Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 168: Chaos

Nol disliked the feeling he was experiencing at the moment.

During his transformation into a monster, he had successfully enhanced his ability to stay conscious. Now, that very ability began to… harm him. He could feel the so-called “knowledge seal” at the edges loosening—something heavy, foul-smelling, and bitter-tasting was spilling out from the edges.

Memory was such a delicate thing.

Asking most people, “Did you attend elementary school?” would immediately yield an affirmative answer. This fact was ingrained in people’s minds, as clear as one plus one equals two.

However, recalling details from the distant past required further digging into one’s memory, recalling certain images, names, or events.

Nol suddenly discovered that his thought process was blocked regarding certain matters. Some “facts” were deeply etched in his brain, yet he couldn’t recall more through them.

Not thinking about it kept everything normal, a voice in his mind told him.

But how could his thoughts be so obedient?

Nol couldn’t help but try to remember. He didn’t remember buying a house and living in Joy Garden, just as he didn’t remember how he commuted to and from work or what his colleagues looked like. The more he tried to recall each event, the more blurred the faces in his memory became.

Did these events really happen or were they just his imagination?

He remembered he had a plant, which he placed in the bedroom. When cooking, he could just lift his hand to conveniently water it with the rice washing water. When showering, he would place it outside to avoid getting splashed with hot water.

He was accustomed to brewing tea for himself, so he filled his wardrobe with tea leaves. They were covered in thick spider webs, which he had to cut through with scissors to reach. He often worked while cutting them, and the webs would stick to his office chair.

He never ordered takeout at home. After all, he was seldom there. When hungry, he would simply cook noodles with green vegetables and eggs. The eggs would roll out of the fridge on their own, and the rotten vegetables had to be washed to become fresh again. Instant noodles were stacked in boxes, sometimes barking at midnight.

He liked looking out the window.

From the windows of the living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, he always loved this 360-degree view. He could see everything.

It was just that the bathroom window was too small, sometimes blocking his pupils.

So, he never bought curtains.

The only thing he couldn’t remember at all was his own face in the mirror. The mirror would only stick to his body—cold, slimy, and slippery, so he couldn’t see it.

Nol slowly hugged his head.

He suddenly realized some subtle and terrifying details that had always been there, right under his nose. Yet, the seal in his mind always forced him to divert his attention, not to think deeply.

Don’t look, don’t think. Don’t look, don’t think. Maintain the status quo.

But he kept remembering more. Nol could feel the seal loosening further. Something was about to burst forth.

He remembered being treated in a hospital with no other patients, walking in a plaza filled with twisted, inhuman statues. He remembered having meetings at work, the office, and home looking exactly the same. Colleagues sat on the broken living room floor, their faces always turned towards him.

He remembered designing art concepts, writing code logic, slowly crafting the world setting. Those vaguely faced colleagues bustled about, gradually revealing their true faces. They all bore his face.

……

He remembered the intense pain of limbs being shattered and then fused back together, the rot and healing of flesh, incorporating new flesh. He remembered the flow of murky slime, elderly people cursing loudly outside the window. He remembered…

It seemed he had already…

His barely gathered thoughts were once again on the verge of a chaotic eruption. Nol gasped for air. Biological instincts warned him wildly that he had reached the edge of a cliff and could go no further.

He absolutely must not break the seal. This was a warning from himself.

But he…

Rings of blue fire suddenly bound Nol. In his distorted and melting vision, Kando broke free from Lynn’s side and floated into mid-air.

The emotion in the single eye of the black candle was heavier than ever. It was saying something as dark entities seeped out from its body, rushing towards Nol.

Like shedding a coat soaked in ice water and stinking of foul odor, Nol’s thoughts suddenly became light and clear. The previous troubles vanished without a trace. He couldn’t even remember why he was troubled.

What was he supposed to do? Right, meet with the dragon leader, defeat Star Stealer Sol…

Nol straightened up, suddenly noticing Lynn had run to the furthest corner of the cave, defensively sticking to the wall. Painter was expressionless, with his paintbrush wand already drawn.

Only Teest remained in place, still firmly holding Nol’s hand, as if unsure whether to feel sympathy or amazement.

“Fuck,” the black candle said. “That was close.”

Its flame had never been so weak. The magic just now—whatever that magic was—clearly took a lot out of it.

“What did you just do?” Teest’s gaze swept towards the black candle.

“Risky move, asking Perradat to use its power to take away this guy’s previous name, forcing him to forget the things associated with that name.” Kando said with lingering fear, “Living long enough to see everything, I didn’t expect this trick could have a positive use.”

Nol patted his head in confusion. “Take away the name? But all my knowledge is still here.”

The three people and one candle in the room looked at him speechlessly, their faces filled with unsaid words.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Nol shook his head again. “Anyway, thank you. Whatever you did just now was very helpful.”

Kando chuckled dryly, falling to the ground. “Don’t thank me too soon—your power is too strong. Perradat’s method is only a temporary fix. It might just take a couple of days before you start remembering things you shouldn’t.”

Nol patted his head harder, feeling a numb and cold sensation in his brain, as if something had been forcefully extracted.

“Let’s call it a day. I’m a bit tired.”

Nol let Teest squeeze his wrist. “I want to get some good sleep.”

“Of course, honey.” Teest kissed his forehead in response.

For a second, Painter’s expression was a bit complex. He coughed twice. “Then I won’t disturb the two of you.”

Lynn hesitated, finally sighing heavily. “I also…”

Nol thought Lynn’s attitude was a bit strange. The next moment, this thought quickly slid into the abyss, leaving no trace. Hmm, everything was normal.

Teest’s palm caressed Nol’s cheek, recalling everything that had just happened.

Just then, before Lynn could finish speaking, Nol suddenly transformed.

His form began to change into a monster, even worse than a short while ago. Nol’s flesh seemed to swell and writhe as if about to explode. This time, what protruded from his back weren’t beautiful crack wings but grotesque red and green flesh wings.

If his previous monster form still resembled a human, this time he seemed to want to become… something akin to a dragon.

Lynn immediately applied protective spells to everyone present, then shut her eyes tightly, while Painter instantly enveloped the vicinity with magic, to avoid alarming the dragons or letting this unprecedented monster escape.

Teest just watched intently.

He had a sort of blind confidence that his Nol wouldn’t do anything to him. Teest watched very carefully, from the swelling flesh to the wrinkles on the wing membranes.

Perhaps because he was too close, Teest noticed the varying shades of the swollen flesh and the subtle differences in texture. They seemed to be carefully stitched together with extremely fine threads, forcefully joined together carrying the dull color of corpses.

Nol unconsciously let out a low groan. Teest placed his hand on the monster’s cold body, gently patting in a soothing manner. He wasn’t sure if it was helpful—at least it wasn’t for him, but his sister liked it.

And Nol… Nol was a normal person, wasn’t he?

Teest stood next to the surging form of the monster, calmly and gently patting it, even though, at this moment, he couldn’t even find Nol’s features.

The monster’s deadly groaning softened, turning into confused and dazed murmuring.

Golden threads gently wrapped around the transforming body with just the right amount of force. In the darkness, those strands of light seemed almost gentle, as if formed from condensed rays of light.

“Shh—” Teest smiled. “Honey, we will solve this problem.”

The monster’s transformation slowed down, and suddenly the black candle flew out from Lynn. With the name temporarily taken away, Nol reverted to his original form, as if nothing had happened.

Star Stealer Sol really knew how to exploit people’s weaknesses, Teest thought. If this kind of anomaly happened a few more times, Nol might change his mind and decide to eradicate “himself” as an unstable element.

Of course, that was if Nol was still conscious by then, which Teest was doubtful about.

In the early hours, Nol fell into a deep sleep on the bed.

He still had his handsome human appearance, his loose robe sliding to one side, revealing beautifully contoured collarbones. Teest sat by the bed, his golden eyes twinkling faintly in the night.

A God from another world creating a knowledge seal and an excessively abnormal form.

The crazy end of the three Demon Kings, Star Stealer Sol’s targeting and deals, and the help and pleas from Loser.

The truth about the world he had sought for so long, in the end, all converged to one point. Everything originated from the person before him, his person. The best part was, they were hand in hand, walking towards the final mystery.

Such a sweet fact, but it was a pity that Nol would suffer because of it, and Teest couldn’t taste much sweetness from it. How unfortunate.

Teest gently caressed Nol’s exposed arm, the skin warm and soft, lacking the previous dead material feeling. His fingertips glided gently, as if peeling off an invisible layer of candy wrapper.

“Kando,” Teest suddenly said.

“Tsk.” The black candle emerged from a pile of luggage. “How did you know I was watching?”

Teest shrugged indifferently. “You’ve always been a voyeur. It’s not news.”

“You two aren’t planning on doing anything tonight, are you?” Kando spoke in what could only be described as a horrified tone. “I understand people have different tastes, but aren’t you a bit too…”

“Nol said he was tired, and I’m not an animal in heat all the time.” Teest glanced at him. “I just wanted to ask you something, or more accurately, ask Loser who’s behind you.”

“I can’t just order a False God around like a dog…”

“Come on. It’s definitely watching.” Teest chuckled briefly. “After intervening to seal Nol, do you think it would just leave?”

To bypass the [God’s Forsaken], Star Stealer Sol projected itself onto the serpentman prophet. So how did Perradat watch them? It wasn’t hard to guess.

