A few hours ago.
To maintain a normal mental state and perception of time, Nol chose to sleep daily like a regular person. He especially had a habit of sleeping with his forehead against Teest's back, giving him an odd sense of security.
Recently, he would embrace Teest from behind, and Teest would place the palm of his hand over the back of Nol's hand, making it hard for Nol to withdraw.
But even so, Teest always gave Nol the feeling of being both close yet distant. One moment, Teest might give him a passionate kiss, and the next, he could just hop away as if nothing happened.
Nol had decided long ago to remain unyielding and deal with his own issues. The plan was beautiful, but reality was cruel. Like right now, small trivialities were running rampant in his head as he pretended to be asleep.
After hearing what Nol wanted to do "after becoming a god", Teest seemed a bit unhappy, his back slightly tense. For a moment, Nol couldn't figure out what upset him and found it hard to sleep.
Was it because he didn't mention anything related to Teest? Would the Mad Monk really be so childish? This seemed no different from "a couple fighting over five million in a dream".
As these thoughts swirled in Nol's mind, he started to ponder drowsily.
If he truly became a god, what could he do for Teest? After aimlessly thinking for a while, he realized he had no idea.
According to the Mad Monk himself, his current exploration of the world's truths was out of "strong interest". Now, Teest was wealthy and leisurely, with top-notch power and appearance. Mentally… well, he seemed mentally stable and lacked nothing.
Kando hinted that Nol's future path would be full of challenges. Who knows when Teest might decide to stop adventuring and retire…
While Nol was lost in thought with his eyes closed, Teest quietly slipped out of bed and left the room.
When Teest returned, Nol could smell the fine red wine and the scent of monster flesh on him, a scent he had previously detected in the General's reception room.
Teest used warm air to blow over himself before carefully crawling back under the covers. He purposefully shifted toward the center of the bed and then placed Nol's arm back around his waist.
Within a few minutes, his breathing became steady, and he fell soundly asleep.
Nol quietly opened his eyes, his view filled with silvery hair. The dimly lit room felt claustrophobic, reminding him of the small drawer in the antique shop and the toy bed inside it.
Twelve years had passed, and he wondered about the blue rose that had once been by the bed.
Wrapped around the warm Teest, Nol's thoughts became increasingly scattered. As time ticked away, he had to reluctantly admit that sleeping against Teest no longer provided him with the same sense of security.
A few minutes later, he carefully withdrew his arm and quietly got out of bed.
Since he couldn't sleep, he might as well go and speak with the renowned General.
…Time returned to the present.
The Black Glove Bar was bustling, but the General's reception room was eerily quiet.
"Please go ahead." Opposite Nol, the General leaned forward, ready to listen.
Nol nodded. "You've worked with the Mad Monk for so long. If you'd be willing to share some insights—like what behaviors he likes and dislikes—I'd be very grateful."
For a moment, the General displayed an indescribable expression, something like subtle disdain. However, she quickly suppressed it.
"My collaboration with the Mad Monk?" She laughed hoarsely. "He comes to me for money and information, occasionally helping me eliminate certain Eternalists or thugs who dare challenge me—he simply sees me as a useful wallet. I think that's not the kind of relationship you're looking for."
Nol crossed one leg over the other, sitting upright, and remained silent.
"A straightforward transaction was all there ever was between us from the beginning." The General's tone grew colder. "Indeed, I'm the Supplement Demon that escaped with him. He nearly dismembered me, and then, using my regenerative abilities, stitched me back together… Sounds touching, doesn't it? Like we went through thick and thin together."
A twitch appeared on Nol's brow. Thick and thin together—this was precisely the current state between him and Teest.
Indeed, the General had once been through life and death with Teest. But no matter how he listened, he could only detect sarcasm in her tone—there were no fond memories of past camaraderie.
The General gave Nol a deep, piercing look, as if seeing through his thoughts, her voice becoming slow, almost poetic.
"In fact, once we successfully escaped, he pondered whether he should kill me to keep things quiet… It was only after I begged him, telling him that I would be more useful to him alive, that he dropped the idea."
"Sir, I can see that you and I are not the same. Want to stay with the Mad Monk for the long haul? Then you best not have laughable ideas like 'repairing him', 'reforming him', or 'taming him'."
Indeed, the Mad Monk didn't need any "salvation".
Nol silently took a sip of tea, noticing a speck of wallpaper flake on the tea saucer.
"…Now, the Mad Monk has chosen to 'pursue the truth of the world' as a new interest. Until his objective is achieved, you're just his companion on this journey. Recognizing your role is the first step in a stable partnership."
Across from him, the General sighed, emphasizing the words "this journey".
