Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 79: Golden Thread

In the middle of the night, Crimson sat up in bed.

He had an uneasy feeling about the pale boy in the dungeon. The Eternal Church taught the child skills of killing and torture, as well as secret magic, and made him drink bottle after bottle of dangerous potions. Yet, they hadn’t taken enough defensive measures, as if they were storing a nuclear bomb in a junkyard.

Where did those fools get their confidence? Was it because the boy had always been obedient? Or because of the so-called prophecy of the Chosen One?

A future priest told him, [The Chosen One traces the river of fate and returns to the land of bountiful grapes—the darkness in his soul remains.]

The boy in the dungeon was almost pure white, which was an ironic twist.

Every time Crimson had such bad intuition, he would quickly leave the area. After all, this intuition had helped him avoid police surveillance and tracking countless times. It must come from his God.

Crimson wouldn’t mind staying out of the mess and watching the church burn. Compared to his own safety, the truth about past events was of no importance—curiosity was a serial killer’s worst enemy. But before seeking refuge, he wanted to take advantage of the situation.

He decided to sneak into the archives for one last try—even if he couldn’t see the prophecy, he might find other records, like when the boy first entered the church. Now that he knew the basic characteristics of the Chosen One, there were many ways to gather information.

Crimson put on his hood and silently left the room.

Deep in the dungeon.

Little Piel nervously gripped his new talons. The sharp talons on his forefoot almost cut his fingers. He looked haggard and tired but dared not close his eyes, shrinking like a startled bird.

The newly born demon was still adjusting to his body, unable to move outside or rest. Nol got some sweet milk with honey from Teest for Little Piel. The sweet taste and a touch of magic made Little Piel finally close his eyes.

“Now we finally have some time to ourselves.” Teest sighed. “It’s a pity we have to keep an eye on Crimson, though.”

“Can I see you first?”

Asking this felt somewhat bold, Nol thought, but he was genuinely concerned about the young Teest’s condition.

Teest smiled. “Of course, I always welcome your gaze.”

Nol looked up at the man on the stone. The adult Teest held his hand, the warmth in his palm giving a sense of displacement.

The young Teest had returned to his cage. He ignored the clean straw inside and curled up on the cold stone. His body lay sideways, curled up, reminiscent of a baby in its mother’s womb.

As the two approached, the young Teest opened his eyes. He propped himself up, looking around alertly—more vigilant than a wild animal in the wilderness. His hair was messy, but a perfect smile was already on his face.

It looked like a stress reaction.

Indeed, no matter how wild or indifferent the young Teest might act, pain was still pain, and no one liked to feel pain. In reality, Nol felt that the young Teest before him might need a hug even more than he did. However, fate could be unkind, and for now, he could only hold onto one of the boy’s fingers.

The blue flame flickered, and Nol gently waved his staff. A faint breeze passed by, causing the strands of hair stuck to the young Teest’s face to fall smoothly back behind his ear.

A fleeting look of confusion crossed the young Teest’s face. He played with his hair, and the curiosity in his eyes gradually overshadowed his vigilance.

“Let’s go,” Nol said after a long pause.

“So, we used to be this close?”

Teest casually adjusted his hair, seemingly indifferent.

“Yes.”

……

Crimson wasn’t hard to find.

The murderer from the future never expected there to be other “travelers”, so he didn’t bother to completely mask his presence. Nol sensed his aura. By the time they located him, Crimson had just left the bedroom.

The man, cloaked, headed towards the top of the church. Without hesitation, Nol and Teest caught the hem of his robe, swiftly climbed to the top of his hood, and squatted in a comfortable fold.

They watched as Crimson sneaked into the servant’s quarters, torturing the oldest servant for information about the location of certain documents. After he was done, they witnessed him killing an Eternalist—naturally, no one felt the need to stop him.

In a way, he was quite useful.

The document room was in the main tower of the church, and its defenses were weaker than they’d anticipated. The two rode on Crimson, smoothly reaching the archives of the Immortal Church.

[They actually hid the documents here.] Teest mused. [I previously thought this place was some kind of weapons storeroom.]

[Didn’t you discover this when you were young?]

[I didn’t investigate that thoroughly back then. There were many guards around,] Teest replied. [I’m bold, not stupid.]

Crimson didn’t care about the number of guards. He played a standard patrol-stealth game using his Player skills. If it weren’t for the unexpected guests on his head, his infiltration would have been nearly flawless.

Upon entering the archives, Nol finally felt a familiar sense of relief. He’d felt things were going too smoothly. See? Bad luck was bound to happen.

The archives was split into two. Their current space was filled with ancient books and scrolls locked in chains. Deeper in the archives was a door, carved from a single piece of magic stone—its magical defenses were hundreds of times stricter than the dungeon. Keyholes were placed on either side, clearly requiring two people to open.

“Damn it.” Crimson sighed.

[Do you think they placed the records of important treasures in the outer room?] Nol pondered with a touch of melancholy from atop Crimson’s head.

[Doubtful.] Teest shrugged. [On the bright side, at least we know where this place is. That’s significant progress.]

Crimson scanned the room for a while. He casually skimmed through magical research documents, examined the accounting section, and seemed to find nothing. Ultimately, he stopped at the work records of various priests.

“Feels like investigating a case. Being a detective is such a hassle. I can’t understand those masochists,” he mumbled while flipping through the thick volumes.

Nol paused.

The prophecies of the Chosen Ones were strictly confidential, but daily records would reveal some clues. The young Teest was definitely sent in by someone. Even he knew about the “recent decade”. As a Demon from the Eternal Church, Crimson surely knew more.

[You, first search for the ‘Eclipse Shield’ records. Someone needs to watch him.] Nol told Teest. [We can’t let him mess things up.]

Crimson particularly picked up the work record of a deceased priest, quickly searching the recent decade’s entries. The priests had taken pride in their misdeeds, recording their cruel acts in great detail.

As Crimson browsed, his expression grew more bitter.

From shock to anger to numbness, Nol’s emotions cycled. Teest had already roamed the room and returned, resting his head on Nol’s thigh, deep in sleep.

Finally, Crimson paused at a certain page and raised his eyebrows.

[……Today, I discovered the target indicated by God. He was so close to us.]

[His parents are troublesome, very protective, and quite wealthy. They need to be dealt with promptly. Given the right circumstances, we can instill hatred in the child…]

Below the diary entry was a hastily sketched map. Any other person might be clueless about the drawing, but Crimson just smiled and summoned a system map interface.

“Compare the specified image with the street distribution of Grape Collar,” he instructed while flipping the pages.

[…Today, I brought the child back.]

[His hair was disguised by his parents to look deep brown, like his siblings. Once the disguise spell was removed, I saw flawless white hair. This child is a White Demon, fitting for his status.] 

[This might explain why he was indifferent to the destruction of his family. He was born for us…]

Nol pursed his lips.

“…My parents were always lovey-dovey, disgustingly sweet to each other, without considering the feelings of their children,” Teest once confided in him. Nol noticed a bit of sincerity at that time—a sincerity that was extremely rare for the Mad Monk.

Was Teest truly indifferent? Nol wasn’t sure.

[…Today, I visited the child.]

[He’s more docile than other test subjects, smiling at me in his own blood. He doesn’t fear darkness or death. He surely is an angel for Lord Anstis…]

And then this child became the Mad Monk, hunting the loyal followers of “Lord Anstis” day in and day out for over a decade. Nol’s feelings were mixed.

Crimson closed the book, and at the same time, a system notification popped up and hung silently in front of him.

“Oh, I remember that cursed shithole.” Crimson poked a red dot on the notification. “Shouldn’t there be a quest? Hello? Are you there?”

The system remained silent.

Outside, daylight began to break. Crimson tore out the page and leaped out of the window. Nol held on to his robe that was rippled by the wind and remained silent as well.

……

“Well, now I understand why the inspection became stricter back then.”

Teest murmured dejectedly, tapping on Crimson’s head and dodging his fingers, trying to scratch his head.

“Turns out this guy snuck into the archives and was dumb enough to damage the books.”

At this time, the sun had completely risen.

Crimson casually bought some breakfast and ate while walking towards the location mentioned in the records. Nol and Teest still sat on his head; one with a complex expression, the other drowsy.

“Crimson might just leave. He has a good intuition for danger.” Teest stretched and nudged the daydreaming Nol. “Are you really coming out with him like this?”

“The Eternal Church will only visit Piel in the evening. The spell I gave him will let him sleep for most of the day,” Nol replied. “I prefer breathing fresh air than plotting in a dungeon.”

“Oh. Okay.” Teest casually grabbed some dew, wiping his face. However, the warm wind made his drowsiness persist.

Crimson probably planned to visit his home, which was quite a distance from here.

Leaning against Nol, Teest closed his eyes again. Nol tensed up, his heart beating rapidly. The whole act was unnecessary for his planned drama, he thought. Too much time had passed that Crimson wouldn’t find any information, and neither would Nol.

The Temple of Life and the Eternal Church buried everything long ago.

Perhaps it was the familiarity of the nearby streets that made Teest briefly dream of the past.

He dreamt of walking home along a long road, passing various blurry-faced people. He saw faceless parents and noisy siblings.

The closer he got, the more details he could see—grapevines in the yard, a swing, and the small peak of a majestic house. He remembered having a swing in his yard, thankful that the Eternal Church’s constant brainwashing hadn’t made him forget entirely.

A distorted figure stood at the door, its shape shattered like a shadow on waves.

“Welcome home,” his mother said, though he had long forgotten her voice.

She was holding a little baby in her arms, and he guessed his mother was smiling.

This was his past property, all of it. From the pointed house to his family and the wobbly swing in the yard.

Teest calmly observed the dream’s phantoms, neither warm nor nostalgic, just instinctively reaching for the gold wheel in his pocket. He realized that the coin was no longer with him.

It was now buried deep within Nol’s flesh—this was his property now, all of it.

Teest opened his eyes, seeing the ruins of the pointed house.

The house was burnt to a blackened skeleton, its remains covered by waist-high wild grass. The swing in the yard was gone, burned, and decayed in the mud. The tree that once held the swing had been cut down into wooden stakes supporting five rotting skulls in the middle of the courtyard. Four belonged to adults, one to a child, and all decayed to mere bones.

They were still in their original positions. Teest waved at them.

Beside him, Nol’s hair stood on end, goosebumps covering his body.

The scene was horrifying, but what was more terrifying was that the surroundings were bustling—neat courtyards to the left and right, lively shops. Passersby hurriedly walked past the desolate ground, blind to the tragedy in the courtyard.

This yard was like a single gap in a set of perfect teeth, with everyone pretending not to see it.

Crimson hummed. “So this is the place.”

There was obviously a hidden story. Years later, Players trying to investigate everything about this courtyard found no clues—the neighbors knew nothing of this family, even with five skulls displayed so prominently. No one knew who they were.

But now was years before that time. Perhaps someone still remembered.

Crimson looked around and knocked on a neighbor’s door.

Unfortunately, he still received responses like “I don’t know,” “Not sure,” and “They’ve always been there.”

So he went further, trying to ask older shops. The reactions from the merchants were more intriguing—those who knew kept silent, just smiling apologetically and saying the place was unlucky. Only an old man nearing sixty pointed down the street. “You have to ask the old weaver. She doesn’t believe in God.”

In this row of neat teeth, the “old weaver” had only one tooth left. The old woman, wrinkled and shriveled, looked like a creature. She sat in front of a very narrow grocery store, leisurely spinning yarn. Beside her, a basket was filled with a dozen finished balls of yarn.

The old woman’s hearing seemed as bad as her vision. Crimson asked her five or six times before she understood and confirmed he wasn’t a giant red goose.

