6 Do you think I...

In a secluded space imperceptible to outsiders, a conversation was unfolding.

“Come here! Let me smell it!”

“No!”

“Be obedient! Let me see!”

“No!”

“Tsk! Are you coming or not?”

“Brother Jay, please don’t!”

“...Brother Jay? What brother Jay? What have you been mumbling over there all this time?”

Valentina glanced at Herbert with some puzzlement, not understanding why this guy was clutching his chest over there, stubbornly refusing to yield.

What’s the big deal? I just want to take a closer sniff to figure out what this scent is. Why are you so tense? I’m not going to eat you!

“Hmph! If you won’t let me smell it, fine. Big deal,” Valentina snorted, turning her back to the railing with a hint of displeasure.

Rustle...

But shortly after she turned away in a silent huff, she heard footsteps approaching, accompanied by an increasingly intense fragrance.

“...What?”

Valentina crossed her arms, suppressing the urge to look back.

No.

I can’t turn around.

For some reason, if I turn around now, it’ll feel like I’m losing to him...

At that moment, Herbert had already reached the outer edge of the dragon lady’s cell, standing barely an arm and a half away.

He squinted at Valentina’s body language, which expressed restraint, and many thoughts flashed through his mind.

When he first heard the dragon lady’s perplexing words, Herbert initially thought she was somewhat frustrated and planning to make advances on him.

But he quickly realized that something must have changed in himself.

What could have changed overnight?

All clues pointed in one direction—that, uh, magic rune.

Was it a blessing bestowed by the dark god?

At the same time, Herbert became aware of another fact: he had completely ignored the dragon aura radiating from Valentina.

Unlike yesterday, when he barely managed to endure it, now he felt nothing at all; if he hadn’t remembered, he might have even forgotten about it.

Had Valentina deliberately suppressed her dragon aura?

Probably not out of kindness.

Oh, dark god, what kind of blessing have you forcibly imposed on me?

Or rather, is this really a blessing?

It couldn’t possibly be some improper curse, right?

Recalling that unreliable trickster god made Herbert’s scalp tingle, almost bringing back the nightmare from the previous night.

Ugh... cough cough!

Forcing the intrusive images from his mind, Herbert tried to divert his attention and spoke to Valentina:

“Ahem, prisoner lady, come, let me test you. Can you notice any changes in me?”

“Hmph, just a little more fragrant,” Valentina said stubbornly, not turning her head, fighting the instinct to look back.

“Fragrant? You mean from a culinary perspective?”

“Huh?”

Valentina paused, then quickly turned around and glared fiercely: “Do you think I’d be interested in your skin-and-bones appearance?”

Who would eat you?

“You look like a starving ghost who hasn’t eaten for hundreds of years... Oh, wait, you really haven’t.”

Valentina: ?

“Hey! Are you deliberately provoking me?”

“Not at all! Sorry, I just accidentally forgot that you haven’t eaten for hundreds of years~”

You’re the one talking!!

Valentina was about to get angry, but seeing the corner of Herbert’s mouth twitching in amusement, she realized he was deliberately trying to rile her up and suppressed her anger, turning her head away again.

Hmph!

Go ahead and say it.

I won’t fall for your trap.

“Lady Magic Flame?”

“Hmph.”

“Miss Valentina?”

“Hmph!”

No matter how much Herbert teased her afterward, determined Valentina responded only with cold hums.

What kind of grumbler are you?

Just turn around and look at me.

If you do, I don’t believe your eyes will be empty!

Besides...

Though it might sound a bit impolite, looking at her obstinate back, Herbert couldn’t help but recall the Shiba Inu his neighbor’s sister had in his past life.

Every time it came home after playing outside, it would show its resolute back of the head to its owner.

One would lean backward and tug hard; the other would shove its head into the ground, and the two creatures formed a perfectly balanced, motionless sculpture on the leash.

After tugging like this for a while, the stubborn dog lady eventually won through sheer willpower, and Herbert had no choice but to give up and turn toward the deeper part of the cell.

“Alright then, you can go reflect on your behavior here. I’ll go check on the others.”

Fine, if you won’t cooperate, I’ll find someone who will.

Separate ways it is; the next one will behave better!

Just as Herbert was about to leave the sealed area of Valentina’s cell, a voice, hard to read in emotion, suddenly called from behind.

“Hey, kid.”

“Hm? Have you finally changed your mind?”

Herbert turned around and saw Valentina finally face him, her gaze lingering quietly.

Seeing him look back, she snorted coldly, made a fierce expression, and threatened sharply, “If you’re scared, then just get the hell out of here!”

After saying that, she didn’t give Herbert a chance to respond and withdrew into the shadows of the cell.

“...”

Herbert stood looking back for a while, then shook his head thoughtfully and smiled as he replied, “Heh, I will.”

There was no response from the cage; Herbert didn’t even know if Valentina had heard him.

So, was she concerned about me?

Uncertain.

He decided to observe further.

Maybe it was one of the world’s three greatest illusions...

But in any case, given Valentina’s warning, Herbert heightened his vigilance.

Could it be that among those people, someone harbored deep malice toward me?

Thinking this, Herbert continued deeper into the cell.

...

Zone Two.

Unlike the first zone where Valentina was held, the air here was visibly better, though the humidity was noticeably high—over seventy percent—making it distinctly damp.

“Oh? You’re here again. I thought you’d run away already,”

The prisoner, a half-human, half-fish with a giant water bubble floating midair, opened her eyes and looked at the visitor with surprise.

“In terms of courage alone, you’re better than the previous warden.”

“Oh? What happened to him?”

The mermaid smirked and teased, “He was a scaredy-cat who came here to experience life, got terrified by the angels inside, and ran away crying. He never showed up again.”

“Whoa...”

Herbert raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear the predecessor’s secret.

The mermaid laughed at his expression, emerging halfway out of the water bubble. Herbert looked at her and asked, “By the way... do you think I’m good-looking?”

“Huh?”

Herbert gave her a once-over and nodded without hesitation.

“I think you’re quite handsome.”