Chapter 414: The Saint's Invitation (62K Seeking Comfort)

The Lieri Sect's Pope wants to meet me privately?

"……"

Herbert took a full three seconds to digest this sudden piece of news.

Being received by the Pope.

For any believer of the Sun Church, this would be the supreme honor.

The Lieri Sect Pope's status far surpasses that of angels; he can even be regarded as a sub-deity walking in the mortal world.

But Herbert was not excited, nor was he delighted; instead, he slightly furrowed his brow.

First of all, he was not a believer of the Sun God, nor a believer of any deity, and held no reverence for gods or their churches.

His attitude toward the Lieri Sect Pope was fear without respect.

As the pinnacle of the entire Sun Church, the mortal spokesperson of the Sun God, the Lieri Sect Pope was undoubtedly one of the most powerful "mortals" in the world.

The Lieri Sect Pope was a Saint, and a powerful Saint whose hard strength was in no way inferior to that of a mid-rank divine being.

A Saint's summons.

For ordinary people, just these words alone would be enough to make them tremble in awe, utterly not daring to refuse.

But Herbert was different; he didn't feel anything special about those words.

So what if he's a Saint?

Oh please, isn't he just a Saint? What's so impressive about that!

We have a Saint at home too, you know!

I've even chatted and laughed with him!

After spending a long time in contact with his own Archbishop, Herbert no longer felt that Saints were all that noble.

They might deserve his respect in terms of strength, but not enough to make him feel uneasy.

Herbert had not failed to foresee that the Lieri Sect Pope would receive him.

But that should have been a formal summons, in full view of everyone, an official reception in public.

Not for any other reason, merely a standard procedure out of consideration for Mist Monastery.

What Herbert had never expected was that this Pope would actually want to meet him in private.

What for?

Herbert had no particular dealings with the Sun Church, and didn't think the Lieri Sect Pope would have noticed him.

Is the Pope curious about me?

In what way?

My talent? My monastery's background?

Or is he the one who's been secretly watching?

Or perhaps……

Friendly, malicious… all sorts of possibilities flashed rapidly through Herbert's mind.

But with too few constraints at present and too many possible guesses, Herbert couldn't reach a conclusion for the moment.

In the end, he nodded slightly and asked the expressionless Bishop: "You mean His Holiness the Pope wants to meet me privately? Without telling anyone else in the Shengcheng?"

"That's right."

Herbert hesitated, then asked tentatively: "Um… uh, regarding this invitation, can I say I'm not available?"

Hmm?

Hearing Herbert's words, Bishop Fulinzhu Sect had an extremely rare reaction; her eyes widened slightly.

Widened by a full tenth — an enormous emotional fluctuation.

"……"

She looked at Herbert and asked, somewhat in disbelief: "Lord Herbert, do you mean to say that you intend to refuse His Holiness the Pope's invitation? To refuse a lonely old man's request?"

"Ahaha……"

Herbert gave a dry laugh, the corner of his mouth twitching as he forced out an awkward smile.

He hesitated, but still braced himself and said: "Uh, if you insist on understanding it that way… yes."

"You understood correctly — I am refusing his invitation."

What lonely old coot?

What lonely old man?

Not close.

Don't come clinging to me!

Besides, I'm not the one who made your old man lonely!

If you're really worried about him being lonely, then you guys go keep him company!

My family's old man, I take care of him myself.

Chatting with him from time to time, listening to his stories, providing him a little emotional value.

"If possible, I'd still like you to convey my thoughts to him." Herbert stated his attitude directly.

But this time, Bishop Fulinzhu Sect didn't reply; she merely shook her head slightly, stepped forward, and then silently stared at Herbert.

"……"

Stare——

She just looked at him quietly, clearly saying nothing, yet seeming to say everything.

Herbert understood her meaning — it seemed refusal was not an option.

"I see, I understand……"

Looking at Fulinzhu Sect's unyielding stance, Herbert silently nodded.

Understood, and accepted.

Although there was a tiny bit of regret, Herbert quickly adjusted his emotions.

When soldiers come, generals bar the way; when waters rise, earth dams hold.

It wasn't that he hadn't tried — he had tried, but failed.

Since running away was useless, he could only face it.

Besides, it's just another saintly old coot!

What's so impressive about that?

Do I need to avoid his edge?

What a joke.

Hmph!

Let me have a go at him!

Having adjusted his mindset and swept away the helplessness on him, Herbert gave Fulinzhu Sect a slight smile and said, "Please give me a little time, I'll make arrangements with my companions."

Seeing that Herbert was no longer avoiding it, Fulinzhu Sect didn't say more either, retreating to her original position and nodding lightly: "That is only natural."

Click.

Herbert closed the door, returned into the residence, and gave a slight nod to the three monster girls in the living room who were looking at him.

