Lynn's face was livid.
Now, let alone Demong King or God of Creation, even if Nol was the origin of the Big Bang, Lynn would still feel a sliver of murderous intent towards him.
What did the great employee Miss Lynn do tonight?
She first dealt with the backlog of tasks in the Lost Tower, then entertained the Fox Pope, who almost had "mooching food and security" written on his face, with his eyes gleaming. Without even drinking a cup of water, she perked up again to meet Anakin and Solo, who were anxious because they couldn't find their leader—the leader Mentor of "Hermitage" hadn't shown up at the agreed place.
According to Painter, Mentor and Golden Sword, who appeared nearby for some unknown reason, were together. And the big boss Nol ran off with his little lover, even specifically transforming into a small animal form.
The four calamities were just enough to form a mahjong table, and Lynn could roughly guess what Nol and the others were up to. But she didn't want to think about it anymore; it gave her a headache.
In the end, Lynn dragged her tired body back to her room, where her lovely sister's eyes were emitting a blue glow.
The great God of Fate had eaten all the peach crisps in her room.
Wow, what a miraculous world, Lynn thought. When she couldn't find her sister, there was a stoic and solemn emotion supporting her inside. At this moment, Miss Lynn only wished for the world to end.
"Ah." Perradat wiped the pastry crumbs from her mouth. "You look so pale. Are you feeling unwell?"
Lynn took a few deep breaths. She wanted to burst into anger but was too tired to speak. To hell with gods. If this guy hadn't used her sister's body, she would have beaten her up.
In the end, she murmured a few words and collapsed onto a recliner.
Perradat's eyes shifted and she moved closer. "Sorry for eating all your snacks. This way, both your sister and I could taste it—we're sharing… You didn't come back for a long time, and she was a bit lonely."
This God of Fate was very approachable, mixing guilt and regret in her tone just right, making it hard to get angry.
"Forget it. It's okay." Lynn waved her hand. "I didn't need to eat anyway. I was just tasting."
Perradat slithered across the floor, her scales rubbing against the ground, making a pleasant rustling sound. She moved behind Lynn and started massaging Lynn's shoulders. Lynn's body stiffened, then relaxed uncertainly.
Isn't this god's personality a bit too good?
"Don't be tense. Consider it a small apology," Perradat said softly. "You really are responsible. Now that Lord Nol isn't here, I thought you would take a rest."
What does that mean? Lynn narrowed her eyes, wondering if this was an attempt to stir up relations, or…
"Ha ha." Perradat's hands rested on Lynn's shoulders, and it seemed like she instantly understood Lynn's thoughts. "I'm not foolish enough to stir up trouble, dear miss."
"I just want to understand everyone in the Tower better." Saying this, she leaned down, her voice carrying a subtle divinity. "Words can lie, and perceptions can be biased. Everything here—including all of you—is key to reflecting 'That One's' character, don't you think?"
Lynn belatedly realized something. Her magical fluctuations, skin temperature, and muscle state were all clearly detected by Perradat's fingertips.
At the same time, the pressure on her shoulders from the other's grip distracted her. In such a situation, subconscious reactions are hard to fake.
"I thought you two got along very well," Lynn said dryly. The hands on her shoulders seemed to turn into branding irons.
"Working with Lord Nol is currently my only option. That doesn't mean I'll become a 'good friend' who takes and gives as they please. Understanding the nature of those I work with better prepares me for the future."
Perradat's voice still carried a smile. "This isn't a black-and-white world, my lady."
"That's also true. If you were just an innocent, pitiable person, how could you have clashed with Star Stealer Sol?" Lynn said irritably. At this point, she really didn't have the energy to maintain surface-level politeness anymore.
Perradat laughed merrily and suddenly withdrew her hands. Her tail flicked as she swam in front of Lynn.
This was Lilith's face. The serpentman prophet had a girlish appearance, but for a moment, Lynn felt the life in front of her was immensely ancient.
"A person spends an ordinary childhood under their parents' care, gets an average job in adulthood, forms an ordinary family, grows old, and dies of aging or illness… This is the definition of 'an ordinary life' for most humans."
