Relying on his strong stats, Teest wandered around the camp.
Normally, he wasn't the type to seek out danger for no reason. However, after a nighttime walk, he really needed to organize his thoughts—what better place for the Mad Monk than a camp full of lunatics?
Teest stopped beside two people eating air, watching them feed each other nothingness. He should immediately persuade Nol to go back.
Nol was right. Their condition was strange, and the reconnaissance mission was more dangerous than expected. To be honest, before Nol raised the question, Teest hadn't considered the life or death of his companions—he was Nol's knight, and his only duty was to protect Nol.
Upon seeing the state of the camp, Teest even planned an escape.
If the Demon King landed, so be it—the world wouldn't explode in a second. If danger arose, he'd just grab Nol and run. Even if everyone else died here, what did it have to do with him?
Teest had no feud with the Demon King. He just wanted the truth, and the investigation wasn't urgent. The Mad Monk was always like this, and Nol understood him, right?
No matter how he looked at it, he should decisively retreat. Damn it, why was he hesitating?
The pros and cons were clear, and he never hesitated in decision-making before. Teest never expected Nol to ask for his opinion.
"Save the people and go back" or "save people" and then track the Demon King. Nol gave him considerate options, so even if he wanted to retreat, he wouldn't have to worry about conflicting with Nol's principles.
"Ugh…" A tiny groan escaped Teest's throat. He couldn't help but step back and stealthily glance at the busy Nol in the camp.
Nol was still in Drake's disguise, deliberately appearing cold and straightforward. But when he spoke to the Player siblings, a bit of warmth involuntarily showed in his eyes and brows.
Eugene, standing beside them, seemed oblivious. Teest thought disdainfully that the Investigation Knights were about to lose face.
Speaking of which, Nol must still be in pain. His Lord's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his body was somewhat tense. Nol's movements were never this restricted. Teest knew his body should be more relaxed, his posture more…
"Hi." A greeting suddenly came from behind Teest.
When had the Mad Monk ever been approached like this? Teest's scalp tingled, and he instinctively jumped back, landing a few steps away with his waist arched, the "Betrayer" already unsheathed.
"Oh, I didn't mean anything by it." Painter hurriedly raised his hands. "I didn't expect you to be so focused… It's just a greeting. Put the knife away!"
Teest raised the small hunting knife higher, his eyes circling around Painter's throat.
"You might as well skip the threats. We both know you won't attack me now." Painter covered his neck, his face full of helplessness.
"That's hard to say." Teest raised his mouth corners. "Have you forgotten my nickname?"
"How could I! Your murderous intent is genuine… but I always feel you wouldn't want to disappoint your Lord," Painter responded with an infuriatingly pleasing smile.
Teest's hand holding the knife stiffened slightly.
Painter's smile deepened, and he sighed softly. "As I understand the Mad Monk, you should be on your way back now, but here you are. Look, a miracle."
"No choice. I've bet my life on it," Teest replied lightly.
"I see, I see."
Painter made a somewhat exaggerated bow. "You're just forced to obey him, not eager to please him. My mistake."
Teest's smile disappeared, and he glared at Painter with an unpleasant expression while his small hunting knife dug between his slender fingers.
The former Pope's expression changed, and he suddenly bowed towards Teest's back. "My apologies, Master of Paradise. Did you hear all that? I had no intention of speaking out of turn—"
Teest quickly turned back—where was Nol? Nol was still at his original spot, talking to the Player siblings. When he turned back, Mr. Painter had already run off.
…Godfrey Painter, truly a detestable person.
Teest irritably put away his knife. The two mad Players beside him had finished their air meal and were now gazing into each other's eyes. Annoyed, Teest turned towards the base.
Indeed, investigating the Demon King's situation sooner could save more people. Nol had an obsession with saving people and would certainly be at the forefront. If he was willing to fight alongside Nol, that guy would surely be happier.
Or was this the side effect of physical desire? Did he just want to attract Nol's attention?
Hmm, "attracting attention" was more realistic. Let them go investigate together! Once the matter was resolved, he could confirm his question.