"The specific situation, you've probably already heard — the Lieri Sect's Pope has summoned me, I need to go. You three behave, just stay here properly and don't wander around."

Herbert spoke with deep earnestness, his tone like an old father setting off to buy tangerines.

"I'm about to depart now — do you three have anything you want to ask?"

The three monster girls exchanged glances, you look at me, I look at you, none of them spoke for a moment.

"……"

"……"

"Mm!!! (chew chew chew chew chew chew)"

In the end, Flora was the first to speak, asking the question she cared about most: "Master, will there be any danger?"

Although the three of them had actually been brought out by Herbert for some fresh air, in principle they did have a mission.

As bodyguards, their duty was to protect Herbert's safety.

And now, the one being protected had slipped off on his own, leaving the bodyguards in a safe place.

"Probably not."

Herbert shook his head, pouting: "If he wanted to make a move on me, he wouldn't need to go through so much trouble."

Although he'd speculated plenty about the Lieri Sect Pope's purpose, no matter the case, Herbert wouldn't be in any danger this time.

Same old saying — caution is a must, but don't add too much drama for yourself.

Just like capital doesn't care whether an athlete touched its cake — the difference in scale between the two is far, far too great.

If the Lieri Sect Pope really wanted to make a move on him, Herbert wouldn't even have a chance to react.

"But……" Flora hesitated, looking as though she had something she wanted to say.

But Herbert didn't let her say more, waving his hand: "You don't need to worry, I'll take this opportunity to ask him about that matter for you."

"I…… mm, thank you."

Flora pressed her lips together, wanting to explain something, but in the end just obediently nodded.

She really wanted to say that what she actually cared about wasn't the purification matter, but his safety even more.

She had never thought Herbert was a wooden holy knight who didn't understand people's hearts — he absolutely knew One's Own Thoughts.

And since he had deliberately changed the subject, there must be his own reasons.

Was he worried someone might overhear?

Flora narrowed her eyes, silently scanning the room, trying to find any trace.

But she looked around once and found no trace of anyone else's presence, nor any magical tools.

"Heh."

Seeing Flora catch on at once, Herbert nodded in satisfaction, then turned his head to look at the Hungry Dragon Young Lady who was laboriously chewing on something.

"Valentina, what about you? Don't you have anything to say?"

"Mm!!? (chew chew chew chew chew)"

After seeing Herbert looking at her, Valentina's expression clearly grew more agitated — she waved her two hands about for a long while, then pointed at her tightly shut mouth.

Chew chew chew chew chew! (Nervous accelerated chewing!)

"Mm?"

Herbert looked at Valentina, who seemed to want to gesture something, then looked at the soccer-ball-sized earthen jar on the table.

Wait — could it be?

He stepped forward and saw that the jar was more than half empty, containing a dry-yogurt-like dairy product, with tooth marks left on top.

"……Oh!"

Understood.

Herbert understood everything.

"No wonder you suddenly went so quiet — turns out your mouth got stuffed shut!"

What kind of normal person eats that much dry yogurt in one go?

It's all stuck to the upper palate!

He flicked Valentina's brow in exasperation, sighing: "Don't just try to swallow — use your tongue to lick it."

You silly dragon, do you even need me to teach you how to eat?

Finally, under Herbert's speechless gaze, Valentina's slender neck finally bobbed up and down once, having figured out what to do.

Gulp.

"Mm? Mmm mmm mmm… gulp, ha!"

After a tremendous struggle, she finally used her tongue to lick the dairy product that was firmly stuck to her upper gums and swallowed it down.

"Ha, ah, haha!"

Though this little thing looked harmless, who would have thought it would tire her out until she was about to break a sweat.

It didn't taste bad, but it really was "hard to swallow"!!!

Valentina's exhausted appearance at this moment looked exactly as if she'd been beaten up by the dry-swallow yogurt in her mouth.

"I'm going! I'll go protect you!"

Finally freeing her mouth, Valentina regained her vigor, eagerly raised her hand, and said repeatedly: "Let me go with you!"

She had come out with Herbert this time precisely to cling to his side, wishing she could stick to him every single moment.

The Pope?

What about the Pope!

Can he tear us apart?

He can't!

Valentina's thoughts didn't surprise Herbert in the slightest, but he couldn't let her have her way.

"Valentina, you really want to come with me?"

"Mm! If he dares to hurt you, I'll fight him!" the Young Lady Hungry Dragon made a rather astonishing declaration.

Herbert didn't refuse, nodded with a smile, and reminded her: "Really? Oh right, let me remind you—the Lieri Sect Pope's strength is probably about the same as an Archbishop's."

"Do you still want to fight him?"

My Young Lady Hungry Dragon, are you really sure?

"I'll go! I'm going… uh!"

