Chapter 435: The Dragon Girl Who Knows How to Pout Has the Best Luck (Please Vote!)

The young paladin hadn’t even had time to continue teasing the furious devil before he was kidnapped by an intruding dragon.

More accurately… he willingly let himself be taken.

Without explaining to Crete or Flora, Herbert waved goodbye and left the Lava Hell, arriving beside Valentina.

He looked at the hungry dragon girl, now reverted to her half-dragon form, and asked with a hint of helplessness: “You mean you’re coming too?”

“Mm!”

“So, do you know where I’m going?”

“No idea!”

Valentina nodded vigorously, eyes sparkling with excitement, shouting loudly: “But no matter where it is, I’m going with you!”

The hungry dragon girl wasn’t just speaking—she was demonstrating her stance with action.

Her thick crimson tail whipped rapidly behind her, stirring up sharp gusts of wind.

Swish—swish—

If anyone happened to be standing behind her at this moment, they’d likely be snapped clean in half—or even shattered!

Labrador’s tail was at best a weapon for injuring, but Valentina’s tail was unquestionably a killing instrument.

Herbert watched her like this, unable to suppress the upward curl of his lips, thinking of large dogs before they’re let out for a walk.

This excitement was identical—indeed, even greater!

So cute~

And Valentina seemed aware of how adorable she looked right now, clinging to Herbert’s arm and swaying back and forth, pouting.

“Take me with you!”

She pressed his arm tightly against her chest, rubbing against it.

“Take me! Take me!”

Feeling Valentina’s relentless assault, Herbert silently clenched his lips, gritted his teeth, and leaned forward slightly.

“No, no, madam, please don’t do this.”

Herbert turned his head slightly, speaking with a pious air: “Miss, please mind your conduct—I’m not that kind of man…”

Of course, though his words sounded virtuous, his body showed no intention of pulling away.

If it were any other unfamiliar woman, Herbert could ignore her advances, treating her as a mere skeleton draped in beauty.

But facing his most beloved hungry dragon girl, he couldn’t control his instincts.

He said no, but his body was utterly honest.

His body, long accustomed to her touch, had already reacted the moment he sensed her scent.

Thus, amid this back-and-forth verbal struggle, their physical distance didn’t grow farther—it grew closer.

Soon, they were pressed together.

Snuggle!

Valentina draped most of her body over Herbert like a koala, coiled around him.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs clasped his waist, and her tail gently supported her from behind.

She locked him in place, then rubbed her cheeks against him.

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Throughout this, Herbert, thoroughly enjoying it, didn’t resist—he actively helped, making it easier for her to cling tighter.

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Though they appeared to be arguing, they looked more like they were finding an excuse to cling to each other.

Yet despite their extremely intimate posture, Herbert weighed his options carefully, then sighed and spoke at last.

“Hmm… still no.”

Valentina, rubbing against Herbert’s chest, froze, lifted her head slightly, and blinked at him.

Herbert looked at her pitiful expression from below, hesitated again inside, but hardened his heart and said firmly: “Sorry, Valentina—I can’t take you this time.”

Yes, after thinking it through, Herbert decided to cruelly refuse her.

Though Valentina was adorable and he very much wanted to go with her,

this wasn’t a trip to Solantis for fun—it wasn’t a safe place for her.

It was the Sun Church’s Radiant Holy City, the place where all chaos and evil were destroyed.

Valentina wasn’t strictly evil, but she had once borne the lives of tens of thousands.

Though Herbert had purified her inside and out, again and again, her karmic burden had been greatly reduced, some residue still remained.

The moment she stepped into Solantis, she’d be identified as an immediate threat to be eliminated.

“Valentina, I know you’re eager, but don’t rush—I’ll explain everything…”

To soothe the hungry dragon girl, Herbert patiently laid out all his concerns.

“…”

After listening quietly, Valentina furrowed her brow, didn’t immediately rage, but pouted and asked: “If I can’t go, then why can they?”

Most anger in this world stems from injustice.

No matter where, no matter what world, people fear inequality more than scarcity.

She could accept that she couldn’t come—but she couldn’t understand why only she was forbidden.

“Because of power.”

Herbert understood her dissatisfaction and explained patiently: “Because Flora and the others are weak, and you’re too strong.”

This was the sole reason he refused her—power.

Valentina was too conspicuous.

Were Flora and Crete kind?

Clearly, they had nothing to do with kindness.

Their origins as abyssal races already determined how the Sun Church would treat them.

Malice, suspicion, hatred… were easily encountered.

But legendary demons and devils, though closely watched by the Sun Church, weren’t truly feared.

Flora and the others accompanying him to Solantis might face minor troubles, but they wouldn’t trigger major problems.

The Sun Church, out of respect for the Mist Monastery, wouldn’t act against them—perhaps only issuing verbal warnings, and only purifying them if they actually committed offenses.

But Valentina was different.

As an Epic-tier being, she was a massive threat wherever she went.

To divine churches, legendary beings were merely walking ammunition depots; Epics were mobile tactical warheads; Saints… were nuclear weapons with autonomous consciousness.

Among these three, legendaries weren’t overly valued—when trouble arose, they could be easily suppressed.

Saints weren’t overly feared either, for they were prominent figures who might represent another deity’s stance.

Neither group would be lightly provoked—no one dared offend the Sun God’s dignity.

Of the three, only Epics required high-level vigilance.

Don’t even think about hiding your power—it’s impossible.

No matter how Valentina concealed her strength, the instant she stepped into Solantis, the Sun Church would know.

