Chapter 240: You Are All Very Important to Me (4k)

Euniel was very interested in Herbert.

She—or rather, the Winter Goddess Euphemy—quietly recalled every word of the previous conversation.

She couldn't help but smile.

"Hehe~ What a cute little thing."

At first, Euphemy had merely wanted to come in person, to observe the situation firsthand.

She was curious—just who was this creature that had tricked her most beloved little kitten?

Euphemy knew Hecathys's temperament.

Her own little kitten, though a bit foolish, was not stupid; she retained the instinctive sharpness of a beast and could not be easily deceived.

That meant—any being capable of deceiving Hecathys was a master of lies!

And as a mother who understood her child's feelings, Euphemy placed Hecathys's emotions first.

Their mother-daughter relationship had already grown delicate since the kitten entered her rebellious phase; she did not wish to become even less welcome.

So Euphemy chose to manifest herself in this abstract form.

She would incarnate, personally investigate, expose the schemer's plot, uncover the truth, and ultimately rescue her little kitten!

……That had been her original plan.

As the "favored mortal of the Ice and Snow Goddess," Euniel knew more than others.

She knew whom to aid, knew that Herbert had reached an agreement with the Ice and Snow Goddess.

She even knew the Ice and Snow Goddess intended to absorb Herbert as a new divine favored one!

Euniel's task included acting as Hecathys's eyes and ears, reporting all information about Herbert to Her, and also serving as a persuader to convince him to abandon darkness and embrace the light.

At this point, Herbert was, in Euphemy's mind, a pest who had bewitched her little kitten with underhanded methods.

And pests needed to be utterly eradicated.

But Euphemy was not an unreasonable deity; she would not strike immediately.

Thus, during her preliminary preparations, she listened to others' evaluations of Herbert.

From Laila, Euphemy gained a preliminary impression.

A mortal who was arrogant, yet not merely arrogant.

Excellent, yet flawed—not perfect.

Then Euphemy went to the slums, mingled among the Holy Knights, and overheard idle talk about Herbert.

In their mouths, Herbert became an entirely different figure.

A brave warrior, a just judge, a compassionate superior…

He never yielded before noble power, showed no mercy to evil, yet generously aided the weak.

To the Holy Knights, Herbert had become the very model of their order, the one they willingly followed.

Had it not been for nearly being discovered by the nun clutching the dangerous book, she would have changed her form again to ask them more carefully.

After that, Euphemy's impression of Herbert shifted once more.

From the initial "evil schemer who deceived Hecathys" to "a cautionary figure trying to lure away my child."

Still not good—he remained a deceiver of her beloved child, one to be wary of.

But he did not seem evil.

Different people saw him differently.

The truth? She needed to observe him herself.

And when she finally arrived in Elde and saw this youth who resembled a noble far more than a Holy Knight… her thoughts shifted again.

The descriptions she had heard from others—turns out they were all true.

Though his entrance had been dramatic, and the complex energies had surprised her slightly, that scene could only frighten Joanna—it could not frighten her.

Yet Euphemy was still stunned.

Joanna saw nothing but blood-soaked flesh; but in her eyes… the scene was far more astonishing than what the half-elf had witnessed.

Perhaps Herbert had not expected anyone to notice—or perhaps he had shown it to her on purpose.

It was a bizarre scene, blending the unholy and the sacred.

Euphemy saw countless souls entwined around Herbert!

Hundreds, even thousands of demonic souls wailed, screaming silently at him.

After death, they had not returned to the Sea of Chaos; instead, they were bound to his side, slowly pulled into his body, merging into the shadows beneath his feet.

Herbert walked unbothered along the path forged from souls.

Yet at the same time, his soul radiated brilliant, sacred light.

The light emanating from him dispelled darkness and dissolved approaching malice.

He was like a single thread of light born from the deepest, most intense darkness.

Incompatible with it, yet perfectly unified with it.

Light and shadow had found balance upon him, coexisting in harmonious unity.

