Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 179: Three Chance Encounters

Nol was leaning over the small dining table in his room.

He would take some snacks, like fried dumplings and sugar cakes, from the cafeteria of the Lost Tower. For formal dinners, he preferred to eat alone with Teest. Being alone with his lover was one aspect, and on the other hand…

Teest commanded the hot stew to plate itself. After all, even after being cooked, these things were once part of a “living thing”. A skill originally meant for destruction and death had become an ingenious trick for someone’s no-wash soup spoon. Before serving, Teest skillfully took out a piece of dragon carcass, adding a loving touch to Nol’s dinner.

Nol took the bowl with mixed feelings.

Here it comes, a literal “energy supplement”. He had already joined the ranks of False Gods, and his daily attribute devouring continued.

When taking away the little black dragon and the old couple, Teest brought his magical bag and took a large tour around the dragon’s tomb. Nol suspected he had touched every corpse.

“I heard they’re hosting a welcome banquet for that little black dragon.” Teest casually untied his apron. “I thought you would be there throughout.”

“Just in case. My condition might not always be this stable,” Nol said. “Besides, if we were there, Perradat wouldn’t be able to let loose.”

This was an excellent opportunity to indirectly observe the God of Fate, and Officer Luo and Miss Lynn took on this glorious task.

…And Nol really wasn’t good at these team-building dinner-like occasions. Of course, our Mr. Demon King wouldn’t make this point clear.

“You’re becoming more and more like a Demon King, honey.” Teest scooped up a spoonful of stew with satisfaction.

His specialty, red wine braised meat, paired with freshly baked bread, and fruit liqueur that had been boiled to remove the alcohol.

Nol didn’t like salad much and had brought some stir-fried vegetables from the cafeteria ahead of time. Teest wasn’t interested in these green leaves, and as the master of the dinner menu, he decided to generously ignore them.

“Too much has happened recently. I also want to rest properly.” Nol sincerely stated.

The dirt on the body could be removed with a cleansing spell, but the awkwardness in the heart couldn’t be waved away. He needed a long, genuine hot bath and a good sleep with an empty mind.

“Well, that means no joint hot bath then.” Teest shrugged.

Maybe he could take the opportunity to maintain his sword and armor, he thought. This feeling was quite peculiar. With only Nol and himself in the room, it almost felt like they were living a normal person’s life.

Even though they were the furthest thing from “normal people”.

Nol seriously took off his robe and went into the bathroom. Teest glanced over, fixing his gaze on the pile of clothes—Nol’s pendant and the communication crystal were placed on top of the neatly folded clothes.

Teest gave a sidelong glance at the pendant, and after a few seconds, he quietly stood up and tiptoed closer.

The ancient Demon King’s tricolor bead, the Lost Tower key, and their wedding ring. The pendant was as before, but now when Teest looked at it again, that faint sense of discomfort had diminished a lot.

Teest suddenly felt that their wedding ring seemed much more prominent than before. Neither the tricolor bead nor the Lost Tower key stood out as much as the ring.

His Nol had made a choice. Nol didn’t sacrifice himself for those two things but chose to continue forward with him. Teest loved this feeling. He didn’t even have to pull on the golden thread, yet the other was walking towards him step by step.

It was this ring… um…

Wasn’t it a system gift, given to them in the name of the Goddess of Life? Did it count as something from Star Stealer Sol…?

How unpleasant. Teest extended a finger and poked the ring with some irritation.

Hmm, really quite ordinary.

Teest glared at it dissatisfied. As a testament to their relationship, it should be more special, better, and preferably have nothing to do with Star Stealer Sol at all.

While he was scratching at the ring, Nol’s communication crystal suddenly lit up. A silent text message appeared on the surface of the crystal—a common practice when the communicator didn’t want to be detected by their surroundings.

[Golden Sword, Black Forest, in poor condition. Accept him? — Painter]

Golden Sword in poor condition?

Teest: [Close to death?]

[Not to that extent. Good evening, Mad Monk.] Painter quickly recognized Teest.

Alright, Golden Sword wasn’t in life-threatening danger. Since Painter found him, he surely wouldn’t let him die in the wilderness, so why should they care about his life or death? Teest instinctively wanted to refuse. His fingertip was just about to touch the crystal, but he glanced at the wedding ring.

“Honey.” Teest opened the bathroom door, sticking his head in. “Golden Sword is injured in the Black Forest. Should we care? I suggest we don’t.”

Nol was blowing bubbles with the lower half of his face submerged in water. When Teest appeared, he almost choked.

“Mr. Billy?” He coughed several times.

“Yes, Painter found him,” Teest sincerely added. “He’s unsure whether to bring him to Paradise for treatment. I suggest we don’t.”

Nol sighed heavily, seeming like his plan to “sleep with an empty head” was ruined for the night.

Golden Sword Enbillick Alva…

“We can’t just let him into Paradise.” After pondering for a moment, Nol made a decision. Teest was about to agree happily, but before he could finish—

“But we can’t just ignore him either.” Mr. Kind-hearted Nol stated. “Let’s go out, just you and me, and bring some potions. Don’t look at me like that. With Mr. Billy, we can investigate the Alva Merchant Group more smoothly.”

“A quiet night, a soft bed, a refreshing lover. Boom! All gone!” Teest slowly retracted his head, his voice becoming muffled. “So, how shall we meet Mr. Billy?”

“The Landus and Ross brothers? The mysterious Master of the Tower and his monster knight? Teesti and Noli? Oh, of course, there’s the most classic. Hero Drake, and his lovely succubus companion…”

Though he said this, Teest’s tone didn’t sound very approving.

In fact, none were suitable.

Golden Sword was of uncertain allegiance. They couldn’t brazenly cooperate under the banner of Paradise. Nol had appeared before Golden Sword too many times. Not to mention Billy, an old fox not inferior to Painter, even an ordinary person could sense something… He wasn’t suitable to appear again.

Teest hadn’t appeared before Billy much, and the “Drake” identity was perfect for him. However, when investigating an information-rich conglomerate, Teest couldn’t just wander around with a famous face.

So—

“Wow,” After hearing Nol’s plan, Teest exclaimed. “Your head is really getting weirder and weirder. I know Golden Sword has a sharp eye, but your approach is really…”

The Mad Monk might be mad, but at least his thinking was still within the “human” range. Once Mr. Nol let go, his thinking became indescribably, well, unique.

“The more unexpected, the better,” Nol said. “I can handle my part. You do your best.”

They said this while standing in front of a neighbor who had transformed into a Swamp Witch. This neighbor still had a piece of a sauce-flavored pancake in her mouth while she looked at them with eyes full of shock. Just having heard their request, her sauce-flavored pancake almost fell out of her mouth.

“Alright, just like he said.” Teest opened his arms to the innocent neighbor. “Curse me, miss.”

“I’m not a miss. I mean, uh, alright.” The Swamp Witch wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. “But are you sure…”

“I can break a curse of this level myself. Just in case, I’ll ask Lynn to make a puppet that seals skills.” Nol stated, “We are certain.”

The Swamp Witch looked at them for a while with an expression that was hard to describe as she struggled to swallow the pancake in her mouth. She drank several cups of water and then cleared her throat.

A dark purple aura of a curse flickered into existence. It tumbled in place for a while, then surged towards Teest. Accompanied by a dim light, the Mad Monk’s figure vanished.

Nighttime.

Ye Meng—Black Dragon Imnarka—crouched on the tower’s top, touched by the view before her. After arriving in Paradise, the last bit of fear in her heart dissipated.

When disaster struck Joy Garden, her parents weren’t home. This meant she didn’t have to worry about her parents. She just needed to persevere. In the Dragon’s Lair, this was still a challenging task. But in the Lost Tower, she was almost happy.

Here, she could eat seasoned cooked beast meat to her heart’s content and chat with various uncles and aunties. Everyone took good care of her, and she did her best to protect everyone—like creating poisonous moving swamps and fearsome necrotic fogs near the Lost Tower.

The only drawback… There was a middle school teacher in Joy Garden, who turned into a chimera and was very willing to tutor her. With so many loving monster eyes staring at her, Ye Meng really couldn’t refuse.

She was going to start lessons tomorrow. The Black Dragon’s tail moved around the tower’s spire, suddenly wishing the night would last a bit longer.

Suddenly, an unknown aura burst out of the tower. The Black Dragon’s pupils contracted sharply, her large dragon eyes flickering with light, aiming in the direction of the aura’s emergence. Her dragon instincts warned her that two powerful beings had left the Lost Tower.

The moment she saw the two figures through the night fog, she suddenly became uncertain again.

A blob of black, a blob of white, both round and tiny. The two peculiar figures swayed up and down in the night, quickly disappearing without a trace.

Ye Meng: “……”

How strange.

There were many monsters in the tower, but few had talents that matched a giant dragon. The little Black Dragon could probably guess who those two were, but… never mind. Children shouldn’t worry about adult matters, she solemnly thought.

“What’s up, kid?” Inside the skull dangling on her chest, Grandma Li asked with concern.

“It’s nothing.”

“If it’s nothing, then hurry down. Oh dear, it’s too high.” Inside another skull, Lao Chen’s voice trembled.

The little black dragon flapped her wings and flew back into the tower. Before leaving, she looked back one more time—the two tiny shadows were completely swallowed by the Black Forest, leaving no trace.

……

On the edge of the Black Forest, an abandoned hunter’s cabin.

“I’ll leave you with enough food and water since you insist on staying here,” Painter said. “If you ask me, this isn’t a solution. You’re afraid to go to Grape Collar for fear of revealing your whereabouts, but going to Silver Windmill Village is also an option. I wouldn’t mind taking half a day to carry you there.”

Billy shook his head. Compared to not long ago, he looked somewhat better. At least his lips had some color.

“Don’t worry. My luck has always been good,” he said. “Didn’t I run into you?”

Painter: “If your luck was a bit better, I would be a bored young hunter. Unfortunately, you met me, a cursed leader with tasks to do in the cold.”

Actually, Golden Sword was right, Painter thought. Nol made it clear he would take over, so this legendary Mr. Billy certainly wouldn’t die anytime soon since that one decided to come personally.

It was just that this investigation into the Alva Merchant Group really involved a struggle between gods. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t appropriate for him, a mere mortal, to continue intervening.

This time, he’d better take the mercenary group to the Lost Tower to eat… Ahem, to stand guard.

“Anyway, I’m off.” Painter patted the doorstep, knocking off a pile of snow. “Good luck, Golden Sword.”

“Good luck, Godfrey.” Golden Sword Billy, wrapped in a blanket, showed a weak smile. Before he finished speaking, he coughed hoarsely.

Painter walked into the night without looking back.

Less than half an hour after he left, he saw a light. The owner of the light had a restrained aura, making it hard to gauge their strength. Enemy? Or someone from Paradise?

Painter restrained his own aura and quickened his pace. The light paused momentarily before quickly moving in Painter’s direction.

Upon getting closer, Painter fell silent.

He knew who this person was, and the other had no intention of hiding—

The man in front of him was dressed in a somewhat worn gentleman’s attire, clean and tidy without being flashy, understated to perfection. He wore gold-rimmed round glasses on his nose, with delicate chains hanging on either side, and his long gray hair tied back.

In his hand, he held a lantern-like staff, emitting a moonlight-like silver-blue soft light, illuminating everything nearby with incredible brightness.

A Player, the leader of “Hermitage”, Mentor.

Needless to say, this person was here to visit Paradise.

“So, you’re the leader of the Drifting Mercenaries.” Mentor nodded at Painter. “Good evening, sir. Is there a place nearby to stay overnight?”

“Are you walking here alone?” Painter raised an eyebrow.

“I had no choice. The younger ones are too slow, so I had to start moving on my own,” Mentor answered with a smile.

Information about Mentor was scarce. Painter knew him only because Hermitage had collaborated with the Drifting Mercenaries a few times. Perhaps because of his own reputation, Mentor didn’t intentionally avoid him.

Thus, Painter was well aware. As a warrior, this Player’s combat ability could almost be described as “pitiful”. Mentor had focused all his energy on life professions, transitioning to an “Arcane Alchemist”—a profession focused on research and hardly capable of combat.

Not to mention the fierce beasts of the Black Forest, Mr. Mentor might not even be able to handle a large dog.

“Go east, and you will see a hunter’s cabin.” Painter pointed the way, albeit reluctantly.

At least he had left many expulsion spells near the cabin, making the vicinity very safe.

As a guest, he didn’t want to take the liberty of bringing outsiders into Paradise. Golden Sword and Mentor, a package deal. Since the guy was here for Paradise anyway, he would let the Master of Paradise deal with him personally.

“Thank you.” Mentor nodded nonchalantly and headed east without any doubt.

Painter passed him by and continued towards Paradise.

This time, it took him an hour, and he had another encounter. Painter was a bit unsure whether the God of Fate was particularly favoring him tonight or particularly hating him… Wait, he seemed to have seen the God of Fate before, never mind.

Mr. Pope and the two gods in front of him stared at each other.

“That ‘Dominator’ is not with you anymore,” Teest said. “You got rid of it pretty fast—what, you’re here to stock up in Paradise this time?”

Painter: “You…”

Teest continued leisurely, “Nol and I have been briefed on the situation. Don’t worry. I won’t make things difficult for you.”

Painter’s tone was a bit peculiar. “…You look, um, very fluffy.”

Painter had speculated that these two would adopt new identities to contact Golden Sword Enbillick Alva, to personally investigate. However, he hadn’t expected them to change so thoroughly—

In front of him was a small black dragon, and a similarly sized white long-haired cat.

Both the cat and the black dragon’s ears sported golden Player earrings. The cat also had a collar with a small pouch hanging from it.

The beautiful black dragon flapped its wings, its black scales shimmering with a gem-like luster, and its pair of green eyes burning brightly. It gently grasped the white cat’s neck with its claws, hovering in mid-air.

The cat, on the other hand, held its head high, its golden eyes disdainfully looking down on Painter, with the voice of the Mad Monk emanating from its mouth.

“Indeed fluffy.” Teest said, “But you better not stick your fingers out.”

“I’ve already let Lynn and the others know. Just head directly to the Lost Tower. They’ve left dinner.” Black Dragon Nol blinked. “We’ll handle the rest.”

Painter hummed, unable to hold back. “A curse from a Swamp Witch?”

The curse of a Swamp Witch could turn people into small to medium-sized animals—small as frogs and sparrows, up to the size of pigs and sheep. It was less common to turn into cats or dogs, but not unheard of.

There were only three ways to break the Swamp Witch’s curse.

The witch willingly lifts the curse, kill the witch who cast the spell, or find a powerful and rare black magic item to break the curse. Of course, some witches set conditions like “true love’s kiss” for lifting the curse, but those tend to appear in fairy tales—Swamp Witches prefer to kill the cursed on the spot or simply leave, letting the cursed suffer forever.

As for the stats after turning into an animal, that was controlled by the witch herself. Considering the multi-racial situation in Paradise, Painter strongly suspected the curse was cast by one of their own, with the two’s stats not diminished at all.

It had to be said, a very… peculiar idea.

“Teest took the curse. I transformed myself with the skill of a Dracolich.” Nol nodded.

“From now on, we are two pitiful cursed Players, seeking the Alva Merchant Group to find a way to lift the curse. I think, Mr. Golden Sword won’t refuse the help of Players.”

“Yes.”

The Mad Monk nonchalantly waved his paw, and the Player earrings on his pointed ears jingled.

“I’m actually starting to look forward to it.”

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The author has something to say:

Congratulations to the two on their new forms (…

Hilarious, the knight can’t hold his sword now.

Just asking, isn’t this inconspicuous enough, Mr. Golden Sword?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 178: Snow Rescue

Before leaving the Dragon’s Lair, Dorothy made a special appointment to meet with Nol and her group.

Amazon’s project at the Dragon’s Lair had already begun. The Players diligently cultivated the mountain peak, turning the desolate, rocky summit into a small town with a rocky theme. It must be said, the Players’ abilities were frighteningly strong; by the time Nol climbed the mountain, they had already chiseled the steps into proper shape.

The barren land was filled with flame scale fruit trees, and bushes grew vigorously under the guidance of spellcasters. In addition to common vegetables, some fodder crops had already started to grow. A flock of fat chickens strutted through the vegetable fields, making the mysterious Dragon’s Lair seem not so… erm, mysterious.

Dorothy prepared fresh mint tea for them, along with freshly baked sweet potatoes.

“There’s something I must inform you all about as soon as possible,” she said with a worried look, pushing forward a stack of documents. “This is something Miss Lynn asked me to investigate, and I’ve looked into it.”

“It’s the magic that summoned Nol to the vicinity of the Claw Scar Mountains,” Lynn said quietly. “Remember? ‘Wanted By Fate’ as that old fox said.”

“I remember your job was to interrogate Barto.” Teest, realizing it was serious business, didn’t joke.

“Barto’s head is emptier than a frequent urinator’s bladder,” Lynn scorned. “He only knew it was ‘commissioned by the higher-ups’, and almost nothing else—the magic was also accidentally triggered by his own careless hands. Rather than his side of the story, I’m more concerned about this.”

She snapped her fingers, and a smoky gray eyeball floated in mid-air. It now looked fresh and intact, as if it had just been gouged out of someone’s eye socket.

“I’ve restored the material used for the ‘Seeking Core’. It’s someone’s eye. This eye has seen Nol, without a doubt.”

Nol and Teest exchanged glances, finding the same judgment in each other’s gaze.

The eye of Golden Sword Enbillick Alva.

Not long ago, in the Claw Scars Mountains, Golden Sword forcibly joined their team, indeed witnessing “Teesti” and “Noli” dressed as nuns. Golden Sword himself may not have recognized Nol’s disguise, but for black magic with absolute effect, this level of eyewitness was enough.

“The interesting part is here.”

Dorothy curled her knuckles, tapping on the document in front of her. “Officially, it’s ‘goods consigned by a member of Amazon’, but in reality, no one within Amazon ordered such a thing.”

“The recipient of the goods itself was also conveniently blurred. Barto’s job was more like simply bringing it here and activating it.”

“Golden Sword’s Alva Merchant Group~ The Alva Merchant Group that delivered the goods,” Teest sang out. “Isn’t it a bit too obvious?”

“But we have no other choice,” Nol said.

Leading him to the vicinity of the Claw Scar Mountains and manipulating the quest, it was definitely Star Stealer Sol’s doing. “The Alva Merchant Group” was currently their biggest clue and the only clear one.

Dorothy: “That’s all I can confirm. By the way, I’ve already sent out the introduction letter to ‘Mentor’. According to that person’s character, he should visit the Lost Tower.”

