Chapter 393: Let Me Use You (Request Subscription)

Escape!

We must escape!

After understanding what the Magic Mirror could do, Herbert’s first thought was to flee with the monster girls.

I don’t want to stay in this place one more second!

I quit!

I’m resigning!

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

Goodbye~ Mom~ Tonight I’m setting sail~

“...Hmm.”

After excelling for a while, Herbert gradually calmed down and quietly covered his mouth as he coughed twice.

Cough cough—I was just joking.

Resigning is out of the question!

Not yet, at least.

Quitting without securing a next position (a guaranteed escape route) is pure idiotic impulsiveness—not worth advocating at all.

But escaping? Well—we still have to escape.

After all, such a powerful ability is right in front of us; not using it would be a waste.

It’s not some “forbidden power that harms others,” and he’s not one of those Japanese male leads who thinks, “My power is too strong—I’ll be seen as a monster.”

If you’ve got a buff on your account, use it.

Not using it would be incomprehensible stupidity.

This is all earned by my sweat and effort!

But there’s a right way to use it—we must still stay discreet and bide our time for now.

Although escape is the goal, Herbert certainly couldn’t just march out now with all the monster girls in tow.

That’s too unrealistic.

First, without even mentioning anything else, one critical point kills all subsequent plans.

The most fatal, fundamental point—escape is impossible.

Unless they vanish completely from the outside world, living in constant fear and never leaving a single trace, they’ll inevitably face a visit from the authorities.

Fleeing? Fine.

But can they really get away?

Among the pursuers, one hundred percent will be an invincible elder with full-map awareness and unrestricted movement.

You can’t escape!

The Grand Archbishop has been waiting for an opportunity to go out and have some fun.

Herbert doesn’t want to become the excuse that gets the Grand Archbishop to leave.

An endless pursuit by a Saint is far too hellish for someone who isn’t even a Legend yet.

I don’t want that—

Herbert can test the boundaries within his controllable range, but he absolutely cannot fully break through them.

Prisoners may leave temporarily, but they must never vanish completely.

The Grand Archbishop and Herbert share an unspoken understanding; both currently coexist peacefully.

The Grand Archbishop has tacitly allowed Herbert to do many things, turning a blind eye as long as he doesn’t cross the line.

From this perspective, the Grand Archbishop seems to show him remarkable favoritism.

But could this favoritism also be interpreted, from another angle, as the Grand Archbishop watching him closely, waiting for him to slip up?

This thought may be overly cynical, painting the Grand Archbishop as too malicious—but it cannot be dismissed as entirely impossible.

Never assume ill intent toward others, but never neglect to guard against it either.

Do not harbor harmful intentions, but never let down your guard—that’s social strategy! The art of reading people!

Herbert’s emotions cooled slightly, but the smile still lingered at the corner of his mouth.

Despite all these troubles and concerns, he was still extremely excited.

Because if he could truly make Lycalia serve him, he could finally solve his biggest problem of late—fully connecting the Third Oath Abbey with Ellda.

Herbert couldn’t split himself, and current magical-technological levels prevented remote control of Ellda’s construction—he was deeply frustrated.

This unavoidable issue had long blocked Ellda’s development.

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

And now...

After searching everywhere without success, after winding through endless dead ends and nearly giving up, the solution walked right up to him.

Herbert felt a strange sense of destiny once again.

“So... is this my fate? Destined to walk a path of heresy?”

In the most unexpected place, under circumstances he never imagined, the perfect solution appeared.

After fruitless searching, after countless detours and near surrender, the variable came to him on its own.

Turning back suddenly, there she was—in the dim lantern light.

How could this not be fate’s design?

If the Ash Archbishop knew of this, she wouldn’t be the least bit surprised.

Yes—this is Herbert’s fate!

In her eyes, no matter which path Herbert took, his life would become grand and turbulent.

Every tributary of his fate’s river, every ripple and surge, reached heights no other could ever attain.

Herbert’s fate, for now, still doesn’t reach the exaggerated levels of legendary “Chosen Ones” or “Fate Children.”

But the Ash Archbishop couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t reach that level in the future.

Because Herbert’s fate is still changing!

Still growing more perilous! More magnificent!

On him, the waves of fate keep rising, one after another.

As Herbert grows stronger, his fate grows stronger too.

The stronger he becomes, the stronger his fate becomes.

The stronger his fate, the more people gather around him, and the stronger he becomes in turn.

The more treacherous his fate, the sweeter its rewards.

What peak will his fate ultimately reach? What ending will it bring?

Until all is decided, no one can say for sure.

Because fate is ever-changing—the most elusive mystery in this world.

Even the Goddess who governs [Fate] cannot fully interfere with fate.

“Huh...”

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

At this moment, Lycalia, who had remained silent, spoke again: “Have you confirmed it?”

Earlier, when Herbert was overwhelmed with excitement, Lycalia, though deeply curious, showed great politeness and never interrupted him.

“...Yeah, roughly.”

Herbert didn’t drag it out—he honestly described his experience, recounting what he had seen and felt.

“I saw many people’s images in the mirror—similar to a Shadow Stone, but these were real events that actually happened.”

“Also, I seem to be able to use you as a special portal, piercing through the barrier of the Third Oath Abbey and linking this place to the outside world.”

“After testing, if I focus my mind, I can anchor one of these images and construct a passage connecting the two locations.”

“But there seem to be some limitations.”

As he spoke, Herbert demonstrated.

He focused his mind on Valentina’s image, reached out his hand through the mirror, and tried to touch the sleeping Hakiron.

His hand emerged from the small mirror beside the bed... and, as expected, got stuck when he tried to extend it further.