"That's precisely what I wanted to ask." Setting his teacup down, Nol gave a bitter smile. "When Teest burned down the Immortal Church, he claimed his revenge was complete. So, how committed can he be to his 'personal interest'? I don't want a… partner who might leave at any moment."
'"Partner with benefits" might be more appropriate,' Nol thought.
"You can rest assured. Once the Mad Monk takes an interest in something, he holds onto it like a beast clamped onto its prey. He won't let go until he achieves his goal."
Finally looking straight into Nol's eyes again, the General warned, "Prepare yourself mentally for this."
"That's all the better." Nol sighed in relief.
Midway, he felt a nagging doubt. "From your experience, if there's nothing to gain after achieving his objective, will he immediately end the partnership?"
The General's odd expression resurfaced. "Are you, ahem, hoping to keep him by your side long-term?"
"..." Nol didn't answer immediately.
If circumstances allowed, he would undoubtedly go home. This relationship was bound to end, and he had always known that. But now, imagining the "happy ending" when it all finished, Nol realized he might not be as elated as he thought.
"…Yes." After a while, Nol finally responded, "Teest is my perfect partner."
The General's deformed face twitched, apparently disagreeing with his statement but politely holding back her thoughts.
"Oh." She responded dryly, "Then you have to keep his interest. To be honest, it's tough. The Eternal Church taught the Mad Monk many things, with 'how to read others' being the most basic. He hardly finds people he can see through interesting."
"I'm confident about that."
Is there anything harder to understand than a "pseudo-God of Creation"? A hint of amusement crept into Nol's voice. "Thank you for your honesty, miss."
The General looked visibly relieved.
Then, trying to contain her impatience, she waved her hand. "Now, can we discuss the medical supplies, sir?"
...
Little Piel firmly believed that he would die.
He had seen an old man on the street being run over by a carriage, his entrails spilling everywhere. Everyone said such injuries were fatal, and even the best priest in the world couldn't save him. To keep such a person alive, a miracle would be needed.
After being hit by the chandelier, he didn't have much will to live left. He just wanted everything to end quickly.
He wanted to become a knight when he grew up, but now he could no longer grow up.
Perhaps it was for the best. For an orphan like him, dreaming was a luxury. Before, Little Piel's biggest concern was surviving the upcoming winter, the furthest he had ever thought ahead. The two beautiful fairies gave him a dream—a dream that allowed him to have dreams.
That was enough, Little Piel thought. He had had an incredible adventure and even saved someone!
If reincarnation was real, perhaps the gods would let him be born as a squire in a knight's family… Yes, being a squire would be enough! He shouldn't be too greedy. The gods wouldn't like that…
With his false hopes and the sweet taste in his mouth, Little Piel slowly closed his eyes.
…And then he woke up, his lower half cold, with people murmuring around him.
Sunlight penetrated his eyelids, painting his vision a shade of orange. He slightly opened his eyes and saw a towering spire, a staircase, and the clear sky above.
His gaze then slid down to his body. A silent scream erupted in his throat, and he started coughing violently—
His upper body lay on a stone bed, while his lower half was immersed in a large glass tank. His crushed lower body was regenerating, with muscles and blood vessels growing around the restored skeleton like grape vines climbing a pole.
Strange creatures he had never seen before were bustling around him.
Healing magic shone continuously, and people kept placing and removing molds on him to ensure his regenerating flesh and organs grew properly. A bubble producing fresh air was on his face, and bags of red blood were hanging above him, being transferred into his body through weird tubes.
Even more astonishing, he could understand what these creatures were saying.
"His blood pressure is stable," said a large gray wolfkin. "The child is conscious. Nol's pain relief spell really works. I'll stitch him up later, so he recovers faster."
Another creature, looking like a doll-like girl, shook her head. "Better to be cautious. Let the succubi prepare more liquid food and sugar water."
"I wonder how Uncle Ma's sauerkraut is doing," murmured a short elf as he cast healing magic. "I really want to eat sauerkraut stewed with meat."
The sunlight was warm, the air dry, and he could hear the sound of flowing water and rustling leaves. Harp music and singing came from a distance. Little Piel smelled fresh fruits, cream, and a well-cooked meat broth.
Where was this? The afterlife?
Little Piel tried to move, making whimpering sounds as he tried to grab the strange bubble on his face. A finger pointed at the bubble, and it popped.
"You're awake?" A familiar face leaned closer.
Blinking and rubbing his eyes, Little Piel recognized it.
It was Mr. Fairy… but he looked as big as a human now, and there were two of them!
