Chapter 64: My Treasure (13)

"Believe me, this really is a good thing!"

"Look at the design, look at the material, look at the texture… an absolutely top-quality good thing!"

Herbert kept on coaxing, trying to get Valentina to accept this gift that was full of genuine sincerity.

Just take it!

Stop tearing at it, it's for the child!

But Valentina, who had long been somewhat on guard in her heart, showed only a faint interest; after a single glance she withdrew her gaze.

"Heh."

She gave a soft snort and continued chewing the food in her mouth.

(chew chew chew)

You think something like this can buy me off?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

"Mmm mmm mmm!" ("I don't want it!")

She chewed the food in her mouth in perfect contentment, completely unaware that she had long since been bought off by the food.

(chew chew chew chew chew chew)

Herbert earnestly advised her for a long time, but in the end, seeing she still would not relent, he could only shake his head helplessly.

"Sigh."

He let out a breath, somewhat helplessly holding the Bitter戒 Ring and stroking the enormous gemstone set into it.

"Setting everything else aside, just look at this gemstone on it! Isn't it absolutely top-grade?"

A gemstone?

Valentina's chewing visibly faltered for a moment, and her gaze uncontrollably drifted over.

It really is a gemstone!

And it's a sapphire of very high purity and excellent cut.

Perhaps because she had never once possessed a proper dragon's nest of her own, her fondness for treasure and the like was not as strong as that of other dragons.

Those things over there may be pretty, but they can't be carried on her person.

Still, if you asked whether the dragon nature in her blood truly liked such things or not, she probably still did.

Gulp.

She swallowed, thinking she had done so discreetly, and with great difficulty turned her head to one side.

But the thing is, she had already thrown out some harsh words just now, so Valentina absolutely would not lower her proud head now!

A dragon never bows its head!

Clack.

The faint sound made Valentina's ears twitch; she sneakily glanced back and saw that Herbert had set the Bitter戒 Ring down in front of the railing.

"…I said I don't want it."

Valentina wrestled with herself for a moment, but in the end still said sulkily, "Take it away, quickly, take it away."

Quickly, take it away!

Otherwise, I… I'm afraid I won't be able to hold out.

The more she looked at it, the more she felt her heart bleeding inside.

"I'm not taking it back. If you want to throw it away, throw it away yourself, haha."

Herbert chuckled lightly, turned and walked toward the other side, and said without looking back, "Since I've given it to you, there's no reason for me to take it back."

"Alright, you go ahead and eat. I'm going to check on the other prisoners."

Herbert left.

Valentina could be certain of this — his scent had vanished from here.

"…"

She glanced left and right, feeling a little guilty, and only then slowly~ slowly~ shifted her bottom, scooting over until she was in front of the Bitter戒 Ring.

Mine now!

She instinctively reached out to grab it, but then suddenly remembered something and her hand stopped halfway.

After a moment's hesitation, Valentina gently blew on her own palm and exhaled a small puff of flame.

Fwoosh—

The flame dissipated; her fair hand naturally suffered no damage whatsoever, and instead the grease staining it was all burned clean off in an instant.

If Herbert were to see this scene, he would surely be moved to tears.

Folks, my doggo has finally learned to wash her hands after meals!

After washing her hands, Valentina moved very carefully, gently hooking the Bitter戒 Ring up with her finger.

She looked at this magical artifact and the sapphire on it, her smile gradually relaxing; she nuzzled the sapphire with her cheek and let out a silly, dopey grin.

"…Hehe."

Treasure.

My treasure!

As a special dragon who lived apart from the herd and was not accepted by her kin, this was the first time she had formally possessed a treasure of her very own.

Even more importantly, this treasure was not something she had snatched from someone else.

It was something someone had taken the initiative to give her!

Before this, she had never received a gift from anyone — of course, the offerings presented by those low-level magical creatures she had beguiled and enslaved with her dragon's might did not count.

She had never dared hope that anyone would give her something.

Valentina had always been alone, and would remain alone forever.

She had already accepted this fact, and had no intention of fighting against it.

The strong are always alone — that was perfectly normal.

But now.

At her most wretched and miserable moment, someone appeared before her, hoping to become her friend.

Brought her food, chatted with her, laughed and roughhoused with her, gave her gifts…

Will I still remain alone?

Valentina did not know.

But at this moment, she hoped that her future… would no longer be as lonely as the past!

If possible, Valentina hoped she would never lose this somewhat annoying yet always able to make her happy… friend.

"Ah, right."

At that very moment, Valentina suddenly recalled the words her former female mage subordinate had once said.

"If you accept a gift, you have to… give one back? No, that doesn't sound right."

Her pure, untaught mind was now somewhat bewildered; she tried hard to recall exactly what that fellow had said to her.

"Was it a tooth for a tooth? An eye for an eye? That doesn't sound right either."

"Tch! What was the exact wording…"

Meanwhile, on the other side, Herbert had indeed left the Endless Labyrinth.

Only this time, he did not enter the Deepwater Prison, but wandered around the labyrinth a while longer, arriving before an unfamiliar great door.

After a moment's hesitation, Herbert pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately entering a pitch-black, lightless space.

In the darkness, Herbert laughed soundlessly, nodding with pleasure.

"Heh heh, I guessed right!"

The Third Commandment, Third Zone — the Prison of No Light!

"As I thought, the Endless Labyrinth isn't as simple on the surface as merely shifting scenes…"

After obtaining the Archbishop's permission, Herbert received the ability to reward the monster girls.

But this was actually not just a single enhancement — it directly unlocked higher permissions for him.

Herbert's Warden permissions had been noticeably elevated!

If all permissions were divided into nine levels, then he had now roughly gone from level three to level five.

Authority just over half — enough to exercise discretion in matters as they arose, but not enough to cause a great disaster.

A promotion!

Upgraded from a bottom-level laborer to middle management.

And this level-five management permission allowed him, beyond easily altering the specifications of cells, to have several other functions as well.

Most of the other abilities still needed Herbert to develop and study, but the one right before him was the most direct and practical — it let him enter any of the first five zones directly from the Endless Labyrinth!

That's right, this ability is…

Anywhere Door!

Thanks to book friends 20220906201059036 and EvilWhisper for their tips

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(End of this chapter)