“That family…”

She spoke slowly, leisurely spinning her thread. “That family, they’re all cultists, impure believers, harboring blasphemous things in their home… so the Temple of Life killed them all, burned everything. That’s what everyone says…”

“Do you remember their surname? Or any of the members’ names?” Crimson asked cheerfully.

Indeed, his God still loved him. This old woman was so frail. She seemed as if she could die with just a gentle push. No wonder she wasn’t around a decade later. Once he returned, he’d pass this information on to the Eternal Church. Fabrications would be exposed, but he was trading in truth. It would certainly withstand all scrutiny.

“The Flama family… They used to run a jewelry shop. A lovely couple, quite likable… but it was all an act, everyone says so…” The old lady strained to remember. “Names… I don’t remember the names. I can’t think of them.”

Good, that was enough. The survivors of the Flama family, the beautiful White Demon. Speaking of which, having an exact age would be even better. “Do you remember their children? Their ages will do.” Crimson’s tone was noticeably gentler.

The old woman stopped spinning, looking at him with eyes almost completely hidden beneath her eyelids, only revealing the dark pupils.

After a moment, she finally answered.

“I remember. I remember they had four children—four lovely children. I’ve seen them…”

“I need the ages, ma’am,” Crimson reiterated. Of course, he knew about the four children. He had just seen the last one not too long ago.

“You ask too many questions.” The old woman coughed twice. “Buy a ball of yarn, young man.”

Such a troublesome old lady. Crimson casually tossed a gold wheel into her basket. “Is that enough? Continue.”

The old woman stared at the gold wheel, glistening attractively in the morning sun.

She fumbled at the bottom of the basket and pulled out a small ball of yarn.

“Four children,” she said. “One of them joined the Eternal Church at the age of seven, was discovered… and then people realized the whole family had issues. That’s what everyone says…”

“Alright, here’s your yarn, young man.”

The yarn of golden thread in her hand shimmered.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 78: The Real Demon

“No! Don’t come over—!”

Piel struggled inside the cage. His treatment wasn’t as “good” as the young Teest. The Eternalist used magic to pin him to a corner of the cage, ready to force-feed him a potion.

Desperately writhing, tears filled Piel’s eyes. “Mr. Fairies, Mr. Fairies, save me… wuwuwu. I don’t want to die!”

At that moment, two “fairies” stood on the straw, not far away. Teest hugged Nol protectively in anticipation of what might come next, but this time Nol didn’t rush forward.

Piel was destined to become a Supplement Demon, and nothing could change that fact. All they could do was watch.

The Eternalist held Piel’s chin like he was force-feeding livestock, pouring a flask of bright red potion down his throat. Holding Piel’s neck as one might hold a small chicken, the boy’s flesh began to distort and swell.

Blisters formed on Piel’s neck, bursting rapidly, and a yellowish fluid splashed everywhere, filling the surroundings with a pungent, sweet stench. Piel no longer screamed. He gasped for breath like a bellows, his whole body convulsing as if electrocuted.

Only then did the Eternalist let go. Wiping the pus off his hands with decorum, a satisfied expression appeared on his square face.

He then took a small statue of the Eternal Son from his pocket, murmuring incantations. Countless shining points of light flew out from the decaying flesh, extinguishing next to the statue.

Something warm seemed to have vanished. Nol felt a drop in the surrounding temperature.

When the Eternalist moved away, Nol approached the unrecognizable mass that was once Piel. This time, he was able to cast a pain relief spell smoothly. Whether the spell took effect or Piel had simply fainted was unclear.

After observing for a few minutes and ensuring that Piel hadn’t died on the spot, the Eternalist recited a few prayers and left with delight.

The oppressive silence returned.

Facing the flesh that once was Piel, Teest and Nol looked into each other’s eyes. Nol’s breathing was a bit rapid, and Teest could see shock and anger on his face, but they were just right.

Hmm, Nol didn’t seem to need a hug.

His Lich’s growth had matured. Perhaps Teest would never see him break down again. Touching his chin, Teest was unsure whether to feel happy or melancholic.

Nol gently touched the exposed flesh.

Piel’s skin had completely fallen off. The exposed muscles, covered in pus, were slippery and foul-smelling, with thin, twisted blood vessels clearly visible. Something was about to emerge from this pulsating flesh—either a new Supplement Demon or a grotesque corpse.

Closing his eyes, magical light emanated from Nol’s fingers, spreading across Piel’s body.

“What are you doing?” Teest picked a clean piece of straw and watched with interest. “He’s already turned. You can’t revert him.”

Nol didn’t answer. His silhouette looked utterly focused.

It took fifteen minutes before he finally dropped his hand, looking almost exhausted. The massive lump of flesh that was Piel still lay soft in the cage corner, with nauseating protrusions stretching out like a snail’s eyes.

“Griffin,” Nol said solemnly. “The potion they fed him contained griffin… I detected the unique magical fluctuations of a griffin.”

So, Nol was exploring the transformation process of the Supplement Demon.

Impressive. He even knew the magic fluctuations of monsters. The game design of this otherworld was so detailed that even Nol, a “participant”, knew so much.

Teest involuntarily narrowed his eyes. “Okay, griffin, so what?”

“That’s why the ‘rejection’ is so severe,” Nol replied, pressing his hand on Piel again. “It’s like organ transplant… Never mind, the potion is forcibly merging the magic circuits of two species.”

The Supplement Demon was born from this strange potion, and its effect reminded Nol of the “Fallen Death” skill—albeit a basic, primitive version.

If it had to be said, “Fallen Death” was a pure and unadulterated transfer of power. The actions of the Eternal Church were more akin to forcibly integrating the flesh of other species into humans, without distinction. Most of the test subjects would die and only those with great resilience or a unique constitution would survive.

However, they couldn’t escape the random mutations caused by this reckless fusion.

Only Teest was special. His undefined Player privileges likely played a role in that, Nol thought. A Player’s healing abilities weren’t just limited to mending wounds—it also included an “original form restoration” effect.

Little Piel wasn’t so lucky.

His heartbeat was frighteningly fast at the moment, his organs were decaying and morphing, and his blood had almost become a pus-mixed liquid. His physical condition was even worse than a freshly dead body. Healing spells simply wouldn’t work on such extreme mutations.

Nol held his breath, deeply concentrating, his brow furrowed.

Indeed, according to Teest, even if he did nothing, Piel would survive. Just like when Piel was caught earlier. Without his warning, Piel might’ve just been beaten up but would still have survived…

The universe might not care about the pain of this little boy, but someone did.

Nol’s fingertips shimmered once more. An unusual bluish glow followed Piel’s blood vessels, delving into the mass of deformed flesh.

Teest gently expressed his astonishment, moving closer to observe.

The “Fallen Death” skill was too intricate for Nol to replicate without aid. However, even a superficial imitation was better than the effects of the terrifying potion.

The faint glow waxed and waned, and the lump of decaying flesh gradually reduced in size. The pus-like smell weakened. The mass became somewhat transparent, encasing a fluid reminiscent of amniotic fluid, within which a monstrous figure curled up.

It looked like a meticulous surgery. Nol didn’t dare breathe as he devoted himself to adjusting the magic, calculating every move.

Merging circuits, reshaping physiologies…

Untangling conflicting magical currents… Cautiously, ever so cautiously…

At last, the quivering liquid sack burst open, and a trembling figure emerged, collapsing weakly on the ground, resembling a newborn puppy.

“I see,” Teest whispered. “I thought he naturally had such abilities. I didn’t realize you’d helped.”

It was a perfectly typical monster.

Its upper body resembled Piel, but below the waist, it was covered in nearly black, dark brown fur.

The boy’s lower body was joined to a beast’s, with four massive claws still twitching: the front resembling bird talons and the rear resembling lion’s paws. From Piel’s lower back sprouted two wet, powerful wings, currently drenched, making them appear pitiable.

The top half was human, and the bottom was a black griffin.

Little Piel’s hair had grown considerably, still damp. His deep purple Eyes of Truth remained. He lay on the ground, coughing continuously, his face displaying exhaustion and confusion. Despite being young, the transformed griffin body wasn’t that large, leaving some space within the cage.

“Mr. Fairies…” He reached out to Teest and Nol, his voice raspily whispering. “My… My body feels so heavy…”

“Congratulations.” Teest chuckled. “If you still want to be a knight, at least you don’t need to save up to buy a horse now.”

Piel laboriously turned his head to inspect his body, his eyes widening in shock. He seemed to want to scream but lacked the strength to produce any sound, opening and closing his mouth silently.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Nol exhaled. “He’s stable for now.”

Piel tried to lift himself using his arms but failed pitifully. He then tried to move his unfamiliar claws, flapping about on the spot. Even after realizing he’d turned into a monster, tears filled his eyes. Yet, compared to the other horrifying monstrosities around him, Piel didn’t utter a single word of complaint. He might not have been the brightest, but he wasn’t so naive as to not recognize who’d aided him.

With the last of his energy, Nol cast a drying spell on Piel. His fur and wings finally dried, making him look significantly fluffier.

[Want a spoiler?] Teest produced a raisin, offering half to Nol. [About this child or about me.]

The sweet raisin alleviated Nol’s dizziness, allowing him to focus on Teest.

The Mad Monk looked unchanged, as if they weren’t living a horrific past but merely watching a movie. The person he liked remained cunning and cruel.

[Did you plan this adventure specifically to showcase your experiences… ‘The Tragic Past of the Mad Killer’? You’re showing me this, not because you want my pity, I presume.]

Nol tried to maintain his composure, gripping the raisin tightly.

Every time Teest posed such rhetorical questions, Nol felt exasperated. As Teest took a step forward, he had to reciprocate by stepping back, and vice versa.

Teest seemed to treat it as some kind of “see how well you understand your significant other” game.

He didn’t want to sound so… hurtful, but Nol knew Teest probably didn’t want to hear how “heartbroken” he was.

[…The Mad Monk I know isn’t that boring, so I’d like to keep some suspense.] Nol concluded.

Teest smiled contentedly, taking it as a compliment. [Oh, don’t get me wrong. I just didn’t want you to impulsively rush out without notifying me. Honestly, I never imagined you’d care about me so much.]

‘Believe me, I care about you more than you can imagine,’ Nol thought.

However, he was trying to control his growing affection, understanding the need to maintain a delicate balance.

Regardless of how much he liked Teest, in the end, he would uncover the truth of the world and return to his world. Since an ending was inevitable, investing too much emotionally wasn’t wise.

Especially when the other party was the “Mad Monk”.

Nol looked into Teest’s eyes, only to find that his gaze was lifted, looking right behind Nol.

“Good evening.”

The young Teest’s voice sounded from behind Nol.

In that brief moment, Nol felt his hair nearly stand on end and quickly turned around.

The young Teest had somehow left his cage and was now standing outside of Little Piel’s cage. He wore a brand new white robe, was barefoot, and seemed to glow in the dark, appearing like a ghost not belonging to this world.

At this moment, the young Teest didn’t sound obedient at all, and even his voice wasn’t as clear. His voice had the hoarseness typical of teenagers, combined with the jovial tone characteristic of the Mad Monk.

“I came to greet the new member. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone who looks so normal.”

Due to the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, the young Teest’s gaze went straight past the two of them to Little Piel on the ground. “Hello. Can you still understand human speech?”

“How… How are you outside?” After a few seconds of hesitation, Little Piel asked the question Nol was most concerned about.

“Because the Eternalists are idiots.”

The young Teest made a face, showing a mischievous smile. “‘He’s so obedient, My Lord. He’s perfect, My Lord’… Wow, they never considered that I might still have a brain.”

Little Piel swallowed hard, struggling to prop up his upper body. “I know how to escape!” He unnecessarily looked around, anxiously saying, “We… We can escape together. You help me move, and I’ll guide the way…”

The young Teest paused for a moment, the smile on his lips growing wider.

He grabbed the cage bars, pressing his beautiful face against them.