Why bring this up suddenly?
Lynn watched Perradat with some confusion. Under the candlelight, the god's eyes emitted a pale blue light.
"In reality, few people get to live the 'standard ordinary life'. Unfortunate childhoods, accidents, disasters, job losses… and so on." Perradat said, "My species is the same."
"Wandering the universe, searching for the symbiotic species called the 'Pillar of the World', is the ordinary life for me as a 'Floating Cocoon'. You might try to understand it that way."
Even though Lynn didn't know why Perradat suddenly said these things, she was still involuntarily drawn in. "Pillar of the World?"
"Oh, very large, exceptionally strong creatures and admirable researchers. They choose suns and cultivate civilizations from nothing. Normally, we could offer them some assistance in exchange for a stable food source."
Perradat waved her hand, and the scenery around them suddenly turned into the vast universe. Next to a burning sun, Lynn saw a white giant curling up, attracting dust, gradually forming a planet.
A Floating Cocoon drifted past, gently wrapping around the planet's atmosphere. The two creatures coexisted peacefully, and the planet slowly orbited the sun.
A strange and magnificent sight.
Then, Perradat snapped her fingers, and the illusion of the planet disappeared like smoke.
"It's that simple, just like you provide assistance to Lord Nol to make a living. You see, even across the vast universe, everyone's situation isn't much different."
"Are you implying that there is a Pillar of the World in this world?"
Lynn snapped back from the previous illusion, trying to deduce the "God of Fate's" purpose.
"Unfortunately, no." Perradat said softly, "As I said, 'symbiosis with the Pillar of the World' is our species 'ordinary life', and I happen to be a poor sap—I didn't meet a Pillar of the World. When I accidentally discovered this world, I was at the point of starvation to death. Compared to the Pillar of the World, Star Stealer Sol's strength is nothing, so of course, I had to seize it."
"You understand, right? I just wanted to survive. For most humans, not getting an 'ordinary life' doesn't mean they would just give up on life."
Lynn fell silent.
Perradat's voice was calm and sincere. After all, there was no need for this god to lie about such matters.
She suddenly realized that she couldn't accuse Perradat of harboring ulterior motives with the point of "initiating a war between gods", just as she couldn't blame the beasts on the savannah for scavenging corpses. After all, Nol was indeed not there at the time, and Star Stearl Sol wasn't the real master of the world.
"With your identity, you can make your demands directly to me."
Lynn scratched her head. "Even if you tell me all this, I'm not the ultimate decision-maker, nor will I betray the Lost Tower. You might as well find Nol—"
"Lilith is right. You do tend to overthink."
Perradat's smile was radiant, with no trace of her divinity detected. Her tone was much like that of a mischievous girl next door. "It's late. I just wanted to casually chat with someone. If I had to state a purpose… perhaps I want to get along with you?"
Lynn was speechless, hearing the sound of her brain cells exploding.
This was one of the so-called False Gods. Even if this being claimed to have no ulterior motives, she couldn't trust it.
"However, overthinking is a good habit."
Perradat stepped back, looking out the pitch-black window.
"How do you feel after this little conversation?"
Lynn couldn't help but frown, reluctant to reveal her true feelings—
The being before her was far removed from the concept of "humanity". Yet, for a moment, Lynn could understand Perradat's emotions.
Lively, friendly, empathetic—it was like communicating with a peer.
The most terrifying part was, she detected no lies. Perradat had been sincere from start to finish.
She didn't like this feeling, but it had taken root in her heart.
Seeing Lynn remain silent for a long time, Perradat's smile grew wider, but she didn't press further.
"Remember this feeling," she said. "'The story of others' is dangerous, my friend. With just a little cost, it can achieve significant effects—"
She leaned in close to Lynn, exposing her unguarded neck.
"I can assure you, if Lord Nol orders you to eliminate me as an 'intruder', you will hesitate."
...
Hunter's cabin.
Mentor extinguished the magical fire, and the room instantly darkened. The dense trees of the Black Forest and the wooden bars nailed to the cabin's windows allowed very little moonlight to seep in.
