Anakin's palms were sweaty. She ignored Solo, who was trying to whisper to her, her eyes occasionally sweeping over the line that read "Player Privileges".
To sign or not to sign? …The punishment was too excessive. Honestly, she didn't want to sign, but did she have a choice?
There were two handsome NPCs in front of her, one of which had a gentle and shy expression but could directly "deprive Player Privileges"; the other one, with a smile more enchanting than a succubus, could bind them with golden thread and slice them into thin meats for dumplings. After such an ordeal, she would definitely have handsome-guy PTSD.
Stay calm and think carefully.
The requirements of the covenant and the quest's "one problem" were almost overlapping. If it was just assisting in saving the succubus tribe, it was beneficial for them.
Keeping the secret of the Mad Monk… seemed to be no problem either.
Most Players were staunch atheists, regardless of whether the local religion was disgraceful or not. Moreover, the Mad Monk hadn't killed any Players. Anakin's bottom line was somewhat flexible on this aspect.
What she cared more about was whether the phrase "we might become friends" was related to the "goodwill of a certain existence" in the quest reward?
Anakin would never have made such a ridiculous guess before, but the black-haired young man could even take away Players Privileges, so this was hard to say.
In any case, that guy wasn't someone they could afford to offend.
Anakin extended her hand. Magical power condensed at her fingertips, and she decisively signed her name. Seeing her do it, Solo also signed his name without hesitation.
"Thank you both for your cooperation. Let me reintroduce myself. You can call me Nol." Nol bowed slightly. "Next, please do us a small favor—please get the Investigation Knights to leave here as soon as possible. They don't need to withdraw too far. Just out of the Black Forest will do."
It seems that these two are still constrained by the Investigation Knights! Rogue Solo sighed in relief. However, Nol's next words shattered his illusion—
"This is also for their safety," Nol said. "I don't want to be enemies with the Temple of Life so soon."
Anakin, Solo: ".….."
Anakin: "I understand. Is there anything else we need to do?"
"Yes," Nol said. "Please witness till the end."
After dealing with the Players, Nol locked himself in the bedroom.
This time he didn't even ask the succubi for parchment but directly drew traces in the air with blue fire. Countless formulas and numbers floated gently, like decaying debris drifting deep underwater.
Nol sat at the bottom of this vortex, holding a staff burning with blue flame, as quiet as whale bones half-covered in mud.
Teest closed the door gently, leaving the focused Nol alone in the room. He quietly closed the door behind him, and the originally curled and shaking tail fell down.
Teest could feel Nol's anger.
This time his anger was like magma beneath a volcano—more restrained and more dangerous. And he himself was like a beautiful vase standing on the edge of a table, half hanging in the air. Just a gentle touch, and he could return to a safe area or fall and shatter.
It was hard to look away.
…Should he push him down or push him back?
The vase filled with blue flowers, shining beautifully, would probably make a pleasant sound when it shatters. The blooming flowers falling into the crimson liquid would began to wither and rot from that moment. The smooth curves would turn into sharp fragments, creating a fascinating contrast. Teest was quite tempted.
But if he did that, he would never see those flowers again. It was truly difficult.
In the deserted corridor, Teest leaned against the door, struggling seriously for a long time.
In the end, he opened the window opposite the door and jumped into the eternal and unchanging mist. He didn't turn back to open that door.
…..
In a certain cave, Ma Zhigang was curled up asleep on a hard stone slab.
He was accustomed to sleeping in this position. In his early years, moving from relative to relative, he could only sleep wherever space was temporarily made for him. From window sills without mattresses to creaky sofa beds, he knew well how to make himself comfortable.
He dreamed of a time not long ago—
Ma Zhigang sat in a spacious and grand office. Above his head hung calligraphy filled with flowing, elegant script. The furniture was custom-made from high-quality wood and painted with shiny lacquer. The water ornament on the desk had been specifically chosen by a feng shui master, and the money tree by the window was particularly vibrant.
He wasn't yet sixty, in the prime of life, and he especially loved the cautious looks the younger people gave him.