Valentina had been shouting there just now, but suddenly caught on, and the look in the entire dragon's eyes cleared.

Mm!!?

As strong as that old man!!?

Valentina calmed down.

Although she had advanced to Epic, awakened the Giant Dragon bloodline, and received the inheritance of the Mother of Ten Thousand Dragons, making her several times stronger than her past self.

But!

Even now, with her confidence bursting at the seams, when she recalled that terrifying figure, she could still only feel her own insignificance.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

There is a very interesting phenomenon in the world.

The weaker a person is, the more they like to boast about their own "strength," believing they have already reached the pinnacle.

Whereas true strongmen are instead ever more humble, appearing approachable.

The stronger Valentina's strength became, the more she could understand that old man's strength.

It was simply crushing.

Although it wasn't enough to give her a psychological shadow she didn't dare recall, it did force her to calm down.

Valentina's lips moved slightly, and she thought for a while in some hesitation.

In the end, she tucked in her neck, peeked up slightly, and tentatively asked Herbert: "Um… uh, do you still need me to go?"

The Young Lady Hungry Dragon unusually showed a docile side.

She didn't say she wouldn't go.

If Herbert needed Valentina to accompany him, then she would follow along with everything she had, and when needed she would also unhesitatingly launch an attack against the Lieri Sect Pope.

She did not fear death.

Not in the past, not now, and not in the future either.

If there was one thing that would worry her, it was probably only the possibility of "being separated from Herbert."

But, fearless as she was, she still didn't want to wander around in front of such a terrifying existence.

It's not fear!

It's, uh, um… uneasy, right, uncomfortable!

It's not like it's necessary, no need to make herself that uncomfortable.

Herbert looked at Valentina's docile appearance, couldn't help but laugh, and reached out to ruffle the top of her head.

"Hehe, I don't need you to come with me, there won't be any danger, you just stay here obediently and watch the house."

"Mm mm!" Valentina let out a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly.

That's great.

Yay!

"Before I come back, you absolutely must not go running around, help me protect everyone, understand?"

"Don't worry! I definitely won't run around!" Valentina patted her chest and loudly promised with a serious face.

"I definitely definitely won't run around! No one will leave! I definitely… mm!!?"

Valentina was in the middle of shouting when the remaining dry-swallow yogurt in the jar was swiftly stuffed into her mouth by Herbert with quick hands.

Herbert even considerately stuck it right onto her upper palate, a perfect fit.

"Alright, you said it very well, stop talking now."

"Mm-mm!"

Valentina rolled her eyes at Herbert in displeasure, but she wasn't actually angry, and happily started munching away again…

After all, this dry yogurt stuff was a real chore to eat, but the flavor really suited her taste.

"Heh."

When Herbert looked at her, Miss Devil snorted and spoke up on her own: "I don't have any problem. Go wherever you want."

Kreti bluntly declared — none of my business!

Ever since she had been forcibly brought to this place where everything made Kreti uncomfortable, she had been in this hissing Bastiodon-like state toward Herbert.

And Herbert, watching her this way — raging uselessly — wasn't angry at all; instead, a delighted smile spread across his face.

"Hehe."

Watching Kreti bristle like that, his originally somewhat anxious mood lifted, and he contentedly took a deep breath.

Yes, yes.

That's the attitude, that's the expression.

I just want to see you looking like this — can't stand me but can't take me out~

Herbert's smiling face made Kreti's heart sink — oh no, what is this guy going to do now?

Sure enough.

Just as Kreti had just sensed the danger, Herbert spoke up.

"I wasn't planning to ask if you had any problem. What I wanted to say was — how about you come along with me?"

Herbert winked at Miss Devil, whose expression was gradually going blank, and said cheerfully: "I think that old gentleman certainly wouldn't mind having one more person to chat with."

Come on!

Let's have some fun together!

Come with me to face that old geezer of Holy Light~

"Huh???"

Just staying in Radiant Shengcheng was already extremely uncomfortable for her; if she had to face a Saint head-on… that would be wanting her to suffer a fate worse than death!

"I don't want to!"

But just as Kreti was about to run, she suddenly noticed the smile at the corner of Herbert's mouth.

!!?

Wait, this guy is tricking me!

"You're tricking me!!?"

"Yes, I am."

Herbert immediately admitted, nodding, and said leisurely: "I'm not actually some devil after all — how could I really do something that excessive~"

Herbert has always been kind-hearted; he only talks, never actually does anything that excessive.

"…Tch!"

Kreti frowned tightly and asked slowly: "Are you mocking me? Are you looking down on me?"

"If you absolutely insist on seeing it that way… then yes, I am mocking you, my cowardly Miss Devil, haha!" Herbert gave her a teasing wink.