Teest suspected that it had been watching them much longer than Star Stealer Sol had—after all, it was a False God with real prophetic power. If it wished, it could create a thousand “chance meetings”.

Teest looked at Kando calmly, his gaze passing through its single eye to something that existed deep within it.

The black candle rolled its eye. “I don’t know…”

Before it could finish, its voice suddenly changed. The previously comical, non-human voice turned into a sweet young girl’s voice.

A familiar magical fluctuation spread out, identical to that of the headless body.

“Good night.” The single eye of the black candle curved slightly.

“I knew it. Only a big voyeur could bring out a little voyeur.”

Rather than addressing a fallen god, Teest’s tone was more akin to speaking to a rubber duck in a bathtub.

The black candle: “……”

The black candle cleared its throat. “Good night, Mr. Teest. I have many names. Here, you may call me Perradat.”

It pretended not to hear the earlier comment.

“At a critical moment, we indeed should collaborate further.”

Teest raised an eyebrow. “Is this what your prophecy told you?”

“No,” Perradat said. “Having taken away Lord Nol’s name, I’m now involved and can no longer foresee related futures.”

“If Lord Nol truly falls into madness, I will completely lose to Star Stealer Sol… You called me concerning the knowledge seal, right? I will—”

“Ah, you got it wrong.” Teest relaxed on the bed, crossing one leg. “I just want you to release Kando—you made it induce Nol to fight Star Stealer Sol. Now that your goal is achieved, there’s no need to constrain it anymore.”

Perradat quietly observed Teest. Unfortunately, a single eye didn’t reveal much emotion.

“Lord Nol’s problem…” It shifted the topic.

“I don’t trust cooperation with Star Stealer Sol, just as I don’t trust yours. In the end, you’re all just coveting outsiders.” Teest said, “I’ll figure out Nol’s situation myself—if you want to cooperate with us, well, with me personally, then release Kando.”

“You’re not such a generous person.” After a while, Perradat responded.

Teest narrowed his eyes. “I have my plans. You just need to answer me. Agree or refuse.”

“If it can earn a bit of trust from both of you, of course, I’m willing.”

Perradat pondered for a full two minutes before speaking again. “Please believe in my sincerity. My survival doesn’t require dominating the world. I only need a small corner—I just hope Star Stealer Sol disappears. I have no intention of fighting against the true God of Creation.”

“You can negotiate with Nol when the time comes.” Teest said, “We’ll solve everything together. Nol won’t go back on his word. You and your little candle have been watching for so long. You should understand his character.”

“As for what you can get from me.”

Teest fearlessly faced the fallen god.

“After Star Stealer Sol disappears, I won’t try to get rid of you. Is that a good enough price?”

---

The author has something to say:

A chapter that might cause a drop in sanity. I tried my best. Hope it works.

Gently lying down (……

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 167: Nol Speaks

Dragon’s Lair.

When Lilith woke up, she didn’t see the familiar tent ceiling but an unfamiliar rock cave, as if it was her first day in this world.

Dim stone walls were in front of her, surrounded by the heavy smell of blood and viscera. She woke up in a pile of corpses in a cage, wrapped in dried blood like armor.

Her lower half had turned into a serpent’s body, with scales cracked open and flesh torn, causing unbearable pain. Her lips were chapped and wrinkled, and her throat felt as if it had been roasted in a desert. The discomfort and pain throughout her body made her want to cry, and then her dry eyeballs also became part of the pain.

Everything seemed like a nightmare.

She didn’t know how to “walk” and could only crawl on the ground, licking the moist droplets on the stone walls. Occasionally, other serpentmen would appear and throw animal carcasses to her. She couldn’t stomach them, only able to chew on the moss in the corners with a fishy smell.

Starving, she dared only to drink a bit of blood and swallow a few clumps of raw meat.

Through bits and pieces of conversation over a dozen days, she pieced together her current situation.

The original owner of this body was named Lisbeth, one of the tribe’s prophets. In pursuit of power, she ventured into the tribe’s forbidden lands to learn ancient divination arts that had been banned.

Lisbeth’s tribespeople insisted it was the prophecy of an evil god and threw Lisbeth into a cage. Before determining her punishment, another prophet was sent to make a prophecy for her.

[Touching the forbidden surpasses death. In turmoil, your wishes will be fulfilled.]

However, at that time, other than knowing “this is likely another world” and “this world has magic”, she was clueless about other common knowledge, let alone deciphering the prophecy.

Despite declaring over and over her lack of worship for the “evil god”, it was all treated as deep and deceptive acting.

Had Dorothy’s adventure team not happened to be fighting nearby, she might have died confusedly deep in the cave.

What followed was simple: recognizing a fellow countryman in Dorothy, figuring out the system and skills, and gaining a preliminary understanding of the situation. Renouncing the hard-to-remember name of Lisbeth, Lin Li renamed herself Lilith and joined Amazon*.

*Clarity: Lisbeth (莉兹贝丝) vs Lilith (莉莉丝).

However, after Dorothy knew her origins, she made her keep it secret from the other Players.

“I’ll keep an eye out for your sister,” she promised repeatedly. “As for the rest, you have to pretend you know nothing.”

Why? Lilith didn’t quite understand.

All she knew was that upon hearing she came from Joy Garden and knew nothing about the game “Tahe”, Dorothy first froze, then a hint of despair appeared in her expression.

They just transmigrated into the game differently, Lilith thought. Weren’t they all just transmigrating into the game?

Fortunately, Lilith understood the dangers of this world. She didn’t pry into Dorothy’s reasons and used her skill, [Lost Prophecy], to contribute to Amazon without reverence.

However, not long after making a prophecy for Barto, she lost her memory. When she opened her eyes again, it was… like this.

The panic that should have faded surged up, and she abruptly sat up, wanting to scream, but saw two familiar figures beside her.

Barto stood in the corner, motionless. He was still breathing, but his eyes were devoid of light, like painted wood.

Dorothy sat on her stone bed, peeling the skin of a flame scale fruit—a hard-skinned fruit that resembled dragon scales that was very sweet and only found near the Dragon’s Lair.

“Sister!” Lilith sighed in relief. “What happened? I seem to have blacked out…”

Dorothy showed that subtly complex expression again. “I don’t know.”

She glanced warily at Barto in the corner. “But, I think someone will give us answers.”

……

In another cave.

“…So that’s roughly what happened.” Painter supported a holy light shield and said in a serious tone, “Miss Lynn told me the truth about Paradise and your identity. Now, I am your staunch ally.”

Teest: “Then remove the magic shield. I’ve said I won’t steal your sword.”

Painter pretended not to hear, and the holy light shield kept shimmering. “Thank you all for your honesty. Many of my questions have been answered.”

Nol had returned to human form, wearing a loose black robe, and sat a bit awkwardly on a stone chair—this was his first time facing the natives as the “Creator”… Well, the mentally stable natives.

“You don’t seem very surprised,” Nol said.

Knowing the whole story, Painter was much calmer than expected. Even though Nol’s identity shifted from “Demon King” to “God of Creation”, Painter’s gaze toward Nol didn’t change.

“Haha, whether this world was created by the Goddess of Life or you, or even if it originated from a godless coincidence, Tahe is Tahe. Many beings have come this far on their own, unrelated to gods.”

Painter spread his hands in the holy light. “To me, you’re like my ancestors’ ancestors who created me—worthy of respect and gratitude, but not awe.”

With the golden glow illuminating him, this former Pope’s image was radiant, his words heartwarming. It was just a pity that the reason for the appearance of the holy light shield was regrettable, Nol thought.

Teest circled the holy light shield twice, clicking his tongue. Nol couldn’t tell if he was after the sword or just disliked Painter.

“How can you see the system?” he asked bluntly. “Is your situation like mine?”

Painter waved his hands repeatedly. “No, no. This Villain is just an ordinary person. I don’t have the favor of the world’s authority, even using existing magic for projection. That’s not simple magic—at least not for me alone.”

“Projecting on that prophet, I could watch the world through her eyes. I think, by using this method, Star Stealer Sol also intended to bypass the restrictions of [God’s Forsaken].”

“What do you mean?” Lynn immediately caught on to the issue. “Are you saying, that prophet is—”

Painter: “A resident of Paradise, I guess.”

“Now she’s nominally ‘sacrificed’ on the Players’ side. Afterwards, returning to the Players’ side or following us, she can choose freely.”

As Painter said this, his gaze shifted to Nol, and he smiled like a fox that got the hen.

It was as if his face was saying, “Just give me that sword.”

“That means Dorothy might have guessed some of the situation,” Lynn murmured. “But she’s keeping it from the other two Player leaders… If she’s worried about causing chaos among the Players…”

“Then this is up to you. You go negotiate with them.” Teest glanced at Nol, trying to hide his indifference.

Lynn pinched the bridge of her nose hard.

How did she get assigned a task so quickly, and by someone not even her boss? She needed time to digest the situation too.

She had indeed staunchly refused Star Stealer Sol’s temptation, but people’s hearts weren’t made of steel. The path to find her sister and return home once lay before her. To say she didn’t care would be a lie.

Lynn couldn’t help but look at the other three present.

Teest definitely didn’t care, no doubt. She suspected even if the entire Lost Tower exploded, the Mad Monk wouldn’t blink an eye. He was temporarily their ally, solely because of Nol.

