CHAPTER 29: 29 ARE YOU THERE? (PLEASE FOLLOW AND READ!)

Deep Water Prison.

"What are you doing? You want to take a sniff of me too?"

Herbert hugged his knees nervously, curled up in the corner like a pitiful and helpless little creature, warily eyeing the lecherous Sea Siren.

She’s craving my body too!

So lewd!

"You... huh?"

Mermaid Princess: ???

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who wants to sniff you!?"

Fremay widened her eyes in confusion, feeling that this guy’s thinking was really bizarre, even a little perverted.

Who in their right mind goes smelling others’ bodies?

"I just felt like there’s a mark of the Sea Siren tribe on you. I thought someone else was being locked up."

"Heh, if you don’t want to say anything, forget it."

She rolled her eyes dramatically, already not wanting to talk to this guy anymore, and retreated back into the water bubble.

"Oh? So it’s not that you have improper thoughts about me." Herbert stood up, waved in front of the water bubble, and directly poked the bubble.

Duang~

"Hey! Is anyone home?"

Duang~

"Open the door, open the door! Don’t hide inside silently! I know you’re home!"

"Are you there? Are you there? Are you there?"

After being pestered for quite a while, Fremay finally reacted.

She suddenly pressed her face against the surface of the water bubble, gave Herbert an angry glare, and spat out a bunch of bubbles.

Blub blub! ("So noisy!")

Too bad.

The Sea Siren, educated by the royal court, was clearly not as easy to fool as Miss Hungry Dragon, refusing to take the bait no matter what.

Well, being educated really makes a difference.

After being harassed, Fremay did not accept the challenge for confrontation, choosing to completely log off.

She hardened the surface of the water bubble into a frosted texture, so poking it would no longer cause vibrations, severing the connection between the two.

"Sigh, the relationship’s cooled, cooled down!"

Herbert sighed sadly, rubbed his eyes with a raised hand, turned his head, seemingly not wanting the tears to fall.

But actually, he turned away and smiled, secretly relieved.

It’s clear now, Fremay is just annoyed with him, not for any other reason.

"It seems like, just like Valentina, she only vaguely senses something but can’t identify exactly what that feeling is."

To my surprise, although Harmonious God is not very reliable, the abilities provided are indeed impressive.

With another hidden danger out of the way, Herbert sighed in relief.

"But it looks like tackling the Siren lady won’t be as smooth as with Miss Hungry Dragon."

Using a brain really makes a difference.

Hard to deceive!

"Simply tempting with food probably won’t have much effect, I need to think of other methods."

"So now the question is, what do sirens like?"

"Seafood? Handicrafts? Fish catches? Uh... maybe not fish, I don’t want to see fish again for a long time."

If the other party refuses to communicate, persistently sweet-talking is pointless, might as well play hard to get and wait.

She’ll give in eventually.

Herbert thought about this, said goodbye to Fremay, picked up the tattered lantern, and once again crossed the barrier to the next area.

"I’m back again."

In the Prison of Darkness, Herbert opened his eyes.

The same blinding darkness, unchanged somber chill.

But there was a slight difference.

This time, Herbert no longer felt that the road beneath his feet was the same everywhere, gaining a strong sense of direction.

"It actually works."

Herbert originally didn’t plan to come to the Prison of Darkness before the Archbishop repaired the array, but a special ability changed his mind.

In the [Sea Witch Queen’s Favor], there’s a blessing that prevents getting lost.

With this ability, he no longer has to step in place in the dark!

Herbert put down the lantern, relying solely on the light emitted by the Holy Mark to protect himself, and fearlessly strode forward.

Soon, he noticeably felt his body slightly veering to the right.

It wasn’t affecting his subconscious or twisting his body, but changing the ground beneath his feet.

Not?

Wow.

That’s a bit of cheating, isn’t it?

This is taking advantage of the fact that I can’t fly.

Though simply running could outpace the terrain changes, that seemed a bit degrading.

After walking silently for a while, Herbert spoke softly to the darkness as he walked:

"I know you’re watching me, also altering the road beneath my feet. If you insist on this, it’s a bit boring, isn’t it?"

"Svanni Grand Mage."

There are two demons imprisoned in this area, but there’s only ever been one person who can influence the Prison of Darkness.

[Forbidden Scholar], [Shadow Grand Mage], [Silent One]—Svanni Moore

According to the information, this Dark Elf Grand Mage is reclusive and unwilling to communicate with others.

Only with her knowledge could she seize an opportunity to forcefully change the sealing array structure.

However, knowing the mastermind is useless; for now, Herbert still couldn’t reach that place.

So, he simply stopped walking, standing in place and spoke calmly:

"Last time, I wasn’t as skilled, so I left without causing a scene, begging you to meet me."

"But this time, I’m no longer affected, and if you continue, it’s a bit unsporting, isn’t it?"

"You understand, you and I are bound to meet sooner or later. Do you really want to keep playing this game?"

"If we have to face off... I can make it unpleasant for you too."

Herbert shook his head, helplessly raised his right hand, and lightly snapped his fingers.

"For example—like this."

Snap.

When the sound of the snap rang out, the previously silent darkness suddenly emitted a piercing screech.

Crack!

Even though it only lasted for an instant before subsiding, Herbert’s goal was achieved.

He smiled, shrugged, and said overly candidly, "Yes, I can’t fully control the sealing array now, but you... are the same."

You can seize control, can’t I too?

"If you don’t want to be annoyed by me every time, then stop hiding."

"Meet me and I won’t disturb you today."

"How about it?"

No one answered in the darkness.

But Herbert knew Svanni heard his words—because the road beneath his feet stopped changing.

"Good."

Seeing the other party cooperating so well, Herbert was a little surprised, then quickly proceeded along the path ahead.

Sure enough, without interference, he soon found the prison where the prisoners were held.

However, this first meeting scene was different from what he imagined—

"Huh?"

Herbert looked at the black iron coffin in front of him, tilted his head in thought, and raised a hand to knock on the lid.

Knock knock.

The coffin emitted an extremely hollow sound, as if there was nothing placed inside.

Empty?

Is it really empty?

Herbert thought for a moment, took a deep breath, leaned his head close to the coffin, and whispered:

"...Are you there?"

Click.

With his call, a faint click suddenly came from inside the coffin.

Click!