[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary":3,"chapter-an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-423":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","An Improper Monster Girl's Transformation Diary",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312352,4517,"Chapter 423: He Doesn't Want Her, But She Demands It (6K Request for Subscription)","an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-423",423,"\u003Cp>I want it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want it!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I absolutely want it!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the passionate cries of Miss Devil, Herbert was completely stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this… even right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can you seriously plan something like this out loud?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t you have any shame?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, you want me to help you improve your strength?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete nodded decisively: “I want you to help me too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I think… that method might not suit you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hesitating and weighing his options, Herbert still didn’t immediately accept Crete’s enthusiastic invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not yet. Wait a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if it’s a trap?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But clearly, Crete didn’t understand Herbert’s hint—she simply thought he was stingy and didn’t want to take her along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stingy man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pouted and snorted: “Herbert, why are you so stingy? Can’t you even spare this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m stingy? Am I stingy? When have I ever been stingy?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what exactly am I supposed to be sparing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can help Valentina improve her strength, you can definitely help me too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Devil Girl gazed at the boy with longing and made her request—I want you to aid my cultivation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want it too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after making her request, Crete also showed her sincerity—she wouldn’t take such help for free; she was willing to pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, I won’t ask for your help without offering something in return. We can sign a contract.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You set the terms of the contract. I promise I won’t tamper with it in any way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete looked at him with sincere earnestness: “How about it? Have I shown enough sincerity with these conditions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, for a creature as cunning as a devil, voluntarily proposing such a fair contract was indeed a sign of great sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps someone wonders: isn’t a “fair contract” supposed to be the norm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It isn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For devils, fairness is not the default—unfairness is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any loophole must be exploited; every chance to cheat must be seized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the strong and the wise are worthy of making a contract with a devil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And by “strong” and “wise,” the devil means two kinds of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either they are powerful enough to defeat the devil and force them to sign a “fair” contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or they are clever enough to outmaneuver the devil, making them willingly and humbly sign an “unfair” contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gain strength, Crete broke protocol and treated him as she would a strong one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the Devil Girl’s brilliant idea, Herbert fell silent for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he truly remained silent for a long while, fidgeting constantly, clearly torn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert kept touching his chin, frowning, then staring deeply at Crete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pressed his lips tightly, his expression grave. After a long while, he relaxed, sighed helplessly, and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the sigh, Herbert rubbed his temples, grimacing as he muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Valentina really is something else—why does she blab everything? Can you really tell people about this? Isn’t this just inviting trouble? Really… ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert kept sighing, but Crete’s expression grew increasingly delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! Good! Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert’s reluctant reaction made Crete secretly pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, I guessed right!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew—her move had succeeded!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Herbert had immediately agreed to her request, she’d have suspected Valentina’s claim was a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Herbert’s current hesitation confirmed one thing—he truly had a method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This mysterious boy really had a way to help her improve her strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And judging by his current struggle, the cost of this method was high—he wasn’t eager to share it with others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After agonizing for a long while, Herbert finally seemed to make up his mind, raising his head to say:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crete, I never intended for anyone else to know about this, but since you’ve accidentally found out, I won’t hide it anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm-hmm!” Crete nodded eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here it comes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the real topic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the Devil Girl’s watchful gaze, Herbert said gravely: “Yes, just as you suspected—I do possess a method to enhance your strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With my help, Valentina has already broken through the peak of Legend and officially ascended to Epic Dragon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm-hmm-hmm!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she’d roughly guessed the outcome, hearing it directly from Herbert still stunned Crete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Epic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valentina had truly reached the Epic realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time she saw her, Valentina was still stuck at the edge of Legend—just a few days later, she’d already advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the terrifying combat power Valentina had displayed even at Legend’s peak, Crete now felt even greater wariness toward her current strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just how strong is Valentina now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Crete grew even more curious—and more desperate—for whatever help Herbert could offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of help was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A potion to drink?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An injection into the body?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or some special spiritual energy array?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it was, it was exactly what she needed now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had to grow stronger—stronger than that damned demon—to wash away her humiliation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete had already made up her mind—if one day she became stronger than Flora, she’d repay every torment she’d suffered, tenfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, hang Flora up and whip her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whack her hard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Heh, hehehe, hahahahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely imagining the scene, Crete couldn’t suppress her grin and burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her excited eyes, Herbert smiled inwardly, then continued gravely: “But you know, if this ability became known to others, what consequences would follow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The power to enhance others’ strength has always been coveted with the worst malice, in any era.