Chapter 440: Look Again, Look Again (62K Votes Requested)

“What’s wrong?”

Flora noticed Valentina’s unusual state—she felt that Miss Long, who had always been unruly, was now tense in a way she had never been before.

“Did you notice anything?”

What had Valentina sensed?

“Huh!”

Upon hearing her companion’s voice, the Dragoness snapped back to herself and said uncertainly: “I… I felt someone watching me?”

She wasn’t even sure if she’d just imagined it—or truly sensed danger.

Even the Sage in her mind couldn’t give an answer.

At that moment, Crete, who had wrapped herself tightly in black lace-patterned mask, leaving only her eyes exposed, chimed in with a sarcastic remark: “Watching you? What are you talking about? Everyone over there is just staring at you.”

She pouted, gesturing for Valentina to look at the crowd gathered at the city gate—completely forgetting her own lips were hidden beneath the mask.

But Valentina understood Crete’s gesture and turned toward the townspeople by the gate.

“Hmm…”

The three of them had been waiting here for a while, following Herbert’s instructions, drawing considerable attention from onlookers.

Their eyes held no lust or greed—only curiosity, wondering why these three women stood here instead of entering the city.

Were they waiting for someone?

Or did they think their faith wasn’t devout enough?

“No, I mean… that gaze felt dangerous.” Valentina pursed her lips, still trying to salvage her dignity.

She was dense, not stupid!

She could tell the cold gaze had come from something far beyond these weaklings.

“Valentina, stop talking.”

The Dragoness was about to say more, but Flora gently tugged her, warning: “Don’t forget where we are.”

“This is Solanthis.”

Feeling a hidden strong one watching?

Is that strange?

This is the Holy City of Light.

It would be stranger if there weren’t true elites guarding it!

“If you truly felt that dangerous gaze, it’s probably him warning us not to cause trouble.”

A warning—or a reminder.

As for why only Valentina sensed it, it’s likely because she’s the strongest among us, seen as the leader.

“...Fine.”

Valentina still felt this explanation was slightly off, but she reluctantly accepted it.

For now, she’d let it be.

She didn’t keep thinking—not because she couldn’t figure it out, nor because she disliked thinking—really!

But because Herbert was coming back soon.

Watching the two figures approaching—one ahead, one behind—Valentina broke into a bright smile.

It seemed everything went smoothly on Herbert’s end.

They had prepared thoroughly, establishing various signals.

If Herbert wore his helmet, it meant the Holy City wasn’t safe—they must be ready to flee.

If he removed his helmet, it meant all was well—they could enter peacefully.

Though separated only briefly, this was still a touching reunion.

But the onlookers around them seemed… too many.

Valentina’s brow twitched as she glanced at the faithful still blocking the city gate, obstructing the only path in.

The Dragoness didn’t try to push through—she simply glared at them, fiercely.

What are you staring at?

Still staring? Still staring?!

Make way! Make way!

But she forgot she was dressed as a maid—her furious glare lost several levels of intimidation.

Yes.

This was another condition Herbert had set: she had to wear a maid outfit.

To make her seem less threatening, Herbert had gone to great lengths.

That’s right.

It’s not because he likes maid outfits!

Added to her careful suppression of her aura, her glare appeared anything but fearsome.

It looked more like an angry little cat—almost cute. Some elderly faithful couldn’t help smiling warmly.

“Tch!”

Seeing they remained unmoved by her “fierce” stare, Valentina pouted and huffed.

“Hmph!”

The irritated sound shook the crowd before the gate; the airwave sent many stumbling backward, all blinded by flying dust.

Bishop Evelyn reverted to human form just before landing, gently descending among the crowd without harming anyone.

Herbert continued flying until he reached the three, just as the airwave from Valentina swept backward, making the wide habits of the two demon girls flutter violently.

He clearly saw the airwave outline the true shapes hidden beneath their robes.

Vast plains and rolling hills laid bare.

Valentina: “Hmph~”

Crete: “Huh?”

Herbert: “Huh?!”

Flora: “Huh?!”

The culprit had no idea what she’d done and continued humming, watching the crowd fall like wheat.

The well-off victim merely gave a casual “Huh?” and didn’t care.

