Chapter 388: The One Who Dances with Dragons (Happy Birthday to Me)

"... Where are you?"

At this moment, Liukaliya thought helplessly.

"Come save me!"

She longed so desperately for a hero to appear and take this evil dragon away.

In her heart, Liukaliya silently called out—Herbert, please come back!

If she had actually said that out loud, Herbert would surely have heard it and teased her about it properly.

It was clearly she who had asked for someone to chat with, yet when Valentyna "kindly" took the initiative to come over, she got stage fright instead.

One had to admit, this was a kind of otherworldly version of "Lord Ye's love of dragons."

But really, it's hard to blame Liukaliya for being timid.

After all, she was looking for a chat buddy, not a terrorist who was ready to turn her into a broken mirror at any moment.

Let's just chat, don't get handsy!

What kind of normal person spends the whole conversation thinking about how to beat the other person up?

Are you even a proper dragon?

Strictly speaking, Liukaliya actually wasn't afraid of Valentyna attacking—most likely it wouldn't harm her true body—but she also didn't want to get beaten up for no reason.

As for whether she was truly innocent... that's not important, don't dwell on it.

The Young Lady Mirror Demon protested Valentyna's grudge-holding.

I only borrowed your identity for a little bit, I didn't fool anyone, why must you be so unrelenting?

As for why it's "didn't fool" rather than "didn't deceive"—same as before—that's not important, don't dwell on it!

It can only be said that, in all the crises Liukaliya had encountered growing up... not a single beating was for nothing.

She deserved every one of them.

"..."

The Young Lady Mirror Demon grumbled in her heart for a while, then reluctantly stopped her muttering and turned her gaze toward the dragon who had simply fallen asleep on the ground.

Valentyna had originally come back to the Discipline Hall to rest after tiring herself out with exercise; if not for the urge to take revenge on the mirror demon, she would have passed out long ago.

And after roughly figuring out by instinct that Liukaliya was a friend rather than a foe, Valentyna let down her guard.

So, once sleepiness crept over her, she no longer cared about the place, and performed a feat of "sleeping anywhere, anytime" for the Young Lady Mirror Demon, who had never experienced proper sleep.

She yawned, simply closed her eyes, folded her arms, fell backward, and was instantly in dreamland.

From feeling slightly drowsy to completely passing out, the whole process took no more than three seconds.

Moreover, although Valentyna had fallen over stiff as a board, her sleeping posture was anything but proper.

After lying down, she unconsciously curled up, threading her big tail between her legs to use as a pillow, hugging it tightly and resting her head on it.

Drool at the corner of her mouth, an innocent look on her face, like a weak little cutie in need of affection.

Although she had absolutely nothing to do with the word "weak."

Even in her dreams, the terrifying aura emanating from Valentyna still invisibly filled the Mirror Space.

If it were any ordinary creature, forget harboring malice toward her, they wouldn't even entertain the thought of approaching.

The dragon's might.

That fear, born of bloodline, left those who had once been ruled in the Dragon Era unable to even conceive of resistance.

Even though the age of dragons had ended, and its former glory had been seized by the gods, dragons remained at the pinnacle of the mortal world.

Countless people dreamed of becoming legendary heroes, dragon-slayers whose deeds would be sung by others.

But when they braved countless hardships, passed through countless obstacles to reach the dragon's lair, and truly faced that powerful and beautiful creature, few could muster the courage to go on.

Only true warriors could withstand the dragon's might through sheer will and turn the blade in their hands against them.

Yet, faced with such powerful beings, there were always some exceptions who held different ideas.

They actively sought out the dragons' tracks, hunting for dragon lairs across the lands, and called themselves "Those Who Dance with Dragons."

They not only dared to face the dragons' radiance head-on, but even boldly declared their love, intending to become the dragons' partners.

Some among them ignored that dragon's might and fell in love with the dragons' power—admiring strength is the instinct of most living beings.

Others simply had a personal preference, liking the dragons' appearance; if the dragon changed into another form, they wouldn't be happy about it.

Most of their courtship attempts failed—ignored by the dragons, or wiped out by a single breath.

But some succeeded, catching a dragon's interest and becoming their partner, giving birth to half-blood dragon descendants who carried the dragon's bloodline.

"Setting aside those people's strange preferences, honestly, their way of thinking isn't hard to understand."