Lynn pressed her temples hard. “I’ve got to go tell Uncle Ma and the others…”

“Oh, I think there’s no need to bother.” Dorothy shrugged. “As long as they ensure their own safety, Mentor can enter any place he wishes.”

Nol was still thinking about the Alva Merchant Group. From the beginning, this impressive conglomerate had a very strong presence. Merchants always had the fastest news, and Star Stealer Sol inserting spies among them was quite natural. Now, he was more curious about the current situation of Golden Sword Enbillick Alva.

The “Wanted by Fate” was undoubtedly a black magic artifact. Golden Sword’s eye being used as a material for black magic certainly couldn’t be simply restored.

Perhaps finding Golden Sword could provide a faster entry into the matter. On the other hand, Golden Sword himself might be Star Stealer Sol’s spy…

“We’ll return to the Lost Tower,” Nol concluded.

He was actually the one with the most urgent situation, but unfortunately, this matter absolutely couldn’t be rushed.

Dorothy nodded, indicating she understood. “If there’s new information, I’ll contact you through the Dragon’s Lair.”

“You’ll have a nice room in Lost Tower, Perradat.” Nol turned to Lilith. “But until we get Star Stealer Sol’s flesh, Lilith can’t go anywhere. How about that?”

Teest clicked his tongue disapprovingly. Truth be told, Nol also didn’t want Perradat to come into contact with the Lost Tower.

However, since this guy was using Lilith’s body, they couldn’t just leave Lilith herself outside—not to mention the safety issues, Kando, the “Knight of Fate”, once uncooperative, would greatly limit their actions.

Lilith, tilting her head, listened for a while. “She requests clean honey water, fruit juice, or sweet wine, preferably with fresh meat, white bread, and fruits. Also, a single room. The bedding must be clean. Can’t sleep on mud or straw. If you can provide these, She has no objections.”

Nol: “……”

Nol: “No problem.”

How to put this… This was basically the standard living of their neighbors. The last time he went back, the most troublesome neighbors were already developing carbonated drinks and ice cream.

For a second, he even felt a bit of sympathy for Perradat.

Two hours later, he really started feeling sympathy for Perradat.

Lilith—accurately, the Perradat version of blue-eyed Lilith—stood dumbfounded in front of the grand hall of the Lost Tower. She looked at the floor of the grand hall, which could reflect one’s image, and the neighbors coming in and out of the cafeteria, holding food, tears streaming down her face.

This contender for the divine throne cried as soon as she said she would, startling Nol.

“Star Stealer Sol has two religions worshiping him.” Perradat sniffled. “You’ve only just awakened for a bit and… sob… It’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed such prosperity…”

“You’re indeed the most miserable,” Teest empathetically concluded.

“Having food, drink, and a head—these aren’t any superior conditions. Poor guy.” Up to now, there were four False Gods qualified to compete for the divine throne. Nol and himself definitely counted as bound. Looking at Perradat and Star Stealer Sol, indeed, only this “God of Fate” was the most miserable.

“Noli! Teesti!”

Knight Saint Bernard, holding his ball, ran over. The good knight had gained weight, and his fur had become fluffy and clean. He no longer had the smell of armor and sheep but rather the fresh scent of soap.

“Good knight.” Nol petted the head of Saint Bernard, who lowered it. “How are you all adapting?”

“The sheep are producing milk!” Saint Bernard joyfully said. “The village chief really likes it here, but he just won’t properly admit it. Hehe, everyone loves the sheep milk. Soon we’ll be able to sell cheese and mutton—by the way, these are the freshest apples I’ve ever eaten!”

The Border Collie village chief was old and didn’t like to move much. This good knight had essentially become the representative of the Sheepskin Ball Village. His tail was wagging so fast behind him, it almost left afterimages. “Others are also very good. They’re willing to pet our heads for free, astonishingly.”

He whispered mysteriously, “A while ago, the village chief said, he’s now only in charge of the sheep trade. The surrounding patrol matters can be left to Mr. Rosen.”

This was a complete acceptance of the Lost Tower, Nol thought. Officer Luo, having transmigrated to another world and been promoted to Knight Commander of the dog-headed beastmen, still had a police dog squad upon returning.

Judging by Officer Luo’s wide smile, he clearly loved this job.

As last time he was here, the tower became warmer and livelier, like an endless night market. The neighbors’ spirits were increasingly better. Most could smile and greet others.

The excited to tears Lilith—Perradat—or both, were led by Lynn towards the dormitory area. Nol believed Lynn wouldn’t make a mistake in this matter. The Supreme Domination Witch would definitely arrange a very suitable room.

The two tower masters stopped on the second floor.

Teest grabbed a plate of roasted lamb legs, eating attentively.

Nol, propping his chin, quietly watched the happy neighbors, enjoying this brief peace. Thank God, this time, no bothersome voices drilled into Nol’s head.

However, he did encounter one—no, a bothersome creature. From the highest point of the stone sculpture came the flapping of wings. The harpy Granny Meng turned towards Nol, the eyes on that human face protruding high.

“You’ve deceived everyone, but you can’t deceive me. You can’t deceive me, hee hee.” The old lady’s claws left several white marks on the stone sculpture. “Monster, monster, monster.”

Nol watched her somewhat sentimentally. “Maybe.”

People’s acceptance could really be worked out. Facing this mentally abnormal elderly woman, Nol wasn’t only unafraid but even felt that the old woman made some sense. He was certain that, no matter what, Granny Meng wasn’t crazier than himself.

Teest was choked by his calmness, unsure whether to be surprised or to laugh.

“Miss, do you remember anything else?” Nol continued to ask good-naturedly, in a very humble tone. “Aside from me peeping at you, me not installing curtains, me killing everyone, is there anything else? Anything is fine.”

Granny Meng was startled by his honesty for a half second, her face turning from ninety degrees left to ninety degrees right.

After a long look that yielded no results, she muttered a few words, then raised her voice again. “You never come downstairs. You don’t take out the trash! You’ve filled up your room, always pressing against the glass. Your house is too small! Too small!”

“Such big eyes, sliding against the glass, all slippery and dirty!”

“Oh, you know.” Teest swallowed the meat in his mouth. “At this point, I suddenly feel her description might actually be true, at least to some extent. I mean, aside from the ‘dirty’ part.”

His Nol might have been many things, but the possibility that “Nol is a regular, law-abiding person” was definitely not one of them.

Nol just quietly listened.

His knowledge seal was still in slumber, but Granny Meng’s description no longer gave him that eerie sense of discord, but rather seemed quite natural, as if things should be that way.

He wasn’t only unafraid but actually felt reassured.

“Do you remember when I moved in? I seem to stand out.” After the old lady finished muttering, the good neighbor Nol continued to inquire.

“I don’t remember.” Granny Meng’s voice was hoarse, revealing a somewhat low mood. “Suddenly there was. Suddenly there was. I say it’s not right, but no one listens… No one listens. My daughter even wanted to send me to the hospital…”

At this point, her tone became harsh again. “This time there’s a policeman. They’ll take you away! Hee hee.”

“Do you really not remember?” Nol asked gently. “I’m so big, I definitely couldn’t take the elevator, and climbing stairs would be very difficult. You’re always downstairs. You must have seen something.”

For the first time, Granny Meng looked doubtful—no outsider had ever talked to her so smoothly. Perhaps they should go to the hospital together. This thought popped into her muddled mind.

But having someone talk to her for so long, even if it was a monster, moved her a little.

“The situation of ‘Xu Yue’ moving in. ‘Xu Yue’ moving in…”

“Star, no.” She pondered. “At night, the stars above were missing a large piece… Something’s blocking. You’re blocking?”

Nol was so composed that she spoke uncertainly, even forgetting to cackle.

“Not all bad things are done by me.” Nol’s smile remained. “Anyway, thank you for your help.”

With that, he took some of Teest’s untouched lamb and shared it with the elderly woman on the magical plate.

After all this, Nol returned to his posture of propping his chin, gazing down at the happy neighbors.

“You seem very calm.” Teest clicked his tongue in disbelief, even forgetting his lamb that was shared.

“Whether it was becoming a monster or the instability of the knowledge seal, I never harmed you guys intentionally. These are all things you’ve proven for me, Teest.”

Nol looked towards his cheerful neighbors. “So, rather than being suspicious, I prefer to believe that there was a compelling reason behind ‘me killing everyone’ in the past—even if I was a monster, I’d be a good one. At least for now, let me think that way.”

How interesting. Along the way, the more he walked, the crazier and yet more calm he became.

Even his last fear, the fear of controlling those he loved, was diluted by his mad lover—

“Believe me, you’re the best monster.”

Teest casually poured a glass of water, symbolically raising his glass. “As a witness, I definitely have the right to say this.”

Nol flicked his fingers, and silver cups with clear water appeared out of thin air. He was getting more proficient with the skill [Creator].

“You too.” Nol raised his cup, clinking it with Teest’s.

…

Painter was walking through the Black Forest.

The order to gather the Drifting Mercenary Group had been sent out, and he needed to head to the Lost Tower first to discuss terms with the person in charge there. Although he knew Nol wouldn’t really refuse him, the necessary politeness was still needed.

Paradise was quite generous. The reward for the last quest was quite substantial. Painter indulged himself a bit—he got a decent bottle of wine from the General, fresh white bread, and properly cured salt beef. Even though their flavors couldn’t compare to Paradise’s products, they were delicious enough for him.

They cost him two silver hooks!

Humming a tune, Painter stepped over the thick fallen leaves of the Black Forest. For the average adventurer, this forest was full of dangers, but for the former Pope, the outer ring of the Black Forest was almost like his own backyard.

No, maybe the Black Forest’s outer ring was better. Biting into bread with salted butter, Painter had no home, let alone a backyard—at least the Black Forest still existed.

He should reach the Lost Tower before dinner, likely to find delicious soup. Recently, the dog-headed beastmen moved in, so it was probably going to be warm mutton soup.

The weather hadn’t warmed up yet. He needed this, preferably with plenty of pepper…

Painter suddenly stopped, sniffing the air.

The smell of blood.

Specifically, the stench of corrupted human blood with a filthy curse.

Judging from the scent, the owner of the blood should still be alive. But without timely intervention, this unfortunate soul wouldn’t last much longer. Painter swiftly packed up his unfinished bread and ran towards the source of the blood scent.

The closer he got, the more evident the magical fluctuations became. Painter frowned. Waiting for him ahead seemed to be an old acquaintance.

Indeed.

Seconds later, he found the unfortunate soul in a melted snow patch—Golden Sword Enbillick Alva lay in the snow, surrounded by shattered gemstone artifacts. One of his eye sockets was empty, emitting a sweet, rotten smell.

The famous Golden Sword’s cheeks were hollow. His breathing was rapid and turned into thick white mist. From several meters away, Painter could feel the heat. Billy was undoubtedly feverish, and left alone like this, he was bound to die tonight.

Painter sighed.

He snapped his fingers, and the surrounding snow melted quickly. The mud beneath Billy turned green. The wet and cold ground rapidly transformed into a soft lawn. A light green magical barrier rose, warming the air inside.

Painter stopped next to Billy, mixing healing potions with sugar and heating them with the wine. Then he lifted Billy’s head and neck, slowly feeding him the warm and sweet wine.

During this process, he nearly stumbled from the curse emanating from Billy. Fortunately, he wasn’t intending to deal with it for now and just wanted to suppress this deadly fever.

Billy coughed a few times from the wine, slowly opening his eyes. His remaining smoky gray right eye was somewhat cloudy, filled with bloodshot.

“Godfrey.” He smiled weakly. “God, if this is my deathbed illusion, can I get a different one?”

“Call me Painter, sir. Your statement is saddening. It seems our relationship isn’t there yet.” Painter grinned.

“The famous Golden Sword, how did you fall so low as to be without even a healing artifact?”

Billy closed his eyes, gulping down the remaining wine. He wiped his mouth harshly; his lips were still cracked and bleeding. “Naturally, I used them all up. It’s a long story. But you, my friend, what are you doing in the Black Forest?”

Painter’s eyes shifted. “You know, the Drifting Mercenary Group always has some odd tasks. I show up in all sorts of odd places.”

“Indeed.” Billy slowly sat up.

“Anyway, thank you for the wine. I think it’s enough for me to speak the truth now—unfortunately, I seem to have concocted a rather difficult curse.”

“Oh?” Painter broke off half a piece of bread, handing it to Billy.

Billy gratefully accepted the bread. “I lost some memories before. You and I both know what that means. I’ve been trying to figure out if I was tampered with. In case I was, and it affects my family…”

“Understood.” Painter pretended to be unaware. “So you’re carrying a curse?”

“No, not at all.” Billy laughed at himself. “In the process of trying to restore my memory, I lost it again, along with my left eye. Once is an accident, twice starts to get scary. As for this curse, it came when I tried to recover my memory again.”

He touched his empty eye socket. “Whoever did it, this time they were much harsher. I must find them, or I can’t return home in peace.”

“Oh.” Painter sighed. “Why didn’t you use the power of your conglomerate?”

Golden Sword was silent.

After a while, he spoke again. “It’s because I used the conglomerate’s power that I lost my eye—these days, you can’t trust anyone.”

Saying this, he chuckled lowly, his eyes filled with an indecipherable emotion.

“Even now, I don’t know if you’re a friend or foe, my friend.”

---

The author has something to say:

Early-stage Granny Meng: Hiss— (scaring with a ninety-degree face turn)

Mid-stage Granny Meng: Hiss— (going crazy with a ninety-degree face turn)

Current Granny Meng: …Young man, wait, you seem sicker than me.jpg

Nol: Can turn face 360 degrees √

Nol starts to communicate smoothly with a real mental patient. How much he’s grown!

This family lacks healthy sunshine (……) Teest dispersed.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 177: God’s Gift

“I don’t believe her.”

After returning to their room, the Mad Monk couldn’t wait to say, “Honey, acting all upright and innocent, emphasizing one’s harmlessness, then striking with a backhanded blow—I have used this kind of script to the point where I don’t even bother using it anymore.”

Slurp, slurp. Nol held a cup of flame scale juice, leisurely sipping it.

The rich sweetness made him feel much better. Perradat reinforced the knowledge seal in his head again. These days, his mind had rarely been so clear.

“The Creator and the created beings—you and me.”

In front of Nol, Teest was still grumbling discontentedly. He seemed not to like Perradat’s eager help. “She’s implying that, in the end, you and I are the most dangerous opponents. If you ask me… Ngh!”

Nol kissed him.

Teest temporarily closed his mouth, tasting the unique sweetness of the flame scale fruit from his lover’s lips. Nol kissed gently, with a soothing taste.

But that wouldn’t divert his attention, Teest thought seriously.

Perradat felt like a palm-sized spider that had sneaked into the bedroom. At first glance, it obediently lay there; at the second glance, it was gone without a trace. Who knew when it might appear again—you knew it was beneficial to you, you knew it was likely not to harm you, but that didn’t prevent this cunning thing from making you uncomfortable.

It was his bedroom, his territory!

“Whether what she said is true or not, one thing is certain. She wants us to be completely hostile to Star Stealer Sol.”

Nol leaned his forehead was against Teest’s. “Before that, she could help us stabilize the knowledge seal. For now, I will only acknowledge this deal.”

And Perradat bound Lilith, which was tantamount to indirectly binding Lynn, and Lynn was an indispensable manager of the Lost Tower. Nol didn’t believe this was a mere coincidence.

The loser in the struggle for the divine throne was far from as simple as they thought.

Suppose it was Star Stealer Sol who lost the battle of the two gods. Now, standing in their opposition, it might had been Perradat herself—if they were talking about the sincerity of the deal, as long as Nol was willing to “sacrifice”, it wasn’t impossible to deal with Star Stealer Sol’s side.

It was just a matter of where one’s loyalties lay.

How realistic. Everyone was coveting that vacant divine throne.

Unfortunately, Nol had already decided he wouldn’t easily sacrifice for anything.

Oh, among the many False God candidates, there was also one who forgot about the divine throne—Teest looked him up and down, and after a long time, he exhaled.

“I originally thought you would be more ambitious.” Nol couldn’t help teasing him. “Don’t you want to become the Supreme God?”

“Then what?” Teest bared his teeth to him. “To establish a bunch of temples, listen to people sourly singing praises for me, praying for wealth, power, and love? When it comes to power—a life without any challenging goals is amazingly uninteresting to think about.”

After saying that, he frowned. “Pulling down the gods I dislike from their thrones, I admit, is attractive. But after that, it seems boring. Thinking this way, I’d rather have a Supreme God I recognize…”

It was rare for Teest to speak so candidly. Nol’s heart softened. He was just about to speak when he heard the second half—

“…So I can pull him down from the divine throne, and he himself can sit back on it. There’s an exchange, never lacking in fun—ouch! Don’t hit my forehead!”

Nol expressionlessly retracted his head.

“And what I want is the truth, truth, truth. Just that simple, honey.”

Teest rubbed the light red mark on his forehead, murmuring. “It turns out, this is the most tempting issue now—”

“Why Star Stealer Sol insists on opposing, instead of bowing down to cooperate like Loser.”

“Why you have a knowledge seal, how exactly you created this world, and how your compatriots got involved.”

At this point, Teest’s voice paused slightly.

“Why I, a ‘native’, am so special. Why I met you… How intriguing, isn’t it?”

The sweetness in Nol’s mouth faded.

He suddenly felt a bit at a loss. Hesitating for a few seconds, Nol still decisively said, “If everything is my plan, what do you plan to do?”

Teest made a long “um—”, and took another hard look at Nol.

“You advance, and I retreat. You retreat, and I advance. Dancing requires two people to be interesting.”

“You ask me what to do? Of course, to completely surpass your expectations, Lord Nol.”

An answer that was unexpected yet made perfect sense.

Nol thought for a moment, then leaned in to kiss the spot on Teest’s forehead where they had collided earlier.

Teest moved his fingers, and Nol then noticed a golden thread had appeared on his wrist at some point.

‘Let’s keep going like this,’ he thought. Regardless of the plan or lack thereof, this would be a grand adventure. This time, they could hunt together, hunting for a prey known as “Star Stealer Sol”.

Where better to start than this?

……

The sun was about to set.

Eugene Malloy, as usual, sat in his room, reviewing the mountain of files one by one.

He had spent his entire private holiday investigating the case of the “Oracle Sacrificial Array on Dream Island being activated”, along with the subsequent war reports from the Claw Scar Mountains. He could almost be certain that it was Drake and his group’s doing—moreover, this time, Godfrey Painter was undeniably involved.

