Chapter 411: Still Looking, Still Looking (62K, begging for votes)

"What's wrong?"

Flora noticed that Valentina's state was off — she sensed that this Young Lady of a dragon, who had always been utterly unrestrained, was, for once, nervous.

"Did you discover something?"

What had Valentina sensed?

"Ugh!"

The Hungry Dragon Young Lady came back to herself at her companion's voice and said, somewhat uncertainly, "I... I feel like someone's staring at me?"

She couldn't quite tell whether she'd just been having an illusion, or whether she had truly sensed danger.

Even the Sage in her mind couldn't give her an answer.

At this moment, Kreti — who had wrapped herself up tightly beside them, wearing a black mask with lace patterns, with only a pair of eyes showing — spoke up and quipped, "Staring at you? What are you talking about? The people over there aren't all looking at you, are they?"

She pursed her lips, motioning for Valentina to look clearly at the onlookers at the city gate — having completely forgotten that her own lips were already hidden behind the mask.

But Valentina understood Kreti's gesture and looked toward the residents by the city gate.

"Mm..."

The three of them had been waiting here for a while now, following Herbert's instructions, and had drawn quite a number of curious gazes from onlookers.

There was no lewdness or greed in these people's eyes — mostly curiosity about them, wondering why the three of them were only lingering here and not entering the city.

Were they waiting for someone?

Or did they feel their faith wasn't devout enough?

"No, I mean... that gaze felt dangerous." Valentina pressed her lips together, still wanting to salvage a bit of dignity for herself with an explanation.

She was simple, not stupid!

She could still tell clearly what kind of existence that cold gaze had come from just now — it couldn't possibly have come from this group of weaklings.

"Valentina, stop talking."

The Hungry Dragon Young Lady still wanted to say something, but Flora gave her a light tug and reminded her, "Don't forget where this is."

"This is Solantis."

Feeling a powerful expert secretly watching from the shadows?

Is that strange?

This is the Radiant Shengcheng, after all.

If there weren't any true experts guarding the place, that would be even stranger!

"If you really did sense a dangerous gaze, then it's probably him warning us not to stir up trouble."

A warning, or a rap on the knuckles.

As for why only Valentina sensed it — that was probably because she was the strongest, and had been taken for the leader of the group.

"... Fine."

Valentina still felt this explanation didn't quite seem right, but she accepted it grudgingly.

Let's just take it at face value for now.

She wasn't dropping the matter because she couldn't think it through, nor because she disliked thinking — really!

It was because Herbert was coming back any moment now.

Looking at the two figures, one ahead of the other, Valentina broke into a brilliant smile.

From the looks of it, things had gone smoothly on Herbert's end.

Their preparations beforehand had been very thorough — they had worked out various signals in advance.

If Herbert was wearing his helmet, that meant the Shengcheng wasn't safe for them, and they should be ready to flee at any moment.

And if Herbert had taken off his helmet, that meant everything was fine, and they could enter the city safely.

Even though they had only been apart for a short while, this was still a touching reunion.

Only, there seemed to be a few too many outsiders around at the moment.

Valentina's brow moved as she looked at the believers around her — these fellows were still blocking the way before the city gate without any sense, obstructing the only path into the city.

The Hungry Dragon Young Lady didn't try to push through, but instead shot a "fierce" glare in that direction.

What are you looking at?

Still looking! Still looking!

Get out of the way, get out of the way!

Only she'd forgotten that she was currently dressed in a maid outfit, so the originally fierce and intimidating glare had dropped several notches in menace.

Yes.

This was the other condition Herbert had agreed with Valentina — the reason for making her wear the maid outfit.

To make her look less dangerous, Herbert had also taken quite a bit of pains.

That's right, that's how it was.

It definitely wasn't because he liked maid outfits!

On top of that, she had been carefully restraining her own aura, so this glaring look didn't appear ferocious in others' eyes.

She looked like a puffed-up little kitten — even somewhat cute — and some of the older believers couldn't help the kindly smiles that crept onto their lips.

"Tch!"

Seeing that they remained unmoved under her "ferocious" gaze, Valentina pursed her lips and gave an angry snort.

"Hmph!"

Her slightly vexed voice shocked the onlookers before the city gate, and the blast of air sent quite a few of them stumbling, while everyone shut their eyes against the flying sand.

Bishop Evelyn reverted to human form just as she was about to hit the city gate, landing lightly among the crowd without hurting anyone.

Herbert, meanwhile, kept flying and arrived before the three of them, just in time to see the blast of air spreading outward from Valentina billowing the wide nun's habits of the two demon-girls behind her.

He watched helplessly as the blast of air outlined the true shapes hidden beneath the robes of the demons and devils.

A plain laid bare in full view, and rolling hills winding away.

Valentina: "Hmph hmph~"

Kreti: "Eh?"

