Chapter 295: This Isn't Right (44K First Update)

"Aaaargh!!!"

Cyril felt that he was no longer clean.

Before entering that little room, when he was strung up and savagely whipped by that guy, he pretended to be in agony while thinking about many things.

Pain — he could endure it.

Wasn't it just endurance?

I'll endure it.

No matter how inhuman the torture, Cyril would grit his teeth and bear it in silence.

He had to prove to Herbert that he was absolutely not inferior to him!

Even if his strength was a bit lacking, in terms of willpower, he was absolutely not inferior to him!

Absolutely!

And then...

Cyril regretted it.

Deeply, profoundly regretted it!

At first, everything unfolded exactly according to the script he had imagined in his heart.

After the whipping, that person would bring him into the interrogation room to continue the abuse.

That burly guard was nothing more than an abuser who took pleasure in tormenting slaves — nothing to fear.

When the other party told him to kneel with his eyes closed, he guessed the other would suddenly lash him from behind.

Cyril had already seen through it — the other was the type of sadist whose source of excitement was others' fear.

But that was nothing; such an evil wretch was hardly worth mentioning.

A little pain — Cyril could endure it completely.

But at the time, he never in a million years imagined everything that would happen next.

The other did indeed lash him once, just as he had predicted.

But it wasn't a leather whip, nor an iron whip — it was a whip made of flesh!

And damn it, it was still a little warm!

*Slap. *

The instant that flesh-whip made contact with his back, Cyril keenly sensed something was off.

Not right.

As a weapon master who often enlightened himself, Cyril immediately realized what the thing behind him actually was.

It was something he could never forget.

This, this is... *hiss*!?

Aaaaaagh!

"Urgh..."

Just thinking about that bizarre sensation from behind back then, Cyril couldn't help but want to vomit.

Hard.

His fists clenched hard!

But even so, he was still enduring.

Perhaps, if he just endured, it would pass.

For everything that came after, endure...

Hearing those revolting words, and feeling that stinking breath, Cyril could endure no longer.

He shattered his shackles, turned around, and threw a full-force punch — straight for the dragon!

*Crack... splat. *

Accompanied by the sorrow of his little eggs, Cyril's fist smashed the key that was trying to poke into his keyhole... *cough*.

Endure?

No more enduring!

This time, no matter what, he would not endure!

I'll endure your ****!!!

Cyril, already hot-tempered by nature, completely lost control. After one punch shattered the pervert's little head, he didn't stop — he followed up with another punch that smashed the other's big head.

*Smack. *

After tearing open the other's skull with his bare hands like crushing a berry, he didn't restrain himself but instead rushed wildly out of the room.

"Aaaargh!!!"

He tore off his shredded clothes, and under everyone's gaze, he howled at the sky, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Justice!"

Under the stunned gaze of everyone in the monastery, Cyril cradled his head and wailed, screaming in grievance.

"Justiceeeee!!!"

Damn this fate!

"Why must you do this to me!?"

"This isn't right!!!"

"This isn't right!?"

"Hm? What's wrong, Lady?"

Not long before Cyril cracked, on the other side of the camp, the tavern where the slave traders gathered was ablaze with energy.

The slave dungeons were cold and filthy, but here, it was the complete opposite.

Lavish decorations filled the view; entire hides of tiger-like demons had been made into carpets, covering the entire floor.

The walls were hung with all manner of mounted heads—large demonic beasts, rare animals, even a broken dragon fang.

But more numerous still were the heads of slaves—human and other races alike—all processed and nailed to the walls.

Servant girls, strikingly beautiful and scantily clad, swayed provocatively between tables, occasionally brushing their bare skin against the merchants' deliberately outstretched palms.

The glow of crystal chandeliers spread like spiderwebs, casting flickering light patches that danced across the servants' exposed backs, drawing the merchants' gazes.

And if a servant girl caught a merchant's eye, private rooms on the second floor awaited them for unrestrained indulgence.

In terms of decadence, this place even surpassed the royal palace of the Frost Crystal Kingdom!

Yet this was merely a transit camp for slave trade.

Lavish, yet everywhere oozing unhidden evil and depravity.

It was an endless nest of sin, a dark cathedral built from blood and desire.

"Hmph, you're asking me?"

In a corner of the tavern, the "slave trader" Eliza, her face mostly veiled by black gauze, bit her lip and glared fiercely at Herbert.

How dare you ask me that?

"What's wrong? Don't you like it here? Isn't this perfectly suited to your taste?"

