A faint glow reflected the horses' hooves that tread upon the dew-covered grass leaves.
The knights battalion advanced towards the location where the meteor fell at a pace that was neither fast nor slow. The difference between the temporary knights and the regular knights gradually became apparent—
At first, the excited temporary knights whispered amongst themselves, discussing the miracle they had witnessed not long ago. After continuing on for three hours, no one was in the mood to talk anymore. As the horses moved up and down, they began to feel a dull pain in their loins and butts, and their legs grew increasingly stiff and sore from maintaining the same position for so long.
As a Lich, Nol naturally didn't suffer from these physical details. He kept a calm facade, looking straight ahead without uttering a word the entire time.
His pale golden hair, golden pupils, fine features, and a relatively slender figure made "Drake" stand out among the temporary knights, like a porcelain idol mixed into a bunch of rough clay figurines.
What no one knew was that this seemingly quiet knight hadn't shut his mouth since the early morning.
Nol leaned into Teest's embrace, muttering madly in his heart as they went over the details of the battle with Lich Valdorlock. In the end, they began to organize the snippets of information revealed by the candle.
[You are the creator of the system. It's only natural for it to want to protect you.]
Even though the gaze had vanished, Teest still held Nol tightly, hands resting on his waist.
[Think about it. If we hadn't been cursed at that time, you would have become a real Lich—powerful, but not unique, with well-known attributes and weaknesses. Once targeted by a being skilled in light magic from the Temple of Life, you'd stand no chance.]
The Mad Monk speculated with interest.
Nol didn't respond immediately.
Suppose the system's actions were indeed out of goodwill. By cursing him, making him a unique entity… perhaps that was only part of the reason, Nol thought.
If he had taken the straightforward path to leveling up, he would have had many choices and wouldn't have focused on the unorthodox method of "slowly increasing attributes"—wouldn't it be faster to grab some rare equipment instead of spending time fighting powerful monsters?
In that case, he might not have acquired the [Fallen Death] mutation skill.
Nol had a vague premonition that, because of this skill, he would embark on a completely different future.
[…The system gave me the 'God's Forsaken' skill, making the gods unable to watch over me and binding you and me together, perhaps also to protect you.] Seeing that Nol didn't continue, Teest eagerly went on.
[No, that's not it.] Nol immediately refuted.
[Hmm?]
[When we first met, we didn't know each other, and there was no guarantee that we would get along. No one was forcing you to protect me.]
Nol stared at the seemingly endless green grassland ahead, analyzing carefully.
[Even if the curse prevents us from divorcing, we could still ignore the marriage contract and separate… There's too much uncertainty in such things. I tend to believe that 'God's Forsaken' is there to protect you personally.]
Nol was very serious in his thoughts. [This means that in the eyes of the system, you are special enough—special to the point of needing to be hidden from the sight of the gods.]
The only native with Player privileges. The "White Demon" who could use the system's power even before the Players arrived.
To say the system merely picked up Teest as a tool was something Nol was the first to disbelieve.
[That's one interpretation.]
Teest was far from modest. He rubbed his chin against Nol's shoulder. [According to your idea, we are both very important to the system, and it doesn't wish for us to fight each other.]
Nol nodded almost imperceptibly, continuing to analyze. [Kando said that if it speaks of certain things, it will immediately draw the attention of the 'gods'.]
[I have a guess—at certain special moments, the 'gods' inspect the situation in the world. Like Eugene's sacrifice, like Kando's secret… like when a Player uses inconceivable methods to clear a high-level dungeon for a rare profession beyond their level.]
If there hadn't been any curses at the beginning, they might have been targeted by some malicious "god" the moment they stepped out of the dungeon's teleportation point.
But the system made two severe curses take immediate effect, so even if the "god" couldn't pry, the curses would cause them to overlook the matter—"Physical Destruction" and "God's Forsaken". The targets of the curses were essentially useless accounts that wouldn't affect the big picture.
Cold sweat broke out on Nol's back belatedly.
From the beginning, the system was quietly protecting them under the "gods'" nose… It all made sense.
[Ah, how touching. Your system has had so much nonsense added to it, but it still tries hard to be on your side,] Teest murmured happily. [It seems that the so-called 'gods' can't fully control the system. How interesting.]
[I'll let that pass. I'm more concerned about why the system wants to protect you so much,] Nol muttered back.
[Because I am your lovely husband? Your reliable knight? Your venerable pope?]
Nol, unable to tolerate any more, turned his head slightly, glaring at him with the corner of his eye. […Or a detestable narcissist?]
[Adding that to the list is fine too,] Teest expressed generously.
...
After several days of traveling through the cold dew and the wilderness, they finally reached the foot of the Brick Mountains.
The mountain range was dark and steep, like black waves frozen in mid-air. The slopes were shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see clearly. By comparison, the knight's procession seemed like a line of ants walking beneath a city wall.
They followed the mountain range for a long time, gradually feeling the illusion of not moving at all. The mist atop the mountain lingered, and the sides of the range were too similar, like a fixed loop in the background.