Liukaliya looked at Valentyna sleeping sweetly and obediently, shook her head silently, and couldn't help the corners of her mouth curling up.

If you ignored Valentyna's strength, she really was a pretty cute creature.

Her looks were flawless, she had no airs about her, and although she had a bit of a "temper," she could still keep it in check.

Most importantly, there was that not-very-bright air about her, a bit dopey.

Perhaps this was the reason that fellow could overlook all of that?

Human nature, understandable.

Thinking of this, Liukaliya couldn't help sighing: "Valentyna really is cute, isn't she!"

The mirror demon had just finished sighing when, the next second, a voice of agreement came unexpectedly from behind: "Indeed."

"Hmm?"

Liukaliya whipped her head around and once again saw the youth who had appeared at some unknown moment.

Facing her shocked gaze, Herbert shrugged and smiled: "I think you're absolutely right, she really is cute, but I won't share her with you."

Herbert issued a food-guarding declaration to the Young Lady Mirror Demon—she's mine, don't even think about it!

"Huh???"

Liukaliya shot Herbert a look and said, speechless, "When did I ever say I was going to fight you for her!?"

What nonsense are you spouting?

"Is that so? You'd better really mean it."

"Heh!"

Liukaliya rolled her eyes again — she had never been this speechless in her life.

She had been rendered utterly speechless by Herbert and Valentina.

Fine, you two are something else.

The two of you really are birds of a feather — you can't get two different kinds of people out of the same blanket.

Valentina suspects I'm plotting against you, and you suspect I'm plotting against her.

Are you two sick in the head or what?

She couldn't be bothered to pay attention to this fellow's ravings. Without arguing further, she turned her head and asked, "When did you get back?"

Liukaliya was genuinely puzzled by this question, unable to figure out why she had failed to notice Herbert.

Logically speaking, with her Mirror Demon racial talent, her mastery of space was extremely adept — no one should be able to escape her "eyes" wherever a mirror's reflection reached.

But unexpectedly, after running into Herbert, she had repeatedly suffered defeat at this young man's hands.

Strange.

Why is it that I just can't detect him?

Why can't I sense his shadow?

"I don't know, I didn't do anything anyway."

Herbert spread his hands, equally unable to figure out the reason, and said casually, "Maybe you've been too comfortable here for too long and let your guard down."

"Let my guard down? Hmm… maybe that's it."

Liukaliya thought it over and could only accept this explanation for now, helplessly.

Turning it over in her mind, she decided that next time she would definitely stay alert and not let him startle her again!

Liukaliya prepared to lay a dragnet throughout the Mirror Space, activating every mirror surface to monitor every move here at all times, with no blind spots in any direction.

She refused to believe he could still slip away even like this!

Just as she was secretly nodding to herself over her carefully constructed plan, she suddenly saw Herbert simply scoop Valentina up off the floor where she was curled up.

"Why did she fall asleep here? Honestly, if she catches a cold… oh, wait, she can't catch a cold."

It wasn't a tender princess carry, nor a rough piggyback — it was… bending at the waist, arms extended straight, simply scooping the "hungry dragon ball" off the ground.

What kind of move is that?

If you say he dislikes her, his face is full of tenderness, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

If you say he likes her, his actions are so distant.

"……"

Liukaliya was silent for a moment, and could only chalk up this bizarre behavior to some private little quirk between the two of them.

She decided to stay silent and didn't plan to ask more, because she felt that if she asked, she'd just get made to feel like a third wheel again.

A third wheel should have the self-awareness of a third wheel — don't ask what you shouldn't ask.

Otherwise, besides making yourself miserable, there's no benefit at all.

It's just that, most of the time, even if you want to hide, others may not be willing to let you off.

Every shameless couple in this world has mastered one basic move without being taught — dancing right in front of people's faces!

Herbert "sharply" noticed Liukaliya's gaze and broke into a smile: "Oh? You want to ask me why I'm carrying her like this?"

Mirror Demon:?

"Uh, I don't—"

She wanted to deny it, but Herbert didn't give her any chance to refuse. With an utterly lovesick expression, he said, "Heh, it's because I don't want to disturb her sweet dream. She's been too tired before this, she ought to rest properly."

Mirror Demon:??

"Um, that's not—"

Why are you telling me all this?

Why tell me?