Painter was kind and righteous, but the Pope’s “good intentions” didn’t extend to “betting the world on an outsider’s return home, rushing to join an evil god”.

To be honest, in the entire event, Lynn was most surprised by Nol. Nol’s decisions were very decisive, so much so that it seemed uncharacteristic of someone who grew up in peaceful times. It wasn’t that she didn’t support Nol’s decision. She just thought he would hesitate more.

“Thank you for your hard work.” Nol sincerely turned to Lynn, unaware of her inner doubts. “Please talk to those two and also reconfirm the prophecy.”

Both prophecies were fake, Nol speculated. He was worried that, with Star Stealer Sol possessing Perradat’s remains, indeed some degree of “foresight” could be achieved.

Where dragons are born, where mistakes converge. The Master of the world returns to the start of the dream.

This was true. He had indeed returned to the beginning of it all. A mix of truth and lies in the prophecy would definitely deceive people more effectively than pure nonsense.

The prophecy given to the Players, “He will grant you the way home”, “You will witness a noble sacrifice”, were likely traps set by Star Stealer Sol to fan the flames.

As for the other descriptions… “Lost knowledge is reset”, “You will find what you have lost”, “You will find the answers you seek.” They all reflected one thing—the trip to the Dragon’s Lair would provide some answers.

Are these pieces of true prophecy, or just smoke and mirrors by Star Stealer Sol?

He must verify this properly.

Nol fell into thought as usual, as if he had just had an ordinary day, not one where he made decisions affecting the fate of the world.

Lynn watched him for a while. “I understand. If necessary, I’ll try to get a real prophecy done for you.”

“Thanks,” Nol said. “Also, that sword is rightfully yours now, Mr. Painter.”

Teest clicked his tongue even louder, sitting next to Nol and eyeing Painter. “And I have to pay for the rewards for those Players.”

“Just testing the system’s judgment on ‘God’ is a great feat.”

Nol placed a hand on Teest’s knee. The system represented the law of the world. If the “God” of the “system’s quest” had a huge interpretative space, the situation with the “prophecies” would likely be the same, giving their actions much more confidence.

Just a few hours ago, Teacher Star Stealer Sol kindly demonstrated this to them.

Although the prophecy given was false, whether Nol chose to sacrifice for everyone or Painter pretended the serpentman prophet sacrificed, the Players would “witness a noble sacrifice”.

Whether it was Star Stealer Sol deceiving the Players through projection, or Painter, the “temporary god of the Drifting Mercenary Group” pretending to be the Goddess of Life, both could pass the system’s judgment of “listening to the words of God”.

The Chosen Ones’ baffling oracles could become their weapon to forge fate—

Nol’s greatest skill wasn’t combat, but finding loopholes in the rules.

A comforting feeling spread from his toes, warmly rushing to his chest, turning into a satisfied sigh. Nol relaxed a bit, leaning on Teest, his expression gradually easing.

“That red-haired old fox done ‘a great feat’?” Teest muttered.

“You forced Star Stealer Sol out directly, preventing a human-dragon war. Your contribution is the greatest.” Nol leaned on his lover. “My ‘loyal’ knight, do you want any other response?”

Lynn’s eyebrows twitched slightly. She pulled her knees together, looking down.

This is a perfect conclusion, isn’t it?

No one was hurt, no one died. The harsh quest was aborted halfway. Nol’s terrifying condition was successfully reversed, appearing very stable mentally. Everyone’s cooperation was seamless, decisively driving away the False God. Everything went too smoothly that it felt unreal.

As a beneficiary, should she be dissatisfied with the “loud thunder but little rain*” outcome?

*Metaphor for doing something with great fanfare but little actual action (AKA all bark no bite, much cry little wool).

Teest and Painter were stronger than her, and they hadn’t spoken up. Maybe she was overthinking… Maybe there could be such an overly “happy” ending?

But Lynn couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off, yet she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Looking at Nol’s smiling face, she felt like she was looking at a complex puzzle missing a piece.

“It’s getting late.” Lynn hesitated. “The prophet and Dorothy aren’t easy to deal with. I have my puppet watching over there. I’ll talk to them tomorrow.”

“Of course.” Nol smiled.

“Tomorrow we’ll go find Subelbot.” Teest planned excitedly. “The matter of the knowledge seal, we’ll talk to it properly.”

“It’s best to wait until Miss Lynn’s talk is over. Going together with Miss Dorothy shows more sincerity in negotiating peace with the dragon race,” Painter interjected.

Ah.

Lynn suddenly realized the source of her discomfort. Teest and Painter, after all, were different from her.

They were warriors from another world, accustomed to life and death, not prioritizing Earth at heart, unaware of Earth’s situation, and unclear about Earth’s values.

So they couldn’t feel Nol’s subtle… detachment.

“Xu Yue.” When the other three discussed the itinerary, Lynn spoke up solemnly.

Hearing this name, Nol turned his face. “What’s up?”

“Are you okay?” Lynn stared straight into his eyes. “Star Stealer Sol is indeed untrustworthy, but that was still a painful decision.”

“Painter covering for you in the name of God isn’t a long-term solution. In case your situation is exposed, you will face many who accuse you, like Barto. You need to be mentally prepared.”

Nol tilted his head slightly, but his face still wore a gentle smile. “I will be. Thank you for the reminder.”

His expression didn’t change—no trace of conflict, trouble, or hesitation.

Something was indeed off.

Lynn felt a chill at her feet. She tried to stabilize her expression. “After a battle, it’s time to relax. Let’s chat casually—my first business trip in two lifetimes, and it turned out to be a big deal. If only we had ice-cold beer here.”

Teest’s gaze swept over her, containing a hint of scrutiny.

He said nothing, instead silently shifting his gaze away, as if… offering encouragement?

Could it be that this guy had also realized it?

Lynn took a deep breath inwardly, trying to continue naturally. “Speaking of which, you mentioned before that you attended A University’s XX College? I have a colleague who also went to A University, always complaining about how bad the second cafeteria’s food was.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” Nol recalled for a moment in response to this abrupt topic. “Just generally too sweet. The tomato scrambled eggs were frighteningly sweet.”

“Haha, she said the same thing! She also said that dish always had leftovers, and if anyone bought it, the serving lady would give a generous portion.”

“Auntie Liu, right? I remember.” Nol’s tone carried a bit of reverence. “The first time I saw her serve so much, I was quite touched…”

Normally, Teest wasn’t too fond of these Earth-related topics. This time, uncharacteristically, he remained silent with his arms around Nol, quietly listening.

Lynn paused, then changed the subject. “Speaking of which, how’s the cafeteria at your company? I’ve seen posts online saying it’s pretty good.”

“…It’s not bad,” Nol replied slowly.

Lynn waited patiently for more, but it didn’t come. Nol’s blue eyes just looked at her, like the wings of a dead blue morpho butterfly.

Suddenly, Lynn felt an eerie sensation of walking through a minefield. She sharply changed the topic. “You rarely talk about this. I was just curious—I remember our neighborhood is quite far from your company. Commuting must be quite difficult.”

“…Quite difficult.” Nol still looked at Lynn in the same way.

Teest’s pupils suddenly narrowed, and Painter’s expression froze. For a second, Lynn instinctively wanted to run away, to escape from this… unknown entity in front of her.

Teest tightened his embrace around Nol’s waist, nodding subtly to Lynn. Almost simultaneously, a veil-like light swept over her body. That was Painter’s calming magic.

Calm down. Lynn clenched her fists, trying hard to pretend everything was normal.

“Let’s drop the commuting topic. It’ll just make us all cry anyway. Let’s talk about colleagues instead.”

Lynn tried to keep her voice steady. “I know you’ve chatted with Lao Luo and others about the gossip in the art department. Share some with me. Let’s give Painter something fresh to hear—how about starting with some weirdos? Difficult people like Barto?”

Nol: “I have many colleagues.”

At this point, his gaze suddenly became distant. “I have many colleagues, from different departments. The question is too broad…”

“Like?” Lynn smiled stiffly. “What’s the name of the colleague you’re closest with?”

Lynn knew this question was very abrupt, but she really couldn’t continue the conversation. At this moment, she hardly dared to look into those eyes.

“What kind of question is that?” Nol chuckled, sounding like a normal person for a second. “His name is—”

His voice abruptly stopped, as if he was frozen in the air.

“…I don’t remember.” After a few seconds, he murmured as if in a trance. “I can’t recall.”

“It’s normal. That happens to everyone, forgetting words as soon as pen is put to paper.” Lynn’s tongue felt numb. “A nickname is fine. What about their appearance? Describe the appearance—”

“…I don’t remember,” Nol said.

“What subway line do you usually take to work?”

“…I don’t remember,” Nol said.

“……” Lynn really started to feel scared. “When did you move into Joy Garden?”

A crack appeared in Nol’s voice, pain slowly seeping through.

“…I don’t remember,” Nol said.

---

The author has something to say:

Lynn: My boss is sick (literally). My boss’ significant other is also sick (literally)

Working environment is extremely challenging…

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 166: Possibilities

Previously, Nol had been quietly listening.

Star Stealer Sol blatantly ignored him, perhaps convinced that his mind was muddled beyond communication. What a logical arrangement… The creator entered the cruel otherworld he crafted, witnessing the twisted fates of many, watching his compatriots crumble before his eyes.

