Anakin led them to an unremarkable small restaurant.
Hidden on the corner of a street, the restaurant wasn't particularly outstanding in appearance. Its storefront didn't boast flashy magical artifacts, and the daily menu was written in plain ink on parchment, loosely attached to the wall. Nol remembered this corner. In the design, this place was supposed to be a small greenhouse.
"It's a family restaurant. I come here often. It's a bit small, but the food is really good," Anakin said.
It wasn't mealtime, so there weren't many customers. She chose the table furthest inside.
The owner quickly served the food. Nol realized why she liked this place—the owner seemed to be an immigrant, with dishes mainly featuring stir-fries and stews that were uncommon in Shidina, catering more to the tastes of people from Country C.
Nol deeply understood her sentiment.
"Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Anakin, a Priestess. This young guy is my cousin, Solo, who often roams the streets, up to no good. Both of us have no surnames—we're genuine commoners."
The Priestess still wore a gentle smile. In the dim light, her smile seemed a tad deceitful, as if luring children.
Anakin had transformed her Player's earring into a rose-shaped gold earring. Solo, on the other hand, chose to blend in. Not only did he modify his Player's earring, but he also adorned both ears with a plethora of earrings and studs, fully embracing the punk aesthetic.
Their individual names seemed harmless, but together they appeared suspicious. Nol wanted to ask if Solo had a friend named Chewbacca*, but he held back.
*Clarity: Referencing Anakin Solo from Star Wars.
"My name is Landus. You've met my younger brother Ross."
At this moment, Teest seemed quite normal. With folded hands, he sounded gentle and refined. "Thank you both for today. If it weren't for you, my brother would have been seriously injured… It's my fault. I should have looked after him better."
Rogue Solo glanced at Teest's face, then at Nol's, and finally at Anakin. His face clearly read, "I understand you now," and his expression gradually warmed.
"Oh, it was nothing! That drunkard must have been an outsider, causing a commotion on the commercial street like that. Many were watching. Even if I didn't step in, you'd be fine."
Solo's tone was enthusiastic. "This street belongs to the 'General'. That guy even wanted to grab assets from the Alva Merchant Group. He's clearly courting death."
The young Rogue's eyes sparkled, almost as if urging, "Aren't you curious? Ask me!" It was clear they had also just arrived in Grape Collar.
"Um, we haven't been back here for many years. Everyone knows the Alva Merchant Group, but who is this 'General'?" Teest asked smoothly.
"The biggest gang leader in town—the big boss of the underworld. Rumor has it he has a good relationship with the Alva Merchant Group."
The Rogue put his hands behind his head and said in a relaxed tone, "If you want to stay out of trouble, better not misbehave here—well, don't do anything the 'General' doesn't approve of."
"So you're one of the 'General's' men?" Teest inquired.
"No, no, no. I belong to another organization. The 'General' collaborates with us, which is why I can make a living here," Rogue Solo said with a sheepish grin.
Nol somewhat grasped the current situation.
The Temple of Life was willing to accept Players. However, for the sake of its image, it wouldn't just accept anyone. Jobs like black mages, thieves, and barbarian warriors needed to level up too. If they acted under the Temple's "Saints" banner, it would be tricky for the temple.
And not all Players trusted the Temple. Those not wanting to join the Eternal Church would ideally operate in the gray zone. This way, their fellow Players in the Temple could still look out for them.
"Which organization do you belong to?" Nol feigned interest. "My teacher has talked about famous organizations from various countries. Maybe I've heard of it."
"'Hermitage'. It's relatively new. You probably haven't heard of it." Solo rubbed his nose. "But our friends… Well, acquaintances, are spread far and wide. Hey, mentioning this name might save you some trouble in the future."
Nol mentally noted the "Homeward Saints Guild" that was attached to the Temple of Life and the more independent "Hermitage". Now he knew of two formal Player guilds.
"Thank you for the offer." Nol nodded.
Solo looked at Nol and Teest as if he'd found an oasis in a desert. Nol, feeling a bit creeped out, tried to control his facial expressions and cleared his throat.
