Chapter 81: Face Reality (24)

“Huh?”

At this moment, Crete was stunned.

What did he just say?

He said my tactics… are outdated.

Outdated!!?

She narrowed her eyes in confusion, suddenly realizing something was wrong.

Wait, this feeling…

Crete’s expression turned icy; she fixed the boy inches away with a cold, piercing gaze, locking onto the sneer on his lips.

“Were all your reactions just lies to fool me?”

“Miss Crete, don’t sound so bitter—it was you who deceived me first.”

Herbert shrugged, casually saying: “Then if that’s the case, isn’t it only fair I lied back?”

Just self-defense.

He sat back in the chair behind him, calmly saying: “I say, have you been locked up here too long? Have you forgotten the outside world keeps evolving?”

“Your words just now? Not even a three-year-old would believe them.”

Herbert sat relaxed, while the devil stood gloomily on the ground.

Just as she had sat upon her throne earlier, arrogantly looking down on him, trying to toy with his mind.

Now, just as then.

Miss Devil.

The roles have reversed!

But Crete had no mind for this minor loss; she cared only for the content of Herbert’s words.

“No, impossible!!?”

She refused to believe it!

Absolutely unwilling to believe it.

How could her own superior technique—the one she prided herself on, the one that had ensnared countless hearts—have zero effect on him?

Not even a child could be fooled?

How could this be!

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Crete could tolerate anything else, pretend it never happened—but this, she could not.

This was a challenge to her professional integrity!

“Hm?”

Herbert blinked at her reaction, uncertainly asking: “Um… do you really think your conditions were that appealing?”

“What do you mean?” Crete narrowed her eyes, coldly saying: “Are you mocking me?”

“Well… uh, not exactly.”

Herbert wasn’t deliberately mocking her—he genuinely thought her technique was crude.

After listening so long, his only thought, aside from playing along, was—what long legs, what big breasts, what pale skin…

As for the rest—the revenge, the twisted fate, the noble bloodline—he truly didn’t care.

It didn’t attract him at all.

In Herbert’s view, Crete’s entire routine was just a rigid template, a path-dependent habit.

See a target of this type? Just slap on the template, no thinking required.

Stupid girl.

With this little talent for manipulation?

Compared to Sister Nienasha, you’re nowhere near.

You couldn’t even hold her shoes.

Hmph!

Mediocre.

Evaluation: just a clown who moved only himself.

“I don’t know whether to call you arrogant or stupid.”

“You clearly sensed I’m different from the people you’ve met before, yet you still mechanically used your old lines.”

Herbert shook his head, lecturing like an elder guiding a youth: “Don’t learn knowledge rigidly—learn to adapt, tailor it to the person!”

“Also, seduction is just a bonus—it can’t be your decisive tactic. It’s too low-class.”

“Oh right, you should think more for yourself—don’t just judge by the other’s reactions. What if they’re faking? Then you’re done for…”

…

As Herbert kept pointing things out, Crete’s expression grew darker, nearly as black as Svan Ni .

“… ”

She admitted she had been careless this time, and had learned a little from Herbert.

But—but!

His attitude made her unbearable, filled her with deep discomfort.

I’m the devil!

I’m the one who manipulates minds!

How dare you act like this?

Crete said nothing, but her entire face screamed it—she refused to accept this!

“See, you still don’t understand.”

Herbert smiled, staring at the devil girl who loved to toy with hearts but had just had her own heart toyed with, and asked: “Crete, don’t you understand yet?”

“You’re no longer the legendary manipulator from the outside world. Now, you’re just a prisoner with no future.”

“Face reality—the one who must bow is you.”

He gently yet mercilessly tore away her last veil of dignity.

No matter how powerful you are, you’re still just a prisoner.

Only if I need your power do you have any value.

But if I don’t, you’re useless.

Face this cruel reality.

Devil.

“So really, you shouldn’t have been the one asking me first—it should’ve been me asking you.”

The young paladin crossed his legs, gently leaning toward the devil and asking:

“Do you crave freedom?”

“Do you want to remain trapped here, in this endless pain?”

“Do you want to be tormented forever by the demons you despise?”

As the devil remained silent and pained, he slowly rose, stepped before her, opened his arms, and whispered with a smile:

“Submit to me!”

“I’ll solve these problems for you.”

“What was that phrase again? Oh right—I’ll make you feel truly alive~!”

“Hehe…”

Of course, Miss Devil did not submit.

This was their first real clash—not some cheap romance game—how could she surrender so easily?

Humiliated, Crete returned to the depths of the Bronze Fortress, refusing further communication with Herbert.

Hmm, wounded pride.

“Hmph.”

Herbert, victorious in this battle, felt invincible, and boldly turned his gaze to the other prisoner in the chamber.

After hurling lava balls for half an hour, the demon finally stopped, sinking into silent hibernation.

Herbert stared at the silent lava giant, licking his lips with eager anticipation.

Should I try?

“I want to see how dangerous she can get when she’s confused!”

The sun came out, the rain stopped—he felt capable again.

Let’s try it!

Fire and heat can’t harm me—that’s my greatest advantage.

I already have experience; as long as I prepare a teleportation gate, I can escape anytime danger arises.

Try it!

If it fails, retreat!

“Alright, decided!”

Then…

Just five minutes later, the brave and fearless boy quickly faced reality.

The critique of weapons can never match the critique by weapons.

It must be classical mechanics.

"Fuck!"

Boom!

"Wait, wait a minute!"

Boom!

"Wrong, wrong—"

Boom boom boom!!!

(End of Chapter)