His report was completed. A thick stack was gathering dust in the drawer. Eugene hadn’t submitted them, knowing the Temple wouldn’t deal with it.

Because on the very day he completed his report, the title of “Envoy of the Goddess of Life” for Drake had spread.

Beside the Dracolich, a powerful minion of the newly born Demon King appeared. The Goddess descended in front of many Players, personally declaring Drake as her absolute envoy.

To his knowledge, this descent of the Goddess even abruptly ended a system quest, and the minion of the newly born Demon King was expelled on the spot. The Players present received the opportunity to cooperate with the dragons, a significant progress.

Hero Drake was visiting the Dragon’s Lair and hadn’t appeared to this day.

Hero Drake, the absolute envoy of the Goddess.

Eugene didn’t feel any emotion related to “jealousy”. On the contrary, he was relieved. Yes, that was how it should be. Such a formidable existence should serve as the sword in the hands of the Goddess, not a destabilizing factor wandering the world.

Remember, God said, God loves order and peace.

God said, think for yourself, discern for yourself, and carve out your own path. Life and goodwill are always worth praising.

Eugene knelt on one knee towards the direction of the sun, his lips touching the divine emblem on his ring, praying devoutly. It was undoubtedly the Goddess Tilia. He only wished he could have been there in person to witness the glory of the Goddess.

However, if he were to speak of other regrets, he did have some.

“Supreme Lady Tilia.” Eugene whispered, “Thank you for your envoy guiding the traitor back into the light… After learning of this, I wished to personally guide him back and was discontented with the current situation. Please forgive my dark thoughts.”

Indeed, Painter couldn’t escape the life written for him by fate. Godfrey Painter, indeed, belonged to the Temple of Life. He was destined to praise the glory of God.

‘Perhaps there was still room for his own intervention,’ Eugene thought.

Painter might still be wavering. Perhaps he didn’t expect Drake to be the Goddess’s envoy… If so, there might still be a chance for him to personally bring that person back to the Temple…

“Please forgive my discontent and selfishness. I will serve you more purely,” Eugene continued to pray.

[I forgive you.]

A gentle voice suddenly sounded from the statue, ethereal and full of divinity.

Above the prayer altar, the Goddess statue shone with a holy, soft white light.

The shock was too great. Eugene hadn’t reacted yet and had already knelt down properly.

[I have always watched over you, my child,] the voice said. [Where there is light, there will be darkness. This world needs heroes before the masses, as well as knights who stand firm in the shadows.]

[I know your devotion and bravery. Hero Drake will become the pointer of the new world, and you will become the sword and shield in the war. Here, I bestow upon you the god-slaying sword “Dominator”. It is destined to be part of your fate.]

[Prove your soul, my knight.]

“I will uphold order and peace, life and goodwill.”

No matter how fierce the battle, Eugene had never been nervous. At this moment, however, his back was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and he could hear his own heartbeat.

“I will not disappoint you, my eternal God.”

The Goddess spoke no more.

The soft light on the statue gently pulsed, like a breath, a heartbeat, or a satisfied sigh.

The glow of the setting sun shone through the window bars, casting a golden-red hue over the altar.

In this warm glow, the light gradually brightened. On the altar, the light outlined a beautiful longsword. It was warm and golden-red. Although the sunset had the same colors, it made one think of the hopeful dawn.

An unfathomable power surged within the blade. Undoubtedly, it was a divine creation.

Eugene didn’t reach for the sword immediately. He gently gazed at the statue until its radiant light completely faded away. As the sun set and night spread, the room still seemed bathed in sunlight, the blade shimmering with splendid brilliance.

When the stars filled the sky, Eugene finally stood up. He picked up the sword with both hands, feeling the pulsing power in his palms—it was even warm, as if it possessed its own life.

Knight Eugene decisively swung the long sword the “Dominator” drawing a bright trajectory through the air, leaving behind spark-like glitters. As soon as the thought “too bright” barely crossed Eugene’s mind, the sword settled down, leaving him holding only a beautifully unparalleled metal longsword—beautiful, but not as blinding as before.

Eugene held the sword with both hands, pressing it to his heart.

The god-slaying sword.

He would use it to behead the False God.

“I will never disappoint you, Lady Tilia.”

He bowed his head, kissing the warm blade with utmost devotion.

Just a wall away.

“Young people sure can kneel for a long time. It wouldn’t hurt to put it away sooner.”

Painter emerged from the shadows, rubbing his stiff back—thanks to “Star Stealer Sol”, he was getting better at impersonating the Goddess of Life.

Silly brat, so easily deceived even after all these years that it’s tear-inducing.

A sword capable of slaying gods must contain the power of the system and was extremely precious. Painter knew that the “Dominator” being in Eugene’s hands was just a matter of time.

This was clear to Painter, and he believed Nol understood as well—unless the sword stayed with Teest, Star Stealer Sol would definitely learn of its whereabouts. Yet, Nol still gave the sword to him, even personally strengthening it.

Just so “Nol and Teest” wouldn’t hold a power that was absolute it would bring despair.

Naturally, he wouldn’t betray Nol’s trust. Painter stretched lazily. If he kept the sword himself, Star Stealer Sol would definitely try every means to take it back. But if it ended up with Eugene, that might not necessarily be the case.

Eugene himself was fated to “slay the False God”. One more sword or one less, his oracle wouldn’t change because of it. At this moment, he was like a weapon coated in deadly poison, unknowingly who would wield it and whom it would strike down.

Now they all knew. Oracles could be interpreted in countless ways. Until the midnight bell tolled, anything was possible.

For Star Stealer Sol, Eugene could naturally become a loyal pawn of it.

After all, Painter’s disguise was only temporary. Star Stealer Sol was the true “Goddess of Life”, the nominal master of Knight Eugene. Well, rather than Star Stealer Sol taking the risk of acting out and reclaiming the sword, it was better to leave it in Eugene’s hands.

This was assuming that his deductions about Star Stealer Sol were correct, Painter thought. From this moment on, the “Dominator” would truly belong to Knight Eugene.

It was just a mortal playing a game with the gods. Painter smirked. This was more thrilling than he imagined.

“I really entrust my hopes to you, my child. May you walk the path of light.”

Painter rubbed his temples, leaning against the cold wall. He took a long breath. “I believe you won’t disappoint me.”

But now, the question arose, where should poor Godfrey Painter go?

His mercenary group would definitely attract Star Stealer Sol’s attention… Hmm, maybe it’s time to lay low in Paradise again. Lord Nol’s place is quite spacious.

It was also a testament to trust and loyalty! Hmm, maybe he should pilfer something from the church on the way, for a greetings gift… Painter casually grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, crunching away.

He walked towards the door, magic swirling around him. When he left, Mr. Painter had transformed into a bashful, curly-haired monk. He lowered his head, quickly walking deeper into the church. He brushed past Knight Eugene just as he was stepping out the door.

One looking up with a resolute gaze, the other lowering his face, hiding the smile in his eyes. They nodded politely to each other, walking in opposite directions.

“Have you heard? The famed ‘Golden Sword’ announced he’s taking a long-term hiatus. He said he has personal matters to attend to.” Painter had just turned the corner when he overheard two Investigation Knights chatting.

“Personal matters? I heard he injured his eye. If even the Alva Merchant Group can’t cure it, it must be a wound caused by powerful dark magic,” another knight responded.

Painter slowed his steps and perked up his ears.

“Maybe he just doesn’t want to accompany Duke Alva’s madness. Lately, they’ve been frantically searching for a girl with blue eyes. Someone like Golden Sword who’s bent on doing the right thing definitely doesn’t want to get involved… They say his last stop was near the Black Forest of Grape Collar. Where do you think he went?”

“Speculating is useless. Only he knows what happened. There’s no order to monitor him for now. Let Henry put the information in the ‘not important’ column.”

“Indeed.”

……

In the heart of the city, in a cellar at the edge of the lower district.

A thin, middle-aged man was reading by candlelight. He was wearing round glasses and tied back his long gray hair. He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, clean-shaven, with the marks of time on his cheeks, yet still retained the handsomeness of his youth.

He didn’t have any remarkable equipment on him, just wearing a long robe of a sage, stained with numerous ink spots. In the flickering candlelight, he gathered his slender fingers and briskly wrote something.

His handwriting was sharp and beautiful, almost print-like in its neatness.

Suddenly, the man stopped writing.

Beside him, a silver bell spontaneously rang. Within the ripples of sound, a letter gradually materialized. The envelope was simple, with only a flamboyant signature—

[Dorothy]

The man calmly opened the letter, pushing up his glasses on the bridge of his nose. Half a minute later, he put down his pen and picked up a staff beside him. With two firm taps, a magical screen opened beside him.

“Mentor.” On the other side of the screen, a similarly intellectual female Player greeted him.

“Find Solo and also inform his sister, Anakin,” “Mentor” said calmly. “A minor field research task, requiring the protection of the Saints Guild. Just say that.”

The female Player on the other side paused. “Solo is too young. If you’re looking for a research assistant…”

“I want that kid. Once we arrive, he will surely understand what’s going on,” “Mentor” said with a slight smile. “Sorry for disturbing you this late.”

“You’re too polite. I’ll make sure to inform them by morning.” The Player dressed like a lady nodded.

The screen had snapped off, and the room returned to the dimness of candlelight.

“Mentor” stood up and walked to the wardrobe. He sifted through the dusty robes, selecting a set of formal gentleman’s attire. As he moved, a sheet of draft paper that was stuck to the wardrobe fell to the floor.

The leader of “Hermitage”—Mr. Mentor sighed. He tucked the staff under his arm and bent down to pick up the paper.

Amidst the flickering candlelight, not just the wardrobe but the walls, the bedboard, the desk, and even the ceiling were all covered with densely packed draft papers filled with text and calculations, many of which were in other people’s handwriting.

The shelves were filled with various specimens: plants, animals, soil, water samples. The remaining spaces were crammed with assorted alchemical equipment. The room was a chaotic yet orderly mess, evoking a paradoxical sense of fullness and emptiness.

“The truth of the world…”

Picking up the draft paper, Mentor closed the wardrobe and leisurely stuck it back in its place. This paper was covered with diagrams, with most sentences ending in question marks.

“I was worried that I had no material. This letter came at just the right time. Since they specifically asked for me, I hope Paradise will have some interesting topics.”

Mentor hung up his only formal attire and dusted it. The fabric emitted a peculiar, acrid smell of alchemical materials, which he had decided not to treat further.

“Let’s hope it’s not ‘the world is real’ kind of known information,” he muttered. “I need more in-depth data. For instance, what could defy the laws of evolution and create a real world in a short time…”

Having said that, he smiled to himself.

---

The author has something to say:

Teest watching the throne of the highest god is like:

A cat that screams madly when the door is closed but refuses to enter when it’s opened (.

Perradat & Star Stealer Sol: Take it.

Nol: The authority of destruction is like this.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 176: The King and the Beggar

“You’re not even my sister.”

This sentence is actually quite awkward. Normally, people would only say, “You’re not my dad or mom,” rarely mentioning their siblings. But Lin Li was used to saying it this way. Lin En had heard her argue with a friend like this before.

The reason was simple. Lin Li didn’t have a strong impression of their parents. Their parents died in a car accident when Lin En was fourteen and Lin Li was only four.

Their family had few relatives, and their grandparents had already passed away. Their maternal grandparents took over the guardianship of the two sisters, but the elderly couple was old and liked to spoil the children excessively, leaving Lin En to discipline Lin Li most of the time.

Not long after Lin En became an adult, the elderly maternal grandparents also passed away. Under such pressure, Lin En took a job at the local, well-established company right after graduation. She specifically chose this well-paying, stable job to better take care of her sister.

As a result, when Lin Li reached high school, the age difference between them became more apparent. Lin Li no longer wanted to listen to her, often coming up with reckless ideas, and the two would frequently argue vehemently.

But they were the only family each other had.

Adding to the familiar feeling during their recent argument, the opponent’s small movements and expressions in rebuttal…

Lin Li’s favorite thing to do when arguing was to knock on things, with her nose wrinkled and her chin lifted high. Lin En watched the serpentman prophet with the same expression, its tail tip snapping against the ground, and a sense of hope, which shouldn’t exist, seized her.

Half of her brain screamed, “It’s just a word. Don’t get your hopes up,” while the other half was filled with, “Could it be her?”

Lin En struggled to open her mouth, finding for the first time that “speaking” was so difficult.

“I’m too busy to explode. I don’t have the energy to argue with you here. Come home with me first.” She used her most effective words, followed by ordering her dolls, “Tom, Jerry. Catch her.”

During the speech, she stared intently at the serpentman prophet’s expression. Being from Earth, hearing these two names in such a situation would at most elicit a sneer or be ignored.

But if the opponent also felt a sense of familiarity, had doubts…

The serpentman prophet froze, its four eyes staring at the face of the witch with a girlish face, even forgetting to resist.

A few seconds later, its tail stopped slapping the ground. Lilith shrank her neck, squeezing out a mosquito-like hum. “Sister?”

Lynn’s eyes welled up, and she bit her lip hard. She wanted to scream, to cry on the spot, to rush over and hug her sister. In the end, she could only utter hoarsely, “Why did you go back to Joy Garden? Didn’t I tell you to go to school?”

The game only dragged Joy Garden in. If her sister hadn’t come over to take care of her, she wouldn’t have had to suffer this ordeal.

All the way, she felt a strange contradiction. Lin En hoped her sister would return to school in a huff after their argument, so she wouldn’t be caught up in the disaster. Yet, she didn’t want her sister to leave without looking back at her.

Everything was uncertain. She could only search in fear and trepidation, and now she finally had her answer.

Lilith’s face quickly cooled down. “I was afraid if I left you alone with a fever, I might have to collect your corpse in a few days. I’m your sister, not a piece of roast pork. Is that so hard to understand? Would you die if you didn’t pour cold water on me?”

The magic around her not only remained but became more intense.

That tone was unmistakably her real sister. Lynn’s throat was choked. It took her several breaths before she could speak again.

“I’m sorry,” Lynn said. “It’s my fault.”

Lilith was stunned on the spot. The magic around her exploded and dissipated. She widened her eyes, staring at her family member in front of her.

“It’s my fault for dragging you into this. I’m sorry.” Lynn’s head was burning. She didn’t know what she was saying. She just wanted to continue pouring out. “I should have listened to you. I shouldn’t have fallen ill that day. I should have communicated with you properly. I shouldn’t have argued that day… I’m sorry, Lili.”

Towards the end, her voice became nasal. “You shouldn’t have to suffer like this.”

Lilith pursed her lips, sniffled several times, and lifted her head. “What nonsense are you talking about? I’m sixteen now. When our parents just passed away, you were younger than me. Aren’t I fine now, and even became… wuu wuu wuu!”

Before she could finish, she couldn’t help but rush towards her family member, crying loudly.

“I hate this damn place!” She couldn’t help but shout. “Help me, sister—”

Lynn gently patted her back, her eyes red.

It’s good. Lilith was smearing her snot and tears on her sister. The prophecy really came true. This is really magic.

The God of Fate, truly was the God of Fate.

Kando quietly observed from the side, his eyes full of rare satisfaction. Such a wonderful reunion scene, he had always prayed for but seldom seen.

He suddenly remembered the portrait of the Blanco family, the portrait of Wilma holding an empty vase, and the empty vases that could be seen everywhere in the house.

Perhaps he knew what kind of flowers the empty vase was waiting for; perhaps that was the last trace he left in this world—not as the hero Drake, but as the person “Drake”.

Time was so cruel. Now, besides Perradat, he no longer had any “reunions” to look forward to.

Kando didn’t fail to notice the guilt in Nol’s words, but that feeling was too peculiar. It was like standing under the night sky, listening to distant mountains apologize to you. Spectacular, comforting, yet lacking a sense of reality.

That existence was too distant, too remote to provoke love or hatred, only an instinctual respect.

Nol didn’t need to apologize, he thought.

He never considered himself the center of this world. Once, he was just an ordinary swordsman; now, he was just an echo from the past. At least he still had a chance, a chance to end it all, a chance to slay the betrayer from the past. That was enough.

“Go back,” he said to the embracing sisters. “Lord Nol will tolerate Perradat. It’s not a big problem.”

“If you go back too late, Dorothy will worry.”

Lynn wiped her face hard, looking much lighter. “The crazy boss” and “the crazy world” seemed no longer a problem.

“We’re going back now,” she said.

‘Her tone is more like “we must win”,’ Kando thought.

He couldn’t help but curve his eye.

……

In reality, endings were often not so wonderful. As Nol was about to search for someone, he saw Ms. Dorothy carrying the Supreme Domination Witch in one hand and a serpentman in the other, walking back with a gloomy face.

“Lilith ran to the battlefield while we were in the meeting,” she said. “It was my negligence that I didn’t look after her well. I can guarantee with my life that she means no harm to Para—”

“I am the chosen one of Perradat!” Lilith wriggled her body. Her eyes were still a bit red. “She has something to say!”

Dorothy looked like she was about to explode. “Enough fussing. We need to talk about serious matters.”

“It’s true.” Kando climbed to the top of Lilith’s head. “I felt the presence of Perradat.”

Nol was a bit surprised. Just as he said he would go find Perradat’s core, said God showed up on her own. Strictly speaking, this was his first real meeting with Perradat.

His uncertain gaze turned to Dorothy. “Miss Dorothy…”

“Then you guys talk. I’ll go out first.” Dorothy was straightforward, dropping the two in her hands to the ground.

Teest raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you curious about the truth of the matter?”

“……”

Dorothy was silent for a few seconds. “For me personally, at this point, there’s no need to dig deeper—to survive in this place, ignorance and hope are indispensable. Knowing too many problems that can’t be solved only adds to worries and dangers.”

“I still have a bunch of companions to take care of. ‘Mental state’ is my most precious resource. Knowing that this world might be real and who the real allies are is enough for me.”

“You are quite open-minded.” Teest shrugged. “Since you know so much, how about some information exchange, miss?”

Dorothy gave a bitter smile. “Fine, Amazon will be stationed at the dragon camp to prepare for the extermination of the real enemy.”

“As for the Homeward Saints Guild, I advise you not to forcibly contact them. It’s best to directly bring the enemy to them. That kid Ash has a whole set of tactics when it comes to war, but he’s essentially a passionate young man. Just confirming the reality of this world could potentially cause chaos within the Saints.”

At this point, she hesitated for a few seconds, and when she looked up again, her gaze was sharp.

“Speaking of which, there’s someone who might be able to help—you seem to be researching some complex issues. I recommend ‘Mentor’, the leader of Hermitage.”