Nol and Teest got a cushion from Mentor and huddled together. Nol's tail protected Teest's back, while Teest's head nestled against the dragon's head. Nol's mouth and nose were buried in the soft chest of the white cat.
The overly fluffy cat tail also wrapped around Nol's neck. Nol could feel the soft paw pads pressing against his scales, and it felt warm like a kiss.
Nol had the illusion that he was submerged in white fur. The soft fur carried Teest's unique scent, just lacking a bit of the smell of blood—his knight wasn't fond of hunting in this form, which Nol found unsurprising.
They huddled close together, not wasting any space on the cushion. Mentor raised his eyebrows slightly, and his gaze became meaningful, but ultimately, he said nothing.
On the other side, having heard their discussion, Golden Sword had remained silent all along. Billy just obediently finished his bowl of noodles, drank a lot of clear water, and rested earnestly.
Right, Enbillick Alva was in his forties, not fourteen. He had the caution typical of a major merchant. Nol suspected he was still observing them.
Nol wasn't anxious about this. After all, they had accepted the quest, and rushing to get close to Golden Sword would seem unnatural.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if Golden Sword wasn't willing to accompany them, they could simply investigate through Mentor. The quest reward wasn't substantial, so giving up wouldn't be a loss. Mentor and Teest were both very quiet, likely sharing his sentiment.
If anything surprised him that night, it was…
After Nol cuddled his knight, Teest made a contented purring sound. They were very close, and the cat's purring was deafening.
Nol: […You purr very loudly.]
Teest's thoughts immediately snapped back. [I haven't gotten used to this form yet.]
[The cushion is trembling. Control it a bit,] Nol stated matter-of-factly.
Teest went quiet for a while. After a few hums from Nol, he put his mouth close to the warm fur. Within a few seconds, the loud purring of the cat returned.
Nol: [...]
Teest: [...]
[Pfft.] Nol laughed inwardly. So far, this might be the most straightforward Mr. Teest had ever been. The animal instincts of the Mad Monk were clearer than his heart.
[Forget it. This is nice too. Good night.] Tiny dragon claws dug into the long fur, and Nol contentedly petted it several times. Teest's tail moved a few times, eventually resting on Nol's neck.
[Good night, honey.] The Mad Monk responded with purrs.
Nol thought it would be an awkward night. It was their first time sleeping in animal forms, and they might struggle with sleeping positions for a while. But wrapped in a sea of fluff, he fell asleep in less than five seconds.
Mr. Teest wasn't much better off. Nol's sturdy dragon tail protected his back, a sensation he couldn't ignore. Before he could figure out how to better control his purring, the warm drowsiness overwhelmed him.
...
Dawn light sneaked through the cracks in the wood, gently entering the room.
Nol opened his eyes to see the pink nose of the white cat. They were still entangled, and their position indicated they had slept remarkably well.
In this situation, his knight wouldn't be able to perform a morning prayer. How would they apply the Betrayal Overture buff? Nol glanced at the round cat paws, unable to imagine what their hand-kissing ritual would look like.
Well, best to wake Teest up first. Nol nudged Teest's nose with his own. As always, Teest woke up almost immediately. His eyes were still closed, and the pleasant purring resumed.
Not far away, Mentor had already started preparing breakfast—Golden Sword got oatmeal with eggs and milk, and now Mentor was frying fish in butter, likely for the two of them.
Considering Chef Teest had turned into a cat, Mentor would make a decent substitute companion, Nol thought.
"Regarding what you said yesterday, we agree," Nol said while lying on the fluffy, big cat. "If you don't mind our reduced strength."
"Haha, when dealing with those merchants, the more harmless you look, the better," Mentor said. "Would you like some cheese?"
He never once looked towards Golden Sword.
"Then it's settled." Nol mentally wrapped up the conversation, without shifting the topic to Billy.
While they were conversing, Billy also woke up. He politely thanked them and began to slowly eat his porridge. His complexion had improved significantly from the day before. The cold sweat on his face was gone, though he still appeared somewhat weak.
He still didn't bring up the matter of traveling together.
As the room brightened, Teest's round pupils turned into vertical slits. He stopped purring and quietly observed this so-called "important NPC".