The one with black hair, who just popped his bubble, looked just as handsome and had a pair of beautiful blue eyes filled with amusement.
"I… Cough… I…"
"Just as you see." Teest spread his hands. "Welcome to Paradise, kid."
Frozen, Little Piel whispered, "So… I'm really dead…"
Teest: "..."
Teest: "Paradise isn't heaven. Sadly, you're still alive."
Nol tried not to laugh.
After several minutes of stunned silence, Little Piel finally asked, referring to the creatures around, "These monsters, I mean, these gentlemen and ladies…"
"They're just like you, rescued by someone's kindness. You might scare people outside looking like this, but here, these folks might just envy you," Teest said, glancing at Officer Luo, who was eyeing the griffin's claws and wings with evident envy.
"Targeting such a young child, those cultists really are despicable," not far away, Uncle Ma commented while cracking nuts.
"We should find someone to teach him to read. He's too young not to go to school," said a bear-like creature carrying farming tools. "Xiao Xu said he's a local, right?"
"I heard he's an orphan…"
"Indeed. We can't ignore him then."
"Maybe that family could help? They've already adopted a girl."
"No, they have their hands full with her. Maybe the succubi could help. I'll talk to the queen later."
...
In the distance, more monsters gathered, chattering and discussing among themselves. From their conversations, Little Piel could only understand the general gist. But he quickly grasped one thing—these creatures were prepared to accept him. He would no longer be without a place to belong. It was truly magical. When he was human, he was displaced and lost. Now, among these monsters, he felt comforted for the first time.
Tears blurred Little Piel's purple eyes as he blinked. "Thank you… Thank you for saving me," he said.
Holding onto Nol's sleeve with shining eyes, he pleaded, "Lord Fairy, I wish to stay here. I can do chores and even help find food… Please, can I stay?"
Patting his head, Nol replied, "Of course you can."
Little Piel relaxed, looking around excitedly. Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he asked, "What about the two people who left earlier? Are they okay? They might need shelter too… I mean, if it doesn't bother you…"
His voice trailed off, as if he thought he might be overstepping. Nol glanced at Teest, whose smile barely changed, only deepening slightly.
"They are fine and don't need any help," Teest said.
Nol smiled. "Yes, I've personally checked."
Relieved, Little Piel lay back on the stone platform. Nol cast a sleep spell on him, and as he drifted off, a smile lingered on Little Piel's lips.
"The succubi will train him temporarily," Nol whispered. "Once he's older and can disguise himself as a human, he can go to Grape Collar to learn proper swordsmanship."
"Then become a knight?" Teest raised an eyebrow.
"Then become a knight," Nol confirmed with a smile. "My Paradise always needs knights."
"You better treasure me then," Teest remarked.
Teest casually picked a peach from the fruit bowl, tossing it up and down. Then, in a swift motion, the gleaming blade of the small hunting knife pierced a piece of peach, stopping right before Nol's eyes. The peach flesh was pleasingly pale pink, emitting a fresh and sweet scent.
The blade,the "Betrayer", was clean, but the bloodstains on it seemed impossible to wash away. It was hard to determine which was more intense, the scent of blood or the aroma of the peach.
Teest intently stared at Nol as if the statement he just made was a question, and he was waiting for an answer.
Nol leaned slightly forward, ignoring the lingering scent of blood, and bit into the peach slice. He chewed slowly and deliberately, grinding the soft fruit skin with his teeth, savoring every drop of the sweet juice.
"My paradise always needs knights," Nol repeated, "And so do I."
Teest took another piece for himself and changed the subject. "So, what's next?"
"I'll stay at the Lost Tower for a while," Nol replied. "It's time for a short rest." As Nol opened his mouth, Teest understood the gesture, peeling another piece of peach and teasingly brushing the blade near Nol's lips.
"Perfect. I also want to be a little lazy," Teest joked. "As long as no troubles come our way."
Nol choked on his peach, shooting Teest a reproachful look. Teest raised his hands, feigning innocence.
However, the Mad Monk's jinx proved true. Before the sun set, visitors arrived in the Black Forest—
Anakin, with a serene smile and beads of sweat on her forehead, and beside her was Knight Eugene in full armor.
"Emissaries from the Temple of Life have come to visit," Eugene announced, bowing to the vast forest.
Author's note:
Good news: Little Piel was saved after multiple consultations (?
Bad news: He has to go to school. (Little Piel: ...)
Paradise: No matter how poor, never skimp on education!
———————
The General: It turns out they are both double arrows. Excuse me, why don't you two just get a room?
Kinky Thoughts:
I'm so happy Little Piel is saved! My heart would have broken otherwise. This marks the end of this arc.