“That guy has always been keen on studying this world. Hardly anything can bring him down. He’ll be of use. If necessary, I can write a letter of introduction.”

Nol nodded.

Sheltering Lilith in secret first, handling the big picture calmly afterward. Miss Dorothy was a decisive and practical person, so someone that she recommended would likely be reliable.

“Then thank you in advance,” Lynn said hoarsely, seeing Nol agree.

What she needed now was a stable, non-transforming research partner. Not to mention Teest, now she found it hard to regard Nol as a natural compatriot.

Dorothy waved her hand at Lynn. “Let’s talk about thanks after we deal with that troublesome dragon, Sister* Lin.”

*[Da Jiejie] (大姐姐) Usually used when you’re of similar age but the other woman is older/more senior than you (thus adding the big [da]).

“Take care,” she glanced at Lilith. “When we get back home, I’ll treat everyone to the best restaurant in A City.”

After saying that, she decisively left the cave, not looking back.

“What a charming lady,” Lilith suddenly said, her eyes turning back to a bright blue sky. “It’s a pity she’s not interested in this land. If she were under my command, she’d surely become an excellent prophet.”

After saying that, she turned towards Nol. “Hello, lost God of Creation. I am the God of Fate, Perradat, a miserable victim under Star Stealer Sol’s hand.”

Kando silently climbed down from Lilith’s head. Perradat skillfully caught the candle and placed it on her shoulder.

“You’ve already met my dazzling knight. I hope he wasn’t too rude.”

“Nol.” Nol extended his hand out of habit, intending to shake hands.

Instead, Perradat sprung up, grabbed his hand, and pressed her forehead against it. “I’ve been waiting for so long. I finally got to meet you… The gentleman who set me free, the hope against Star Stealer Sol.”

Before Teest’s face could turn dark, Nol quickly withdrew his hand with caution. Perradat’s attitude was far from flattering, but her tone was eerily similar to that of an insurance salesman trying to cozy up.

“You… Speak normally, please.” Thinking of that bizarre, headless torso, Nol uncomfortably stepped back.

Perradat stood up gracefully as if nothing happened. She first narrowed her eyes at Lynn, who frowned, then naturally retreated a meter or two, instantly adopting a dignified posture.

“I’ve met your knight in advance and came to greet you specifically. Now that Lilith is my Chosen prophet, I will communicate with you through her. This approach might lack etiquette for you, but I just want to explain personally, this is a forced measure.”

Perradat said elegantly, “This is the limit of what I can do. The Priest Serpentmen are quite inspired. Others might not even withstand my repeated transmissions.”

If Nol and Teest hadn’t seen this guy’s true face, they might have been fooled by this act.

Previously, this guy was just observing them unilaterally through Kando. Now that it was certain they were at odds with Star Stealer Sol, this guy wanted to establish a two-way communication with them through Lilith.

Had it been earlier, suddenly facing such a god, Nol would have struggled mentally for a while. But since “he himself” had left instructions for Teest, this guy probably wouldn’t do any harm.

“Don’t worry about these details.” Nol cautiously said, “We’re currently in need of manpower, so you’re welcome to join us. Also, thanks for taking my name before.”

“My, you’re quite polite.” Perradat said enthusiastically, “Although I can no longer see your fate clearly, making some predictions for others is still within my capabilities.”

“What are your plans next? …Investigate Star Stealer Sol? Strengthen Paradise’s power? Or first alleviate your knowledge seal issue? Trust me, I can definitely help.”

The serpentman prophet’s eyes were shining, looking innocent and harmless.

Nol didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—Perradat seemed a bit afraid of Teest. She always communicated with him, rarely looking towards Teest.

Actually, he wasn’t very good at the following negotiations. But by now, he had to speak, even if he didn’t want to.

“We want to find your core.” Nol cautiously proposed. “Once we see your core, you might understand my situation better.”

Perradat’s sparkling gaze suddenly froze, then slowly turned into fear. She looked on the verge of tears, retreating several meters, almost leaving the cave.

“Did I offend you in any way?” she asked, aggrieved yet dignified. “Do you want to erase me?”

Nol: “No, no, we just want to talk to you.”

“I’ve hidden my core, so Star Stealer Sol is unable to completely erase me. Now, you’re making me expose it, which is really… really inappropriate,” Perradat said pitifully. “Our cooperation hasn’t reached that stage yet, Sir.”

“You just said you were willing to help.”

At some point, Teest had appeared behind Perradat, smiling as he supported her shoulders. “Nol said, we just want to have a discussion—for us, this matter is very necessary.”

What a hassle. Teest tilted his head slightly in confusion.

The “Nol” with the knowledge seal had given him something, thinking Perradat would feel it. Now it seemed that gift wasn’t meant to be used this way.

“Then I can only say ‘no’.” Perradat shook her head firmly. “That is crucial for my survival. I need a more appropriate price.”

Although Perradat was also a god who invaded Tahe, she saved Drake and helped when the knowledge seal was loosened, so Nol’s impression of her was still okay. Directly taking someone’s life-level privacy was indeed not good.

Nol signaled Teest to let go. “What kind of price?”

“You have not completely severed ties with Star Stealer Sol.” Perradat’s expression became serious. “If one day you can’t bear it and turn back to accept Its deal, It will definitely be delighted to ignore your previous actions. I need a guarantee; a more tangible guarantee—you take a piece of flesh from Star Stealer Sol, and I will agree to reveal my core’s location.”

“I don’t dislike those who seek retribution.” Teest crossed his arms, evaluating Perradat.

Taking a piece of flesh from Star Stealer Sol… This required them to find Star Stealer Sol’s body, or avatar, and defeat it. Given Star Stealer Sol’s extreme survival instinct, once the opponent grasped a clue to its real identity, it would truly become a fight to the death.

Perradat posed as weak and pitiful, but her conditions were shrewd and ruthless from the start.

“Of course, I understand your difficulty.” Before Nol could reply, Perradat quickly added, “Look, now that I have a descended body, I can repeatedly reinforce Lord Nol’s memory seal—even if it’s not a permanent solution, it can ensure there won’t be problems for a month.”

…A limit of one month, huh.

Nol vaguely felt like he was bombarded with abacus beads. Perradat still looked at him with that pitiful, abandoned dog gaze, so Nol had no choice but to focus on Teest, ensuring his own thoughts were calm enough—at this moment, on Teest’s face was only a “I want to beat this god” smirk.

“You seem to only be wary of Star Stealer Sol.” Nol didn’t directly agree. He asked as calmly as possible, “If we really eliminate Star Stealer Sol, aren’t you worried I might turn to expel you?”

Perradat smiled, the first time Nol saw a smile close to “godly” on her face.

“Come, let me tell you a story,” she said.

“A poor beggar, who only needs a gold wheel to be well-fed and clothed. He would definitely fight to the death with another beggar for that gold wheel.”

“Later, the beggar had the chance to help a king who forgot his throne. As long as the king returns to his throne, there will be countless gold—would the king need to turn against his former companion over a gold wheel?”

“I’m afraid this beggar might want more,” Teest said softly.

“Ha, you’re probably underestimating the weight of the ‘throne’.” Perradat laughed out loud. “As a meeting gift, let me give you a piece of information.”

“The ancient Demon King was weakened to that state, yet Star Stealer Sol dares not to take the field personally. It can only activate the system, letting ‘Players’ do it for It. It didn’t do this out of caution. I would make the same choice if it was me.”

“For a world, two existences have absolute dominance—its creator and the beings it nurtures.”

“Once these two existences ‘become gods’, they are not something outsiders can easily challenge.”

---

The author has something to say:

Here we go!!!!

Begging for food Perper (.

Perradat: Big boss, I’m here to hug your thigh!

Nol: Show me your core.

Perradat:

Perradat: (((((Backing away)

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 175: The Master

‘What a strange dream,’ Nol thought to himself.

In a state between sleep and wakefulness, his insides felt as if they had melted into a pool of blood, and there was an indescribable swelling sensation throughout his body, as if something was about to burst out of him at any second.

Unfortunately, he rather liked that dream. After waking up, he wanted to kiss his boyfriend again.

“Thank you for your assistance. We are now even.”

Nol opened his eyes, just in time to hear Teest’s conversation with Subelbot. Subelbot’s attitude had improved considerably—not in a content and satisfied manner, but in one that held a certain wariness. This ancient dragon leader had finally realized that a war beyond his understanding was brewing in this land.

Compared to when Teest showed his might, the dragon was now even more cautious. He seemed to have a new judgment about Paradise, which was good news.

‘Perhaps this time, it was because he had leaked some power,’ Nol thought. He could feel a bit of his own power fluctuating on Teest. Maybe Teest had taken something from him.

But when he tried to recall it, the dream slipped away. Just like a normal dream, it faded quickly after waking up.

Nol shifted his gaze towards Painter not far away. Painter had a complicated expression, and Nol couldn’t quite tell what emotion he was trying to express. But he knew, at least, that it wasn’t approval.

Nol held his buzzing head. The discomfort still lingered in his chest and abdomen, as if someone had thrown a stone inside his organs. He sat up from the stone floor, admiring the beautiful decorations inside Subelbot’s cave. Under the morning light, the gold objects emitted a dazzling halo, as if they had never been touched by the night.

During the previous meeting, Nol was somewhat unsure of what to say, so he left the communication to his more experienced teammate. Now, he chose to remain silent on his own initiative, trying to appear dazed.

“Honey, let’s go back,” Teest said to him with a smile. For a moment, Nol caught a fragment of the dream again.

“Can you check on Lynn and the others for me? I’d like some quiet for a while. My ears are still buzzing,” Nol said softly. “I’ll come find you later, I promise.”

Teest was clearly surprised by this request, pondering for a couple of seconds before nodding hesitantly.

“Thank you for your help. I’m not in good shape right now, but I will point out the treasures within the Dragon’s Lair for you.” After making sure Teest left first, Nol stood up with the help of the stone slab and gave a slight bow to Subelbot.

In the corner of his eye, Painter quietly disappeared. But not ten steps out of the cave, the former Pope’s ankle was entangled by fine vines.

“Your methods are becoming more and more similar. How sweet.” Painter chuckled helplessly.

Behind him, a somewhat weakened Nol leaned against the wall as he walked out.

“You left too hastily,” Nol said quietly.

Painter: “Forgive my impatience. I just wanted to deliver the sword as soon as possible.”

“You think Teest is hiding something very dangerous.” Nol didn’t respond and instead continued on his own, “And your allegiance is not to ‘Paradise’ but to ‘Tahe’. Delivering the god-slaying sword as soon as possible is the most deterrent option.”

“Ah, well, you’re especially astute at times like this.” Painter spread his hands. “Based on my understanding of you two, if Mr. Teest really failed, he would definitely show more disappointment or impatience.”

“The Mad Monk is a master of disguising emotions. He shouldn’t have such flaws normally. It’s thanks to you. You’ve introduced many emotions he hasn’t figured out yet…”

“So, you think my situation is very bad, and what Star Stealer Sol called ‘the source of disaster’ is likely the truth.”

Nol wasn’t swayed by Painter’s ramblings. “I have the potential to destroy everything, or worse, I once had plans to destroy everything, but just sealed it temporarily.”

Painter shrugged, not answering directly. “Are you here to take the ‘Dominator’ sword?”

Nol didn’t answer directly either. “Please draw it out.”

The sun had fully risen, pouring down golden sunlight. The two stood on a towering stone platform, not far from Subelbot’s nest. The sunlight stretched the shadow of the stone platform long, making them seem like part of a sundial.

Painter sighed several times, drawing the long sword without humility. He stared at Nol seriously, his light green eyes devoid of humor.

A great mage’s physical strength was poor, and the divine longsword was exceptionally heavy; he needed both hands to hold it steady. The blade shone brightly, as if forged from sunlight.

Its power was undeniable. “Slaying gods” wasn’t just an empty phrase. But just by its design, it really didn’t suit Teest, Nol thought.

And since it was made by Star Stealer Sol, who knew if there were any tricks involved?

Nol took out the letter opener from his pocket, cut his hand again, and dripped blood onto the handle of the letter opener. After completing these actions, he placed the letter opener gently on the sword blade, activating the [Creator] skill.

The bloodied letter opener gradually merged into the blade, dimming the bright light slightly, and a faint red halo appeared on the blade.

Using that drop of blood, the letter opener remained in an activated state, identifying Nol as the user.

With the letter opener merged into the “Dominator”—

“Now it can not only slay gods but also Players. Teest definitely won’t like this sword. Please keep it a secret for me.” Nol said, “As a reward, I’ve checked for you. Star Stealer Sol hasn’t tampered with the sword. Go give it to the person you have in mind. I trust your judgment.”

Painter raised his eyebrows. “Such significant power, and you’re just handing it over to me?”

“I think no matter what I become, Teest won’t hurt me,” Nol said. “Assuming I… I truly fall into madness, at least before that happens, I want to leave hope for Tahe.”

“Oh.” Painter’s eyebrows rose higher. “It seems you have no intention of considering Star Stealer Sol’s proposal.”

Nol fell silent, he looked up, gazing at the vast blue sky over the Dragon’s Lair for a while.

“To minimize casualties, letting Star Stealer Sol end me might be a good option.” Nol said, “But I’m actually not good at these—I mean, the current me isn’t good at these intrigues. My only way to resist its schemes is to not believe anything it says.”

“If I’m killed by a creature nurtured by Tahe, at least it would be a fitting end. If things progress to that point, indeed, there will be many sacrifices, but……”

Painter narrowed his eyes.

“…But I want to live, no matter how bad the current situation is.” Under the sunlight, the Creator’s blue eyes were almost transparent. “There’s still my sealed neighbor in the system, and methods for returning home are waiting for me to explore. I don’t want to leave behind the person I love.”

“I want to live. I don’t want to give up prematurely for some possibility—I’ve thought it through. This is my selfishness. Maybe I’m not the god you were expecting.”

Painter suddenly smiled, his smile growing wider until he burst into laughter.

“No, no.” The former Pope shook his head repeatedly. “In my opinion, a god with flesh and blood and selfishness is definitely better than an absolutely rational machine—people can pray to the former, communicate with the former, which the latter cannot do.”

With that, he sheathed the long sword and bowed deeply.

“Rest assured, I will choose a good master for this sword.” Painter’s face still wore a smile. “I hope that in the end, we will become your sword and shield, rather than your rebellious subjects.”

A whirlwind rose at Painter’s feet, and at the same time, his presence gradually faded. He leapt from the Dragon’s Lair and melted into the wind.

The former Pope had left.

Nol remained on the stone platform, looking into the distance. From this height, he could see the golden edge of the horizon, the mist rolling among the lush shrubs, and patches of forest so beautiful they took one’s breath away.

The sunlight fell on him, soft and warm. It was always cloudy in his memories. It seemed like a long time since he had simply enjoyed the sun like this.

However, he had more important things to do than enjoy the sunlight; things that were equally soft and warm.

Nol returned to his room and immediately saw Teest sitting on the bed. His knight was eating soft cookies with cheese spread and almost choked when Nol suddenly returned.

“Lynn, Dorothy, and Kando aren’t in their rooms. Only that stupid Barto puppet is,” he said, licking the cheese spread from the corners of his mouth.

Nol: “And then?”

“You asked me to check on their situation, and I have. They are not there,” Teest said warily. “You wouldn’t expect me to go looking for them, would you? I was waiting for you to come back.”

He knew he had to lay out every step if he wanted the Mad Monk to do anything reliable. Nol pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let’s hear your findings first. We all know that the magic definitely didn’t fail.”

Teest’s gaze drifted away again. “You asked me to take you to Perradat’s ‘core’, saying that guy would figure things out.”

“It sounds like there’s hope. Don’t pass the message. Just use telepathy to let me see the images—in case there’s a misunderstanding, that wouldn’t be good,” Nol said.

Teest quickly swallowed the rest of his cookie and hummed lengthily. “Asking Kando would still be more efficient, don’t you think? This could be a wonderful opportunity to mend your relationship with them. You… Hm!”

Nol decisively stepped forward and embraced Teest. He could feel Teest’s heart beating rapidly beneath his ribs. It suddenly sped up a few beats.

“It seems things are really bad,” Nol said, as Teest’s body stiffened slightly in his arms. “I won’t look. Just tell me why, okay?”

Teest muttered indistinctly, taking a while before speaking.

“You’ve become too strong. The knowledge seal can’t suppress you now. Your own—your subconscious—doesn’t seem to know what to do either, only saying to go find Perradat.”

“Okay, I got it,” Nol said, casually stroking that long hair. “I’ll figure something out.”

“Just like that? That’s it?” Teest seemed surprised. “Aren’t you afraid I’m lying to you, or hiding something?”

“No.” Nol said, “Let’s go. I have a lot more to do. Like giving myself some more self-weakening curses—the kind that can be undone—”

The Dragon’s Lair certainly didn’t lack curses. To Nol’s knowledge, a dragon’s tomb should have a dozen curse gift packs. By now, Nol vaguely sensed the meaning behind the [Physical Destruction] curse.

This curse severely suppressed his stats, preventing him from rapidly becoming stronger when he knew nothing of the world. Without it, would he have lost control even earlier?

If he was already on the verge of losing control, and the “Goddess of Life” made her descent among the Players, it would definitely be a different situation.

In the battle with the Dracolich of the Dragon’s Lair, both he and Teest received what was called a curse, a blessing. The system’s assistance was spot on, perhaps too much so, almost like a pre-designed contingency plan.

The entity capable of such an act was clearly not Star Stealer Sol—that guy couldn’t even set up a mainline quest properly. His control over system powers wasn’t to this extent.

Things seem to be getting more interesting, Nol thought. Behind all these terrifying experiences, it seemed something deeper was hidden.

The evidence was, despite all he had gone through recently—his life and the world have been put on the balance, and imminent ruin was at hand, but he wasn’t truly panicked or tormented.

It was a subtly unreasonable calm.

Of course, the priority was to figure out where Lynn and the others had gone. Nol turned his head to see Teest, still with surprised eyes. His knight seemed shocked by his unconditional trust.

Nol couldn’t help but embrace Teest again, kissing his forehead.

He had intended to kiss his lips, but he suddenly wanted to do this instead. It was a subtly unreasonable familiarity, with a fleetingness like awakening from a dream.

He wished for his compatriots to return home and for Tahe to have a perfect ending. This had always been what he was praying for, and now, Nol suddenly had a small wish.

If all this was part of a plan.

I hope you’re not part of the plan, honey.

……

The serpentman prophet was missing.

