Chapter 41: Don

The Mist Monastery · Third Ordinance Hall, also known as the Alien Prison, is a special cell housing sealed dangerous alien entities.

The entire Ordinance Hall is divided into nine zones, each with its own unique Sealing Technique.

The second zone is the Deep Water Prison, the third is the Darkness Hell, the fourth is the Lava Hell, and so on…

The first zone, where Valentina is imprisoned, appears unremarkable, like an ordinary cell—but that is merely its facade.

Its true name is actually 【Endless Labyrinth】.

This semi-plane's area is the largest of all zones, equal to the combined total of the later zones.

It constantly shifts its corridors, eliminating any possibility of escape for prisoners.

One could say that once someone enters the Endless Labyrinth, their chance of leaving is virtually nonexistent.

Herbert, however, moves through it unimpeded, entirely due to his role as Warden.

He simply walks forward; even when he hits a dead end, the path automatically extends before him, forming a straight, direct route to his goal.

Thus, the only key to escaping here is this:

Don't stop moving!

Of course, this trick doesn't apply to everyone.

For intruders who accidentally stumble into this place, the ever-shifting, nearly identical terrain holds no discernible pattern.

Either possess the power to destroy all obstacles and force your way through,

Or simply trudge through the maze honestly—perhaps luck will guide you to the correct path.

Or… come truly prepared.

The fallen one, whose face was hidden beneath a black hood, stepped before a wall and pressed his slick, sticky palm against his own face.

Plosch.

With a sickening, eerie sound, his body instantly softened, collapsing to the ground; within a few breaths, he melted into a pool of black liquid reeking of fish.

This slime-like liquid showed no trace of its original form, yet faintly pulsed with a peculiar, vigorous vitality.

It writhed, adhered to the wall, seeped slowly through the cracks, then oozed out the other side, reuniting into a single mass.

The wall suffered no damage; only a long, blood-like streak remained on the ground where it had passed.

Though the entire motion seemed slow, its actual speed was astonishing—crossing one wall in less than ten seconds.

After confirming his initial attempt succeeded, the liquid's writhing accelerated, nearly running as it lunged toward the next wall.

Plosch.

Plosch.

It bounced, piercing layer after layer of walls, speeding forward.

Straight toward the barrier leading to the next zone.

【"Oh, so that's how it is~"】

After learning why Herbert was shocked, Nie Nasha sighed with amusement: 【"You humans don't even spare the fish—how unselective you are!"】

"Hold on, don't generalize!"

Herbert protested against her sweeping accusation: "He's unselective—not everyone is!"

Not everyone eats XX. JPG

Not all XX people do XX. JPG

Don't condemn everyone with one brush.

【"Hmph."】

Nie Nasha sneered, ignoring his protest, and retorted: 【"Aren't you just as unselective? You clearly… hmm hehe~"】

"How's that the same? Do I like them because of their race? Am I chasing some taboo, perverse feeling?"

"No!"

Herbert snorted, utterly unconcerned by the double standard, and declared plainly: "I like them for their looks!"

No more pretending—I'm owning it.

I just like pretty ones!

So what?

I'm a barbarian!

"I don't fancy every monster or alien—if something ugly shows up, I won't even glance twice!"

【"Really?"】

"Absolutely true!"

【"Then tell me—if a monster had a soft, fluffy tail, would you like it?"】

"... That's a bonus, uh, that's separate."

【"Hmph. No wonder I chose you as an ally—your shamelessness delights me."】

Herbert paid no mind to Nie Nasha's sarcastic jab.

It was simply true—each situation must be judged on its own merits.

What universal formula could possibly fit every circumstance?

"But then again—if he wasn't influenced by you, then he truly fell of his own accord?"

Having experienced Nie Nasha's influence himself, he had automatically assumed every act of desecration in the Mist Monastery was her doing.

Naturally, he viewed the desecrator as a pitiful fool misled by Miss Xie Shen into attacking a carp.

His repeated leniency toward him had stemmed partly from sympathy—he didn't want to torment a fellow traveler.

But now, looking back… hey!

You're not even on my side!

Then he… does he really like fish?

"Mm, respect, don't understand, but blessings."

In any case, I wish you and your next Mrs. Fish happiness and well-being.

Just don't show up in front of me again.

Herbert grew ever more convinced that his decision tonight to sneak into the alien race's prison was absolutely correct — practically a stroke of genius!

He felt the surrounding darkness, a feeling like coming home, and let out a long breath.

With these cells for protection, no one could possibly hurt him!

And he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else either.

Let alone hurt them — he couldn't even see them.

"…Fine, since you still don't want to see me, I'll just wait and come back next time." Herbert shook his head and once again declared his darkness exploration a failure.

Herbert walked for a long while, but he was just circling around the vampire the whole time, unable to find the path to the next area at all.

Yes, though Swanny hadn't altered the ground, she had successfully hidden herself outside the path.

No matter how good his sense of direction was, he still needed a path under his feet.

"Nie Nasha, can you find her location?"

【"Can't do it~ I'm still too weak right now!"】

"Eh, alright then."

Whatever, let's go see if the vampire young lady has behaved any better, then head back and chat with Miss Hungry Dragon.

Herbert was just about to head back when Miss Xie Shen, who had been acting cute and playing dumb just moments ago, suddenly let out a soft "huh?"

【"Oh?"】

Herbert hmphed irritably: "What is it with you now?"

【"I say… that Fallen One you mentioned, is he covered in slime all over, giving off a fishy smell?"】

"Probably, that's the vibe… huh?"

Herbert's eyes suddenly went wide, and he turned to look back at the darkness behind him that seemed perfectly unremarkable.

Could it be—!?

【"Yep~ he's charging right at you~"】

"Holy shit!!?"

You're really coming after me!

He's chased me all the way here!?

Don't come over here—

Thanks to Shameless Instant Noodles for the tip

……

Tomorrow at dawn the second round recommendation goes up, I'm so nervous so nervous so nervous—

The weather's turning cold, keep warm, I caught something again, ugh!

……

PS: If any big shots want to tip or vote, you can wait until the day after tomorrow at dawn (Monday 0:00).

At that time the weekly new rankings reset, after tipping the ranking on the new book chart might be able to climb higher.

Heart!

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(End of this chapter)