As the lucky witness, Herbert blinked slowly, instinctively comparing the two sides.

The second victim—utterly outraged—immediately lost her composure, clutching her chest and glaring furiously at Herbert, who was still comparing.

What are you staring at?

Still staring?!

In this world, nothing is worse than comparison.

Like wearing the same outfit—when everyone wears the same thing, the ugliest one feels embarrassed.

But Herbert thought Flora didn’t need to be so upset.

In his view, demon and devil each had their own merits.

Big has its advantages; small has its charm.

The mature woman has her appeal; the little girl has her sweetness.

Only those who eat everything are truly healthy!

It’s fine—I appreciate them all equally!

Thinking this, Herbert gave Flora a thumbs-up and smiled gently.

You’ll grow.

Don’t be sad, don’t rush!

In gloomy days, stay calm!

Believe me, happy days will come!

Even if you don’t grow, it’s fine!

You’re wonderful too!

Tiny is cute too.

“Huh?!”

Flora didn’t know what Herbert was thinking—but seeing his expression, eyes, and gesture, she instinctively knew he was up to no good.

She gritted her teeth, furious, and let out a sharp huff.

“Hmph!”

You’re really too much.

Perhaps because of the long years they’d spent together in dreams, Flora now treated Herbert far more casually than before.

Though nominally still his servant, her actions showed less deference.

Whoosh—

“I’m back. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Herbert landed before the three. Before they could speak, his brow twitched—he sensed something unusual.

“What’s wrong?”

His gaze swept over their faces as he asked softly: “What happened while I was gone?”

He sensed the subtlest shifts in their hearts without them needing to speak.

Though they appeared normal, all three behaved with slight unease, as if carefully guarding against something.

Herbert didn’t think much of it—he simply assumed they had been mistreated by the Sun worshippers earlier.

Herbert’s acute perception of human emotion made Kreti’s brow twitch slightly, deepening her interest in him.

“...Hss.”

She always felt Herbert was a devil wrapped in the skin of a holy knight, possessing an innate, piercing insight into human nature.

He could easily detect others’ emotions and manipulate them.

This gift seemed born solely to toy with people’s feelings.

He was a devil by nature.

If one could harness this gift... it would be an exceedingly terrifying thing.

Others would instinctively grow wary when facing a cunning devil, fearing they’d be lured into his traps.

But when facing a legendary holy knight, the situation would be entirely different.

The identity of a holy knight was Herbert’s perfect disguise.

Most people would unconditionally believe the words of a legendary holy knight, convinced of his righteousness.

No one would ever imagine a “harmless” legendary holy knight would do devilish things to lead them into an abyss of eternal ruin!

“If I were to guide him... gulp.” Kreti swallowed hard, suppressing this dangerous thought.

She didn’t want to see Herbert walk down such a perilous path.

It was certainly fascinating—but also dangerously so.

And—apparently, he didn’t need her guidance at all; he had already mastered it on his own.

Kreti fell silent, pondering these thoughts; Flora pouted at Herbert; only Valentina responded immediately after hearing his question.

“Yes yes yes!”

While the other two remained silent, Valentina leapt forward, quickly reporting.

“I’ve got to tell you! Someone just stared at me!”

“Uh, someone definitely did!”

Some might think such matters shouldn’t be shared with others—they’d prefer to handle it alone.

But for Valentina, that approach wouldn’t work.

Hide it?

Why hide it?

Isn’t a mouth made for speaking?

Besides, Herbert is far, far smarter than me.

If I can’t solve it, Herbert will surely find a way!

“Just now, I felt someone suddenly glare at me... hmm, maybe not entirely aimed at me?”

“I just had this strange feeling—a gut instinct told me someone dangerous was looking this way.”

By the end, she grew embarrassed, her voice dropping, her confidence visibly fading.

“But I’m not even sure if anyone was really there, or who it was, or where...”

She chuckled awkwardly. “There must’ve been someone, right? I think so... maybe?”

Herbert’s brow lightly furrowed as he listened to Valentina’s disjointed account of what had happened.

“Alright, I understand the situation.”

After thinking it over, he nodded slowly and smiled at the hungry dragon girl. “Don’t worry—it’s nothing serious. Even if something happens, I’m here.”

