To re-enter the Blanco mansion, Nol had several choices—
He had carefully memorized the interior of the mansion, allowing him to use Kando to teleport into it. Alternatively, he could opt for a classic approach, disguising himself and pretending to be another visitor.
Nol personally preferred the first method. After the commotion in the dining room, he didn't want to face the unfortunate staff again for a while.
Teest didn't intend to influence his choice, but Kando disagreed.
"They say the Fifth Brigade is coming. I've overheard that they will arrive the day after tomorrow morning," the candle murmured from beneath the cloak. "Considering the modus operandi of the Temple of Life—especially that of Captain Eugene—they will surely hasten their troops to suppress The Manor."
While gracefully eating a piece of orange-marinated chicken, Teest raised an eyebrow, seemingly understanding the candle's insinuations—
"They will surely gather some young, robust believers from the city to temporarily reinforce their ranks. Since you both need to save people, why not make a scene and infiltrate the Fifth Brigade temporary team?"
Kando prattled on. "This way, you won't have to bother collecting intel or finding a path. Let the Fifth Brigade handle it all."
"Wow," Nol muttered as he prodded a meatball overloaded with potatoes. "I've finally discovered who's the most shameless among us."
"Thank you. I'm all face and no substance," Kando humbly responded.
Teest chuckled. "Playing the hero? It does suit you better than attempting to be a rogue."
Frustrated, Nol stuffed a meatball into Teest's mouth. As Teest bit down, his mouth was filled with mashed potatoes, and he froze with a look of sadness.
"Let's be real, the guards will notice my face," Nol said.
The Mad Monk managed to swallow the meatball. "How do you think I traveled through various countries? A bit of minor disguise magic, and no one will recognize you. I guarantee it."
"But you can't guarantee that The Manor will attack the Blanco family again tomorrow," Nol fretted, dreading the high-intensity role-playing. "What if The Manor gives up…"
"There's no harm in applying to join regardless," Kando interjected. "You're young and strong. Unless Eugene is blind, he won't overlook such a valuable asset."
Wanting to save the hostages quickly, this did seem like a more rational plan. Nol slumped in his chair, attempting to escape reality by lowering his gaze.
Laughing, Teest teased. "It's too late now. Tomorrow, you will follow my instructions fully and get a more decent outfit."
"Right, you need to come up with a credible alias. I bet that won't be a problem for you."
Nol let out a small groan.
That night, they found a dilapidated house to sleep in. Compared to their previous "evening prayers", Teest held Nol even tighter. The two sat in a corner, covered in thick blankets, with Teest almost leaning into Nol's embrace.
Despite the fear and chaos below, the stars in the sky remained clear and pure. Nol found himself getting used to the sight of four moons.
He gazed at the sky, contemplating his "character design". This time, it wasn't as simple as impromptu roles like "Master of Paradise" or "foolish bandit"; he had to refine his character.
The piece of sky visible through the broken ceiling transformed from starry night to morning twilight, then to the pale blue of dawn. Nol stayed awake all night, occasionally brushing Teest's hair.
When the Mad Monk woke up, the first thing he did was lean into his god and stretch himself.
"Have you decided on your alias?" he asked curiously.
"Yes. The name is Drake. A magic swordsman of above-average skill," Nol replied. "I can mimic swordsmanship using certain skills. I have a way."
"Drake? The Dragonblood Hero Drake?" Teest inquired.
"After him, many named their children Drake. It's a common name," Nol explained. "If needed, I'll claim to be a descendant of Drake—I happen to know the 'Dragon Bloodline Suppression', so it's a gimmick."
"I thought Drake had no descendants?" Kando interjected from Nol's embrace.
Nol shrugged. "Distant relatives count, just like Teest's connection to the Alva family. Since Drake himself wasn't devout, if I pretend to be a generic believer of the Temple of Life, Eugene won't nitpick."
Laying on Nol's lap, Teest gave a meaningful smile. "So you wish to be a swordsman. I get it now."
...
