"Forget it, let's worry about it later!"
After pondering seriously for a moment, Herbert chose to abandon his thoughts.
Avoidance might be shameful, but it's really effective.
Memory awakening, purity oath, educating alien races... Too much happens, too little can be done, fretting is pointless, only moving forward step by step.
"Now that things have come to this, let's eat first."
Herbert missed lunch due to sorting out his memories, and instead of going to the dining hall, he turned to the kitchen.
This isn't the Duke's residence; there wouldn't be an attendant specially leaving food for him, just some smoked jerky and black bread in the kitchen.
It's unappetizing, but enough to stave off hunger.
Although this behavior is somewhat against decorum, considering the Albert Family's years of generous donations to the Monastery, likely no cultivator would fuss over such a trivial matter.
"Speaking of it, when I feel tormented by adhering to vows, others must feel the same. When they can no longer endure, how do they alleviate the pressure inside their hearts?"
Herbert nodded in indication while passing by some ascetic cultivators, noting down the details on them.
Worn clothing, emaciated figures, silent... but surprisingly few scars on their bodies.
"It seems only very few ascetics choose self-harm to suppress desires. How do the others resolve it?"
"Prayer? Exercise? Adjusting emotions by diverting attention?"
Herbert pondered the question as he stepped into the kitchen, about to choose a handy long baguette, when his pupils suddenly contracted.
By some strange impulse, he looked toward the corner where a sound of fish tails flailing emanated from the water bucket.
There's nothing surprising about that; the Monastery is by the sea, providing rich fish supply for cultivators, and some cultivators returned from fishing just this morning with reportedly eight large fish.
Yet suddenly, a shocking speculation flashed through his mind.
If, then this...
¿
"This..."
Is it right?
This, this can't be right.
"Ah!"
Herbert was silent for a long time over his thoughts, uncertain whether to confirm them.
After much mental preparation, he ultimately gathered the courage to approach the water bucket— then saw the surrounding water stains at once.
Someone had come before him.
"..."
Slowly opening the lid, Herbert revealed a relieved smile.
As expected, inside the bucket... there were only seven fish.
One was missing.
.
.
Dinner was poached fish.
Herbert didn't touch a bite.
Not only did he not touch it, he didn't even go to the dining hall.
Some things shouldn't be thought of too deeply, or problems will arise.
Forget it, forget it, why think about it?
Just adding annoyance!
Being hungry isn't a big deal, let them enjoy this fortune.
Chewing on hard and dry bread in the room was already quite good.
Cruelly chewing the hard bread that could be used as a weapon to kill, Herbert couldn't help but hum lightly thinking about the tragic incident somewhere in the Monastery.
"Heh, that guy too, just take it already, don't let me find out! Making me overthink... how rude."
It was too desecrating.
But again, as they say, you can't fathom a fish's joy if you're not a fish. Maybe the two are well-matched...
After some unfocused imagination, Herbert put away his scattered thoughts and began to ponder silently.
He wasn't gossiping about that person's identity, nor did he wish to curry favor with the Monastery's upper echelon by tattling, he wasn't that bored.
Regarding others' unique hobbies, he has always been non-understanding but respectful and wishing them well.
After broadening his horizons, he suddenly realized he might have inadvertently stumbled upon a manipulable bug... no, a trait.
The taboo interactions between cultivators and fish—is this desecrating enough?
More than enough!
Such a bizarre act wouldn't be allowed for cultivators bound by the purity oath or even other vows, it should result in backlash.
It's not permissible for humans, or at least it shouldn't be.
Yet, such desecrating things happened so visibly in an unnoticed corner, without anyone hearing the grass carp's lament.
Until now, all was normal within the Monastery, and Herbert hasn't heard about any cultivators suffering injuries from breaking vows.
"...Hehe."
Feeling speechless yet somewhat excited.
It's not because he has any special preference for slender boys in knee-high white socks, he's not into that, but the discovery gave him inspiration.
His occupational disease of exploiting legal loopholes kicked in.
Hey, I've got an idea!
If animals aren't included in the range of vow-breakers, does it mean... as long as the subject isn't human, it's possible?
Bear in mind, the races in this world are rather abundant!
Like elves, tree spirits, centaurs, mermaids, giant dragons, enchanting demons... These various races could make anyone an enthusiastic outsider.
Moreover, his current position as a Prison Warden conveniently provides opportunities to validate his conjecture.
Yet in his excitement, Herbert felt a bit hesitant inside.
Paladins have existed for so many years, he doubted he was the first lucky one to discover this trait.
Human reproductive power is astonishingly high, second only to some green-skinned goblins, and there's no reproductive isolation from most alien races.
Despite humans' vigilance and considering these alien races as enemies, derogatorily calling them Demons, due to tribal wars and slave trade, mixed-blood offspring from humans and alien races aren't that rare.
Half-elves, Half-Beastmen, Dragon Descendants, Half-Shapechangers, Half-Demons, and legends even have fish-headed humans by the coast... Hmm?
Uh, why does it feel like he stumbled upon some secret?
These mixed descendants, though marginalized and disliked by both parents, aren't as numerous as real large races but are numerous enough to form their own communities, some even establishing countries.
According to this information, intermarriage with alien races shouldn't have been discovered by him in a eureka moment, surely someone found this loophole early on.
Indeed, when Herbert flipped open the Scripture thicker than a brick, he easily found diverse and unique vow-breaking methods—or rather, cases.
Hiss!
Brave men sacrificed themselves to demons, playing one more creative than another, and dying more tragically than another.
Perhaps due to the additional crime for knowingly breaking the law, these brothers faced grim fates.
These men either died of vow violation backlash, and survivors were hunted down by the Church Court for execution—none spared.
That's real punishment!
Feels like studying criminal law!
Alright then, this path is blocked.
Therefore, Herbert had to temporarily set aside his somewhat dangerous cleverness—humans can't do it, as the vow doesn't allow it.
Additionally, taking a step back, those alien race ladies in the prison could crush him effortlessly even if suppressed, trying to seduce them might even risk getting toyed to death.
Being a gigolo would pose a life hazard, this world is just too unreasonable.
Oh well, forget it!
"Finding ways to become strong is the priority, don't engage in those shady deals."
Herbert now only hopes to acquire sufficient power through Paladin practice, to resist vow-breaking punishment, break free from the cage and enjoy his free life.
"Freedom!"
Herbert stood up, stretched, and walked towards the door, intending to breathe the sweet air of the free land outside.
But just as Herbert was about to push the door open, the Holy Mark on his hand erupted into a burning sting, making him jolt and stop suddenly before the door.
"..."
At this moment, Herbert's spine felt an icy chill.
Right on Herbert's first day at the Monastery, he was repeatedly warned not to go out after midnight, and he never had any intention of night wandering.
But just now, he nearly walked out the door without any guard, into the seemingly calm night.
What on earth...
Gulp.
Herbert swallowed hard, turned his head with difficulty to the mechanical clock beside him.
Seeing the gilded hands just completed a whole circle—
Midnight has passed.