“I know, I know. By blocking the magic on the stone door with metal, you can leave the dungeon. I figured that out seven years ago.”

“As for the exit—are you talking about the side door in the west hall or the secret passage to the north? There’s also a small exit in the southern cellar, which might be too narrow for your size.”

Nol and Little Piel were both stunned.

There was now a bit more fear in Piel’s voice. “So, you could have escaped…”

“If I pretend to be an obedient fool, they provide me with power for free and teach me knowledge I can’t learn outside. With such favorable conditions, why would I leave?” the young Teest asked with genuine confusion.

Lunatic.

Piel shrank back into a corner of the cage, his claws retracted onto his belly, and the fear on his face deepened.

“Well, I don’t expect you to understand,” the young Teest mused. “Hmm… you can still think and speak, so I might as well take a gamble.”

With that, he pierced two fingers into his shoulder and pulled out a tiny gold wheel from his flesh.

Upon seeing the coin, Nol instinctively swallowed. An identical coin lay dormant in his flesh, with matching surface scratches.

Piel’s fur stood on end. “What are you gambling on?”

“I’m deciding whether or not to kill you,” the young Teest said nonchalantly. “I don’t like unexpected changes to my plans—I have something very important to do soon, and it might kill me. You showed up at a bad time.”

Little Piel shivered in fear. “I swear I won’t get in your way, really! I just want to leave here. I definitely don’t want to cause trouble…”

He clawed at the straw on the ground, as if hoping it would protect him.

The young Teest laughed. “But I don’t believe you.”

He tossed the bloody coin into the air and caught it on the back of his hand. “You choose first, ‘King’ or ‘Sun’?”

Little Piel looked helplessly at the fairies, and the adult Teest gave a subtle smile.

​[Sun,] he mouthed to Little Piel.

“I choose sun,” Little Piel replied with a dry voice.

“Wow, you guessed it right.” the young Teest moved his hand away, pushing the coin back into the wound as naturally as putting it back in a pocket. “Alright, I won’t kill you. Goodnight, my new friend—I’ll visit you tomorrow if you’re still alive.”

“Why?” Little Piel clenched the straw, having a myriad of questions to ask. In the end, he could only squeeze out this vague interrogative word.

“Why don’t I kill you?” The young Teest paused in his steps. “Because they keep chanting about this and that destiny for me. I guess before I fulfill that so-called prophecy, ‘fate’ will keep me alive—so if it doesn’t want me to kill you, then I won’t.”

Little Piel’s expression grew more vacant, utterly puzzled by the boy’s train of thought.

“Or perhaps, you want to ask why I don’t trust you.”

The young Teest turned around, hands behind his back, with a smile too bright to be believed. “Because you’re normal, and a normal person here would go mad sooner or later—if you don’t believe it, ask yourself a question.”

Facing away from the darkness, the cage, and the endless flesh, the pale boy covered his mouth and chuckled.

“Do you still remember your own name, new friend?”

“Of course!” Annoyed by the question, Little Piel raised his voice. “My name is! …My name is… Eh? I… “

What was his name again?

He remembered the past, no doubt, but he couldn’t recall his own name.

How did the fairies address him earlier? What was his name? …Who was he?

“That’s the first thing they take from you, and it’s just the beginning. Following the process, next will be your dignity, your sanity, and yourself.”

The young Teest slightly tilted his head, sweetly saying, “But you’re lucky. Your suffering won’t last long.”

“Honey, see how well you know me.” Simultaneously, Teest’s body leaned onto the still-stunned Nol. “This is not some ‘tragic past of a mad killer’—it’s far from it—”

In Nol’s view, the young Teest hummed a tune, hopping between the cages. His fingers brushed past the cold iron bars, producing musical notes.

As if he was performing.

The pale figure gracefully danced, gradually melting into the darkness.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 77: Ten Years

The demon dungeon was no smaller than the Lost Tower. Much to Nol’s surprise, their departure was smooth.

Half of the credit went to the “native” of the place, Teest, and the other half to Little Piel’s Eye of Truth. Complex illusions and deceptions seemed non-existent in front of the boy, and the group quickly found the exit—

A thick stone door adorned with magical patterns. It was about six times as tall as Piel, shimmering with magical light.

“Do as I say next.” Teest took a copper coin from his pouch and handed it to Piel. “See the patterns on the door? Use the coin to block the fifth one from the bottom and the eighth one from the left—it’s just the width of the coin.”

Darkness loomed behind them, accompanied by eerie, crying groans. Little Piel, trembling, followed the instructions, nearly dropping the coin.

When the coin covered both patterns, the door’s glow dimmed.

Teest and Nol jumped off the boy’s shoulders, each pushing the stone door from one side. The heavy door slowly slid open, and Piel squeezed through like a paper slipping through a crack.

Outside was a curved corridor with torches burning faintly, barely illuminating the nearby area. There were no windows in the corridor, and the air smelled like wet dust, which was a better odor than inside the dungeon.

They didn’t sense any immediate dangers.

Nol sighed with relief. It seemed Little Piel was destined to be captured by the Eternalists, but there was no need for him to stay in that nightmarish dungeon.

Looking at Nol for a moment, Teest asked, “The church exit or the archives? I only know the location of the exit. We’ll have to search for the archives.”

Nol looked back suspiciously.

It was unusual for the Mad Monk to ask for his opinion instead of subtly taking control—something was off. Teest had been too honest lately.

“Let’s head towards the exit first.”

Hoping to get Piel out of the whirlwind of events, Nol chose the answer Teest might not like.

“Alright, follow me.” Teest simply shrugged.

Having left the terrifying dungeon, Piel’s complexion improved significantly. Under the cover of the invisibility spell, he walked barefoot on cold steps, his pace quickening.

They seemed to be moving inside a shell. As they ascended, the walls of the corridor transitioned from rough bricks to exquisite murals. There were armors with long swords that reflected sharp lights.

Little Piel’s pace slowed as they were drawn to the captivating murals. Nol, standing on his shoulders, looked intently. All he knew about the Eternal Church was its cruel, anti-human beliefs. He hadn’t truly understood how they portrayed themselves from within.

[Interested?] Teest’s thoughts reached him perfectly.

[Mm.] Nol tried to take in the “overly large” mural in front of him.

Teest jumped next to Nol, pointing with a pocket watch hand. [Let’s start from here. This is the origin of the Eternal Church legend…]

God created a perfect world. The land was fertile, without diseases or disasters, and all beings lived in eternal happiness.

One day, darkness suddenly enveloped the land. The Demon King awakened from the abyss, spreading his corruption. Grand civilizations and beautiful creatures vanished, leaving only grotesque monsters and piles of corpses.

The great Eternal Son protected the few surviving beings, taking the corruption onto himself and pushing back the darkness. Eventually, the Demon King was forced to the other side of the Endless Sea, and the beings reclaimed the scarred land.

During this pivotal time, the Eternal Son was betrayed by Goddess Tilia. She claimed to be the “Goddess of Life”, slandered the injured Eternal Son as a false god, and stole the world that rightfully belonged to him.

The Eternal Son, full of compassion, continued to purify the corruption with his body, believing he would be reborn with the blessings of all beings.

[…That’s the gist of it,] Teest concluded. [The version from the Temple of Life is pretty much the same, but the ‘traitor’ changes from the Goddess of Life to the Eternal Son.]

The destruction of all things during the Dark Age was also mentioned in historical records, aligning with the game setting. However, Nol had never set up such a fantastical battle between gods and demons in his work. He always felt that such tales were made up.

Considering the nature of the Eternal Church, rather than “rebirth in the blessings of all things”, it was more like the Eternal Son was drowning in the drool of everything.

Looking at those murals, Nol curled his lips. “I guess there aren’t many truths.”

“Well, you can’t expect cultists to possess the virtue of ‘sincerity’.”

Teest laughed and shook his head, tugging at Piel’s earlobe. “Kid, we’re approaching the side hall. Remember to walk along the wall.”

“Oh.” Piel swallowed nervously and turned nervously.

Regarding the surroundings, Nol could now discern that they were previously deep underground and were now near the surface. Sunlight streamed in through windows—their warm rays fragmented by the lattice-like design, casting a glow on the pointed window frames. The dark-colored bricks and floors inside still remained shrouded in darkness. The dungeon’s darkness felt like the bottom of the deep sea, but here, the darkness was velvety and soft.

Piel saw the side door of the church. Through the glass, vibrant green branches were visible. The lively world was just a few steps away, and he couldn’t resist quickening his pace toward the door.

“Who—!!”

Suddenly, a decorative armor by the door trembled slightly, dropping its sword with a crisp and loud noise. Startled, Little Piel covered his mouth and nose and quickly hid in the shadow of a nearby sculpture.

The door opened, and a robust Eternalist entered the side hall, looking around. He bent down, placed the sword back in position, and exited.

Piel hid for a good fifteen minutes before emerging. By this time, the sunlight had an orange tint, and the sky outside was painted red by the setting sun. He took a deep breath, staring intently at the light, and began to tiptoe towards the door.

Clang, clang, clang—!

Even with Nol on the lookout, the long sword still fell without any warning. Piel stood dumbfounded in place, tears almost coming out. When he hid behind the statue this time, he lightly sniffled.

“Who?!”

A few minutes later, the Eternalist entered again. He frowned at the armor and cast two curses at it. Seeing that the armor didn’t react, he cursed under his breath and pulled out a communication crystal.

Nol raised his staff, about to make a move, but that intense feeling of “can’t do it” emerged again.

“Something’s wrong with the small door in the west hall…” On the other side, the Eternalist had already sent out the message.

“Let’s call it a day,” Teest said without much regret. “They’re on their guard now. Even if you could run out, you wouldn’t get far—they’ll go to the dungeon to see you soon. It’s time to go back.”

Piel stayed in place, his deep purple eyes staring blankly at the sky. He gently lifted his hand, seemingly trying to grasp a ray of sunlight.

“You must return on your own. Once they find out you’ve escaped, you’ll die even faster,” Teest warned.

“…Okay, Mr. Fairy,” Piel replied with a whisper a few moments later.

[Once the kid sleeps, we’ll look at the archives in the second half of the night,] Teest proposed in his mind.

Nol, on the other hand, turned his head and glared intensely at the long sword.

Is this how fate “gets back on track”?

Piel didn’t need to be in the dungeon, but he still couldn’t leave this church? It seemed Piel’s future indeed had some room for maneuver, but it was limited.

“…Checking a file… How troublesome…” From around the corner, a familiar voice emerged.

Upon hearing a keyword, Nol abruptly turned his head. His neck made a “crack” sound, startling Teest next to him.

“Can we go back from that direction?” Nol quickly asked Teest.

“We can, we can,” Teest whispered, their heads touching.

“Go that way! That way!”

Nol hurriedly tugged at Little Piel’s hair—the boy’s hair was so dark brown it almost looked like the color of black coffee, making Nol, from Country C, feel a sense of closeness.

Little Piel obediently walked on. As they approached, the voice became clearer.

“…There should always be people from other churches coming to exchange information, right? Has Priest Bonds always been this obstructive?” Crimson asked with a frivolous tone.

“My Lord, Priest Bonds is the strongest and strictest priest here. He’s not targeting you specifically,” the guiding Eternalist responded, nodding and bowing. “He himself is a Chosen One, so he’s especially cautious, My Lord.”

What does that mean?

Nol perked up his ears. Was Crimson back to “exchange information”?

“How interesting. So he has been in the dungeon too?” Crimson continued, “I’ve always been curious. There’s a Supplement Demon that comfortably eats humans while being the lord of a city, while others live in dungeon cages with test subjects, risking eating strange creatures and being tortured daily—”

“—Yet, they are loyal to the Eternal Son.”

As he said this, Crimson chuckled. “The Chosen Ones sure are patient.”

