Chapter 349: You Actually Toyed With Me (5K Bonus 122 123)

"WHY!?"

Swish—Crack!

"Ah! No! Why, ahhh!?"

Swish—Crack crack!

"Hiss! Wait! Flora! Why are you treating me like this?"

Kretti, hanging upside down, wore a thoroughly bewildered look as Flora, her face dark and sullen, lashed her with the whip again and again.

Regarding this situation, she wasn't even angry—only confused.

What happened?

No!

What on earth happened!?

She couldn't be bothered to struggle, and shouted at the top of her lungs: "Hold on! This time I really didn't go out of my way to pick a fight with you! Why are you treating me like this? Why are you hanging me up and beating me?"

"I can take a beating, but damn it, at least tell me the reason!!"

Why?

It's not that I can't take a beating, but you've got to give me a reason!

"…Tch!" Flora curled her lip, clicked her tongue in disgust, and wordlessly continued to swing the whip.

The demon said nothing, only accelerating her whip-strokes.

Swish—Crack crack crack!

Later on, the speed was so fast it was almost like she was using the hanging devil as a spinning top to lash.

And the warden, who ought to have been stopping this prisoner-on-prisoner brawl, stood off to the side with arms folded, silently watching the tragedy unfold.

"…Heh heh."

He wore an amused smile, enjoying the harmonious interaction between devil and demon.

Although Flora's strikes looked vicious this time, and her whip cracked with brutal flair, in truth… she hadn't used any real force at all.

Forget bloodstains, not even a red mark was left behind.

At this scene, only two words could come to Herbert's mind—foreplay.

Isn't this a pure foreplay scene!

Herbert knew clearly that Flora was actually using this behavior to cover up her own shyness and embarrassment.

It's just that her method was rather… exhausting for the people involved—mainly exhausting for the devil.

The demon Young Lady was no longer embarrassed, but the embarrassed one had switched to someone else.

The commotion Kretti had caused earlier was really too ill-timed.

Flora probably hadn't intended to make any excessive demands of him, but with Kretti's interruption like that, she now felt too embarrassed to say it out loud.

With all this, it made it seem as if the succubus Young Lady had been about to make some terribly over-the-line request.

Herbert saw through it, but didn't call it out.

No special reason… and besides, it was quite a sight.

I don't have any particular hobby—I just happen to enjoy watching women fight.

Especially this kind, where one is willing to strike and the other willing to take it.

What a fine show this is!

Worth a great toast!

Herbert watched with a smile for a while, and noticed that Kretti had stopped asking for reasons, and was just staring at him with a resentful look.

Stare—

She didn't say anything, but seemed to say everything—Can you seriously just stand there and watch?

Herbert looked at that wronged-wife expression and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hahaha!"

In the end, he couldn't bear to keep sitting it out, clapped his hands, and interrupted Flora's "performance."

"Alright, alright, let's leave it at that for now."

"Whatever grudge you two have, settle it after I'm gone."

What grudge? What grievance? Sort it all out in private.

I don't want to be the great magistrate adjudicating this case.

"…Yes, understood."

Flora immediately lowered her head, took the step Herbert offered, and put away her whip.

She had actually wanted to stop long ago, but hadn't found the right moment—otherwise she wouldn't have lashed so exaggeratedly—that was all to make Herbert step in and mediate on his own.

Herbert saw through Flora's little scheme clearly, didn't expose it, and laughed:

"Flora, the reward I mentioned earlier—you don't have to tell me right now, you can think about it more, and let me know once you've decided."

"Don't worry, my promise still stands."

"Alright, let me spend some time alone with Kretti."

Having said that, Herbert gave the succubus Young Lady a light wave, signaling she could exit.

"Understood, then I'll take my leave for now." Flora nodded and immediately turned to leave.

As the succubus Young Lady departed, the devil Young Lady stared fixedly at her retreating back, but didn't let fly a single harsh word.

"…"

Only after she had completely gone did Kretti, still hanging upside down, turn her head, squint at Herbert, and slowly ask: "So, you know the reason she struck?"

Herbert laughed at the question and nodded frankly: "I do."

"Since you already know…"

The demon asked in annoyance, "Then you're just going to watch?"

"Mm, just watch."

The human admitted frankly, then countered, "Is that not allowed?"

The hanging demon and the standing mortal stared at each other; for a moment neither of them spoke further.

"Tch."

Kreti did not complain again about why Herbert had not come to rescue her on his own initiative; she merely couldn't help grumbling, "Sometimes I really can't tell whether I'm the demon, or you're the demon."

Herbert blinked and laughed, "Is that a compliment?"

"Definitely not!"

Kreti couldn't help grumbling, wondering what on earth this holy knight was thinking, and complained, "Also, how long are you going to keep staring? Hurry up and put me down!"

You didn't help me before, fine, but now you're watching me hang upside down and you still won't help?

"Ah, I thought you liked this position."

Herbert freed her while cheerfully teasing, "By the way, nice figure."

