Chapter 19

In the distant past, the Siren Queen accidentally saved a mortal prince.

The two endured many trials together, eventually breaking through forbidden barriers to unite as one.

They fell in love.

But their love was not accepted by others.

Mortals saw the prince as a filthy corrupter; exiled from his kingdom, he was forced to set sail upon the sea to find his beloved.

Meanwhile, the Siren people viewed the Queen's actions as betrayal of their kind, attacking the prince's ship and seeking to drown him in the ocean.

In his hour of peril, to save her beloved, the Siren Queen made a vow:

【Let my blessing brush your face like the sea wind, grant you fearless courage, to stand with the sea, to dance with the storm.】

【Let the stars guide your voyage, let the moonlight guard your soul, the tides will surely carry you back to my side.】

She softly chanted beneath the ocean abyss, filled with sorrow and hope.

【May you never be harmed by the ocean.】

【May you never lose yourself.】

【May you never lose your way.】

【May you…】

【Always love me.】

…

Splash.

Herbert snapped open his eyes, staring blankly ahead.

Just now, he seemed to have heard an ancient tale, witnessing a love denied by the world.

Later, he felt as if he had fallen into a warm embrace, slowly dragged into the unfathomable depths of the abyss by slick hands.

That sweet song echoed endlessly in his ears, urging him to commit, as if determined to keep him there forever.

After that, he woke up.

"…"

Herbert raised a hand to touch his lips, feeling a lingering warmth there.

What was that?

Was I forcibly kissed again in my dream?

Ugh…

Why did I say "again"?

When was the last time… ugh!

Herbert gagged slightly; though he couldn't recall the exact scene, he decided—for the sake of his mental health—not to think any further.

"Niesha, what did I just see?"

Was that ancient memory fabricated? What connection does it have with Fu Leimei's rainbow scales?

【"Huh? You actually woke up on your own will?"】

Nie Nasha exclaimed in surprise, clicking her tongue: 【"I was planning to wait until you sank before waking you—your will is stronger than I imagined!"】

【"Don't worry, it's not anything harmful—it's just the 'little help' I told you about!"】

【"A forbidden spell, epic curse—the Siren Queen's Devotion—accessible only to the Siren Royal Family."】

Miss Xie Shen grinned, explaining the curse's effect to her bewildered ally:

【"From now on, you will not drown in water, be mentally ensnared, or lose your way. You will become a favorite of water elements; all ocean creatures will naturally favor you."】

【"The only small issue is, you will gradually resemble a Siren—webbing will grow between your fingers, your legs will slowly transform into a fish tail…"】

【"But thanks to my pure blessing and protection, you are completely immune to the curse's negative effects! Rest easy—you won't turn into a Siren, your appearance won't change at all~"】

Miss Xie Shen had intended to tease, expecting alarm on her ally's face, followed by relief—but it never came.

Worse still, Herbert questioned: "Wait, that doesn't make sense."

【"Hm?"】

"Isn't this a blessing? Why call it a curse?"

She loved me so much she wanted me to become a merfolk—where's the curse in that?

Nie Nasha: Hm? You're acting strange.

Miss Xie Shen hesitated, then chose to sidestep the issue, saying instead: 【"My ally, don't you understand?"】

【"Love is the most twisted curse in this world."】

Nie Nasha laughed lightly, her voice laced with mockery:

【"Because of love, gods consorted with mortals, becoming the spark for divine wars."】

【"Because of love, monsters and humans clashed, plundering and slaughtering each other."】

【"Because of love, kin turned blades on kin, shedding blood for another's heart."】

【"All calamities, all suffering in this world, originate from love."】

She said:

【"Love is a curse."】

As Nie Nasha spoke these decadent words, Herbert did not interrupt; he listened quietly, one eyebrow raised.

When she finished, he fell silent for a long while, then shook his head: "Your words may not be entirely wrong, but I still think your view is too extreme."

"Emotions are complex—you can't blame everything on love."

If all sins could be attributed to love,

then this world would be far too frivolous.

In this world, there are surely many actions that do not stem from love, yet rise above it.

【"Heh, perhaps."】

The matter was dropped there; both silently agreed not to argue over this viewpoint.

Though their time together had been brief, both understood they could not easily change each other's thoughts.

No need to say more.

【"By the way, with this talent, you might try learning water-elemental spells—you'd gain considerable returns without much effort."】

Nie Nasha spoke, also feeling a pang of emotion.

Even He had not anticipated that Herbert would immediately obtain a scale from a legendary sea beast of Wang Zu bloodline.

If this talent were in a mage, it would mean the world had produced a future Grand Water Mage.

But unfortunately, this one is a Holy Knight—maximally, he can learn only a few water-affinity combat techniques.

What a waste of talent!

Herbert, however, was not particularly bothered by this.

More talents never weigh you down—who would ever complain about having too many?

Whether the talent can be used in the future doesn't matter; first, you must unlock it.

What if it can?

"Wait!"

As he was lost in thought, Herbert suddenly remembered something, his pupils contracting sharply.

"If this proves collecting monster materials truly works, then that means…"

Herbert's expression shifted slightly; he recalled the vow he had forcibly imposed on Valentina, his lips twitching.

"I really have to eat her hair?!!?"

Seriously.

Isn't that a bit too perverted?

The next day.

When Herbert walked into the prison with a heavy heart, the Dragon Young Lady, utterly unaware, remained lost in a pleasant dream.

"…"

Herbert stared at the sleeping Valentina, licked his slightly dry lips, and slowly knelt on one knee before the bars.

He drew a deep breath, his gaze utterly resolute, and slowly extended his sinful little hand—

placing a chicken leg before her nose, swaying it left and right.

"Suck suck suck, suck suck suck suck…"

At the sound, Valentina, who had been sound asleep a moment before, snapped her eyes open.

"Mmm… Mmm!!?"

As everyone knows, Tuesday's follow-reads are vital for recommendations! Please, everyone, follow this new book! The current performance is honestly terrible—we need your help—

Save the child! I love you!



(End of Chapter)