The phone on the desk vibrated twice. It was a WeChat message from his daughter.
His daughter, Ma Moli, attended the best undergraduate programs domestically and then pursued her master's degree at a renowned university abroad. Active and filial, she made the Ma family very proud.
However, there was one bad thing—since she got married, she had become more and more sensitive.
[Moli: Dad, I checked his cellphone yesterday, and he was making dirty jokes with his female colleagues.]
Ma Zhigang frowned and sent a voice message. "Did he sleep with her?"
His daughter instantly replied.
[Moli: No, but this isn't the first or second time. Dad, I just got pregnant!]
"If he didn't sleep with her, then just control him better," Ma Zhigang said.
[Moli: I kind of want a divorce.]
Ma Zhigang felt a headache coming on. "Why are you so impulsive? He hasn't slept with anyone and hasn't solicited whores. Why are you making a fuss?"
Not long ago, the department Ma Moli worked in was dissolved by the company. Around the same time, she found out she was pregnant and had to stay at home.
Since then, his daughter became more and more neurotic, complaining either about "the in-laws thinking she is wasting money by hiring a nanny", "her husband's relatives overstaying their welcome at home", or about "her husband talking too much with female colleagues", or "being upset because she can't find a job recently".
Ma Zhigang thought for a while and sent a few more voice messages.
"You're intelligent. You can make your marriage work. I don't believe my daughter, who's so highly educated, can't control her husband."
"If you want to work, wait until you have the child. With your qualifications, there should be no problem. If you can't make it, what about those who are less qualified? Are they begging for food with golden bowls*?"
*Metaphor referring to not utilizing one's own capabilities and instead begging for help from others. You have good objective conditions but are unable to solve your life problems despite that.
This time, Ma Moli took a long time before replying, "I know."
After that, Ma Moli really did complain less.
Sometimes, she would just ask if they could have a meal together. Sometimes Ma Zhigang would agree, but more often, he would refuse. His factory was extremely busy, and he wanted to earn money for a few more years.
His daughter would be fine. She was intelligent. Not to brag, but Ma Moli's living conditions were better than 90% of the girls in the country. Once she had her child, she wouldn't have so much idle time to worry about these trivial things.
Until one day, she sent another message.
[Moli: I checked his cellphone yesterday, and he's still chatting with his female colleague. His parents said it's my problem…]
Here we go again. Ma Zhigang replied routinely, "Did he sleep with her?"
Ma Moli's reply came late.
[Moli: How about having dinner together tomorrow? I want to talk to you.]
"I have a meeting tomorrow. If you have something to say, just say it," Ma Zhigang said. "If it's about those trivial things, talk to your peers."
It took a long time before Ma Moli responded.
[Moli: Dad, do you love me?]
Ma Zhigang paused for a moment. "What nonsense are you thinking about every day? You're a mother, don't you know? Who do you think I am working so hard for at this age?"
Ma Moli didn't send another reply.
That was the last thing she said in this world.
Ma Zhigang didn't understand. His daughter had a life of luxury; happier than any woman he had seen in his early years. Now she even had her own child. Wasn't it said that mothers are strong? Why did she give up?
His daughter was clearly cheerful and strong, just like him. And he had suffered much more than her. Why did she give up?
Ma Zhigang couldn't work anymore. He pondered this during the day, and at night, when he couldn't sleep, he continued to ponder. He hadn't shed a tear, but his hair visibly turned white quickly.
After the incident, his son-in-law moved out with the child. Ma Zhigang moved into his daughter's room, paranoid about every mark on the wall. He sat in the security booth of Joy Garden, staring at the spot where his daughter fell every day.
Over a year had passed, and he still couldn't understand why, and he didn't know who to ask.
…Until he came to this absurd world.
During his escape, Ma Zhigang accidentally discovered the succubus queen hidden deep in the forest.
She looked nothing like Ma Moli, except for those eyes. Those eyes were too similar. The last time he had a meal with his daughter, Ma Moli had the same eyes.
Those eyes were blank, seemingly looking at people but also elsewhere. The pupils moved like unlubricated gears, almost creaking.