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete nodded deeply, understanding his concerns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Herbert said, if this ability became public, his future would be plagued by endless harassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She understood his fears, and swiftly made a promise: “Don’t worry—I won’t tell anyone. I’ll put that in the contract.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gain Herbert’s help, the Devil Girl had truly offered her utmost sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had she treated him as a “strong” one with fairness, she’d even voluntarily offered terms fitting a “wise” one’s unfair contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a devil to willingly sign an unequal treaty—how desperate she was for this power. She longed to retaliate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Devil Girl had been oppressed by the Demon Girl for centuries; now, for the first time, she saw a chance to turn the tide—she would never let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Crete’s generous terms, Herbert remained grave. After a moment’s thought, he said apologetically: “Crete, you’ve truly surprised me—you’ve shown remarkable sincerity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m willing to accept your conditions. But before we sign the contract, I must warn you of one thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed deeply at Crete and said gravely: “To be honest, the help I can give you isn’t without cost—you must pay a price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Note: this price isn’t paid to me—it’s something you will lose yourself. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Herbert’s serious warning, Crete smiled faintly: “Don’t worry—I understand perfectly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Crete not understand this principle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no such thing as a free lunch; no pies fall from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alchemy demands equivalent exchange; even fate’s gifts come with a price already marked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was no naive child fresh out of training; she understood the world’s rules all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be blunt, as a devil, she understood far, far better than Herbert!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete waved her hand grandly and declared: “Enough talk—I understand. Let’s sign the contract right away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s urgent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Herbert still hesitated. After a long pause, he whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… you’ve truly decided? After all I’ve said, you still want me to help you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To grow stronger, the Devil Girl resolved to pay any price!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would turn the tables!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would crush that damn demon beneath her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it meant making a deal with a devil—and paying a terrible cost… Wait, something felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m the devil myself!!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange… why did I unconsciously put myself in the weaker position?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated and annoyed at her own stupidity, the Devil Girl bit her lip and vented her anger on Herbert: “Enough! Stop dawdling—are you even a man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve said it all this far—why are you still hesitating? What’s there to hesitate over?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m putting this on record: if anything goes wrong later, I’ll bear it alone. You don’t have to take responsibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So slow, so indecisive—he didn’t resemble the arrogant boy she once knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems no one is perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even someone as arrogant and talented as Herbert reveals his weaknesses in certain matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being pressured by the Devil Girl, Herbert reluctantly raised his hands, sighed, and conceded: “Fine, fine—if you’re this sincere, this insistent… sigh! Alright, I’ll give you one chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a deep sigh, barely suppressing the smile tugging at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no other way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, no other way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t hold it in any longer…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hahaha!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone saw it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t ask for it—she insisted on giving it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m innocent, pure as snow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did Herbert not want to sign the contract? Didn’t he want to give Crete special guidance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meat served to your mouth—why refuse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What reason could there be to say no?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the start, Herbert had no intention of refusing—he planned to comply with Crete’s request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he also knew the whole situation stemmed from a tiny misunderstanding: Crete didn’t understand what kind of help he was offering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a small misunderstanding was easy to clear up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he want to clear it up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Herbert’s goal was to use this misunderstanding, to exploit it, to achieve his own ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let the Devil Girl shoot herself in the foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve resisted strongly—repeatedly warned you—but you still won’t let go, insistently demanding I help you…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that’s the case, then if anything goes wrong later, you can’t blame me, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after the outcome was settled, Herbert didn’t relax—he kept performing at full capacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched as Crete eagerly pulled out two parchment scrolls, hesitated, and asked: “Crete, must we sign this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I trust you. Between us, do we really need such a contract?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert played the role of a gullible fool, declaring: We’re friends! Brothers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I believe in you—I know you won’t betray me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, why bother with contracts or agreements?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, this naive, foolish act was exactly what villains loved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a contract, their agreement had no guarantee—and no protection against loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Devil Girl firmly refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. This must be signed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no intention of taking advantage—but not because of conscience. There was another reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world operated by its own system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Devil Girl knew the most expensive thing in the world was a free gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Free things were always the costliest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Favor was the hardest debt to repay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for a devil bound to the Order faction, obeying rules was simply part of their nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking them to act chaotically was like forcing an OCD patient to mess up their perfectly organized things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This contract must be signed—not just for you, but for me too,” Crete declared firmly, not yielding an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I think—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No ‘buts’! I don’t care what you think—I care what I think!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the argument ended with Herbert’s “concession.