Nol had never seen the candle show such a human side before.
It looked odd and had a high-pitched voice, reminiscent of a fast-forwarded cartoon character. But at this moment, the vertically aligned eye of the candle stared back with intense seriousness, making Nol feel as if he was gazing into the eyes of an elder.
Thinking about it, there was no substantial pact between Kando and him. Kando had no reason to stay, but it seemed intent on staying by his side, having never mentioned leaving.
This mysterious candle possessed the ability to "transcend space" and had an inexplicable knowledge of the dungeons and the system. Its origins must be significant. Moreover, it had witnessed Nol expelling Liang Guanghui with the letter opener… but remained silent about it. Nol had almost forgotten about this.
"Do you know a lot about the gods?" Nol directly asked, sitting down beside the bed.
"Discussing the gods is equally dangerous. Be careful, very careful. You might have already caught their attention," Kando seriously replied. "This world doesn't always make sense."
As the creator of this world, Nol was slightly irritated, but he quickly adjusted his mood. "Since you seem so knowledgeable about all of this, why not explain it all at once? In exchange, I'll try to help you—if you need my assistance."
The candle remained silent, staring fixedly at Nol. For some reason, Nol felt sadness in that single eye.
"I do know some truths, but only a fraction. Regrettably, I can't reveal them. If I spoke them out loud, you'd instantly attract the attention of 'the gods'."
"As for help… your continued pursuit of the truth is already aiding me."
"Are these 'gods' some kind of evolved version of Demons?" Nol couldn't help but wonder, rubbing his temples. "What about your own story?"
"Sorry, I still can't tell," the candle replied dejectedly. "But I can assure you that I'm not someone important."
Had the candle still retained its arrogant demeanor, Nol might've argued with it. But its tone was almost sincere now, and Nol didn't want to push it further. "Can you give us some hints, like you did in the dungeon?"
The black candle squinted and pondered for a long time. As Teest began to play with a ball of yarn impatiently, Kando finally spoke again—
"The 'system' is the absolute law of this world. Even the 'gods' have to obey it," it said slowly.
"You just said Nol doesn't conform to these laws," Teest quickly pointed out.
"This gentleman is special. I believe he understands his uniqueness," the candle murmured. "It's normal that you don't know. That's how it is when marital relations aren't good. Trying to charm someone face-to-face and failing to entice them is quite pitiful."
Teest's smile remained unchanged. "Most people call that respecting someone's privacy."
"You failed in your charm. Completely useless."
"How unfortunate. That's one of our main goals."
"You failed in your charm. Completely useless."
Maintaining his smile, Teest turned and poured a jug of water onto the candle.
"Ahhhhhh—! You ruthless bastard!!!" The black candle screamed.
Does this thing get uncomfortable if it's not causing trouble every three minutes? Nol took a deep breath, hoping Aunt Sophie wouldn't hear.
Still, at this point, he was certain that the candle… didn't seem to harbor ill intentions, probably.
Judging by Kando's tone, it didn't hold any reverence or affection for the so-called "gods". Of course, Kando had its own motives, but Nol had a cold confidence—if it dared to harm them, it would be no match for him.
Realizing this, Nol almost laughed. Everyone who came to him had a motive. Such a life was refreshing but also annoying.
Fortunately, at least he didn't need to be wary of Teest. In this environment full of hidden currents and mysteries, Nol suddenly appreciated how reassuring it was to have "a teammate who couldn't harm him".
Was Teest accompanying him because he felt the same way?
Nol looked at Teest, directly meeting his shimmering golden eyes.
…Damn, it's that unannounced charm!
...
The next morning, Aunt Sophie looked at the two with a particularly meaningful gaze.
Teest smiled unaffectedly. Meanwhile, Nol walked a bit unsteadily, his posture unusually stiff, with faint bruises on his wrist.
