[Let's go. You can't save him,] Teest said.
The delightful fairy game had come to an end. He knew that Piel couldn't escape. It was a foregone conclusion.
In this city, people die unnaturally every day. In front of Death, this little boy had no special place—they shouldn't bother about it.
They specifically went back in time, looking for clues about the Eclipse Shield; not to play god.
[I guess you never thought of saving him. How do you know he 'can't be save'?] Nol asked.
'As sharp as ever,' Teest thought.
[Because I know he's dead,] he replied cruelly. [The kid was turned into a Supplement Demon. He died the day the church burned down. I remember those eyes.]
This time, his Lich husband was unusually steady. [So he will be taken to that Immortal Church.]
[Indeed.]
[That means we can sneak in with Piel.] Nol sat on the boy's shoulder, speaking calmly. [I happen to be curious about the 'Supplement Demon'. It won't hinder our main mission, will it?]
It seemed like it wouldn't hinder—if they were in their adult forms, it would have been more difficult. But now, the two of them could only eat two thick slices of ham in a day and easily pass through cage bars. Whether they go in with Piel or mingle with the ordinary Eternalist in the church, strictly speaking, there wasn't much difference.
[So you want to meddle in this,] Teest concluded.
Nol: [Don't you find this so-called 'destiny' annoying? I'm a bit displeased and want to mess with it.]
'Forget it,' Teest thought.
No one could fool time. It wasn't a rule set by the gods, but the most basic law of nature. The Mad Monk wanted to know the truth about the world, limited only to the part about "God". He didn't want to become the first physicist in Tahe.
Nol looked at him. […And with the Supplement Demon, I can see your past self sooner.]
[Alright, we'll follow this boy inside,] Teest affirmed seriously.
The drama he carefully prepared would always begin. It didn't matter which entrance they took.
Teest pulled at Piel's hair tips, looking at the tiny Nol on the other shoulder.
Nol adjusted his mini hood, seemingly lost in thought. He looked unusually calm without the succubi around him, like a blade tempered over and over again.
This was close to what Teest had guessed. Nol had grown fast through trials and tribulations. Maybe soon he wouldn't need a mad partner to lean on emotionally.
'That won't do,' he thought with a smile.
...
Clang!
The iron door, inscribed with runes, closed heavily in front of Piel. The little boy huddled in the corner, still holding a small bite of precious butter in his mouth to calm his nerves.
His body had been cleaned multiple times with a cleansing spell, leaving him in a white robe that barely covered him. He had been blindfolded and brought here, only to find himself in a tiny cell of just four square meters when he opened his eyes.
The cell was about three meters high, with one wall made entirely of massive stones so closely packed that not even an ant could crawl through. At the top of the wall floated a palm-sized ball of light—the only source of illumination. It was so dim that normal people could hardly see anything.
Fortunately, among the three people in the cell, two had dark vision and one had the Eye of Truth, so the darkness wasn't much of an obstacle—
The air was thick with the scent of blood. In the darkness, there were occasional strange moans that didn't sound human and the soft noises of flesh rubbing against stone.
Nearby, they could see cages not far from them. The creatures in the cages twisted and writhed, making sticky sounds, their shadows bearing no resemblance to humans. Their strange noises echoed in the vast darkness, making it feel as if they were at the bottom of the deep sea, each breath carrying a damp, oppressive weight.
The straw beneath Piel was surprisingly fresh and dry, but the floor underneath emitted a rotten, fishy smell, as if it had once held decaying bodies.
Piel was so frightened that he hardly dared to breathe, fearing that the noise would attract the monsters' attention.
Thankfully, he had heeded Mr. Fairy's advice.
Not long ago, when he realized he was surrounded by several adults, Piel panicked. He had intended to kick and bite in despair but was stopped by Nol's voice.
"You might not be able to escape today," the beautiful black-haired fairy said. "I suggest you conserve your energy. We'll think of something else."
Now Piel understood that those people were indeed the cultists of the Eternal Church. In this world where magic existed, those devils wouldn't hesitate to break his limbs to make him obedient. If he were thrown into a place like this with broken limbs, he would surely die of fright.
For now, he was alright—it was just a bit dark around him. He had something to eat, he wasn't injured, and he had the mysterious fairy friends by his side.
He would get through this, Piel thought.
On his shoulder, Nol was still observing the surroundings. Nol now understood Teest's warning. This Immortal Church was truly hard to infiltrate, even stricter than airport security.
The Eternalists discarded all of Piel's belongings and repeatedly scanned him for magical fluctuations, ensuring he hadn't hidden any magical items. But once they were sure Piel had no trace of magic on him, they didn't check his mouth or body thoroughly, so Piel managed to take a big bite of butter.
"They like it when you hide something on you." As Piel carefully tasted the butter, Teest casually remarked. "Food is fine. It'll disappear on its own. But if it's your treasure, they relish seeing your reaction when you lose it—living here, you'll lose everything eventually."