He was just curious about the answer, Teest firmly thought. For the Mad Monk, "wavering in thought" was a big taboo.
"Did you find the shadow?" Seeing Teest return to the camp with a grave face, Nol immediately asked.
"No," Teest said seriously.
Nol used purification magic on Teest as a sort of baptism and then paused. [Just now, Hot Ash mentioned something very strange.]
[Hmm?] Teest responded listlessly. Ah, another serious matter.
[Everyone in this camp has received a mission named "The Corrupt False God".] He showed Teest the interface—it was an abnormally displayed survival-type mission, and it was mandatory.
Nol didn't realize what his knight was fussing about. He bundled the "Corrupt False God" quest with the description of his initial [Corrupted False God] skill and presented them both to Teest.
[%¥@# Mission: The Corrupt False God;
※Don't leave? Don't leave? Don't leave?]
[The Corrupt False God: Fragile creation, crude rules, their world cannot survive.]
Teest snapped back to reality, his thoughts complicated. [These Players can't leave?]
[Don't worry. Theoretically, we can still retreat.]
Nol thought Teest was dissatisfied with the "unable to retreat" part and hurriedly explained, [We can transfer them to the foot of the mountain, at the very edge of the "Brick Shadow" map. After a few days pass, we can take them away.]
[Why are you in such a hurry? You didn't even ask my choice.] Teest expressed his grievance. [I had made up my mind to follow you to investigate the Demon King.]
Nol was slightly startled. Beneath his hood, his eyes suddenly brightened—filled with surprise and joy, focusing intently on Teest as if nothing else in the world existed.
Teest instinctively covered his chest and abdomen. He suddenly realized that the cold, dull pain inside him had turned into a burning one, the tingling warmth spreading.
His face, stiffened by pain, relaxed, and a smile crept onto his lips, making him appear much lighter.
That joy had an inexplicable infectiousness. Just a second ago, Teest's worries seemed to have dissipated—as if they weren't about to venture into life-threatening danger but rather going on a garden date.
If it weren't for his sudden urge to kiss the other, Teest almost convinced himself that "he wanted to make Nol happy".
This puzzle was really too difficult.
[Since a decision has been made, you can discuss splitting into two groups.] Teest suppressed his smile, coughing twice in his heart.
Nol moved to block the view of others. He grabbed Teest's hand, pressing a kiss into the palm of his knight. [Thank you, Teest.]
Teest watched him run off, covering his palm with his lips, still unable to suppress the smile on his face.
...
"I don't agree with this grouping," Eugene stated flatly.
"Why?" Nol was a bit surprised.
His strategy of splitting into two groups remained unchanged—
Abandon, Solo, Hot Ash, and Eugene were in one group, responsible for looking after the camp and guarding against that strange shadow. The undead knight they brought along was also temporarily staying there.
Teest, himself, Painter, Fischer, and Anakin were in the other group, responsible for investigating the Demon King upfront. Each force was represented on the surface so there was no need to worry about leaks in private.
Most importantly, he took away all the potential landmines that might trigger Eugene.
"Sir Eugene, the Saints have prestigious identities. Miss Anakin alone is enough for us. Her self-preservation ability is the strongest." Nol tried to explain calmly. "We've already persuaded Mr. Hot Ash. He also thinks this is the most reasonable. If you're worried about healing, Mr. Solo has brought enough supplies."
"I…" Eugene, leaning on his long sword, stood up stubbornly. "I'll replace that Fischer from Paradise. I want to go to the front lines."
"To cause trouble?" Painter whispered loudly to Fischer, who stepped back several times.
"You know my oracle."
Eugene narrowed his eyes, saying word by word. "The Saints received the mission of 'The Corrupt False God', and I'm the one who slays the False God… This is the will of the Goddess."
"If it really was the Goddess's will, we wouldn't be here."
Painter turned his head, his gaze subtly sweeping over Fischer and Teest. "Honestly, Mr. Eugene, it seems like you are being abused by Tilia—"
Whoosh!
