Creation starts arranging work before going on his honeymoon!

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