Chapter 364: Please Let Me Use You (Subscribe Please)

Break out of prison!

Must break out of prison!

After figuring out what the Magic Mirror could do, the first thought in Herbert's mind was to take the monster girls and run.

This damn place, I don't want to stay here one more second!

I'm done!

I quit!

The world is so big, I want to go see it!

Goodbye~ mama~ tonight I'm sailing far away~

"……Mm."

After getting worked up for quite a while, Herbert gradually calmed down, silently covering his mouth and coughing twice.

Cough, cough, cough, I was only joking.

Quitting is impossible to quit!

At least not yet.

Quitting without finding a next gig (securing a fallback) is pure impulse — a Bai Chi move, completely not worth promoting.

But breaking out of prison… well, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing.

After all, such a powerful ability is right in front of me; it'd be a waste not to use it.

It's not some "forbidden power that would hurt others," and he's not the type of Japanese-style protagonist who'd think "my power is too strong, so people will treat me like a monster."

When you've got a cheat, you use it.

Not using it would be the truly incomprehensible idiocy.

That power is clearly all earned by my own sweat and effort!

But there is a way to use it; for now, I still need to keep a low profile and bide my time.

Although he said he'd break out of prison, Herbert definitely couldn't just brazenly take all the monster girls and run off right now.

That would be too unrealistic.

First, not to mention anything else, just one key point kills every possibility that follows.

The most fatal, most basic point — you can't actually run.

Unless they can completely hide their identities out in the world, be cautious their whole lives, and never expose a single clue, sooner or later the day will come when someone comes knocking.

Escaping, sure.

But can you really escape?

Among the pursuers, there will absolutely be an invincible old coot with a full-map view and unrestricted movement.

You can't escape!

The Archbishop has been waiting all along for a chance to go out and have some fun.

Herbert has no intention of becoming the Archbishop's excuse to leave the house.

An endless pursuit by a Saint is, for him — someone who isn't even a Legend yet — honestly a bit too hellish.

Don't want that kind of thing —

Herbert can probe the limits within a controllable range, but he absolutely cannot completely cross the line.

The prisoners can leave temporarily, but they absolutely cannot vanish entirely.

The Archbishop and Herbert share an unspoken understanding; for now, both sides are at peace.

The Archbishop tacitly permits Herbert to do many things, choosing to turn a blind eye as long as the bottom line isn't crossed.

Looking at it this way, the Archbishop seems to have shown him quite exaggerated favoritism.

But couldn't this same favoritism, viewed from another angle, be seen as him watching like a tiger, waiting for Herbert to slip up?

This kind of thinking might be a bit extreme, painting the Archbishop too villainously, but one can't say it's entirely impossible.

Don't fear to suspect others with the worst malice, nor stint to treat people with the greatest kindness.

Never harbor the intent to harm others, but never drop the guard against them either — this is social skill! The art of reading people!

Herbert's emotions cooled down a little, but the corners of his raised mouth still wouldn't settle.

Despite all these various troubles and concerns, he was still very excited right now.

Because, if he could truly make Liukaliya work for him, it would truly solve his biggest headache of late — completely linking the Third Commandment Hall with Aelda.

Herbert couldn't split himself in two after all, and limited by current technological and magical levels, he couldn't remotely control Aelda's construction — a real headache.

This unavoidable problem had been holding back Aelda's development all along.

He had been searching for a way to connect these two happy homes together.

And now…

Wear iron-shod shoes and search in vain; what you seek comes without effort.

Herbert once again felt an inexplicable stirring about his own fate.

"So, is this my fate? Destined to walk the path of heresy?"

In a quite unexpected place, and under entirely unanticipated circumstances, the perfect solution appeared.

After searching and searching in vain, after winding through twists and turns until he was nearly ready to give up, the variable walked right up to him.

Suddenly turning back, that person is there, where the lights are dim.

How can this not be called the arrangement of fate?

And if the Bishop of Ashes were to learn of this matter, she would not be surprised in the slightest.

That's right, this is Herbert's fate!

In her eyes, no matter where Herbert's fate led, it would welcome a magnificent life.

Every tributary of his river of fate, every surging wavelet, was a height that others could never reach in their entire lives.

Although Herbert's fate had not yet reached the exaggerated heights of those legendary "Children of Fortune" or "Children of Destiny."