Then he waved to Valentina and the other, turned and left with a big laugh, pushed open the door, and nodded to Evelyn, who had been waiting for a long time.

"Let's go."

Kreti:!!?

"Wait!"

Miss Devil lost her composure on the spot, stormed to the door in a fury, and shouted at Herbert: "Come back! Explain yourself clearly! How am I cowardly?"

"You get back here!"

Herbert paused mid-step at her words, turned his head, and laughed at the exasperated Miss Devil: "So I'm really coming back, then?"

And what answered him — was the door slamming shut.

Bang!

Behind the door, Miss Devil clenched her teeth hard, bracing the heavy door with her shoulder.

Damn it!

You Holy Knight are rotten to the core!

Why aren't you playing by the script!!?

……

……

"We're here."

After walking quietly for a while, Evelyn, who had been leading the way up front, finally stopped.

She stopped in front of an ordinary-looking wooden cabin, turned her head, and asked Herbert in a quiet voice: "His Eminence is just ahead. You can go straight in. Do you need any more preparation?"

Herbert shook his head, stepped forward casually, easily passed Evelyn, and nodded his thanks to her.

"No need. Thank you for leading the way."

Knock, knock.

He knocked lightly, then pushed open the wooden door, and said softly as the door creaked: "I've long been ready."

Facing a Saint — one equal to a god — is a major event for anyone; it's hard to keep a calm heart.

Herbert is human too, so naturally he would be instinctively nervous.

But, just as Herbert had said, he had long been prepared.

Just now, in the conversation with Valentina and the other two, Herbert had gotten quite abundant "emotional value" from them, and had smoothly returned to his usual state.

Especially Crete, that highly cooperative stress response, left Herbert deeply satisfied.

Herbert passed through the wooden door, felt no special barrier, and stepped naturally into an ordinary room.

The interior decoration was extremely simple and plain, with only heavily worn wooden furniture; the overall environment could even be called impoverished.

Could the Lieri Pope really be staying here?

"This is… hmm?" Herbert was puzzled when suddenly his ears twitched.

Creak.

Hearing the sound behind him, Herbert turned around and saw Fulinzhu Sect standing outside the door, head bowed, gently closing it.

Click.

Herbert frowned slightly, then relaxed, lifting his gaze to the view outside the window—a plain balcony.

The sunlight was warm, the breeze pleasant, everything looked unusually comfortable and ordinary.

But Herbert's intuition told him this was merely an illusion others wanted him to see.

This feeling was like accidentally stepping into a fragment of past time.

Everything seemed ordinary, yet everywhere exuded an ancient aura.

In the center of the balcony stood a small round table and two reclining chairs; one chair held an ordinary old man with white hair and beard.

He had his eyes closed, lounging lazily in the rocking chair, a small cup of richly fragrant "Tears of Lieri" resting on the table, emitting a deep, coffee-like aroma.

No aura of pressure.

Just an ordinary old man basking in warm sunlight, savoring his rare leisure.

Herbert did not hesitate, pushed open the door, walked onto the balcony, and approached the old man slowly, bowing his head respectfully.

"Your Holiness, I am honored to meet you."

The old man slowly opened his eyes, quietly studied Herbert, and upon confirming his inner calm matched his outward demeanor, a flicker of surprise passed through his gaze.

He smiled warmly, nodded at Herbert, and chuckled: "Heh, child, get up, come, sit here, don't be nervous… oh?"

The Lieri Pope was about to urge him further, but before he finished speaking, he watched in disbelief as the boy unceremoniously lay down on the chair.

Not only that—the boy didn't just lie down; he comfortably rocked back and forth.

Creak, creak…

The entire motion flowed seamlessly, without a single pause.

"Ha!"

The Pope laughed heartily, nodding with great delight: "Excellent, child, you've surprised me, ha!"

A fascinating little fellow.

He hadn't seen such a bold youngster in many years.

Seeing Herbert seem to want to rise, he waved his hand: "No need to get up, this is fine, don't be formal…"

Then the Lieri Pope fell silent.

Because he realized Herbert hadn't been trying to rise—he'd merely adjusted into a more comfortable position.

He glanced sideways at Herbert, his lips twitching slightly.

You little brat…

Aren't you being a bit too brazen?

…

…

Meanwhile, as Herbert met the Lieri Pope, the garrison squad within the mansion returned to calm, each attending to their own affairs.

Flora, outwardly reading quietly, internally pondered the current situation, silently analyzing what her group needed to do.

Crete huddled in a dark corner, trying to feel better, muttering under her breath, silently complaining about Herbert's misdeeds.

As for Valentina… she was still chewing.

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

Suddenly, Valentina's ears twitched; she pulled her head out of the third jar and turned toward the door.

"Mmmmm—"

The next second, the door was gently knocked.

Tap, tap.

(End of Chapter)