He still remembered the guilt, wandering, and exhaustion from those early days.

Now, having finally grown stronger, he was greeted by a state of chaotic thought shrouded in dark unknowns… Such a path could crush any sane person.

Then someone appeared, offering him the sweet release of death and cutting through the tangled morass.

With his original level of mental disarray, Star Stealer Sol’s stance was like asking a feverish elementary student to solve a world-class math problem. Not to mention the “divine oracle” stirring things up.

Nol was sure that, facing the pain and torment he had endured, he would likely accept.

Not for anything else, but for a justified release.

Unfortunately, Nol had never been so clear-headed.

There were minor flaws in the whole event.

The so-called “prophecy of fate” felt slightly off from the start… When the remains of Perradat provided the “prophecy”, it borrowed the corpse of the Eternal Pope.

But just a short while ago, it had delivered a prophecy in another form right in front of them, so why suddenly change the method?

Was a prophecy appearing before the remains of Perradat necessarily given by “Perradat”?

The “Master” of the Eternal Pope was Star Stealer Sol from the start, not Perradat.

Coincidentally, Star Stealer Sol specifically lured him, a “suspected Demon King’s minion”, to Amazon.

Amazon held the prophecy, “He will grant you the way home”… Clearly, this wasn’t a prophecy the Popes would receive. And even if the situation was still unclear, would the coward Perradat suddenly intervene in the battle?

Prophecies could be forged, both in content and outcome.

The monster-transformed Nol stood calmly, hearing the creaking of his thoughts. Strangely, his mind became clearer after calming down.

Behind the monster, the crack-like wings gradually became transparent, as if the world itself was healing.

Nol tried to hide his wings, continuing to ponder amidst Star Stealer Sol’s buzzing nonsense.

Following this line of thought… Star Stealer Sol used some means to discover the old pope’s death, then immediately dropped a divine oracle, luring the attacker to the Dragon’s Lair.

At the same time, he spread “prophecies” among the nearby Players, dangling the bait of “a way home”. This way, Star Stealer Sol could stir up opposition and even eliminate him, the “unknown attacker”.

“The way home” was too vague. “Sending people back to Earth” was a way home. “Unlocking the sealed area of this quest” was also a way home.

Similarly, “noble sacrifice”. This was easier to handle. If the hat couldn’t be passed on, Star Stealer Sol just needed to ensure someone died.

If Nol were to write this script, “Players suffered heavy losses, a prophet jumps out to sacrifice himself summoning the projection of the Goddess, and the Goddess protects the Players with her power”… This situation could serve as a “guarantee for fulfilling the prophecy”.

This would significantly increase the Players’ trust in the goddess.

Whether the “attacker” was a minion of the Demon King or the Demon King himself, this setup had too much room for manipulation. At worst, Star Stealer Sol could gain information about the attacker and the trust of the Players, which would be a sure win.

It seemed that from the moment they crossed the oracle’s transmission formation, Star Stealer Sol began its scheme.

For instance, the sudden appearance of Enbillick Alva. Could he be in the same situation as the prophet in front of them?

The dark, sticky malice pushed them step by step towards destruction, offering an irresistible reason. This thing worked hard to create such a situation. No matter how beautiful its words were, Nol didn’t believe a single bit.

After all, for him, “giving up the future” was never an option.

He and his knight had made a promise.

Nol’s gaze shifted to Teest.

[…Will that soft-hearted Demon King betray everything it protects for you? …You are the “price” that can be sacrificed.]

Star Stealer Sol whispered softly to Teest, every word a stab to the heart.

Nol could see a hint of disarray in Teest’s silhouette. The Mad Monk hid it well, but Nol could see. Perhaps along the way, facing the torments that could crush him, he always looked to Teest.

[…I am willing to do my best to preserve a piece of its soul, to accompany you in a new shell… a shell at your disposal…]

If it were the Mad Monk he first met, he would definitely agree quickly. After all, his knight was a control freak who liked to hang people with golden threads. He would be happy to put a collar on the victim.

But Nol knew that Teest wouldn’t choose this now. He just knew.

Not long ago, Teest said he would offer loyalty. In fact, Teest offered far more than life and loyalty… But his knight hadn’t realized it yet.

[The Demon King will not resist. Everything is destined…]

[No, the Demon King will resist.]

Nol teleported behind Teest, soothingly covering Teest’s eyes. Don’t be tempted by that false light. His chest gently leaned against Teest’s back.

[Even if it’s destined,] Nol said.

[Do you feel shaken when you hear “a shell at your disposal”?]

At the same time, Nol sent a telepathic message to Teest in a light, almost teasing, tone. [Wasn’t I enough at your disposal before? I said, you just need to ask me.]

[Honey, you really are becoming more… um, open,] Teest responded, his thoughts carrying a sense of relief.

Star Stealer Sol fell silent for a few seconds. Nol didn’t know if this thing could parse their telepathic message. Never mind. It didn’t matter to him.

[You are stronger than I imagined.]

After a few seconds, Star Stealer Sol still maintained that annoyingly holy tone. [You have unnecessary caution towards me… I admit, I’ve done some things, but that was just for self-preservation. My respect for you hasn’t changed.]

[Regardless of what happened before, the conditions I offer now are genuine. If you have doubts, you can fill in any details you want.]

Her tone was almost sincere. [I understand your concerns. After all, they are your compatriots.]

“Compatriots!” Barto raised his voice. “Damn, I knew it…”

“God has spoken to this extent. I think you just want to live cowardly—”

[Yes,] Nol said.

He released a part of the False God’s pressure.

Barto was choked up on the spot, Lynn moved slightly in surprise, while Dorothy stood like a stone statue, expressionless. Painter stepped back two steps with the corners of his mouth curved upwards.

[The past is just the past.] For the first time, uncertainty appeared in Star Stealer Sol’s tone. [I sincerely offer you a deal—]

[No,] Nol said again.

The huge monster covered Teest’s eyes, bowing its faceless head.

“Tilia’s” smile faded a bit.

[So you choose to be enemies with your compatriots, and I will give them new rewards—your corpse, your power, will guarantee their way home.]

She looked sadly at the monster in front of her and the white-haired knight it enveloped.

[Is this the path you choose…]

[Yes,] Nol answered without hesitation.

Putting aside the other party’s insidious intentions, even if Star Stealer Sol’s offer was a true escape, he would never become a compliant pawn.

He would forge a new path, a better one—this was his world, and even if such a path didn’t exist, he would create it.

Because he promised someone an ending.

“From this second onwards, every person who dies will be on your head!” Barto roared. “No wonder the main quest is to subdue the Demon King. We will tell everyone the truth—that a Player has obtained the Demon King class! You wait…ugh…”

Before he could finish, the anger on Barto’s face suddenly froze.

His beautiful face gradually stiffened, and outlines of doll joints faintly appeared on his fingers and arms. Barto’s eyes widened as if he wanted to say something, but only a clacking noise came from his throat.

Lynn extended her hands, as if controlling a puppet, her fingertips glowing with a dim light.

The ability of the Supreme Domination Witch, [Living Puppet]—

Turns beings of lower strength into puppets to serve as subordinates. The controlled are fully conscious but unable to do anything, essentially making them sentient vegetables.

Unless the spell is actively lifted by the Supreme Domination Witch, the controlled will remain in a puppet state forever.

“I knew this trick would come in handy someday.” Lynn’s expression was complicated. “Don’t worry. You won’t die. I won’t send you to the battlefield—I’ll let you find a quiet corner to gather dust. If our leader is in a good mood, he might mercifully seal you away.”

“Why… Why…” Barto struggled to ask.

“Because I’m not a bullshit saint. I only care about family and friends, not the end of the world.”

Lynn’s expression remained complicated, but her tone was firm. “I support my own people who have helped me, rather than someone who jumps out halfway and speaks pretty words.”

She said this while looking towards Dorothy not far away.

“Even if I make the wrong choice and suffer for it, it just proves I misjudged someone. After all, I’m still young and only understand simple truths—like, if Mr. Demon King truly had no choice, Lady Goddess wouldn’t be in such a hurry to make a deal.”

Dorothy’s expression remained unchanged.

Lynn smiled slightly. “Even the Demon King doesn’t know how to send people back, yet Lady Goddess does. So, who brought the poor Players here in the first place?”

“Now Lady Goddess wants to make a deal with the Players… In a world without oversight, what kind of ‘fair’ contract can be made between two parties of absolutely unequal power? I’m really curious.”

“Pfft.” Painter couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry, please continue.”

Dorothy’s expression gradually changed, and she looked at Nol with complicated eyes.

The smile on Star Stealer Sol’s face slowly faded. Nol believed that if it weren’t for the Players watching outside the sound barrier, she would have killed Lynn immediately.

What to do next?

Nol subconsciously pulled Teest closer to him.

There were still many Players outside. They needed a foolproof plan. Maybe they should just leave on the undead dragon. As for the problem of Dorothy possibly leaking the situation…

[What are you doing? You, this—] Suddenly, “Tilia’s” friendly and beautiful face twisted. [You blasphemous—]

A mighty magical fluctuation came from Painter’s direction, and Nol immediately realized it was a meticulously prepared ritual magic. No wonder Painter had been mostly silent. This guy…

“As a mere mage, I happen to have studied various magics,” Painter said with a smile. He looked at the struggling “Tilia” with eyes devoid of humor. “My power may not be enough to confront a god, but it’s sufficient to dispel a projection spell.”