In Nol's original imagination, they should be running towards the truth rather than lingering on the commercial street. Nol wore a hood, bought several sets of second-hand equipment from the bar, and modified several of Teest's outfits.
Teest paid out of his own pocket, choosing a relatively high-quality sword for him and claimed it was an offering to god.
'How wonderful,' Nol thought, holding all the assorted items he had bought, his head spinning—
Intimately looking at childhood photos, having little quarrels, sleeping snuggled up to each other, shopping together. All these things had appeared in his previous "love expectations", so why did they come to pass in such a twisted way?
When they arrived at the old abandoned house, Teest rolled up his sleeves and specially took out two small wooden stools from his bag. There were suspicious blood stains on the stools, and Nol tried not to think about their original use.
"Sit tight and don't move later."
Teest excitedly opened a small wooden box. To Nol's astonishment, it was filled with all kinds of makeup tools.
"Do you have any special image requirements, honey?"
"My eye color is special. It needs to be changed. Drake has light golden hair and blue eyes. Just choose something similar," Nol said. "…Is this really okay? I thought you would use magic."
Teest looked serious and professional. "Using magic is fine normally. But when facing the Investigation Knights, magic to change appearance will be detected in a second. I can only change the color of your hair and eyes thoroughly."
"A little makeup can subtly change one's impression. If you can also adjust your facial bones slightly, it will be seamless. I'll tell you how to do it later."
Nol didn't really care. Whatever modifications Teest made, he could "refresh" his body afterward. So he closed his eyes and tilted his head, allowing Teest to work.
Teest's warm fingertips touched his eyelids. He murmured something under his breath and then dropped a cool liquid on his eyelids, smoothing it out gently.
Then came the scalp—a moist substance brushed against Nol's scalp and hair, giving off a strong medicinal smell. Nol felt a slight tingling on his scalp, as if sandpaper had been rubbed against it.
"This is a formula improved by Ms. Lynn, so you don't need to worry," Teest said in a timely manner. "Next, can you make your skull a bit softer? I'd like to adjust your facial features a bit."
Nol curled up apprehensively but eventually straightened up and said, "Alright."
Teest's touch was gentle, like a craftsman shaping his favorite clay statue. First, there was a light application of the medicine, followed by molding. After about two hours, a gentle kiss landed on Nol's forehead.
"It's done," Teest said.
Nol opened his eyes, and Teest handed him a mirror. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face in the mirror, Nol was stunned for a good half minute before saying reluctantly, "You… "
"Is there a problem?" Teest asked with a playful smile.
"No, it's perfect," Nol replied, patting his cheeks.
...
The weather was astonishingly beautiful on the day Eugene arrived at Eternal Day City. However, the captain of the knight brigade seemed uninterested in the scenery. He sniffed the air.
"Fires and corpses," he said gravely.
The knights of the Fifth Brigade didn't even station themselves in the city. They temporarily rested at the local Temple of Life.
According to Knight Eugene's request, once they understood the situation in the city, they would immediately go out to investigate The Manor, so there was really no need to settle in.
Within a day, the Investigation Knights were to complete three tasks: gather information, resupply, and recruit local fighters.
On the streets of Eternal Day City, the knights moved briskly; their deep green cloaks never seemed to rest. It must be said that their swift and decisive actions greatly reassured the local residents.
Eugene himself wasn't idle either.
From the moment he arrived at Eternal Day City, he sent a meeting request to the king of New Gemino. His schedule was packed, moving from one task to the next with frightening efficiency.
For example, now, while waiting for the king's summons, he was reviewing the temporary recruits.
The young and middle-aged men of Eternal Day City lined up, their faces filled with anger or fanaticism, waiting for the brigade leader to review them one by one. Initially, many in the line hoped to earn some reward, but after a few "interview" screenings, only the strong and robust remained.
The situation in the city was worse than Eugene had imagined, and he looked over the lineup with a frown.
Eternal Day City had been harassed by The Manor for a long time, and most capable young men had already fled with their families, leaving behind mediocre candidates.
