Nol went to grab Kando hidden in his arms. With his attributes half restored, he had the confidence to temporarily split his staff.
If anything went wrong, he would designate a safe location and move everyone there.
To his surprise, he found his body stiffening like a board from tension.
Nol had dealt with the minions of the Demon King in the Black Forest before, only having brief encounters. This was his first direct exposure to the "corruption of the Demon King". It felt more concentrated and colder than those Thousand-Hands Nightmares, like the dense fog of harsh winter.
The siren woke up from his nightmare and rushed under the bed in a panic. His strong, moist fish tail turned into two human legs, but sadly, they couldn't support his weight. The moment the siren tried to stand up, he fell to the ground.
"Come here quickly!" he said urgently. "I can temporarily avoid it with my magic. Both of you, come closer to me!"
Nol paused in his search for Kando, signaling to Teest with a glance. The latter tightly held onto a small hunting knife, and the two approached in apparent "panic".
The siren kicked over a bucket by the bed. The water inside spun and expanded in mid-air, turning into a large water bubble, completely isolating the three from the outside world. The siren placed both hands on the transparent bubble, with a pale blue magical power rippling across the water surface.
Nol asked, "What is this…?"
"Isolation." The siren looked anxiously at the door, not daring to even breathe. "The corruption doesn't have its own consciousness. As long as we don't touch it directly, there won't be a big problem."
"It seems that way." Teest looked at Nol and continued, "The houses in New Gemino are built tightly sealed. The stone walls are brushed over and over with mud and sticky algae, ready to be sealed at any moment. I've heard that every time the 'White Night' appears, everyone hides inside."
Nol couldn't help but inspect the dilapidated stone house they were in. The gaps in its walls were even larger than the gaps between an old smoker's teeth. Without revealing their magical abilities, they wouldn't be able to seal it.
Outside the window, the darkness approached rapidly, and it was now only a few miles away from them.
"…Isn't Desolation Island far from here? Why is there a 'White Night'? I remember a few years ago, only the coastal area of New Gemino was affected," Teest deliberately remarked loudly.
The siren glanced at him and after a moment, murmured, "I heard the Demon King has become more active…"
"We haven't heard about that on our side," Teest replied with feigned seriousness.
The siren resumed his forward-facing position, striving to maintain the water bubble. "It happened a few months ago. I'm not sure about the specifics. I'm sorry."
During their brief conversation, the corruption reached right in front of them. Darkness instantly engulfed the small stone house, extinguishing all light. Nol heard the hissing sound of the fire going out.
He pulled out a cheap magic stone from his pocket and tapped it twice. In the cosmic-like darkness, the stone illuminated an area of about a square meter.
Seeing the scene in front of him, the siren trembled, and the water bubble nearly burst.
Numerous hand-like entities pressed against the huge bubble, trying desperately to reach inside. Vague faces pressed against the transparent water membrane, struggling as if their heads were tightly wrapped in plastic bags, eager to break through.
Inside the round bubble, it seemed like hell, with dark spirits pressing hard against the light.
"It's never been like this before!" The siren exclaimed in panic. "Do you have something from the Demon King's minions? This is too strange—!"
"It's possible. We're not sure," Teest replied "nervously". "Kid, we deal in antiques. Who knows what we might have accidentally carried? And even if we find it, we can't throw it out now!"
The siren's face turned bright red, and he strained to keep the water bubble taut, repelling the hands and faces desperately pushing inward. Nol held his breath and focused intently, ready to support the siren at any moment. Meanwhile, he couldn't help but stare at the distorted faces.
These faces, formed from darkness, had exceedingly vague features, resembling ruined death masks. They opened their mouths wide, as if silently crying out for something.
After about ten minutes, the darkness finally passed. The surrounding scenery appeared as if pulled out of muddy water, gradually clarifying but losing some vitality and color. The dark green moss in the stone cracks had dried out, turning a peculiar grayish yellow. Black spots dotted the leaves by the door, causing discomfort.