After all, it was the Sun God’s earthly divine realm.

Could anyone truly hide from the Sun God’s gaze?

And if she were caught deliberately concealing her power to sneak in, the offense would escalate further—she might be seen as defiance, triggering outright hostility.

Even if she revealed her identity upon entry, she’d be strictly controlled—or even subjected to special restrictions—which Valentina refused, and Herbert couldn’t accept.

The proud dragon refused to be bound by others, wouldn’t bow before the powerful.

And Herbert wouldn’t let Valentina be bound by anyone but himself.

In this world, only he could be her shackle.

After hearing Herbert’s explanation, Valentina frowned slightly and fell silent for a long while.

Seeing her soften, Herbert relaxed inwardly and pressed on gently: “Besides, I won’t be gone long—I’ll go and return quickly, probably just a few days.”

“If you really can’t wait, just sleep. Close your eyes, open them—I’ll already be back.”

Herbert had traveled before; he believed Valentina could understand and behave.

But just as Herbert thought he’d convinced her and was about to leave to greet the other monster girls… the dragon girl’s long legs around his waist tightened slightly, squeezing him harder.

The hungry dragon girl silently declared her stance—don’t you dare leave!

Huh?

Herbert’s eyes flickered—he saw Valentina pouting stubbornly.

Seeing him look over, she sniffed and huffed: “You talked so much nonsense—I didn’t understand any of it!”

“I won’t listen! I won’t!”

“I don’t care—I’m going with you.”

Well then.

Herbert couldn’t help laughing—he laughed when utterly speechless.

He thought she understood, but she hadn’t heard a word.

“Valentina, the situation is…”

Just as Herbert prepared to explain further, Valentina’s next words stunned him.

“And since you’re not going for fun, aren’t you even more in need of me?”

Valentina clutched Herbert tightly, staring at him, her tail wrapped around his legs, and said seriously, “Don’t worry, I will protect you.”

“As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you!”

Valentina declared—she didn’t understand all that complicated stuff.

She only knew one thing.

I love you.

I don’t want you to get hurt.

She pouted and grumbled unhappily, “Besides, if I can’t protect you, what’s the point of my advancement?”

Valentina’s advancement to Epic was supposed to be a joyful thing, something countless others longed for but could never achieve.

Yet right now, she was ungratefully complaining about it.

She blamed her advancement to Epic for preventing her from standing proudly by Herbert’s side.

Legendary, good.

Epic, bad!

“If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have advanced to Epic!”

“Hmph!”

After hearing Valentina boldly utter such a heartless remark, Herbert finally sighed and shook his head.

Listen, just listen to yourself.

Are you even speaking human language?

If you didn’t want to advance to Epic, why don’t you give it to me?

I want it!

Of course, Herbert knew she was just venting—she wasn’t truly jealous.

Children’s babble, blown away by the wind!

Whether Valentina is a child… never mind.

A baby of thousands of months is still a baby!

Herbert pursed his lips and hesitated, “Valentina, you…”

Valentina cut him off, grumbling, “You don’t believe me? You doubt my resolve?”

“No, I believe you. How could I ever doubt you?” Herbert shook his head gently and smiled helplessly.

“Then what are you wondering about?” Valentina asked suspiciously.

Indeed, what was I wondering about?

Herbert chuckled softly, staring at her, and whispered, “I’m wondering… when did you become so… clever?”

During this conversation, Herbert sensed something off.

Valentina’s words carried an undertone of manipulation, deliberately steering his responses—it was unnatural.

She couldn’t possibly have done this on her own!

This wasn’t disrespecting Valentina—it was precisely because he knew her so well that he reached this conclusion.

Someone must have advised her behind the scenes!

“Hmph! You figured it out!”

As expected, once exposed, Valentina’s expression changed instantly. She smirked and said, “I told you you’d notice—but Freyme said you wouldn’t. I won.”

So it was true.

Herbert smirked and asked, “Did she teach you to say that?”

“Mm-hmm! She said if I just told you everything I felt, you’d definitely soften!” Valentina giggled and nuzzled against Herbert, feeling utterly victorious.

Herbert blinked, then reminded her, “Could it be… she taught you this on purpose, so I’d notice?”

“Huh? Really?”

They locked eyes. Herbert saw only purity in Valentina’s gaze—not a trace of cunning.

Herbert didn’t want to sully that purity. He let it go: “Never mind. You’re right. You won.”

“Yay!”

Moreover, now that she’d been exposed, Valentina reverted to her true self and began pestering him again.

“Herbert, take me with you!”

“I don’t care—I’m going too!”

“I want to go! Go! Go—!”

Valentina refused to argue. She clung tighter and tighter to Herbert.

Clung tightly!

Pressing his body into her ample curves.

“Give up that idea. No amount of pouting will change my mind.”

Herbert, face stern and righteous, said firmly, “I won’t take you!”

“My decision is final!”

“My heart is iron!”

…

…

Two days later.

Above the sky beyond Solantis.

A crimson giant shadow flashed past.

As it sped by, it cast a massive shadow over the battlefield where the two divine churches faced off.

“Huh? Did it get dark?”

“No, that’s not right!”

“Is that a dragon?”

…

“There they are! Charge! Valentina, charge!”

“Don’t worry—I won’t let them put those shackles on you.”

Herbert, who had claimed to have an “iron heart,” sat atop the crimson dragon’s back, patted it gently, and murmured, “These ugly creatures are our credentials.”

“Don’t hesitate—spit at them!”

(End of Chapter)