To find a specific location in this featureless wilderness was difficult enough, let alone return the way they came.
Fortunately, the Investigation Knights had noted the direction of the meteor. After half a day's journey, the location indicated by the meteor was within reach.
"Halt. Make camp," Eugene ordered.
For the past few days, Eugene had never allowed the troop to pitch camp. They wrapped up in sleeping bags to rest, and meals were dealt with in an hour's stop or they simply nibbled on dry rations while mounted.
Such high-intensity progress made the Investigation Knights seem relaxed, but the temporary knights were somewhat unable to bear it.
Most of them collapsed on the ground like rotten meat. Even the decorous Sean couldn't keep his footing, stumbling and kneeling after a few steps. Damori crawled off his horse, plopping onto the grass, then yelped and jumped up, clutching his backside.
Nol thought, without looking, that the kid's legs and butt must be chafed raw.
The robust "Drake" naturally didn't have this problem.
His expression was unfazed, as if stubbing his little toe on a table corner wouldn't change his color. In fact, he was secretly refreshing his butt every day—Nol realized for the first time since coming to Tahe that the convenience of an undead wasn't to be underestimated.
Teest, accustomed to exercise, cared even less about these things. Taking advantage of the fact that others didn't notice him, he warmed up with one foot stretched on the horse or would stand on his head from time to time. If not for Nol's gravity magic keeping him safe, the warhorse would have kicked him off long ago.
When Nol was tired, he just relaxed and leaned against Teest's chest. After Teest had his fun, he would lie on Nol's back, sleeping soundly.
These past few days, the two hadn't missed any rest and could be said to be in excellent condition.
"These past few days have been hard on everyone."
Eugene came to the temporary knights group to offer his consolations. His complexion was rosy and healthy and his tone sincere and friendly, showing no sign of his recent near-death experience from "summoning the miracle".
"I've instructed the logistics knights. They will prepare a hearty dinner for you all. Someone will come to distribute diluted fruit wine and mint tea later. Please rest well."
"Thank the Goddess for Her grace." Sean crossed his fingers like heads of wheat, making a prayer gesture.
"Time is precious. We need to scout the area near our destination first," Eugene said, shifting the tone of the conversation. He scanned the room with a smile, his gaze pausing briefly on "Drake" who was standing upright.
"According to the rules, I need to bring three temporary knights with me—those willing to go will immediately receive ten gold wheels, and I invite everyone to apply as they see fit."
"It's alright if we don't have enough people. Even one is sufficient, as we need a fair witness. Don't worry about safety. I will accompany you personally. The safety of the camp will be the responsibility of my two deputy commanders."
As the only person present who could still stand upright, Nol nodded at Eugene. He stepped over his contorted comrades-in-arms and stood quietly by Eugene's side. While Eugene wasn't paying attention, Nol looked regretfully at the steaming mint tea.
Teest draped over Nol like a fur coat. [I'll make some hot chocolate tonight. Let's drink it together.]
Nol, with his indifferent expression, thought happily, [Great!]
Sean, watching Nol's relaxed posture, also struggled to his feet and staggered in front of Eugene like a cripple. "Please allow me to contribute my strength for the Goddess."
"The Goddess will reward your loyalty," Eugene said, patting his shoulder as the glow of a healing spell passed over him. "Any more volunteers?"
Even after witnessing the healing spell, the temporary knights present still hesitated.
At that moment, Nol particularly understood their feelings—it wasn't just about their physical condition—
It was like working overtime for three or four weeks straight, with everyone's spirits at their limit. Just when a holiday was in sight, the boss announced voluntary overtime.
Even with overtime pay, not everyone would agree.
Sure enough, after a long while, only Damori struggled to come over—or perhaps "hopped over" would be more accurate—he held his backside with his face contorted. "Please take me… hiss!"
Eugene chuckled, patted Damori's shoulder, and intentionally enhanced the healing effect. Damori let out a long sigh of relief, and his standing posture improved considerably.
"We're already familiar with each other. It's good to have someone to look out for one another," Damori said in good spirits.
Nol suspected this was only half the reason. The other half was the ten shiny gold wheels of overtime pay. Thinking of his colleagues with families and mortgages, he looked at Damori with a bit more sympathy.
By Nol's side, Eugene withdrew his observational gaze, his smile a few degrees more sincere.
Ten minutes passed, and Damori's mood didn't improve.
It was somewhat cold at the foot of the Brick Mountains, still within the range of "autumn cold". Once they ascended the mountain, the temperature plummeted toward that of a freezing winter. Coupled with the thin oxygen, it felt as dry and brittle as frost, cold from the inside out.
The Investigation Knights were considerate, but they didn't go so far as to conjure warm winds and oxygen for the three "temps"—everyone walked on snow and ice and melting it would be more dangerous.
Like the other knights, Nol was tied with a rope around his waist, quickly climbing up the cliff, keeping pace with the full-time Investigation Knights.