“They are destined to become powerful advanced monsters. Trials will make them stronger and more submissive. It’s God’s will, My Lord,”

The guiding Eternalist explained cautiously. “That’s exactly why Mr. Bonds is careful with the ‘Chosen One’ records. If you knew the corresponding prophecy, you’d have some insight into the Chosen One’s fate… Most Chosen Ones don’t want to be observed.”

“So you’re saying, some choose to be open about it?” Crimson raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, Mr. Bonds takes pride in the prophecy about him.” The guide drew a circle over his chest reverently. “The loyal servant will witness a miracle and he will die under God’s gaze.”

“…This is his prophecy.”

Teest gave a silent snort.

Nol looked at the Teest’s side profile, frantically processing everything he had just heard. He had previously heard a bit about the divine selection mechanism from the Player siblings, but he never expected to confront it directly now.

Crimson went back to the past to check the archives of the “Chosen Ones”, so this person’s actions had nothing to do with the “Eclipse Shield”. Perhaps they could take this opportunity to sneak into the archives.

The question was, why did the Eternal Church suddenly become curious about a Chosen One whose information had been lost for twelve years? …Were the Chosen Ones of the Eternal Church destined to become incredibly powerful Supplement Demons?

Nol looked at Teest’s indifferent face.

…Are you also a Chosen One? A Chosen One who received a prophecy from the “Eternal Son”?

Little Piel timidly followed behind Crimson, listening as he rambled on, ready to turn around and head back to the dungeon at any time. To their surprise, when they reached the entrance of the dungeon, Crimson was still wandering in front.

“God’s Chosen One is inside. Currently, we only have one in our church,” the guide said. “It’s just about time for his medication. If you have any doubts about his identity, you can observe from the side.”

……

As expected, the two of them stopped in front of Teest’s cage. Little Piel hid around the corner, poking his head out slightly with Nol.

“Hello, sir.” A dozen steps away, the young Teest raised his eyes and looked at Crimson.

His voice was soft, polite, and courteous. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“The Lord’s Chosen One, it’s time for your medicine.”

The guide made a circle gesture on his chest and bowed respectfully to the young boy in the dark cage, making the scene seem rather absurd.

“Yes.”

The young Teest approached the cage bars and gently extended both hands. His slender arms fit perfectly through the metal bars, as if reaching out for an embrace.

Crimson’s silhouette stiffened unusually. He stood silently watching.

Nol also held his breath, observing everything in front of him. Meanwhile, the adult Teest stood beside him, intently watching Nol’s face.

The guide took out a black silk cloth from his chest, which held a three-necked flask. The flask was filled with a bubbling black-green viscous fluid.

It reminded Nol of the stimulant potion of the Lord of Whitebird City—a potion mixed with human corpses that was dark red in color and nowhere near as terrifying as the one in front of him.

Upon seeing the potion, the young Teest obediently knelt down. Drawing a circle on his chest and with his eyes slightly closed, he softly chanted a prayer. With that face, he looked like an innocent sacrifice from a fairy tale.

Crimson gripped the iron bars expressionlessly, looking down at the young Teest.

The young boy smiled sweetly at him and took the flask, drinking the terrifying liquid entirely. Even when he finished the last drop, there was still a smile on his lips.

‘Great,’ Nol thought. ‘It seems the reaction wasn’t as…’

Suddenly, there was a muffled sound.

Under the gaze of several eyes, the young Teest exploded.

To be precise, the boy’s skin burst entirely, splattering fragments everywhere like confetti. In that moment, the terrifying flesh began growing wildly, almost filling the entire cage. Beneath the red tissue, countless creatures seemed to be struggling to escape, causing the fragile flesh to constantly quiver.

The beautiful boy lost his human form in an instant, leaving only a wildly throbbing… mass of flesh in the cage. There was no scream or moan, and even breathing was barely audible. The deformed flesh kept expanding and contracting, decaying rapidly. Strange limbs grew and enlarged rapidly, then quickly withered and broke off. This body seemed to be blindly seeking a new form, like plant roots desperately searching for water.

The air was filled with the scent of fresh flesh.

Crimson took two steps back, and the nearby demons grew restless, causing their cages to rattle.

Between the gaps of the squirming flesh, a thin human hand dangled weakly, twitching continuously, as if wanting to grasp something but lacking the strength to do so.

This was a movement typically seen in those on the brink of death.

Little Piel’s legs gave way, and he wet himself. The child fainted without even letting out a scream.

All expressions vanished from Nol’s face. Before his mind could process, his body lunged towards the young Teest.

…But as soon as he took a step, he was held back by a strong embrace.

“Shh—”

Teest tightly held Nol, restraining the arm holding the staff, with his other hand covering Nol’s mouth and forcing his head back. “It’s all in the past, remember? Everything has already passed, honey.”

God’s Chosen One, Supplement Demon, fate…

Nol’s mind was almost blank, with only one thought left.

“Pain relief spell… at least… no pain…”

“No, no,” Teest’s breath was right next to his ear, and he even sounded pleased. “I’m sorry, but no. Trust me, I’ve been through this—”

Nol managed to free one hand.

He extended his left arm, which wasn’t holding the staff, attempting to cast the pain relief spell. However, just as the magical array began to form, his entire left arm disintegrated into ash, vanishing into thin air.

They could even see the smooth cut surface at the shoulder, where flesh and bone were exposed directly to the outside, and the annihilation was still spreading upwards.

Teest exerted almost murderous strength, this time holding Nol firmly in his embrace, and the terrifying annihilation finally ceased. Late in realization, Teest noticed that a thin layer of sweat had formed on his back.

“It seems that pain relief makes people aware of anomalies.” This time, Nol cast a pain-relieving spell on himself, squeezing out words from between his teeth. “This consequence is more troublesome than I imagined…”

“Are you joking?” Teest wasn’t laughing anymore.

“The ‘warning’ I just received wasn’t severe. It was worth a try.”

Nol’s fingertips were extremely pale. His lips still quivered, and his tone sounded as if he was speaking in a daze. “We must figure out where the boundary is… Now we know that slight defiance won’t lead to the death penalty. The laws of this universe are quite lenient…”

“What if you really disappeared? What then?” Teest stared intently at Nol.

Drenched in sweat from pain, Nol’s left arm bone was slowly recovering. “Haven’t I answered you? Seeking 100% safety isn’t an ‘adventure’…”

“…And you also have a prophecy on you, don’t you, Mr. Chosen One?”

“No matter if it’s for the truth or for you, I must find out.”

After saying this, Nol looked again in the direction of the young Teest.

The horrifying transformations slowly subsided. The Eternalist closed his eyes and began to cast healing magic on Teest. The terrifying growth quickly dried up, and the protruding bones and organs gradually returned to their original positions. The bluish-black flesh peeled off layer by layer, and the silvery white hair gathered again, revealing a slender human form.

Ten minutes later, a nearly lifeless young Teest knelt on the ground.

He covered his body with a piece of leather-like dried skin, breathing with violent tremors.

“By God’s blessing… cough cough, may everything be eternal…” he said, lifting his face with an unexpectedly obedient tone.

The Eternalist leaned forward and magically produced a white robe. He draped it over the young Teest, who then revealed a sweet smile.

“As you can see, My Lord.”

The Eternalist turned to Crimson and slightly bowed. “Even if other Chosen Ones drink a potion mixed with monster blood, they will become absolute monsters. Only this one is special—only this one is perfect. A simple healing spell is enough for him to revert back. Even if left alone, he will recover slowly, but it would take more time, and the rotten flesh growth isn’t easy to clean… We’ve verified it before.”

“He is indeed special,” Crimson said dryly, with no trace of frivolity in his tone. “How many times have you fed him the potion?”

“Once every seven days, My Lord.”

The data wasn’t precise enough. Crimson paused in thought. “How long have you been feeding him?”

“Almost ten years, My Lord.”

Nol gripped Teest’s hand tightly, his expression becoming distorted. No amount of mental preparation, not even the pain from the dismemberment, made him feel as sick as he did now. He looked at Teest incredulously.

Teest’s expression was odd, somewhat satisfied, yet somewhat displeased, like a child who received candy, only to find out it wasn’t the flavor he liked.

The only relief for Nol was that the horrific torture didn’t seem to have left a scar on the Mad Monk. Faced with this brutal scene, Teest’s reaction was even milder than if he’d seen a small cake.

Noticing Nol’s gaze, Teest playfully made a face at him.

“This Chosen One has never had any issues. Do you need further verification of his identity?” The conversation continued in the distance.

“I need some time to think.” Crimson turned away. “We can discuss this tomorrow. We have time, don’t we?”

“Goodbye, My Lord.”

The young Teest, now dressed in the white robe, stepped over the dried flesh and blood on the ground and sat back on the white stone. His cheeks and lips were devoid of color, as if he had truly turned into a statue.

Yet, he still smiled weakly.

Crimson didn’t respond and quickly left the dungeon.

The Eternalist didn’t accompany him and instead used magic to clean the messy cage before heading towards Piel’s cage.

“Oh.” Teest threw a water orb at Piel’s face, who groggily opened his eyes. “You need to go back soon, Piel.”

“What, what?”

“Unfortunately, it’s time for the good boy to take his medicine,” Teest whispered.

Piel immediately looked at the cage not far away. The young Teest was still sitting there, still in that incredibly obedient posture, as if the earlier horror was just a dream.

“Just now, just that…” He pointed hopefully at the young Teest.

“It wasn’t a dream,” Teest said. “That boy just has fairy blood in him. Look, we look so alike—you have only four minutes left, kid. Either die now or discuss it later.”

Tears and snot gushed out simultaneously from Piel.

“Knights aren’t afraid.” He choked, giving himself courage, stumbling towards the cage. “When I grow up, I want to be a knight. Knights aren’t scared, wuwuwu… I don’t want to turn into a monster…”

Nol touched Piel’s hair, remaining silent. Before leaving, he couldn’t help but look back at the young Teest one last time.

In the renewed silence of darkness, the young boy’s obedient smile vanished. He narrowed his eyes, fingers tapping on the stone below, malice momentarily crossing his face.

The expression was identical to the adult Mad Monk.

---

The author has something to say:

Young Teest, the perfect expression package:

When I get out of here, I’ll finish you all off.jpg

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 76: The White Youth

[Let’s go. You can’t save him,] Teest said.

The delightful fairy game had come to an end. He knew that Piel couldn’t escape. It was a foregone conclusion.

In this city, people die unnaturally every day. In front of Death, this little boy had no special place—they shouldn’t bother about it.

They specifically went back in time, looking for clues about the Eclipse Shield; not to play god.

[I guess you never thought of saving him. How do you know he ‘can’t be save’?] Nol asked.

‘As sharp as ever,’ Teest thought.

[Because I know he’s dead,] he replied cruelly. [The kid was turned into a Supplement Demon. He died the day the church burned down. I remember those eyes.]

This time, his Lich husband was unusually steady. [So he will be taken to that Immortal Church.]

[Indeed.]

[That means we can sneak in with Piel.] Nol sat on the boy’s shoulder, speaking calmly. [I happen to be curious about the ‘Supplement Demon’. It won’t hinder our main mission, will it?]

It seemed like it wouldn’t hinder—if they were in their adult forms, it would have been more difficult. But now, the two of them could only eat two thick slices of ham in a day and easily pass through cage bars. Whether they go in with Piel or mingle with the ordinary Eternalist in the church, strictly speaking, there wasn’t much difference.

[So you want to meddle in this,] Teest concluded.

Nol: [Don’t you find this so-called ‘destiny’ annoying? I’m a bit displeased and want to mess with it.]

‘Forget it,’ Teest thought.

No one could fool time. It wasn’t a rule set by the gods, but the most basic law of nature. The Mad Monk wanted to know the truth about the world, limited only to the part about “God”. He didn’t want to become the first physicist in Tahe.