The siren's water bubble turned a murky black gray, resembling the aftermath of dousing a charred corpse with clear water. The bubble burst with a pop, splashing onto the floor, and the siren himself collapsed.
The gray water flowed, staining the small patch of clean ground beneath their feet and dimming it considerably. Where the siren's skin made contact with the water, it began to turn gray, sprouting dark scales.
"My god, are you okay?" Nol hurriedly helped the siren up, discreetly casting a healing spell.
"I… cough cough I'm fine, just a bit tired. I'll be okay after some rest," the siren weakly smiled.
"We plan to resupply in the town ahead," Nol whispered as he guided the siren to the bed. "Considering your condition, we'll pay for you to join a caravan to the vicinity of the Black Forest. As long as you can disguise yourself as a human throughout the journey, there shouldn't be any issues."
"The town ahead?" The siren raised an eyebrow.
"Balsam Town, an old place," Teest chimed in casually. "It's been a while since we visited. Quite nostalgic."
"Oh, I see," the siren replied hesitantly. "I've been avoiding people and haven't been paying much attention… Thanks for your help! You saved me recently, and what I did earlier can't repay that favor."
The young siren's behavior increasingly resembled that of a normal neighbor, Nol thought. This siren not only thought like a human but also exhibited some characteristics of Country C. Nol hinted at parting ways, but the siren showed no particular reaction.
Still, as Teest had said, they needed to be cautious in the face of coincidences.
In the following days, the siren remained exceptionally well-behaved. Even when served the same-tasting salted fish for every meal, he didn't complain. In his free time, he would sit by the stone house entrance, gazing up at the four moons in the sky.
The siren introduced himself as Fischer, claiming to have previously lived in the Golden Sea in the north of the Inato Alliance. As a child, he was captured by fishermen and sold to a circus, only managing to escape recently. However, he remained tight-lipped about the details of his past.
Nol didn't press further, presenting himself as a remarkably ordinary traveler—reading after meals, sleeping after reading, and occasionally taking walks with Teest in the nearby meadows. Fischer once cautiously inquired about the bone bed, but Nol simply said it was that way when they entered.
On the night Fischer woke up, Nol had replaced most of the bone bed frame with wood, making it look rather convincing.
...
Finally, Fischer could maintain human legs for twenty-four hours a day, and his terrifyingly large eyes could disguise as human eyes. With everything in place, the three "people" moved towards Balsam Town.
When they saw Balsam Town from a distance, Nol sensed something ominous.
There were too many crows around.
They circled above the town, and they were everywhere in the fields next to the town. They cawed hoarsely and flew away, flapping their wings as the three approached, dark like fragments of the White Night. Nol smelled an odor he shouldn't be familiar with—the smell of decaying human flesh, a particularly peculiar sweet stench. It would stick to one's nostrils, tongue, and clothes, lingering for days.
Teest murmured softly, "Oh no."
Outside the town, there were intermittent, sharp wooden stakes, varying in size and crudely made, as if hastily constructed. Outside these stakes lay several particularly large corpses, impaled with pitchforks and axes. Flies and crows made them swollen and torn. Maggots writhed in the wounds, the corpses' abdomens torn open by crows, spilling swollen entrails everywhere.
"Ogre corpses," Nol muttered, his heart sinking in his chest.
Of course, they also saw human bodies. Sadly, they were shattered terribly, and one had to look closely to identify them. The only consolation for Nol was that there weren't many corpses, meaning there must be survivors in Balsam Town.
"Ogres?" Fischer widened his eyes. "Let's go! We can't get any closer!"
"Indeed, it doesn't look like there will be any caravans here—even if there are, they can't leave. This town is defending itself." Teest unusually agreed with Fischer.
"Ogres usually live in the forest, but there are only grasslands nearby." Nol stopped. "Fischer, do you know something?"
Fischer averted his eyes, his voice a bit stiff. "I only know that ogres are terrifying. They eat any flesh… and they're all tall and strong. We should detour."
'There's probably more to it,' Nol thought.
"But there might still be people alive in the town… They're our kin."