The moment Lynn realized this, a chill went through her heart. Given that the serpentman prophet had triggered Star Stealer Sol’s divine descent projection, if this individual was a deeply hidden follower of Star Stealer Sol, things could get complicated.

Even if the serpentman prophet was a compatriot, compatriots had various attitudes. She remembered those Players who called themselves “Demons” and indulged in killing. Star Stealer Sol was skilled at beguiling hearts. Who knew what troubles it could stir up.

Without waiting for Dorothy to plead, Lynn rushed out. Taking with her Tom and Jerry, two puppet companions, she followed the tracks on the ground. Just to be safe, she also took Kando, who had been left in the room.

Halfway through, she even thought the serpent had gotten drunk. The tracks on the ground were erratic. The serpentman prophet seemed to wander near the battlefield, going wherever it pleased.

“You know you can’t use me, right?” Kando spoke from her bag. “Ugh, it’s so nauseating being jostled about. What did you bring me out for?”

“Nol isn’t here. I need some help.” Lynn scanned her surroundings sharply. “I can’t let her step into the Lost Tower if she’s a traitor.”

Leaves rustled under her boots. In the distance, the undead dragon Telistam yawned, exhaling a small puff of cyan flame.

“I’m just a candle now. Don’t expect too much from a candle,” Kando said.

Lynn ignored the chatter. “Nol said you’re well-versed in all things combat. If—shh!”

She spotted the slender figure of the serpentman. Lilith was standing on a lawn, gazing in a certain direction like a statue. Lynn looked that way but saw nothing.

Just to be safe, it was better to bring her back first. Lynn gestured, and the two puppet servants, Tom and Jerry, moved quietly, surrounding Lilith.

The Supreme Domination Witch’s sneak attack ability was ranked in the top ten among monsters. Such monsters had dark and concealed magical fluctuations. But puppets were dead things and emitted no presence. Just as the two puppets neared, Lilith abruptly turned around.

The serpentman prophet’s eyes turned into a unique glowing blue, shining brightly like a clear sky. Those eyes swept towards Lynn’s hiding spot, and Lilith’s face broke into a sweet smile.

The next moment, the blue faded away. Lilith’s expression became somewhat confused, and Lynn didn’t miss this chance, sending the two puppets at her again.

This time, before they took a few steps, they fell under a blaze of cyan flame. Kando, somehow, had floated up between Lynn and Lilith, its single blue eye wide open.

“Kando?!”

“The presence of my god, Perradat.” Kando spoke with seriousness. “Sorry, miss. You can’t touch her yet.”

“Is that so?”

Lynn didn’t lower her guard. She slightly crouched, the nearby soil stirring as more mud puppets slowly took shape. “I must say, our team is just fabulous.”

The pent-up frustration finally found an outlet.

“The team leader turns into a hostile monster at the drop of a hat, his obsessive killer is swinging the ‘Betrayer’ around daily. The apostate old fox appears out of nowhere, the neighbor we picked up sneaks out alone, and now even you block me—if I don’t betray something, I feel like I don’t fit in.”

Behind Kando, Lilith was already prepared for battle.

Poison orbs floated around her, and golden symbols spun, arranging into sentences Lynn couldn’t understand.

“Which Dragon’s Lair rule says I can’t go out?” Lilith shouted. “You all were gone. Can’t I take a walk?”

Perradat’s divine grace turned out to be quite useful. Now, she could make very short predictions in combat without the need for lengthy prayers for prophecies.

With this, she could escape even if she couldn’t win, giving Lilith more confidence in her words.

“Taking a stroll to the battlefield. Quite the leisurely pastime,” Lynn said. “Even a note would have made this whole situation less abrupt—Perradat’s presence? What are you hiding from us?”

Strange, Lynn thought. This argument feels oddly smooth.

Lilith’s spells charged menacingly. “Even if I went to Paradise, I don’t need to spill my secrets to you!”

‘Arguing with this one is indeed more stimulating than fighting,’ Lilith thought.

“You’re not that old, are you? I need to ensure everyone’s safety! Come back with me now and explain everything—”

Lynn clenched her fists, and the army of mud puppets roared softly.

Kando looked left and right. He slowly landed, then crawled steadily away to find a suitable rock for spectating.

“I’ll go back if I want to. It’s none of your business,” Lilith said unhappily. “I’m under pressure too. Can’t you speak nicely? You start off with this lecturing tone, and you’re not even my sister!”

The air suddenly became tense.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Pretty sure we have a good idea of who Painter is going to give that sword to (given the oracles that were revealed).

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 174: The End of the World

What is this thing?

Teest was unable to comprehend the religious legends, let alone everything before him. A monster pieced together from the corpses of gods—was this just an illusion of the knowledge seal, or was it real?

All he knew was that the thing before him was far from normal. “Nol” watched him; every part of him was watching him—they were watching him.

Teest thought he would see some of the past. Like Kando, or worse than Kando, some crazy and unbearable past experiences. But before the seal, he hesitated even to touch it.

He felt a power, a volcanic, oppressive force, surging behind that pitch-black screen. The power was wildly fierce, far stronger than Star Stealer Sol or Perradat, and far stronger than Nol and himself.

It was indeed enough to open a channel to another world. In other words, it was also enough to destroy the continent of Tahe.

“Forbidden,” “Nol” repeated softly.

He raised a blurry, distorted finger and lightly touched his lips. Subelbot’s power chains rattled dangerously on his wrist.

“…But…cannot…hold on…” “Nol” murmured, his pair of black eyes piercing through Teest, looking towards an even more void direction.

Teest stared directly at the monster before him, struggling to maintain his mental stability.

He must not return empty-handed, like last time. Compared to the last exploration, this “knowledge seal” was much weaker. The reason he could still maintain consciousness was entirely because the knowledge seal consciously condensed its power. Next time… whether they would have another chance, Teest was uncertain.

“Why?” he asked as casually as possible. “Why can’t you hold on? Why did you send me away last time?”

Hearing this question, the pieced-together “Nol” slightly lifted his head, showing a trace of sadness on his pale face. Like a dying old beast, or an abandoned newborn. Behind Nol, the dark screen seemed to have grown much larger.

He looked at Teest evaluatively for a long time, then looked at the chains on his limbs. When he spoke again, his tone had a bit more of a pleading stiffness.

“Become stronger…permission returns…power awakens…”

Nol said, “Danger…will be…hostile to…everyone…cannot be…known…”

“I want…to live…”

“I…cannot die…”

As he said this, the screen behind Nol dangerously flickered. Nol hurriedly sat back in front of the screen, frantically typing on the button-filled device.

It was uncertain if he was a step too late, but the screen exploded in a circle of air bursts, and countless wails emanated from the darkness.

A tsunami-like torrent of screams, a symphony of despair as if on the brink of death. Filled with pain, anger, fear, and, more so, madness, they could instantly pierce the soul of the listener, like an ice pick through the brain.

Nol’s stitched body swelled and then deflated. Flesh from different sources seemed to want to scatter in all directions, yet were bound by some force, only able to twitch helplessly.

His form became increasingly blurry and distorted, but he persisted in typing. The sounds of the chains were completely covered by those screams.

“Sleep…sleep…sleep…”

Nol murmured to that bottomless darkness. “It will end, end end end…”

The screams on the screen diminished slightly, partly turning into layers of murmurs and groans. They seemed meaningless, more like senseless venting. Only one thing was clear. Whatever was screaming was definitely not human.

Teest’s throat was full of the taste of blood, and for a few seconds, he couldn’t think at all, not even sure if he was still alive.

For the first time, he understood the weight of the title “God of Creation”, but it was more powerful, decayed, and ominous than he had imagined.

Think, Mad Monk, think.

Teest extended a trembling hand, decisively breaking his left little finger. The sharp pain finally brought back a trace of consciousness.

Stimulating, he thought. Such terrifying power, always sealed within Nol.

As an outsider, Teest could feel the destructiveness of this power. Once the knowledge seal failed, and Nol fully accepted this horrifying madness, Tahe might be destroyed in a day.

He was unsure what Nol really was, but through the situation of the seal, Teest could guess a bit of the story.

Nol’s dangerous knowledge—clearly, knowledge that shouldn’t belong to this world—was sealed. His Nol was lucid, with relatively intact memory, appearing almost like a normal person.

If they had continued adventuring around like in the beginning, without meddling in the mess of False Gods, perhaps this state could have been maintained.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and Nol, with his excessive sense of responsibility, was determined to save his neighbors and return home together with everyone.

Perradat took the opportunity to intervene, sending her own Candle Knight to assist them in battle, guiding them to oppose Star Stealer Sol. The system also took care of this creator everywhere, ingeniously granting them power, allowing them to survive under the eyes of Star Stealer Sol.

During this process, Nol defeated many opponents, absorbed the authority of the Demon King, and became stronger and stronger. Finally, they stood side by side, facing Star Stealer Sol on the same battlefield.

Up to this point, it still seemed like an adventure story filled with love and hope, Teest thought sarcastically.

Regrettably, a rock might press down a gecko, but it definitely couldn’t suppress a lion. However, during this process of becoming stronger, Nol’s knowledge seal became increasingly unstable and was now on the verge of collapse.

Teest looked at the “Nol” furiously typing in front of a black screen.

According to Nol, the knowledge seal was likely set by himself in the past. To Teest, it was hard to say whether this was “a mad god sealing themselves, trying to rush towards the light” or “the mastermind disguised as justice, deceiving others for assistance along the way”.

“…Haha.”

Teest couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

It seems Star Stealer Sol was more thoughtful than they had imagined, he thought.

That guy really offered a very tempting condition. Letting the current Nol sacrifice these dangerous powers to send all beings from other worlds back home. If Star Stealer Sol completely took over this world, looking at the past hundred years, at least it wouldn’t destroy Tahe.

It had silenced Drake’s friends and family, so what? The outsiders from other worlds would return to their own. Even if they knew something, it wouldn’t affect Tahe anymore.

As long as negotiations continued, Star Stealer Sol wouldn’t be stupid enough to insist on doing these petty actions. Compared to a Nol, who was unknown to be good or evil embracing the power to destroy the world, Star Stealer Sol was undoubtedly a safer choice.

Yes, the last time the seal unhesitatingly expelled him, it was just to protect Nol—

If it were Painter who knew the situation, perhaps that guy who cared about Tahe would switch to supporting Star Stealer Sol, and it wouldn’t be a big deal to support Perradat afterwards.

…Fortunately, it was himself who came.

“I know what you’re worried about. I won’t expose you. And you know, if you want to interfere with the outside world, you don’t have any other choice but me right now,” Teest said to that silhouette. “I guess neither of us believes in oaths, but I still have to say it.”

Clack, clack, clack. The chaotic silhouette kept typing, not looking back.

“No matter what your original intentions were, I will stand by your side.”

Teest stepped forward. “Sounds stupid, right? No matter how you look at it, your power doesn’t seem like a good thing… Coincidentally, I’m not much of a good thing either. I think you know.”

He opened his arms and embraced that strange and twisted figure from behind.

The touch was odd, like embracing hot coals naked, with intense pain sweeping through the contact point immediately. Teest could feel his nerves screaming, but he maintained the embrace.

“If you want to live, then live,” Teest said.

Nol’s typing hands paused.

A few seconds later, he leaned tiredly against the chair back, then naturally lifted his head, looking up at Teest’s face. Teest looked down at him, his silver-white long hair smoothly falling down, his face wearing the usual smile.

Nol’s unstable eyes turned slightly red.

He freed one hand and cautiously touched Teest’s long hair with his fingertips.

“Silver-white, good child…” he murmured. “Live well…”

“Tell me, honey.”

Teest looked at the dilapidated body, his tone growing gentler. “I need to know the situation to better help you.”

“Take me to see… Perradat’s core… She can, guess…” Nol said. “Don’t let me… give up…”

He stretched out a hand, looking to touch Teest’s cheek, but then timidly retracted it.

Instead, the hand moved towards his own chest, near the shattered “white scale”. Nol harshly dug out a bit of debris, which turned into a uniform silver light, winding around his fingertips.

He brought it close to Teest’s hair, and the silver light seemed to come to life, winding up on its own.

“Thank you…” he said.

The moment the silver light attached, Teest’s head suddenly felt much clearer. The previously wailed-stirred brain pulp returned to normal, and thinking became smoother.

In his vision, the terrifying monster also became clearer. Teest’s gaze moved from the twitching god remains to Nol’s deformed hands and face, finally stopping on his overly pale forehead.

Enduring the corrosive pain, he gently kissed Nol’s forehead.

“I may not be your best choice,” Teest said. “But I will become your favorite choice.”

After this kiss, “Nol” didn’t move for a long time. Finally, he opened his lips, letting out a long sigh.

It was as if he had made some decision. He grabbed Teest’s sleeve, leading his hand towards that screen.

“Just once,” he said. “I give you permission to touch it…”

Teest didn’t resist.

The next second, he found himself waking up in the real world, the taste of blood all around his mouth and nose. Nol lay silently on the stone floor, Painter was expressionless, and the dragon Subelbot looked at him with a hint of wariness.

At this moment, Teest had no intention to analyze the situation.

That touch of information almost crushed his brain alive. It was a fragment, a part of Nol’s past. It lasted only a second, without any useful content.

But it was enough to explain a lot.

That second, it was like millions of people whispering in his mind.

Teest’s thoughts fractured into pieces, pondering countless unrelated things at once. Chaotic memories floated in his mind, in which the world was bizarre and unique. His “self” was like a drop of rain falling into a lake, nearly dissipating.

What he saw was chaos, churning his thoughts into a mess. Luckily, it was short, preventing him from absorbing too much. If it had lasted longer, Teest wasn’t sure if he would have gone mad.

Even now, his insides felt sour, almost making him want to kneel and vomit. He believed in Nol’s resilience, but Teest was certain, if Nol directly accepted this “knowledge”, he would have gone mad on the spot.

“I can sense the presence of my God,” Subelbot said thunderously. “Why do you carry the scent of my God?”

It might be because I impulsively kissed the physical form of your God. And our God is about to explode, unable to control the power well.

Teest glanced at Painter not far away, trying to gather his thoughts.

“I wanted to touch the seal of God, to decipher the knowledge left to us,” he said, standing unsteadily. “Unfortunately, I failed. Now is not the time—I paid the price for my rashness.”

Painter’s eyebrows twitched, his gaze becoming meaningful.

“Thank you for your assistance. Now, we are even,” Teest said, wiping the blood from his face and continuing with a smile.

……

Nol had a very strange dream.

One weekend, he was working from home as usual. His boyfriend rang the doorbell, urging him to open the door. Looking through the peephole, Nol saw a swath of silver-white.

Nol relaxed, took off his robe for receiving guests, and sat back in his work chair. The house was quiet. His boyfriend was standing in the center of the living room, watching him intently.

“I have work to do,” Nol said, furiously patching the system. “By the way, isn’t this the first time you’ve come without an invitation? I really don’t have time for you this weekend…”

“I’ve been up for three nights in a row. I can barely hold on, and after finishing, I still need to sleep. Why don’t you go back first? I’ll definitely make time next weekend.”

Strange, he has a boyfriend?

He likes men? When did he meet his boyfriend? Did he come out to his parents?

“Why are you sending me away?” His boyfriend tilted his head, his silver-white hair sliding down his shoulders.

“I must continue to work.” Nol stared at the dark screen. He didn’t have enough fingers, so he added a few more. “I must reduce errors. I can’t be disturbed. I don’t want to die…”

Hm? His workload is indeed explosive, but when did the company rules become so strict?

“I’m here with you,” his boyfriend said. “If there’s anything I can help with…”

No, he had to complete it alone, not letting others discover the severity of the problem. If a loophole were exposed or the program crashed, everything would end.

This was a secret battle. He knew how dangerous the situation was. Once exposed, others would also know how dangerous “he” is.

Must modify, suppress, dominate, repeatedly correcting the errors that arise and keeping everything running normally. His brain screamed inside his skull as the keyboard keys turned into sharp teeth.

Can’t trust anyone, Nol thought. Anyone could be an illusion created by the flaw.

But that was the person he loved, he thought vaguely, remembering that person, his favorite Silver-white.

Suddenly, Nol was embraced.

His lover hugged him from behind, saying something. Nol couldn’t hear clearly, but he liked the soft tone.

“Alright,” Nol said dizzily. “Help me contact Miss Outsourcing. Her phone number is in the soil of the flowerpot. Oh, I’ll give you the key to the flowerpot. Otherwise, it might bite you.”

A very dangerous decision, extremely dangerous. A row of “veto” popped up in the work group.

“Thanks.” Nol ignored his active colleagues.

He liked this person. He remembered this.

A kiss fell on his forehead. It was warm. The only tangible feeling in this space. He liked it very much.

“Also.” Suddenly, Nol remembered something.

He pointed to the screen, showing a smile. “Want to watch a movie together?”

“It’s short. Just one second long. It’s called ‘The End of the World’. I’ve been watching it for years. It’s pretty good.”

---

Kinky Thoughts:

The twist?!?!?

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 173: Thousands of God Corpses

Dragon’s Lair, in a certain cave.

Prophet Lilith leaned against the rough walls, squinting in the sunlight.

Dorothy said she was going to attend a dragon conference, leaving Lilith alone in the room again. Truth be told, she had spent most of her time alone since arriving in this world—first in a dark cage, then in a sealed tent.

She was surprised to find that she wasn’t even accustomed to the morning breeze blowing in her face.

Regarding “going to Paradise”, she still felt uneasy. Maybe after this conference, they could get an explanation of Paradise… Maybe, though she wasn’t very hopeful about it.

The feeling of being controlled and losing her memory was too terrifying. She didn’t remember anything, only the crushing discomfort upon waking. Just when she thought she could live normally again, waves of terrifying unknowns hit her.

When alone, the terror of the unknown felt like lead water. Lilith breathed in the fresh air, trying to calm her nerves.

It’s funny, she thought. This time last year, she was worried about her exam results, upset because she had a fallout with her desk mate, and her biggest wish was for her family to get a better phone. Now, all she wanted was to survive, and if she could suffer less, that would be even better.

Such a significant downgrade in wishes.

Lilith’s fingertips glided over her cold scales, smooth and hard, yet they conveyed a subtle warmth. Did she even remember how to walk on two legs normally?

A shaft of golden-red sunlight filtered through a crack, illuminating the yellow-brown rocks.

Lilith stared at it wordlessly, suddenly feeling a very strange impulse—if back on Earth, given her recent streak of bad luck, she’d visit a temple to pray. In this world, should she pray?

The system quests only mentioned “God”, not specifying which one. She was unclear about the true names of the Goddess of Life and the Eternal Son. She only knew of one god.