So Ma Zhigang stopped. He really did want an answer, he thought. Maybe this girl knew something.
When he occasionally fell asleep, he still dreamt like this of the past. In his dream, he held his phone, and his daughter on the other side of the screen was waiting for his reply.
Dad, can we have dinner together tomorrow?
Dad, do you love me?
Dad…
He saw his little daughter running to him, holding her test paper, her face full of pride.
…Dad, I got a perfect score!
He smiled at her; a warm, broad smile.
When Ma Zhigang woke up, the smile on his face hadn't faded. He saw the silver hair tips and instantly sprung up, rolling and crawling.
"It seems you had a good dream," Teest said.
At his side, the current queen, Wilimina, was firmly bound in place by golden threads. She didn't struggle at all, like a breathing corpse. Her light golden hair was extremely dry, and her silver eyes were murky and lightless.
"I've always been curious about what 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' looks like. I must say, I really didn't expect this," Teest said pleasantly, his gaze sweeping over the Succubus Queen's head.
The so-called crown was nothing but a light red petal hidden among her hair. It appeared and disappeared among her hair, exuding a lively and playful vitality that was completely unobtrusive. The necklace was a pink line near the collarbone, looking like the imprint of a few small flowers, as if the wearer had just taken a nap in the flowers.
Two earrings turned into two small red moles on her snowy white skin, lightly dotting her earlobes, bright as two beads of blood.
If he hadn't known that the queen was wearing a full set of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", even Teest would find it hard to see that she was wearing jewelry. They blended seamlessly with her, hidden in breathtaking details, full of unique charm.
However, considering that the Succubus Queen was essentially a living skeleton, this charm was significantly discounted. Teest withdrew his gaze immediately upon touching her, showing obvious disinterest.
"How… How did you do it? Why are you alright?" Uncle Ma exclaimed in shock. "That set is cursed!"
"Cursed?" Teest asked curiously.
"The curse that makes everyone go crazy." Ma Zhigang looked up and down at Teest. "How come you have no reaction?"
"Don't you also have no reaction?" Teest shrugged.
"How could I not! I can't help but see her as my daughter. I can't leave her alone. According to her, I am already in the best situation," Uncle Ma muttered, "and you only glanced at her!"
"A bit of resistance, strict training, and a clear mind."
Teest casually played with the golden threads between his fingers. "I was also affected. She actually ranks second on my 'It Would Be a Pity If They Died' list."
Uncle Ma stared dumbfoundedly at Teest, but it was the corpse-like queen who took the initiative to speak.
"You're not a succubus of the Black Forest." Her voice was like shredded silk, soft and rough. "…Why are you looking for me?"
"Your brethren all want to take you back." Teest didn't answer her question but spoke his mind.
The current queen shuddered instantly, showing a fearful expression. She finally looked like a living being. "No, I'm not going back… I don't want to see them…"
Teest sighed. "That's what I was worried about. If you two run around at a critical moment, it would be troublesome."
The queen, with her lifeless eyes, stared at Teest, who squatted in front of her.
"Indeed, the so-called curse is 'being madly adored by everyone'," Teest said softly. "It's quite close to what I guessed… My poor husband is probably still wondering what went wrong."
His Mr. Lich knew all but was oblivious to the dark side of everything.
For succubi, a race even more dependent on social interactions than humans, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" could only be a curious toy and could never be worn for long.
The one who was madly adored by everyone was destined to be an illusion. Regardless of how perfect it seemed, an illusion was just an illusion. The one enveloped by the illusion and "being forgotten by everyone", were no different—even if a donkey wore "A Midsummer Night's Dream", it could receive undifferentiated love from everyone.
Everyone was looking at you, but no one saw you. Family, friends, lovers… all their faces turned into a bottomless well. Whether desperately asking for help, passionate confessions, or nonsensical screams, the well only echoed the same response.
From the moment she wore "A Midsummer Night's Dream", the Queen of the Succubi permanently exiled herself.
