Chapter 85: I'm Listening (24)

“Phew…”

After returning to the Infinite Labyrinth, Herbert did not immediately go to see Valentina; instead, he pushed open another door and entered the Deepwater Prison.

To be honest, he was momentarily flustered, unprepared to face Valentina so soon.

This situation was somewhat awkward.

Herbert had merely acted on a sudden whim to test his limits—not truly intending to die—and he had sufficient confidence, taking no great risk.

In fact, he hadn’t suffered serious injuries; he merely looked worse than he was, but Miss Hungry Dragon had clearly misunderstood something, and her emotions had become highly agitated after being provoked.

Making someone worry so much—even with his thick skin—still left Herbert somewhat embarrassed as the one responsible.

“Let me take a breather, wait a bit longer—until she calms down a little.”

Valentina’s emotions are currently heightened; it’s best to avoid her sharp edges for now.

Running away is shameful, but it really works.

“Herbert, you look troubled.”

The mermaid’s water-soft voice rose like waves, drawing Herbert’s gaze toward her.

“Fremé, can you tell?”

“Hehe, of course—you never tried to hide it.”

Fremé did not ask Herbert the childish, dramatic question: “Why haven’t you come to see me these past few days?”

First, Herbert had no duty to visit her daily.

Second, for a legendary mermaid with a lifespan of over a thousand years, her sense of time differed greatly from that of humans.

The gap in lifespan was too vast; a few days were insufficient to make her feel lonely.

Moreover, even among mermaids, she was one of the most reclusive.

Because of her curse-like talent, she had long since become passively accustomed to solitude.

“You look injured.”

Fremé studied Herbert, her gaze settling on the scorched, torn patches of his tunic, casually sweeping over the skin beneath.

Two glances, three glances… four—cough!

Before Herbert noticed, she cleared her throat and pretended nothing had happened: “Cough, cough—was this related to the commotion just now?”

Her tactic was crude and transparent, yet it worked—successfully diverting Herbert’s attention.

“Hmm, you felt it from here too?”

Herbert blinked, surprised at how poor the soundproofing was between zones.

You could feel this from here?

Is this some cheap inn near University City?

“I only heard a faint vibration.”

Fremé raised her hand, plucking a small sphere of water from her water globe and lightly tapping its surface, sending ripples cascading outward.

Mermaids were inherently highly sensitive to sound, possessing an unmatched sensitivity to vibrations.

“So, what exactly happened?”

“In short… a brawl broke out in the prison? Uh, a fight?”

How do I explain that, as warden, I brought prisoners from another zone to beat up the ones inside this one?

No matter how I put it, it sounds like I abused my power for personal gain…

Herbert was still pondering how to explain this, but Fremé wasn’t interested in the story’s content—her focus lay elsewhere.

She leaned out of the water, curiously asking: “Huh? Are prisoners from other zones kept together in groups?”

“Yeah, some are grouped together. Are you jealous of them?” Herbert blinked, puzzled.

You’re strange—having a private cell and still wanting a dorm.

This isn’t a university dormitory; you don’t need to bond with roommates.

“Aren’t you worried they might not get along with your personality?”

Fremé dismissed such concerns: “Regardless, having another person in the same situation helps ease some loneliness and boredom.”

Ease loneliness?

Herbert recalled the scenes he’d witnessed in the Dark Prison and the Lava Hell, and shook his head.

Fake. Don’t believe it.

Thinking about it is fine—but only when you experience it firsthand do you realize how cruel reality is.

The vampire and the dark elf were fine; they had no contact whatsoever, just like private cells.

But the demon and the devil were different—they weren’t lonely at all, just endlessly tormenting each other…

One used magic attacks, the other physical damage—their interaction was maximum.

He shook his head and sighed: “Being alone is better.”

Like Valentina—aside from being hungry, she had no troubles.

“Is that so… maybe.”

Fremé blinked, sensing something in his wistful expression, and nodded silently.

“By the way, did you encounter a Fallen one a few days ago?”

“Uh… you mean that guy who looked like a slime eel half-eaten by a colossal whale?”

Herbert: ?

Fremé: ?

“Yes, right?”

“Yeah, I guess?”

The two stared at each other, uncertain if they meant the same person.

We must be talking about the same guy, right?

Probably…

Herbert had only seen Grass Carp Brother after he’d reverted to human form—he’d never seen him in that slime-like shape.

“Forget it. Since only he slipped in, it must be the same guy—this doesn’t matter! Anyway, did you attack him?”

Plop.

Upon hearing this, the mermaid immediately retreated into her water globe, leaving only her head exposed, looking uneasy.

Herbert: ?

“Did he die?”

Seeing Herbert’s silence, Fremé guessed the outcome and protested, sounding wounded:

“But this time it’s not my fault! He walked in on his own while I was singing, then slid away in a hurry—I didn’t mean to harm him!”

Fremé felt wronged.

“No, this time it’s clearly your fault!”

How come your prison has no guards at the door?

Fine if the warden comes and goes freely—but how did outsiders get in?

“No, madam, please calm down. It’s not as you think—I’m not blaming you.”

“I don’t care—you’re the real murderers… huh?”

Herbert hesitated, then explained: “Actually, you didn’t make a mistake—you’ve done a service…”

He quickly retold the story he’d once told Valentina—but before he could finish describing the monastery’s reward to them…

Splash!

The mermaid, who had been cowering guiltily, suddenly burst out of her water globe, leapt high into the air, then landed gracefully atop the water sphere.

Fremé sat proudly atop the water sphere, head held high, humming happily as her seven-colored tail swayed.

She looked at Herbert, who was staring blankly, waved her hand, and declared imperiously: “Keep going. Don’t stop.”

“I’m listening.”

(End of Chapter)