This might be the longest time Teest and Nol have had "skin-to-skin" contact.
First, Teest found a comfortable spot among the twisting and entwining dragon horns, where he sweetly slept for a while. Then, he climbed down along Nol's claws, using magic to press and relieve the numbness in the Dracolich's claws.
Their telepathic connection never broke while they were awake—it was boring to keep flying forward. In this world without electronics, Nol really needed communication.
So, the Mad Monk turned over all his years' worth of cases, giving a killer's version of case commentary.
[…Viscount Gragg was indifferent to gender—he was fond of hunting attractive young people.]
Teest lay excitedly on the dragon's mouth, gesturing to Nol's huge blue eyes.
[The second before he realized he was tricked, he tried to grab my hand—I stuffed a dead hand in my sleeve, tightly wrapped in a glove. He pulled hard, tearing it right off! The cross-section of the corpse's hand was all gold wire. His expression at that moment was priceless. It's a pity I didn't have a recording crystal.]
[I styled him as 'Chaste Patricia', when the bishop of Circle City came out, he saw the old viscount dressed in a white gown and a floral crown… Haha, the bishop's face was the color of olive skin.]
[You've never been discovered?]
Nol, not wanting to imagine a cross-dressing old pervert, quickly changed the topic.
It was hard to imagine that Teest, when he first became the Mad Monk, was only in his teens and so adept.
[What a cruel question.]
The once-excited person deflated, flipping over to lie in a spread-eagle position on the dragon's mouth.
[Why do you think I hate Painter so much?]
[He caught you? Tell me.] Nol was surprised. As far as he knew, Painter was no longer the Pope at that time.
Since his beloved God requested it, Teest reluctantly narrated—
Back then, the Mad Monk was not yet eighteen, indeed just starting out. His crime rate wasn't high, and there were few victims, so neither the Temple nor the Church could figure out his criteria for choosing victims.
His third victim had an unsuspecting noble lover. After learning of the lover's murder, the noblewoman hired a mercenary group.
[…Don't be fooled by Painter's smiling face. He's full of bad water. Of course, it doesn't matter to me now. I was no match for him back then,] Teest unhappily stated. [He investigated for half a year and found me just as I was about to strike my fourth target—I had replaced a maid in the target's mansion, and he disguised himself as the gardener, infiltrating even earlier than me.]
[Maid.] Nol immediately caught the key point.
[Well, it was dark in the iron cage, and the Eternal Church's food was really bad.] Teest nonchalantly shrugged. [Back then, I was less than 1.7 meters tall and not very robust. If I pretended to be a male servant, it would have aroused suspicion.]
[He still found you.]
[Yeah, but luckily he did his own investigation and found that my fourth target wasn't simple. When Painter encountered me, I was in the target's sacrificial chamber dealing with the body.]
Nol listened attentively, almost forgetting to flap his wings. [Then what?]
[Then the guy opened the door, saw the scene inside, exclaimed "Wow," said "Excuse me," and closed the door himself. I was so surprised I almost didn't react, forgetting to pull the gold thread.]
[I was still pondering whether to flee or continue when he opened the door again and said to me—] Teest cleared his throat and imitated Painter's tone. ["I've investigated. Your first three targets were all from the Eternal Church. If it's just a coincidence, the day you kill an innocent, I will definitely catch you. If it's not a coincidence… keep up the good work, Mr. Maid!"]
[Then he gently closed the door, and that was that.]
[Hahaha!] Nol laughed mercilessly.
[You're so cruel.] Teest complained, patting the scales. [That was the only time I've been discovered.]
[I can understand your hatred for him now, Mr. Maid.]
Nol thought with a smile. For the young Mad Monk, being let off lightly must have been a great humiliation—back then, the former Pope was in his prime, easily capturing a minor like Teest.
[If you want, I can dress like that and pray for you,] Teest said meaningfully.
[Forget it. There definitely isn't your size. You're more suited to knight attire.] Nol laughed.
Teest was no longer the skinny figure of the past—his facial features was much more rugged. With his current height and physique, even a three-year-old could easily distinguish his gender.