"My name is Tru, sir. I am very familiar with the Brick Mountains," said the middle-aged man in front of Eugene, trembling.
Eugene looked up and gave him a faint smile, exuding a slight aura of intimidation. The middle-aged man shouted in fear and wet his pants.
This one wouldn't hold up on the battlefield.
"I'm sorry for wasting your time. May your life be full of vitality," Eugene said, shaking his head. A young knight beside him handed over a silver coin.
"Next," Eugene said.
Next, next, next… None seemed fit for the battlefield.
Eugene didn't want to just fill numbers. If he haphazardly chose people, they would surely not return alive. The Goddess of Life was merciful, and he couldn't do such a wicked thing.
"Next," Eugene said, rubbing his temples.
If he really couldn't select anyone, he would have to propose to the king to borrow some soldiers. However, this approach was very sensitive. One wrong move, and the king might think the Temple of Life was overstepping its boundaries. He needed a foolproof plan.
When he saw the next candidate, Eugene's thoughts paused for a few seconds.
The young man wore a cloak and was lean. He carried a small bag on his back and a decent long sword on his waist. Both his leather armor and clothes were modified, making him look more like a swordsman, with evident wear and tear.
"Please remove your hood," Eugene said gently. "We need to see your face. And your left ear."
The man silently nodded and removed his hood. The moment Eugene saw his face, his eyes narrowed.
The man was incredibly handsome, almost out of place in this lineup, more fitting to stand before God. His features seemed familiar to Eugene, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him.
Perhaps he was mistaken. If he had truly met this person, he wouldn't have forgotten—
The young man had a pale complexion, no earrings, and almost white golden hair that reached his chest. His eyes were pure gold, making him look as if he'd melt in the daylight.
"Specialty?"
"Scout," the man succinctly replied, his voice soft and deep. "I'm proficient in magic and swordsmanship, good at gathering intelligence, and dealing with small to medium-sized monsters."
"Weakness of the giant five-eyed raven?"
"The second eye from the left and the joints of both legs. Water magic attacks are particularly effective."
Eugene nodded. "How does the harpy attack?"
"Mainly with screams, clawing, and a curse that makes one feel heavy."
"How to deal with lizardmen?"
"Fire attack. Flames make them slow and injure their organs," the young magic swordsman answered fluently.
"It seems the rumors are true. Just last night, you single-handedly fought and helped the Blanco family repel the invading ogres and lizardmen… The guards have been praising your bravery."
Eugene smiled and looked to the knight on his right, who poured a suspicious-looking tea and handed it to the swordsman.
"This is the final step," Eugene said. "Just in case, you need to drink this potion. It will negate any facial altering potions."
The man nodded, gave a salute of the Temple of Life, and drank the potion without hesitation.
"Do you remember every heretic of the Eternal Church?" After drinking the bitter potion, the swordsman didn't even flinch.
The swordsman's appearance remained unchanged, and Eugene sighed in relief. "Yes, I remember every face I've seen."
For instance, this man's eye color was exactly like that of Teest from Whitebird City.
"Thank you for your loyalty to the Goddess. Please tell me your name and identity."
This time, there was a hint of laughter in Eugene's voice. The knight to his left made a move, but this time, he presented not a silver hook but a gold wheel.
"This is the deposit. If all goes well, after the battle, you will receive nineteen more gold wheels. If you unfortunately fall, we will give forty gold wheels to the person you designate."
"No need to designate. I won't die." The swordsman performed a standard prayer gesture. "The Goddess says we must save those lambs lost in panic. I'm willing to illuminate the fate of Eternal Day City with this sword. The Goddess will surely bless me."
"Such confidence. Your being here today must be the will of the Goddess." Eugene stood up and respectfully returned the gesture.
"My name is Drake." The swordsman revealed a faint smile. "Just a regular mercenary, happened to pass by. To avoid complications, I used a fake identity when entering the city. Please understand."
"It's a good name." Eugene's smile seemed a bit more genuine.