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After prolonged negotiation, the beneficiary Herbert finally accepted the unequal contract proposed by the Devil Girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Signed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing left to do but sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the contract began to be formalized, Herbert changed demeanor, revealing an astonishing talent in this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need Crete to explain anything—he instantly understood the meaning of every step in signing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, these two parchment scrolls are the contract’s physical form. Why two—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to explain. I know: contracts come in duplicate, one for each party.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert didn’t just understand—he could extrapolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, the ideal contract would require a trustworthy witness—triplicate, with one copy held by the witness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you probably don’t want Flora as witness, and since we trust each other, we can simplify it to duplicate copies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete blinked, surprised Herbert could say all that. She nodded: “Uh, yes, right. Each of us keeps one copy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, as the signing continued, Crete’s astonishment grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert not only grasped all the rules effortlessly—he even proposed optimizations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And most importantly—Herbert was incredibly good at dragging things out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I find this requirement unreasonable. I need to make adjustments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think… oh, the contract’s clauses could be slightly modified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about this: I give a little, you give a little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This boy excelled at setting his opening bid just above his true bottom line—making himself suffer, yet leaving the other side unable to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, Crete felt like a raw recruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long negotiation, both reached a mutually satisfactory agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excluding minor details, the entire contract, in Herbert’s view, resembled a crude labor agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert would provide “special guidance” to Crete, helping her strengthen herself to eventually crush Flora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In return, Crete had to fulfill eighteen obligations: obey Herbert’s reasonable demands, protect his safety, assist him in building Elda… and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interestingly, both Herbert and Crete were satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One to eighteen—the advantage was hers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Crete, compared to her grand goal, these small costs meant nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the contract was fully signed, Crete blinked dazedly, feeling as if she’d just negotiated with a powerful devil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt… off?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her mind was confused, sensing she’d fallen into some trap, her joy still lowered her guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She carefully tucked the contract away, a satisfied smile on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this contract, her strength could now rise further!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revenge against Flora has been put on the agenda; the true day of counterattack is not far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Devil Girl was lost in fantasy, Herbert on the other side carefully put away the contract and smiled: “Our contract is signed, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I must now fulfill my obligation under the contract, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, then no time to waste—let’s begin the first assistance now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert made his decision, smiling and gesturing to Crete: “Then come here, stand in front of me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete was also slightly excited, wondering how Herbert would help her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he going to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A potion? Or… hmm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Crete was eagerly pondering, Herbert in front of her moved—he unfastened the buttons on his robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hooded cloak drifted slowly behind him, drawing Crete’s gaze with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does this mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she cautiously pulled her gaze back, she caught Herbert’s next move—he unfastened the top button of his shirt collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh??\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this was all, Crete might have been puzzled but still accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After unfastening one button, Herbert grabbed the collar and pulled it off effortlessly, revealing his solid physique beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Devil Girl was stunned by the scene; she instinctively stepped back, but her stubbornness kept her from showing fear—she forcibly halted her retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert is taking off his clothes—he must just be hot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Herbert’s actions were far from over; before Crete could ask, he made his next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached his hand naturally toward his waist belt—wait!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm!!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, Crete had endured it, thinking Herbert might do something else… but this time, she truly couldn’t hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Devil Girl grabbed the boy’s wrist, shocked: “What are you doing!!!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert did not force himself to continue after being stopped. He raised an eyebrow, smiling strangely: “Huh? I’m helping you. Isn’t that what you strongly demanded?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crete was dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did I ever demand this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I demanded? When did I ever ask for this kind of help? What are you talking about!!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she cried out, the Devil Girl suddenly realized something—her eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, wait!!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No… no way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, this is exactly what you wanted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert gazed tenderly at the frozen Devil Girl and whispered: “All, as you wished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Ye Gong who feared dragons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the key is… you haven’t even seen the real dragon yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert smiled gently and whispered: “Don’t panic. Take a deep breath. Breathe through your nose. Dizziness and nausea are normal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Herbert could act, Crete, finally realizing, yanked her hand free and retreated at astonishing speed, dashing into the Bronze Fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she fled, she cried out in panic: “No no no, don’t come near!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert watched the broken Devil Girl flee without rushing to chase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after she slammed the door shut did he smile brightly and murmur: “You think hiding there will keep you safe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you forget what I am?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, the contract is sealed—do you really think you can back out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Run? Where do you think you can run to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister, now you want to run?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can you escape?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked slowly to the Bronze Door and said with a grin:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open sesame!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the Bronze Fortress door slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak… creak… creak…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2779,"2026-06-20T12:31:07.945Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bdb24b39d51da61b4c8ac27a1cbebc552a9809a141b42e023028bb36aa9d6940","an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-424","an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-422",453,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fan-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-cover.jpg"]