Chapter 332

What about you?

After seeing off Cyril, Herbert met the "kind mushroom person" again.

He turned back and smiled at Mise, who had been hiding nearby: "Miss Mise, do you want to be my friend—or my enemy?"

Though his tone was light, the question he asked was not one easily answered.

It was a dangerous question—one that could get you killed if answered wrong!

Herbert was growing weary; he no longer wished to dance around—he needed the mushroom merchant to give him a clear answer.

Upon hearing this question, Mise did not answer Herbert's question, but instead asked a peculiar one: "Herbert, I'm curious— which one is the real you?"

Herbert:?

What's going on? You're answering my question with another question now?

As Herbert frowned, about to speak, Mise continued:

"Is it the you who is as brutal and powerful as the sun? Or the you who forces others to serve you through strength? Or perhaps this last version—the witty, humorous you?"

"Can you tell me which one is the real you?"

?

Herbert had been impatient, but soon raised an eyebrow.

Wait, hold on—I just heard something that sounded like brown-nosing?

"You… you're complimenting me? Uh, thanks?" He looked at Mise, confused, answering uncertainly.

This mushroom merchant—whether forged by years of practice or born with innate talent—was undoubtedly an excellent candidate for the system.

In interpersonal dealings, she was genuinely natural and polished.

She truly knew how to speak and act!

Of course, leaders aren't fools; they can see at a glance who has ulterior motives and who is deliberately flattering.

But even when they know it's deliberate flattery, they still like people who know how to get things done.

Human nature.

Herbert's irritation vanished silently; he coughed lightly and asked casually: "Miss Mise, I know you're curious about me, but we've only just met—why are you asking so many private questions? Isn't that a bit… too eager?"

He gave no direct answer, instead steering the topic sharply elsewhere.

Skillful deflection!

Oh my, Miss, I know I'm outstanding, but you're being awfully forward!

"Huh?"

Mise:???

What the hell are you talking about?

The mushroom merchant couldn't keep her composure; she gritted her teeth, face strained: "You know we've only just met! Yet you still want me to become your subordinate!?"

So you know that too!

"Hah."

Herbert nodded, satisfied, facing the slightly broken Mise: "Just joking—don't get so worked up."

Ah, flustered.

Looks like her composure still isn't deep enough.

Go back and practice more!

After teasing the mushroom merchant a little, Herbert stopped joking, his smile fading as he became serious: "Though I was joking earlier, one thing I said was true… you're too eager."

"What is real? What is false? Is the me I believe in the same as the real me?"

"If you knew me well, you'd naturally know my true nature—no need for me to tell you the answer."

"Conversely, no matter how I describe myself, you wouldn't believe me, would you?"

Herbert's tone was utterly relaxed, yet he pierced through the final veil of pretense between them.

Their time together was still too short; not enough trust had been built—neither truly believed the other.

Mise fell silent for a moment, gazing at the boy before her with a complex expression, then spoke slowly:

"Yes, we've only met once… yet you saw through my true thoughts. How did you manage that?"

Before those deep, abyss-like eyes, she finally admitted her innermost feelings.

Herbert was right—this mushroom lady truly longed for human life.

She truly, as Herbert said, was curious about the human world and yearned to become one of them.

To that end, she founded the Shadow Fungus Guild, imitating human appearances, trading with others, and savoring the feeling of blending in.

As for how she did it… guesswork.

Herbert hadn't opened X-ray vision—he didn't know Mise's true thoughts.

It wasn't wild guessing without basis, but a reasonable inference drawn from subtle clues.

The clearest proof: Mise's imitation of human behavior was far too precise.

Breathing, frowning, sighing, rubbing the brow… only someone who had observed very carefully could replicate these, and embed them into unconscious daily habits.

Yet for a merchant who concealed her body beneath a cloak and traded in secrecy, such skills were entirely unnecessary.

Of course, Herbert couldn't reveal his entire reasoning process—he only smiled mysteriously: "I just can see it with these eyes. Surprised?"

"…To be honest, I am surprised. I thought I hid it well." Mise nodded helplessly, gazing deeply into Herbert's eyes.

Could this ability to read minds come from the Sun God?