Eugene raised his long sword, its tip pointing directly at Painter's throat. The latter swallowed, his eyebrows drooping. "My neck is really having a rough time today."
"Do not defile the name of the Goddess," Eugene hissed.
Painter spoke softly, but his aura remained undiminished. His fighting spirit clashed head-on with Eugene's, almost causing the weakened Mr. Eugene to lose grip of his sword.
Was this the confrontation between the former Pope and the future Pope? Nol watched with interest.
"Look," Painter said, extending two fingers to casually push away the sword tip. "You can't even harm a traitor with your 'Sword of Faith', let alone behead a False God. Take a step back; after all, you're destined to slay a god, so why rush now?"
Nol could no longer watch this spectacle. So, the prophecy of Knight Eugene was to "behead a False God"? No wonder the Temple of Life valued him so much. Setting aside whether the Corrupt False God referred to the Demon King or not, Nol himself carried the [Breath of a False God]. He instantly understood Painter's discomfort, feeling a chill around his neck.
At his side, Teest raised an eyebrow. [He's so obsessed. I thought his oracle was to marry Tilia.] He seemed to think of something, glancing at Nol out of the corner of his eye with a soft "heh".
"Mr. Drake's grouping is quite reasonable." Seeing the situation turning sour, Hot Ash stepped in to mediate. "Mr. Fischer is skinny and doesn't look like a knight. Abandon and Solo are both support classes, unsuitable for defense… I alone as a knight am not enough. Didn't you say you would protect us?"
Nol could understand his implication—"Drake" was nominally a magic swordsman, and Teest's physique clearly indicated a combat class. With less than six people in the scouting team, there was no need for so many tanks.
Eugene looked around expressionlessly, then closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "Since Mr. Hot Ash has said so," he said, trying to calm his voice, "let it be so. Fate will come regardless of time."
Painter let out a sigh of relief in front of everyone. It was hard not to suspect it was deliberate—Eugene's face had just softened when veins popped on his forehead again.
...
But it must be said, with Painter, the former Pope leading, their mission went quite smoothly. Painter's profession was a "Saint", a magic class with full-light attributes. The land he stepped on was cleared of corruption like avoiding a plague, revealing its brownish-yellow true form. Unfortunately, not long after they passed, the corruption surged back, turning everything dark again.
"Why did you provoke Eugene?"
With only their people around, Nol didn't need to keep up his Drake act and walked curiously to Painter's side.
"Teasing the zealot is my hobby."
Painter smiled, glancing at Teest. "Besides, that Mr. Hot Ash isn't a knight adept in holy light, right? 'Night Ranger' and 'Ranger' aren't great at purification either. To ensure the base is safe, Eugene's presence is essential."
"Mr. Eugene must know this too. Young people are just too impulsive, forgetting everything upon hearing a keyword in their oracle."
Teest removed his hood and untied his braid, reverting to his silver hair and golden eyes. "Then what's your oracle, Chosen One of the Goddess?"
Painter turned back with a smile. "That's my personal secret."
"I bet it's not very pleasant," Teest replied with a smile.
"Are there any pleasant oracles in this world?" Painter blasphemed without hesitation. "What, Mr. Mad Monk, is your oracle 'Come see how cute this human is?'"
Fischer and Anakin, walking behind, immediately looked up at the sky and down at the ground, respectively.
Nol: "…Pfft!"
Noticing Teest's mournful gaze, Nol tried to keep a straight face, comforting internally. [It's okay. Didn't you say you believe in me? If you like, I can give you a 'cute' oracle.]
[…No need, honey.]
"Back to the topic." Nol turned to Painter, holding back laughter to change the subject. "If you replace Eugene, the base can still hold. Eugene's prophecy is special. Taking him is more advantageous. Why oppose it so much?"
He himself carried a [Breath of a False God] and preferred to stay away from Eugene. For Painter, just the mission "The Corrupt False God" should be enough reason for Eugene's participation, right?
"Do you even need to ask?" Painter leisurely twirled his brush-like magic wand. "There's more than one False God. Of course I want to reserve the beheading spot for the most dangerous one."
