Chapter 420: You Smell of

"……"

"……"

Herbert looked to the left, and the woman moved left along with him.

Herbert looked to the right, and the woman moved right along with him.

Left left, right right, left left, right right…

?

Finally, after testing it back and forth a few times, Herbert silently reached a conclusion in his heart—this woman was here to pick a fight on purpose!

This woman doesn't look like a good person!

Folks, today in Radiant Shengcheng I ran into a cringe woman!

No, wait.

A "baldy" woman!

Her hair is just like a high-beam car headlight, the brightest lightbulb of the night!

Even though it was broad daylight, it still felt blinding to Herbert.

Herbert squinted at the woman's face head-on, then silently looked away.

"……"

In a certain sense, she was like a lofty goddess descended to the mortal world, making a vulgar mortal like Herbert unable to look her straight in the eye.

It wasn't that he felt inferior in front of her.

No other reason—mainly, her hair… was just too damn blinding!

There are always mortals who want to stare straight at the glory of a flashbang!

And then, they all went blind.

My eyes!

Who the hell built this Holy Knight?

Who… oh, wrong target—that's me, I'm the Holy Knight.

Don't mess with me, when I get vicious I even curse myself!

Who the hell turns on high beams in broad daylight?

So uncivilized!

"Ahem, I say, miss."

Seeing that the bald woman just stood silently in front of him with no intention of speaking, Herbert finally couldn't hold back, gave a small cough, and took the initiative: "I don't know what you're trying to do, but could you turn off the light first?"

Fearing she wouldn't understand, Herbert even deliberately raised a hand and pointed at his own hair.

Yours, this one, get it?

Turn it off, thanks.

"……Mm?"

The woman across from him came back to herself after Herbert spoke, slightly raised her eyes, and gave him a rather meaningful look.

She swayed her body slightly, and found that Herbert's gaze swayed along with her.

Unlike that dragon earlier, which bore the Mother of Ten Thousand Dragons' legacy and could only vaguely sense her, this youth could truly see her with his own eyes.

"You…"

The Wandering Lady spoke, her voice unhurried, somewhat hoarse as if she hadn't spoken in a long time: "Are you a believer?"

A believer?

Herbert blinked, a little lost as to how their conversation had jumped to this point.

Didn't I ask you to turn off the light?

Why are you asking me this?

Checking my water meter? Opening my box? Next step, are you going to… oh!

You mean a believer of the Sun God!

This is Radiant Shengcheng, the holy ground of the Sun Church, so naturally believers of the Sun God are everywhere, and Herbert, a non-believer, was the odd one out among them.

It's like asking passengers on a train whether they managed to buy a ticket this year.

But believe it or not, you really shouldn't say it!

You ask like that—hey, you really did ask the right person.

"If I say this, it might surprise you."

Herbert smiled faintly, glanced at a Sun God statue not far away, and said casually: "I believe in the light, but unfortunately, I am not His believer."

You ask if I believe in the light?

I think I do.

But believing in light and worshipping the Sun God aren't the same thing.

"……"

After Herbert finished answering, the Wandering Lady slightly furrowed her brow—of course she knew Herbert wasn't a believer of the Sun God.

What she actually wanted to ask was something else.

"You…"

"Please wait a moment."

Seeing that the lady across from him still wanted to speak and ask more after his answer, Herbert cut in first:

"I've already answered your question—could you now grant my small little request?"

Sis, turn off the light, will you?

Light pollution is still pollution!

Under Herbert's sincere and unrefusable gaze, the Wandering Lady moved her lips, then finally nodded slowly.

As she nodded gently, her slender hair shimmered with Jin Guang, swaying along with it, the brightness upon it slowly fading.

Though it still glowed faintly, it was much softer than before, shifting from "glaring" to "eye-catching."

It became a head of long hair that caught the eye at a glance without being impossible to look at directly.

Besides, perhaps it was an illusion, but after the woman's hair no longer shone so glaringly, Herbert felt the sunlight had softened considerably as well.

He slightly raised his head to look upward.

In the Shengcheng of Radiance, one cannot see the true sun... because they are already within it.

At the very center and highest point of the entire Shengcheng, there hung a massive orb of light.

It was because of that Sacred Flame Sun Wheel that the Shengcheng of Radiance could remain in a state of eternal daylight, becoming a lightless-darkness place forever cloaked in sunlight.