Piel paused, almost biting his tongue.
Unable to hold back, Nol climbed onto Teest's shoulder and pulled on his face. "Thanks for the encouragement. It's really helpful."
"I'm just stating facts," Teest replied nonchalantly, letting Nol fiddle with him. "Can we act now?"
"Where are you going?" Before Nol could answer, Piel interjected.
In the darkness, the boy quickly swallowed his butter, shivering uncontrollably. "Don't leave me alone!"
"It's 1:30 in the afternoon. They won't come until around seven in the evening," Teest said indifferently, "At worst, we can return early—"
"Then let's go together." Nol gently proposed, extending a hand towards Piel.
Teest's lips drooped in annoyance. [Honey, we don't need a child in our family.]
[I want to know if "destiny" has any loopholes.] Nol shrugged. [Besides, as you said, the cultists won't come until around seven.]
Destiny menacingly warned him that Piel had to be taken by the Eternal Church. But what about after that? Did Piel necessarily have to stay there and suffer? Were there any loopholes… Could fate be overturned?
Nol was curious about so many things. Before resisting, one must know both oneself and one's adversary, right?
Even if they failed… Even if they failed, he wanted to make the boy's remaining time a bit better.
Across from him, after pondering for a few seconds, Teest finally nodded in agreement.
Unlocking doors, eliminating traces, hiding their tracks… Nol was surprised to find that he had become incredibly adept at these stealthy actions. Piel was covered in an invisibility spell, walking barefoot in the darkness.
Now they could clearly see the layout of the place.
It was an incredibly vast space, uncertain if it was above or below ground. Countless cages were stacked like dense pillars, reaching from floor to ceiling, leaving only a narrow passage a bit more than a meter wide.
Most cages contained dark figures.
Dozens of pupils inside the cages emitted a faint glow, with slimy tentacles hanging through the gaps. Pale, baby-like hands with arms that were twisted in multiple places reached out.
The Supplement Demons of the Eternal Church.
These creatures were much quieter than Nol had imagined, resembling neglected animals in a poorly managed zoo. But with their terrifying, stiff limbs, they also resembled plants.
Countless deformed eyes watched them silently, showing almost no emotion.
The stench of rotting flesh, the foul odor of excrement, the strange fishy scent of mucus… all these odors mixed together, making Piel almost vomit.
"Will I turn into one of these?"
He looked at the similar cages, vaguely guessing something, and started shivering again. "Will I… become such a monster…"
"I doubt it." Teest breezily diverted the topic. "Keep moving. I still remember where the exit is."
Nol looked at the cage closest to them. In the corner of the cage lay a deformed girl. Her body was entirely twisted. Her back faced upwards, and her limbs bent in four different directions, making her appear like a comical four-legged table, or perhaps a spider with only four legs.
Her misshapen head emerged from the center of her spine, and her mismatched eyes gazed out sadly. Those eyes had only pure black pupils, with no whites to be seen.
"Uh… ah…" She let out a deep and hoarse moan.
A few meters out, there were monsters. A dozen meters out, more monsters. An unknown number of meters out, there were mountains of monsters.
This damn place was like a maze made of flesh and iron cages. Even with the company of two "fairies", Little Piel's breathing grew more rapid, and his steps quickened—
Suddenly, Piel stopped in his tracks.
Nol also saw what made him stop… No, to be precise, it was someone.
A boy, who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen. Amidst the overwhelming, gloomy flesh around him, the boy seemed almost like a dream.
The boy's skin was smooth and clean, without any dirt or scars. His snow-white hair was neatly arranged, hanging down to his collarbone. His eyes were closed, and he wore a gentle smile. His features were delicate, and his slender frame made it hard to determine his gender at first glance.
The inside of the cage was spotless, with a heavy white stone placed in the center. The boy wore a white robe, sat with his legs together, and his hands folded atop his thighs. He sat still, in a remarkably well-behaved posture.
He resembled a marble statue displayed in the cage, entirely out of place in this eerie and sticky atmosphere.
Upon a clear view, Nol instinctively held his breath.
…Teest.
The Mad Monk was always flamboyant in his insanity. When Nol saw this place, he imagined countless bloody possibilities, but he never imagined such a bizarre situation.
The face still had traces of youth, and the body hadn't yet fully grown. But Nol knew it was Teest. It was undoubtedly Teest. Time seemed to rewind twelve years. Teest's appearance remained striking, and the distortions he brought were equally… memorable.
In such a terrifying place, no one would be naive enough to simply admire. The young Teest looked all the more perfect, making the atmosphere feel even more eerie and out of place.
"Who's there?" The young Teest asked softly, opening his eyes to reveal a pair of brilliant golden irises. He stared directly in the direction of the trio, but his pupils lacked focus.
[See, this isn't a place suitable for adolescents to grow up. Those wicked cultists didn't care about nutritious lunches.] The adult Teest moved next to Nol, looking critically at his younger self, speaking with a hint of regret. [I was so weak back then, haa.]
