Chapter 411: Baby

(poke)

“Wake up.”

Yuniel crouched beside Teresa, gently poking the girl’s cheek with her finger.

(poke poke)

“Hey—wake up already!”

(poke poke poke)

“Stop sleeping! It’s been days already! They’re all gone now! You should wake up—”

The divine-chosen girl poked for half a day, but the half-breed girl, who had fainted from emotional shock, remained unconscious.

Teresa lay peacefully on the ground, face radiant in sleep, curled into a cozy ball, showing no sign of waking.

If she were just oversleeping, that would be fine.

But Teresa had been asleep like this ever since Herbert and the others left—over a day now—and if she didn’t wake soon, Yuniel would truly start worrying.

“Hmm… oh, I’ve got an idea!”

Seeing Teresa sleep so contentedly, Yuniel had a wicked thought.

“Still sleeping? Fine, don’t say I didn’t warn you, hehe.”

She leaned down, whispering into Teresa’s ear: “Teresa! Stop sleeping!”

“If you keep sleeping, I’ll tell everyone about how much you like him…”

Before she finished, the half-breed girl, moments ago lost in sweet dreams, shot upright with her eyes snapping open.

Whoosh—

Teresa clamped a hand over Yuniel’s mouth and shoved her to the ground, gritting her teeth: “You! Shut up!”

Didn’t I tell you not to say that again!?

Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t!?

“Mmmph—pfft!”

Yuniel feigned struggling for a moment, then winked at Teresa—she hadn’t said a word, yet somehow had said everything.

She’s flustered.

See? I told you—you’re flustered again.

The more you react, the more you prove I’m right.

“You!”

That mocking gaze enraged Teresa.

“Yuniel! I’m going to be mad now!”

“Hehe! Look at you, flustered again… ah!”

In the chaos, neither knew who struck first—they began wrestling.

They shoved, pinched cheeks, squeezed waists, fighting fiercely.

After a long struggle, both girls collapsed simultaneously, lying side by side, gasping for breath.

“Hah… hah… Fine, I’ll let you off this time. Next time, I won’t forgive you,” Teresa muttered quietly.

Mid-argument, Teresa had realized—there was no one else around. No one could hear her secret.

Her reaction had been overblown. Without meaning to, she’d just confirmed her hidden feelings again.

But now that the fight had started, she couldn’t back down halfway.

This thought was common.

Whether man or woman, during an argument, one often suddenly realizes the fault lies with oneself.

Yet few have the courage to apologize then. Most change the subject, quietly redefining a “principle issue” as an “attitude problem.”

From “Was it your fault for landing that move?” to “Even if I overextended, wasn’t your voice too loud?”

From “Clearly you were wrong just now!” to “You’re so harsh with me—you must not love me anymore!”

Gender doesn’t matter. Right or wrong—it’s all about stubbornness.

“Pfft, hahaha!”

After Teresa’s awkward muttering, Yuniel grinned teasingly: “Hah… hahaha! You sounded so serious~ Hahaha!”

Teresa rolled her eyes, pouted, then couldn’t help laughing herself.

One moment they were fighting, the next they were laughing together.

“Um…”

After laughing awhile, Teresa hesitated, then gathered courage to apologize to her friend: “Sorry—I overreacted just now.”

Though the matter could be dropped, and Yuniel probably wouldn’t care.

Still, not apologizing made her feel guilty.

“It’s fine~”

Yuniel accepted the apology with a smile, not taking it seriously, waving her hand: “Alright, I was wrong too—I shouldn’t keep teasing you about this. I’m sorry!”

“I won’t do it again. I won’t laugh at you anymore. I won’t ever say you like him again… pfft!”

Yuniel spoke these words, then couldn’t help laughing mid-sentence, making Teresa pout and complain incessantly.

“Still laughing! You’re still laughing! You never stopped!”

After more teasing, Teresa finally remembered the real matter and asked: “Where’s Lord Herbert? Did he get upset when I fainted?”

The girl felt miserable—how useless she was, fainting right in front of him.

Would Lord Herbert think she was a useless burden?

She wanted to be his help. Even if she couldn’t yet, at least she shouldn’t hold him back.

Yet her performance had been so embarrassing.

Sigh…

“Him? He doesn’t know.”

