Chapter 231: That Person (4K)

"That human youth—he is the most arrogant human I have ever seen!"

In the underground chamber of the Ice Snow Goddess Church, the proud snow-elf bishop gave a snort of displeasure, gently bit her pearly teeth, and grumbled resentfully.

"Please believe me, I am not slandering him."

"Many compatriots of the Church were bewitched by his appearance, thinking he truly was a devout and noble holy knight."

Those naive believers had all been bewitched by Herbert, only feeling that he was a courteous noble knight.

That was not the truth!

"But I am different—I can sense his true thoughts!"

Perhaps because her close friend was by her side, or perhaps because the girl before her made Layla feel her heart relax, she poured out all the words she had kept hidden in her heart for a long time.

"He does indeed possess a handsome face no less striking than an elf's, and his body radiates a holy light… but those are merely illusions, masks that conceal the truth!"

"Arrogance."

"Beneath that hypocritical face lies absolute arrogance."

Since that day, Layla had been able to recall, from time to time, the various details of her conversation with Herbert, constantly reviewing how she had responded.

"He appeared to be seeking cooperation with us, but in truth, from the very start he was preparing to intimidate me through that saint, wanting to embarrass me!"

"If he had stated his identity from the beginning and told me what that saint intended, how could I possibly have refused?"

"There is only one explanation for him acting that way! He did it on purpose!"

Right.

All of that had been calculated in advance.

He had been trying to set traps for me the whole time.

Every step was meant to lure me into his snare.

A terrifying human!

A man of deep scheming.

He made me lose face before the Goddess, and almost cost me Her favor!

The God-blessed Unier, upon hearing these words, blinked her eyes and asked curiously: "So what you mean is, you dislike him very much? You think he is an untrustworthy human? A being of base character?"

Hmm?

Layla, immersed in her vexation, suddenly came back to herself, blinked rapidly, and said hesitantly: "Uh! No, I don't think that at all."

"Oh?"

Unier blinked, suddenly growing interested, and asked: "Didn't you just say you disliked him?"

"……"

Layla's lips moved slightly; she hesitated for a few breaths, then said slowly:

"I truly do not like the way he treats me, and his character is indeed arrogant, but it doesn't quite reach the point of being base—that… really doesn't reach that point."

"Judging by temperament, he is proud; I even suspect he looks down on us…"

Thinking of the teasing gaze with which the other had looked at her, she could not help biting her lip and said resentfully:

"Although this makes me very uncomfortable, to be honest, he does indeed have the right to be arrogant."

She paused, then softly explained to the two puzzled listeners:

"What you don't know is that, during this period, the cultivators Herbert brought have been helping the common folk of the Frost Crystal Kingdom."

"Herbert personally paid to purchase large quantities of supplies such as food and clothing, had the cultivators distribute them free of charge to those in need, and helped treat their illnesses."

Even for this snow elf, who had never lacked money, it was clear that this must be no small expense.

"Moreover, Herbert did not do this to gain those people's faith, nor did he even require their gratitude."

"Wait a moment—not seeking any return from others? How can you be so certain?"

Joanna spoke up to ask; she felt that Layla seemed to have been coaxed by Herbert—why was she constantly explaining things on his behalf?

"Because…"

Layla gave a bitter smile and said helplessly: "Those who received help do not even know Herbert's name; they only know that the Mist Monastery is helping them."

The clothing, food, housing, and travel of over a thousand people—such expenses could easily drag a minor noble house to ruin.

Yet after paying such a great price, he asked for nothing in return.

There were not even many people who knew he had done such good deeds.

"His reason for doing all that, I… I cannot figure it out."

Layla truly found it very hard to understand Herbert's purpose in acting that way.

Simply wanting to do some good deeds, not seeking any other return at all?

Really only wanting to let them survive?

Or is this a way for a holy knight to fulfill the oath he has sworn?

But one must be clear on this—even holy knights of noble character rarely behave in such a way.

Most of them have sworn a vow of poverty, keeping for themselves nothing beyond what is strictly necessary, and giving everything else away to the poor.

This also makes it very hard for them to accumulate great wealth and perform such acts.

Unless some exceptionally powerful holy knight, after slaying monsters, converts them into a large sum of wealth and distributes it all at once to the people in need.

