Chapter 256: Children Are the Ones Who Make Choices (4K Bonus Chapter 77)

"A choice…"

When dusk fell, Herbert walked out of the underground sanctuary.

Head lowered, brows tightly knit, his whole mind and body immersed within himself, his feet carried him forward without conscious thought.

"Herbert, you… oh?"

Bishop Ashes had originally wanted to pull Herbert aside for a chat, but upon seeing him lost in thought, she quietly withdrew her hand.

This child seems to have fallen into confusion because of that old thing's words…

"Heh."

Though he looks like he's grown quite a bit again, at heart he's still just a child.

Forget it, better not disturb him — let him think it through on his own.

Those old fogies of theirs — having one person go mess with the children's hearts is already more than enough.

Bishop Ashes watched the bewildered youth walk away with gentle eyes, shook her head, and chuckled softly twice.

As elders, they should only step in to help when the younger ones need it.

If the younger ones can reach a conclusion on their own, it's better not to interfere.

Otherwise, the world would only gain another puppet shaped by their wishes, stripped of its original form.

A future like that… heh, would truly be far too dull.

Bishop Ashes stretched lazily, murmuring to herself: "So I'll just wait until he comes to me on his own, then give him a little help."

And as she raised her arms and stretched her body with force, her loose robe pulled taut, faintly tracing the curves hidden beneath.

At the same time, from beneath the wide hood, faint rustling sounds drifted out.

Rustle, rustle…

"A choice?"

Elsewhere, Herbert still walked on in a daze, ignoring the cultivators he passed along the way.

Thinking of his final exchange with the Archbishop, his brow furrowed slightly.

After the Archbishop posed that crucial question, Herbert was silent for a long time.

He could have given an answer that satisfied everyone — flawless, unassailable.

So long as he spoke the most perfect reply befitting his current status, he could easily play the part of an impeccable model Holy Knight.

But… what would be the point?

The Archbishop didn't want to hear Herbert say such an answer with his own lips, and Herbert himself didn't wish to deceive his own heart at this moment.

Because Herbert himself was still lost.

He couldn't even figure out what it was he truly sought.

Seeing him in such a state, the Archbishop didn't press him about his subsequent experiences in the Misty Mountains.

It was enough.

The old man didn't press, didn't insist Herbert give him an answer on the spot.

"Heh, child, no need to be nervous."

"You don't have to give your answer now, nor do you need to tell it to me."

"Words can deceive anyone, but you can never deceive your own heart."

A person can never deceive themselves.

No matter the self-hypnosis, the brainwashing, the result is always the same.

What's false stays false — it can never become true.

At some moment, you will inevitably recall your heart's true choice, and all your previous efforts will be rendered utterly wasted.

"So long as you know in your own heart what you want, that's enough."

In the end, the Archbishop took the initiative to end their conversation and issued him his congé.

"Go back, child."

"You're already very tired. Now, return to where you should be, and rest well."

After that, Herbert could no longer quite remember — couldn't recall how he had walked out of the sanctuary.

He handed full control of his body over to instinct, concentrating all his energy on pondering that question.

Destruction? Or creation?

He thought about it for a long time, but never arrived at an answer that satisfied him.

Because either one, it seemed, was not entirely what he wanted.

He wasn't a bloodthirsty madman, had never thought to destroy everything — that was far too extreme.

But neither was he a do-gooder who only knew how to create, some saint — that was equally extreme.

Rather… do the two truly conflict?

Thinking this, Herbert felt he had faintly grasped the crux of the problem.

But his thoughts were still a bit hazy—he was missing a key opportunity to figure out the answer.

Before he knew it, Herbert had wandered a full circle around the monastery, and upon reaching a certain place, his feet stopped of their own accord.

"Mm?"

Herbert lifted his head in a daze, blinked at the great door before him.

"So it's here…"

While Herbert was thinking, his body, driven by instinct, had made for the place he felt most suited to a good rest.

And now, he had reached his destination — not his private quarters, but his nominal "workplace."

The Third Precept Office.

Herbert looked at the great doors of the monster prison, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, and he let out a rather speechless sigh.

Sigh!

Oh you, how can you be so useless?

Of all the places you could have picked, you just had to pick here.

"So, deep in my heart, I genuinely feel that I'm fated to toil and moil…"

What kind of decent person picks their resting place at the company?