Herbert: "Huh??"

Flora: "Mm!!?"

The culprit had no idea what a fine thing he had done, and stood there humming lightly as he watched the crowd fall like wheat ears.

The well-off victim only gave a casual little "oh?" and didn't take the matter to heart.

And as the lucky one who had witnessed all of this, Herbert quietly blinked and instinctively compared left and right.

The flat-as-a-board victim number two, however, completely lost her composure on the spot. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared furiously at Herbert, who was still standing there comparing left and right, shooting him a vicious look.

What are you looking at?

Keep looking!

In this world, the thing people fear most is comparison.

Like wearing the same outfit — when everyone is dressed the same, the ugly one is the one who feels awkward.

Still, Herbert actually felt Flora didn't need to get so worked up.

As far as he was concerned, demons and devils each had their own merits.

Big has its advantages, small has its wonders.

A mature lady has her good points, a loli has her charms.

Only by not being picky, loving to eat everything, can one be called well-rounded!

It's fine, I appreciate them all the same!

Thinking this, Herbert gave Flora a thumbs-up and a gentle smile.

It'll grow.

Don't be sad, don't be anxious!

In melancholy days, one must stay calm!

Believe it, happy days will come!

Even if it doesn't grow, it's fine!

You're great too!

Being small is also lovely.

"Mm???"

Although Flora had no idea what exactly was going on in Herbert's mind... but watching his expression, his eyes, and his gestures, she instinctively felt this guy definitely wasn't thinking anything good.

She gritted her teeth in fury and let out an angry hmph, unable to find a place to vent her rage.

"Hmph!"

You bastard, you've really gone too far.

Perhaps because of the long years they had spent together in the dream, Flora's attitude toward Herbert now was much more intimate than before, and much more relaxed.

Although nominally still Herbert's servant, in her every movement she was no longer quite so deferential.

Whoosh—

"I'm back, sorry to keep you waiting."

Herbert landed in front of the three of them. Before they could speak, his brow shifted slightly as he caught a whiff of an unusual atmosphere.

"What's wrong?"

His gaze swept across their faces as he asked softly, "Did something happen while I was away?"

Without the other party needing to speak, he had already detected the extremely subtle shifts in their hearts.

Although it looked normal on the surface, all three of them were behaving a little oddly, as if carefully guarding against something?

Herbert didn't think much of it, simply assuming they had been mistreated by the Sun Believers earlier.

And this keen insight of Herbert's into the human heart made Kreti's brow lift slightly, and her interest in him grew.

"... Hiss."

She always felt Herbert was like a devil wrapped in a holy knight's skin — he had a natural, innate sensitivity to human nature.

He could easily catch others' emotions and exploit them.

This talent seemed as if it had been born specifically for toying with others' feelings.

He was a born devil.

If this talent could be put to use... it would be an extremely terrifying thing.

When facing a treacherous, cunning devil, people would instinctively raise their guard, afraid of being led into a trap.

But when facing a legendary holy knight, the situation would be entirely different.

The identity of holy knight was Herbert's perfect disguise.

The vast majority of people would choose to believe the words of a legendary holy knight unconditionally, firmly convinced of the justice upon him.

No one would ever imagine a "harmless" legendary holy knight doing something as devilish as leading them into an abyss of no return!

"If I were to guide him..." Kreti silently swallowed and tucked away this dangerous thought in her heart.

She didn't want to see Herbert walk down such a dangerous path.

It really would be interesting, but it really was too dangerous.

And — the other party didn't seem to need her guidance either; he had long since figured it out on his own.

Kreti fell silent thinking these thoughts, Flora was pouting and sulking with Herbert, and only Valentina, after hearing Herbert's question, immediately gave a response.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

While the other two stayed silent, Valentina leapt straight out and quickly started tattling.

"I'll tell you! Just now it felt like someone was peeping at me!"

"Uh, like, someone was!"

Perhaps some people would think this sort of thing shouldn't be told to more people, and would want to handle it all on their own.

But with Valentina, that simply doesn't fly.

Hide it?

Why hide it?

Isn't a long mouth meant for talking?

Besides, Herbert is far, far smarter than her.

Any problem she can't solve, Herbert will definitely have a way to handle!

"Just now, I felt like someone suddenly glared at me… hmm, maybe it wasn't entirely aimed at me?"

"I just had this strange feeling, my gut told me someone — some really dangerous fellow — was looking this way."

By the end, she suddenly grew a little embarrassed, her voice dropping, her momentum clearly flagging.

"But I'm not even sure if there really was someone, or who it was, or where exactly…"

She gave an awkward little laugh, grinned sheepishly, and said: "Probably was, right? I think so, um… probably!"

Herbert's brow knit slightly as he listened to Valentina describe the situation just now in a thoroughly jumbled way.