Nol recognized the teasing gaze of Aunt Sophie, but he pretended not to see it. The truth about "Last night, Teest practiced charm magic with me on the second floor the whole night. In order to break free from the control as soon as possible, I used various self-harming methods, including, but not limited to, bumping into objects. In the end, I didn't even have the energy to heal myself" was complicated. If he explained, it would sound ridiculous. Let her misunderstand. It wasn't like it would hurt him physically.
However, at the breakfast table, just as Nol reached out with his fork to the fragrantly seasoned special roast meat, Aunt Sophie pulled the plate away. She placed a bowl of oatmeal with milk in front of him and added two puddings. The plate full of roasted meat was pushed to Teest.
"Have something light, young man," Aunt Sophie kindly suggested.
Damn, I really lost out on the meat!
Nol gritted his teeth in frustration, watching Teest stuff a big piece of roasted meat into his mouth with satisfaction, even giving him a smug look.
"We didn't really…" Nol muttered, staring at the meat. He had been completely drained last night, both mentally and physically. The plate of fragrant meat seemed to glow like it was holy.
"I know, I know. It's okay. I'll make it again in a few days. You'll definitely get to eat."
Aunt Sophie sighed. "This guy paid us well, and you don't need to worry about the damage in the room. But I have to say, being young is one thing, but moderation is also necessary…"
Nol covered his face in anguish.
...
Four hours later, Teest was dragged by Nol to the business street of Grape Collar.
Compared to Whitebird City, Nol didn't react much to the scenery of Grape Collar. It was too bustling, resembling a touristy old town in the western world. The shop facades were delicately designed, with various magical items shining brilliantly, adding music and lights to the streets, making it less of an "otherworldly" feel.
The entry into the city went smoothly.
Aunt Sophie provided them with fake identities. Teest retained his black braided hair look and even pretended to wear gold-rimmed round glasses.
Nol didn't bother changing his appearance and just put on a cloak, making him look rather gloomy.
His appetite was anything but gloomy. Nol walked to a street-side roasted meat stall, buying the largest serving—
The meat here was wrapped in large green leaves, cut into bite-sized pieces, and heavily seasoned. One of the spices smelled like cumin, reminding Nol of the roasted skewers from City A.
"Sss, it's really fragrant," the candle remarked from within the fabric. "Grape Collar's spices have always been famous. I'd love to have a bite…"
[Is there any good loot this time? Like the "Ruthless Tyranny" title from the previous Night of the Hunt—forgot to mention, thank you for that little surprise. I really like its effect.]
Teest ignored the candle, smiling as he watched Nol munch on the meat.
Nol shrugged indifferently.
The title "Ruthless Tyranny" permanently boosted attack but limited team member count.
Given Teest couldn't team up with others anyway, the debuff of this title was roughly equivalent to the "halved attributes" of Nol's staff—for them, it was almost negligible.
Indeed, there was an upgraded version of this title. However, this task was in the standard map, and Teest probably wouldn't get the chance to "massacre NPCs".
[The jewelry set is enough for you. Kando said your charm is stronger than the average succubus… If it's right, you can exploit the jewelry's power beyond its level.]
As Nol savored the juicy, spicy roast meat, his thoughts seemed a bit sluggish.
[Imagine, you can erase your presence all day without using a skill. How terrifying is that?]
[It's more like, "How wonderful is that."] Teest tried to steal a piece of Nol's meat with his fork. [Well, I hope the "A Midsummer Night's Dream" style looks good.]
'You're underestimating our design team's capabilities,' Nol thought, stuffing the last piece of meat into his mouth before Teest's fork could reach it.
"Let's go," Nol said heartlessly, looking at Teest's disappointed face.
After a hearty meal, it was time to find some Players to witness the miracle.
Grape Collar was the capital of the great nation of Shidina, one of the top cities on the Tahe Continent. With members of the Homeward Saints nearby, Nol wasn't worried about finding targets.