It was a pity he never seriously wore knightly gear. The "Knight's Will" would have suited him well.
Thinking this, Nol sped up his flight.
Teest calmed down, looking into the joyful giant dragon pupils.
[Sleep for a while,] Nol thought tenderly. [I haven't finished the breakfast you made yet—when we arrive, I'll finish the jam biscuits.]
The moonlight was bright, with stars twinkling. Nol's breath in the high sky condensed into white mist, the black scales emitting a dream-like soft glow. The clouds became dense and thick, no longer showing the starlight from the ground.
Everything really felt like a dream.
Teest's cheek pressed against the warm scales, slowly closing his eyes, feeling the breath of the giant dragon beneath him.
That surging desire for closeness appeared again—this time not towards a gentle and handsome youth but a huge Dracolich.
[Good night, Nol.]
Teest turned his face, his lips pressing against the hard scales.
'This feeling is really strange,' he thought.
Everything about himself seemed to turn into an hourglass, slowly falling towards Nol. Gentle, slow, irreversible. Interests, hobbies, beliefs, life, desires… Every time he thought he had nothing more to give, the hourglass still slowly turned.
What would come next? Teest had a subtle expectation.
The Mad Monk wasn't a restrained person. Since he was interested in Nol, why not find a chance to get closer to him? They might have a good night.
Yes, that's settled. Next time the atmosphere was right, he would definitely try.
...
At noon, the carriage landed, and the dragon reverted back to his human form.
Nol fetched a hot towel, grimacing as he applied it to his hands. Although healing spells could remove abnormal conditions, the numb and stiff sensation lingered.
Painter watched the towel curiously, aware that the carriage's astonishing speed to the destination meant Nol and Teest must have done something. However, he couldn't figure out what magic would be so taxing on the hands.
Considering the ongoing influence of "Drake", the group chose not to go to Eternal Day City but instead to Gravel Town, which was closer to the Brick Mountains.
Unlike Resin Town, Gravel Town, further north and bordering the territories of New Gemino and Shiva, hadn't been affected by their marauding—even the Mad Monk knew not to provoke two major countries at once.
Painter tamed a wild horse and attached it to an empty carriage. Pretending to be travelers, they leisurely entered the town.
The midday sun was just right, though the blue sky wasn't clear, tinted with an unsettling dark red at the edges. The air was polluted with a strange, pungent odor.
However, the town was livelier than expected. Before even fully entering the town, they saw the Temple's fluttering flags.
Learning from past mistakes, Abandon paid a local merchant to let the group stay in a private residence.
Painter discreetly changed his red hair to a common local deep brown and aged his face by ten years with makeup. Thus disguised, they split up to gather supplies and information. After a busy day, they decided to fend for themselves for dinner.
As evening fell, Teest prepared warm jam biscuits and sweet wine-filled chocolates, hoping for a pleasant atmosphere. His tail wagged happily under his manservant uniform.
But the moment Teest opened the door, he was startled by the scene before him.
Nol, looking weak and unusually pale, was drawing in bed.
"What's going on?" Teest asked, setting down the tray and striding forward.
"I feel a bit unwell," Nol replied, fiddling with his sketches. "Nothing serious."
Teest, forgetting his playful plans, incredulously poked Nol. "Honey, you're undead—can anything be more absurd than a dead person falling ill?"
"It's just some pain. I've checked, and my magic is stable… Maybe it's from staying in dragon form too long."
For the overworked Mr. Nol, this discomfort was trivial, hardly worth a sick note.
Teest let out a long "Hmm", swiftly snatching Nol's feather pen.
"Give it back!" Nol reached to grab it.
"Rest." Teest, using his Death Knight strength, pressed Nol down. "I'll make some milk. Let's sleep early tonight."
"I'm undead. I don't need sleep." Nol clutched his drafts. "I'm almost done with the spell for that knight… Mmph!"
Teest's succubus tail found its way into Nol's mouth again, leaving him torn between pulling and biting it.