Kreti glared at Herbert and said irritably, "Tch! You—this… ah!"

She was in the middle of complaining when she suddenly felt her whole body go violently weightless, plunging toward the ground.

With her magic forcibly sealed by Flora, she was at this moment nothing more than a fairly sturdy-bodied mortal.

If she fell straight down like this, her face would make a very intimate hard contact with the ground.

It might not necessarily hurt that much, but the humiliation in it was, needless to say, self-evident.

Splat.

"No!"

Fortunately, a certain holy knight whose moral底线 had been lost was not so cruel as all that; halfway down he reached out a hand and caught her.

"You…"

After catching the Young Lady demon, Herbert behaved exceptionally gentlemanly—didn't get handsy at all, but directly set her down and undid the sealing chains and turtle-shell bindings on her body…

Once the seal was lifted, magic returned to Kreti's body, and she let out a long breath.

"Haa…"

After recovering, Kreti glared at Herbert and muttered, "Don't think that just because you helped me, this matter can be let go!"

You stood by and watched me make a fool of myself for half the day.

This grudge, I've noted it down!

"Mm, mm, alright, how to take revenge is up to you." Herbert laughed heartily, not taking her threat to heart.

Spouting some threats that would never be carried out was itself a form of shyness.

This pair of demon and devil really were interesting—unexpectedly alike in certain ways: both got shy quite easily, and both had their own unique way of covering up their awkward shyness.

Kreti watched Herbert's unconcerned manner and gave a light snort, feeling a little more at ease inside.

At this moment, what she actually needed was not the other's concern or apology.

Being able to have Herbert's attitude like this was, on the contrary, what could calm the Young Lady demon down.

She sat down on the bronze Wang Zuo, resuming her usual manner, and asked with a smile, "Since you're back, it looks like the matter has been resolved."

Seeing her change the subject, Herbert stopped teasing and nodded, "Everything went fairly smoothly. The information you provided was all fine."

"Of course!" Kreti gave a proud snort and puffed out her chest.

And Herbert, watching her proud look, smiled and nodded.

One important part of the adventure into the Underdark was the data about the slave caravan that Kreti had extracted from the Frost Crystal nobles' minds.

It was also thanks to this information that he was able to, empty-handed, use other people's reputations to put together such a "slave caravan."

But actually, disguising as a slave caravan wasn't necessary—they had plenty of ways to sneak in.

The reason for choosing to play the role of a slave caravan was actually to test the accuracy and truthfulness of the information Kreti had provided.

And judging from this result, she had passed this test smoothly.

Kreti held her chin up, watching Herbert's smiling face and giving a light snort inside; she also knew Herbert had previously had doubts about her abilities.

But for the Young Lady demon this was no problem at all—she didn't feel looked down on.

Between living beings there had to be mutual suspicion, mutual distrust, mutual scheming… only such souls were delicious enough.

"Tell me, whose soul are you going to have me read this time?"

Kreti didn't bother putting on polite pretenses with Herbert; she simply held out her palm toward him and snorted, "Less talk, hurry up and hand the thing over."

Since Herbert had let Flora leave so the two of them could be alone, there must be a new mission for her.

Far from resisting this, she was actually a little excited!

Because reading souls was, for a demon like her, a process that delighted both body and mind.

And Herbert didn't make any hypocritical excuses either; he simply took out a soul crystal.

"This time, I'm going to give you a demon-blooded mixed-race soul."

"Mm!?"

The Young Lady demon, who had been looking all proud a moment ago, suddenly went wide-eyed upon hearing the word "demon"—even her crossed leg came uncrossed—and she stared excitedly at the crystal in Herbert's hand.

"A demon?"

Herbert, seeing her look this time, knew she had taken the bait, and laughed, "And a pseudo-legendary one at that."

A pseudo-legendary one this time too!

"An evil soul that ruled a chaotic camp for three hundred years."

Listening to Herbert's account, the Young Lady demon's expression grew even more delighted.

The last time he had let her interpret the souls of ordinary nobles, she had already found a long-lost joy in this endless boredom.

Now, with a pseudo-legendary soul, she didn't know how happy reading through these three hundred years of records would make her.

Herbert looked at Kreti with a brilliant smile and asked languidly, "How about it? Does it suit your taste?"

"Not bad… uh."

Kreti answered instinctively, but quickly realized her own excitement, gave a light cough, and asked with feigned composure, "Just say it straight—what price do you want me to pay?"

So, what is the price?

"Aiya, don't talk about price! That sounds so distant, like our relationship isn't a good one." Herbert waved his hand, rejecting Kreti's "distant" framing.

He ignored the "icy" disdainful gaze of the demon Young Lady and laughed, "I'm giving you this soul as a gift, not asking for anything in return."

"I just hope you can help me keep an eye out—in this fellow's memories, you'll probably run into a mage from the Witch's Covenant."

"I want that person's information—how did he encounter that mage? How did he make contact with him? All these details, help me piece them together."

Herbert had originally let Nie Nasha keep the soul of that Madman precisely to figure this out.

