In a closed space undetectable to outsiders, a conversation took place.
"Come over! Let me take a sniff!"
"No!"
"Be obedient! Let me have a look!"
"No!"
"Tsk! Are you coming over or not!"
"Herbert, please no!"
"...Herbert? What Herbert, what have you been saying since just now?"
Valentina gave Herbert a strange look, puzzled about what this guy was doing over there stubbornly holding his chest.
What!
I just want to confirm what this smell is, is it necessary for you to be so tense?
I won't eat you!
"Hmph! If you don't want me to smell it, then you don't! What's so great about it." Valentina snorted unhappily, turning her head away from the railing.
Rustle...
But shortly after she turned to sulk, she heard footsteps approaching her, accompanied by an intensifying fragrance.
"...What are you doing?"
Valentina crossed her arms, suppressing her urge to turn her head and look back.
No.
Can't turn back!
I don't know why, but if I turn back now, it'll feel like I'm losing to him...
And at this moment, Herbert already stood outside the prison of the Giant Dragon lady, standing at a distance of about one and a half arms from her.
He squinted at Valentina, whose body language expressed endurance, and many thoughts flashed in his mind.
Upon first hearing the confusing statement from the Giant Dragon lady, Herbert's initial reaction was that she might be somewhat unsatisfied, intending to do something improper to him.
But he quickly realized that something must have changed on him.
What change could happen overnight?
All clues pointed towards one direction—that, uh, the Demon Pattern.
Blessed by the Evil God?
It was also then Herbert realized another thing, he completely ignored the dragon's might exuded by Valentina.
Totally different from yesterday when he forcefully endured tension, now he didn't feel any pressure, and wouldn't even remember it unless he thought of it.
Did Valentina deliberately restrain her dragon's might?
She probably isn't so kind.
Evil God, what kind of blessing have you forcibly bestowed upon me?
Or perhaps, is this truly a blessing?
It wouldn't be some improper curse, right?
Thinking back to that unreliable Harmonious God, Herbert felt somewhat anxious, almost recalling last night's terrifying nightmare.
Ugh... *cough cough*!
Forcing the images nearing surfacing in his mind down, Herbert tried hard to distract himself by engaging Valentina:
"*cough* *cough*, Miss Prisoner over here, let me test you, can you see any change on me?"
"Oh, just that you've become a bit more fragrant."
Valentina refused to turn, stubbornly stiffening her neck, fighting against the urge to turn back.
"Fragrant? From a culinary perspective?"
"Hmm?"
Valentina froze for a moment, quickly turned back, glaring at him fiercely: "Do you think I would be interested in your skin!"
Who would eat you!
"You look like! Like a starving ghost who hasn't eaten in hundreds of years... Oh wait, you really haven't eaten."
Valentina: ?
"Hey! Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"
"How could that be? Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I just accidentally forgot you haven't eaten in hundreds of years~"
You still dare to say!!?
Valentina was about to get angry but seeing Herbert's smirk, she realized he was deliberately provoking her, so she suppressed her fury and turned her head back.
Hmph!
Go ahead and talk.
I won't fall into your trap.
"Demon Flame lady?"
"Hmph."
"Miss Valentina?"
"Hmph!"
Henceforth, no matter how Herbert teased, the resolute Valentina only responded with cold snorts.
What kind of snorting creature are you.
Why won't you turn back to look at me.
If you turn back, I refuse to believe you'll see nothing!
Besides...
Though this may seem impolite, Herbert couldn't help but recall the Shiba Inu raised by the neighbor from his previous life as he watched her stubborn back.
Every time it had fun wandering out before returning home, it would show its owner such a resolute back of its head.
With one leaning back unexpectedly, another frantically digging its head into the ground—these two creatures created a motionless sculpture of balanced forces thanks to a leash.
The two continued pulling for a while longer until the stubborn dog girl won with perseverance, and Herbert reluctantly gave up, heading deeper into the prison.
"Alright, then you stay here contemplating alone. I'll go check on the others."
Nevermind, since you're unwilling to cooperate, let's find someone cooperative.
We'll part ways. The next one will be more obedient!
As Herbert was about to step out of Valentina's prison's sealing range, a call resounded with unclear emotions from behind.
"Hey, kid."
"Hmm? Are you finally reconsidering?"
Herbert turned back, seeing Valentina in the prison had finally turned around, looking intently at him.
Upon seeing him turn back, she snorted coldly, put on a fierce look, and viciously threatened: "If you're scared, just get the hell out!"
After speaking, she didn't give Herbert the chance to react, directly retreating into the shadows within the prison.
"..."
Herbert maintained his backward-facing posture for a while, shook his head thoughtfully, and chuckled in response: "Hehe, I will."
In the cage there was no reaction, unclear if Valentina heard him.
So, was she showing concern for me?
Uncertain.
Observe more next time.
Maybe it's just one of the world's three major misconceptions...
But regardless, considering Valentina's warning, Herbert still heightened his alertness somewhat.
Could it be that among them, there exists one with great malice toward me?
Thinking so, Herbert continued further into the depths of the prison.
.
.
Sector 2.
Distinct from Sector 1 where Valentina resided, the air here is noticeably better, though the humidity might be upwards of seventy percent, with a palpable sense of moisture.
"Oh? You've returned; I thought you ran away."
A prisoner with a human body and fish tail floating in a giant water orb opened their eyes, unexpectedly looking at the visiting guest.
"Just based on courage, you certainly surpass the former Prison Director."
"Oh? What happened to him?"
The mermaid pouted, smirked, "He came for an experience, got frightened by the Angel inside, ran crying, and never showed up again."
"Wow..."
Herbert raised his brow, unexpectedly hearing such secrets from his predecessor.
The mermaid looked at his expression and laughed, revealing most of her body from the water, looked at Herbert: "By the way... Do you think I'm beautiful?"
"Hmm?"
Herbert sized her up briefly and nodded without hesitation.
"I think you're beautiful."