But the Ashen Bishop could not guarantee that he would not reach that point in the future.

Because Herbert's fate was still changing!

Still continuing to grow more perilous! More magnificent!

Upon him, the waves of fate were rising one after another.

As Herbert grew stronger, his fate changed along with it.

The stronger he became, the stronger his fate.

And the stronger his fate, the more people would gather around him, and he would in turn grow ever stronger.

The more perilous the fate, the sweeter the gifts it brought.

At the very end of his fate, what kind of peak would he reach? What kind of ending would he meet?

Until everything was decided, no one could say for certain.

Because fate is always changing — it is the most unfathomable mystery in this world.

Even the goddess who presides over 【Fate】 has no way to fully interfere with fate.

"Haa…"

After a while longer, Herbert let out a long breath, finally calming down completely.

At this moment, the quietly silent Liukaliya spoke up again at just the right moment: "Has it been confirmed?"

Earlier, when Herbert had been overcome with excitement, Liukaliya had been very curious, but she showed considerable courtesy and never interrupted his emotions.

"…Mm, roughly."

Herbert did not keep her in suspense either, and candidly described his experience, telling her what he had seen and heard.

"I saw images of many people in the mirror surface. The effect is somewhat similar to a shadow-gathering stone, but those images are things that actually happened."

"Besides, I seem to be able to use you as a special portal, passing through the barrier of the Third Commandment Hall and connecting this place with the outside."

"After testing, as long as I concentrate, I can anchor onto one of those images and construct a passage linking the two places."

"However, there still seem to be some limitations."

As Herbert spoke, he demonstrated with his hands.

He focused his mind and fixed the image on Valentina, then reached his hand through the mirror surface, trying to touch the sleeping Hakiryu.

As a result, his palm emerged from the small mirror by the bed… and then, as expected, got stuck when it tried to extend further.

Step Brothers, I am Stark. JPG

That's right, the portal Liukaliya had created had its limits.

She had not constructed a portal out of thin air between two places — she had connected the "mirror surfaces" of the two locations.

The size of the portal depended on the size of the mirror surface at the other end.

For mirror demons, the mirror world is interconnected.

They can leap from one mirror to another nearby one without thinking about the principle behind it at all.

This is the racial talent of mirror demons.

But Herbert is not a mirror demon — he cannot do this.

He needs a mirror large enough for him to pass through.

The portal in Elda was the lake water, which was like a "mirror surface" when calm.

"Oh~"

After listening to Herbert's account, Liukaliya nodded thoughtfully, stared at his expression, and slowly asked: "Do you really need this ability?"

"I really do."

Herbert nodded in admission and said: "If possible, I hope you can let me keep using your true body."

Liukaliya:???

The Young Lady mirror demon was greatly shaken by Herbert's words.

Use?

This… hss!

I understand the meaning of every single word in your sentence, but strung together, why does it sound so awkward?

No!

What are you going to do to my true body?!

Speak!

Are you planning to do all sorts of filthy, lewd things to my true body!!?

She narrowed her eyes, stared intently at Herbert, trying to pick up some clue (a lewd gaze) from his face.

She did indeed see excitement in Herbert's eyes, but it was not the sleazy look she had imagined — it was… a long-absent gleam.

The same sort of look she had seen countless times in the eyes of those ambitious schemers.

Ambition.

She saw the spark of ambition in Herbert's eyes.

"Oh~"

Upon discovering this, Liukaliya's expression turned playful.

She grew even more excited.

Unlike other mirror demons, Liukaliya did not enjoy the feeling of "becoming" someone else — she would not choose to replace them.

Rather than becoming the protagonist of the story, she preferred to act as an observer.

Liukaliya was more willing to fabricate the beginning of a story, silently watch after offering them help, and then let it develop on its own toward its conclusion.

In the end, after everything was over, she would record this story down, and then at some opportune moment recount it to others.

She was 【Silver-Tongued Magic Mirror】.

This title did not merely mean that she possessed a silver tongue; it also represented that she was the storyteller.

And now, Liukaliya had, after a long absence, found that feeling from back then once again.

"You want to use me? Although this request is quite presumptuous, but... it's not entirely out of the question."

She looked at Herbert and asked softly: "Then, young man brimming with ambition, please answer me."

"If I agree to your request, what benefit is there in it for me?"