However, after only a few steps, Nol's attention was captured by a storefront—
It was a bakery that the production team had originally set as a "century-old shop". It had survived until today, with almost four hundred years of history.
The store was almost identical to its original concept, but the sign now bore the emblem of the Alva Merchant Group. Seeing the familiar sight, Nol felt an urge—he hadn't yet tried the food from the shop he'd designed in this world.
"Do you want to buy something to eat?" Teest found that he couldn't pull Nol along, so he also looked at the bakery named "Good Blessings".
"Let's go in and take a look. Just a few minutes." Nol gazed at the storefront with a hint of longing.
Teest: "Okay, I'll wait for you outside."
This surprised Nol a bit. However, the Mad Monk always had more experience. Teest probably thought that two people would attract more attention than one. Nol gave him a thumbs-up and entered the store on his own.
Upon entering, Nol felt as if he'd stepped into a sweet and warm cloud. The store was filled with the aroma of butter, honey, and fresh bread, creating an intoxicating sense of happiness. The interior was mainly decorated in a lively red. The store was crowded, and the staff were busy like bees.
In the center display window of the shop, there was a sign written in shimmering ink—
[◆New Arrival This Season◆ Kurt's creation, peach teacup cakes from the distant snowy mountains! Limited time offer: 2 for 1 silver hook!]
Nol snapped out of his reverie upon seeing this and quickly adjusted his hood. Teest was right. You never know when you might run into someone you know.
But he still wanted to eat… After a moment of contemplation, Nol lowered his head and bought two peach cakes.
As he exited, Teest leaned against a streetlight, looking towards the end of the street. Hearing the door chime, he slightly turned his head, just in time to see Nol coming out with the cakes.
Nol then realized why the Mad Monk was so elusive. Now, Teest was dressed in a robe, his black hair braided and draped over one shoulder, and he wore round glasses with a delicate gold chain. Even after spending so much time with Teest, Nol took a few seconds to recognize him.
"Did you buy it?" Teest asked.
"Mm, here's one for you." Nol casually handed over one of the cakes.
The cake was delicate and beautiful. Soft cake topped with fresh white cream and enticing pale pink peach flesh peeking through. The sweet, with a hint of refreshing aroma, surely tasted great.
The Mad Monk rarely ate ready-made products, and Nol figured Teest probably hadn't had a cake in a while, especially since he knew Teest enjoyed honey cakes and presumably didn't dislike sweets.
But Teest didn't take it.
He looked at the cake, then at Nol expressionlessly. With his new appearance, he seemed momentarily unfamiliar.
"It's made by Mr. Kurt. I remember you like peaches," Nol said, pushing the cake forward again. "Did you forget your wolf-tooth pendant? Hmm, habits are hard to change…"
Nol wasn't holding it very securely. As he pushed it forward, Teest still didn't take it, and the cake wobbled, falling to the ground.
The clean cream hit the dirt, and an awkward silence enveloped the two.
Before Nol could think of a way to break the silence, a burly man rushed towards the bakery, stepping right on the fallen cake. He moved so swiftly, and the cream was so slippery, that he lost his balance, crashing into the bakery's glass window and sending blood gushing everywhere.
Nol's heart raced, and he quickly moved to help the man. However, before he could reach him, the man grabbed Nol's arm and pushed it into the shattered glass.
Only then did Nol notice the cleaver the man clutched in his right hand.
"Fuck! What trash did you throw? You ruined my chance to make a fortune. All ruined! It's all your fault!" The man yelled, reeking of alcohol.
His bloodshot eyes glared at Nol, and he raised his knife to strike. Things had been going too well recently. Was fate trying to give him a bout of bad luck? Instinctively, Nol reached for his staff to block the knife.
Just then, there was a surge of magical energy nearby. In a flash, the cleaver in the man's hand disappeared.
The man's momentum carried him forward, and Nol took a punch to the chest… Fortunately, it wasn't that strong, and he only lost 1 HP. However, his cake rolled into the glass shards, now inedible.