"Nonsense!"

Eliza snorted, glared harder at the boy, and gritted her teeth: "Do you really think I belong in a place like this, crawling with vermin?"

Yes, she was born of evil—but her caliber was incomparably higher than these people!

Do you look down on me?

Facing her furious stare, Herbert smiled politely, shook his head slightly, and sat beside her, tilting his head to chuckle: "Or are you frightened by this scene?"

Herbert winked at her, swirled the crimson liquid in his cup—this place, as expected of a hub of the Gray Zone, even had blood wine specially crafted by Dark Elves.

Expensive, but the quality was decent.

"Not afraid at all! As your personal bodyguard, I'll protect you, Miss!"

Sure, everyone around is evil—but it's fine!

Little sister, don't be scared—I'm here!

Due to Eliza's innate noble aura, she had drawn every eye since arriving; Herbert had spent the entire time playing the role of her chivalrous protector.

Combined with Eliza's air of superiority in every gesture and Elbert's own aristocratic aura—smiling, yet utterly distant—the once-reckless slave traders restrained their excitement, quietly observing this unfamiliar pair.

But Eliza's allure to mortals was simply too great; this calm could not last long—someone would break soon.

"Tch!"

In response, Eliza rolled her eyes and sneered: "Afraid of them? Ridiculous! I think you're the one who needs protecting."

Brother, what nonsense are you spouting?

What's my strength? What's yours?

Get your priorities straight!

"Heh... well, if you insist on saying it that way, I won't deny it."

Herbert laughed lightly, shrugged, and readily admitted without arguing: "At least for now, I still need your protection."

Hmm, only for now, then.

"The future? That's another story. Maybe it won't take long."

One day, I'll make all of you kneel and call me Dad!

ALL OF YOU!

Eliza, of course, didn't believe Herbert's grand words—she dismissed them as mere bravado, scoffing: "Hmph, weak mortal. You won't surpass me for a long, long time!"

Do you really think becoming a Legend is so easy?

Naive human boy!

"Then let's patiently wait for that day to come. When it does, don't forget to show me proper respect."

Herbert smiled calmly—he never doubted his own talent.

"Hmph."

Herbert was confident; Eliza was equally confident. She lifted her chin, proud and haughty:

"Don't worry—I'll bow my head before you when that day comes! I just fear I won't live to see it!"

"But until then, treat me with proper respect every day!"

The Vampire Lady was not blind to Herbert's astonishing talent—she knew he would inevitably ascend to the Legend realm.

She simply refused to admit it.

Since Herbert's ascent to Legend was still far off, winning verbally now was enough—she wanted him to show her deference.

As for whether she'd actually bow before him?

Heh, simple—she'd just break the promise when the time came!

If someone said such a breach of promise was immoral?

Heh, nonsense!

She was a Vampire Prince, after all!

Why would she honor your human promises?

Eliza's calculations clicked loudly—her abacus beads nearly flew into Herbert's face.

"Heh heh."

Herbert saw it clearly, but didn't expose it, and laughed to himself.

Dreaming pretty.

But think about it a bit more — when that day really comes, will bowing your head or not really be your own decision?

Then naturally — when they want you to bow, they press down on the top of your head to make you bow; when they want you to raise your head, they loosen their grip a little and let you lift it.

Up and down, deep and shallow, controlled at will — how delightful.

Herbert, imagining that future scene, suddenly laughed and said: "Actually, you don't necessarily have to wait until that time to bow your head."

"Hm? What did you just say?" Elisha, who had been lost in her fantasies, came back to her senses and hadn't quite caught Herbert's words.

What did he say?

"N-no, nothing."

Herbert, who had just been teasing, naturally wouldn't repeat himself, and smilingly refused to answer.

"Tch! So evasive — you must have said something weird… Speaking of which, where's that person?"

Elisha had wanted to ask earlier — she didn't know where that "Fu Leimei" who had been following behind Herbert had gone.

Where is she?

"You mean Fu Leimei? She went to the other side first to prepare for the upcoming operation." Herbert brushed it off casually, without explaining in detail.

And Elisha, seeing Herbert's attitude, narrowed her eyes and said slowly: "You… trust her that much? Letting her leave freely?"

Hm?

Herbert's brow twitched, and he stared at the pouting vampire Young Lady with amusement, asking playfully: "Are you jealous?"

"Hmph! I wouldn't envy her!"

Elisha snorted angrily and said indignantly: "You really do trust her! Unlike me, who has to stay by your side, she can go out freely — hmph! Right, I don't envy her at all!"