Nol looked at him. […And with the Supplement Demon, I can see your past self sooner.]

[Alright, we’ll follow this boy inside,] Teest affirmed seriously.

The drama he carefully prepared would always begin. It didn’t matter which entrance they took.

Teest pulled at Piel’s hair tips, looking at the tiny Nol on the other shoulder.

Nol adjusted his mini hood, seemingly lost in thought. He looked unusually calm without the succubi around him, like a blade tempered over and over again.

This was close to what Teest had guessed. Nol had grown fast through trials and tribulations. Maybe soon he wouldn’t need a mad partner to lean on emotionally.

‘That won’t do,’ he thought with a smile.

……

Clang!

The iron door, inscribed with runes, closed heavily in front of Piel. The little boy huddled in the corner, still holding a small bite of precious butter in his mouth to calm his nerves.

His body had been cleaned multiple times with a cleansing spell, leaving him in a white robe that barely covered him. He had been blindfolded and brought here, only to find himself in a tiny cell of just four square meters when he opened his eyes.

The cell was about three meters high, with one wall made entirely of massive stones so closely packed that not even an ant could crawl through. At the top of the wall floated a palm-sized ball of light—the only source of illumination. It was so dim that normal people could hardly see anything.

Fortunately, among the three people in the cell, two had dark vision and one had the Eye of Truth, so the darkness wasn’t much of an obstacle—

The air was thick with the scent of blood. In the darkness, there were occasional strange moans that didn’t sound human and the soft noises of flesh rubbing against stone.

Nearby, they could see cages not far from them. The creatures in the cages twisted and writhed, making sticky sounds, their shadows bearing no resemblance to humans. Their strange noises echoed in the vast darkness, making it feel as if they were at the bottom of the deep sea, each breath carrying a damp, oppressive weight.

The straw beneath Piel was surprisingly fresh and dry, but the floor underneath emitted a rotten, fishy smell, as if it had once held decaying bodies.

Piel was so frightened that he hardly dared to breathe, fearing that the noise would attract the monsters’ attention.

Thankfully, he had heeded Mr. Fairy’s advice.

Not long ago, when he realized he was surrounded by several adults, Piel panicked. He had intended to kick and bite in despair but was stopped by Nol’s voice.

“You might not be able to escape today,” the beautiful black-haired fairy said. “I suggest you conserve your energy. We’ll think of something else.”

Now Piel understood that those people were indeed the cultists of the Eternal Church. In this world where magic existed, those devils wouldn’t hesitate to break his limbs to make him obedient. If he were thrown into a place like this with broken limbs, he would surely die of fright.

For now, he was alright—it was just a bit dark around him. He had something to eat, he wasn’t injured, and he had the mysterious fairy friends by his side.

He would get through this, Piel thought.

On his shoulder, Nol was still observing the surroundings. Nol now understood Teest’s warning. This Immortal Church was truly hard to infiltrate, even stricter than airport security.

The Eternalists discarded all of Piel’s belongings and repeatedly scanned him for magical fluctuations, ensuring he hadn’t hidden any magical items. But once they were sure Piel had no trace of magic on him, they didn’t check his mouth or body thoroughly, so Piel managed to take a big bite of butter.

“They like it when you hide something on you.” As Piel carefully tasted the butter, Teest casually remarked. “Food is fine. It’ll disappear on its own. But if it’s your treasure, they relish seeing your reaction when you lose it—living here, you’ll lose everything eventually.”

Piel paused, almost biting his tongue.

Unable to hold back, Nol climbed onto Teest’s shoulder and pulled on his face. “Thanks for the encouragement. It’s really helpful.”

“I’m just stating facts,” Teest replied nonchalantly, letting Nol fiddle with him. “Can we act now?”

“Where are you going?” Before Nol could answer, Piel interjected.

In the darkness, the boy quickly swallowed his butter, shivering uncontrollably. “Don’t leave me alone!”

“It’s 1:30 in the afternoon. They won’t come until around seven in the evening,” Teest said indifferently, “At worst, we can return early—”

“Then let’s go together.” Nol gently proposed, extending a hand towards Piel.

Teest’s lips drooped in annoyance. [Honey, we don’t need a child in our family.]

[I want to know if “destiny” has any loopholes.] Nol shrugged. [Besides, as you said, the cultists won’t come until around seven.]

Destiny menacingly warned him that Piel had to be taken by the Eternal Church. But what about after that? Did Piel necessarily have to stay there and suffer? Were there any loopholes… Could fate be overturned?

Nol was curious about so many things. Before resisting, one must know both oneself and one’s adversary, right?

Even if they failed… Even if they failed, he wanted to make the boy’s remaining time a bit better.

Across from him, after pondering for a few seconds, Teest finally nodded in agreement.

Unlocking doors, eliminating traces, hiding their tracks… Nol was surprised to find that he had become incredibly adept at these stealthy actions. Piel was covered in an invisibility spell, walking barefoot in the darkness.

Now they could clearly see the layout of the place.

It was an incredibly vast space, uncertain if it was above or below ground. Countless cages were stacked like dense pillars, reaching from floor to ceiling, leaving only a narrow passage a bit more than a meter wide.

Most cages contained dark figures.

Dozens of pupils inside the cages emitted a faint glow, with slimy tentacles hanging through the gaps. Pale, baby-like hands with arms that were twisted in multiple places reached out.

The Supplement Demons of the Eternal Church.

These creatures were much quieter than Nol had imagined, resembling neglected animals in a poorly managed zoo. But with their terrifying, stiff limbs, they also resembled plants.

Countless deformed eyes watched them silently, showing almost no emotion.

The stench of rotting flesh, the foul odor of excrement, the strange fishy scent of mucus… all these odors mixed together, making Piel almost vomit.

“Will I turn into one of these?”

He looked at the similar cages, vaguely guessing something, and started shivering again. “Will I… become such a monster…”

“I doubt it.” Teest breezily diverted the topic. “Keep moving. I still remember where the exit is.”

Nol looked at the cage closest to them. In the corner of the cage lay a deformed girl. Her body was entirely twisted. Her back faced upwards, and her limbs bent in four different directions, making her appear like a comical four-legged table, or perhaps a spider with only four legs.

Her misshapen head emerged from the center of her spine, and her mismatched eyes gazed out sadly. Those eyes had only pure black pupils, with no whites to be seen.

“Uh… ah…” She let out a deep and hoarse moan.

A few meters out, there were monsters. A dozen meters out, more monsters. An unknown number of meters out, there were mountains of monsters.

This damn place was like a maze made of flesh and iron cages. Even with the company of two “fairies”, Little Piel’s breathing grew more rapid, and his steps quickened—

Suddenly, Piel stopped in his tracks.

Nol also saw what made him stop… No, to be precise, it was someone.

A boy, who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen. Amidst the overwhelming, gloomy flesh around him, the boy seemed almost like a dream.

The boy’s skin was smooth and clean, without any dirt or scars. His snow-white hair was neatly arranged, hanging down to his collarbone. His eyes were closed, and he wore a gentle smile. His features were delicate, and his slender frame made it hard to determine his gender at first glance.

The inside of the cage was spotless, with a heavy white stone placed in the center. The boy wore a white robe, sat with his legs together, and his hands folded atop his thighs. He sat still, in a remarkably well-behaved posture.

He resembled a marble statue displayed in the cage, entirely out of place in this eerie and sticky atmosphere.

Upon a clear view, Nol instinctively held his breath.

…Teest.

The Mad Monk was always flamboyant in his insanity. When Nol saw this place, he imagined countless bloody possibilities, but he never imagined such a bizarre situation.

The face still had traces of youth, and the body hadn’t yet fully grown. But Nol knew it was Teest. It was undoubtedly Teest. Time seemed to rewind twelve years. Teest’s appearance remained striking, and the distortions he brought were equally… memorable.

In such a terrifying place, no one would be naive enough to simply admire. The young Teest looked all the more perfect, making the atmosphere feel even more eerie and out of place.

“Who’s there?” The young Teest asked softly, opening his eyes to reveal a pair of brilliant golden irises. He stared directly in the direction of the trio, but his pupils lacked focus.

[See, this isn’t a place suitable for adolescents to grow up. Those wicked cultists didn’t care about nutritious lunches.] The adult Teest moved next to Nol, looking critically at his younger self, speaking with a hint of regret. [I was so weak back then, haa.]

Nol stared at the boy in the cage, unsure of what to say.

“Who’s there? Hello?” The darkness remained silent. The young Teest asked again, his tone devoid of any tension or fear.

His clear voice echoed between the cages, and the deformity slowly faded away.

After a moment of hesitation, Piel chose to cover his mouth, deliberately breathing softly. Nol noticed the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. It was said that children were sensitive, and it seemed this child wasn’t fooled by the young Teest’s appearance.

“…Let’s not reply for now,” Nol whispered hoarsely.

Little Piel nodded and carefully moved towards the exit.

“So cold-hearted.” The young Teest seemed to hear them and turned his head towards their direction, his voice incredibly soft. “Don’t you want to be friends with me?”

“Let’s be friends.” He pleaded with those golden eyes, almost coyly.

Little Piel shivered, walking even faster. Nol glanced over his shoulder to see the young Teest once again close his eyes, resuming his original posture.

A smile still graced the boy’s face.

……

Grape Collar’s Immortal Church, topmost reception room.

From here, one could see the entire city. Ironically, this city remained oblivious to the towering church that stood among them—the Eternal Church, like the shadow of everything, was shielded by countless dark magic and illusions. Day after day, the people of Grape Collar walked right past it, completely unaware of the grand dark cathedral beside them.

“It’s like this, meeting you is not easy.” Crimson withdrew his gaze from the window, his tone absentminded. “I need to see the records of your Chosen Ones, Mr. Bonds.”

Priest Bonds of Grape Collar’s Immortal Church was said to be very powerful, but he eventually died in the cathedral fire.

In a few days, this guy would be dead—a fact that Crimson occasionally had similar thoughts when selecting targets, which always brought him a pleasing sense of superiority.

Opposite him sat Priest Bonds, a somber-faced middle-aged man. Bonds’s long black hair was braided into several plaits, hanging down his back, emitting the scent of myrrh and resin. His skin had a strange bluish-purple tint, and beneath his thick black eyebrows, his black eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s.

“May everything be eternal.” Bonds made a circle on his chest, his voice deep and resonant. “I’ve seen all the credentials you’ve provided. I provisionally accept your identity. You can stay in this cathedral.”

“I’ll review the records and leave.” Crimson slowed down his speech and made an exaggerated walking motion. “Since you recognize my identity, what are you waiting for?”

Bonds glared at Crimson with his piercing black eyes.

“Personally, I don’t approve of your reason.”

His voice was especially hoarse.

“You came back from the future to check the records of the Chosen Ones? This means either this record was lost by some idiot, or this cathedral was utterly destroyed… or you’re lying and you want something else.”

From Mr. Bonds’ tone, he seemed not to consider the first two possibilities.

…How frustrating!

“Alright, since you put it that way.” Crimson sat down, throwing his leg onto the table. “I can’t go into details, but in general… some idiot messed up with the selection of the Chosen One, so I had to verify it in this era.”

“Polygraphs, contracts, scanning my brain, whatever. I don’t want to clean up your mess anymore. Who knew just looking at a few lines could be so troublesome.”

“The prophecies of the Chosen Ones contain their fates. They are divine oracles, not just ‘a few lines’.” Bonds glared at him for a while. “We have many people to meet soon. The High Priest isn’t in the cathedral. If you truly serve the great Anstis, you should know the rules.”

“Yeah, yeah, the big boss isn’t around, so the little guys need to be extra cautious. Alright, get to the point. What do I need to do to see it?”