That was the "sun" of the Shengcheng of Radiance.

The avatar of the divine.

And its flame was precisely one of the ultimate goals Herbert sought this time — the Radiant Sacred Flame.

According to Nie Nasha's words, as long as he obtained this thing, she was confident she could completely purify Flora and reverse her life state.

Besides, the Radiant Sacred Flame also held great significance for Herbert himself — his Holy Sacrifice ritual required a material called "the fire seed of the Solar Sacred Flame."

The "fire seed of the Solar Sacred Flame" that Ophidia spoke of was actually a fire seed split off from the "Solar Sacred Flame," which itself was a strand split off from the Radiant Sacred Flame.

It was a fire seed of a fire seed — by generation, it was the Radiant Sacred Flame's grandchild.

Ophidia had never looked down on Herbert, thinking he was only worthy of using the fire seed of the Solar Sacred Flame.

Did she not want Herbert to use the Radiant Sacred Flame?

Certainly not.

It was simply because the matter was too fantastical, entirely outside the realm of consideration.

After all, according to her original estimate, with Herbert slacking off like that, at most he could bargain for the fire seed of the Solar Sacred Flame — and that was mostly out of respect for the monastery.

She never could have imagined that Herbert would directly strike a deal with the Lieri Sect Pope himself, and haggle his way to even more.

In the end, Herbert and the Lieri Sect Pope — one old fox and one young fox — finally agreed on a price, settling the task and the reward.

Once the matter was done, the Lieri Sect Pope would personally pluck a strand of Radiant Sacred Flame for Herbert, to serve as material for his Holy Sacrifice baptism.

And at this moment, perhaps it was Herbert's illusion, but he noticed that massive sun wheel seemed somewhat dimmer than when he had seen it before.

Compared to his impression, it was as if it had shifted from high noon to sunset, softened beyond measure.

Could it be that, within the Shengcheng of Radiance, this sun also had periodic changes?

This subtle discovery struck Herbert as somewhat novel. He looked in other directions and found that the praying believers were entirely unaware, seemingly long accustomed to such changes.

"What an interesting sight indeed."

Herbert sighed lightly and at ease in his heart.

Truly wondrous.

Oh well, one has to admit the Shengcheng of Radiance is a big city — even having this kind of city-wide skyline view that adapts with the passage of time!

A feudal backwater like the Frost Crystal Dynasty simply can't compare.

Does it have that capability?

It does not!

It can't even hold a candle to them!

After inwardly badmouthing and complaining about his hometown for a few lines, Herbert came back to himself and looked at the woman before him.

... Oh?

Herbert's eyes widened slightly in pleasant surprise.

The woman's appearance was truly somewhat beyond his expectations.

The woman had a tall, powerful figure. Though she wore a pure white gauze robe that concealed her form, one could still make out the athletic beauty of her figure.

The woman before him was a burly woman — hmm, that didn't quite fit.

Though she was about as tall as Herbert, her shoulders were not broad, and she did not look stocky — no exaggerated muscle definition, no intimidating bulk.

But from her exposed arms, one could see the details — those seemingly slender yet actually powerful, elongated muscles contained astonishing, vigorous strength.

Her muscle lines were gilded with a layer of gold by the sunlight, and when she raised her arm, one could see a liquid-gold-like shimmer flowing within.

Her waterfall-like dazzling golden hair fell straight to her ankles. Far from adding a touch of softness to her image, it complemented her figure perfectly, as if she had draped a golden cloak over herself.

Herbert's instinct told him that the body before him was not a graceful, delicate flower vase, but a genuine war machine.

This was no delicate Princess, but a Queen with plenty of strength and means.

Strong and powerful, strong and powerful indeed!

Those seemingly soft little fists could probably kill me with one punch!

Herbert realized that this was absolutely a powerhouse above the Epic level.

Upon realizing that the other's strength far surpassed his own, Herbert slightly restrained his bold gaze, lowered his eyes a touch, and nodded lightly in greeting.

"My lady, it is an honor to meet you."

He expressed his respect, yet without appearing servile.

Neither obsequious nor overbearing, he politely displayed his respect for her in the manner of a junior.

Even if she was an Epic-level powerhouse of the Sun Church, what did that have to do with him?