But such cases are truly far too rare.

Noble holy knights as wealthy as Herbert and willing to share their wealth are truly far too few.

After listening for quite a while, Unier asked: "So what you mean is, he is actually kind-hearted?"

"Kind-hearted? Uh! Perhaps… that doesn't quite apply either…"

Layla shook her head vigorously, far more certain than before.

He, kind-hearted?

What kind of joke is this!

"Herbert is the mastermind behind this kingdom's upheaval. He orchestrated everything and drew us into the game."

"He is the greatest executioner."

"In this upheaval, at least a thousand people died because of him, and among the dead were even the royal heir and his blood relatives."

The nobles did not know how this chaos began, but every drop of blood debt was tallied against Herbert.

But he did not care at all, and did not feel that he would thereby fall into evil and corruption.

He even uttered a taunt that left one speechless yet feeling it held a certain logic:

"If what I did were wrong, then I would have already fallen by now.

"But since I have not fallen, that proves they are the ones who are fallen."

If I am guilty, then the gods will naturally punish me.

Since the gods have not punished me, then I shall go punish them.

Joanna was also somewhat speechless after hearing it, and asked in a low voice: "... Would a disciplinary Holy Knight act this way?"

Leila shook her head, unable to give a precise answer.

She truly was not all that familiar with Herbert, and could not be certain.

"This man gives me a very complicated feeling... When facing the strong, he does not hide his arrogance at all, but when dealing with the weak, he shows his compassion without the slightest stint."

"Is this hypocrisy? But it doesn't quite seem like it either. I can't say which face is his true one."

"But I have to say, such a being truly can unconsciously draw others' gaze."

After hesitating, Leila unconsciously raised her hand to touch her own ear, murmuring uncertainly:

"If I had to force out a conclusion... Although he is arrogant and complicated, he is indeed the most charming human I have ever seen."

Charming.

Compared to his other traits, the final impression left was actually such an evaluation.

Listening to her friend's words, Joanna slightly raised her brow, half suspecting Leila had been bewitched into a stirring of spring feelings...

And Yuniel's reaction was much calmer.

"I see, I roughly understand now."

The girl who looked innocent and carefree oh-ed, and smiled at the two of them.

"Alright, you two keep chatting. I'll go find some other sisters to play with."

She clapped her hands, waved at Leila, and turned to leave.

And after watching Yuniel leave with her hands behind her back, skipping and hopping, Leila came to herself, gently shook her head, and let out a long breath.

"Phew..."

Seeing her like this, Joanna grew worried at this point and hurriedly asked: "Leila, are you alright? You..."

"Wait a moment."

Leila raised her hand to signal no one should speak yet, silently tilted her head to listen, and only relaxed after waiting quite a while.

She turned her head, looked at Joanna, and asked with a very solemn expression: "Joanna, before we talk about everything, answer one question for me first."

"And you must swear to me in your mother's name that you will not deceive me! I also swear to you in my disciple's name that I will not deceive you!"

The atmosphere in the secret chamber suddenly turned cold.

"..."

Joanna looked at Leila silently for a moment, then said slowly: "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Leila nodded slowly and said firmly: "I'm sure."

"Heh."

Joanna rolled her eyes and said helplessly: "No, how many more times are you going to tell this cold joke? Is it fun?"

"Isn't my mother your only disciple?"

The half-elf priest felt this elf was probably getting senile, starting to tell this tasteless cold joke again.

Heh, boring!

"Hahaha!"

Leila could no longer hold her expression, laughed triumphantly, and snorted: "Who told you to look so serious? I'm not as nervous as you."

"Hmph!"

After teasing her friend of different generations into laughter, Leila's expression sobered slightly, and she lowered her voice to ask: "If I'm not mistaken, it should be... that my lord, right?"

Joanna was silent for a moment, glanced sideways at the direction where the girl Yuniel had disappeared, and slowly nodded.

"... Mm."

The two fell silent at the same time.

Although there was no evidence.

But regarding the true identity of the god-blessed Yuniel, the same candidate surfaced in both their minds.

Someone qualified to be the god-blessed of the Xuenushen Sect.

Someone capable of slipping into the sect without a sound.

That great being.

That's right.

It is...