“Huh!?”

The girl snapped her head up, confused, staring at her best friend.

What?

He doesn’t know!?

She’d fainted. According to Yuniel, she’d been unconscious for over a day. Everyone else knew.

But Lord Herbert didn’t?

Does he not care about me at all?

…The girl silently bit her lip.

…Of course. He has no reason to care about me.

I’m just one of the countless unfortunate people he saved—ordinary, nothing special.

Just being by his side is already the greatest happiness. I shouldn’t ask for more.

The girl brooded, understanding this—but still bit her lip, unwilling to accept it.

Unwilling.

It was truly unbearable.

“…Huh!”

Moments later, Teresa’s grievance and sorrow faded. Her gaze hardened.

“I need to work harder!”

She would keep striving until Lord Herbert noticed her.

I will make him see.

He will see me!

“…Hehe, as expected~”

Beside her, Yuniel watched Teresa’s micro-expressions, her eyes flickering with quiet approval.

Good character.

Though the Goddess of Winter had taken residence in Yuniel, she hadn’t stripped her will. Yuniel remained a normal, innocent girl in daily life.

But how many true divine-chosen ones are truly naive children?

Innocence doesn’t mean stupidity.

A pure heart often means sharper intuition.

Yuniel befriended Teresa partly because they were similar in age, partly because their personalities matched.

Two girls who seemed utterly different were, in fact, the same kind.

From their first meeting, Yuniel had sensed a kindred spirit in Teresa!

This seemingly timid, shy girl, always fearful, was inwardly brave and resolute.

Teresa simply needed more time to slowly transform.

Once she grew accustomed to her new life and shed her past chains, she would reveal her true nature.

Yuniel watched the now-calm, determined girl and smiled inwardly, then suddenly asked: “Um… did you misunderstand something?”

“…Huh?”

Teresa’s mood was shattered. She turned to see Yuniel winking at her with a knowing grin.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re probably overthinking.”

“Herbert doesn’t know you’re unconscious not because he doesn’t care about you, but because he was captured~”

Hearing Yunier’s words, Teresa’s heart suddenly eased.

“Oh, so that’s why—he was just captured? I thought he didn’t care about me… hmm?”

Something felt off.

He, captured, was…

Teresa’s still-drowsy mind snapped back to attention, finally untangling the logic of that sentence—and then she was even more confused.

Teresa’s eyes widened, her tiny head instantly filled with giant question marks.

Huh???

“Wait! What did you just say? He was captured?”

Teresa didn’t understand.

“With that terrifying dragon around, how could the Chimera have captured Herbert?”

Though the three-headed Chimera had felt terrifying, unbeatable even with all her strength, making her want to flee multiple times…

But compared to that colossal beast that blotted out the sky, it was utterly incomparable!

Besides, hadn’t Herbert already returned back then?

What happened after that?

“Captured by whom!? Who exactly… no! We must go save him right now!”

It didn’t matter what exactly happened—right now, the most important thing was to bring Herbert back!

She turned to rush out of the room, but Yunier grabbed her arm halfway—though she couldn’t hold her.

“Hey hey hey, wait! Just wait a moment! Let me finish first!”

Yunier gripped Teresa’s arms with all her strength and pulled backward, yet Teresa dragged her effortlessly right out of the room.

In terms of physical strength, she was utterly outmatched.

Seeing she couldn’t stop her, Yunier hurriedly said: “No, you’re wrong again! It wasn’t the Chimera that captured him—it was the dragon!”

Thud.

Teresa froze mid-step, stiffly turning her head back.

“The dragon?”

“Yes! That dragon! Soon after you fainted, she returned and took Herbert away directly!”

At the time, they had all seen Herbert gently kissing the dragon—the handsome white-haired knight, tilting his head to kiss his own scarlet, monstrous steed.

It was a scene from myth, reflected into reality.

In that moment, some believed Herbert and the dragon shared only a master-servant bond, but Teresa didn’t think so.

She instantly caught the tenderness in Herbert’s eyes—their relationship was certainly far more complex.

Once she realized this, Teresa understood what it meant that the dragon had taken Herbert.

“So that’s how it is… I see…”

Knowing Herbert was safe, Teresa sighed with relief.

Yet at the same time, her heart grew heavier.