So what if she's Epic?

I chat and laugh on easy terms with your very own Saint!

And after Herbert's greeting, the Wandering Lady did not return the courtesy. Instead, she stared at him, frowning slightly, and said slowly with ambiguous meaning: "My lady, is it..."

Hmm?

Herbert blinked at the seemingly meaningful tone in the other's voice, a great many question marks flashing through his mind.

Eh?

Not right?

Then… "sir"?

No no no, still not right.

How could I casually assume someone else's gender!!?

How dare you!

Ahem.

Wait, has Radiant Shengcheng already evolved to this version?

If that's the case…

Hello, my gender is attack helicopter!

As for which model of attack helicopter, don't ask me.

I haven't decided yet either.

Of course, none of these wild thoughts in Herbert's heart were spoken aloud.

He still understood the principle that disaster comes from the mouth.

In front of his own people who could tolerate him, he could let loose a little, but in front of people whose thoughts he wasn't sure of, he still tried to keep a low profile.

Herbert didn't dig deeper into the other's abnormality, and instead asked another question: "Right, what did you want to see me about?"

You suddenly came to find me, surely it can't be for nothing, right?

It can't really just be hitting on me, can it?

After asking, Herbert quietly waited for the other's answer, but this mysterious lady didn't speak for quite a while.

The woman with a head of shining golden long hair simply looked at him quietly with pale golden eyes.

That deep gaze seemed to penetrate Herbert's body, seeing through all his secrets bit by bit.

"…Hmm?"

This kind of undisguised, openly roaming gaze also made Herbert's heart stir, and he frowned slightly, feeling something was off.

Female gaze!

This is female gaze!

Looking at me with that kind of eyes… don't tell me, you're really one of those trashy women!!?

Someone once said that the best way to eliminate fear is to face it.

Then, facing a gaze that stares at you, the best method is… to stare back.

You looking at me, right?

Fine, I'll look at you too!

Stare—

The gaze of justice!

Let's see who breaks first!

Herbert's burning gaze swept across every corner of the woman's body, taking in all those beautiful sights.

And the more he looked, the more he felt this woman's figure could be called perfect in some sense.

Not perfect in an aesthetic sense, but there was an indescribably strange feeling in his heart.

The more he gazed at this body, the more he couldn't help but feel admiration for her.

Truly beautiful…

"…"

The Wandering Lady was made somewhat uncomfortable by Herbert's overly fervent gaze, and silently turned her body aside with a frown.

Because the moment she moved, the corner of Herbert's mouth curved up.

Heh, I won.

This round, Herbert's victory!

"…"

The Wandering Lady's eyes narrowed slightly, and after a long silence, she finally slowly opened her mouth and asked her question.

"Why… is there His aura on you?"

She had come precisely because of this.

Pursuing that flash of aura that should never have appeared here, vanishing in an instant.

Why?

Why has His aura appeared again?

Mortal, answer me.

She stared coldly at Herbert, not a shred of mercy in her eyes.

Once Herbert's reaction proved a connection to Him, she would do what she had to do…

Eliminate.

Strangle any possibility of His revival.

He absolutely must not return.

The mysterious lady wandering the Shengcheng stared fixedly at the youth before her, not missing any detail.

Then, the Wandering Lady saw a reaction completely beyond her expectations.

In that instant, what surfaced on the youth's face was neither the panic of being exposed, nor a forced composure, nor any clear confusion.

What was on his face was actually—dejection?

Why would it be dejection?

"Eh?"

That's right, after the Wandering Lady asked her question, Herbert's very first reaction was truly… dejection.

Ugh, here we go again!

Great, another one who's picked up on the Sun God's aura.

No way!!?

Are you guys a little too sensitive?

Or is it that I'm not hiding it well enough?

How is it that every single person can detect the Sun God's aura on me!

How does this thief of mine make it seem like it's practically known to the whole world?

Herbert would dare, in front of the God of Depraved Desire, to borrow the stolen power and disguise himself as a divine favored of the Sun God—but here, he wouldn't dare make such a claim.

There really are divine favored here!

For this reason, he had already very carefully transferred all the aura on his body into the Angel Battle Armor he was wearing.

Sensing that aura, some believers would mistake Herbert for having received the Sun God's special favor, while those with higher strength could "see through to the truth" and discover that it actually came from the Angel Battle Armor.