"All right, I've got the picture."

After thinking it over, he slowly nodded, smiled at the Hungry Dragon Young Lady, and reassured her: "It's fine, it's nothing major. Even if something does go wrong, I'm here."

"Mm!"

Herbert shared the same view as the others — this matter was utterly unremarkable.

This was Solantis; it was perfectly normal for a powerful expert to be stationed here, and perfectly normal for a powerful expert to show hostility toward them.

The conservative and progressive factions of the Sun Church were currently locked in a spirited contest, and Herbert had already witnessed the differences of opinion between them.

If some big shot approved of their entry, then naturally some other big shot would be displeased about it.

No big deal.

As long as they did their own part, didn't stir up trouble, didn't break any rules, no one could do anything to them.

In fact, with the monastery backing them, unless they committed some especially outrageous offense, they'd be fine.

"Lord Herbert, please follow me." Bishop Evelyn silently stepped behind Herbert and gave a slight nod to the four of them.

Her gaze swept over the three monster girls, finally coming to rest on the thoroughly bundled-up demon and fixing on her in a long, deep stare.

"Mm?"

Kreti, who had been lost in her own thoughts, came back to herself upon noticing the gaze, and, made uneasy by being stared at like that, couldn't help but frown and ask: "Is there something you need?"

"…"

This bishop, who had maintained a calm demeanor even when arguing with others, now slightly moved her brow.

In the end, however, Bishop Evelyn still said nothing, and shook her head with unchanged composure.

"…No, it's nothing."

She cut the conversation short, turned her head, and led the way at once.

Still, although she said nothing, this particular attitude was clearly, subtly different from before.

Had she noticed something?

Herbert's heart stirred; he nodded to signal the three to follow, while secretly conversing with the Demon Young Lady.

"What? You know her? Old acquaintance?"

"No, no impression."

Kreti had also sensed something was off. She thought it over carefully in her mind, but in the end still couldn't find any memory of having had contact with a bishop of the Sun Church.

She didn't know her.

"But she seems to know you? Are you sure you two never had any grudge between you?" Herbert asked curiously, pressing on.

It felt like those two had some kind of story between them.

"Then I wouldn't know."

Once Kreti was certain she really didn't know Evelyn, she appeared quite nonchalant, and said casually: "Then go ask her, don't come asking me."

"Maybe I'm some enemy of hers? Like, I once caused the death of some relative of hers? Who knows."

The Demon Young Lady snorted dismissively, unbothered, and quipped: "Well? Regretting bringing me along?"

"I told you not to bring me! You just had to bring me! See? Something went wrong!"

On this trip to Solantis, Herbert came with a mission, Flora came for purification and baptism, and Valentina volunteered to tag along.

Only Kreti, from the very start, had been extremely resistant to coming to the Radiant Shengcheng.

Even now, having smoothly entered the Shengcheng, she remained true to her original stance, steadfast in her convictions — I didn't want to come!

It's just like a kid going to school — if they don't want to go, they really don't want to go.

No matter what you say, it's useless — they just don't want to go.

But just like a child's resistance to going to school, Kreti's struggles were the same.

Useless.

Come to school with me, it's all for your own good.

Come to the Shengcheng with me, it's all because it makes me happy!

The more Kreti resisted, the more Herbert wanted to bring her.

The more you resist, the more excited I get.

Though this sounds pretty twisted, this was Herbert's true thought.

"As expected, forced love makes one happy."

Herbert gradually came to understand Nie Nasha's joy.

……

Led by Bishop Fulinzhu Sect, they arrived at an independent residence in the center of the Shengcheng.

She politely declined Herbert's invitation, did not go in as a guest, turned her head, and transformed into a flame giant spirit before departing.

Unlike its plain exterior, the interior of the residence was quite luxurious, with white and gold as the main color tones, and the blazing sun patterns of the Sun Church everywhere.

There were many rooms, enough for everyone to rest comfortably.

Regarding this place, the reactions of the group varied.

The moment Valentina entered the door, she jumped straight onto the largest sofa, stretched her waist greatly, and lay lazily atop the soft fabric.

Flora, on the other hand, behaved much more sensibly, walking naturally into the room, yet at the same time being full of curiosity about everything, reaching out to pick up a tome from the bookshelf and beginning to read it rapidly.

As for Kureichi, she was a completely different extreme—even after entering, she did not remove her mask, still moving cautiously around the room, afraid of touching anything containing holy light.

"Pfft, hahaha!"

Watching this scene that was both comical and warm, Herbert couldn't help but laugh.

He clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, stood up and said: "Alright, pick a room for yourselves, sleep wherever you want."

"Tonight, everyone get a good rest."

He did not mention tomorrow's arrangements; those unimportant matters could wait until later.

Although the three monster girls were somewhat puzzled, they all accepted his arrangement.