The ancient god worshiped by the Priest Serpent Clan, the God of Fate, Perradat.

It seemed she was nearly fully influenced by this world, Lilith mused with a bitter smile. She rummaged through her pack, taking out a piece of cheese she hadn’t finished eating and placing it ceremoniously in the light.

As if seeking some luck, she suddenly understood those with deep-rooted customs of worship.

“Perradat, I call upon you.”

She prayed formally. “Please protect me and my family, keep us healthy and safe, and allow us to reunite soon…”

A discordant sound of spatial distortion rang out, as if something was struggling inside a leather bag. Seconds later, the egg-sized piece of cheese began to emit bursts of black light.

[My prophet.] A cold, ethereal voice of a young girl spoke. [Why do you call upon me now?]

Whoa!

Lilith was dumbfounded. In a way, she indeed managed to cast aside her troubles and fears. What’s going on? Is calling upon a god this easy? Even a mouse trap doesn’t work this fast!

“Are you Perradat?” Lilith asked in shock.

God of Fate: [What you ask for…]

“Do you only need a piece of cheese?” Lilith hadn’t quite recovered. “Uh, should I offer more sacrifices. You’re not going to take my soul, right…”

God of Destiny: [Listen to me first…]

However, as an atheist high school student, she didn’t have much faith to begin with. Lilith felt like she had accidentally bumped into the principal while running in the hallway. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I’ll prepare better next time. Are you really Perradat? I’ve heard demons might disguise themselves—”

[Can you be quiet for a moment? I am Perradat!]

The girl’s voice couldn’t stay cold. She sounded like she wanted to hit someone. [This is the Dragon’s Lair. Even if you are my high priest and have called upon me willingly, I… haa, can’t hold on for too long…]

Lilith immediately clamped her mouth shut.

[I can reunite you with your family,] Perradat said weakly. [In exchange, I need you to do something for me.]

“Anything!” Upon hearing she could see her family, Lilith’s heart felt like it had been hammered, almost leaping out of her chest.

[My kin. I want you to become my Chosen One, my voice.]

The girl’s voice tensed up again. [I will guide you to a nearby battlefield, where a fragment of my divine body lies. Swallow it, and I can communicate with you.]

Lilith was silent for a few seconds. “You mean the battlefield where I lost my memory before?”

This “communication” made her wary. If reuniting meant losing herself, the deal seemed too sinister.

[That was the vile one using your spirit, descending forcefully through magic.]

The girl’s voice turned disdainful. [The serpentmen is a race I created. I wouldn’t do such a disrespectful thing to my own kin—you will automatically acquire the skill “Invoke God”, and I can only use your voice with your permission. When necessary, I will whisper in your ear. That’s all.]

There was no guarantee though. Lilith stared at the glowing piece of cheese.

She knew little about this world. Establishing a vow or contract with a god was like an electronics novice stepping into a computer mall—whether she’d get cheated depended on the other party’s conscience.

But a god who could communicate through cheese seemed a bit less malicious.

Should she discuss it with Paradise? What if Paradise disagreed?

Would Dorothy agree? If Dorothy disagreed, could she really give up this chance?

According to the Priest Serpent Clan’s internal mythology, Perradat seemed more like a neutral god. Not an evil god, so it shouldn’t be too bad, right…?

“Tell me the location,” Lilith said, biting her lip.

[Very well.] The girl sounded pleased.

Using wind magic, Lilith soon arrived at the remnants of the battlefield. Though called a battlefield, the situation was actually not too bad. There was only one, uh, undead dragon napping under the sun. The strong sunlight seemed to sap its energy.

Telistam, supposedly, wasn’t an enemy.

Lilith tiptoed around the skeletal giant dragon. The further she got from the Dragon’s Lair, the more restless the cheese in her pocket became. Initially, the voice was full of abundant and ethereal divinity, but later, she sounded like Lilith’s cousin screaming at a game console.

[Left! Right! Three steps forward! Ah, how can you even walk off course like this!]

[Turn left again… No, no, you turned your head to the right. Yes, yes, just like that, keep going forward!]

[Off course again. God, it’s so hard to describe distance to a serpentman—]

Such a noisy guy.

Lilith had a headache from the noise and couldn’t help but interrupt. “You said we need to find your divine remains, so you’re dead?”

[Half-dead,] the God of Fate murmured miserably. [In your terms, it’s like being paraplegic and also missing a heart.]

“In our case, that usually means certain death. Without a heart, how are you still alive?” Lilith spoke irreverently.

Perradat: [My old nemesis thought they took all my power, but I kept a bit. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, this little power is very limited, basically only enough to speak.]

Lilith: “I can tell.”

[Mind your manners, little girl. Your prophetic power comes from me. Be careful or I might turn it off.] The cheese god complained in Lilith’s pocket.

“Actually, up until now, I was quite worried about this deal. Now, I’m not worried anymore,” Lilith said.

[That’s good you understand my leniency.]

[……]

[Are you scolding me?]

Amidst the quarrel between a serpent and a piece of cheese, Lilith finally arrived at the indicated location.

She saw several drops of strangely colored blood. Oddly, they were right there, emanating an eerie power. But she needed the God of Fate to point them out before she could notice their presence.

[That brat brought out my body. At least he did something humane.]

Perradat sighed at the drops of blood, which rose from the soil and formed into a pearl-like small orb.

[Swallow them. They will grant you strength.] The God of Fate Perradat became serious. [I promise, by today, you will be reunited with your loved ones.]

Lilith took a deep breath, caught the drops of blood with her fingertips, and swallowed them with her eyes closed.

The black glow on the cheese suddenly disappeared. A few seconds later, Lilith opened her four eyes, revealing eyes that had turned dark.

She felt power and joy filling her body, the cheers from her Priest Serpent Clan lineage. There seemed to be a rumor among her clan that over two hundred years ago, their clan had a descendant of the God of Fate. They were powerful, majestic, and invincible.

Although she really couldn’t understand how a cheese god could be majestic.

The system turned her newly acquired power into a skill named [Whisper of Fate] which she could toggle between active and passive modes. In active mode, she allows the “God of Fate” to temporarily control her body. In passive mode, she can hear the God of Fate’s whispers in her mind.

‘Unfortunately, there’s no off switch,’ Lilith thought. ‘That’s probably the cost.’

“You… okay, you didn’t lie to me.” Lilith looked at her hands. “What do I do now?”

[Wait here. Fate has its plans.]

This time, Perradat’s voice came directly into her mind, light and clear.

[The decision you’ve made is more important than you think, child.]

……

In the Dragon’s Lair, the leader’s cave.

“So, your request is for me to stabilize Nolerwin’s power so you can invade his mind.” The voice of White Dragon Subelbot carried a hint of mockery. “What does this have to do with our God?”

“This is the Dragon’s Lair. I wouldn’t be foolish enough to renege here.” Teest waved his hand, his gaze stuck on Nol. “Explaining isn’t my style. I could offer our Lord Painter as collateral. If I’m lying, you can kill him.”

Painter grimaced and raised his hands. “Fine. In this matter, I don’t doubt your honesty. But you have better options.”

“This is the choice that makes me happiest,” Teest said.

Nol was just watching Subelbot up close, and despite the inappropriate context, he was still amazed by his beauty. The white dragon noticed his gaze and turned his head away, somewhat displeased. Upon seeing Nol’s gaze, a hint of surprise and hesitation appeared in his large dragon eyes.

It was a very strange look, distant yet affectionate.

A Dracolich, a corrupted being, shouldn’t have such a gaze. It made Subelbot slightly uneasy yet also felt a subtle impulse to get closer, as if encountering a long-lost relative.

“I promise,” he heard Nol say.

It was hard to tell whether that was a promise or a command, Subelbot thought. He could sense something very special, but as he tried to discern it, the feeling gradually faded.

But he didn’t smell of corruption.

It seemed he had underestimated Paradise. The White Dragon silently turned his head, narrowing his eyes, and after half a minute of deep thought, said, “I will lend my power, come with me.”

He led them to his nest.

Nol secretly breathed a sigh of relief and telepathically messaged Teest, [The defensive magic here is very comprehensive, and there are many items that resist strong magical bursts. I’ll point them out to you later.]

“Why did you follow?” Teest turned to Painter with dissatisfaction.

Painter: “In case Lord Subelbot needs to bite me and I’m not around, that would be impolite.”

After saying that, he paused meaningfully. “And now, someone isn’t absolutely rational. Considering the relationship between Paradise and the Dragon’s Lair, I feel it’s necessary for me to be here.”

Teest clicked his tongue lightly and said no more.

“Let’s start.”

Nol found a piece of adamantite slate and lay down on it cautiously.

Before closing his eyes, he cast hundreds of isolation and binding spells on his limbs, akin to a magical straitjacket. Just a few seconds after lying down, he suddenly sat up like a measuring worm and cast a spell on everyone present to immunize them against mental disturbances.

This time, Subelbot took over Painter’s role. Just as he found his position—

Mr. Nol struggled to get up and threw a terrifyingly powerful magical shield on everyone present, then lay down again with difficulty.

“That’s enough, Sir,” Painter said subtly. “If you make another move, we’ll all be sealed here.”

Nol chuckled dryly. Looking at the top of Subelbot’s nest, he suddenly had a strange illusion. It was like a life-and-death operation, and he didn’t know if he would wake up once his eyes were closed. Even if he did wake up, he was unsure if he could remain the same.

Luckily, he didn’t have to face this alone.

Unfortunately, they had to face this together.

He hoped the past events he remembered wouldn’t drastically change his personality. He somewhat wanted to pray to someone. Funnily enough, he was theoretically the supreme god of this land.

Throughout the process, the system remained silent.

“Let’s start,” Nol said again.

The magic aura of the White Dragon was cold and heavy, like an avalanche. Painter’s expression stiffened, and his eyes were filled with a trace of melancholy. Teest, unusually, took several deep breaths before diving into Nol’s consciousness again.

The familiar pure white space, the familiar faint stench of decay.

And that familiar figure.

The deformed Nol, with black hair and eyes, was still sitting on that strange swivel chair. Different from last time, there were several thin, semi-transparent chains around his wrists and ankles.

He lifted his head towards Teest, his features flickering, misaligned, and moving. Even for someone as skilled as Teest, it was hard to discern any emotions. Behind “Nol”, that weird machine box with its screen still pitch black.

It perfectly backed the black-eyed Nol’s head, like a rectangular piece of black divine light.

Referencing Kando’s memories, that was probably Nol’s sealed memory—not scattered like Kando’s memories, but closely pressed together, guarded by this bizarre “Nol”.

“It’s you again,” the strange Nol said, his voice weirdly stuttering. “And the power of a dragon.”

He raised his hand, his flowing features gathering at the wrist chains.

“And you, honey.”

Teest bowed. “You are the embodiment of the knowledge seal, I guess?”

“You do not have—”

“I don’t have the permission, I know.” Teest interrupted directly. “If you didn’t keep unsettling Nol every now and then, I wouldn’t want to disturb your peace. Now, for his safety, I have to verify this knowledge.”

He stepped forward, moving towards that strange figure.

The stench of decay grew stronger, containing odors that shouldn’t belong to humans, as well as a damp, rotten smell more akin to decaying vegetation.

Nol tilted his head stiffly—not in a charming way, more like the head of a car crash victim being straightened—and opened his mouth, which contained nothing but teeth and hollow blackness.

“Do not approach. Do not approach,” he murmured. “Forbidden, forbidden, forbidden.”

“I wouldn’t want to approach either. If you could chat with me more cordially, I’d rather never come here again. We both have no choice. What a pity.”

The strange Nol fell silent.

After a long time, as if he thought of something, he began to unbutton his shirt.

Teest immediately jumped back two steps. “Wait, wait, honey. I didn’t mean that…”

His words were cut off, suddenly stuck in his throat.

The clothes of the black-eyed Nol were as bizarre as he was. Taking them off was like peeling off a layer of skin. Now, the strange Nol stood naked in front of Test, quietly observing him.

Behind him, the screen remained pitch black, looking like an even larger, hollower eye socket.

“You know, this is the first time I’m proud of my profession.” Teest murmured to the figure in front of him. “It ensures that I remain conscious, so I don’t faint on the spot.”

While at the Eternal Church, he received similar education—to understand human anatomy, their instructors would have them chop up corpses, sew them together, chop them finer, sew them tighter.

During this time, naturally, some had a perverse interest in creating something new. For instance, sewing different species together or creating a “new species” with an excessive number of limbs. Teest didn’t need to develop any gruesome imaginations. He just had to look around.

However, the most exaggerated “creation” he saw was nothing compared to the existence before him.

Beneath the clothes, countless dizzying chunks of flesh were visible. They were of various colors, protruding strange limbs beyond human comprehension, entwined and adhered to each other, barely forming a human shape.

Semi-transparent, fruit-like tissues, hard shells with dense compound eyes, and tumor-like growths glowing blue-green… At the position of Nol’s heart, a piece of white scale lay quietly.

Looking at each part, Teest could feel the discomfort of staring directly at a “God”. What was more, each chunk of flesh responded differently.

They came from different individuals.

They came from hundreds and thousands of different gods.

---

The author has something to say:

Nol: Bad news, I’ve been working overtime alone.

Nol: Good news, it seems I’m not working overtime alone anymore.

…sorry for the hell (.

Honestly, they are a perfect match… Normal people probably couldn’t handle this wave of sc*…

*Sensitive/shocking content.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Wouldn’t be a Nian Zhong novel without a little horror and gore.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 172: Knight and Knight

One by one, memories belonging to Drake floated beside Nol.

If they wished, they could peer even deeper. For instance, how Drake babbled as a baby or the first time he tasted rice cereal. If the knowledge and experience belonging to “Kando” were just tender flesh, then those memories of “Drake” were more like the skeleton that made up a person—they were perfectly extracted.

Out of respect for privacy, Nol didn’t continue to look.

He could touch Perradat’s seal. It was soft and tough, yet very thin. It lightly and carefully covered over Kando’s memories, not damaging any detail, showing that it… or perhaps “She”, had carefully considered the issue of lifting it.

[If this Perradat also harbors ill intentions, she’s doing a pretty good job acting.] Teest muttered, [Are you sure you want to return these memories? That guy might undergo a huge change in temperament—like suddenly spouting melancholic drivel. If that’s the case, I’d rather put up with the current Kando.]

Nol: [Return the memories to him.]

This was what Kando had been seeking. As outsiders, they had no right to decide for him. To be honest, Nol was somewhat apprehensive. Seeing the hero he had poured his heart into, his mouth tasted bitter.

Not just for the suffering Kando had endured, but also for their alliance, which was about to be shaken.

By now, Kando was clear about his identity as the God of Creation. Even more specifically, he had mimicked Drake in front of Kando several times, demonstrating an understanding that was adequate to excessive.

With Kando… Drake’s abilities, he could definitely guess that he was a specific creation of a God of Creation.

What would he… think of his creator, who arrived two hundred years late?

And how would he respond to this character he had personally crafted, the spiritual symbol of Tahe?

Your childhood tragedy was just rows of characters I wrote down. You were pulled into darkness before you could witness the glorious path I had laid out for you.

Nol gazed at the memory space, resembling a snowy plain, and took a deep breath.

‘Forget it,’ he thought. Anyway, he couldn’t continue to write Drake’s future.

[Return the memories to him.] Nol repeated.

Let Drake decide for himself.

To his surprise, Teest didn’t seem any more relieved than him. His knight had never shown much affection for Kando, yet there was a hint of trouble between his brows.

[Since you say so.] Teest was silent for a dozen seconds before placing his hand on the seal. [I’ll do it.]

The black seal gradually dissipated, and Kando’s consciousness became clean and intact, while unusually… silent.

The spell ended, and the cool, moist air brushed against their skin again. Nol opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Kando’s directly.

Kando looked more bewildered than ever, staring at them with the confused expression of someone just awakened.

Soon, the bewilderment turned into a fireworks-like explosion of fragmented sorrow. They streaked across the bottom of his eyes, eventually settling into calmness.

“Fuck,” he whispered, with a hint of self-mockery in his voice. “It’s a hundred times worse than I imagined.”

The single eye turned towards them, its gaze now more piercing.

Nol’s heart stirred—he recognized that look. Through that eye, he saw the hero Drake for the first time.

“Kando… no, Drake, I…”

“Alright, alright. All’s well that ends well.” Teest clapped his hands forcefully, abruptly interrupting Nol’s words. “How does it feel, Great Hero? Perradat handed you over to me. Now you are my thing.”

His tone was a bit strange, and Nol couldn’t quite pin down the flavor. It wasn’t malice, but it was certainly not goodwill.

Kando rolled his eyes, the confusion returning. However, when he spoke again, he was the familiar, foul-mouthed candle they knew.

“Because Perradat knows someone obediently wears the collar—Lord Nol is soft-hearted. Being his knight, you obviously won’t do anything to me.” He chuckled. “Say ‘thing’ one more time, and I’ll teleport you into a pigpen while you sleep.”

“You’re really good at finding excuses for her. You didn’t like her that much before.” Teest bared his teeth. “Just a few threats, and she abandons her knight. The moment you regain your memory, you’re eager to praise—”

Nol frowned slightly. Teest seemed unusually irritable today for some reason.

“Loyalty is not a commodity. I remain her knight. She saved my life. That will not change.”

Kando clearly didn’t take Teest’s provocation seriously. “And as I said, she knew I would be safe, that’s why she agreed to hand me over to you—I entrusted my fate to a god. Naturally, I’m enlightened about these matters.”

After saying that, his eyes curved meaningfully. “It seems someone doesn’t quite understand ‘loyalty’. You wouldn’t think it’s like a gold wheel, where you give it out expecting to buy something in return.”

“Well, impressive memories,” Teest said with a subtly different tone. “What a brand new Drake·Kando. What a loyal Candle Knight!”

Painter withdrew the protective magic around. “…Wait, who?”

“Stop arguing.” Nol pinched the bridge of his nose. “Drake, I’m sorry. I…”

“I have no complaints about my fate, if that’s what you mean.” Kando interrupted him again, his tone becoming calm with a hint of his former arrogance. “What, should I blame you for not arranging a birth with both parents alive, wealthy, and happy? Or for not arranging a smooth life for me? Oh, believe me, by that standard, most of the world would despise you.”

“I coped well with my fate. I did what I could to my limits. Whether gods exist or not, the world will always have happiness and misfortune.”

The candle burned, the blue flame flickering.

“To me, a god is like a ‘natural disaster’. I won’t despise you, just as I won’t resent the ancient Demon King.”