She might enjoy spectating, but enjoying spectating was enjoying spectating, and the other party's request was a request — these were two entirely different matters.

Just like fate itself, no gift ever came without a price.

Since Herbert had made a request, he must certainly pay a corresponding price.

This was perfectly reasonable.

Facing Liukaliya's question, Herbert did not pull out his bargaining chips from the start, but instead countered directly:

"Tell me, what kind of return do you want?"

"As long as it's not too excessive, I can do my best to satisfy it."

He unusually did not try to seize control of the conversation's initiative through performance in order to deliberately drive down the price.

It wasn't that Herbert didn't want to — he truly had no way to.

His emotional fluctuations from earlier had all been caught by the other party; now he truly couldn't pretend not to care about Liukaliya's abilities.

His thrilled, excited emotions had already been completely exposed, and could fool no one.

Moreover, the magic mirror opposite him, who had seen countless living beings, was probably in no way inferior to him when it came to reading people's hearts.

A blustering performance would only make himself appear insincere and prevent the conversation from proceeding.

Rather than wrangling ugly and shamelessly, it was far better to lay out his sincerity in a straightforward manner.

"Young man, you really know how to play along~"

Liukaliya was very satisfied with the attitude Herbert had shown, and with a beaming smile began to name her price: "You also know how immensely valuable my abilities are; normally speaking, you definitely couldn't afford it."

"But then, seeing as you're so sensible, I'll give you a bargain! Just satisfy one condition of mine and I'll agree to you."

She smiled mysteriously, drawing out her voice: "I want... someone to come keep me company and chat."

"Lots of people!"

"From now on, at least one person a week! No, two! At least three!"

Herbert:?

"Huh?"

You built up all this tension for half a day, just for this?

Just for two people to chat with you?

Are you some empty-nest elder with no family by your side?

Herbert clenched his teeth tightly, not letting his feelings show.

"……"

He fell silent, his brow furrowing tightly.

We holy knights have undergone professional training — no matter how funny it is, we won't laugh, unless we can't hold it in!

No, must not laugh!

But just as Herbert was preparing to begin his performance to fool the mirror-demon Young Lady, he suddenly paused again.

Wait.

The situation might really not be that simple.

Liukaliya's asking price seemed abstract and outrageous, but upon careful thought, it was actually not easy to fulfill.

To find candidates to chat with Liukaliya, several necessary conditions had to be met.

First, they must not know the internal situation of the Third Precept Hall, and must not realize what kind of place this was immediately upon arriving.

Second, the candidates had to be trustworthy to a certain degree; not leaking this information was the Top Priority.

These two problems could actually both be solved.

Just decorate the Mirror Space a bit, and then lure people over under some other pretext.

But even so, there still existed an unavoidable difficulty — Herbert simply did not have that many trustworthy candidates.

The cultivators of the monastery were ruled out directly, and it wasn't convenient to bring other people inside the Precept Hall.

Then, qualified candidates could only be... the subjects of Elda.

But the problem was, he didn't have that many subjects yet, and fundamentally couldn't satisfy her long-term needs.

Just as Herbert was deep in thought, he heard a faint, soft sound.

Drip.

Like the sound of a water droplet falling.

He followed the sound and looked, and saw the Fallen Angel Young Lady, who had remained silent ever since seeing the ancient mirror; at this moment she was pressing her lips tightly together, with crystalline teardrops flowing down from beneath the black veil.

What had Luciel seen in the mirror? How could it have caused her such a great emotional upheaval, even bringing her to tears?

But this thought of concern only existed in Herbert's mind for an instant, when he suddenly realized another matter.

When it came to negotiation... did one absolutely have to agree to the other party's conditions?

When I didn't have a single nuclear bomb, you threatening me was one thing.

But when I've already got this many nuclear bombs and you still threaten me, wouldn't my nuclear bombs have been built for nothing?

Herbert raised an eyebrow at the Mirror Demon Young Lady, tipped his chin toward the Fallen Angel without a word, and silently nodded.

You ask me, what is our side's confidence?

There — that is our side's argument.

Not convinced?

"Mm?"

Liukaliya's expression stiffened. She glanced at Ruhir, then turned her head stiffly and stared at Herbert in disbelief.

Visibly shaken, she raised a hand, pointed at him, and said through gritted teeth:

"You are truly despicable!!!"

You beast!

(End of this chapter)