Nol put on a straight face and became "tangled". A flicker of surprise crossed Teest's eyes, quickly replaced by understanding.
"Yes, maybe we can help," the Mad Monk feigned solemnity, almost comically. "And they seem to have been fighting for a while… Ogres are indeed fierce, but they're not too bright. If things get tough, we can always run."
"Exactly. Maybe we can find the hidden caravan in the town," Nol said.
Fischer's eyes grew wider—to human standards, his face was quite delicate. But whenever he widened his eyes, the distinctive look of marine life was unmistakably evident.
"No," he whispered.
"We won't force you. If you're okay, we can split up," Nol said, patting Fischer's hair, which felt rough and dry like fish scales.
Fischer bit his lip, hesitated, and then let out a shaky breath. He bowed his head, his voice getting quieter. "…Sorry."
"What?"
"I said I'm sorry," Fischer said in a mosquito-like voice. "I lied to you. I didn't escape from a circus…"
Nol raised an eyebrow.
Fischer took a deep breath and gave a resigned shake of his head. "I escaped from 'The Manor'."
"The Manor?" Nol asked.
"A monster organization from New Gemino with a particularly bad relationship with humans." Fischer looked at the ground. "Its leader is a very smart ogre. Well, he shouldn't be called an ogre. He probably evolved into something else by now. I was afraid if you knew I came from The Manor, you'd leave me behind. The Manor doesn't tolerate traitors. If they find out about you, they'll definitely go after you…"
"You think The Manor attacked Balsam Town," Nol said softly.
Fischer's head hung even lower. "Yes. Those ogre corpses had The Manor's emblem on them, a circle like a bullseye…"
Nol recalled, indeed there was some conspicuous dark gold paint on the corpses.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Fischer said. "I didn't mean to hide it from you, but I couldn't stand by and watch…"
"Traitor, you dared to return," a sinister voice emanated from the ground.
Pairs of scaly hands burst from the soil, grabbing the ankles of the three. A red line crawled up Fischer's ankle, and his skin was instantly filled with inscriptions. His legs turned into a fish's tail in an instant, pinning him firmly to the ground.
A look of despair flashed in Fischer's eyes as he opened his mouth, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.
The siren's racial skill, [Frenzied Scream].
The crows from the town burst into cawing and took to the sky. The claws around Nol's and Teest's ankles loosened slightly. Teest grabbed Nol, and the two ran in the opposite direction of Balsam Town. Nol looked back to see Fischer still firmly held in place, looking at them with a weak and desperate smile.
While pretending to flee, Nol reached into his robe to cast a spell. He couldn't risk the life of someone who might be his kin.
To his surprise, he couldn't activate his magic.
Nol grabbed Teest. "They have a magic-sealing crystal."
Damn it, did that "Lord of The Manor" manage to get his hands on such a thing? He's even cautious enough to use it here!
"That's why I prioritize your safety even more," Teest said calmly. "There are at least three adult lizardmen underground and the scent of other creatures in the distance. If they dare to use a magic-sealing crystal, they must have the power to protect it. I don't want to fight an unprepared battle. Who knows if they have other magical artifacts."
"But what about Fischer?"
"He might be your kin, I understand." Teest continued in his calm voice, "You might be willing to die for your compatriots, but I don't want to."
Nol knew Teest's approach was the correct and rational one. Just like when the Immortal Church burned, Young Teest chose to leave Little Piel behind rather than offer last-minute comfort.
In times like these, the Mad Monk remained the Mad Monk. Even when facing a so-called "god", he wouldn't sacrifice his life, loyalty, or love. Now, Nol seriously doubted if Teest ever had the latter two.
Nol almost got deceived over time. Suppressing a bitter smile, he didn't insist on going back for Fischer and instead gripped Teest's wrist.
"They will take him back to The Manor," Nol stated. "We were going there to investigate anyway. This might be a good opportunity."
"Fischer might have…"
"I know," Nol interrupted. "Fischer might have been putting on a show with them, waiting for us to walk into their trap. I won't contact him foolishly. We'll just ensure his safety when we sneak into The Manor."
