Chapter 55: 51 True Heart for True Heart (Requesting Follows)

From the beginning, Herbert’s status was never equal to that of the prisoners.

The demon girls might be powerful, hold high status in the outside world, or be immensely wealthy…

But before him, their only identity was that of a prisoner.

And he, was the warden, in charge of everything within the prison.

The alien prison had been too quiet for too long; though the prisoners said nothing on the surface, they all longed for change.

Even if that change was good or bad.

Any change would do.

Herbert dared to approach and interact with them in a flippant, almost overconfident manner precisely because he understood this.

Hmm.

Pure, unadulterated abuse of authority.

And often, he wasn’t so much flirting as testing boundaries.

Through laughter and play, he repeatedly probed how far their tolerance extended.

He believed that, aside from Valentina, who was truly oblivious, the others all sensed it faintly.

“We’re all just pretending.”

Everyone had an unspoken understanding; all chose not to expose it.

“True hearts for true hearts? No, more like black hearts for black hearts.”

Herbert smiled lightly, neither optimistic nor despairing about the current situation.

【“Then…”】

“We’ll have to take it slow.”

“I have no intention of harming them, nor any reason to. They’ll come to understand this eventually.”

“I treat them with genuine sincerity; how much sincerity they return in the end will depend on how we interact in the future.”

“I’m confident in myself. What about you?”

【“I…”】

The demon god fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.

【“I’ve always believed in you~”】

“Ha, lying.”

【“Mm, yes, I’m lying~”】

Treehouse.

After Herbert left, Svan Ni maintained the exact posture she had when he departed, silently gazing at the glowing forest.

Long moments passed before she sighed and shook her head. “What a strange fellow…”

“He doesn’t resemble a holy servant at all.”

Another voice picked up her words: “Did he see through it this time too?”

Same tone, same flat inflection.

Inside the treehouse, a second Svan Ni appeared!

The newly appeared Svan Ni was no illusory avatar—she looked identical to the previous “body.”

She picked up the skull Herbert had left behind, examined it, and shook her head in distaste.

“Useless. Already defiled by Him.”

When she released it, the skull turned to dust and sank into the ground.

This too was a physical form!

A master of flesh manipulation wouldn’t struggle to create a flesh clone.

Both Svan Ni s moved simultaneously, dividing their attention to resume their interrupted research.

“A confident, bold, and non-dogmatic paladin…”

“Should we cooperate with him?”

They asked and answered each other, as if two distinct people were conversing.

“Indeed, the hidden experimental materials are nearly exhausted.”

“We also need fresh flesh from other races.”

“But no rush. Wait a little longer.”

“Wait until he comes to me again on his own…”

While the two Svan Ni s spoke, the flesh graveyard on the treehouse’s upper level was slowly changing.

The wooden walls writhed, opening gaping mouths that devoured and absorbed all the flesh.

Soon, the once grotesque space became utterly clean, showing no trace of flesh left behind.

And when all fell still again,

A third Svan Ni appeared, standing where Herbert had been, gently sniffing the air.

“But what I truly desire…”

“Is his flesh.”

Svan Ni frowned slightly, tilting her head in confusion as she inhaled the lingering scent again.

“Hah…”

“What is it about him that draws me?”

She licked her lips, her gaze gleaming with danger.

“Is it his bloodline? Or…”

“After all that, the path to the fourth zone still hasn’t been opened.”

On his way back, Herbert scowled, muttering under his breath.

I forgot!

Too many distractions when facing Svan Ni —he was so focused on convincing her to betray that he completely forgot this.

Go back now and mention it?

Hmm, that’d be too strange…

But the biggest threat—Fish Brother—has already been dealt with; no one’s watching his hook anymore, so there’s no need to rush.

As he passed the black iron coffin, a muffled voice came from within: “Hey! Paladin!”

“You still owe me ten drops of blood! You promised—don’t back out!”

Through the coffin’s cracks, a pair of crimson eyes glowed, fixed hungrily on Herbert, occasionally darting to his handback, as if pondering something.

Herbert: ?

He said nothing, glancing sideways at the vampire trapped inside the coffin, barely surviving in the gap—and unconsciously recalled what he’d seen in the treehouse.

The Dark Elf archmage’s residence wasn’t opulent, but it was undeniably comfortable—excluding the flesh nest on the top floor.

Now look at you.

Both of you are survivors of the Lightless Prison—why does she live in a mansion while you’re stuck in a coffin?

How did you end up like this?

So embarrassing.

He looked at Elisa, shook his head, and sighed deeply: “Ah…”

Elisa: ?

She was baffled by his sudden reaction, unsure what he meant.

“Huh? Why the sudden sigh? Are you… going to renege?!”

Elisa panicked.

Hey!

I already gave you everything—don’t you dare deny it!

Herbert’s brow twitched; the words he’d been about to say retracted.

He smiled gently at Elisa, nodded politely, then walked away without a word.

Leaving behind a dashing silhouette.

???

“You! You can’t do this!”

The poor vampire screamed after his retreating back:

“Hey! Paladin! Aren’t you a Paladin!!?”

“You disgrace of the Paladin Order—”

Hearing the vampire’s furious curses behind him, Herbert, now far away, took a deep breath and mused: “Her reaction is so amusing.”

She’s too easy to rile—why did she snap so quickly?

【“You’re sure you’re being sincere with them?”】

“Of course.”

Herbert smiled lightly, answering as if it were obvious: “I sincerely tease her, and she sincerely curses me—isn’t that also true hearts for true hearts?”

Folks.

That’s real.

And Herbert, happily teasing the fool right now, had no idea yet…

It won’t be long before he can’t laugh anymore.

At this very moment, Rust Nail Bishop stood before the alien prison, frowning at the sticky residue on the ground.

“Did that fallen one finally hide here?”

Tomorrow’s update is scheduled for 6 PM!

I’m pushing back the update deadline!!!

…

Please follow and comment—come on, everyone, this means a lot to me.

If there are no comments, Vatas—

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(End of Chapter)