In the entire Shengcheng, only the Lieri Sect's Pope could perceive the truth of this aura—that it came from Herbert, not the Angel Battle Armor.

However, although the Lieri Sect's Pope felt some doubt about this, since it was the choice of his own deity, he had no objections.

And now… he'd actually run into another one!

How could Herbert not feel dejected about this?

Nie Nasha!

This isn't what you said before!

How did I get exposed again?

Give me an explanation!

If the Young Lady of the God of Harmony weren't currently playing the part of a deaf-and-blind shrinking turtle, she'd definitely go have a proper confrontation with Him.

F**k you! Give me my money back!

Herbert shouted very loudly—even though he actually had never really paid any money.

But does not having paid money mean he can't shout for a refund?

I'm going to shout anyway!

Refund!!!

【"……"】

Faced with this unreasonable protest, the God of Harmony could only remain silent.

He now had many places he wanted to complain about, many things he wanted to point out, yet could only maintain his silence.

And Herbert, taking advantage of Nie Nasha's gag to deliver a one-sided tirade for a while, nodded with a refreshed spirit.

Felt great.

Don't care how He retaliates later, I've already gotten my satisfaction first.

Then, he raised his head and smiled at the Wandering Lady, whose eyes were full of doubt, and said frankly, "My lady, I fear you've misunderstood something."

"Although you may have mistaken me for having some connection with Him, or even think I'm impersonating one of His believers, that is not the case."

"Please believe me! I really am not one of His believers!"

This was the truth—Herbert had never been a believer of the Sun God.

Herbert spoke these words with utter frankness, a face full of sincerity, without any disguise on his person.

"Nor did I deliberately take on His aura."

It was the authority Nie Nasha stole, it has nothing to do with me.

"I was merely, under some coincidence, noticed by Him, and left with these faint traces of aura."

It's accidentally leftover aura, not me deliberately trying to swindle people.

Every word, every sentence, was the truth.

To strengthen his credibility, Herbert brought out his own background and a witness: "I come from the Mist Monastery."

"His Holiness the Pope is also aware of this matter."

This sentence was also the truth.

The Lieri Sect's Pope did indeed know that Herbert came from the Mist Monastery.

"……"

Herbert's sincere and heartfelt explanation made the Wandering Lady narrow her eyes slightly.

And according to Herbert's account, he was an ordinary Holy Knight from the Mist Monastery, who by chance was noticed by Him, and then forcibly stained with the aura.

A complete, innocent, perfect victim.

Only, the strange thing was…

Her intuition clearly told her Herbert hadn't told the whole truth, yet everything he said was true, without a single lie.

And most importantly, through reverse inference from prophecy, the conclusion she herself arrived at—"he's an ordinary Holy Knight forcibly stained with aura"—was also true.

This was indeed a fact that had existed!

Then, where exactly had things gone wrong?

The Wandering Lady frowned tightly as she stared at Herbert, her fingers trembling slightly.

"……"

She knew there was a problem.

She was certain Herbert was hiding some secret.

He was concealing it, trying to deceive himself.

She wanted to kill Herbert on the spot without a second thought, but unfortunately… that was impossible.

This had nothing to do with mercy, compassion, or carelessness — it truly couldn't be done.

Because Order did not permit her to do so.

In her current state, she could not do anything that went against Order.

After voluntarily stripping herself away again and again, she had nearly become the embodiment of Order itself, unable to tolerate the slightest disorder.

She looked at Herbert, who was right before her eyes, yet could do nothing.

"……"

In the end, the killing intent gradually faded. Her eyes returned to calm, and she asked softly, "So, everything really was just a coincidence?"

Herbert smiled and nodded, saying matter-of-factly, "Yep, yep, it really was all a coincidence! Aiya, I didn't want it either."

It's not my fault, you know.

All an accident, you know.

Believe me!

"I see…" the Wandering Lady murmured softly. She gave Herbert one last deep look, then turned and left.

She's gone?

Just like that?

Friend, not even a goodbye — aren't you being a bit impolite!

"Um, miss! I'm done talking, but you still haven't told me who you are! You… ah!"

Herbert was about to press further when the woman's long hair suddenly lit up.

Swoosh!