Bonds looked down.

“That boy was brought here by my mentor. He has all the qualifications of a Chosen One, and his training has been going very smoothly. He is undoubtedly blessed by God and is destined to become what God expects.” His tone was solemn, with a hint of fanaticism. “If you want to prove we’re wrong, it’s simple… Just kill him. Before the prophecy is fulfilled, the Chosen Ones will not die.”

‘Oh, that’s easy,’ Crimson thought.

According to the records of the Eternal Church, all the Supplement Demons under the cathedral were wiped out. There were strict records for these demons, and people had verified the number of bodies.

If there was an imposter, his days would be numbered anyway. Killing him prematurely wouldn’t interfere with fate. If he was the real deal—ding ding ding—mission accomplished early! At least he would know what the Chosen One looked like.

But when Crimson actually stood before his target, he was rendered completely silent.

“Hello, sir.”

On a white stone, a beautiful young boy greeted with a smile. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

The young boy’s posture was even more obedient than the most obedient student. In this darkness, he seemed to glow slightly.

However, Crimson stood still, drenched in sweat.

Not long ago, Crimson had recklessly attempted to attack an “unassailable” target. If then, his horror was a “gaze from fate”, at this very moment, the instant he harbored an intent to kill, fate pierced his heart, and the world almost crushed him.

Crimson instinctively took a half-step back.

…What exactly was he facing?

---

The author has something to say:

Here he is!!! The past Teest makes his appearance~

Nol: ? [Lost in thought.jpg]

Teest: Ah, I was so skinny back then…

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 75: Chivalry

Crimson, wearing a hood, strolled down Cork Street. He had always liked crowded places like this. These ordinary people, like a flock of sheep, were great at hiding him.

The lingering taste of the “Time Reversion” potion still clung to his tongue that not even a strong drink could wash it away.

The Eternal Priest said it was a special edition, and he didn’t know if the regular version was just as bad. According to the old man, the special edition helped him maintain his “original form”, making it a rare item within the Eternal Church.

He just needed to go back to the Immortal Church before it was burned down and check the records for the prophecy of the “Chosen One”. He could choose the time, so Crimson deliberately chose the week before the church’s destruction.

Honestly, how could he miss out on such a big spectacle?

It was said that the burning of this church remains an unsolved mystery. Crimson couldn’t understand why. Couldn’t someone from the higher-ups just drink the “Time Reversion” and take a look? Who knows what those heretics were thinking.

Crimson stopped at a pastry stall and casually threw down some large coins.

The baked pastries had a crisp crust and were generously filled with lean pork and chopped onions, perfect for eating on the go. As he got the hot pastry, Crimson leisurely turned around. Before he could stabilize himself, a dirty child bumped into him. With a soft sound, Crimson’s pastry fell onto the muddy ground.

…Damn little bastard.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, sir. It’s all my fault.”

The frail boy bent over apologizing repeatedly, his voice mixed with an obvious nervousness. “I wasn’t watching where I was going, sir…”

As the boy apologized, he curled up like a scared mouse. He bent so much that his head almost touched the floor. It was hard to say if he was expressing remorse or bracing for a beating.

‘Perhaps I should kill this insignificant beggar and use it to divine today’s weather,’ Crimson thought, adjusting his askew hood.

In that moment, he suddenly felt a sense of weightlessness, as if he had plunged into an icy abyss on a frozen river. The air around him grew cold and heavy, compressing against him. Crimson couldn’t move, struggling even to breathe.

Is this it?

Is this the so-called “untouchable target”?

Crimson lowered his head to get a better look at the boy’s face, but the child had vanished, as had the pastry that had fallen.

Well, eating was still the most important. Shrugging, Crimson ordered another one.

“It worked!” Piel held up his pastry, happily exclaiming. “He didn’t hit me.”

“Good job.” On his left shoulder, the Mad Monk approved.

“I could have suggested other ways…” Nol whispered from his right shoulder.

However, Piel didn’t really hear Nol’s murmurs. They couldn’t accompany him for long, so it was better not to interfere recklessly.

“Stay safe,” was all Nol could finally advise, even though he felt it was cliché.

“Don’t worry, I’ve never seen that man around here… He looks rich. These types don’t like to make a scene. He wouldn’t act out of line,” Piel whispered as he nestled into the alley, taking a careful bite of the hot pastry.

In less than a minute, the pastry was in Piel’s stomach. After savoring every last bit, Piel asked, “Mr. Fairies, can we call it a day with sweet cheese?”

Teest replied, “Yes, your reward is a piece of sweet cheese.”

As he spoke, Teest leisurely sucked on pomegranate seeds. The Mad Monk didn’t have much food in his bag and wasn’t inclined to share. Fortunately, this offer was generous enough.

Given Nol’s understanding of Teest, this was already the utmost kindness the Mad Monk could offer.

“Sweet cheese!” Piel’s face lit up. “I’ll take you all over the market! Are you looking for medicinal herbs for wounds? I know the shop mercenaries frequent the most.”

He firmly believed Teest’s story about “fairy wings being plucked off” and was concerned about their non-existent injuries.

Unfortunately, Piel’s good luck seemed to have run out.

The crowd was bustling, and Little Piel moved through it like a mouse. The pastry had filled his stomach, making him a bit sluggish. As he hurriedly crossed a narrow path, he stepped on the edge of a somewhat clean boot.

“I’m sor—” The boy reflexively stopped to apologize.

The moment Nol sensed malice, Little Piel flew out like a leaf.

His abdomen was brutally kicked, and his back slammed into the wall. Stone debris clattered to the ground. The slender body slid down the wall, violently twitching. Little Piel seemed like he wanted to vomit but forcibly held back. Apparently, he wasn’t willing to throw up the pastry he had just eaten.

I want to heal this child. 

Nol glared at the mercenary who had kicked the boy, thinking seriously, ‘I want to stop this atrocity.’

This time, he didn’t feel the terror of looking down from the edge of the abyss.

It seemed that this minor incident was inconsequential in the grand scheme of things—the difference probably lay in Little Piel’s level of pain, a detail fate seemed to not care about.

Nol quickly placed his hands on Piel’s body, quietly casting a healing spell. As the magic flowed into him, Piel’s tense body soon relaxed, but he still lay against the wall, motionless.

“Smart kid.” Teest, having finished eating the pomegranate seed, commented in amusement. “Playing dead is right. Those who bully the weak love tormenting those who resist.”

Nol, on the other hand, glared fiercely at the approaching mercenary—it was hard to say whether the man was muscular or fat. His head was pockmarked, looking like a potato sack with a big beard.

‘I want to beat him up,’ Nol thought. Again, there was no warning from fate. This man’s destiny seemed as inconsequential as his appearance.

“Is he dead?” The mercenary kicked Piel with the tip of his boot, while Nol raised his staff—

Clang!

Someone “coincidentally” walked in front of Piel, taking the mercenary’s kick to the shin. The issue was, this person happened to be a knight—he was elegantly built, his entire body encased in bone-like, silvery white armor with not an inch of skin visible.

Nol hadn’t seen such armor before, but he felt an obvious oppressive aura from it, and he was sure it was of high value.

The white knight, having been kicked, halted. He stood with his back to Piel, turned to face the fat mercenary, and just stood there silently.

“Sir, I apologize.” The fat mercenary swallowed hard. “I was just trying to teach that street rat a lesson. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

The knight remained silent. Standing there, he looked like a breathing statue.

Nol noticed that the knight didn’t carry a sword or shield. Unfortunately, the fat mercenary realized this too. His hand reached for his battle ax and his tone grew increasingly aggressive.

“I’ve already apologized, and I didn’t damage your armor! It’s my right to discipline misbehaving brats!”

The mercenary spat, his voice growing louder. “If you have a problem, say it. Who are you trying to intimidate?”

The white knight certainly stood out. The standoff between the mercenary and the knight was far more interesting than the mercenary kicking a child. A few bystanders stopped to watch with interest.

Piel, no longer lying down, sat up, leaning against the wall, studying the back of the knight.

The knight still said nothing, standing relaxed, unshaken. The fat mercenary’s hand tightened and loosened around his ax, sweat forming on his forehead. A few minutes later, he cursed “lunatic” and grumpily left, pushing through the crowd.

“Wow…” Piel’s eyes nearly shone as he scrambled up. “Thank you, Sir Knight!”

The white knight nodded towards Little Piel and disappeared into the crowd. Nol felt a fleeting sense of oddity. By the time he tried to grasp it, the knight had vanished.

“There’s really all kinds of people that exist in this world.” Teest handed Nol a pomegranate seed. “Tsk, tsk. Such a perfect knight—I wonder what he’s doing in such a shabby place.”

“I want to be a knight.” Piel wiped the dirt from his face, muttering, “He didn’t even carry a sword. Did you see? He didn’t have a sword! But the fat guy was scared away.”

“Knighthood is expensive.” Teest poured cold water on Piel’s enthusiasm without a hint of sympathy. “And you need a lord to swear your loyalty to. That’s a troublesome matter.”

‘Are you the right person to say that, Sir Death Knight? Your sworn lord is right here,’ Nol thought, biting into the pomegranate seed.

Teest’s equipment was indeed shabby… The “Betrayer” was his constant, but apart from it and that wolf fang pendant, his knighthood lacked noteworthy items.

Recently, Nol had been busy reshaping his worldview, while Teest was still wearing rags. Damn, he wasn’t a good boss. The pomegranate juice in Nol’s mouth turned a little sour.

Once he found the Eclipse Shield, he would have to get Teest a full set of armor! As the Master of Paradise, he should also get himself a decent mage robe…

“Regardless of the challenges, I still want to be a knight,” Piel insisted. “He was so cool! So cool—”

“What you admire is ‘chivalry’, Piel,” Nol couldn’t help but interject. “’Chivalry’ doesn’t cost money, and anyone can have it.”

Teest peeked out from the other side of the boy, his face scrunched up obviously disapproving.

‘Except for a murderous Death Knight,’ Nol silently added.

“Really?” Piel turned to Nol.

“Yes, like helping others. It’s about the heart.” Nol couldn’t help but smile. “In doing so, without pledging allegiance to anyone, you are, in essence, a knight.”

“I’ll remember that!” Piel declared earnestly.

“Piel is talking to the air again.” Not far away, several street kids started whispering.

“Crazy Piel, Dirty Piel, grape skins stick to his eyeballs…”

Piel brushed off the dirt on his trousers, seemingly turning a deaf ear. He puffed out his chest proudly, as if he had just been knighted.

……

“So, you can’t take me to the church,” Crimson said.

By his side, an Eternalist had already fallen. His throat was slashed, and blood quickly spread across the floor.

“My Lord, My Lord. We know you are anxious—but-but we need to confirm with the priest. It’s a mandatory procedure.”

In the dim light, the only remaining Eternalist knelt on one knee, his voice trembling.

Twelve years ago, there were no Players in the world, and Player’s earrings couldn’t be used as absolute passes. If he wanted to investigate the data of this Immortal Church, he would have to go through the tedious processes of the Eternal Church.

Crimson clicked his tongue. If not for his intuition constantly alerting him, he would have loved to tell these people, “Idiots, your church is about to be done for.”

Moreover, the only ones who could withstand his killing intent and came to see him were merely inconsequential specks of dust, unlikely to provide any useful information.

“Alright, alright, I’ll wait,” Crimson said, stepping out, leaving a trail of bloody footprints, and sat on the only armchair in the room. “What are you all so busy with? There’s hardly anyone at the base.”

“The most basic hunting, My Lord.”

The only remaining Eternalist glanced at his deceased companion and replied formally, “There have been rumors that someone on Cork Street possesses the ‘Eye of Truth’. This is valuable material.”

The Eye of Truth? Crimson pondered for a while before finally matching it to a skill he knew of.