In this group, only he, "Drake", looked steadfastly forward, never once looking back.
It wasn't that the office warrior had suddenly become coordinated, but in the unseen corners, there was always a dark furry ball with paws reaching out from the shadows, providing Nol with footholds.
His determined gaze wasn't that of the Creator's aura—Nol was certain that if he dared to look down even once, he would scare himself stiff and slip down the mountain.
[Honey, your coordination is terrible, and your joints are a bit stiff.]
Three or four meters ahead of Nol, Teest perched on a rocky spire like a snow eagle, without dislodging a bit of snow.
[In my previous world, this kind of activity was called extreme sports—extreme sports!] Nol emphasized. [I haven't even climbed stairs for this long…]
[I didn't expect you to be afraid of heights.] His Holiness Pope Teest openly mocked his god.
[I'm not usually afraid.]
As they neared the summit, the chilling wind became fiercer, and Nol's thoughts seemed to become discordant. [Damn, with Eugene here, I can't freely use magic… There's not even a railing here, and you're not by my…]
Teest raised his eyebrows proudly. [Not by your what?]
Nol exhaled a large cloud of mist, ignoring him. Teest hopped down from the cliff and stopped beside Nol, his hand smoothing Nol's back—before Teest, the slippery, icy rocks seemed to turn into a living room floor.
[Don't be afraid. I'm right by your side,] he said with a chuckle.
The wind was too strong. Nol adjusted his stance and felt his back touch something. It was a layer of light yet tough netting, which, amid the wind and snow, subtly supported his back.
The Mad Monk's golden thread.
Nol closed his eyes and took another step upward. The mountain rocks were still wet and slippery, but his fear had been swept away clean by the cold wind.
The other two temporary knights weren't so lucky.
Damori, being more robust, managed to push forward. Sean, originally a mage, now resembled a cocoon wrapped in a blanket, being dragged upwards by an Investigation Knight.
When they reached the summit, the sunset dyed half of the sky red, and the clouds near the mountain were also tinged with gold.
But no one was there to appreciate this magnificent scene.
Apart from Damori, who was gasping for air on the ground, and Sean, whose consciousness was blurry, everyone noticed the anomaly not far away—
A string of gray-black castles suspended in the air.
It was described as "a string" because the castle seemed to have been brutally dismembered, its fragments falling from top to bottom. Yet, these fragments were connected by sinew-like links of black and red, reminiscent of rotting flesh, just hanging there in midair.
At the very top, in the largest piece of the castle ruins, all windows were lit, clearly indicating habitation. The clouds churned endlessly below the castle, like a stormy sea of gray and white.
This was the rumored "The Manor".
Nol narrowed his eyes. He was 120,000 percent sure that Siren Fischer was in one of those ruins.
[Look below.] Teest tugged at Nol's wrist, his voice serious again.
Surrounding them was a sea of clouds, black rocks, and snow, and what caught everyone's attention first was the castle lights. But looking down was even more horrifying.
Directly below the castle was a hellish, long, narrow fissure.
It was deeply hidden in the shadows, parallel to the Brick Mountain Range, stretching far at both ends, its length and depth impossible to gauge.
In comparison, the castle in the air was like a drop of blood ejected from the massive fissure.
Nol hung his head, fascinated by the crevasse.
It was like the eyes of a dead person that hadn't fully closed. Nol felt that something in the depths of the fissure was looking back at him.
Suddenly, an abnormal chill seeped into the cold wind.
Nol subtly moved forward a step, shielding Teest behind him. Eugene, making a quick decision, plunged his longsword deep into the snow. Golden light spread, and the twelve present were encased in a semi-transparent golden dome.
The White Night came, for the third time.
This time, Nol saw its source.
From the depths of the fissure came a heavy, chaotic, spine-chilling rumble. It was like the sighs, groans, and wails of thousands. A shadowy blackness surged up from the depths of the crevasse, the scene truly resembling blood oozing from a wound.
The darkness surged, branched off, crawled over the mountains, and raced in all directions. The Manor's castle, situated higher up, remained unharmed in the rampaging White Night.
The darkness surged around the protective shield. Perhaps due to Eugene's strong defense, this time it didn't have the previous "thousand hands grasping" anomaly that occurred with Siren.
After several minutes, the darkness ceased, and the crevasse, like a wound, temporarily "healed."
The booming became distant and the surging darkness vanished beyond the horizon. That darkness would become the White Night that corrupted the lands, took countless lives, and eventually dissipated in the wind.
Above the sky, the castle's light remained as usual, as if this was just an ordinary moment on a mundane day.
[In your setting, there probably wouldn't be this castle, let alone this fissure.] Teest sighed inwardly. [You wouldn't create something so… despair-inducing, I guess.]
Nol instinctively reached out and firmly grasped Teest's hand, which was within reach.
It was the closest and only source of warmth.
The author has something to say:
"How to Refresh Away Your Awkwardness and Fatigue" — Nol
Eugene: Truly a master of great physical fitness.
Fact: Refreshing butt.jpg