"…More than one?"
The former Pope casually dropped a bombshell. Nol held his breath, and even Teest frowned. The idea of multiple False Gods, coming from the former Pope, was a significant revelation.
The common belief was that Painter left the temple due to "disliking its style", but Nol always found it a thin reason. Painter must have discovered something during his tenure.
Who exactly were the "False Gods" Painter referred to—the Goddess of Life, the Eternal Son, or… both?
"Blasphemous fool!" Fischer reflexively shouted, his voice then slowly diminishing. "My God… My God… Uh, continue…"
"Ah, I don't just say everything. This information is very valuable. Even ranking after 'Dragon Clan secrets'." Painter winked at Nol. "Some secrets, if revealed carelessly, can cause turmoil… I think you understand."
Painter still couldn't fully trust them. Not surprisingly, Nol thought, lowering his gaze. He hadn't told Painter the true nature of Paradise, although this, uh, red-haired old fox might have guessed some of it.
Nol sighed inwardly, hoping that after this exploration, Painter would open up to them.
Brick Shadow, lying adjacent to the Brick Mountain Range, got its name from "the shadow of Brick Mountain", indicative of its long, narrow terrain. Now as they crossed it to reach the Endless Sea, the journey wasn't particularly long.
In less than two days, Nol sensed the smell of the sea in the air.
Their journey was eerily smooth, with none of the "corrupted monsters chasing day and night" that Eugene spoke of materializing. There was only one incident when Anakin strayed a few hundred meters from the group to gather herbs and was nearly bitten by a corrupted creature. After that, she stayed close to the main group.
As for the "strange shadows" that caused madness, they hadn't encountered any. All around were endless withered trees, black mud, carcasses, and increasing corruption—but compared to the corruption near The Manor, it was much the same.
Far from relaxing, Nol became more tense. Unusual occurrences often hinted at something sinister. Their journey felt as if it were orchestrated.
Finally, at noon one day, they reached the end of the forest. The tree shadows thinned, and the sky turned a vivid red. The stinking black muck transformed into pale gravel, and the sound of the waves became faintly audible.
Teest suddenly halted, stretching an arm in front of Nol. Painter, leading the way, raised his magic wand, a white light flickering rapidly at its tip.
"What's that?" Anakin raised her hand and said in a hoarse voice.
A shadowy figure stood at the end of the road. Dark, mist-like. It simply stood there, its outline wavering as if distorted by the hot summer air—roughly one and a half meters tall, unhealthily thin.
It raised its featureless face, staring intently at the group. A few seconds later, as if losing interest, it ran off like a child.
As the shadow departed, they saw the scene on the beach. For a moment, Nol felt numb from head to toe.
He had imagined every possible appearance for the Demon King, from "classic behemoth" and "Gothic humanoid monster" to "Cthulhu-like". As for the Demon King's corrupted domain, as someone in the gaming industry, he had envisioned countless conceptual scenes. But he hadn't expected this. It was too…
[Too quiet.] Teest's confused thoughts came through.
They faced a deformed giant. The creature was hollow and black all over. Its form was like a collapsed building, curled up like a baby. At a glance, it had a child's body, a slightly larger head, and an abnormal number of arms. More details were unclear. Not only because it was curled up too tightly, but also because the "Demon King" was… sleeping on the beach.
There was no doubt it was the Demon King. Nol recognized it instantly. The corruption emanating from it was active, its aura suffocating. But it didn't seem intentional—
The child-like "Demon King" curled at the intersection of the gray-black ocean and pale beach. The water defied gravity, flowing up along its body like a gray, thin blanket on a white bedsheet.
Countless black shadows ran from its head, playing on the beach—building nonexistent sandcastles, selling nonexistent ice cream, chasing and frolicking with each other.
There were no real living creatures, so none of the nonsensical chatter and laughter of the camp. Everything was eerily quiet, so quiet it made one want to sigh, with only the rustling sound of surging waves.
It was like a soft dream.