"Do you have anywhere you want to go? You should be able to walk today," Mentor turned to Billy, asking naturally. "It's a bit dangerous around here. We can give you a lift. Don't worry, it's on the house."
"No need. Thank you for your care."
Billy thanked them politely, pausing for a moment before pulling out a finely crafted pocket watch. "Take this. It can be exchanged for some money. It's a pity that, under the circumstances, I can't prepare a better thank-you gift."
Mentor shrugged. "It's just some food, not worth this much."
"You're going to buy valuable goods, aren't you? Money is necessary." Golden Sword gave a weak smile.
"I'm an alchemist, sir. I have my ways of making money. Our meeting is fate. Insisting further would be awkward." Mentor waved his hand, continuing to tend to the fish in the pan.
A tacit silence fell among them.
Breakfast ended without Billy mentioning collaboration. Lunch ended, and still, Billy didn't bring it up. The four of them… accurately, two humans, a dragon, and a cat, silently agreed to maintain peace, "recovering" in the old cabin.
Finally, in the brilliant afternoon sunshine, they stood at the doorway of the hunter's cabin.
Teest was perched on the roof of the cabin. His leather pouch hanging from his collar was nearly buried in his long fur. Nol was flying beside him, watching the two middle-aged men part ways politely.
Golden Sword Billy found a stick to use as a walking stick. He took out a few silver hooks, buying cheese and smoked fish at market price, ready to continue on his way alone.
'Who knows where he's heading,' Nol thought. 'This guy isn't planning to try his luck finding the Lost Tower, is he?'
[His goal definitely isn't the Lost Tower.] Teest, as if reading his mind, responded, [Grape Collar isn't far. This guy won't be acting without a plan. If he really wanted to contact you, he'd find a way to have the General connect us.]
[The problem is, aside from the Lost Tower, there's nowhere else good in the Black Forest.] Nol sincerely stated.
[I don't understand what he's thinking either. Maybe he really is desperate and wants to hide in the Black Forest for a while. Who knows?] Teest's tail swung back and forth.
The issue was, the initiative to reveal the truth was in Golden Sword's hands.
It wasn't unusual for them to reveal their Player identities in their conversation. But Billy was a genuine local resident. They couldn't just suddenly say, "Hello Mr. Golden Sword. We heard you've had a tough time lately. Got any clues?" or "We suddenly feel there's something wrong with the Alva Merchant Group. Let's investigate together."
"Thank you once again for your help."
Billy bowed formally, then headed south while leaning on the stick. Mentor watched his figure silently with an extremely calm expression.
Until the man disappeared from their sight.
"Is it okay to let him go like this?" Nol couldn't help but ask.
"Don't be impatient." Mentor smiled. "Just wait."
"By the way, let me introduce myself. I am 'Mentor', an Arcane Alchemist, the leader of 'Hermitage'."
Mentor smiled gracefully. "Let me guess, you two are messengers from Paradise, at least mid-level leaders, no, upper-level. Which one of you is Drake?"
Teest jumped down from the roof and looked at Mentor with his sharp vertical pupils that narrowed slightly. "You…"
Mentor pushed his glasses up, his smile unwavering. "Godfrey Painter must have been looking for Paradise. He knows who I am, but still entrusted you two with me, along with Golden Sword."
"This means you two are authorized to handle 'this level' of matters, and there's a need to hide your appearances. Not a small need either. I've just made the most logical guess."
"Everything could be a coincidence." Teest neither confirmed nor denied. "Maybe we're just two cursed souls who stumbled upon you guys."
"I dislike coincidences."
Mentor's smile faded slightly. "There aren't that many coincidences in the world, young man. I prefer to believe you're not a coincidence, just as I believe…"
He paused, looking in the direction where Golden Sword disappeared.
A beast's roar came from that direction, sounding very dangerous.
"Just as I believe this isn't a coincidence."
He extended his hand, gesturing with a "please" to Nol. "Let's go. It's time to save someone."
The author has something to say:
Teest, the sound of love's purr cannot be hidden.
Nol: Enjoying white noise up close (?