The loving mother who doted on her own goddess to the extreme, wishing she could protect her forever — the Goddess of Winter.

The two of them did not speak directly, but communicated in the most covert way.

'That my lord has incarnated again?'

"Mm, most likely it's Her."

Although there has never been any formal record of it, the matter of "the Winter Goddess often incarnating as the Goddess of Ice and Snow's Divine Favored One" has long been passed down by word of mouth among the upper echelons of the Goddess Church for many years.

Those bishops who were qualified to know this secret all, without prior arrangement, maintained their silence.

That couldn't even be called turning a blind eye — that was clamping their eyes shut tight.

We don't know anything!

We didn't see anything!

You, my lord, may play however you wish!

Yes, for all these many years.

The Winter Goddess's incarnation has become the Divine Favored One at least ten times, and not a single person has ever told the Goddess of Ice and Snow the truth.

And the Goddess of Ice and Snow has never disappointed them either, never once discovering the truth of the matter…

Still happily believing that she had discovered those exceptionally talented geniuses, and had easily and effortlessly succeeded in taking them into her fold.

"…Sigh."

Layla and Joanna exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes, and silently clinked their glasses and drank.

If judged according to doctrine, these people of theirs had committed the sin of deceiving a deity, and none of them could escape punishment.

But then again… sometimes, things aren't viewed quite that way.

The Winter Goddess — they simply couldn't afford to offend Her.

Besides, their own goddess was already the Winter Goddess's most beloved pet… and they, the servants of that pet, were servants of servants — what right would they have to resist?

"That lord really does love to spoil the Goddess, doesn't She!"

"Who says otherwise…"

The relationships between deities generally aren't that close; many deities gather together only for profit, and their feelings for one another are quite thin.

But the Winter Goddess's feelings toward the Goddess of Ice and Snow can no longer even be called fondness — it is utterly, completely excessive spoiling.

Layla sighed for a while, then stopped dwelling on it.

No matter what the Winter Goddess wanted to do, they had no right to interfere — let Her be.

Compared to the goddess, she was more worried about Joanna, whom she had watched grow up, and asked with concern: "What mission are you actually carrying out? That lord actually has to incarnate and go in person… is it very dangerous?"

Joanna nodded, then slowly shook her head, and sighed:

"I don't know the specifics of the mission either. I only know we're to go to the outer perimeter of the Misty Mountains, and once we arrive, someone will come to meet us."

"The Misty Mountains, huh…"

Layla sighed and shook her head, a hint of fear flashing through her eyes, and said softly:

"Joanna, you must be sure to stay safe. If there's any danger at all, you must protect Yunier's safety!"

"Mm, I understand what you mean."

Joanna shook her head slightly: "But I'm the leader. The safety of all my other sisters is also my mission. I won't abandon them."

Protect Yunier? That was clearly telling her to go cozy up to the Winter Goddess for shelter.

"Tch, that stubborn streak of yours is really just like your mother's."

Layla helplessly held her forehead, hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Joanna, if you really encounter danger you can't handle when the time comes… you can seek help from the Misty Monastery. They won't just stand by and watch someone die."

Seeing her like this — flustered because she cared too much — Joanna found it amusing and said: "But I'm not familiar with them. I'm afraid the Church's name alone won't be enough."

"…Then go find Herbert and have him step in."

The corner of Layla's mouth twitched, and she said without much confidence: "If he asks, just say I sent you. Whatever happens, just have him come find me directly afterward."

Joanna blinked, and stared at Layla with a strange expression for quite a while.

Stare—

That naked gaze made even Layla a little uncomfortable, and she said, averting her eyes: "…What? Why that look?"

"No, it's nothing."

Joanna finally withdrew her gaze, sighed and shook her head, and lamented:

"I'm just curious — just how much charm does this man have, that even you've taken a liking to him."

Layla:???

"What nonsense are you spouting!?"

Joanna paid no heed to Layla's broken, low roar, and continued sighing:

"A man like this — I really do want to meet him in person! I wonder if I'll get the chance to run into him this time."

……

Erda Territory.

Herbert looked at the empty territory, pursed his lips, and muttered to himself: "Such a big place but there's nothing in it — looks a bit empty."

"How about borrowing a bit from someone else?"

(End of chapter)