Chapter 86: Subconscious Avoidance (34)

The mermaid lady, who had accidentally done something good, was now extremely pleased.

After realizing she was innocent, she immediately changed her story.

She flatly denied having accidentally killed the ugly sea slug—instead, she claimed she had deliberately done it after recognizing him as a villain.

Yes, none of it was coincidence or accident—it was all my careful planning!

As for her attempt to alter her testimony, Herbert merely nodded silently in support—yes yes, right right, exactly as you say…

As long as she was happy.

No one would ever ask for the truth anyway; let her claim whatever she wanted.

After all, lying to buddies is fine—as long as the buddies play along, just don’t actually fool yourself.

No matter how much Herbert grumbled inwardly, Freyme was genuinely happy right now.

Though she had only unconsciously done something trivially good, it meant everything to her.

For someone who had spent her entire life unconsciously doing harm, causing pain to others, this felt almost like redemption.

So, my power isn’t destined to bring destruction to everyone forever!

Freyme was ecstatic.

Even though she knew it wasn’t her true intent, she kept mentally convincing herself—this was a good deed I did!

Gradually, Herbert noticed something odd and realized how profoundly significant this was to Freyme.

So he didn’t expose her clumsy act; instead, he went along with it and formally rewarded her.

He expanded her movement area within the Deepwater Prison and reduced the seal array’s suppression of water elements, allowing her to control more water.

Finally, Herbert encouraged her to do more such beneficial acts for others in the future.

After completing all this, Herbert voluntarily left the Deepwater Prison, giving Freyme the space to quietly savor this rare joy.

Upon returning to the Lightless Prison, he teleported directly to Svan Ni ’s treehouse.

Unlike Freyme, who had asked two questions, Svan Ni ’s reaction to his injuries was far more indifferent—she glanced once and casually tossed him a salve-like potion.

“I told you, they’re not as friendly as I am.”

“Haha, not bad—they welcomed me warmly and got along with me right away.”

Herbert chuckled twice, but unfortunately, the dark elf didn’t get his joke—she stared at him silently, waiting for an explanation.

Explain?

No way!

Asking me to explain a joke is worse than asking me to die!

“Cough.”

Herbert helplessly waved his hand, skipped the topic, and awkwardly asked: “By the way, did you notice anything from that letter?”

?

Svan Ni ’s face showed clear emotion—she looked at Herbert as if he were a fool, then glanced at the hourglass on the desk.

The meaning was obvious.

Are you kidding me?

“Lord Herbert, less than an hour has passed since you left and returned.”

Herbert realized the time was insufficient the moment he spoke, but since he’d already chosen awkward small talk, he had to press on.

“Hmm… not enough time?”

“….”

Svan Ni narrowed her eyes and stared at Herbert for a long moment, then shook her head: “You seem agitated.”

The Herbert she knew wouldn’t ask such a childish question.

This wasn’t a clone or an impostor—the man before her was truly the warden she knew.

The only reasonable explanation was that something had disturbed him, scattering his focus.

“Is it that obvious? Even you noticed…”

Herbert grimaced and sighed deeply, twisting a leaf he’d plucked from the vine, finally admitting his state was off.

Valentina’s sudden, direct confession truly caught him off guard.

Saying “don’t think about it” sounds simple enough.

But achieving inner stillness? Far from easy.

To be honest, Herbert now felt… afraid.

But this fear wasn’t due to Valentina’s non-human identity, nor was it fear of her true dragon form.

It was… an instinctive avoidance of her feelings.

Herbert could accept others’ malice calmly—he was used to it, even felt a faint thrill upon encountering it.

A twisted excitement: “Oh? Which peasant wants to harm His Majesty?”

But when malice turned to kindness, he froze.

In both past and present lives, he had rarely, almost never, received such direct, intense kindness.

When Valentina flew into a rage over his injury, Herbert felt as if he were staring directly into the sun.

He saw a blinding, unshielded, slightly impatient yet utterly sincere emotion—like a blazing fire.

Like the sun illuminating all things, yet asking for nothing in return.

Precisely because she sought nothing, this fire-like emotion was even harder to resist.

Could Valentina, with her intelligence, be trying to gain some advantage from this act?

No.

What could she possibly want, with that brain of hers?

At most, maybe a few extra pieces of meat.

But if she doesn’t even want that… why did she do it?

Herbert feared the answer.

He hoped this flame could warm his heart, yet feared being consumed by it.

Precisely because he had never experienced it firsthand, he felt uneasy.

He longed for others’ love, yet feared the pain it might bring.

“Feels like I’m Lord Ye Gong and his dragon… tsk.”

Herbert shook his head hard, clearing the chaotic thoughts from his mind.

“Why think so much? Ridiculous. After all, am I not worthy?”

“Forget it—no need to escape! The best way to overcome fear is to face it!”

His thoughts settled completely. Herbert exhaled slowly, and when he opened his eyes again, his gray irises held no more doubt.

He never lacked confidence, nor did he ever believe he was unworthy of love—only that the suddenness had triggered an instinctive resistance.

“It seems you’ve figured it out.”

Svan Ni nodded; she had been quietly observing Herbert.

She noticed how swiftly he absorbed and suppressed his emotions, returning to the familiar version she knew.

“Then return to your duties. I’ll try to decipher that letter for you.”

“Hmm.”

When Herbert bid farewell to Svan Ni and returned to the Endless Labyrinth to face fate, what awaited him was not what he expected…

No angry accusations, no direct assault, not even cold silence.

“Huh…”

The protagonist who had troubled him so much now lay curled on the ground, blissfully immersed in sleep.

Herbert: ?

(End of Chapter)