Enduring pain on one side to protect her tribe and suffering terrible loneliness within her tribe on the other. Wasn't this also a curse?
The queen slouched in the dim cave, her robe dirty and her tail lifeless in the sand. She neurotically scratched her neck, where the skin seemed to be broken repeatedly, and fresh, white flesh protruded beneath the layers of scabs.
"I won't go back. I won't go back." She murmured while scratching, her fingers twitching as if restraining the urge to rip off that necklace. "I won't go back. I can't stand their gazes…"
"Alright, alright, you won't go back."
Uncle Ma, bypassing Teest, approached the queen. Ma Zhigang cautiously retracted his limbs, letting the queen lean on his shoulder.
"If you don't want to go back, we won't go back," he said, like coaxing a child. "You've done enough for them. You've tried your best… Just live and sleep if you want!"
The queen's breathing became steadier. Her eyes widened, and tears slowly soaked Uncle Ma's overalls.
"You must be exhausted after all this time." Uncle Ma's voice softened. "It's okay, it's okay… My girl doesn't have to be afraid of anything…"
At the moment she heard the term "my girl", a hint of despair flashed in the queen's eyes. But she pressed it down and slowly closed her eyes.
"Please, don't take me back." She stuffed a bud of bewilderment grass into her mouth, murmuring towards Teest. "I will maintain the magic to the end. I will protect everyone… I've sworn… Let me be alone at the end…"
Teest stood up and looked down at the thin body at his feet. In this state, the queen indeed wouldn't live past two months. If she was forcibly taken back to her tribe by other succubi, whether she could last two weeks was even more uncertain.
The queen stretched her twig-like arm, reaching imploringly towards Teest's barefoot. The moment her fingers touched his skin, she abruptly opened her eyes wide, her face completely distorted by fear.
"You're not a succubus!"
She withdrew her hand as if she had touched a hot iron, hissing. "You-you clearly don't have succubus blood, yet you have the power of a succubus… You're an Eternalist! You're a Supplement Demon!"
The queen raised her head, trembling all over, her voice unusually sharp.
"This power… How many of my kind have you eaten? Monster! You disgusting monster…"
"How rude." Teest withdrew his bare foot. He bent down, his fingertip touching the queen's forehead.
In the blink of an eye, the queen was dragged into a dreamland, completely falling into a deep sleep. She slumped to the ground with only faint breaths remaining from her chest.
Uncle Ma hadn't been in this other world for long. His knowledge only extended to things like "the Demon King's minions" that he had encountered. He subconsciously hugged the queen, staring at Teest, puzzled and vigilant.
"Alright, I originally came here to do this. You both just stay here peacefully."
Teest patted the dust off his clothes and said in a relaxed tone, "I put her into a deep dream. People in this state can't be awakened carelessly. I advise you not to move her—well, if you don't care about her life or death, you can try."
"What if the Demon King's minions find us?" Uncle Ma shouted.
Teest seriously thought for a few seconds. "Consider yourself unlucky."
"You—"
"Don't worry. You won't have to wait too long." Teest smiled brilliantly. "Nol has said he will give a solution within two days. He always keeps his word. Promise me, can you be not so unlucky?"
Uncle Ma gritted his teeth.
Teest stretched a bit and turned to leave.
"Wait."
As Teest was about to leave the cave, Ma Zhigang tried to stop him. "You seem to be not surprised at all by her condition. Can you understand why she… doesn't want to live?"
Teest continued walking as if he hadn't heard.
"Please, tell me." Uncle Ma's voice became a bit hoarse. "I can't understand my daughter, and I can't understand her either. She's a queen. Her life is much better than others'."
"Just a lack of some care, how did it become like this? I can't understand. She said other succubi don't understand either…"
"Swear to cooperate with us." Teest finally stopped without turning back.
Ma Zhigang looked at the sleeping succubus queen and gave a wry smile. "I swear."
"Most people live to pursue an answer," Teest said. "What will happen tomorrow, who will meet, whether important people are doing well… or confused about something or want to find out the truth."