“I don’t like your negotiation attitude. Life isn’t something to be bargained with. If you insist on doing so, remember to change your face next time.”

He raised his hand smoothly.

In the dazzling white light, the image of the Goddess of Life melted away. Teest instinctively acted, and the False God level power isolated all surrounding influences, ensuring the serpentman prophet wouldn’t be affected again.

Not just Star Stealer Sol, but Teest and Nol hadn’t expected it either.

In a standoff with a False God, the human Painter dared to pull such a move—regardless of whether the process was pleasant, they genuinely needed to negotiate with Star Stealer Sol. Abruptly interrupting this conversation could potentially offend three False Gods at once.

But Painter still made his move without a moment’s hesitation.

The incident happened so suddenly that Star Stealer Sol didn’t have time to take the sword called the “Dominator” with it. It stood upright in the soil, emitting an intimidating glow.

This wasn’t over.

After the light faded, in front of many Players, the serpentman prophet still had the appearance of the Goddess of Life. In contrast, Painter himself disappeared into the shadows, nowhere to be seen.

The “Goddess” gently raised her palm, and the sound barrier set up by Teest slowly disappeared. While casting, the “Goddess” sneakily winked at Nol and Teest.

Nol: “…”

Teest: “…”

Lynn muttered. “You really like cross-dressing.”

“This Villain admires Mr. Nol. He’s not ready to be troubled by ‘rumors’.” The “Goddess”—Painter muttered back. “And I had something I wanted to verify.”

[My children.]

Then, Painter resumed “Tilia’s” gentle and sacred voice. [Remember my words. The strife here has been resolved, and the evil here has been purified.]

Nol quickly transformed back into human form, shadows forming a wide cloak. He “weakly” fell, and Teest caught him in a reversal.

[Your courage and perseverance allowed the hero Drake to awaken me.]

Painter spoke convincingly. [This subjugation was actually a ruse. The Demon King wanted to stir up strife between you and the dragon race. Remember, God loves order and peace.]

[Please think for yourselves, discern for yourselves, and follow your own path. Do not be misled by bloody rumors. Life and goodwill are always worth praising.]

It must be said, Painter looked more like the “Goddess Tilia” than Star Stealer Sol did.

Nol’s speechlessness from within his cloak gradually overcame his fatigue. It was a great sight to see everyone working together…if only the method wasn’t so strange.

But what exactly was Painter trying to verify with such a grand gesture…?

[I have come here at the cost of the precious life of the flesh I inhabit. I will not easily descend again. Drake is my absolute envoy.]

[Warriors, may the truth illuminate your way home.]

Costing a precious life? This serpentman isn’t dead, is she?!

Lynn looked at Painter with an indescribable gaze, then glanced sympathetically at Barto. A real “Saint” indeed spared no possible evil deed, clearly intending to make the serpentman exit from the Players’ side.

The Players cared not for NPC specifics; many moved eyes looked towards the “Goddess”, hope kindling faintly in their gaze.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Painter raised the “Dominator” sword high into the sky. Then, with an illusion…he sneakily slipped it into his magical pocket.

Nol couldn’t help but whisper, “We can all see that.”

Painter whispered even softer, “A little reward is due for This Villain who helped you two wrap things up beautifully.”

Teest whispered with a tinge of pity, “What does a mage need with a sword?”

That was a sword capable of slaying gods! But remembering that Star Stealer Sol wanted him to use it to kill Nol, Teest didn’t really want it.

Painter: “There’s always a time when it’ll be useful. Besides, it looks very valuable. See, Star Stealer Sol would never expect me to take the sword. It will only chase after you, so we can successfully deceive it—since it’s already tracking you, one more reason won’t matter.”

Teest: “How astonishingly shameless. You actually manage to sound so righteous.”

As they spoke, his hand still tightly held Nol’s. If not for being careful, his nails would have dug into Nol’s flesh.

Watching these three secretly muttering, Lynn felt a headache coming on. She snapped her fingers, and the controlled Barto walked over to Dorothy, clutching her wrist tightly.

“We have things to discuss, Miss Dorothy.” In front of many Players, Lynn spoke through Barto’s mouth.

Dorothy nodded imperceptibly, sighing.

Amidst the bustling chaos, a system popup suddenly appeared in front of everyone.

[You have completed the time-limited area quest: Divine Revelation.]

[You have met the conditions for completing the quest “Divine Revelation”: Listening to the words of God alongside the hero Drake.]

[Quest rewards: Will be settled in subsequent events.]

The smile on “Tilia’s” face suddenly became meaningful.

She turned towards Nol, pointing to her chest, where Painter wore the Faceless God amulet.

Nol’s mood, which was just relaxed, became heavy again. He understood what Painter wanted to verify—a problem that had always troubled them, a definition filled with mysteries.

“Look.”

Turning away from the Players, Painter silently mouthed.

“A joke-like ‘God’ like myself can actually satisfy the system’s literal judgment.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, fate still holds infinite possibilities.”

---

The author has something to say:

Let’s see how many were fooled by Star Stealer Sol’s fake oracle in the previous chapters, huh?

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Just for some clarity, there are two terms being used throughout the novel to refer to “prophecy”. The first is “oracle” (神谕). This is a specific term that still refers to a “prophecy” but it’s directly from a God/deity. You can think of it as “God’s decree”. It carries a religious/divine subtext.

The second term “prophecy” (预言) is a more general term that encompasses “oracle” but doesn’t necessarily have to have the implication of a religious or divine undertone (for instance, it can come from a fortune teller).

Note, in this novel’s context, oracles are specifically applied to “Chosen Ones” (like Painter, Eugene, etc.).

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 165: The Perfect Option

The sudden change in the quest left the Players a bit dazed. Dorothy frowned and gestured subconsciously for the Players to form a defensive formation.

Teest was the most aware of the system’s changes.

Behind him, the remains of Perradat began to lose control. Dark runes emerged from the void, once again densely entangling that body. A soft white light covered the body’s convulsions and tremors, and within ten seconds, the body disappeared into the light.

As he expected, Star Stealer Sol’s first reaction was to drop everything and come to reclaim the remains.

The enemy’s personality traits became clearer. Teest curled his lips, not forcibly fighting for control of the remains—there was no point in fighting over it at this juncture. It was necessary to hide his skills.

In the distance, Nol, after brewing for a long time, took control of his thoughts.

It was like escaping from a hot, stuffy room and suddenly breathing fresh air. Nol almost wanted to sigh. In an instant, he knew how to return to human form—those pieces of knowledge were like remnants of a dream, leaving shallow imprints in his mind.

He chose not to revert immediately—the moment seemed likely for Star Stealer Sol to “appear”, and it was necessary to hide his abilities.

Nol tried to appear unchanged, only sneaking a few glances at Teest. Teest squinted at him, showing a sort of “waiting for praise” smug smile.

Together with the bewildered Players, they quietly waited.

The soft white light lit up again, and greenery sprouted from the barren, cracked land around them. Centered on Teest, a lush lawn slowly spread out. Bushes unfolded like peacock feathers, and climbing vines blossomed with fragrant flowers. Life spread like wildfire, creating a scene very fitting for a “Hero”.

Lynn felt a lightness on her wrist, and Lilith suddenly disappeared.

Along with her disappearance, Painter’s Holy Light Lock also vanished.

An image of a beautiful woman appeared three or four steps away from Teest, floating in the air, dressed in a classic robe with loose braids adorned with flowers and fruits. This stranger had a gentle look in her eyes and radiated a warm glow, giving an immense sense of comfort.

It was the image of Tilia, the Goddess of Life.

She was about the same height as Lilith. Lynn frowned imperceptibly.

Next to Lynn, Painter’s expression turned even uglier. “There’s residual fluctuation from the Holy Light Lock. She used the body of the serpentman prophet.”

“Possession?” Lynn asked quietly.

“More like domination plus projection.” Painter barely moved his lips. “The serpentmen’s talent in the realm of inspiration is naturally high, especially a prophet. The price of being spiritually close to a god is being more easily ‘seen’ and ‘influenced’ by a god.”

“If she has made a prophecy recently, the probability of being discovered would be quite high.”

No wonder Lilith insisted on coming with them. When exactly had she been influenced by Star Stealer Sol?

A chill ran down Lynn’s back. Luckily, she and Painter were tight-lipped, never discussing Teest and Nol’s matters in front of Lilith. As the most powerful False God at present, this guy’s methods were… very real and dark.

“Is She strong?” she continued to probe quietly.

“No, that’s just a projection.” Painter stared at the goddess’s image not far away. “Even if you destroy it, you’ll only kill the innocent prophet.”

[My Hero, I’ve always wanted to see you.]

“Tilia” spoke, her voice ethereal with divinity, completely different from Lilith.

[I’ve also always wanted to see you,] Teest said with a smile, his tone gentle, but with a subtle hint of bloodthirst. [You¹ can’t imagine how much I’ve wanted to, Tilia.]

[Your awakening was earlier than I thought,] “Tilia” said softly, ignoring Teest’s disrespect¹ and also ignoring Nol behind her. [You will become the pointer of the new world, my brave child…]

¹He used the informal form of you.