Herbert deliberately emphasized that his eyes were the key, aiming to steer Mise's thoughts toward his gaze, making her believe he possessed the power to see through her.

To reinforce this suspicion, Herbert pressed further: "By the way, if I'm not mistaken, you're a Special Body, aren't you?"

Mise's surprise deepened; she slowly nodded, admitting her identity: "You can tell that too? I thought I'd disguised myself perfectly—indistinguishable from ordinary Shadow Fungus people."

She found this utterly incomprehensible.

If her imitation of humans could be detected, how could the Special Body be identified?

Miss Mise firmly believed she had no outward difference from other Shadow Fungi—even she herself could not tell them apart.

How did Herbert do it?

"I don't judge by appearance, but by other things—for instance, I'm very familiar with this aura of yours," Herbert smiled faintly.

That sense of alienation from the surrounding world was glaringly obvious to Herbert.

This time, Miss Mise remained silent longer.

Finally, she sighed in weary resignation: "You know so much about me, yet I know nothing about you… Sir, don't you think this is unfair?"

Fair?

Herbert laughed upon hearing that.

"But you know I am a Holy Knight, a powerful being capable of forcibly eradicating you without facing any punishment."

In this world, justice and righteousness matter—but what truly matters is strength.

Without strength, the justice upheld by Holy Knights is futile.

With strength, the actions of Holy Knights become justice.

"And as such a being, still extending an invitation to you—doesn't that prove my sincerity?"

Herbert asked, with an arrogant yet friendly tone: "Miss Mise, would you care to try trusting me?"

"Perhaps I truly can make you a part of the society you wish to belong to."

Trust?

"Sigh…"

In truth, from her demeanor, Miss Mise had long accepted reality—her earlier words were merely resentful resistance, not expecting any real outcome.

"I understand humans—I don't believe they could accept a strange being like me."

"Sir, I can agree to you—but can you truly find a place that will accept me?"

Hearing these words, indistinguishable from surrender, Herbert smiled in satisfaction and extended his right hand toward the mushroom merchant.

"There is."

"I happen to know a place that meets your needs."

Exactly!

My happy little home.

See? I told you so.

She definitely wants to come home with me!

"Speaking of home…"

As Herbert explained his plan to Miss Mise, he recalled a certain greedy, sleepy dragon.

"Has Valentina woken up yet? An Epic advancement—how long could that possibly take? Don't tell me it'll drag on for decades!"

"If things really don't improve, should I offer her some help?"

"I remember, even when asleep, she unconsciously eats…"

Herbert thought, then suddenly remembered a crucial point to note.

"Hss—wait! She wouldn't be grinding her teeth, would she?"

…

…

Mist Monastery, Third Precept Hall.

Just as Herbert wondered whether Valentina might use him as a toothbrush, she responded on her end.

Gulu gulu.

The hungry dragon, curled into a ball, rolled once on the bed, then slowly stretched out, sprawling lazily across the quilt.

"Mmm—"

She first twitched her nose, then forcefully straightened her legs, toes tautly locked!

Her pink toes pressed against the bed, her hands stretched forward and pressed against the pillow, then she tensed her entire body into the Spineback Dragon posture.

"Mmm—ha!"

After stretching for several seconds, she abruptly opened her eyes.

The Hungry Dragon awoke.

And the first thing she did upon waking was to cautiously scan her surroundings.

Valentina was not confused about where she was—her dictionary didn't even contain that word—she didn't even have a dictionary in her mind!

She was searching for a familiar figure.

Unfortunately, after looking around, she found not a single trace.

Sniff, sniff.

Valentina twitched her nose, sniffing everywhere.

And once she confirmed he truly hadn't returned in a long time—not just hiding—she let out a huff.

"…Hmph."

She grumbled discontentedly: "Said he'd come back as soon as I woke up—liar!"

Herbert, you big liar!

She bared her teeth at the boy who wasn't there, then prepared to go back to sleep and wait for him to return.

But just as she was about to lie down, a discontented rumble echoed from her stomach.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle—

Valentina froze for a moment, looked down at her belly, and pouted.

"…I'm hungry."

(End of this chapter)