Saying this, Kando’s tone suddenly became more “Kando-like”. “Running in front of me with malicious deception—that’s a different story. I usually call that kind of thing ‘scum’.”

Nol looked at that eye, feeling relieved and sad at the same time. Even if he became mad, Drake was still Drake.

He was the hero Drake he knew—just, tolerant, and—

“Don’t look at me like that! It’s awkward as hell, damn it!”

The candle shrieked in dissatisfaction. “First of all, I remain loyal to Perradat. You’d better not have any unrealistic ideas!”

Nol: “……”

Seeing Mr. Drake’s current mental state, he wasn’t sure whether to feel less guilty or more guilty.

Painter: “Hello, can someone clarify? You guys seem to call this ‘Drake’? …How many Drakes are there in Paradise?”

Kando: “See, that’s a proper question.”

Saying so, he glanced meaningfully at Nol. His gaze was still unsteady, showing that he needed more time to digest reality—perhaps, to think calmly in a place with a lower divine presence.

“You explain to Painter. We’ll go out for a walk first.”

Nol understandingly grabbed Teest.

The usually deft Mad Monk was caught by him, and with a nonchalant hum from his throat, Teest was dragged out of the cave by Nol.

Outside the cave, it was the time of sunrise, with orange light spreading across the sky. Teest found a rock to sit on, his legs dangling quietly, looking a bit sullen.

Nol thought for a few seconds and sat down next to Teest. His knight leaned over unceremoniously, as if all his bones had melted away.

“Drake is more tolerant than I imagined.” Nol started the conversation. “Star Stealer Sol also created a family tragedy for you, and you are still investigating it.”

“Whether there’s malice or not, we can still distinguish that,” Teest said. “If you’re considering easing the conflict, I must say, this is a terrible opening topic.”

Nol paused for a moment, then decided to get to the point. “Are you unhappy?”

Teest: “Perradat didn’t just abandon a magical artifact, she sold her knight as merchandise. She should learn a lesson. At least, I expected Drake to have some backbone.”

“But instead, he’s all about loyalty. If that’s what ‘loyalty’ is… Do you still keep the loyalty I gave you in your pocket? I suggest you check the merchandise.”

Teest gazed at the brilliant dawn sky, his eyes not looking at Nol.

“‘Loyalty’ is not a term of contract.” Nol thought for a few seconds. “Perhaps, in Drake’s view, obedience is one of the expressions of ‘loyalty’. As long as their common goal remains, other things can be compromised.”

To put it bluntly, following a gasping, immobile loser or a new god bound with the God of Creation, the latter was obviously more beneficial and promising.

Perradat knew this, and so did Drake.

For Nol, this wasn’t something to overreact to. He didn’t expect Teest to be so irritated by it.

“I am also your loyal knight, and we have common goals,” Teest said. “But don’t even think about selling me out—just say directly what you need from me, so I’m telling you now.”

‘Perhaps what you offered isn’t real “loyalty”,’ Nol thought. Peeling away that golden coat of loyalty, what was wrapped inside wasn’t gold, but chocolate.

Sadly, his Mad Monk hadn’t understood this yet and was still confused here.

“I promise I won’t,” Nol responded decisively. “So you just disagree with Perradat’s method…?”

“Not just that.” Teest still stared at the burning twilight. “Kando had plenty of complaints about Perradat before, but after regaining his memory, he’s blindly loyal to her. I don’t like this kind of… total change. Fortunately, I’m not friends with that guy.”

This time, Nol didn’t reply.

Silence spread between them as they quietly watched the sunrise burn out, and the sky gradually turned to pure blue. The silhouette of a dragon crossed the sky, casting an almost invisible shadow.

“We should go see Subelbot now.”

Teest stood up and reached out his hand to Nol, as if nothing had happened. This time, he didn’t make any demands.

Nol looked at that hand, guessing it was as warm as ever.

Actually, his knight is pretty dull, he thought. The Mad Monk used to love setting up all kinds of rules and entangling himself like golden threads. Now, Teest was extremely cautious and careful about it.

Nol took that hand, kissed Teest’s palm, and then stood up.

Teest looked down and raised his eyebrows.

“Let’s go,” Nol said. “To see Subelbot.”

“…Whatever you’re worried about, I won’t let it happen.”

……

When Lynn entered the cave, her mind was all over the place. In a way, this significantly reduced the tension of facing a dragon.

Her teammate might be a crazy god. Everything he says could be a lie… Compared to this, dragons were just minor problems with scales.

…However, regardless of Nol’s true situation, at this moment, she had to protect the interests of her compatriots.

“As per our sacred agreement, Paradise has maintained the dignity of the dragons. As you see, Telistam is unharmed and still sleeping on the hillside.”

Lynn cleared her throat and reached for Dorothy beside her.

“We have brought the representative of the challengers. We look forward to peace and cooperation.”

For Dorothy, it was her first time observing a dragon up close since entering the game. Under the dragon’s imposing presence, her muscles tensed, and her gaze locked on Subelbot.

“As per our sacred agreement, to reward you, we will not pursue this offense further.” Subelbot lifted his huge head. “But I smell an ominous stench. That voyeur, that distorter of all… You carry its scent.”

“Exactly,” Lynn quickly responded. “It tried to directly bewitch these innocent warriors, inducing them to attack the Dragon’s Lair. You are free to probe. I assure you, there is no hostility towards the dragon race among those present.”

Subelbot exhaled a scorching breath, smoke swirling around his nostrils. “Of course I’ve probed. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have the life to step in here.”

Then it fell silent.

‘Cunning old bag.’ Lynn pressed her buzzing head. This old dragon was slipperier than an eel, promising only a “peace” that was a matter of course, nothing else.

He still had doubts about their “God”. But Lynn couldn’t blame him, she thought melancholically. She now had a full basket of doubts about Nol herself.

“As the sacred White Dragon said, peace is the basis of negotiations.”

Painter cheerfully took over the topic. This guy had a long chat with Kando, unsure what they talked about. But facing Nol and Teest, his demeanor remained unchanged. Nol deeply doubted, even if Painter knew this world was made of cheese, his expression wouldn’t change.

“Peace—precious peace, what a noble promise! Miss Dorothy, I think you should thank Lord Subelbot.” The former Pope continued in a hymn-like tone.

Subelbot, Dorothy: “?”

“The dragon race agrees to coexist peacefully with you all.” Painter emphasized “coexist”. “Miss Dorothy, I believe you understand the dangers of this world. Near the Dragon’s Lair is the safest.”

“Exactly.”

Teest, resuming the appearance of “Drake”, immediately climbed the pole. “You all can camp near the Dragon’s Lair. This is the reward I give to the warriors.”

Snatching something from the dragons, the system would certainly be happy to accept such a deception.

Sure enough, the next second, the system happily popped up a “Quest reward issued” notification.

Subelbot’s eyes widened slightly. He was deeply shocked by the shamelessness of the humans present. The problem was, the promise was given, and it seemed a bit cheap to explain now.

Had it been someone else, he wouldn’t mind killing them all to vent his anger at being fooled. However, Painter alone was troublesome, not to mention that boy with the aura of destruction… If a fight really broke out, Subelbot wasn’t sure he could win.

The most troublesome part was, he couldn’t see through that Dracolich, “Nolerwin”.

Allocating a piece of empty mountaintop for these outsiders to camp on wasn’t impossible, although the idea made him uncomfortable. Anyway, it wasn’t not for long. He could just consider this a sacrifice to fight against the False God…

“I’ll allow it.” Subelbot gritted his teeth.

“A praiseworthy alliance.” Painter smiled. “By our God above, we’re not greedy. I appreciate the concession you’ve made and will not ask for more.”

“As for the details of ‘peaceful coexistence’, we can discuss them gradually.”

Subelbot looked at him coldly, seemingly wishing to smash the former Pope with his claw.

“Yes.” Teest immediately followed up. “Let’s first talk about our private agreement. I need your assistance, remember?”

Subelbot bared his teeth. “Boy, you—”

The smile on Teest’s face faded slightly, and for a moment, he looked a bit like Kando resolved to regain his memory.

“You just need to help me complete a spell.”

He said, “I will bring you into contact with the God you’ve been chasing.”

---

The author has something to say:

Shocking! The first competition in shamelessness in Paradise, with Mr. Painter joyously claiming the championship.

Let’s congratulate Mr. Teest, the runner-up, and Miss Lynn, the second runner-up.

The Demon King didn’t even make it to the podium… You still have to work hard, Nol.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 171: The Curtain Falls

At death’s door, Drake’s thoughts were extremely heavy, as if he was fatigued to the utmost.

However, when facing death, some decisions became easier to make. He had lost his body, lost his future, and had nothing but a thin strand of consciousness. If he could trade his shattered soul to check on his companions one last time, why not?

At this moment, his remaining life was worth less than a piece of gold. He was curious about the price the mysterious voice would offer.

[I will let you live.]

Discovering that Drake didn’t immediately refuse, the voice quickly continued, [But I must tell you, what has happened has happened. I cannot restore you to your original form… I will give you a piece of my flesh, provisionally letting you have a body.]

[You will witness the coming years with me. When you make up your mind, then trade with me. I am not someone who likes to force things*.] At this point, the mysterious girl sneered coldly.

*Driving ducks to other/Force a donkey to dance (赶鸭子上架) Metaphor referring to forcing someone to do something beyond their abilities.

[It sounds like I only benefit…] Drake struggled to perk up.

How could there be a trade in this world that only had benefits?

[Alright, when you decide to trade, I want you to mortgage your name—of course, you will retain your knowledge and common sense, but you will forget those most important people and events.]

The girl’s voice was a bit dejected. [Rest assured. Once my goal is achieved, I will return your name to you. After all, my power is limited. I need a little insurance. There’s no stronger chain than ‘mortgaging one’s life’. Besides ‘the past’, what else could you give?]

Naturally, he couldn’t. Drake answered in his mind.

But if the Goddess of Life really broke her promise, he must make her pay the price. And… he could live, couldn’t he?

To live was to hope.

[Why me…?] He silently agreed to the trade.

[Ha!]

The girl let out a laugh filled with anger. [Ordinary people can only withstand so much power. I can’t offer too much protection. That fake goddess would notice them first and kill them.]

[And you, my friend. You can withstand my protection, sneaking under that guy’s nose—you are at least a False God. Even now reduced to pieces, A False God level is still False God level. I have only felt three False Gods born in this land—]

[The ancient dragon leader Subelbot. That timid lizard must have sensed something, hiding in its nest every day. Near the Dragon’s Lair is the God of Creation’s protection. That guy can’t touch him, and I can’t contact him at all.]

[Gregory Gilmore. A warrior of pure heart, with astonishing talent. He got lucky in a mausoleum left by the God of Creation and broke through his limits… Unfortunately, this poor guy was a high-ranking Temple official, targeted by that guy early on, becoming a puppet with a broken mind.]

[You are the third one I’ve seen.]

At this point, the girl’s voice was somewhat emotional. [Now that guy has taken over the whole world, talented beings are closely watched. After you, it’s probably hard for a False God level being to appear again…]

[No wonder Star Stealer Sol wants to impersonate the two Gods, creating oracles—keeping an eye on potential ‘competitors’ while gathering strong, loyal forces. How convenient. I would do the same.] This time, Teest’s tone was quite serious. [Speaking of which, this guy lost his body, and Star Stealer Sol got the prophetic power to create oracles, something She never mentioned.]

[Is this Perradat’s voice?] Nol couldn’t help asking.

Teest’s mind carried a smile. [Correct. When negotiating with me, this guy was more dignified, not so frustrated.]

Well, the situation was now quite clear. Nol sighed in his heart.

Setting aside the mysteries of the previous three worlds, the fate of the Tahe continent was clear enough.

This world was born by his hand. And he, having suffered something unknown, had no memory, only a suspicious knowledge seal.

The manager was missing, and the system turned into an ownerless world authority. The outsiders Perradat and Star Stealer Sol engaged in a system struggle, resulting in Perradat’s disastrous defeat. Since then, She had been lurking in the shadows, barely surviving.

But so far, the war surrounding the system hadn’t ended.

Star Stealer Sol’s power was limited, unable to swallow this piece of fat in one bite. More unfortunately, the beings originally belonging to this world seem able to “surpass system limits”, obtaining False God power.

Therefore, to prevent new competitors from emerging, Star Stealer Sol used oracles to gather the most talented people, keeping them under close surveillance. Once these people showed signs of “False Godhood”, it would be through “domestication”, “contracts”, and other means, nipping them in the bud.

During this period, Star Stealer Sol just needed to slowly erode the system, gradually turning Tahe into its own.

No wonder Perradat was so desperate—

Without Star Stealer Sol’s suppression, three False God level beings appeared in the early stages of Tahe. And in the two hundred years following, until himself and Teest appeared, no False God level powerhouses were born. Her speculation was very correct. Star Stealer Sol kept this land under tight surveillance.

Theoretically, Perradat almost had no chance of turning the tables.

[…But I have seen your future.] At this time, the girl’s voice spoke. It wasn’t the elusive and pretentious “word of God”, but closer to a flesh-and-blood sentiment. [Your future holds hope. You will be illuminated by light. I can no longer approach the land of Tahe, but you can… You will follow the guidance of fate and meet those you are supposed to meet.]

Countless tendrils extended from the ground, approaching the ring of fire. One of the tendrils broke off on its own, coiling into a dark, twisted mass.

The other tendrils lifted it in front of the soon-to-extinguish cyan ring of fire.

[I voluntarily give up this piece of flesh, this power.]

The girl’s tone contained a bit more vicissitude. [I allow it to no longer follow my commands. I allow it to carry another life.]

The mass of flesh gradually deformed, and the cyan ring of fire quickly shrank, absorbed by the black flesh.

The thing gradually wriggled and transformed, becoming candle-like. A blue vertical eye opened, with blue flames burning fiercely.

Drake struggled to adapt to the new body for a while. Breaking free from the whirlpool of death, his reason gradually returned. The ancient Demon King was still not far away, but it seemed to have no interest in him now. That huge figure lay on the ground, deeply asleep.

Perradat was rarely silent.

After groping for a long time, Drake found a new way to speak. [What’s wrong?]

[Why exactly in the form of a candle? What were you thinking?]

Perradat’s voice sounded a bit panicked. [What if ‘being illuminated by light’ refers to your head rather than your future…]

Drake: [……]

Drake: [Because of the fire…]

[Ahhhhhh!] Perradat screamed in a very ungodlike manner. [Damn it, damn it. If only my power was complete, I would definitely be more certain of what the prophecy points to… Damn it!]

After a while, She sighed in defeat. [Well, let it be. You have withstood my flesh. It will ensure you’re not discovered by that guy—]

[Let me reintroduce myself. I am Perradat, a god from beyond, with the powers of concealment and prophecy.]

Drake silently felt his new body. He could still hear, still see. Candle tears were under his control. Though not very flexible, he could still move.

His proud magical power was all gone with only a blue flame burning atop his head remained—he seemed to retain the power to split space, but he wasn’t too sure…

Well, he had just agreed to trade with a completely unknown god, what more was there to lose?

[My power is gone,] Drake honestly admitted. [How can I help you?]

[You still possess a bit of spatial power. I can feel it.]

Perradat hummed with laughter. [That’s one of the authorities of this world. That guy didn’t use it cleanly, leaving you some residue. As for how to use it…]

Drake listened intently.

[…I don’t know either. I haven’t gotten a hold of the authority of this world,] Perradat said/ [No worries. Once our trade is complete, we can study it slowly. What’s important is that you will meet the one who can break the stalemate… probably.]

Drake: [……] For a second, a tinge of regret surged in his heart, but he politely remained silent.

[I’ll do my best,] he said.

[When that day comes, you must guide them to oppose that guy. Even if you can’t achieve that, you must ensure they don’t cooperate… This is our last chance.]

Perradat sighed. [Now, let’s go.]

[Where to?] Drake was a bit lost. He wasn’t even as fast as a mouse now. Was he supposed to just walk like this?

[Near my core,] Perradat said somberly. [Didn’t I tell you? I’ll let you see what comes next. I know what you’re wondering. I will send you there.]

Drake tried to look around, giving the Demon King a couple more glances. […Where are you?]

[You’re standing on me,] Perradat said. [There’s more far away. There wasn’t a Desolation Island before. How do you think it came to be?]

For a moment, not just Drake, even Nol felt a chill.

His attention turned to the black soil in his field of view… Indeed, the island in the Endless Sea didn’t exist before. He subconsciously thought it was an appendage of the ancient Demon King.

[My remnant, alas,] The girl said sadly. [I was supposed to be in the sky…]

Drake: [……]

The Desolation Island was the remains of a fallen god. This news was too shocking. He didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

[Alright, let’s go.]

In the end, all he could muster was this dry remark.

The memory gradually faded.

In the next scene, the black candle sat on a silver candlestick.

It was a… dimly lit stone room, with architecture resembling a church. But neither in style nor material did it resemble the Evergreen Church, nor was it the work of the Immortal Church.

The style here was gloomy and soft, with candles of distorted shapes lit in every corner. They varied in length, their shadows flickering in the light of the fire, like a nonexistent noisy crowd.

In the silent revelry, Drake’s heart was about to be torn apart by pain—

After learning to control the blue flame, Drake personally opened a spatial passage, peeking at those familiar places.

He couldn’t see any familiar figures, not even one.

No one returned home.

The tavern was abuzz with news, saying his team “disappeared completely”. Countless strong ones fell since then. Parents didn’t wait for their children, and children didn’t wait for their parents.

Some insisted on searching—from teenagers under eighteen to high-ranking kings, but they found nothing, not even a lost piece of clothing or a familiar ring. Those people vanished without a trace.

Everyone believed that their fleet had sunk in the Endless Sea or were all slaughtered by the Demon King.

“Kermit’s Magical Grocery Store” lost its owner, and several heirs argued endlessly over the position of owner. In a magic workshop within Eternal Day City at the Blanco’s mansion, a female craftsman sat statuesque in a chair, staring at an empty vase.

Nol recognized that face. He and Teest had seen her portrait at the Blanco’s mansion. She was the founder of the Blanco family, the genius craftsman Wilma Farren Blanco.

She looked to be under thirty, yet her hair already had quite a few white strands.

Drake closed his only eye.

[I agree to the trade,] he said. [Take away my past, Perradat, and send me to Tahe.]

[I will worship you as a god, become your knight, your messenger, your eyes. I will help you bring down Star Stealer Sol until the end of my life.]

[I hope this is not an impulsive decision.] Perradat’s voice came from all directions, followed by several hums. [You mortgage your name to me, so you won’t remember these people—don’t expect a thrilling and warm reunion.]