"They didn't kill Fischer immediately, so they still see his value. The mental magic of the sirens is on par with the succubi. His value alive is much higher."
Even if it's a disciple or a knight, to achieve his goal, he had to negotiate with the Mad Monk using the Mad Monk's logic.
"Now that you've thought it through, let's stick to this plan," Teest replied with a smile.
"Very well," Nol responded seriously.
After a few moments, Teest inquired, "…You're not happy?"
"I just realized something."
"What?"
"Since you insist on worshiping me, I will play the part of this temporary 'god' well," Nol stated. "It's better for both of us."
The faceless idol of the Drifting Mercenary Group, the Mad Monk's cherished gold wheel; in essence, they serve the same purpose. Those who possessed them played the role of a benevolent deity, offering solace, comfort, and warmth.
Maybe this was the most appropriate distance.
After hearing Nol's answer, Teest remained silent for a long time. Nol originally thought Teest would jest or treat it as casual conversation.
But Teest just silently gripped Nol's hand and didn't utter a word.
They ran towards the corrupted gray plains, as if heading towards the rotten edge of the world. Soon after, both their breaths and figures vanished, melting into the leaden sky.
No one noticed their return.
...
Bissus was located between the Shidina Federation and the Fini Empire.
It was an exceptionally large island nation, shaped like a spindle-shaped fish. The climate here was warm, with all four seasons resembling spring. It was said that at the dawn of the world, the Goddess of Life Tilia planted the first tree in Bissus, introducing the first freshwater river to the Tahe continent, marking the beginning of life.
To this day, this place remained a sacred land for the Temple of Life.
"You're leaving so soon?!"
In the sacred land, a young bishop chased after Knight Eugene, his head dripping with sweat. "The Pope's reward ceremony isn't over yet, and in two days the 'Festival of New Green' will have its first exhibition…"
"Such events are the same with or without me." Eugene smiled. "I am the sword and shield of the Goddess. A sword and shield should be where they belong, not drowning in a crowd of revelers."
"But this is your merit…"
Eugene shook his head. "You can reward Old Bishop Gaines of Grape Collar. In my eyes, that bishop deserves more credit."
The young bishop seemed slightly deflated, as if holding back a sigh. "Then you…"
"I need to quickly head over to New Gemino." Eugene said, "By the grace of the Goddess, if my guess is right, things will be quite 'lively' over there."
The Master of Paradise would surely send someone to investigate. "How Paradise deals with The Manor" would serve as an important reference for "how humans deal with Paradise".
He hoped they'd send someone interesting. The power of "The Manor" was in no way inferior to "Paradise".
As he was lost in thought, the Master of Paradise was personally tailing those lizardmen.
To say tailing might not be entirely accurate. To avoid the anti-magic crystal's effect, Nol used an old trick. He let undead rats discreetly follow—the rat would leave markers and Nol would track it.
But when they reached a certain location, the undead rats gathered confusedly. The trail of the lizardmen had vanished.
These creatures seemed to evaporate, leaving no trace. There was no sign of any magic at the scene, only some residual warmth on the grass.
"A remarkable technique."
Teest pulled up a withered blade of grass, smelled it, then licked it. "No illusion concealment, no teleportation magic. This place is too clean. I can't determine their method."
"Honey, what's your plan now? Plan for the long-term or…?"
"One of the undead rats spat a bone on Fischer."
Nol's expression was grim. "I can faintly sense his location."
Besides magic, Nol considered the possibility of "flying creatures/magic flying tools supporting several people".
But the scent was too far from them. Even dragons couldn't fly that fast—they arrived about five minutes late, and Fischer was already tens of thousands of miles away.
What exactly is "The Manor"?
The author has something to say:
The two are having a spat (?), haha.
They just can't have the smooth sailing that their predecessors next door had… The importance of mental health… (just kidding)
Kinky Thoughts:
I wouldn't call all of Nian Zhong's previous CPs having smooth sailing… (especially Tang Yibu and Ruan Xian) haha.