Stepbro, I’m Stark.JPG

Yes, the portal Lycalia created has limits.

She didn’t construct a portal between two places out of thin air—she linked the “mirrors” of the two locations.

The size of the portal depends on the size of the mirror on the other side.

For Mirror Witches, the mirror world is interconnected.

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

This is their racial talent.

But Herbert isn’t a Mirror Witch—he can’t do that.

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

The portal in Ellda is the lake, calm as a mirror.

“Oh~”

After hearing Herbert’s explanation, Lycalia nodded thoughtfully, studying his expression as she asked slowly: “Do you need this ability badly?”

“Very much.”

Herbert nodded in acknowledgment and said, “If possible, I hope you’ll allow me to keep using your body.”

Luka Liya: ???

The Mirror Demon Lady was deeply shaken by Herbert’s words.

Use?

This… sss!

I understand every word you just said, but why does it sound so strange when put together?

No!

What exactly do you plan to do to my body?!

Speak!

Are you planning to do some filthy, lewd things to my body!!?!

She narrowed her eyes, studying Herbert closely, searching his face for any trace of lewd intent.

She did see excitement in Herbert’s eyes—but not the lewd gaze she’d imagined. Instead, it was… a long-forgotten gleam.

The same kind of look she’d seen countless times in the eyes of the ambitious.

Ambition.

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

“Oh~”

Realizing this, Luka Liya’s expression turned playful.

She grew even more excited.

Unlike other Mirror Demons, Luka Liya did not enjoy “becoming” others; she never chose to replace them.

Rather than becoming the protagonist of a story, she preferred to be an observer.

Luka Liya preferred to craft the beginning of a tale, offer help quietly, then watch silently as it unfolded toward its end.

In the end, after all was done, she would record the story and tell it to others at the right moment.

She was the [Silver-Tongued Mirror].

This title did not merely refer to her silver tongue—it meant she was the storyteller.

Now, for the first time in ages, Luka Liya felt that old sensation return.

“You want to use me? It’s a bold request… but not impossible.”

She looked at Herbert and asked softly, “Tell me, young man with ambition in your eyes.”

“If I agree to your request, what do I gain?”

She enjoyed observing, but a request was a request—that was one thing; the price was another.

Like fate, no gift comes without cost.

Since Herbert had made his demand, he must pay the price.

That was only fair.

In response to Luka Liya ’s question, Herbert did not immediately reveal his Chouma . Instead, he asked directly:

“Tell me, what do you want in return?”

“As long as it’s not unreasonable, I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”

Rarely did he refrain from using performance to seize control of the conversation and drive down the price.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to—he simply couldn’t.

His emotional fluctuations had been seen by her; now he could no longer pretend indifference to her abilities.

His joy and excitement had been fully exposed—he couldn’t fool anyone.

Besides, the Mirror Demon before him had witnessed countless beings; in reading hearts, she was likely no less skilled than he was.

Pretense would only make him seem insincere and kill the conversation.

Better to cut through the pretense and show true sincerity.

“Young man, you’re surprisingly reasonable~”

Luka Liya was pleased with Herbert’s attitude and smiled as she began her offer: “You know how valuable my abilities are. Normally, you couldn’t possibly afford them.”

“But since you’re so considerate, I’ll give you a discount! Just fulfill one condition, and I’ll agree.”

She smiled mysteriously, drawing out her words: “I want… someone to keep me company.”

“Many people!”

“At least one person per week! No—two! At least three!”

Herbert: ?

“Huh?”

All that buildup… just for this?

Just so two people can chat with you?

Are you some lonely old widow with no family?

Herbert clenched his teeth, hiding his emotions.

“…”

He fell silent, his brow tightly furrowed.

We Holy Knights are professionally trained—we never laugh, no matter how funny, unless we can’t help it!

No, I must not laugh!

But just as Herbert prepared to launch his performance to deceive the Mirror Demon Lady, he suddenly froze.

Wait.

The situation might not be as simple as it seemed.

Luka Liya’s demand seemed absurd and vague, but upon closer thought, it was not easy to fulfill.

To find suitable companions for Luka Liya, several conditions must be met.

First, the person must not know the internal affairs of the Third Oath Monastery—they must not realize where they are upon arrival.

Second, the person must be trustworthy enough that they won’t leak this information—this is paramount.

Both issues could be resolved.

Simply decorate the Mirror Space and lure people here under another pretext.

But even then, one insurmountable obstacle remained—Herbert had no enough trustworthy candidates.

The monks of the monastery were out of the question; others couldn’t be brought inside the Oath Monastery.

The only eligible candidates… were the people of Elda.

But the problem was—he didn’t yet have enough subjects to meet her long-term needs.

As Herbert pondered, he heard a faint sound.

Drip.

Like a drop of water falling.

He turned toward the sound and saw the Fallen Angel Lady, who had remained silent since seeing the ancient mirror. Now she tightly pressed her lips, tears glistening as they streamed down beneath her black veil.

What had Luciel seen in the mirror to stir such emotion, to bring her to tears?

But this thought vanished in an instant—Herbert suddenly realized something else.

Negotiation… must you accept the other side’s terms?

When I had no nukes, your threats were understandable.

But now that I have so many nukes, and you still threaten me—did I build them for nothing?

Herbert raised an eyebrow at the Mirror Demon Lady, then nodded toward the Fallen Angel without a word.

You ask what my leverage is?

There it is.

Don’t like it?

“Hm?”

Luka Liya’s expression froze. She glanced at Luciel, then turned stiffly to Herbert, disbelief in her eyes.

She raised a trembling finger, pointing at him, teeth clenched:

“You’re so despicable!!!”

You monster!

(End of Chapter)