"I bet a gold wheel you'll go out of your way to save that Hot Ash." Teest wiggled the tip of his tail. "Eugene is there too. Who knows what we'll face—you need to be at your best. Think of your poor knight. My life is in your hands."
At those words, Nol stopped struggling and reluctantly handed over his drafts.
Teest withdrew his tail, brushing it across his lips.
That night, what should have been passionate, turned into a bedtime story. Nol, sipping warm milk, ate biscuits laced with the undead knight's strands.
The milk eased his internal pain. The jam biscuits tasted good, and Nol drowsily awaited the new skill from the undead knight.
The system's popup was late, barely visible, and silent. Nol struggled to read it.
Strange. Could it be the influence of the Demon King's power?
He identified the blurry pop-up window for a long time before finding the new skill he had acquired.
[Crimson Plunder]
It inflicted wounds on the enemy while restoring 60% of the damage value as health. It wasn't a Death Knight skill, likely a holdover from the prince knight's life.
Useful, but limited for Nol, who had only 100 health and knew healing spells.
If only he could transfer the skill to Teest, Nol thought, storing it and drifting off, leaning on his knight.
Unfortunately, Nol's pain persisted through the night. It rooted deep, neither worsening nor improving.
Nol tried to resolve it by being disembodied, but the pain remained. He knew he should investigate further before proceeding, but then—
"Our preparations are ahead of schedule." Anakin arrived early in the morning, worried. "I want to go to Brick Shadow with Solo first. Just two days. We'll return quickly, not delaying our mission."
"The Hot Ash matter?" Nol pressed his abdomen.
"Yes. It's rare that you brought us here so early. I don't want to delay too long," Anakin said. "Yesterday, everyone went out and found that the Fifth Brigade is stationed here—they seem unable to contact Eugene, and they're very anxious. Something must have happened in Brick Shadow."
"That group of pups isn't rushing over the mountains to save people, which is unlike them." Teest shrugged.
Anakin bit her lip. "Fischer mentally induced a Temple's bishop. It's said that the Temple's divinations failed, so they resorted to sacrificing Chosen Ones to ask God."
The sacrifice of the Chosen Ones.
Nol immediately recalled the sight of Eugene impaled by two swords during the search for The Manor—the bloody and sinister sacrifice ended, and the so-called "God" immediately pointed the way with a meteor. A quick response indeed.
He also remembered the spectacular sight of the meteor falling and the system's strange but serious prompt. Yes, the Temple of Life really had a "God". How could it fail like that?
"What was the result of asking God?" Nol frowned, sensing a premonition.
"They sacrificed two Chosen Ones, but God remained silent. When they asked about other major events, the signs appeared again. Brick Shadow is just so strange." Anakin's voice was bitter. "Such a situation has never occurred before, so the Fifth Regiment doesn't dare to act rashly…"
"…Just waiting for you Players from another world to go and face death." The Mad Monk summarized, glancing at Nol. "Didn't you ever think of just following us and avoiding Brick Shadow?"
"No." Anakin forced a smile, still unable to look directly at Teest. "I'm a top-tier healer built by everyone's efforts. I can't just sit back now. I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully for the rest of my life."
"Moreover, if Hot Ash's elite team doesn't return, our hope of returning home becomes even more remote… I want to go home."
Nol looked down.
"I rushed here, not for you to go ahead. We should go together. It's a big taboo to act separately in the face of the unknown."
Nol moved his hand away from his abdomen, saying calmly, "Anyway, we also need to go to the Endless Sea Island. Crossing Brick Shadow is the shortest way."
"Thank you," Anakin said gratefully, bowing her head.
"Don't be so formal. We have our own purpose—we also want to investigate the truth." Nol smiled. "Right, remember to ask Abandon and Painter. If they're unwilling, they can wait in Gravel Town."
"No problem!" Anakin readily agreed.
"Did you or Solo experience any discomfort?" Nol asked seemingly casually.
"Ah? No, we're all fine." Anakin asked confusedly, "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"
"Nothing, just a routine check. If anyone else feels unwell, tell me immediately."