Her attitude was like that of a true god.

Teest glanced at Amazon and saw that many were relaxed, showing hopeful expressions on their faces.

Before Tilia could say the next sentence, Teest suddenly extended his hand, creating a huge soundproof barrier that covered nearby. It just covered Painter, Lynn, and Dorothy—and Barto, who, unluckily, walked towards the god and was just caught by the edge of the barrier.

But that was just a small insect.

Teest glanced at Barto, not intending to recast the spell for such a person. At worst, he’d erase the guy’s memory afterward, not caring if it damaged his brain.

Tilia smiled. [It seems our Hero wants more.]

“I just want to talk to you.” Teest maintained a hero-like gentleness on his face. “After all, this is just a damned projection. Even if I turn you into pulp, it’s useless.”

[I can grant you power, power beyond your imagination.] Tilia, as if not possessing the emotion “anger”, continued softly, [I can establish an unbreakable absolute contract with you. You will become my subordinate god, enjoying infinite life and absolute power. As long as…]

[As long as I kill the Demon King for you.] Teest scoffed. [I thought you’d be a bit more original, like ‘domesticating’ me, just like how you ‘domesticated’ the Eternal Pope.]

Tilia’s expression softened. [That was not domestication, but asceticism. Suffering is the best path to realizing one’s true nature, and you are already mature, my child.]

She extended her hands, and a glimmering golden longsword appeared in her grasp. It was a remarkably beautiful sword, its semi-transparent blade reminiscent of sunlight itself.

[This is my first gift to you, the “Dominator”… Go. The new Demon King is right here. I won’t mistake this power.]

Her tone was almost sincere.

Nol was exposed, as expected.

‘It’s just the exposure of his monster form. Not a big problem,’ Teest thought. He would stay with Nol afterward, not giving Star Stealer Sol a chance to spy on them.

This time, they were spying on Star Stealer Sol.

Its style and tactics could be analyzed through its language and actions.

Teest’s gaze quickly moved away from the longsword, crossing his arms, obviously not intending to take the sword. Tilia just smiled, still steadily holding the longsword.

Is this guy so shameless? Lynn was somewhat surprised. Going straight for Teest, Star Stealer Sol really didn’t take Nol into account.

As if hearing her thoughts, Tilia raised her head, smiling sweetly at her.

[The Demon King will not resist,] Tilia said to her in a seductive voice, as if wrapping around the organs. [I’m just choosing the most dignified way for it—being killed by the strongest Hero present, becoming part of legend.]

She smiled, tossing out a terrifying chip.

[…Its sacrifice can be exchanged for your return home. Whether you’re part of the group or stranded outside, you will have a chance to return home.]

[Similarly, I’m willing to pledge all my power as collateral for this absolute contract.]

Both Dorothy and Barto froze inside the barrier. A chill seized Lynn again, as if a snake were wrapped around her ankles.

What does that mean?

Nol’s death can be exchanged for their return home? Even knowing Nol for so long, Lynn’s heart still skipped a beat.

No wonder this guy dared to throw a weak projection in front of them.

Even if forced out by Teest, the cruel game of chess still continues.

“That prophecy!” Barto screamed. “He will grant you the way home!”

Dorothy remained silent, her expression somewhat distant. For a moment, she instinctively reached for her weapon, but then hesitated in her movements. In the end, she released her grip on the weapon, pressing hard on her temples.

Going home.

Setting aside conflicts of interest and moral differences, this was nearly every Player’s goal.

They had been in this mad world for too long. Not to mention killing a monster, even if it meant killing a fellow human as a pass, there would definitely be plenty of people who could do it.

Nol stopped caressing the undead dragon, remaining silent. He slightly lifted his head, looking towards the so-called “Goddess of Life” behind him.

[The Demon King will not resist.]

As if Tilia had eyes on the back, she repeated it softly again. [Because its nature is not evil. Unfortunately, it cannot withstand its own power. I believe, it must have realized—what kind of danger is hidden within itself.]

[It has only two choices—lose its sanity or become a source of disaster alone. Or, with my help, use that power to open a distant space, personally becoming the path home for everyone.]

“Why should we believe you?” Lynn couldn’t help but speak out.

She tried not to think about her possibly stranded sister. No, she couldn’t be swayed by these words. She must say something. She absolutely couldn’t follow this guy’s narrative.

[You may have misunderstood me.]

Tilia’s smile remained unchanged. [Long ago, I was the Demon King’s companion. Together, we created this world.]

[No matter what rumors you’ve heard, they are from the perspective of an invader. No matter what ruins you’ve seen, I did not destroy them.]

[I’m just here to end the suffering of an old friend, to award the Hero with glory, and to guard the peace of this world. Dear Painter, my rebellious envoy… you know this is a weak projection. I allow you to verify the truth of these words.]

Painter took a deep breath. “I refuse.”

“What the fuck are you doing?” Barto cursed loudly. “Isn’t this a great opportunity to prove it?”

Painter laughed. “Then you do it yourself.”

Immediately, his sharp gaze turned towards the “Goddess of Life” with a thoughtful expression on his face.

Damn, Lynn was really confused for a few seconds.

They only knew that three worlds had been destroyed, unclear about why they came to be. The situation with Nol remained a mystery, and everything they knew about Star Stealer Sol was indeed told by “Perradat”, an outsider.

However… Nol’s situation wasn’t right was an undeniable reality. Star Stealer Sol’s willingness to mortgage power in exchange to give Teest glory and allowing Players to go home was also a reality.

Stepping back ten thousand steps, regardless of the relationship between Star Stealer Sol and Nol, it had nothing to do with the Players involved. Even if the Star Stealer Sol had wronged Nol, the vast majority of Players wouldn’t care.

Star Stealer Sol was well aware of this.

Even if Nol was unwilling to give up here, once such a fact spread… what awaited them was only hell. They could erase the memories of others present, but they couldn’t stop a False God from spreading the news personally.

…The meaning of the prophecy gradually surfaced. Everything was developing in the direction the prophecy indicated. They would know the answer—they were about to return home.

…Is fate truly inescapable?

The people present—except for Barto—were relatively friendly. Star Stealer Sol only threw out a few words, and everyone fell into silence, with a tendency to split emerging.

Before, Lynn thought Perradat lost too easily. Now it seemed, they underestimated Star Stealer Sol…

Teest still stared intently at the false goddess’ face, while Star Stealer Sol also looked at him with a smile.

[Ah, you’re unwilling to kill the Demon King. I know that look. You care too much. Admiration? Obsession? Lust… or love?]

At the same time Star Stealer Sol spoke softly, those false eyes were seemingly trying to penetrate Teest. [Naughty boy, bringing down a god isn’t your victory. It’s your biggest mistake…]

Teest was expressionless.

[You care about it, care enough to give up this glory. Who domesticated you?]

Star Stealer Sol continued softly, its voice as light as a demon whispering in the night. [Child, think about it. Will that soft-hearted Demon King betray everything it protects for you? You’re decisive, but it hesitates.]

[You are the “price” that can be sacrificed.]

Teest’s hand holding the “Betrayer” tightened its grip.

[I will give you fairer treatment, child. I know everything in the world. You can ask for everything you want to know, everything you own. If you wish, I am willing to do my best to preserve a piece of its soul, to accompany you in a new shell… a shell at your disposal…]

[I will give you a wonderful ending far beyond your imagination…]

“What are you dawdling for?” Barto couldn’t help it, striding towards Tilia. “Give me the sword. Can I do it?!”

Dorothy frowned tightly, but ultimately didn’t stop Barto.

Barto stumbled to Tilia’s side, his cheeks flushed with abnormal excitement. However, the moment Barto reached out to grab the sword, he was instantly blown away by Teest’s breath.

“Fine, fine, I won’t touch it. Just hurry up and kill it!”

Barto rolled around on the ground a few times, not even bothering to cry out in pain. He eagerly stared at the sword, as if it would evaporate on the spot the next second.

“I don’t get your hesitation. One life in exchange for so many families—do you know how hard we’ve had it?! Not to mention those who’ve committed suicide, I’ve seen at least a dozen people break down mentally!”

Damn. Nol could hear all this.

Teest immediately raised his head, looking in Nol’s direction. The monster’s face was a void of black, emotionless.

“You too, Dorothy! What’s with the pretense? People have sacrificed themselves to save a child plenty of times! It’s a monster. What secrets could it have? Are you worried about the ‘noble sacrifice’?”

Barto continued to spray spit in his urgency. “In the worst-case scenario, if it’s one of our own—then it should understand the reason even more! Does it want to live a good life while so many people continue to live in hell? If it’s such scum, then killing it is no loss!”

“Shut up.” Dorothy finally spoke up, unable to bear it any longer.

Barto: “Then why don’t you do it? Goddess, that sword isn’t reserved for Drake, is it?”

[Of course not, child.]

Tilia raised her voice, her gaze shifting away from Teest with a smile. [This is the glory bestowed upon the brave, equal in opportunity for everyone.]

[I promise, the power and flesh of the Demon King are enough to create a spatial pathway. I promise, I won’t harm you, and will send you back to your homeland. I promise, I will ensure the world of Tahe lasts forever… I promise, I will fulfill the wishes of the Hero.]

Her gaze swept over Barto, Lynn, Painter, and Teest. Then she lifted her head, and countless shimmering words appeared out of nowhere, forming a radiant contract.