"Honestly."

Herbert laughed wryly and shook his head, raised his hand, pressed it against the great doors, and gave them a gentle push.

Fine, let's just take it as that.

It's been too hard out there; now it's time to return to my happy home and recuperate properly.

Time to find the monster girls and have them soothe my weary soul.

Oh right, this time I should go see Elisa — I wonder if she still has any of the Holy Blood I gave her last time… If she's been frugal, she probably hasn't finished it, right?

Whoosh—

The moment Herbert pushed open the great doors, a wave of scalding steam slammed straight into his face.

"Hm!?"

The blast sent Herbert staggering; he nearly fell on his backside and only just managed to steady himself.

"Wh-what's going on…"

He blinked in bewilderment, not knowing what had happened inside.

What's the situation?

So much steam!

Who's boiling water?

What are you all doing?

Surely you're not trying to invent a steam engine?

Isn't that the transmigrator's patent? How did you all get ahead of me… hm?

Waving away the thick white steam before his eyes, Herbert finally squeezed his way into the Disciplinary Hall and got a clear look at the true identity of the "steam engine."

Sure enough, it was two legendary monster girls.

Valentina had indeed woken up, and Fu Leimei had happened to run right into her.

Only, contrary to Herbert's earlier imaginings, the two of them were not getting along harmoniously.

At this moment, the two monster girls were glowering at each other face to face with menacing momentum, locked in a standoff where neither would yield an inch.

Valentina: Hah!!!

Fu Leimei: Hmph!!!

One was baring her fangs, striking an intimidating pose and hissing.

The other wore a stern expression, snorting in contemptuous fury.

Both of them radiated powerful auras, stirring up the water and fire elements within the Endless Labyrinth.

The two stimulated elements clashed between them, transforming into high-temperature steam that rolled outward in every direction.

Where was any harmonious coexistence?

This was outright "fire and water"!

Tch, this really is a mess.

The situation is galloping headlong in the worst possible direction!

Although Herbert loved nothing more than watching women fight — hair-pulling, clothes-tearing… he had never wished for two women to be fighting over him.

"No, the situation isn't that bad yet, there's still room to salvage it!"

Good thing I rushed back; if I'd really let them come to blows, the future would be hard to clean up.

The palm and the back of the hand are both flesh — favoring either side would make the other feel resentful.

I must step in to mediate before they actually start fighting!

In the few breaths Herbert spent thinking, the two were still arguing, and the situation showed every sign of escalating further.

Fu Leimei's expression turned grave as she said in a low voice: "Valentina, I think what you said is wrong! I absolutely, completely cannot agree with you!"

And Valentina was equally agitated, declaring in a trembling voice: "What you said is wrong! Wrong, wrong!!!"

Herbert didn't know what they were arguing about, but it was obvious he could no longer sit by and do nothing.

He couldn't wait any longer.

Time to act!

"Wait! You two, stop arguing…"

But just before Herbert was about to step in and mediate, the content of their conversation made his footsteps halt abruptly.

Hm?

"I don't care! What you said is wrong!"

Valentina shook her head rapidly like a tantrum-throwing child rolling on the ground, shouting loudly: "What's fun about a sleeping Herbert? The awake him is way cuter!"

"He can cook for me and play with me — that's the best!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Leimei smiled disdainfully and scoffed: "Hah! Vulgar! I think you're the one who doesn't understand anything!"

"Although the awake Herbert is also very charming, he's at his cutest when he's sleeping!"

Her expression turned solemn as she said in a low voice:

"Think about it — when a usually strong and capable beautiful boy shows a completely unguarded sleeping face while fast asleep… don't you understand that feeling that tempts one to misbehave!?"

As Fu Leimei spoke, she unconsciously licked her vivid lips and absent-mindedly took a slurp.

Slurp.

"Besides, he sleeps very deeply. While he's asleep, no matter what you do, he won't wake up!"

"Listen to me—anything! You understand? Anything!!!"

The mermaid Young Lady was so worked up she was like an extreme missionary preaching to others, hoping they could share the excitement in her heart.

"That's why I say a sleeping Herbert is the most tempting!"

Upon hearing Fu Leimei's description, Valentina frowned and thought hard for a moment, then… simply couldn't imagine such a possibility.