Behind Herbert, which deity truly stood?

Euphemy sensed a trace of the Sun God's aura—but who then represented the shadows?

To avoid revealing her presence, Euphemy did not probe further; she simply kept the question in her mind.

Beyond that, what drew Euphemy's attention even more was Herbert's aura.

As Laila had said, he carried an arrogance imperceptible to ordinary people.

It was not a deliberate display or a cultivated facade—it was innate, seeping from his very soul.

He appeared to be smiling, his manners flawless, his eyes utterly free of deceit.

Yet he could faintly sense the arrogance emanating from the depths of his soul.

He looked at these people as if they were lifeless puppets—he wasn't truly seeing them.

Only when he gazed at the centaur spirit and the sea witch did Herbert's eyes reflect their forms.

Aside from them, no one here was worthy to enter his sight.

Even He, the divine favored one whom Herbert had warned, had no such right.

He completely ignored Him!

But upon realizing this, Euphemy did not feel angry.

On the contrary, she became even more interested in Herbert.

She began to understand why Hecatias had been drawn to Herbert, even going so far as to send her own priestly corps to win him over.

Indeed, he possessed a peculiar, captivating aura.

A unique charm.

Herbert was shrouded in mist, half-concealed, drawing them in to explore.

The unknown inspires fear.

But it also stirs an intense curiosity in some.

Now, this goddess renowned for her overflowing motherhood and protectiveness developed new thoughts about Herbert.

She wanted to uncover the secrets within him.

Even… to make him her child!

Urgently.

She felt she lacked just such a mysterious and fascinating child!

Urgent urgent urgent urgent urgent!

Of course, though her heart raced and she longed to claim Herbert for herself… Euphemy did not rush to reveal her intentions.

As a deity with an endless lifespan who had witnessed ages pass, she possessed great patience.

Ahem, not so fast.

After all, this was their first meeting; first impressions are inevitably flawed.

Let's observe further, examine him closely, and understand his true nature!

Then, make him my child!

Like Hecatias did.

I will cherish him dearly!

Imagining such a future, Euphemy couldn't help but smile softly.

"Hehe, hehehehe~"

Joanna, who had been secretly watching "Eunil," saw this and scratched her head in confusion.

"Huh… what's going on here?"

"Why does this feel nothing like what I expected?"

She had assumed that after her gambit was neutralized, the other would be furious.

But now, this cheerful, light laughter didn't look like anger at all… was it rage turned to laughter?

Or was she simply not taking those threats seriously?

Hmm, no wonder the Goddess is so inscrutable!

As Joanna marveled, a young priestess approached her and whispered, "Lady Joanna, we're ready on our end. Would you like to come and confirm?"

"Uh, okay."

Joanna snapped back to attention, abandoning such thoughts, and returned to her duties.

Forget it, no need to overthink!

I'm just a lowly priestess; my greatest dream is to transfer to the Dongnushen Sect and become a legendary spirit in the Divine Realm.

Joanna walked over, but the priestess did not leave—she shook her head at Eunil, who still stood there dazed as if nothing had happened.

She placed her hands on her hips and called out, half-annoyed, half-amused: "Eunil, what are you daydreaming about? Come over here!"

"Huh!!?"

Eunil:?

The Winter Goddess, suddenly awakened, froze for a moment—she hadn't yet recalled her current identity.

Her confusion struck the young priestess as adorable.

"What are you spacing out for, hehe."

The girl didn't truly mind; she playfully pinched Eunil's soft cheek and teased: "Judging by this look, you've fallen for the Lord, haven't you?"

Eunil snapped back to herself and shook her head vigorously: "No! I haven't! Don't say such things!"

I intend to make him my obedient child—nothing else!

As she explained, her gaze unconsciously flickered toward Herbert—and upon meeting his gaze, she instinctively looked away.

"I didn't… uh!"

Only after turning back did she realize how her reaction must have appeared to others.

A classic image of a lovesick girl.

