CHAPTER 28: 28 DANGEROUS...DANGEROUS?

"Come here! Let me sniff you!"

"No way!"

"Listen! Let me take a look!"

"No! Please, no, Jack!"

"Tch, who’s this Jack you’re talking about... What exactly are you saying?"

Miss Hungry Dragon bared her teeth in frustration and rolled her eyes at this baffling person, her teeth itching with resentment.

What’s the deal?!

Am I going to eat you?

You’re making me out to be such a bad guy.

Hmph!

Feeling displeased, Valentina pouted and sharply turned her head away, presenting her tall back to everyone again.

(｀へ´)

Valentina expressed her extreme anger, the kind that wouldn’t subside easily.

Yet at this moment, Herbert seemed intrigued, provoking and teasing her emotions with every word.

"Are you mad? Are you really mad?"

"No."

"Hey, are you crying?"

"No!"

"Then what’s that glimmer at the corner of your mouth? Oh, it’s oil! Never mind, then..."

"Hmph!"

After some playful teasing, Herbert moved to the cage without waiting for Valentina to urge him and gently knocked on the bars.

Clang clang.

"Hey, I’m here."

As Valentina turned her head in realization, he openly spread his arms and laughed, "Of course, if you want it, you’ll have to do it yourself."

If you want it...

Valentina, trying to maintain her pride, hesitated, not wanting to accept handouts, but eventually yielded to curiosity.

"...Hmph."

She pouted and huffed lightly, intending to act as if the earlier awkwardness never happened, and raised her hand to grab Herbert’s arm—only to have it caught midway.

Valentina: ?

What do you mean? Didn’t you say to do it myself?

Why change your mind now!

"...What are you doing?"

Miss Hungry Dragon squinted her eyes, staring dangerously at the white-haired boy—who met her gaze head-on.

"Why didn’t you wipe your hands after eating? Hold still, let me wipe it for you."

Herbert retorted in exasperation, a bit helpless, as he took a prepared wet towel to clean her hands.

With those greasy hands, won’t you attract mold if you touch yourself?

"Oh..."

Herbert gently wiped her palm, his fingers inevitably brushing against Valentina’s delicate fingers.

Her long fingers were warm and soft, yet he could unmistakably feel the terrifying strength within them.

He understood that these were claws capable of ripping through metal, capable of crushing his skull.

But visually, they looked like a pair of delicate, boneless hands fit for a hand model.

Very unreal.

Just like her appearance.

Ignoring the dragon aura, Valentina looked no different from an ordinary human.

In her human form, she didn’t retain any demon traits like Fremay, not even a single scale—just a complete human likeness.

But she wasn’t without flaws.

Her manner of thinking and actions revealed a strong non-human quality.

For instance, she preferred curling up on the ground to sleep or instinctively stretching her neck to bite when eating, only remembering to use her hands afterwards.

Also, even in this moment of friendship, Valentina still regarded Herbert as a weak entity, like an insect—though there wasn’t much difference to begin with.

Oh, and her appetite.

Who could eat half a roast pig in one sitting and still not feel full?

"The other hand."

"Oh."

Though Valentina was unexpectedly obedient, not showing any aggression beyond words towards him.

But it was these subtle details that made Herbert acutely aware that Valentina wasn’t just some naive captive, but a powerful non-human being.

She was dangerous.

Needed to be handled carefully...

Just as Herbert thought this, he noticed Valentina silently extending her face towards him, puffing her cheeks to indicate something.

"Hmm↑ hmm↓, hmm?"

"...Wipe your face too?"

"Hmm."

Staring at the greasy corners of Valentina’s mouth, Herbert took a deep breath, constantly reminding himself.

Herbert, don’t be fooled by their appearance.

They are powerful demons, monsters that eat people without leaving bones.

They are...

Finally, Herbert set aside his thoughts and quietly wiped her hands and face clean, letting out a smug hum.

Heh.

She’s just a fool, an ironclad fool!

As Valentina took in the scent from Herbert’s fingers, he asked curiously, "So, you’re hungry again? You just ate."

Valentina touched her unobtrusively flat belly, which had just housed half a pig, feeling a bit embarrassed and retorted:

"Of course I’m hungry, that wasn’t nearly enough to fill me... But that’s not the point!"

"You’ve always had a nice scent, making me want to take a bite, but today there’s an additional familiar smell..."

"Does my scent linger because I cut your hair yesterday?" Herbert blinked, thinking he might have found the issue.

Surely, just from swallowing some of her hair, he wouldn’t have absorbed her scent?

"No, it’s... an older smell?"

Valentina wasn’t quite sure either, carefully sniffing at Herbert’s fingers, even considering licking them to taste...

But before she could, Herbert already retracted his arm, grinning as he said:

"Well, if you beg, you can call me Daddy! I don’t mind taking a bit of a hit."

Valentina: ?

"What did you say!?" Retreating a step as he drew back his hand, Herbert narrowly avoided the furious swipe of dragon claws.

Heh, missed me~

Tilting his head with a smile, he waved at the impotently raging Miss Hungry Dragon and cheerfully walked towards the Deep Water Prison.

"Bye-bye, see you later."

"Hey! Don’t run! Come back here, I swear I won’t hit you—"

"Not listening~"

Crossing the barrier, the ravenous dragon’s roar vanished instantly, and calm returned to his ears.

His expression grew serious as he silently mused, "Guess I managed to bluff my way through for now?"

When Valentina mentioned ancient bloodlines, Herbert realized it was the lingering effect of fortifying his body and promptly changed the subject to distract her.

"Well, even if I didn’t bluff, she’d probably never figure out the truth."

It’s true.

No way Valentina could have guessed he inherited the Dragon King’s legacy through her hair?

That would be too illogical.

...

"Hmm? Herbert, come a bit closer; let me take a look..." Fremay’s expression was a bit strange as she motioned to him.

?

Wait a minute, you too?