A faint bitterness rose in her throat—the bitter taste of a defeated dog.

The child’s heart aches, but the baby says nothing.

Right now, the two of them… must be doing something joyful, right?

Though she knew she had no right to think this, she couldn’t help imagining it—feeling a touch of envy, even a whisper of jealousy.

Yunier sensed her friend’s mood, recognized her low spirits, and abandoned her teasing impulse, whispering softly: “If you’re feeling down, you can tell me quietly—it’ll help you feel better.”

She gently opened her arms, radiating a tenderness that drew glances from others, making Teresa blink slowly in bewilderment.

She hadn’t expected her friend to suddenly transform into such a maternal figure.

What’s going on?

Teresa hesitated, not stepping forward, murmuring: “Um… I’m not upset, I’m just…”

Just a little resentful.

She hesitated, and ultimately didn’t voice that resentment.

Though Yunier had already seen through most of her inner thoughts, some things she still didn’t want to say out loud yet.

She needed to strive a little longer before she could even barely earn the right to voice her ambition.

“Yunier, I…”

As Teresa hesitated over how to explain, a gentle voice suddenly sounded behind her:

“What are you two talking about? Who’s feeling down?”

!!!

At that moment, not only Teresa, but even Yunier, possessed by the Ice Goddess, was startled.

“Who!!?”

“Who is it!!?”

Both reacted instinctively, launching attacks behind them—only to be instantly pinned down.

Holy light flickered and vanished—Herbert ignored Yunier’s instant ice burst, one hand blocking Teresa’s whip-like kick.

“Eh!? It’s you…”

“Herbert… Lord Herbert!”

He couldn’t help teasing the two now-stiff girls: “Little brats, you’ve got quite the temper, heh.”

The two girls were frozen in place.

Both thought only one thing: Oh no!

Teresa was frozen because her secret thoughts had been caught by the very person they concerned—her mind had shut down from overstimulation.

Yunier felt the embarrassment of being caught gossiping behind someone’s back—her pale toes were now digging fiercely into the floor.

“…”

“W-we… ugh.”

Herbert watched the two suddenly silent, demure girls, raised both hands, and gently ruffled their hair.

What a delightful reaction.

Indeed, his impulsive idea to scare them was spot-on~

【“Your personality is truly vile.”】

Nenasha couldn’t help snarking: 【“You eavesdrop, then deliberately choose this moment—you’re a real villain!”】

You’re the one. (Thumbs up)

“Wait, what right do you have to say that?”

Herbert kept his smile, enjoying the girls’ reactions, while internally retorting: “Do you think you’re any better?”

Calling me a bastard?

Hmph!

What right do you, this demon, have to speak so boldly?

Yet Nenasha replied just as confidently: 【“Heh, I never claimed I wasn’t evil~ Besides, I’m a demon god! Isn’t being evil natural? You’re a holy knight!”】

“I am a holy knight, yes—but I’m also your demon god’s ally!” Herbert smirked, then ignored the meddling goddess.

She’d spent half a day studying the spirit pool fragments, and the rest of the time just daydreaming, watching him fight Valentina…

Now she’s being so argumentative—probably annoyed?

Oh dear, flustered.

Besides, you’re not even the first time you’ve been a spectator—really?

【“Hmm? You seem to be thinking something impolite.”】

“It’s your imagination.”

Of course, though he thought this internally, Herbert dared not say another word.

If he said it, he’d never be able to soothe her.

What must be said—must be said, not a single word omitted.

What must not be said—must not be said, not a single word uttered.

Some people just don’t understand this—they think a joke is harmless.

But that’s a grave mistake!

Some things must never be said—not even as jokes.

After all, how many people use jokes to speak their true feelings?

Those who constantly blurt out things like “If it doesn’t work, just divorce!” or “I’ll dump you and find someone else!”—though they call themselves “hard on the outside, soft on the inside”—are simply cruel.

Using such language toward enemies is fine.

But toward loved ones—it’s deeply wrong.

Those who make their loved ones suffer to feel happy will, more often than not, get exactly what they deserve: a tragic end.

Cause and effect never fail.

…

“Mmm!!?”

After Herbert’s hand rubbed her head for a while, Teresa finally came back to her senses.

It’s Lord Herbert!