The priestess smirked mischievously: "Hmph, there's no one else here—why pretend?"

"Besides, you're not the only one. I saw Lady Joanna lost in thought too—just now, she was staring blankly over there…"

Joanna, who had been quietly observing Eunil, widened her eyes.

???

Why am I even involved in this!?

How come I didn't know about this at all!?

"Sana! You… both of you, stop slacking over there and come help us!"

To avoid exposing Uniel's identity, she deliberately treated everyone equally.

"Alright~"

Sana lazily replied, naturally taking Uniel's hand and walking toward the other sisters.

As they walked, she quietly whispered to Uniel:

"Uniel, you're new to the church, so you don't know Joanna's character yet—you probably think she's serious."

"But let me tell you, she may look stiff, but she's actually really fun behind closed doors! Loves coming up with all sorts of nonsense…"

…

…

"Hmph! Now they're all interested in you—are you satisfied?!"

"Haha, don't be nervous."

Herbert listened to this jealous whisper and couldn't help laughing, raising a hand to stroke the mermaid clinging to his neck, her face pressed tightly against his cheek.

"I was just showing off my charm as a lord—there's no other meaning to it."

"Don't blame them—they've simply made the mistake every woman makes… cough!"

Herbert himself couldn't keep a straight face, shaking his head and teasing the possessive mermaid lady.

"Or are you worried your charm might not match theirs? Afraid I'll take an interest in them?"

Aww.

As Herbert teased, he suddenly felt his ear gently bitten.

Huh?

Why are you biting my ear? Are you Tyson? Or a piranha?

He instinctively tried to shake her off, but the mermaid lady held him completely in place—he couldn't escape.

Encountered a legendary piranha, monstrous in strength, fought with all his might yet couldn't break free… not even close.

Once Herbert realized he couldn't escape, he let her bite.

Go ahead, bite.

It's actually kind of nice.

Fu Leimei bit Herbert's ear "ferociously," muttering under her breath: "See! You're definitely still interested in them!"

"Don't worry, they're no match for you—they pose no threat," Herbert chuckled soothingly.

Then he heard a plaintive whisper drift into his ear: "They're not my rivals… but what about Valentina? Is she my rival?"

"Uh! She…"

Caught off guard, Herbert froze, not reacting in time.

Though he said nothing outright, this reaction proved plenty.

Fu Leimei felt Herbert's hesitation, let out an unhappy huff, and bit down slightly harder—but the next second, she softened, releasing him, leaving only a faint tooth mark.

After she let go of his ear, Herbert finally spoke slowly: "Fu Leimei, though it's regrettable, you probably… aren't her match."

See? Just as I thought.

Just as Fu Leimei pouted, ready to complain, Herbert added another line.

"Yeah, in terms of strength, even if we both teamed up, we probably couldn't beat her—she's too brutal!"

Fu Leimei:???

"Who asked you about strength comparisons!!?" The mermaid lady shot Herbert an annoyed glare.

Who cares about your power rankings?

Is that what I asked?

"Then what did you want to ask?"

"Well, uh…" Fu Leimei's words died on her lips.

Some things, once spoken, take on an entirely different meaning.

She was just pouting playfully—but if she said it aloud, it would become a fight for affection, and that would change everything.

"Hehe, don't worry."

Herbert smiled warmly, turning his head to look at the unhappy mermaid lady, pressing his forehead against hers, whispering softly:

"Believe me, just as I believe in you."

"You're all important to me—irreplaceable."

"Just as I'm important to you."

Endless Labyrinth.

Valentina lay sprawled on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling above.

After receiving the inheritance and sleeping for half a month, Valentina now couldn't sleep.

She, who always slept anywhere, anytime, was suffering from insomnia!

Yes.

Insomnia!

"So boring—"

"Herbert—"

"When are you coming back—"

"Come back soon—"

She missed Herbert terribly right now, wishing he would appear before her the very next second.

Because…

"I'm so hungry—"

(End of chapter)