[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary":3,"chapter-an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-86":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","An Improper Monster Girl's Transformation Diary",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312015,4517,"Chapter 86: Subconscious Avoidance (34)","an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-86",86,"\u003Cp>The mermaid lady, who had accidentally done something good, was now extremely pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After realizing she was innocent, she immediately changed her story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flatly denied having accidentally killed the ugly sea slug—instead, she claimed she had deliberately done it after recognizing him as a villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, none of it was coincidence or accident—it was all my careful planning!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for her attempt to alter her testimony, Herbert merely nodded silently in support—yes yes, right right, exactly as you say…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as she was happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one would ever ask for the truth anyway; let her claim whatever she wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, lying to buddies is fine—as long as the buddies play along, just don’t actually fool yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much Herbert grumbled inwardly, Freyme was genuinely happy right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had only unconsciously done something trivially good, it meant everything to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone who had spent her entire life unconsciously doing harm, causing pain to others, this felt almost like redemption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, my power isn’t destined to bring destruction to everyone forever!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Freyme was ecstatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she knew it wasn’t her true intent, she kept mentally convincing herself—this was a good deed I did!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, Herbert noticed something odd and realized how profoundly significant this was to Freyme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he didn’t expose her clumsy act; instead, he went along with it and formally rewarded her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Herbert encouraged her to do more such beneficial acts for others in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing all this, Herbert voluntarily left the Deepwater Prison, giving Freyme the space to quietly savor this rare joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon returning to the Lightless Prison, he teleported directly to Svan Ni ’s treehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, they’re not as friendly as I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, not bad—they welcomed me warmly and got along with me right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert chuckled twice, but unfortunately, the dark elf didn’t get his joke—she stared at him silently, waiting for an explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking me to explain a joke is worse than asking me to die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert helplessly waved his hand, skipped the topic, and awkwardly asked: “By the way, did you notice anything from that letter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meaning was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you kidding me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Herbert, less than an hour has passed since you left and returned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert realized the time was insufficient the moment he spoke, but since he’d already chosen awkward small talk, he had to press on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… not enough time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Svan Ni  narrowed her eyes and stared at Herbert for a long moment, then shook her head: “You seem agitated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Herbert she knew wouldn’t ask such a childish question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a clone or an impostor—the man before her was truly the warden she knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only reasonable explanation was that something had disturbed him, scattering his focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it that obvious? Even you noticed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert grimaced and sighed deeply, twisting a leaf he’d plucked from the vine, finally admitting his state was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valentina’s sudden, direct confession truly caught him off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying “don’t think about it” sounds simple enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But achieving inner stillness? Far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Herbert now felt… afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this fear wasn’t due to Valentina’s non-human identity, nor was it fear of her true dragon form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was… an instinctive avoidance of her feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert could accept others’ malice calmly—he was used to it, even felt a faint thrill upon encountering it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A twisted excitement: “Oh? Which peasant wants to harm His Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when malice turned to kindness, he froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In both past and present lives, he had rarely, almost never, received such direct, intense kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Valentina flew into a rage over his injury, Herbert felt as if he were staring directly into the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw a blinding, unshielded, slightly impatient yet utterly sincere emotion—like a blazing fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the sun illuminating all things, yet asking for nothing in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because she sought nothing, this fire-like emotion was even harder to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Valentina, with her intelligence, be trying to gain some advantage from this act?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could she possibly want, with that brain of hers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, maybe a few extra pieces of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if she doesn’t even want that… why did she do it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert feared the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hoped this flame could warm his heart, yet feared being consumed by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because he had never experienced it firsthand, he felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He longed for others’ love, yet feared the pain it might bring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feels like I’m Lord Ye Gong and his dragon… tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert shook his head hard, clearing the chaotic thoughts from his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why think so much? Ridiculous. After all, am I not worthy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it—no need to escape! The best way to overcome fear is to face it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts settled completely. Herbert exhaled slowly, and when he opened his eyes again, his gray irises held no more doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never lacked confidence, nor did he ever believe he was unworthy of love—only that the suddenness had triggered an instinctive resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems you’ve figured it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Svan Ni  nodded; she had been quietly observing Herbert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She noticed how swiftly he absorbed and suppressed his emotions, returning to the familiar version she knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then return to your duties. I’ll try to decipher that letter for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Herbert bid farewell to Svan Ni  and returned to the Endless Labyrinth to face fate, what awaited him was not what he expected…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No angry accusations, no direct assault, not even cold silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The protagonist who had troubled him so much now lay curled on the ground, blissfully immersed in sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbert: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1022,"2026-06-20T12:31:06.198Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fc967c363f63b2c2379a5a1ef1271586dad0956448e39b5745e33b659c7a7864","an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-87","an-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-chapter-85",453,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fan-improper-monster-girl-s-transformation-diary-cover.jpg"]