It’s really Lord Herbert!

The girl lifted her head eagerly, trying to meet his eyes, but quickly looked away, her gaze shyly avoiding his: “Lord Herbert, I, I...”

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

“Heh.”

Herbert smiled, sensing the unusual emotion in the girl’s heart, his eyes flickering slightly.

He removed his hand from their heads, helping Teresa shift her mood, and asked with a grin: “Why so excited? Are things not going well here?”

!!!

Teresa snapped back to herself, waving her hands frantically: “No no! Everyone here is, is, very kind—they’ve all been so good to me! They’ve taken such good care of me!”

It was the truth.

Without exaggeration, since arriving in Ellda, Teresa had experienced the warmest period of her life.

Everyone was kind; no one looked down on her; all of them treated her like a little sister.

“Mm, that’s good.”

Herbert smiled, nodded, gently patted her shoulder, and instinctively gave a light squeeze.

He intended to gauge her physical condition—see if she’d lost weight or gained a little.

The girl had been far too thin before; after she’d filled out like a balloon, Herbert often tested her this way.

But the moment he pressed, the already flustered girl went limp, nearly collapsing into Herbert’s arms.

“Mmm!!?”

Fortunately, Eunice reacted swiftly, grabbing Teresa’s clothes from behind and preventing her from tumbling into Herbert’s embrace... Huh?

Eunice suddenly froze, a thought flashing through her mind.

Did I just interfere too much?

Could Teresa have planned this on purpose? Was this her scheme all along?

Wow!

Calculating!

I never would’ve guessed—you’re such a scheming woman!

Eunice sighed inwardly, loosened her grip, and even added a light push—just to be sure.

She shoved the barely steadied Teresa straight into Herbert’s arms.

“Mmm!!?”

“Oh?”

Herbert: ?

Teresa: ???

The half-breed girl collapsed into the knight’s arms, stiffening completely, turning her head to glare at her traitorous teammate, who was winking at her.

What did you just do?

I’m asking you!

What did you just do!!?

“Lord Herbert, I didn’t mean to offend you—I’ll get up right—”

Just as Teresa hurried to pull away, her waist was gently wrapped and pulled back.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

Herbert held her waist, patted her back gently, and said softly: “I’m late. You’ve both worked hard these past days.”

Though Herbert didn’t know exactly what she’d endured, saying this was perfectly fine.

“I think you should praise her more.”

As Teresa was overwhelmed with fluster, the mushroom merchant Miske spoke up: “If she hadn’t tracked down that chimera’s location earlier, half your little village would’ve been destroyed.”

Without Teresa sensing the three-headed chimera’s heat signature, it might have reached the borders of Ellda.

Had it come that far, casualties would’ve been unavoidable.

“Teresa, thank you. Thanks to you, everyone is safe.”

With that, Herbert released Teresa, turned to Miske, and smiled: “Haha, it’s all thanks to her! By the way, this isn’t just a little village, you know.”

“This isn’t a village?” Miske glanced at Herbert, gesturing for him to look around.

“Come on, you’re late. Sophie and the others have been waiting for you a long time.” Miske turned and led the way.

“Mm, I have something to tell them too.” Herbert nodded to the two girls, then walked after him at a steady pace.

Soon after Herbert left, Eunice looked at Teresa, who stood frozen in place, and shrank back slightly, tentatively asking: “Um... are you still upset?”

She’d realized she’d just done something well-intentioned but disastrous.

Teresa fell silent for a moment, then softly shook her head: “I’m not upset anymore.”

She raised her hand to touch the top of her head—the lingering warmth of his palm remained.

“I’ll never feel upset again.”

With this warmth, she could keep going.

That’s enough.

Besides...

“Eunice! What did you just do?”

“Oh! It was an accident, just an accident!”

Third Precept Hall.

“Come on, can’t you just fight me already?”

Valentina scowled at her reflection in the mirror, snorting: “Hmph, you coward!”

Lucalia in the mirror sighed: “I’ve told you several times—I’m just not good at fighting!”

“Just leave me alone!”

“I didn’t mean to!”

“Can’t I just apologize?”

The mirror spirit was suffering.

Herbert!

Didn’t you promise she’d just talk to me?

Why does she want to fight me so badly!!!?

(End of Chapter)