Across from Knight Eugene, the magic swordsman Drake—Nol, had been internally screaming countless times. He didn't intend to appear so "haughty", but his face was stiff with tension.
Fortunately, in terms of personality, he modeled himself after the real Dragonblood Knight Drake. Apart from the embarrassment, the portrayal went much smoother than he imagined.
Having dealt with Eugene, Nol couldn't help but glance at Teest, who was hidden by his side.
The Mad Monk truly knew the Temple of Life inside out. His predictions were spot on.
Eugene's potion only works on active magical elixirs. Nol's hair and eyes had been permanently dyed by regular herbs, and his facial bone structure was slightly adjusted.
Now it seemed, not only did the guards of Eternal Day City have no defenses against a Lich, Knight Eugene also didn't anticipate a Lich who could "adjust bone structure" would apply for the position.
"We just lost an excellent knight not long ago," Eugene said to Nol. "I'll be keeping a close eye on you, Mr. Drake."
[Heh.] Teest smirked internally. [This kid does have a good eye.]
[Support my back,] Nol thought. [I'm so nervous, my heels are tingling.]
Teest slipped behind Nol, supporting his shoulders and even adjusting his posture.
On the surface, Nol nodded calmly. He of course understood Eugene's hint but didn't show overly enthusiastic reactions—this response was genuine.
This was the third time he had met Eugene, Nol thought helplessly.
The first time was in Whitebird City, the second time as the Master of Paradise, and now as a descendant of a hero… They say things come in three. Hopefully, he wouldn't give himself away in front of Mr. Eugene this time.
"If there's nothing else…" Nol hinted.
"Ah."
Eugene tapped his forehead. "Next, you need to sign the contract. Your accommodation and meals will be taken care of by the Temple of Life. If you're dissatisfied with your current equipment, you can also apply to use the temple's equipment."
"Thank you for your generosity." Nol nodded.
"There's one more thing," Eugene said. "Tonight, I will lead the knights and the representatives of the 'temporary knights' to meet the king. Please prepare yourself."
Nol, who had just relaxed, tensed up again like fresh meat in a freezer. The good news, Eugene was very satisfied with him. The bad news, Eugene was a bit too satisfied with him.
[Why didn't you make me look more ordinary!] Nol shouted internally.
[You're already handsome. Changing too much could give us away,] Teest muttered defensively. [Besides, I like your face. Who could have thought that changing the color scheme would have such a striking effect—I even altered your facial features to make you look fiercer!]
…Never mind.
Pretending to be calm, Nol took a step forward to follow the leading knight to sign the contract.
[I've been meaning to ask.] Teest quickly changed the topic. [How do you plan to deal with the contract issue? This is the Temple of Life's temporary knight contract. They're sure to verify your true name.]
[Haven't you forged this kind of thing before?] Nol raised an eyebrow.
[I prefer to forge the entire contract,] Teest declared confidently.
Nol chuckled. [Come, let your False God teach you how to exploit loopholes.]
Facing the contract, shining with magical radiance, and Teest's equally sparkling eyes, Nol picked up the quill, and with a flourish—
He did sign as "Nol", but the handwriting was so flamboyant and winding that it resembled "Drake".
[Sloppy handwriting isn't illegal,] Nol remarked. [Magic contracts can't be deceived, but the people reading them can.]
Teest: [...…]
He covered his mouth, laughing so hard beside Nol that his shoulders shook.
Nol put down the quill without changing his expression. It was no wonder Teest hadn't thought of this. After all, this world didn't have doctors hastily writing prescriptions, nor did it have brash individuals challenging Investigation Knights to their faces.
[You're really mischievous.]
[Who made me your god?]
The author has something to say:
Showing no reverence for any god in the world, the absolute advantage of the True Creator(?
Actually, thinking about it, Nol truly seems to be the most suitable deity for the Mad Monk(???
Buy one get one free. Two strong combatants! Mr. Eugene, why aren't you smiling anymore…?