In an instant, Herbert's eyes were blinded by a dazzling golden light.

Holy—!

Flash—

Herbert remained in a pure white world for a full thirty seconds, then took another three minutes to fully recover his vision.

And by the time he could finally see the world again, that uncouth bald woman had long since vanished without a trace.

She ran!

Flash-bombed and ran!

"……Tch! That wretched bald woman!"

Herbert wiped the tears sliding from the corners of his eyes, muttering viciously, "Don't let me run into you again!"

"So what if you're Epic? Just because you're Epic means you can bully people? Means you can blind someone whenever you feel like it?"

"This is intentional harm! The nature of it is extremely vile!"

In the end, the indignant Herbert brought out his strongest Pokémon.

"Next time, I'm definitely making my Hungry Dragon duel you!!!"

……

"Achoo!!!"

Valentina suddenly let out an earth-shaking sneeze, startling the two people beside her so badly their bodies jolted.

The dragon in question, meanwhile, blinked in confusion, her face full of novelty.

Huh?

Did I just sneeze?

Weird.

Why would I suddenly sneeze?

And why do I feel so uneasy?

I keep feeling like something strange has happened.

"Hmm… what could it be?"

Valentina pursed her lips and thought for a good while, absently grabbing food off the table and, in one fluid motion, stuffing it into her mouth.

(munch munch munch munch munch)

(gulp)

"Could it be that something's about to happen?"

She turned her head, looked toward the outside of the city, and slightly furrowed her brow.

Could it be those minions of Miss Xie Shen?

"Are those disgusting guys about to make another move?"

"Are we going to keep fighting?"

Thinking this, the unease in Valentina's heart faded, replaced by excitement.

"I get to have a good fight again? Hehe…"

Thinking this, she excitedly licked her lips — and accidentally licked up some food crumbs.

"Huh?"

Valentina's eyes widened in shock, and she cried out in disbelief, "Who put Herbert's food in my mouth!!!?"

Who is the one who harmed me!?!?

I really wasn't thinking of eating!

……

……

Dawn Valley Fortress.

Drip.

Scalding green blood beads dripped along the edge of the battleaxe, sizzling on the Church's land.

Hiss!

The half-grown young warrior tightened his trembling grip on his shield, his pupils reflecting dozens of twisted venomous snakes as they burst from the earth, barely restraining the impulse to flee backward.

Cannot retreat!

Must not!

Behind me are comrades!

Inspired by the fortress's atmosphere, the young warrior finally mustered his courage, hefted his battleaxe, and charged forward, successfully rescuing an unconscious wounded soldier.

But, afterward?

The vicious scar left from a childhood venomous snake bite throbbed dully, and the fear in his heart made his breathing grow rapid.

"Ha, ha... cough, cough!"

Gulp.

I, I am the Lord's warrior.

I cannot retreat!

I absolutely cannot... ah!?!?

Those venomous snakes' scales gleamed with an eerie purple light, venom dripping from their fangs, corroding the ground and sending up plumes of white smoke.

And just as he was about to lose control of his body's instinct to flee, a deep, resonant voice rang out behind him.

"Kid, remember—war shows no mercy to anyone."

After being bandaged up, Radley returned to the battlefield and stepped in front of the boy.

His armor was covered in claw marks, a broken snake fang still lodged in his bracer, yet his fighting spirit had not diminished in the slightest.

His gaze burned as he stared at the approaching venomous snakes, whispering to the panicked boy:

"No enemy will give you a second chance—especially... when your opponents are a pack of monsters like these."

Before the words had even faded, three venomous snakes shot toward them like arrows leaving the bowstring.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Their speed was extreme, forked tongues nearly brushing Radley's face.

But Radley's reaction was faster still—he swung his longsword before the snakes could reach him.

Slash—

Those dangerous venomous snakes couldn't last even half a second in his hands; all of them became corpses!

"Hahaha!"

Radley laughed triumphantly: "Come on! You filthy monsters! Try to kill me! Hahaha!"

He was only of mid-tier strength, but the power he unleashed was considerably above his actual realm.

Through this brutal war, through battle after battle, he clearly felt his strength had improved significantly.

Not only in technique, but also in real combat he had made great strides!

He knew that, in all likelihood, it wouldn't be long before he could advance to high-tier.