"I've been thinking about how to repay the two of you," Nol began slowly, his eyes focused on a small stain on the table. "My teacher once told me about a hidden treasure. Unfortunately, before we could embark on an adventure, my teacher passed away… Now, I want to find that treasure."
"My brother and I aren't powerful enough. If the two of you could join us, we'd be willing to share the spoils."
Solo's eyes lit up. Anakin's eyes also flashed with momentary delight, though she was more reserved in her reaction. "Are you sure this treasure exists?"
"Yes. My teacher said it's a collection of beautiful jewels. Among them, a set named 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is the most precious, possessing remarkable magical powers," Nol said, dangling the bait.
Squeak—!
Anakin moved abruptly, causing her chair to scrape the floor.
"Sorry, sorry," she hurriedly said, realizing her gaffe. "We've been looking for this ancient jewelry set. I got a bit excited."
"I mean, we won't ask you to give it to us… If you're willing to part with a few pieces, we'd be very grateful. The Saints will offer equal monetary compensation in return. We can make a formal agreement," she quickly added, worried about potential misunderstandings.
Sure enough, this is a normal Player. Nol sighed deep down. If it were the people from the Eternal Church, they would have backstabbed after using them and would go to any lengths to achieve their ends.
"It's said that the jewelry set has four pieces. We only want the pair of earrings from it."
Teest naturally took over the topic. "You can have the crown and necklace, and the found gems will be equally divided. There's no need for extra money. It's a great honor for us if the two of you would join us."
"We have only one requirement." After a pause of two seconds, Teest continued with a smile, "Considering the nature of this trip, we hope you understand that we don't want too many companions."
Anakin's face turned sad, looking almost like she was about to cry. Her expression gave off a feeling of—perhaps this metaphor wasn't quite right—relief after being constipated for several days.
"Of course, we understand. Goddess above, thank you for your generous offerings." She quickly reverted to her saintly demeanor as she spoke in a dreamy voice.
Rogue Solo stuffed a piece of fried eggplant into his mouth and tried hard not to roll his eyes.
"What are you skilled at?" he asked Teest after swallowing the eggplant. "I know your brother is a mage… My cousin and I aren't very good at holding off enemies. We might be short-handed."
'Watching Players try to fool NPCs is quite fun,' Nol thought, holding back a smile. Indeed, mages were damage dealers as well as thieves, and then there was a healer. From the Players' perspective, they still needed a tank in their team.
Coincidentally, Teest was a tank—a Fallen Knight was still a knight. Just today, he dressed in robes and glasses, making him look like a ranged class.
"I know a bit of swordsmanship," Teest said, taking a sip of hot grape tea and adjusting his glasses.
...
"…According to later investigations, a swordsman and a mage appeared in the Battle of Whitebird City."
Inside the grand cathedral of the Temple of Life, Knight Eugune, captain of the Fifth Regiment, reported with his head bowed.
"It's confirmed that they clashed with the Eternal Demons, Crimson and Jack, and severely wounded the former Lord of Whitebird City, Jonah Swain, before our arrival. Their identity, affiliation, and relationship with the 'Mad Monk' are unknown."
"The two didn't show hostility towards the Temple. We seek guidance from the Goddess, Your Eminence."
"I've heard about the tragedy of Whitebird City. You've done well, Knight Eugene." An elderly voice answered from above.
"The Holy Land hasn't received a new oracle. Those two might not be our adversaries… With the followers of the evil god rampant everywhere, your vigilance is commendable. If you can, consider investigating on your own."
"I always follow God's guidance."
Eugene currently wasn't wearing his gauntlets. He interlaced his ten fingers, forming a shape reminiscent of an ear of wheat. He then lowered his head and gently kissed the emerald ring on his thumb—from beneath the gem, the emblem of the Goddess of Life emitted a faint glow.
"Another thing, the 'Night of the Hunt' dungeon near Grape Collar has been completely destroyed. The temple in Grape Collar has taken in many people trapped inside. Unlike previous cases, some recall their experiences inside but not how they left. At the same time, 'Hermitage' reported that Demon Jack has vanished from their 'list', and Demon Crimson was later spotted near the dungeon."
"Do you suspect the unknown swordsman and mage?"