Herbert "ignored" the Mirror Demon who was trying to speak, gazed lovingly at Valentina's sleeping face, chuckled softly twice, and said softly, "Do you know why she's been so exhausted?"

Mirror Demon:???

"No, I don't want to know, really…"

Liukaliya delivered a triple refusal, doing her utmost to express her resistance — but was still ignored by Herbert.

He gently kissed Valentina on the cheek, his eyes full of tenderness, and said, "Just now, she and I…"

*Crack! *

The sound of shattering mirror shards cut off Herbert's performance.

"Enough! I know you two are very much in love, all right! Shut your mouth!"

Liukaliya was beside herself with rage.

Damn it, why so many words!

I don't want to know what happened between you two!

If you two want to be all over each other, fine — why do you have to tell me about it?

Are you sick in the head?!

Damn it, you're so utterly shameless — are you really a Holy Knight?

Who asked you!?

"Hahaha!"

Seeing the Young Lady Mirror Demon so furious, Herbert finally couldn't hold it in either and burst into hearty laughter: "You couldn't hold back at last. I was wondering how long you could endure!"

Watching Herbert laughing so heartily, Liukaliya glared at him, but soon she herself couldn't hold back either and let out a helpless laugh.

"Pfft, haha."

"Hahaha!"

When a person is truly speechless, they really can't help but laugh out loud.

She couldn't help but complain: "Herbert, you really are… sigh!"

You're definitely a bit sick in the head!

Crazy, made me laugh for a second!

After laughing for quite a while, Liukaliya, watching the intimate scene between Herbert and Valentina, suddenly asked curiously: "Speaking of which, how did you come to have this kind of relationship with her?"

After their relationship drew closer, she suddenly grew interested in the story between these two.

"Hmm?"

"What I mean is, uh…"

Liukaliya thought for a moment, then asked carefully: "As a human, and especially as a Holy Knight, how did you come to accept a non-human being like her?"

"A non-human being?" Herbert blinked in confusion and gave Liukaliya a deep, somewhat surprised look.

He had never imagined it would be she who asked him this question.

Herbert had imagined he would be asked such a question and had long prepared his answer.

But what he hadn't expected was that the words came from the mouth of a monster girl who was herself a non-human being.

You, asking this question — is that appropriate?

"Are you very curious?"

Liukaliya nodded and asked earnestly: "I am a little curious. I really want to know what made you take the first step."

"Did you want to become a dragon conqueror? Or were you greedy for her dragon beauty and strength?"

Dragon conqueror? Dragon-fetishist?

Herbert was amused by the Young Lady Mirror Demon's way of putting it. He shook his head, roughly understanding what she was curious about.

What she really meant to ask was which part of Valentina had moved him, making him willing to walk this forbidden path that the world would not tolerate…

A reason?

Herbert thought for a moment, then shook his head with an easy smile: "If you want me to give you an exact answer, you might be disappointed."

"My relationship with Valentina has never been because of her race — whether she's a dragon or not, it's all the same."

"Whether she's powerful or weak, her place in my heart will never change."

"If I absolutely must give you a reason… love, perhaps?"

Beyond wanting to be with a dragon out of admiration for the strong or a special preference, there is actually a third reason — love.

"She loves me, I love her. That's all. That's the reason we chose to be together."

Herbert lowered his eyes, his gentle gaze falling on Valentina's sleeping face. He couldn't help but kiss her once more, and murmured: "Love is love. How could there be such complicated reasons?"

……

And while Herbert was explaining his thoughts to Liukaliya, in the lava hell some unexpected changes were taking place.

Boom boom boom!

"Hey! Demon! Are you okay!!?"

The Young Lady Devil poked her head out from atop the bronze fortress, looked at the churning lava pool, and couldn't help but ask: "Hey, are you about to go berserk again!"

"This time it's really not my fault! I didn't do anything!"

"If Herbert comes to ask later, you have to prove it for me — I really didn't cause you trouble this time!"

The Devil shouted loudly, making a fuss, trying to prove her innocence.

And beneath the lava pool, in the silent depths of the magma, Flora was curled up in agony, hugging her legs tight, gritting her teeth as she struggled against her instincts.

She forced her eyes open, then painfully squeezed out a word from her mouth that was utterly foreign to her.

"Love…"

(End of chapter)