Nol stared at the boy in the cage, unsure of what to say.
"Who's there? Hello?" The darkness remained silent. The young Teest asked again, his tone devoid of any tension or fear.
His clear voice echoed between the cages, and the deformity slowly faded away.
After a moment of hesitation, Piel chose to cover his mouth, deliberately breathing softly. Nol noticed the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. It was said that children were sensitive, and it seemed this child wasn't fooled by the young Teest's appearance.
"…Let's not reply for now," Nol whispered hoarsely.
Little Piel nodded and carefully moved towards the exit.
"So cold-hearted." The young Teest seemed to hear them and turned his head towards their direction, his voice incredibly soft. "Don't you want to be friends with me?"
"Let's be friends." He pleaded with those golden eyes, almost coyly.
Little Piel shivered, walking even faster. Nol glanced over his shoulder to see the young Teest once again close his eyes, resuming his original posture.
A smile still graced the boy's face.
...
Grape Collar's Immortal Church, topmost reception room.
From here, one could see the entire city. Ironically, this city remained oblivious to the towering church that stood among them—the Eternal Church, like the shadow of everything, was shielded by countless dark magic and illusions. Day after day, the people of Grape Collar walked right past it, completely unaware of the grand dark cathedral beside them.
"It's like this, meeting you is not easy." Crimson withdrew his gaze from the window, his tone absentminded. "I need to see the records of your Chosen Ones, Mr. Bonds."
Priest Bonds of Grape Collar's Immortal Church was said to be very powerful, but he eventually died in the cathedral fire.
In a few days, this guy would be dead—a fact that Crimson occasionally had similar thoughts when selecting targets, which always brought him a pleasing sense of superiority.
Opposite him sat Priest Bonds, a somber-faced middle-aged man. Bonds's long black hair was braided into several plaits, hanging down his back, emitting the scent of myrrh and resin. His skin had a strange bluish-purple tint, and beneath his thick black eyebrows, his black eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
"May everything be eternal." Bonds made a circle on his chest, his voice deep and resonant. "I've seen all the credentials you've provided. I provisionally accept your identity. You can stay in this cathedral."
"I'll review the records and leave." Crimson slowed down his speech and made an exaggerated walking motion. "Since you recognize my identity, what are you waiting for?"
Bonds glared at Crimson with his piercing black eyes.
"Personally, I don't approve of your reason."
His voice was especially hoarse.
"You came back from the future to check the records of the Chosen Ones? This means either this record was lost by some idiot, or this cathedral was utterly destroyed… or you're lying and you want something else."
From Mr. Bonds' tone, he seemed not to consider the first two possibilities.
…How frustrating!
"Alright, since you put it that way." Crimson sat down, throwing his leg onto the table. "I can't go into details, but in general… some idiot messed up with the selection of the Chosen One, so I had to verify it in this era."
"Polygraphs, contracts, scanning my brain, whatever. I don't want to clean up your mess anymore. Who knew just looking at a few lines could be so troublesome."
"The prophecies of the Chosen Ones contain their fates. They are divine oracles, not just 'a few lines'." Bonds glared at him for a while. "We have many people to meet soon. The High Priest isn't in the cathedral. If you truly serve the great Anstis, you should know the rules."
"Yeah, yeah, the big boss isn't around, so the little guys need to be extra cautious. Alright, get to the point. What do I need to do to see it?"
Bonds looked down.
"That boy was brought here by my mentor. He has all the qualifications of a Chosen One, and his training has been going very smoothly. He is undoubtedly blessed by God and is destined to become what God expects." His tone was solemn, with a hint of fanaticism. "If you want to prove we're wrong, it's simple… Just kill him. Before the prophecy is fulfilled, the Chosen Ones will not die."
'Oh, that's easy,' Crimson thought.
According to the records of the Eternal Church, all the Supplement Demons under the cathedral were wiped out. There were strict records for these demons, and people had verified the number of bodies.
If there was an imposter, his days would be numbered anyway. Killing him prematurely wouldn't interfere with fate. If he was the real deal—ding ding ding—mission accomplished early! At least he would know what the Chosen One looked like.
But when Crimson actually stood before his target, he was rendered completely silent.
"Hello, sir."
On a white stone, a beautiful young boy greeted with a smile. "Nice to meet you, sir."
The young boy's posture was even more obedient than the most obedient student. In this darkness, he seemed to glow slightly.
However, Crimson stood still, drenched in sweat.
Not long ago, Crimson had recklessly attempted to attack an "unassailable" target. If then, his horror was a "gaze from fate", at this very moment, the instant he harbored an intent to kill, fate pierced his heart, and the world almost crushed him.
Crimson instinctively took a half-step back.
…What exactly was he facing?
The author has something to say:
Here he is!!! The past Teest makes his appearance~
Nol: ? [Lost in thought.jpg]
Teest: Ah, I was so skinny back then…