"The Eternal Church's Demons hate being at a disadvantage. 'Night of the Hunt' is located on the trade route between Whitebird City and Grape Collar. It might not be a coincidence," Eugene said, lowering his head even more.
"If there's a related oracle, the Fifth Regiment will take priority."
"Yes," Eugene closed his eyes and responded solemnly.
"Remember, currently prioritize the needs of the Homeward Saints. God has made it clear: They are our best hope against the darkness," The elderly Archbishop said. "Lately, monsters fluent in all languages have appeared, perhaps a sign of the Demon King's power… The Eternal Church is but a temporary adversary. Defeating the Demon King is our long-standing goal."
"These monsters' souls also hail from another world. If discovered, handle them discreetly, ensuring the Saints don't get unnecessary thoughts."
"God's will is my will," Eugene replied.
"If you're interested in the destruction of 'Night of the Hunt', the Fifth Regiment can assist the temple in Grape Collar—the Saints there have been quite active lately," the Archbishop suggested.
Eugene stood up and bowed deeply.
He raised his head, looking past the elderly man seated in a high position, towards the stained-glass windows of the temple.
Countless colors converged to form an image of the Goddess of Life, Tilia. Sunlight filtered through, scattering a mosaic of light across the floor. Eugene's green eyes softened slightly, his gaze gentle and tender.
...
"What is this?" Teest asked with a smile.
When he asked this question, he gave a sidelong glance at Nol. The latter's gaze was like a plastic bag in a wild wind, drifting especially randomly.
The Players were very enthusiastic. After their agreement, Anakin brought them outside the city the next day, heading towards the edge of the Black Forest in a carriage.
On the fast-moving carriage, Anakin carefully set up a wooden table and started placing props on it.
…Very strange props.
Teest looked at the succubus tail in his hand, which wriggled like a snake, for a few seconds before asking the aforementioned question.
'It's just a cosmetic item from the game shop,' Nol thought as he looked at the roof of the carriage.
Teest, whose game functions were largely sealed off as "God's Forsaken", might not have noticed it before. After all, cosmetics were just that—flashy and expensive, which were basically junk for the Mad Monk.
There was also a matching pair of very stereotypical devil horns, as well as an even more stereotypical… um, outfit. Thankfully, their game had gone through review, so the level of exposure was relatively restrained, and it wasn't made in a tight-fitting style.
"Everyone knows our destination is the succubus lair," Anakin said seriously. "You both have distinctive looks. This attire can help lower the hostility of the succubi. Consider these two sets as gifts. No need for thanks."
Nol tried to suppress the quaking of his pupils.
…What's there to be so polite about?! It wasn't like they needed to use this in order to access the dungeon!
Beside him, Teest kept flipping and examining that succubus tail, his eyebrows raising higher and higher.
The corner of Anakin's mouth also trembled. She tried to sound serious, making the situation less awkward. "The two of you offered clues about the 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. It's the least we could do in return. Actually, my companions searched the edge of the Black Forest for a long time but never found the succubus lair mentioned in the texts."
Nol blinked, then it clicked.
The "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was a unique jewelry set. The game developers were wary about letting the AI take liberties with the sensitive nature of the succubi, so they set a specific quest flow.
Players might have found records to trigger the quest and successfully accept it. But with two hundred years having passed, physical records inevitably got lost or damaged, and it was hard to match the changing landscapes, so their struggle to find it made sense.
"Don't worry. My teacher taught me how to enter their lair." Nol decided to give the two Players some insider tips.
In the setting of "Tahe", succubi would nest near the edges of cities in forests. They avoid direct contact with humanoid beings, instead giving them indescribable dreams to draw life force from.
In other words, in the world of Tahe, succubi were the rulers of dreams.
But their powers had significant limitations. To successfully target someone, the succubus must have seen the person directly. During dream manipulation, they couldn't be too far from their target. Also, they couldn't share a target. They each needed their own.
Given these limitations, it was no wonder they liked to nest near forests frequented by humans. If Players were looking for a common succubus, indiscriminate searching would've found them by now.
But this was about the "A Midsummer Night's Dream" quest.
After explaining the nature of the succubi, Nol could only help Players skip the tedious parts of the quest chain.