“With the ‘Eye of Truth’, isn’t there a corresponding oracle?” Crimson frowned.

Being God’s Chosen One, this wasn’t a secret in any major religion.

Whether it was the Temple of Life or the Eternal Church, the highest-ranking individuals were the “Chosen Ones” named by oracles—like the Pope, the archbishops or high priests beneath them, and the leaders of various central knight orders.

They all possessed their own oracles and corresponding prophecies of fate.

Next in rank were the “God’s Servants”.

This group shared a single oracle. They didn’t have specific fate prophecies—only vague identity indications.

These individuals were typically of above-average quality, like bulk purchases by God. They were commonly found in the middle ranks of religions and in the top ranks in remote areas.

The remaining followers were recruited by the major religions themselves, and they could climb to mid-rank positions at most, with almost none reaching higher ranks.

It was said that this oracle system had been in operation for thousands of years without any issues. The only widely known “error” was the apostate former Pope of the Temple of Life, Godfrey Painter.

The [Eye of Truth] was a pretty good skill. In Crimson’s view, it should be considered at the level of God’s Servants.

“Yes, the oracle descended later… We want to be prepared in advance,” the Eternalist said, bowing his head deeply, resembling a black garbage bag filled with a corpse given his black robe.

You’re adding wood to a burning house. Recruiting without giving warnings—your god is really cruel.

“If I help you find this Eye of Truth, can I see the priest sooner?” Crimson asked, eager to witness the spectacle.

“Certainly, My Lord. We are very grateful, My Lord. May everything be eternal—”

“That’s settled then.”

That night, Crimson followed the group of Eternalists out.

It seemed that they were looking for a dark-haired boy nicknamed “Piel”—the [Eye of Truth] had a deep purple hue, making it a very distinct feature. With just one gold wheel, the vagrants on the street would eagerly draw a portrait for them.

The only challenge was that Piel kept to himself, and no one knew where he lived.

Crimson tried using the [Blood Gnome’s Bargain] for divination. This future-predicting spell seemed to conflict with the “past”. Even offering a fresh corpse, the blood gnome didn’t show its face.

How boring.

His current task from the present was to find information, and his task from the past was to find the boy. Couldn’t there be something more thrilling? Crimson stopped in front of a closed-down pawnshop, briefly removed his hood, and impatiently stretched his neck and shoulders.

Separated by a pane of glass.

Nol was trying to make popcorn by roasting corn kernels with a toothpick. When he saw the blood-stained earring of a Player, he almost dropped the kernels into the fire due to shock.

A “Demon” Player from the Eternal Church.

The moment this person took off his hood, Nol immediately recognized the red hair—it was the “Demon” they had fought against in Whitebird City—Burly Jack’s partner, Crimson from Country A, the serial killer.

…But how can there be a Player here?!

“How did this guy get here? He really is like a haunting ghost.”

Teest was spreading butter on the corn kernels, marveling, “He can’t possibly be after the shield too, can he?”

Nol watched Crimson walk away, feeling the letter opener on him. “Hard to say. But he’s not from this era, so attacking him shouldn’t be a problem.”

They accidentally let him go before. They couldn’t let him escape this time.

“Should we follow him?”

Teest sat on a corn cob, continuing to roast his kernels. Through the window, Crimson casually walked towards the street’s end.

Nol glanced at the sleeping Piel inside the store, relaxing a bit. “No. Let Ben follow him. We’ll discuss it after we leave this kid.”

Ever since they found out that the kid had something to do with the world’s situation, Nol had been on edge. If the Eternal Church retaliated and involved Little Piel, that would be bad. Plus, they still couldn’t be sure why Crimson was here. He wasn’t a true believer of the Eternal Son, so he might not go to the Immortal Church—getting trapped by him and missing the quest would be a big problem.

…Speaking of quests, ever since they returned to the past, the system had been unusually quiet. Grape Collar was a big city. They had been here a day and a half and hadn’t triggered even half a system task.

It was as if the system didn’t exist.

Thankfully, all their skills still worked. Nol glanced at the four moons in the night sky. Those weird things hadn’t changed, such a pity.

The next morning, Piel woke up to the delicious aroma of buttered popcorn.

With the appearance of that cockroach Crimson, Teest and Nol spent the whole night by the window. With nothing else to do, they ended up with a mountain of caramel popcorn. Piel tasted one. The sweetness immediately brought a smile to his face.

“It’s so delicious!” he exclaimed genuinely. “It’s even better than yesterday’s sweet cheese.”

“Today’s reward is this, plus a stick of butter, fair and square.” Teest gave a big yawn, leaning against a slightly dehydrated blue rose. He took the promised reward—a whole salted butter stick—from his pocket and put it in the drawer.

“Yay!” Piel cheered.

‘This is an advance payment,’ Nol thought. Perhaps they would say goodbye today.

With Crimson nearby, could the Eternalists be far behind? Once they found a suitable tool from the Eternal Church, they would abandon their base and follow that person into the church.

He hoped that after they left, fate would be kind to this poor child.

Unfortunately, it turned out they wouldn’t be parting soon—before lunchtime, Teest detected the presence of the Eternalists.

Seven Eternalists, plus Crimson, were approaching from different directions amidst the crowd.

‘Strange,’ Nol thought. He and Teest certainly hadn’t exposed themselves. Could it be that these people were here for the Eye of Truth?

‘We need to escape with the child,’ he thought.

The next moment, Nol was once again bitten by the cold darkness.

“You can’t,” it roared.

This is his destiny.

---

The author has something to say:

Nol: ? I don’t believe you. 

Old Mad Monk: Loves explosions and blasts his enemies into the sky with a bang.

New Teest: He likes explosions and uses the “Betrayer” to bake popcorn all night long… Come to think of it, his color scheme is quite popcorn-like (…

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 74: Secret Base

July 24, 711.

They truly went back twelve years.

Through the shiny shop window glass, Nol could clearly see the time on the calendar clock. The window also reflected Nol’s current state—Teest had one hand wrapped around his waist and another pulling on a golden thread hung from a nearby branch. Nol gripped Teest’s belt tightly, fearing that he might slip.

The two were about two meters above the ground. A height that previously seemed trivial was now dizzying for Nol.

“Quite impressive. Going back in time? At least you two have done something useful.” Black Candle Kando, with its one eye, curiously looked around. “Now I only have one question—why choose this specific time?”

Nol didn’t argue with the candle this time. He was also curious about the answer.

According to Painter, the Immortal Church in Grape Collar was destroyed at the end of July in 711. They needed to infiltrate the still-intact church to find the document indicating the location of the “Eclipse Shield”.

Teest volunteered to handle the time jump. Ironically, he chose a time just a week before the church’s destruction.

Teest reeled in the golden thread, taking Nol back to the branch. “Anyway, we can only stay here for about seven or eight days. Once the church burns down, we should return. Just think of its destruction as an alarm clock.”

Really? Nol hummed, swearing on his dinner that the Mad Monk had other motives.

“We better get started then,” Nol said, hooking his arm around his staff and clinging to a frail branch like a sloth. “First, we need to find that church…”

“Oh, I know where the Immortal Church is,” Teest admitted without hesitation.

Of course. This kid is, after all, a Supplement Demon. The Eternal Church wouldn’t let him roam freely.

Nol: “So you’ve been to that church.”

“That’s right. You might even see my past self there.”

Teest had returned to his white hair and golden eyes appearance, swaying on a branch like a particularly cocky sparrow. “At this point in time, I should be around sixteen.”

Teest spoke with such calmness, as if he was showing Nol a photo album of his younger days.

Nol looked at Teest for a moment, finding it hard to imagine the Mad Monk’s teenage years. “You lead the way. Let’s get moving.”

“No need. I suggest we stay put and hitch a ride with one of the Eternalists. Like sneaking into their pockets or smuggling in their parcels. There are plenty of them around here,” Teest suggested conservatively.

“Honey, it’s not that I don’t trust your abilities. But the Immortal Church in Grape Collar was once one of the best churches of the congregation,” he whispered softly.

‘Alright,’ Nol thought. ‘One of the best churches, meaning more skilled opponents, more unknowns, and tighter security.’

If a fight breaks out, they’d have to win in their unfortunate form, ensuring their survival without affecting major historical events. The mere thought was exhausting for Nol.

In the end, the two decided to stay on Cork Street.

Teest assured that he could recognize the Eternalists, and on this street, they were as common as rats—

Cork Street was the busiest in the lower district of Grape Collar. Here, one could find delicacies hard to come by in regular streets, interesting storefronts, and, in greater numbers than anywhere else, thieves, low-level mercenaries, and vagrants.

The two turned into an old, closed-down pawnshop at the street corner, deciding to make it their base.

The shop was named “Old Jon’s”. Its door was tightly locked, with worn edges that Nol could easily squeeze through. Even better, the shop’s display window showcased wooden cabinets, one of which had a half-opened drawer, offering them a natural lookout point and temporary shelter.

Nol stepped over a dust layer that was as thick as accumulated snow and struggled to climb into the display window. The sun began to tilt westward, bathing the old wooden boards in warm orange light, which felt smooth and warm to the touch.

“I’ll leave this to you,” Teest said, picking up a spool of twine. “Get some bones and make a ladder. I’ll look around the shop to see if there’s anything else we can use.”

‘The sensation is surreal,’ Nol thought. As he wrapped the twine around mouse bones, he watched Teest hopping around inside the room.

Behind him, separated by the glass, the crowd continued to flow at a leisurely pace. The cries of street vendors and the aroma of food wafted into the shop, making it feel as if time had never changed.

In front of him, the Mad Monk drew the curtain cords, waving a pocket watch hand like a short sword, marveling at piles of antique buttons. The lighting was dim, the air warm, and everything felt like a dream.

……

The sunlight in the display window melted away like accumulated snow, thinning and eventually disappearing. As the four moons rose and the streets lit up, the two had successfully set up their base.

Teest found a decaying toy house. He packed useful plates and utensils, a few clean tea towels, and had Ben fetch some chairs and tables.

Inside the half-open drawer, there was now a double bed with clean tea towels and a toy dining table. The open section held several candle heads. Once lit, they glowed as bright as a bonfire.

Both of them sat breathlessly beside the candles. With some effort, Teest pulled a grape from his pouch and split it in two, offering half to Nol. The refreshing scent of the fruit burst open like an explosive, and the flames flickered continuously over its juicy surface.

Nol decided not to ponder what the knife had cut through before.

“Did you use concealment magic on the candlelight?” Teest handed him a small spoon made of tin foil.

“Of course.”

As the night deepened, Nol and Teest sat on the edge of the drawer. Both had half a grape on their knees, scooping and eating it as if it were a watermelon. A young flower seller leaned against the window outside, her bright flowers almost pressing against the glass. The bouquet shined brilliantly in front of them, with candlelight dancing behind and faint noises blending with the night. Nol had never experienced such a… bizarre yet wonderful evening.

As Nol observed a particularly large blue rose, Teest sneakily glanced at him. This was a skill the Mad Monk had deliberately cultivated. Directly observing others might alert some especially sensitive individuals. But this indirect way ensured he could look as long as he wanted.

His Lich had relaxed eyes and was intently looking at the rose. With his gentle features, slender build, and the scene before him, he looked like a real night fairy—the kind children would see in fairy tale illustrations.

Teest probably looked more like a toy soldier, and a villainous one at that. Fairies always preferred children, and they never appeared in the same story as evil soldiers.

Teest didn’t like this train of thought and quickly cut it off, diverting his attention—

Nol seemed much better than before. The Lich had been resting regularly lately and smiled many times more than before. He no longer had that smoky fragility but became increasingly… real.

Occasionally, Teest almost forgot that Nol was a Lich.

His husband was steadily improving, and Teest wondered if he might lose that captivating madness.