The Hungry Dragon Young Lady seriously tried to recall, and it seemed she really had never seen Herbert's sleeping face.

Every single time, she fell asleep earlier than Herbert and woke up later than him.

His sleeping face?

Hey, she really hadn't seen it.

But seeing how agitated Fu Leimei looked, it didn't seem like she was faking it, and there was no whiff of a lie either.

Could it be that what she said was actually true?

Although her gut feeling had already told Valentina that the facts might really be as Fu Leimei said, her pride wouldn't allow her to agree with someone else's view so easily.

Valentina puckered her lips and said stubbornly, "You, what you're saying does kind of make sense… but I haven't seen it! I can only know whether you're lying to me after I've seen it for myself."

Right!

Only after seeing it with my own eyes can I be sure you aren't lying to me!

"Ha!"

Fu Leimei thumped her chest hard and vowed earnestly, "Me, lie to you? Just you wait and see! I would never lie to you about something like this, not even half a sentence!"

"Let me tell you how to put him to sleep, and next time you can see it. Oh right, he can now let his soul leave his body, and that state is even better—you can find an excuse…"

……

The two monster girls, too focused, didn't notice a third listener had appeared on the scene.

"……"

Herbert's reaction at this moment was quite a sight.

His head was full of question marks.

???

No, you two, what the hell are you even arguing about!?!

I thought you were about to fight!

And it turns out you were… tsk!

Can you argue about something proper?

And what are you doing, you shrimp-headed sea witch!?

One of you being perverted is already enough—don't go corrupting the others!

Although… Valentina herself was already a fanatic who loved sports, and didn't need Fu Leimei's guidance at all.

Getting Valentina to fall asleep is already hard enough—don't raise the difficulty for me.

Just then, Herbert suddenly froze.

"Wait…"

He looked at Valentina, his eyes widening slightly.

Fire.

Then he turned to look at Fu Leimei.

Ice.

The two of them—one was skilled at spewing flames, the other was proficient in ice magic.

Fire and ice.

Perhaps, there was a second explanation.

And the moment he thought of this, Herbert suddenly felt everything click into place.

If you looked at the previous problem from a different angle, was it still a problem?

Destruction and creation—he couldn't think of an answer, couldn't reach a definite conclusion.

But swap them for dragon and sea witch—could he still not tell them apart?

"Pfft, hahaha!"

Choose?

Choose what choose!

Does he really have to make a choice?

Is it really necessary?

No!

Herbert had been led astray by the Archbishop and had subconsciously gone down a rabbit hole.

This world isn't simply black and white.

Fire and ice… who says they can't coexist in peace?

"Ha!"

Amidst all the chaos, Herbert suddenly burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, hahahaha!"

He clutched his stomach, beside himself with mirth, feeling like he was about to laugh until tears came out.

A multiple-choice question?

Only children make choices.

And as an adult, I...

Of course I want it all!

I want it ALL!

Valentina is a definite must, and of course I can't let Fu Leimei slip away either!

No negotiation!

Destruction or creation—who says they can't coexist?

In this world, who isn't multifaceted?

Even gods can't escape this; how could a mere mortal like him become an exception?

He can't, and there's no need to.

After thoroughly thinking this through, Herbert felt his whole person had become clear and translucent.

At the same time, Herbert's bizarre act of laughing wildly finally startled the two demon girls who had been "confronting" each other over there.

Moreover, both of them were a bit shocked, and both stared at him with strange looks.

What's wrong with this person?

Why did he suddenly start laughing wildly?

Fu Leimei and Valentina blinked and exchanged a covert glance.

"Um... what's wrong with him?"

"I don't know, did something stimulate him?"

"Is it because the two of us were arguing?"

"Maybe?"

Both felt a bit self-reproachful, thinking they had given Herbert the wrong impression, nearly driving the child mad.

"Herbert, um..."

"We weren't actually arguing..."

And just as they were carefully preparing to explain, Herbert over there shouted another line amid his wild laughter.

"Haha! Yes, I want it all! Haha..."

Valentina:?

Fu Leimei:?

No way.

You brat, you're awfully cocky!

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing the displeasure in the other's eyes, and snorted at the same time.

"Heh."

"Hmph!"

You guys, do you really think we'll just give in?

No! Way!

(End of chapter)