"You seem very persistent in figuring out why she doesn't want to live. Isn't this the answer you're pursuing, no?" There was a hint of amusement in Teest's voice. "Then imagine yourself after knowing the answer."
Knowing why his daughter ended her life? What about afterward?
His daughter was really gone. He certainly couldn't get custody of his grandchildren, his future life was destined to be alone, and he couldn't figure out what he wanted to do… He never thought about the future, and he didn't expect anything in the future.
Ma Zhigang stood still.
Teest continued timely, "Your daughter and the queen? I guess they either got the answers or didn't have the strength to ask anymore."
"You understand these things very well." After a long time, Uncle Ma said hoarsely.
His voice involuntarily softened. This young man could understand these things. He must have suffered a lot and felt empathetic. Perhaps his judgment of this person was somewhat rash. He—
"Of course I understand. To completely destroy a person, you have to know where a person's will to live is," Teest said casually. "I have been taught this many times."
Having said that, with a flash of his silver hair, he disappeared from Ma Zhigang's sight like a ghost.
...
Teest adjusted his expression for a moment before opening the door to the bedroom.
The time was almost right, so what surprise had his Mr. Lich prepared for him?
The moment he opened the door, a large wolf snout thrust out. Its cold nose forcefully rubbed against Teest's face, leaving his face covered in snout moisture.
Teest: "...…."
Teest: "Honey, didn't you say this thing couldn't come in?"
Behind the night-like black fur, Nol squeezed out. "My… cough, the magic just succeeded, but to bring in something bigger, we need your succubus trait to help…"
He was panting, also squeezed by the shadow wolf. That lava-like anger had vanished without a trace.
It seemed that Nol used a method similar to [Travel Through Dreams] to pull the shadow wolf in. Shadow Wolf Ben, indeed, could serve as a helping force. But to deal with so many Thousand-Hands Nightmares, the shadow wolf wasn't enough—even if it had mysteriously grown a lot bigger, it couldn't withstand the trampling of thousands of monsters.
"You need to summon something bigger." Teest wiped his face carefully and confirmed again.
"Yes, come with me quickly. The best time is approaching!" Nol grabbed Teest's wrist and ran with him towards the forest.
Teest, confused, pushed aside branches and followed Nol for a while. Around the two, a light purple fog rolled maliciously, and Teest faintly heard the sound of coins falling to the ground.
What's happening? Has Nol finally gone mad?
Nol stopped in a clearing, his face slightly excited.
He took out the letter opener and pierced his palm directly. The blood floated up, quickly forming one complicated magic circle after another. They extended from the ground towards the sky, forming a giant circle with a radius of six meters.
"Come." Nol grabbed Teest's hand, and the blood flowed down Teest's fingers. "Let's activate it together. I have calculated it. There's absolutely no problem."
Not knowing what could be summoned, Teest raised his eyebrows and extended his hand obediently. …Anyway, he had even seen the Dragon King Subelbot. Maybe Nol planned to summon a giant dragon!
Both of their palms pressed on the magic circle at the same time.
The blood circle lit up quickly, and numerous magic nodes shone brightly. The force of this magic was very gentle, unlike an attack circle or a summoning circle, Teest thought. It truly was an upgraded version of [Travel Through Dreams], a "door to the dream world".
The surrounding space twisted and deformed. Something was trying hard to squeeze in. Finally, accompanied by a terrifying sound of space tearing, the true form of the thing revealed—
It was a tower.
A huge black tower with black tentacles growing at its base, like a giant cone snail hermit crab.
The tentacles at the base of the tower seemed to have no perception and were forcibly squeezed into the "door" that Nol opened. The tower was square and straight, with a gravestone-like heaviness, as if a pillar supporting the sky was falling.
"Nol, you didn't…" Teest held his breath and murmured quietly.
"At this time, the stronghold the 'Lost Tower' just passed specific coordinates."
Below the black tower, Nol turned around smilingly and opened his arms to Teest. "You said, if the power disparity is big enough, those monsters can stomp the succubi to death just by stepping on them."
"It applies the other way around too, doesn't it…?"