Herbert blinked, then the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.

Fun.

BigLaugh·Point. JPG

Ooh, getting sour.

This person is talking with such a strong vinegar smell.

He understood why Elisha was unhappy.

Elisha felt she wasn't trusted at all, which is why she felt uncomfortable — although she was actually truly the rebellious type, never obedient.

But in Elisha's heart, that didn't matter.

Even if I really won't obediently listen, you still can't not trust me!

In Elisha's view, Herbert was blatantly "treating them differently"!

Actually, Herbert really was treating the two monster girls differently, just as Elisha said.

But the one who was truly discriminated against wasn't the "body shield" Elisha, but rather Swanny, who was his "partner."

Herbert's expression turned slightly serious, and he said sincerely: "Actually, if you really had to say it, compared to her, I actually trust you more!"

"Hm?"

Elisha was stunned for a moment, then looked at Herbert suspiciously and snorted in disbelief: "I don't believe you — you must be lying to me again."

"No, I'm really not this time."

Herbert felt helpless — why is it that when he tells the truth, no one believes him?

The Young Lady of the Trickster God, who had been watching the show, didn't drop the ball at this moment, and timely delivered an assist.

【"Tsk tsk tsk, my dear ally, you're really pitiful right now~ You finally told the truth for once, and the other side doesn't believe you~"】

【"Pi~tiful~"】

Tch!

Herbert rolled his eyes internally, feeling a bit speechless.

Yes, what he had just said was really the truth.

Compared to the mysterious, uncontrollable Swanny, Herbert was actually more willing to trust Elisha, whose personality he had figured out.

At least, he knew how to use words to pressure and slowly control her… ahem, no — he knew how to use sincerity to move her heart.

Definitely not doing anything bad!

Herbert shook his head, his expression turning serious, and he gazed earnestly into Elisha's blood-colored eyes, reaching his hand under the table to hold her hand.

!!?

Elisha instinctively wanted to dodge, but Herbert held her tightly, and she felt the warmth coming from his palm.

Under that warmth she hadn't felt in years, Elisha hesitated, gradually giving up her resistance, letting him hold her slender hand.

This…

After feeling Elisha stop resisting, Herbert grew more confident, and said gently in a soft voice: "Because, I can entrust all my safety to your hands."

Unlike before when he took Valentina and Fu Leimei out alone, the progress of conquering the two monster girls he'd brought out this time wasn't particularly high.

He had gained physical control over them, but hadn't completely won their hearts.

Such monster girls actually carry a certain danger — they could backlash against him at any time.

And the reason Herbert took the risk of bringing both of them out at once was actually because he secretly intended to use them to check and balance each other.

If Elisha went berserk, use Swanny to suppress her, and vice versa.

The so-called "using barbarians to control barbarians" — hmm… "using aunt to control aunt"?

"You really… trust me more?" Elisha gazed at Herbert's serious eyes, gradually becoming a bit dazed.

At first she was still a little doubtful, instinctively feeling Herbert was lying to her again.

But very soon, she felt Herbert's sincere emotions and believed the explanation he had insisted upon.

Mhm… this time he probably wasn't lying to me.

So he really did trust me more after all.

"Hehe, lucky for you… mhm!?"

Eliza was complacently reflecting on this when she suddenly felt something strange.

The palm that had just been transmitting warmth to her was now, without any ceremony, quietly shifting its position.

It was moving toward a rather dangerous place!

The little vampire was instantly wide awake!!!

Mhm!?

Eliza, unable to think of anything else, immediately pressed her legs together.

But that palm had long anticipated this, and beat her to the punch before she could react, getting itself neatly caught between her thighs.

Eh!?

The unfamiliar sensation transmitted through her thighs made Eliza feel itchy all over, and she instinctively parted them a little…

The result was that the mischievous palm took the chance to slip in a little deeper.

Fortunately, Eliza finally came to her senses in the end and reached out to grab Herbert's wrist.

"You!?"

Wait!

Eliza's eyes went wide, and she stared at Herbert in a panic, her gaze full of question marks.

Hold on, what are you doing?

According to how things were going before, shouldn't we be deepening our relationship right now?!

Not this kind of deepening!

This isn't right, is it!!?

"Shh, be quiet."

Herbert's expression was as usual, showing nothing out of the ordinary. He smiled and winked at her, then said softly: "My dear Lady Eliza, just behave and listen."

"After all, you don't want to be discovered by anyone else, do you?"

(End of Chapter)