Sooner or later he would come up against the Witch's Covenant; one more piece of understanding meant one more piece of preparation.

"That's all?"

Kreti had been waiting for Herbert to bring up more demands, but after saying just this one, he stopped.

She lifted an eyelid and asked, somewhat surprised, "Just this one? No other requests?"

Herbert nodded: "That's right, just this one request. How about it? It really isn't that hard, is it."

The human spoke frankly, but the demon chose not to believe him and kept pressing.

"Like this? I don't believe it."

"You must have some other scheme!"

"No附加 conditions?"

"Any hidden clauses?"

"Or perhaps…"

……

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Herbert watched the demon's relentless questioning and couldn't help rolling his eyes.

"In the end, are you the demon? Or am I the demon?"

The corner of Herbert's mouth twitched. He spread his hands and said helplessly, "Don't be so guarded against me—it makes it seem like I'm always out to harm you."

"Am I that kind of person?"

"What good does it do me to harm you? If there's no benefit, then why would I want to harm you?"

Does this demon have persecution complex? Why must I want to harm you?

"Uh… because it's fun?" Kreti said uncertainly.

This wasn't persecution complex on her part—it was purely projecting.

This is how we demons are.

For what fun?

Well, of course, for fun.

In this world, there are many kinds of villains.

There is one kind of villain who, for grand ideals and lofty values, chooses to stand on the opposite side of others.

But at the same time, there exists another kind of villain, who has no such complicated reasons, no so-called convictions.

If you ask them why they want to destroy the world, you'll only get one speechless answer—just for fun.

Generally speaking, most demons belong to the former category of schemers, who like to plan before acting, never lightly indulging their desires, only striving for their own goals.

But Kreti, this anomalous demon, clearly belonged to the latter.

Her actions had no specific reason; it was more about making herself happy.

Kreti simply enjoyed tempting those nobles who prided themselves on their noble blood, watching them step by step toward corruption, and ultimately self-destruction.

She savored the process, and watching them perish filled her with genuine joy.

"Tch, you demons really are… ah."

Herbert looked at Kreti's matter-of-fact expression and sighed helplessly: "Fine, since you insist I give you a reason, then let's do it this way."

Shaking his head, he walked slowly to the Wang Zuo and, without ceremony, placed his hand on the demon Young Lady's shoulder.

?

Only at this moment did Kreti sense something was off. She tried to rise, but Herbert pressed her firmly back down.

"Wait! What are you doing? I…"

Not right.

Something doesn't seem right!

Herbert looked at Kreti's flustered expression and couldn't help laughing, teasing, "What are you dodging? What are you afraid of? Isn't this what you wanted?"

"I give it to you out of kindness and you won't accept it, insisting I must have some other scheme… fine, then I'll satisfy you."

You mature-bodied little devil!

Treat you well and you're not happy; only like this do you behave.

Fine.

Satisfying you!

Herbert pressed Kreti down onto the seat, not in any hurry to act, but slowly bent his body, leaning toward her inch by inch.

???

The demon Young Lady only belatedly realized at this moment that something was wrong.

Did she really seem to have angered the other party?

Eh!

"Wait, I was wrong! Herbert! I misunderstood you! I misread you, wait a moment… mm!?" Kreti apologized while leaning back, instinctively wanting to dodge.

But just as she was about to exert force, a thick shadow tentacle shot out from the shadows.

That shadow tentacle swiftly wrapped around her entire body like a rope, firmly binding her to the bronze Wang Zuo.

But this actually wasn't a problem—a spell of this level she could shake off with just a bit of force.

The problem was, Kreti couldn't do it.

When Herbert slowly approached, she could still put up some resistance, but the moment the shadow tentacles appeared, she completely lost the ability to resist.

What happened?

Why did her body suddenly feel powerless?

And why did this touch feel so familiar?

Just what was going on?

Had something happened before?

Kreti was deeply bewildered, and then… Herbert's palm finally came down.

A pinch, a lift.

"Wait! There… ah!" The demon Young Lady glared at the youth before her in grief and indignation.

This bastard Holy Knight!

He actually played with my nose!!?

"You, mm!!?"

After properly giving the demon Young Lady a thorough beating, Herbert left the Lava Hell feeling refreshed.

"Sure enough, some people just need it, you can't be too nice and gentle with them."

"Give them a little sunshine and they bloom, give them a flower and they get romantic, give them a flood and they overflow… sigh!"

The sighing Herbert did not go visit Lucille; before going to find the Fallen Angel, he wanted to clarify one thing.

He wanted more detailed information about the Sun God's abnormal movements, and then share this matter with Lucille to see what she thought.

But after he left the Third Commandment Hall and had walked halfway, he suddenly stopped his steps, his expression strangely frozen.

"Wait, was I heading this way just now? Wasn't I supposed to go to the Tribunal?"

He discovered that he had actually not been moving according to One's Own Thoughts.

Hmm?

"This path… how does it lead to the Underground Sanctuary?"

"Why?"

(End of this chapter)