His gaze shifted from Nol’s eyes to his lips, then to the corner of his mouth that curled up. In those brief moments, he realized he no longer wanted to know the answer.

“That flower probably was dyed with a potion. It doesn’t quite look like a magic effect,” Nol said after finishing his observation, scooping up another mouthful of grapes. “What about you? Found any Eternalists?”

“It’s not going to be that quick. It’s like trying to spot a rat’s tail when there are thousands of rats around,” Teest replied. “If the Eternalist were openly running around, Grape Collar would have been doomed long ago.”

“Do we need to keep watch all night?” Nol looked outside again. The flower seller adjusted the flowers left in her basket, seemingly preparing to head home.

Before Teest could reply, Nol turned and noticed the Mad Monk’s figure was gone.

Outside the display window, a small white figure skillfully climbed up to the flower basket. Teest first tossed two copper coins into the basket, then with a flash, the smallest of the blue roses was severed.

Holding a blue rose the size of a ping pong ball, the Mad Monk squeezed back into the shop. He placed the rose beside the bed. A large portion of his clothes was wet from the dew.

After all this, Teest sat back down, still carrying the rich scent of roses.

Nol touched the damp spot with his finger, and a warm blue flame ignited, evaporating the moisture.

“Is this for me?”

“It’s for you.”

“I admit, I’m already drawn to you.” Nol laughed and shook his head. “Given the current situation, you don’t need to be distracted by this. I’m serious.”

“I think this blue looks more like a magical effect,” Teest replied evasively. “Let’s examine it more closely before sleeping.”

“I see,” Nol said, “So, Sir Knight is also paying the price of curiosity… When that girl finds the coins in her basket, she’ll surely think she encountered a night fairy.”

Nol’s voice was full of smiles. “From my angle just now, you only lacked fairy wings.”

“…Is that so?”

Teest looked intently at Nol and responded with a smile.

……

At night, for the first time in his life, Nol lay on a toy double bed.

The candle went out, and the only light source in the drawer was the starry sky. Among the shadows, a blue rose bloomed quietly by his bed. Its beautiful blue hue and fragrance engulfed him.

Teest turned his back to him, his breathing light and even. His silver hair sprawled out on a tea-towel embroidery, giving off a faint glow. Nol turned over, his fingers playing with the ends of his hair.

The shadows in the room were as still as water. Shadow Wolf Ben was frolicking outside, looking for leftover bones and meat in the trash cans. Every now and then, Nol could hear the pattering sound of the shadow wolf’s paws on the street.

Taking all this as an adventure, he began to enjoy his current life…

Before Nol’s thoughts came to an end, Teest’s breathing suddenly stopped. At the same instant, a jolt surrounded Nol. He quickly grabbed the staff beside the bed and cast an invisibility spell.

There was a presence approaching!

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” could even bewitch animals. Relying on its protection, they had let their guard down. But without a doubt, the presence outside the drawer was coming for them.

Teest raised his “Betrayer”, and Nol took up his staff—

Half of a gigantic face appeared outside the drawer, blocking the dazzling starry sky.

It was a child’s face.

A grubby little boy, no more than seven or eight years old. His cheeks were thin, and dark hair messily clung to his scalp.

What color that hair was exactly, Nol couldn’t be sure. Under the cover of night, any darker shade appeared pitch black. Even with night vision, it wasn’t easy to determine.

But he wouldn’t mistake the color of those eyes.

They were deep purple pupils, uncommon and rare. They gave off a faint glow in the dark, staring directly at the two of them.

Neither “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” nor the invisibility spell seemed to affect this child.

[Eyes of Truth], a rare passive skill.

Players couldn’t obtain this skill through normal means. It appeared in NPCs with an extremely low probability as an “innate ability”—the owner of these eyes could see through all illusions and deceptions, reflecting only reality.

Nol lowered his staff and quickly relayed this information to Teest.

“Wow!” The boy exclaimed softly, holding onto the drawer. “Night fairies!”

Teest still held his “Betrayer”, the blade not lowered in the slightest. “It’s bedtime for good little boys now, young sir.”

It was probably around three or four in the morning, with the street vendors long gone. The child seemed to have no one looking after him.

“I’m not a good kid, so it doesn’t matter,” the boy continued, excitedly observing them. “Where are your wings? Were they torn off? That’s sad.”

“Yes, it hurt a lot, so now we particularly dislike being watched.”

Teest took a step forward, shielding Nol slightly. “Could you move? You’re blocking our starlight.”

The little boy, taken aback, quickly stepped back out of their line of sight.

Nol heard the rustling of a candy wrapper, and seconds later, a peeled candy was carefully placed inside the drawer.

It was a cheap candy, giving off a slightly bitter scent. Nol couldn’t identify the flavor.

“Will candy make you feel better?” The boy quickly retracted his hand, asking timidly. “When I eat candy, my wounds don’t hurt as much. It must have some medicinal effect… Don’t be afraid. Not all humans are bad.”

Nol shook his head at Teest, who finally sheathed his sword.

“Thank you, but we don’t like candy,” Nol said softly. “Take it back, kid.”

“I’m not ‘young sir’, and not ‘kid’. Everyone calls me ‘Piel’—probably because I always pick up grape skins to eat*.”

*Clarity: His name is (皮尔) which means “peel” in Chinese. Westernized, it could be Pier/Pierre/Piel/Piele (just depends on context). In this case, grape skin peels.

The boy quickly took back the candy, the wrapper crinkling as he carefully rewrapped it.

This clearly wasn’t enough to sway the stern Mad Monk. “Alright, Piel. You can leave now.”

“But I’ve always lived here…” Piel whispered, “Only I can fit through the hole in the wall behind here. If I sleep outside, monsters will eat me.”

It seemed like sleep was off the table for now. Nol lit the candle and climbed to the edge of the drawer.

From the edge, he could see Piel’s whole body—

Piel’s face was thin, but he still had cute and handsome features. He wore oversized, dirty clothes. It was evident he tried hard to keep himself clean, but there was still a sour smell of garbage on him.

The [Eye of Truth], a precious ability.

If this child were discovered by someone from a great mercenary group, who knows how many people would be willing to provide for his living expenses… But to ordinary people, he probably just looks like a beggar with a slightly unique eye color.

“Eaten by a monster? …What kind of monster?” Nol asked.

Hearing the word ‘monster’, Teest became interested and leaned in, peeking from the edge of the drawer.

“I don’t know. They say that children who get separated will be eaten by monsters,” Piel said while patting his protruding rib cage, his voice growing fainter. “My eyes are sick, and everyone is afraid of catching it, so they don’t want to live with me. That’s why I have to stay here. Please don’t chase me away, okay?”

“They’re all talking nonsense. There’s nothing wrong with your eyes!” Kando spoke up for the first time, still in its usual gruff tone. “Listen, kid, your eyes are very powerful. Those people don’t know anything.”

Nol looked at Kando with surprise and decided to stay out of the conversation.

“Wow!” Realizing that the candle could talk, Piel’s eyes shone even brighter. “Really, Mr. Candle? I-I always see things that shouldn’t exist. Everyone says that only lunatics see such things…”

Kando’s flame flickered vigorously. “Everyone says, everyone says. You’re not living for those idiots. Besides, who says that what lunatics see isn’t real? Do you think we are fake?”

Little Piel stared at Nol for a while and then took a quick glance at Teest.

“No.” The boy shook his head earnestly. “I can’t imagine faces as beautiful as yours.”

“That’s the spirit.” Kando rolled its eyes. “Although I don’t particularly like your reasoning.”

“If this isn’t an illness… Can I stay here?” Piel was evidently concerned about this.

“Show some backbone, kid. You should just go there and say, ‘This is my territory’,” Kando chided, its candle flame swaying. “You’re not sharing a drawer with them to sleep. What are you afraid of?”

Piel, unfamiliar with his own unique eyes, couldn’t see the strangeness of this black candle. Amused by Kando’s exaggerated words, he began to giggle. However, his stomach’s growling almost drowned out his laughter.

Soon after, a whole roast chicken flew out of the drawer, almost hitting Piel’s face.

“Take it.” Teest finally climbed up to the edge of the drawer. “Consider it our rent for staying here. Just remember to keep our secret.”

“Thank you, fairy!” Piel hugged the roast chicken tightly, not minding the mess it made on his clothes. “I promise I won’t tell anyone!”

​[You’re quite nice.]​

[It’s better to let him take us around than ride on Ben.] ​Teest shrugged.

​[This is at least a win-win situation,] ​Nol thought.

It would be a good idea to have Piel show them around. Maybe he could guide the child to be discovered by a master sooner…

Just as this thought crossed his mind, an icy chill ran down Nol’s spine.

…You can’t do that. Absolutely not. You’ll die.

Nol’s instincts screamed incessantly, as if he were standing on the edge of a deep abyss, not a floor at some shop.

---

The author has something to say:

Rounding up, they are a sweet couple who have given roses to each other. Isn’t that sweet? (?

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Note: the Immortal Church is referring to the physical church of the Eternal Church (religion), like how the Evergreen Church is the physical church of the Temple of Life.

Oh no… Given Nian Zhong’s track record with children, I feel I’m going to be a sobbing mess in this arc.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 73: Time Reversion

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

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

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

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

“Hm?”

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

Click. Nol thought in his heart.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t really capture this moment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

……

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Yes,” Nol said matter-of-factly.

Teest: “……”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Good evening, both of you!”

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

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

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

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

With the flask in his grasp, Nol was stunned.

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

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

…What exactly is this guy’s profession?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huh?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Oh…”

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

Nol’s heart jumped. “What change?”

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

……

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nol smelled a cat.

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

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

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

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

Teest: “…”

Nol: “…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

The author has something to say:

The great adventure of our two mini protagonists (…

All the characters of the supporting cast are finally assembled!

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 72: Snickering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I agree.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[No problem,] Nol replied succinctly.

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

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

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

[Time Reversion?] Nol paused in his chewing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[……?] Nol almost dropped his fork.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meanwhile, in the General’s reception room.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I don’t know.”

Teest walked to the exit without looking back.

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

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

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

Yet now he said, “He doesn’t know.”

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

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

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

……

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nol began imagining the first floor of the Lost Tower.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You swear!” The candle screamed softly.

“Uh…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Sounds good.”

“Right?”

……

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

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

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

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

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

“What?” Uncle Ma suddenly interjected.

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

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

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

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

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

Uncle Ma hummed. “That’s possible.”

“…Hee.”

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

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

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 71: The General

[Enbillick Alva is nearby.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The General.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

……

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

“Just follow behind me.” Such knightly lines.

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

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

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

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

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

Indeed rare, and hideously so.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The “General” was a young woman.

But he could only tell she was female.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Alright, I have valuable items for sale.”

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

“It sounds like small business.”

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

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

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

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

However, Teest remained silent, merely smiling at him.

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

He tried hard to sound confident.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“A small token of appreciation,” Nol said.

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

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

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

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

Only then did Teest gracefully retract his hand.

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

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

The General finally turned her face towards Teest.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He glanced casually into the General’s eyes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Fair enough.”

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

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

“And?” the General continued.

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

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

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

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

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

“Of course I’m serious!”

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

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

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

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

“Alright. If you have it, great.”

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

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

“You’re done for.”

“No, I’m not.”

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

---

The author has something to say:

Crimson: I wished for an interesting opponent.

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

Crimson: Fuck.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 70: Grape Collar Holiday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Then it’s settled,” Nol said.

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

……

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teest discarded the grapevine twig and examined Nol carefully.

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

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

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

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

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

He was genuinely curious.

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

“I was always a married man.”

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

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

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

Teest: “……”

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

“See?” Nol nodded gravely.

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

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

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

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

……

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nol caught on quickly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before Nol could inquire further, Teest thoughtfully explained.

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

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

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

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

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

---

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