And to let the energetic Hungry Dragon Young Lady rest peacefully, Herbert could only tap her forehead three times, painfully refusing her suggestive invitation for a round.

Play what play?

Is your head filled with nothing but this stuff day in and day out?

The Ace Battle Maiden has been playing all day long, the battle maiden needs to rest, and the pilot gets tired too.

Besides, is Radiant Shengcheng a place for you to do such things?

"... Wait, no, doesn't it actually sound kind of thrilling?"

Herbert thought about it seriously, and some dangerous thoughts couldn't help but surface in his mind: "How about... trying it on the last night before we leave?"

"No, no, no, this place can be considered the Sun God's divine kingdom, we can't act recklessly! If He notices, it won't be fun anymore."

After repeatedly considering the feasibility, Herbert could only helplessly abandon this bold and dangerous idea.

Don't court death.

Herbert alone picked a room with a mirror, and after entering, locked the main door.

After checking repeatedly, he stood in front of that full-length mirror, squinting at his own reflection.

"Three, two, one... oh."

Herbert silently counted to three in his heart, and the figure in the mirror indeed transformed into a different appearance.

"What? You're looking for me?"

Liukaliya's figure became lively, she blinked her eyes, and asked curiously: "Have you arrived at your destination?"

"Hehe, it's nothing."

Herbert smiled, and said cheerfully: "Just checking in on you, just take it as me missing you."

After speaking, he received, as expected, a disdainful look from the Mirror Demon Young Lady.

"Tch!"

"Hahaha!"

After securing a fallback route, Herbert was in quite a good mood.

With Liukaliya's ability, he could take Valentina and the other two girls and escape back to the Precept Hall at any time.

In a pleasant mood, Herbert chatted a while longer with Liukaliya, then, feeling sleepy, waved his hand to end the conversation.

And when Herbert subconsciously lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, he only vaguely sensed something was off.

"I'm... sleepy? How could I be sleepy..."

Herbert fell asleep.

Even though with Nie Nasha's help, he had long since no longer needed sleep, this night, Herbert still fell asleep.

Herbert had a dream for the first time in a long while.

A rather long, bizarre dream.

He first walked under the blazing sun, then strolled through the shadows.

Light and shadow alternated, over and over.

He did not know how long he had walked, nor how much longer he had to keep walking.

Herbert kept moving forward, until the dream shifted.

He dreamed that he was pinned beneath a heavy Dashan that had flown in from who-knows-where, his body tightly bound by thick ropes.

And only at this moment did he finally gain a sliver of clarity within the dream.

Herbert suddenly sensed an indifferent gaze, unsure how long it had been watching him.

Looking down from high above, from the sky.

From that scorching, blazing sun.

……

……

"... *cough*."

When Herbert woke up, the first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was "Dashan" pressing down on him.

At some point during the night, Valentina had broken the door lock, then skillfully slipped into his bed.

If it were only that, it wouldn't matter — this wasn't anything new.

But the problem was, she must have dreamed about something in her sleep, because she had burrowed out from under the covers, changed into a curled-up posture, and was firmly and steadily pressing down on Herbert's stomach.

Immovable as a mountain.

It seems you have absolutely no sense of your own weight!

With your size, you still lie on someone's stomach?

Are you a cat?

Even if you were, it'd be a half-dead orange tabby.

Herbert finally managed to extend a hand and pushed hard — she didn't budge.

"Mm? Oh!"

A thick dragon tail poked out from beneath Valentina's maid outfit's skirt, binding Herbert and her tightly together, the connection quite secure.

*Slap. *

Having no choice, he could only grumpily pat — and pat hard — the rear of the "giant cat" pressing down like Mount Tai.

"Hey! Get up!"

Under Herbert's offensive, Valentina finally slowly opened her eyes.

"Eh?"

She first stared blankly at Herbert for a moment, then blinked rapidly.

"How did you sneak over to my place?"

The Hungry Dragon Young Lady was stunned for a moment, then quickly nuzzled him happily, saying joyfully: "But you've come at just the right time, I was just wanting to..."

Before the Hungry Dragon Young Lady's voracious words could leave her mouth, Herbert clamped a hand over her mouth, shaking his head: "No, you don't!"

"Look at where we are, hold it in for now."

"And you, Lucaria, still watching? Still watching!"

The person in the mirror, who had been pretending to stay perfectly still, pursed her lips at his words and snorted: "Tch, as if anyone wants to watch!"

Meanwhile, in an underground tomb several hundred li from Radiant Shengcheng, several hundred Nieyu Sect believers surrounded an altar forged from the flesh and blood of all manner of creatures, praying in low voices.

And at the center of the altar, a blood-colored giant egg as tall as three people trembled slightly.

Then, a faint heartbeat sounded from within.

*Thump-thump! *

(End of chapter)