[I know,] Drake said.

[Don’t expect too comfortable a life either. The only thing I can guarantee is “Star Stealer Sol won’t discover your true nature”.]

Perradat emphasized again. [Once you leave here, you must completely submit to the arrangements of fate—you might be discovered by people from two religions, studied, even locked in a box for decades, or worse, centuries.]

[I know,] Drake responded decisively. [I will wait.]

[…You’re more stubborn than I thought. Wouldn’t you take the opportunity to ask for more benefits?]

[My companions were killed by Star Stealer Sol. They died because of my negligence. Star Stealer Sol is for me to punish, and I am to be dealt with by fate. It’s fair.]

[Well, it seems you don’t yet know the cruelty of time and solitude,] Perradat said. [I used to be quite elegant.]

Drake responded with silence.

[I used to be quite elegant, really,] Perradat said again.

Drake continued to be silent.

[My loyal knight, what did I just say?] Perradat persisted.

Drake: […You were once quite elegant.]

[Time is just that cruel.] Perradat concluded satisfactorily. [Then go, my knight. Thank you for your praise. I will give you a small gift.]

This is considered praise? Drake was at a loss for words.

But the moment he received the “gift”, a faint sourness emerged from where his heart should be.

It was many… “memory books”.

They existed within his consciousness, recording numerous odd tales and curiosities of the starry sky. Some were trivial but interesting knowledge. He guessed they wouldn’t make him stronger, but they would be enough to fight against the impending darkness and solitude.

[Thank you.] He thanked from the bottom of his heart for the first time.

[That’s more like it,] Perradat said. [I hope we both find relief.]

Drake closed his eyes.

He recalled the house of his childhood, the aroma of bread his mother made. He recalled the noise and clamor of the mercenary guild, the smell lingering on the potion stoppers. He remembered the smiles of his comrades, pairs of bright eyes by the campfire.

He remembered the person he admired, his promise to defeat the Demon King, to bring back the beautiful flowers from the Desolation Island— the best magical materials, the best gift.

‘Goodbye, Drake,’ he thought.

The blue flame went out and the black candle closed its eyes, appearing in a sealed cargo box. The cargo ship swayed with the waves, like a cradle.

Two hundred years ago, it carried him… it, towards the Inato Alliance.

At the edge of the waves, several black tendrils quietly retracted.

A very bad end, a very good beginning.

From that day on, the hero Drake, aboard the ship of fate, began a wait that lasted more than two hundred years.

---

The author has a word to say:

The remaining puzzle is actually Star Stealer Sol’s boss mechanism (?

Previous worlds, neighbors, and contradictions were all related to its authority. Just fight it to find out √

How could you not strategize for a boss fight, right?

If you haven’t read Stray, it doesn’t affect your reading; races and the like will be explained later, but having read it might give you a guess in advance~

————————————

Another pair of God and knight has appeared!

---

Kinky Thoughts:

This marks the end of the arc.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 170: A Lesson From the Past

Hero Drake, a classic, typical main storyline hero.

As a protagonist, to avoid potential controversy, the “Tahe” design team made him align with the lawful good camp. Drake’s design, from his childhood experiences to his growth throughout the game’s main storyline, was personally overseen by Nol, making him the character associated with the most quests in “Tahe”.

Drake was a platinum dragon-human hybrid.

His father was the young platinum dragon, Mistrel, and his mother was a common human, Lenora.

This should have been a love affair doomed by lifespan differences, but who could have imagined that the powerful platinum dragon would perish earlier than his human wife—following orders from Subelbot to investigate the monsters of the Endless Sea, he disappeared without a trace, leaving nothing behind.

Drake inherited the platinum dragon’s transformation into a human with pale gold hair and blue eyes from his human mother. Neither of his parents had a surname, so “Drake” was just “Drake”.

Normally, such cross-species hybrids were extremely rare to be born, and even if they survive, they must face hostility from the dragon race and discrimination from human factions. Realizing this, Drake’s mother took him to live incognito in the Kingdom of Alka, surrounded by the sea.

Thus, Lenora took her child to Alka and became a magic craftsman. She never told Drake about his father’s identity, only saying his father was an ordinary mercenary who died on a mission—a common occurrence in the world of adventurers.

Unfortunately, while his lineage could be concealed, the powerful magic bestowed by his dragon bloodline gradually revealed itself, and the young Drake became known as a “genius”. To provide her child with a better education, Lenora began to deal in rarer and more expensive magical items, tragically dying in the process of collecting magical materials.

Young Drake mourned his mother, sold everything except their house, and packed his bags—his father’s disappearance was his mother’s greatest regret. Even though his mother never asked, he wanted to find his father “Lyle’s” remains and bury them together with his mother.

Thus, Drake returned to Gemino, starting to travel as a magic craftsman. He wandered among various mercenary guilds, selling his homemade goods while inquiring about a mercenary named “Lyle”.

[Main NPC Quest: Find Mercenary Lyle]

The Players’ story with Drake began here.

Drake’s potions and items were very useful. To comfortably progress through the game, Players inevitably needed to deal with Drake. By collecting information about the mysterious mercenary “Lyle” within the game, Players could exchange it for rewards and rare items from Drake.

Not to mention, Drake had a very handsome face—beautiful NPCs usually carried important quests, which was somewhat common knowledge.

Gradually, Players would discover Drake’s terrifying talent. And as Drake learned more, he was no longer content with being a magic craftsman confined to the city.

Evil lords, underground tombs, shadows by the sea… In every main quest, Players could see Drake’s activity. They could watch him transform from a reticent magic craftsman to a somewhat famous mercenary and then into a heroic magic swordsman through his adventures.

For most Players, Hero Drake would become a “weathervane” for exploring the world map. Generally, wherever he lingered indicated that an important main quest was about to appear in that area.

When the time came, [Find Mercenary Lyle] would lead to the “Dragon’s Lair” advanced map, further advancing the main storyline.

On the other hand, Drake himself was reserved and taciturn but genuinely sincere.

As long as Players weren’t classified by the system as evil, or their attitude wasn’t extremely bad, Drake would lend a hand if asked—a nice experience for casual Players not skilled in combat.

In a way, Drake represented “Tahe” itself.

Nol had once considered the ending for “Hero Drake”.

Maybe one day, the game would come to an end. Then, before the Players left, Drake would find his father’s dragon scales, bring them back to his hometown, and bury them together with his mother.

Maybe he would then retire, grow herbs, make items, or he might own a magical item shop, living leisurely in this beautiful world.

When that time came, Drake’s AI would probably make its own choice.

Even if he was a character as upright as to be cliché, and as kind as to be dull, among all NPCs, Nol still admired Drake the most. He poured a lot of effort into this hero, hoping he could become more lifelike.

Kindness never went out of style, and Drake deserved a fulfilling ending.

At this moment.

Nol, through Drake’s eyes, looked at the blood-red, twisted world in front of him, and the “ancient Demon King” that defied common understanding.

In a world with the Demon King as the absolute target, the righteous Drake embarked on the path of a hero. Unfortunately, his opponents were supposed to be sinners filled with evil, dangerous mad beasts, rather than… these.

All beings in this land were confined within the system rules, with limited abilities. But the Demon King wasn’t.

To have come this far, Drake’s team must have slain many of the Demon King’s minions. They set out full of confidence, crossing the Endless Sea, only to end up unable to even directly face the Demon King.

Even Drake, mixed with dragon’s blood, couldn’t face his enemy directly. His eyeballs burned in their sockets, and the pain in his memories was vivid and terrifying.

His long sword was broken, armor damaged, blood soaking the clothes under his armor. The ground was littered with fragments of magical artifacts. His magical power was drained, and the team behind him was in disarray.

No one could escape the ancient Demon King’s illusion. The scent of death spread, despair visible in everyone’s eyes.

[It’s really this guy.] Teest’s thoughts came through, muttering. [The dragon race has been isolated for a long time, so not many dragons go out, and there are even fewer dragon hybrids. They’re all remembered by the Red Dragon Sage, like a hit list.]

Nol didn’t respond.

No wonder Drake had no faith, he thought.

Drake was a character he had carefully designed, without faith in the setting. Like the moon of the Dragon’s Lair, Drake’s life was also protected by the system. He didn’t convert to the Temple of Life, nor could he possibly join the Eternal Church.

No wonder Drake… Kando was so familiar with the system.

Drake could have come this far, surely having played through many dungeons—as a “guaranteed support partner” given by the system to Players, Drake had the talent to discover dungeons, and the talent to deal with them.

Without the guidance of Players, without the help of AI, Drake still traveled everywhere, becoming a hero.

Was it because of his creation, or was it Drake’s own will? Nol was a bit unclear.

He found it hard to describe his feelings at the moment—on one side was a character he had carefully created, a character whose tumultuous life he had planned with care; on the other side was his compatriot who had fallen into madness, an innocent compatriot with only fragments of thought left.

And he could guess the outcome of this war. He also knew the outcome of this war.

No one returned.

“Drake!”

Nol heard someone calling; the shout was almost dispersed by the sea breeze. “Think of a way… Drake…!”

Nol heard Drake’s heavy breathing. His half-long golden hair was soaked with blood. Drake’s heartbeat was frighteningly fast.

Attacking was obviously hopeless, and retreating was difficult to execute. Even without illusions, they had crossed the Endless Sea, coming to the end of the world—they had no support.

Nol couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Players who stray into high-level battlefields could start over through death. But here, there were no Players. This formidable team had bravely ventured into the unknown for the sake of all beings on the continent, and now they were about to pay the price.

Everyone present would die today, including Drake himself.

In this buried memory, Nol could feel Drake’s heavy and bitter sadness. Drake’s chest hurt terribly—Nol didn’t know if the pain came from the wound or from mourning.

Drake turned his gaze to the feet of the Demon King.

The beach was pale and unremarkable. The soil inside was quite special, with a dark, twisted texture. And on this twisted soil, bloomed patches of dark blue flowers.

Nol had never seen such flowers. Perhaps they were a mutation brought by the Demon King’s corruption. They… weren’t special, but their color was beautiful. On this bloodied battlefield, they were despairingly beautiful.

Drake closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, he raised his sword and cut off his own left wrist. Accompanied by Drake’s awkward and obscure chanting, that piece of flesh slowly radiated light.

Countless magical artifacts flew up from around him, spinning crazily around Drake, emitting an ominous strong light.

Nol’s pupils shrank.

Drake was about to sacrifice himself.

By sacrificing one’s life, one could forcibly greatly enhance one’s strength, and die in a short time. Such sacrificial skills weren’t uncommon. Painter’s [Mercy Countdown] was one of them.

The problem was, the magical artifacts around Drake… were a bit too many.

They overdrew themselves, applying buffs to Drake, many of which didn’t even exist in the system. The power they applied far exceeded what normal people could withstand.

Drake barely stood. The calls and cries behind him slowly faded away.

His skin and hair burst into flames of pure gold, almost burning him into a ball of golden light. His longsword melted, replaced by the bone of his left arm—it seemed to be made of light, with a sharp, fractured tip.

It was necessary to severely damage the Demon King, even if it was just to temporarily repel him.

He absolutely could not let all his comrades die here.

Crack.

A barely audible sound of breaking rang out, and within the golden light, an unusual power gradually spread.

The burning pain gradually faded. His blood-stained vision became clear, then distorted by heat waves. It was like breaking out of a heavy cocoon, leaving him weak yet… powerful.

Through the air distorted by the temperature, Drake looked directly at the Demon King for the first time.

[Hmm?] Teest couldn’t help but let out a sound of confusion.

[…His last move exceeded the system’s calculable limits,] Nol said with a sense of resignation. [He transcended the law.]

At this moment, Drake forcefully transcended the system, becoming a False God.

…But what of it?

The ancient Demon King was the remnant of three Gods of Creation. Initially, both Teest and himself, as False Gods, could only defeat it on the condition that the Demon King held back. Moreover, Drake was a newly born False God in poor condition.

After a brief moment of hope for Drake, there would only be greater despair. This breakthrough would only make him more acutely aware of the chasm—

He gave his all, yet he couldn’t even buy time.

Indeed, after facing the Demon King directly, Drake fell silent. And behind him, the sadness and expectations of his companions remained vivid.

[Haa.] Teest sighed. [If he stops the sacrificial magic now and focuses on running away alone, he could still escape—I guess he knows that. If he doesn’t stop the magic, he’s going to die here.]

[So, how exactly did he become like that?]

[…I don’t know,] Nol said. [But either way, he wouldn’t choose to run away alone.]

In the vision, Drake faced the Demon King again and raised his right hand. The sharp bone in his hand spun around, its sharp end pointing towards himself.

Drake pierced his chest cleanly, and molten gold-like blood quickly flowed out, making a hissing sound.

The air nearby suddenly became heavy, and an eerie sense of being watched enveloped him like a swamp. The wind stopped, the shouts of his comrades ceased abruptly, and everyone was stunned by the oppressive feeling, leaving only boundless silence.

Even the ancient Demon King slowed down, raising its head towards the sky.

“The beginning of the world, the sovereign of all things, the supreme Goddess Tilia.”

Drake called out with his burning vocal cords. “Please accept my belated loyalty. Please guide these brave and innocent lives on their way… Please tell me, how can I leave this cursed land.”

“I will become your most loyal knight. I am willing to wield my sword for you for the rest of my life, spreading your glory throughout Tahe.”

The sense of being watched quickly faded, and a green comet slid across the blood-red sky.

A voice filled his buzzing ears.

[I will send them home.]

It was a gentle and sweet female voice. [I will heal their severe injuries and let them return to their familiar land. I am willing to put all my power as collateral for this absolute contract.]

She used the word “them”.

Indeed, he had never been a believer in life, so the Goddess would take the price. Drake held his breath, quietly waiting for his own end.

[Hero Drake, my brave child. Your loyalty pleases me, but it comes too late.]

Indeed, Goddess Tilia continued softly, [To break through the distant space, you need to burn your flesh, your strength, your life, and personally become the path for your companions to return home… Do you accept?]

Teest: “……”

Nol: “……”

In this spirit world, Nol had no physical form, but at this moment, his back quickly turned cold, as if licked by some giant cold-blooded creature.

[This guy really knows how to make an offer when others can’t refuse.] Teest hummed telepathically. [People call me the ‘White Demon’. In my opinion, this ‘Goddess’ is the most competent demon.]

Nol couldn’t help but frown. What good does it do for Star Stealer Sol to demand Drake’s life?

Moreover, as far as they knew, Drake still survived—of course, in a rather undignified way.

“I am willing.” Unlike Nol, Drake only fell silent for a few seconds before making his decision.

“Please make the covenant and bestow your mercy…”

The next moment, a gentle white light enveloped the burning Drake.

Several clauses swiftly poured into Drake’s mind. The connection of the magic contract felt incredibly real—overall, Tilia promised to heal those still alive, ensuring their safe and healthy return to the continent of Tahe. The price, however, was for Drake to burn himself, opening the path.

Nol was surprised to find that Star Stealer Sol hadn’t tampered with the contract.

Unlike the sham magic contracts he had dealt with initially, what Star Stealer Sol offered was an absolutely fair, unforgeable, and powerful contract.

Amidst the burning, Drake let out a long sigh.

There was relief, reluctance, and more so, an indescribable emotion. Before closing his eyes, his gaze laboriously shifted, finally resting on the blue flowers at the feet of the Demon King.

He burned more intensely.

The golden glow gradually turned into the cyan of death. His limbs melted, his head burned away, and he transformed into an endless flame—Hero Drake lay between the Demon King and his comrades, forming a huge cyan ring of fire.

Beyond the ring of fire were boundless blue skies, lush green grass, and the continuous Brick Mountains.

Unicorns ran through the shrubs, and occasionally, birds flew across the sky. In this tainted and chaotic space, the other side was as beautiful as a dream.

[My name is Tilia. Hero Drake has sacrificed himself to me, forging the path home for you all.]

The voice of the Goddess of Life echoed across the battlefield.

[My children, go home.]

The survivors had not yet reacted when their bodies were illuminated by powerful healing magic.

Broken limbs regenerated, and deep-seated corruption receded. With tears streaming down their faces, the warriors praised Tilia’s divine name, mourning the sacrificed hero. The cyan flames burned fiercely, covering the surrounding murk and darkness.

The first person crossed the ring of fire, stepping onto the soft grass. His eyes were filled with tears as he knelt to kiss the leaves.

“I see the village. There are people!” he shouted to his companions beyond the ring of fire, his voice rough as sandpaper. “Come quickly!”

Drake’s consciousness existed in a blur, watching familiar faces cross the ring of fire, leaving behind corruption and nightmares.

Goodbye, he thought. Farewell.

The adventure had ended. The adventurer died on an unknown journey. A not-so-good, yet common ending. At least his companions didn’t have to join him. They could safely return home.

Someone was waiting for him… His promise unfulfilled…

When his father died, was it with a similar sentiment…

The Goddess’ gaze drifted away, the Demon King’s pressure receded, and everything was dissipating. In Drake’s crumbling consciousness, Nol and Teest silently waited.

[Idiot!]

The dissipation suddenly stopped. A frustrated young girl’s voice entered Drake’s mind. [Why are you so foolish, obediently listening after being deceived? Huh?]

Drake, Nol: “?”

Teest: “…?” This voice sounded somewhat familiar.

[…Who are you…?] Drake instinctively asked.

[You’ve come to my doorstep, yet you were deceived by that guy!] The girl said loudly. [Couldn’t you just ordinarily ask for a god’s help. Why specifically choose Tilia… Another promising one gone…]

[……]

Drake was cut off mid-death. The other party didn’t reveal their identity, and he really didn’t have the energy to ask again. [My friends… Home… Promise…]

[Home?]

The voice became sharp. [What home! Those people aren’t weak. Having witnessed you surpassing the law, how could that guy possibly let them live and return?]

[Did She promise to send them back to Tahe? She definitely didn’t specify which year’s Tahe—She absolutely sent them back to the ‘past’! Your friends, thinking they were saved, will definitely head towards crowded places. Without that guy’s protection, as soon as they disturb the flow of fate, they will be erased by time itself in an instant!]

[Idiots, all of them!] That voice angrily scolded. [Now look, She’s dealt with another potential competitor—you’re even dumber than the last unfortunate soul, who at least could live and become Her pope after being brainwashed.]

[I don’t… understand…] Drake responded confusedly.

[You don’t need to understand.] The voice shrieked. [True or false, won’t you know if you just look?]

[What… do you mean…]

[I will let you live.]

The girl’s voice said, [My price is absolutely fair. Let’s make a deal, Drake.]

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