Below the contract, a beautiful Goddess held the sword, waiting for her Hero.

Throughout, she never looked at Nol.

[Come, children.]

Her voice was soft and sweet, filled with a holy aura.

[The Demon King will not resist. Everything is destined…]

Teest had envisioned many scenarios. In each one, he wouldn’t waver in front of Star Stealer Sol.

Star Stealer Sol discovering his relationship with Nol wasn’t a big deal. It wouldn’t let them go either way. Star Stealer Sol taking away the remnants of Perradat didn’t matter, he never planned to use it. Even if Star Stealer Sol was the righteous side… he didn’t care which side held the “greater good”.

He only needed to do two things: observe Star Stealer Sol as much as possible and stand with his God.

But Teest hadn’t anticipated this.

Star Stealer Sol had never communicated directly with Nol, yet every word was meant for Nol to hear. It surely knew something about Nol—knew Nol was from a foreign world, knew Nol was kind-hearted, knew what Nol… most desired.

Nol created Paradise. In addition to his good nature, he must also have the guilt of “being the creator, inextricably linked to everything.” Teest had seen it in his eyes, felt it in his words.

Nol pursuit for the truth, beyond wanting to confront Star Stealer Sol, also harbored unease about his own anomalies. Nol’s unusual loss of control this time, Teest could taste his confusion and fear.

Sacrificing himself, a dangerous individual, for everyone to return home… a perfect option, tailor-made for Nol.

All Nol had to do was abandon Teest.

To abandon a lunatic who had yet to offer love, a relationship that was distant from the start.

Teest found he no longer wanted to look in Nol’s direction. He didn’t want to take that risk. He didn’t want Nol to make that choice… He didn’t want to hear that answer.

You said you wouldn’t leave me.

You said you’d always stay by my side.

Those flimsy promises, like sweet nothings whispered in bed, could they weigh more than the lives of so many of Nol’s compatriots?

Teest wasn’t sure—he couldn’t be sure. No, he knew the answer. He just didn’t want to admit it…

In Star Stealer Sol’s hand, the sword “Dominator” shone brightly, too dazzling for Teest’s liking. He couldn’t afford to be distracted and hesitate any longer. He had to think immediately, think about the next step—

Suddenly, darkness enveloped Teest’s vision.

A pair of monstrous hands covered his eyes. Nol had appeared behind him at some point.

[No, the Demon King will resist.]

In the midst of the cruel conversation, Nol’s voice sounded for the first time. His voice was calm and decisive, with a certain determination.

[Even if it’s destined.]

---

The author has something to say:

Realizing that without their significant other, neither can achieve a perfect ending…

If Teest wasn’t here, Nol might have really agreed (.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 164: In God’s Name

The assault on the undead dragon was about to begin and Teest was still absent.

Lynn was almost getting used to this—without Nol, Teest was like a gust of wind, not expected to stay by their side for long. When she brought back the serpentman who claimed to be Lilith, as expected, only Painter was in the tent.

“A prophet from the Priest Serpent Clan? At this time?” Painter raised his eyebrows.

“It’s a bit complicated.” Lynn sighed, explaining the situation as succinctly as possible.

After hearing it, the real “Saint” also showed a hint of confusion. “An innocent being suspected of imprisonment—it is indeed necessary to clarify the situation. But isn’t this too rushed?”

“I’ve considered it. Her strength lies in prophecy, and her own level isn’t high. We can handle it. If Barto has ulterior motives, it could be more troublesome,” Lynn said. “Let’s take her with us for now.”

The serpentman girl timidly hid behind Lynn, glancing at Painter with her four eyes, a flash of white light circling her pupils. Painter unconsciously frowned, examining the serpentman for a while. “I can set up a Holy Light Prison. During the battle, let’s temporarily keep her here.”

“No!” Lilith screamed sharply. “I don’t want to be locked up again. Please, take me with you. I’m a prophet. I can serve you—didn’t this sister just say, my abilities pose no threat to you?”

Lynn and Painter exchanged glances.

It sounded reasonable, yet suspicious. The reality was, if they left her behind forcefully, they wouldn’t learn more. Normally it might be okay, but in this event full of unknowns, this girl might become a clue, or with some luck, a key.

“You can follow, but I will cast a Holy Light Lock on you.” Painter said softly, “Your hands will be locked, and you won’t be able to cast spells. If you harbor ill intentions towards us, it will immediately bind you completely. Sorry, child, we have our concerns.”

“No problem!” Lilith puffed out her chest, full of reassurance. “Ah… wait.”

She snapped her fingers, and a mist seemed to envelop her, making her indistinct. When the mist dissipated, only a small snake, about the length of a forearm, remained. The small snake’s head bore two devil-like horns, and its four yellow eyes gleamed.

It flicked its tongue, shaking its head. “Now you can put the Holy Light Lock on me. This form is less threatening, right?”

After being locked by magic, Lilith climbed up Lynn’s arm and into her sleeve.

Lynn wasn’t very worried—she evolved from a Puppet Witch, and her original form was inanimate. Even if Lilith bit her, she would only break a few teeth.

“Let’s go.” She picked up Nol’s staff. “I guess that one won’t come back just to fetch us.”

She was right.

When the Amazon troops appeared on the battlefield, Teest was already there.

In the distance, the monster and the undead dragon seemed to freeze. The undead dragon lay quietly with the monster’s hand on its nose, like a bizarre and benevolent statue.

A fog spread around the monster, obscuring its true form from everyone. But the outline reflected in the mist was terrifying enough. The pressure felt like a razor blade scraping across one’s nerves.

…Is that Nol? Lynn gasped.

She knew Nol’s situation was complicated, but becoming this kind of monster? Why? No matter how you looked at it, that thing didn’t resemble a variant of a Dracolich, but something… something entirely new.

According to the dragon, Nol bore a knowledge seal.

But as the creator of “Tahe”, Nol possessed all the knowledge of the Tahe continent. His past had traces to follow, and his present was flawless, so what exactly was the “knowledge” sealed in his mind? Lynn couldn’t understand at all.

A kind of terrifying intuition made her reluctant to investigate further.

Lilith coiled around her wrist, tightening her constriction.

Dorothy herself stepped forward to command. In the shadows, she took a deep breath. “I’ll repeat once more—magic team, control your casting time, physical team, get ready to throw. Aim at the undead dragon. Do not attack the thing beside it. Retreat immediately if something goes wrong. Don’t be greedy.”

“The rest, flexibly support Drake’s team. Prioritize the lives of the team members. Prepare the short-distance teleportation items. Don’t hesitate. This is not the time to spare your items.”

Everyone silently responded, nodding like waves.

Lynn couldn’t help but look at Teest’s silhouette. This man hadn’t communicated with them before the battle—she guessed their strength was insufficient to partake in that plan—she was uncertain about Teest’s intentions.

This pair, hmm, each more mysterious than the other.

However, being hammered by reality over the years, Lynn was adept at dealing with “colleagues who don’t talk.” No matter, since they didn’t mind bearing the consequences of bringing her along, she would act according to her own thoughts.

Lynn’s fingertips lit up with a dim light again. Her two magic puppets, “Tom” and “Jerry”, twitched, and their movements suddenly became more agile than real people.

The undead dragon was Nol’s creation, so she would stand on Nol’s side. Regardless of Teest’s intentions, she wouldn’t just watch the dragon die.

“Charge—!” Dorothy commanded softly.

At the same time, Lynn heard Teest’s low chuckle.

“Respond, honey.” He stood still, murmuring almost inaudibly.

Lynn was about to act, then realized there was no need—countless heavy spells exploded in front of the undead dragon, completely dissolved by a thick magical barrier.

Within the barrier, the undead dragon curiously raised its head, its fleshless face showing a subtle curiosity like, “What are you guys doing?”

The outcome of physical attacks was even more desperate. The closer the spears and arrows got to the undead dragon, the slower they flew, eventually stopping mid-air and then clattering to the ground. After two waves of full-strength initial attacks, not even the tips of the undead dragon’s claws were scratched.

“So gentle.” Teest whispered, “I knew it would be like this.”

He casually beckoned with his finger.

The earth surged, and countless skeletons emerged from the ground, picking up the weapons that fell on the battlefield, turning towards Amazon’s side. Their decayed throats made hissing sounds, and their dark eye sockets were devoid of fire.

They were adorned with rotten armor and decayed clothes. Saddles hung on horse ribs, and hand axes were stuck to their spines… Among them, there were even a lot of fresh corpses. Although they looked more like clumps of meat sauce, Lynn still recognized the Eternal Church’s holy symbol among them.

The scent of death drifted across the battlefield.

This was Teest’s doing, Lynn was very certain.

After becoming the Supreme Domination Witch, she was very sensitive to all kinds of dominion magic.

In her memory, Nol only summoned pure undead monsters, while these in front… She couldn’t say for sure. They seemed like corpses being forcefully controlled—thoroughly dead things—but also carried a hint of the Mad Monk’s unique magical fluctuations.

The Mad Monk stood at the front line, his long sword pointing forward, his minions facing the “companions” at their backs.

…What a sinful commander.

“The first counterattack!” As expected, Dorothy misunderstood. “Destroy these monsters!”