“Mm!”

Herbert shared the same view as the others—this was ordinary.

This was Solanthis. It was normal for powerful figures to be present, and for some to show hostility toward them.

The Sun Church’s conservative and liberal factions were locked in fierce conflict; Herbert had already witnessed their disagreements.

If some high-ranking figures approved their entry, others surely disapproved.

Nothing to worry about.

As long as they kept to themselves, caused no trouble, and broke no laws, no one could touch them.

Moreover, with the monastery backing them, as long as they didn’t commit something outrageously egregious, they’d be safe.

“Lord Herbert, please follow me.” Bishop Evelyn quietly stepped behind Herbert and gave the group a slight nod.

Her gaze swept over the three demon girls, finally lingering on the tightly wrapped devil, staring deeply.

“Hm?”

Kreti, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to attention under that gaze, feeling uneasy. She frowned. “What is it?”

“...”

The bishop, who had always remained calm even during arguments, subtly twitched her brow.

Yet, Bishop Evelyn ultimately said nothing, shaking her head with unchanged composure.

“...No, nothing.”

She ended the exchange, turned, and led the way.

Though she said nothing, her unusual demeanor was clearly different from before.

Had she sensed something?

Herbert’s mind stirred. He nodded, signaling the three to follow, while secretly speaking to the devil girl.

“What? Do you know her? An old acquaintance?”

“No, I don’t recognize her.”

Kreti also sensed something odd. After careful thought, she still found no memory of ever meeting the Sun Church’s bishop.

She didn’t know her.

“But she seems to recognize you. Have you truly never had any past conflict?” Herbert pressed curiously.

It felt like there was some story between them.

“I have no idea.”

Once Kreti confirmed she truly didn’t know Evelyn, she grew calm and shrugged. “Ask her yourself. Don’t ask me.”

“Maybe I’m her enemy—perhaps I killed someone dear to her? Who knows?”

The devil girl scoffed dismissively. “Well? Regret bringing me along now?”

“I told you not to bring me! You insisted! See? Problems already!”

This journey to Solanthis was for Herbert’s mission, Flora’s purification ritual, and Valentina’s voluntary accompaniment.

Only Kreti had resisted from the start, utterly opposed to coming to the Holy City.

Even now, having successfully entered the city, she remained unchanged—stubbornly, I didn’t want to come!

It was like a child refusing to go to school—you simply didn’t want to go.

No matter what you said, you still didn’t want to go.

Just like a child’s futile resistance against school, Kreti’s struggle was the same.

Useless.

“Come to school—it’s for your own good.”

“Come to the Holy City—it’s for my happiness!”

The more Kreti resisted, the more Herbert wanted to bring her.

The more you resist, the more excited I get.

It sounded twisted—but that was Herbert’s true thought.

“Indeed, forced affection brings joy.”

Herbert slowly understood Nenasha’s happiness.

Under Bishop Evelyn’s guidance, they arrived at a secluded mansion in the heart of the Holy City.

She declined Herbert’s invitation to enter, then turned into a flame giant and departed.

Unlike its plain exterior, the mansion’s interior was opulent, dominated by white and gold, with Sun Church’s solar motifs everywhere.

There were many rooms—plenty for everyone to rest comfortably.

Each member of the group reacted differently to it.

Valentina leapt onto the largest sofa the moment she entered, stretching lazily and sprawling over the soft fabric.

Flora, by contrast, was far more composed—she walked calmly into the room, yet her curiosity drove her to pick up a book from the shelf and begin reading rapidly.

Kreti, however, was the complete opposite. Even after entering, she kept her mask on, moving cautiously through the room, afraid of touching anything imbued with holy light.

“Pfft, hah!”

Herbert watched this absurd yet heartwarming scene and couldn’t help laughing.

He clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention, then stood. “Alright, pick any room you like. Sleep wherever you want.”

“Tonight, rest well, all of you.”

He didn’t mention tomorrow’s plans—those trivial matters could wait.

Though puzzled, the three demon girls accepted his arrangement.

To ensure the energetic hungry dragon girl rested peacefully, Herbert tapped her forehead three times, reluctantly rejecting her suggestive invitation to play.

