Chapter 30: Is the Danger Dangerous?

“Come here! Let me smell you!”

“No!”

“Be good! Let me take a look!”

“No! Jie-ge, don’t!”

“Tsk, again with this ‘Jie-ge’… what are you even talking about?”

The angry Hunger Dragon Lady bared her teeth, rolled her eyes at this bizarre creature, and gnashed her teeth in frustration.

What are you doing?!

Am I going to eat you?

You make me sound like some kind of villain.

Hmph!

Valentina pouted, annoyed, and sharply turned her head away, once again presenting her tall back to everyone.

(`へ)

Valentina was furious—and not the kind you could soothe in a moment.

But at this moment, Herbert actually grew curious, teasing her one line after another to stir her emotions.

“Angry? Are you really angry?”

“No.”

“Hey, are you crying?”

“No!”

“Then what’s that shine on your lip? Oh, it’s oil! Never mind then…”

“Hmph!”

After a bit of playful teasing, Herbert didn’t wait for Valentina to urge him—he walked straight to the cage with a grin and tapped the bars lightly.

Clang.

“Here I am.”

After Valentina turned her head in awareness, he openly opened his arms and smiled: “Of course, if you want it, you’ll have to reach for it yourself.”

If you want it

Valentina turned her head, her pouting lips twitching—she wanted to refuse this handout with dignity—but ultimately, curiosity won over pride.

“...Hmph.”

She let out a soft huff, decided to pretend the awkwardness never happened, and reached out to grab Herbert’s arm—only to have her hand snatched mid-air.

Valentina: ?

What’s the meaning of this? Didn’t you say I had to do it myself?

Why change your mind all of a sudden?!

“...What are you doing?”

The Hunger Dragon narrowed her eyes, glaring dangerously at the white-haired boy—only to be met with his glare in return.

“Wait, why didn’t you wipe your hands after eating? Don’t move—I’ll wipe them for you.”

Herbert muttered a tired complaint, resigned, and pulled out a damp towel to clean her hands.

Your greasy hands—do you want to bring mold to my skin?

“Oh…”

Herbert gently wiped her palm, his fingers inevitably brushing against Valentina’s slender digits.

Long, warm, soft fingers—but unmistakably holding terrifying power within.

He knew these were claws capable of tearing through metal, capable of crushing his skull in one squeeze.

Yet visually, they were undeniably delicate, supple, perfect for a hand model.

Unreal.

Just like her appearance.

After ignoring her dragon aura, Valentina looked utterly human.

In human form, she retained none of the monstrous traits like Freime’s—not a single scale, completely human in appearance.

But she wasn’t flawless.

Her thoughts, her movements—all radiated a strong sense of non-humanity.

For example, she preferred sleeping curled up on the ground. For example, when eating, she instinctively leaned forward to bite first, then remembered to use her hands.

And even now, as friends, Valentina still saw Herbert as a weak creature—like an insect. Though, to be fair, he wasn’t far off.

Oh, and her appetite.

Who eats half a roasted pig in one sitting and still isn’t full?

“The other hand.”

“Oh.”

Though Valentina was surprisingly obedient, showing no aggression beyond words.

Yet these tiny details made Herbert acutely aware: Valentina wasn’t just a slightly clueless prisoner—she was a powerful non-human entity.

She was dangerous.

Must be handled carefully…

As Herbert thought this, he noticed Valentina silently extended her face toward him, cheeks puffed out, urging him.

“Mmm↑ mmm↓, hmm?”

“...Wipe your face too?”

“Mm.”

Looking at Valentina’s greasy lips, Herbert took a deep breath, silently reminding himself.

Herbert, don’t let her appearance fool you.

She’s a powerful monster, a beast that devours people and spits out bones.

She’s…

In the end, Herbert set aside his thoughts and quietly wiped her hands and face clean, then gave a smug little huff.

Hmph.

She’s nothing—just a total dumbass!

As Valentina sniffed the scent on Herbert’s fingers, he asked curiously: “By the way, are you hungry again? You just ate.”

Valentina awkwardly patted her flat, unswollen belly—clearly not showing signs of having devoured half a pig—and protested:

“Of course I’m hungry—that little bit was too little to fill me… but that’s not the issue!”

“You’ve always smelled nice, like something I want to bite… but today there’s another scent—familiar somehow…”

“My scent? Because I cut your hair yesterday?” Herbert blinked, guessing where this was going.

He’d just swallowed her hair—surely that didn’t make him smell like her now?

“No… it’s… an older scent?”

Valentina wasn’t sure what exactly it was—she sniffed Herbert’s fingers closely, even considered sticking out her tongue to lick them…

But before she could act, Herbert pulled his arm back and grinned:

“If you beg me, you can call me ‘Father’! I don’t mind taking the loss.”

Valentina: ?

“What did you say?!” Herbert had already stepped back as he withdrew his arm, narrowly avoiding the furious dragon’s claw swipe.

Heh, missed~

He tilted his head, smiled, waved at the furious Hunger Dragon, and strolled cheerfully toward the Deep Water Prison.

“Bye-bye, see you later.”

“Hey! Don’t run! Come back—I won’t hit you—”

“Nuh-uh~”

Herbert passed through the barrier; the Hunger Dragon’s roars vanished behind him, silence returning to his ears.

His expression turned calm; he murmured to himself: “Guess I bought myself some time.”

After Valentina mentioned the ancient bloodline, Herbert realized it was the lingering effect of his own body enhancement—he immediately changed the subject to prevent her from thinking further.

“Well, even if I hadn’t distracted her, she’d never figure out the truth.”

Come to think of it.

How could Valentina possibly guess that he’d inherited the Dragon King’s legacy through her hair?

That would make no sense at all.

…

“Hm? Herbert, come closer—let me look at you…” Freime’s expression was odd as she waved him over.

?

Wait, now you too?

(End of Chapter)