Only... he might not have that much time.

Just as Radley was displaying his might, the other venomous snakes had not stopped either, swiftly surrounding them and encircling the pair completely.

"Uncle Radley!"

The boy looked at the surrounding pairs of snake eyes, his heart full of unease, and whispered in remorse and self-blame: "... It's all my fault, that's why you've fallen into danger too."

If not for saving him, Radley wouldn't have had to rush over and die with him.

The boy felt guilty, but Radley did not respond to that—instead he roared: "Boy, straighten your back! What kind of defeatist nonsense are you spouting!"

"I don't remember your father, while he was alive, raising you into such a coward!"

"And! Who says we're going to die—"

But just before they were about to be completely surrounded, a figure charged in, slashing fiercely toward the snake horde—an arcing sword light arriving later but striking first, directly cleaving the encircling snake monsters into several pieces.

"Haha, reinforcements are here! Let's go!"

And to this kind of sword light, none of the warriors felt unfamiliar.

It is—the Supreme! Sacred! Slash!

Wonderful, the Holy Knight has arrived!

The two retreated smoothly under the Holy Knight's cover.

Radley, carrying the unconscious comrade on his back, grinned at the boy: "If you had run off disobediently just now, I would've beaten you half to death, then dragged you back together to hand over to the apprentice priest for healing! If you died of poison on the way, keep the body intact and bring it to a high-tier priest for resurrection!"

"And also... kid, you didn't let us down."

"You overcame your fear, charged in and saved your comrade—you're a good warrior."

When they returned to the fortress, everyone who saw them burst into cheers, praising his courage.

"Hahaha! Well done!"

"Now that's a warrior of our Lord!"

"Good lad!"

……

The youth shyly scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Radley patted his shoulder and laughed, "Haha, are you not afraid now?"

"It's not just you who don't have to worry about death — nobody has to!"

Although Radley was not the strongest among the group, his booming voice was the one everyone knew best.

He laughed loudly and declared, "We all know the Church will not abandon any of its fallen."

"Holy water, potions, divine arts — everything's in plentiful supply!"

"As long as you don't drop dead on the spot, the Church will bring you back."

"But if you're really unlucky — swallowed by a monster and excreted out, or smashed to powder, with no time for resurrection… then consider yourself out of luck! Who's the one being so careless! Haha!"

When Radley finished speaking, the crowd froze for a moment, then burst into laughter together, pointing at him and cursing him nonstop.

"Hahaha!"

"Damn you, Radley, can't you say something nice for once? Goddamn it, hahaha!"

"You're the unlucky one!"

"Radley, you bastard! You're the one who'll get excreted by a monster! Hahaha!"

In normal times, such crude and hellish jokes wouldn't be considered funny — they might earn glares from others.

But on a battlefield like this, spoken as one of them, the joke instead gained a great deal of dark humor.

At the brink of life and death, the warriors cast aside many of their concerns.

Death?

Heh.

Whoever fears death is a grandson!

After being cursed at for a while, Radley continued laughing: "We will not sacrifice ourselves for nothing!"

They were people — living, breathing people.

Even the bravest warrior fears death.

But they feared dying for nothing even more.

Compared to dying on the battlefield, lying in a sickbed and dying without accomplishing anything frightened them more.

And now they were destined not to waste their lives.

To be able to fight for the faith and conviction in their hearts, and to give their lives for it.

They died as they should have!

And they would do so gladly!

"Since everyone understands… then!"

Radley raised his weapon high, veins bulging on his neck, and roared almost fanatically: "For our Lord!"

The next instant, the answering cries surged in like a tidal wave.

"For our Lord!!!"

Fa'au, who had just covered Radley's group's retreat, now stepped forward as well, raising his arm and shouting: "For justice!"

"For justice!!!"

They did not know what would happen in the future, but the warriors' keen sense of death made them aware that the Evil God Church's next wave of attack might be coming at any moment.

The war had never truly stopped!

……

……

And the fact was exactly as they had imagined.

When the mortals had prepared themselves for a fight to the death, the evil god had also made all of its preparations.

At the center of the flesh-and-blood altar, a hair-raising cracking sound came from within the giant egg.

Crack crack crack… crack!

On this day, within the underground tomb.

The incarnation of the Evil God…

Was born.

(End of this chapter)