Without paying attention to the dazed, burly man, Nol turned to where the magical energy had emanated.
"Bold of you to cause trouble on this street," a chilling voice remarked.
It came from a young man dressed in gray with a discreet appearance. With black hair and eyes and rogue-like accessories adorning him, he stood next to the Priestess Player from yesterday—though she had changed her outfit to look more like an ordinary citizen.
It seemed luck was on Nol's side after all.
"It's you!" "It's you!" Both Nol and the Priestess exclaimed almost simultaneously.
"Ah, you're quite unlucky," the Priestess said with her signature gentle smile, rushing over. She stepped on the back of the burly man, helping Nol up from the shards of glass.
Unseen by others, a glow emitted from her palm, and the scrapes on Nol's body began healing quickly. The burly man, pinned down by the young Priestess, was unable to move an inch.
"My name is Anakin." She extended her hand to Nol. "It seems we have a bit of fate. Would you like to have a meal together? Of course, bring your brother with you."
"You're a Saint." Nol didn't take her hand, striving to sound shaken.
"I sneaked out today to visit my cousin. Just treat me as a commoner," Priestess Anakin laughed. "I'll let you in on a secret. I actually quite dislike the Temple's tedious rules."
"…I understand. Thank you for your grace," Nol said, waiting for her to get friendlier.
Having said that, he instinctively looked at Teest—Teest was still standing next to the shattered cake, with a rare dazed expression. He was staring straight at Nol, as if they were complete strangers.
Teest's condition today was… strange.
Normally, Teest would have instantly subdued the strong man. But just now, the legendary Mad Monk was just like an ordinary person, just standing there in a daze.
The moment the cake hit the ground, Nol admitted he was somewhat upset. But seeing Teest in this state, all he felt was concern.
"Wait for me for a moment, Miss Annakin," he said to the Priestess. He dusted himself off in front of everyone, and walked back into the shop.
Minutes later, Nol walked out with four peach cakes. This time he had them specially wrapped, and the shop gave him a small wicker basket.
Anakin: "..." This NPC has a unique character. Does he just want to eat cake?
She blankly stepped on the burly man on the ground, who let out a painful cry. The Rogue with her glanced at Anakin, then at Nol, looking increasingly perplexed.
Nol ignored the psychological activities of the two Players. He carried the cake and strode to Teest.
"Do you want some?" He held up the basket, his question clear and serious. "If you don't want any, just say so—if you don't eat, I'll eat two myself. They're not that big."
Teest stared at him intently. His lips moved slightly, and the dazed look on his face faded a bit.
"Can I have a taste?" He gazed at Nol. "Can you give me a bite? It might be… inconvenient for me to take it myself. Just one bite is enough."
Nol swallowed the question he was about to ask, picked up a cake, and held it to Teest's lips. Teest took a nip of the cream, still gazing intently at Nol.
"It tastes good," he said with a sigh, gradually revealing a smile, though this time it seemed a bit forced, almost like a rigid mask.
Teest hesitated for a few seconds and then gently took the cake. "Aren't you angry?"
"No," Nol said decisively.
"Don't you care?" Teest asked lightly.
"I care a lot," Nol whispered, "but if you want to talk, then talk. If not, let it be… We still have plenty of time to get along."
This time, Nol really didn't want to ask. Teest was different from when he joked about "wanting to know the truth about the world". This time, his hands, which were skilled at dissecting monsters, were trembling slightly.
Whatever caused Teest to freeze up, it wasn't good news.
Teest held the cake with both hands, gazing at Nol for a long time.
"Thank you," he said.
The next moment, the serious image of Teest vanished like an illusion. The Mad Monk returned to his usual demeanor, seeming in control of everything. He quickly finished the cake, licking the cream from the corner of his mouth.
"Let's go and trick those Players."
The author has something to say:
"The Vulnerable Mad Monk"
Nol: Thanks, I was frightened _(:з」∠)