"I'm not feeling too well," Teest said softly. As soon as Anakin left, his succubus tail swayed in front of Nol.
"Stop it." Nol chuckled, but his smile faded as he looked at Teest.
Teest looked a bit pale, his lips lacking their usual color. Before Nol could think further, he cast a healing spell.
"It's useless. I drank a potion this morning." Teest shook his head. "Fortunately, it's just dizziness and a heavy feeling in my organs, not pain."
What's going on? Did he infect Teest? He had never seen Teest fall ill during their journey!
"Lie down and rest!" Nol pushed Teest onto the bed, pressing his aching temples. "Or don't go. We'll just take a look… If the situation is bad, I'll retreat immediately."
"This time I'll prepare a mid-range teleport. I promise to return…"
Nol was interrupted as warm fingers pressed against his lips.
Teest smiled from his pillow, his long hair flowing, and firmly mouthed, "Impossible."
He only uttered that word, but they both knew what he was answering.
"I personally think, with a weak me accompanying you, you'll be more cautious."
Teest's tail stretched out from under the blanket, lying across Nol's thighs. "Besides, I'm chasing not just you, but the truth itself."
Nol moved his lips without making a sound, finally sighing heavily. "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything you want to eat, or—"
"Look at you. You're in worse shape than me." Teest's eyes curved. "Since you've promised, I do have a good idea—I want a kiss."
He withdrew his hand, pointing to his lips. "We both need a bit of warmth, don't we? I haven't kissed you like this yet."
In his eyes, the golden-haired, golden-eyed "Drake" smiled helplessly. Nol slowly leaned down, clumsily lifting his half-long pale golden hair, and kissed Teest's lips.
Teest agilely clasped the back of his neck, deepening the kiss. For a moment, their breaths grew hot, and the ambiguous sounds continued uninterrupted.
"A new ritual you devised?"
Minutes later, Nol propped himself up, still in pain but feeling a bit better. He touched his lips and half-jokingly said, "Morning and evening prayers are over. Are you adding a noon prayer, or—"
"I just wanted to kiss you." Teest curled his tail, answering quickly and lightly.
Nol paused.
That wasn't something the Mad Monk would say. He could feel their once-stabilized, ambiguous balance beginning to sway dangerously at this moment.
"I'm always willing to kiss you, whatever pretext you put on it." Nol prodded the curled succubus tail. "But before you decide on the 'ending' you want, we should be honest with each other."
"Alright, alright." Teest laughed, his tail tip burrowing into Nol's palm. "Then let me tell the truth—"
Nol sat on the edge of the bed, curiously watching Teest's lips.
"I just wanted to kiss you," Teest said.
...
At the same time, in another room.
"Of course I'm going!" Painter bit into an apple, giving a muffled answer. "That's the Demon King. Even if you don't tell me, Miss, I will still follow."
Abandon nervously licked his lips, glancing at Siren Fischer. "Are we all going?"
"The Demon King and my God… my God, mm, are enemies." Fischer hugged his arms, unusually not whining. "Stop looking, I'm definitely going too."
Anakin was somewhat surprised. Painter was expected, but Fischer's decision really caught her off guard. Despite the Eternal Church's many misdeeds, she didn't expect them to have even a semblance of a bottom line in this regard.
Abandon's pupils shook dramatically—this meant he would be the only one waiting in Gravel Town? That sounded cowardly! If girls were charging ahead, he—he couldn't possibly become the literal meaning of "abandon"…
"I understand, then Abandon will wait here." Anakin nodded, walking towards the door.
"Wait, wait!" Abandon stood up, raising his voice. "Of course I'm going too. Don't underestimate me!"
Anakin paused. "…Are you sure? The situation is very serious, you know?"
"I'm sure!"
Thus the "Demon King Crusade Squad" in history was officially formed amidst this somewhat hesitant shout.
The author has something to say:
Here we go!!! Little lovebirds, smooch smooch smooch.
Abandon: Better to die than lose face (closes eyes)