After the initial attacks were thwarted, Amazon’s morale wasn’t high. However, their formation was very efficient. With Dorothy’s words barely falling for two seconds, magical radiance turned towards the approaching army of corpses.

But these were different from the undead monsters they had encountered before.

Destroying a skeleton’s head, the remnants would stand up again with scorched marks. Exploding the skeleton horses into pieces, the pieces would just move towards the people like a swarm of insects. The monster’s vicinity became a thorough no-life zone, with various forms of death dancing within.

The monster’s silhouette slightly lifted its head, as if focusing intently on enjoying all this.

In the midst of this magical bombardment, Teest charged towards Nol, his long sword “Betrayer” wrapped in pure platinum firelight, and his eyes seemed to be burning. The corpses that touched the long sword ignited, falling down, never to crawl around in their incomplete forms again.

Golden hair fluttered, while the blade blazed like the sun. If Lynn didn’t know the truth, even she would believe there was only a hero, as handsome as a god, before her.

Such a good performance.

Lynn raised her hand, casting several grand spells for visual effect. Painter also did his duty, bombarding with holy spells, with equal showmanship.

Nol’s protective barrier buzzed, and the fight seemed intense. But they all knew it would be okay.

With the Players’ firepower suppression, the army of corpses soon turned to dust. Even so, they didn’t disperse but clawed near the protective barrier, forming a gray-white “living” fog.

The scene was grand, but it couldn’t end this way.

The quest didn’t give a deadline. As long as Nol and the undead dragon weren’t “subdued,” the Players would be stuck here. A rough quest design. The designer didn’t care about “bottlenecks”—it obviously preferred Players to collapse, only wanting the war itself.

Lynn glanced at Teest from the corner of her eye.

The atmosphere is about right. What do you plan to do?

On her wrist, the cold Lilith tightened again.

Drake stopped.

The tip of his flaming sword lowered, and his hair was lifted up by the mist containing ashes, leaving several bloody marks on his cheeks.

In the wind, he gracefully raised the sword tip.

Dorothy sharply sensed something was off, raising a palm to signal a ceasefire.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t an enemy that can be dealt with from a distance.”

Drake’s voice was firm and clear. “The Demon King loves sacrifices. It seems someone must step forward, Miss Dorothy.”

‘So keeping distance doesn’t work? Players ultimately have to face death.’ Dorothy thought calmly.

“I’ll be the first to step forward and break through this detestable barrier for everyone,” Drake said. “Please direct your team to focus on healing me. Thank you.”

“If it doesn’t work out, retreat first.” Dorothy clenched her teeth. “You don’t need to make such a sacrifice. We can try a few more times—”

“Don’t worry. I won’t die, nor will I suffer irreparable consequences.”

Drake flashed an… overly sweet smile. “He’s watching over me. How could I possibly die?”

“……” Dorothy was silent for a few seconds. “All healing professions, focus on healing formation!”

“And you.” Teest turned to Painter, mouthing, “Playtime is over, Pope.”

Painter narrowed his eyes, ultimately nodding.

“Drake.” Lynn couldn’t help but speak out.

“Don’t worry, miss.” Teest turned his head, leaving the back of his head expressionless to everyone. “We all know, to break the Demon King’s defense, only the power of a god can do it.”

We know quite a few gods, but which one are you referring to? That was what Lynn really wanted to ask.

At the same time, she had a bad feeling. On her wrist, Lilith moved restlessly. Lynn glanced over the battlefield and, as expected, spotted Barto in the most securely defended area.

That bad feeling intensified.

“Drake—”

Before she could finish, Teest’s sword tip emitted a blinding light. The ground shook, and dark clouds quickly covered the sky. A terrifying power spread out, nearly knocking several lower-level fighters off their feet.

The ashy mist seemed to sense something, violently churning.

“Here, I summon my Lord, the Subordination God Perradat.”

Teest’s voice was clear and loud. “Please grant me the power to resist fate.”

…What?

Lynn’s heart skipped a beat while Lilith froze on her wrist.

This was definitely made up on the spot! They had just learned the name of Loser. Perradat was miserably hiding in some dark corner, unable to grant even a ball of yarn.

What the hell is going through the Mad Monk’s mind…

“Here, I summon my Lord, the Subordination God Perradat.”

Unfortunately, Teest repeated it. “Break free from your chains.”

Bloodstains began to appear on his body, a curse madly corroding his flesh. Under the top Players’ healing spells, those bloody wounds opened, healed, then opened again, like a blood-red flower about to bloom.

This time, even Painter’s composed expression faltered. In the midst of the storm, he widened his eyes at Teest.

“Here, I summon my Lord, the Subordination God Perradat.”

Ignoring the bloody mess on his body, Teest cheerfully repeated for the third time.

“…Please come to my side.”

Above and behind Teest, the air made a terrifying, booming sound. Numerous bizarre cursed chains emerged from the void, twisting and struggling, snapping one by one, turning into shadows.

As the cursed chains diminished, the silhouette in the air became more solid.

The gray-white, ashy mist flew over, wrapping around the figure. Its outline resembled a huge… uh, girl’s “head” topped with a white veil. The veil was decorated with lush vines and flowers, and her hands were gently hanging down.

Lynn internally cursed in standard Chinese.

She didn’t know if Painter could recognize it, but as a Supreme Domination Witch, she would never misjudge—this wasn’t any blood sacrifice to please a god. Teest was dominating the thing behind him!

Teest was dominating the remnants of Perradat.

What the hell is going on?

Lynn had never thought so quickly in her life—

Right, Star Stealer Sol forcibly intervened in the system, modifying the quest. Focusing its energy on suppressing the system would inevitably weaken its control elsewhere, making the remnants of Perradat easier to manipulate.

It wasn’t that there was an oversight in Star Stealer Sol’s plan—simply breaking free the shackles of Perradat’s remnants actually had no meaning. Just bringing this dangerous thing out of the Dragon’s Lair would require figuring out how to deal with the entire dragon race.

The problem was, this was Teest.

Possessing [King of Eternal Sleep], capable of granting the concept of death and then controlling it, Teest.

The headless girl they encountered initially had the ability to teleport. The Dragon’s Lair wasn’t far from here. Teest just needed to withstand Star Stealer Sol’s cursed chains, dominate the remnants, and command it to come out on its own.

Aside from the over-the-top crazy angle, the plan was actually quite feasible.

After all this, Teest never intended to complete the quest. He aimed to overturn the tables at the level of gods!

Perradat’s remnants were one of the heavyweight artifacts left in the world by Star Stealer Sol. Should this thing show any tendency of being abducted, Star Stealer Sol would definitely not just watch quietly.

Teest responded to Star Stealer Sol’s cruel opening move, but in a way that was even more… forceful and brutal.

“Praise my God.”

The smile on Teest’s face grew bigger, radiant to the point of not resembling “Drake” at all.

Behind him, the figure of the girl slowly opened her arms, emitting an even more terrifying aura. Teest’s power, combined with the power of Perradat’s remnants, caused Nol’s protective barrier to gradually crack.

Inside the barrier, Nol sat quietly, his face without features always facing Teest.

Behind Teest, the power of Perradat became increasingly tumultuous and dangerous. Dorothy hurriedly led the team to retreat by a dozen meters. In this bizarre atmosphere, she actually gained a bit of reassurance.

That such a monster was an ally and not an enemy was indeed a relief.

“Continue healing!” Under the oppressive force that felt like it could crush people into meat paste, she ordered hoarsely, “Assault the barrier. The target remains the same!”

Within the Player camp, magical lights lit up again. The light wasn’t as splendid as before, but it was several times fiercer.

Crack, crack. The magical barrier gradually peeled off, turning into scattered light.

The monster didn’t struggle or resist. Even though it had no eyes, a kind of gentle gaze seemed to brush over like feathers.

Choose, following the direction of the sword tip. Teest looked up at the sky, full of malice.

He would never harm Nol, but Star Stealer Sol didn’t know about their relationship. What’s more delightful was that, protected by “God’s Forsaken”, Star Stealer Sol never paid attention to him. It was too busy targeting the Demon King, unaware of him, a hidden opponent.

The only one capable of stealing the remnants of a False God was another False God.

If he really made a move to kill Nol, taking away Perradat’s remnants… in the eyes of Star Stealer Sol, he would be an extremely threatening, completely unknown target.

I know you’re watching Star Stealer Sol. Do you dare to gamble with your own safety?

Come out.

Within five seconds, a familiar quest pop-up appeared in front of Teest.

[Significant Changes to Area Environment.]

[Necromancer’s Curse [Hell Mode] forcibly terminated.]

[You have triggered a time-limited area quest: Divine Revelation.]

[Quest Completion Condition: Listen to the words of God together with the hero Drake.]

[Quest Reward: Issued by the hero Drake.]

[※Quest Introduction: Brave warriors, congratulations to you all. The special event of Hero Drake has been triggered ahead of schedule. The main storyline “Divine Revelation” has begun, and all current area quests are terminated.]

[※Area restrictions will be lifted after the mission ends.]

Teest hid his mocking smile.

He knew it would be like this—once he took to the stage, Star Stealer Sol would definitely spare Nol to “balance”.

The game now truly began.

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The author has something to say:

Nol: My Teest being a desktop cleanup master is pretty normal, right?

Teest: Laughing to death. Who wants to play by your rules? Come out (reaching for the trash can)

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