What are you opening?

Do you think about nothing but this kind of thing every day?

You've been operating the Ace War Goddess all day—she needs rest, and pilots get tired too.

Besides, is the Glory Holy City a place for you to do this?

“...Wait, actually, it sounds kind of thrilling?”

Herbert seriously considered it, and dangerous thoughts involuntarily surfaced in his mind: “What if I try it the night before we leave?”

“No, no, no—this place can be seen as the Sun God’s divine realm; you can’t act recklessly! If He notices, it won’t be fun anymore.”

After repeatedly weighing its feasibility, Herbert could only reluctantly abandon this bold and dangerous idea.

Don’t get yourself killed.

Herbert chose a room with a mirror for himself and locked the door after entering.

After double-checking everything, he stood before the full-length mirror, squinting at his reflection.

“Three, two, one… oh.”

Herbert silently counted three seconds in his mind—the reflection in the mirror had indeed changed.

“What? You called me?”

Luka Lía’s figure came alive, blinking curiously: “Have you arrived?”

“Heh, I’m fine.”

Herbert smiled cheerfully: “Just checking in—pretend I missed you.”

As expected, he was met with the Mirror Spirit’s disgusted look.

“Tsk!”

“Hahaha!”

With a secure escape route secured, Herbert was in high spirits.

With Luka Lía’s ability, he could bring Valentina and the other three back to the Monastery at any moment.

In good spirits, Herbert chatted with Luka Lía a while longer, then waved goodbye as sleepiness overcame him.

Only when Herbert instinctively lay on the bed and closed his eyes did he vaguely sense something was wrong.

“I’m… tired? How could I be tired...”

Herbert fell asleep.

He had long since no longer needed sleep thanks to Nenasha’s aid, yet this night, Herbert still slept.

Herbert dreamed—for the first time in a long while.

A long, strange dream.

He walked beneath blazing sunlight, then strolled through shadow.

Light and shadow alternated, endlessly repeating.

He didn’t know how long he’d walked, nor how much farther he had to go.

Herbert kept walking until the dream shifted.

He dreamed he was crushed beneath a massive mountain that had flown in from nowhere, his body tightly bound by thick ropes.

Only then did he gain a sliver of clarity within the dream.

Herbert suddenly felt a cold, indifferent gaze—having watched him for who knew how long.

High above, gazing down from the sky.

From that blazing, radiant sun.

…

…

“...Cough.”

When Herbert awoke, his first sight was the “mountain” crushing him.

Valentina had somehow broken the lock last night and skillfully climbed onto his bed.

If that were all, it wouldn’t matter—it wasn’t new.

But the problem was, she’d apparently dreamed something, crawled out from under the covers, curled up, and firmly settled herself on Herbert’s stomach.

As immovable as a mountain.

You really have no sense of your own weight!

You’re this big and you’re lying on someone’s stomach?

Are you a cat?

Even if you are, you’re an orange cat half-dead.

Herbert finally managed to reach out and push—no effect.

“Huh? Oh!”

A thick dragon tail emerged from beneath Valentina’s maid dress, tightly binding Herbert to her.

Thump.

Helpless, he gave the “mountain cat” on top of him a firm smack on the buttocks.

“Hey! Wake up!”

Under Herbert’s pressure, Valentina slowly opened her eyes.

“Huh?”

She blinked, dazed, then looked at Herbert and quickly blinked again.

“Why did you sneak over here?”

The Hungry Dragon paused, then happily nuzzled him: “But you came just in time—I was just thinking—”

Before the Hungry Dragon could finish her lewd remark, Herbert clamped a hand over her mouth and shook his head: “No, you weren’t!”

“Look where you are—hold off for now.”

“And you, Luka Lía—still watching! Still watching!”

The motionless mirror figure rolled her eyes and huffed: “Tsk—who cares to watch?”

…

…

Meanwhile, in an underground crypt hundreds of miles from the Glory Holy City, hundreds of Cultists of Lust gathered around a altar forged from the flesh and blood of various creatures, whispering prayers.

At the altar’s center, a blood-red egg, three men tall, trembled slightly.

Then, a faint heartbeat echoed from within.

Thump-thump!

(End of Chapter)