Chapter 197: Don't Be Shy (55 Bonus 33)

【"Herbert, did you actually understand what I was saying!?"】

Nie Nasha felt her ally had completely failed to grasp her meaning.

I told you to treat this power with caution and care… not to cautiously go try it out!

"Alright, alright, say no more."

Herbert rolled his eyes and said, exasperated:

"What's there to say? I'm not a child—how could I possibly not know the drawbacks of this power?"

【"But…"】

"Put plainly, you're just worried I'll lose myself while gaining power."

Herbert walked through the monastery, explaining things to Nie Nasha as he went, nodding in greeting to the others he passed on the way.

Just as he had expected, his three-day disappearance hadn't drawn anyone's attention.

Most of the cultivators didn't know Herbert had already returned; even those who did simply assumed he had been too exhausted out in the outside world and had been resting in his room ever since getting back to the monastery.

No one knew he had spent three full days in the Third Precept Prison—even if they did, they wouldn't care.

After all, it was perfectly reasonable for a Warden to live inside his own prison.

Herbert did not go to the Knights' garrison.

Though he craved power, he had no intention of "accidentally" killing some good brother of the Knights—that would be far too absurd.

After thinking it over, Herbert changed course and headed for the kitchen.

And throughout this process, he was still arguing with Nie Nasha:

"I understand your concern. The conquest power of the War Angel is indeed a very dangerous force—as long as you kill an enemy, you can strengthen yourself… I admit that will change how I view my enemies."

Once he understood what this power represented, Herbert had already equated his enemies with experience packs in his mind.

And there was no way to undo it.

If killing equals reward, then this kind of positive feedback would very easily breed a bloodthirsty monster.

That was certain.

"You're worried that getting power too easily will make me treat other people's lives lightly, turn me into a wanton murderer… sigh."

At this point, Herbert let out a somewhat helpless sigh, then sighed again with a headache: "Wait, are you my mother?"

Why are you suddenly being so overbearing?

【"Hmm?"】

Though Nie Nasha was still sulking at Herbert, feeling he hadn't taken her well-meaning advice to heart,

upon hearing those words, she still couldn't help but chime in:

【"You want me to be your mother? If you really insist, then I…"】

She truly didn't want to answer, didn't want to deal with this guy… but his posture was just too perfectly set up.

It was simply impossible to refuse.

After she answered, Herbert reflexively said: "Of course not!"

【"Hehe, don't be shy! If you really want to act cute, I'm not opposed to listening."】

"Shut up and let me finish!"

After the habitual joke, the tense atmosphere between the two gradually returned to normal.

Herbert said softly: "Nie Nasha, the fact that you worry about me makes me very happy."

"Because it proves you don't just see me as an ally, but also as… a friend."

At the very beginning, Herbert hadn't expected the two of them to develop this kind of relationship.

Back then, Nie Nasha was, to him, nothing more than a threatening evil god—a dangerous being who coveted his body.

But now, she had become the person he trusted most in this world… bar none.

He trusted Valentina, but there were things he simply couldn't reveal to her—it would only get her hurt.

At present, in this world, the only person Herbert could speak to without any reservations was Nie Nasha.

They were allies, but also more than just allies.

"But at the same time, I also hope you can trust me a little more."

"Trust me a bit more!"

There was a note of helplessness in Herbert's voice as he gave a wry smile:

"If I really were just an eighteen-year-old boy, then I might truly lose myself in the process of gaining this power."

He walked slowly through the monastery's ancient corridors, murmuring softly: "But I'm not."

"I'm not alone."

The youth spoke softly to the existence hidden in his shadow, concealed in the depths of his soul.

"Compared to those poor wretches who lost themselves after gaining power, I possess an advantage they don't."

The god was silent.

At this moment, she too realized what the youth was about to say next.

"I have you."

"You'll always stay by my side, won't you?"

The youth spoke the words in his heart without any evasion or concealment, expressing his feelings with complete directness.

"At any time, if I'm ever lost or confused, you can help me then."

"Soothe me, scold me, teach me… only you can do these things, and I only need you to do them."

"Is that alright?"

【"…"】

Feeling Nie Nasha's unusual silence, Herbert's serious expression shifted, and he suddenly burst out laughing, teasing:

"Hehe, why aren't you talking? You're not shy, are you?"

The divine spirit remained silent, which only made the youth's smile grow brighter.

In the end, Herbert squatted down, poked his own shadow with his finger, and said playfully: "Aiya, I'm not even embarrassed saying it out loud, what are you shy about?"

【"……Shut up."】

After tossing out that one line, the Jester God fell completely silent, no longer responding to anything he said.

"Haha, don't be shy."

Before Nie Nasha completely ignored him, while Herbert was poking the shadow, She also launched a small counterattack.

The power of the Devil's Tongue wasn't enough to take effect on a deity, and no formal pact had been established between the two.

But the deity had Her own little method.

A small tendril of shadow coiled around Herbert's pinky, swaying gently, successfully freezing the playful grin on Herbert's face.

【"We have made a new pact."】

"……Mm."

After the new pact was made, the Jester God went completely dark and offline, showing no further reaction at all.

After trying for a long time with no response, Herbert gave up on pestering and finally arrived at his destination for this trip.

The monastery's kitchen.

"Hello, could you get me a live grass carp?"

The nun in charge of cooking, upon hearing this question, was first stunned, then stared at Herbert with some suspicion.

"Grass carp? And it has to be alive?"

Hm?

Ah.

Oh!!!

Ahem, ahem, ahem……

Seeing her doubtful gaze, Herbert broke out in cold sweat on his forehead, coughed twice, and said awkwardly:

"Uh… um, as long as it's a living creature will do, cough! Grass carp isn't required either!"

Damn it.

Although Grass Carp Bro has already departed, the legend he left behind still lives on within the monastery…

Today really was rough, only ten thousand characters.

The day before yesterday I only slept five hours, then spent the whole day deleting and revising, writing fourteen thousand characters.

After overusing my brain, it was even harder to fall asleep, the whole person lay awake in pain.

As a result, halfway through the night lying in bed I went to revise earlier chapters, adding over a thousand more characters, staying awake until past four.

After getting up today I just kept feeling unwell, especially after eating I was dizzy for a long time…

I absolutely must go to bed early today, otherwise my body really can't take it anymore.

Not updating twelve thousand, I really am sorry to everyone, I will definitely update on time tomorrow.

(Speaking to the end, I suddenly noticed this way of putting it seemed a bit strange, as if ten thousand characters were a small amount…)

Additionally, the owed updates have now reached 210 updates… a mere 420,000 characters!



(End of this chapter)