Chapter 81: No Need for Words (44 Bonus Chapter)

"That doesn't seem right, does it?"

"That's not how those love stories write it!"

"Where are the promised misunderstandings, arguments, reconciliations, and rising tension? Why is there none of that?"

Herbert looked at the woman sleeping soundly and couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh.

"Ah ha... right, this is the Valentina I know. Very much in line with my stereotype of her."

The dragon's character setting hasn't collapsed, everyone sit down.

Thinking it over carefully, although this development seemed absurd at first glance, within the absurdity there was actually a hint of reasonableness.

After a long-overdue great battle, Valentina was probably tired too.

Having expended too much, choosing to rest was the most normal thing in the world.

... Mm, it's definitely not that this fellow was so heartless that she could fall asleep at a time like this.

Probably.

Herbert looked at her for a while with a mixture of affection and pity, and instead of waking her, sat down against the railing.

He lowered his eyes, gazing at Valentina's sleeping face, recalling the various moments of his interactions with her.

At first, she had been fierce and irritable, seeming like the most unapproachable villain.

But it was also at that time that she revealed her own kindness in certain small details, making him doubt for the first time.

Was she really what she appeared on the surface?

And through the subsequent tests, one after another, the answer Herbert obtained confirmed his guess.

This was just a silly dragon — what ulterior motive could she possibly have?

And he had to admit, he really did enjoy the way he got along with Valentina.

Compared to others, she didn't scheme at all; no need to worry about her plotting against him in the dark, no conspiracies or games of power.

Very relaxing, and very pleasant.

Herbert closed his eyes, shook his head, and sighed with feeling.

"Sigh, this really is... hm?"

He froze.

Because he suddenly noticed that the steady breathing sound by his ear had vanished.

"..."

Herbert fell silent.

Some people, at this very moment, clearly knew everything, but were just somewhat unwilling to face it.

But running away was meaningless.

After a moment's hesitation, Herbert finally slowly opened his eyes — and sure enough, saw those wide-open crimson eyes right in front of his face, staring at him intently.

What kind of horror-movie framing is this!

"Uh, hi? Good morning, big... ah!"

Whoosh.

In an instant, the world spun.

Bang!

Herbert was hauled straight up off the ground, then wedged right between the railings.

"Oof! Easy there!"

Utterly powerless to struggle against the terrifying strength, Herbert could only say helplessly: "Look, let go of me first."

And Valentina, who had grabbed him, pouted and huffed unhappily: "I won't let go."

After finally catching him, how could there be any reason to let him go just like that!

Hmph.

"If you keep choking me like this, I can't get through."

"Eh?"

Hearing this, Valentina instinctively loosened her grip, successfully allowing Herbert to escape her clutches.

"You... you mean it?"

"Cough! Cough, you really are strong."

Having narrowly escaped with his life, Herbert let out a soft sigh, shook his head, and chuckled self-deprecatingly in his heart: "I must be crazy."

He didn't make Valentina wait long; he took the initiative to pass through the railings and resolutely walked into the cage.

And then...

He was seized in a fierce embrace by the ferocious beast, a powerful tackle-hug!

Crack, crack, crack...

An ominous crunching came from every bone in his body; Herbert felt as if he'd been hit by a heavy truck

Strictly speaking, it wasn't quite that exaggerated — the push-back feeling was still a bit weaker than that.

But it really wasn't far off either.

If Herbert hadn't soaked his feet a while longer in the lava hell earlier, toughening up his body, he'd probably have fallen apart by now.

But turning his head to see Valentina's uneasy face, looking anxious as if afraid of losing something, he couldn't bring himself to be angry.

Neither of them said a word; they just held each other quietly for a while.

"Valentina."

"Shut up."

"Were you scared?"

"Hmph, I'm not scared."

"Honestly?"

"…You shut up."

Herbert shook his head and stopped pressing further.

There was no need to ask any more.

Her reaction had already said everything; no further explanation was needed at all.

Some things need no words.

After being held for a while, Herbert suddenly felt Valentina sniffle and sniff at him.

?

"I see you're really hungry."

Growl…

"I really am hungry."

After teasing her for a moment, Herbert shook his head and finally said softly, "Valentina, I won't die."

!!!

Herbert no longer hesitated; he raised both arms and gently hugged her back.

Valentina's body trembled for a moment, and she instinctively tried to push him away, but the instant she began to move she withdrew her hand and let him hold her.

Herbert embraced this terrifying being who could destroy a kingdom and made his promise: "Although to you I am still very weak right now, I won't die that easily."

No matter what you have lost in the past.

I will not leave you as lightly as they did.

Herbert did not say this line out loud directly, but he believed Valentina could read his meaning.

Creak, creak, creak.

After loosening her arms, Valentina pulled him in even tighter and muttered, half-believing, half-doubting: "…You promise."

"I promise."

Herbert noticed that the ears of the Hungry Dragon Young Lady would twitch sensitively whenever he spoke, and he secretly laughed to himself. He deliberately brought his lips close to her ear and whispered in the gentlest tone:

"Valentina, I promise you…"

"I will live a very, very long time."

When Herbert finally broke free of the dragon's claws and walked out of the alien prison, two figures had long been waiting for him at the door.

"Knight Commander, sir."

Herbert did not panic. He first nodded to Bishop Rusty Nail, then walked to Bishop Thorn's front, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Chief Inquisitor, sir."

The tall Chief Inquisitor did not nod, but stood before him like a wall, looked down at him, and said coldly: "…Do you know what you have done?"

"I know."

Herbert straightened up, met his gaze frankly, and said calmly: "I forcibly used my authority to let a prisoner from the First Sector cross into the Fourth Sector, and made the two of them fight."

The matter would certainly come to light—Herbert had already taken this into account when he acted to let Valentina cross sectors, and he knew clearly that this could not be hidden.

On the contrary, the fact that only two bishops stood before him was actually a surprise.

The attitude of the monastery's upper echelons seemed… a little better than he had expected.

Seeing him admit it frankly, the Chief Inquisitor's manner softened a little. He slowly nodded and asked in a muffled voice: "Why did you do this?"

Herbert answered calmly: "This is part of my work to redeem the prisoners… and the Berserker's doing so is precisely the sign that my redemption of her has succeeded."

"She took the initiative to protect me when my life was in danger, which in the past would have been completely unimaginable."

After he finished explaining, both bishops fell silent, unsure whether they were doubting or thinking.

Herbert did not volunteer any further explanation; he stood quietly in place.

After a moment of silence, Bishop Rusty Nail spoke and broke the stillness:

"Let's go."

"His Eminence the Archbishop wishes to see you."

Four updates today, 8,500 characters. Got stuck on the fourth update, half an hour late. Should I switch the fourth update to seven o'clock from now on?

Follow-up reads are very important! Please follow up! Next Monday is the only chance—

We've hit 200 monthly tickets, adding 1 more update! 400 monthly tickets isn't far off!

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(End of this chapter)