"… My teacher said the succubus borrowed the power of that jewelry to build their nest on the boundary between dreams and reality. By normal means, you can't get in. Wait until nightfall, and I'll teach you," Nol said earnestly.
"Wow, that's amazing," exclaimed Rogue Solo. "Sir, you must be a monster expert."
"I am indeed very interested in monsters," Nol modestly replied, "But we don't need to dress like succubi. We could…"
"I said it's okay. Don't be polite. It's the safest way." Anakin smiled gently.
Nol: "..." He shouldn't have released this outfit as the first batch!
As they spoke, the driverless carriage arrived at the border of the Black Forest.
This forest was much more expansive than the one near Whitebird City. If the Whitebird City's forest was like a normal forest park, the Black Forest would be comparable to the Amazon Rainforest, being the second-largest forest in Tahe.
The largest forest was in the north, in the territory of Shiva, the realm of non-human entities. While the Shiva Forest was vast, it had been thoroughly explored by generations of inhabitants and was now under the control of intelligent life forms.
The Black Forest, on the other hand, was different. It was filled with all sorts of thick fog, marshes, and magical creatures, exuding danger and mystery.
They left the Grape Collar in the early morning, and now the western sky was already painted with hues of twilight. Anakin didn't dare let the carriage enter the Black Forest, stopping just at its edge.
Nol dumbfoundedly looked at the succubus tail in his hand. He glanced around to see Solo's sour expression, as if he had eaten something bitter. Only Anakin and Teest seemed calm.
Suddenly, Nol had an idea and exclaimed, "Wait, we can't all dress like this."
"Why?" Anakin paused, hand still on the horn.
"If we all dress as succubi, the four of us could be perceived as a new 'tribe'. Our actions might be seen as invasive, making the succubi more wary," Nol explained truthfully.
"That's great!" Solo quickly put away the outfit. "Sister, if you want to wear it, go ahead. I'm a bit shy."
"Mingling with humans would be worse, right?" Anakin whispered, stepping on Solo's foot.
"No, succubi don't inherently despise humans. They have a strong need for social interaction, often blending with other humanoid species."
If they didn't understand human needs, how could they craft efficient dreams? Social skills were essential for every succubus.
"Then…" Anakin hesitated with the costume in her hand.
Everyone wearing it wouldn't be a problem. But if even one person refrained, it could make those who wear it feel… awkward.
"I'll wear it," Teest volunteered. "Miss Anakin and your brother need not force themselves. My brother is more introverted. He probably can't handle it. By his logic, I'm enough on my own."
Anakin's gaze traveled across their faces. "But you guys look…"
Teest smiled faintly.
Removing his gold-rimmed glasses and loosening his tied-back black hair, the strands turned snow-white, and his blue eyes shone a brilliant gold. After reverting to his original appearance, Teest unbuttoned his collar.
"Now we don't look like brothers." Teest grinned.
Nol sensed a familiar yet subtle wave—Teest was covertly using "Dream Manipulation" on the Players.
"Then we'll rely on you," Anakin said, nodding as she decisively put away her costume.
"You're too kind."
Teest, playing with the long, slippery black tail, asked, "Now, can someone tell me how to wear this thing?"
The author has something to say:
Mad Monk, no scruples!
Nol:
Nol: It's just selling cosmetics. Everyone can understand, right?! This isn't a personal fetish. Just selling cosmetics…
————————————
By the way, I've corrected the previous description of the "Dream Manipulation" skill! It was previously written that it could only be used on NPCs. In fact, Teest had used it on Nol before, so the description was inaccurate (…
Also, the names of the two Players are references to Star Wars. Some readers might not be familiar with this. Just to clarify _(:з」∠)
Kinky Thoughts:
I wonder if Teest would have scruples if he was told in order to wear the tail, he has to shove it up his…
———
I have gone back to that chapter (21) and fixed it, but for those chasing the novel as it's being released, make note of it.
The change became: Dream Manipulation, an exclusive skill of the succubus, could only be used on intelligent humanoid beings.
As the chapters are being translated as they are released, changes made by the author will be fixed when the author points them out.